Spence | The Spence family of Hampsthwaite and North Shields

On the 22^nd July 1824, with her sister Mary, she left home for school at Doncaster. On the 15^th July 1828, with her parents, her eleven siblings, and three servants, she went to Newcastle by steam.²

In mid 1830 she fell ill with the measles, and was confined to bed at the same time as seven of her sisters.³

She married [M3] Joseph Watson on the 12^th March 1835, at the meeting house in North Shields; it was a most interesting occasion, as she was married in a double wedding with her sister, exciting quite a sensation in the town. On the eve of her wedding she had written to Joseph:

They had twelve children: Lucy (1836–1918), [M2] Robert Spence (1837–1911), Esther Mary (1838–1903), Joseph (1840–1873), William Joshua (1841–1896), Sarah Jane (1842–1848), Emily (1844–1913), Charles John (1846–1846), Helen (1848–1922), Sarah Anna (1849–1849), Herbert (1852–1873), and Gertrude (1854–1930); all births were recorded by Durham Quarterly Meeting, the two eldest (at least) being born at (probably 8) Claremont Place, Gateshead, while Emily was born at Elswick Villas.⁵

She wrote a list of 'Questions for her children, at the close of the sabbath day' :

In November 1835 she was one of two Newcastle women appointed to attend Monthly Meeting. In December 1840 she signed the testimony to Margaret Bragg, at Newcastle Monthly Meeting. In 1841 and 1860 she was named in the wills of her father and her husband.⁷

The 1841 census recorded Sarah Watson at Summerhill Terrace, Westgate, Newcastle upon Tyne, living with her husband, four children, two servants, and a third person, probably also a servant.⁸

At the latter end of May 1842 Sarah and her family spent a week visiting her father in North Shields. While there they visited the supposedly haunted Willington Mill, on the 23^rd May.⁹

Robert's friend Henry Tuke Mennell reflected that Robert inherited from his mother "that character of loving sympathy which we all realised and so much appreciated" in her; the "great attraction to that home to us young people was the mother, the most loving and lovable of women" . . .¹¹

In 1848 her daughter Sarah Jane died at Gresham Place, Newcastle. In April and October 1849, March 1852, April 1853, February 1854 and August 1858 she attended Monthly Meeting, on behalf of Newcastle Women's Preparative Meeting. In March 1850 she recorded a memorandum:

This is the fifteenth anniversary of our marriage. May the year now commencing bear, at its close (if life be permitted us), a fairer retrospect for myself, of duties more fully performed towards my dearest husband and children. May I endeavour, with better help, to be a more true helpmate to him than I have hitherto been, endeavouring, as best I can, to lighten or share his many and arduous cares. Oh! how I long that we may help each other in the pursuit of better and more enduring things than any which this world can offer.¹²

The 1851 census recorded her living at 2 Gresham Place, St Andrew, Newcastle upon Tyne, with her husband, five children, and two house servants. Shortly after October 1853 her father's estate was finally wound up, upon the last of her siblings attaining their majority; Sarah was presumably the beneficiary of 1/11^th (a bit over Ł2000). In October 1856 she recorded her thoughts on the vanity of speculation about the afterlife.¹³

On 17 January 1861 she and her husband were present at the annual examination of the scholars attending the Newcastle Ragged and Industrial Schools. By 1861 Sarah was living at Bensham Grove with her family, with three domestic servants and two visitors. She was one of the two Newcastle women who attended Monthly Meeting at Sunderland in July 1862. In April she took her son Herbert to school in York, staying at Scawin's Hotel; she wrote him a letter of advice, and wrote again when he left school in March 1865. On the 24^th August 1865 she and her husband were present at the marriage of their daughter Edith, at the Pilgrim Street meeting house. In January 1866 she wrote "a few words of love and counsel" to Gertrude, on her starting school. Near the end of September 1870 she and her family attended the annual show of the Rothbury Floral and Horticultural Society. At the time of the 1871 census she was living at Bensham Grove with her husband, three daughters, brother-in-law, and three servants. She died there on the 15^th August 1871 of dysentery, followed by four days' diarrhoea. She had been very feeble for many months, but was still well enough to entertain the idea of going to Rothbury, when she became suddenly worse. For the final days of her life she was quite unconscious. Her daughter-in-law, Elizabeth Spence Watson, recorded that "so lovely did she look in death, so peaceful & happy that we could indeed believe that Death had for her been robbed of its sting." She was buried in Jesmond Cemetery on the 17^th August—a large number of friends following her to the grave.¹⁴

Among the sentiments expressed in correspondence to Joseph after her death were the following: "Your dear wife was one of the very earliest of the friends whom Mrs. R---- made on coming to Newcastle, and she has always retained a grateful recollection of the many acts of considerate kindness then shewn her." [She was] "simple and unpretending", and "one whose unaffected kindness rendered my two years in Newcastle one of the happiest portions of my life; indeed, your house was more my home than anything else." ". . . her piety, sincere and deep-rooted as it was, was unobtrusive, and was shewn by acts rather than words." . . . "whilst her hopes for eternity were fixed upon her God and Saviour, her earthly affections were all ours." "It was a life that seemed so beautifully, as far as I can judge, to have fulfilled its purpose, and one therefore, which God will find, some higher sphere to fill in the perfect life."¹⁵

*** For an exhaustive treatment of the lives of Joseph and Sarah Watson, you please see this .pdf file. ***

4 RG 6/527, /1245; Spence (1939); minutes of Newcastle Monthly Meeting, TWAS MF 169; In Memoriam Sarah Watson

5 RG 6/1149; The British Friend; Percy Corder (1914) The Life of Robert Spence Watson. London: Headley; Newcastle Courant, 1836-01-09; Newcastle Courant, 1837-06-10; Newcastle Journal, 1844-04-13

7 Minutes of Newcastle Preparative Meeting (Women's) 1834–1878, TWAS MF 194; minutes of Newcastle Monthly Meeting, TWAS MF 169; Death Duty Registers, (IR 26&27)/1722; husband's will

9 Robert Spence letters to Robert Foster, in author's possession; also quoted in Spence, ed. (1939), p. 37

12 daughter's death certificate; minutes of Newcastle Preparative Meeting (Women's) 1834–1878, TWAS MF 194; In Memoriam Sarah Watson

13 HO 107/2405 f74 p68; father's will, TNA: PROB 11/2080; In Memoriam Sarah Watson

14 Newcastle Courant, 1861-01-18; Newcastle Courant, 1870-09-02; daughter's death certificate; Corder (1914); census returns (1861: RG 9/3800 f39 p27, 1871: RG 10/5051 f64 p25); Newcastle Journal, 1865-08-24; death certificate; Gateshead Observer 19 Aug 1871; Elizabeth Spence Watson: 'Family Chronicles/Home Records', and supplement; minutes of Newcastle Preparative Meeting (Women's) 1834–1878, TWAS MF 194; In Memoriam Sarah Watson

N2. ROBERT SPENCE

Robert Spence was born on the 10^th February 1784, at Whaite Mill House, Hartwith come Winsley, Kirby Malzard, Yorkshire.¹

Around 1788–9 he was inoculated against smallpox. He was, however, already infected, and came down with the disease, during which he was blind for eleven days.²

He was taught locally at first, then for a time at a boarding school at Burntyeats. From 1794 to 1796 he was at Ackworth school, still usually residing at Hartwith. He then went on to Gildersome school for a year (he was there in April 1797).³

He became apprenticed in the drapery business to his brother John Spence of Yarm, where he next went. While there, he formed an attachment with a young woman "of a very respectable family, but her circumstances in life rather low." Following the disapproval of his relatives, he eventually broke it off. In 1804, shortly before his apprenticeship expired, he was released to go into partnership with Joseph Procter as a linen and woollen draper in North Shields. On putting up his share of the capital, he was to take a third of the profits from the 1^st April 1805.⁵

In August 1807 he visited William Wordsworth; from a later period (1829 and 1835) two letters survive from Wordsworth to Robert Spence, referring to his father-in-law Robert Foster.⁶

In 1808 he lived at the Wooden Bridge. In April 1809 he was made an overseer of the poor for North Shields; he had been on the committee since at least December 1808. In the next month he suffered an attack of typhus fever. In November 1808, in March, September and December 1809, and in January, March, June and July 1810, he was one of two representatives from Shields at Newcastle Monthly Meeting. In September 1809 he was one of four Monthly Meeting representatives to Quarterly Meeting.⁷

On the 11^th August 1808 Robert wrote to Robert Foster, desiring to visit Hebblethwaite now that Foster had learned of his attachment to his daughter Mary; the sensitively written letter appears defensive, as he should have spoken with Foster first. In July 1810 Monthly Meeting appointed David Sutton, Joseph Unthank and Thomas Robson to inquire into Robert's clearness to marry. No obstacles were found, and on the 29^th August 1810 he married [N21] Mary Foster, at Brigflats meeting house. Not long afterwards the business of Procter & Spence, Woollen drapers, and agents for Sir Cha^s Loraine & C^o was removed from the Wooden Bridge (the Low Street) to the house at the corner of Howard Street and Tyne Street. The ground floor was converted into a shop, and Robert and Mary lived upstairs. The business sold a wide range of items, including bombazine, tartan, carpet and hats.⁸

The couple had 18 children, though not all survived: Mary (1811–1811), Mary (1813–1873), [N1] Sarah (1814–1871), Elizabeth Foster (1815–1876), Rachel (1816–1844), Robert (1817–1890), John Foster (1818–1901), Joseph (1819–1889), Thomas (1821–1839), Jane (1823–1845), Ann (1824–1824), Margaret (1824–1824), Ann (1825–1859), Margaret (1825–1851), Hannah Maria (1827–1856), Frances (1829–1829), Emma (1830–1855), and Lucy Fisher (1832–1858); all were born at Howard Street, North Shields. At the registration of each birth (1811–1832) Robert was described as a draper (in 1815 a linen & woollen draper, specifically).⁹

In October 1810, in February, April and November 1811, and in February, July, August and September 1812, he was one of the Shields representatives to Monthly Meeting. In September 1811 he was appointed as a Monthly Meeting representative to Quarterly Meeting. In August 1812 he first signed the Monthly Meeting minutes as Clerk. On the 7^th January 1813 he appeared before the Lieutenant at Newcastle on account of being balloted for the local Militia.¹⁰

In November 1813, in March, May, September, November and December 1814, July and September 1815, in June, August, November and December 1816, in July, October and December 1817, and in January, March, May, August, October and December 1818 he was a Shields representative to Monthly Meeting. From December 1814 Myles Birket Foster was his assistant Clerk. That quarter Robert was one of the four representatives to Quarterly Meeting, as he was again in June 1816, September 1817 (with David Sutton), and December 1817. In February 1818 he stood down as Clerk in favour of Myles Birket Foster.¹¹

In 1818 his business diversified: on the 1^st August he went into co-partnership with Chapmans as the North and South Shields Bank. After this date he is often alternatively described as a banker.¹²

In August, October and December 1818, in July and September 1819, in January, March, June, September and November 1820, in May, August and November 1821, in January and March 1822, and in February 1823 he was a Shields representative to Monthly Meeting. He represented Newcastle Monthly Meeting at Quarterly Meeting in June 1819, June 1820 and June 1822. In January 1820 he was reappointed as Clerk to Newcastle Monthly Meeting, with Jonathan Priestman as his assistant.¹³

By 1821 he had already received a share in the estate of Robert Foster, in the latter's lifetime. In April 1822 he was described as a banker and merchant.¹⁴

In May 1823 he went to London, to present an anti-slavery petition to the House of Commons. By June 1823 he was no longer Clerk to Newcastle Monthly Meeting, but he represented Shields there that month and December 1823, as well as in July and September 1824, in March, April, July, September, and November 1825, in February, May and November 1826, and in January, March, May, August, October and December 1827. He acted as clerk at the May and September 1825, February 1826, and October 1827 meetings. In November 1824 he was executor of the will of Thomas Kettlewell, ship-owner of North Shields. In February 1826 he received a letter from Isaac Crewdson, requesting a banking apprenticeship for his nephew. Over April/May 1827 he spent a week in Scotland. In August that year he acted as co-executor of the will of his father-in-law Robert Foster; he himself was left Ł1200, but from this had to pay an annuity of Ł40 to Margaret Foster. That year his business appeared in the local directory as "Robert Spence & Co., linen & woollen drapers, Howard street, North Shields." In January 1828 he was appointed an overseer by Newcastle Monthly Meeting. He was one of the two Newcastle representatives to Monthly Meeting in March, July and October 1828, and one of four representing Newcastle at Quarterly Meeting in Darlington that June. In October, described as a draper of Newcastle, he was listed as one of the trustees of the meeting house and burial ground. He was regularly subject to seizures for non-payment of church rates—for example, a distress warrant was issued against him for Ł1.3s.4d, on the 30^th December 1828. He attended Monthly Meeting in February, May, July, September, and December 1829, in February, June, September (twice), and December 1830. In February 1829 it was reported the he had subscribed Ł21 towards the Master Mariner' Asylum at North Shields; by January 1834 he was its treasurer. By August 1829 he was Treasurer of the North and South Shields Ferry Company. In March 1830 he was one of three men appointed to enquire into Edward Richardson's clearness to marry. That month, too, he chaired a meeting at the Northumberland Arms, regarding the establishment of a Customs House at North Shields; he was appointed to the deputation to London. On the 17^th May 1830 he had an interview with the duke of Wellington, in North Shields. He attended Monthly Meeting in February, October, and December 1831. On New Year's Eve of 1831 he petitioned the trustees of Lord Crewe's Charity, as secretary to the Committee for relief of the indigent, North Shields. He represented Newcastle at Monthly Meeting in April, August, October and December 1832, in January, June, August, and October 1833, and in February, May, July, August, and December 1834. In August 1834 he spent a week touring Scotland, including a visit to General Meeting for Scotland at Edinburgh.¹⁵

With Myles Foster, he bought the goodwill of 'the Raff', an old timber business, for Ł600; they were partners as "Spence & Foster, Raff Merchants"; they kept a yard for water-seasoning floating timber, near Milburn Place, North Shields. But in May 1829 he and Foster advertised that they had declined the business of raff-merchants and canvas agents at North & South Shields. In November 1830 he chaired a meeting of the inhabitants of North Shields at Ward's, Commercial Hotel, Howard Street, to consider setting up a subscription for the wives and families of seamen shipwrecked, or returned in unsuccessful ships from Greenland, belonging to the port of Newcastle; he became a committee member, and subscribed Ł2. In December he was chairman of the North and South Shields Fire Assurance Company. In February 1831 a public meeting set up the Society for the Relief of Widows and Orphans of Shipwrecked Mariners; Robert was one of three trustees and a committee member; he donated Ł5 and gave an annual subscription of Ł1. In October 1831 he was a freeholder signatory to an open letter to the High Sheriff of Northumberland, requesting a meeting to discuss the Reform Bill. In December 1831 he was appointed Treasurer to the Tynemouth soup kitchen. In November 1832 he was the seventh person to take out life assurance with the Friends' Provident: Ł500 cover, at a premium of Ł19 5s. 10d. a year.¹⁶

The Spence household kept three servants; one, who was with them from about 1833 to 1840, was an escaped slave from Virginia, Mary Ann (Macham) Blyth.¹⁷

In July 1835 Robert chaired a meeting of the North Shields Auxiliary Bible Society, in the Baptist chapel. In January 1836 he was one of those desiring a meeting for opposing the Newcastle to North Shields railway being for passengers only, not coal, as was the local staple.¹⁸

By September 1836 Robert was recorded as a member of the Board of Guardians for the Tynemouth Union.¹⁹

Robert was present at Monthly Meeting in February, May, September, and November 1835, in March 1836, in April, June, July, and December 1837. At the July 1837 Monthly Meeting he was given responsibility for burial notes and birth statements for Shields. In June, September, and December 1837, with Mary, he represented Newcastle at the Monthly Meeting of Ministers and Elders; both were Elders, and both continued to attend these meetings every three months until December 1841. Robert was one of the two Shields representatives to Monthly Meeting in May, August, and September 1839, in August and October 1840, and in February and December 1841. In June 1839 and February 1841 he was one of the four Monthly Meeting representatives to Quarterly Meeting. In December 1840 he signed the testimony to Margaret Bragg, at the Monthly Meeting in Newcastle. In March 1842 he was one of the two representatives to Monthly Meeting of Ministers and Elders, at Sunderland; Mary joined him in this capacity for the next four meetings (held quarterly), and for the last two meetings of 1843, though he had a different companion in June that year; Robert attended all but the first meeting of 1844, accompanied in September by Mary; both attended the June 1845 meeting, which proved to be Robert's last.²⁰

He was chairman of the directors of the North and South Shields Fire Assurance Association from 1825 to its dissolution in 1837, and was presented with "an elegant piece of Plate" in recognition of his service.²¹

In 1838 the banking business amalgamated with a Sunderland bank as the Newcastle, Shields and Sunderland Union Joint Stock Banking Company. The goodwill of Chapmans was sold for Ł20,000. The North Shields branch continued to work almost independently, with Robert Spence as manager until 1845. The bank's address in 1847 (presumably as it was in Robert's lifetime) was 10 Howard Street, North Shields. It was in 1847 that the bank failed, its business being picked up by Woods & Co., and later absorbed into Barclay's.²²

In January 1838 he chaired a meeting of the Indigent Sick Society. By March he was on the provisional committee of the Tyne Dock Company. In November he chaired the monthly meeting of the Tynemouth Natural History Society. By January 1839 he was a trustee of the Master Mariner's Asylum. In early July 1839 he chaired a public meeting in the Library Room, Howard Street, which set up a subscription for relief to the families of the victims of the "disastrous calamity" at Hilda Wallsend Colliery; he subscribed Ł5.0.0. In 1840 he became an annual subscriber of Ł1 1s. to the Royal Victoria Asylum for the Blind. On the 20^th January 1841 Robert Spence, banker of North Shields, made his will, with provision for his wife, and a trust for his children during their minority:²³

I Robert Spence of North Shields in the County of Northumberland Banker do make this my last Will & Testament as follows, that is to say, I give devise and bequeath to my beloved Wife Mary Spence and to my Sons Robert Spence, John Foster Spence and Joseph Spence all of North Shields aforesaid & to their Heirs and Assigns for ever All my real estate of what nature or kind soever the same may be and wheresoever the same may be situated In special trust and confidence that they or the Survivors or Survivor of them their Heirs or Assigns shall or may in their discretion Sell and convey in such manner as they may judge most for the advantage of the trust hereby reposed in them And also give acquittances for the same and apply the Monies arising by sale thereof in the manner hereinafter directed I also Give and bequeath to my said dear Wife Mary Spence and my said Sons Robert Spence, John Foster Spence and Joseph Spence All my personal estate and effects of whatsoever nature kind and description the same may be in the like special trust and confidence in the first place to pay all my just debts funeral and testamentary expences in proving and establishing this my Will In the next place I direct that my said dear wife shall reserve for her sole use and benefit such Furniture or other personal effects as she shall incline to select to the value of One thousand pounds together with all my Books and Papers that she may incline to have—And all the rest and residue of the monies arising from the sale of my real and personal estate of whatsoever nature or kind the same may be I direct my said Trustees as aforesaid to divide share and share alike amongst all my beloved children on their respectively attaining the age of Twenty one years And it is further my Will And I hereby direct that before they receive their said distributive equal shares they shall respectively give their Bond or other Legal Security to my said Trustees before named for the payment to my Dear Wife of Five pounds per cent per annum on their said several shares so long as she shall live in order to enable her to Maintain and Educate my dear children during their minority And in case of her decease before all my dear children shall have attained their Twenty first year it is my Will And I hereby direct that my other three Trustees shall receive the interests and apply the same towards the Education and Maintenance of my dear Children until they respectively attain the age of twenty one years after which if there should be any accumulation or surplus I direct my said Trustees or the Survivors or Survivor of them to divide such surplus in equal portions amongst all my dear children in case my dear Wife should not be living at the time my younger Child should have attained her twenty first year On the contrary if she should be alive whatever accumulation may have taken place I direct shall be at her own disposal And I hereby Nominate and appoint my said dear Wife and my said Sons Robert Spence, John Foster Spence and Joseph Spence the Executors of this my last Will & Testament Revoking any other Will I may have heretofore made In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my Hand and Seal to this my Last Will and Testament contained in this sheet of paper this Twentieth day of the first month called January one thousand eight hundred and forty one. Robert Spence. (S.S.)

At the time of the 1841 census he was recorded as living with his wife and family in Howard Street, Tynemouth, with two nephews and four servants. Robert Spence was first treasurer under the Shields Town Improvement Act, and was Borough Treasurer for Tynemouth after the incorporation; in this capacity he had to pay the town watchmen. Around this time, or a bit earlier, there was only one old constable in North Shields, and anyone arrested was put in the lockup, of which Spence as Borough Treasurer kept the keys. "It was generally a case of drunk and disorderly on Saturday, and on Sunday after meeting R. Spence and his sons used to go and unlock and consider the case. It generally ended in "Now go home to thy wife and don't ever do this again." He was also in charge of the town fire engine. He was a manager of the Jubilee and Kettlewell schools. He was an advocate of gas lighting for North Shields. By May 1843 he was one of the two trustees of the Seamen's Loyal Standard Association. In September 1844, as one of the Commissioners of an Act for Paving, Lighting, Watching, Cleansing, Regulating, and Improving the Town of North Shields, he was among the signatories to an open letter calling for a public meeting to discuss the laying of gas pipes and the avoidance of contamination to the water supply by gas.²⁴

He absolutely forbade singing in his house, and strongly disapproved of 'theatre'.²⁵

He kept a journal, an edited version of which was privately printed by Philip Spence in 1939.²⁶

He was one of the most respected residents in his adopted town, ably filling many of its public offices. His presence, rendered conspicuous by his height, his long white hair, and the somewhat dignified gait enjoined by the Quakerism of that day, was long remembered by some of the older inhabitants of the harbour towns. He was a man of considerable literary taste and culture, and the valuable collections of books and manuscripts which were made by his son owed their origin to him. Among them is the original manuscript of the Journal of George Fox, now held by Friends House Library.²⁷

His kindness extended itself to all around him in a remarkable degree, but the privations of the poor especially excited his warm sympathy, and he was much occupied not only in giving them personal relief but also in devising and assisting various benevolent associations for the amelioration of their condition. The regard which was born for him was shown by the general closing of the shops on the day of his funeral.²⁸

On the 2nd August 1845 he made a codicil to his will, amending provision for his wife and children:²⁹

This is a Codicil to the above written Will and Testament of me Robert Spence of North Shields in the County of Northumberland Banker Whereas since the date of the said Will my dear Daughter Rachel the wife of Henry Shewell Corder of Ipswich has been removed by death leaving a Son named Thomas I do hereby direct that the Trustees appointed by my said Will shall stand possessed of the share of my real and personal estate and effects to which my dear daughter would have been entitled if she had survived me In trust to pay the Interest thereof for the Maintenance and Education of my said Grandson Thomas Corder until he shall attain the age of twenty one years and Upon trust so soon as he attains that age to pay over to him the share of his dear Mother in my Estate and Effects for his own absolute use and benefit And my Will is that if my said Grandson shall depart this Life before he attains the age of twenty one years then that the share shall be In trust for my dear Son in law Henry Shewell Corder and his Heirs for his own absolute use and benefit And I hereby revoke such part of my said Will as relates to my Children before they receive their distributive equal shares giving their Bonds for the payment of interest thereon to my beloved Wife and instead thereof I direct that my said Trustees shall in the first place secure out of my real and personal estate and effects the payment to my believed Wife of the sum of Eight hundred pounds yearly and every year for and during the term of her Natural life the said payment to be made to her by two equal half yearly payments in each year And my Mind and Will is that the share or shares of such Children as are daughters to be paid to them to their sole and separate use and shall be at their own disposal and shall not be in any manner under the control or interference or subject to the debts or engagements of their respective Husbands And I direct that the receipts of my said daughters shall be full and sufficient releases to my said Trustees for any money payable to them under my said Will And I hereby also direct that the receipt or receipts of my said Trustees for any money payable to them under my said Will or in any way connected therewith shall be full and effectual releases and discharges for the sum or sums of Money therein respectively expressed to be received and that no purchaser or other person paying them any ~~money~~ sum or sums of Money shall be bound or obliged to enquire into the necessity of any such Sale or the application of the said monies nor be answerable for the misapplication or nonapplication thereof And I hereby appoint my said dear Wife and my sons Robert Spence, John Foster Spence and Joseph Spence Trustees of my said Will and Codicil And I hereby confirm my said Will in all respects except as the same is altered by this Codicil In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my Hand this Second day of the eighth Month called August in the year one thousand eight hundred and forty five. Robert Spence.

After an attack of dizziness and a severe fall, and having been twice bled, he died at 7:30 pm on the 17^th August 1845, in Howard Street, Tynemouth. The Newcastle Courant noted that "His loss will be severely felt by every branch of society in that town, and more especially by the poor, who have lost in him a generous benefactor and kind adviser." He was buried on the 22^nd at Stephenson Street, North Shields:³⁰

The remains of the late Robert Spence, Esq., of North Shields, were accompanied to the place of interment attached to the chapel belonging the Society of Friends, in Stephenson-street, by a number of the principal tradesmen in North Shields, on Friday last, with a large number of the private friends of deceased. Nearly all the shops in the leading streets were closed, and generally throughout the town of Shields a very strong feeling of respect was shown to the memory of a really good man, one who was ever ready to lend a hand of assistance to the poor and needy.

His will was proved at Durham on the 9^th October 1845, and in the Prerogative Court of Canterbury on the 8^th August 1848. His estate was sworn under Ł25,000 (Ł1,102,500 at 2005 values).³¹

In reference to the death of Robert Spence, Esq., which took place on the 17th August last, the directors are at a loss how to enter any Minute expressive of their feelings of respect and attachment to his honoured memory, in common with all who knew him. They desire to record their admiration of his character in his unblemished integrity, in his devoted attention to the duties of his office, and in the courtesies and sympathies of life by which he was ornamented, and which caused him to be greatly beloved.³²

A finely executed bust of the late Mr Robert Spence, of North Shields, has just been finished by Mr James Shotton, a young and rising artist of that town. The character and expression of the face resemble the late respected gentleman very much indeed. The bust has been executed from a small Daguerreotype portrait of Mr Spence, and, therefore, the credit of a successful likeness in this case adds an additional lustre to the genius of the artist. Mr Shotton has promised to place the bust in one of the public buildings in the town.³³

3 Journal of Robert Spence; Ackworth School Centenary Committee (1879) List of the Boys and Girls admitted into Ackworth School 1779–1879, Ackworth

6 Spence (1939); Ernest de Selincourt, ed. (1967–82): The Letters of William and Dorothy Wordsworth, 2^nd edⁿ, Oxford)

8 RG 6/710, RG 6/1562; blurb on eBay advertising letter for sale, accessed 2006-09-22; minutes of Newcastle Monthly Meeting, Tyne & Wear Archives Service MF 168; Spence, op. cit., Myles B. Foster (1860): Ms Memoir of Robert Foster

12 Journal of Robert Spence; Death Duty Registers, (IR26&27)/1125; death certificate; (IR 26&27)/1722; wife's death certificate; children's entries in marriage digest; sons' marriage certificates

16 Minutes of Newcastle Monthly Meeting, TWAS MF 169; Journal of Robert Spence; Durham Probate Records (Robert Foster, 1827); History, Directory and Gazetteer of Durham and Northumberland; petition in Northumberland Record Office, catalogued in www.a2a.org.uk; The Newcastle Courant, 1824-11-20, issue 7728, 1829-02-21, issue 8040, 1829-08-15, issue 8064; Newcastle Courant, 1830-12-25

20 Minutes of Newcastle Monthly Meeting, TWAS MF 169; minutes of Newcastle Monthly Meeting of Ministers & Elders, TWAS MF 180; Robert Spence letters to Robert Foster, in my possession

22 Spence (1939); White's Newcastle & Gateshead Directory, 1847; Memoirs of John Wigham Richardson

23 The Newcastle Courant, 1838-01-26, issue 8515, 1838-03-02, issue 8520, 1838-11-16, issue 8557, 1839-07-05, issue 8590; Northern Liberator, issue 91, 1839-07-13; will, TNA: PROB 11/2080; Durham Probate Records, copy will, DPRI/2/53 pp563-565; TNA: HO 107/826/3 f8 p8; Spence (1939); Newcastle Journal, 1840-06-20; Newcastle Journal, 1839-01-26

24 TNA: HO 107/826/3 f5 p8; Spence (1939); Myles B. Foster (1860) Ms Memoir of Robert Foster; The Newcastle Courant, 1829-05-23, issue 8053, 1830-11-27, issue 8131, 1830-12-25, issue 8135, 1831-03-19 & 1831-04-02, issues 8147 & 8149, 1831-10-08, issue 8176, 1831-12-24, issue 8187; Bootham 1.3:236; David Tregoning & Hugh Cockerell (1982) Friends for Life. Friends' Provident Life Office 1932~1982. London: Henry Melland: 22; Newcastle Journal, 1844-09-21; Newcastle Journal, 1843-05-27

27 Welford (1875) Men of Mark 'twixt Tyne and Tweed. London: Walter Scott, III:426

28 obituary in The Friend q. in Spence (1939); Newcastle Journal, 1845-08-30

31 Spence (1939); death certificate; (IR 26&27)/1722; death/burial digest; PROB 11/1280; Durham Probate Records, copy will, DPRI/2/53 pp563-565

33 Newcastle Courant, 1845-10-17; according to the Newcastle Courant of 1846-01-02 the bust had been placed in the New Town Hall, North Shields; the Newcastle Journal of 1847-01-30 records that it was displayed at the George Inn in Tynemouth, in January 1857, the last reference to it yet located.

N3. ROBERT SPENCE

Robert Spence was born on the 6^th August 1742, at Darley, Hampsthwaite, Yorkshire. He was brought up a Friend.¹

He married, first, Deborah Hardcastle (1746–1779, d. of Jonathan and Hannah (Davie) Hardcastle), at Dacre in Netherdale, on the 1^st December 1774. They had two children: John (1775–1851) and Hannah (1777–1798).²

In 1779 he inherited his father's copyhold estate, except for the cross building, as well as half the residue of the estate; he was co-executor of his father's will with his brother John. In August that year he gave dinner to Joseph Wood, at Hardcastle-Garth; Wood noted that "our friend Jane Burrow having had for sometime a concern on her mind to pay a religious visit to the Inhabitants of Boroughbridge we set out for that place 15 miles about 5 o Clock and the weather being extremely hot our friend Robert Spence would not suffer us to walk but furnished us that were on foot with horses and desired us to keep them as long as we had occasion for them which was very kind of him for we could not have reacht the place that night on our feet;" . . . .³

In the 1783 Land Tax records he was assessed for Ł1 10s. 5Ľd. as occupier of a property in Hartwith cum Winsley owned by Jonathan Hardcastle, and for Ł1 4s. as occupier of another there owned by William Cook.⁴

He married as his second wife [N49] Sarah Walker, at Gildersome, Yorkshire, on the 30^th April 1783; he was at that date a butcher, of Hartwith, Kirby Malzard, Yorkshire—which he remained till his death (in 1795, 1797 and 1810 he was described as a yeoman). They had six children: [N2] Robert (1784–1845), Thomas (1785–1788), Abraham (1786–1788), Thomas (1788–1849), Rachel (1790–1856), and Sarah (1792–1863).⁵

This is the last Will and Testament of me Robert Spence of Hartwith in the Parish of Kirkby malzeard and County of York Butcher as follows I Give and dsvise All that Estate of Lands and Buildings which I purchased of Miles Solley consting of half of one Messuage and three Closes or Parcels of Land commonly called Bridge Field, Back Close and Pasture Close, Also an Allotment or Parcel of Land adjoining upon the said Premises set out and awarded by the Commissioners for dividing and inclosing Knaresbrough Forest containing one Acre and three Roods or thereabouts Statute Measure Also another Allotment or Parcel of Land set out by the said Commissioners which I purchased of Stephen Gill (with a Cellar therein) containing one Rood or thereabouts in Statute Measure, And also all that one Messuage or Dwellinghouse wherein Thomas Waller now dwells with all the Lands and Buildings thereto belonging (which I purchased of William Cook) containing by Estimation four Acres and an half be the same more or less, And also an Allotment or Parcel of Land thereto adjoining containing two Roods and two Perches or thereabouts Statute Measure, And also one other Allotment or Parcel of Land situate in Menwith Hill near Stone Beds containing five Acres one Rood and eleven Perces or thereabouts Statute Measure All which said Premises are situate within the Township or Constablery of Menwith with Darley in the Forest of Knaresbrough and are now in the occupation of Robert Walker and the said Thomas Waller their Undertenants or Assigns, I say, I give and devise all the before mentioned Lands and Premises with all ~~Barnes~~ Buildings Garths Gardens Hereditaments and Appurtenances to the same belonging to my Brother John Spence his Heirs and Assigns. Upon the Trusts nevertheless and to and for the Uses intents and purposes hereinafter mentioned expressed and declared of and concerning the same, that is to say, That _^^he the said _^^{John
Spence} or his Heirs shall borrow and take up at Interest the Sum of one hundred Pounds and shall Mortgage all or any Part of the ~~said~~ aforesaid Lands and Premises for the Security thereof to such Person or Persons as shall advance the same his her or their Heirs and Assigns and within twelve Calendar Months next after my decease shall pay the said Sum of one hundred Pounds so borrowed to my Wife Sarah Spence which said Sum of one hundred Pounds I give to her my said Wife in lieu and full satisfaction for her Dower or Thirds out of all my Lands and Premises whatsoever and the Receipt and Receipts of my said Trustee or his Heirs shall be a sufficient discharge to the Mortgage or Mortgagees for the aforesaid Money notwithstanding any misapplication or nonapplication thereof Also upon Trust that he my said Trustee or his Heirs shall let all my _^^said Lands and ~~Grounds~~ Premises and by and out of the Rents Issues and Profits thereof shall pay the Interest shall pay the Interest of the said Sum of one hundred Pounds so borrowed and after deducting all reasonable Expences and Charges sustained and expended by reason of this Trust shall pay the Remainder of the Rents Issues and Profits thereof to my said _^^Wife or such Person or Persons as shall or may be Guardian or Guardians for my ~~said~~ Son Thomas Spence and my Daughter Sarah Spence to be applied by her my said Wife or such Guardian or Guardians for and towards the Use maintenance education and support of my said Son Thomas and my said Daughter Sarah until my said Son Thomas shall attain the age of twenty one years and so soon as he my said Son Thomas shall attain the age of twenty one years that he my said Trustee John Spence or his Heirs shall Surrender Convey and Assure all the aforesaid Lands Buildings and Premises with all Hereditaments and Appurtenances thereto belonging unto and to the Use of my said Son Thomas Spence his Heirs and Assigns for ever Subject to the Payment of the said Sum of one hundred Pounds for which the same shall then stand Mortgaged for the purpose aforesaid And also subject to and I do hereby charge all the same Premises with the payment of the Sum of Two hundred Pounds which I give to my said Daughter Sarah to be paid to her when she shall attain the age of twenty one years And also subject to and I do hereby charge all the same Premises with the Payment of the yearly Sum of Eight Pounds to be paid to my said Wife and Brother John Spence or such Person or Persons as shall or may be Guardian or Guardians for my said Daughter Sarah Yearly and every year from the Time that my said Son Thomas shall ~~shall~~ or might have attained the Age of twenty one years to the Time my said Daughter Sarah shall attain the age of twenty one years or ~~dece~~ die which shall first happen by two even and equal Payments in each year the first Payment thereof to become due at the end of six Calendar Months next after he my said Son Thomas shall or might have attained that Age to be applied by my said Wife and Brother John or such Guardian or Guardians for and towards the Use maintenance and education of my said Daughter Sarah and until she shall attain the Age of twenty one Years, And in Case of default for thirty Days of Payment of the said Annuity or Rent Charge or any Part thereof after the same shall be payable I give power to my said Wife and Brother or such Guardian or Guardians from Time to Time to enter upon all or any part of said ~~house~~ Premises charged therewith and distrain for the same and the distress and [~~illeg.~~] distresses so tkaen to impound and sell as in cases of distress for nonpayment of Rent in Arrears, but in case my said Son Thomas shall happen to die before he shall attain the Age of twenty one Years and leave no lawful Issue, Then and in that Case Upon further Trust that he my said Trustee John Spence or his Heirs shall Surrender Conveyance assure all the aforesaid Lands Buildings and Premises with the Appurtenances unto and to the Use of my Children Robert Spence Rachel Spence and said Sarah Spence equally their several and respective Heirs and Assigns forever as Tenants in Common, Subject to all the Incumbrances before mentioned I Give and devise All that Messuage or Dwellinghouse wherein the said Robert Walker now dwells one Barn and three Closes of Land thereto belonging containing by estimation four Acreas and one Rood be the same more or less (being late the ~~Estimate~~ Estate of my Father Joseph Spence deceased), Also an Allotment or Parcel of Land set out by the said Commissioners situate on Darley Carr containing three Acres two Roods and eleven Perches or thereabouts, Statute Measure, All which said Premises are situate in Darley in the Parish of Hampsthwaite and are now in the Occupation of the said Robert Walker his Undertenants or Assigns with all other Buildings Garths Gardens Hereditaments and Appurtenances to all the said Premises belonging unto my said Son Robert Spence his Heirs and Assigns fore ever, Subject to and I do hereby charge all the same Premises hereinbefore devised to my said Son Robert with the Payment of the Sum of two Hundred Pounds which I give to my said Daughter Rachel to be paid to her when she shall attain the age of twenty one years. And also with the clear Yearly Sum of Eight Pounds (being interest for the said Sum of Two Hundred Pounds payable to my said Daughter Rachel as aforesaid) from _^^the Time of my decease to the Time my said Daughter Rachel shall attain the age of twenty one years or die which shall first happen to be paid by two even and equal Payments in each year to such Person or Persons as shall or may be Guardian or Guardians for my said Daughter Rachel to be applied by such Guardian or Guardians for and towards the Use maintenance and education of my said Daughter Rachel until she shall attain the Age of twenty one years. I Give and devise one Beast Gate or Cattle Gate on Dacre Pasture with the Appurtenances to my said Son Robert Spence his Heirs Executors Administrators and Assigns according the the nature and Tenure thereof and according to my Estate and Interest therein And Whereas my said Son Robert Spence is now under the Age of twenty one years I nominate and appoint my said Wife and my said Brother John Spence Trustees to hold the said Estates and Beast Gate for him my said Son Robert during his Minority, And I do empower them my said Trustees to let the same and recieve the Rents Issues and Profits thereof until my said Son Robert shall attain the Age of twenty one years and after applying the said yearly Sum of Eight Pounds part thereof for and towards the Maintenance and Education of my said Daughter Rachel as aforesaid And after deducting reasonable Expences sustained in expended by reason of this Trust shall apply the remainder of the Rents and Profits thereof for and towards the maintenance and Education of my said son Robert until he shall atain the Age of twenty one years, And after the [~~illeg.~~] determination of this Trust in Case of default for thirty Days of Payment of the said Annuity of Eight Pounds or any Part thereof payable for the maintenance and education of my said Daughter Rachel as aforesaid after the same shall be payable I give power to my said Wife and Brother John Spence or such Person or Persons as shall or may be Guardian or Guardians for my said Daughter _^^Rachel from Time to Time to enter upon all or any part of said Premises charged therewith and distrain for the same and the Distress and Distresses so taken to impound and sell as in Cases of Distress for nonpayment of Rent in Arrears But in Case any of them my said Children Robert, Thomas, Rachel and Sarah shall die before he she or they shall respectively attain the Age of twenty one years and leave no lawful issue in that Case I give and devise the Estate or Estates Legacy or Legacies hereinbefore given or devised to him her or them so dying to the Survivors _^^{or Survivor} of them my said Children Robert Thomas Rachel and Sarah their several and respective Heirs ~~and~~ Executors Administrators and Assigns as Tenants in common and not as joint Tenants. I Give to my said Son John Spence the Sum of ten Pounds, and I give to my Daughter Hannah Spence the Sum of five Pounds to be paid to each of them when they shall respectively attain the Age of twenty one years. I Give and bequeath all the rest residue and remainder of my Goods and Chattels ready Money and Securities for Money Book Debts and all other my Personal ~~Exp~~ Effects whatsoever (not herein otherwise disposed of) to my said Wife Sarah Spence her Executors Administrators and Assigns. Subject to the Payment of all my just Debts Funeral Expences and Probate of tis my Will and I do nomitate [sic] and appoint my said Wife and said Brother John Spence Guardians for my said Children until they shall respectively attain the Age of twenty one years or be married Lastly I do make constitute and appoint my said Wife and my said Brother John Spence joint Executors of this my last Will and Testament and I do hereby revoke all former Wills by me heretofore made

In Witness whereof I the said Testator ~~John~~ Robert Spence have to this my last Will and Testament written on three Sheets of Paper set my Hand to the first and second Sheet thereof and my Hand and Seal to the third or last Sheet thereof this twenty second day of June in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and ninety three Robert Spence (LS) Signed Sealed publised [sic] and declared by the said Testator Robert Spence as and _^^{or for} his last Will and Testament in our sight and Presence and by us subscribed as Witnesses in the sight and presence in the sight and presence of each other, These Words "which I give to my said Daughter Sarah" being first interlined in the second sheet hereof and other Interlineations being first made. W^m Snow. Edward Bilton Mary Stead.

This is a Codicil to be annexed to and taken as part of the last Will and Testament of me Robert Spence of Hartwith in the Parish of Kirkby malzeard and County of York Butcher. Whereas in and by my said Will which bears Date the ~~tweny~~ twenty second Day of June in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and ninety three I have given and devised certain Lands and Premises situate in the Township or Constablery or Menwith with Darley to my Brother John Spence his Heirs and Assigns, Upon trust to borrow the sum of one hundred Pounds to be paid to my Wife and Mortgage all or any Part ~~there~~of said Lands and Premises for the Security thereof, and for other purposes therein mentioned And Whereas in and by my said Will I have given the Sum of ten Pounds to my son John and five Pounds to my Daughter Hannah payable by my Executors out of my Personal Estate Therefore in Case my Personal Estate be ~~defective~~ deficient in Paying and discharging all my Debts the said Legacies to said Children John and Hannah and ~~the~~ the Expences of my Funeral and Probate of my Will, Then upon Trust that my ~~sad~~ said Brother John or his Heirs shall borrow and take up at Interest such further Sum or Sums of Money as Shall be further wantnging for the discharge and payment of the remainder of my Debts Legacies to my said Children John and Hannah and ~~the~~ Expences of my Funeral and Probate of my Will and therewith shall fully pay and discharge the same And shall further Mortgage all or any Part of ~~the~~ said Lands and Premises in my said Will so devised to him my said Brother John and his Heirs to such Person or Persons as shall advance the same his or their Heirs and Assigns and the Receipt or Receipts of my said Brother John or his Heirs shall be a sufficient discharge to the Mortgagee or Mortgagees so as they shall not be liable to see to the Application of the Mortgage Money In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my Hand and Seal this Thirtieth Day of July in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and ninety three Robert Spence Signed Sealed published and declared by the said Robert Spence as and for a Codicil to his last Will and Testament in the presence of us who at his request in his presence and in the presence of each other have subscribed our Names as Witnesses W^m Snow Edward Bilton Mary Stead.

This is another Codicil to be annexed to and taken as part of the last Will and [Testament] of me Robert Spence of Hartwith in the Parish of Kirkby malzeard Butcher Whereas in and by my said Will which bears Date the twenty second Day of June in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and ninety three I have given and dvised certain Lands and Premises situate in Darley in the Parish of Hampthwaite to my Son Robert Spence his Heirs and Assigns for ever Subject to and charged with such Incumbrances as are therein mentioned Now I do hereby further charge all the said Lands and Premises so devised in and by my said Will to my said Son Robert his Heirs and Assigns with the payment of the sum of one hundred and twenty five Pounds which I give to my Wife Sarah Spence to be paid to her when my said Son Robert should attain the Age of twenty one years or in Case of his Death before that Time to be paid to her so soon as some other Person or Persons shall hold the said Lands and Premises and be of the Age of twenty one Years And I also charge the same Premises with the Payment of Interest yearly to my said Wife after the Rate of four Pounds for ^^{one hundred Pounds for} a year for the said Sum of one hundred and twenty five Pounds from the Time of my decease to the Time that the said principal Sum shall be paid, the first Payment of said Interest or yearly Rent charge to become due at the end of twelve Calendar Months next after my decease. And in default of payment for thirty Days of the said Interest or yearly Rent charge or any Part thereof after the same shall be payable I give power to my said Wife or her Assigns from Time to Time to enter upon the said Premises charged therewith or any Part thereof and distrain for the same and the Distress and Distresses so taken to impound and sell as in Cases of Distress for Nonpayment of Rent in Arrear And Whereas in and by my said Will I have give[n] and devised certain Lands and Premises situate in the Township or Constablery of Menwith with Darley to my Brother John Spence his Heirs and Assigns Upon Trust to borrow the sum of one hundred Pounds to be paid to my said Wife and Mortgage all or any Part of said Lands and Premises for the security thereof Now my Will is that my said Brother John Spence or his Heirs shall borrow and take up at Interest the further Sum of twenty five pounds and shall Mortgage all or any part of said Lands and Premises so devised to him for the Security thereof to such Person or Persons as shall advance the same his her or their Heirs and Assigns and shall pay the same to my said Wife in ~~sure~~ such Manner and at such Time as the said Sum of one hundred Pounds is in and by my said Will directed to be paid. And the Receipt or Receipts of my said Brother John or his Heirs shall be a sufficient discharge to the Mortgagee or Mortgagees so as they shall not be liable to see to the application of the Mortgage Money. And the Interest thereof shall be paid in the same manner as the Interest of the said Sum of one hundred Pounds so directed to be borrowed is in my said Will directed to be paid In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my Hand and Seal this thirtieth Day of July in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and ninety three Robert (LS) Spence Signed Sealed published and declared by the said Robert Spence as and for a Codicil to his last Will and Testament in the presence of us who at his request in his presence and in the presence of each other have subscribed our Names as Witnesses. W^m Snow, Edward Bilton, Mary Stead

My father was of a remarkably generous disposition & this used sometimes to lead him into errors for it is possible to have failings "which may lean to virtues side" and my father's open free and easy manners was a disadvantage to him and the means of leading him more into company than was profitable; before or about my 10th year he had an apoplectic fit, by which he lost the use of nearly the whole of one side, and the medical man who attended him advised his going to Harrogate, I accompanied him & my mother and was left behind along with my father, to assist and take care of him, I used to fetch him the water from the wells in the morn^g. &c. &c. his health rapidly declined, and it was concluded best for us to return home, the journey altho only about 9 miles was accomplished with difficulty and my father got gradually worse & I believe a second attack disabled him almost entirely & on [sic] he was removed from this scene of afflictive tribulation, I stood by my mother at the bedside weeping when the solemn hour arrived which ranked her amongst the mournful list of widows & placed me amongst the tribe of the fatherless.⁷

He died on the 9^th September 1793, after two apoplectic fits. His body was buried at Hardcastle Garth on the 12^th.⁸

1 TNA: RG 6/901, /1091, /1165, /1571; Philip Spence (1939) Robert and Mary Spence

N4. JOSEPH SPENCE

Joseph Spence was born on the 1^st April 1715, at Menwith Hill, Hampsthwaite, Yorkshire.¹

He married [N26] Grace Bramley on the 10^th June 1739, at Dacre; at that date he still lived at Menwith Hill. Their children were: Joseph (1740/1–1752), [N3] Robert (1742–1793), Mary (1744–1751), John (1746–1806), Grace (1749–1801), Abraham (1750/1–1752), Mary (1754–1754), Sarah (1755 – before 1841), and Rachel (1761–1836).²

His circumstances as to this world's wealth were during the early part of his life and for a considerable time after his marriage, rather straightened, yet by an unremitting attention to business frugality and industry, he was in the course of a few years enabled, not only to exercise the rights of hospitality to his friends, but to give to his children as their necessities required it, such assistance as set them comfortably forward in life.³

Be it Remembered this Fifteenth day of November In the Year 1768 That this is the last Will and Testament of me Joseph Spence of Menwich Cum Darley, who being perfect in mind and memory and mindful of my Mortality Do give and dispose of all my worldly Goods and Estate in the following manner (To wit)

In the first place having past as Surrender to the Use of this my last Will I subject my Copy hold Estate with all my Personal Estate also to pay my just Debts Funeral Expences, and Legacies, as afterwards in this my last Will mentioned and Expressed, and Imprimis I Give to my Dear wife Grace Spence the Yearly Sum of Eighty Pounds to be paid her Yearly and every Year during her natural life by my Executors hereafter mentioned, to wit I appoint that she have four pounds paid her at the half years end after my decease, and the other Four Pounds the half years end after that, and son on four pounds every half Year during the Continuance of her natural life, Also my Will is that my said wife shall enjoy the two Low rooms in the Cross building or Heckling Shop, free from any rent, repairs, or Incumbrances whatsoever, I also give her one new feather bed and bedding with all Materials belonging it, with one Cupboard, the Clock, and a long Table, with some other necessary things she thinks proper to have to furnish her a Room. Item I Give to my Son Robert Spence my Copy hold Estate I now live upon, with all the Appurtenances whatsoever belonging the same, except the Cross building, which Cross building, namely the two upper Rooms and the Heckling shop, I give to my Son John Spence, and at the Decease of my wife Grace Spence, I give him also the two low rooms in the said Cross building, I also Give to my Son John Spence the Sum of Three Hundred Pounds

Item I Give to my Daughter Grace Dowgil, the wife of John Dowgil, The Sum of Two Hundred Pounds, One Hundred Pounds of which I appoint to be paid for twelve Months after my Decease, And the other Hundred Pounds, Twelve Months after that.

Item I Give to my Daughter Sarah Spence the Sum of Two Hundred Pounds, One Hundred Pounds of which two, I appoint to be paid her when she Arrives at the Age of Twenty One Years, and the other when she Arrives to the Age of Twenty Two Years, without any manner of Deduction whatsoever regarding maintenance, clothing, or Education.

Item I Give to my Daughter Rachel Spence the Sum of Two Hundred Pounds, One Hundred of which is to be paid here when she Arrives to the Age of Twenty One Years, and the other Hundred Pounds when she Arrive's at the age of Twenty two Years, without any Deduction whatsoever as her Sister Sarah's, but in Case either of my said Daughters namely Sarah, or Rachel, should die before they Arrive at the Age of Twenty One Years, then I Will, that her fortune shall be Divided share and share like among all my said Children then living, except she should be married and leave a Child or Children, and then her fortune to go to that child or Children equally

Item I Give to my Brother Abraham Spence during the Continuance of his Natural Life the Yearly income of Twenty shillings, to be paid him at five shillings each Quarter by my Executors hereafter named, the first Quarters payment, or Sum of Five shillings, to be paid him Three Months after my Decease, and so on every three Months during the aforesaid continuance of his Natural Life.

As for my other Estate Real and Personal with every thing else whatsoever I have, and call my own, and not before dispos'd of, after my just Debts, Funeral Expences, and Legacies, as before mentioned, are fully paid and discharg'd I give it to my two Sons Robert and John Spence to be Equally Divided between them share and share like; I also Constitute make and Ordain my said Two Sons Robert Spence and John Spence joint Executors of this my last Will & Testament, and I do hereby utterly disallow, revoke and disannul all other former Wills by me made Confirming this and no other, to be my last Will and Testament. In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and Seal the Day & Year above written —

Sign'd, Seal'd Publish'd and Declar'd by the said Joseph Spence as his last Will and Testament in the Presence of us Rob^t Crosby W^m Metcalfe. Tho^s Parker

On the 20^th May 1772, described as a flax dresser, of Darley, he took as an apprentice Rich^d Tiplady. In 1774 he was described as a linen weaver of Darley, Hampsthwaite; in 1779 he was said to have been a shopkeeper.⁵

He died on the 4^th February 1779, and was buried at Dacre Friends' burying-ground on the 8^th.⁶

The executors of his will, in which he is described as a mercer, grocer, linen-draper, and haberdasher, of Darley, were his sons Joseph and Robert. His shops were taken by Robert Walker, who also contracted for the stock in trade.⁷

1 TNA: RG 6/1571; Dictionary of Quaker Biography (Friends' House Library, typescript)—which says birth on 2^nd March 1714/15 or 1715/16

N5. JOSEPH SPENCE

He married, first, [N25] Sarah ____, in 1700. They lived at Menwith Hill, Hampsthwaite. They had seven children: John (1701 – ?), Abraham (1703 – before 1719), Mary (1706–1737), Hannah (1710–1715), Sarah (1710/1 – ?), Rachel (1713 – ?), and [N4] Joseph (1714/5–1779).²

He married, secondly, Hannah Hardcastle (1687–1723), in 1717. Their children, born in Yorkshire, were: Peter (1718/9 – ?) and Abraham (1719–1791).³

N6. JOHN SPENCE

John Spence was born in 1633 and baptised in Hampsthwaite, Yorkshire, on the 7^th April that year. He joined the Society of Friends by convincement.¹

The Knaresborough MM Record of Sufferings records that in 1658, for non-payment of tithes, there was "Taken from John Spence by John Dib for nonpayment of the steeplehouse sess one horse draught worth 00 01 06".²

He married [N14] Mary Inman on the 30^th December 1660, at Henry Settle's, Harefield, in Netherdale. At that time he lived at Menwith Hill, Hampsthwaite; he was later recorded as living in Darley. Their children were: John (1663 – ?), Mary (1666 – after 1701), Hannah (1668–1684), Sarah (1670 – after 1708), Rachel (1672/3–1699), [N5] Joseph (1677–1752), Abraham (1679–1752), Ruth (1682–1768), and Hannah (1684/5–1768); all were born in Yorkshire.³

In 1682 "At a Quarter Sessions held at Wetherby on the 9th and 10th of the Eleventh Month, eighty one Persons, summoned thither by Warrants, appeared, and were told by the Clerk, that they were severally indicted for Absence from their Parish-Churches, and required to traverse their Indictment, which they refusing to do, the Court tendred to them all the Oath of Allegiance, and upon their Refusal to take it, committed them to Prison, namely [ . . . ] John Spence" . . .⁴

Memorandu^m the will & mind of John Spence of Menwith hill within the County of Yorke Fellmonger being desireous to setle & dispose of my temp^orall esstate which god hath blessed me withall in manner & forme as followeth:

Impri^mis I give & comend my soule into the hands of almight god my maker and to Jesus Christ my saviour & redeemer in full asureance of my ever lasting hapynes when I have finished my testimony heere in this Life

First I give & bequeath unto John Spence Mary Spence & Sarah Spence my three eldest Children each of them Twelve pence att my decease

Item I give & bequeath unto Mary Spence my now wife three gates or pasturing for three beasts within Dacre pasture & all my p^ersonall estate whatsoever moveable & imoveable for & towards the maintinance & bringing up of my Five yongest Children & dispose of amongst my s^d Children when she shall think convein^ient & if it please god to take Mary my wife out of this transitory life before my youngest Child attaine to the age of Twenty one yeares Itt is ^my mind to Comitt those goods & Cattell & Chattels mouvable & imouvable into the hands of Geo: Gill & Miles Oddy of Dacre pasture upon speciall trust & Confidence for the uses heerafter expressed & that of the Lands surendered by me untill my yongest Child attaine to the age [abousd ?] for these speciall uses (First) that Geo: Gill & Miles Oddy or the survivor of them shall take all my said Children and bring them up w^th good raym^t & Learning as they shall thinke conven[ien]t with the goods and p^rofits of the s^d lands before mentioned & when my yongest Child doth attaine to the age of Twenty one yeares the remaind^er of the goods which come to the hands of Geo: Gill & Miles Oddy which is unddisposed of be devided equally amongst them—

It^em: I give unto Mary my now wife all the p^rofitts of the s^d Mesuage Lands & tenements untill my yongest ^child attains to the age aboves^d and then the s^d Lands w^th the apurtenances to be sould by Geo: Gill & Miles Oddy trustees [illeg. word] by me which said trustees stand seized of the s^d Lands & the price to be devided amongst my said Children or soe many of them as shall be then liveing

Lastly I apoint Mary my wife & Petter Inman my Brother in Law exec^utors of this my last will & Testament p^rovided the s^d Petter Inman shall or may Claime any benifitt by vertue of this my s^d will butt reasonable charges allowed him for his paines—Wittness my hand & seale the twenty fourth Day of July 1693

He was imprisoned in York Castle for non-payment of tithes, and died there on the 4^th August 1696. His body was buried the next day in York Friends' burying-ground.⁶

1 parish register; Dictionary of Quaker Biography (Friends' House Library, typescript), Philip Spence (1939) Robert and Mary Spence

2 photo of page from Record of Sufferings, Leeds University Library, reproduced on the Wright Family Tree

4 Joseph Besse (1998) Sufferings of Early Quakers. Yorkshire 1652 to 1690. York: William Sessions

N7. GEORGE SPENCE

He lived in Hampsthwaite, married [N13] ____ ____, and died in February 1657/8. Their children were: George (? – ?),Christopher (1631–1681), [N6] John (1633–1696), Mary (1635 – ?), Jane (1637–1716/7), Elizabeth (1640 – ?), William (1642–1658), and Robert (1648/9 – ?).²

He was buried at Hampsthwaite on the 24^th February 1657/8. Administration of his estate was granted to his son George on the 7^th October 1658.³

2 parish register; Hampsthwaite; wharfegen; possibly he was the ____ Spence who married Dorothie Atkinson at Fewston, Yorkshire, on the 26^th October 1629 ("England Marriages, 1538–1973", database, FamilySearch: 13 March 2020, Dorothie Atkinson in entry for Spence, 1629)

4 wharfegen; I note, however, that Philip Spence (1939) Robert and Mary Spence shows him as the son of a Leonard Spence whose parents were [N8] Christopher and [N9] Frances Spence. The Hampsthwaite parish register confirms the baptism of a Leo: Spence, son of Leonard Spence, on 28 September 1606. Given the lack of primary evidence of George's parentage, it may be that we can only really say that he could have been either son or grandson to [N8] Christopher.

N8. CHRISTOPHER SPENCE

Christopher Spence was born about 1559/1579, probably in Hampsthwaite, Yorkshire.¹

He died in March 1628/9, and was buried at Hampsthwaite on the 14^th March 1628/9.³

2 wharfegen; but if Philip Spence (1939) Robert and Mary Spence is correct Christopher had two sons, the younger being Leonard, who was father to [N7] George.

N9. FRANCES SPENCE born HORNER

On the 8^th February 1591 she was accused, in the church court at Hampsthwaite, of fornication with Hugh Gill, who denied he'd ever even kissed her. Frances had appeared in the church court several times before, and in the archdeacon's court, for suspicious behaviour.²

She died in January 1618/9, and was buried at Hampsthwaite on the 7^th January 1618/9.⁴

N10. RICHARD HORNER

He married [N12] Jennet ____ in about 1570. Their children were: John (c. 1571 – before 1600/1), Ellen (c. 1577 – after 1600/1), [N9] Frances (c. 1578 – 1618/9), and Ann (c. 1581 – before 1607).²

He made his will on the 11^th April 1585, and died at 'Sostones', Hampsthwaite, Yorkshire, in the following weeks.³

His body was buried at St Thomas a Becket church, Heptonstall, Halifax, Yorkshire, in May 1585.⁴

His will was proved at Knaresborough on the 12^th May 1585, probate being granted to his widow and John Horner.⁵

N11. ____ HORNER

He married around 1544, and had two known children: [N10] Richard (c. 1545 – 1585) and a daughter (c. 1559 – 1625).²

1–2 wharfegen; I have not created a page for the children, as I know nothing beyond what's in this entry.

N12. JENNET HORNER born ____

She married [N10] Richard Horner in about 1570. Their children were: John (c. 1571 – before 1600/1), Ellen (c. 1577 – after 1600/1), [N9] Frances (c. 1578 – 1618/9), and Ann (c. 1581 – before 1607).²

She was executrix of her husband's will in 1685, and was still living on 5 January 1600/1.³

N13. ____ SPENCE born ____

____ ____ married [N7] George Spence. Their children were: George (? – ?),Christopher (1631–1681), [N6] John (1633–1696), Mary (1635 – ?), Jane (1637–1716/7), Elizabeth (1640 – ?), William (1642–1658), and Robert (1648/9 – ?).¹

N14. MARY SPENCE born INMAN

Mary Inman was baptised at St Mary/Cuthbert's church, Pateley Bridge, Yorkshire, on the 8^th November 1640.¹

She married [N6] John Spence on the 30^th December 1660, at Henry Settle's, Harefield in Netherdale. Their children were: John (1663 – ?), Mary (1666 – after 1701), Hannah (1668–1684), Sarah (1670 – after 1708), Rachel (1672/3–1699), [N5] Joseph (1677–1752), Abraham (1679–1752), Ruth (1682–1768), and Hannah (1684/5–1768); all were born in Yorkshire.²

3 Joseph Besse (1998) Sufferings of Early Quakers. Yorkshire 1652 to 1690. York: William Sessions

N15. CHRISTOPHER INMAN

Christopher Inman was baptised at St Mary/Cuthbert's church, Pateley Bridge, Yorkshire, on the 18^th November 1596.¹

He first married Frances Smith (cal 1609 – 1636), on the 8^th May 1634, at Pateley Bridge. Their only child was Margaret (1636 – ?), b. Pateley Bridge.²

He married, secondly, [N20] Mary (Maria) Darnbrough on 27^th January 1639/40, at Pateley Bridge. They had four children: [N14] Mary (1640–1719), Henry (1642–1647), Henry (1647–1724), and Ann (1650–1674), all b. Pateley Bridge. Another child, Peter, was born at some point, possibly around 1648, but his date of birth isn't known, and it's not clear which of Christopher's wives was his mother.³

His body was buried at St Mary/Cuthbert's church, Pateley Bridge, on the 14^th March 1680/1.⁴

An inventory of his effects was taken on the 4^th April, at which time he was described as a husbandman, of Bouthwaite Grange, Netherdale, Yorkshire. The total value was Ł80 12s., against which were set debts of Ł12 6s. 6d (one of which was of 3s., to Peter Inman). Among his livestock were "one old Horse a gelding a mare and a fole", "foure oxen and five [illeg. word]", "Six little kine and foure Calves", "Tenn young bease [?] and Seaven Calves", "Fifty two sheepe and 17 [illeg. word] & 15 Lambes", "one little [illeg. word] w^th powltry"; "Husbandry Geare" included "two yokes two teames one plough with [illeg. word] one Hay and Harrow and two paires of wheels". Administration was granted in Masham Peculiar, to Henry and Peter Inman.⁵

N16. HENRY INMAN

Henry Inman was baptised at St Mary/Cuthbert's church, Pateley Bridge, Yorkshire, on the 31^st May 1567.¹

He married [N19] Isabel(la) Gryme/Graham on the 18^th May 1592, at Pateley Bridge. Their children were: Wilfred (1593 – c. 1656), [N15] Christopher (1596–1680/1), Peter (1599–1685), Marmaduke (1602/1622–1667/8), and Ann (c. 1609 – after 1649), all b. Pateley Bridge.²

His body was buried at St Mary/Cuthbert's church, Pateley Bridge, on the 14^th May 1639.³

1 "England Births and Christenings, 1538–1975", database, FamilySearch: 19 March 2020, Henrie Inman, 1567; wharfegen

N17. PETER INMAN

Peter Inman married [N18] Anne ____, presumably around 1566. They had three children: [N16] Henry (1567–1639), Edward (1570–1599), and Ambrose (1571–1607/8), all b. Pateley Bridge.¹

He made his will on the 13^th April 1574, as below; it was proved in the York Registry on the 20^th November that year.²

In the name of god amen The thirtenthe daye of Aprill in the yeare of oure Lorde god a thowesande five hundrithe Seaventie fower I Peter Inman sicke in my bodie but of good and pfecte remembrance Lawde and prayse be unto almightie god do ordeyne and make this my laste will and testamente in manner and fforme ffolloweinge ffirste I bequithe and comende my soule to god almightie my maker & redemer and my bodie to be buried within the churche yearde of Pateleybridge at the Instruction of my friends Item I bequithe my farmhoulde whiche now I do dwell upon to Anne my wiffe to helpe and to bringe upp and kepe my children so longe as she do kepe her selfe sole & unmaryed, and after to henrye my sone. Item I bequithe by Legacie to henrie my sone one whce calffe. of collor blacke Item I bequithe one other blacke whce calffe to Amerne my wiffe sone Item my will and minde is that all my goode and chattelle shalbe sett and devided into three ptes that is to saye one parte to Anne my Wiffe the seconde pte to My sones Henrie and Amerne the thirde pte to Coste and Chardges Concerynge my funeral exspences Item the reste of my goode not bequithed my funeral exspences deducte contented paide I give and bequeathe to Amerne my sone Item I make Supervysores of this my last will to so my will and mynde hearin be fulfilled Edwarde Inman and Thoms Sympson Item I make my executore Anne my Wiffe and henrie my sone to se this my Laste Will and testamente be fulfilled discharged and my truste is in theme.

N18. ANNE INMAN born ____

Anne ____ married [N17] Peter Inman, presumably around 1566. They had three children: [N16] Henry (1567–1639), Edward (1570–1599), and Ambrose (1571–1607/8), all b. Pateley Bridge.¹

N19. ISABEL INMAN born GRYME/GRAHAM

Isabel(la) Graham married [N16] Henry Inman on the 18^th May 1592, at Pateley Bridge. Their children were: Wilfred (1593 – c. 1656), [N15] Christopher (1596–1680/1), Peter (1599–1685), Marmaduke (1602/1622–1667/8), and Ann (c. 1609 – after 1649), all b. Pateley Bridge.¹

Her body was buried at St Mary/Cuthbert's church, Pateley Bridge, on the 15^th August 1641.²

N20. MARY INMAN born DARNBROUGH

Mary Darnborough (Maria Darnebrocke) was baptised at St Mary/Cuthbert's church, Pateley Bridge, Yorkshire, on the 16^th August 1601.¹

She married [N15] Christopher Inman on the 27^th January 1639/40, at Pateley Bridge. They had four children: [N14] Mary (1640–1719), Henry (1642–1647), Henry (1647–1724), and Ann (1650–1674), all b. Pateley Bridge.²

1 wharfegen. NB doubt has been cast on this relationship, given that if it is correct Mary Inman would have had her last child at the age of 49, which though possible is pretty unlikely. A more likely candidate is the Mary Darnbrooke bapt. at Pateley Bridge on the 27^th January 1607, daughter of Gabriell Darnbrooke ("England, Yorkshire, Parish Registers, 1538–2016", database, FamilySearch: 23 February 2022, Mary Darnbrooke, 1607)

N21. NINIAN DARNBROUGH

Ninian Darnbrough was baptised at St Mary/Cuthbert's church, Pateley Bridge, Yorkshire, on the 30^th January 1565/6.¹

He married [N24] Jennet Fryer at St Mary/Cuthbert's church, Pateley Bridge, on the 20^th September 1584. They had seven children: John (1585–1585), Humphrey (1586–1586), Samson (1588 – ?), Gabriel (1591–1595), Christopher (1594 – ?), John (1598–1678/9), and [N20] Mary (Maria) (1601 – ?), all b. Pateley Bridge.²

N22. SAMSON DARNBROUGH

Samson Darnbrough (Darnebrocke) married [N23] Margaret Kidd at St Mary/Cuthbert's church, Pateley Bridge, on the 12^th December 1561. They had three children: Ninian (1562–1563), [N21] Ninian (1565 – after 1601), and Jane (1568 – ?), all b. Pateley Bridge.¹

1 "England Marriages, 1538–1973", database, FamilySearch: 12 March 2020, Margaret Kidd in entry for Sampson Darnebrocke, 1561; wharfegen

N23. MARGARET DARNBROUGH born KIDD

Margaret Kidd married [N11G] Samson Darnbrough at St Mary/Cuthbert's church, Pateley Bridge, on the 12^th December 1561. They had three children: Ninian (1562–1563), [N21] Ninian (1565 – after 1601), and Jane (1568 – ?), all b. Pateley Bridge.¹

1 "England Marriages, 1538–1973", database, FamilySearch: 12 March 2020, Margaret Kidd in entry for Sampson Darnebrocke, 1561; wharfegen

N24. JENNET DARNBROUGH born FRYER

Jennet Fryer (or Freare) married [N21] Ninian Darnbrough at St Mary/Cuthbert's church, Pateley Bridge, on the 20^th September 1584. They had seven children: John (1585–1585), Humphrey (1586–1586), Samson (1588 – ?), Gabriel (1591–1595), Christopher (1594 – ?), John (1598–1678/9), and [N20] Mary (Maria) (1601 – ?), all b. Pateley Bridge.¹

N25. SARAH SPENCE born ____

Sarah ____ married [N5] Joseph Spence in 1700, and lived at Menwith Hill, Hampsthwaite. They had seven children: John (1701 – ?), Abraham (1703 – before 1719), Mary (1706–1737), Hannah (1710–1715), Sarah (1710/1 – ?), Rachel (1713 – ?), and [N4] Joseph (1714/5–1779).¹

N26. GRACE SPENCE born BRAMLEY

Grace Bramley was born at Langbar, Nesfield-with-Langbar, Ilkley, Yorkshire, in about 1715, and was baptised at the church of All Saints, Ilkley, on the 12^th February 1715/6.¹

She married [N4] Joseph Spence on the 10^th June 1739, at Dacre. Their children were: Joseph (1740/1–1752), [N3] Robert (1742–1793), Mary (1744–1751), John (1746–1806), Grace (1749–1801), Abraham (1750/1–1752), Mary (1754–1754), Sarah (1755 – before 1841), and Rachel (1761–1836).²

She died on the 30^th August 1781, and was buried at the Friends burying ground in Dacre on the 2^nd September.⁴

1 TNA: RG 6/898; wharfegen; "England Births and Christenings, 1538–1975", database, FamilySearch: 19 March 2020, Grace Bramley, 1716.

3–5 RG 6/898, /1571; wharfegen also gives mother's name as Thomasina Moon, but it is possible that the Ilkley baptism, and the 1714 Skipton marriage of that Grace Bramley's parents relate to a different family

N27. ROBERT BRAMLEY

On the 26^th December 1714 he married [N46] Thomasin(a) Moon, at the Priory Church, Bolton Abbey, Skipton-in-Craven, Yorkshire. Their children were: [N26] Grace (1715–1781), Ann (1724–1787), and Isabel(la) (1725–1808), all b. Langbar, Nesfield-with-Langbar, Ilkley, Yorkshire.²

In 1724 he was recorded as a baker. In 1739 he lived at Whitmore House, Bramley Head, West End, Thruscross, Fewston, Yorkshire.³

He died in November 1775, being buried on the 13^th at St Michael's Church, Fewston.⁴

1 "England Births and Christenings, 1538–1975", database, FamilySearch: 18 September 2020, Robert Bramley, 1681

3 Dictionary of Quaker Biography (Friends' House Library, typescript); TNA: RG 6/1571; wharfegen

N28. WILLIAM BRAMLEY

William Bramley was baptised at St Michael's Church, Fewston, Yorkshire, on the 10^th October 1652.¹

On the 26^th November 1676, at St Michael's Church, Fewston, he married, first, [N39] Isabel(la) Banister. Their children were: John (1677 – ?), William (1679 – ?), and [N27] Robert (1681–1775), all b. Fewston.²

The name of his second wife isn't yet known, but their children were: Francis (1683–1685), Thomas (1685 – ?), George (1688 – ?), Isabel(la) (1691–1693), Benjamin (1693 – ?), Mary (1696–1733), Adam (1700–1702), and Matthew (1708–1729), all b. Fewston.⁴

1 "England Births and Christenings, 1538–1975", database, FamilySearch: 18 September 2020, William Bramley, 1652

N29. JOHN BRAMLEY

He married [N38] Dorothy ____. Their children were: [N28] William (1652–1707), Isabel(la) (1653 – after 1677), George (1660–1660), (child) (c. 1661 – 1661/2), Marie (1664–1664), Dorothy (1665–1742), Francis (1668–1668), all b. Fewston; and John (? – ?).²

In the name of God Amen the eight Day of June In the yeare of our Lorde one Thousand six hundred seaventy & five According to the Compation of the Church of England In the Eight & twenty yeare of the Reigne of our Lorde Charles the Second by the grace of God Kinge of England Scotland France & Ierland I John Bramley of Wythery Lane within the p^arish of Fewston & Countie of Yorke being sicke & weake in bodie but of sound & perfect Memories Praise be Given to God for the Same & Knowing the uncertaintie of this Life on Earth & being desirous to settell in order doe make this my last will & Testament maner & former Following that is to Say First Principallie I comend my Soule to ^all mightie God my Creator assured in belleving that I shall (receeve?) full Pardon & free remision of all my Sinnes & be savied by the P^recious death & merits of my Saviour & redemor Christ Jesus & my bodie to the Earth from whens^ce it was taken to be buried in such decent manner As to my Executor heareafter named shall be thought meett & connvanent & as Touching such worldlie Estate as the Lorde in mercie hath Sent and my will & meaning is the Same Shall be imployed & bestowede as heareafter by this my will is Expressed & forst I doe revocke Renounce [illeg. word] & make voyd all wills formerly b me maide & declaire & appoint this my Last Will & Testament Item Give to my Sone William Bramlay the Somme of Tenne Pounds to be Paid at Michellmas come a Twelmonth Itm I Give to my Sone John Bramlay the sume of Tenne Pounds to be paid at the Same Time aforesaid Itm I Give to my Daughter Jessabell Bramlay the Sume of Tenne Pounds to be Paid at May day Come twelve month after my desease Itm I Give to my daughter Dorathie Bramlay the Sume of Tenne Pounds to be Paid a Twell month after my desease Itm all the rest of my Goods Movaball & unmovaball I Give to my Wife Doarthie Bromlay & I make the Said Doarthie Bromlay Sole Excutor of this my Last will & Testament I[n] wittness where of I have sette my hand & seall the Day & yeare first above mention^d

Sealled in the sight & Presense of us

Robert Frish jr

Jane Frish

marke & seall

	Ł	s	d
his purse & Apparell	03	10	0
Two oxen & fower Steares	20	0	0
Six cowes	23	0	0
five Heffers one Steare & one bull	19	0	0
Thre Stickes & fower Callares [?]	08	0	0
one Meare one Coult & one fillie	09	0	0
fiftene Sheepe	02	10	0
Hay Grass & Corne	20	0	0
one wayne Coupe Teames & all other Things be Longing to husberie geare	05	0	0
Beffe & Baccon ote mealle & ottes & other granes	03	0	0
one Bed & bedding be Longing it one dake [?] & fower Chestes one Chare with sevrall Husellments with in the parlor	02	0	0
Bowalls Shallars & all other Things with in the Darie	00	06	8
one Bed & bedding be Longing it well Ches & one Simlin [?] with all other Huslamen [?] in the Chamber	01	10	0
one Table & two Coubards	01	10	0
Brass Puder & mettall	01	00	0
one Range one Longsettell Three Chares Six quisines Carelles Churnes & Sheares with other Husellment in the house Sted	01	10	0
manour dong & Ashes	00	02	0
Geese & henes	00	06	0
Sum	123	05	4
Debts owne to the Testator, exepting his Funerall Expenses	30	00	0
Tottall	153	05	4

1 "England Births and Christenings, 1538–1975", database, FamilySearch: 18 September 2020, John Bramley, 1606.

N30. FRANCIS BRAMLEY

On the 30^th June 1605 he married [N33] Isabel(la) Brayshaw, at St Michael's Church, Linton-in-Craven, Yorkshire. Their children were: [N29] John (1606–1676), Mary (1608 – ?), Francis (1610–1688), George (1613–1682), Ann (1615–1644), William (1619–1619), Isabella (1620–1685), and Elizabeth (1624 – ?), all b. Fewston, Yorkshire.²

N31. JOHN BRAMLEY

John Bramley married [N32] Grace ____. Their children were: [N30] Francis (c. 1580 – ?), Ellen (c. 1581 – ?), John (c. 1582 – ?), William (c. 1585 – ?), and Robert (c. 1586 – ?).¹

I, John Bramley of Withrawe laine in Fuiston parishe &c., to be buryed in Fuiston Church yearde &c.
It is my will and trew meanninge that Grace, my wieffe, and Frauncis, my sonne, shall have the occupacon of my tenemente to ther owne uses after ther owne myndes, equally betwene them, after my decease, for those yeares yet to expire in my lease, if she, my saide wieffe, so longe shall live and keepe her unmarryede; and if she marry or die before thende of those yeares, then my will is that the remainder of my yeares shall remaine to my sonne Frauncis Bramley and Ellen Bramley, my daughter, equally between them duringe all the yeares not expirede.
My will is that my goodes be devided into thre partes, one therof shall remaine to my wieffe; one other unto all my children, equally to be devided amongste them, savinge that John, William and Robert shall alowe and abate, every one of them, xl s. a peice of ther partes, for and in consideracon of suche goodes and helpes as they have had alredie at my handes.
The thirde parte, first hereof I give to Ellen, my daughter, one cowe called Alblacke, one chiste, one cuboorde and one table; to my wieffe one gardede whie and the yonger meare. All the reste of my goodes &c. I give unto my said wieffe, whome I make sole executrix.

Witnesses: Nich. Smithsonn, clarke, Hen. Graver, Will. Jeffrey, John Wrather.

Membrane 14. 3 and 4 James 1.

Grace, the relict of John Bramley, of Withrawe, deceased, is admitted as executrix of his will.

He may have died the same day, as his body was buried at St Michael's Church, Fewston, on the 3^rd May 1606.³

N32. GRACE BRAMLEY born ____

Grace ____ married [N31] John Bramley. Their children were: [N30] Francis (c. 1580 – ?), Ellen (c. 1581 – ?), John (c. 1582 – ?), William (c. 1585 – ?), and Robert (c. 1586 – ?).¹

Her body was buried at St Thomas of Canterbury Church, Hampsthwaite, Yorkshire, on the 18^th December 1616.²

N33. ISABEL(LA) BRAMLEY born BRAYSHAW

On the 30^th June 1605 Isabel(la) Brayshaw married [N30] Francis Bramley, at St Michael's Church, Linton-in-Craven, Yorkshire. Their children were: [N29] John (1606–1676), Mary (1608 – ?), Francis (1610–1688), George (1613–1682), Ann (1615–1644), William (1619–1619), Isabella (1620–1685), and Elizabeth (1624 – ?), all b. Fewston, Yorkshire.¹

N34. WILLIAM BRAYSHAW

William Brayshaw married [N37] Isabel(la) Wren on the 9^th April 1570, at St Michael's Church, Linton-in-Craven, Yorkshire. Their children were: Robert (1573–1632), Maudlen (c. 1576 – ?), John (1582 – ?), [N33] Isabel(la) (? – 1641), Ann (1585 – ?), Agnes (1590–1679/80), and William (? – 1653), all b. Linton-in-Craven.¹

N35. ROBERT BRAYSHAW

His body was buried at St Michael's Church, Linton-in-Craven, Yorkshire, on the 20^th November 1574.

N36. ELIZABETH BRAYSHAW born ____

N37. ISABEL(LA) BRAYSHAW born WREN

Isabel(la) Wren, of Linton-in Craven, Yorkshire, married [N34] William Brayshaw on the 9^th April 1570, at St Michael's Church, Linton-in-Craven. Their children were: Robert (1573–1632), Maudlen (c. 1576 – ?), John (1582 – ?), [N33] Isabel(la) (? – 1641), Ann (1585 – ?), Agnes (1590–1679/80), and William (? – 1653), all b. Linton-in-Craven.¹

N38. DOROTHY BRAMLEY born ____

Dorothy ____ married [N29] John Bramley. Their children were: [N28] William (1652–1707), Isabel(la) (1653 – ?), George (1660–1660), (child) (c. 1661 – 1661/2), Marie (1664–1664), Dorothy (1665–1742), and Francis (1668–1668), all b. Fewston.¹

N39. ISABEL(LA) BRAMLEY born BANISTER

On the 26^th November 1676, at St Michael's Church, Fewston, she married [N28] William Bramley. Their children were: John (1677 – ?), William (1679 – ?), and [N27] Robert (1681–1775), all b. Fewston.²

1 "England Births and Christenings, 1538–1975", database, FamilySearch: 18 September 2020, Isabel Banister, 1649

N40. JOHN BAN(N)ISTER

John Banister was baptised at St Mary-le-Gill Church, Barnoldswick, Yorkshire, on the 25^th August 1608.¹

He married, first, Margaret Frankland, on the 3^rd October 1625, at Barnoldswick. Their only child was Jane (1633–1633/4), b. Fewston, Yorkshire.²

A gentleman, of Fewston, he married, secondly, [N43] Jane Claphamson, at St Alkelda's Church, Giggleswick, Yorkshire, on the 4^th September 1637, by licence. Their children were: John (1638 – ?), Mary/Marie (1639–1640/1), Ellen/Helen (1640 – ?), Robert (1642 – ?), Mary/Marie (1644–1695), Jane (1644 – ?), (child) (c. 1646 – 1647), Dorothy (1646 – ?), (child) (c. 1647 – 1648), [N39] Isabel(la) (1649–1680/1), Henry (1651 – ?), Ralph (1654–1735/6), and Martha (c. 1657 – 1657/8), all b. Fewston.³

His body was buried at St Michael's Church, Fewston, on the 28^th February 1657/8.⁴

1 "England Births and Christenings, 1538–1975", database, FamilySearch: 19 March 2020, John Banister, 1608; wharfegen

2 "England Marriages, 1538–1973", database, FamilySearch: 12 March 2020, John Banister, 1625

N41. RICHARD BANISTER

Richard Banister of Barnoldswick married [N42] Ellen/Helen ____. Their children were: Jane (1599 – ?), Mary/Marie (1601 – ?), Martha (1602–1656), Ralph (1603–1605), Ann (1607 – ?), Susan(na) (1608 – ?), [N40] John (1608–1657/8), and Ralph (1612 – ?), all b. Barnoldswick, Yorkshire.¹

His body was buried at St Michael's Church, Fewston, Yorkshire, on the 15^th October 1656.²

N42. ELLEN/HELEN BANISTER born ____

Ellen/Helen ____ married [N41] Richard Banister. Their children were: Jane (1599 – ?), Mary/Marie (1601 – ?), Martha (1602–1656), Ralph (1603–1605), Ann (1607 – ?), Susan(na) (1608 – ?), [N40] John (1608–1657/8), and Ralph (1612 – ?), all b. Barnoldswick, Yorkshire.¹

Her body was buried at St Michael's Church, Fewston, Yorkshire, on the 1^st September 1641.²

N43. JANE BANISTER born CLAPHAMSON

Jana Claphamson was baptised at Giggleswick, Yorkshire, on the 1^st September 1616. Of Giggleswick, she married [N40] John Banister, at St Alkelda's Church, Giggleswick, Yorkshire, on 4^th September 1637, by licence. Their children were: John (1638 – ?), Mary/Marie (1639–1640/1), Ellen/Helen (1640 – ?), Robert (1642 – ?), Mary/Marie (1644–1695), Jane (1644 – ?), (child) (c. 1646 – 1647), Dorothy (1646 – ?), (child) (c. 1647 – 1648), [N39] Isabel(la) (1649–1680/1), Henry (1651 – ?), Ralph (1654–1735/6), and Martha (c. 1657 – 1657/8), all b. Fewston.¹

Her body was buried at St Michael's Church, Fewston, Yorkshire, on the 23^rd September 1671.²

N44. HENRY CLAPHAMSON

Henricus Claphamson married Elizabeth Edlestone (? – 1603/4) at Giggleswick, on the 4^th May 1583.¹

Their children were: Thomas (1588 – ?), Susanna (1591 – ?), Isabella (1594 – ?), and Henry (1599 – ?), all bapt. Giggleswick.²

He married, secondly, [N45] Maria Lambert at Giggleswick, on the 10^th October 1615. Their children were: [N43] Jana (1616–1671), Robert (1618 – ?), Ellena (1621 – ?), and Hugo (1623 – ?), all bapt. Giggleswick.³

N45. MARIA CLAPHAMSON born LAMBERT

Maria Lambert married [N44] Henry Claphamson at Giggleswick, Yorkshire, on the 10^th October 1615.¹

Their children were: [N43] Jana (1616–1671), Robert (1618 – ?), Ellena (1621 – ?), and Hugo (1623 – ?), all bapt. Giggleswick.²

N46. THOMASIN(A) BRAMLEY born MOON

"Tomisin Moun" was baptised at the Priory Church, Bolton Abbey, Yorkshire, on the 20th January 1694/5.¹

On the26^th December 1714 she married [N27] Robert Bramley, at the Priory Church, Bolton Abbey, Skipton-in-Craven, Yorkshire. Their children were: [N26] Grace (1715–1781), Ann (1724–1787), and Isabel(la) (1725–1808), all b. Langbar, Nesfield-with-Langbar, Ilkley, Yorkshire.²

Of West End, Thruscross, Fewston, Yorkshire, her body was buried at St Michael's Church, Fewston, on the 28^th May 1779.³

1 "England Births and Christenings, 1538–1975", database, FamilySearch: 18 September 2020, Tomisin Moun, 1694; wharfegen

N47. THOMAS MOONE

Thomas Moone married [N48] Ann Anderton on the 27^th January 1678/9, at Holy Trinity Church, Skipton-in-Craven, Yorkshire. Their children were: Major/Mauger (1684 – ?) and [N46] Tomasin(a) (1694–1779), both b. Bolton Abbey, Yorkshire.¹

His body was buried at the Priory Church, Bolton Abbey, on the 6^th April 1709.²

1-2 wharfegen; FamilySearch has the baptism of a Thomas Moone, son of Thomas Moone, on the 7th March 1659, at Carleton in Craven

N48. ANN MOONE born ANDERTON

Ann Anderton married [N47] Thomas Moone on the 27^th January 1678/9, at Holy Trinity Church, Skipton-in-Craven, Yorkshire. Their children were: Major/Mauger (1684 – ?) and [N46] Tomasin(a) (1694–1779), both b. Bolton Abbey, Yorkshire.¹

Her body was buried at the Priory Church, Bolton Abbey, on the 6^th October 1728.²

Suggestions for further research

Although [N7] George Spence is evidently either the son or the grandson of [N8] Christopher Spence, we really need to locate his baptism, to confirm the name of his father; similarly, the baptism of the Leonard Spence named in Philip Spence's 1939 family tree would help.

We need to find the marriage of [N5] Joseph Spence, in order to identify his wife's family name, for us to start work on her own line.

I have greyed out the doubtful lineage of [N20] Mary Darnborough, as I now regard it as unlikely. I don't wish to delete it completely, as it does at least serve to show that I have considered it. It would be good to confirm her correct baptism and parentage details.

The Spence family of Hampsthwaite and North Shields

N1. SARAH WATSON born SPENCE