(66) Airmyn alias Armine of Osgodby, baronets

Airmine of Osgodby

The name of this family is erratically spelt in contemporary documents, with Armine (occasionally Ermin) being most common in earlier centuries and Airmyn or Airmine in the 17th century.  The ancestry of the family can be traced back to Gilbert Armine of Newland-upon-Aire (Yorks ER), who was living in 1164, but the first to settle at Osgodby was Sir William Armine (fl. 1349), who presumably built the manor house in which the family later lived.  The estate descended from father to son until the 17th century, and the house seems to have been rebuilt in the early 17th century, probably by Sir William Airmyn (1561-1622).  

Sir William Armine (fl. 1409) was treasurer of Calais, but otherwise the family do not seem to have made much of a mark beyond their native county until the late 16th century, when Sir William Airmyn (1561-1622) became an MP.  Sir William was notable for maintaining a 'godly household'; according to a Puritan chronicler he was "a vigerous Suppresser of vice and debauchery, a Religious Gentleman and one that kept a very well Ordred family".  He took special care over the upbringing of his children, being determined that his heir should be 'good as well as great', and his efforts met with the approbation of a neighbouring Puritan minister.  The eldest son, Sir William Airmyn (1593-1651) was made a baronet in his father’s lifetime and followed him into national politics, being MP for Boston, Grantham and Lincolnshire at different times between 1621 and 1641.  He was a strong Puritan, a prominent opponent of the king before the Civil War, and an active Parliamentarian during it; his second son, Theophilus (1623-44) was a colonel in the Parliamentarian Army and was killed at the siege of Pontefract Castle.  His estates were occupied by Royalist opponents in 1643 and he later claimed to have had no income from them for three years.  In 1648 he was appointed one of the judges to try the king but refused to sit, and from 1649-51 he was a member of the Council of State.  

His widow, Lady Mary Armine (d. 1675) was a generous benefactress of Puritan clergy who were displaced from their livings after the Restoration.  His elder son, Sir William Airmine (1622-58), 2nd bt., was MP for Cumberland 1646-53.  When he died without sons the baronetcy and estate passed to his brother Sir Michael Airmyn (1625-68), 3rd bt., who found the estates embarrassed and who left considerable debts at his death.  In a complex will which subsequently led to Chancery litigation he divided his property between his surviving kin, including his uncle, Evers Armine MP (1599-1680), and his nieces, Susan (c.1650-1713), Baroness Belasyse and Anne (d. 1719), who was successively Lady Wodehouse, Lady Crewe and Countess of Torrington.  By the end of the 17th century the estates had been divided between the co-heiresses and the Airmine name had disappeared.   

Osgodby Manor House, Lincolnshire

The original moated medieval house at Osgodby was replaced, probably in the early 17th century, by a new house on an adjacent higher site.  While 19th and 20th century maps and photographs show a relatively small L-shaped building, this was evidently a fragment of a house at least four times the size, which had 39 hearths in 1677, making it the second largest house in Kesteven.  The pediment above the buttress and the oeil-de-boeuf window in the gable suggest there were later 17th century alterations too.

Osgodby Manor House: east end c.1900.

Osgodby Manor House: north front, 1913.

The house was plundered by Royalist troops under Sir Baptist Noel in June 1643, and was probably reduced in size after it became a farmhouse on the Grimsthorpe estate in 1720.  In 1912 it was described thus by Alan Flea: "a sturdy old Tudor house...the greater part of the rooms are bare.  That greeny film so attractive in a sketch has become rooted to the casements...[there is an] oak staircase with giant balusters.  Another staircase leads to 'the Barracks' a bare roof of huge beams.  Chapel forlorn and dilapidated, retains some ornamental designs upon the walls and there are some signs of carving about the fireplace".   

Osgodby Manor House: staircase, 1913

The house was sold in 1913 and then consisted of three reception rooms, five bedrooms and six attics, plus service accommodation. The remaining parts were largely demolished in 1947 and c.1970, and only a single chimneystack survives today.  The remains of the early medieval moat were preserved as part of a later garden layout, and this pond and a mound survived as earthworks into the 1960s, but appear now to have been levelled and are under crops.

Descent: Sir William Armine (fl. 1349); to son, Sir William Armine, treasurer of Calais (fl. 1409); to son, Sir William Armine (c.1360-c.1430); to son, Sir William Armine (d. 1448); to son, William Armine (d. 1487); to son, Thomas Armine (d. 1498); to brother, William Armine (d. 1532); to son, William Armine (d. 1558); to son, Bartholomew Armine (c.1541-98); to son, Sir William Armyn alias Airmine (1561-1622); to son, Sir William Airmine, 1st bt. (1593-1651); to son, Sir William Airmine, 2nd bt. (1622-58); to brother, Sir Michael Airmine, 3rd bt. (1625-68); to neices, Susan, Lady Belasyse (1649/50-1713) and Anne, Countess of Torrington (1654-1719); sold 1720 to Sir Gilbert Heathcote and became part of the Grimsthorpe estate; sold 1913...

Airmine family of Osgodby

Armine, Sir William (b. c.1310), kt.  Eldest son of William Armine, lord of Scarth (d. 1338) and his wife (nee Harrington), born c.1310.  'Commander of the Ships at Boston (Lincs)' and knighted, 1349.  He married Joan, daughter of Nicholas St. Mark of Osgodby and had issue: 
(1) Sir William Armine (c.1335-c.1410), kt. (q.v.); 
(2) Richard Armine (fl. 1363); 
(3) Margaret Armine, m. John Neville; 
(4) Mary Armine, m. Thomas Selford of Kirkby La Thorpe (Lincs).
He inherited Osgodby in Lenton (Lincs) in right of his wife and perhaps built the manor house there.
His date of death is unknown.

Armine, Sir William (c.1335-c.1410), kt.,of Osgodby. Elder son of Sir William Armine (b. c.1310) and his wife Joan, daughter of Nicholas St. Mark, born about 1335. Treasurer of Calais.  He married Joane, daughter of Sir Hugh Willoughby (or by some accounts of John Harrington) and had issue:
(1) Sir William Armine (c.1360-c.1430), kt. (q.v.); 
(2) Margaret Armine, m. Mr Harrington of Paunton; 
(3) John Armine; 
(4) Henry Armine.
He inherited Osgodby in Lenton (Lincs) from his father.
He died about 1410.

Armine, Sir William (c.1360-c.1430), kt.,of Osgodby.  Eldest son of Sir William Armine (c.1335-c.1410) and his wife Joane, daughter of Sir Hugh Willoughby, born about 1360.  He married first "the heiress of Brittaine and Burmiston" (d. 1416/7) and second, Margaret (fl. 1469), daughter of Sir Adam Everingham of Birkin and had issue:
(1.1) Sir William Armine (d. 1448), kt. (q.v.); 
(1.2) Margaret Armine, m. Robert Woodville; 
(1.3) Jane Armine, m. John Trusdale; 
(1.4) Anne Armine, m. William Burnswell; 
(2.1) Margaret Armine (b. 1418).
He inherited Osgodby in Lenton (Lincs) from his father in about 1410.
He died about 1430.

Armine, Sir William (d. 1448), kt., of Osgodby.  Only son of Sir William Armine (c.1360-c.1430) and his first wife.  He married (before 1437/8) Isabella (fl. 1467), daughter of Sir Hugh Wriothesley and had issue: 
(1) William Armine (d. c.1490) (q.v.); 
(2) Thomas Armine (fl. 1443-87); 
(3) Catherine Armine, m. John Bratoft; 
(4) Isabell Armine, m. James Dacres.
He inherited Osgodby in Lenton (Lincs) from his father in about 1430.
He died in 1448.

Armine, William (d. c.1490), of Osgodby.  Elder son of Sir William Armine (d. 1448) and his wife Isabel, daughter of Sir Hugh Wriothesley.  He married Margaret Langholme (d. 1506), sister of William Langholme of Conisholme, and had issue: 
(1) Thomas Armine (d. 1498); died unmarried and without issue, 2 October 1498;
(2) William Armine (d. 1532) (q.v.); 
(3) Margaret Armine (d. 1508/9), m.1 (after 1487/8) James Dene of Barrowby and m.2 (before 1505/6) Sir John Markham of Sedgebrook; 
(4) John Armine of Luddington; 
(5) Richard Armine of Walton; 
(6) Anne Armine (fl. 1522), prioress of Choudham.
He inherited Osgodby in Lenton (Lincs) from his father in 1448. On his death it passed to his eldest son Thomas (d. 1498) and then to his second son, William (d. 1532).
He died after 1 April 1487, probably about 1490.

Armine, William (d. 1532), of Osgodby.   Second son of William Armine (d. c.1490) and his wife Margaret Langholme.  He married Elizabeth, daughter of Hugh Bussey of Hougham and had issue: 
(1) William Armine (d. 1558) (q.v.); 
(2) Richard Armine; died without issue;
(3) Anne Armine; 
(4) Margaret Armine; 
(5) Jane Armine.
He inherited Osgodby in Lenton (Lincs) from his father in c.1490.
He died 23 September 1532.

Armine, William (d. 1558), of Osgodby.  Elder son of William Armine (d. 1532) and his wife Elizabeth, daughter of Hugh Bussey of Hougham.  He married first, 1525/6, Katherine, daughter of Sir John Thimelby of Irnham and second, 1550, Dorothy (fl. 1558), daughter of George Mackworth of Mackworth and Empringham (Lincs) and had issue: 
(1.1) William Armine (d. young); 
(1.2) John Armine; 
(1.3) Anthony Armine
(1.4) Bartholomew Airmine (c.1541-98) (q.v.); 
(1.5) Margaret Armine (d. 1585), m1 Francis Armstrong of Corby and m2, 1568, John Merridale; 
(1.6) Elizabeth Armine, m.1 William Smith and m.2, Christopher Wimberley of Bitchford (1508-after 1568); 
(1.7) Katherine Armine, m. William Tullis; 
(1.8) Dorothy Armine, m. Mr. Littleton; 
(1.9) Jane Armine m. Robert Brian; 
(1.10) Thomasine Armine, m. John Wenslow.
He inherited Osgodby in Lenton (Lincs) from his father in 1532.
He died 25 December 1558.

Airmine, Bartholomew (c.1541-98), of Osgodby.  Fourth but eldest surviving son of William Armine (d. 1558) and his first wife, Katherine, daughter of Sir John Thimelby of Irnham, born about 1541.  Sheriff of Lincolnshire, 1586. Commissioner of Sewers for Lincolnshire, 1564-98. He married first Mary, daughter of Henry Sutton of Burton-by-Lincoln, second Catherine (d. 1591), daughter of George Chaworth of Crophill Butler and third, Anne (d. 1616), daughter of William Dymoke of Friskney, and had issue: 
(1.1) Sir William Airmine (1561-1622), kt. (q.v.); 
(1.2) Magdalen Armine (d. c.1595), m. John Cave (1550-1629) of Pickwell (Leics) and had issue; 
(1.3) Sir John Armine (d. c.1582), educated at Queens' College, Cambridge (matriculated 1579) and Lincolns Inn (admitted 1581); knighted; died unmarried at Lincoln's Inn; 
(1.4) Catherine Armine (d. 1605).
He inherited Osgodby in Lenton (Lincs) from his father in 1558.
He died 11 September 1598 and was buried at Lavington (Lincs).

Airmyn, Sir William (1561-1622), kt., of Osgodby. Elder son of Bartholomew Airmine (c.1541-98) of Osgodby and his first wife, Mary, daughter of Henry Sutton of Burton-by-Lincoln, born about May 1561.  MP for Grantham, 1589; High Sheriff of Lincolnshire, 1603-04; knighted 23 April 1603.  He married first, Martha (c1569-1601/2), daughter of William Eure, 2nd Baron Eure and second, 9 March 1606/7, Anne (d. 1619), sister of Sir John Prettyman and widow of Christopher Wase of London, and had issue: 
(1.1) Margaret Airmyn (1591-1661), born 15 February 1590/91; married 29 April 1622, Thomas Lister (1597-1668) of Rippingale and Coleby Hall (Lincs); died without issue and was buried at St Paul, Covent Garden, 14 November 1661;
(1.2) Martha Airmyn (b. and d. 1592); born 3 April and buried 15 June 1592;
(1.3) Anne Airmyn (b. 1593), born 4 April 1593; married, 25 December 1616, Norris Cave (d. 1648) of Grantham; 
(1.4) Sir William Airmyn (1593-1651), 1st bt. (q.v.); 
(1.5) Bartholomew Airmyn (1596-1600); born 10 June 1596; died 1600
(1.6) Mary Airmyn (b. 1597); born 14 September 1597; died young;
(1.7) Martha Airmyn (1598-1600); born 12 October 1598; died young 9 October 1600; 
(1.8) Eure (alias Evers) Armyne (1599-1680) (q.v.); 
(1.9) Elizabeth Airmyn (1601-86), born 12 January 1601; died unmarried, 17 April 1686; will proved in London, 22 April 1686.
He inherited Osgodby in Lenton (Lincs) from his father in 1598, and was probably responsible for rebuilding the house in the early 17th century.
He died 22 January 1621/22.

Airmyn, Sir William (1593-1651), 1st bt., of Osgodby.  Elder son of Sir William Airmyn (1561-1622), kt. and his first wife, Martha, daughter of William, Lord Eure; born 11 December 1593.  Educated at Oakham School and Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge (matriculated 1610); MP for Boston 1621-22, 1624-25, Grantham 1625, 1641, Lincolnshire 1626, 1628-29; for his parliamentary career see here; served as a Commissioner of Sewers in Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire, 1619-46; a prominent Puritan, he was a member of the committee which drafted the Solemn League and Covenant, 1643; appointed one of the judges to try the king, 1648, but refused to sit; member of the Council of State 1649-51; created a baronet, 28 November 1619; JP for Lincolnshire (Kesteven), 1622-26, 1628-36 and 1639-51 and for Holland and Lindsey by 1650; DL for Lincolnshire, 1623-45; sheriff of Lincolnshire 1629-30 and of Huntingdonshire 1639-40; commissioner of River Welland navigation, 1623-34.  He married first, 14 December 1619, Elizabeth (c.1602-26), daughter of Sir Michael Hicks of Beverstone Castle (Glos) and of Ruckholte in Leyton (Essex); and second, 28 August 1628, Mary (c.1594-1675), daughter and co-heir of Hon. Henry Talbot, fourth son of George, Earl of Shrewsbury and widow of Thomas Holcroft of Vale Royal (Cheshire), and had issue: 
(1.1) Elizabeth Airmine (1620/1-79), born 3 March 1620/1; m. Sir Thomas Style (1624-1702), 2nd bt. of Wateringbury (Kent) and had issue two sons and four daughters; died 10 December 1679
(1.2) Sir William Airmyn (1622-58), 2nd bt. (q.v.); 
(1.3) Col. Theophilus Airmine (1623-44), born 25 June 1623; educated at Greys Inn (admitted 1639); colonel in Parliamentarian army, killed at siege of Pontefract; died unmarried and without issue;
(1.4) Anne Airmine (1624-71), born 6 and baptised 8 August 1624; married, before 1643, Sir Thomas Barnardiston (1618-69), kt. & 1st bt. of Kedington (Suffk) and Great Coates (Lincs), and had issue seven sons and six daughters; buried at Kedington, 25 August 1671;
(1.5) Sir Michael Airmyn (1625-68), 3rd bt. (q.v.); 
(2.1) Talbot Armine (b. 1630); died unmarried;
He inherited Osgodby in Lenton (Lincs) from his father in 1622.  Through his second wife he acquired Orton Hall at Orton Longueville (Hunts) where he lived in the 1630s, but this and other property passed at her death to her relations not his descendants.
He died about 10 April 1651 and was buried at Lenton; he died intestate and administration of his goods was granted 10 December 1651 to his widow; she died in London, 6 March 1674/5 and was buried at Orton Longueville (Hunts); her will was proved 26 March 1675. In her widowhood and testamentary bequests she was a considerable benefactress to the Protestant cause, founding almshouses on her family estates at Monk Bretton (Yorks), Cromford (Derbys) and Orton Longueville (Hunts), giving £500 for the relief of ejected Puritan ministers in 1662 and making annual contributions to the conversion of native American Indians to Christianity.

Airmyn, Sir William (1622-58), 2nd bt., of Osgodby.  Eldest son of Sir William Airmyn (1593-1651), 1st bt., and his first wife, Elizabeth, daughter of Sir Michael Hicks of Beverstone Castle (Glos), born at Ruckholte, Leyton (Essex), 14 July 1622.  Educated at Grays Inn (admitted 1639); MP for Cumberland, 1646-53.  He married, 26 August 1649 at Chilton (Suffolk), Anne (1631-62), daughter and co-heir of Sir Robert Crane, 1st bt. of Chilton (who m.2, 11 July 1659, John, 1st Baron Belasyse of Worlaby) and had issue: 
(1) Susan Airmyn (c.1649/50-1713), Baroness Belasyse (q.v.);
(2) Anne Airmyn (1652-1719) (q.v.);
(3) Elizabeth Airmyn (1653-54), born 7 November 1653; died in infancy, 30 April 1654.
He inherited the Osgodby estate in Lenton (Lincs) from his father in 1651.
He died in London, 2 January and was buried at Lenton, 17 January 1657/8.  His widow died 11 August and was buried 20 August 1662 at St. Giles in the Fields, London.

Airmyn, Sir Michael (1625-68), 3rd bt., of Osgodby.  Youngest son of Sir William Airmyn (1593-1651), 1st bt., and his first wife, Elizabeth, daughter of Sir Michael Hicks of Beverstone Castle (Glos),, born 21 September 1625.  Sheriff of Lincolnshire, 1666-67.  He married, 1658, Mary (d. 1667), daughter of John Chaworth, 2nd Viscount Chaworth of Armagh but had no issue.
He inherited Osgodby in Lenton (Lincs) from his elder brother in 1658.  At his death his estates were divided between his uncle, Evers Armyne, and his two neices.  
He died after 17 June 1668; his will was proved 4 December 1668.  His wife died in 1667 and was buried at Lenton.

Armyne, Eure alias Evers (1599-1680), of Kettlethorpe Hall, Ketton (Rutland). Youngest son of Sir William Armine (1561-1622) and his wife Martha, daughter of William, Lord Eure, born 15 February 1599.  Educated at Oakham School, Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge (matriculated 1614) and Grays Inn (admitted 1616; called to the bar; ancient, 1645; bencher, 1648; reader, 1661).  MP for Grantham, 1626; Commissioner of Sewers in Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire, 1625-34, 1642, 1654-59, 1660-70; Commissioner of Swans in Lincolnshire, 1642; Sequestration Commissioner for Rutland, 1642-50; JP for Rutland, 1638-60 and DL by 1644.  He married 1635 Cecilia (1603-77), daughter of John Tredway of Easton-on-the-Hill (Northants) and had issue: 
(1) Mary Armyne (b. 1637); baptised 27 August 1637;
(2) Elizabeth Armyne (b. 1639), baptised 24 April 1639; m. John Bullingham (1622-90) of Ketton (Rutland) and had issue two sons; 
(3) Evers Armyne (b. 1640); baptised 25 May 1640;
(4) Cecily Armyne (1643-74), baptised 12 April 1643; m. Samuel Sanders (1641-88) of Little Ireton (Derbys), antiquary; died without issue, 7 June 1674
(5) Margaret Armyne (b. 1644/5); baptised 9 January 1645.
He lived in London until 1644 and then at his wife's property of Kettlethorpe Hall, Ketton (Rutland).  In 1668 he inherited the manors of Pickworth and Silk Willoughby (Lincs) from Sir Michael Airmyn; after his death these manors passed to Thomas Style of Wateringbury (Kent) but were the subject of extensive Chancery proceedings.
He died before 5 July 1680.  His wife was buried 20 November 1677.

Susan Airmyn,
Baroness Belasyse

Belasyse (née Airmyn), Susan (c.1649/50-1713), Baroness Belasyse. Elder daughter of Sir William Airmyn (1622-58) and his wife Anne, daughter of Sir Robert Crane, bt. of Chilton (Suffolk), born 1649 or 1650.  She married first, 20 October 1662 (aged about 13) at Kensington (Middx), her step-brother, Sir Henry Belasyse (c.1639-67), kt., son of John, 1st Baron Belasyse, who was killed in a duel; and second, 13 July 1676 at St James, Paddington (Middx), James Fortrey (1656-1719) of Fortreys Hall, Mepal (Cambs).  Between her two marriages she was at Court, where she was given a written offer of marriage in 1673 by James, Duke of York (later King James II). Bishop Burnet records "the Duke was now looking for another wife. He made addresses to the Lady Bellasis, the widow of the Lord Bellasis' son. She was a zealous protestant though she married into a popish family. She was a woman of much life and vivacity, but of a very small proportion of beauty... The King sent for the Duke and told him it was too much that he had played the fool once: that was not to be done a second time and at such an age. The lady was also so threatened that she gave up the promise, but kept an attested copy of it as she herself told me." It was no doubt in compensation for this breach of promise that the Duke secured her elevation to a life peerage as Baroness Belasyse of Osgodby, 1 April 1674 and the award of a pension of £2,000 a year.  Her pension gave her independent means and she is reputed to have lived apart from her second husband: he lived at his family seat in the Cambridgeshire fens (which he remodelled, and where he laid out gardens) and she lived in Westminster.  She had issue:
(1.1) Henry Belasyse (c.1667-91), 2nd Baron Belasyse of Worlaby.
With her sister, she was co-heiress of the Osgodby estate in Lenton (Lincs).
She died 6 March and was buried 12 March 1712/3 at Twickenham (Middx); her will was proved 11 March 1713.  Her first husband was buried in St Giles in the Fields, London, 16 August 1667.  Her second husband died 18 August 1719 and is commemorated by a monument in Mepal church (Cambs).

Anne Airmyn,
Countess of Torrington

Herbert (née Airmyn, then Wodehouse, then Crewe), Anne (1652-1719), Countess of Torrington.  Younger daughter of Sir William Airmyn (1622-58), 2nd bt., and his wife Anne, daughter of Sir Robert Crane, bt. of Chilton (Suffolk), born 1652.  She married first, before 1668, Sir Thomas Wodehouse (1638-71), kt. of Kimberley Hall (Norfolk); second, 1674, Thomas Crewe (1624-97), 2nd Baron Crewe of Steane (Northants); and third, 1 August 1704, Admiral Arthur Herbert, 1st Earl of Torrington (c.1648-1716), and had issue:
(1.1) Anne Wodehouse (1668-1727);
(1.2) Sir John Wodehouse (1669-1754), 1st bt. of Kimberley Hall; born 23 March 1669; died 9 August 1754;
(2.1) Jemima Crewe (c.1675-1728), m. Henry de Grey (d. 1740), 1st Duke of Kent, of Wrest Park (Bedfordshire) and had issue two sons and four daughters; died 2 July 1728;
(2.2) Airmyn Crewe (d. 1728), m. Thomas Cartwright of Aynho (Northants) and had issue; she died 3 February 1728;
(2.3) Elizabeth Crewe (c.1680-1756), m. Charles Butler (1671-1758), 1st Earl of Arran; she died 21 May 1756;
(2.4) Catherine Crewe (1682-1744), born 28 October 1682; married Sir John Harpur (1679-1741), 4th bt., of Calke Abbey (Derbys) and had issue; buried 24 June 1744 at Calke.
With her sister, she was co-heiress of the Osgodby estate in Lenton (Lincs).
She died 2 April 1719.

Sources

[G.E. Cokayne], Complete Baronetage, vol. 1, pp. 130-31; Annual Report of the Lincolnshire County Archivist, 1956-57, pp. 46-50; J.T. Cliffe, The Puritan Gentry besieged 1650-1700, passim; T.R. Leach, Some Lincolnshire Country Houses and their families, 1990, pp. 83-85; R. Pacey, Lost Lincolnshire country houses, vol. 6, 2010, pp. 23-27; http://www.pastscape.org.uk/hob.aspx?hob_id=348403#aD; Airmine 1 pedigree on www.stirnet.com, accessed 16 October 2012.  I am most grateful for the help of Robert Wheeler in researching this account.

Location of archives

Airmine family of Osgodby, baronets: deeds and family papers, 15th-18th cents (Lincolnshire Archives ANC, RED)

Revision
This post was last revised 14th February 2015.

Coat of arms

Ermine, a saltire engrailed gules, on a chief of the last a lion passant or, armed and langued azure.

Revision and acknowledgements

This post was first published 25 August 2013 and updated 2 March 2017, 31 October 2019 and 26 December 2023.