Sir Francis Baildon

     Francis was born in 1560 in Methley, Yorkshire, England.² He was the son of George Baildon and Anne Husse Folkingham. Francis was an English Squire and built Kippax Hall [demolished in 1800] at Yorkshire, England. He owned twenty horses, ten cottages, one corn mill, 200 airable acres, 20 acres of meadow, and was considered a rich man. He was sheriff of Kippax in 1588, bailiff of Cowick & Snaith in 1596-1596 & 1604-1605, Justice of the Peace in 1608. He was knighted on 23 July 1603 by King James I at Coronation at Whitehall. Francis married Frances Johnson circa 1583.³ On 12 January 1583, Francis entered into an agreement to receive £1600 with Richard Goodrick which would be revoked if conditions of the agreement where not met. Francis and his wife, Frances, signed the agreement.³ Francis married 2nd Margaret Goodrick, daughter of Richard Goodricke and Clare Norton, circa 1587 in Ribston Manor, Yorkshire, England. France Johnson & Margaret Goodrick were cousins. He was also married to Isabel Tyrwhit & Anna Coleby. Francis married 3rd Isabel Tyrwhit circa 1599 in Kippax.⁴ Francis's wife, Isabel, died before 9 March 1601 in Kippax, leaving him a widower. Francis married 4th Anne (?) on 2 May 1604 in Kippax.⁵ Francis made his will on 5 November 1615.

Sir Francis Baildon made his will at this date, in which he describes himself as of Medley. He gives to Dame Anne his wife his lease of half Phippine Park in Snaith and Cowick, of which he has two leases, one granted by Elizabeth and the other by James I, for life or the remainder of the term, she paying half the rent. She was also to have certain other lands in Snaith and Cowick for life. - - - The capital messuage called Kippax Hall was left to Francis Baildon, his Granson, son of his son Francis, deceased, also another house in Kippax; he was to have one half immediately, and the other half on the death of his mother Elizabeth, then the wife of Willaim Powe. This property was settled on Francis the grandson and the heirs male of his body, with remainder to the right heirs of the testator. Half the interest in the coal mines in Kippax was also given to Francis; the profits were to be accumulated during his minority for the purpose of building a house at Kippax. All timber requisite was also given to him, it was not to be used for any other purpose than the house. - - - The profits of the other half of the coal mines were to be accumulated until they amounted to 200 marks and then this sum was to be divided between the other two children of Francis II, Gilbert and Margaret. After this, the half of the coal mines was given to the testator’s sons, Richard Cutherbert, Martin, Henry and Thomas, for the remainder of the lease. - - - A copyhold messuage in Kippax was given to William Powe and Eliabeth his wife, for their lives, and then to Cuthbert and Martin; but this gift to the Powes was conditional on their conveying all their interest in the testator’s freehold lands to Cuthbert and Martin. Cuthbert and Martin were to have all the remaining copyholds except the profits of the first five years which were to go to Richar and Henry. - - - Richard and Henry were to have the tithes of corn, grain, wool and lambs in Kippax, except for the profits of the first five years which were to be accumulated. - - - Thoams was to have certain messuages and lands in Cadeby near Doncaster after the death of _________Barwich; a messuage and lands called Fringdon Park, bought of Master Readhead; a windmill in Standish certain lands in Snaith, after the death of Dame Anne; the advowson of a Rectory of Leathley; and some leaseholds in Swaneland. - - - Thomas Colby and Cuthbert Baildon were the lessees, for the use of Sir Francis, of certain property in Lincolnshire, the lease being granted to them by Sir John Molineux, Knight and Baronet, Sir Gervase Clifton, Knight and Baronet, Sir Edward Tirwhitt and Sir Francis Baildon, to secure the payment of £1,100 by Sir Edward Tirwhitt to Sir Francis at Michaelmas, 1617. Tirwhitt is to be forgiven £100, and if he pays the £1000, it is to be dealt with in the following way. The testator had intended to give his daughter Meriall a portion of £500, and had bought certain bonds in her name; the amount of these bonds was to be mae up to £500. Then £400 was to be paid to Sir Henry Goodrick of Ribston, Knight, for the benefit of the testator’s daughter, Clare wife of Laurence Knighly, and her child. The balance was to be divided between Richard, Cuthbert, Martin, Henry and Thomas. If Tirwhitt did not pay, the lease was to be sold, and the proceeds divided in the same way. - - - Provision was made for keeping Thomas at school of University - - - A rent of £11 payable out of the manor of Kexborough was left to the testator’s nephew Richard Goldsborough and Elizabeth his mother, and the heirs male of Richard, with the remainder to Clare Kighley. - - - Sir Thomas Leeds and his wife and Sir Jonn Leeds their son, were requested to surrender to Cuthbert and Martin certain copyhold lands in Kippax bought and paid for by the testator. - - - Dame Anne was to have £100 in satisfaction to all her right to and other of the testator’s goods or lands; also all her apparel, jewels, coatch, coatch-horses, and furniture. He gave his best horse to my son Colby £13 6s. 8d. to Francis Coleby, my grandson; £10 to each of his wife’s younger sons; and £50 to Anne Colby, his wife’s daughter. - - - He gave £6 13s.4d. his sister Anne Ashcombe; £20 to his cousin Henry Norton; an annuity of 53s. 4d. to his niece Anne wife of George Mirfield; and £23 5s. 8d to John that was my brother Hillarey’s boy and now with my aunt Kighley. Sir Thomas Dawney, Knight, Sir Henry Goodrich, Knight, Richard Hutton, esq. Serjeant at Law, Thomas Wentworht of Elmsall, esq. John Colby, esq. and Robet Hawteene, gentleman, were appointed supervisors and executors.⁶

Francis departed this life on Friday, 24 June 1622 in Monk Frystone, Kippax, Yorkshire, England.⁷ An Inquisition Post Mortem took place on 20 March 1624.⁶

Important Notes: There is nothing to show whether Francis of Hilary was the eldest; and their parentage is nowhere stated, though there is no reasonable doubt about it.³