CLERKSON OF BIRSTALL
Peel’s account of the Rayners states that Margaret, who married first William Rayner and second Richard Rayner, was a “daughter of Thomas Clerckson, a yeoman who lived at Smithies, Heckmondwike”.[1]
Some notes in the Spencer Stanhope papers, made in about 1578 by John Hanson, who married Joan, daughter of William and Margaret Rayner, confirm that Margaret married Richard Rayner after the death of William Rayner. They also say that Thomas Clerkson and Richard Rayner obtained the wardship of Joan Rayner but do not explicitly state her relationship to Thomas.[2] The will of Richard Rayner, dated 1579, mentions “Edward Clerkson my brother in lawe”.[3] The will of Thomas Clerkson of Morley, written in 1582/83, suggests that he was a member of this family. He does not mention Margaret, and some of his children were still under twenty-one, so it seems unlikely that he was Margaret’s father. However, the testator mentions, among others, Robert Rayner, John Hanson and “Edward Clarkesone my brother”, so he seems to be a brother of Margaret (Clerkson) Rayner.[4]
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CLERKSON
THOMAS CLERKSON.
Children of Thomas
Clerkson:
i MARGARET CLERKSON, d 3 July 1612,
bur 4 Jul 1612, Birstall;[5] m(1) WILLIAM RAYNER;[6] m(2) May 1552, RICHARD RAYNER[7]
(see here).
ii THOMAS CLERKSON of Morley, yeoman, bur
22 Feb 1582/83, Batley;[8] m
KATHERINE BRADFORD.[9]
iii EDWARD CLERKSON of Heckmondwike; m 2
Oct 1558, Birstall, AGNES BROOKE.[10]
[2] West Yorkshire Archive Service, SpSt/6/3/5.
[3] Will dated 3 Apr 1579, proved 30 Sep 1579 (Borthwick Institute).
[4] Will dated 21 Feb 1582[/83], proved 6 May 1584 (Borthwick Institute). In 1560, Thomas Clerkson of Morley and John Hanson of Rastrick, yeomen, were appointed to deliver seisin of the manor of Hopton from Thomas Wentworth of Goxhill to Richard Thorpe of Southowram: W. Paley Baildon, Baildon and the Baildons, 3 vols (Bradford and London, 1912-27), 2:372-73.
[5] 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).
[6] 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.
[7] 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; will of Richard Rayner, dated 3 Apr 1579, proved 30 Sep 1579 (Borthwick Institute).
[8]
Batley parish registers (online at www.ancestry.com);
will dated 21 Feb 1582[/83], proved 6 May 1584 (Borthwick Institute).
[10] Birstall parish registers (online at www.ancestry.com).