Thomas del Helileghe

The first references to the Hiley name appear in the Court Rolls of the Manor of Wakefield.

These Rolls documented the business of the manor of Wakefield from 1274 to 1925. The manor was one of the largest in England and covered not just Wakefield, but a huge area of the West Riding including Halifax and Sowerby. The Court Rolls recorded the business of the court baron (held every three weeks at Wakefield) which dealt with enforcing manorial dues and transfers of land, and the court leet or tourn (held twice yearly at a number of locations including Halifax) which dealt with law and order and common agriculture. (Yorkshire Archaeological and Historical Society)

One of the first references concerns Thomas del Helileghe.


Court held at Halifax on the Tuesday next after the Feast of All Saints, 6 Edward III, 3 November 1332:

Sowerby:
Amerced (fined) 3d each for grazing a sow without right: Thomas le Priest, John del Rediker, Adam Culpon, Thomas del Helileghe, Adam de Coventre, Juliana de Blackwod, Roger de Bentileyrode, John de Longeley, Richard del Longebothem.

"Harvesting acorns to feed swine"

Queen Mary Psalter 1310-1320

Image in the Public Domain