B3 - Wilfrey Walker, 1530

see cht. 1-0

Wilfrey Walker was born in Littletown, Yorkshire, England, a Hamlet of Liversedge Manor, in Birstall Parish in c1530, the 2nd child of William Walker II. His mother’s name is unknown at this time.

On 28 July, 1562 Wilfrey married Cicely Bower in Birstall Parish church in Batley. Wilfrey and Cicely took up residence at the Hollins in the Township of Heckmondwicke of the county of York, where he was a clothier. Hollins was a group of houses, known as a “Stedding” that were originally built together for mutual protection and neighbourliness for people of the same trade. Heckmondwicke, as you can imagine, was often spelled in different ways ending in “dwicke”, dwyke”, “dwike” or “duike”, depending on which document one is reading. For example Wilfrey was mentioned in his brother William’s will as being of Heckmondwyke.

During the medieval period in England there existed a court, known as “Fleet of Fines” which settled disputes, including those of land ownership, which was mentioned in a book by Frank Peel entitled “Spen Valley - Past Present”. These courts were controlled by magistrates appointed by the reigning Monarch. They ceased to exist in most places in England about 1600. In the “Fleet of Fines records of 1592, Trinity Term 34 Elizabeth”, Wilfrey’s name appears as the Plaintiff. The name and site of property quoted is “Lands at Heckmondwike” and the “Deforciants” are quoted as being Anthony Robinson and his wife. Note:- A “Deforciant” is one who withholds property or land wrongfully or by force, from the rightful owner”

Wilfrey and Cicely had 8 children, very likely all born at Hollins House:

Alice bap. 12 -8-1563 bur

Mary bap. 2 -12-1565 bur

William bap 25 -1-1568 bur 20-7-1630

Hellen bap 8 -8-1570 bur 9-2-1572

John bap 24-11-1573 bur

Agnes bap c1575 bur

Roberte bap 19 -6-1576 bur

Alice married Robert Woods, date unknown. As Alice is mentioned in her father’s Will she must have lived at least until 1620. Mary married Arthure Chambers on 10 July (5th month) 1593 at Birstall Parish Church. She too is mentioned in her father’s Will. It is not known whether William, John and Roberte ever married, but they are all mentioned in their father’s Will of May 1620. Agnes married Thomas Stubley on 22 Aug. 1602 under what is thought to be very precarious circumstances. The Birstall Parish records state that the marriage was by “Licence”. It is believed that this could have been because they had a child, Richard, born about 1598, out of wedlock. There is further evidence to support this in Wilfrey’s Will.

The Will of Wilfrey Walker

In the name of god Amen the fifteenth day of May Anno Dom. 1620 I Wilfrey Walker of the Hollings in Heckmondwicke in the county of York clothier being old and aged in years yet of sound body and right mind and perfect memory (praise be God for the favour) yet calling to mind the uncertainty of this world and here nothing is more certain than death and nothing more uncertain than the hour and time thereof, do advisedly make, publish and declare this my last Will and Testament in writing in manner and form following. That is to say First I commit my soul into the hands of almighty God my maker and of Jesus Christ his only son our Lord, my only saviour and redeemer by and through whose merits, death and passion I hope to be saved and to have free pardon and compassion of all my sins. And my body I yield to the earth decently to be buried in the Churchyard at Birstall. And as touching and concerning my temporal and worldly goods, I dispose the same as follows, that is to say First I give and bequeath unto Richard Stubley son of Thomas Stubley deceased to whom I am godfather the sum of twenty marks of lawful money of England and one pair of bedstocks with all the bed clothes and furniture thereto belonging which I use to lie in, and my ark called the new ark. Also I give my daughter Alice now wife of Robert Wood ii s and to my daughter Mary wife of Arthure Chambers another ii s and to William Walker, John Walker and Robert Walker my sons only for them ii s apiece in full satisfaction to them and every of them of all............. and rights as which they or any of them can or may claim out of my goods by and after my death and I do constitute and make the said Richard Stubley sole executor of this my Will and Testament. In witness whereof I have here unto set my seal the day and year first above written / Witnesses hereof Thomas Ouldroyd, Michael Drake, Robert Ouldroyd, Edward Wilson, Mary Wilson / .AnnD...Dominus.............................................

Note:- One Mark was equal to; two/thirds of £1 (in silver) or 13 shillings 4 pence, or 67 pence.

There are few items worth commenting on, in this Will, mostly concerning Richard, who Wilfrey claims as his Godson and whom he has appointed Executor of his Will and who is the main beneficiary of the Will. As noted above Richard was born out of wedlock. The reasons for stating this are several. One, that he must have been born about 1598 to have been of majority age to have legally been appointed executor of Wilfrey’s Will. Two, his parents, Agnes and Thomas were married by licence. Three, Wifrey seems to have been excessively concerned about being “saved and to have free pardon and compassion of all my sins” and yet he refers to his Grandson as being his Godson (in those days he probably could not acknowledge an illegitimate child directly as a grandson, but could acknowledge him as a Godson) and he makes him his major beneficiary. It appears that he has taken on the responsibility of the sins of his daughter and is trying desperately to atone for her through her son, especially when she is apparently deceased at this time, as is his son-in-law Thomas. These comments are based primarily on supposition, however there appears to be sufficient evidence to support the case for stating that Richard was born out of wedlock, at least until further evidence is discovered to prove otherwise.

Wilfrey Walker died in 1620 at Hollins in Heckmondwicke, Yorkshire, a clothier, and was buried in the Church yard at Birstall on 21 Aug. 1620. His wife, Cicely Bower’s date of death and burial are unknown at this time.

Note:- All dates are “Old Calendar” dates.

Sources:-

• Richard Walker, Formby, Eng.

• William Walker III’s Will

• Wilfrey Walker’s Will

• Birstall Parish Records, Yorks. Eng.

• Borthwick Institute, York City, Eng.

By - R. B. Walker, Eng. & H.L. Walker, Can - Rev:- 28 November, 2001