Fred Pickstone (April 2004)
In the political and religious turmoil of the 1640s, an Act of Parliament of 1649 permitted the sale of Catholic lands, by the Parliamentary Trustees. As result of this, Husthwaite Manor was sold to Adam Baynes, who had served in Cromwell's army. His quartermaster was George Denham of Baxby. In 1658 Cromwell died. His son Richard, ineffective and unpopular, retired to private life. Two years later the Long Parliament (I 640-1660) dissolved itself and set up a Convention, in which there were many Royalists and Presbyterians. Historically, a Convention is a parliament not summoned by the sovereign. This newly formed body invited Charles II to return from exile, but he was a spendthrift. Taxes were increased, new ones were introduced and, in 1662, he married Catherine of Braganza, a Portuguese princess, who was a Catholic.
Moreover Cromwell's Commonwealth Army was not entirely disbanded and there were ominous comings and goings among the discontented nonconformists and former Cromwellian Officers. An Act of 1662 penalised Quakers for meeting for worship; they could even be transported for a third offence. Therefore it is not surprising that determined and experienced men planned a forceful protest. An uprising was being organised in the counties of the North. Arms were smuggled into Sunderland and in a boat carrying coal into York. This city was to be captured along with Skipton Castle, Newcastle, Carlisle and Appleby. Before midnight on 12th October 1663, over 200 men under arms assembled in Farnley Park Wood, near Leeds. The group included many men from the West Riding and some from north of York. One of the ringleaders was a Captain Oates of Morley, near Leeds.
But the authorities heard rumours of their activities, a bribe brought information from a Major Greathead, also of Morley, and treasonable correspondence was intercepted. As Royalist forces were being assembled under the Duke of Buckingham, Captain Oates was captured and the rebellion collapsed. Trials ensued. In what is now known as the Farnley Wood Plot, Oates and twenty more men were hanged, drawn and quartered at York in January 1664. Amongst them was George Denham, who we know "forfeited his lands, including the Manor and Lands at Husthwaite". He was probably a Quaker.
One other conspirator was executed later and many were kept in prison for a long time, but we don't even know if Adam Baynes was involved at all. Had he sold the Manor of Husthwaite to his former quartermaster, in the intervening years?