Jeff Knaggs - Genealogy - Early Knaggses

William KNAGGES

An inquisition of 10 April 1298 records a William le Knagg' as being one of the preaching friars of Scarborough. All the surnames were written in the French way, so he was probably just William Knagges. He is unlikely to have had many descendants.

Robert and Agnes NAG

Robert Nag and Agnes his wife are listed in the Poll Tax records of Richard II in 1367.
They were living in Pollington, Yorkshire, and the tax levied was 4d (4 pence) each.
Who they were and what became of them, we shall never know.

Richard KNAG

In 1442, during the reign of Henry V, Richard Knag is recorded as being a paver when he becomes a Freeman of the City of York. Nothing more is heard of him.

Robert KNAGGES

The apprenticeship bond of Robert Knagges is recorded in Latin. My best translation is . .

Let it be remembered that on the 18th day of September in the year of our Lord One thousand four hundred and eighty-four, the second year of the reign of King Richard the third after the English conquest, a certain Robert Knagges came before the venerable Thomas Wrangwish, mayor of the City of York, in the council chamber over the Ouse bridge and there and then promised and firmly bound himslef to serve Robert Hewer, shoemaker, well and faithfully in whatever and all legal and honest crafts from the 18th day of September until the Feast of Pentecost which will be in the year of our Lord one thousand four hundred and eighty-seven, for two and a half years, seventy-two days and twenty hours, provided always that the aforementioned Robert Knagges for his part fully carries out the aforementioned agreement in the form stated, else this bond will be null and void in virtue and effect.

John KNAGGES

John Knagges, of Grosmont Priory, was ordained as an acolyte at York on 9th June 1498, subdeacon on 22nd September 1498 and deacon on 25th May 1499 and may have been related to William Knaggs, a friar, who was living at Grosmont at the dissolution of the monastaries. A priest of the same name dies, at Tickhill, in 1558.

Thomas KNAGS

On the 8th of April 1507, Thomas Knags of Sneaton, together with a George Byrkehede, sought sanctuary in Durham Cathedral. They confessed to killing a man named Colynson - Thomas Knags almost cut off his right arm with a sword, and George Byrkehede dealt him a mortal blow to the belly with another. They claimed it was in self-defence (if my Latin is correct).

John KNAGES

The earliest will that I know of is that of a John Knages of Sutton in Holderness. It was written 13 April 1527 and proved (after his death) 6 June 1527. I haven't obtained a copy of the will yet (and it will be difficult to read).

More later . .