THACKRAY OF OTLEY
Dorothy Thackray was baptised in 1639 at Otley, a daughter of John Thackray. Marriages of a John Thackray in the relevant period include:
John Thackray of Harewood, m ca 10 Aug 1619, Mary Thackray of Otley
John Thackray, m 2 Dec 1623, Otley, Alice West
John Thackray, m 16 Jun 1633, Otley, Margaret Bradley
John Thackray, m 1 Nov 1636, Otley, Dorothy Hardcastle
Pertinent burial entries include:
Mary wife of John Thackray, bur 1 Jun 1620, Otley, with a newborn child of the said John
Mary wife of John Thackray, bur 14 Mar 1631/32, Otley
Alice wife of John Thackray, bur 6 Jul 1635, Otley
It is apparent from these that more than one John Thackray was in the area at the time and this is further supported by the proximity of some baptism dates in the Otley parish registers for children of John Thackray. For example, William was baptised on 26 March 1637 followed by John on 2 July 1637, and Dorothy on 29 December 1639 followed by Thomas on 1 March 1639/40.
Considering her forename, it seemed most likely that the Dorothy baptised in 1639 was a daughter of John Thackray and Dorothy Hardcastle who were married in 1636. Indeed, the Dorothy Thackray of Otley who married John Brooke of Bingley in 1653/54 at Menston was evidently the mother of the Dorothy baptised in 1639 as the 1659 will of John Brooke mentions “Dorithy wife of Joshua Reyner of Ecleshell” and makes Joshua and Dorothy his residuary legatees and executors.[1] “Dorothie wiffe of John Brouke of Otley” was buried at Otley on 3 June 1671 although this was more than a decade after the testator John Brooke made his will and the registered copy of the will does not mention his wife.
The will of John Brooke also mentions Jane, wife of Miles Hardcastle, Margaret, wife of John Hardcastle, and Miles Hardcastle the elder. This may be a clue to the origins of Dorothy Hardcastle. However, Jane Thackray of Otley married Miles Hardcastle at Stainburn in 1654, and Margaret Thackray married John Hardcastle at Fewston the same year,[2] so the connection may have been through the Thackrays rather than, or as well as, the Hardcastles. Jane (Thackray) Hardcastle may be the daughter of John Thackray baptised on 25 February 1626/27 at Otley. Dorothy may have had an earlier husband as James Hardcastle and Dorothy Bradley were married in 1626 at Leeds and James Hardcastle was buried there on 25 March 1636.
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THACKRAY
JOHN THACKRAY of Otley, Yorkshire, was buried on 8 September 1652 at Otley.[3] He married on 1 November 1636 at Otley, DOROTHY HARDCASTLE.[4] After the death of John Thackray, Dorothy married, on 31 January 1653/54 at Menston, John Brooke.[5]
Child of John and Dorothy
(Hardcastle) Thackray:
i DOROTHY THACKRAY, bap 29 Dec
1639, Otley,[6]
bur 1 Sep 1666, Otley;[7] m
21 Sep 1659, Otley, JOSHUA RAYNER[8]
(see here).
[1] Will dated 10 Dec 1659, no date of probate given (Borthwick Institute).
[2] Fewston parish registers (online at www.findmypast.co.uk).