Parish of Boldon

PARISH OF BOLDON.

THE Parish of Boldon is bounded by Jarrow on the North and North-West, by Washington on the West and South-West, by Monk-Wearmouth on the South and South-East, and by Whitburn on the East.

The Parish includes two Constableries, 1. West-Boldon, 2. East-Boldon and Newton-Garths.

Boldon, East and West.

The whole manor of Boldon, including both villages, has belonged from time immemorial to the See of Durham.

The services of this manor, being the first which occurs in the compilation, have given name to the Great Rental of Hugh Pudsey, or Provincial Domesday of Boldon Buke; and these services are perpetually referred to, in the sequel, under the description of any similar tenures—operantur sicut Boldon.

The following was the state of the vill at the period of this survey, or about 1180:

“Twenty and two tenants in villenage, each of whom occupies two oxgangs containing together thirty acres, and pays 2s. rent, sixpence for scatpennies, half a chalder of oats, sixteen pence for averpenys, leads five woodlades, provides two hens and ten eggs, and performs three days works for the Lord in every week, excepting one week at Easter and at Pentecost, and thirteen days at Christmas. And in the course of this work (in operatione sua) each villan performs four portions of mowing in harvest, with all his family except the huswife; mows three roods of averipe, and ploughs and harrows three roods of avereve; and for each carucate of land in their tenure, the tenants in villenage plough and harrow two acres, and then they have one corrody from the Lord, and are quit of all further work for that week; but when they work at the great autumnal porcation, they also receive a corrody. And in the course of their work they harrow if need be, and make loads, and during this latter service, they receive each a loaf of bread; they reap one day at Hocton (Houghton), and work till evening, and then they receive a corrody. At St. Cuthbert's fair, two villans build one booth; and when they make withies and lead wood-lades, they are quit of all other service.

“Twelve cottagers; each holds twelve acres, works two days in the week for the Lord the year round, except the holydays above named, and provide altogether twelve hens and sixty eggs.

Robert holds two oxgangs containing thirty-six acres, and pays half a mark [this was probably an emancipated villan, who had commuted his services for a fixed monied payment.] The Punder has twelve acres (attached to his office), and a thrave of corn from every cart or draught, and pays eighty hens and five hundred eggs. The mill pays five marks and a half rent. The whole tenantry in villenage, are bound to construct in the course of their work, if need be, a house forty foot long and fifteen wide, and when this service is ordered, fourpence averpenys is remitted to each tenant. The whole vill pays 17s. for cornage, and furnishes one milch cow.

The Demesne is on lease with a stock of four draughts and four harrows, and pays for two of the draughts sixteen chalder of oats, and eight of barley, and for the other two draughts ten marks in money.”

No free tenant is mentioned unless Robert be considered as such, and the whole arrangement evidently marks the extreme scarcity of specie, and proves that the numerous wants and vast expences of the Lord's household were chiefly provided for and defrayed by the personal services and payments in kind of the tenants in villenage, who tilled his land, harvested his corn, won his hay, led his wood (and in many instances his wine and millstones), and provided the household with oats, barley, hens, eggs, and milk. In addition to these services, where a mill existed, the tenants were obliged to lead materials for its repair, to maintain the mill dam, and to grind, and pay a settled mulcture (varying in different episcopal manors), exclusively at the Lord's mill. Another service of frequent occurrence not mentioned under Boldon, was that of the Dreng tenant, who fed a horse and a dog for his Lord, and attended the Bishop's great chase annually with a leash of greyhounds and a chasseur or huntsman, for both of which he took his own provisions along with him. This last species of service might probably be continued longer than some others; but the personal services of the tenant in villenage were soon, from a principle of mutual convenience, gradually commuted for a fixed monied payment.

The Lord hired his own labourers, and the villan or bond tenant cultivated his land for himself, subject to a certain annual rent. In process of time, custom defined and restricted the demands of the Lord, and the villan-tenure slid into the certain and easy estate of tenant by copy of Court Roll; whilst the demesne leased more immediately under the Lord, frequently became the origin of our modern leaseholds for lives or years, or, in much less frequent instances, remained in the actual occupation of the Lord, a circumstance which generally happened only in the immediate vicinity of the Bishop's chief residences, as Auckland or Stockton; and as often as any of the episcopal castles were dismantled or deserted, their demesne and the very scite of the building (as at Bishop Middleham) were thrown into lease.

To return. Under Hatfield's Survey, the twenty-four tenants in villenage (of whom Thomas Wake only is named) owed exactly the same services as are enumerated under Boldon Buke: to which is added the carriage of a ton of wine, the accustomed works relative to the mill (not specified), and the transportation of goods belonging to the Bishop or his Scneschal; but, instead of all these services, it should seem that each villan paid in money fourteen shillings and two-pence, and for cornage altogether 17s.; the milch cow, too, was commuted for six shillings, and the punder had eight shillings in lieu of his land and his thraves of corn; the tenants also paid 26s. 5d. for maltpenys, and for Bathesilver (a term which I by no means understand) at the festival of St. Cuthbert in September, 2s. 4d. For the water mill and wind mill, they paid seventeen pounds; 7l. 11s. for a pasture called Esthopper lysour; for seventy-two acres called the Shoefald 4l. 5s., for the Crok Moor 26 acres 34s. 8d., for three tofts and thirty acres 30s., for sixty acres at Copthorme 20s., for 72 acres in the South more 72s., and for every two oxgangs, the only service reserved in kind, two hens and ten eggs, in all 48 hens and twelve score eggs, at Christmas. Next are enumerated a long train of cottagers: the six first tenures average about thirty-two acres of old cottage land, that is, land anciently considered as attached to these cottages, with some ten or twelve acres of addition on the moor, under a new lease; of these six also held each ten acres of the demesne; the services of all (stated as before at two days works in every week) are all commuted for annual rents of 32s. each. Next follow the smaller cottagers, occupying various parcels from twelve to six acres, under rents from ten shillings to fourpence, each continuing to provide in kind a hen and five eggs; four of the cottagers, Elias Amfray, Thomas Diotson, John Couper, and Thomas Jonson, held a certain plot at the West end of the vill, formerly Robert Post's, and since Richard Robinson's, and pay 2s. 6d.

The whole amount of rent from thirty-two tenants of the demesne, (viz. the villans and cottagers before named,) for eleven score acres of the demesne 22 messuages and 44 oxgangs of bond land, with the mill, moor, and pasture, amounts to 44l. per annum, and scatoats, eggs and hens, in kind, the carriage of a ton of wine, the repairs of the mill, and carriage of the Bishop and Seneschal's goods.

And the bond tenants who hold nothing of the demesne, pay in all for two messuages and four oxgangs, with their proportion of the mill and pasture, 30s. each, and for lands on new leases granted by John Heron, Seneschal, and others of the counsel of the late Bishop Thomas (Hatfield) deceased (fn. 1).

Thomas de Refhop holds three acres once of William de Lomeley 3s. 6d. rent; John Robinson a toft and garden, formerly 5s. now only 4s.; . . . . . . holds one plot formerly of John deThorp 16d. The headborough pays 22s. for the wastes.

Besides these tenants under commutation rents, the Survey notices two free tenants.

“John de Hedworth holds a messuage and 36 acres, once of Richard de Hedworth; serves on embassies, and brings up to Durham the rents of Werehall (fn. 2), collected by Boldon Buke, and pays at the four terms 6s. 8d.; the same John holds a tenement and eighty acres on Boldon moor called Scotshouse, and pays 40s.; a plot of 40 acres called Gilbert leys 26s. 8d., the lands sometime of Galfrid Scot 3s. 4d., and a toft in Newton, once William Prestman's, 2s.

Peter del Hay holds Faderlesfield, containing forty six acres, and pays 20s.

Twenty-seven tenants hold two hundred and thirty acres of the demesne, and pay for every ten acres 32s. 8d.

At an earlier period, Alice de Marrays held a messuage and thirty-six acres in Wester Boldon, leaving William her son and heir (fn. 3). Another small freehold, a messuage and carucate of land on Boldon moor, called Faderles House, passed for a few descents in the family of Gategang (fn. 4).

The chief freehold, however, within Boldon belonged to the Hedworths. In 1381, Richard Hedworth died seized of Scottes house on Boldon moor held by homage, fealty, 40s. rent, and suit of court; a hundred and twenty acres in Boldon held by 6s. 8d. exchequer rent; ninety-four acres and one rood of arable, and four acres and one rood of meadow by 6s. 8d. rent; the whole messuage and tenure once of William son of Gilbert de Boldon, (the Gilbertleys of the Survey) 6s. 8d. rent; the tenement of Adam Rode 4s. 4d. and the lands sometime of Roger de Burdon, Agnes de Suthwyk, Adam fil. Simon de Clevedon, and Matilda Gray (with considerable possessions in Whitburne, Suthwyk, and Sunderland) (fn. 5) leaving John Hedworth his son and heir; on whose death, in 1401 (fn. 6), the same lands are returned, with the exception of Scottshouse and Rode's tenement. In 1481, Robert Hedworth died seized of a messuage, forty acres, and two acres of meadow in West-Boldon, held by homage, fealty, and 6s. 8d. (fn. 7) but the whole of the lands were alienated by his descendants before the reign of Elizabeth.

In 1422, Maud, widow of Sir John Claxton of Burnehall, Knight, died seized of a hundred acres in West-Boldon, called Strotherfield, held of the Bishop in socage by 6s. 8d. rent (fn. 8). William Claxton, Esq. died seized of the same lands, and by the same tenure, in 1539 (fn. 9).

About 1570, the family of Claxton sold Strotherfield (and their manor of Burnehall (fn. 10),) to George Lawson of Usworth, Esq.; and 13 March 36 Eliz. 1593-4, a pardon occurs for William Atcheson, Yeoman, for having purchased without licence of alienation all the lands of George Lawson of Follonsby, Esq. in East and West-Boldon (fn. 11).

The Fawcetts held a considerable copyhold property in Boldon, a part of which was alienated by Christopher Fawcett to Robert Pemberton in 1753, and the rest descended to Mrs. Colville. (See Pedigree of Fawcett.)

The chief portion of both vills is held by lease or copy of Court Roll, under the see of Durham.

The two villages lie at the distance of half a mile from each other, on the great road from Wearmouth to Gateshead. The Church stands at West-Boldon on high ground; the prospect from the church-yard extends over the whole of the level country to the Northwards, the lower vale of Tyne, and the rising grounds in Northumberland.

In the spring of 1644–5 Boldon Hills were the scene of some sharp skirmishes betwixt the Marquis of Newcastle's army and the Scots who occupied Sunderland. (See vol. I. p. xcviii; and SUNDERLAND, P. 257.)

Pedigree of Fawcett*.

†. Administered to his sister, Anne Rudston of Sunderland, widow, 5 May 1676.

“Richard Faweett, Parson of Boudon, and one of ye Prebendaries of the Cathedrall Church of Durham, to be buried in the chancel of Boudon Church. To the Poore of Boudon Parishe xls.; of St, Oswald's, in Durham, xxvis. viiid.; of St. Margaret's, xiiis. iiiid.; to amendings of Boudon Bridge, xxs.; to my wyfe Elinor, my sylver salte, one sylver cuppe, and my sylver spoones; my sone-in-lawe George Southake all my bookes, except English bookes; to Henry Newton, my other sone-in-lawe, my white mayer; to Joan Morell, my daughter-in-lawe, xvs." to Christopher Hill, my brother in lawe, xls.; to my sister-in-lawe Elizabeth, wife of George Plumpton; to my daughter, Joan Southaik; my eldest daughter, Elynor Newton; to everye of my brother Thomas Plumpton's children, vs." 17 Jan. 1609. Proved at Durham. The Register of Boldon contains the births of several children of Richard Faweett, of whom only Eleanor and Joane, above-named, survived him.

Arms usually borne by Fawcett—Or, a lion rampant Sable, debruised by a bend compony Gules and Argent.

The Church.

The Church is a neat regular fabric of ancient date and architecture, but almost entirely modernized; the nave has two uniform side ailes formed by two octagonal pillars and two semi-pillars, supporting pointed arches. The whole of the lights are modern, and the old roof, both of the chancel and nave, is covered by a ceiling of stucco. The West tower has a short neat spire, which seems to have been added to the old work; a small pointed arch, with some remains of a sort of zigzag ornament, is still visible on the South of the tower; another piece of an old ornament is inserted in the East chancel wall.

In January 1816, a stone coffin of the usual form was discovered about a foot below the surface, immediately without the East Chancel wall; it had no lid or inscription (fn. 12).

Monumental Inscriptions.

On a blue slab at the entrance of the chancel:

Here lies the body of William Fawcett of West-Boldon, Gent. who died the 23d day of Jan. in the year of our Lord 1719, and in the 44th year of his age. As also Grace and Dorothy, two of his children.

Here also lieth the body of Sarah the wife of William Fawcett, who died April 3d, 1754, aged 70 years.

And here are deposited the remains of John Colville of Whitehouse, Esq. son-in-law to the above William and Sarah, who died the 31st of October 1781, in the 74th year of his age. Also Joan the widow of the said John Colville, who died Feb. 20, 1785, in the 75th year of her age.

On a neat mural monument of white marble, on the South wall of the chancel:

A Sarcophagus.

Johanni Andrews, M. D.
viro docto probo
in suos hospitali
erga inopes munifico
qui ob. quint. id. Januar. A. D. MDCCXC.
ætat. suæ LXXV.
Thomas, Sara, Anna, et Maria Bonner,
et Isabella Losh,
avunculo bene merenti
H. M. D. suo fec.

On a plain mural monument on the North wall of the chancel:

Barbara Tew,
daughter of Dr. Thomas Gibson, Dean of Carlisle, the loving and beloved wife of Dr. Edmund Tew,
Rector of this Parish, dyed 26th August 1789, aged 39.
Barbara their daughter,
died 9th Dec. 1740, aged 1 year and 4 months.
Elizabeth, another wife of Dr. Tew,
dyed 14th Aug. 1765, aged 64.
Edmund Tew D. D.
36 years Rector of this parish, died July 3d. 1770, aged 70 years.

Near the altar, opposite to Dr. Tew's monument:

Sacred to the memory of
Henry Blackett, A. M.
38 years Rector of Boldon,
beloved whilst living,
lamented in death.
He departed this life for a better,
the third day of December 1808,
aged 83 years.

On a mural tablet of black marble, against the angle of the wall at the South corner of the nave, turning into the chancel:

In memoriam Suavitatis
Pietatis
et
Charitatis
quæ convenerunt omnia
in Sarah
infra deposita. obiit 10 Oct.
1715, ætat.20. (fn. 13)

Arms: . . . . . . a bend . . . . . . over all a Lion rampant.

On a small brass plate fixed in the outer wall of the nave, under the eastmost window, facing the South:

Here lies the body of Jane Greenwell, wife of Captain Whitfield Greenwell, who was killed at the battle of Glenshield (fn. 14), in the year 1719.

On an altar-tomb in the church-yard:

In memory of Robert Wade, Esq. of Scottshouse, who died the 20th of Feb. 1803, aged 66 years. Also of Anne his wife, who died 6th Jan. 1803, aged 66 years.

On an altar tomb:

Sacred to the memory of Sarah, eldest daughter of Robert and Jane Pemberton, who departed this life (too early for the wishes of her friends) July 22, 1802, aged 24 years. Also Richard their son, who died in infancy.

On an altar tomb:

Catherine wife of Jasper Browell, Esq. of East-Boldon, who departed this life, 14 March 1798, aged 30 years.

The Rectory.

In 1311, 3 March, a convention was entered into betwixt John de Insula, Rector of Boldon, and John Gategang, lord of a certain tenement called Nesbyt more, within the moorland and Parish of Boldon, viz. that whereas the Rector, in right of his church, claims common of pasture on the said Nesbyt more, and John Gategang affirms the contrary, claiming to hold the said moor in his own several enclosure; the Rector for the good of peace, &c. grants for himself and successors, that John Gategang shall hold the said Nesbyt more in perfect severalty, saving always the right of the mother Church of Boldon to all tithes, oblations, and other customary rights arising from the premises; and for this concession and quitclaim, John Gategang binds himself and his heirs, and the said land of Nesbyt more, to provide annually one pound of wax, to be offered at the high altar of Boldon on the annunciation of the blessed Virgin; and he further covenants, that as to such cattle belonging to the Rector, as may casually (quod debet semper intelligi) and bona fide, stray into the said severalty, that they shall be fairly and kindly intreated (fn. 15), and without blows, impounding, or other ill usage, shall be mildly put forth of the said severalty, &c. To the observance of which conditions, the servants and cow-keepers on both sides were duly sworn.

Succession of Rectors.

Boldon Rectory: Patron, the Bishop of Durham. King's Books 24l. 13s. 4d. Tents 2l. 9s. 4d. Episc. Proc. 11s. Archid. Proc. 2s. Dedication to St. Nicholas.

• William
• Alverd, tempore Galfridi Episcopi.
• Magister Joh. de Insula, 1311.
• Hugo de Karliol, occurs 7 April, 1334.
• Joh. de Derby, occurs 1360.
• Henry Grospois, 1370, p. res. Derby.
• William de Wyntringham, 1377.
• Will. de Yarom, 1392, p. m. Wyntringham.
• Will. Marshall, 1406, p. res. Yarom.
• John de Tuddowe, 1410.
• Thomas Hebbeden, LL. D. p. m. Tuddowe.
• Richard Kellaw, 1430, p. res. Hebbeden.
• Thomas Butler.
• John Romanby, occurs 17 Oct. 1454.
• William Mawdesly, 1501.
• Galfrid Wren, Cl (fn. 16) pr. by Hen. VII. 27 June 1502. Sede vac.
• Henry Davy, LL. B. 1525.
• Richard Clyff, S. T. B. (fn. 17) 28 June 1541, p. m. Davy.
• King's Books 24l. 13s. 4d. Tenths 2l. 9s. 4d.
• Dedication to St. Nicholas.
• Robert Rollis, A. M. 28 Aug. 1563, p. depr. Clyff.
• Richard Fawcett, S. T. B. (fn. 18) 14 April 1575.
• Peter Smart, A. M (fn. 19) 1614, p. m. Fawcett.
• Robert Chapman, A. M. 25 March 1630, p. depr. Smart.
• Robert Pleasaunce, an intruder.
• Richard Wrench, S. T. B. (fn. 20) 16 Oct. 1665.
• Charles Basire, A. M (fn. 21) 1675, p. m. Wrench.
• Samuel Blackwell, 1691, p. m. Basire.
• Robert Thornton, A. M (fn. 22) p. res. Blackwell.
• Henry Dobson, S. T. P. (fn. 23) 1692, p. m. Thornton.
• John Stackhouse, 1718, p. m. Dobson.
• Edmund Tew, S.T.P. 1735, p. m. Stackhouse.
• John Blacket, A. M. 10 Aug. 1770, p. m. Tew.
• John Brewster, A.M. 1809, p. m. Blackett, resigned for Egglescliffe.
• Henry George Liddell, A. M. Brazen-nose Oxford, p. res. Brewster.

By Inquest taken at Durham, Monday before Michaelmas 1361, Hugh de Karliol, Rector, was returned to possess in right of his church common of pasture for sixteen oxen in the Hayning the year through, and common over all the demesne lands of the same vill of Boldon, viz. over two thirds from harvest-home to seed-time, and over the whole when it is in fallow (fn. 24).

The following singular licence occurs on the register of Bishop Tobye Mathew.

To the Right Reverend Father in God, Tobie, by God's Divine Providence Busshop of Duresme.

Forasmuch as by her Maj^ties injunctions it is provided that no Preiste nor Minister shall take to his wyfe any manner of woman without the advice and allowance first had, upon good examinac[i]on, by y^e Busshop of y^e same Diocess and two Justices of the Peace of the same shire dwelling next to the place where the same woman hath made her most abode before her marriage, or without the goodwill of her parents, if she have any, or two of the next of her kinsfolk, or for lack of knowledge of such, of her master or mistress where she served. Now whereas wee are informed that Mr. Richard Fawcett, preiste, M^r of Artes, and Parson of Boldon, by God's grace shall take to wyfe Ellenor Blaikeston, of Hedlie, in y^e Co^y Palatine of Durham, widowe, wee, therefore, whose names are subscribed, do signify unto your honor, that y^e sayd Ellenor is, and to our knowledge hath been, of honest conversation and vertuous lyfe, without being detected, defamed, or suspected of any notorious crimes or evil demeanour, but embracing God's true and sincere religion now established, and, as wee are informed, free from all contracts, or any impediments canonicall; and for testimony and witnesse that y^e premisses be true, we have hereunto subscribed our names, y^e XX^th day of January 1597.

Sic subscrip. Jo. Hedworth,
Et sic etiam subscrip. Rich. Bellasses.

I am content to allowe of this Marriage betwixt Mr. Fawcett and M^ris Blaikeston, and wishing God to bless them, do require them that y^e same be solemnized according to y^e laws, statutes, and injunctions, of this realm, and Church of England in like case provided.

3 Februarie, 1597.

Tobie Duresme. (fn. 25)

The Parsonage house of Boldon is a neat stone building of two stories, facing the South; it has been much improved by the present rector, by an additional wing built behind the original mansion.

The glebe consists of a good walled garden, the Pondgarth, Stackgarth, the tofts, three broad meadows and five pound close, containing about fifty-one acres; a quarry and garth of about 3 roods, and the two Burnfields, Cuckow-Pen, Middle-field, Rape-seed field, and Great-field, in all about 70¾ acres; the Flats 24 acres, and the church-yard 2 roods 12 perches: in all about 147 acres (fn. 26).

Tithes.

“Convenit inter D.Hugon. de Montealto Magistrum Hosp. de Kepire, et fratres, &c. ex unaparte, et discretum virum Mag. Joh. de Insula Rectorem Ecclesiæ de Boldon ex altera, coram Ricardo Epise. Dunelm. 5 die Mart. A. D.1312. apud manerium de Stocton, personaliter comparentes, quod ex ordinatione dicti D. Episcopi dictus D.Hugo, &c. et successores sui, &c. qui medietatem decimæ garbarum provenientium de decimis Episcopi Dunelm. infra parochiam dictæ ecclesiæ de Boldon hactenus perceperunt, medietat. predictam libere et integre percipient in futurum modo usq. nune usitato. Quodq. dictus D. Hugo et successores sui qui pro tempore, &c. reddant et solvant. annuatim in perpetuum eidem ecclesiæ de Boldon in F. S. Andreæ apostoli, duas libras ceræ in luminare ejusdem ecclesiæ secundum dispositionem Rectoris ejusdem, &c. convertendas. Apud Stocton die et anno supradictis Pont. nostri 2^do.” (fn. 27)

The Rector is generally entitled to tithe through the Parish, excepting, 1. the afore said moiety of St. Giles's or Gilly tithes, sometimes belonging to Kepyer Hospital, which Gilly tithes were, after the dissolution, the property of the family of Monckton, ancestors of Viscount Galway, and were conveyed by Philip Monckton of Carell, Esq. co. York, to William Wyclyffe, Gent., 6 April 1605. They afterwards belonged to a family of Martin of Fulwell. The Gilly tithes extend over about 700 acres; and two houses belong to them in West Boldon. 2. A modus of ten shillings in lieu of all tithe, and one shilling for Easter dues, paid to the Rector by Harden farm, the property of Cuthbert Ellison, Esq. M. P. (fn. 28)

Scots House, mentioned in Hatfield's Survey together with Gilbertleazes, is a tenement on the high road, a mile to the West of Boldon. In 1617, 14 Jac. Thomas Cole of Gateshead, surrendered Scotteshouses and Gilbertleeze to the use of Ralph Cole (fn. 29). From the Coles the property passed to the Milbankes. In 1658, Mark Milbanke surrendered a tenement and 80 acres called Scottish houses, and a parcel called Gilbert Leez, to Henry Maddison, Gent. 17 March 1687–8, Ralph Maddison, son and heir of Henry, surrendered to Enoch Hudson, who devised to Henry Hudson, father of another Henry (fn. 30).

A good modern house, sheltered by a grove of tress, has been, within late years, the seat of the family of Wade, some of whose Epitaphs occur under Boldon.

White Marespool, to the North of Scotts house, derives its name from the ancient Whitmere, mentioned in records of the 13th Century; the whole of the level country beneath the dry limestone hills of Boldon, must have once been, before draining and enclosure, a wash of white water (fn. 31).

Newton-Garths,

A freehold estate, one mile to the North of West Boldon.

Boldon Buke—John Pannetarius holds Newton nigh Boldon by xxs. rent.

2. Twelve malemen hold twenty-four oxgangs, of fifteen acres each, and pay for every two oxgangs 5s. rent, two hens, and twenty eggs; and every maleman ploughs and harrows one acre of the Lord's land at Boldon, and for his two oxgangs tills four portions of arable in autumn, with two men.

The wife of Henry de Montanis hold forty acres for 40d.

From the time of John Pannetarius no intermediate proprietor occurs till 1350, when Robert de Neuton died seized of a messuage, seventy-two acres, and four acres of meadow in Neuton near Boldon, help of the Bishop by 8s. 8d. rent, fealty, and suit of Court; leaving William, son of Robert Ward of Neuton, his next heir of blood, of full age (fn. 32). In 1396 William, son of John Gategang, alienated half the vill of Neuton, help of the See of Durham by 5s. rent, to Ralph Nevill, Knight (fn. 33); and at the same time John Hedworth alienated the other half to William Hilton, who immediately conveyed to the same Ralph Nevill (fn. 33). In 1411, 17 Aug. (fn. 34) Ralph Earl of Westmoreland granted the vill of Neuton to John Hoton, who died seized of the manor help by 20s. rent in 1421 (fn. 35), and Joan his widow held the same estate in 1444 (fn. 36). In 1495 Robert Melot, of Whithill, held the vill of Neuton by the fifteenth part of a knight's service (fn. 37); and Ralph, his son and successor, died in 1511, seized of a hundred acres, parcel of the manor, and of half a pasture called Newton-Garthes by the same tenure (fn. 38). Before 1580 Robert Mylot, of Whithill, Esq. alienated the manor of Neuton to Henry Wycliffe (fn. 39). John Wyclyffe, of full age in 1578, died seized of the whole vill and manor of Neuton, held by the ancient rent of xxs. (fn. 40) Shele-Mylne, Gent. before 1604 (fn. 41).

Michael Fenwick alienated the estate to Henry Ellison, of Hebburne, Esq. before 1711, in which year a discharge occurs for a small remainder of 1200l. purchase money (fn. 42).

Newton-Garths is now the property of Cuthbert Ellison, Esq.

Charitable Benefactions to the Parish of Boldon.

By deed or will, of which the date is unknown, — Harrison left a sum, now amounting to 119l. 6s. 8d. to the use of the Poor of the Parish of Boldon. In 1731 this sum was placed by the Rector and Overseers on security of certain lands and two mills in this parish: annual interest 5l. 17s.

By will, dated 29 May, 1759, John Stephenson, of Newcastle on Tyne, Esq. desired his executor, Matthew Stephenson, Esq. to pay yearly and every year (out of the testator's personal estate) 5s.each [to sixteen poor widows who should have legal settlements in the parish of Aldstone and chapelry of Garrygill, in the County of Cumberland; the same to eight poor widows legally settled in the parish of Knaresdale, in the county of Northumberland; and to other eight, &c. in the parish of Kirkhaugh, in the same county], and 5s. each to eight poor persons having legal settlements in the parish of Boldon (to be paid on the 25th of December in each year); and the testator did desire his executor to charge (immediately after his death) the house in Westgate Street, in Newcastle, tenanted by Mrs. Liddell, with an annuity of 10l.per annum for ever, so that a perpetual fund might subsist for the aforesaid charities. In pursuance of which direction Matthew Stephenson did, by indenture, 18 July, 1761 (enrolled in Chancery 15 Sept. 1761), grant to Ogle Wallis, of Newcastle, wine-merchant, and William Peters, of the same place, Gent. one annuity or yearly rent-charge of 10l. out of all that messuage in Westgate Street, &c. for the purpose of the above charity, free of all taxes, charges, deductions, parliamentary or otherwise, with proper powers of entry and distress on nonpayment reserved to Stephenson and his heirs.

The several charity monies have been regularly paid, and the original deed is now in possession of William Peters, Esq. (fn. 43) Solicitor, son and heir of Mr. Peters the surviving trustee.

Collatio Ecclesiarum S. Nicholai et Boldun cum Veteri Dunelm. et quarta parte de Bedyk, facta per Galfridum Episcopum Aluerdo clerico.

Galfridus Dei gratia Dunclm. Episc. capitulo S. Cuthberti et omnibus Baronibus suis et hominibus de Haliwerefolc Francis et Anglis sal. Sciatis me dedisse in elemosinam Aluerdo clerico ecclesiam S.Nicholai in Dunelm. Ecclesiam de Boldune et Vetus Dunelm. et quartam partem de Bedic in omnibus quæ ad eas pertinent in nemore et plano in terris et aquis in pratis et pascuis in exitibus et introitibus cum consuetudinibus et omnibus aliis rebus ad eas pertinentibus bene et quiete et honorifice sicut Magister Willielmus ea unquam melius et quietius et honorabilius tenuit et habuit. Hiis testibus, Roberto Archidiacono, Fabiano Capellano, Symone, Magistro Erkebald, Osbern nepote episcopi, Roberto de Amundevill, Roberto Lavall, Roberto Britone, Roberto Flandrensi, Roberto fil. Radulfi, Maldred fil. Dolphini, Rogero fil. Rogeri de Coisner, Thoma fil. Osbern, et multis aliis.

Reg. II. Eccles. Dunelm. fol. 184.

Inquisitio apud Dunelm. 1334.

Hugo de Karliolo persona ecclesiæ de Boldon, tenuit quatuor messuagia et sexies viginti acras terræ cum pertin. in Boldon, ut de jure ecclesiæ; et communam pasturæ ad sexdecim boves in quodam loco vocat. le Heyning omni tempore anni; et in omnibus dominicis terris ejusdem villæ, in duabus partibus post blada metita et asportata (fn. 44) usque alias seminent, et in tercia parte quando jacet Warectum (fn. 45) per totum annum cum omnibus averiis suis, ut de jure ecclesiæ suæ, a tempore cujus non extat memoria.
Randall's MSS.