The Nelthorpes are alleged to have originated at Staplehurst in Kent — but there is no proof or documentary evidence, so it could all be just hearsay or embedded family lore.
However, there is a will and a complete inventory at the Borthwick Institute of the University of York which show that one John Nelthorpe lived at Waghen (present-day Wawne), between Beverley and York, and died there in 1580. These documents reveal a sound man of yeoman stock with an extensive collection of chattels and a seemingly flourishing business. Apparently, he was worth just a fraction under £300.00 at the time of his death — a tidy sum in those days (about £45,000 today).
By the turn of the 17th century, the family was firmly established in East Yorkshire and had come to figure prominently in the civic life of Beverley. John’s second son, Edward, a mercer and grocer, became Mayor of Beverley in 1609. All three of his sons became MPs for the town — Edward (1640), James and John (both 1645). James, however, resigned his seat not long afterwards rather than participate in the trial of King Charles I.
Around 1600, the eldest of John’s sons, Richard Nelthorpe (1569—1640), migrated south of the Humber River and settled in Brigg. On 25 August 1601, he married Ursula daughter of Martin Gravnyer (or Grosvenour) Esq of Messingham — west of Scawby. The convoluted descent of the Scawby branch is shown on the Lineage page.
This was the family’s big break and followed a well-established tradition of marrying well and acquiring as much land as possible. This he proceeded to do in partnership with his father-in-law. In 1605 or thereabouts he began to build Scawby Hall which was, to begin with, a comparatively modest affair consisting of the present-day “sitting” hall and the adjacent study with two storeys above.
By 1620 Richard had amassed sufficient wealth to buy the Baysgarth estate at Baron-upon-Humber (see right) which became the family’s principal residence until it was sold in 1792. Until then, Scawby Hall had been home to juior members of the family.
Following his death in 1640, Richard was buried in Scawby parish church, where a memorial tablet can be seen containing the memorable phrase “When my vitale body shall become wormes meate”.
