Robert# Gale

  Notes:

Jeremy Archer had Maj. John Gale's father as a Gale from Acomb, York.

However the Gale-Morant Papers intro have him specifcally as Robert of Akeham (presumably Acomb), so have entered him here. John was his 3rd son.

He was Francis' eldest son.

Acomb Grange website; the late Jennifer Kaner and others;

A Robert Gale, presumably this one, was recorded as a 'papist in Arms' in 1648.

Under the pressure of debt the Gales had mortgaged part of Acomb Grange in 1607-8 and sold their property in Wilberfoss and Escrick and the advowson of Rufforth. They had also settled their properties on trustees on the occasion of Robert's marriage to Elisabeth Langdale in 1624. In addition they sold a property in Acomb to a Peter Hill.

Robert Gale had fought in the civil war but was unable to pay his fees for compounding and all the family property in Rufforth, including Acomb Grange, was sold by the Treason Committee of the Commonwealth in 1652 to Thomas Raper and Joseph Micklethwaite of York for £4,002 2s 2d. 51. At the time there were seven Rufforth tenants holding messuages, arable strips, meadow and parts of Smalwith, one was Matthew Gale (presum. Robert's brother).

It appears the Gayles remained at Acomb (as tenants) and there was a complex attempt to keep the property in the family, but it failed and in 1663/4 the estate was sold (yet again) to the Marwood family of Little Busby for £3,800.

The Gales procrastinated over moving out and a legal agreement had to be made that they would vacate the Grange by Lady Day in 1666. They were recorded in the Hearth Tax in 1665 with one house of five hearths and one of four. They seem to have continued to live in Rufforth, possibly in the village in one of the other properties acquired as part of the St Leonard's lands, as they still appear with four hearths in 1670. They continue in the lists of recusants for Rufforth until 1682, long after Acomb Grange had passed into other hands.

The house currently standing was built after the Gayle's left (specifically around 1695), although many of the remaining surrounding buildings are much older.

Robert# married Elizabeth# Langdale, daughter of William# Langdale and Elizabeth# Constable, in 1624. (Elizabeth# Langdale was born in 1601 and was christened on 12 Jul 1601 in Everingham, Yorks.)