William De ABNEY

     William De ABNEY, son of William De ABNEY, was born circa 1293 in Derbyshire, England.¹

William De ABNEY witnessed the grant, on 1 August 1329, from Alexander de Leyum to Richard de Leyum, his brother, of two bovates of land and one plot of waste under Leyum [Eyam] Sey, containing 6 acres of land, which Roger le Rous onetime held in the village of Eyam; and also two messuages and one bovate of land and one culture called Byrchyene Fiatt which Walter the clerk once held in the village of Eyam in Derbyshire, England. Witnesses were: Richard de Paddeley, William de Abbeney, Roger de Stafford, Grevase Rankell, Nicholas del Hope, Henry de Geldacre, William Andreu clerk, Richard le Chapman, and Richard son of Richard son of Henry del Foulowe.^2,3

William De ABNEY and Alexander De ABNEY were witnesses to a quitclaim 29 September 1333 in Offerton, Derbyshire, England, from Richard del Strindes to William, son of John Fox and Joan his wife, of 16 acres of land in Offerton. Witnesses: John Foleiumbe of Tiddleswelle, William de Abbeneye, and Alexander de Abbeneye.⁴

William De ABNEY was witnessed a grant of land 24 August 1335 in Offerton, Derbyshire, England, from Richard Fox to Thomas Fox, his son, of a messuage and nine acres of land at Le Storthe in Over Offerton. Witnesses were William de Abbeneye, Thomas del Clogh and Richard del Clogh.⁵

William De ABNEY, John D'ABNEY, Robert D'ABNEY and Arabella D'ABNEY were included on a tax list in 1380 in the Peak District, Derbyshire, England. The Poll Tax of 1379-80 (which caused the Peasants Revolt of 1381) included William Abney and his grandsons Robert and John. Arabella was probably also a granddaughter. The Poll Tax of 4 Richard II [1380] includes William de Alboney and his wife, Robert and Arabella Abbony of Castleton, and John de Abbeny and his wife of Eyam (probably including Stoke.)