Robert Baxter, Senior Archivist, writes: The family was extant at Huddleston, Yorkshire in the mid 13th century. John de Hudleston (died c.1252) married Joan, daughter and heir of Adam de Boyvill, whose ancestor had been granted the Lordship of Millom, Cumberland, by William le Meschin (d. c1134), younger brother of Ranulph le Meschin, Vicomte de Bayeux and Lord of Chester.
Descendants included Sir John Hudleston (d. before 1306), a noted soldier and present at the Battle of Falkirk, Sir Richard Hudleston who was at Agincourt, Sir John Hudleston (d. 1493), High Sheriff of Cumberland, who fought in the Wars of the Roses and was Constable of Cockermouth Castle in 1461. His descendant, William Hudleston married Isabel, youngest daughter of John Neville, Marquis of Montagu in c. 1494. By this marriage, William acquired some 12 manors, including two at Sawston, Cambridgeshire. His grandson, Sir John Huddleston (1517-1557), was Sheriff of Cambridgeshire, Member of Parliament and Privy Councillor. Princess Mary stayed a night at his house, Sawston Hall, in July 1553 during her escape to Norfolk and the house was burned by her prospective captor, the Duke of Northumberland. Sawston Hall was extensively extended and remodelled by Sir John’s son, Sir Edmund Huddleston (d. 1606).
The documents, all of which are now held at Cumbria Archive Centre, Whitehaven (reference YDX 767) include the following:
1). Letter of attorney of William Hudleston, esquire, 2 October 1500, granting powers to William Hutton, Rector of Egremont, and William Biggyngs, chaplain, to acquire seisin of a tenement in Egremont, Cumberland, called Howbank.
2). Quitclaim of William Hudleston, 14 January 1501, of all right in a tenement called Crosslate in Freckleton, Kirkham, Lancashire, to William Hudleston of Millom, esquire.
3). Memorandum of the customs of the manor of Sawston, Cambridgeshire, at the court of Sir Edmund Huddleston at Pyratts on 10 October 1587, mainly concerning the keeping of livestock upon the commons.
4). Receipt by [Sir] Edmund Huddleston for a lease given to Elizabeth and John Lever of Leyland, Lancashire, of a barn and five acres of land in Leyland, 9 November 1590.
5). Original will of Sir Edmund Huddleston of Sawston Hall, Cambridgeshire, 10 December 1603, appointing his wife Dorothy Huddleston his executrix, grants of monies to the poor of various places in Essex, London, Cambridgeshire and Lancashire, legacies of gold rings to his sister and daughters, a quarter or half year's wages to his household servants, etc. With codicil dated 6 Dec 1606, conveying his manors of Leyland and Farington and the fourth part of the manor of Clayton, all in Lancashire, to trustees to sell the same after his decease.
6.) 18th century copy of deed of partition of 4 July 17 Henry VII [1502] of the five daughters, the co-heirs of John Neville, Marquis of Montagu and Isabel his wife, including their daughter Isabel, the wife of William Hudleston, esq., granting various manors and lands including the manor of Sawston, Cambridgeshire.
The documents above will complement other significant collections relating to the Hudleston family held at Cumbria Archive Centre, Carlisle, Lancashire Archives, Cambridgeshire Archives and Durham University.
