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ALLANBRIDGE

Early references to Allanbridge are rare, and the name possibly died out in the 17th century. There was a reference tom a Niclas Alambridge (otherwise Alynbryg) attending Oxford University (All Souls College) in the period 1530-45. There was also a reference to Christopher Allambridge, grocer, at Allambridge (Somerset) in 1672.

John Ledes alias Alanbridge, the last Abbot of Byland Abbey (1525-38), a Yorkshireman, came from the area around Leeds and Pudsey. He served as cellarer of Byland (1522-25) until his appointment as Abbot. John presided over the community until the closure of the monasteries by King Henry VIII.

On 30th November 1538, Abbot John Alanbridge, Prior Robert Barker and the twenty-three remaining monks and one layman (John Harryson) of Byland Abbey gathered in their chapter house for the final time and surrendered their abbey, with all its property, to the Crown. In 1539, John received dispensation to hold a benefice providing he renounced his monastic standing, but instead preferred to retire to the country and live there off his substantial pension of £50 per year.

John was remembered in the will of Thomas Metcalf, a former monk of Byland, who left John his best silver spoon in 1558. When John made his own will (1563), he bequeathed a vestment to Calverley parish church and various silver items to William Calverley, in whose house he lived. It is feasible that John was the brother of Thomas Allanbridge mentioned below.

[ALLA561] Thomas Allanbridge m. ?
. [ALLA571] John Allanbridge m. Elizabeth
. . [ALLA581] Thomas Allanbridge m. [CHMB582] Ursula Chambers
. . . [ALLA591] Thomas Allanbridge m. Elizabeth
. . . . [ALLA602] Ann Allanbridge m. [GALW601] John Gallawaye

14.  [ALLA561] Thomas Allanbridge was mentioned in a number of documents (1517-45) mostly relating to the parish of Calverley, his surname being variously spelt Allanbryge, Alleynbrige, Alabrige, Alanbrig, Alanbridge, Allanbridge and Alanbryg. Thomas had three children, probably born at Farsley, as follows:

The will of Gilbert Allanbridge refers to Cawood Hall and all land in Brotherton. No trace has been found of Allanbridge’s living in the Brotherton area (the parish records there do not commence until 1562), but a Robert Allain Brigg married Katteryn Bywater (at nearby Monk Fryston, 1588). Katteryn had been born at Hillam in Monk Fryston (1566), so very likely Robert was from a nearby parish. Brotherton in fact is the neighbouring parish, a mere 3 miles due south of Hillam, so Robert was probably from Brotherton. It is possible this Robert was a son of Gilbert

Thomas died intestate at Farsley (1557) and administration of his estate was granted (December 1557) to his two sons, John Allanbrig and Gilbert Allanbrig.

13.  [ALLA571] John Allanbridge and his wife Elizabeth and had at least two children, possibly born at Pudsey, as follows:

John died at Pudsey (1560), and left a will (proved 28th May 1560) which referred to his wife Elizabeth, son Thomas and daughter Jennet.

12.  [ALLA581] Thomas Allanbridge married (at Swillington, 17th June 1572) [CHMB582] Ursula Chambers (born 1550, see CHAMBERS).

 

Swillington Church
(31 July 2008)

The family had several children, of which five for certain were born at Pudsey and baptised at Calverley as follows:

Thomas Allanbrigge is mentioned as appearing before three Courts at Pudsey (26th January 1585-86, 14th January 1586-87 and 3rd June 1595), for other offenders, for not sending their corn to the Lord of the Manor's mill at Calverley for grinding, and again at the Court held on 3rd June 1595.

Thomas died at Pudsey (1607), and administration of his estate was granted to Richard Ellis, gentleman of Swillington (who was his son-in-law). Ursula returned to Swillington, no doubt to live with her married daughter Elizabeth Ellis. Ursula died at Swillington, buried there (4th July 1618).

The only other family member to appear at the Pudsey Court for (apparently) not sending corn to the Lord's mill, was Elizabeth Allanbrigge (11th May 1619). The only Elizabeth on record is Thomas' daughter-in-law, who married around 1616, but it seems unlikely that she would be accused rather than her husband. Perhaps however he was incapacitated, as no children were conceived after 1619, and he died in 1627, when in his late 'thirties.

11. [ALLA591] Thomas Allanbridge (born 1589) and his wife Elizabeth had three children at (presumably) Pudsey, though the Calverley baptisms register is not more specific, as follows:

When a Henry Cawdrey died at Calverley (1625), an inventory of his goods showed that Thomas Allanbridge had at his own house “1 matrice, 1 maund, 1 stand with 1 flackett”, also that the deceased owed Thomas £4.16s. Thomas died at Pudsey (buried at Calverley, 16th May 1627), and was survived by his wife, who was granted administration of his estate.