Howard Bowron is actively researching his Jegon family. His family letter of 08 May 1701 shows the close links between the JEGON, LEEDES and CROMPTON families. Both 'my cousins' Robert and Walter CROMPTON feature by name. This Chancery document, transcribed and summarised by Howard illustrates family financial irregularities that were taken to the High Court.

Summary and Key Facts for The National Archives Chancery Document C11/851/42 Jegon v Pell 19th October 1715

This is a pleading to The Lord High Chancellor by the Orator Charles Cottorell on behalf of Arthur Jegon, a minor under the age of twenty one. Arthur Jegon is described as the “nephew of Robert Jegon and his heir in law” and “but the only son of Arthur Jegon deceased who was the only brother of the said Robert Jegon”.

The pleading concerns the estate of the late Robert Jegon of Wansford, York, who it states died in 1699. The Orator claims the estate has a clear yearly value of three hundred pounds and is also “intitled” to the Parsonage and Rectory at Nafferton in the county of York with all the tythes having a value of two hundred pounds. The latter being by virtue of a lease granted to Robert Jegon and his heirs by the Archbishop of York, for “three lives” whereof two lives were in being”. The Orator also claims at the time of his death Robert Jegon was possessed of a “very considerable personal estate consisting of money and money due and owing to the amount of one thousand five hundred pounds and upwards”.

The Orator claims that Arthur Jegon was the next of kin to Robert Jegon. At the time of the decease of Robert Jegon was an infant of “very tender years”. William Pell of Doncaster in the County of York, Gent, “your Orators Grandfather by the mother’s side” became his guardian. Elsewhere it refers to “your Orator’s late mother” so we can assume she is dead at this time.

The next section sets out the plea (with much repetition and bitterness) that William Pell and his son William Pell Junior together with their “Confederates” and “Agents” did defraud Arthur Jegon of his inheritance. The claim is that they:

• surrendered the ‘old lease’ and took possession of the Rectory and Parsonage at Nafferton ¹;
• in January 1701, set up a new lease and installed confederates Stephen Gray and William Awborough as tenants;
• collected all the rents and profits from the Rectory & Parsonage until 1714;
• took possession of the personal estate of Robert Jegon for himself;
• denied the existence of or disposed of possessions belonging to Robert Jegon and kept the proceeds for himself;
• denied that there were debts due and owing to Robert Jegon which should form part of the estate;
• refuse to give accounts, receipts etc as evidence of income and expenses of the estate;
• destroyed the documents that would have proven the true inheritance due to Arthur Jegon.

Furthermore, that to justify and defend these actions did:

• “pretend that Arthur Jegon is not nor ever was intitled (sic) to the lease of the Nafferton properties but that they belong to William Pell”;
• deny that the value of Robert Jegon ’s real estate was anything like the amount claimed by the Orator (“insinuate & pretend & do give out speeches that your Orator’s said real estate is not of the yearly value setforth or of any such value but of a small and inconsiderable value”);
• claim that the personal estate of Robert Jegon was small and subject to debts;
• greatly exaggerate the costs of providing board, clothing and education to Arthur Jegon “which was no more than twenty pounds a year”;
• “pretend that there is due to the said William Pell Senior from your Orator the sum of two thousand pounds”;
• greatly exaggerate the costs needed to repair and maintain the Nafferton properties;
• that losses, “by death and insolvency of tenants & others”, have reduced the income from the estate;
• claim to have received only small and inconsiderable income from the “rents & profits” of the Rectory and Parsonage;
• claim that the estate is charged with an outstanding mortgage of one thousand four hundred pounds which is outstanding on the Nafferton properties together with great arrears of interest still due and unpaid.

The plea goes on to say that “witnesses who could prove the truth of all and singular the promised are dead or gone into places remote & unknown to your Orator so that your Orator cannot have the benefit of their testimony in law”.

The Orator goes on with the plea (venting much repetition of the issues & disputes) that the matter should be resolved “before your Lordshipp in this honourable court” and that William Pell (and the other accused) should be required to attend court and offer up all the facts and figures relating to their administration of the estate of Robert Jegon.

The plea ends with the request that the Lord High Chancellor subpoena William Pell and others, commanding them to attend court and appear before their Lordship to provide answers to the charges made and to “stand by and abide by such order, direction and decree as your Lordship shall meet (out)”.

1660info6, sheet 2

Note: there is a reference to Thomas Crompton on line 56 in relation to the “old rents and covenants in the said former lease”. The context is unclear due to a fold in the parchment and wear on the edges.

Source: The National Archives C11/851/42

Nafferton Rectory Indenture dated 25 February 1697 (Summary) This is a 'wavy top' indenture meaning there were two copies made, one for each party, which could be identified as being genuine because the two parts fit together. The gist is: This is an amendment to what is referred to as the “original lease”. The original lease, made on 10 September 1695, was made between the Archbishop of York and Arthur Jegon of York. The lease is for lands and properties at Nafferton and the scope and value of this is described in some detail. The terms of the original lease was for three lives namely Arthur Jegon, William St Quintin and Robert Crompton of Little Ruston, for the “natural lives or longest of them”, for a maximum term of 99 years. This indenture dated 25 February 1697 is between Arthur Jegon of York and Robert Jegon of Wansford. It seems that Arthur Jegon has assigned his rights under the original lease to Robert Jegon for a consideration of five Shillings. The fee (or fine) to renew the lease is £200 (£17417 at Bank of England retail price index 2010) payable to William Day of York. The text asserts that the lease is good and valid and that Arthur Jegon has full rights and power to assign it. A proviso is that Arthur Jegon must pay the fine (£200) and indemnify Robert Jegon from any and all law suits or claims arising from the assignment of the bond. Also, that if Arthur Jegon defaults or if Robert Jegon is sued in respect of the bond it shall be lawful for Robert Jegon to take possession of the land and premises at Nafferton that were intended to be assigned. Furthermore, Arthur Jegon would be required to make any conveyances and assignments at law so arising. Furthermore, that if any of the lives in the original lease die (or for other just reason) it shall be lawful for Robert Jegon, by the consent of Arthur Jegon, to fill the lives and take a new lease on the Nafferton premises for three lives as Robert Jegon and of Arthur Jegon shall choose. But if Arthur Jegon neglect or refuses to do so for six months or more after a death then Robert Jegon can renew the lease as he so pleases. In all cases the fine for renewal of the lease must be paid up. The last few sentences seemed to suggest that until the new lease takes affect, and if no default is made, the rights to the property stay with Arthur Jegon and he is liable to pay all the rents and abide by the terms of the original lease. Possible date of 25 February 1697. Source: Borthwick ref MD229/162 Clicking on the Acrobat icon opens Howard Bowron's full edit of his transcription. Howard Bowron feels sure there is another family connection between the Jegons and the Cromptons that we don't know about yet, - William Jegon was very well connected with people who knew Robert Crompton's household well.

Howard Bowron is actively researching his Jegon family. Email him at

This page was created by Richard Crompton and maintained by Chris Glass	Version A5 Updated 13 March 2020