The Remembrances of Arthur Mower, 1558-1610Transcribed and collated by Rosemary Lockie, © Copyright 1992, 2005IntroductionArthur Mower, a yeoman of Barlow was appointed Agent to George Barley, Lord of the Manor in Barlow in 1563, then on George's death in 1568/9 to his son Peter Barley. He wrote a series of ‘Remembrances’ covering the period from 1558 to 1610, a transcription of which forms the bulk of this web page. They contain detail of his family, their baptisms, godparents, marriages and children. He also gives information on the Barleys, and other local people; mentions local doings such as replacement of lead on the roof of the church, and a visit by the Earl of Shrewsbury and his Countess (‘Bess of Hardwick’) and the inspection of the Parish Boundaries (“Beating the Bounds”).My good fortune in acquiring a copy of it originally may be credited to a valued ‘snail mail’ correspondent, who discovered it on microfilm at the Local Studies Library in Matlock, long before the heady days of surfing... I completed this transcription in March 1992; but since then, have discovered other references to Arthur's papers which have allowed me to ‘flesh out the bones’. I have provided a summary of this later research headed Arthur's Biographical Details following my transcription. Of further note is that a descendant of Arthur, George Mower also recorded events in Barlow over the period 1675 to 1739 et seq. in a set of Memorandum books which have been partly transcribed in a series of articles in the “The Reliquary”.[1] Unfortunately, however I have seen only limited extracts of these myself. The ‘Remembrances’
A remembrance of my marriage and of the fruit that sprang between my wife,
and me Arthur Mower and
Joane King,
daughter and heir of Christopher King.
Mem that I Arthur Mower was
married the year of our lord God 1555; the 3d day of July.
Jane my daughter was married to
William Outram of Bradway son and heir to
William his father, and was brought to bed
of two children on tuesday afternoon being the 15t day of July 1594, and
was buried against the seat opposite the Old Chancel door, and her eldest son was laid
close by the side of her, close by the seat side, and her youngest son was buried on the
other hand his mother in the said church of Barley.
A remembrance of the godfathers and godmothers of my children.
Robert my son was married the 16th day of June at
Tissington with Joan the daughter of
Henry Sheldon anno dom 1589, marr was on monday.
Thomas Wilson son of Geo
Wilson of Owlcotts married Dorothy Mower the daughter
of Arthur Mower on Monday the 7t day of July
anno dom 1589.
George Mower the second of Robert Mower of Milnsthorpe was born at Milnsthorpe on Saturday about 8 of the clock, in the morn, being the 19th day of April and christened at Dronfield on Sunday by his uncle George Mower and his nephew George Wilson and Joan Haslam of Horsleygate anno dom 1600 A.R. E. 43. Ann Mower my daughter married
James Cowper als Cowp~ son of Thomas Cowpar of
Beeley and heir to all his lands in Sommarlees, on Wednesday the 27th day of January
anno dom 1601 anno R. Elizabetha 44th year.
Robert Mower my son his wife was brought to bed on Sunday at morn about six of the clock at Milethorpe of a goodly boy and was christened at Barley on Monday being the second day of July an. dom 1604 and was named Robert. Godfathers Robert Cook of Cowley, Robert Owtrem and Thomas Burton wife of Holmesfield in the second year of king James the firsttc. Alice Mower my youngest daughter married
Robert Owtrem son of Thomas
Owtrem of Bradway of Fasten Monday, being the 3d
day of March anno dom 1605, their dinner was at their own house of Apperknowle 1605.
Robert Mower my son his wife was brought in bed of a goodly boy on tuesday being the 26th of May anno dom 1607 about 5 or 6 in the afternoon and christened on thursday after being the 28t day of May 1607 at Dronfield by Richard Alvie, Godfrey Haslam and Thomas Hanes wife of Lees and named Richard Mower, in the 5th year of king James tc. James Cowp wife my daughter Anne was brought a bed a daughter at Summer Lees on Saturday being the 26t day of September anno dom 1607, and christened on Sunday being the day after by Geo. Stainrod, Rachel Curtis and Dorothy Mower of Milnethorpe and named Rachel Cowp ao Regni the ... Alice Owtrem my daughter was brought in bed of a son at Apperknowle on monday towards night being the 6th day of June Anno Dom 1608 and christened at Dronfield on Wednesday after being the 8t day of June 1608 by Thomas Burton of Cartledge, Anthony Thompson his nephew and Mrs Ralph Bullocks wife and named Thomas Owtrem anno R. 6th K. James 1st. George Mower my son and Hellen his wife had issue and she was brought to bed of a goodly boy on Sunday at morn between 1 and 2 of the clock being the 12th day of June 1608 at Woodseats and christened at Barley the same day between morning prayers by me Arthur Mower, his grandfather Thomas Burton of Cartledge and Grace Bateman his aunt and named George Mower in the 6t year of King Jamestc. My son Robert Mowers wife was brought in bed on tuesday about nine of the clock at night being the 19th day of November 1610 and christened at Dronfield on friday next after by Thomas Burton of Cartledge, Anne the wife of Hugh Sleigh of Couldwell and Ann the daughter of Arthur Watts of Milnethorpe and named Anne Mower daughter of Robert Mower of Milnethorpe in the 8th year of King James. A remembrance when the lead was taken off Barlow Church. Mem that the lead w" w" t" of Barlow Church was taken of by the order of Mr George Barley in the year of our lord 1563 and had to the value of six fodder(?) and more and promises to lay some other on again. A remembrance of matters as touching my masters' affairs Mem that my young master Peter Barley went in to Lancashire to Mr Talbotts for to be kept and delivered by his father about midsummer, the year of our lord 1565. Memdum that I Arthur Mower by the advice of Mr George Barley my master become his man at Michaelmas and was his bailiff and gathered his rents and for that he gave me 6s=8d by the year and as many cotes as he gave his other yeomen, and I came to him in the year of our Lord god 1563. Memr that in the year of our lord 1566 my master George Barley paved the way between the Hall and Sudbrook and all about the north barn door and so unto the stable door. Mem that in the year 1566 my Mr made the new garden of the sunside of the Hall, and that year was the first year it was set, and there was a great fishpond on the south that had a thousand load of earth to fill it. Memdum that in anno dom 1566, in the 8th year of Queen Eliz: was my young
master Peter Barley married at the chapel within the Hall at
Salbury at Mr Talbotts - in Lancashire with his daur
Frances Talbott on Monday the which was the 4th
day of Novr the same year, and the said Mr Talbott
married his elder daughter the same day to Sir John Athertons
son and heir.
Mem that my master reared the warmhouse at the churchyard side anno dom 1567. Mem that my master made the wall afore the oxhouse door anno dom 1567. Mem that my master went to London afore Christmas and tarry'd until welnigh Candlemas to take physick for the cough and phlegm. his man that went with him Arthur Mower went with him to Nottingham Richard Willey, Robert Curtis, Henry Stevenson brought done the horses and carried them up again and went for him soon after hay time home, anno dom 1567. Mem that my master of his goodness pardoned me of his services and parted very friendly the 29d day of March and delivered in all my rentals, they which was my own handwriting, and for every rent day receiving he hath made acquittance of his own hand writing Burton at every end of the rental, and if he shoud lay any thing to my charge, let him show the rental of my hand writing and there you shall find all the acquittances on every Rental anno dom 1568. Mem that my master Geo. Barley departed out of this mortall ward the 20t day of January at Afternoon and was buried on friday about sunset, and his burial day was not until the 25t day of February being tuesday, mourners at his funeral Mr George Foljambe of Barlborough and Henry his son and Doctor. And for lead men old John Allen and Thomas Watterhouse and Thomas Armitage and Lawrence Oats anno dom 1568[a]. Mr Peter Barley and his wife being in house with his mother in Barley, his mother upon a sudden took all her household stuff, and went to an house that she had of Mr Fox's the Fryday at morn being the last day of august anno dom 1576, and Mr Peter Barley was feign to begin house the same day and so did and had neither household nor other provision but of his purse in the 8th of Elizabeth. Mrs Collis went to Cutthorpe to Mr Edward Beresforts' house on monday at night being the 20th day of April and had thought to have been married on the tuesday being St. Georges day and the licence coud not be got, but at wednesday at morn every early she was married at Brampton with Mr Dennis Berisfort but none of her friends knew of the marriage until that she was married anno dom 1577. Mrs Jane Berisfort wife of Mr Denis Berisfort and mother of Mr Peter Barley of Barley esqr died the thursday being the eighteenth day of April about 8 of the clock aforenoon, and was buried on friday in the lady's quire at Barley and dined all neighbours and all young folks and dealt penny dole to the poor Anno D 1583 Mr Dennis Berisfort made a funeral dinner for his wife the 12t day of May and Sonday in the year aforesaid, and there was at the same Mrs Fretchville widow, Mrs Foljambe, Mr Linacre and wife Mr Brown, Mr Bullock, Mr Stevenson and dyvers other substantial folks. Mr Peter Barley did begin to measure all his lands within the lordship of Barley and one Edward Bradshaw did measure them and did serve Mr Foljambe of Moorhall and by his means it was measured anno dom 1583 Mrs Fox departed at Leeshall forth of this world the second day of November on All Souls day at morn after sun rising and was buried of other day (sic) about sunrising and being the third day of November and Wednesday at morn anno Dom 1585 Anno Regnis Elisabethe the 27th and was grandmother to Mr Peter Barley, and her funeral day was of Wednesday being the first day of December Anno Dom 1585 Anno Regnis Elizabethe 28 year and Thomas Fox made cost of the funeral day 33 mess was served at Robt Collyears at Barley and 7 mess at John Trouts 2s the mess 4£"12s"~ and pennydole to poor people 40s/. There dyned three mess of Gentlemen at Lees Hall 4s the mess, and there dined about six mess more at Lees at 3s/ the mess ~ 18s Sum totall is £8"7"0 Mr Arthur Foljambe entered of a great fallow and manure sett of his at Lees and of all the rest of the land presently after the death of Mrs Fox anno dom 1585 anno R Eliz 28 years. Mr Peter Barley of Barley esqr removed from Barley and locked up the Hall Doors and left no body in it but Edmund Bolton and wife in the ladys parlour on tuesday at morn being the 19th day of May and tuesday before white sonday and my Mrs was gone a fortnight and most of her goods to Salbury in Lancashire to his father in laws house Mr John Talbotts house anno dom 1586, anno Reg Eliz 28. Also I Arthur Mower, Francis Leeke of Grange went with him a gateward to Grindlow moor beyond Stoney Middleton and Edwd Bolton turned again with me, John Fox his man Thomas Cotterell and Ralph Bryan, his men went with him and Mrs Mary Talbott George Talbott's daughter and Mrs Mary Talbott Mr Robert Talbots daughter went with him and both was but children and had been with them at Barley until this time and there brought up and to be behind two of his men. Mr Peter Barley came from Salbury soon after the 7th day to meet Mr Arculis Foljambe and his friends about further assurances that he demanded of him for Lees but they coud not agree and so sued a subpena of ayear in Candlemas Term next after anno dom 1587. And after this time Mr Barley decayed greatly, and very sickly and weak, and in lent went to his aunt Blont to Eckyngton, who was his mothers' sister and married Mr George Blont, and there did continue till Wednesday in Easter week and he then died and was buried at Barley Chapel in the Ladys Quire of thursday at morn about sun rising anno dom 1588 and the 11th April. Also Mrs Peter Barley began the wall afore Christmas and the gates into the Hall at Barley and finished it afore easter and so died anno dom: 1588. Mrs Barley after he husband was dead came to the Lees to demand her right being the head house of jointure but Mr Hercules Foljambe being tenant to it by Indenture deny'd her the 15th day of April Anno Dom 1588. Mr James Barley did pave the Ladys Quire and made him a new Pew in it afore Whitsunday Anno dom 1588. Mr James Barley entered of the Hall at Barley after the death of his brother and keep't house in it. But Mr Blont entered of the demains and smithies and coal delfs and took the profits, and other that were joined with him and to have them until the debts was paid which as it was reported 25 hundred pounds, and had all the indentures from Mr Peter Barley in consideration of discharging of the debts as I have heard it reported to pay Mr James Barley 40£ ayear to live on in money Anno dom 1588, anno Reg. Eliz: the 30th year~ Mr Blont and others took the whole profits of the lordship of Barley at the death of Mr Peter Barley into the time twelve months, and paid neither Mr George Mower his annuity of fifty pounds nor Mr Rowland Eyre his annuity of fifty pounds nor certain sums of money which they should have paid unto him for certain mortgages which he had from Mr Peter Barley, so when they had given Mr Eyre all their advantages and broken their days and paid nothing but kept all to their own uses at our lady day 1589 Mr Eyre impounded us the freeholders for our chief rents and forced us to loose by replevie that woud not pay him and at May day entered unto the demains of Hall and put in Cattle and took in Beasts to Joyce[a], and neither Mr Blont, Mr Edward Berisfort Mr Roger Columbell, Mr Henry Foljambe, Mr George Mower then any of them being put in tense for Mr Peter Barley because they had broken the days of payment with him suffered him to occupy it quietly until Easter term and by the means of these forfeitures that he had made and the assured friendship of his master Mr John Manners of Haddon and being seized of share this year I thought all was good that he did or who durst again say it. Doings of George Earl of Shrewsbury and of his entrance to lordship of Barley Anno dom 1589~ do Eliz 31mo. Imprimis Mr James Barley was in possession of the Hall at Barley and had a servant maid in it one Ann Swift and came and went himself with other servants after his brothers death into about May day or thereabouts that Mr George Blont came and set forth Mr James Meadan with a wile to fetch in ale for him and then kept them out and let in some more to keep possession and Mr Baresfort did send of his men to keep possession with them likewise and whether it was in the right of their lease for fear that Mr Rowland Eyre should have got into possession I did never know but rather as I took it to be in possession as well of Hall as of ground. Then straightaway after Mr Blont and Mr Barisford sold my Lord of Shrewsbury their lease which they had of Mrs Peter Barley for 21 years of whole manner of Barley to pay his debts and then to come to Mr James ands' heirs and Mr Barisford sold my lord a stature which Mr Peter Barley had knowledged him and was ready to be entered. Then my lord entered into Hall at Barley and sent one Philip Slad and one Edward Bramhall being his men to keep possession, and they did drive out Mr Eyres goods of ground and kept them out, and they lay in the lanes and commons until he was forced to fetch them away and so did. Then soon after my lord sent for Mr James Barley and those gentlemen that was put in trust, and divers meetings they had before my lord, but in the end my lord brought Mr Mowers annuity, and then my lord brought Mr James Barleys right to him and heirs forever for a thousand pounds and a hundred pound ayear of annuity and pay the debts and deal with Mr Rowland Eyre as he coud, and all this was done between Whitesonday and Saint James tide anno d. 1589 and thus my lord came to the lordship of Barley and Hill Top and parcel of manner of Dronfield and Dunstone Hall and demeans after my ladys decease. Then my lord ordered of tithe corn and gathered it Mr Eyre woud have had it, but my lords men woud let him have none. The first tithe they had, of me Arthur Mower they had of wheat that did grow on the piece of land next to the lane in the nethermost croft, being Tuesday the 26t August 1589, at fetching of tithe Adam Barker of Totley my lords' man Thomas Curtis my lords man, and John Adkinson of Barley drove draught. This year of anno dom 1590 my lord took down Hall at Barley and altered the going into little parlour going up into chamber over it. When the Hall was finished my lord came to Barlow on thursday at night being the Twentieth of August to give notice to the freeholders and the inhabitants to attend of his lordship of Saturday the 22d August 1590 to meet Mr Manners to walk through the bounds and mears of the Moores between Brampton Barlow Holmesfield and as and so did my lord in his horse litter being old and weak and went to every mear as nigh as he coud with his horse litter according to our old accustomed means we tread it then. George Earl of Shrewsbury departed forth of this world either of tuesday or wednesday at Morn at Sheffield manor the 17 or 18t day of November 1590 Ao Regnis Eliz 30. Gilbert Earl of Shrewsbury made his fathers funeral day of Wednesday being the 20th day and 10th day of January anno dom 1590 and was then sumptuously done that was ever to any afore in these countries, and the assembly to see that same was marvellous both of nobility gentry and country folks and poor folks without number. A remembrance of Gilbert earl of Shrewsbury and the countess his wife came to Barley of Tuesday being the 30th day of July 1605 and of Wednesday the last day of July after dinner my lord and my lady did ride to view moors, and the mears thereof. Sir Charles Cavendish went with them as a note made doth at large and may appear as followeth. First we began at the east end of Impyns Clough and so up the bottom of the same and so up the grayning of the same, and so up to a place where a high thorn had grown, and so up to the root of a thorn called Byrley thorn, and so up to the wast hill end, and so up to the syke of the marshside Little Free Birch, and so up to the dennis Bole of the Hare Edge Top, and so down to the Smything Brook, and so down the same until you come to a great fall thereon, and thence on a green way which leadeth to warm stones syke, Brampton on the south side and Barley on the north side of these moores, and so up the said Warmstones Syke to a standing mear stone in the same Syke, and so up to a green hill, and so down to the fall of Blake Brook unto Barbrook where it loseth its name. Barlow on the west side and Barley on the east side of these mears, and so up a green way of the north side Blake brook which leadeth to a standing stone in Pyntyllforth Syke, and so down to a standing near stone more towards leassene of the south side the stone cross, and so down to an old Hollow-way of the Hewit Bole end, and so down to the mear Syke, and so down the same to Hedge, which parteth a close called the Little Meakfield of the South part and a close called the Lowkoe on the north part Barley on the south side these mears and Holmesfield on the north side these mears. And my lord came to Barley Hall to Thomas Eltosts esq. to their bed, of Thursday to Walton to dinner and to Sheffield manor home to their bed ao Rn James, third yeartc. Geo. Frygood came to Barley in the beginning of Harvest 1594. Godfrey Lacke came into great place at Barley Hall in Dec~ 1594. Mr Richard Brown entered as bailiff of Barley in May anno dom 1599 and went away 1602 and Mr Thos Hall entred and gathered our lady day rent 1603. George Noble gent entred of Lees anno dom 1599 and went off it to Barley 1600 the 5th May. Mr Plumton entered of Lees and bought the crop of the ground and goods of Mr Noble the same day 1600 and took it of George Troute for he had alease of it of Mr Danby. Mrs Plumton after her husbands death let the Lees to Mr Thomas Hall and he entered and bought Michaelmas crop and did sow lent on seeding, and entered of the grounds of our Lady day 1605, and flytted to Woodhouse at Mayday after and to Chypston Mr Thos Eltoste took Barley Hall of my lord of Shrewsbury and most of the demeans as came to 42£ yearly and came from Woodhouse Hall to Barley the 27 day of April 1605. Mr Thomas Hall removed his stuff from Barley Hall to the Lees of the ascension even being the 8t day of May 1605 and Mrs Plumton went to Chpston the day after being the tuesday in Cross week being the 7th of May 1605. Mrs Eltoste brought in bed of a daur on tuesday at night being the 7th May 1608(?) at Barley Hall. The rearing of the furnace at barley smithies was on monday being the 19t of August 1605 in the 3rd year of king James the first and there was about 40 mess sett and served that day. The first sow of iron that was drawn there was of thursday at morning about spring of the day being the 27t day of March anno dom 1606, in the fourth year of the reign of our most dread sovereign lord king James. I was desired by Mr Thomas Eltoste over night to be at the drawing of the first sow, which woud be about 7 of the clock. I was there afore 6, but it was drawn an hour or I came: I gave the workmen agroat, and three potts of ale, at Richard Greaves of the Smithies. James Mower and Oxford Trickett did rear the dwellinghouse in Joanygate of Saturday the 19th May 1593~ John Hibbard workman Edmund Bolton and Nicholas Bolton together did erect and make a costly garden wall at Joanygate it did hold two men to work from Christmas to the 19t May anno dom 1593 beside all other workmen and Philip his brother the workmen. Edmund Bolton flytted from Joanygate to Breddwood Gate before May day 1610 and Goodman Barker entred of the whole farm at Joanygate, and paid Mr Jackson 20£ yearly for it. Remembrances of the doings of Mr Godfrey Foljambe of Moorhouse. Imprimis he entered to Moorhouse and joysted at the year of Anno Dom 1573. Imprimis he began to wall at Hedgehead in the year 1574 and finished it to James Mower Croft and about whitsunday in Anno Dom 1575 and was walled by one John Goodwin that came from about Longnor and this year he changed with James Mower and then he set on Goodwin to wall in the croft for a paddock for a stoned colt to the over end of the croft and he finished it the same year of Midsummer eve. Imprimis Mr Foljambe reared his barn of five bays above the house that was James Mowers the monday afore midsummer day being the 20t day of June Anno dom 1575 and sett it of a parcel of the common called Moorhouse green and there was some thorns and some sallows growing of the west side of it but they was but set by James Mowers elders for shelter of their houses, and I Arthur Mower gave him council not to set it there but to set it of his own ground and be out of all danger but he woud not and so at venture. Imprimis Mr Godfrey Foljambe of Moorhouse made a letter of Attourney to Michael Croft and to young John King of Holmesfield to surrender at the court at Holmesfield being Thursday and the first day of Septr Anno dom 1575 to Edward Blount of Barton gent and Arthur Mower of Barley Woodseats yeoman all his lands they which he had purchased of Joanne Lowe and all his lands in Milnthorpe, one croft called Symond Croft and two acres in the nether Lamb Croft, one close called Hobbfield and one close called Fanshaw acre to the only uses and behoos of the last will of the aforesaid Godfrey Foljambe and I Arthur Mower was at court and took possession accordingly but Mr Blount was not there, But the land that he had of Robert Haslam in Unthank he did not pass for he had but it surrendered at this court in Regni of queen Eliz the 17th. Memorandum that I Arthur Mower was with John Fox at Green wood when I bought of Mr Godfrey Foljambe of Moorhouse esq one tenement in Barley and one meadow lying nigh Renyshaw Ridge called Bridge Green and paid him for the tenement in Barley the 13t day of December a dom 1576 and being Thursday fourscore and ten pounds and for the meadow I gave him twenty and six pounds and paid them the day above written, and had his writing sealed the same day at Moorhouse and I Arthur Mower and Edward Drabble was put into the letter of attourney to give possession and we gave possession to the aforesaid John Fox the 18t day of December being tuesday first in the meadow and then in the house by the hasp at Birley (sic) afore Thomas Kent of Povey, Thomas Newton being tenant at Birley: William Hobson being tenant to the meadow Henry Cade, James Lee, Robert Sitwell son of William Sitwell of Eckington and other more anno regni Elizabethe 19th and knowledged him afine and recovery of the meadow and of the house at Birley at Easter term the next after and John Fox went up to London and had it knowledged there the aforesaid term. Item Mr Godfrey Foljambe had two tame staggs and my lord Darcie killed the elder deer with his hounds in Barley the monday being the twelfth day of September and my lord Darcie came to Moorhouse to dinner and went to Dedick to his bed and divers gentn with him Anno D 1577. Mr Foljambe kept Christmas at Moorhall and Mr Francis Foljambe and Mr Linacre with him Anno dom, 1577 ~ Mr Foljambe of Moorhouse has entered covenant with Thomas Rowland to pay to him of Whitsunday three hundred and four pounds in the parish Church of Eam between the hours of nine and three at afternoon the which day shall be in the Anno dom 1580 or else Norton Lees is gone from him. Mr Godfrey Foljambe[c] of Moorhall departed forth of the world of Monday at morn about the first cockcrowing being the 15t day of November and was buried at Brampton in the chancel under the high alter where it stood the same day towards night for it coud not be kept anno dom 1591. Mr Hercules Foljambe his brother came to the Moorhall towards night of tuesday for I set Leonard first out for him as soon as he was departed to ffairbourne to his house where he dwelt a little from Ferrybridge in Yorkshire and entred of Moorhall and continued there from the 16t of November anno dom 1591 and his servants and his household stuff as shortly as he coud he brought them thither. Mr Roger Cullumbell and Mr Edward Baresford being executors came thither to Moorhall of Saint Andrews Eve to take order with Mr Hercules for goods, for Mr Cullumbell carried an inventory to be made of goods of two days after his funeral by Mr Godfrey Cullumbell, Henry Sheldon, George Newbold and Thomas Stevenson. Mrs Foljambe came to Moorhall of Tuesday at night the seventh day of december to take order for her thirds and tarryed till ffriday and saturday went to Walton. Mr Hercules Foljambe came from London the 13th of May to Moorhall that night to bed the 13 and monday he went into Staffordshire and Mr Geo. Litton and Thomas Roleson had discharged his household and let Moorhall to one Mr Richard Grynne for 50£ a year and all grounds in Hunthank and Milnethorp and sold him 8 oxen eleven Kine and a bull, and Mr Gryne hired William Burton shepherd to look to grounds or else all servants went away: one Thornton went away aweek before and of Wednesday the 16t of May anno dom 1593 anno Reg Eliz the 30t (sic) year my draught and gangdraught did remove Mr Hercules goods to Chesterfield to Thomas Rolesons house and there they were set in a chamber and gave Mr Foljambe of Walton all his red deer and fallow deer that was in the Paddocks there was about 30 of both sorts. Mr Gryne took Moorhall and all lands as aforesaid for three years and dwelt there but two years and let the third year to Mr Thomas Eltoste, and went to Longson Hall of the ascension eve the 28t of May 1595. Mr Eltoste came to dwell at Moorhall the Monday the 2d day of June 1595 me and wife and a man and a maid there before. Mr Eltoste did flit from Moorhall to Upeaston of tuesday the 7t of September ao 1596 and let the winter pasture to divers persons. Mr Rowland Eyre had Moorhall three years and entred at our lady day Anno 1597. Mrs Foljambe had her third part laid forth by the under sheriffs of Wednesday the 21t march 1598. Mr Rowland Eyre let Moorhall to Robert Ward his man the Winter pasture and all his hay and corn into our lady day anno dom 1600 and so left much of the grounds stubble, except both Meakfields, both Oldfields, Long Meadow at my Cocklewood, and Little Meadow next the Meadow bottom and sunside of the meadow and sunside of the close next Paddock, and the Little Well Meadow all else stubble. Humphrey Edmanson took of Old Countess of Shrewsbury Mrs Foljambe thirds of Moorhall and after he took all the other two parts as the said of Godfrey Platts but who had the rents it was unknown, and entred after lady day 1600, and the rents was to the said old countess 8£ ayear and the other two parts was but 12£ a year. Mr Francis Leeke of Sutton esq entred into all Grange after the death of Mrs Lacke who had it for term of life and took the Great Meakfield from Moorhall and let it to John King of Holmesfield for 3£"6"8d a year and entred at our lady day anno dom 1600, and was but 40£ rent when it lay with Moorhall Mr Leeke did rack all grange at this lady day to divers persons very dearly and Francis Leeke was taught under his mother while she lived and flitted from Grange to Duckmanton the 18t day of May anno dom 1600. Mr Hercules Foljambe delivered possession and seizin to the old Countess of Shrewsbury of the Moorhall and of all the Lands thereunto belonging of Sunday at afternoon being the 18 t day of January Anno dom 1600 Anno Reg Eliz the 43d year and of all his goods he had there and Godfrey Platts joined with him who had most took from him when he went into the wars and so made an end of all the lands he had, and made my lady his heir of all the lands he had. The Countess let the Moorhall to Henry Edmanson and Nicholas Redfearne the next year after and Unthank for 63£ as they said Anno dom 1601. Mr Rowland Molineau took the Moorhall and Hunthank and entred at our Lady day 1603 and paid yearly 63£ and entred of Hall about the beginning of March and went away from Moorhall about the thursday the 28t of April 1603. Then Humphrey Edmanson entred of Moorhall this lady day 1603 of Grounds, and lett some of the grounds to two or three of the Plumbers who had been workmen and wallers with old Countess and came about michaelmas and dwelt in the Moorhall and let some of the Grounds to widow Ithell this year, and joysted some 1603. The old countess of Shrewsbury departed forth of this world the saturday night being the 13th day of February at Hardwick and was carried to Derby of tuesday the next after to her tomb there in All Hallows Church and there buried anno dom 1607 in the fifth year of our most dread lord king James tc who was in her time a great purchaser and gatherer together of much lands and much goods and was first married to Robert Barley of Barley esq and then to William Cavendish knight and then to William Sentlow knight captain of the guards, and last to George Talbott Earl of Shrewsbury who did surmount her name. She builded Chatsworth, Hardwick, Owlcotts and was a great builder and purchaser. Mem.or a time between my father south[b] and me anno dom 1569, that I took the Riddings of my father, and Nether Rose Fields of Shore Thursday from year to year no term except to pay for every year 23s"4d. Mem that my father George Mower departed forth of this world the tuesday in the passion week and our lady day was on easter even this year, and lyeth in the church yard at Barley amongst his predecessors anno dom 1558. Mem that my mother departed forth of this world of St Mathews day being thursday and the 24th day of February at Hill houses in Wingerworth and lyeth in the church in the north alley at the head of the alley on the north side, and her feet lieth as nigh of the north side of the (?)Grasse that goeth up into the Roodloft as may be the which Agnes was the daur of John Parker of Wylley Hall, first the wife of George Mower my father and then the wife of Richard Smith of Hill aforesaid 12 years in the last of her time and departed in ao dom 1574. Mem that my mother in law Hellen King departed forth of this world the 27t day of November being tuesday and was buried on Wednesday after at Dronfield and was the daur of Henry Fanshaw of Fanshawgate within the lordship of Holmesfield in anno Eliz the 14th year anno dom 1571. Imprimis I took a coppy forth of the register book of Dronfield for the age of my nephew John Wolstenholm of sunday the 22d day of April anno dom 1593 the book was as followeth. John Wolstenholme the son of Thomas Wolstenholme, was baptized the 9t of November anno dom, 1572.pp John Hill curate of Dronfield set his hand
Additional Notes by Rosemary Lockie: Adjoistment (or agistment) - originally, the practice of pasturing cattle in the king's forests; subsequently sending cattle to graze on someone else's land - for a fee, of course... these days it's usually ponies! [b] Arthur may mean his ‘step father SOUTH’. Later on in the document he says his mother remarried Richard SMITH (there is a visible 'dot' over the letter before the 'th'); however Dr. Milward cites Arthur's mother's second husband as Richard SOUTH. [c] Dr. Milward's account (q.v. below) cites Godfrey FOLJAMBE as “a professional soldier, serving in Ireland, the Netherlands and the West Indies and when in England inhabited a remarkable number of houses in Derbyshire and elsewhere”. (p.20). He died childless in 1591, and his brother Hercules inherited his estate at Moorhall. |
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Rosemary Milward's account of Arthur Mower of Barlow Woodseats,
a sixteenth century yeoman[3]
provides considerable detail of Arthur's background, sourced from both
the ‘Remembrances’ and other documents in the
Thorold Collection, with
special reference to one of these - a Rental Roll. Arthur
began recording accounts of the rentals he collected from his tenants in
1558, on the death of his father; and his practice was continued by his son
Robert, and grandson Arthur. The Roll cannot have been easy to research,
as it is 103 feet long! It consists of pieces of paper 6 inches wide, and
of varying lengths which have been stitched together, covering a period of
almost 100 years, with the last entry recorded in 1655.
The following is a (very brief) summary of the genealogical content of Dr. Milward's account, with some additional comments from myself to expand on her sources, and background. Arthur was the son of George MOWER, who was married three times - firstly to Agnes BLYTHE (stated to be Arthur's mother), secondly to Ann HUNT, and thirdly to widow Agnes née PARKER, daughter of John PARKER, of Egglesfield, co. York, who Dr. Milward describes as ‘a prosperous iron master’. Her comments on John's Will (PCY Wills, Borthwick Institute), of which Arthur was an executor, make it sound fascinating! Arthur however describes Agnes PARKER, who later married Richard SMITH, of Hill houses as his mother - perhaps in practical terms she was, as we do not appear to have dates for the marriages. The only likely George MOWER marriage in extant parish records was to Agnes HOLLAND, on 4th August 1566 at Dronfield. Another of Dr. Milward's sources, which will be of great interest to any family historian is Arthur's record of “The Pedegrey of All thoos gentilmen And yemen that doe paye unto my (sic) Arthur Mower and my heirs of Barley Woodsetts a standing yearly Rentt … 1595’.[4] As it so happens, my valued correspondent also took notes from this same source, summarising it thusly:- [Summary of Wolley MSS 6694 ff217-220]
There follow pedigrees with comments on property and rents,
of Robert Mower and Joan More, who was the inheritor to
Barley Woodsetts, lands in More houses, [‘Moorhall’
in Barlow?] and in Apperknowl [Unstone]; he was inheritor “but
to Gorst house, ley cliffe and cold Aston” of Thomas Howgatt
whose granddaughter Elizabeth married Robert Mower of Barley
Woodsetts and from whom came all the lands in Chesterfield,
Hasland, Boythorpe, ‘Lound hyll’, Wigley [Brampton]
and rents in Dronfield Woodseats
and Cowley [Dronfield] as her third part; of Frechville, of
Stavely, owners of a messuage and lands in Dronfield
Woodhouse; Barley of Dronfield Woodhouse; Cookes of Cowley;
Woodh[o]use alias Mason of Dronfield Woodhouse and
Newbold of ‘Hinthanke’ [Unthank] who pays per copy
according to custom of manor of Holmesfield for a right of way.
[End of Summary] According to Dr. Milward, Arthur also records of himself that he was about 18 when his father died in 1558; thus he was born around 1540, aged 15 when he married Joan KING in 1555, and when he died in 1613 he would have been aged 73. Rev. J. Charles Cox's analysis of Woolly MSS 6671 [2], which reproduces the ‘Remembrances’ in part, records Arthur's wife Joan's surname as ‘HERIG’, but both Dr. Milward and myself interpreted the name as ‘KING’, and since Dr Milward also includes evidence of collateral, this would appear to be correct. She describes Joan as a minor local heiress, the daughter of Christopher KYNG of Holmesfield, who died in 1558. Joan inherited (via his Will) property in Holmesfield and Millthorpe, which was then added to Arthur's estate at Barlow Woodseats. Christopher KING's wife is known to have been Hellen FANSHAWE, daughter of Henry of Fanshawgate, according to Arthur; Dr. Milward queries this, and suggests ‘Henry or Robert’. Arthur became bailiff to George BARLEY, lord of the manor of Barlow in 1563. George was the younger brother of Robert BARLEY (or BARLOW), the first husband of Bess of Hardwick, who Dr. Milward cites as dying in 1544. The Lysons' Magna Britannia, Vol 5 (Derbyshire, 1817), citing a source ‘Collins’, say he died in 1533, but other sources, such as Francis Bickley, in his book “The Cavendish Family”[5] say Bess remarried in 1547, so 1544 seems more likely. Bickley also states Bess was born in 1518, and married to Robert BARLOW (BARLEY) in 1532. As Arthur states, George BARLEY died in 1568. Dr. Milward's account also includes her own pedigrees of MOWER, FOLJAMBE, BARLEY and FANSHAWE. The earliest explicit MOWER reference she cites is to ‘William de Mora and Joan his wife’, who were granted the estate of Barlow Woodseats by Margerie, daughter and heiress of William de Heme of Barlow in 1360; she also mentions a Roger de la Mor appearing in a lay subsidy of 1328/8, with various other references to More, Mawer, de Mora, del Mor. George MOWER's father (Arthur's grandfather) Robert MOWER (d.c1520) is however the first recorded in her MOWER pedigree. As we know from Arthur's ‘Pedegrey’, Robert was married to Elizabeth HOWGATT (HUGATE, HEWGATE), who was the daughter and coheir of Thomas HUGATE the younger of Chesterfield. Her early references to BARLEY include a Roger de Barley, who with Roger de la Mor, granted land in Barlow Woodseats to Henry NUTTE of Castleton in 1368, perhaps indicating an earlier relationship between the two families. The first entry in her BARLEY pedigree is then Arthur BARLEY, who married Elizabeth CHAWORTH. Recorded sons were Robert BARLEY (d.1544) who was married to Bess of Hardwick, and George (d.1568) married to Jane FRECHEVILLE. As we know from the ‘Remembrances’, George's son Peter BARLEY (said by Arthur to be ‘sickly’ - died in 1588) married Frances TALBOTT, daughter of John TALBOTT, of Salbury [Salesbury], Lancashire; his brother James (d.1626) succeeded to the family estate but subsequently (as Arthur records) sold it to George TALBOTT, Earl of Shrewsbury. Note: apparently Peter BARLEY had been sent to Mr TALBOTT's house to be educated [to quote Arthur: ‘to be kept and delivered by his father about midsummer...1565’]; Dr. Milward says TALBOTT had bought his wardship from Mr FRECHEVILLE of Stavely, and as was common in such situations, TALBOTT then conspired for him (Peter) to be married to his daughter! Arthur doesn't appear to have concerned himself with what happened to Frances, after ‘his young master’ died, and Mr Hercules Foljambe (as tenant) denied her entry to Lees! To some extent therefore it would appear that the fortunes of the BARLEYs and MOWERs were becoming reversed by the beginning of the 17th century. After Arthur's death, his son Robert inherited Woodseats, and Arthur's other properties, also acquiring new rentals as far afield as Taddington and Hognaston; then his son Arthur II's empire expanded even further. Arthur II is known to have traded with the Continent, and one of his younger sons (Arthur III), so Dr. Milward tells us, died in Norway. Arthur II's son and heir Robert (1623-1675), referenced elsewhere as ‘The Great Lead Merchant’, is mentioned in Gladwyn Turbutt's History of Derbyshire amongst others of the yeomen families who acquired wealth, and built grand houses from the profits accrued from Derbyshire lead industry at this time. Dr. Milward closes her paper with the following thought-provoking comment, which should surely send any family historian scurrying to the archives to find out whether the same was true for their families... “A surprising number of younger sons of Chesterfield and Derbyshire men were sent abroad to further their father's businesses but we do not know why Norway was chosen for young Arthur III, nor what he was doing there, unless perhaps his father was dealing in timber?’ In my opinion, both the ‘Remembrances’ themselves, and Dr. Milward's research are a true inspiration, illustrating the wealth of information which can be gleaned without parish registers, providing we locate the right sources! I hope you too, dear reader, can be as fortunate in your researches! The original manuscripts (the ‘Remembrances’, and Rental) may be found in the (unlisted) Thorold Collection at the Nottingham Record Office - Ref: DDSJ. Microfilms are however available at the Derbyshire Record Office in Matlock. Other accounts, some with full, or part-transcriptions, may be sampled in the following resources:- [1] Jackson, Charles - “George Mower's Memoranda” (1675-1739). The Reliquary, vols 20-22 (1879-81). [2] Cox, Rev. J. Charles - An Analysis of Volumes 6-10 of Wolley Manuscripts. Derbyshire Archaeological Society Journal, vol. 34, 1912; MSS 6671, pp99-106. [3] Milward, Rosemary - Arthur Mower of Barlow Woodseats, a sixteenth century yeoman. “Derbyshire Miscellany” (DAS), vol. 13, parts 1 & 2. 1992. [4] Pedigree of the tenants of Arthur Mower, 1595, Wolley MSS, 6694 ff217-220. [5]
Bickley, Francis - The Cavendish Family, Constable, 1911. The Wolley Collection is available on microfilm at the Derbyshire Record Office, Matlock; for further background and information see Ann Andrews' compilation of The Wolley Manuscripts, Derbyshire. |
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