Pedigree I - Acaster Malbisse

“Visitation of Yorkshire,” Edited by Foster, 1487, fo. 254, b. Yorks.

Pedigree from Hugo de Malebisse.

N.B. – It is said that this Hugo de Malebisse is the progenitor from whom all the Maltbys descend.

I.  HUGO de Malebisse held lands in Yorkshire at the time of William the Conqueror.  Some of his children were : Richard (2), Hugo (2) and Gulfrid (2), who was witness to the charter of the foundation of Beverly Abbey, Co. Lincoln, in 1142.  Founded by the Earl of Lincold.  Richard (2) witness to Charter of Adam de Rainewille.  (Lib. De Pontefracto, fo. 5.)

II.  HUGO (2) m. Emma de Percy, dau. and heiress of Henry de Percy of Acaster.  He had: Hugo (3), Chief Justic, m. first, Constance -----; m. second. Beatrix, Lady of the Manor of Wykes, County Cambridge.  He founded the Priory of Spinney, time Henry III., 1216.  Sir William (3) de Maltby, 1207, held lands in Cleveland, Co. York; built Chapel at Ayton, wher he was Lord of the Manor, before 1200; (this Sir William was probably nearly related to the Maltbys of Maltby and Muston.  See Pedigree II.)  Sir Simon (3), Lord of Cowton in Craven, York., m. a dau. of John, Lord of Methley (see under Beckwith).  Matilda (3) m. Richard de Perri, Lord of Tillerton; Richard (3).

III.  RICHARD (3) founded the Mounded the Monastery of Neubo Abbey, Lincolnshire, 1198, Acaster near York; d. in 1209; Chief Justice of Assize.  Had Warrennam with Sealton, near York.  Lord chief forester, Galtres, Derwent and Wemsdaley.  Had large possessions, including Acader, near York.  Children were: Richard (4), 1245: Emma (4) m. first, Robert de Maisnil; m. second, Robert de Streleril.  Robertus (4), John (4), Richard (4).  Richard (4) was of Benningsburgh.  Robertus (4) had a son, Richard (5), of Benningworth, who m. Alicia Skipworth.

IV.  JOHN (4) , 1213, confirmed grant his father had made from Morton Grange to the Abbot Neubo, 14 John.

V.  WILLIAM (5) confirmed grants to Byland Abbey, 1247; m. Matilda, dau. and co-hairess of Ralph Neville.

VI.  WILLIAM (6) 29 Henry III., gave lands to Priory of Bridlington, 1267.

VII.  RICHARD (7) Miles, 9 Edward III.  D. about 1312.  Of Acaster Malebis (de Eya).

VIII.  JOHN (8), Lord Malebisse-y-Miles,  Viscome’s Ebor., High Sheriff, Co.York, 1314 (8 Edward II.); d. in 1316.  He m. Agnes, dau. of Sir Edward Wilktrope.

IX.  WILLIAM (9) de Malebisse, Miles, 1339 (d. about 1365, 12 Edward III.); m. a dau. of John Sampson, Miles.  His sister Margaret (9) m. Thomas Fairfax of Walton.  They had Clarissa (10) Fairfax, who m. first, William Palmes (q.v.) and second, Sir William Malbis.  William (9) Maltby had Sir Thomas (10).

X.  WALTER (10), the letter, on going to the Holy Lands mortgaged Scalton to William Fairfax, making latter’s son, Richard, his heir if he did not return.  His brother, Sir Thomas (10) de Malebisse, had a daughter, Margaret (11) who m. Richard Fairfax (son of William to whom Walter (10).  Sir Thomas (10) also had a daughter, Elizabeth (11) Maltby, co-heiress with Margaret Maltby Fairfax.

XI.       Margaret  Malebisse Fairfax had a dau. Elizabeth (12) Fairfax, who m. first, John Herringe, and secondAdam Beckwith of Clynt, according to one authority; another claims it was Elizabeth (11) Malebisse, co-heiress with Margaret (11), who m. first John Herringe and second Adam Beckwith of Clint.  It must be remembered that Adam Beckwith was a Maltby by blood, the Beckwith being a maternal ancestry.  See Pedigree of Beckwith.

This family apparently dies out, as it ends in female lines only, but it must be remembered that only the line of one son was carried down, and there must have been many branches from this tree.  For proff that this was the case we find: “4 Oct., 1426, the Will of Dame Sibilla, relic. Of Sir William Malbys, Kt., of Acaster Malbys.  Adm. Vol. II., folio 497.

Note. – If is probable that Guilfrid (2), who witnessed the charter of the founding of Beverly Abbey, Lincolnshire, was the progenitor of the Lincolnshire Malbys (see Pedigree) and that Sir William (3) de Maltby, 1207, who held lands in Cleveland was the head of the Maltbys of Maltby branch (see Pedigree II.); through as yet this has not been proven.

An item that evidently refers to Walter (10) Maltby of this pedigree, appears in Miss Mary Cholmondeley’s “Diana Tempest” and is well worth inserting here.  The item is quoted from memory, but relates how, while at church, one of the characters looked up to the window, where the sun steamed through the painted arms of the Maltbys “of the pious, penniless Maltby who sold his lands to his grasping Tempest (?) brother-in-law, that he might go to the Holy Lands.”  And later two of the characters stand in the window of the tower of the castle and look down at the sill where “Tom Fairfax carved his name in the days of Cromwell.”*

From these items it seemed quite evident that Miss Cholmondeley was acquainted with some of the ancient history of the Maltby, Fairfaxes, etc., and the compiler wrote requesting any further information she might be able to give.  Miss Cholmondeley replied in the third person: “Miss Cholmondeley knows nothing of the Maltbys.”  A note so curt and lacking in the ordinary forms of civility, it needs must leave anything but a fortunate impressin of the author of the “Red Pottage,” Etc.  Cholmondeley Castle was, and still is, in Cheshire, and the description given of the ancient tower in “Diana Tempest” is evidently a description of the one at Cholmondeley Castle, so perhaps the Maltby arms are also there.  For a Maltby residing in Cheshire, see under date 1211, relating to Richard de Maltebi.

* The quotation may be found on pp. 33-34, Vol. II. of “Diana Tempest” as follows:  “The very son himself smote, not through the gaudy figures of Scripture story, but through the painted arms of the Malbys: of the penniless, pious Malby, who sold his land to his ciutching Tempest brother-in-law in order to get out to the Crusades.”  And on p. 256 of Vol. I. we find: “He rose suddenly and went across to the deep bay window, on the stone sill of which Amyas Tempest, and Tom Fairfax, his friend, who together had held Overleigh against the Roundheads, had cut their names.”

SUPPLEMENTARY NOTES  PEDIGREE 1.

I.  Hugo Malebis, to whom Roger de Mobrai (son and heir of Nigel de Albina) granted (inter alia) the fee of lands in Carlton.* Silton, Kepwick, Morton, Dale and Hornby.  (Vide York Cop. Papers, Vol. II., p. 950.)

* Is Carlton later called Scalton.

II.  One authority states: “Sir William Malebis m. Emma de Percey, dau. of Henry de Percy of Acaster.”  I am inclined to think this is the correct record, and that Sir William (2) is the same person as William de Maltby (1), Pedigree II., who was in Co. York, 1100 A. D.  Note that William (1) of Pedigree II., names a son Henry.  Was he not named for Henry de Percy?

III.  Sir Richard Malebis (Ricardus Malebyse) of Acaster Malbis, Aug. 28, 1179, Roger de Molbray and Henry de Munford released the capital messuage “et totam medietatem terra de Eton” to Richard Malebisse.  (Vide York Cor. Papers, Vol. II., p. 954.)

Note. – Acaster-Malbis: Emma de Percy was evidently either sole, or co-heiress of Henry de Percy of Acaster, hence her son is called “of Acaster Malbis.”  The name Roger de Molbray (Mobrai) is perhaps that from which descend the Roger Maltbys in later years.  It is well to note the reference to the land of Eton, for we find (Pedigree II.) that John (3) de Maltby m. a de Etton.  “Gilbert” is name frequently found in the Etton family; and as John (3) names a son Gilbert, it is very probable that his wife was a du. Of Gilbert de Etton.  The writer descends from Maltilda de Etton, living about 1399.  The Townshend Family says of her “ of noble race in the County York.”  In Pedigree I. we find that Sir William (3) de Maltby, 1207, held lands in Cleveland, Co. York, and built a Chapel at Ayton, where he was lord of the manor before 1200.  Query: Is Ayton and Etton not the same name?

IV.  1227.  Johannes Malebisse (Ebor., p. 207; Cal Pat. Rolls).

V.  1257.  William Malebisse, exemption from being made sheriff, 1258.  William Malebisse claims forestry in forest of Gawtrys and Langwath.

VII.  Richard: Richard Malbys (or Malebyse) held a knight’s fee in Neubo, Co. Lincoln, and Acastre, Co. York, 1312.  Confirmation of Abbot of Fountain by Richard Malebisse of lands in Queltbriz and Hoton (now spelled Hooton).

VIII.  John de Malteby, witnesses a Charter in York.

IX.  Willehmus de Malteby, Freeman of York, 1324.  See also date 1335.*

* He evidently had a near relative, Hugh, as it was in 1339 that Harmon Beckwith and Hugh, Lord Maltby, have a dispute over their coat-of-arms.

X.  1337.  Walter de Maltby of Kerketon.  Perhaps the same Walter.  There was a Walter Maltbeby about this time who was outlawed for some misdeed and it seems very probable that he was the same person, and that he made a pilgrimage to the Hole Land to expiate for his sin.