GEN-MEDIEVAL-L Archives

From: David E. Shannon< >
Subject: DEIGHTON origins
Date: 1 Nov 1998 00:52:53 -0800

Recently, I posted an ostensible lineage of a de DEIGHTON family of
Yorkshire. In sleuthing further on the ever-so-accurate internet <g> I
came across the following piece on this site:

http://www.familytreemaker.com/users/d/e/n/Ed-C-Denne/GENE6-0073.html

Thank you Ed Denne, John Allen and Nancy Dayton, whoever you are. It seems
to originate from Fessenden, 1902 (don't know where she got it):

>>>>>>>

1712128. Robert De Deighton. (Source: John Allen 11/10/97.)

Notes for Robert De Deighton:
Admitted a freeman in 1305.

>From "The Name and Family of Dayton" from Nancy Dayton's records. The
information appears to be from the book "Genealogical Story" (Dayton and
Tomlinson) told by Laura Dayton Fessenden, 1902, Crist, Scott & Parshall
Publishers, Cooperstown, NY.

The surname DAYTON is perhaps a weak form of DALTON or more probably a
variation of DEIGHTON. The form DALTON is derived from the word "dale",
probably referring to the farm or habitation of the earliest English for
bears of the American family of DAYTON. The name DEIGHTON is derived from
the Danish and originally meant the dike enclosure of the farm by the dike.
Variations of this latter form are DAITON, DATON, DAIGHTON, DAYGHTON, and
DIGHTON. In early American records, DRAYTON was sometimes used
interchangeably with DAYTON.

It is recorded that a family, variously noted as DEIGHTON, DYGHTON, and
DEYSON, as early as the thirteenth century resided in the vicinity of the
hamlet of Deighton, in the parish of Deighton, in the east riding of
Yorkshire. This hamlet is about four and a half miles south south east from
the present city of York.

The early DEIGHTONs appear to have been for generations tenants of a farm
on the Manor of Deighton. The Abbott of St. Mary's of York is named as the
lord of the manor. The family at that time was of the yeomanry, but the
family annals reveal a steady rise in both social and economic position.

The first individual recorded in the family history is on(e) Robert de
DEIGHTON, who was admitted a freeman in 1305 and was a Yeoman. In 1300 a
Yeoman implied a gentleman of small estate who beside being a freeholder,
was an officer in the Militia of his section for the country, hence the
expression "an officer of the guard." This Robert, by unknown wife, was the
father of four sons, Robert, William, Nicholas, and John.

<<<<<<<<<<

This following info, I have also extrapolated from Ed, John, and Nancy's
version of Laura:

Later generations become brewer, sauce maker, marshal, wine merchant, until
eventually Henry de DEIGHTON was a "dyer" by trade, but subsequently
became, for the city of York, Chamberlain, Sheriff, Alderman and (1531)
Lord Mayor. His second wife Alice, widow of another alderman, Robert
PETTY, is the mother of Robert DEIGHTON (b. abt 1525) who in 1550 married
Elizabeth Copeleyand / COPLEY (her second husband), who is given as
daughter of John Copeleyand and (the extra "and" must be a typo?) Margaret
STAPLETON, of Wighill, Wiltshire. Fessenden gives Sir John S. Stapleton as
Margaret's father.

Another site shows Margaret's parents as Bryan Stapleton (c.1458-1518) and
Jane THIRKELD/Threkeld.

Nothing like doing research from primary sources, right? Of course, much
of this could be fable. Can anyone confirm the Lord Mayor of York business
for Henry? Can anyone shed light on this Elizabeth Copley, and her parents
John and Margaret?

Thanks,
David (a scholar once, in another life ...)

This thread:

• DEIGHTON origins by David E. Shannon< >