Adam d'Avranches, Lord of Yealand and Silverdale in Cumberland

Mike Hutchinson's Readman Family History http://www.bedfordpark.net/genealogy/readman/history.htm

Greenwood 1905[ii] builds a family history from the Norman Vicomte Adam d’Avranches who was granted lands at Yealand and Silverdale in Cumberland by William of Lancaster in 1170. The Avranches had given William the Conqueror a hand in the 1066 invasion, and so were, presumably, entitled to some spoils of victory.

This family also acquired lands at Redman in Cumberland – a place not readily located on contemporary maps, although the village of Yealand Redmayne is shown about one mile NE of Yealand Manor. A Norman de Yealand - born c1140 and possibly a crusader to the Hly lands – later adopted the names “de Redman or de Redeman. A branch of this family, through Sir Richard Redman (born c 1360 and later Speaker of the House of Commons) later moved to Harewood Castle in Yorkshire. Sir Richard Redman married Elizabeth de Aldeburgh some time after 1393 – she was heiress to Harewood.

Greenwood reports that Cuthbert Redman (probably Sir Richards great grandson) of this branch participated in the Northern Rebellion in 1569, and was indicted of conspiracy but having escaped the usual penalty (presumably as a minor player) he “…settled in the neighbourhood of Whitby where he owned lands.” Greenwood goes on to report on Cuthbert and his wife Elizabeth in 1577 and 1589. Greenwood identifies a “Wilstrop Redmayne” and his wife Jane in 1596, suggesting that Wilstrop in a son or grandson of Cuthbert. Wilstrop and Jane suffered “a fine of the manor of Borrowby in Lythe” in 1596 “…and again in 1599 of lands at Newmger, Acreynges and Newton Moor, Parish of Lythe.” [Note this Wilstrop could well be the “Westrop Readman” that Aveling identifies above as a recusant at Lythe in 1590]

We also have O’Connor’s[iii] citation at page 153 of a recusant roll mention in September 1592 of “…Wilstrop Redman lately of Borrowby, gent, as a crown debtor to the account of £120…” – again probably the same person.

Sources:

Greenwood, W: “The Redmans of Levens and Harewood: A contribution to the history of the family of Redman and Redmayne in many of its branches” Titus Wilson, Kendal, 1905

O’Connor, J L:” Hearts of Oak: Ain introduction to the Recusant history of the North Yorkshire Moors” (unpublished) Middlesborough 1968