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| Belt of Bossall |
Subsequent generations seem to have kept a lower profile. Sir William's sons apparently disposed of his property soon after his death. Bossall Hall passed to Sir Robert's eldest son, Leonard Belt (1612-62), who died without surviving issue, and then to his brother, Daniel Belt (1615-97), who lived in Putney (Surrey) and never moved to Bossall (perhaps because his brother's widow was in occupation of the manor house). When he died without surviving sons, the estate passed to his great-nephew, Robert Belt (c.1686-1746), who came of age in about 1707 and was responsible for a major remodelling of Bossall Hall in the 1720s. Several of his nine children died young, but Bossall passed to his eldest son, Robert Belt (1723-80), and then to the latter's son, Robert Belt (1747-1826), who seems to have been the last of the family to actually live at Bossall, at least for part of the year. For many years he was an official of the Crown Office, and since his children were born in London he may have exercised his duties personally. One might expect that someone holding such a post would have had some legal training, but I cannot find any record of this. His eldest son, Robert Belt (1776-1839) was, however, a barrister, and became one of the Commissioners for Insolvent Debtors in 1820, as well as publishing law reports. He inherited Bossall in 1826 but let the house and lived full-time in London. His eldest son, Robert Wallis Belt (1815-70), apparently suffered a period of mental illness in the 1830s which led his father to bequeath his property in trustees, and although R.W. Belt recovered sufficiently to attend university and be ordained, he never became a beneficed clergyman and was made bankrupt in the 1860s. At his death, Bossall passed to his half-brother, William John Belt (1826-92), who like his father was trained as a barrister, and practiced as a conveyancer. He married in 1865 but had no children, and as he grew older (and particularly after his wife's death in 1878) became more eccentric and unpredictable. An ungoverned temper led him to appear several times in the magistrates' courts, and his history of Bossall seems to be unreliable. He sold some of the contents of Bossall Hall in 1885 and the estate itself in 1890, and was the last of his line to be a landed gentleman.
A moated site, on which W.J. Belt claimed in 1885 that he had found the foundations of a double curtain wall with square and round towers and a barbican, but there is absolutely no documentary evidence of a medieval castle here, and it seems probable that he was simply misinterpreting the remains of a medieval manor house. Whatever the earlier building had been, it had been demolished and replaced before 1644, when a double-pile mansion house of brick had been built for Sir Robert Belt of York, who bought the estate in 1623. The present house is essentially the same building, though rather disguised by later alterations. The west front still preserves two early 17th century chimneybreasts, while the gables to their left and right have small 17th century pedimented windows, and the eight-bay south front has the ghosts of similar pediments.
Bossall Hall, Yorkshire (NR)
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| Bossall Hall: the south and west fronts in 2021. |
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| Bossall Hall: staircase of c.1726 |
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| Bossall Hall: the drawing room as refitted in c.1726 and further altered in c.1793. |
The house was given a substantial refit, probably in 1726, the date on a rainwater head. Sash windows were introduced in place of the original fenestration, a fine new open-well staircase was constructed with turned balusters, dado panelling, and elaborate parquetry inlay on the half-landing, and the principal interiors were redecorated, although the earlier ceiling beams were retained but encased. A second rainwater head with the date 1793 probably refers to a further remodelling, when the sills of the drawing room windows were lowered, and a new chimneypiece and panelling were installed in the same room. The raising of a blind parapet above the south front may also date from that time. At the rear of the property are single-storey service ranges of the later 19th and 20th centuries, and the study has a fireplace with a repoussé brass canopy within an inglenook of the same period.
Descent: Thomas Redmayne (d. 1514); to daughter Elizabeth, wife of William Thwaites and later of [forename unknown] Kirkby; to granddaughter Anne, wife of Sir William Ingleby for life then to her cousin, James Thwaites (d. 1603); to son, William Thwaites who sold 1613 to William Smithson; sold manor 1623 to Sir Robert Belt (1576-1656), kt. and James Boyes (d. 1623), on whose death the two halves of the property were apparently reunited; to son, Leonard Belt (1612-62); to brother, Daniel Belt (1615-97); to great-nephew, Robert Belt (c.1686-1746); to son, Robert Belt (1723-80); to son, Robert Belt (1747-1826); to son, Robert Belt (1776-1839); to son, Rev. Robert Wallis Belt (1815-70); to half-brother, William John Belt (1826-92), who sold 1890 to Sir James Walker (1829-99), 2nd bt.; to son, Sir James Heron Walker (1865-1900), 3rd bt.; to Sir Robert James Milo Walker (1890-1930), 4th bt.; to son, Sir James Heron Walker (1914-2003), 5th bt., who sold c.1960 to Brig. Ian Darsie Watson (1915-2001); to widow, Lady Susan Diana Watson (b. 1938); sold c.2021...
Belt family of Bossall Hall
Belt, Leonard (alias Lancelot) (c.1548-90). Parentage uncertain, although he was possibly a son of Robert Belt of Stillingfleet (Yorks NR), born about 1548. Admitted a freeman of the city of York, 1570. Town Clerk of the city of York, 1571-90. He married, 9 September 1573 at St Crux, York, Mary (1554-1632), daughter of Alderman William Beckwith of York, and had issue:
(1) Alice Belt (1574-1606), baptised at St Crux, York, 27 June 1574; married, 12 June 1593 at St Crux, York, James Boyes (d. 1623) (who in 1623 joined with his brother-in-law in buying the manor of Bossall), and had issue one daughter; buried at St Crux, York, 3 August 1606;(2) Sir Robert Belt (1576-1656), kt. (q.v.);(3) Ellen Belt (b. 1576), baptised at St Crux, York, 12 August 1576;(4) Mary Belt (1577-93), baptised at St Crux, York, 18 September 1577; died unmarried and was buried at St Crux, York, 11 August 1593;(5) Elizabeth Belt (b. 1578), baptised at St Crux, York, 2 January 1578/9;(6) Sarah Belt (b. 1580), baptised at St Crux, York, 9 April 1580; married, 5 June 1599 at St Crux, York, George Askwith (1575-1626), and had issue three sons and five daughters; living in 1618;(7) Sir William Belt (1582-1651), baptised at St Crux, York, 27 March 1582; educated at Grays Inn (admitted 1598); recorder of the city of York, 1625-38; lessee of the tithes of Preston (Yorks ER); acquired an estate at Overton (Yorks NR) near York and for a brief period from 1648 owned the Treasurer's House, York; married 1st, 24 August 1624 at St Michael-le-Belfrey, York, Susan* (d. 1630), daughter of [forename unknown] Waterhouse and widow of Thomas Millington (d. 1624) of York, and had issue one son (who died young); married 2nd, 17 April 1631 at Carleton-in-Lindrick, Martha* (d. 1652), daughter of Maximilian Waterhouse of Wallingwells (Notts), and had further issue three sons and two daughters; buried at St Michael-le-Belfrey, York, 11 February 1650/1; will proved in central Probate Court, 11 May 1653;(8) Jane Belt (1584-1607), baptised at St Crux, York, 1 July 1584; died unmarried and was buried at St Crux, York, 20 June 1607;(9) Leonard Belt (b. & d. 1588), baptised at Crux, York, 25 December 1588, but died in infancy and was buried at St Crux, York the same day.
He lived in York.
He was buried at St Crux, York, 5 August 1590; his will was proved at York, 16 December 1590. His widow died 14 December and was buried at St Crux, York, 16 December 1632.
* It seems possible that his two wives were sisters, but there are several Waterhouse families in Yorkshire at this time and it cannot be assumed.
Belt, Sir Robert (1576-1656), kt. Eldest son of Leonard Belt (c.1548-90) and his wife Mary, daughter of William Beckwith of York, baptised at St Crux, York, 22 February 1575/6. He became a freeman of the city of York, 1599, and was an alderman of the city, 1623-45 (Sheriff, 1614; Lord Mayor, 1628, 1640); knighted at Bossall, 24 August 1640. In 1638, he contributed to the repair of the chancel of Pocklington church, where he had formerly leased the tithes, although he had no obligation to do so. He married 1st, 7 February 1602/3 at St Crux, York, Jane Hudson (d. 1608) and 2nd, 17 July 1609 at Halifax (Yorks WR), Grace (1592-1664), daughter of Daniel Foxcroft of Halifax, and had issue:
(1.1) Jane Belt (b. & d. 1608); buried at All Saints, Pavement, York, 20 June 1608;(2.1) Mary Belt (1610-27), baptised at All Saints, Pavement, York, 20 November 1610; died unmarried and was buried at Bossall, 11 April 1627;(2.2) Leonard Belt (1612-62) (q.v.);(2.3) Robert Belt (1614-15), baptised at All Saints, Pavement, York, 24 July 1614; died in infancy and was buried at All Saints, Pavement, York, 7 January 1614/5;(2.4) Daniel Belt (1615-97) (q.v.);(2.5) Grace Belt (b. 1616), baptised at All Saints, Pavement, York, 16 October 1616; presumably died young before 1620;(2.6) John Belt (b. & d. 1619), baptised at All Saints, Pavement, York, 8 May 1619, but died and was buried at the same church the following day;(2.7) Grace Belt (b. 1620), baptised at All Saints, Pavement, York, 6 June 1620; married, 9 September 1641 at Bossall, Richard Nelson; date of death unknown;(2.8) Sarah Belt (1622-92), baptised at All Saints, Pavement, York, 10 February 1621/2; married 1st, 6 February 1648/9 at Bossall, Joseph Oley (d. 1655) of York, merchant; married 2nd, 1659 (licence), William Ibson (d. 1659) of Belsteads, York; and married 3rd, 23 January 1661/2 at Newton-on-Ouse (Yorks), Alderman Thomas Bawtry of York; said to have been buried at Bossall, 22 March 1691/2;(2.9) Ann Belt (b. & d. 1623), baptised at All Saints, Pavement, York, 23 March 1622/3; died in infancy and was buried at All Saints, Pavement, York, 27 July 1623;(2.10) John Belt (1624-32), baptised at All Saints, Pavement, York, 28 June 1624; died young and was buried at Bossall, 31 July 1632;(2.11) Jasper Belt (1625-62) (q.v.);(2.12) William Belt (1628-31), baptised at All Saints, Pavement, York, 22 December 1628; died young and was buried at Bossall, 6 October 1631;(2.13) Robert Belt (1630-65), baptised at Bossall, 30 November 1630; said to have married Thomasine [surname unknown] (d. 1680), but this is probably a confusion with his nephew and namesake; buried at Bossall, 17 January 1664/5.
He lived in York and bought the Bossall estate in 1623 jointly with his brother-in-law, James Boyes (d. 1623). After the latter's death the property seems to have been reunited in his ownership, and by 1644 he had rebuilt the house. The estate was sequestered after the Civil War, but the family rented it back until the Restoration.
He died at Flaxton (Yorks NR), 4 September 1650 and was buried at Bossall, where he is commemorated by a monument erected by his daughter Sarah; his will was proved at York, 9 October 1656. His first wife died following childbirth and was buried at All Saints, Pavement, York, 29 June 1608. His widow died 11 August 1664 and was buried at Bossall where she is commemorated on her husband's monument.
Belt, Leonard (1612-62). Eldest son of Sir Robert Belt (1576-1656), kt. and his second wife, Grace, daughter of Daniel Foxcroft of Halifax, baptised at All Saints, Pavement, York, 1 April 1612. Educated at Grays Inn (admitted 1641). He married 1st, 2 June 1630 at Bossall, Ann (d. 1631), daughter of [forename unknown] Atkinson and 2nd, Mary [surname unknown], and had issue:
(1.1) Susanna Belt (1631-36), baptised at Bossall, 23 August 1631; died young and was buried at Bossall, 14 June 1636.
He lived at Bossall Hall, which he inherited from his father in 1656.
He was buried at Bossall, 4 April 1662. His first wife died following childbirth and was buried at Bossell, 26 September 1631. His second wife's date of death is unknown.
Belt, Daniel (1615-97). Third son of Sir Robert Belt (1576-1656), kt. and his second wife, Grace, daughter of Daniel Foxcroft of Halifax, baptised at All Saints, Pavement, York, 6 August 1615. He married, 1649 (licence 30 August), Anne (1629-1711?), daughter of Francis West, and had issue:
(1) Anne Belt (b. 1654), born 27 February and baptised at All Hallows, Bread St., London, 16 March 1653/4; married, 24 November 1677 at Bromley-by-Bow (Middx), Mr. Whefield [recte Whitfield]; living in 1696;(2) Francis Belt (d. 1661); died young and was buried at St Mary, Putney (Surrey), 24 July 1661;(3) Henry Belt (d. 1674); died in the lifetime of his father and was buried at Woolwich (Kent), 11 October 1674.
He inherited Bossall Hall from his brother Leonard in 1662, but lived at Putney (Surrey).
He died at Putney, 7 July 1697; his will was proved in the PCC, 8 July 1697. His widow was living in 1696 and may be the Ann Belt buried at St Margaret, Westminster, 21 November 1711.
Belt, Jasper (1625-61). Sixth son of Sir Robert Belt (1576-1656), kt. and his second wife, Grace, daughter of Daniel Foxcroft of Halifax, baptised at All Saints, Pavement, York, 31 July 1625. He married, 11 January 1654/5 at Holme-upon-Spalding-Moor (Yorks ER), Jane (d. 1703), daughter of Thomas Crosby of Holme, and had issue:
(1) Robert Belt (1655-90) (q.v.);(2) Sarah Belt (1657-90), born 7 November and baptised at Pocklington (Yorks ER), 11 November 1657; married, 19 October 1676 at Bridlington (Yorks ER), William Bower (d. 1707) of Bridlington, merchant, and had issue four sons and four daughters; died 23 April 1690 and was buried at Bossall, where she is commemorated on the same monument as her brother.
He apparently lived at Pocklington (Yorks ER).
He was buried at Pocklington, 31 December 1661; his will was proved 11 June 1662. His widow died 20 May 1703; her will was proved 20 July 1703.
Belt, Robert (1655-90). Only son of Jasper Belt (1625-62) and his wife Jane, daughter of Thomas Crosby of Holme-upon-Spalding-Moor (Yorks ER), born 30 November and baptised at Pocklington (Yorks ER), 4 December 1655. He probably married 1st, 8 November 1677 at Pocklington, Thomasine Bower (d. 1681), and 2nd, 30 November 1684 at Birdsall (Yorks ER), Goodith (c.1660-1718*), daughter of Edward Pegge of Beauchief Abbey (Derbys), and had issue:
(2.1) Robert Belt (c.1686-1746) (q.v.);(2.2) Leonard Belt (1688-1723), baptised at Bossall, 18 January 1687/8; apprenticed to George Ludlum of London, wax chandler, 1702; became a wax chandler and drysalter in London; married, 1714 (licence 26 April), Mary Hammond (b. c.1688) and had issue two sons and one daughter; buried at All Hallows the Great, London, 23 May 1723;(2.3) Elizabeth Belt (c.1689-1723), born about 1689; died unmarried, 15 March 1723/4 and was buried at Bossall, where she is commemorated by a monument.
He is said to have been heir to his uncle Daniel Belt (1615-97) but predeceased him.
He was killed when a pair of compasses were stuck into his neck, 25 March 1690, and was buried at Bossall where he is commemorated by a monument; his will was proved 13 October 1690. His first wife was buried at Bossall, 16 February 1680/1. His widow died 1 January and was buried at Bossall, 3 January 1717/18.
* Her date of birth is estimate from her stated age at marriage (24); however, her tombstone at Bossall says she was then in her 64th year, implying a date of birth in 1663.
Belt, Robert (c.1686-1746). Elder son of Robert Belt (1655-90) and his second wife Goodith, daughter of Edward Pegge of Beauchief, Sheffield (Yorks WR), born about 1686. Educated at Middle Temple (admitted 1702). He married, 8 October 1722 at Yapham-cum-Meltonby (Yorks ER). Mary (1697-1753), daughter of William Overend of Pocklington (Yorks ER), and had issue:
(1) Robert Belt (1723-80) (q.v.);(2) George Belt (1725-26), baptised at Bossall, 19 April 1725; died in infancy and was buried at Bossall, 17 January 1725/6;(3) Daniel Belt (1726-87), baptised at Bossall, 26 April 1726; apprenticed to David Burton of Yarm (Yorks NR), attorney, 1742, but did not take to the law and became an officer in the Marines (2nd Lt., 1756; Lt., 1761; retired on half-pay as Capt. by 1784); lived latterly in York; died unmarried, 9 September and was buried at Bossall, 11 September 1787; will proved in the PCC, 19 February 1788;(4) Goodith Belt (1727-1807), baptised at Bossall, 7 August 1727; married, 1 May 1773 at St Martin-in-the-Fields, Westminster (Middx), as his second wife, Samuel Pegge FSA (1733-1800), composer, author, antiquarian and groom of the Privy Chamber, 1762-1800, but had no issue; died 17 October and was buried at Bossall, 23 October 1807;(5) Mary Belt (1728-1807), baptised 5 December 1728; died unmarried at York, 24 December, and was buried at Bossall, 27 December 1807; will proved 1 March 1808 (effects under £200);(6) Leonard Belt (1730-40), baptised at Bossall, 22 September 1730; died young and was buried at Bossall, 19 December 1740;(7) John Belt (1732-1800), baptised at Bossall, 28 April 1732; a surgeon in York; died, apparently unmarried, 23 January and was buried at Bossall, 27 January 1800;(8) Jane Belt (1734-60), baptised at Bossall, 24 January 1733/4; died unmarried and was buried at Bossall, 12 February 1760;(9) William Belt (1735-36), baptised at Bossall, 11 December 1735; died in infancy and was buried at Bossall, 22 April 1736.
He inherited the Bossall estate from his great-uncle Daniel in 1697 and came of age in about 1707.
He died 7 April 1746 and was buried at Bossall, where he is commemorated on a family monument; his will was proved at York, 10 September 1746. His widow died 27 October 1753 and was buried at Bossall, where she is commemorated on the family monument.
Belt, Robert (1723-80). Eldest son of Robert Belt (c.1686-1746) and his wife Mary, daughter of William Overend of Pocklington (Yorks ER), baptised at Bossall, 30 November 1723. He married, 13 November 1746, Elizabeth (1725-1805), daughter of James Wallis of Hull (Yorks ER), merchant, and had issue:
(1) Robert Belt (1747-1826) (q.v.);(2) James Belt (1748-79?), baptised at Bossall, 9 September 1748; a merchant at Bencoolen, Sumatra (Indonesia); apparently married and had issue at least one daughter; said to have died April 1779;(3) Leonard Belt (1750-1814), of Pickering (Yorks NR), baptised at Bossall, 1 August 1750; married, 30 November 1789 at Middleton-by-Pickering (Yorks NR), Sarah Bedford (1766-1819), but had no issue; he did, however, have an illegitimate son (William Bunce* (fl. 1805)) named in his mother's will; buried at Middleton-by-Pickering, 17 June 1814; will proved in the PCY, 1814.
He inherited the Bossall estate from his father in 1746.
He died 21 June 1780 and was buried at Bossall, where he is commemorated by a monument; administration of his goods was granted to his widow, 23 May 1781. His widow died 3 February 1805 and was also buried at Bossall, where she is commemorated by a monument; her will was proved in the PCC, 11 March 1805.
* Surname uncertain.
Belt, Robert (1747-1826). Eldest son of Robert Belt (1723-80) and his wife Elizabeth, daughter of James Wallis of Hull (Yorks ER), baptised at Bossall, 10 September 1747. Employed from at least 1775 at the Crown Office in the Court of King's Bench, London, although in what capacity is unclear. He married, 15 May 1775 at Beauchief (Derbys), Frances (c.1747-1822), daughter of Strelley Pegge of Beauchief Hall, and had issue:
(1) Robert Belt (1776-1839) (q.v.);(2) Christopher Pegge Belt (b. 1778), baptised at St Andrew, Holborn (Middx), 22 July 1778; probably died young, as he is not mentioned in his father's will;(3) Elizabeth Mary Belt (1781-1833), baptised at St Andrew, Holborn, 13 December 1781; married 7 December 1826 at Bathwick (Som.), Capt. Thomas Emery of Banwell (Som.); died 20 April 1833; will proved in the PCC, 9 July 1833;(4) Peter Belt (1782-1804), baptised at St Andrew, Holborn, 19 December 1782; employed at the Crown Office like his father; died unmarried, 'of a decline', presumably tuberculosis, at Bristol Hot Wells, 19 August, and was buried in the new burial ground at St Andrew, Clifton (Glos), 24 August 1804; commemorated by monuments at Clifton and Bossall;(5) James Belt (1784-1856), born 2 December 1783 and baptised at St Andrew, Holborn, 11 March 1794; married, c.1810, at Bordeaux (France), Elizabeth (c.1789-1820), daughter of Simon Segny, advocate, of Bordeaux; died at Bordeaux, 10 October 1856;(6) William Belt (1789-1882), baptised at St Andrew, Holborn, 15 April 1789; Russia merchant; married, 12 August 1815, Elizabeth (1793-1860), daughter of Marmaduke Langdale of New Ormond St., London, and had issue two sons and three daughters; died 6 March 1882 and was buried at Kensal Green Cemetery; will proved 14 April 1882 (estate £2,595).
He inherited the Bossall estate from his father in 1780. After his death the contents of the house were sold by his son.
He died 19 March and was buried at Bossall, 25 March 1826; his will was proved in the PCC, 27 July 1826. His wife died 17 August and was buried at Bossall, 23 August 1822.
Belt, Robert (1776-1839). Eldest son of Robert Belt (1747-1826) and his wife Frances, daughter of Strelley Pegge of Beauchief Hall (Derbys), baptised at Beauchief, 1 November 1776. Educated at the Inner Temple (admitted 1794; called 1802). Barrister-at-law; Insolvent Debtors Commissioner, 1820. He edited several volumes of law reports in the 1810s and 1820s. He married 1st, 22 September 1812 at Overton (Hants), Mary (d. 1822), daughter of Bryan Troughton of Overton, and 2nd, 3 June 1824 at Islington (Middx), Margaret (d. 1872), daughter of Capt. Peter Gordon, mariner, missionary and reformer, and had issue:
(1.1) Frances Mary Belt (1814-64), born 4 January and baptised at St Clement Danes, London, 14 January 1814; married, 3 September 1840 at Tunbridge Wells, Alfred John Beeching (1812-62) of Tunbridge Wells, solicitor, son of Thomas Beeching, banker, and had issue two sons and three daughters; died 17 June 1864; administration of goods granted April 1865 and 18 March 1869 (effects under £600);(1.2) Rev. Robert Wallis Belt (1815-70), baptised at St Clement Danes, London, 2 August 1815; suffered from a period of illness which rendered him incompetent to manage his affairs, 1834, but recovered and was educated at Emmanuel College, Cambridge (matriculated 1839; BA 1845); curate of Hope (Derbys), 1846-47 and of Studley (Warks), 1848; a published poet and author of reminiscences, 1852; imprisoned for debt in Fleet Prison and declared bankrupt, 1861 (annulled, 1864); married, 27 July 1841 at St Cuthbert, Edinburgh, Mary Ann Collinson, daughter of William Smith of Edinburgh, WS; died 20 April 1870; administration of goods granted 23 June 1871 (effects under £1,000);(1.3) George Peter Belt (1817-24), baptised at St Clement Danes, London, 15 March 1817; died young and was buried at Islington, 13 December 1824;(1.4) Charles Belt (1818-44), born 12 September and baptised at Overton (Hants), 18 October 1818; gentleman farmer; died unmarried and was buried at Suffield (Norfk), 28 December 1844; will proved in the PCC, 7 January 1845;(1.5) James Strelley Belt (1820-45), baptised at St Clement Danes, London, 23 June 1820; an officer in the merchant marine (Mate); died unmarried; will proved 1 November 1843;(1.6) Catherine Belt (b. 1822), baptised at St Clement Danes, London, 26 May 1822; possibly the child of this name buried at Ridge (Herts), 31 July 1830;(2.1) Margaret Ann Belt (1825-99), born 10/18 February and baptised at St George-the-Martyr, Bloomsbury (Middx), 31 March 1825; married, 12 November 1863 at St Nicholas, Brighton (Sussex), Rev. Bury Capel (1825-1915), vicar of Abergavenny (Mon.) and canon of Llandaff Cathedral (who m2, 2 January 1901 at Christ Church, Clifton (Glos), Fanny Edith (1865-1938), daughter of John White), son of James Durnford Capel, steam engine manufacturer, and had issue one daughter; died 4 November. and was buried at Arnos Vale Cemetery, Bristol, 8 November 1899;(2.2) William John Belt (1826-92) (q.v.);(2.3) Jane Belt (1828-71), born 7 March and baptised at St George-the-Martyr, Bloomsbury, 11 April 1828; died unmarried at Brighton (Sussex), 12 November 1871.
He inherited the Bossall estate from his father in 1826 but as he lived in London he sold the contents of the house (which was presumably rented out) later that year. At his death the estate passed to trustees for the benefit of his eldest son, on whose death in 1870 it passed to his youngest son. His widow lived latterly at Brighton (Sussex).
He died 22 December and was buried at Tunbridge Wells (Kent), 30 December 1839; his will was proved in the PCC, 12 February 1840. His first wife died in childbirth, 19 May 1822. His widow died 27 May 1872; her will was proved 5 July 1872 (effects under £600).
Belt, William John (1826-92). Fifth son of Robert Belt (1776-1839) and his wife Margaret, born 14 June 1826 and baptised at St George-the-Martyr, Bloomsbury, 14 July 1827. Educated at Trinity College, Cambridge (matriculated 1847; BA 1851; MA 1855) and Lincoln's Inn (admitted 1858; called 1861). Barrister-at-law; equity draughtsman and conveyancer. A Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries of London, he was the author of The story of Bossall Hall (1885). In later life, he was charged with several offences of assault, possibly as a result of drunkenness. He married, 28 November 1865 at Hove (Sussex), Sibella Marianne (1825-78), only daughter of William Albin Garratt of Hampstead (Middx), Brighton (Sussex) and Lincoln's Inn, barrister-at-law, but had no issue.
He inherited the Bossall estate after the death of his half-brother in 1870, but let it and lived in London and at Westcott Hill, Dorking (Surrey). He sold the Bossall estate in 1890.
He died 3 February 1892 and was buried at Highgate Cemetery (Middx); administration of his goods was granted 15 March 1892 (effects £1,334). His wife died 15 February 1878 and was also buried at Highgate Cemetery.
Principal sources
J.W. Clay (ed.), Dugdale's Visitation of Yorkshire, with additions, vol. 2, 1907, pp. 61-64;
Location of archives
Belt family of Bossall: deeds and miscellaneous papers, 12th cent-1826 [Borthwick Institute for Archives, University of York, MOR]
Coat of arms
Gules, on a chevron argent between three bezants a cross pattée fitchee between two mullets pierced azure
Can you help?
- Can anyone provide portraits or photographs of the people whose names appear in bold above, for whom no image is currently shown?
- If anyone can offer further information or corrections to any part of this article I should be most grateful. I am always particularly pleased to hear from current owners or the descendants of families associated with a property who can supply information from their own research or personal knowledge for inclusion.
Revision and acknowledgements
This post was first published 16 July 2023 and updated 26 August 2023.
2.13 Robert Belt (b1630) married Thomasine Bower in Pocklington on 8 Nov 1677
ReplyDeleteThere certainly is such a marriage, but I am not convinced that it relates to Robert Belt (b. 1630). I wonder if it was in fact a first marriage of Robert Belt (1655-90)? Since Thomasine was buried in February 1680/1, he would have been free to marry Goodeth Pegge in 1684. I suggest this because there is a burial of Robert Belt at Bossall in 1664/5 which is otherwise unaccounted for. I have revised my entry to suggest this possibility. And I have since noticed that the author of a pedigree on Ancestry has come to the same conclusion.
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