Roxby
in Victoria County History

Although not stated to be appurtenant to Loftus in 1086 Roxby (Rozebi, Roscebi, xi cent.; Roucebi, xii cent.; Rossby, Rouxby, Rokysby, Rowkesbie, Rokesby, xvi cent.; Rowsby, xvi-xvii cent.; Rousby, xvi-xix cent.) was in the fee of Arnold de Percy in 1302-3.

One carucate was land of the king in 1086; 2 carucates were soke of Seaton (q.v.) and 3 carucates formed a berewick of Borrowby. Borrowby and Roxby, held before the Conquest by Swen as one 'manor,' were held in 1086 by Niel Fossard of the Count of Mortain. Robert son of Niel Fossard and William his son granted to Whitby Abbey 1 carucate of land here, of which the abbey subenfeoffed Thurstan the steward of Acklam, and succeeding lords of Acklam and Roxby, no doubt descendants of Thurstan, held lands here in Whitby Abbey.

The 'heir of Marmaduke de Thweng," was mesne lord of three parts of a knight's fee in Acklam and other places and Roxby in 1284-85. Of this fee and Yarm Lucy de Thweng and her third husband, Bartholomew de Fanacourt, made a settlement in 1346, and the mesne lordship followerd the descent of Yarm.

Roger de Acklam, probably lord, granted to Hugh son of Patrick 14 acres of land here between the foot of the moor and the waterfall, except the wood of Roucegrive. He died before 1230-31 leaving two daughters and heirs, Agnes who married Henry son of Ralph and died childless, and Joan who married Ingram de Boynton. William, said to be son of Ingram, was lord in 1284-85. He married Alice daughter and heir of Ingram de Monceaux and had a son and heir Ingram, assessed for the subsidy in Roxby in 1301-02, and lord of Roxby and Acklam from that date to 1316 or later. His son, described as Walter de Boynton 'of Acklam,' lord in 1325, was succeeded by a son Thomas who made a settlement of the manor 1340, received a grant of free warren here in 1365 and was succeeded by a son Thomas. Henry son and heir of Thomas rose with the Percys in 1405 and was executed and attainted, but his widow Elizabeth had not maintenance for herself and six children or money to pay her husband's debts she was allowed to retain this manor for life. On the death of Elizabeth it was seized by Henry V and was still in the hands of the Crown in 1425 when William, eldest surviving son of Henry Boynton, petitioned for its restoration. Roger de Thornton, to whom it had probably been granted with Acklam, held the Boynton lands in 1428, but they were ultimately restored to their old owners. William Boynton had a son and heir Thomas, father of Henry, who married one of the co-heirs of Barmston. Henry left a son and heir, Thomas Boynton 'of Roxby,' who died in 1523. Matthew son and heir of Thomas died seised of the reversion of the manor (on the death of his mother Cecily) in 1540 leaving a son and heir Thomas. Cecily died in 1550-51 and was buried in Roxby chapel. Thomas, with whom the family begin to be dscribed as of Barmston, was knighted in 1578 and died in January 1581-2 leaving a son and heir Francis. Francis, knighted in 1603, was succeeded in 1617 by his son Matthew, knighted in May 1618 and created baronet six days later. Matthew took the Parliamentary side in the Civil War, assisted in the capture of Sir John Hotham, was governor of Scarborough Castle and colonel of a troop of horse. He died early in 1646-7 leaving a son and heir Francis. His first wife Frances and widow Katharine are both buried at Roxby. Francis made a settlement of the manor in 1649, succeeded to the Griffith estates at Burton Agnes, and died in 1695. His grandson and successor, Sir Griffith Boynton, son and heir of Lieut. Col. William Boynton who died in 1689, died childless in 1731 and was succeeded by his cousin and heir Sir Francis, son and heir of the Rev. Henry Boynton, rector of Barmston, third son of the second baronet by his second wife. Sir Francis appointed a gamekeeper for his manor in 1738 and died in the following year leaving a son and heir Griffith, who appointed gamekeepers in 1740, 1741 and 1745 and died in 1761. His son and heir Griffith died in 1778 leaving a son and heir Griffith, who before his death in 1801 sold this manor to John Turton of Edinburgh. from this time the manor descended with the Turtons manor of Upsall in South Kilvington parish (q.v.), and it is now in the possession of Mr. Edmund Russborough Turton of Upsall Castle.

Page, William (1923) The Victoria History of the County of York, North Riding, vol. two, The St. Catherine Press, p. 368-369.