Genealogy & Family History

Pedigree of Tankard of Whixley

Brampton Hall, a farm house in Langthorpe, Boroughbridge was for several generations the residence of the ancient family of the Tankards (Tancreds)

Sir Richard Tancred,or Tankard(about 1608-1668), married Mary Nevile, daughter of Francis Nevile of Chevet). As a royalist compounded for his estates under the Commonwealth, he was knighted by Charles II for his services and sufferings during the rebellion.

Notes re Sir William Tankard of Branton in Com, a hamlet in the parish of Cantley, Doncaster; His daughter Catherine married Henry Norton of Boroughbridge. They had 3 children

Thomas Tanckerd of Brampton esquire was married to Frances, a daughter and co-heir of Christopher Maltby of Mustone esquire who was deceased by 1631.

(Catherine daughter of Christopher Maltby was married to Michael Warton of Beverley who was killed at Scarborough Castle.)

Christopher Tancred, (1689–1754), was born on 11 Nov. 1689 at Whixley. He was the second son of Christopher Tancred of Whixley, Yorkshire and Catherine, daughter of Sir John Armytage of Kirklees. His father was High Sheriff of Yorkshire, and was master of the harriers to William III . His great-grandfather, was Sir Richard Tancred.

He had some training as a lawyer, and after his father's death, on 21 Nov. 1705, he spent most of his time at Whixley, performing the duties of a county justice. In 1727 he published an 'Essay for a General Regulation of the Law and the more easy and speedy Advancement of Justice,'

With his character of law reformer Tancred combined that of racing-man and horse-dealer. He spent part of his time at Newmarket, where he possessed a small property, which he ultimately left to Christ's College, Cambridge, for the purpose of endowing an exhibition, and in 1734 he served the minister of the Duke of Mecklenburg then resident in London as 'gentleman of the horse and domestick', he was employed to buy horses for the minister.

He died at Whixley, unmarried, on August 21st, 1754, and is said to have determined to disinherit his five sisters, Catharine Tancred, Dorothy Lambert, Ann Tancred, Elizabeth Dobson and Ursula Tancred, owing to some monetary disagreement with them.

Copy of will of Christopher Tancred 1746.
He wanted the Estate to be enjoyed by heirs of his own body. Failing this, rather than divide the estate amongst his five sisters he willed it to be vested in Trustees for the use of these Charities. He had several other estates than Whixley and Green Hammerton - tithes of Minskip etc. His father, in a will dated Aug. 20, 1705 had willed that in case of Christopher's death without issue......reversion of his Real Estate was to go to Marmaduke Cogill Esq. provided he married one of the daughters. Marmaduke Cogill died without marrying any of the daughters. Christopher Tancred declared that the estate was therefore his, absolutely, and that no legal opposition could be made to his will. He left his five sisters, Catharine Tancred, Dorothy Lambert, Ann Tancred, Elizabeth Dobson and Ursula Tancred Heap, one shilling each, and many unkind words. His housekeeper, Mrs. Elizabeth Tottingham, was left £60 p.a. tax free and rooms in Whixley Hall for life, and made residuary legatee and executor. She died before completing administration.

'Tancred's Charity' was established under the provisions of his will, made in 1746. His sisters, unsuccessfully challenged his will, and by decree in Chancery in November 1757 the Charity was established and in 1762 recognised by Act of Parliament.

The Charity provided for 4 Divinity, 4 Physics and 4 Common Law studentships, and for the students to continue their studies for three years after taking a degree. These students had to be 16 years or over when admitted, born in Great Britain, members of the Church of England, and "of such low ability as not to be capable of obtaining education directed by the Settlement without the aid of charity". Divinity and Physics students were to be no more than 22 when admitted, and Law students under the age of 25. A student from each branch was required to make a speech in Latin, yearly, in the Halls of two Colleges, and Lincoln's Inn, in perpetual remembrance of the Charity. Twelve pensioners were to be housed in 'Tancred's Hospital'' , formerly Whixley Manor House. They were to be 'decayed and necessitated gentlemen, clergymen, commissioned officers or sea officers', aged 50 years when admitted. They were to have been born in Great Britain, members of the Church of England, and to be called 'Tancred's Pensioners'. Married men were ineligible.