I began my search for my Crosby family ancestors on a visit to York County, England and the community of Holme Upon Spaulding Moor (herefater Holme) in 1998 where my great (11) grandfather Thomas Crosby and his family lived. Holme is an extensive parish about 22 miles southeast of the city of York. I took the accompanying picture of All Saints Church in Holme at that time. It was where the Crosby’s worshiped and dates to the year 1250.

Thomas was born ca 1510 and was buried 16 March 1558-59. The first reference to him in York is on a muster-roll of 30 Henry VIII (1538) where he is identified as an archer with a bow living at Shipton, a parish adjoining Holme. His name also appears on the Yorkshire lay subsidy 303-322 in 36 Henry VIII (1538).

Thomas’ son Anthony was a yeoman and in 1592 purchased, by Fine, a 100-acre farm in Holme. For over five centuries land in England was conveyed by “Fine,” a process where the grantee (plaintiff) brought a friendly lawsuit against the grantor (Deforciant) for the premises to be conveyed. The Deforciant acknowledged the right of the plaintiff to the premises for a consideration and the record of the suit was enrolled in Court archives called “Fleet of Fines,” the fine being the Court fees.

The ownership document reads as follows: Final concord made in the Queens Court at Hartford Castle on the morrow of All Saints, 34 Elizabeth (2 Nov. 1592) between Anthony Crosby, plaintiff, and Thomas Lambert and his wife Jane, Francis Lambert, Philip Lambert, John Lambert, and George Lambert, Deforciants, of one messuage, one toft (ruined building), one garden, 60 acres of arable land, 30 acres of meadow, 10 acres of pasture, and Commons Right in pasture for all beasts, with all appurtenances, in Holme in Spaldyngmore, of which by plea of covenant the said Thomas, Jane, Francis, Philip, John, and George recognize the aforesaid premises to be the right of said Anthony, and they remise, quit claim, and warrant for themselves and their heirs to the said Anthony and his heirs against themselves and their heirs forever. For which acknowledgment, quit claim, warranty, etc. the said Anthony gave the said Thomas, Jane, Francis, Philip, John, and George 40 pounds sterling. [Fleet of Fines, Yorkshire, Michaelmas term, part 1, 34 and 35 Elizabeth (1592).] He also acquired a Close called Leonard Scayles in Wheldrake, a parish about eight miles northwest of Holm, where he was residing at the time of his death.

Anthony’s will is preserved in the Probate Registry at York. It was probated 7 March 1599-1600. The earliest known English record to mention his son Thomas identifies Thomas as executor of the 1559 will. By that will Thomas inherited half of his father’s goods and the 100-acre freehold farm in Holme. After taking up residence on the farm, he married Jane Sotheron. Based on taxes paid, Jane’s father, William, was the wealthiest resident of the parish with Thomas Crosby and William Millington, Sotheron’s sons-in-law, ranked next in wealth. Only 19 of the over 150 households in Holme paid taxes. [See Lay Subsidy, Holme Beacon, East Riding of Yorkshire, 7 James I. (1609), East Riding of Yorkshire, 204-401.]

Thomas moved to New England after his son Simon who arrived in the spring of 1635. It is believed Thomas arrived in the fall of 1638 (when he was about 65 years old) with Rev. Ezekiel Rogers. His great (3) grand daughter, Hepzibah Crosby married my great (4) grandfather Benjamin Whipple in Westborough, Worcester Co., Mass. 17 Aug. 1749. They lived in Hardwick, Mass. before becoming original settlers in 1761 in Bennington, Vt. and later settling in Whipple Hollow, Rutland, Co., Vt. Benjamin represented the Rutland area in the Vermont General Assembly (1780, 81, 82, 83, and 84) when Vermont was an independent country. It became the 14th American state 4 March 1791.

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