Percy – Hull & East Yorkshire History Calendar

April 28th

On 28th April 1489, Henry Percy, 4^thEarl of Northumberland, was lynched at Cocklodge near Thirsk by a rioting mob protesting against high taxes, during the Yorkshire Rebellion. He was buried in a newly built chapel in Beverley Minster.

On 28th April 1825, a bull sperm whale washed up at Tunstall, and was dissected on the beach by Dr James Alderson, before being articulated by Edward Wallis, and put on display to the public at Burton Constable Hall. Herman Melville saw the whale and referred to it in his novel “Moby Dick’. The remains of the skeleton are still on show.

On 28th April 1876, Hull sculptor Thomas Earle died aged 66. A member of the Earle family of stonemasons and later shipbuilders, Thomas made a successful career in London. His works in Hull include the statue of Dr John Alderson (Hull Royal Infirmary), Oceanus (Trinity House), Queen Victoria (Pearson Park), Thomas Ferres (Hull Minster – see below) and Edward I (Guildhall). Awarded Royal Academy Gold Medal 1851.

Thos Ferres by Thos Earle

February 19th

Pilgr Grace

On 19th February 1408, Henry Percy, 1^stEarl of Northumberland, was killed in battle against King Henry IV, after supporting Edmund Mortimer’s claim to the throne. The Percies held lands across Yorkshire, the Lakes and Northumberland, but their main seat appeared to be Leconfield until the 16thC.

On 19th February 1499, William Fechet of Harpham claimed sanctuary at St Cuthbert’s church, Durham, for assaulting William Fox on 22^ndOctober, striking him in several places with a sword; he assumed that Fox had died from his wounds, and fled.

On 19th February 1537, Sir Ralph Ellerker, the elder, chased Sir Francis Bigod and his men out of Beverley, and took 62 prisoners, who were taken to Hull. Bigod escaped. This appeared to be the end of the Pilgrimage of Grace in East Yorkshire.

On 19th February 1944, a Halifax bomber crashed 2m NNW of Hornsea shortly after take-off, killing all 7 crew. Photo -notice in Atwick church. Sadly, I was unable to find the memorial.

Atwick Halifax crash

December 19th

Dame Ann Percy (Percehay)

On 19th December 1511, Ann Percy died in Hessle, the wife of Sir Henry Percy (or Percehay) and mother of 17 children. Although she is not of the Northumberland Percies, the Duke of Northumberland in 1862 arranged for a transcription of the original brass in Hessle Church, presumably under the assumption that she was of his line.

On 19th December 1656, the second of 2 boy twins of Philip Ellerker died at Ellerker, 2 days after the death of the first, at the age of 3 days.

On 19th December 1939, it was reported that of the 1,774 children evacuated from Hull in September and October, 900 had returned home, during the ‘phoney war’.

November 8th

On 8th November 1481, Thomas Nevyll, yeoman of Skirlaugh, sought sanctuary in Durham Cathedral for killing John Hewlins of Rise on 1^stNovember.

On 8th November 1500, William Thorpp of Welwick, John Dorand and a man named Nicholas were in Winestead when their dog entered the park; they asked the parkers to return the dog, but they refused, and were abusive. Nicholas shot one of the parkers named March, in the neck with an arrow; he died about 10 days later. Thorpp travelled to Durham, where on 10.12 he claimed sanctuary, fearing he would be indicted as an accessory to murder.

On 8th November 1605, Jack and Kit Wright of Welwick, and brother-in-law Thomas Percy were fatally wounded at Holbeche House, Staffordshire, by the posse of 200 men led by the Sheriff of Warwick, Sir Richard Walsh. 9 of the 13 Gunpowder Plotters were at Holbeche, and they all died there; the other 4 were all executed.

On 8th November 1637, the Mayor of Hull petitioned the Privy Council that 1) the town was so poor as a result of the recent plague that it be let off the requirement to provide 2 warships for the Navy; 2) that the county’s funds help to support Hull’s poor and; 3) that Hull’s merchants be allowed to sell their goods elsewhere in the country again, now that the town was free of the plague. It was estimated that 2,000 people died in Hull, and perhaps as many left town.

November 7th

On 7th November 1605, Sir John Ferne, secretary to the Council in the North, sent confidential news to the Hull Mayor of the Gunpowder Plot, and orders to arrest Thomas Percy of Leconfield. An arrest warrant was issued the following day to the Bailiff, Chief Constable and constables of the county of Hull. However, Percy and the other conspirators were heading for Staffordshire.

On 7th November 1646, Sir Francis Cobbe of Ottringham was fined £72 as a Lieutenant-Colonel in the Royalist army (a delinquent) in order to recover his goods which had been sequestered by Parliament. He had been a member of King Charles’ Bodyguard.

On 7th November 1887, the crew of sailing ship Earl of Beaconsfield were rescued after the ship ran aground on sands off Aldbrough; the figurehead, representing Benjamin Disraeli, the Earl of Beaconsfield, can be seen in Hull Maritime Museum.

November 3rd

On 3rd November 1451, Richard Anson was enrolled in post as Hull Collector of Customs, joining existing staff Richard Bille (Collector) and Richard Alanson (Controller).

On 3rd November 1947, George Cornelius (Con) O’Kelly died aged 61. He achieved gold for Great Britain in the 1908 Olympics in men’s freestyle wrestling. 12,000 people turned out to meet him when he returned to Hull. His son, Con jnr, competed in the 1924 Olympic heavyweight boxing.

On 3rd November 1975, trawler owners ceased to use St Andrew’s Dock, Hull, which was closed to shipping after the collapse of Hull’s fishing industry.

St Andrews Dock memorial — Zebedee’s Yard

September 10th

Leconfield Castle moat-7 28102017 200134

On 10th September 1292, King Edward I stayed at Market Weighton on his way to York, after returning from Scotland.

On 10th September 1541, Henry VIII and his court set out from Leconfield (home of Henry Algernon Percy, 5^thEarl of Northumberland) for Hull. photo shows site of Leconfield Castle.

On 10th September 1623, Hull and York corporations proposed a conference be held to resolve the difference which had arisen between the 2 towns.

August 22nd

On 22nd August, 1138, William le Gros, Earl of Albemarle and Lord of Holderness, was made Earl of York, in recognition of his prowess in the Battle of the Standard at Cowton Moor, Northallerton. The 4 standards of St John of Beverley, St Peter of York, St Cuthbert of Durham, and St Wilfred of Ripon, were used as a rallying point for the English against the Scots. The East Riding contingent included a Percy and a de Stuteville. (and see 20.8)

On 22nd August 1572, Thomas Percy, 7^thEarl of Northumberland, was executed at York for treason, as leader of the Rising of the North. He was offered mercy if he renounced Catholicism, and refused. Beatified by the Catholic church. (b 1528, probably in Leconfield)

On 22nd August 1711, James Rand left £160 in his will for ‘the poor and needful of Preston’. Rands Estate in the village is named for him.

On 22nd August 1917, a bomb from a German Zeppelin destroyed the Primitive Methodist chapel, Baxtergate, Hedon.

On 22nd August 1918, Alfred Buchanan Cheetham of Bean Street, Hull, was killed when the SS Prunelle was torpedoed in the North Sea by a German U-boat. He took part in 3 Polar expeditions, and spent a total of 6 years in the Antarctic, with both Scott and Shackleton. Awarded the Silver Polar Medal clasp, he claimed to have crossed the Antarctic Circle 14 times. Cape Cheetham is named for him. (b 6.5.1867 Liverpool)

On 22nd August 1925, Robin Skelton died aged 72 in victoria, Canada. Poet, literary editor, professor and author of books on wicca. Born in Easington 12.10.1925

robin skelton

July 21st

On 21st July 1304, Henry de Percy granted permission for a 2 day annual market and fair to Nafferton with Wansford, where his family held land. It doesn’t appear to have been a success, as income was recorded in 1314, with no mention of it after this date.

On 21st July 1793, the Master of Hull Trinity House School in his weekly report ‘lamented 2 absentees who were never corrected for it. Their mothers are such notorious harpies and kick up such a shameful dust among us’.

On 21st July 1943, the Regional Air Raid Commissioner produced a report on the Trekking Situation in Hull, with concerns that people were leaving the city at night to avoid air-raids, often sleeping in ditches and verges. photo shows Londoners sleeping in the Underground – which, of course, Hull did not have. I have not been able to find images of night trekkers from Hull.

air raid shelter-aldwych

July 4th

On 4th July 1399, Henry Bolingbroke (later Henry IV) landed at Ravenspurn from France with 60 men, and was joined by the Earls of Northumberland (Percy) and Westmoreland (Neville), to claim the throne from Richard II. Photo shows memorial in Easington church.

On 4th July 1524, William Richerdson, husbandman, of North Newbald claimed sanctuary at the church of St John, Beverley, for the ‘murderation’ of Anthony Godsale, husbandman of Newbald.

On 4th July 1597, William Anlaby or Andleby, a Catholic convert born in Etton, returned to UK as a priest after training in France. He ministered to Catholic prisoners in Hull. Executed at York as a Catholic missionary priest. Beatified by the Catholic church in 1929.

On 4th July 1642, Sir John Hotham, aware that the Royalists surrounded Hull and had tried to cut off the fresh water supply, gave orders to open the sluices and cut the Humber banks in Drypool and Myton, outside the walls. He told farmers to bring their cattle and goods into the town. Hull was virtually unassailable.

On 4th July 1643, after defeat by the Royalists at Adwalton Moor, Sir Thomas Fairfax retreated to the only Parliamentary stronghold left in Yorkshire, Hull, just a few days after Hotham’s arrest. bolingbroke memorial Easington. jpg