Parish of Grindon

The History and Antiquities of the County Palatine of Durham: Volume 3, Stockton and Darlington Wards. Originally published by Nichols and Son, London, 1823.

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'Parish of Grindon', in The History and Antiquities of the County Palatine of Durham: Volume 3, Stockton and Darlington Wards, (London, 1823) pp. 75-84. British History Online https://www.british-history.ac.uk/antiquities-durham/vol3/pp75-84 [accessed 17 March 2024]

In this section

PARISH OF GRINDON.

The Parish of Grindon is bounded by Sedgefield on the North and West, by Bishopton and Redmarshall on the South-west and South, by Norton and the Chapelry of Wolviston on the East, and by Elwick on the North-east.

The Parish is divided into two Constableries: 1. Grindon, with Thorpthewles, including Wynyard and Fulthorpe; 2. Whitton.

Grindon

Has been constantly held by the Lords of Fulthorpe. In 1337 Roger Fulthorpe held a third of the vill by 8d. rent (fn. 1). In 1406 Alan Fulthorpe held ten tofts and eighty acres, by 2s. rent, or one sparrow-hawke (fn. 2).

The Church

Stands in an open field, with only the parsonage and one farmhold adjoining (there is no village). The structure (fn. 3) consists of a nave and chancel, without tower or aisles. The Fulthorpe porch opens from the nave on the South (fn. 4). Near the centre of the floor are two blue slabs laid closely together. The one has a sword suspended from a cross, and just above the hilt the cross moline of Fulthorpe; the other stone has only a cross (fn. 5). A stone coffin, of the usual form, lies in the church-yard, on which Hutchinson read the name of Roger de Fulthorpe.

Monumental Inscriptions.

On a head-stone, against the East end of the chancel:


Hic Requiescit Quod Mortale Fuit
Johannis Nicholson,
Hujusce Ecclesiæ Vicarii,
In Expectatione Diei Resurrectionis:
Quomodo Vixerit,
Ille Dies Indicabit.
Obiit ximo Die Novembr 1760, ætat 47.

On an altar-tomb:

To the memory of Catharine Rusdon, who was servant in the family of John Tempest, Esq. forty-five years. She died 9th March 1784, aged 76 years.

Succession of Vicars.

Grindon Vicarage, a discharged living in the Deanery of Stockton.&The Master of Sherburn Hospital, Patron.&Dedication to St. Thomas à Becket.&Crewe's Augment. 10l. per ann.; King's Books, 4l. 11s. 5 1/2d.; Tenths, 9s. 1 3/4d.; Proc. Episc. 2s. 6d.; Proc. Archid. 2s.

  • Gamel, occurs 1194.
  • William Baty.
  • Richard de Aukeland, 1358.
  • William Boteler, 1379.
  • Henry Flinton, 1390.
  • John de Hexham, 1402.
  • John Drawlesse, 1421.
  • Thomas Wall.
  • Robert Hochonson, 1560.
  • George Gibson, 1579.
  • Francis Greene, 1599.
  • James Wallace (fn. 6), A. M. 1618.
  • Ralph Bowes, A. M. Eman. Coll. Cambr. 1653, elected by consent of the whole parish, and by the appointment of the Commissioners of the county of Durham, constituted Vicar of Grindon, Par. Reg. June 1653.
  • William Alder, A. M. 1668.
  • William Thompson, 1678.
  • Thomas Nicholson, 1699.
  • Christopher Haggarth, 1706, p. res. Nicholson.
  • Robert Pigot, A. M. 1723, p. m. Haggarth.
  • Joseph Nicholson, 1748, p. res. Pigot.
  • Thomas Rotheram (fn. 7), A. M. 1760, p. m. Nicholson.
  • Joseph Middleton (fn. 8), 1769, p. res. Rotheram.
  • William Terrott (fn. 9), A. M. Trin. Coll. Cambr. p. res. Middleton.

The Master of Sherburn has the great tithes, and tithe of wool and lamb. The Vicar is generally entitled to hay-tithe, and all other small tithes throughout the parish, excepting that no tithe of hay is paid for Whitton, nor for Spittle-meadow, in Thorp.

The glebe consists of two closes, one in front of the parsonage, the other adjoining it on the West; in all, with the church-yard, about fourteen acres; and of a farm at Mordon-moor-house, in the parish of Sedgefield, purchased with Queen Anne's Bounty, containing about 65 acres.

The Vicar also receives 10l. annually, being an augmentation from Lord Crewe's Bounty.

Fulthorpe.

The earliest escheat in which the estate is mentioned is in 1337, when Roger Fulthorpe held only half the manor by the twelfth part of a knight's service (fn. 10). In the subsequent Inquests the whole manor is stated to be held by the same service. Sir Roger Fulthorpe (fn. 11), a Judge of the Common Pleas, (and under Hatfield, Chief Justice of the Palatinate,) was one of the weak or corrupt Judges who signed the obnoxious articles at Nottingham. On the triumph of the Confederated Nobles he was arrested on the Bench in Westminster Hall, impeached by the Commons, and with the other “false Judges,” condemned and attainted as a traitor (fn. 12). The intercession, as it is said, of the Bench of Bishops, saved the lives of the condemned Judges, and their sentence was commuted for that of perpetual exile into Ireland. In the following year King Richard granted the family estates to the son of his disgraced favourite: the manors of Tunstall, Thorpthewles, and Hurthworth, and lands in Hertillpole, Thorp Bulmer, Norton, Wolviston, Bruntoft, Layton, Whitton, and Frosterle, Bekhaugh and Thirkilby in Yorkshire; to hold during the life of his father Roger Fulthorpe (fn. 13). Fulthorp is not named, but certainly reverted to the family, and was held by them to a late period. Their ancient seat, however, was, from this date at least, deserted for Tunstall, in the parish of Stranton; or for their Yorkshire possessions. The estate was at length alienated about the reign of Elizabeth. In 1596 Thomas Blakiston acquired the manor of Fulthorpe from George Wandisford, Esq. (fn. 14); and in 1616 the same Sir Thomas Blakiston, Bart. granted his manor, farmhold, or capital messuage of Fulthorpe to Arthur and Humphrey Robinson (fn. 15). The Robinsons conveyed to the Davisons of Blakiston; and Fulthorpe was alienated, I presume, by their descendant Thomas Davison Bland, of Kippax, Esq. (together with Blakiston) to William Russell, Esq.

Wynyard.

“Sir Hugh Capell, Knight, the eldest owner and true possessor of the manner of Winyard, who lyved in the tyme of King Edward the First, by Johane his wyfe had fyve daughters; that is to say, Cecily, married to Richard Daldene; Laderancia, married to Peter Wykes; Orfranca, Elizabeth, and Amyce, which were his heires. After whose decease Johane his wyfe toke to husband John, the sonne of Peter de Denthorpe, who had the wardshipp of two of the sayd daughters, and procured unto himselfe dyvers landes in the manner of Wynyard, which he gave to Sir Henry Lisle, Knight, by his dede, dated at Wynyarde, in Anno Domini 1283; and Peter Wykes, who had to wyfe Laderance, solde his wyfe's part of the said manner of Winyard to Sir John Lisle, Knight, who gave the same to Alane of Langton and Katharine his wyf, that was his daughter (fn. 16).

“Roger Fulthorpe and Alice his wyfe gave unto this Henry Langton and Margery his wyf the fourth part of the manner of Wynyard, as may appeere by their deed, &c. Ao 1316; which fourth part the said Roger and Alice had of the gifte of Phillippe de Cuylly.

“Thomas Langton, of Wynyard, was Chamberlayn and Chief Officer with Henry Percy Erle of Northumberland and Lord of Cockermouth, A. D. 1417, Anno quinto Henrici q'nto, and he did augment the manner-house of Wynyard, with new edifices and buildings, as appereth by indentures made betwixt him and the artificers, dated in Anno 2do of King Henry the Fifth.

“This Thomas Langton and Sibill his wyfe, lyeth buried in the porche of the parish church of Redmershill, under a tombe of alabastre, having both their portraictures ingraven very sumptuously.” (fn. 17)

The subsequent descent of the estate through Langton, Conyers, and Claxton, is sufficiently explained by the annexed Pedigree. The tenure of the estate is uniformly stated to be homage, fealty, suit of Court, and the service of half a knight's fee (fn. 18). In 1344 Henry and William Langton had a grant of free-warren in their manors of Wynyard and Redmarshall (fn. 19).

William Claxton, Esq. the third of his line who was owner of Wynyard (fn. 20), left his large estates to three coheirs; his daughters, Alice, wife of Sir William Blakiston; Anne, wife of William Jennison, Esq.; and Cassandra, daughter and heir of Elizabeth Lambert, his eldest daughter, deceased.

The estates were, it seems, offered to sale by these coheirs; for the following valuation occurs amongst the Trapps papers at Nidd (fn. 21).

27 May 1623. The true yearly valews of the mannors and lands of Fulthorp, Wynyard, and Thorpthewles, with the number of acres, and price of each severall landes, as they are now to be sold.

The mannor of Fulthorp, 160l. per annnũ 15 years' purchase £2,400
The landes in Winyard, 140l. per annũ 2,100
The landes in Thorpthules, 60l. per annũ 900
Woods at Fulthorp, well worth to be sold at this present 400
Summa totalis £5,800

Number of Acres by Survey&Fulthorp, 610; Winyard, 530; Thorpthules, 160&1300 acres.

These severall mannors and landes of Fulthorp, Winyard, and Thorpthules, doe lye very comodiously, all joyning one to another, fruitfull of soile, and pleasant of situation, and so bewtified and adorned with woodes and groves, as noe landes in that parte of the contrie comparable unto them. Note also, that for the howses and buildings belonging thes landes, together with orchard, garden, dovecote, and the precincte, these are not valued with the landes in this particular, and are esteemed to be well worth 500l. Lastly, the yearlie rente, as above specified, will be upholden with good securitie, by sufficient able tennants, for twenty-one or a hundred years, as shall best like the owner to dispose.

In 1609, 22 Mar. 7 Jac. Francis Morley, Esq. and Cassandra his wife, sold their third part of the manor of Wynyard to William Jennison, Esq. (fn. 22)

29 Sept. 1627, Sir Thomas Ridell, Knt. Anthony Metcalfe, Gent. and Henry Liddell, Gent. took a third of the manor of William and Henry Jennison, Esquires, on trust for Liddell, who married Elizabeth, daughter of William Jennison, and of Anne Claxton (fn. 23).

15 July, 1629, William and Henry Jennison granted a third of the manor to Alexander Davison, merchant. In the same year Davison acquired another third from Sir Thomas Blakiston, Bart. (son of Sir William Blakiston and of Alice Claxton), Dame Mary his wife, and Ralph Blakiston, Gent. (fn. 24); and in 1683 the remaining third was also purchased by Davison from Henry Liddell, of Farnacres, Elizabeth his wife (formerly Jennison), and Thomas their son and heir (fn. 25).

The whole estate was thus re-united in Sir Alexander Davison, of Blakiston (fn. 26); but was separated from the last named estate, and became the property of Alexander Davison, Esq. (brother of John Davison, of Blakiston, Esq.) who died in 1702 (fn. 26), and left a son, another Alexander, who conveyed the estate to Thomas Rudd, Esq. Counsellor-at-law. Mr. Rudd again sold to John Tempest the elder, Esq. whose son, John Tempest, Esq. M. P. (after the death of his only son John Wharton Tempest,) devised to his nephew Sir Henry Vane, Bart. (fn. 27) In 1818 Lady Emily-Frances Vane, only daughter of Sir Henry and of Anne-Catharine, Countess of Antrim, intermarried with Charles Lord Stewart (fn. 28), in her right of Wynyard.

The house of Wynyard, one of the most handsome and convenient mansions in the district, stands without much advantage of prospect (fn. 29), surrounded by a country of deep clay; a fine piece of water stretches along the valley, edged with wood and lawn; there are some pleasing sheltered wood-walks; a handsome bridge crosses the head of the water, and forms the chief approach.

Extracts from some Wills referred to in the opposite Pedigree:

*** Raphe Claxton, of Wynyard, Esq. 10 Aug. 1549: “to the Erle of Westmorland my best gelding; to my sone Willyam my signet of goulde and one baye bawsand stoode maire and her foole; to my nephew Rauf Billingham my great gould ring and sylver cup and cover; to his brother Richard Billingham a quye; to Jane Hebborne a quye; to Anthony and Henry Hebborne; to Edward Anderson my bay nag I bought of Cuthbert Claxton; to my brothers Cuthbert and John Claxton; to Peter Riddell; daur Alice Billingham; sister Ellen Hall; to my brother Wm Claxton, one blacke satten dublett; [names several other relatives]. Daughters Alice Billingham, Anne and Elizabeth Claxton, executors; wife Elizabeth to have governance, &c.; brother-in-law Richard Hebborne, son John Billingham, brother Wm Claxton, and cousen Edward Dodsforth, executors. To my mother Ellen Errington. Witness, Sir Thomas Wall, Vicar of Grindon; Leonard Melmerbye, Prieste; Garmane Pawle, Gent. with others moo.”

William Claxton, Esq. leaves “to Lancelot Claxton my signett of goulde and a brod ingraven seale of my armes, and the Pedigree of myne auncesters, drawen in parchment.” [This Pedigree, or a duplicate, is now in the College of Arms, with several notes and extracts of deeds.]

Descent of Langton, Conyers, and Claxton, Lords of Winyard.

Arms: Argent, a lion rampant Sable within a bordure engrailed Gules, Langton; Azure, a maunch Or, charged with a martlet within an annulet for difference, Conyers; Gules, a fesse between three hedgehogs passant Argent, a mullet for difference, Claxton.

[Pedigree]

* John de Langton to Thomas Gray, Knt. a rent-charge of 4l. out of Wynyard, S June 1349.

† Lic. to Henry Langton to grant the manor of Winyard to Simon Langton and Alice, 23 Sept. 7 Hatf. 1351.

Thorpthewles (fn. 30),

A village on the high road, nearly midway between Stockton and Sedgefield. An old brick house (now used as an inn) at the Western head of the village was, I presume, the family house of the Kendalls.

This place had its early territorial owners, who assumed the local name (fn. 31). In the return of knights' fees, 1166, “Galfrid de Torp tenet dim. mil.;” and the same tenure of half a knight's fee is attributed to John de Thorp in the later Feodary (vol. I. p. cxxviii). Their descendants are only traced in numerous donations to Finchale Priory.

Omnibus, &c. Johannes fil. Galfridi de Torp. Sciatis me dedisse B. Marie et S. Godrico, et Priori et Monachis de Finchale, duas bovatas in villa mea de Torp, unam quam Ricard. fil. Aaliz tenuit, et aliam quam Wiltus fil. Bonde tenuit. T. Dũo Hemerico Archid. Dunelm., Dũo Henr. de Puteaco, Dũo Phõ Ulekottes, Jordano Escouland, Galfrido de Coigners, Roberto de Amundevill, Roberto fil. Meldredi, Gilberto Hansard, Wilto de Laton, Rogero Daudri, Walt'ro de Musters, Randulfo de Fisseburn, et multis aliis.

Omnibus, &c. Johannes de Thorp. Sciatis me pro salute anime mee et Patris et Matris mee, dedisse, &c. Dno et S. Cuthberto et Beato Goderico et Priori de Finchale, duas bovatas terre in villa de Thorp. T. Roberto filio Milonis de Parco, Wilto et Roberto de Redmershill, Capellanis, Petro de Corneshew, Wilto fil. Joh'is de Thorp, Rogero Clerico de Thurstanton (fn. 32).

Omnibus, &c. Wiltus fil. Joh'is de Thorp. Sciatis me dedisse, &c. Alano de Thorp Clerico, pro homagio et servitio suo, et pro triginta solidis argenti quas me dedit in Gerusamo, octo acras terre mee, vizt illas quas Joh'es de Fulthorp quondam de me tenuit in campo de Thorp. T. Dñis Hug. de Capella, Adã de Fulthorp, Galfrido de Parco, militibus, Elya de Aldacris, Nigello de Thorp, Roberto de ead. Clerico, Rado fil. Hulm. Gilleberto Franceys, Joh'e Belle, Hugon. de Cleveland, Rob. fil. Ade de Wyttone, et aliis (fn. 33).

These charters are followed or preceded by a grant from John de Thorpe to Nigel de Rungeton, of one oxgang “in villa mea de Thorpe,” and Nigel released to the Monks of Finchale. Maude, daughter of Godefrid de Thorpe, married Roger de Stotfaldia; and Stephen de Ellewyk, their grantee, gave to St. Goderic, and Ralph Prior of Finchale, all his lands in Thorpe, bargaining for the maintenance of three poor persons daily, and reserving the service of a pound of cumin to John of Ketton, who afterwards released all right in three oxgangs given by Stephen, and granted two other oxgangs with three cottages and tofts. Galfrid, son of John de Thorpe, ratified all the preceding donations, and gave other lands by charter (fn. 34). Robert de Thorpe confirmed a grant of three oxgangs, given by Robert de Minsterton. Charters also appear from Walter, of Shotton, and his heiress Cecily, of Thorpthewles, and from John Ward, of Thorpthewles (fn. 35). I am not aware of the total extent of lands covered by these various charters, nor into what hands the property fell at the dissolution; but the ancient Lords of Thorp disappear amidst this cloud of religious donations. At a later date the Hotons, Blakistons, and Bulmers held lands here. The property of the last-named family was perhaps considerable. By Ind. 6 May, 13 Hen. VIII. 1521 (fn. 36), Hugh, Prior of Durham, exchanged all the Prior's lands in Thorpthewles, Claxton, and Fishburne, for Sir William and Sir John Bulmer's lands in Durham and Monk-Wearmouth. Yet, in 1500, William, son and heir of Sir Ralph Bulmer, had released to Richard Conyers and Elizabeth his wife, Henry Radcliffe and Elizabeth, Richard Booth and Phillippa, and William Constable and Joan, all his right in Bulmer's lands in Thorpthewles, with warranty against the Abbot of Selby (fn. 37); and 10 July, 8 Eliz. 1566, Francis Constable, of Calthropp, Esq. and William his son and heir, granted their manor of Thorpthewles to John Swinburne, of Chopwell, Esq.

It has been seen, however, (under Wynyard,) that a considerable portion of the vill was vested in the heirs of Claxton; and 10 Feb. 10 Car. 1634, Sir Thomas Blakiston, Bart. granted to Alexander Davison, Alderman of Newcastle, all those lands called Thorpthewles, “and all his lands in Thorpthewles and elsewhere in the county of Durham, and all evidences and writings (fn. 38).” This conveyance seems to have included the last sweepings of the great Blakiston estate.

In 1623 Robert Tweddell died seised of a third of the manor of Thorpthewles, and of Thorp water-mill (which he had conveyed to his brother Francis Tweddell, &c.) See Pedigree of Tweddell.

The Kendalls (fn. 39) also and Sedgewicks (fn. 39) held freeholds.

In 1684 the freeholders within the Constablery were, William Kendall, Gent. of West-hall, near Witton Gilbert; Robert Tweddell, Gent. of Dodgson, in Yorkshire; William Swainston, and John Davison, Esq. of Blakiston.

A stray branch of Conyers was established at Thorpthewles.

[Pedigree]

Cousins and friends, Thomas and Cuthbert Pudsey; uncle, Roger Lazenby. To Lady Blaxton; brother George Conyers. Ralph Withes, Exec.

Perhaps of Danby-Wiske.

*** Else, daughter of Robert Conyers, bapt. 14 Feb. 1663. Robert, son, &c. 28 Jan. 1665. Raphe, &c. Nov. 22, 1668.

Pedigree of Kendal, of Thorpthewles.

Arms: Party per bend dancetté Argent and Sable, in the sinister canton a mullet pierced Gules. Crest: on a wreath, a wolf's head erased Argent.

[Pedigree]

* Stainton Par. Reg.

† St. Oswald's, Durham.

Pedigree of Sedgwick, of Thorpthewles.

[Pedigree]

*** The dates are from Grindon Reg.

* Sponsors, Anthonic Kendall, Anne Warde, and John Watson.

† Sponsor, Anthonie Tunstall.

‡ Sponsors, Lancelot Claxton, Richard Bouthe, Alice Jennison.

§ Bishop-Wearmouth.

Pedigree of Tweddell, of Thorpthewles, co. Pal. and of Unthank and Threepwood, in Northumberland.

[Pedigree]

* Hesilden Par. Reg.

†Grindon Par. Reg.

‡St. Nicholas Durham.

§ To whose memory a pleasing tribute of respect and affection has been paid by his brother, the Rev. Robert Tweddell, “Remains of the late John Tweddell, Fellow of Trin. Coll. Cambridge, being a selection of his letters, &c. together with a republication of his Prolusiones Juveniles,” 4 to. 1815. It shall only therefore be briefly stated, that this accomplished scholar and gentleman was educated at Hartforth, under the Rev. Matthew Raine (father of Dr. Raine, of the Charter-house), and after sometime spent with Dr. Parr, entered of Trinity College, Cambridge, where his classical acquirements, and particularly the elegance of his Greek and Latin compositions, soon opened his path to academical honours. In 1788 he gained the whole of Sir William Browne's prizes; in 1790 the Chancellor's medal; and in 1791 and 1792 the Member's prize for Middle and Senior Bachelors. Mr. Tweddell was elected Fellow of Trinity 1792. He entered of the Middle Temple soon after; but, in 1795, embarked for Hamburgh, and dying at Athens 25 July 1799, was buried in the Theseum. A handsome tribute is paid to his memory in Clarke's Travels, part iii. p. 534. Mr. Tweddell's letters, preserved by his affectionate brother, breath forth the very spirit of the poetical temperament, keen, quick perception and lively imagination, “scattering from her painted urn, thoughts that breath and words that burn,” sobered by that cast of melancholy and almost morbid sensibility, which often throws its dark shadow over the bright brief course of early excellence.

A block of white marble, with a simple Greek inscription, was, after some difficulty, placed over Mr. Tweddell's remains by the exertion of Lord Byron, and Mr. Fiott, of St. John's.


& Profano
Clarus funere, barbarisque sanctus
Thesei, quicquid id est domo recumbis,
Felix! si tibi forsan inter umbras
Presentiscere fas sit, ossa tecum
Illo marmore quanta conquiescunt,
Tuæ te quoque quod tegant Athenæ.

A. Moore, 1799.

Whitton,

A separate Constablery, on the Southern verge of the Parish, within the course of the Thorpbeck.

Before 1240 William de Hamsterley gave a small portion of ground, particulam terræ, near his chief messuage in Wytton (Whitton) to the house of Sherburn (fn. 40), which already possessed here two oxgangs, given for the support of the Chapel in Whitton, and seven oxgangs, purchased from Alberic and Galfrid Fitz Richard (fn. 41).

At this day Sherburn Hospital holds considerable lands in Whitton, and the tithe of lamb and wool. The place seldom occurs in the freehold records. 6 Apr. 30 Hen. VIII. 1539, Robert Ayton, of Fishburne, granted all his lands in Whitton to Thomas Chipchase, of Sedgefield, yeoman, father of Robert Chipchase, 1613 (fn. 42), and grandfather of Thomas, 1674, whose grandson, Thomas Chipchase, died in 1763. John and Anne Metcalf (sister and coheir of Thomas Chipchase), and George, son of Elizabeth Atkinson, another sister, conveyed, in 1764, to Edward Davison, of Durham, whose son, the Rev. Edward Davison, of Elvet, is the present proprietor. In 1759 Edward Davison purchased other lands of William Campion, son and heir of Joseph, who was brother of William Campion.

In 1609 William Watson, of Thorpthewles, and Elizabeth acquired lands from Sir William Gascoigne, three messuages, six cottages and tofts, three gardens, an orchard, forty acres of arable, as many of meadow, as many of moor, and a hundred of pasture, in Whitton, Carleton, Stillington, and Bishopton (fn. 43). Anthony Watson (fn. 44), son of William, was living 1684, and probably derived his baptismal name from Anthony, Bishop of Chichester, son (according to Anthony à Wood) of Edward, and grandson of William Watson, of Thorpthewles. This Anthony was of Christ's College, in Cambridge, Fellow of Bennet's, Chancellor of Wells, Dean of Bristol 1590, and consecrated Bishop of Chichester 1596. He was Almoner to King James, and died and was buried at Cheam, in Surrey, in October 1605x.

Speaking of learned Bishops, this churche (Chichester) may saye their last have bene their best. Doctor Watson your Highnes (fn. 45) can remember his Majestie's Almoner; he was a very good preacher, preferred by the Queene, first to the Deanery of Bristowe, where he was wel beloved; and after to Chichester, where he was more honoured, if not beloved, for the course of his life and cause of his death. I might in some sort compare him to Bishop Vaghan, late of London; he grew somewhat corpulent, and having been sicke, and but newly recovered, adventured to travaile, to wayt in his place, and so by recydivation (fn. 46) he dyed (fn. 47).

The tythe-corne of Whitton belongs to Mr. William Eden, of Whitton, a papist; whereof two parts to be seqrd by Mr. William Watson, Edward Urwin, and Robert Chipchase, 1644. The above two parts are letten to the sd Mr. Eden for twenty nobles, and the seq'ron released.
Seq. Books.

In 1684 the freeholders in Whitton were, Anthony Watson, Gent. William Watson, Gent. Thomas Davison, of Bambrough, Clerk; Thomas Chipchase, Gent. Thomas Buckle.

The family of Hutchinson (fn. 48) have held property in Whitton for some time. The estate has been much improved by the present owner, George Hutchinson, Esq. who has a neat residence here.

Whitton has a Poor-stock, of which the origin is unknown, of 20l. which, in 1787, was in the hands of Henry Hutchinson.&Return under Act 26 Geo. III.

*** “4 Nov. 1727, John Chipchase the elder, son and heir of Thomas, who was son and heir of Robert and Agnes, &c. mortgage to Margaret Shipperdson, of Hall Garth, widow. 1751 Mortgage transferred to William Scurfield; 1754 to Elizabeth Davison, spinster.” Johnson's MSS.

||| There are evident remains of entrenchments in a field betwixt Thorpe and Whitton, about half a mile to the Southwest of Thorpe. Mr. Hutchinson found, some years ago, a coin of Alexander Severus, on the right bank of the brook. G. H.

* Miles White was a chorister of Durham Cathedral, father to Miles White, of Durham, M. D. whom Mickleton calls Medicus prastantissimus.

Footnotes

  • 1. Inq. p. m. Bury.
  • 2. Inq. 1 Langley.
  • 3. It was nearly rebuilt in 1788, and the lead replaced with slate.
  • 4. Alan Langton, of Winyard, by will, dated 1311, and proved 1316, desires burial “in the porche of the parish churche of Grindon, before St. Peter's aulter, on the Southe syde of the said churche.” Glover's notes to Pedigree of Claxton.
  • 5. The stone seems to point out the sepulture of two ind iiduals; and a late search proved that two persons only had been interred here. Beneath the floor was virgin soil and strong clay, unmixed with any mouldering relique of mortality, till, at the depth of six feet, two ponderous oak coffins were discovered, fast decaying amidst the wet undrained clay.
  • 6. Ult. Febr. 1632. “Sentence against Ellinor Greene, for scandalous abuse of her minister, James Wallace, viz. by uttering these, and other words: `Thou a minister?—Thou a devill! Out rougue! Out theefe! Out whoore!' The last expression was, I suppose, so familiar with her on these occasions, that she applied it without much attention to propria quœ maribus. Sentence “to acknowledge her fault publiquely in time of divine service, and to pay costs.” Act Books of the Spiritual Court of Durham.
  • 7. See Houghton-le-Spring.
  • 8. Resigned for Harlington Rectory, Middlesex; died at Bishop-Wearmouth 1816.
  • 9. To whom the Author is indebted for much friendly attention.
  • 10. Inq. 4 Bury. Inq. p. m. Alan Fulthorp, 1 Langley. Thomas Fulthorp, 2 Nevill, See Tunstall.
  • 11. Sir Roger Fulthorpe was probably intimately connected with Bishop Fordham, who, in the same year (1388), was thrust down from Durham to Ely.
  • 12. One at least of these corrupt Justices sinned with reluctance. When he had set his hand to the fatal paper—“I lack nothing now,” said he, “but a horse, a hurdle, and a halter, to bring me to the death I merit, for betraying my country.”
  • 13. Rot. Pat. 13 R. II. No 23. See Tunstall.
  • 14. Rot. Tobie Mathew, Ao 2.
  • 15. Rot. 4 W. James, No 68.
  • 16. “John, sonn of John de Lisle, released to his nephew Henry, of Langton, all his title in the mannors of Wynyard and Redmershill, by his deed, dated An'o Dom. 1328. By Inq. taken 1342, the said Henry, of Langton, is found to be his heire, of full age.” Glover.
  • 17. Notes to Pedigree of Claxton. Glover, or else William Claxton, loquitur.
  • 18. Inq. p. m. Will. fil. Henr. Langton, die L. prox. post F. Omn. SS. 5 Hatf. He held a hundred acres in Wideoe-permore, juxta Lutryngton, by one mark. Inq. p. m. John Langton, 6 Hatf. Simon Langton, 35 Hatf.
  • 19. Rot. Bury, Sched. 16, charter dated at Stockton, 18 July, Ao 11 Bury.
  • 20. It has been already stated, that these Surveys were compiled by Mr. Ambrose Appleby (of the Lartington family), for the use of the first Lord Cavendish, who wished to realize in the North. See vol. I. p. 199.
  • 21. A brief memoir of William Claxton, Esq. the friend of Glover, and the patron and correspondent of Stowe, has been already given (vol. I. Introd. p. v). Mr. Claxton persevered in honour and loyalty to the last; but in 1569 he must have seen most of his nearest connexions involved in the rash enterprize of the Northern Earls. The Claxtons of Old Park, the Hebbornes and Lamberts, are all in the list of attainder; nor was Mr. Claxton very distantly related to the unfortunate Earl of Northumberland, who paid the penalty of his indiscretion with his life. A nearer misfortune awaited our venerable antiquary in the loss of both his sons; and his last effort to perpetuate at least a portion of the estate in the name of Claxton (by the marriage of his grandchild to Lancelot Claxton) proved also fruitless: and, within thirty years after his death, the whole inheritance of his house had passed into the hands of strangers.
  • 22. Rot. W. James, I. 113.
  • 23. Rot. Howson.
  • 24. Rot. Howson. A conveyance also appears 15 July 1629 (Rot. Howson) to Davison, of two messuages, 30 acres of meadow, 160 pasture, and 130 moor, in Winyard, from John Ewbanke and Philadelphia his wife, for whose interest I am at a loss to account.
  • 25. Rot. Morton. See Pedigree of Liddell, under Farnacres. In 1675 Elizabeth Liddell bequeaths “her golde ringe, having the Claxtons' and Jennisons' arms engraven on it.”
  • 26. See Pedigree of Davison, under Blakiston.
  • 27. See Pedigree of Vane, under Long Newton, and Pedigree of Tempest, under Old Durham, hereafter.
  • 28. Second son of Robert Marquis of Londonderry, a distinguished officer in the Peninsular war, Lieut.-General and Colonel of the 10th Hussars, K. B. and created a British Peer (Lord Stewart of Stewart's Court,) 1814; now Embassador at Vienna 1821.
  • 29. This situation was probably preferred for the sake of preserving a portion of the old house, which, I think, forms the centre of the modern mansion. The grounds are at this moment receiving very substantial improvement from drainage Several new plantations are forming on an extended scale.
  • 30. [Thorpe], Villa, Fundus; but I am quite ignorant from whence the addition, which does not appear in any of the earliest charters, is derived.
  • 31. “On the night of the feast of St. Thomas the Apostle (William Cumyn) seized Humfrey de Turp in his own house, took him to Durham, and extorted a ransom,” Monach. Dunelm. c. vi. apud Wharton, 1. 715; but there were other territorial proprietors of the name, viz. the early lords of Castle Eden, of whom see vol. I. pp. 41, 43, 280.
  • 32. Finchale Box, D. & C. Treas.
  • 33. Ibid. This charter is selected as presenting the spectacle of two men of Thorp meeting in Jerusalem, and, what is more extraordinary, surviving to settle their affairs at home.
  • 34. Eight acres at Mereden, eight at Beneland burne, and eight upon Turtelaw, T. Walt'o Daudri, Hug. de Capella, Nigello de Rungeton.
  • 35. Hutchinson mentions these deeds (or copies) as in the possession of Thos. Davison, Esq. of Blakiston. Most of the originals are, I believe, in the Finchale Box in the Treasury.
  • 36. Orig. 1a 4æ Spec. D and C. Treas.
  • 37. Rot. Fox, Ao 6.
  • 38. Rot. Morton, B. B.
  • 39. See Pedigree.
  • 40. The Charter is printed, Appendix, vol. I. p. 286.
  • 41. See vol. I. pp. 127-8, and 283.
  • 42.
  • 43.
  • 44.
  • 45. Prince Henry.
  • 46. Relapse.
  • 47. Harrington's Additions to Godwin's Catal. of Bishops. Nugæ, &c.
  • 48. Descendants of the ancient Hutchinsons of Cornforth. See p. 15.