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The Conn Families of York and south Yorkshire.

Research by David Conn

York Minster

The geography of the area.

York is situated in the Vale of York, commanding the approaches to the north of England and Scotland. To the west are the Pennine Hills and the Yorkshire Dales and to the east are the Yorkshire Wolds and the North Yorks Moors. These last two hilly regions are separated by the Vale of Pickering, which runs from York to the coast at Scarborough. Called Eboracum by the Romans, it was the main Roman outpost in the north of England. Captured by the Danes in 864 it was called Yorvic and when the Normans conquered England in 1066 it's name became York.

Politically York was the second most important city in England until about 1500, when the great ports of Bristol, Liverpool and Newcastle and the manufacturing towns of Lancashire and Yorkshire such as Manchester and Leeds began to expand. It was the capital of Northumbria, ie. that part of England north of the River Humber, and because of its size and importance had 26 parishes within it's boundaries. Some of the parish registers appear on the IGI, and a few more have been published, but the bulk of them have not been researched for evidence of the Conn family.

Other sources of information, including the IGI and the Catherdral Library, have provided the following records. Whilst they do not show any family links, they do indicate that the Conn name was in use around the York area from a very early date. The early Hull records have also been included here. In the mid-Victorain times there was an influx of Conn families to York and the southern part of Yorkshire, principally to Hull and Leeds, coming from Sedgefield, Pickering, Essex and Worcestershire. These links are fragmentary and could change as more information becomes available.

• 1301: Alicia Conne of Pickering paid 5 pence towards the Lay Subsidy.
• 1342 Jun 19:William Conne was paying 20 pence rent on land in Edeston (? Ebberston near Pickering). Yorkshire Deeds, vol 5, pp. 80
• 1420, John Con, chaplain, mentioned in the records of the Mercers Guild, York
• 1432: Will of John Conn of Thornton in the parish of Foston (between Pickering and York).
• 1454 Oct 18: Peter Con given power of attorney to the will of John Gower of Picton (near Yarm). Yorkshire Deeds pp.382.
• 1471: Dom Johannes Cone, Corpus Cristi, York. Religeous Guild, 1408-1547.
• 1479: Dom Johannes Con, Corpus Cristi, York.
• 1479: Petrus Con, Corpus Cristi, York.
• 1491: Petrus Con, Corpus Cristi, York.
• 1516: Willhelmus Con, mentioned in "Freemen of York, 1272-1558".
• 1545: Will of Roger Con, husbandman of Grauncemore in the parish of Burton Agnes.
• 1550: Will of Robert Conne of Hedon (near Hull).
• 1592 Jul 22. Bap of Margreta daughter of Richardi Conn of Alne
• 1594 Oct 2. Mar of Margreta Con and Johannes Walche at Alne
• 1595 Aug 31. Bap of Richardus son of Richardi Con of Alne
• 1597 Jul 30. Bap of Robertus son of Richardi Con of Alne
• 1599 Nov 30. Bap of Margeria daughter of Richardi Con of Alne
• 1606 Jun 23. bap of Anna daughter of Richardi Con of Alne
• 1611 Jan 19. Mar of Janeta con and Williamus Shepard at Alne
• 1614 Jul 13. Mar of Maria Conn and Thomas Flawth at Alne
• 1627 Jan 29. Mar of Anna Connn and Thomas Akars at Alne
• 1636 Jul 3. Bap of Elizabetha daughter of Roberti Conn at Alne
• 1640 Nov 29. Bap of Johannes son of Roberti Con at Alne
• 1569 Oct 28. Mar of Elizabeth Conn and William Bercherde, Ottringham
• 1586 Dec 12. Mar of Thomas Conn and Sarae Shepperd, Ottringham
• 1604 Jul. Mar of Sara Conne and Christopher Christie, Ottringham
• 1611 Jun 4. Mar of Anne Conn and William Goscrofte, Ottringham
• 1704 Jul 23. Mar of George Conn and Anne Hauton at Askham Richard
• 1733 Feb 17. Bap of Mary daughter of John Conn at Aldeborough near York
• 1731 Jan 27. Mar of Eleanor Conn and Ralph Hardcastle at Kingston upon Hull, Holy Trinity
• 1749 Dec 29. Mar of Elizabeth Conn and John Westerdale at Kingston upon Hull, Holy Trinity
• 1808 Sep. Mar of Daniel Conn and Lydia Clarkson at Kingston upon Hull

Parishes in York

The parishes with dates attached have been researched.

All Saints - North St---------(IGI) All Saints - Pavement--------1554 - 1738 Holy Trinity - Goodramgate--1573 - 1837 Holy Trinity - Kings Court----1631 - 1837 Holy Trinity - Micklegate St Crux ----------------------1678 - 1837 St Cuthbert St Denys St Edward - Dringhouses St George St Helen - Stonegate St John - Ousebridge St Lawrence----------------1606 - 1812 St Margaret - Walmgate St Martin - Coney St--------1557 - 1837 St Martin cum Gregory St Mary Bishophill Junior----1602 - 1837 St Mary Bishophill Senior St Mary Castlegate----------1604 - 1837 St Maurice-------------------(IGI) St Michael le Belfry----------1565 - 1772 (IGI) St Michael Spurriergate St Olave---------------------1538 - 1785 St Sampson St Savior St Giles Copmanthorpe------1759 - 1837

Records from the parish registers of York

1550 Marriage of Agnes Conn to Robert Browne. St Martin cum Gregory.

• 1614 Jul 4. Marriage of Johes Conn to Elizabetha Cannon. All Saints, Pavement.
• 1632 Jul 2. Marriage of Elizabeth Conn to William Bell, All Saints.
• 1680 Sep 5. Baptism of Jane, daughter of George Conn, All Saints.
• 1682 Sep 11. Baptism of George, son of George Conn, All Saints.
• 1685 Jul 19. Baptism of William, son of George Conn, All Saints.
• 1688 Oct 21. Baptism of James, son of George Conn, All Saints.
• 1691 Jan 23. Baptism of Edward, son of George Conn, All Saints.
• 1700 Feb 26. Baptism of John, son of George Con, All Saints.
• 1705 Jul 15. Baptism of Thomas, son of George Con, All Saints.
• 1733 May 15. Marriage of Peter Conn and Jain Thompson, All Saints.
• 1737 Aug 1. Baptism of Mary, daughter of Peter Conn, All Saints.
• 1740 Sep 30. Baptism of Thomas, son of Peter Conn, All Saints.
• 1550 Nov. Marriage of Agnes Con to Robert Brown, St Martin.
• 1695 Nov 28. Marriage of George Con to Mary Lam. St Martin, Coney St.
• 1741 Nov 10. Marriage of Mark Conn of St Michael le Belfry, to Elizabeth Collinson. St Martin, Coney St.
• 1706 Jan 6.Baptism of John, son of George Conn, tyler. St Michael le Belfry.
• 1707 Sep 20. Baptism of John, son of George Conn. St Michael le Belfry.
• 1710 Jan 29. Baptism of Anne, daughter of George Conn. St Michael le Belfry.
• 1712 Sep 3. Baptism of Hannah, daughter of George Conn. St Michael le Belfry.
• 1720 Oct 1. Baptism of Elizabeth, daughter of George Conn, St Michael le Belfry.
• 1715 Feb 27. Burial of Ann, daughter of George Conn of Petergate. St Olave
• 1715 May 27. Burial of Hannah, daughter of George Conn of Petergate. St Olave.
• 1715 Jul 13. Burial of George, son of George Conn of Petergate. St Olave.
• 1717Jun 27. Burial of Anne daughter of George Conn of Petergate. St Olave.
• 1720 Mar 6. Burial of George Conn, bricklayer of Petergate. St Olave.
• 1751 Jul 22. Marriage of Mary Conn and James Grinley at St Sampson, York.

  Records from the parish of Knaresborough.

  These records have been included with the York returns because of the proximity of the two cities, - about 15 miles separate them. They will be re-allocated to their correct family if and when that has been determined. Where this family originated from is unknown, and although most died in Knaresborough, the subsequent movements of the remnants of the family is also unknown.

  • 1727 Apr 4. Bap. Robert s of John Conn.
  • 1728 Dec 7. Bap. Eleanor d of John Conn
  • 1730 May 17. Bur. Ellen d of John Conn.
  • 1731 Sep 18. Bap. John s of John Conn.
  • 1736 Nov 26. Bap. Elizabeth d of John Conn.
  • 1738 May 28. Bur. Elizabeth d of john Conn.
  • 1739 Apr 23. Bap. Elizabeth d of John Conn.
  • 1741 Sep 27. Bur. Mary d of John Conn.
  • 1742 May 19. Bur. John s of John Conn. [There is some doubt about this surname]
  • 1742 May 19. Bap. John s of John Conn.
  • 1742 Aug 6. Bur. John s of John Conn.
  • 1742 Aug 15. Bur. Mary d of John Conn.
  • 1743 Sep 4. Bap. Jane d of Thomas and Elizabeth Conn.
  • 1746 Jun 20. Bap. Dorothy d of John and Elizabeth Conn
  • 1760 Jan 20. Bap. Ann d of Robert and Elizabeth Conn.
  • 1762 Apr 29. Mar. Jane Conn and Jonathan Newton.
  • 1762 Jun 11. Bur. Elizabeth Conn
  • 1762 Jul 18. Bap. Robert s of Robert and Elizabeth Conn.
  • 1768 Jun 17 Bap. William s of Robert Conn.
  • 1768 Oct 21. Bur. John Conn.
  • 1775 Nov 3. Bur. Sarah Conn.
  • 1827 Jan 24. Bur. Ann Cown, aged 71 of Knaresborough.

Other Conn families in the York and south Yorkshire area.

From about 1850 onwards several Conn families moved to the York area. The first was William Conn, who was born in Penshaw, Durham, in Aug 1829 (see The Conn families of Sedgefield). He was an engineer probably on the railway, and married Elizabeth Woodburn in 1852. They lived at 75 Holgate Rd., York, which is to the southwest of the city, just outside of the city walls.

William Conn married Elizabeth Woodburn (b. 1832 York) in York, 19 Apr 1852.

Their children were:-

1. 1854 Jun 12. Baptism of James William, son of William and Elizabeth Conn. St Mary Bishophill. James had two children, George W.(b.1890, Gainsborough, Lincs.) and Dorothy (b.1897, Oldham).
2. 1855 Jan 28. Baptism of Elizabeth Hester, daughter of William and Elizabeth Conn. St Mary Bishophill.
3. 1856 Oct 26. Baptism of Mary Ann, daughter of William and Elizabeth Conn. St Mary Bishophill. Married Leonard Hobson 14 May 1883 at St Mary Bishophill.
4. 1859 Jan 2. Baptism of John Arthur, son of William and Elizabeth Conn. St Mary Bishophill. The 1901 census shows that John Arthur was an engine driver in York, his wife was called Eliza, and they lived at 53 Victoria St, Micklegate. John married Eliza Annie Lacy on 15 Sep 1884 at St Mary Bishophill. His first wife was called Frances. John probably had 5 children:-
   1. 1882 Mar 10. Baptism of May,daughter of John Arthur and Frances Conn at St Mary Bishophill.
   2. 1885 Arthur E., born in York
   3. 1889 Edith A., born in York.
   4. 4 Sep 1889, burial of Laura Woodburn Conn
   5. 1894 Horace A., born in York.
5. 1861 Minnie born in York
6. 1862 Albinia born in York
7. 1864 Robert. In 1901 was living in Oldham, Yorkshire
8. 1866 Thomas
9. 1868 Mar 15. Baptism of Kate Elizabeth, daughter of William & Elizabeth at St Mary Bishophill.
10. 25 Mar 1870 George Woodburn. George married Ruth Appleby (b 1872, York) and had 5 children.
    1. 15 May 1893. Charles Edwin. Migrated to New Zealand about 1910. Married C.I.Spence
    2. 23 Aug 1894. Minnie (Mina). Married A.Hayden
    3. 19 Sep 1896. Muriel. Married S.Barker
    4. 2 Dec 1904. Olive. Married M.Marshall
    5. 3 Apr 1910. Marjorie. Married M.Millington
11. 1872 Charles. In 1901 was living in West Derby, Derbyshire.
12. 1875 Frederick Ernest

The second family was that of Thomas Conn, who was born in Loftus in 1833 (see The Conn family of Pickering). In the 1851 census he is living at Redcar and is said to be an apprentice stonemason. He arrived in York about 1856 and married Dinah. They lived at Plows Yard in the parish of St Maurice, which is to the northeast of the city. His occupation is stonemason. In the 1881 census Dinah is a widow.

Thomas Conn (1833-1879) married Dinah (b. 1833, Holme)

Their children were :-

1. 1853 Jane
2. 1 Mar 1857. Baptism of Thomas William at St Maurice, York. In the 1901 census he is unmarried and a stonemason living at Wortley, Leeds with his mother and stepfather.
3. 1859. Mary Jane. Married a Mr Padley and had three children; Ethel 1888, Ada 1892 and Walter 1894.
4. 1866 Annie
5. 1868 Walter. Married Mary Jennings in 1896 at St John, Wortley. In the 1901 census they had three children, Annie 1897, Walter 1899 and Willie 1900.
6. 1871 Clara
7. 1874 George H. Married Florence Tetley of Leeds in 1896. In the 1901 census had two children, George 1899 and Florence 1900.

Following the death of Thomas Conn in 1879, his wife Dinah married Benjamin Dawson and they moved to Wortley near Leeds

A third family that arrived in the York area was William Conn of Hornchurch in Essex. He married Eliza Child in 1875 at St James Woodside, Leeds. They lived at Fewston, which is just to the west of Harrogate, some 10 miles from York. It is thought that William was related to the Conn family of Upminster (see The Conn family of Essex).

William Conn married Eliza Child in 1875 at Leeds.

Their children were:-

1. 1876 Herbert William who died the same year.
2. 1877 Elizabeth
3. 1882 Edgar

A fourth family arriving at Hull in about 1890 was Ernest Frederick Conn. He was the son of William Conn, and was born in Pershore, Worcestershire, in 1851 (see The Conn Family of Worcester) .His wife was called Mary, born in 1858 in Hereford. They had 3 children, all born in Hereford, before moving to Kingston upon Hull.

Ernest Frederick Conn (b. 1851 Pershore) married Mary Ann (b 1858, Hereford)

Their children were :-

1. 1879 Maud, born in Hereford. She married John Hendrick in 1896 at St John Newland, Sculcoates, Hull.
2. 1881 Lilian, born in Hereford. She married Ernest Beale in 1913 at St Augustines, Hull.
3. 1883 Ernest William, born in Hereford, died 1928. He was a compositor for the Hull Daily Mail. He married Margaret Cook (1884-1949) and their children were:-
   1. 5 Jun 1908 John Frederick
   2. 8 Sep 1910 Norah Kathleen
   3. 1 Feb 1912 Reginald
   4. 20 Nov 1914 Terence
   5. 10 Jan 1929 Samuel Lewis
4. 1888 Kathleen Ann, born in Cottingham, Hull
5. 1891 Margaret Winifred, born in Cottingham, Hull. She married George Tappendon in 1914 at St Augustines, Hull
6. 1892 Ruby May, born in Cottingham, Hull.