Thomas Levett
Encyclopedia
Thomas Levett was an Oxford-educated Lincoln's Inn
barrister, judge of the Admiralty
for the Northern Counties
and High Sheriff of Rutland
. But Levett's chief accomplishment was as antiquarian, preserving a centuries-old chartulary kept by Cluniac monks at their Pontefract
, Yorkshire abbey, and then turning it over to Yorkshire medieval scholar Roger Dodsworth
for publication.
was born in High Melton
, Yorkshire, son of Thomas Levett. He was married to Margaret Lindley, daughter of John Lindley of Leathley
, Yorkshire. Through his marriage, Levett
was related to Sir Guy Palmes
, MP for Rutland from 1621–22 and High Sheriff of Yorkshire
in 1622-23. (Palmes was eventually heavily fined by Parliament
and pardoned for his Royalist
sympathies.) In spite of his familial relationship with Palmes, Levett apparently favoured the Parliamentary cause against the King. In June 1647 he contributed towards the Parliament's "Ordinance for the raising of Moneyes to be towards the maintenance of Forces within this Kingdome, under the Command of Sir Thomas Fairfax
Knight," as documents from Parliament put it, as well as "for the speedy transporting of, and paying the Forces for the carrying on the Warre of Ireland."
aug2006.jpg)
of St. John of Pontefract Abbey, a collection of early documents of Yorkshire kept by the Cluniac abbey founded in 1090. The Chartulary was later published by the Yorkshire Archaeological Society
, a publication which allowed historians a rare glimpse into medieval Yorkshire. In 1626-27 Levett gave the document to the well-known Yorkshire historian Roger Dodsworth
, according to Dodsworth. As Joseph Hunter
noted in his "Deanery of Doncaster," Dodsworth "was intimate with Levett of Tixover, who gave him a Chartulary of the Cluniacs of Pontefract." Within the Chartulary, Dodsworth wrote in his own handwriting to commemorate the fact that Levett had given him the manuscripts: "ex dono Tomae Levett de High Melton, in anno 1626-27."
How Levett came into possession of the Chartulary is uncertain, but the Levetts of High Melton and Normanton
had been prominent in Yorkshire for centuries and had once controlled Roche Abbey
. In the Monasticon Anglicanum published by the antiquarian Sir William Dugdale in 1655 is the abstract of a deed from Roche Abbey which Levett gave to Dugdale. Dugdale's caption: "ex autographo penes Thomam Levet super de Tikesover in com. Rutland." As a descendant of the family who had controlled the Abbey at Roche centuries earlier, Thomas Levett had apparently inherited many early manuscripts associated with the Levetts of Yorkshire. Dodsworth noted that the Levetts of High Melton had come from Normanton, where they were lords of the manor of Newlands Estate, Normanton, and early members of the Preceptory of the Knights Hospitallers.
. Both brothers were large landowners and active in property sales in Yorkshire
.
The Cooke Baronets
bought much of their early estate from the Levett family, and the Copley Baronets
of Sprotborough also dealt extensively with the two brothers. Perhaps not surprisingly for two sibling barristers, the two Levetts often found themselves embroiled in lawsuits in connection with their property dealings. A third brother, Peter Levett, graduated B.A.
and M.A.
at Christ's College, Cambridge
, and became the vicar of Cantley
near Doncaster
.
Katherine Levett, the daughter of Thomas Levett, married as her first husband Thomas Campbell, younger son of Sir Thomas Campbell, Lord Mayor of the City of London. Her second husband was John Boocher (or Booker) of London.
Lincoln's Inn
The Honourable Society of Lincoln's Inn is one of four Inns of Court in London to which barristers of England and Wales belong and where they are called to the Bar. The other three are Middle Temple, Inner Temple and Gray's Inn. Although Lincoln's Inn is able to trace its official records beyond...
barrister, judge of the Admiralty
Admiralty
The Admiralty was formerly the authority in the Kingdom of England, and later in the United Kingdom, responsible for the command of the Royal Navy...
for the Northern Counties
Northern Counties
Northern Counties Motor and Engineering Company was a manufacturer of bus bodywork located in Wigan Lane, Wigan, in North West England.-Overview:...
and High Sheriff of Rutland
High Sheriff of Rutland
This is a list of High Sheriffs of Rutland. The High Sheriff is the oldest secular office under the Crown: there has been a Sheriff of Rutland since 1129...
. But Levett's chief accomplishment was as antiquarian, preserving a centuries-old chartulary kept by Cluniac monks at their Pontefract
Pontefract
Pontefract is an historic market town in West Yorkshire, England. Traditionally in the West Riding, near the A1 , the M62 motorway and Castleford. It is one of the five towns in the metropolitan borough of the City of Wakefield and has a population of 28,250...
, Yorkshire abbey, and then turning it over to Yorkshire medieval scholar Roger Dodsworth
Roger Dodsworth
Roger Dodsworth was an English antiquary.-Life:He was born at Newton Grange, Oswaldkirk, near Helmsley, Yorkshire, in the house of his maternal grandfather, Ralph Sandwith...
for publication.
Early life
LevettLevett
Levett is an Anglo-Norman territorial surname deriving from the village of Livet-en-Ouche, now Jonquerets-de-Livet, in Eure, Normandy. Ancestors of the earliest Levett family in England, the de Livets were lords of the village of Livet, and undertenants of the de Ferrers, among the most powerful of...
was born in High Melton
High Melton
High Melton is a village and civil parish in the Metropolitan Borough of Doncaster in South Yorkshire, England. It has a population of 339.-External links:*...
, Yorkshire, son of Thomas Levett. He was married to Margaret Lindley, daughter of John Lindley of Leathley
Leathley
Leathley is a village and civil parish in the Harrogate district of North Yorkshire, England. It is near the border with West Yorkshire and the River Wharfe, 1 mile north east of Otley.-External links:...
, Yorkshire. Through his marriage, Levett
Levett
Levett is an Anglo-Norman territorial surname deriving from the village of Livet-en-Ouche, now Jonquerets-de-Livet, in Eure, Normandy. Ancestors of the earliest Levett family in England, the de Livets were lords of the village of Livet, and undertenants of the de Ferrers, among the most powerful of...
was related to Sir Guy Palmes
Guy Palmes
Sir Guy Palmes was MP for Rutland, High Sheriff of Yorkshire and Justice of the Peace for Yorkshire.- Early life :Palmes lived at Lindley, now part of Huddersfield, and at Ashwell, Rutland and married Anne, the daughter of Sir Edward Stafford....
, MP for Rutland from 1621–22 and High Sheriff of Yorkshire
High Sheriff of Yorkshire
The High Sheriff of Yorkshire was an ancient High Sheriff title originating in the time of the Angles, not long after the invasion of the Kingdom of England, which was in existence for around a thousand years. A list of the sheriffs from the Norman conquest onwards can be found below...
in 1622-23. (Palmes was eventually heavily fined by Parliament
Parliament of England
The Parliament of England was the legislature of the Kingdom of England. In 1066, William of Normandy introduced a feudal system, by which he sought the advice of a council of tenants-in-chief and ecclesiastics before making laws...
and pardoned for his Royalist
Cavalier
Cavalier was the name used by Parliamentarians for a Royalist supporter of King Charles I and son Charles II during the English Civil War, the Interregnum, and the Restoration...
sympathies.) In spite of his familial relationship with Palmes, Levett apparently favoured the Parliamentary cause against the King. In June 1647 he contributed towards the Parliament's "Ordinance for the raising of Moneyes to be towards the maintenance of Forces within this Kingdome, under the Command of Sir Thomas Fairfax
Thomas Fairfax, 3rd Lord Fairfax of Cameron
Thomas Fairfax, 3rd Lord Fairfax of Cameron was a general and parliamentary commander-in-chief during the English Civil War...
Knight," as documents from Parliament put it, as well as "for the speedy transporting of, and paying the Forces for the carrying on the Warre of Ireland."
Antiquarian studies
Interested in antiquarian pursuits, Levett's lasting contribution was to the study of early Yorkshire history. Levett came into possession of the ChartularyChartulary
A cartulary or chartulary , also called Pancarta and Codex Diplomaticus, is a medieval manuscript volume or roll containing transcriptions of original documents relating to the foundation, privileges, and legal rights of ecclesiastical establishments, municipal corporations, industrial...
of St. John of Pontefract Abbey, a collection of early documents of Yorkshire kept by the Cluniac abbey founded in 1090. The Chartulary was later published by the Yorkshire Archaeological Society
Yorkshire Archaeological Society
The Yorkshire Archaeological Society is a registered charity dedicated to the study of the archaeology, history and people of the three Ridings of greater Yorkshire...
, a publication which allowed historians a rare glimpse into medieval Yorkshire. In 1626-27 Levett gave the document to the well-known Yorkshire historian Roger Dodsworth
Roger Dodsworth
Roger Dodsworth was an English antiquary.-Life:He was born at Newton Grange, Oswaldkirk, near Helmsley, Yorkshire, in the house of his maternal grandfather, Ralph Sandwith...
, according to Dodsworth. As Joseph Hunter
Joseph Hunter (antiquarian)
Joseph Hunter was a Unitarian Minister and antiquarian best known for his publications Hallamshire. The History and Topography of the Parish of Sheffield in the County of York and the two-volume South Yorkshire , still considered among the best works written on the history of Sheffield and South...
noted in his "Deanery of Doncaster," Dodsworth "was intimate with Levett of Tixover, who gave him a Chartulary of the Cluniacs of Pontefract." Within the Chartulary, Dodsworth wrote in his own handwriting to commemorate the fact that Levett had given him the manuscripts: "ex dono Tomae Levett de High Melton, in anno 1626-27."
How Levett came into possession of the Chartulary is uncertain, but the Levetts of High Melton and Normanton
Normanton, West Yorkshire
Normanton is a town and civil parish within the City of Wakefield in West Yorkshire, England. It is northeast of Wakefield and southwest of Castleford, and at the time of the 2001 Census, the population was 19,949.-History:...
had been prominent in Yorkshire for centuries and had once controlled Roche Abbey
Roche Abbey
Roche Abbey is a now-ruined abbey located near Maltby, South Yorkshire, England. It is situated in a valley alongside Maltby Beck and King's Wood.-Early history:...
. In the Monasticon Anglicanum published by the antiquarian Sir William Dugdale in 1655 is the abstract of a deed from Roche Abbey which Levett gave to Dugdale. Dugdale's caption: "ex autographo penes Thomam Levet super de Tikesover in com. Rutland." As a descendant of the family who had controlled the Abbey at Roche centuries earlier, Thomas Levett had apparently inherited many early manuscripts associated with the Levetts of Yorkshire. Dodsworth noted that the Levetts of High Melton had come from Normanton, where they were lords of the manor of Newlands Estate, Normanton, and early members of the Preceptory of the Knights Hospitallers.
Private life
Thomas Levett's brother was John Levett, a well-known attorney at YorkYork
York is a walled city, situated at the confluence of the Rivers Ouse and Foss in North Yorkshire, England. The city has a rich heritage and has provided the backdrop to major political events throughout much of its two millennia of existence...
. Both brothers were large landowners and active in property sales in Yorkshire
Yorkshire
Yorkshire is a historic county of northern England and the largest in the United Kingdom. Because of its great size in comparison to other English counties, functions have been increasingly undertaken over time by its subdivisions, which have also been subject to periodic reform...
.
The Cooke Baronets
Cooke Baronets
There have been two Baronetcies created for persons with the surname Cooke, one in the Baronetage of England and one in the Baronetage of Ireland. One creation is extant as of 2008...
bought much of their early estate from the Levett family, and the Copley Baronets
Copley Baronets
-Copley Baronets of Sprotbrough, Yorks:*Sir Godfrey Copley, 1st Baronet 21 Feb 1623 - 21 Feb 1678*Sir Godfrey Copley, 2nd Baronet MP for Aldborough 1679-1685 and Thirsk 1695-1709...
of Sprotborough also dealt extensively with the two brothers. Perhaps not surprisingly for two sibling barristers, the two Levetts often found themselves embroiled in lawsuits in connection with their property dealings. A third brother, Peter Levett, graduated B.A.
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
and M.A.
Master of Arts (postgraduate)
A Master of Arts from the Latin Magister Artium, is a type of Master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The M.A. is usually contrasted with the M.S. or M.Sc. degrees...
at Christ's College, Cambridge
Christ's College, Cambridge
Christ's College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge.With a reputation for high academic standards, Christ's College averaged top place in the Tompkins Table from 1980-2000 . In 2011, Christ's was placed sixth.-College history:...
, and became the vicar of Cantley
Cantley, South Yorkshire
Cantley is a civil parish in the Metropolitan Borough of Doncaster in South Yorkshire, England. It has a population of 2,830.-Early history:...
near Doncaster
Doncaster
Doncaster is a town in South Yorkshire, England, and the principal settlement of the Metropolitan Borough of Doncaster. The town is about from Sheffield and is popularly referred to as "Donny"...
.
Katherine Levett, the daughter of Thomas Levett, married as her first husband Thomas Campbell, younger son of Sir Thomas Campbell, Lord Mayor of the City of London. Her second husband was John Boocher (or Booker) of London.
External links
- Thomas Levett, The New England Historical and Genealogical Register, Henry Fitz-Gilbert Waters, 1913
- Levett coat of arms, Sable a fesse embattled between three leopards heads erased Argent langued Gules (impaling the coat-of-arms of Barnby), St. James Church, High Melton, Yorkshire
- Lindley and Palmes, The Otley Brass, All Saints Church, Otley, Yorkshire
- Family of Levett of Normanton and High Melton, New England Historical and Genealogical Register, Henry Fitz-Gilbert Waters, 1913
- Levett of High Melton, Yorkshire, Thurcroftweb
