Thomas Metcalfe
Although strong hints are refering to a possible relationship it cannot be verified if JANE METCALFE, grandmother of DAVID WALKER was indeed a descendant of the 'Nappa' branch of the Metcalfe family, but it cannot be excluded either.
THOMAS METCALFE OF NAPPA, (1424-1505) was a son of James Medecalfe (1389-1472), who took part in the French campaign in 1415 being Captain at the battle of Agincourt (painting 'Morning of the Battle of Agincourt, 25th October 1415' by at the instance of Sir Richard Scrope of Bolton, who enfeoffed him in return Nappa between 1415 and 1419.
"Edmund Metcalfe, eldest son of James, was born about 1420, but died in his father’s lifetime so that his younger brother, THOMAS METCALFE, succeeded to the estate at Nappa, where he permanently resided and married a daughter of William Hertlington, an ancient and arms-bearing family, seated at Hertlington in Craven.
He was a member of the Privy Council and Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster in the 38th Henry VI. (1459-60). But to have attained to the Chancellorship at so early an age is probably a mistake, though he undoubtedly received the latter appointment in 1483, but whether for the first time is unknown. Many other responsible offices he held besides.
In 1485/6 he received a grant of the office of Surveyor of the Castle and lordship of Middleham, and of all manors, lordships, &c., within the liberties of Richmond. This was an appointment of considerable importance, and was probably one of those referred to by Leland when he said that Thomas Metcalfe ”waxed rich” ; its value to him being no doubt much greater than the mere amount of salary attached. ...
The estate or demesne of Nappa, ..., descended together with whatever share he had in the Hertlington lands in right of his wife, to his eldest son, afterwards Sir James Metcalfe, Kt.
His most extensive landed possessions consisted of long beneficial leases of various portions of the lordship of Middleham, the Rolls of which shew that he held not only the Raydale lands and others adjacent, which were afterwards occupied by Sir James and his immediate lineal descendants for many generations, but leases of other lands and vaccaries of considerable rental and extent, which do not appear to have been renewed by Sir James, but which in almost every instance were subsequently occupied by persons of the name." (H. Speight)
SIR JAMES METCALFE (1460-1539) was the eldest of the three sons of THOMAS METCALFE OF NAPPA. In early life he served on the Scottish Border under Richard, Duke of Gloucester, whose chief residence during the latter part of the reign of Edward IV. was, as before related, at Middleham Castle. He was a gentleman of high standing, and in point of wealth the possessor of numerous properties and offices, which must have raised him to a position of considerable power and influence. He held the post of Coroner of the Marshalsea of the King’s Household, likewise the offices of Master Forester or Master of the Game within the Forests of Wensleydale, Raydale and Bishopdale. He was Keeper of the Parks of Woodhall near Nappa and Wanless in West Witton and Swinethwaite. He also served the office of High sheriff of Yorkshire in 1525, and was knighted by the king at Windsor in 1528. In 1523 he contributed to the Lay Subsidy levied upon the inhabitants of Staincliffe and Ewecross.
Sir James obtained in 1531 from Sir John Daunce, a member of the Council, and John Hales, one of the Barons of the Exchequer, a lease of all lead and coal mines within the lordships of Richmond and Middleham (except those in the New Forest and Arkengarthdale) for 21 years rendering a ninth part of the lead and a ninth part of the coal obtained to the king as rent.
Sir James also held the post of one of the King’s Commissioners for the army in the north and in this capacity held periodical musters of men-at-arms, archers, and bill-men for the wapentake of Hang West on Middleham Moor. The last occasion on which he appears as Commissioner is in 1534 and this Roll is particularly interesting, as it gives complete lists of men-at-arms, arranged in order of parishes. It includes no fewer than 96 Metcalfes for the whole wapentake, the majority of them being described as archers, ”horsed and harnessed”. Of these 62 came from the parish of Bainbridge alone, which, however, included the whole valley of Raydale.
Sir James married late in life, when he was 52. Margaret Pigot was a daughter of Thomas Pigot, Esq. of Clotherham near Ripon. She was just 20 years old, then and acquired a large territorial fortune. Sir James died in an advanced age in 1539 and on November 10th of that year an inquisition p.m. was taken at Topcliffe declaring the extent of his various lands and possessions.