Welcome to my Emmott Family Page
More Information about the Emmott Family History Wanted !!
EMMOTT FAMILY HISTORY
This page, when I first started it (4th January 2000), was all but empty because all the information I had culled over many months was turned into digital porridge by the failure of the (Cyrix) processor on my previous computer. The earliest records of the Emmott family seem to indicate that they may (or may not) have had noble origins which came over with William the Conqueror and founded a village or hamlet on the (now) Lancashire/Yorkshire borders which was known as "Eamot" or some variation of that spelling. A quite substantial house, Emmott Hall, was subsequently built, rebuilt and eventually demolished in 1967. There is still a most interesting and attractive building, "Emmott House", which was once an outbuilding to the main hall and which dates back more than 200 years (date stone shows 1737) - well worth a visit. In the grounds of Emmott House there is also a well, locally known as the "Hullown" well, which seems to have considerable history, including being the alleged spot where the medieval King Athelstan, in A.D.926, took oaths of allegiance from his nobles. That's all I could remember off the top of my head - as and if I remember more I will edit this page to include it. I have added links wherever appropriate and will continue to add more as I discover them - perhaps you could help by sending me any information YOU have about the family ?
29th November 2001
I have inherited from my father a book entitled "Cowling a Moorland Parish", written by the Cowling Local History Society and published in November 1980. There's not an awful lot about the Emmott family in this book but what there is is very interesting. I quote here a passage from the very beginning of the book, the full article can be accessed by clicking here
"The Norman regime influenced the area sometime after the Norman Conquest. Land was given to the Emmott brothers as a reward for military support to William the Conqueror. One had land from Laneshawbridge to Haworth, one Laneshawbridge to Blacklane Ends, hence the Emmott Halls at Haworth (which is now Howarth Old Hall) and Laneshawbridge.
The younger brother had the land in Cowling around Beckfoot and Cowling Hill, the Emmott family living at Becksfoot for 400 years, all the Emmotts in and around the village are descended from this branch, the younger brother being Lord of the Manor."
23rd August 2002
The Cowling and Wilsden Emmotts
An extract from an ancient book about the Emmott family and history of the area
The earliest Emmott family dwelling we have been able to locate in Cowling is called Revel Knoll (or similar) and was built around the end of the fifteenth century by one of my (and possibly yours, too) very distant ancestors. In my father's account of the Emmotts of Revel Knoll he reports the times as follows:-
"The first Emmott marriage recorded in Kildwick Parish Register was that of John Emmott and Isabel Currer on 9th December, 1583. The Currer family were to achieve greater fame than the Emmotts and their pedigree and coat of arms appear in Whitakers 'History of Craven'. Isabel was the fourth daughter of Henry Currer of Kildwick and Ann, daughter of Christopher Wade of Addingham. Henry was second son of Hugh Currer. Whose son was John? We may never know.
In 1584, Michaelmas Term, Feet of Fines show John as the purchaser of the moiety of a messuage with lands in Cowling from John WatKynson and his wife.
There are also further feet of fines as follows: -
In 1586, Easter~f Term, along with 22 others John purchased the Manors of Cowling and Cononly and 4 messuages with lands there.
In 1604 Easter~ Terms John. and Isabel sold 3 messuages and lands in Cowling and a 20th part of the manor of Cowling and lands in Cowling, Okeworth and Glusburn.
In 1608 -9 Hilary Terms the Earl of Cumberland purchased from John and others the manor of Cononly and lands and rent in Cononly, Okeworth, Newsham and Fernyll.
We can only speculate as to whether John already lived in Cowling or whether he settled there after his marriage. The Currers would appear to have been a family of some consequence even in those days although Isabel was only a fourth daughter.
On his death, 12.5.1628, John is described as paterfamilias of Revel Knoll indicating that Revel Knoll was a place of importance at a time when reference was largely confined to Cowling and Stott Hill.
Revel Knoll is unknown to present day inhabitants of Cowling but Knoll Hill is a feature of the landscape marred, (alas) by a disused quarry at one end. Knoll Farmhouse sheltered from the prevailing wind by the hill is undoubtedly Revel Knoll, the ancestral home until the closing years of the 18th Century.
In wills of 1716 it was Known as ReavieKnow and in 1780 as Know. In the census of 1841 there is a Know and its position in the census route confirms the position in the census route confirms the position."
I first saw Revel Knoll in 1961 when it was still in a very primitive state. The floors were of uneven stone slabs and the farmer wore clogs with horseshoes nailed to the soles. There was a very large open fireplace and absolutely no mod-cons. You can see a photo of the house at that time by clicking here. This photo was taken from the Knoll at the back of the house where you understand "back" as being the side facing away from the road although, as was the almost universal practice in Yorkshire, the most frequently used entrance would be at the back. Over the years the occupier, who I believe was in his nineties, died and the house has been gradually improved, modernised and enlarged as you can see from this set of pictures.
An early Emmott family tree
The earliest Emmott memorial I have found
A copy of a 1967 newspaper cutting about the fate of Emmott Hall
Old Picture of Emmott Hall (external link)
Exterior wall of the "barn" wing of Emmott House, showing Initial and date plates
Hullown Well, Summer 1999
Information about accomodation at Emmott House and nearby (external link)
Another Emmott Family Page (external link)
Index of Emmotts (external link - currently not working)
Some Emmotts of Wharfedale (external link - currently not working)
Bradford Timeline article on an Emmott building in Wilsden - built by my great, great, great grandfather !!(external link)
 Pendle on the Net |
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