First Generation  

1. Sir John ARMYTAGE, of Wrigbowls [2061] was born about 1099.

General Notes: Roger Dafynes, Lord of a made village, steward to Regimus, Bishop of Dorchester, founder of Elsam Abbey in County Lincoln, did give his Lordship of Wrigbowls unto John Armitage, Esq. , in 10 of King Stephen [1145], to his and his heires to be holden of the manor, the fourth part of a Knights Fee.

John Armitage in the parish of Gosberkerke als Gosberton, which he held by the gift of Roger Dafynes, he gave for his arms, Gules a lion's head erased between 3 crosses botonne Ar.

THE ARMITAGE NAME AND BIOGRAPHIES

Our Armitage ancestors came from Yorkshire, England. The York Minster Cathedral is of especial interest to the Armitage family, for it contains the remains of three Armitages. (The Cathedral and Metropolitical Church of St. Peter in York, better known as York Minster). The Armitage family is generally canceded to have arisen in the West Riding of Yorkshire. The family of Armitage is of considerable antiquity, being descended according to a pedigree attested by Sir Henry St. George, Norroy King of Arms Feb 2, 1637, from a John Armytage of rigbowls, standard bearer to King Stephen who reigned from 1135 to 1154.

The Armitage family took it's name from a hermitage in the township of Crosland in the parish of Almondbury. The hermitage seems to have existed on land donated to the Knights Templar by Richard de Rihill between 1211 and 1240; and in 1620 when Robert de Nottingham was Rector of Almondbury he gave to Adam, son of John de Locwode - "A certain messuage with garden and building erected thereupon with appurtenances" which were called the Hermitage. The surname Armitage has been associated with the parish from this period, e.g.:
1258 Richard de Hermitagic
1340 Adam dell Hermitage
1379 William del Ermytache

It is probable that throughout this time the surname was hereditary and those holding the name were living at the Hermitage. The present location is known as Armitage Bridge. The main branch of the Armitage family can be traced there for over 500 years.

1462 William Armitage of the Armitage
1561 John Armytage of the Ermytage
1609 Nicholas Armitage of Thermitage
1685 John Armitage of the Armitage

Noted events in his life were:

• Occupation: Standard Bearer to King Stephen.

• Coat of Arms: gules a Lion's head erased between 3 Crosses botonne Argent, Roger Dafynes.

John married Jane HAMEFIELD [2062] [MRIN: 1332], daughter of Unknown and Unknown, in 1144. Jane was born in Hasefield als Aspiperain Con Lincoln Lincolnshire England.

The child from this marriage was:

+ 2 M    i. Sir Bryan ARMYTAGE, Of Wrigbowls [2059] .