Occupants of Spaldington Hall

It is difficult to know who was actually living in the Hall, and when.  However, listed below are the occupants as far as can be worked out from documentary evidence.  (This is very much a work in progress!)

1651:  Peter Vavasour

Peter Vavasour (died 1659), was the son and heir of Sir John and Mary Vavasour (nee Gates), alongside his wife, Anne, daughter of Sir Thomas Gower.  Peter and Anne had the following children:

• John (1633-1678) - married Catherine Akeroyd (died 1663).  

15 Aug 1663, burial of Katherine, wife of John Vavasour of Spaldington, in Bubwith PR

John and Catherine had a daughter, Mary, born 1655, died unmarried;

• Thomas (1636- )

• Mary;

• Frances (married Vavasour of Weston)

The fact that Peter Vavasour occupied the Hall in 1651 is proved by a court case which appeared before Charles Fenwicke, Esq., at Hagthorpe on 23rd September 1651.  According to this, on the afternoon of 22nd July 1651, Richard Chamley arrived at the house, pretending to come as a messenger from Sir Walter Vaasor to buy 'a cast of hawkes' and calling himself Tempest.  Chamley left around 6pm with his servant, George Hagerstone.

Around midnight 7 more men arrived.  They tried to break in by 'opening two slotts or boults, beating downe the window'.  At this, the occupant 'wynded an horne at an high windowe' at which the assailant threatened to 'pistoll him'.  The occupant then went into another room and there 'at a window winded agayne'.

The men then left, but returned shortly afterwards with the constable, ordering the constable to command Vavasour to open the doors saying, 'There is one Tempest, a rogue who hath a commission to raise forces for the King against the Parliament ... this night he is lodged in this house.'  Vavasour responded that he was not there, saying he left around 6 or 7 pm, but suggesting that one of the current 'visitor's' voices was very like Tempests!  They were enraged, but eventually agreed to leave if Vavasour gave them some beer, which he gave them through a window.  They then asked for oats for their horses, but were told there weren't any in the house apart from a small quantity for their rabbits.  They then all shook hands and left the house, threatening to come back with a stronger party, which they did early in the morning.

Apparently, it was such a calm night that it was said that Vavasour's horn might not have been heard a mile away.  It seems that this would have served as a sort of alarm for help, but it was believed that no-one dared to help without any arms.

It was later claimed that the man who called himself Tempest was not that person, but was actually a minister's son, and quartermaster to a captain of 'the adverse 'party'.  Presumably, this means the army of King Charles II, as this occurred during the Commonwealth period. [1]

Sources

1.  'Depositions from the Castle of York',, Surtees Society, Vol.40