The fee of Rockley was in Worsborough and this land near Pickburn must have adjoined part of that fee. The Rockleys were settled in Worsborough at the time of the conquest and continued in undisturbed possession until the civil wars. Knouẏs may in later times have been Knovis. Scauceby now Scawsby, lies two miles south-east of Pickburn. It appears to have been a more important place in Saxon times than it is to-day. It is mentioned in Domesday as Scalchebi. Helias may mean Ellis. The surname Joye has a small i for the initial letter.
Nigel Fossard above mentioned was, after the death of the earl of Morton, one of several landowners in the deanery of Doncaster who held direct from the crown; his fee included lands at Brodsworth and he also had a house at Doncaster; but his baronial seat was Mulgrave Castle in north Yorkshire.
William de Fonte was probably the prior of Ecclesfield, which priory belonged at the date of this charter to the abbey of Fontenelle or saint Wandrille in Normandy.
Probably William de Fonte engrossed this charter and added his name as the last witness, which was a common practice of monks and scriveners.
Judith, niece of William I and wife of earl Waltheof lord of Hallam, placed a colony of monks from Fontenelle at Ecclesfield; probably in the 11th century, as she was married in 1070; see “Archæologia” vol 26, page 352. From charter-evidence it is certain that the priory was in existence in 1141. From this it may be assumed that this beautifully written charter had its origin in Ecclesfield priory, and was taken by prior William to Pickburn, where the other witnesses would meet, to see possession of the land given and the grant confirmed by deed.
Genealogy deduced.
(i)
| Thomas de Pickeburne | = | ...... | |
| Jordan | |||
| both living shortly before 1290 | |||
(ii)
| Helias de Scauceby | = | ...... | |
| Thomas | |||
| both living shortly before 1290 | |||