Bundle of Steward's papers, mainly for Manor of Isel: jurors' names (head jury, side...

Including:

List of tenants' payments for local and national taxes including "Window Sess" payment "for Secureing the County from Theft and Rapine", and for "Border Service"; names the tenants and sums paid, 1701

Presentment that "the Towne Kill [kiln] is fallen Downe" (Manor of Plumbland), 1705

Extract of admittances by the Skeltons as lord 1676-1712. c. 1712

File of 4 admittances (filed at foot) in the various townships of the Manor of Isel, 1717

Stinting regulations for the Manor of Isel, to be administered by "the Frithmen" for the township, for stock upon the Common; begins "At a By Law at Blincrake", 1718

Verdict as to repair of "Gallton Lane" leading from Blindcrake to Blindcrake Lowfield, 1725

Letter from John Sharpe to Mr John Blaiklin - specimen text for his declaration as to Mrs Margaret Appleby and her various children; sent by hand; 1725

Letter from John Blaiklin to "Honored Sir" - more opinions on the same matter (re would-be admittance of George Relfe of Priorhall to tenement not specified here); forwarding John Sharpe's letter [i.e. preceding item]: six of us met at Torpenhow lately, where we all agreed that "Mrs Relfe and Mrs Portar was own Sistars", ... "Sir, be pleased to write to Sir Wilfrid and desier his answar", .. 29 April 1725

Verdict recording exchange of lands by John Simpson and Will[iam] Lawson, and by John Simpson and Wilfrid Carter, and by John Simpson and Christopher Steel, on "Tungsharpes", "Wheetflatts", and "Graybarras", and as to the "Gavels" of hedge at the heads of these lands, 21 Dec. 1725

Verdict as to liability for lanes and hedges, including "the Spoot Loning and the head hedge with it"; reference to "Gavels" of hedges, and to re-adjustments concerning John and Christopher Steel, George Relfe, and others; and ends with list of the manorial officers - Overseer (Blindcrake), Frithman (do.), "Longclose Tenements to find a Constable for Isell Oldpark for the year ensueing", Surveyor of the highways (Sunderland; Redmain; Isel Old Park, Overseer (Sunderland); followed by note of exchange of Cavells [spelling sic] of hedges near Isel Gill, n.d. [c. 1725]

Call roll for the whole manor, sub-headed in the following order: Free Tenants; Blindcrake; Tenants at will according to Custom; Old Park; Sunderland; Redmain; Tenants by Indenture; layout is in three columns; used for four calls (each name has four "a" or "ex" beside it), [starting] 2 1727

Presentment pinned to foot of sheet - 6 men "for-putting sheep into the Low-Field"; ill-spelled main roll (e.g. "michikll" for Michael; "Servar" for Surveyor) in a bold but ill-formed hand, 1729

[Tenants'] memorandum of agreement as to water use (John Moorhouse and John Fearon) - for "the water that comes from John Moorhouse's well", to be conducted by John Fearon for J.M.'s use "For going with a Cart from his Dunghill"; promise by J.M. to allow J.F." to go into my garth To open his giate or Conduct [Conduit] or to repair his house"; this agreement follows their exchange of ground in the hemp garth behind their adjoining houses in Sunderland p. Isel; 1730

Letter from John Blaicklin to "Honoured Sir" - "being oblidged to attend the Wood This day at old Parke, be Pleased to Pardon me for Watting of you" [i.e. for not waiting upon you, ie. not calling], Isel, 29 April 1730

Verdict that the water should be taken by George White off the highway "on the backside of the said Towne" of Blindcrake "in at a Cundath on the east side of his Garth adjoyning to his Toft" there, 1730

Letter from G[ustavus] Tho[mpson] to "Dr Sr." - "my Wife is soe Exceeding ill that She now keeps her bed"; I hope your further order will be agreeable to her

Ark[leby Hall], April the [] 173[]

Warrant to the Constables of "Morresby" Parish to summon Jane Sanderson as witness, and to arrest Ellinor Hellen of Parton p. Moresby for theft of a hen from Elizabeth White; signed by Ferdinando Latus as J.P.; armorial seal, 1734

Grocer's bill - coffee, tea, nuts, figs, rice, ginger, lump sugar, cinnamon, pearl barley, chocolate, sail twine, black pepper, thread, "Button Molds", all bought of George Lightfoot by Sir Gilfrid, and by Wilfrid Lawson Esq. 4 April 1749-27 Feb. 1749[/50], dates of purchases stated

Receipted 1749[/50]

Horse-hire and "Shaise" hire, corn and hay for horses, bought of W. Troutbeck by "Lawson Esq.", 30 Nov.1749 - 3 Jan. 1749[/50].

Receipted 1749[/50]

Bond by Sir Gilfrid in £1600 - to repay Joshua Lucock Esq. his £800; cancelled by removal of the signature and seal, 1775

Witnessed by [the Revd.] John Waite, and by Jonathan Potts. Repayment receipt, written and signed by Joshua Lucock, 2 July 1778

Copy of case and opinion of William Wilson, as to road now locked since the local inclosure by "the Tenant of A (Strother House) between the two great Market Towns of B and C (Newcastle and Sunderland)"; case stated by Edward Norton, "Gruntley", 26 Sept. 1778 [sic]

Opinion dated 25 May 1778 [sic]

Copy of Opinion of Christopher Fawcett on Sir Gilfrid's agreement with Mr Shafto, 6 Nov.1764, that it relates only to "the Collieries and Coal-mines leased to Newark Hudson and his Partners" at Washington, Co. Durham, wherein each (Sir Gilfrid and Mr Shafto) agreed to give the other a moiety of his coalmines there, and that "nothing in these Articles can prevent Sir Gilfrid Lawson from granting a Wayleave .. to any other Person" whether Mr Shafto agrees or not; and that these Articles endure for ever; and that Mr Shafto has no right to bring his coals from his land called the Twizells through Sir Gilfrid's lands in Washington there; opinion dated 17 May 1779; written on back of forwarding letter from James Brock at Washington to "Mr Potts at Brayton near Cockermouth, Cumberland" - hopes Mr Hudson's lease can now be completed; Mr Shafto "not pleased" with Mr Russell's agreement, saying "that a part of the ground whear John Galleys house stands belongs to him by the Division deed dated the year 1704 a copy of which Mr Musgrave's agent has", but not so - and if he is displeased "he must blame him self as he had the cooking of it", Washington 1779

Copies (in same hand as endorsement on preceding) of

Customary mortgage for £100 (John Richardson of Oughterside p. Aspatria, yeo., to John Thomas Rigg of Aspatria itself, surgeon) - customary dwelling house, buildings, and garden, and two customary or tenant right closes called Croft and Meadow (abuttals), Drewry Close (abuttals), East Close (do.), Pringle (do.), total 13 acres the lot, all at Oughterside in the Manor of Oughterside, rent 7s. 6d. plus fines and boons (not specified); no tofts or garths mentioned; the principal sum is given as £105 in the latter part of this copy, original dated 1 Aug. 1785

Extract from draft mining lease by Sir Gilfrid to John Kirkhaugh - as to "the Upper or Croe Seam or Band of Coals and the Lower or Dib Seam or Band"; each "tun" to be of 12 corves of the following dimensions (blank; to be in inches), n.d.; c. 1785

Presentments, verdicts, pleas of debt, names of juries; 90 items, 1705, 1714-35 and n.d.

Many presentments are for trespass, also several for hedges, lanes, etc. One or two relate to Plumbland, but most relate to the Manor of Isel.

Offender: The Inhabitants of Plumbland

Offence: Allowing the water to change course at Plumbland Green, "to the great prejudice of the Lord's Mill"

Manor: [Plumbland]

Result: Fined 13s.4d., unless they clear the watercourse within a month

Offender: [The Inhabitants of Blindcrake]

Offence: Letting the Pinfold be out of repair

Manor: Isel

Result: "A fall"

Offender: Samuel Ritson of Sunderland

Offence: Slandering John Carter by "saying he came amongst his Sheep to Count them"

Manor: [Isel]

Result: "Nil"

Offender: John Wood farmer of Prior Field

Offence: Not keeping his watercourse open along the gutter near the Pinfold Nook and the long Close

Manor: -

Result: "Agreed"

Offender: John Moorhouse of Sunderland and

Offence: Inclosing part of Sunderland Green without permission

Manor: Isel

Result: Proved; he to remove the hedge there in 3 weeks or pay 6s.6d.

Offender: John Adcock of Sunderland (on same sheet)

Offence: Inclosing part of Sunderland Green without permission

Manor: Isel

Result: (No ruling)

Offender: The Frithmen of Blindcrake (presented by their Township)

Offence: Allowing the common fields to be "overstinted"

Manor: [Isel]

Result: "It cannot be made appear where the default is"

Also one verdict: That the Mains Well is public and for the use of all the Inhabitants of Redmain; "to be kept free from all Cattle going thither to drink"; the hedge round it is to be kept up by Thomas Robinson; the stile only is to be kept in repair by the public; the Inhabitants to have a way to it through Wellbank (John Wilson's land); no noisome or filthy thing to be washed in it. Penalty for any default in the foregoing, 3s.4d.

n.d.