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Sampson of Appleton

1. Ancestry 4. Dionisia
2. Arms 5. Later Fauconbergs
3. William  

1. Ancestry

John Sampson, Lord Mayor of York 5 times 1279-1300, married Mary Fawconberg, whose ancestors had held land in Appleton since the early 12th C:

'Richard the son of Philip Fawconberg gave all his mannor of Suthwood in Appleton to John Sampson of York knight & Mary his wife which he had of the gift of Walter son of Peter Fawcomberg [marginal note by Dodsworth:] I take this Mary to be Richard [Fawconberg]'s heire' (BL Harley 794, f 73r—see lines 1-4 of the full text below).
 
 
      Osbern de Arques d bef 1115
 
            |
 
    Agnes Lady of Appleton m Robert de FAUCONBERG
 
            |
 
          Peter (land in Appleton 1145-61)
 
    ________|______
    |              |
    |              |
 
Sir Walter   Sir Philip of Appleton
 
of Rise and      living 1225
                   |
Withernwick        |
 
    |           Richard         Alan SAMPSON d 1273 York bailiff 1253
    |
    |              |                 |
 
  Main       Mary FAUCONBERG m Sir John, Lord Mayor of York d 1310
 
FAUCONBERG                   |
 
  line              Henry Lord of Appleton 1316   Alan FOLIFAYT m Eufemia ...
 
                        b by 1289 d 1357              __________|_______
                                                      |                 |
                             |                        |                 |
 
                           John b by 1336 d 1379 m Emoria FOLIFAYT    John
 
                                                 |
 
                                             William Lord of Southwood d 1393
 
                                                 |
 
                            Thomas BROKET m Dionisia SAMPSON
 
                                                d 1437
Sources: M J Harrison 2000 pp 70-5; Brown 1897 p 119n; Complete Peerage 1926 vol 5 pp 267ff; Poulson 1840 p 403.

 

Southwood in Appleton (full text of BL Harley 794 f 73r, 74—Notes taken by Roger Dodsworth, antiquarian, d 1654, from mss of Thomas, 3rd Lord Fairfax, d 1671; M J Harrison 2000 pp 73, 257):
  1. Richard the son of Philip Fawconberg gave all his mannor of Suthwood in Appleton
  2. to John Sampson of York knight & Mary his wife which he had of the gift of Walter
  3. son of Peter Fawcomberg v.204. Witnes John the son of Richard Malbys In the
  4. margin - I take this Mary to be Richardes heire
  5. v.204 a. et b. Out of the originales with my lord Fairfax – Know present & to come that I
  6. Richard the son of Philip Fawkemberge have given granted & by this my present
  7. Charter confirmed to John Sampson of York knight & Mary his wife all my mannor
  8. of Southwod, with free in gresse & egresse, and with the wood belonging to the said
  9. mannor in the towne and territory of Appelton in Aynsty, and with iiij xx [40] acres of arrable
  10. land and six acres of meadow and with common of Herbage for the feeding of all sortes
  11. of cattell in all the feildes of Appelton, and with one toft and croft in the said towne
  12. of Appelton, which toft with the croft lyes between the toft of sometyme Philip
  13. the son of Roger Appelton of one part, and the toft with the croft which sometyme
  14. belonged to Walter The son of Peter Fawkemberge on the other side And all
  15. which I had of the gift of the foresaid Walter To have and hold all the
  16. foresaid mannor and iiij xx acres of arrable land and six acres of meadow with
  17. wood and with Common aforesaid and with the toft and croft aforenoted, and with
  18. free in gresse & egresse, and with all ‘the' Libertyes easementes & appurtenances
  19. within the towne and without to the foresaid John and Mary and to their heires
  20. and assignes of the cheif Lordes of that fee, by the services therof due & accustomed,
  21. freely, quietly, peaceably and fully without any retention for ever. And I the foresaid
  22. Richard and my heires shall against all men warrant and for ever defend all the foresaid
  23. mannor with the wood and with free in gresse & egresse, and with the foresaid iiij xx acres of
  24. arrable land and six acres of meadow, and with the Common above-noted, and with
  25. the toft and croft aforesaid, with all their appurtenances, as is aforesaid, to the foresaid [p 74]
  26. John and Mary and their heires or assignes. In witnes of which thing I have put my
  27. seale to this present Charter These being witnesses Simon Kimbe Richard Walays
  28. Robert Vgtred Mauger Vavasur knightes John son of Richard Malebys, Michael
  29. Knapton, Robert Bustard, Adam Thorp, Thomas Ceerf, Alan Baudewin, Henry
  30. Cruce, Henry Colton, William Tokewith, Stephen Ythown then Bayliffe, nicholas
  31. Cessevaus and others

2. Arms  

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Sampson (Burke's 1884):

Sampson: Sable a cross flory or

Glover's Visitation of Yorkshire records the identical arms of William de Lacell: Sable a cross patonce or, who held 2 knight's fees of William de Vescy, whose arms were: Gules a cross patonce argent (Foster 1875 p 25). Compare also the later ?15-17th C Lascelles lines—of Sowerby and Brackenbury in Birdforth cum Allertonshire—Sable a cross flory or and Sable a cross patonce or (Foster 1875 pp 61, 402, 641).

In Harley 807 Glover gave the arms of Dionisia Sampson as: Argent a lion rampant azure, and these carried through to the Broketts of Hertfordshire. In fact they were the arms of Fauconberg of Rise and Skelton (cf Foster 1875 p 186) and of the Bruces of Skelton, whose senior representatives they were. Compare Percy of Northumberland: Or a lion rampant azure (Foster 1875 p 651).

 

3. William Sampson of Appleton  

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i. 1379 poll tax

William Sampson and wife paid 40d as a Franklin—a substantial freeholder (YATARS 6 p 293). This was the highest payment in the vill, but half the normal rate for franklins and equivalent to the rate for landless esquires (Keen 1990 p 9). The Sampson family was probably in decline by 1379 (M J Harrison 2000 p 73).

ii. The Calendars of Close Rolls

William is recorded twice concerning land in Colton and Steeton:

1386 Jul 26 Westminster
Calendar p 182
To the treasurer and the barons of the exchequer. Writ of supersedeas until the quinzaine of Easter next in respect of their demand against William Cerfe, William Sampson, John de Gypton and Cicely Cerfe to answer for the issues of lands of John Chaumont knight whereupon they intruded after his death; as it is found by inquisition taken by John Dent late escheator in Yorkshire that the said knight died seised of three bovates of land in Colton held in chief by the service of the tenth part of one knight's fee of two messuages, ten bovates of land, two closes and 4 acres of meadow in Steveton, and of three messuages and crofts, seven bovates of land and 4 acres of meadow in Appilton held of others than the king, that William Cerfe and the others intruded upon the premises in Steveton and Appilton and occupied the same a great while after his death, that from the date of that intrusion they were worth 100s. a year beyond reprise, that Margaret and Joan Chaumont are daughters and heirs of John son of John son of the said John Chaumont, and are of the age of eighteen and upwards, and that William Moubray has taken Margaret to wife and Joan has taken the habit of religion in the order of St. Gilbert of Sempyngham at Chiksonde priory, but whether she be professed or no the jurors knew not; and the king ordered the sheriff to give notice to the intruders to be in chancery in the quinzaine of Michaelmas next to shew cause wherefore they ought not to answer for the issues of the said lands since John Chaumont's death, and the plea in chancery between the king and the intruders is yet pending without debate.
1388 Feb 24 Westminster
Calendar p 471
To the treasurer and the barons of the exchequer. Writ of supersedeas in respect of their demand upon William Sampson and John de Gypton to answer for the issues of two messuages, ten bovates of land, two closes and 4 acres of meadow in Steveton, three messuages and crofts, seven bovates of land and 4 acres of meadow in Appilton since the death of John Chaumont knight, and order to discharge them thereof; as upon the finding of an inquisition, taken by John Dent late escheator in Yorkshire, that the said knight was at his death seised of three bovates of land in Colton co. York, held in chief by the service of the tenth part of one knight's fee, and of the premises in Steveton and Appilton held of others than the king, and that after his death William Cerfe, William Sampsoun, John de Gypton and Cicely Cerfe intruded upon the premises in Steveton and Appilton and occupied them a long while, and upon an allegation made by William Sampsoun and John de Gypton, in a cause in chancery upon a writ of scire facias between the king and those intruders, which cause was sent for debate before the king, that they occupied not the premises as aforesaid, it is found (among other things) by another inquisition, taken before the king, that they occupied not the premises nor any parcel thereof, wherefore it was determined that they should go quit, as appears by the record and process of the cause, which the king has caused to come before him in Chancery.
Notes:
Writ of supersedeas - stopping proceedings by superior power
Writ of scire facias - to produce information, lit. 'you are to make to know'

iii. Testament 1393

Written 11 Sep, pr 30 Oct 1393. William willed to be 'buried in Bolton Percy church next to the grave of my father'. He had previously passed on all his property, including the manor of Southwood, since the only bequest was to his executor: 'The rest however of all my goods I have given to John Saynell of Normanton by a certain writing confirmed by my seal to pay my debts' (York Registry Wills Oct 1393, vol 1 f 69 l 4).

iv. Thomas Sampson of Appleton

The Calendar of Close Rolls records one other Appleton Sampson after their manor had passed to Thomas Broket, as witness to a land deed there:

1396 Feb 4 Westminster
Calendar p 79
John de Staynforde of Apilton to Thomas de Clapham and Thomasin his wife, their heirs and assigns. Quitclaim of all lands, woods etc. in Apilton which descended to him after the death of William de Staynforde his elder brother, upon condition that they and the longer liver of them, their heirs and assigns shall find the said John meat and raiment all his life. Witnesses John Depedene knight, Miles de Stapilton, William de Twaytes of Merston, John Daynell of Bylton, William Barker, Thomas Harden, both of Tadcastre, Thomas Sampson of Apilton. Dated Apilton, Tuesday the feast of the Assumption 20 Richard II.
Memorandum of acknowledgment at York 26 August before Hugh Huls, by virtue of a dedimus potestatem (we gave power) which is on file for this year.

 

4. Dionisia Sampson  

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1. A deed from 1458 confirmed that Dionisia was the daughter of William.

2. She died 14 April 1437 and was buried in Bolton Percy Church, 2 years after her husband Thomas Broket.

3. Dionisia's descent from the Folifayts of Badsworth—and hence a claim to be the heir of the Neviles—was recorded in the preamble to an unsuccessful suit brought in York by Thomas Broket and Dionisia against Thomas Urswyk for the manor of Baddesworth (The Genealogist vol 17 p 22; YAJ vol 10 1899 p 349):

Date/source Original Translation
1424
Easter York
(Plea Rolls De Banco m 329d)
1. Thomas Broket & Dionisia vxor eius per Ricardem Shipley attornatum suum petentes versus Thomam Urswyk

2. Manerium de Baddesworth cum pertinencijs quod Rogerus Folifayt dedit Alano Folifayt & Eufemie vxori eius

3. & heredibus de corporibus ipsorum Alani & Eufemie exeunt' et quod post mortem predictorum Alani & Eufemie &

4. Iohannis filii & heredis eorumdem Alani & Eufemie & Emorie sororis eiusdem Iohannis & Willelmi filii eiusdem

5. Emorie prefate Dionisie filie predicti Willelmi & consanguinee & heredi predicti Iohannis descendere debet per

6. formam donacionis predicte '&c' Et vnde dicunt quod ...
1. Thomas Broket & Dionisia his wife represented by Richard Shipley plaintiffs versus Thomas Urswyk

2. [concerning] the manor of Baddesworth with its appurtenances which Roger Folifayt gave Alan Folifayt & Eufemia his wife

3. and the heirs issuing from the bodies of Alan & Eufemia and that after the deaths of the said Alan & Eufemia &

4. of John the son and heir of Alan & Eufemia & [the deaths] of Emoria sister of John & of William son

5. of Emoria it ought to descend to the said Dionisia daughter of the said William and cousin and heir of the said John by means of

6. the deed of the aforesaid gift etc. Wherefore they say that ...

 

5. Later Fauconbergs  

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The end of the FAUCONBERG of Rise: main line
 
 
Sir Walter de Fauconberg              John of Gaunt 1340-99
 
b bef 1319 d 1362                     Duke of Lancaster
 
          |                                   |
          |                                   |
          |                                   |
 
Sir Thomas of Skelton       Ralph Neville m Joan de Beaufort
 
b 1345    |                 1364-c 1425   | c 1375-1440
          |                               |
          |                 Earl of West- |
          |                               |
    ______|_________      morland       |
    |               |                     |
    |               |                     |
 
Sir John          Joan  m bef 1422 Sir William Neville
 
executed 1405     1406- |        c 1409-1463 Earl of Kent 1461
                        |
no issue          1490  |        Admiral of England 1462
                        |
   _____________________|______________________
   |                    |                      |
   |                    |                      |
 
Joan b bef 1433      Elizabeth b bef 1435   Alice b bef 1437
 
m Sir Edward Bethom  m Richard Strangways   m John Conyers
 
d 1472               d 1488                 d 1469
 
  Sources: Complete Peerage 1926 vol 5 pp 272ff; Poulson 1840 p 403.  

In 1422 Sir William Neville inherited all the castles, manors etc of Sir Thomas of Skelton through his wife the Fauconberg heiress Joan, and took on the Fauconberg title. Wiliam was a prominent Yorkist commander during the Wars of the Roses, leading them to the decisive victory at Towton in 1461, which 'was not only the climax of the dynastic struggle between Lancaster and York, [but] also the denouement of the feud between Neville and Percy' (Pollard 1990 p 283). Although the Fauconbergs' Appleton lands had been held by younger sons while the main line were barons in Rise in Holderness (Complete Peerage, 1926 vol 5 pp 267ff), the main line nevertheless had maintained links and William Neville inherited a quarter of a knight's fee in Appleton (Complete Peerage 1926 vol 5 p 282; M J Harrison 2000 p 73).

William had no son, so his 3 daughters became Fauconberg co-heiresses. Or at least 2 did—Joan is said to have been 'a fool and idiot from birth' (Complete Peerage 1926 vol 5 p 281). Nonetheless, the Appleton inheritance may have descended to Joan. Whether connected or not, a curious reference occurred in the Visitation of Yorkshire re the Conyers family, whose heir married the 3rd daughter Alice, that [after 1472] the eldest daughter Joan Fauconberg was 'married to Nicholas Belliany, sans issue, and after to Mr. Thos. Brocket, of co. Herts, and had issue' (Foster 1875 p 71). This is corrupt. Nicholas Belliany is unknown and although all Hertfordshire Broket gentleman of the late 1470s are known, this Thomas is not.

The Strangways and Conyers were 2 of the main knightly families of 15th C North Riding of Yorkshire, sharing by parallel marriages the succession of 2 baronies, the Darcy heiresses in the 1st half of the century and the Fauconberg heiresses in the 2nd (Pollard 1990 p 90). Connecting a Brocket to the 3rd heiress was a fabrication.

The Complete Peerage (1926 vol 5 p 286b) relegated the 2nd and 3rd of Joan's alledged marriages to a footnote, dismissing the 3rd as neither to Thomas who married and predeceased Dionesia 1435 nor to his son Thomas who married and predeceased Elizabeth Ashe 1477. These two, apart from being esquires were in any case too early, and only a Thomas from the next generation could have been possible. Harley 807 gave Edward 2 sons Thomas: one marrying Elizabeth Calthrop and [presumably] an earlier one dying unmarried without issue. Glover was by no means accurate in all details in Harley 807, but it is hard to imagine a reason for him to omit a marriage to an heiress of a peer like Joan Fauconberg, especially if there had been issue. Edward's will shows that a Thomas was not a surviving son in 1485.