William Farndale, Vicar of Doncaster

c 1330 to c 1415

  The Doncaster Kirkleatham Skelton Line

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FAR00038

 

 

 

  

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1330

 

If William was chaplain by 1355, say he was 25, so born in about 1330. William could have been the son of Walter de Farndale (FAR00015) who was himself vicar of Haltwhistle, Lazonby and Chelmsford.

 

Nicholaus de ffarnedale (FAR00038A) might have been his younger brother.

 

1347

 

The Black Death hit Doncaster badly between 1347 to 1351. William may have been in his teens during the Black Death. The experience of the Black Death (and his survival) might have turned him to the church.

 

By 1334, Doncaster was the wealthiest town in southern Yorkshire and the sixth in Yorkshire as a whole, even boasting its own banker. By 1379, it was recovering from the Black Death, which had reduced its population to 1,500.

 

(The Black Death hit Doncaster again in the late sixteenth century, with a deadly outbreak in 1582, when about a third of the population died. But that is after our relevant time)

 

1355

 

By 1355, William Farndale was chaplain at Doncaster.

 

Nottinghamshire Archives, Reference DD/FJ/1/291/5: Grant. 1) Walter de Thornton, vicar of Doncaster. 2) Wm. de Farndall, chaplain. Wm. del Wode of Doncaster, King's serjeant at arms. John de Barneby, chaplain. (1) to (2) 1½a. late belonging to Sir Thos. de Schepley, late vicar of Whaytelagh, in Whaytelagh. Witn.: John de Barnburgh of Doncaster, John Boteler, etc. At Doncaster, Sat. in Easter week, 29 Edw. III. Seal. Date: 11 April 1355 Held by: Nottinghamshire Archives, not available at The National Archives Language: Latin

 

Grant:

 

1) Walter de Thornton, vicar of Doncaster.

 

2) Wm. de Farndall, chaplain.

 

Wm. del Wode of Doncaster, King's serjeant at arms.

 

John de Barneby, chaplain.

 

(1) to (2) 1½a. late belonging to Sir Thos. de Schepley, late vicar of Whaytelagh, in Whaytelagh.

 

Witn.: John de Barnburgh of Doncaster, John Boteler, etc.

 

At Doncaster, Sat. in Easter week, 29 Edw. III.

 

Seal.

Date:   11 April 1355

 

Language:       Latin

 

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The Parish Church of St George at Doncaster

 

There is a separate page with more information about the history of the Parish Church at Doncaster which explores in detail how the church might have looked in William’s time, and has more evidence about William Farndale.

 

1358

 

The Calendar of Patent Rolls, Edward III, 1358 to 1361, 32 Edward III – Part II, P110: October 15, Westminster. Pardon, for good service done by the king’s sergeant at arms William atte Wode, to the said William for having enfeoffed John de Barneby and William de Farndale, chaplains, of the manor of Derleye, held in chief, and then re entered into the manor, which they quit-claimed to him, without the king's licence; and grant that he shall retain the same in fee. By K.

 

Darley Manor is in Derbyshire, but this is presumably a reference to a place in the environs of Doncaster.

 

1360?

 

Family?

 

We don’t know if or who William married. Nor do we have records of his offspring. However we do think that the earliest direct ancestors of modern Farndales were living just north of Doncaster by about 1512, and continued to do so until about 1564, when the family moved to Kirkleatham in Cleveland. So it seems reasonable to suppose that there was a family of modern Farndales’ ancestors living around Doncaster back to William’s timed. Perhaps William was an ancestor himself, and after a couple of generations, Nicholas Farndale (FAR00059) was born into that family. Or perhaps Sir William Farndale the vicar had siblings, one of whom was a grandfather or great grandfather of Nicholas.

 

Well into the twelfth century as many of a quarter of the secular clergy, bishops, archdeacons, and parish priests were married, despite the attempt of the Church to impose sexual abstinence on the higher clergy. Lay and clergy chose marriage as a union within which sexual relations were sanctioned, albeit only for the creation of offspring. Given the vocal opposition of a substantial number of clergy against chaste marriages we must conclude that for these clergy and their wives the sexual aspect of marriage was a compelling one and to be preferred to chaste marriage or celibacy. The married clergy were not afraid to physically defend their right to continue their marriages as sexual unions. A strong incentive may have had its roots in the emotional attachment and love a married priest’s couple may have felt for each other.

 

It is interesting that we see the name William continue to be used down the known generations. William was an extremely common name, but this adds to the evidence of our theory of Farndale ancestry.

 

It is possible a descendant (perhaps his son or grandson) also called William Farndale (FAR00056A) married Rose Farndale:

 

Short title: Farndale v Reignold. Plaintiffs: Rose Farndale, late the wife of William – Reference:   C 1/201/47 Farndale v Reignold; Plaintiffs: Rose Farndale, late the wife of William Farndale. Defendants: John Reignold, of Dodynghurst. Subject: A tenement and land in Dodynghurst. Essex. SFP Date: 1493-1500 Held by: The National Archives, Kew (still to visit Kew to check)

 

Doddinghurst is a village and civil parish in the Borough of Brentwood, in south Essex. It is 3 miles (5 km) to the north of Brentwood.

 

Abstract From Proceedings: “To The Archbishop of Canterbury and Chancellor of England. Rose Farndale, plaintiff, late wife of William Farndale that John Reignold of Dodynghurst, Co Essex, husbandman, sold to said William for a sum agreed and paid, a tenement set in Dodynghurst aforesaid, called Whitefeldes ‘tenement’ with a garden and two fields, one called Hornefeld and the other Barnefeld and the said john Reignold promised to make ‘sufficient estate thereof’ to said William or to whom he would advise; before any estate made thereof the same William made his will by which he willed that the plaintiff should have the said tenement and land to her and her heirs for ever. Since his death the plaintiff has required said John Reignold to make estate of the premises to her and to her heirs and he has refused and has entered into the said lands and occupies them contrary to all reason and conscience.”

 

Pledges for the Prosecution; William Brecas of London, Yeoman, John Nores of the same, Yeoman. Written on dorse; Before the Lord King in His Chancery in the quindene of St Hilary next. (No answer recorded).

 

(Translation of chancery proceedings)

 

1368

 

On 7 December 1368, Robert Ripers transferred 5 acres of land at Lovershall (just south of Doncaster) to Sir William Farndale, still chaplain:

 

From the Patent Rolls (source still to be re-checked): Transfer of land; ‘Know men present and to come that I Robert Ripers of Loversall have given, granted, and by this my present charter confirmed to Sir William Farndale, chaplain, 5 acres of land with appurtenances lying in the fields of Loversall, extending from the meadows of the Wyke to the Kardyke, of which 1 acre 1 rood lie in Wykefield between the land of Robert son of John son of William, son of Robert on both sides. And 2 1/2 acres lying in the Midelfild between my own land on the west and the land of Richard son of Robert on the east. And 1 rood lying in Wodfild between my own land on the west and the land of John of Wakefield on the east. To have and to hold the said 5 acres of land with appurtenances to the said William and his heirs and assigns, freely, quietly, well and in peace, from the chief lords of the free by the services then owed and customary by right. And I, said Robert, and my heirs, will warrant the said 5 acres with appurtenances to the said Sir William, his heirs and assigns against all men for ever. In witness whereof I have affixed my seal to this present charter. These being in witness; Sir John of Loversall, Chaplain; William Vely, Robert Clerk, Richard Rilis, John son of William son of Roger and others. Given at Loversall on Thursday after the Feast of St Nicholas, 42 Edward III. (7 Dec 1368).’

 

Loversall is a parish 3.5 miles south west of Doncaster. There is more evidence of the relationship between Lovershall and the Vicar of Doncaster in the history of Doncaster Parish Church.

 

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‘Sir’ was used when referring to a vicar, so he was already being referred to as Sir William Farndale by 1368, though he was still a chaplain then.

 

1370

 

There is also the following reference in the Patent Rolls, 7 May 1370, 44 Edward III Part 1, page 393: May 7, Westminster. Pardon to William Farndale of Caleys of the king’s suit for the death of John de Spaldyngton, whereof he is indicted or appealed, and of any consequent outlawry. By p.s.

 

The index refers to Farndale, William of Calais. This is probably a different William Farndale (see also FAR00047A), but it is not certain where Caleys is a reference to.

 

1396

 

Sir William Farndale became the Vicar of Doncaster from 8 January 1397 (aged about 61) to 31 August 1403 (aged about 68) when he resigned.

 

On 8 Jan 1397 William Farndale, priest presented by the same on the death of Alan Rasyn.

 

Register 14 f.62 (recto) entry 4:

Entry Type:       Institution, Induction, Presentation (person)

Section Type:    Register, Vicar-general

Summary:          Memorandum of the presentation by the abbot and convent of York, St Mary, of William Farnedale [Farndale], priest, to the vicarage of the parish church of Doncaster, vacant by the death of Alan Rasyn, the last vicar, followed by his admission and institution by the vicar general, and an order to the archdeacon [? of York] for his induction (two entries).

Dates:   Document date: 1397/01/08 (certain)

People and Groups:        Subject of document: York, St Mary Abbey, Benedictine (abbot and convent)

Places: Place of event: Scrooby, Nottinghamshire, England (none given); written as Scroby'

Benefice: Doncaster, West Riding of Yorkshire, England (rectory)

(Fasti Parochcales Vol 1)

 

Memorandum of the presentation by the abbot and convent of York, St Mary, of William ffarnedale [Farndale], priest, to the vicarage of the parish church of Doncaster, vacant by the death of Alan Rasyn, the last vicar, followed by his admission and institution by the vicar general, and an order to the archdeacon [? of York] for his induction (two entries):

 

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1402

 

He appears to have transferred his 5 acres of land at Lovershall to John Burton in 1402:


Patent Rolls: Transfer of Land; ‘Know men present and to come that I, William Farndalle, Vicar of the Church of Doncastre, have given, granted and by this present charter confirmed to John Burton of Waddeworth, his heirs and assigns 5 acres of land with appurtenances lying in the fields of Loversall. Viz, those 5 acres of land which I had as gift and feoffment of Robert Ryppes of Loversalle and which extend from the meadows of the Wyke to the Kardyke as the charter drawn up for me by Robert Ryppes more fully sets out. To have and to hold the said 5 acres of land with appurtenances to the said John Burton, his heirs and assigns from the chief of the lords of the fee by the services thence owed and customary by right. And I William Farndalle and my heirs will warrant the said 5 acres of land with appurtenances to the said John Burton, his heirs and assigns against all men for ever. In witness whereof I have affixed my seal to this present charter. These being witnesses; John Yorke of Loversalle, Robert Oxenford of Loversalle, William Ryppes of the same, John Millotte of the same, William Clerk of the same and many others. Given at Loversalle 6 April 3 Henry IV. (6 April 1402).

 

If William de Farndale, was born in 1355, then he was 67 when the second transfer was made, would have been about 33 when the first transfer was made.

 

31 August 1403


Archdeaconry of York. Institution, by Master Richard Rasyn, his proctor, and order for induction of William Couper [Cooper], priest, to the vicarage of Doncaster, vacant by the resignation of William Farndale, the previous vicar, patron: abbot and convent of York, St Mary's Abbey (two entries).

 

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1420

 

Sir William Farndale died after 1403. If he lived to 85, then he would have died in about 1415.