Sir John Reresby(1634

Sir John Reresby (1634–1689)

The Reresby family came originally from Reresby in Lincolnshire, and got the Thrybergh estates by inheritance in 1310. They held them till they were gambled away by William, the son of the Sir John Reresby.

Sir John Reresby (1634–1689), was born at Thrybergh Rotherham,on 14 April 1634, the eldest son of Sir John and Frances Reresby , of Thrybergh Hall. His mother, Frances, was daughter of Edmund Yarburgh of Snaith Hall, Yorkshire, who later married James Moyser of Beverley, Yorkshire.

In 1652 he was admitted to Trinity College Cambridge, but, the college refused to allow him the rank and privilege of a nobleman, and soon afterwards he was admitted to Gray's Inn, and lodged in the Temple, to be near his uncle Yarburgh, his mothers brother and student.

He made little progress in his studies and got his mothers permission to leave and in April 1654 he went abroad, where he remained more than four years. He became a great friend of the widow of Charles I, Henrietta Maria whom he visited in France.

Soon after The Restoration, Reresby returned to England with a letter of recommendation from the Queen Mother, and was presented to the King.

1662 Thrybergh - He let leases of his lands in Thrybergh, the rents of which were about £100 per year. He planted a close of six acres, called the Infield, on the north side of Thrybergh Hall.
1663 Thrybergh - Leased of all the water course to Charles Tooker, which was used for a steel mill or forge called Thriburgh Steele Forge (formerly in the tenure of Charles Tucker, father of Charles) together with the mill or site of the mill, for a term of 21 years (provided that Reresby's corn mill shall have priority of water in times of scarcity and that the walk mill has priority when there is cloth in the stocks) at a rent of £10 10s.
1665 Married Frances Brown at St. Dunstan's church on 9th of March, 1665. June 12.
Thrybergh He came with his family to Thrybergh, (his sister and wife's sister lived with them at Thrybergh) where he found the house in a ruinous condition, and all the furniture removed to Beverley, where his stepfather had built a house and lived with his mother. All that was left was four beds, six dishes, six pair of sheets, some furniture for the kitchen, six silver spoons, a large silver salt, a gift from Sir Francis Foljambe, his godfather, and some old heirlooms, eight old pictures and as many books, with very little more. His wife's money settled debts of about £600 and provided stock and necessities for the house and grounds. He spent his first Christmas here - his friend Sir Henry Bellasis stayed.
1666 Thrybergh - During spring he spent time restoring the house at Thrybergh.
1667 - Made Sheriff of Yorkshire
1668 - Continued restoration at Thrybergh Hall. he laid a fountain in the middle of the parterre, and the grotto in the summerhouse, and brought the water in lead pipes. He then built the north side of the house with stone. In September, his mother died at Beverley and was buried at Thrybergh, where Sir John dedicated a small monument to the memory of his parents. He sopent Christmas here.
1669 Rotherham - He acquired part of the estate at Brinsworth after the death of the Earl of Straffords butler
1670 Thrybergh- was confined to Thrybergh to finish the inside of the tower of which the case was built the year before, and to make new ceilings or limewash to most of the rooms throughout the whole house, which was very much decayed, and to new wainscot several of the rooms, and painted the house. He was the first in the area who began to rebuild or repair his house according to the mode of that time. His father having sold a great deal of timber in the old park, the deer did not live or increase in number. Sir John added some field land to it, which he exchanged with the tenants for other land with a brow, or cliff of wood, belonging to the common, all lying to the south, and compassed it with a stone wall
1671 Thrybergh - This year he took in that part of the park with a wall that lay beyond the ponds to the south. He paved the courts and built the long stable. He kept open Christmas at Thrybergh.
1673 - Became M.P. for Aldborough, Yorkshire. He bought land in Mexborough.
1674 Thrybergh - He planted the walk which leads down to the ponds, and the park wall towards Rotherham with ashes and sycamores> He made the two lowest fish-ponds in the park, and filled them with tench and carp. Christmas was spent at Thrybergh, where he entertained several friends that came to visit him from Aldborough. He bought a house at Aldborough and the fee farm rent of Ickles from the Crown.
1675 - Took his seat in the House of Commons. During the summer he returned to Thrybergh and continued to build and enlarge the park towards the old park, dividing it into two by a wall. Of one moiety he made a farm or two, the other he added to the park. Christmas was spent here and on New Year's Day he entertained 300 people.
1676 Thrybergh- In his Memoirs he tells of entertaining at Thrybergh during this year: '... such gentlemen as came and stayed at my house this summer, some two or three nights, some four or five: Sir Scrope Howe and his brother; my uncle Yarburgh and his wife; my uncle Yarburgh of Doncaster, his wife and children; my aunt Viscountess Monson, her husband (being married the fourth time to Adam Felton, Esq.), with her daughter by Monson, came from Suffolk, and stayed here a month; my second brother, lieutenant in the Guards, and my third brother, merchant, lately arrived in England, stayed here a month; Mr. Moyser, my stepfather, once alone; a second time he came and stayed with my Lord Clifford; Sir Thomas Yarburgh and his lady; my Lady Downe, wife to my Lord Downe; Mr. Blythman and his wife; Mr. Edmonds, both justices of the peace; my Lord Darcy (not long before married to the Countess of Southampton) and his lady; Anthony Franckand of Aldwarke, Esq., cousin-german to my wife ; my Lord Ogle, since Duke of Newcastle, and Mrs. Fane, of Raby Castle, but they only dined; the High Sheriff and his lady; with more too tedious to mention...'
1677 Sheffield - Reresby was successful in obtaining exemption for the Hearth Tax on the forges for the Sheffield Company of Cutlers
1678 - Spoke in favour of giving aid to the King, and the following month obtained a commission for raising an independent company of foot, to consist of 100 men, 1 lieutenant, 1 ensign, 3 sergeants, 3 corporals and 2 drummers.He chose Mr. Adams of Woodlathes for his lieutenant, and his wife's only brother as ensign. Later that year he was appointed Governor of Burlington and had a privy seal granted for a salary of £200 per annum.
Dec. 1678 - Reresby opposed Danby's impeachment.
1679 - He was again returned for M.P. for Aldborough, but was unseated on petition in the following May. On returning to Thrybergh he received a present of rare wild sheep, for the Park, a gift from the Duke of Newcastle.
1681 - Reresby was made a J.P. for Middlesex and Westminster, and superintended the proceedings against Thynne's murderers in February 1682.
1682 - On the Marquis of Halifax's recommendation, Reresby was appointed Governor of York with a garrison of 500 men. He assisted in the plot to obtain the forfeiture of the city's charter. At the general election after the death of Charles II, Reresby was elected M.P. for York. He played a prominent part in the House of Commons as a supporter of the court.
Christmas 1682 Thrybergh - December 24. I kept Christmas at Thrybergh, which it was formerly the custom to observe with great mirth and ceremony, but was much lessened, few keeping up the custom of it in those parts at that time but myself, when I was at Thrybergh. The manner of it for this year was thus : Sunday being Christmas Eve, I invited all the poorer sort of my tenants of Denby and Hooton, being nineteen in number. On Christmas Day the poorer sort of Thrybergh, Brinsford, and Mexborough, being twenty-six. On St. Stephen's Day all the farmers and better sort of tenants of Thrybergh, Brinsford, and Rotherham, being in all fifty-four. On St. John's Day all the chief tenants of Denby, Hooton, and Mexborough, being in number fortyfive. On the 30th of December there were invited to dine with me eighteen gentlemen and their wives from several parts of the neighbourhood. On the 1st of January were invited sixteen more gentlemen ; on the 3rd, twenty others ; on the 4th, twelve of the neighbouring clergy, and on the 6th, seven gentlemen and tradesmen of Rotherham and other places. There lay at my house upon these several days Sir Gervase Cutler ; Anthony Francland, Esq. ; Jasper Blythman, Esq., justice of the peace ; John Peebles, Esq., a justice of the peace ; Mr. Turner ; Captain King, an officer from York ; Mr. Eigden, merchant of York, and his wife, a handsome woman ; Mrs. Blythman and her daughter ; Mr. Belton, an ingenious clergyman, but too much a good fellow ; the cornet and quarter-master to my troop, with others. For music, I had two violins and a bass from Doncaster that wore my livery, that played well for the country ; two bagpipes for the common people ; a trumpeter and a drummer. The expense of liquor, both of wine and others, was considerable, as well as of other provisions ; and my friends appeared well satisfied. I dined two days from home this Christmas ; one day at Sir Gervase Cutler's, another at my Lord Strafford's. Though such remarks as these may seem frivolous to others, yet to posterity of one's own family (for whom this work is chiefly designed) they may appear otherwise ; that sort of curiosity being as well pleased with enquiry into less things sometimes as greater
Christmas 1684 Thrybergh - December 27. I returned to Thrybergh, by God's mercy, in safety, to keep Christmas amongst my neighbours and tenants. I had more company this Christmas than heretofore. The four first days of the new year all my tenants of Thrybergh, Brinsford, Denby, Mexborough, Hooton Roberts and Rotherham dined with me ; the rest of the time some four score of gentlemen and yeomen, with their wives, were invited, besides some that came from York ; so that all the beds in the house, and most in the town, were taken up. There were seldom less than four score, counting all sorts of people, that dined in the house every day, and some days many more. On New Year's Day chiefly there dined above three hundred, so that whole sheep were roasted and served so up to feed them. For music I had five violins, besides bagpipes, drums and trumpet.
1685 - Voted in favour of obtaining the concurrence of the House of Lords with the address passed by the Commons for the dismissal of the Roman catholic officers; he refused to sign an address of thanks to the king for his late Declaration of Indulgence . Although intending to stand for York at the next general election, Reresby now felt less enthusiastic to the royal cause.
Nov. 1688 - York Castle seized by Danby, Reresby was taken prisoner, but his parole was subsequently accepted, and he was thereupon allowed to retire to Thrybergh. Read about the meeting at Revolution House which led to the Revolution of 1688.
In the West riding there were few or no justices of the peace sworn but papists, who all absconded, nor any almost as acted as deputy lieutenants ; and yet very few robberies, felonies, and not one murder, and scarce a battery, had been committed. Only some arms and horses had been seized of Roman Catholics, and that under colour of authority.
1689 - Presented to William by Halifax.
the inscription on Reresby's monument in Thrybergh church states that He died suddenly on the 12th May, 1689. William, the eldest son, who succeeded to his father's title and estates, ruined the family by his extravagance. Thoresby, in his History of Leeds, alludes to Sir William, then still alive, as a baronet ' who had an estate of £1,700 per annum and £4,000 in monies left him by his father, but spent it all upon bad company,' 'that he has not one hundred a year left.' A later account says that he died in extreme want a tapster in the Fleet prison. Thrybergh was sold to John Savile, of Methley, Esq. in 1705. Of Tamworth, the second son, little is known beyond the publication by him, in 1721, of a volume entitled 'A Miscellany of Ingenious Thoughts and Reflections', Leonard, the youngest son, ultimately succeeded to the baronetcy. There is a monument to him in Thrybergh Church, showing that he died in August 1748, aged sixty-nine. With him the male line of this most ancient family became wholly extinct.

Reresby married Frances, daughter of William Browne of York,on 9 March 1665. Children:

William, born 7 Jan. 1668, succeeded to the baronetcy on the death of his father. After leading a life of extravagance, gambling away his fortune, he sold the family estate to John Savile of Methley in 1705, and died in the Fleet prison.
Tamworth (1670-1748)
John died in July 1683
George died in April 1689
Leonard born 22 Sept. 1679, succeeded his brother Tamworth as the fourth baronet, and died unmarried on 16 August, 1748, when the baronetcy became extinct.

There were also 4 daughters:

Mary
Frances
Margaret
Jane

The Memoirs of Sir John Reresby were first published in 1734. A a source for the social and political history of England in the late 17th century. As justice of the peace, Governor of York and Member of Parliament for that city and the borough of Aldborough, he was a crucial point of contact between central and local government at a time of strain between the two. He tried to serve both the Crown and the established Church, but like others found this difficult enough in Charles II's reign and impossible in James II's, when he became caught up in the Glorious Revolution in the north of England.