History of Harby
Introduction to the Introduction:
November 2004
The following is intended to be the basis for a small booklet regarding the local history of the village of Harby. The Local History group is continuing to research the history of the village and much of below is an edited from more extensive articles which will be found in an archive collection that the group is amassing. We have a collection of photographs, old maps, transcriptions from the North Clifton parish register regarding the baptisms, marriages and burials up to 1867 when the All Saints parish registers began. We are also collecting Wills and inventories, the oldest dates from 1620. The group is minded that, given the interest in family history, we are collecting as many names as possible with a view to creating a data base of people who have lived in the village. We are willing to help anyone who is interested in their family tree or village history in general. First point of contact is, Keith Williams, E.mail address - Keith@Owlcottage1, FSnet.Co.UK. or phone number, 01522 703766
For an illustrated history of the Queen Eleanor story, please click here:
For an on line list of the 1881 census, please click here:
Introduction:
The history of Harby is elusive. As a settlement, there has never been an old, long established family with a grand house and centuries of documentation. Few families remain more than a three generations, maps elude us, facts have to be teased out of endless dry documents. However, the quest is ongoing. A Local History group was founded in 2003 to build on the work I had been undertaking since 1991 - the date I moved into the village. There are areas of historical research still to be followed. This brief history will hopefully offer an overview, should you seek great detail, then our Local History archive should give you sources and further evidence. Part of our aim is to collect as many names as possibly to provide Family historians with evidence of their forebears, to this end, we hope to amass as many wills as possible, plus any other documentation as we can find. I hope this booklet will provide a broad bush approach and lead you to explore the greater detail at a later date. 1. Early Harby. How long Harby has been established as a community is open to question. E.G.Wake in his, ‘History of Collingham and District’, suggests the suffix, ‘-by’ in Harby hints at an Anglo-Saxon origin, which could have occurred at any time between the 5th and 10th century. Equally, County Archaeologists have found evidence of Iron age settlements. We are on surer ground with the first documentary evidence that is found the Domesday survey of 1086. The record is brief and therefore worth noting in full. “In Herdebi Godwin has 6 oxgang of land to be taxed. Land to two ploughs. Five villians have now there two ploughs and twelve acres of meadow. Wood pasture half a mile long and half as broad. Value in Edward’s time forty shillings, now twenty.” So, the bare facts suggested that Harby was a tiny hamlet at the time of the Norman conquest. The habitation was probably on the eastern side of the village. The ‘Oxgang’ was a unit of measurement that was a bit elastic from area to area, it could mean that an area between 60 to 150 acres were under cultivation. Aerial photographs have revealed medieval strip farming opposite the church. Although the old ridge and furrows have long been flatten by modern farming methods, high altitude pictures clearly show different shades of vegetation marking out the old strips. The landscape might have been more heavily wooded at this period as Sherwood Forest stretched almost to Lincoln. The reference to wood pasture indicates an open woodland of mixed use, suitable for grazing animals and a managed wood to provide timber for building and firewood. The wood continued in existence into the 18th century. Around 1310 the woods belonged to the Bishop of Lincoln, who rented the area out to landowners. A later reference comes in 1660 with a mention of ‘Minster wood’ in a will of Thomas Woodshend. In 1691 Sir Thomas Hussey of Doddington Hall rented the woods for 21 years from the Bishop of Lincoln, said to be around 20 acres. George Knight noted the value of the wood was around ?100 per year in 1709. By the 1770’s, the De Laval family talk of the moor or close ‘formerly known as Harby wood’, we can assume that by this date the wood had disappeared. Harby was clearly a parish of two halves until the second enclosure of 1802. Even today, the modern ordinance survey maps reveal that on the eastern side of the parish a pattern of smaller fields, irregular in shape. This was the result of the first enclosure of 1716. Up to that date, the parish probably followed the old method of strip farming. Large fields divided by individual strips scattered between tenants and landowners. In 1716, an ‘Article of Agreement’ was drawn up between the tenant farmers and the principal landowners. Chief amongst these were Lord Harley, the second Earl of Oxford and husband of Henrietta Cavendish, daughter of the Duke of Newcastle. (The Dukes of Newcastle later became the Dukes of Portland. This family had huge large landholdings through out England. They were immensely wealthy and held many prominent political positions over several hundred years.) Other landowners included the Nevile family of Thorney, Lord Lexington, Gardiner of Wigsley and Thomas Milne of Collingham. The families Goy (or Guy), Simpkinson, Jenkinson, Husband, Brown, (George and Frances) , Buston where listed as Yeomen, small to medium farmers. Footitt of South Clifton and Gibson of Thorpe-on-the Hill also held land in the village. The Cottam’s, Thomas, William and John, Coddington, Bee and another Jenkinson were listed as husbandmen, that is, tenant farmers. Some, sighned their names, others signed with a mark. This agreement tidied up the older system of strip farming into fields. The document notes ‘....The Chappell field lying next to Swinthorpe...the Middle field lying to the north of Harby....and the other field lying next to Far Moor...’. This description gives us the best clue to the shape of the village at that period. In 1716, the old medieval field system was swept away and replaced by small fields fenced and hedged. In 1802, a second enclosure takes place. This required a parliamentary act with commissioners drawing up the allotment of fields and roads specified as to be 40 feet wide. Again, referring to the map, the 1802 fields are much larger, straight lines divide the land between The Duke of Newcastle, the Vicar of South Clifton and several local landowners. The new fields were much larger, possibly reflecting the changing techniques in farming. In parallel, the infant industrial revolution and the wars with France created more demand for marginal land to be brought into agricultural use. In 1802, the land between Wigsley and north Harby was brought into productive use. Prior to the second enclosure, the western side of the village was undeveloped, often called waste, or common land. Some areas were marshy, some scrub, there is a reference to Furze being collected as fuel. Furze being a tough thorny plant. In 1698, a ‘Stinting agreement’ was drawn up between the villages of Wigsley and Harby. It listed the names of farmers who had the right to graze cattle and animals on the common. They were also obliged to provide ‘cowgates’ , that is fencing. Two maps from the late 18th century confirm the idea of waste land. In 1766 (Anderson) and 1774 (Chapman) both provided maps that indicated areas of waste between Harby and Wigsley. In the 1760’s, a traveller noted that the land between the villages was waste land and marshy in character. In the 1780’s, George Nevile of Thorney echo-ed this theme in a letter to agricultural board. In the 1790’s Thomas Collet of The Jungle, Swinethorpe, had the Ox-pasture ditch dug and thus the draining of the land. During the 19th century, the village expanded reaching a peak of population in the 1860’s. At the turn of the century a railway station was built, doubtless speeding access to Lincoln but not adding other material benefits. Landowners. One of the problems for Harby is the lack of a long established Lord of the Manor and the documentation that accumulates around the estate. Around 1250, there was a Brian de Herdeby of which little is known. He was followed by Richard de Weston, C.1260 to 1317, who had a dwelling on the site where the church now stands. We know little of him except that de Weston figures in the Queen Eleanor story (see elsewhere). The Strelleys of Nottingham held the land for a while and then the Suttons of Alverton , who possibly lost their land during the English civil war. By 1715, Henretta Cavendish, daughter of the Duke of Newcastle and wife to the Earl of Oxford, seemed to own a substantial part of the village. The village stayed in the family, a tiny part of the vast estates under the Dukes of Portland. In the early 19th century, George Nevile of Thorney took over as the major landowner only to sell up in mid 19th century. The Jarvis family of Doddington hall then became the principle landlord until 1946 when most of the farms were sold to individual farmers. People and Population. Harby has always been a small village. In 1086 we know of at least 7 families, although there may have been a few more. In the mid 16th century, E.G. Wake suggests there were 20 to 25 houses, a figure that seems to be static until the 19th century. A study of the North Clifton parish registers for the years 1700 to 1750 indicates around 30 families at the start of the century, declining to 15 by the middle of the century. To date, no reason for this drop is know. However, it would seem that Harby had a shifting population, few family names reoccur in the registers for more than three generations. One clue could the high death rate in the years around 1726 to 1729, particularly of children. As yet no reason for such a high mortality rate has been found. In the 19th century, the village grew in population and housing. The census details from the 1840’s to the end of the century list farmers and agricultural labourers as the bulk of the villagers. However, in 1841 trade directories, the Gourley brothers had a brick and tile business in the village. This pair probably created the building materials for the new houses. At this time, in the parish register, several men give their occupation as brickmakers or bricklayers. In other years, carpenters, and joiners are listed in the census details, this too indicates that they had a hand in the expansion of the village. In the second half of the century, the census records shoemakers, tailors, dressmakers, wheelwrights and blacksmiths. Two village pubs are listed, The Bottle and Glass, and the Magpies which is listed as a beer house. There are also a shop and a Post Office. By the 1861 census, the village has over 80 houses and reaches the peak of its expansion. Following National trends, after that date, the population declines gently as individuals drift off to the larger towns looking for employment. Education The first village school is established in the 1840’s when the Duke Of Portland gave over a piece of land for the building of a National school, run by the Church of England. (In the parish registers, for 1820 and 1830’s there occurs the name of William Withers, who gave his occupation as school master, where did teach? another mystery) Little is known of this school, but in the 1860’s a rival school is created by the Wesleyan Methodists. The log book for the Wesleyan school survived and gives endless details of education in the second half of the 19th century. Parents paid 3 old pence for the first child, 2 pence for the second and 1 penny for the third. Several teachers came and went during the 40 years of the school. Some were committed, one was brutal, he listed the punishments he dealt out on a daily basis and was swiftly dispensed with. English and maths were the core subjects, religious instruction and some science were taught and the girls were taught to sew by instructors from the village. The school roll began with 10 in 1866, rising to 71 in the following year. In 1873 it reached 97 but fell to averages of 60 and only 40 by the turn of the century. As with many rural schools, attendances fluctuated with the seasons. Late harvests resulted in low numbers. On 6th September 1875 the school opened and then shut, lack of pupils. On the 17th September, the teacher noted, “This week they [the pupils] have been in a very state to do any study. They appear worn out by the long hard work of harvesting...”. In 1877 the school open on the 24th September, 4th October 1889 “...9 scholars not yet returned ...still at harvest..” 10th October 1898, “...only 30 present, ...most absent children are being employed by farmers..” As late as 1906, children are still absent at harvest time. Nor was it just the Autumn term to be disputed, 1883, “...singling swedes and pulling fruits are the excuses for non attendance...” In 1903, the school was closed in May for potato setting. Other reasons for non-attendance include horse racing at Saxilby, auctions, the fair at Lincoln or the village feast. Illness was also major problem. Diseases now unheard off were a serious problem Scarletina was in 1886 or whooping cough 1904. Such epidemics closed the school for several weeks. One teacher described scrubbing the school rooms down with disinfectant when illness broke out. Changes in educational provision came about in the early 20th century, both the National and Wesleyan schools were closed down and children went to newly formed board school situated on Station road. The new school was going to more central for the village, but the only plot available would have been close to the village pub. Wills and Inventories Wills and inventories are amongst the few documents that tell us about Harby in the past. Although a Will is a legal document by which the deceased directs how his goods and property are to be distributed, they contain much unwitting evidence. Wills tell us about the individual, their occupation, their state of health, their relationships and wealth and property. Robert Bee, Yeoman, for example, directed his Will to be written in 1720 in moment of crisis. He tell us that he was ‘...all hurte in body but prefect of memory...’ implies he had suffered from an illness or accident, we cannot know which, however, it seems he recovered for his Will was not proved for another four years. The Will was written down by Christopher Footitt who was the witness and Robert signed with his mark. We cannot assume that Robert was illiterate, he may have been too ill to sign his name. Robert’s father, John Bee, who died in 1698, appears to have written his own Will. Signing with a mark cannot be taken as a sign of illiteracy as the case of Sara Browne demonstrates. We know little of Sara except that her name appears on several Wills and inventories. Sometimes she signed with a mark, on others with her own name, but with a mixture of spellings. Robert’s bequests were simple. He left five shilling to his mother and the rest of his goods and chattels to his wife Ann. There was provision in the Will that should Ann remarry, each of his daughters should receive ?20 on reaching the age of 21. In 1720, the daughter Sarah appears to be under 21 for Robert says that his daughter should be brought up at her mothers charge until she attains that age. Inventories were a legal requirement in the 16th, 17th and 18th Centuries. The executor of the Will had a duty to list ‘...all good, chattels, wares, merchandises, as well moveable as not moveable whatsoever...’ of the deceased and this was kept as a record by the Probate courts. Robert Bee’s inventory was compiled by Christopher Footitt and witnessed by Will Rayson, Sara Browne and Thomas Dove, 5th December 1724. At the head of the list was ‘Purse and Apperal’, meaning cash and personal clothes, this amounted to only ?3.0.0. This was typical of many Harby Wills, very few had much money in the house. In the main living room, there was a cupboard, three tables, six chairs and three stools. Robert had eight pewter dishes, 4 porrigers, a broom (besom) a tankard, 12 spoons and a pan. In the parlour (sleeping area) a bed and bedding, three sheets, two boxes and two chairs, this was probably Roberts own bedroom. There is mentioned in the little parlour and parlour chamber, which we can assume to be where the daughters slept more beds and sheets. There is a ‘house chamber’, maybe what we might call a scullery for here we find cheese and cheese boards and apples listed. (given that the date is December, then the apples would have been stored on shelves. There is a dairy with brewing and milk vessels. Beer or ale was the usual drink of the lower orders at this time, tea drinking did not become widespread until the end of the 18th century. Thus we can build up a picture of Robert’s dwelling. Probably a single storey house with one main room for eating and cooking in. Three small rooms for sleeping in, a room for storing food and a dairy which was probably used more for processing milk into butter and cheese rather than milking cows. Near the house was a stable and in the yard a cart, a plough and harrow. There was a store of wood for the fire and hay for the farm animals. Robert had three horses, one old mare and a mare and foal. In the croft, four cows and fodder, 4 sheep, a further 7 young cows and 7 calves and a pig. The whole value of the good s and chattels came to ?70.12.10d. Often you find at the end of the inventory list the phrase, ‘...some small things or forgotten...’, a catch all to cover the executors if they had missed something, the usual value was a few shillings. Many Wills and inventories of this period are similar to Robert Bee’s. They list the household goods which were valuable in a period before mass production. The basic commodities passed down from generation to generation included brass and pewter tableware, bedding and beds, furniture, and fire irons. Fire irons probably covered not just grates and pokers, but the various hooks and pots associated with cooking food over an open fire. Our Harby farmers in the early 18th century seemed to have kept more animals the our present day farmers. Thomas Durham (d.1712) left one cow, 3 yearlings and 4 calves. There were also five mares and nine foals valued at ?10, in addition there were 2 pigs, 9 piglets and a hog. Thomas Cottam, (d.1704), left seven cows, two steers, 17 fat beasts, six stark cows, a horse, three mares, three rams, ten sheep, chickens, a sow and 8 pigs. We often learn about the crops they grew. Corn, wheat, rye and barley and peas. Flax and hemp get a mention towards the end of the 18th century. When England was fighting the French, the British navy paid a bounty for the growing of the above, sails and ropes were in great demand. Robert Nelson (d.1693) was the village blacksmith and although he left his goods and chattels to his wife and daughter (both called Mary) he made provision for his two sons, Thomas and William. He left them his bellows, anvils and tools of the trade to be shared between the two boys, and that his sons should receive 15 shillings a year if they took up the trade. The inventory was obscured by age and the only useful information was that the whole amounted to ?110, his workshop valued at ?30. Robert was able to write. We know this from the fact that he was a witness to other wills, 1677 and 1684, and that he wrote his own will. His son Thomas stayed in the village until around 1710, but after that the family name disappears from the village records. The Tym family (variously spelt Tim, Tymm or Timm) lived in the village between 1700 and 1794. William Tym, d.1756, gave his occupation as farrier. In the inventory items associated with his trade are listed. ‘Things in the shop’ ?13.11.0d, ‘in the yard, one horse trough, hoop and rail’, ?5.10.0d. Outstanding bills amounted to ?75. William Tym left his cottage to and other properties to his son, also named William. He charged his son with the maintenance of his widow so long as she remained under his roof. If, however, she was to remarry, then she would receive a single payment of ten pounds in lieu of the bed and furniture in the cottage. William also charged his son to put up a chimney in the parlour, a most unusual request. William the son died in 1794. He described himself as Yeoman and builder and appears to have been quite wealthy. His estate was said not to exceeded ?900, but the actual total is not given. He may have been a generous man, for he left money, nieces and nephews and friends. He also left money for his two servant, John Coddington and William Taylor. William mentioned no immediate family although he had a son, another William and a daughter name Annie. We know of this through the Will of Mary Tym d.1790. She left her wearing apparel, bed and bedding and other household goods to her sister and her sister’s daughter. The rest of the estate went to her brother William, however, to William’s son she left but one shilling. Was this evidence of a strained family relationship? Other examples of relationships come from Christopher Else, farmer, d.1693 when he spoke of his ‘...well beloved wife...’, or Anthony Tuxford, carpenter, d.1767 ‘...my dear and loving wife...’. Henry Marfitt left one shilling to each of his sons, Isaac, Humphry and George, but to Thomas all his goods and house. Dorothy Morrice, spinster, d.1707, left all her goods and chattels to Thomas Henton, ‘..my trusty and well beloved friend..’ to recompense him for his care of me and kindness to me in my time of weakness..’ She a total of ?16. The above shows the kind of unwitting evidence one can find through the study of Wills and inventories. Harby Pig Club. In a rural village such as Harby, the life of the agricultural labourer can only be described as grim. Cottages were overcrowded, the wages low and the hours long. However, most cottages would have managed a small vegetable patch and a family pig. The pig was a vital part of the domestic economy and the pig club offered a form of insurance for loss and shared knowledge on rearing the animal. In 1859, the pig club had a membership of 30, a committee and a bank balance. By 1875, this had risen to 93, virtually the entire village. There were several honorary members, G K Jarvis of Doddington Hall, Rev. D Hodges, the Rev. Bigland of Thorney. Their inclusion can only be guessed at, the squire and the clergy supporting a worth cause?, or were they keeping an eye on an organisation that be subversive, leading to Unionism. However, the social superiors did at least add a half guinea each to club funds on an annual basis, whilst the village members paid one shilling for the first pig, 6d. for the second pig. (these fees reminded constant until 1944) The committee had a president, a secretary and treasurer, meetings were held four times a year and non-attendance would incur a small fine of 3d. One small tradition soon established itself, the Anniversary Tea. This was probably the high spot of the year. Members would be selected to carry out various tasks, purchasing the food, cooking the meat or setting out the tables. Up to 1878 the Anniversary Tea was held in April and included meat, tea, beer and tobacco. After that date, beer and tobacco were omitted from the feast, possibly due to the strong influence of the Methodists in the village. The committee also regulated the rearing of the pigs and ensuring that pigsty’s were kept in good order. For example, in 1874, the committee minutes state, “...It was agreed that Seth Smith should cleanse his pigsty and lime wash the walls..... it was further agreed that shall any member lose a pig by any infectious disease, he shall disinfect the sty before he puts in another pig......or forfit benefit.” The Harby pig club maintained a membership of between 40 to 60 up until the 1930’s when numbers dropped to 16, possibly a reflection of general poor economic climate. Numbers rallied during the war years and the club finally wound up in the 1950’s. We are indebted to the late Thomas Barnes who saved the club records from loss or destruction. The committee books are now in the safe custody of Michael Barnes.