The DANVERS family of Dauntsey and the church in Dauntsey are well covered by the pages of Gary Danvers and Stuart Wright and Mandy, Duncan & Michelle and need not be repeated. My connection is that my G10 Gdad Danvers ALLIN came from there though he got married to a lass in the Danby area and had children there.
This record here is being done (more or less) in order from the oldest records to the newest; but of course the research was done the other way - working back through time.
The first mention I have found to date of what I hope to be my ancestors in Dauntsey is in the 1539 will of Dame Anne DANVERS (nee STRADLING) where she says "Item. I give to Robert Allyn my godsone vi shepe @ctote ['at the choice of'] of Water Houngerforde [Walter HUNGERFORD] that will ??? hym and a hoseclothe and a cowe". This gift from Dame Anne could have been a reason for Robert naming his son Danvers - if indeed Robert was the father of Danvers ALLIN.
Dame Anne's son Thomas died before her so the Manor passed to her grandson Sylvester DANVERS and his will of 1549 says "Item I give to Robert Allyn my baye mare that I bought of George Worthe". Also of interest in this will is a mention of "my Manour of Smythcote". Various Indentures at the County record office in Trowbridge mention the manor of Smithcote as separate from the manor of Dauntsey.
The Parish records of Dauntsey, apart from one or two Bishop's Transcripts, only go back to 1622 so there is nothing in them to show the funeral of Robert or the baptism's of his children if any.
About 1568 Sir John DANVERS, the eldest son of Sylvester, married Lady Elizabeth NEVILL and thus the manor of Danby (in the Esk valley of the North York Moors up the river from Whitby) came into the hands of the Dauntsey branch of the DANVERS family. It may be that the DANVERS' of Dauntsey never bothered to go to Danby but they certainly had an interest in it and their steward Samuel RABANKES left monies for the poor there. I guess that Danvers ALLIN assisted RABANKES in the administration of Danby. The parish records of Danby do not show the marriage of Danvers ALLIN to miss WATSON but his wife had connections with Goathland and so they may have married there. Unfortunately the records for Goathland do not seem to go back far enough. So I do not know when or where Danvers ALLIN was born, Married or died but he did have children and paid taxes.
The baptisms of most of the children of Danvers ALLIN in the Danby records:
1598 September 24; Baptism; Richus ALLIN filius Daversi ALLIN
1598 September 25; Baptism; Robtus ALLIN filius Daversi ALLIN
1601 July 26; Baptism; Thomas ALLIN filius Daversi ALLEN
1603 August 12; Baptism; Simon ALLIN fil. Daversi ALLEN
1606 July 27; Baptism; Carolus ALLEN filius Dav's ALLEN
I believe there is also a daughter but have not found any indication of her
baptism. One odd thing is that apart from this parish record I have
never seen a document which mentions both Richard and Robert which has lead me
to wonder if in fact they might be the same person. However Robert died
in 1654 and Richard ALLIN gent., almost certainly the same, was involved in the
sale of the Danby estate in 1655.
Richard settled in the Danby area and there is a marriage licence for Thomas
which suggests he may also have. Robert and Simon seem to have spent
their lives (or at least died) in Dantsey. Charles - ?
In the PRO is a contemporary transcript of the will of Thomas Lea of Dauntsey made on 7th June 1599. He left six pence to his Godson Thomas ALLIN. This seems not to be a son of Danvers ALLIN. Maybe a brother or nephew of Danvers ALLIN. Was this the chap who went on the Falcon to Barbados with a Robert DANVERS; (in 1622 if my memory is right).
At the Record Office in Trowbridge is a blue book by the Wiltshire Archaeological Society titled "Two Taxation Lists, 1545 & 1576" and Dauntsey entries are:
1545
£ s d
Sylvester Danvers esquire
7
George Worth
gentleman
26 8
Richard
Reeve
6 8
Richard Sherer
6 8
Henry Wilkyns parson ther
13 4
1576
& s d
£ s d
John Danvers knighte (L)
40
5 6 8
Richard Bernard alias Heyward
6
10
John Skuse
4
6 8
Henrie
Hoskins
3
5
Thomas
Shearer
4
6 8
Roberte
Cox
3
5
Richard
Morse
5
8 4
John
Palmer
5
8 4
Elizabeth Reve wydowe
5
8 4
Roberte
Sparrow
4
6 8
Thomas Ley
6
10
Thomas
Ferris
3
5
Walter Hunte
4
6 8
I
paid my first visit to the record Office for Wiltshire in Trowbridge on 23rd June 1999 and found an old
brown book bound with
white tape called LISTS, Wiltshire. Stamped
inside “Wiltshire record office 310”.
All hand written and the writing style was such that I expect the book
had been written in late Victorian time when there was a lot of interest in
local history. In
the section "Subsidies paid to James 1st and Charles 1st" I
checked records for Dauntsey and
noted them, see below:
(note that the "G." and "L." show whether the tax was based
upon the Goods or Land which the taxpayer held)
First payment of second subsidy granted by the Parliament 3 James I taken before Sr Edward HUNGERFORD, Sr Walter LONGE & John HUNGERFORD Esq. for the Hundred of Chippenham, Damerham, Malmesbury & Calne. {this would be in 1603 or 1604, BH}
Under the Hundred of Malmesbury is Dauntsey and the following starting on page 17
Dauntsey
Thomas KNAPP G. 3L
Baldwinus REEVE L. 20S
Thomas PALMER
G. 3L
Robtus SMYTH G. 3L
Johes KNAPP G. 3L
Editha HUNT vid G. 3L
page 18
Davers ALLEN G. 3L
Alicia COX vid L. 20S
Johes MORSE L. 20S
Joana SCUSE vid L. 20S
Alicia KNAPP spinster L. 20S
Johes SPARROW L. 20S
Oliver ASWORTH G. 7L
Thomas REEVE G. 6L
Ricus PALMER
G. 3L
Galfridus HENLY
G. 3L
Ricus FERRIS
L. 20S
page 47 Second payment one entire subsidy dated 23 March 8 Jas I {this would be 1610, BH}
Dauntsey
(no name by this
entry in the book) G. 3L
Johes
G. 4L
Ricus G. 3L
Alicia
L. 20S
Visula
G. 3L
Johes
L. 20S
Joanna
L. 20S
Marie
G. 3L
Ricus PALLMER
G.
Ricus FERRYS
L. 20S
Johes SPARROW
L. 20S
Alicia KNAPP
L. 20S
David HILLER
L. 20S
page 106 Dantzey cont
Willus FRYE
L. 20S
Thomas REEVE
G. 6L
Oliverus ALLWORTH G.
Baldwinus REEVE L.
ALLEN
G.
Thomas PALLMER
L. 20S
page 190
Third subsidy of three entire Subsidies granted 21 James I.
~~~~~~~
dated 22 James I {1623 or 24
that would be, BH}
Dauntesey
Alicea ALLEN
L. 20S
Thomas SKUSE
L. 20S
Joane PALMER vid L. 20S
Willms WEBB
L. 20S
Richus WEBB
L. 20S
Johes BENDRY
L. 20S
Maria HENLEY vid
L. 20S
Willius RITCH
L. 20S
Alicea MORS vid
L. 20S
Thomas DAY
L. 20S
Johes SPARROW
L. 20S
Robtus SPARROW
L. 20S
Robtus CLARK
L. 20S
Ricus FERRIS
L. 20S
Christopher REEVE
L. 20S
Johes GIBBS
L. 20S
Johes BROOKE
G. 3L
Georgius PALMER
G. 3L
Willms LAWRENCE
G. 4L
page 221
(opposite)
Second Subsidy granted 1 Charles I for the same hundreds dated 14 April 1626
page 234
The loan 2 Charles I ~~~~ Dated 28 Feb 1626
ditto page 250
The loan 2 Charles I ~~ Malmesbury Hundred ~~ Dated Feb 1626
page 259
Dauntsey
Edward Hutchins CLARKE
L. 40S
Richard HUNT
L. 40S
Alce MORSE vid
L. 20S
Joane PALMER
L. 20S
page 260 Dauntsey contd
Alce MORSE vid
L. 20S {repeated in the book at Trowbridge}
Joane PALMER vid L. 20S
{repeated in the book at Trowbridge}
John GIBBES
L. 20S
William RICHE
L. 20S
William WEBB
L. 20S
Robert CLARKE
L. 20S
Richard FERRIS
L. 20S
Christopher REEVE
L. 20S
Thomas DAY
L. 20S
Robert SPARROW
G. 4L
William LAWRENCE
G. 3L
Francis BUCKLE
G. 3L
John SPARROW
G. 3L
William TAYLOR
G. 3L
John YOUNGE
G. 3L
Alce ALLEN
G. 3L
From the above records it would seem that Danvers ALLIN was paying the taxes in 1603, 1610 is not clear but in 1623 and 1626 it was Alice who was paid and this Alice may have been the daughter of William WATSON; the wife of Danvers ALLIN. But in 1623 and 26 why was Alice not annotated as "vid"? Maybe this was a daughter of Danvers though why would she be paying taxes and not Robert and Simon.
Also found in Trowbridge was a microfiche of some early BTs and the one for 1607 is signed by none other than Danvers ALLIN.
For a long while I had this gap from 1607 to 1622 and Danvers died at some time in that period. Then I obtained a copy of the will of Oliver ALLSWORTH of Smithcott within the parish of Dauntsey in which one of the witnesses is Danveres ALLEN. This will was made on 14 Jan 1618.
So I conclude that Danvers ALLIN (the first one) died between 1618 and 1622.
The next recorded event is the will of William WATSON of 1622 where, in anticipation of his death, he places his younger grandchildren under the care of Thomas REEVE of Blansby Park which is just north of Pickering. Even here we see a connection to the Danvers family since they either owned or leased Blansby Park from the crown. The will also shows that some of the children were expecting to stay in the Danby area and some of them in Dauntsey.
Extract from The Manor, Lordship and Castle of Danby by John DAVISON, 1964.
On the death of John Neville, fourth and last Lord Latimer, his estate was divided between his four daughters, the youngest of whom, Elizabeth had married Sir John Danvers of Dauntsey, Wilts. Elizabeth received, as part of her share, the Manor of Danby, and so, through his wife's inheritance, Sir John Danvers became Lord of the Manor.
The records of Pickering show that Sir John rented land there at Blandesby Park, How Ings, etc. In a survey it was stated in regard to Blandesby park that Sir John claimed to hold it by lease, but could produce nothing to substantiate his claim, nor whether such lease granted the herbage of the whole park, or the keepership only, the latter being thought most probable. Some three hundred cattle were brought yearly to graze there.
In the Little Wood Pasture in Blandesby Park was situated "a fair house" lately built, and known as The Lodge, in which lived John Reeve, under-tenant to Sir John Danvers. It contained three rooms down and three up, with a court before the door, a garden of one rood, several little yards, a stable, and two barns, each of three bays. Sir John also had lands in Ebberston and Roxby.
All perquisites, fines, etc., from the Courts Baron held in Pickering and Scully every three weeks and the Courts Leat held twice yearly. were leased to Sir John at a rent of £6 13s. 4d per annum. He also had on lease, at a rent of £1 16s. 8d. per annum, all waifs, strays and deodans, felons' goods, goods of felons themselves, of fugitives and condemned persons, and all royalties of hawking, hunting, fishing and fowling.
One of the first items of information I had giving a link to Dauntsey was this letter from the Borthwick Institute at York when I was chasing any early Wills of the ALLIN family:
"The
University of York
Borthwick Institute of Historical Research
Grants of
probate and administration
Where a person died without leaving a will, and no probate file containing an administration bond and/or inventory exists, the only surviving record is normally the probate act book. These books cannot be photocopied, and there is not usually enough information in them to justify the cost of a photograph. In such cases, therefore, the Institute provides abstracts from the probate act books, translated from the Latin. This happens most often with the records of the Prerogative and Exchequer courts of York before about 1690, but can occur at other times and with other probate courts.
Order for B Hoggarth
On 2 May 1623 tuition of the person and portion of Thomas Allen, Simon and Charles Allen, children of their paternal grandfather, William Watson, [liber avi paterni Willelmi Watson] of Danby, was granted to Thomas Reve of Blansbie Parke. Thomas and others were bound.
On 1 December 1626 curation of Charles Allen, son of Davers Allen late of Dauntsey in the county of Wiltshire, deceased, according to his own free and spontaneous choice, was granted to Robert Allen, his brother, of the same place.
And on the same day there appeared before the court in person Thomas Reave of Blansby Parke, late tutor or curator to the said Charles Allen, and rendered an account of the administration of the goods of the said Charles Allen, (in the presence of the said Charles and Robert Allen, tutor or curator now chosen).
On 30 October 1627 Richard Bridges MA, Official or
Commissary of the peculiar of the Dean of York, at the petition of Thomas Reeve,
proposed a bond signed and sealed by him, for the payment of the legacy and
portion of Charles Allen, son of [blank] Allen, late of Dauntsey in the county
of Wiltshire, which was to be delivered and cancelled in the presence of the
said Charles Allen, consenting. And the Dean thus decreed."
The wills of Robert (1654) and Simon (1670) ALLIN show that they spent their lives, or at least ended them, in Dauntsey and that of Robert puts him in Smithcote which is one of the "Hamlets" which made up Dauntsey. Those who have been paying attention will remember that Sylvester DANVERS mentioned his manor of Smithcote.
The BTs for Dauntsey show:
1605 John ALLEN buried 29th January (so 1606 new style?)
1607or8 Danvers ALLIN signed the BT
1625 Robert ALLINE signed the BT as "gard".
1632 maryd the v of August Symon Allin and Mary (wicstoure?)
1672 Elizabeth the daughter of Simon and Lane ALLINE buried April 3rd
1673 Elizabeth the Daughter of Simon and Lane ALLIN buried ? September
1676 there was a Simon ALLINE churchwarden.
I've not as yet checked out the above BT information with what the transcripts of the Parish Register say.
This and the pictures below were taken in May 2002. This is Dauntsey Park House taken from across the lake which is a branch off the Avon river which is between the house and the green.
This is the church with the side of the house.
Across the road from "the big house is this which I think the locals refer
to as "The old Rectory" though the name above the door is "Roboan".
I'm not good at architecture but this house may have been the one the DANVERS' lived in; not the Park House.
It is now split into flats. The other side has a lawn leading down to the river.
This is Ideover house which is a short way down the road from the Church towards Dauntsey Green - the village.
This is the local school and Alms houses which were set up by Henry DANVERS the Earl of Danby.
Still in use and undergoing some renovation by the look of it.
As a change from the big old buildings here is a view of the road through Dauntsey Green. Why it is called "Green" I don't know. It seem to consist just of houses on either side of the road.
This view is taken down the end of Sodom Lane which used to go to Sodom but now
the M4 gets in the way. This is the view you get from the M4 to the north
between junctions 17 and 16.
Home Idover Demense Farm on the road from Dauntsey up towards Little Somerford.
Idover Demense Farm a bit further up the road towards Little Somerford.
This is the purpose of the days visit - Great Smithcote Farm on the Brinkworth
road. There is also Little Smithcote farm closer in to Dauntsey and
another one in between but this one seemed the biggest and oldest and most
likely to have some connection with Robert ALLIN who described himself as a
Gentleman in the 1600s. Though it looks like two houses in the photo it is
only one building. Though the
family who run the farm have been there for a few generations their knowledge
does not go back as far as the 17th century. They knew of no one in the
village who was called ALLIN. They did say that according to tradition
King Charles had slept at the house which, if right, means that the house is old
enough to have been where Robert ALLIN lived and maybe even was the house of
Danvers ALLIN.
Below on the left is a farmhouse half way down Smithcote Lane which also looks like it has been there for quite some time. On the right is the Little Smithcote Farm which is at the bottom of Smithcote Lane. Neither quite as grand as the Great Smithcote Farm but potentially where Robert ALLIN lived.
Researching for information regarding Smithcote at the County Record Office at Trowbridge on 6th and 7th April 2004:
They don't hold Manorial records for Dauntsey which may be at the PRO DL 43/9/26 Duchy of Lancaster. They do have six indentures relating to Smithcote the oldest of which is 1474 but most are in the region of 1648 to 1669 and cover the Leasing or sale from Sir John Danvers of Chelsea to Jeffery Pinnell of Nash House Bremhill and thereafter Daniel Weekes of Bradon or Brinkworth. The occupiers are give at various times as Richard Pannell, Edward Choker, John Skull. Presumably these occupiers held the land. Others would have lived there but need not have been mentioned. There was a chapel at Smithcote in 1474 so around 1600 there was probably a substantial village there whereas now it is just a lane with two or three farms.
I noticed that the record office at Trowbridge has (show in the index) a Sales Catalogue for the 1906 sale of the MEUX estate which includes Dauntsey and such items as Little Smithcot and Great Smithcot farms (and Ferris farm). That might not contain much old information but the solicitors who handled the transaction might have some really old title deeds.
Other wills (contemporary transcripts from PRO) of people related to Dauntsey which I have obtained are:
John ROBINSON, Parson, 1581
(mentions these surnames - DANVERS of Baynton, DANVERS of Dauncy, YOUNG, HARFORD,
LEA, SPARROW, CLARKE, JONES, BUCKLE?)
Henry NEWNTON, husbandman, 1586
(mentions these surnames - WEARDE, COXE, SHEARER, OWEN, DANVERS (or SHEPPERD),
HASKINS, SPARROW, PINNELL.
John HABERLY als CLERK, Yeoman, 1587
(mentions these surnames - SMITH, HATHERELL, ANDREWS, PHELPS, EVORD?, LEA,
SPARROW, REEVE. MERIMONTH?.
Thomas LEA, Yeoman, 1599
(mentions these surnames - EVRODE?, PALMER, FERRIS, CHESTER, AWSTE?, PHELPES,
SINGLE, MORSE, CORINTH, DOVE, SKULE, REVE, MERRIMOUTH, COWLES, THRESHER, ALLEN,
CLARKE, SALLEY, LEWIS, PRATER, HENLIE, BYE, BREWER?)
William REEVE of the Groves, Dauntsey, Husbandman, 1610
(mentions these surnames - PAINE, PAYNE, HARTE,
Anne REEVE, widow of Crofte?, Dauntsey, 1615
(mentions these surnames - SKULL, WEBB, CLARK, PALMER, WATSON, BROME, HERREN?,
FRANKLIN, PAYNE of Goatacre, PAINE.
Oliver ALLWORTH, of Smithcott, Yeoman, 1618
(mentions these surnames - MODY, COMPTON, DANVERS, WAITE, PRATER, WEEKES,
RATCLIFFE, ALLEN.
William TAYLOR, Clothier, 1635
(mentions these surnames - HAWKINS of Chippenham, HUNT, MORSE, FERRES of Sutton
Bangor, PEACOCK.
Richard HUNT, Yeoman, 1644
(mentions these surnames - TURNER, PARIS, MORSE, WAITE?, BASKERVILE, LATIMER)