Dufton Family History.. Yorkshire Duftons

The majority of Duftons are descended from families that have an association with the county of Yorkshire.
This page briefly considers the possible origins of these branches of the Duftons.

And, then provides links to the splendid work of two Yorkshire Dufton researchers, John G Dufton and Michael Dufton.
Their archive information and family charts for the Yorkshire Dufton families are the most detailed available anywhere.

Yorkshire rose

Records indicate that the Dufton family originated towards the end of the 12th century in the old English county of Westmorland. But, why was it that over the centuries so many Dufton families lived in the county of Yorkshire?
Research suggests that perhaps there are three main reasons why the Duftons settled there, a military reason, a religious reason and finally, a commercial reason.

Dufton place of doves
The Dufton family rose to some prominence when John de Dufton was granted the barony of Dufton around 1202. This was reward for his loyalty and service to Robert de Veteripont the Earl of Westmorland, who was one of the very few barons to support King John. It is known that John de Dufton was involved in the defence of both Brougham castle and Carlisle castle when both fortresses were attacked by the Scots. At this same time a William de Dufton was made governor of Scarborough castle in Yorkshire, and was involved in defending the castle against the rebellious barons. It is known that at that period both William and John were in the employment of Robert de Veteripont, the Earl of Westmorland. It seems probable William is John's uncle. William was to have further military positions of responsibility in Yorkshire.
Also, in 1408 a Christopher Dufton is recorded as fighting at the Battle of Bramham Moor, just south of Wetherby in Yorkshire. He was granted land and a coat of arms by King Henry IV for his efforts in the skirmish. King Henry's army for this battle was led by Sir Thomas Rokeby, the sheriff of Yorkshire, and his troops were drawn from knights and soldiers from Yorkshire. So Christopher Dufton was a Yorkshire man. Hence, it would appear that some Duftons had a military reason for settling in Yorkshire. It was at this battle that Henry, Earl of Northumberland was captured, and later executed. The earl was the father of Henry 'Hotspur' the famous Percy mentioned in Shakespeare's 'Henry IV'.

Dufton place of doves
In early times the church played an important part in everyone's life. The church gave not only religion to the people, but many aspects of daily life were determined by the church including education, hospitals, legal matters and they acted as a local and national civil service. The pens of the clerics were ever busy with writing court cases, grants of land, accounts of tenants' lands and obligations, lists of taxpayers, wills and host of other documents. There was one cleric for every twenty adults, and it seemed that a life working for the church was a good career move for any ambitious man, progress to positions of importance were possible.
It appears that some of John de Dufton's family chose a career with the church which took them into the county of Yorkshire.

Archbishop of York

William de Melton was Archbishop of York between 1316 and 1340, he was also Lord High Treasurer of England. The archives for York Minster record that during this time a Master Robert de Dufton was employed by Archbishop Melton.

The records list an entry, dated 2nd February 1326, that Robert de Dufton advocate for the court at York, was given 40 shillings expenses for travelling to Scotland on the Archbishop's business. This was at a time in history when York and the north of England were being plundered by Scottish raiders, and the Archbishop had been tasked by the King Edward to solve the problem. So it would appear that the Robert de Dufton's mission to Scotland was of grave importance.

The archives also record that in 1328 Robert de Dufton was the Archbishop's official at Richmond in north Yorkshire. A section of the records state.....
Case of the church of Kirkham.
During the vacancy of the archdeaconry of Richmond, in the year of Our Lord 1328, William de Melton, then archbishop of York, caused a peremptory edict to be published by his official, Master Robert de Dufton, and by the dean of Amounderness in the church aforesaid, the tenor whereof follows: These records refer to various letters regarding the tax matters of Kirkham church.

Richmond is only a day's walk or ride from the village of Dufton. It would seem possible that Master Robert de Dufton may well be a grandson of John de Dufton whose family were still living in the village of Dufton.

Also, in 1503 a Thomas Dufton was chaplain of the chantry dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary in the collegiate of the Church of Ripon. So it appears that some Duftons had a religious reason for settling in Yorkshire.
Dufton the place of doves
And, finally perhaps the most significant reason for Duftons settling in Yorkshire. In 1341 there are several references on the Freedom Roll to a Thomas de Dufton who is a Freeman of the city of York. No man could trade in York without having obtained 'freedom' of the city. Records from Carlisle show that York played a very important part in the commercial life of Cumbria. Many of the Freemen in York were from Westmorland, one in five of all immigrants to York were from Cumbria, and had settled there as merchants, especially in the wool and textile trade.

Vast mule trains carrying fleece would be sent along the drove tracks from various locations in Westmorland to their own particular merchant in York who would collect and sell the wool on to his customers. One of the ancient drovers' trails went from Appleby, just a few miles from Dufton village, to Kirby Stephen and through Gunnerside in Swaledale to Richmond, and then on to York. At Gunnerside there still exists an iscolated farm cottage called Duftons House.
Duftons house Gunnerside
Duftons house on the drove trail across Swaledale.

Clothiers would then make cloth in their own dwelling, and then sell their wares in market places such as Briggate in Leeds, or in the markets of Bradford . A proportion of the wool was sent onto Hull, by the merchants, where it was taken by boat across to the markets of Europe.

It seems probable that wool taken from the large flocks of sheep that grazed on the fells around Dufton, was taken by mule train over Stainmoor and through Yorkshire to York where a merchant such as 'our' Thomas de Dufton would collect and sell the fleece in this important and profitable trade. In 1341 Thomas would certainly still have links with Westmorland and in particular with the village of Dufton where the Dufton family still farmed. So a third reason for Duftons settling in Yorkshire could be the commercial benefits from wool and textiles.

After the year 1538, by law, all christenings, marriages and burials took place in church, and written records of the events had to be taken.
The first such church record of a Yorkshire Dufton event is a baptism at Leeds in 1584, followed by two Dufton marriages at Calverley in 1589.

Dufton's Yard, off Somerset Street, in Leeds near the markets.

Over the next centuries the name Dufton appears in many of the parish registers of Leeds, Bradford, and the surrounding region. Many of these families were employed in the wool and textile trade.

The following two links provide a wealth of information about the Yorkshire Dufton families.

Link to the Dufton Family tree charts for the Dufton families of Yorkshire.

These excellent charts have all been hand-drawn by John G.

Link to the excellent and very detailed research of the Yorkshire Duftons by Michael Dufton. This research includes Yorkshire Dufton archive information and Yorkshire Dufton charts.

Dufton Family Website