1642
CIVIL WAR. A piece of local folk-lore has it that Cromwell passed close to Skelton, but missed the Castle hidden in the woods.
The locals, however, were heard and given a good beating on Flowston.
A small skirmish took place somewhere between Skelton and Guisborough between Royalists under the command of Colonel Slingsby and Parliamentarians under Sir Hugh Cholmley and Sir Matthew Boynton.
Slingsby was taken prisoner and some of his men killed.
The influential battle of Marston Moor took place between Knaresborough and York.
A Slingsby held Knaresborough Castle against a long seige and was the last person to be executed for plotting after the Civil War.
Another piece of folk lore from this period claims that Charlie’s Hill at nearby Stanghow is so called because Charles I used it as an observation to watch fighting at Kilton and Skelton.
[W III presumably refers to King William IV 1830-1837
and William of Orange 1697-1702 was discounted and seen in “1831” as the Dutch Consort of Mary]
1645
It appears that many clergy who could not agree with the Puritan beliefs were removed from their livings and Marske [where vicar was not for the time being moved] Parish records of this time show a number of entries of Skelton folk.
1647
DEATH OF GEORGE TROTTER –
of Skelton Castle. He was succeeded by his son Edward. Edward was married to Mary, daughter of Sir John Lowther of Lowther. They had 14 children.
1649
EXECUTION OF CHARLES I.
1653
CROMWELL – Lord Protector.
CHURCH BRASSES –
It has been suggested that the brasses on the Fauconberg blue marble stone in the floor of the old church at Skelton were torn off by the Puritans during this period.
1654
EDWARD TROTTER
exchanged one third of Eston for one third of Skelton with Henry Stapylton.
The Stapyltons had purchased this third from the heirs of Lord Conyers after the division of the Skelton estate in 1556.
Edward Trotter.
1656
SKELTON ESTATE PURCHASED – Edward Trotter purchased the remaining third of Skelton estate from the Conyer’s heirs. See 1556.
POPULATION of England was estimated to be about 5.3 million at this time.
1657
WINTER – into 1658 reputedly to be the longest ever, lasting into March.
1658
DEATH OF CROMWELL.
FIXED WAGES.
The North Riding Quarter Sessions sitting at Thirsk ordered:-
‘That the Sheriff of the County of Yorke do forthwith cause the following rates of Artificers, Labourers and Servants wages to be proclaimed in and throughout the N Riding and especially in every market towne in the said riding:-
| By day with meate | By day without meate | |
| Carpenter | 6 pence | 12 pence |
| His Apprentices | 4 pence | 8 pence |
| Mason | 6 pence | 12 pence |
| His Apprentices | 4 pence | 8 pence |
| Taylor | 4 pence | 8 pence |
| His Apprentices | 2 pence | 4 pence |
| Theaker [Thatcher] | 6 pence | 12 pence |
| Mower | 6 pence | 12 pence |
| Corn Reaper | 4 pence | 8 pence |
| Woman Corn Reaper | 3 pence | 6 pence |
| Woman hay worker | 2 pence | 4 pence |
| Ordinary labourer – summer] | 3 pence | 6 pence |
| Labourer – winter] | 2 pence | 4 pence |
| A manservant in charge of husbandry | £4 for the yeare | |
| Ordinary manservant | £3 for the yeare | |
| A maidservant in charge of dairy | £2 for the yeare | |
| Ordinary maidservant | 30 shillings for the yeare | |
| Maidservant between 14 and 21 yrs | 20 shillings for the yeare |
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