RAYNER OF
LIVERSEDGE AND ECCLESHILL
Thomas Kitchin of the parish of Adel and Martha
Reyner, spinster, of Eccleshill, were married at Bradford in 1733/34.[1]
Martha, daughter of Zechariah Rayner of Eccleshill, was baptised at Bradford in
1712. No other baptism has been found which is likely to be that of the Martha
who married Thomas Kitchin, and no other marriage or burial has been located
which is likely to be that of the Martha baptised in 1712.
A problem with identifying these Marthas as one
individual is that the will of Zechariah Reyner, proved in 1739, does not
mention a daughter Martha. It mentions sons Elias Reyner and Zechariah Reyner,
wife Dorothy, and daughters Mary, Susannah, Issabella, Rachael, Sarah, and
Dorothy wife of Jeremy Kitson. However, it appears from the Bradford parish
registers that Zechariah had at least one other daughter who was not mentioned
in the will. Lydia, daughter of Zechariah Reyner of Eccleshill, was baptised in
1716. George Barraclough and Lydia Reyner of Eccleshill were married in 1738.
Again, there does not seem to be any plausible explanation other than that the
same Lydia is involved in each case.[2]
Therefore, it seems that Zechariah’s will mentions his eldest daughter and his
single daughters but not the others who were already married.
Thomas and Martha (Rayner) Kitchin had a daughter
called Dolly or Dorothy, which was the name of Zechariah’s wife. It may also be
observed that Isabella, daughter of Zechariah, later lived at Wetherby in the
parish of Spofforth, as did Thomas and Martha.
Zechariah Rayner, Martha’s father, was evidently
the Zachariah, son of Joshua Rayner of Eccleshill, who was baptised at Bradford
in 1665. Although this would make Zechariah somewhat older than usual when his
children were baptised, his distinctive name helps to place him in the family.
It can be seen that Zachariah Rayner of Eccleshill, tanner, son of Joshua
Rayner, late of the same, deceased, was mentioned in 1686,[3]
and Zechariah is stated to be a tanner in his will of 1738. Property with which
Joshua Rayner was associated in 1667[4]
is linked with Zachariah Reyner of Eccleshill in 1711.[5]
Joshua Reyner wrote his will in 1670. It names not
only his children Martha, Rachell, Zacharias and Joshua, but also his father
John Reyner and mother Priscilla, both of whom were still living.
The use of the names Zacharie and Lionel for sons
of John and Priscilla Rayner supports the identification of John as the one of
that name baptised at Bradford in 1602, son of Lionel Rayner of Eccleshill.
Another of the latter’s sons was called Zacharie.
Lionel Rayner of Eccleshill who died in 1612 was
baptised at Birstall in 1561, son of Richard Rayner of Liversedge. The 1612
will of Lionel of Eccleshill mentions his brother Nicholas Rayner, and the
inventory records a debt owed by Lionel to the children of Robert Rayner, and
another debt to Margaret Brooke.[6]
The will of Robert Reyner of Liversedge, written in 1607, had committed the
tuition of the testator’s children to “my twoe
brethren Lyonell Reyner and Nicholas Reyner”. Robert’s will also mentions John Hanson and Richard Brooke as two of his
brothers-in-law. Richard Brooke and Margaret Rayner were married at Birstall in
1591/92 and John Hanson had married Joan Rayner there on 5 February 1570/71.[7]
Joan was the daughter of William Rayner of Liversedge. Joan did not have any
full siblings but her mother Margaret married, after William’s death, Richard
Rayner,[8]
the latter therefore being the father of Robert, Lionel, Nicholas and Margaret.
This is confirmed by the will of Richard Rayner, written and proved in 1579.
The inquisition post mortem of Richard Rayner of
Liversedge shows that he held property in Eccleshill, confirming that the
family had links with both places,[9]
and this is corroborated by other records. A fine of 1585 relating to property
in Liversedge, Mirfield and Eccleshill has plaintiffs John Hanson junior,
Wilfred Fletcher, Robert Fletcher, Henry Fletcher and John Vicars, and
deforciants Robert Rayner, Lionell Rayner and Nicholas Rayner.[10]
Earlier fines relating to Eccleshill also show a link. One of 1551 has
plaintiffs Lyonell Rayner and John Cordynglaye and
deforciants George Tonge and Elienora his wife,[11]
and another of 1559 has plaintiff Richard Rayner and deforciants John
Cordingley and Alice his wife.[12]
As shown in the account below, Alice, sister of Lionel Rayner of Liversedge,
was married to John Cordingley.
The Richard Rayner who married William Rayner’s
widow Margaret is identified as the son and heir of Lionel Rayner[13]
and indeed a chancery case of 1574 relating to property in Mirfield mentions
Lionel Rayner and his son and heir apparent Richard Rayner. Furthermore, the
answer of Lionel Rayner names his own father Richard, with property coming
“unto this Defendant as eldest sonne and heire unto the said Richard Reyner”.[14]
The will of Richard Rayner was written in 1520/21,
the Latin wording naming his sons as “Leonardo Raynar
Johanni Rayner et Willelmo
Rayner”, the first two being made executors.[15]
A 1548 plea roll entry identifies “Lionellus” Reyner
and John Reyner, clerk, as executors of Richard Reyner, confirming that the
first son of Richard was Lionel.[16]
Richard’s will also names
his brothers William Rayner and John Rayner. It seems likely that this William
was the one of that name whose will was written in 1534.[17]
Richard’s son Lionel, or the latter’s son Richard, was described as a “cousin
and favourite” of Marmaduke Rayner, son of the William who died in 1534.[18]
A deed of 1525 involving Agnes, daughter of the Richard Rayner who died in
1521, was witnessed by “William Rayner of Great Leversege”,[19]
and the will of William Rayner in 1534 gives his residence as “Long Leversedge”, which is another name for the same place.[20]
There are various accounts of the origins of
William Rayner (d 1534). The most detailed I have seen is a pedigree with notes
drawn up in about 1578, seemingly in preparation for a court case, by John
Hanson, husband of Joan Rayner. William is shown as a son of Thomas Rayner and
his wife Joan, daughter of Henry Taylyer of Elland.
Thomas is given as a son of William Rayner, son of William and Jennet (Spen) Rayner, with Jennet being a daughter of Richard Spen, son of William Spen and
Agnes.[21]
Other accounts agree that the father of William (d 1534) was Thomas Rayner.[22]
Multiple sources (not necessarily independent) refer to a descent from the Spen family, but the details are inconsistent.[23]
I welcome comments on this page. My e-mail address
is on my home page.
RAYNER
1 THOMAS RAYNER.
Children of Thomas Rayner:[24]
i WILLIAM RAYNER of Liversedge,
Yorkshire, yeoman, d 1 May 1534.[25]
2 ii RICHARD RAYNER (d 1521); m
MARGARET.
iii JOHN RAYNER.
2 RICHARD RAYNER of Birstall died in
1521.[26]
He married MARGARET.[27]
Children of Richard Rayner:[28]
3 i LIONEL
RAYNER (ca 1505-1575).
ii JOHN RAYNER, parson of
Wells-next-the-Sea, Norfolk, b Birstall, bur 8 Nov 1558, Wells-next-the-Sea.[29]
iii WILLIAM RAYNER.
iv AGNES RAYNER; m JOHN GOMERSALL.[30]
v ALICE RAYNER; m JOHN CORDINGLEY.
3 LIONEL RAYNER of Liversedge was born
ca 1505 and buried on 8 December 1575 at Birstall.[31]
Children of Lionel Rayner:
4 i RICHARD
RAYNER (ca 1530-1579); m MARGARET (CLERKSON) RAYNER.
ii ROBERT RAYNER of Hull, merchant.[32]
iii JOHN RAYNER.
iv THOMAS RAYNER of Cleckheaton, b ca
1545, bur 18 Feb 1575/76, Birstall;[33]
m 25 Nov 1565, Birstall, JANE GRAVE.[34]
v ELIZABETH RAYNER; m JOHN KITSON.[35]
vi JANE RAYNER; m(1)
6 Oct 1562, Birstall, JOHN STUBLEY;[36]
m(2) 16 Jul 1564, Birstall, NICHOLAS WILSON.[37]
vii AGNES RAYNER; m STUBLEY.[38]
viii CATHERINE RAYNER; m TOWNEND.[39]
ix JOAN RAYNER; m 21 Sep 1574,
Birstall, WILLIAM TAYLOR.[40]
4 RICHARD RAYNER of Liversedge was born
ca 1530[41]
and died on 4 May 1579.[42]
He married in May 1552, MARGARET (CLERKSON) RAYNER, widow of William Rayner and
daughter of Thomas Clerkson.[43]
She died on 3 July 1612 and was buried on 4 July 1612 at Birstall.[44]
Children of Richard and Margaret
(Clerkson) (Rayner) Rayner:
i ROBERT
RAYNER of Liversedge, yeoman, b ca 1557,[45]
d 3 Aug 1607,[46]
bur 4 Aug 1607, Birstall;[47]
m(1) 13 Jun 1587, Birstall, HELEN RAYNER;[48]
m(2) ELIZABETH (FOXCROFT) HEATON.[49]
5 ii
LIONEL RAYNER (1561-1612); m(1) ;
m(2) ALICE COOKE.
iii MARGARET RAYNER, bap 4 Apr 1561, Birstall;[50]
m 18 Jan 1591/92, Birstall, RICHARD BROOKE.[51]
iv NICHOLAS RAYNER of Heckmondwike,
yeoman, bap 7 Jun 1565, Birstall,[52]
bur 14 Jun 1625, Birstall.[53]
v ISABEL RAYNER, bap 20 Jul 1567,
Birstall;[54] m
ca 1599, JOHN SMITH.[55]
vi CECILY RAYNER, bap 8 Oct 1570,
Birstall,[56]
bur Apr 1615, Tong;[57]
m(1) 27 Aug 1599, Birstall, JAMES COPLEY;[58]
m(2) 28 Jun 1608, Birstall, EDWARD WATSON.[59]
5 LIONEL RAYNER of Eccleshill, yeoman,
was baptised on 4 April 1561 at Birstall[60]
and buried
on 24 August 1612 at Bradford.[61]
He married first, , who was buried on 7 May 1598 at
Bradford.[62]
He married second, on 23 July 1599 at Bradford, ALICE COOKE.[63]
She was buried on 17 May 1652 at Bradford.[64]
Children of Lionel and Alice (Cooke)
Rayner:
i ELIZABETH
RAYNER, bap 8 Jun 1600, Bradford.[65]
ii RICHARD RAYNER, bap 5 Jul 1601,
Bradford,[66]
bur 16 Feb 1608/09, Bradford.[67]
6 iii JOHN
RAYNER (1602-1682); m PRISCILLA CUNNINGHAM.
iv ALICE RAYNER, bap 22 Apr 1604,
Bradford,[68]
bur 13 Sep 1604, Bradford.[69]
v LIONEL RAYNER, bap 29 Sep 1605,
Bradford,[70]
bur 3 Apr 1617, Bradford.[71]
vi ZACHARIE RAYNER, bap 19 Jul 1607,
Bradford,[72]
bur 1 Oct 1618, Bradford.[73]
vii RICHARD RAYNER, bur 17 Jan 1610/11,
Bradford.[74]
viii SARAH RAYNER, bap 14 May 1611,
Bradford.[75]
6 JOHN RAYNER of Eccleshill, yeoman, was
baptised on 24 October 1602 at Bradford[76]
and buried on 12 July 1682 at Bradford.[77]
He married first, on 4 October 1626 at St Mary, Castlegate,
York, ELIZABETH TEMPEST.[78]
She was buried on 28 September 1627 at Bradford.[79]
John married second, on 23 June 1629 at Bradford, PRISCILLA CUNNINGHAM,[80]
daughter of Bryan and Martha (Banister) Cunningham (see here).
Priscilla was baptised on 16 July 1609 at Monk Fryston
and buried on 8 December 1682 at Bradford.
Child of John and Elizabeth (Tempest)
Rayner:
i LIONEL RAYNER, bap 14 Sep 1627,
Bradford,[81]
bur 6 Mar 1650/51, Bradford.[82]
Children of John and Priscilla
(Cunningham) Rayner:[83]
ii RAYNER, bur 22 Feb 1630/31, Bradford.[84]
iii JOHN RAYNER of Eccleshill, bap 26 Sep
1632, Bradford,[85]
bur 13 Mar 1659/60, Bradford;[86]
m HANNAH.[87]
iv MARTHA RAYNER, bur 16 Mar 1665/66,
Bradford;[88] m
10 Jul 1655, Bradford, JOSEPH WOOD.[89]
7 v
JOSHUA RAYNER (1637-ca 1670);
m(1) DOROTHY THACKRAY; m(2) MARY CROSLAND.
vi PRISCILLA RAYNER, bap 16 Dec 1641,
Bradford;[90] m
28 Oct 1668, Bradford, THOMAS PURDUE.[91]
vii SARAH RAYNER, bap 8 Jul 1644,
Bradford,[92]
bur 31 Aug 1669, St Peter, Leeds;[93]
m(1) 25 Nov 1662, Bradford, STEPHEN BLAKEBROUGH;[94]
m(2) 27 May 1668, St Peter, Leeds, GILBERT COOPER.[95]
viii ZACHARIE RAYNER, bap 7 Mar 1646/47,
Bradford,[96]
bur 19 Apr 1651, Bradford.[97]
7 JOSHUA RAYNER of Eccleshill and of Fenay, Almondbury, yeoman, was
baptised on 28 December 1637 at Bradford[98]
and died ca 1670.[99]
He married first, on 21 September 1659 at Otley, DOROTHY THACKRAY,[100]
daughter of John Thackray. She was baptised on 29 December 1639 at Otley[101]
and buried on 1 September 1666 at Otley.[102]
Joshua married second, on 18 February 1666/67 at Almondbury,
MARY CROSLAND.[103]
She was born ca 1648[104]
and buried on 13 January 1669/70 at Almondbury.[105]
Children of Joshua and Dorothy (Thackray)
Rayner:
i MARTHA RAYNER, bap 2 Dec 1660,
Bradford.[106]
ii RACHEL RAYNER, bap 20 Jan 1662/63,
Bradford.[107]
8 iii
ZECHARIAH RAYNER
(1665-1738/39); m DOROTHY.
Children of Joshua and Mary (Crosland)
Rayner:
iv SARAH RAYNER, bap 6 May 1668, Almondbury,[108]
bur 12 Jan 1668/69, Almondbury.[109]
v JOSHUA RAYNER, bap 13 Jan 1669/70, Almondbury,[110]
bur 2 Aug 1671, Almondbury.[111]
8
ZECHARIAH RAYNER of Eccleshill,
tanner, was baptised on 31 May 1665 at Bradford[112]
and buried on 3 March 1738/39 at Bradford.[113]
He married DOROTHY,[114]
who was buried on 22 April 1766 at Bradford.[115]
Children of Zechariah and Dorothy Rayner:
i ELIAS RAYNER of Eccleshill,
clothier, bur 16 Dec 1763, Bradford;[116]
m 1 Apr 1741, Bradford, MARY LISTER.[117]
ii ZECHARIAH RAYNER, bur 14 Jan
1707/08, Bradford.[118]
iii DOROTHY RAYNER, bap 29 Dec 1708,
Bradford,[119]
bur 29 Oct 1781, Calverley;[120]
m 10 Apr 1738, Bradford, JEREMY KITSON.[121]
iv ZECHARIAH RAYNER of Eccleshill,
yeoman, bap 11 Feb 1710/11, Bradford;[122]
m MARTHA.[123]
v MARTHA RAYNER, bap 24 Dec 1712,
Bradford,[124]
bur 25 May 1756, Spofforth;[125]
m 17 Jan 1733/34, Bradford, THOMAS KITCHIN[126]
(see here).
vi MARY RAYNER, bap 16 Jan 1714/15,
Bradford.[127]
vii LYDIA RAYNER, bap 20 Jul 1716,
Bradford,[128]
bur 19 Sep 1751, Bradford;[129]
m 22 May 1738, Bradford, GEORGE BARRACLOUGH.[130]
viii SUSANNAH RAYNER.[131]
ix ISABELLA RAYNER, bap 3 Jul 1720,
Bradford,[132]
d 15 Jan 1790, bur 17 Jan 1790, Spofforth;[133]
m 14 Sep 1747, Bradford, GEORGE SMITH.[134]
x RACHEL RAYNER, bap 1 Jul 1722,
Bradford;[135]
m 31 Mar 1742, Bradford, JAMES KITSON.[136]
xi SARAH RAYNER, bap 5 Jul 1724,
Bradford;[137]
m 26 May 1748, Bradford, JAMES TAYLOR.[138]
xii JOHN RAYNER, bap 15 May 1726,
Bradford,[139]
bur 9 Oct 1726, Bradford.[140]
[1] Bradford parish registers (online at www.ancestry.com); Bradford bishop’s transcripts (online at www.findmypast.co.uk).
[2] It can also be noted that one of the witnesses to the will of Elias Reyner in 1763 was Zachariah Barraclough.
[3] West Yorkshire Archive Service, catalogue entry for STST/2/192.
[4] West Yorkshire Archive Service, catalogue entry for STST/2/138.
[5] West Yorkshire Archive Service, catalogue entry for STST/2/229.
[6] The inventory is transcribed in Peter C.D. Brears, Yorkshire Probate Inventories, 1542-1689 (Leeds, 1972), 66-70.
[7] Birstall parish registers (online at www.ancestry.com).
[8] Joseph Hunter, Familiae Minorum Gentium, ed. John W. Clay, vol. 1 (London, 1894), 159; Frank Peel, Spen Valley: Past and Present (Heckmondwike, 1893), 57-73; West Yorkshire Archive Service, SpSt/6/3/5.
[9] National Archives, C 142/275/353.
[13] Joseph Hunter, Familiae Minorum Gentium, ed. John W. Clay, vol. 1 (London, 1894), 159; Frank Peel, Spen Valley: Past and Present (Heckmondwike, 1893), 57-73.
[14] National Archives, C 2/Eliz/R10/34.
[15] George Denison Lumb, “Testamenta Leodiensia”, The Publications of the Thoresby Society, 9(1899), at 96.
[16] National Archives, CP 40/1135.
[17] Robert Beilby Cook, “Wills of Leeds and District”, The Publications of the Thoresby Society, 24(1919), at 310-11. It may be noted that the witnesses to the wills of both Richard Rayner and William Rayner included Richard Brooke and William Brooke.
[21] West Yorkshire Archive Service, SpSt/6/3/5.
[22] See William Brown, ed., Yorkshire Deeds, 2(1914):29-30, where note 3 on page 30 refers to an extract from an unidentified court roll of 1576.
[23] Joseph Hunter, Familiae Minorum Gentium, ed. John W. Clay, vol. 1 (London, 1894), 159; Frank Peel, Spen Valley: Past and Present (Heckmondwike, 1893), 57, 66. Peel’s information on the Rayners is based to a significant degree on notes by John Hanson, and the pedigree in Familiae Minorum Gentium is likely to be largely derived from the same source along with later notes by John Charles Brooke.
[24] The will of Richard Rayner mentions his brothers William Rayner and John Rayner: George Denison Lumb, “Testamenta Leodiensia”, The Publications of the Thoresby Society, 9(1899), at 96.
[25] National Archives, C 142/57/88. Will dated 13 Apr 1534, proved 6 May 1534: Robert Beilby Cook, “Wills of Leeds and District”, The Publications of the Thoresby Society, 24(1919), at 310-11.
[26] Will dated 29 Jan 1520/21, proved 19 Apr 1521: George Denison Lumb, “Testamenta Leodiensia”, The Publications of the Thoresby Society, 9(1899), at 96.
[27] Richard’s will names his wife Margaret.
[28] The sons are named in the will of Richard Rayner. The will of John Rayner names his brother Lyonell Rayner, sisters Agnes Gomersall and Alyce Cordingelie, and brother-in-law John Cordingelie.
[29] Wells-next-the-Sea parish registers (online at www.findmypast.co.uk); will dated 2 Nov 1558, proved 10 Nov 1561 (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSND-MK9M); National Archives, C 2/Eliz/R10/34.
[30] For the identity of Agnes’s husband, see Charles Travis Clay, ed., Yorkshire Deeds, 7(1932):101-02.
[31] Birstall parish registers (online at www.ancestry.com). His inquisition post mortem (National Archives, C 142/275/291) gives his date of death as 8 Dec 1575, the same day recorded in the parish register for his burial. Will dated 4 Dec 1575, proved 10 Jul 1576 (Borthwick Institute). The 1541 will of James Thornton of Denton in the parish of Otley mentions “my thre children John Thornton, Thomas Symson, and Lionell Rayner”. It is not clear whether this is relevant to the Rayners of Liversedge, as Denton is some distance away.
[32] S.J. Chadwick, “The Dewsbury Moot Hall”, The Yorkshire Archæological Journal, 21(1911):345-478, at 401-02. He may be the Robert Raynerd, merchant, who was buried at Hull on 4 Jul 1599.
[33] Birstall parish registers (online at www.ancestry.com). Will dated 14 Jan 1575, proved 3 Apr 1576 (Borthwick Institute).
[34] Birstall parish registers (online at www.ancestry.com). Thomas Rayner’s will mentions his wife Jane and one of the witnesses was William Grayve.
[35] Lionel Rayner’s will does not name Elizabeth but does mention “my Sonne in Lawe John Kidsonne”. In 1578, John Kitson and Elizabeth his wife were involved in a property transfer between Robert Rayner and Richard Rayner, sons of Lionel Rayner, deceased: S.J. Chadwick, “The Dewsbury Moot Hall”, The Yorkshire Archæological Journal, 21(1911):345-478, at 401-02. The Birstall parish registers show the marriage on 10 Oct 1559 of “George” Kitson and Elizabeth Rayner, which may be an error for John.
[36] Birstall parish registers (online at www.ancestry.com).
[37] Birstall parish registers (online at www.ancestry.com). The 1579 will of Richard Rayner mentions his brother-in-law Nicholas Wilson.
[38] Only the surname of Agnes’s husband is apparent from the will of Lionel Rayner, but he was probably the Richard Stubley mentioned in connection with Nicholas Wilson in Lionel’s inquisition post mortem (National Archives, C 142/275/291).
[39] The will of Lionel Rayner mentions his daughter “Catheren tounende”. She may be the Katherin Rayner who married Thomas Rayner at Birstall on 15 May 1564. This was apparently the Thomas Rayner of Hartshead whose will was proved in 1571 (Borthwick Institute) and mentioned his wife Katherine and children Robert and Jennet. The 1579 will of Richard Rayner of Liversedge mentions that he had been appointed guardian of these children so there was evidently a close connection. Their father was not Richard’s brother Thomas as the latter was still living in 1575 when Lionel Rayner’s will was written and he can be clearly identified from his own will. Katherine, widow of Thomas Rayner of Hartshead, is stated to have married John Robynson, so if she was the daughter of Lionel Rayner then she appears to have had three husbands within a relatively short period of time.
[40] Birstall parish registers (online at www.ancestry.com).
[41] National Archives, C 142/275/291.
[42] National Archives, C 142/275/353. Will dated 3 Apr 1579, proved 30 Sep 1579 (Borthwick Institute).
[43] Joseph Hunter, Familiae Minorum Gentium, ed. John W. Clay, vol. 1 (London, 1894), 159; Frank Peel, Spen Valley: Past and Present (Heckmondwike, 1893), 57-73; West Yorkshire Archive Service, SpSt/6/3/5; George Denison Lumb, ed., Testamenta Leodiensia, 1539 to 1553 (Leeds, 1913), at 298. The will of Richard Rayner mentions his brother-in-law Edward Clerkson.
[44] Joseph Hunter, Familiae Minorum Gentium, ed. John W. Clay, vol. 1 (London, 1894), 159; Birstall parish registers (online at www.ancestry.com); administration granted 1612 (Borthwick Institute).
[45] National Archives, C 142/275/353.
[46] National Archives, C 142/410/13.
[47] Birstall parish registers (online at www.ancestry.com); will dated 24 Jun 1607, proved 1 Oct 1607 (Borthwick Institute). He may be the Robert Rayner who resigned the vicarage of Riby, Lincolnshire, in 1605, although there is no direct indication of it in his will. See J. Venn and J.A. Venn, Alumni Cantabrigienses, 10 vols (Cambridge, 1922-54), part 1, 3:430, and the Clergy of the Church of England Database (https://theclergydatabase.org.uk/jsp/DisplayVacancy.jsp?CDBAppRedID=325458).
[48] Birstall parish registers (online at www.ancestry.com).
[49] Michael Sheard, Records of the Parish of Batley (Worksop, 1894), 279-80. The will of Robert Rayner mentions his wife Elizabeth and brother-in-law Henry Foxcrofte as well as Theophilus Heton and Henry Heton.
[50] Birstall parish registers (online at www.ancestry.com).
[51] Birstall parish registers (online at www.ancestry.com).
[52] Birstall parish registers (online at www.ancestry.com).
[53] Birstall parish registers (online at www.ancestry.com). Will dated 17 May 1625, proved 8 Jul 1625 (Borthwick Institute).
[54] Birstall parish registers (online at www.ancestry.com). The 1625 will of Nicholas Rayner mentions his sister Isabell.
[55] C.B. Norcliffe, “Paver’s Marriage Licenses”, The Yorkshire Archæological and Topographical Journal, 10(1889), at 170. The 1607 will of Robert Rayner mentions his brother-in-law John Smith, and the 1625 will of Nicholas Rayner mentions a nephew John Smyth, son of John Smyth the elder of Gildersome.
[56] Birstall parish registers (online at www.ancestry.com).
[57] Tong parish registers (online at www.ancestry.com).
[58] Birstall parish registers (online at www.ancestry.com).
[59] Birstall parish registers (online at www.ancestry.com). The 1612 inventory of Lionel Rayner of Eccleshill mentions a debt owing to Edward Watson: Peter C.D. Brears, Yorkshire Probate Inventories, 1542-1689 (Leeds, 1972), 66-70.
[60] Birstall parish registers (online at www.ancestry.com). He is named as one of the younger sons of Richard Rayner, son and heir of Lionel Rayner, in the latter’s inquisition post mortem (National Archives, C 142/275/291).
[61] Bradford parish registers (online at www.ancestry.com). Will dated 5 Aug 1612, proved 10 Feb 1612/13 (Borthwick Institute). Peter C.D. Brears, Yorkshire Probate Inventories, 1542-1689 (Leeds, 1972), 66, notes that Lionel was constable of Eccleshill for the manor of Wakefield in 1592.
[62] Bradford parish registers (online at www.ancestry.com): “Uxor Lyonelis Rayner de Ecclesell”. The Alice, daughter of Lionel Rayner of Adwalton, buried at Birstall on 19 May 1593, may be their daughter. However, the father in that entry could be the Lionell Rainer of Adwalton who was buried at Birstall on 1 Apr 1622.
[63] Bradford parish registers (online at www.ancestry.com). Robert Cooke and Mary Hainworth were married there on the same day. Lionel Rayner’s will names his wife Alice and “Thomas Cooke my brother in lawe”. A fine of 1623 relating to property in Bradford includes querents Joshua Cooke, John Rayner and John Beare, and deforciants William Cooke and Nathaniel Jowet: William Brigg, ed., Yorkshire Fines for the Stuart Period, vol. 2 (Leeds, 1917), 223.
[64] Bradford parish registers (online at www.ancestry.com).
[65] Bradford parish registers (online at www.ancestry.com). She may be the Elizabeth Rayner who married Tristram Ledgard at Bradford on 24 Sep 1620.
[66] Bradford parish registers (online at www.ancestry.com).
[67] Bradford parish registers (online at www.ancestry.com).
[68] Bradford parish registers (online at www.ancestry.com).
[69] Bradford parish registers (online at www.ancestry.com): “A childe of Lionell Rayner of Eckilshill”. The chronology and the lack of mention of a daughter Alice in the 1612 will of Lionel Rayner suggest that the burial in 1604 was the Alice who was baptised earlier that year.
[70] Bradford parish registers (online at www.ancestry.com).
[71] Bradford parish registers (online at www.ancestry.com).
[72] Bradford parish registers (online at www.ancestry.com).
[73] Bradford parish registers (online at www.ancestry.com).
[74] Bradford parish registers (online at www.ancestry.com).
[75] Bradford parish registers (online at www.ancestry.com). She was possibly the Sarah Reyner who married Edward Butler at Bradford on 17 Feb 1628/29.
[76] Bradford parish registers (online at www.ancestry.com).
[77] Bradford parish registers (online at www.ancestry.com).
[78] St Mary, Castlegate, York, parish registers (online at www.ancestry.com); J.W. Clay, “Paver’s Marriage Licences”, The Yorkshire Archæological Journal, 17(1903), at 162.
[79] Bradford parish registers (online at www.ancestry.com).
[80] Bradford parish registers (online at www.ancestry.com).
[81] Bradford parish registers (online at www.ancestry.com).
[82] Bradford parish registers (online at www.ancestry.com).
[83] The children listed here for John and Priscilla (Cunningham) Rayner all have the father’s residence recorded in parish register entries as Eccleshill or Ecclesfield, except in the case of Martha, who is named along with her brothers John and Joshua in the 1639 will of their maternal grandmother Martha (Banister) Cunningham. There was also a John Rayner who married Ann or Hannah Boyes at Bradford on 12 Aug 1633, but his residence is given as Halifax and he emigrated to North America in the 1630s. See John Insley Coddington, “The Mother-in-Law of the Reverend Peter Prudden with a Pedigree of the Boyse Family”, The American Genealogist, 19(1942):135-41; John Insley Coddington, “The Rayner Family of Batley, Co. York, England, and of New England”, The New England Historical and Genealogical Register, 109(1955):5-11; and Maxine Stansell, “More on the Reyners”, The New England Historical and Genealogical Register, 156(2002):322-26.
[84] Bradford parish registers (online at www.ancestry.com): “A Child of John Reiner of Ecclesell unbapt”.
[85] Bradford parish registers (online at www.ancestry.com).
[86] Bradford parish registers (online at www.ancestry.com). The parish registers of St Peter, Leeds (online at www.ancestry.com) record that “John Reynar late of Ecklesell had a child borne 18 July and baptized 22 July named John: borne at Mr Dawsons of Milhill”. The will of the son John Reyner of Leeds, dated 2 Feb 1681/82 (Borthwick Institute), mentions his grandfather John Reyner and property in “Ecclesall”.
[87] Hannah later married Matthew Hardwick and is mentioned in the will of her son John Reyner of Leeds, dated 2 Feb 1681/82 (Borthwick Institute).
[88] Bradford parish registers (online at www.ancestry.com).
[89] Bradford parish registers (online at www.ancestry.com). The will of John Reyner of Leeds, dated 2 Feb 1681/82 (Borthwick Institute), mentions property in “Ecclesall… which I purchased of my Unckle Joseph Wood”.
[90] Bradford parish registers (online at www.ancestry.com).
[91] Bradford parish registers (online at www.ancestry.com).
[92] Bradford parish registers (online at www.ancestry.com).
[93] St Peter, Leeds, parish registers (online at www.ancestry.com).
[94] Bradford parish registers (online at www.ancestry.com). The will of Stephen Blakebrough, dated 24 Feb 1667 and proved on 7 Apr 1668 (Borthwick Institute), mentions his wife Sarah, “Father in lawe John Raynard” and “Sister Priscilla Raynard”.
[95] St Peter, Leeds, parish registers (online at www.ancestry.com); National Archives, C 5/564/29.
[96] Bradford parish registers (online at www.ancestry.com).
[97] Bradford parish registers (online at www.ancestry.com).
[98] Bradford parish registers (online at www.ancestry.com).
[99] Will dated 11 Jun 1670, proved 30 Jun 1671 (Borthwick Institute). He may have been buried at Almondbury between Jun and Dec 1670, when there is a gap in the parish register entries.
[100] William Brigg, ed., The Parish Registers of Otley, part 1 (Leeds, 1908), 176: “Jossua Rayner of Ecellsell and Dorothie Thackwray of Otley”.
[101] William Brigg, ed., The Parish Registers of Otley, part 1 (Leeds, 1908), 76. Her mother may have been the Dorothy Hardcastle who married John Thackray at Otley on 1 Nov 1636, but there was more than one John Thackray in the area at the time.
[102] William Brigg, ed., The Parish Registers of Otley, part 1 (Leeds, 1908), 283: “Dorothie wiffe of Josua Reinard of Eccellcell”.
[103] Almondbury bishop’s transcripts (online at www.findmypast.co.uk).
[105] Almondbury parish registers (online at www.ancestry.com).
[106] Bradford parish registers (online at www.ancestry.com).
[107] Bradford parish registers (online at www.ancestry.com).
[108] Almondbury parish registers (online at www.ancestry.com).
[109] Almondbury parish registers (online at www.ancestry.com).
[110] Almondbury parish registers (online at www.ancestry.com).
[111] Almondbury parish registers (online at www.ancestry.com).
[112] Bradford parish registers (online at www.ancestry.com); Bradford bishop’s transcripts (online at www.findmypast.co.uk).
[113] Bradford parish registers (online at www.ancestry.com); will dated 23 Feb 1738, proved 2 Jul 1739 (Borthwick Institute).
[114] Zechariah’s will names his wife Dorothy. In West Yorkshire Archive Service, catalogue entry for STST/2/327, there is mention of Dorothy Rayner of Eccleshill, relict of Zachariah Rayner, from a document of 1764.
[115] Bradford parish registers (online at www.ancestry.com).
[116] Bradford parish registers (online at www.ancestry.com); will dated 9 Dec 1763, proved 18 May 1764 (Borthwick Institute); West Yorkshire Archive Service, catalogue entry for STST/2/327.
[117] Bradford parish registers (online at www.ancestry.com).
[118] Bradford parish registers (online at www.ancestry.com): “Zacery Son of Zacery Rayner of Eccleshill”.
[119] Bradford parish registers (online at www.ancestry.com).
[120] Calverley parish registers (online at www.ancestry.com).
[121] Bradford parish registers (online at www.ancestry.com).
[122] Bradford parish registers (online at www.ancestry.com); Bradford bishop’s transcripts (online at www.findmypast.co.uk).
[123] West Yorkshire Archive Service, catalogue entry for STST/2/326.
[124] Bradford parish registers (online at www.ancestry.com).
[125] Spofforth parish registers (online at www.ancestry.com).
[126] Bradford parish registers (online at www.ancestry.com).
[127] Bradford parish registers (online at www.ancestry.com). The Archbishop of York Marriage Licences Index, 1613-1839 (online at www.findmypast.co.uk) includes an entry of 13 Jul 1740 for Joseph Briggs, 40, of Bradford, and Mary Rayner, 26, of Bradford. The Harewood parish registers (online at www.ancestry.com) show the marriage of “Joseph Brigges & Ann Reayer” (sic) by licence on 31 Jul 1740. The 1749 will of a Joseph Briggs is held among others relating to the Rayner family of Eccleshill in the Stott-Stanhope collection: West Yorkshire Archive Service, catalogue entry for STST/7/14. The will of Zechariah Reyner (bur 1738/39) was witnessed by a Joseph Briggs.
[128] Bradford parish registers (online at www.ancestry.com).
[129] Bradford parish registers (online at www.ancestry.com).
[130] Bradford parish registers (online at www.ancestry.com).
[131] She may be the Susan Reyner of Allerton who married Joseph White at Bradford on 29 Nov 1739.
[132] Bradford parish registers (online at www.ancestry.com).
[133] Spofforth parish registers (online at www.ancestry.com).
[134] Bradford parish registers (online at www.ancestry.com).
[135] Bradford parish registers (online at www.ancestry.com); Bradford bishop’s transcripts (online at www.findmypast.co.uk).
[136] Bradford parish registers (online at www.ancestry.com).
[137] Bradford parish registers (online at www.ancestry.com).
[138] Bradford parish registers (online at www.ancestry.com).
[139] Bradford parish registers (online at www.ancestry.com).
[140] Bradford parish registers (online at www.ancestry.com).