11. The de Sutton Family

The next mention we have of Sutton is about 1284. Edward the First appointed jurors to take a survey of the Wapontake of Staincliffe. From this document we know the chief family of the village at this time. In all communities, however small, one man seems destined by his qualities to rise above his fellows. In early times, when surnames were the exception, this man was given the name of his village. In nearly all the towns and villages of the neighbourhood we have examples of this: the 'Keighleys' were for centuries the ruling family there; in Steeton there were the 'de Steetons'; in Eastburn the 'de Eastburns' and in Glusburn also a family taking the name from the village. In our village there was a 'de Sutton' family in power. In the reign of Edward 1st, William de Sutton the son of Adam de Sutton was one of the jurors appointed. The latter is thus the first member of the family of whom we have mention.

In the record which they drew up Sutton is referred to thus:- "Sutton - In this town there are two carucates of land, held under the King - The total tax due is 7½d."

He next head of the de Sutton family was John. He evidently died before 1321, for in this year his widow had the following document drawn up in favour to her son.

"I, Olivia, daughter of Thomas Revell, in pure widowhood have quit-claimed to Thomas, my son, begotten with John de Sutton, all the right and claim which I have, have had, and by reason of dower, inheritance or acquisition might have had in a certain messuage and two ox gangs of land in Glusburn, which Thomas Revell gave to John de Sutton with me in free marriage. Given at Wakefield, Sunday in Vigil of St Clement pope 1321."

Thomas did not keep the Glusburn lands long, for before 1323 they had passed to John de la Reye of that village.

Although the de Sutton family were powerful in the late 13th and early 14th century they were not the chief owners. They held their lands under William de Boyville, and he, in his turn, was subject to the great family of Vavassours of Addingham.

Little is known of the family of Boyville in connection with Sutton. The above William dies in 1304. His inquisition post mortem was taken at Skipton on the Saturday in the Feast of St James the Apostle. He jurors found that on the day he died he held the Manor of Sutton in Ayrdale from William le Vavassour by homage, and the service of the seventh part of one Knight's fee. Thus the lord of the manor at Sutton was liable to military service. The rent paid by Boyville for the Sutton lands was 10/- a year, and its total worth £19.18.4. He had in Sutton at this time about 250 acres of cultivated land. The only other member of this family of whom we hear is John, who was William's heir. The jurors say that he was twenty one years old at that time.