| Description | Includes manorial records for Westow, c.16th century and Barnsley, 16th century; deeds for Hayton, 1465-1946; Holme on Spalding Moor, 1613-1660; Hull, 1565-[1618]; North Cave, 1559-1604; Welwick, 1679-1784; Westow, 1702-1719; Youlthorpe, 1839-1842; Great and Little Leeming, 1579-1716; (North Yorkshire) Middlesbrough, 1862-1875, Sandhutton, 1618-1814; York and 1588-1806; (West Yorkshire) Darton, 1697-1703, Goole, 1639-1701, Stainborough, 1698-1708 Wistow, 1426, Church Fenton and Barkeston, 1372-17th century and London, 1803; wills, 1531-1895, including Sir John Rudston's, 1531; bonds, 1500s-1887; estate management (including Sir Walter Rudston's sequestration papers), c.1620-1911; legal papers, [1481]-1768; personal papers, Sir Walter Rudston (Irish warrants), 1633-c.1635; William Read, c.1739-1743; Rev Thomas Cutler Rudston-Read papers, 1800-1838; George Rudston-Read papers, 1803-1840; Ann Rudston papers, 1801-1856; William Henry Rudston-Read papers, 1832-1888; Edward Rudston-Read papers, 1844-1846; Charles Rudston-Read papers, 1834-1857; Trevor Wheler Calverley-Rudston papers, 1879-1912; Evelyn Calverley-Rudston papers, 1911; William Rudston Webber papers, [1925]-1972; miscellaneous includes papers relating to the mole of Tangiers, 1669-1680; estate map, 1763.
This catalogue was produced with support from the National Cataloguing Grants Programme for Archives. |
| AdminHistory | The family
The Rudston family can be traced back to the early 13th century when Walter de Rudston granted a capital messuage, mill and other land in Hayton to St. Peter's in York. The family line continued until the direct line was broken on the death of Elizabeth Rudston (1682-1745) and her husband, Henry Cutler (d. 1727) who died without issue. The family line moved sidewards to a relation of Elizabeth Rudston, descended from Sir Walter Rudston's brother, William (fl.1656) and his wife, Hester (b. 1604). This descendant was the conveniently named Rudston Calverley Rudston, (1738-1805) who was apparently named in Elizabeth Rudston's will. His son, Rev Thomas Cutler Rudston-Read, became the heir. He adopted the surname 'Read' in 1800 after he was bequeathed the estate at Sandhutton by his friend, William Read. The line descended through his second son, Rev George Rudston-Read (1810-1864) who was rector of Sutton on Derwent. His only son, Trevor Wheler Calverley-Rudston (1850-1919) adopted the name 'Calverley' in 1886. His grandchild, William Rudston Webber (1907-1988) went to Malaya and Australia and his three daughters and the depositors of some of the material, Dorothy (b.1934), Sylvia (b.1937) and Margaret (b.1942) remain in Australia to this day.
The Rudston family had direct links to the Gunpowder plot, Wyatt's Rebellion (1554) and the Pilgrimage of Grace (1536). Through the descendants of the heir, Walter Rudston (15th century), brother of Sir John Rudston, Walter's grandchildren included Ursula who married Robert Wright of Plowland. One of their sons, John, was heavily involved in the Gunpowder plot. Sir John Rudston's son, Robert (1521-1592) was in Wyatt's Rebellion, against Queen Mary, and nearly lost his estate at Boughton Monchelsea which he had purchased in 1551. Other Rudstons were involved in the Pilgrimage of Grace. However, these events are not documented in the archive.
The estate
It is thought that a moated manor house near the church was home to the Rudstons from around the 1200s. The estate continued within the Rudston family for several centuries. The archive includes many deeds with some dating from the 14th century relating to land at Wistow. Some other earlier deeds relate to landholdings in the West Riding, such as Churchfenton, Barkston Ash and Stainborough, the latter through Henry Cutler. There are deeds relating to Stainborough Hall (DDCR/2/15/9) which was sold to Lord Raby in 1708 for £1,400 because of financial problems. It was renamed Wentworth Castle.
An early marriage agreement of 1465 between John Rudston of Hayton and William Gunnays (DDCR/2/1/1/1) regarding their son, Robert Rudston and daughter Agnes Gunnays mentions land at Hessle, Holme on Spalding Moor and Pocklington. The marriage agreement of Walter Rudston and Margaret Dawnay, 1631, (DDCR/2/1/1/2) gives a good account of the landholding of the Rudstons around the early 17th century. It mentions that Hayton Hall was called 'Rudston's Manor' and also mentions land at North Cave called 'Rudston's Walk'. The 'Perfect Schedule', c.1630s, (DDCR/5/3/1) is an incomplete but good indication of the wealth of the family and lists some of the furnishings in the house.
During the 1640s England was suffering under civil war. This had an inevitable impact upon many gentry families. During the 1640s the estate at Hayton was sequestered or compounded by a parliamentary committee. Sir Walter Rudston (1597-1650) had to answer seven charges, one being that he opened his house to Charles I who dined there and where he received a knighthood from him. Other charges related to support for the royalist cause. The archive contains a valuable and detailed account of the proceedings which effectively froze the estate and the efforts to claim it back again. It was doubly stressful for the family as Sir Walter died during these proceedings, leaving his wife, Margaret (1610-1699) to fight the cause for their son Thomas (1639-1707). When estates were compounded a fine could be paid thus releasing the lands back to the family. The estates were eventually returned. An inventory of the estate submitted to the Commissioners is on the reverse of a petition by Margaret Rudston is at DDCR/5/1/1/54.
The only estate map in the collection (DDCR/8/1/1) is dated 1763 and shows the extent of the landholding of Rudston Calverley Rudston. It is quite detailed and shows Hayton House.
Under the will of William Read (died 1800) who was a friend of Thomas Cutler Rudston Read, the manor and lordship of Youlthorpe, mansion house and lands at Sandhutton and lands at Bishop Wilton and Whixley were left to him. In an earlier draft will he was initially required to bear the family arms of Read and use the surname 'Read' and take up residency at Sandhutton. However, the probate will states that Thomas Cutler Rudston Read was to reside in the dwellinghouse in Little Blakestreet in the City of York as his town residence and that he was not sell to anyone that William Read disapproved of.
The Houses
Few images exist of Hayton House, but one of them can be found in a sketchbook compiled by Samuel Buck (Landsowne MS.914, British Library). It shows a Dutch-style classical villa built around the 1660s by Sir Thomas Rudston. The Hall was demolished around 1805 and the former village school now stands on part of the site. An inventory (at the Borthwick, York) reveals a destitute Sir Thomas Rudston late of Hayton Hall and reflects the dire financial straits of the family. The marriage of Thomas's daughter, Elizabeth, to Henry Cutler brought much needed funds into the family. The archive includes estimates and bills for building work done at Hayton (DDCR5/3/5), 1720-1733 for bricklayers, plastering and carpentry. In 1887 Trevor Wheler Calverley-Rudston commissioned a specification for a house to be called Hayton Hall, but this was never pursued.
Legal papers
There are various court cases within this collection. Notable, at DDCR/6/1 is the case concerning the child's portion of Katherine Leigh, daughter of Walter Rudston and Frances Constable. She married William Leigh in 1649[?]. According to her father's wishes, when they had attained 21 years old all the children were entitled to £300. Katherine Leigh's court case revolves around her accusation that she had not received her child's portion. Other papers relate to cases concerning land disputes.
Material relating to the family and the Irish Warrants
Sir John Rudston (d.1531)
The earliest mention in the archive of a prominent Rudston is Sir John Rudston who was sheriff in 1522 and mayor of London in 1528. His will and inventory (DDCR/3/1/1/1) is highly detailed. He was a draper by trade and became a member of the Guild of Drapers in 1516 eventually becoming a Master of the Guild. The inventory gives a detailed account of his goods and indicates that he was immensely wealthy.
The Irish Warrants c.1633-1635: (DDCR/7/1/1).
These have been appraised by Dr Mark Empey of University College Dublin whose research specialism includes the political career of Sir Thomas Wentworth. Although the warrants refer to many appointments in government, he has cited the importance of the warrants in providing an insight into Irish society. In particular, the warrant referring to stage players to travel the country DDCR/7/1/1/1 (pp. 106-108) is deemed of cultural significance and it predates the evidence of dramatic performances at Dublin Castle (c.1634-1636). Catalogued with the warrants is a commission for Walter Rudston to captain 120 foot soldiers within the East Riding. Thomas Wentworth recruited many Yorkshire men for a military spell in Ireland and it possibly provides a reason why these warrants are in this collection.
Sir Walter Rudston and Margaret Rudston:
The archive contains a detailed account of the charges, answers and court proceedings relating to the sequestration of his estate. They contain some letters from Margaret to her solicitor, John Hall, and the Committee for Compounding. These can be found at DDCR/5/1.
George Rudston, (1768-1847).
There are a series of letters of George Rudston, to his brother Thomas Cutler Rudston Read outlining his attempt to make a profit gambling in the trade in corn in Hull during the 1820s and 1830s. The Corn Laws had made this an attractive proposition for many merchants but the letters show that his investments failed and he had a painful downward spiral into bankruptcy. These can be found at DDCR/7/4
Ann Rudston (1771-1855)
Sister of Thomas Cutler Rudston was placed in Blakeley House private asylum near Manchester. She remained there until her death in 1855. There is little evidence of the family's thoughts on her in the correspondence within the family but the collection (DDCR/7/5) has a good series of letters from the proprietor of the asylum, John Edwards, relating to her arrival to the notification of her death. Their content occasionally mentions her symptoms although little is mentioned of any treatments. These records span fifty years.
Edward Rudston-Read (1812-1884). His archive contains just three letters but still give a soldier's insight into the battles of Gwalior and Sobraon in 1844 and 1846 (DDCR/7/7)
Charles Rudston-Read (1818-1854).
An interesting set of papers relating to his time in New Zealand. Of importance is the journal (DDCR/7/8/5/2) recording his journey travelling up the Manawatu River with Donald McLean (1850) as it documents the negotiations with the Maori to purchase land. Other papers relate to the settlement of land and there are a couple of certificates relating to his appointment as Commissioner of Crown Land in Australia in 1852. Another journal (DDCR/7/8/5/1) records his journey from England to New Zealand during 1853-1854.
Trevor Wheler Calverley-Rudston (1850-1919)
His archive (DDCR/7/9) contains records relating to his investments. Trevor Wheler Rudston-Read was made Lieutenant in 2nd Regiment of Warwickshire Militia, 13 Jun 1870 and made Deputy-Lieutenant for the East Riding in September 1879. He took the paternal name 'Calverley', replacing that of 'Read'. His letters from his son, George, are illuminating as they give an insight into life in the American Wild West.
William George Calverley Rudston ( [1873]-1939)
Sent to Wyoming, America, reputedly to avoid financial scandal. His letters (DDCR/7/9/4) provide a vivid description of life in the Wild West, where he reputedly meets 'Buffalo Bill' yet, even though thousands of miles away he continued to cause his father anxiety as he ran up debts. It was certainly a harsh life but George was prone to exaggeration and it is unclear how much of what he says is actually true.
William Rudston Webber ( 1907-1988). His archive (DDCR/7/12) contains copies of letters relating to his time working in a Malaya rubber plantation.
Miscellaneous records
A few items which may prove interesting to researchers are within DDCR/7/13/2. These include 'A short treatise on the spiritual life' which date from the 1600s and appear to be signed 'TD'. Another includes a book of accounts, dating c.1590s, of the custom and excise officers and receivers around the ports of England and has been brought to the attention of The National Archives.
One of the depositors, Sylvia Webber, has written a book 'Her Story in Four Centuries' (published Authors Online, 2010) which, using the material before it was deposited, includes chapters on the Rudston family history.
This collection is the result to two deposits. In 1989 some papers were deposited by a bank in York under the title 'papers apparently the property of TW Calverley-Rudston deceased'. They had been stored there for many years without use or contact and were released under approval of the Public Trustee to this archive office. In 1997 we received a letter from Sylvia Webber of Australia, one of three sisters, who were descended from the Calverley-Rudstons. She held some papers relating to the Rudston family of Hayton and wished to deposit them with us. On arrival it was apparent that they were from the same family archive as those deposited eight years earlier. Trevor Wheler Calverley-Rudston had apparently divided the archive in two, leaving half in England, with the intention that his son, George would return from America to claim it, while the other half was left with his daughter's family in Australia. Although George failed to return from America, the family papers have now been united as one archive and are now deposited in the Treasure House. |