|
Bradford
Hodgsons 1285-1470 AD
From previous research
it would appear that the patriarch of the Bradford Hodgsons was a Thomas
Hodgson born c1470, all his sons leaving wills which helped build the
family tree, but what of Thomas' family pre 1470? A John Hodgson, bailiff
of Bradford, died in 1434 and fortunately left a will, the benefactor
being his son Thomas. There is also a deed dated 1463 mentioning John
and Thomas Hodgson, church wardens of Bradford. It is most probable
that they were all related.
John Hoggeson was
mentioned regularly in the Bradford Manor Court Rolls as Bailiff of
the Lord from 1411 until 1422. For example, in 1422 the Court Roll states:
Thomas son of John Elys (Ellis) on the feast of St. Mark,
at Bradford assaulted Thomas Oliver, servant of John Hoggeson and made
great affray -- attach him to the next court. In 1413 we find the
following: The wife of Robert Hoggeson of Allerton (a district
of Bradford) and John Hoggeson to answer for trespass at the next
court. Intriguingly a Robert son of Roger and John son of Roger
were living in Allerton in 1379 as recorded on the Poll Tax. In 1411
John Hoggeson was stated to have 1 pit at Milnholme for his accessory.
In 1343 a meadow called Milnholme belonged to William son of Roger de
Manningham.
The poll tax for
Bradford in 1379 is complete and the population has been estimated at
300. No Hodgsons appear. However, a prominent merchant family does,
by the name of De Manningham, the family being custodians and clerks
of the Bradford Manor Court Rolls. A common name among the family was
Roger. Could this be the origin of the Bradford Hodgsons? The De Manningham
tag was frequently dropped. On 31st October 1357 the court was presented
by Thomas son of Roger and Roger son of Roger. In 1359 the rolls mention
a pledge by Roger Rogerson and in 1352 Thomas Rogerson was mentioned;
from here it is only a short step to Hodgson. Dr. George Redmond's book
of Yorkshire Surnames comes to the same conclusion, and implies that
"Hodgson" comes from this merchant family.
In 1285 Roger de
Manningham held 4 bovates of land in Haworth and his wife Margaret held
4 bovates of land in Manningham. Roger's brother held 2 oxgangs of land
in Horton called Hunt yard in 1311 by Knight service; he probably died
without issue as Hunt yard was in possession of his nephew Roger de
Manningham in 1342 who had also inherited the land from his parents
Roger and Margaret.. He died circa 1345 as in 1347 his son Roger Rogerson
held the land in Haworth and his brother Thomas son of Roger de Manningham
(called Thomas Rogerson in 1362) held the land in Manningham; he had
also acquired Hunt yard.
It seems highly
likely that, from evidence, the Bradford Hodgson name derives from the
merchant Roger (de Manningham). Notes: Horton, Bowling, Allerton and
Manningham are districts of Bradford, West Yorkshire. Oxgangs and bovates
are measurements of land, that is the amount an ox could plough in one
year.
From SHARE
Newsletter #20, page 224, Early Bradford Hodgsons, by Gordon Hodgson
Back
to top
|