Genealogy & Family History
Notes & Queries
Woodyeare of Crookhill
The associated coat of arms is recorded in Sir Bernard Burkes General Armory. Ulster King of Arms in 1884. Registered at Crookhill, County York. Granted in the year 1663 to George Woodyeare.
The Rev. John-Fountain-Woodyeare, of Crookhill, was born 11 March, 1809; he married 8th August, 1843 to Mary-Jane, daughter of William Phillips, Esq.,they had two sons:
- Fountain William, b. 6 April, 1846
- Richard-Elwin, b. 23 Aug. 1853.
This family is of Kentish origin, the earliest mention according to Burke was William Wodier, of Chatham, Kent, in whose will, dated 1454, he names his son Robert, from them (most probably) descended:
Edward Woodyeare, of Cowling, or Cooling, Kent, b.abt. 1520, whose will is dated 1583. His eldest son, William Woodyeare, of Cowling m. Ann, dau. of William Fant. His will, dated 5 Jan. 1605, was proved at Rochester, 26 Oct. 1607. They had issue, five sons:
- Thomas, of Cowling
- William,MA
- George, of Bully Hill, near Rochester, whose son George appeared, in 1663, and entered his arms and descent at the Visitation of Kent
- Richard, DD
- Robert, who died about 1607.
The 4th son, Richard Woodyeare, of Cowling, D.D., prebendary of Rochester, m. Katharine, dau. of Ambrose Egleston, Esq. of Egleston Hall, Lancaster, and had issue (beside Richard and Thomas):
William Woodyeare, Gent, of York and Crookhill, b. 3O Nov. 1616 ; m. 18 July, 1649, Grace, dau of Francis Wood, Gent of the Minster Yard, York, and d. 19 Aug. 1689, having had issue, two sons and five daughters:
The 2nd son, George Woodyeare, Esq. of Crookhill, b. Aug. 1650 (sometime secretary to Sir William Temple), m. 21 Feb. 1687, Alice, sole dau. of the Rev. Richard Tatham, rector of Kirklington, York, and had eldest son, William, his heir ; and a dau., Mary, to Francis Drake, Esq. of York, F.S.A., author of Eboracum and brother of Samuel Drake,minister at Treeton.
Mr. Woodyeare died 11 Nov. 1710, and was was buried at Conisbrough; he was succeeded by his eldest son, William Woodyeare, Esq. of Crookhill, and the Middle Temple, London, D.L., b.19 March, 1689, who m. Catherine, dau. of John Revel, Esq. of Ogston, Derby, widow of Sir Paul Jenkinson, of Walton, Derbyshire, and sister and co-heir (with Mary, wife of Richard Turbutt, Esq. of Doncaster) of William Revel, Esq. of Ogston. By this lady (who d at Bath, 1749) Mr. Woodyeare left, at his decease,in 1748 2 children:
- Mary, b.1759, m.to Hon Morgan Vane
- John Woodyeare, Esq. of Crookhill, J.P. and D.L, baptised 27 Feb. 1727; m. 19 Feb. 1761, Frances, eldest dau. of Richard Turbutt, Esq. of Doncaster (who died 25 March, 1810). By his wife he had issue, three daughters and co-heirs:
- Mary, b.23 Nov. 1763; m. 1791, Charles Tibbitts, Esq. of Barton Seagrave, Northampton
- Eleanor, b. 12 March, 1765 ; m. Dec. 1791, John Dod, Esq. of Cloverly,Shropshire (his second wife)
- Frances, b. 20 May, 1767; m. 10 Feb. 1801, Fountain-John Elwin, Esq., grandson of Peter Elwin, Esq. of Boton, Norfolk.
Fountain-John Elwin, in pursuance of a covenant in his marriage settlement, assumed, at the death of his father-in-law, in 1812, the surname and arms of Woodyeare, and became Fountain-John Woodyeare. Children:
- John-Fountain-Woodyeare
- Richard Peter, Lieut. 67th regiment, d. 10 Aug. 1835
- Frances-Ann, m. 1846, to the Rev. Edward-Mainwaring
Mr. Fountain-John Woodyeare, of Crookhill d. 25 Feb. 1841 ; his widow survived until 12 June, 1844.
Crookhill House was described by Pevsner as 'a plain Georgian house with seven bays and two stories'. It was probably built by John's father.
John matriculated at Trinity College, Cambridge, in 1748, and both his parents died in the same year, so that, when he set out on his grand tour of Europe, in 1750, he was in full possession of the family fortunes. He married in 1761 Frances Turbutt and died without male issue in 1812, leaving four daughters.
In 1729, an agreement was reached between William Woodyeare and Katherine his wife, and Richard Turbutt of Doncaster esq, and William Wragge of Stretton Hall, North Wingfield yeoman and Thomas Clay junior of Higham yeoman, whereby Wragge and Clay may enter the Clay Cross Close in Stretton to dig for coal for term of 21 years
A Genealogical and Heraldic Dictionary of the Landed Gentry of Great Britain and Ireland By Sir Bernard Burke
©2004