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to view a picture of the person27. Richard
BURDET was born about 1470 in Denby, Yorkshire. He died
about 1546 in Denby, Yorkshire. On 12 May 1522, the Normanvilles
handed back their lands to Richard, who at this time would have been living in
relative luxury and security but all this was to change.
In 1528 there was an agreement that the annual rent of 5s would be given to him
by William Blackburn, yeoman, formerly of Huddersfield, from messuages and lands
of Blackburn's in Huddersfield.
On 27 April 1535 when Aymer, his son, was 38 and heir apparent to his father's
vast estate, he was involved in a riot at Birthwaite. Henry VIII was on the throne
and had become head of the Church of England. Earlier in that year he had executed
Sir Thomas More and left Catholics fearing for their lives. Aymer's testimony
to the Star Chamber still exists. He denied any part in the riot but accepted
that there was a problem about the ownership of the land.
Late in 1535 Richard was accused of treason by his son Aymer. This was probably
because Richard was still a secret Catholic and Aymer thought that this would
be a quick way to inherit his lands. The north of England had never been fully
reconciled to Tudor rule. Under pressure of changing trade patterns, falling
wages and the enclosure movement, discontent grew in the early sixteenth century
until the religious changes of the 1530s brought the doctrinally conservative
predominantly Roman Catholic region to rebel in October 1536. Perhaps just in
time, in October 1536, Richard was pardoned by by Henry VIII. "Pardon. Henry
VIII to Richard Birdet of Denby Esq., alias Richard Burdet of Howland Esq., for
all offences and rebellions, insurrections, misprisons etc." Richard promised
himself and his dependants in the King's service at need in Lord Darcy's command.
Within weeks an army of about 30,000 armed northerners was camped at the River
Don, prepared to march south. Henry broke his promises to meet some of the rebels'
demands if they disbanded and ruthlessly suppressed fresh outbreaks of rebellion
in 1537. After 1536, the dissolution of the larger monasteries and the reassigning
of lands by the King to his loyal supporters, caused more religious discontent.
The great Progress to the North in 1541, when Henry VIII and a huge entourage
moved from London via Lincolnshire and Hull to York, was probably attended by
Richard Burdet. Towards the end of his life Richard still felt hatred towards
his heir, Aymer, and he decided that his second son, Thomas, should inherit all
the property and mills except High Hoyland which was left to Aymer.
The Yorkshire Feet of Fines record that in 1541 Thomas received "the Manors
of Denby and Holland and 17 messuages with lands, a watermill and 2 fulling mills
in Denby, Holland, Little Breton, Clayton, Durtcar, Byrcheworthe, Mapellwell,
Bylclyff, Thurlston, Cumberworthe, Cafforth-hyll, and Darton, which, after the
death of Thomas Burdett, remain to Roger, his brother, and his lawful male issue,
and failing such, after his death, to Philip Burdett, another brother of Thomas,
and his lawful male issue, and failing such, after his death, to Alice, Isabel,
Grace, Dorothee, and Elizabeth, daughters of Richard Burdett."
Richard died in 1546 and left:
17 homes with outbuildings,
1200 acres of land,
550 acres of meadow,
4000 acres of pasture
1200 acres of wood,
a water mill,
two fulling mills,
£9 10s rent.
Unsurprisingly the two brothers were at odds over their father’s will. Both
had powerful father-in-laws to negotiate the most advantageous deals for them.
Thomas preferred Birthwaite to Denby and, to resolve the situation, Aymer agreed
to pay his brother a bond of £1000 - a huge sum of money. He also agreed
to other conditions which were to prove a future millstone, financially, for
his son and heir.
Richard BURDET and Elizabeth ROCKLEY were married about 1496
in Worsborough, Yorkshire. Elizabeth ROCKLEY
was born about 1478 in Worsborough, Yorkshire. She was the daughter
of John Rockley. Elizabeth's father, John Rockley, was Lord of the Manor of
Worsborough and she brought in her dowry the Manor of Birthwaite near Darton.
Her mother was Elizabeth Meveral. The Rockley family had been Lords of the Manor
of Worsborough from at least the 14th Century. Elizabeth's elder brother, Thomas
(1476 to 1517), was knighted in 1514. Richard BURDET and Elizabeth ROCKLEY
had the following children:
+28 | i. | Aymer BURDET. |
+29 | ii. | Thomas BURDET. |
30 | iii. | Roger BURDET. Between 1556 and 1568 a case is recorded between William Burdet (son of either Roger or Philip) and his uncles Aymer and Thomas. William challenged the authority of his uncles in court about his late grandfather's lands. They were unaffected by his claim. |
31 | iv. | Philip BURDET. |
+32 | v. | Alice BURDET. |
+33 | vi. | Grace BURDET. |
+34 | vii. | Isobel BURDET. |
+35 | viii. | Dorothy BURDET. |
+36 | ix. | Elizabeth BURDET. |
