< Previous | Contents | Next >
MONUMENT TO WORLD WAR VETERANS, DUNHAM, 1923, ENGLAND
In 1649 William Pierrepoint bought land in Dunham, for which he received rent £116; a portion of the property is called "Mill Field" and "Kirk Close." This land was sold by the third Earl Manvers in 1868.
On October 30, 1693, King William III. passed through Dunham. The entry in the state papers is as follows:— ''That the Duke of Newcastle met the King 7 miles off Dunham Perry, being the entrance to the county. The King left Lincoln about 11 o'clock after hearing prayer at the Cathedral, arriving at Welbeck before dark."
There is an interesting reference to this visit of the King in A. De la Pryme's diary:—"But as for the Duke of Newcastle, tho' he went to meet his Majesty at Dunham ferry, and tho' he carried him home to his house, and yet behaved himself the sneakinglyest to him that can be imagined for a man of his quality and figure. For, as he is commonly recon'd to be one of the richest and one of the covetiousest man in England, so he made it appear so by his entertainment of the King, who was nothing at all made of in comparison to what he was at Sr John Brownley's, or Lincoln, or the Earl of Kingstone's, so that 'tis sayd that the King is sayd to have sayd that Brownley entertained him like a prince, Kingstone like an emperor, and Newcastle like a clown."
There is a discrepancy in these two accounts. The State Papers record that the King was met 7 miles off Dunham ferry, being the entrance to the county, whereas Pryme states that he was met at Dunham ferry.
POPULATION
The Subsidy Roll, 1 Edward III. (1307) gives the names of 29 householders taxed, which represent about 145 persons, the population would in addition include the laborers and their families.
In September 1676 Mr. Leak, Canon of Southwell, gives the number of inhabitants of age to receive Holy Communion (i.e., 16 years of age and over), Popish Recusants, and other Dissenters from the Church of England, as follows—
| Inhabitants | Popish Recusants | Dissenters |
| 146 | 0 | 0 |
| 94 | 2 | 0 |
| 89 | 0 | 0 |
Acreage and population is given in the Government returns :—
| Parish | Acreage | 1801 | 1811 | 1821 | 1831 | 1841 | 1851 | 1861 | 1871 | 1881 | 1891 | 1901 | 1911 |
| Dunham | 1.065 | 258 | 295 | 269 | 389 | 335 | 362 | 327 | 350 | 271 | 280 | 273 | 298 |
| Darlton | 1.506 | 126 | 139 | 153 | 162 | 203 | 185 | 163 | 173 | 150 | 139 | 135 | 125 |
| Ragnall | 1.203 | 155 | 137 | 146 | 168 | 203 | 219 | 204 | 186 | 183 | 167 | 170 | 190 |
MANOR ROLLS
Mr. F. Houlton Wrench, Upperthorpe, Sheffield, has in his possession the Manor Rolls from, 1652 to 1805. Cognisance of this fact led me to suppose that he was lord of the Manor of Dunham, and I understood him to say that the Manorial Rights had been purchased by his mother; see my article in the Thoroton Society's Transactions for 1921, page 92. My statement is not correct. It was the Manorial Rights of East Markham that were purchased by Mrs. Wrench on behalf of her brother, Colonel Kirke. The Manor of Dunham was purchased by Mr. Wilson of Newark.
The books and their contents possessed by Mr. Wrench are as follows:—
1. Large book bound in white vellum. Only 14 pages have been written on. Dunham Socke. The Court Leete and Court Baron now holden the 30th day of Sept in the yeare of our Lord 1652 as followeth—
Theophilus Eaton, Francis Ashton, John Millington, John Fletcher, John Parcy, Christopher Sturtevant, William Pyerponte Esquire, Thomas Williamson, Sir Thomas Hewitt Esquire Kt, Sir Hardolph Hastaney, Baronett, John Rayner, gent, George Smith, George Bellamy, Thomas Elliott, Robert Warringe, gent, Richard Eyre, gent.
| JURY | SWORN |
| Richard Wright, gent. | George Rayner |
| John Ashton | William Billiard |
| John Morris | James Dunston |
| Thomas Sharpe | William Rayner |
| John Hudson | John Atkinson |
| William Hawksworth | Thomas Marshall |
| Alexander Jackson | Nicholas Gahitas |
| William Addy |
Mr Edmund Marshall elected Preeborow for the town of East Drayton etc for the year to come and sworn. Pettie elected common Pender for the town of East Drayton etc.
Richard Husband elected Thirdborow for the town of Ragnall. (Note—The Thirdborough was under Constable).
Robert Greenwood is elected common Pinder for the town of East Markham etc.
The verdict—Who say upon their oathes that the Court was held April 14th 1653.
Election of George Twiste freeborow for East Markham, Robert Ratcliffe and William Spurr common Pinders for East Markham.
Augustus Whitehead freeborow for Little Gringley.
Thomas. Horncastle common Pinder for Little Gringley.
Court 5 October 1654—
George Sitwell elected common Pinder for town of Dunham.
John Russells elected Thirdborow for town of Ragnall.
Court October 6th 1655—
Robert Bingham elected Thirdborow for Ragnall.
Gervas Robinson elected Thirdborow for East Drayton.
Edmund Marshall elected Pinder for East Drayton.
John Wilson elected Pinder for Ragnall. Gervase Raddishe and Robert Greenwood Pinders for East Markham.
The last entry in this book is 19 April 1655.
II. On long narrow sheet of vellum. Manor and Soc of Dunham. The extracts of fines and Amercements lost and forfeited at the severall courts holden for the Manor aforesaid. As follows—
DUNHAM
Robert Atkinson for his default of suite of Court at the Court there holden the 7th day of August xiiii Caroli 2.
| John Taylor | for the like | vid |
| Charles Bentley | ditto | vid |
| William Gabbitas | ditto | vid |
Also list of defaulters of Markham, Drayton, Thrumpton, and Gringley.
III. Another long sheet, 1663—
| Robert Atkinson | viiid |
| Charles Bentley | vid |
| Mary Gabbitas | iiiid |
| William Gabbitas | iiiid |
IV. Dunham and the liberties thereof. Minutes of the proceedings in the Court, Jury and Admission. From 17 December 1778 to 3 May 1785. Charles Mellish Esq Lord of the Manor.
The above is the title of the book. Bound in white vellum (about 8x6 inches).
Note.—All transfer of land owing to death or otherwise was sanctioned by the Court and fealty done.
Page 1. "Oath of fealty" taken by Thomas Pearson sworn Pinder of East Markham, 25 Nov 1779.
Page 2. Oath taken by Foreman of this Inquisition. (Mr John Quibell).
Pages 3-9. Duties or Articles to be observed by the Jury.
Names of the Jury of the Court Leet and Court Baron held at Dunham 17 December 1778.
| John Quibell (Foreman) | ||
| William Meekley | Thos. Cobbam | Thos Harrison |
| Thos Nicholson | John Brown | Gervas Harrison |
| Richard Mills | Moses Carter | George Chappel |
| Richard Jackson | William Spivey | Joshua Day |
| John Urton | J. Whitham | Edward Jackson |
| William Bayter | John Jackson | |
| Thomas Fow |
| Name of Steward, Evan Vaughn, Gent. | ||
| Minutes of Court held | Easter 1779 | |
| ditto | October 1779 | |
| Name of Steward, | William Clarke, Gent. | |
| ditto | April 6 1780 | |
| ditto | October 19 1780 | |
| ditto | May 3 1781 | |
The next holding of the Court is April 26th, 1792. ''The Court Leet and Great Baron of Samuel Crawley Esq (in right of Eliza his wife, late Eliza Rankin, Spinster) Lord of the Manor and Soke on Thursday the 26th day of April 1792, before John Holmes, Depty of George Hutton, Gent, Steward of the Court."
| JURY | |
| Richard Milnes of Dunham, Foreman. | |
| Robert Otter of Dunham | William Spivey of East Drayton |
| Leonard Markham | Robert Elliott of East Drayton |
| Joseph Wigfall | Allison Clark of East Drayton |
| John Cooling | William Staniland |
| Thos Roberts of Ragnall | William Harrison |
| Richard Jackson | John Starr of Whitehouses |
| Thos Cobb | Thos Fow of Thrumpton |
| Jonathan Wilson | Vincent Fletcher of Gringley |
| Thos Hives of East Drayton |
| Court held | 23 Oct | 1792 |
| 18 April | 1793 | |
| 7 May | 1794 | |
| 28 April | 1795 | |
| 16 Oct | 1795 | |
| 27 April | 1796 | |
| John Holmes of East Retford appointed Coroner. | ||
| 17 Oct | 1796 | |
| 3 May | 1797 | |
| 11 Oct | 1797 | |
| 11 Oct | 1798 | |
| 5 April | 1799 | |
| 6 May | 1800 | |
Coroner's Inquest held on George Watmough of Weston, aged 40, found drowned in the Hozier Holt (open verdict).
Another Coroner's Inquest held 28 January 1805.
V. Book containing Dunham Roll of Freeholders of Charles Mellish, Esq, Beginning at Michalmas 1778 ending 17 Oct 1796.
(Note—The Court met sometimes under the name of "Leet," sometimes "Baron," sometimes "Leet and Baron.")
| Lord Newark, | Ann Sturtivant | Thos Billiard |
| Duke of Newcastle | (widow of John) | Benj Smith |
| John Hainsworth | John Kirk, Esq. | Robert White |
| Cooke Mason | William Harrison | John Gilbert |
| Joseph Harrison | ||
| William Berket | John Richardson | John Stockdale |
| Richard Milnes | Mr John Holmes | Allison Clarke |
| Thos Eyre | William Baxter | William Ketton |
| John Allison | William Gurnell | Sarah Gabbitas |
| George Butler | John Gurnell | (wid) |
| Robert Bacon | Thos Gurnell | Joseph Whitland |
| Thos Nicholson | William Chambers | Ann Spivey |
| Benjamin Skelton | John Quibell | Mr William Brown |
| John Whitely | John Mackamara Esq | Edward Jackson |
| Dennis Firth | The Rev Mr Roath | The widow & child of |
| Thomas Newstead | now John Quibell | the Rev Mr Jack- |
| William Howitt | John Norfolk | son, Sen, now the |
| John Taylor | Robt Elliott | Rev Joshua Flint |
| John Gosling | Mr Woolby | Robert Otter |
| John Mackamara, esq | Thos Whitworth | John Bellamy |
| Mr William Minnett | Francis Molineux | William Hand |
| John Quibell | Leonard Norfolk | John Whitely |
| Richard Bird | John Billiard | Joseph Undy |
| Mr Walter Mellor | Thos Billiard, Sen, | Thos Bellamy |
| Mary Nutter | of Headon | Robert Billiard |
| Jane Nutter | John Jeffreys | Anthony Eyre |
| Eliza Nutter | John Taylor | Mary Brown (wid) |
| Jonathan Brown | William Bunby | George Healey (gent) |
| Jeremiah Jackson | John Gunthorpe | William Ibberson |
| Joseph Booth | James Gunthorpe | William Ward |
| Widow Mosman | John Jackson | Geo Bellamy |
| John Mosman | Edward Jackson | Richard Peck |
| Benj Genever | John Quibell | John Sims |
| Mary Thornhill | Gervas Jackson | Gervas Nicholson |
| Thos Brumby & Co | Robert White | Geo AVilson |
| (Tuxford Clubb) | Joseph Jackson | Henry Bingham |
| Mrs Potter (wid) | William Jefferson | Widow Clarke |
| Mary Hempsall | Joseph Quibell | Thos Fow |
| William Booth | The Rev Flint | Thos Newstead |
| Richard Thornhill | George Mason, Esq | Ann Rainsford |
| David Jackson | Simon Fox | George Cook |
| Jonah Tomlinson | John Bragg, Esq. | Zachariah Wigfall |
| Thomas Hempsall | John Simpson | Joseph Wigfall |
| Samuel Billiard | William Tootle | William Meekly |
| Mr John Hutchinson | Mr. Robert Moody | William Bellamy |
| Joseph Pettinger | Thos Lacy Dickinson | William Allison |
| William Staniland | Esq | Charles Savage |
| Mr Rose | Robert Hather | John Allison |
| John Bullivant | John Thornhill | Thos Hivis |
| William Bullivant | Thos Outram | John Cook |
| John Bullivant | Samuel Stoakes | Robert Hopkin |
| Rebecca Quibell | Francis Creswell | John Robb |
| (wid) | Mary Morton | Thos Nicholson |
| Thos Jackson | Francis Sibrey | Thos Talbot |
| William Bingham | John Parkes Esq | Jane Mason |
| ------ Bailey and Ann | James Walters | Samuel Sims |
| Cocking | Thos Searston |
SUIT ROLL OF FREEHOLDERS IN 1768
| The Most Noble Eveling Duke of Kingston | |
| John Hainsworth | John Hopkin |
| John Sturtivant | Thos Brooks |
| John Burkett | John Nicholson |
| Widow Turgoose | George Freeman |
| Robert Tomlinson | George Butler |
| Thos Rhodes | Jane Bacon, widow |
| John Houghton | Elizabeth Parsons, widow |
| William Baldwin, Gent | Mrs. Sarah Peat |
| Elizabeth Pawson, widow | Robert Hewitt |
| William Dewish | William Baldwin |
| William Raynse | George Hodgkinson |
| John Skelton, Junr | Elizabeth Eyre, widow |
| John Sharp, Gent | Elizabeth Timms, widow |
| Thos Whitehead | John Taylor |
| Peter Barry | Francis Magson |
| Thos Allison | Richard Houghton |
| Ragnall | |
| Charles Mellish | William Minnitt |
| William Baldwin | James Green |
SUIT ROLL OF RESIANTS—1768
| Dunham | |
| Thomas Newstead | John Howard |
| John Nicholson | John Wilson |
| Gervas Andrew | Francis Bacon |
| Robert Watmough | John Meekley |
| John Sturlivant, Junr | Thomas Rawson |
| Zachariah Wigfall | Thomas Cotton |
| William Allinson | John Clarke |
| John Turner | John Fox's widow |
| Elizabeth Foster, widow | Sarah Nicholson |
| Thomas Cobb | Richard Jackson |
| John Clarke, Sen | William Serjeantson |
| Abigail Smith's widow | John Allison |
| William Broomhead | William Allison, Junr |
| Luke Bett | Robert Hopkin |
| William Tomlinson | John Booth |
| Ragnall | |
| Joseph Hempstook | William Ellis |
| William Bingham | Thomas Husband |
| Robert Rushby | William Markham |
| John Radish | John Willows |
| John Cook | Leonard Markham |
| Edward Durham | John Woolas |
| George Marshall |