Gresham Clapham, Esq.
was according to the historian William Smith the great-grandfather of FRANCIS CLAPHAM born 1663 and thus the 8th great-grandfather of ELIZABETH ANN JOHNSON (1875-1948), mother of WILLIAM HENRY FLUEN (1906-1969).
Based on his father's and his eldest sons' years of birth GRESHAM CLAPHAM, Esq. was born c. 1556. He had at least one sister, Elizabeth married to John Crosland of Crosland Hill, Almondbury, Yorkshire (progenitor of the Crosland family of Newby in the liberty of Ripon), and at least four brothers named Charles, William, Edmund and Hercules.
NOTE: Charles married his cousin Frances Beckwith and lived at Clint, near Harrogate. Both had at least one daughter and two sons named John and Matthew Clapham.
William married Alice Habergine of Malinscale (Melding Scale), but lived according to Barbara Clapham most times in Leeds. Both had six known daughters and at least four sons named William, John, Theseus and George Clapham.
Edmund Clapham of Knowlegap (Know Gapp) was married to Alice Cooke and had at least two daughters and one son named Charles. Edmund Clapham was buried at St James Trinity, Clapham on 29. May 1631.
Hercules and his wife, Elizabeth, had at least two sons named Nicholas and David Clapham.
During the 1500s, a religious power struggle left the lives of the people of England in jeopardy. To divorce his first wife, Roman Catholic Catherine of Aragon, the infamous King Henry VIII created the Church of England, severing ties with the Vatican. Not all British subjects were willing to become Protestants overnight and the debate continued behind closed doors: many monarchs and followers remained Catholic in secret. In 1553, when Henry’s daughter Queen Mary I ascended to the throne she fought to restore both Catholicism and her mother’s legacy. Torture devices were numerous and popular at that time. Some accused heretics were burned, stretched, crushed, or drowned.Upon her death just five years later her Protestant half-sister Elizabeth became queen. She quickly reversed Mary’s measures, creating martyrs of the victims. During Elizabeth’s reign, Protestantism became British law, ensuring no future monarchs could restore Catholicism as the official religion.
So at about the time [28. Apr 1569], when Gresham's father leased the manor house called Clapdale to William Lister (Lyster), Esq. of Thornton, Gresham was betrothed to Rosamond, daughter of William Lister, and Bridget Pigot. However the engagement was broken off, and she married Sir Thomas Southworth of Salmesbury, Lancashire before 1571. There is a long correspondence in the Clapham papers at the Society of Genealogists, London as to why this happened and the conclusion is that the reason was a difference in religion. Rosamund married into a Roman Catholic family and was presumably of the same faith. Her father-in-law, Sir John Southworth, was a notorious recusant and was frequently in trouble for his faith; he was imprisoned in 1581 and had constantly to pay the heavy fines imposed by Elizabeth I for not attending the parish church. Although George Clapham was of the 'old faith', Gresham 'conformed' and so the engagement was broken off.
According to the Ingilby of Lawkland Genealogy John Ingilby of Acomb Grange and Hutton Rudby purchased 1572 the Manor of Clapham along with Clapdale Hall and its appurtenances from George Clapham of Beamsley Esquire and Gresham Clapham, his son and heir, for the sum of four hundred pounds.
GRESHAM CLAPHAM lived afterwards on different places; firstly at The Whither, a single house in the township of Armley near Leeds and latest by 1584 at Cottingley Hall, where the Clapham family was used to reside occasionally. According to the records of the Minister accounts at the Holy Trinity Priory an Adam de Clapham still resided at Cottingley Hall in 1556, but his exact relation to the Clapham family cannot be identified.
NOTE: Undated view of Cottingley Hall taken in Victorian times. It is believed to date from the reign of Queen Elizabeth I, when it belonged to the Clapham family. Christopher Hodgson, who became an alderman of Leeds, added a new wing in 1616 and there was a datestone above the front door, over the porch to mark this. Later in the 1600s it was occupied by John Jackson, then in 1715 it was bought by Thomas Kitchingman, a businessman and Mayor of Leeds. In 1742 a Mr. Moore was at Cottingley Hall, where he was known to have entertained the preacher John Wesley. By the 1800s it was a working farm with an 1826 directory listing Jonathan Andrews as the farmer. Census records of 1851, 1861, and 1871 list, respectively, Richard Crosby, Jonathan Kendall and James Ellis as farmers there. The old house was subsequently demolished in 1947, and with the extensive grounds turned into a housing estate, initially consisting of prefabs until more permanent buildings were erected in the 1970s.
[Malhalmdale - Feet of Fines, Trinity Term (Apr-Jun) 1588]: Gressam Clapham, Esq and Ann, his wife, had to sell to George, Earl of Cumberland the manor of Gargrave and 20 messuages, 10 cottages and a watermill with lands in Gargrave, Esheton, Broghton, Skipton, Conystone, Newton and Thorlebye. There was additionally a warrant against George Clapham, the father of Gressam and his heirs and against the heirs of William Clapham, his grandfather.
Edmund Bogg wrote that the family settled also about that time at Hunslet Hall. However it was rather a bit later as daughter Anne was still registered to be of Cottingley in December 1588.
But towards end of his life Gresham Clapham resided seemingly with his family in or near Guisborough as it is recorded in Yorkshire Deeds [05. May 1593] that "Gresham Clapham, Esq of Gisbrough" was a party to a number of indentures in the year of 35 Elizabeth.
GRESHAM CLAPHAM married Ann Fisher, daughter of Captain WILLIAM FISHER. Both had fifteen children, of whom nine were baptised at Leeds. The first Leeds baptism was that of Ralph in 1579, but Gresham's heir, named in his will, was George aged thirty at the time of his father's death in 1602. So he was born about 1573, six years before his brother Ralph.
(1) George Clapham (c. 1573-1629), Esq. married Martha Heber (died 1632) and had issue:
(1.1) Elizabeth Clapham (c. 1603-1680) married to Richard Dawson
(1.2) Jane Clapham (born c. 1605) married to Robert Godson
(1.3) Anne Clapham (born c. 1607) married to Thomas Morley
(1.4) Christopher Clapham (1608-1686) married to Mary Lowden, Margaret Oldfield and Mary Needham
(1.5) Josias Clapham (c. 1609-1639) married to Catherine Scott
(1.6) Henry (c. 1610-1629),
(1.7) George (c. 1612-1640)
(1.8) Richard (c. 1614-1679)
(1.9) Thomas (c. 1615-1648)
(1.10) William Clapham (c. 1616-1678).
NOTE: George Clapham, Esq. continued the line until the last of his grandsons by his son, Christopher Clapham, had died very young by c. 1705.
(2) Ralph Clapham born at christened at St Peter's Leeds on 21. Dec. 1579; he died before 1603 as he was not mentioned in his father's will.
(3) Sir Sheffield Clapham born at 'the Wither' and christened at St Peter's Leeds on 13. Nov 1580; Major Generall at Stoad (Stade) in Germany, knighted at Plymouth 1625, and lived still 1665 in Beamsely Hall. He was married to a Lady of Brabant and left an only daughter, who was married to Thomas Ashton, son of Sir Ralph Ashton, of Whalley, Lancashire.
(4) RICHARD CLAPHAM named in his father's will; he was born at Cottingley Hall christened at St Peter's Leeds on 11. Feb. 1582 and was buried 13. Oct 1634 at St James Trinity in Clapham. He was married to Agneta (buried 22. Oct 1623 at the same place). Both had children:
(4.1) Richard Clapham christened 04. Apr 1599
(4.2) Elizabeth Clapham christened 03. Mar 1600
(4.3) Peter Clapham christened 03. July 1607
(4.4) WILLIAM CLAPHAM, son-in-law of HENRY SIKES (SYKES), gent.
NOTE: Although it is not known, when Richard's son, William, was born, it seems to be undisputed that he had a son
of this name. "The elder branch dying out, the present time is continued by ... the ... son of Gresham Clapham
...". Because Ralph and Sheffield Clapham died without leaving any male issue and because
RICHARD CLAPHAM's family branch would have been the next following, his son, William, could have well been
the grandfather of FRANCIS CLAPHAM.
NOTE: Barbara Clapham's conclusion concerning Gresham's son, RICHARD CLAPHAM, being the same as Richard Clapham of Crakehall is rather doubtful and cannot be verified, because there is a Richard Clapham of Crakehall, who was born and died in same years as Gresham's son. But Richard Clapham of Crakehall (christened 07. Oct 1582 at St Gregory Priory, Bedale - 07. July 1634 in Little Crakehall) was the fifth son of Adam Clapham* (abode: Crakehall) and Elizabeth Storie (Storey). An Inventory of Richard Clapham of Little Crakehall made 23. July 1634 was witnessed by Adam's eldest and youngest sons, William and Peter Clapham, which is rather supporting than negating this hypothesis.
(5) Robert Clapham christened at St Peter's Leeds on 23. Jun 1583; he died before 1603 as he was not mentioned in his father's will.
(6) Alexander Clapham named in his father's will; christened at St Peter's Leeds on 03. Jun 1584; and died before 1632 as his wife, Alice, was a widow, when she died in that year. Both had children, Adam Clapham (1620-1671) and Robert Clapham (born 1623). Alexander Clapham lived with his family at Great Woodhouse, Leeds.
(7) Grace Clapham christened at St Peter's Leeds on 15. Jun 1885; buried 17. Oct 1587
(8) Francis Clapham christened at St Peter's Leeds on 01. Jul 1586; buried 07. May 1587
(9) William Clapham named in his father's will; christened at St Peter's Leeds on 26. Aug 1587. NOTE: William Clapham was still a minor on his father's death. Therefore he lived most likely with his mother and younger siblings at Jupiter, Beamsley near Skipton and Addingham up from then. On 20. Jun 1614, he married Alice Hill at St Peter's, Addingham and had children:
(9.1) Jonas Clapham (born 1616)
(9.2) Alice Clapham (1622-1629)
(9.3) Richard Clapham (born 1622).
Besides William Clapham was perhaps married a second time and could be identified possibly with that one, who got buried 28. May 1639 at St Mary's Priory, Carleton in Craven near Skipton, and had children born there:
(9.4) Thomas (1634-1638)
(9.5) William Clapham (born 1638). Theoretically, it is possible, too that he was the son-in-law of HENRY SIKES (SYKES) as the marriage between his daughter and "William Clapham of Keasden Grainge' took place in 1654, but it is not really plausible However all these statements are only an assumption as relevant parish records did not give any further particulars about his parents respectively father.
(10) Anne Clapham named in her father's will; christened at St Peter's Leeds on 18. Dec 1588.
(11 - 14) Besides were also Coniers (Conyers), Amye, Margaret, Elizabeth and Penelope Clapham named in their father's will, who were born in all probability still after (9) Anne Clapham.
Gresham's father-in-law, Captain WILLIAM FISHER was a son of JOHN FISHER OF PACKINGTON co. Warwickshire. His mother is said to have been a sister (half-blood) of Bishop Ferrar, the martyr. NOTE: Robert Ferrar (born in King Henry VII's reign - 30 March 1555) was a Bishop of St David's in Wales. He was prior of Nostell Priory, embraced the English Reformation, and was made Bishop of St. David's by Edward VI. He suffered martyrdom during the Marian persecutions, and was burnt on the south side of the market cross in Carmarthen, Wales on 30. Mar 1555.
[Packington Old Hall by John Preston Neale; an original manor house was rebuilt in red brick (picture) in 1679 by Sir Clement Fisher, 2nd Baronet (1613-1683)]
It looks like as if Captain WILLIAM FISHER settled 1566/67 in Calton, a village and civil parish in the Craven district of Norh Yorkshire on the River Aire in Airedale. He purchased there with Elizabeth Lawson, widow, a messuage with lands and rights of free fishing in the water of the Eyre (Aire) from Richard Norton, Esq. [Malhalmdale - Feet of Fines, Hilary term (Jan-Mar) 1566/67].
JOHN FISHER was lord of the manor of Packington co. Warwickshire descended from an ancient family at Dottel, in Shropshire. He was gentleman pensioner to the Kings Henry VIII. and Edward VI. and the Queens Mary and Elizabeth, and in the fifth of the last (1563), served the office of sheriff for Warwickshire, for which county he was in the commission of the peace from the beginning of Mary's reign, to the time of his decease. His wife was KATHERINE DIGBY, daughter of Sir Thomas Digby, knt. of Olney, Buckinghamshire, and widow of Simon Wheeler of Kenilworth bringing him the manor of Packington, Warwickshire from the estate of her first husband in 1544. At the dissolution of the monasteries, Fisher bought Great Packington Church for £626. He died on 08. March 1571, and his son Clement Fisher succeeded.
KATHERINE DIGBY was the daughter of Sir Thomas Digby and Dorothy Oxenbridge, daughter of Sir Thomas Oxenbridge and Frideswide Manningham. Her father was knighted by Henry VII at Bosworth Field. Her mother remarried after his death, taking as her second husband Eustace Braham. Katherine married Simon Wheeler of Kenilworth, Warwickshire. After his death, she wed John Fisher of Olney, Buckinghamshire.
The Digby family as such "descended immediately from Almar, who, in the Confessor's reign, held three plough-lands in Tilton, with sac and soc, then valued at twenty shillings ; and assuming the name of the village, were not unfrequently called Digby de Tilton, and some times Tilton only.
(Portrait: effigy of Katherine Fisher (Digby) in Great Packington Church, transferred to a newer building in 1789)
In the reign of Hen. II. (1154-1189) Sir John de Tilton gave lands in Billesdon and Kirkby Beler to the lepers of St. Lazarus of Jerusalem, which the King confirmed to the brethren of Burton-Lazarus.
In 1234 it was found that lands in Billesdon had been conveyed to Robert de Digby, whose heir then held them ;- and on the aid granted to King Hen. HI. in 1235, at the marriage of his sister to the Emperor of the Romans, one mark was paid for a fee at Tilton, held by Robert de Digby, under the fee of William de Beauchamp.^ In the Testa de Nevil, Tilton Digby is described as con- sisting of three plough-lands ; and Anne, relict of Robert de Digby, held half a fee in Tilton, under William de Beauchamp. This family removed to Digby in Lincolnshire, in 1256, and thence assumed their name, but they used the name much earlier.
Sir John Digby of Tilton, was of great account in the time of King Edw. I (fl. 1272-1307), and King Edw. II. (fl. 1307-1327) in their wars. This John Digby was a Commissioner of gaol-delivery; and is buried at Tilton. In 1315, John de Digby held a moiety of one Knight's-fee, cum pert, in Tilton, of Guy de Beauchamp, Earl of Warwick ; and a moiety of the Manor of Tilton of Guy de Beauchamp, by the service of a moiety of a Knight's-fee.
Richard Digby, Esq. a collateral branch of this family, whose name does not appear in the Pedigrees, died in 1379, and was buried in the Church of Drystoke, under an alabaster monument; as was also his wife Agnes, who survived him but a few days.
The Manor of Drystoke became, afterwards, the property of Robert Digby of Tilton ; and, dying before 1413, left it to his son Simon, who died circ. 1418, leaving a son Everard, who acquired the additional name of Greenleaf.
This Everard having been the grandfather of KATHERINE DIGBY, was not a Knight. He was married to Agnes, daughter of John Clarke, of Whissendine ; and possessed the Lordships of Tilton and Digby, and the Manor of Drystoke. In 1434, he was returned among the Gentlemen of Huntingdonshire ; from 1447, he was M.P. for Co. Rutland; and was Sheriff in 1459; but, 29 March 1461, himself and three of his brethren lost their lives in Towton-field, and his family much of their fortune fighting in 1461 for Henry VI fighting against King Edw. IV.
However The family had a reversal of fortune in 1485, when Sir Everard's sons fought for the victorious Henry VII at the Battle of Bosworth Field.
As Captain William Fisher's mother is presumed to be a half-sister of Bishop Ferrar it is not clear whether KATHERINE DIGBY was indeed his mother or not, especially because only two sons out of her marriage to JOHN FISHER are known, Thomas and Clement Fisher. For that reason KATHERINE DIGBY might have been JOHN FISHER's second wife and Captain William Fisher's step-mother.
* The enclosure of Great Crakehall --- "Late in Queen Elizabeth's reign the inhabitants of Crakehall took a step that was to change their lives, and the village landscape, for ever. In 1596 they had seen the open fields of Bedale and Aiskew enclosed, and in 1598 they petitioned the Court of Exchequer for permission to enclose the common fields of the Great Crakehall. ... The other delay in the enclosure was caused by the personal problems of another tenant, Adam Clapham, who refused to agree to the enclosure. A relative (Remark: his brother, John) had chosen this time to dispute Adam's right to one of his farms and this involved him in expensive litigation in the Court of Chancery. It was perhaps understandable that he wanted nothing to do with the expense and legal risks of enclosure. ... Richard Mitchell, who already owned two farms in Little Crakehall, bought from Thomas Walworth the northermost part of the newly enclosed pasture and built a new house on it. In 1634 he sold a close called Hollow Moor Close as it is now divided into four closes, together with the house therein builded, adjoining on the west on lands occupied by Henry Pybus and Thos. Pallicer, on the east on the street from Little Crakehall to Catterick, on the north on the lane between Patrick Brompton and Hackforth and on the south on lands of Richard Clapham of Little Crakehall. ..." --- (Source: "THE HISTORY OF CRAKEHALL, NORTH YORKSHIRE" by George and Ian Hancock)