Leonard Beckwith (abt. 1523 - 1555)

Born about 1523 in Selby, Yorkshire, England

Ancestors

Descendants

Died 7 May 1555 at about age 32 in Yorkshire, England

Biography

Leonard Beckwith, eldest son of Robert Beckwith, of Stilliugfleet, gentleman (see p. 156, antea). In 1535 he was seneschal of the Liberty of St. Mary's abbey, within the county of the city of York, and also held a similar office for Acaster and Stillingfleet, under Selby abbey.

After the Dissolution, he was employed in the survey of the lands of several of the northern houses, and subsequently managed to obtain a share of them, in an estate of Byland abbey, the abbey and manor of Selby, and the priories of the Holy Trinity and Friars Minors, in the city of York.

He was also lord of the manor of Catfoss, in Holderness, which he purchased of Sir Richard Gresham in 1539. A few years later he received the honour of knighthood, and was made one of the Council of the North. In 1551 he was high sheriff of the county, and, dying 7th May, 1555, was buried in York Minster, "in our Lady queare where they singe maese, behynde the high aulter." In his will, dated 15th April, 1557, he bequeaths " to my cosyn Bekw"', alderman, a cowe, and to my godson Leonard Bekw'h, his sonne, 3s. 4d." (see p. 215, postea).

Sir Leonard Beckwith married Elizabeth, daughter and co-heiress of Sir Roger Cholmley, lord chief justice of the King's Bench, by whom he had, with other issue, a son and heir, Roger Beckwith, esq., of Hardwick hall, co. Notts, who died s. p. in 1587. Dame

Elizabeth Beckwith, whe, on 19th April, 1559, became the wife of Christopher Kenne, esq., of Keune, co. Somerset, died 24th November, 1583, aged about 60, and was interred, on the following day, "in Yorke Mynstor, before tho chappell their, wher Sr Leonard Beckwith," her late husband, was buried.

Sources

• Dugdale's Visitation of Yorkshire, with additions Page 269 Beckwith

• History of Parliament online: CHOLMLEY, Sir Roger (c.1495-1565), of Ludgate, London, Highgate and Hampstead, Mdx

• Foster's Yorkshire Families, North and East Ridings, Vol 2 of 2 (3 of 3), Beckwith.

• The Register of the Guild of Corpus Christi in the City of York pg. 214 By Robert H. Skaife sir leonard beckwith died 1555