Shaw Papers

Family papers, including annotated pedigrees of the Skaife family and notes on genealogy, c.1864, probate documents, 1616-1894, school exercise books used by Thomas Skaife, 1822-1824, and a collection of poems and proverbs made by Elizabeth Skaife of Fulneck, 1857-1859; deeds and conveyances relating to property at Braisty Woods, Kirkby Malzeard, Ripon, and Littlethorpe, 1582-1879; household and farm accounts, 1867-1869; accounts of stock of the late Thomas Skaife sold at auction, 1869; plan of an estate situated at Braisty Woods, 1874; copies of court rolls for the manor of Ripon, 1610-1788; copies of court rolls for the manor of Thornton with Bishopside, 1714-1756; copies of court rolls for the liberty of the forest of Knaresborough, 1745-1757; a list of ancient rents within the township of Hartwith cum Hinsley, 1716; papers relating to the Wolstenholme family, 1871-1895, including draft marriage settlement between Thomas Skaife and Elizabeth Wolstenholme, 1871.

The Skaife family’s connection to Braisty Woods in the parish of Kirkby Malzeard, Yorkshire, can be traced back to the fifteenth century when Robert Skayf had charge of the Fountains Abbey sheep at Brimham, 1456-1457, and was keeper of cattle for the Abbot at Braithwaite Grange in Nidderdale, 1458-1459. Robert’s son, another Robert, was keeper of the cattle for Fountains Abbey at Braisty Woods in the 1480s and his son William held the same post in 1493.
At the time of the Abbey’s dissolution in 1539 Braisty Woods was in the tenure of Robert and William Skafe. In 1592 Thomas Skayff leased a messuage there from Sir William Ingilby of Ripley Castle and between 1592 and 1615 members of the Skaife family leased further land and property in the area, largely from Sir William.
In 1715 the Skaifes acquired further property in Littlethorpe, near Ripon, through the marriage of Thomas Skaife of Braisty Woods to Ann, daughter of Lawrence Allanson of Littlethorpe.
The Braisty Woods estate finally passed out of the Skaife family in 1869.

Records are open to the public, subject to the overriding provisions of relevant legislation, including data protection laws.

The archive was deposited at the Borthwick Institute on permanent loan by Mrs Shaw in 1969.

The Skaife family’s connection to Braisty Woods in the parish of Kirkby Malzeard, Yorkshire, can be traced back to the fifteenth century when Robert Skayf had charge of the Fountains Abbey sheep at Brimham, 1456-1457, and was keeper of cattle for the Abbot at Braithwaite Grange in Nidderdale, 1458-1459. Robert’s son, another Robert, was keeper of the cattle for Fountains Abbey at Braisty Woods in the 1480s and his son William held the same post in 1493.
At the time of the Abbey’s dissolution in 1539 Braisty Woods was in the tenure of Robert and William Skafe. In 1592 Thomas Skayff leased a messuage there from Sir William Ingilby of Ripley Castle and between 1592 and 1615 members of the Skaife family leased further land and property in the area, largely from Sir William.
In 1715 the Skaifes acquired further property in Littlethorpe, near Ripon, through the marriage of Thomas Skaife of Braisty Woods to Ann, daughter of Lawrence Allanson of Littlethorpe.
The Braisty Woods estate finally passed out of the Skaife family in 1869.

A typescript finding aid, to file level, is available for consultation in the searchroom of the Borthwick Institute.

Created by S. A. Shearn, 06.05.15.

A reprographics service is available to researchers subject to the access restrictions outlined above. Copying will not be undertaken if there is any risk of damage to the document. Copies are supplied in accordance with the Borthwick Institute for Archives' terms and conditions for the supply of copies, and under provisions of any relevant copyright legislation. Permission to reproduce images of documents in the custody of the Borthwick Institute must be sought.

Further accruals are not expected.

Sally-Anne Shearn, 'The school books of Thomas Skaife', from the Borthwick Blog, May 2015 (http://borthwickinstitute.blogspot.com/2015/05/the-school-books-of-thomas-skaife.html)

Published

GB 193