My Caywood/Cawood Ancestry
For my Brother, who is the last in our long line of Caywoods'
The first syllable 'Ca' - means a hollow (also a field); the last syllable 'Wood' - is obvious. It is a place-name of Anglo-Saxon origin describing someone who lived in a wooded hollow or field.
Much of the beginning history is obscure and the early written records of the Cawood family have been translated from Latin and Anglo-Saxon. There are a few gaps in written records of the family due to wars during the 13th to 15th centuries - The Wat Tyler Rebellion (1381), the Puritan Revolution of 1603, the Civil War of 1642, and the Cromwellian Period when the Roundheads destroyed all public records and documents that could be found.
The name Cawood first appeared in English records in 935 Yorkshire England, although the family existed farther back, even possibly before and through the reign of William the Conqueror. In celebration of King Athelstan's (the first Saxon king of all Britain, and the grandson of Alfred the Great) victory over the northern invaders - the Danes of Brunanburg, Northumbria and the Celts - the King gave the manor of Cawood to the See of York as a home for the Archbishop, there was also the great wood (Bishop's Wood) stocked with wildlife. The town of Cawood is on the south bank of the River Ouse and a half mile from the mouth of the Wharfe River. In the Norman period (1271) the manor was raised to the dignity of a Castle when Archpishop Giffard obtained the license from King Henry III.
Around 1201 (in the reign of King John, 1199-1216) Johannes de Cawood held, by grand sergeantie, one plough land in Cawood, and was hereditary custodian of the Kings forests between the Ouse and Derwent. The obligation held by Johannes de Cawood was directly to the crown, and he was probably not in sympathy with the barons who, in June 1215, at Runnymede, wrested from King John the famous instrument known as the Magna Carta(1). Detailed records show that on December 13, 1227, the Archbishop made an exchange of land with John de Cawood - "a member of a family already established in gentility in Cawood." The hereditary position of King's Forester continued in the Cawood family for over three centuries. The Cawood Family became one of the first of the old Yorkshire families.
David de Cawood (Son and Heir of Johannes de Cawood) greatly enhanced the position of the family. In 1304 he held 600 acres, a wood and a moor. In 1312, he held a third part of the town of Cawood in return for his service as keeper of the forest of Langwath, between Ouse and Derwent. On May 28th 1263, he was confirmed Abbot of Selby by the King and ruled that monastery for six years.
Thomas de Cawood was Vicar of St. Felix in York, 1279
Will de Cawood was Deacon in York, 1279
William Cawood (son of John and Alice) was Prebendary of Thorp before 1393, Canon of Ripon in 1407. As Canon of York he founded St. Wilfrid (for himself and his parents) in 1419
Twice, in 1210 and 1212, King John visited for Fox Hunting.
The Castle was (for a short time) the residence of King Henry III and his Queen, Eleanor, in 1255. They stayed there when on a trip to Scotland to visit their daughter (Margaret) who had married Alexander III, the boy King of Scotland.
In 1299, Edward I new bride, Margurete of France stayed at Cawood Castle while Edward went to Scotland to subdue the Scotch - and William Wallace (BRAVEHEART). She stayed for about five years, along with their son, Thomas de Brotherton.
Prince Edward (later called Edward II) stayed at Cawood from July 12-18th 1304.
In 1314, after he was defeated in the Battle of Bannockburn, King Edward II stayed at the castle. He and his queen stayed there in 1316 and 1322.
On January 15-16, 1466, the greatest feast in English history was held for the enthronement of George Nevill as Archbishop of York. The Duke of Glaucester visited for the this occasion as well.
King Henry VIII stayed at Cawood Castle with Catherine Howard in 1540.
Prisoner at Cawood Castle:
Century after century, era after era, her peace had been destroyed and her progress impeded by entanglement in war; the ancient town—on the highroad to York—having always been regarded as a place of great strategical importance. Here in November, 1642, was begun that fateful campaign which led to the extinction of the English monarchy in 1649. Ferdinando, Lord Fairfax, commander of the Parliamentary forces, “with an eye on York,” had entrenched himself on the west side of the bridge, while his gallant son, Sir Thomas, afterwards the “great Lord Fairfax,” was sent with 40 horse and 300 foot to hold the bridge at Wetherby. The Earl of Newcastle set out from York with a force of about 8000 men, of whom 2000 were horse and dragooners, and marching along the old Roman road by Street Houses, approached with seven pieces of cannon the old bridge at Tadcaster.
Lord Fairfax had been obliged to relegate a considerable part of his force to Selby and Cawood, and when the Royalists came in sight he had not 800 men in his caIl. Nevertheless he resolutely commanded his little army to stick to the trenches, and when the battle began in the morning of Dec.7th they maintained their ground till sunset with deadly purpose, counting many dead in the fields on the opposite side of the Wharfe. A sortie was then made by the Royalists to take the bridge by storm, but in this they were repulsed, though in the struggle, Captain Lister, one of Lord Fairfax’s most gallant officers, was shot through the head. Henry Calverley, Esq., head of the house of Calverley Hall, near Leeds, a staunch Royalist, who had to compound for his estates, was probably captured in this engagement, as we find him shortly afterwards a prisoner at Cawood Castle. Eventually the troops of the Parliament were obliged to withdraw from sheer disparity in numbers, leaving the town in undisputed possession of the Royalists.
an excerpt from 'Tadcaster & Environs' by Harry Speight 1883
This village stands on the banks of the Ouse, some few hundred yards south of the mouth of the Wharfe.
Renowned in history as once sheltering, in adversity, that great and ambitious churchman, Wolsey, also as being the place where the celebrated feast was given by Archbishop George Neville, the brother of Warwick the Kingmaker. It was also a Roman station of some note. The old Roman ford crossed the river opposite the church and many Roman relics have been found.
About the year 935, after the victory obtained by Athelstone over the combined armies of Northumbrians, Danes and Scots known as the Battle of Brunanburgh, Cawood Castle was given by the king to Wulstan, as a home for the Archbishop of York. A very fine specimen of ancient gateway and tower of the castle still remains, also portions of mullioned windows, which are still to be seen in the old farm buildings. The meadow in front is still called the Bishop's Close, around which can still be seen the remains of the moat which joined the river near the present bridge, erected in 1872.
What a series of historical scenes arise before our mental gaze as we think over the past history of this castle. In imagination we see the country around as one vast forest with fens and marshy wastes, the rude dwellings of our remote ancestors stood on the higher ground adjoining the river, around which some strong enclosure would be built, to protect them. To this region came Cassibellanus, the British king who having first routed Caesar's army, was finally conquered by the legions of Rome. Seven years after the conquest this prince died and was buried at York.
As time rolled on, our fancy sees the war galleys of Imperial Rome passing this spot. That richly gilt vessel probably contains Constantine, the Emperor of the World, passing along the bosom of the old Ouse to York, the beautiful city of conquering Rome, and the home of her emperors 1800 years ago.
Cawood was the Roman station, midway between Castleford and Eboracum, and the Roman road passing between crossed the river near to the present church.
The making of those great military roads, which opened communication throughout Britain, to some extent broke up the forest. Great tracts of land that had only been waste and dreary places were reclaimed and were seen smiling with waving corn. Merchants from the East sailed up the Ouse in their vessels bringing merchandise from all parts of the earth. As generations passed the Romans gradually lost their power and finally disappeared from Britain. From the opposite shores now came several piratical tribes of Gothic origin.
Distinctly mentioned on January, 13 1294 when John, son of David de Cawood, born on that day, was baptised the next day there. A chantry existed in 1299. There were two chapels, one belonged to the Cawood family and was located at the end of the south aisle.
~*Cardinal Wolsey*~
~*John Cawood - Royal Printer and Crown Publisher*~
Read about Cardinal Thomas Wolsey and his affiliation with Cawood & the Cawood Castle.
*Click here*
Read about John Cawood and his distinct employment as the Queen's Printer.
*Click here*
Stephen Cawood (born ca. 1630 England, died 1676 in Maryland) was the first immigrant of my lineage to cross the Atlantic Ocean in 1666. In 1665, England saw the Great Plague, which began in London and spread over almost all of England. It was followed by the Great Fire of London.
Cawood history taken directly from the book "Who is this fellow Cawood"
All the information I know about I have placed on this website to share. I do not have other detailed lineage other than mine. I am hoping that other Caywood/Cawood family members who have made their own lineage web pages will join my site ring (below) so that other branches of this family's history are compiled together. My information may or may not be completely accurate but I have tried my best. All pictures and information that I have not loaded/researched myself I have asked permission to use and/or provided a link back to original site.
Thank you, Margaret Caywood Jones
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The Cawood/Caywood Family SiteRing This site owned by Margaret Jones |
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