University Archives
Pennyman family, of Ormesby (incorporating the Addison and Consett families)
The Pennyman family originally came from Stokesley but were in Ormesby, North Yorkshire by the early sixteenth century. Robert Pennyman was hanged at York in 1569 for his part in the Pilgrimage of Grace. The family expanded the Ormesby estate in the early seventeenth century. William Pennyman (1603-1643), who was illegitimate, was given a knighthood in 1628 by Charles I. He built Marske Hall in 1625 and became a bencher of Gray's Inn in 1639. He sat as MP for Richmond in the short and long parliaments of 1640 and was called as a witness during the trial of the Earl of Strafford. He became a Royalist and fought at Edgehill. He was Governor of Oxford until he died in the epidemic of 1643. William Pennyman's legitimate half-brother, James Pennyman (1608-1655), was also a leading Royalist and marched against the Scots with Charles I. Thomas Pennyman (1642-1708), was High Sheriff of Yorkshire 1702-3. James Pennyman (1662-1745), who was 3rd baronet, married Mary Warton, whose inheritance enabled the Pennyman family to build a large townhouse in Lairgate, Beverley. James Pennyman (1737-1808), 6th baronet, was MP for Scarborough 1770-74 and for Beverley 1774-96. He had six male heirs, only one of whom survived to adulthood - William Henry Pennyman (1764-1852), with whom the title expired. The property at Ormesby passed through the female line of Ralph and Bridget Pennyman, to his cousin, James White Worsley (1792-1870), who assumed the name, Pennyman. Some of their land in Normanby passed down through the Consett family, for whom there are papers including the only letter in the collection. There are also estate papers of the Addison family. Most of the 100 items dates from the late sixteenth century. [DPE]