Wakefield Family History Sharing
Wakefield Grammar School
transcribed from 'The History of Wakefield Grammar School' by M H Peacock, MA, B Mus, the 21st Headmaster.
Written in commemoration of the 300th Anniversary of its foundation
printed 1892 by W H Milnes, The Radcliffe Printing Works
List of Govenors of Wakefield Grammar School
At the bottom of each page of the book there are details of the Govenors occupations, where they lived etc. I will include these details along side the name of each Govenor.
Govenors List 109-200 ¦ 201-260 ¦ other School Representives
No. |
Name |
When elected |
Vice |
How Vacated |
When Vacated |
1 |
Sir George Savile Kt & Bt. A member of the Thornhill branch of the family being born in 1550, created baronet in 1611, appointed High Sheriff of Yorkshire in 1614. |
Nov 19 1591 |
- |
dec |
Nov 12 1622 |
2 |
John Savile, esq Steward of Wakefield, a member of the Saviles of Howley Hall, born in 1556, appointed "custos rotulorum" and Steward of Wakefield, Pontefract and Bradford, six times elected Member of Parliament and created Baron Savile of Pontefract by Charles I and appointed first Alderman or Mayor Leeds in 1626, giving the borough the owls of the Savile crest as supporters. |
" |
- |
dec |
Aug 31 1630 |
3 |
Thomas Savile, esq "our surveyour in those partes", possibly the younger son of the Thornhill family. |
" |
- |
dec |
1599 |
4 |
Robert Bradford, esq Was of Bradford Hall, later moving to Clarke Hall, Stanley |
" |
- |
by 1605 |
|
5 |
George Savile, gent May by some be considered the real founder of the school. He lived at Hasledon Hall, Northgate, purchasing the property from the Pegge (Peck) family in 1584. He is described as a Blackwall Hall man, meaning he was a merchant selling woollen cloth in the hall of that name in Basinghall Street, near the Guildhall, London. He was the younger son of Thomas Savile of Wakefield and grandson of Thomas Savile of Lupset. He died in 1593 leaving two sons, George and Thomas whose names are on the walls of the old school |
" |
- |
dec |
Oct 1593 |
6 |
Henry Arthington, gent was the owner of Milnthorpe, Sandal |
" |
- |
res |
Feb 20 1609-10 |
7 |
Richard Sproxton, gent was connected by the Saviles by marriage with Dorothy daughter of Henry Savile of Bradley, and sister of Sir John Savile of Methley and Sir Henry Savile of Merton College, Oxford |
" |
- |
by 1605 |
|
8 |
Roger Pollard, yeoman Residing in Westgate, Wakefield was probably the father of William Pollard, chapman of Westgate whose name appears amongst the benefactors of the school
|
" |
- |
by 1605 |
|
9 |
Richard Clayton, yeoman was a draper of Westgate and his daughter married Thomas, son of George Savile of Haselden Hall |
" |
- |
dec |
Dec 1610 |
10 |
William Savile, yeoman was the Deputy Steward to the Manor of Wakefield and Steward of the Manor of Newland. He performed valuable service in a legal capacity by executing free of charge the formalities for enrolling the charter and other deeds and was the first Spokesman of the Govenors of the School |
" |
- |
dec |
b Oct 29 1622 |
11 |
Thomas Cave, yeoman was another chapman or draper from Westgate. He subsequently became one of the chief benefactors of the school by establishing the Scholorships which bear his name at Clare College, C|ambridge. He also founded the Grammar School at Otley. |
" |
- |
dec |
in 1603 |
12 |
Henry Watkinson, yeoman lived in Westgate, Wakefield and was probably a mercher like his son Edward |
" |
- |
by 1605 |
|
13 |
John Battie, yeoman another chapman, draper from Westgagte |
" |
- |
dec |
b May 1 1623 |
14 |
Thomas Robinson, yeoman lived in Northgate, which then only contained a few houses near the Church and Haseldean Hall at its extreme end, then called 'Northgate Head'. The bulk of the houses being at the other 'gate' streets- West, Kirk and Warren |
" |
- |
dec |
June 1623 |
15 |
Rev. William Lister, MA Vicar of Wakefield 1598-1620 |
1601 |
- |
dec |
b Jun 6 1624 |
16 |
Rev. Richard Lisgter, MA of Milnthorpe, Sandal, buried at Wakefield Aug 26 1632. Called ' clericus valde doctus' |
1601 |
- |
res |
May 2 1611 |
17 |
John Fleming, gent |
1601 |
- |
dec |
b Sept 28 1619 |
18 |
John Jackson |
1601 |
- |
res |
Oct 5 1614 |
19 |
John Mawde of Northgate, Wakefield |
1601 |
- |
- |
Mar 1634-5 |
20 |
Edward Watkinson will be found ind the list of benefactors. There is also mention of him being a Govenor in 1603 ; but there is much confusion of him and his father !! |
Nov 5 1605 |
- |
dec |
Apl 1609 |
21 |
Andrew Scatcherd chapman or draper of Northgate, Wakefield |
Nov 5 1605 |
- |
- |
b Dec 16 1630 |
22 |
William Rhodes chapman or draper of Crofton |
Apl 3 1609 |
6 |
- |
about 1620 |
23 |
Hugh Cressy, esq a barrister of Lincoln's Inn, Steward of the Rectory Manor of Wakefield : He resigned in consequence of 'being sent as a judge to Ireland' |
Apl 11 1609 |
20 |
res |
June 1633 |
24 |
Christopher Naylor, gent joint Lord of the Rectory Manor of Wakefield with William vernon of Soothill ; lived at Flanshaw |
Dec 20 1610 |
9 |
dec |
Oct 2 1628 |
25 |
George Wharton, draper buried Sept 2 1620 |
May 2 1611 |
16 |
dep |
Sep 30 1612 |
26 |
George Spivie chapman of Northgate, Wakefield |
Sep 30 1612 |
25 |
dec |
Oct 1619 |
27 |
William Pollard, chapman |
Oct 12 1614 |
18 |
- |
Feb 1639-40 |
28 |
John Greenwood a French merchant, builder of Wrenthorpe Hall or Red Hall in 1620 |
Oct 4 1619 |
26 |
dec |
b Nov 1635 |
29 |
Thomas Somaster, gent Master of the Wakefield House of Correction, succeeded by his son John in 1641 |
Oct 4 1619 |
17 |
war |
b Jul 12 1644 |
30 |
Robert Waterhouse mercer of Northgate, Wakefield |
- |
22 |
dec |
b Nov 7 1621 |
31 |
Rev Timothy Mawde, DD vicar of Wakefield 1620-1625 |
Dec 20 1621 |
30 |
dec |
July 1625 |
32 |
Richard Tayler, gent William Pauldon was elected on Nov 2 but refused to take office |
Nov 6 1622 |
10 |
dec |
b Feb 7 1628-9 |
33 |
Henry Grice, esq of Sandal |
Dec 24 1622 |
1 |
dec |
Feb 26 1629-30 |
34 |
Cotton Horne built almshouses for 10 poor women in 1646; was re-elected Govenor in Jan 1638-9 (no 50) |
Jun 17 1623 |
14 |
dep |
Apl 8 1624 |
35 |
John Battie, gent lived at Alverthorpe, probably the son of the former John Battie, yeoman (no 13) |
Jun 17 1623 |
13 |
- |
1630-1633 |
36 |
William Paulden had previously refused to take office (see No 32) |
Sep 30 1624 |
15 |
war |
1640-1649 |
37 |
John Storie doubtless the father of the great benefactor of the school, who lived atr Hasleborrow in Derbyshire, ws born Nov 15 1621 and died in 1674 |
Sep 30 1624 |
34 |
war |
1640-1649 |
38 |
Sir John Savile, Kt of Lupset. The statutes were altered to admit of his election : he was famous during the Civil War, being a local commander of the Parliamentarian forces and holding Howley Hallo against the Royalists : he died May 5 1660 and was buried at Horbury |
Jul 27 1625 |
31 |
dep |
Sep 30 1650 |
39 |
Rev James Lister, MA educated at the school : Cave Scholar at Clare Hall, Cambridge :
Usher of the School, 1621-23 : Vicar of |
Feb 25 1628-9 |
32 |
war |
1640-1649 |
40 |
Henry Savile, gent of Lupset, the son of Sir George Savile of Thornhill and Lupset, Kt & BT (No 1) |
Mar 1 1629-30 |
33 |
- |
1630-1633 |
41 |
James Stansfield |
Sep 1630 |
2 |
res |
Jan 23 1638-91 |
42 |
Francis Hey |
Dec 21 1630 |
21 |
dep |
Oct 11 1627 |
43 |
Thomas Cooke |
1630-1633 |
35 or 40 |
war |
1640-1649 |
44 |
John Lyon |
1630-1633 |
35 or 40 |
war |
1640-1649 |
45 |
Leonard Wilson John Kaye was elected to serve on June 14 but declined to serve. |
Jun 17 1633 |
23 |
war |
b Mar 28 1643 |
46 |
John Keyser to this gentleman the school is indebted for its survival of the Civil War with so little loss. He and Thomas Burrow (No 48) appear to have been the only Govenors who were left, with the exception of Sir John Savile in 1649. Mr Waller with the schoolmaster of that time, Rev Robert Doughty, took the necessary steps for the future welfare of the school. |
Mar 23 1634-5 |
19 |
war |
1640-1649 |
47 |
William Waller (see No 46) |
Nov 17 1635 |
28 |
dec |
Feb 1662-3 |
48 |
Thomas Burrow (see No 46) |
Nov 1 1637 |
42 |
dec |
Mar 1649-50 |
49 |
Gervase Nevile, gent great-grandson of Sir John Nevile of Chevet, died Feb 1676, aged 80 : there is reason to believe he left the country during the Civil War, returning when it was over. |
Oct 5 1638 |
24 |
war |
1640-1649 |
50 |
Cotton Horne, gent (see No 34) |
Jan 31 1638-9 |
41 |
war |
1640-1649 |
51 |
Robert Brownlow, MD a well known medical man in Wakefield who died in 1663 |
Feb 15 1639-40 |
27 |
war |
1640-1649 |
52 |
Edward Watkinson |
Oct 1 1649 |
29 |
res |
May 1664 |
53 |
Daniel Oley, gent |
" |
36 |
dec |
b Jan 21 1672-3 |
54 |
Christopher Wilson |
" |
37 |
res |
June 1674 |
55 |
Richard Wilson in 1672 he gave a "close of land commonly called and known by the name of Ingholme with the apurtenances lying and being at or near Thornes" the rents to be divided in to 5 equal portions and be given to the Vicar and Curate of Wakefield, the Head Master and Usher of the Free Grammar School at Wakefield and the poor of Wakefield |
" |
39 |
- |
Oct 1653 |
56 |
Peter Mogson |
" |
44 |
res |
Jun 22 1658 |
57 |
William Harrison of Stanley |
" |
43 |
dec |
b Feb 20 1652-3 |
58 |
John Issott |
" |
45 |
- |
Sep 1657 |
59 |
Christopher Holdsworth |
" |
46 |
res |
Sep 1664 |
60 |
Thomas Norton |
" |
49 |
res |
Apl 5 1653 |
61 |
John Waterhouse |
" |
50 |
- |
after Oct 1688 |
62 |
Nathan Dodgson John Clayton, esq was elected vice Dr Brownlow on Oct 1 1649 but declined to serve ; Joseph Holdsworth was next elected on Mar 20 1649-50 and likewise declined |
June 11 1650 |
51 |
dec |
b Jul 30 1663 |
63 |
William Mason, Lieut Daniel Mawde of Alverthorpe, gent was elected on Mar 20 to fill the vacancy but declared himself not to be 30 years of age until the following September 14 ; he was again elected on Feb 23 1652-3, but declined to serve, but being elected a third time on Jan 25 1672-3 he accepted the office. |
June 11 1650 |
48 |
res |
Oct 1664 |
64 |
Josias Rooe May 2 1654 he resigned "by reasons of some weakness it hath pleased God to lay upon me" Richard Norfolke is chosen in his stead but vetoed by Mr Doughty |
Nov 12 1650 |
38 |
res |
May 2 1654 |
65 |
John Wilson a mercer in Wakefield |
Apl 5 1653 |
57 |
dec |
b Aug 7 1671 |
66 |
George Radcliffe Govenor of the Wakefield House of Correction from 1647-1661, an attorney and probably the father of the famous Dr John Radcliffe. |
Apl 5 1653 |
60 |
dec |
b Jun 25 1674 |
67 |
Thomas Pease a clothier in Wakefield |
Oct 18 1653 |
55 |
- |
bef Mar 1682 |
68 |
John Robinson His initials appear on the Font in Wakefield Cathedral as a Church Warden in 1661. Richard Norfolke was elected on May 2 1654 but vetoed by Mr Doughty : John Potter was next elected on Oct 17 but again vetoed |
June 12 1655 |
64 |
- |
after 1676 |
69 |
Rev Thomas Walker, DD "Our Vicar for the time being" put in possession by Cromwell |
Sep 30 1657 |
58 |
dec |
June 25 1660 |
70 |
James Clayton |
Aug 10 1658 |
56 |
res |
Sep 30 1661 |
71 |
John Mawde, gent son of John Mawde, Alverthorpe, gent |
Aug 28 1660 |
69 |
b Mar 18 1666-7 |
|
72 |
Rev James Lister, MA |
Sep 30 1661 |
70 |
- |
bef Sep 1677 |
73 |
Richard Birkhead of Newland, removed to Crofton in 1677 and perhaps became thereby disqualified for holding offiice |
Feb 24 1662-3 |
47 |
- |
bef Dec 1683 |
74 |
Charles Naylor |
Aug 3 1663 |
62 |
not before 1694 |
|
75 |
William Briggs |
May 25 1664 |
52 |
- |
aboutb1678 |
76 |
Thomas Binns a grocer in Wakefield |
Sep 30 1664 |
59 |
dec |
b Jan16 1668-9 |
77 |
William Denison, gent son and heir of Timothy Denison of Flanshaw, Steward of the Rectory Manor of Wakefield. In 1684 he gave one moiety of his tithes called Clifford Tithe to the Vicar of Wakefield, two-thirds of the other moiety to the poor of Wakefield and the third part of the second moeity to the govenors of the School, to be divided into three parts, two for the masters and one for the Usher |
Oct 24 1664 |
63 |
- |
bef Dec 1679 |
78 |
Matthew Meager a merchant, built a staircase in the Parish Church |
Mar 25 1667 |
71 |
res |
Jan 26 1674-5 |
79 |
John Clough, mercer |
Jan 20 1668-9 |
76 |
dec |
b Mar 16 1674-5 |
80 |
Robert Benson, esq of Red Hall, or Wrenthorpe Hall, clerk of the assize for the Northern Circuit : MP for Aldborough, father of Lord Bingley |
Aug 6 1671 |
65 |
dec |
July 1676 |
81 |
Daniel Mawde, gent son of John Mawde of Alverthorpe, gent, born Sept 14 1620. Steward of the Rectory Manor of Wakefield in 1684 |
Jan 25 1672-3 |
53 |
- |
bef Dec 1710 |
82 |
Thomas Cheriholme |
June 4 1674 |
66 |
- |
after Oct 1688 |
83 |
Toby Sill, gent a Wakefield mercer buried June 21 1695 at Wakefield, father of James Sill (see No 105) |
June 4 1674 |
54 |
- |
after 1679 |
84 |
Thomas Bargh Richard Norfolk was elected Jan 26 but declined to serve. |
Feb 3 1674-5 |
78 |
- |
after Sep 1684 |
85 |
Francis Somester |
Mar 22 1674-5 |
79 |
dec |
b Apl 12 1675 |
86 |
Rev Obadiah Lee, MA Vicar of Warmfield, previously Curate of Wakefield in 1671, and subsequently Vicar of Wakefieldfrom 1677 to 1700. |
Apl 19 1675 |
85 |
- |
after Oct 1688 |
87 |
Thomas Horsfield |
July 20 1676 |
80 |
- |
bef Jul 1681 |
88 |
Richard Ellis |
bef Oct 1680 |
- |
- |
after 1693 |
89 |
Richard Witton, esq., sen of Lupset Hall, a famous Barrister, Commission fo Lord Fairfax, Lord of The Rectory Manor of Wakefield, died April 15 1718. |
bef 1680 |
- |
- |
bef May 1718 |
90 |
Richard Wheatley |
bef Oct 1684 |
- |
- |
bef Feb 1715-6 |
91 |
Francis White, esq JP for the West Riding and Chief Steward of the Manor of Wakefield, died in Nov 1692 |
bef Oct 1684 |
- |
- |
bef Dec 1692 |
92 |
John Scott, gent Deputy Steward of the Manor of Wakefield |
bef Oct 1684 |
- |
- |
about May 1703 |
93 |
George Redshaw |
bef Oct 1684 |
- |
- |
bef Feb 1715-6 |
94 |
Joseph Watkinson of Flanshaw Hall, buried March 30 1723 |
bef Oct 1684 |
- |
- |
bef Apl 1723 |
95 |
William Turner died June 21 1699 |
bef Nov 1689 |
- |
- |
bef Jul 1690 |
96 |
Richard Thornton perhaps Recorder of Leeds, who died October 7 1710 |
bef Nov 1689 |
- |
- |
bef Feb 1715-6 |
97 |
Francis Nevile, esq of Chevet, son of Sandford Nevile, esq ; died June 2 1707 |
bef Nov 1689 |
- |
- |
bef Jul 1707 |
98 |
William Haward, sen |
bef Nov 1689 |
- |
- |
bef Apl 1694 |
99 |
Thomas Brooke lived in Westgate, Steward of the Rectory Manor of Wakefield, buried July 25 1703 |
bef 1695 |
- |
- |
bef Aug 1703 |
100 |
Nicholas Fenay of Fenay, died March 21 1710 |
bef 1695 |
- |
- |
bef Apl 1710 |
101 |
Thomas Wilson, gent |
bef 1695 |
- |
- |
bef Mar 1722 |
102 |
John Smyth, esq of Heath, Lord of the Rectory Manor of Wakefield, died Dec 25 1729 |
bef 1695 |
- |
- |
bef Nov 1723 |
103 |
Benjamin Watkinson, MD |
Mar 31 1695 |
- |
dec |
Jul 7 1726 |
104 |
Sir Lyon Pilkington, Bt of Stanley, died in 1714, aged 54, buried in the Pilkington Chapel at Wakefield Cathedral |
bef 1696 |
- |
- |
bef 1715 |
105 |
James Sill, gent mercer of Wakefield, son of Toby Sill. He bequeathed £30 to the Trustees and Govenors of The Grammar School to be imployed by them in such a manner as they see fit for the benefit of the school |
bef 1700 |
- |
res |
bef Nov 1723 |
106 |
Theophilus Shelton, gent the First Registrar of Deeds for the West Riding, Justice of the Peace and Commission for Land tax. |
bef 1700 |
- |
- |
bef Nov 1723 |
107 |
Rev Thomas Scott, MA educated at the school, Cave Scholar at Clare Hall, Cambridge : Vicar of Wakefield from 1701 - 1729 |
Mar 24 1700-1 |
- |
dec |
Apl 14 1729 |
108 |
William Coppendale owner of Nether Hall, Hiorbury and a tabaconist in trade at Wakefield. |
bef 1701 |
- |
- |
bef Mar 1712-3 |
Note :- The first column gives the order of seniority.
The second column gives the name and title of the Govenor at the time of election
The third column is the date of election.
Fourth column gives the number of the Govenor he succeeded.
The firth column is the reason for the termination of office : Dec - Deceased ; Dep - Deposed ; Dis - Disqualified by non residence within the proper limits or non attendance at meetings ; Res - Resigned ; War -Died or left the district during the Civil War.
The sixth column is the date when the term of office was terminated ; B - Buried.
© C Sklinar 2004