Biography
James of Wortley, living 1481. His designation “of Wortley” suggests a move from the Bankhouse property at Southowram to Wortley (near Sheffield). He is mentioned in the NZ pedigree sheet 1: “The above Robert left his property to his son James and Thomas Exley of Wortley.”
Disputed parentage: The NZ pedigree (sheet 3) lists James as son of Robert of Bankhouse (liv. 1456). However, Victor Exley states in his July 1990 letter: “One of the N.Z. mistakes is that having tracked Robert of Bankhouse (Skirsote not Bailey Hall) she gives James of Wortley as Robert’s son. He wasn’t, he was Robert’s cousin.” The NZ pedigree’s attribution is retained here as the working assumption, with Victor’s correction noted.
Evidence
- “James of Wortley liv. 1481” (NZ Pedigree Sheets (Typed), sheet 3)
- Property bequest note (NZ Pedigree Sheets (Typed), sheet 1)
- Victor Exley Letter July 1990: “James of Wortley… was Robert’s cousin” (contradicts NZ pedigree)