 A Thomas Owst lived at Halsham in 1575, his descendants surviving there until 1836 when the last Thomas Owst left—he also held freehold property in Owstwick.The Owst family were Roman Catholic and lived under difficulties in the 18th century.In "The History and Antiquities of the Seigniory of Holderness", Poulson quotes a 1745 certificate given to Thomas Owst, which describes him as a popish recusant, by Act of Parliament unable to travel farther than five miles from place of abode.