I was trying to locate my Lanham/Lannum family in Wiltshire and came across this set of wills that was rather interesting and since I transcribed them I will insert them into this blog. I am fairly sure that I do not have a direct relationship with this Lanham family in Trowbridge.
Date: 31 May 2015
Document: Will of John Lanham
Source: The National Archives PROB 11/709/125
Date of document: 20 Feb 1721/22, probated 23 Apr 1741
Location: Trowbridge, Wiltshire, England
Document quality: 18th century English, writing fairly legible, bold small print
[In margin] John Lanham
1 In the Name of God Amen
2 I John Lanham of Trowbridge in the County of Wilts, Clothier
3 being of sound and perfect mind and memory do make and
4 declare this my last Will and Testament in manner and form
5 following that is to say Imprimis I bequeath my Soul into the
6 hands of Almighty God my Creator and Redeemer and my
7 Body I Commit to the Earth to be decently buryed at the discretion
8 of my Executrix herein after named And as for and touching
9 such Worldly Goods as it hath pleased Almighty God to bless me
10 with I give and dispose thereof as follows that is to say I give
11 and bequeath to my three Sisters Mary, Em and Jane Five
12 pounds apiece to be paid to them respectively in a year after my
13 decease Item I give and bequeath to the three Children of my
14 Brother William Lanham Five pounds apiece to be paid to them
15 respectively when they shall attain to the age of One and twenty
16 years Item I give and bequeath to the four Children of my Sister
17 Abigail Palmer Five pounds apiece to be paid to them respectively
18 when they shall attain to the Age of One and twenty years Item
19 I give and bequeath unto William Lindsey of Studley in the
20 Parish of Towbridge aforesaid Broad weaver the Sum of ten
21 pounds Item I give and bequeath unto Rebecca Harding the
22 Sum of Five pounds Item I give and bequeath unto the deacons
23 for the time being of the Congregation or Society of Christians
24 now assembling at Trowbridge aforesaid Baptized on profession
25 of their Faith in Christ by some people called Anabaptists
26 the Sum of One hundred pounds but upon this Special trust and
27 Confidence that is to say that the deacons of the said Congregation
28 for the time being do place the said Sum of One hundred pounds
29 out at Interest or else lay the same out in Lands of Inheritance in
30 Fee Simple the Interest or proceed whereof my Will is shall from
31 time to time and for ever hereafter be payd in and to the Sole use
32 of the Pastor or Minister (for the time being) of the Church or
33 Congregation aforesaid And my Will and desire is that the three
34 last above mentioned Legacies be paid on One year after my decease
35 and I do desire my Loving Friends John Watts of Trowbridge
36 aforesaid Gentleman and William Temple of the same place
37 Clothier to be Overseers of this my Will and do constitute and
38 appoint my Beloved Wife Grace Lanham Executirx hereof To
39 whom I give all the rest of my Goods and Chattells after my
40 debts Funeral Expences and Legacys be first paid and discharged
41 And I do hereby revoke all former and other Wills heretofore by
42 me made In Witness whereof I have hereunto Sett my hand and
43 Seal this Six and twentieth day of February in the Eighth year
44 of the Reign of Our Sovereign Lord George by the Grace of God
45 of Great Britain France and Ireland King defender of the Faith
46 etc Annoqz d[omi]ni 1721/2. The mark of John Lanham. Signed Sealed
47 published and declared by the Testator to be his last Will and
48 Testament in the presence of us who have in his presence and at
40 his request hereunto subscribed our Names James Gaunton
50 Char Aland
51 This Will was proved at London the twenty third
52 day of April in the year of Our Lord One thousand Seven hundred
53 and Forty One Before the Right Worshipfull John Bettesworth
54 Doctor of Laws Master Keeper or Commissary of the Prerogative
55 Court of Canterbury lawfully constituted By the Oath of Grace
56 Lanham Widow the Relict and Executrix in the said Will named
57 to whom Administration was granted of all and Singular the
58 Goods Chattels and Credits of the said deceased being first Sworn
59 by Commission duly to Administer
Date: 31 May 2015
Document: Will
Source: The National Archives PROB 11/726/346
Date of document: 5 Jan 1741, probated 26 May 1743
Location: Trowbridge, Wiltshire, England
Document quality: 18th century English, writing fairly legible, bold small print
[In margin] Grace Lanham
1 In the Name of God Amen
2 I Grace Lanham of Trowbridge in the County of Wilts widow being
3 of Sound and disposing Mind Memory and Understanding do make
4 and ordain this my last Will and Testament as followeth that is
5 to say, my Body I commit to the Earth and my Soul to God who gave
6 such as to my Worldly Estate I dispose thereof as followeth that is
7 to say I give to my Son William Macey and his heirs all that
8 Copyhold Messuage or Tenement with the several closes pieces
9 and parcells of Lands thereunto belonging Situate at or near
10 Keevil in the County of Wilts now in the occupation of the Widow
11 Dalmer or her undertenants and by her held during her widowhood
12 the Inheritance whereof descended and came to me as heir at
13 Law to my late dear Brother John Watts upon his death To hold
14 to the said William Macey his heirs and assigns for ever Item I
15 give and devise to my Son in Law Jonathan Reynols and his heirs
16 all those severall closes pieces and parcells of Meadow pasture and
17 Coppice lands situate and being in the parish of North Bradley in
18 the said County of Wilts which also descended and came to me on the
19 death of my said Brother as heir at Law to him To hold to the
20 said Jonathan Reynols his heirs and Assigns for ever And as to
21 all the Rest and Residue of my Estate of what nature or kind
22 soever or wheresoever I give and bequeath the same to my Sons
23 Daniel Macey William Macey and the said Jonathan Reynols to
24 be equally divided between them and I do hereby Constitute and
25 appoint the said William Macey and Jonathan Reynolds Executors
26 of this my Will revoking all former and other Wills at any time
27 heretofore by me made In Witness whereof I have hereunto Set my
28 hand and Seal the Fifth day of January in the Year of our Lord
29 One Thousand Seven hundred and Forty one Grace Lanham Signed
30 Sealed published and declared by the said Grace Lanham as and
31 for her last Will and Testament in the presence of us who in her
32 presence have hereunto subscribed our Names as Witnesses Chas
33 Aland John Thrapnell Jno Renison Servant to Wm Coles the Sadler
34 This Will was proved at London the Twenty sixth day of
35 May in the Year of our Lord One Thousand Seven hundred and
36 Forty three before the Right Worshipfull John Bettesworth Doctor
37 of Laws Master Keeper or Commissary of the Prerogative Court
38 of Canterbury lawfully constituted by the oaths of William Macey
39 and Jonathan Reynols Executors named in the said Will To
40 whom Administration was granted of all and Singular the Goods
41 Chattels and Credits of the said deceased being first Sworn by
42 Commission duly to Administer
Showing posts with label Trowbridge. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Trowbridge. Show all posts
Sunday, May 31, 2015
Wednesday, January 1, 2014
Will of William Blake, Tailor, Trowbridge, Wiltshire - The National Archives PROB 11/1871/19, probated 5 Jan 1837
William Blake, Tailor, Trowbridge, Wiltshire is the testator. He has written his will in 1813 and it was not probated until 1837. He names his wife Jane and his children as Ann, Maria, Harriet, John, Charles and James. There is a Charles Blake, tailor at Trowbridge who leaves his will in 1802 and this will is available. It could prove to be interesting for this family – could he perhaps be the father of William Taylor, the testator?
Just at a quick glance, I did find Charles Blake tailor 41 years and born in Wiltshire at St Peter Marlborough on the 1841 census with wife Margaret 41 years, son Frederick 15 years, neither born in Wiltshire and Harriet 10, Ebenezer 6 both born in Wiltshire. Moving forward to 1851 also at St Peter Marlborough I find Charles Blake, 51 years, tailor and draper born at Trowbridge with his wife Margaret also 51 born at Newgate Kent with son Frederick 25, tailor’s apprentice and born at London, Middlesex.
On the 1871 Census I did find Margaret, head, widow, 71 years, private income and her son Ebenezer, unmarried, 36 years of age, Chemist (master) living at Marlborough Wiltshire.
The will of Charles Blake P31/1/10/285 1867 tailor at Marlborough and this will has been scanned so another future purchase likely which might provide more information on this particular family.
Transcriber: Elizabeth Kipp
Recorded: 1 Jan 2014
Source: The National Archives, PROB 11/1871/19
Testator: William Blake, Tailor
Place: Trowbridge, Wiltshire, England
Type of Record: Will
Date of document: 2 Nov 1813, probated 5 Jan 1837
Condition: 19th century English, legible copy
[Margin]: William
[Margin]: Blake
[Margin]: 8
1 This is the Last Will and Testament
2 of me William Blake of Trowbridge in the County of Wilts Tailor I give devise and
3 bequeath unto my Wife Jane all that my Freehold Tenement or dwellinghouse together
4 with the outhouses and appurtenances thereunto belonging situate and being near the
5 Market Place in Trowbridge aforesaid and wherein I now reside to hold to her my
6 said Wife for and during the term of her natural life she keeping the same in
7 tenantable repair and condition Also I give and bequeath unto my said Wife all
8 and singular my Personal Estate Chattels and Effects household Goods and Furniture
9 of every description debts monies and securities for money which I may die possessed
10 of To hold to her my said Wife for and during her natural life for her own sole use
11 and enjoyment subject nevertheless to the payment of my just debts funeral expences
12 and the expence of proving my said Will and seeing the same carried into effect and
13 from and immediately after the decease of my said Wife I give devise and bequeath
14 my said Freehold Tenement or dwellinghouse and premises before mentioned together
15 also with the whole of my said personal Estate and Effects as aforesaid unto my two
16 good Friends Samuel Cook of the City of Bristol and Philip Caddy of Trowbridge
17 aforesaid Grocer upon trust that they or the survivor of them or the heirs executors
18 or administrators of such survivor do and shall cause the same and every part thereof to
19 be sold either by Public Auction of Private sale for the best of most money that
20 can or may be had or gotten for the same and the money to arise therefrom (subject
21 to the payment of my just debts and funeral expences as aforesaid) do and shall
22 pay and equally divide amongst and between my daughters Ann, Maria and
23 Harriet and my Sons John Charles and James or such of them as shall be then
24 living share and share alike but in case either of my said Sons and Daughters before
25 named should happen to die before my said Wife and leaving issue of his her or
26 their body or bodies lawfully begotten then upon trust to pay and apply the share of
27 him her or them so dying unto such his her or their respective issue whether male
28 or female equally between them share and share alike and if only one such child then
29 to such only Child as they my said trustees or the survivor of them his heirs ex[ecut]ors
30 or administrators shall in their discretion think fit and proper and it is my will
31 and desire that my said trustees or either of them shall not be answerable or
32 accountable for any more of the trust monies or estate than shall actually come to
33 his own hands respectively and not the one for the other of them but each of them
34 for their own acts receipts deeds and wilful defaults only and that they shall and may
35 reimburse themselves out of the trust monies which shall respectively come to their
36 hands all such costs charges and expences as they or either of them may be put to under
37 and by virtue of the trusts hereby in them reposed And lastly I hereby nominate
38 constitute and appoint my said Wife Jane and the said Samuel Cook Executrix
39 and Executor of this my last Will and Testament hereby revoking all former and
40 other Wills by me at any time heretofore made In Witness whereof I have to this
41 my Will contained on one sheet of paper set my hand and seal the second day of
43 November one thousand eight hundred and thirteen Wm Blake
44 Signed Sealed published and declared by the said William Blake the Testator
45 as and for his last Will and Testament in the presence of us who in his presence and
46 in the presence of each other at his request have subscribed our names as Witnesses
47 thereto the word “they” having been first interlined Wm Guley Thomas Martin
48 Henry Crabb
49 Proved at London 5th January 1837 before the Judge by the Oath of Jane
50 Blake widow the Relict the surviving Executor to whom Adm[inistrati]on was granted having
51 been first Sworn by Commission duly to administer
Just at a quick glance, I did find Charles Blake tailor 41 years and born in Wiltshire at St Peter Marlborough on the 1841 census with wife Margaret 41 years, son Frederick 15 years, neither born in Wiltshire and Harriet 10, Ebenezer 6 both born in Wiltshire. Moving forward to 1851 also at St Peter Marlborough I find Charles Blake, 51 years, tailor and draper born at Trowbridge with his wife Margaret also 51 born at Newgate Kent with son Frederick 25, tailor’s apprentice and born at London, Middlesex.
On the 1871 Census I did find Margaret, head, widow, 71 years, private income and her son Ebenezer, unmarried, 36 years of age, Chemist (master) living at Marlborough Wiltshire.
The will of Charles Blake P31/1/10/285 1867 tailor at Marlborough and this will has been scanned so another future purchase likely which might provide more information on this particular family.
Transcriber: Elizabeth Kipp
Recorded: 1 Jan 2014
Source: The National Archives, PROB 11/1871/19
Testator: William Blake, Tailor
Place: Trowbridge, Wiltshire, England
Type of Record: Will
Date of document: 2 Nov 1813, probated 5 Jan 1837
Condition: 19th century English, legible copy
[Margin]: William
[Margin]: Blake
[Margin]: 8
1 This is the Last Will and Testament
2 of me William Blake of Trowbridge in the County of Wilts Tailor I give devise and
3 bequeath unto my Wife Jane all that my Freehold Tenement or dwellinghouse together
4 with the outhouses and appurtenances thereunto belonging situate and being near the
5 Market Place in Trowbridge aforesaid and wherein I now reside to hold to her my
6 said Wife for and during the term of her natural life she keeping the same in
7 tenantable repair and condition Also I give and bequeath unto my said Wife all
8 and singular my Personal Estate Chattels and Effects household Goods and Furniture
9 of every description debts monies and securities for money which I may die possessed
10 of To hold to her my said Wife for and during her natural life for her own sole use
11 and enjoyment subject nevertheless to the payment of my just debts funeral expences
12 and the expence of proving my said Will and seeing the same carried into effect and
13 from and immediately after the decease of my said Wife I give devise and bequeath
14 my said Freehold Tenement or dwellinghouse and premises before mentioned together
15 also with the whole of my said personal Estate and Effects as aforesaid unto my two
16 good Friends Samuel Cook of the City of Bristol and Philip Caddy of Trowbridge
17 aforesaid Grocer upon trust that they or the survivor of them or the heirs executors
18 or administrators of such survivor do and shall cause the same and every part thereof to
19 be sold either by Public Auction of Private sale for the best of most money that
20 can or may be had or gotten for the same and the money to arise therefrom (subject
21 to the payment of my just debts and funeral expences as aforesaid) do and shall
22 pay and equally divide amongst and between my daughters Ann, Maria and
23 Harriet and my Sons John Charles and James or such of them as shall be then
24 living share and share alike but in case either of my said Sons and Daughters before
25 named should happen to die before my said Wife and leaving issue of his her or
26 their body or bodies lawfully begotten then upon trust to pay and apply the share of
27 him her or them so dying unto such his her or their respective issue whether male
28 or female equally between them share and share alike and if only one such child then
29 to such only Child as they my said trustees or the survivor of them his heirs ex[ecut]ors
30 or administrators shall in their discretion think fit and proper and it is my will
31 and desire that my said trustees or either of them shall not be answerable or
32 accountable for any more of the trust monies or estate than shall actually come to
33 his own hands respectively and not the one for the other of them but each of them
34 for their own acts receipts deeds and wilful defaults only and that they shall and may
35 reimburse themselves out of the trust monies which shall respectively come to their
36 hands all such costs charges and expences as they or either of them may be put to under
37 and by virtue of the trusts hereby in them reposed And lastly I hereby nominate
38 constitute and appoint my said Wife Jane and the said Samuel Cook Executrix
39 and Executor of this my last Will and Testament hereby revoking all former and
40 other Wills by me at any time heretofore made In Witness whereof I have to this
41 my Will contained on one sheet of paper set my hand and seal the second day of
43 November one thousand eight hundred and thirteen Wm Blake
44 Signed Sealed published and declared by the said William Blake the Testator
45 as and for his last Will and Testament in the presence of us who in his presence and
46 in the presence of each other at his request have subscribed our names as Witnesses
47 thereto the word “they” having been first interlined Wm Guley Thomas Martin
48 Henry Crabb
49 Proved at London 5th January 1837 before the Judge by the Oath of Jane
50 Blake widow the Relict the surviving Executor to whom Adm[inistrati]on was granted having
51 been first Sworn by Commission duly to administer
Monday, March 26, 2012
Routledge letter from George Routledge to Archibald Armstrong 16 Jan 1837 (London, Ontario, Canada to Parknook, Bewcastle, Cumberland, England
I discovered after searching my labels that I have never posted the letter which George Routledge (my 3x great uncle and brother to my 2x great grandmother Mary Routledge married to Robert Gray) wrote to Archibald Armstrong who still lived in the Brampton, Cumberland, UK area in 1837. This rather interesting and name filled document added to my knowledge of the emigrant families and gave me a glimpse into the life of these early Talbot settlers in southwestern Ontario which included my 3x great grandparents and their family - Thomas Routledge and Elizabeth Routledge with their nine children, son in law and two grandsons.
I published the letter in Families several years ago and now include a copy of the article in my blog:
Archibald Armstrong, letter recipient on 5 April 1837, remains a mystery at the time of writing but he was addressed at Parknook , Bewcastle . It was sent in care of the Inn Keeper, Bush Inn, Brampton, Cumberland, England.
London [Ontario}, Jan 16th 1837
Mr. Archibald Armstrong
I take this opportunity of writing to you a few lines to let you know how we are all going on in this part of America, I wrote to you once or twice before but I never got any answer. we are all in good health at present thanks be to God for that blessing, hoping that these few lines will find you and your family all in the same state.
First I shall give an assessment of the times, our markets and the price of farming stock and all kinds of produce and the price of land also take notice. what I shall name to you in value shall all be sterling money and meashures the old Carlisle bushel [a Carlisle bushel is equal to 2.98 Imperial bushels] that was when we left the country.
land within 6 or 7 miles of the town of London can be bought for about 24 shillings per acre uncleared all the timber thereon, and a cleared up farm of 100 acres with 50 acres of that cleared off fit for cultivation can be bought for about 350 pounds so any man that can come here with a little money he can see how he may be suited.
there is not the chance now to get land that there was when we came to this country, land has got to be more valueable on account of the great advancement of the population in this part. my old companion, I am sorry to inform you how unfortunate you were in not coming to this country when you were in the notion of coming at the time when we came. you might have had today as much property as I have and perhaps more.
the general price of good horses is from 20 to 30 pounds. Last spring I sold a horse two years old for 20 pounds. about the same time my brother Tho[ma]s [fourth son of Thomas and Elizabeth Routledge] sold a horse three years old, likely for the saddle, for upwards of 30 pounds. the price of a yoke of oxen is about 17 pounds, milke cows from 5 to 7 pounds a peice, and sheep will average about 12 shillings a peice, beef 3d per pounds, Mutton about the same,, pork 4d – 6d per stone [a stone is an English unit of weight equal to 6.35 kilograms], butter 9 cents per pound, tallow 8d, wheat 16s per bushel, barly 10s, rye 13s, peas 12s, Indian corn 12s, oats 5s, potatoes 5s per bushel, apples 4s – 6s per bushel, whisky 2s, Brandy 7s, Rum 5s, [and] Wine 7s per gallon.
We live about 6 miles from the town of London which is the county town and city of London. I have 400 Acres of land 300 Acres of it lies all adjoining and about 70 acres of it well cleared and in a good state of cultivation. [O]ne hundred acres lyes within 4 miles of the town and a good clearing upon it which I have a farmer lives upon it. [A]ny man that comes here that is not of ability to buy land there are farms to be let for 7 to 10s per acre yearly for the cleared land that is fit for cultivation.
I have a pair of good draught horses and a yoke of oxen which I keep for working the place I
live on. I keep 6 milk cows and 14 head of young cattle, a flock of sheep and a good brood mare, and the taxes I pay for all I pocess land and stock is only 13s6d yearly. we can feed the best of beef and summer our milk cows in the woods clear of all costs. we have great privileges here that you have not in Bewcastle or no other part in England and we understand that times is always getting worse in England.
I now shall tell you the alterations of Families that was from Bewcastle – Deaths, weddings, etc. Roby Summers [George (b 1792)’s father in law (George was married to Jane Summers)] died three years ago last a[u]gust, my mother died two years ago last sept. My brother Allan died one year ago last October. I expect you have heard of myself being married to Jane Summers 15 years past last July and we have 6 children living and one dead, all boys but
One. my sister Margaret and Mary both married to men from Yorkshire. there [are] none of the lads [George’s brothers - Henry, William, Thomas Junior, and Joseph (Allan is noted as having died)] married but myself. they all have a great deal of land and other property, my father has a handsome Estate of land he lives on within 3 miles of the town.
Geo[rge] Kennedy [George Kennedy, husband of Grace Routledge b.1789] has 200 acres of land and is doing very well. we all got 100 acres of land a piece and what any of has more we have bought since from government.
James Nixon is doing well, he has plenty of land, stock and chickens. Roby Summers family has a good deal of land and other property. old Peggy [Margaret (Peggy) Bell wife of Robert (Robby) Summers (and mother in law to George Routledge b 1792)], John, Tho[ma]s, and Mary lives together [John Summers and Thomas Summers did not marry, Mary Summers was married to Eli Trowbridge]. Robert and Betty [are] married and live at their own homes [Robert Summers married Isabella Robson]. Mary is a widow.
and in short I can safely say that all the old neighbours from Bewcastle and other parts are doing well and has great plenty of almost everything and is all well contented in coming to this country. they can bring up their familys with great plenty and live well. much better than they
could have done in England. times has been a great deal better this last 18 months than they were some time back. Farming stock and produce ha[ve] brought good prices and money has been more plentifully.
you may judge from this, 4 years ago John Elliot and Sibby came to this part and when they came here they had nothing. they borrowed the money to buy a yoke of oxen to work the farm which they rented. now they have great plenty both German stock 6 cows, 2 yoke of oxen and 10 or 12 head of young cattle and a good mare. they have 9 children..
Henery’s [Henry Routledge, eldest son of Thomas and Elizabeth Routledge] best respects to you and your wife and so do we all. remember us to your brothers Wm. and Robt. I have often lamented that Wm. did not come to this country. he would have done well no doubt but he would have got rich. y]ou will show this with all our respects to our friends John and Richd. Routledge [Richard and John Routledge (brothers) are the sons of William Routledge who is cousin (unknown exact relationship) to George Routledge, the father of Elizabeth Routledge, the emigrant to London Township] likewise to John Dodgson [John Dodgson is married to Ann Routledge. Ann’s father is also a cousin (unknown exact relationship) to George Routledge, b.1729, the father of Elizabeth Routledge, emigrant to London Township] of Roantrees. they may expect two letters in a short time.
we will be glad to hear from you with all the news you can afford us. you shall hear more particulars in those letters that I have not mentioned here. in short, I must conclude I am and still will remain your most affectionate.
Geo. Routledge.
Ad[d]ress: George Routledge, London, county of Middlesex and District of London, Upper Canada
Note added by me to this letter:
When my Armstrong correspondent (also not related to this Armstrong family) forwarded me a copy of the 1837 letter she included a comment by Sally Ramshaw which said: “…The letter was given to me by Mr. Andrew Ewart (a 4th cousin of my father, the late William Harrison Armstrong) in case it was useful with my family research. Unfortunately the Armstrong is not one of my relations as far as I know but the letter contained a number of names that might be ancestors of other Cumbria Family History Society members as well as much fascinating social history that I thought it might be worth printing in the next newsletter.”
This letter was indeed printed in the Cumbria Family History Society newsletter at some point in the past. I do not know when.
For Routledge researchers trying to sort out their ancestry the above letter may be helpful. If you think you are tracing back to my Routledge lines I may be able to help you with that as Thomas (my 3x great grandfather) had no siblings who lived to adulthood and Elizabeth (my 3x great grandmother) had only half-siblings all of whom appeared to have remained in the Bewcastle area as well one of her half siblings was George Routledge mentioned in the Dodgson Manuscript (his ancestry coming down from Elizabeth's father George's second marriage to Elizabeth Armstrong (her mother was a Routledge)). Since I am starting with such a small base in the early to mid 1700s I can tell you if you are related to my lines.
I published the letter in Families several years ago and now include a copy of the article in my blog:
Archibald Armstrong, letter recipient on 5 April 1837, remains a mystery at the time of writing but he was addressed at Parknook , Bewcastle . It was sent in care of the Inn Keeper, Bush Inn, Brampton, Cumberland, England.
London [Ontario}, Jan 16th 1837
Mr. Archibald Armstrong
I take this opportunity of writing to you a few lines to let you know how we are all going on in this part of America, I wrote to you once or twice before but I never got any answer. we are all in good health at present thanks be to God for that blessing, hoping that these few lines will find you and your family all in the same state.
First I shall give an assessment of the times, our markets and the price of farming stock and all kinds of produce and the price of land also take notice. what I shall name to you in value shall all be sterling money and meashures the old Carlisle bushel [a Carlisle bushel is equal to 2.98 Imperial bushels] that was when we left the country.
land within 6 or 7 miles of the town of London can be bought for about 24 shillings per acre uncleared all the timber thereon, and a cleared up farm of 100 acres with 50 acres of that cleared off fit for cultivation can be bought for about 350 pounds so any man that can come here with a little money he can see how he may be suited.
there is not the chance now to get land that there was when we came to this country, land has got to be more valueable on account of the great advancement of the population in this part. my old companion, I am sorry to inform you how unfortunate you were in not coming to this country when you were in the notion of coming at the time when we came. you might have had today as much property as I have and perhaps more.
the general price of good horses is from 20 to 30 pounds. Last spring I sold a horse two years old for 20 pounds. about the same time my brother Tho[ma]s [fourth son of Thomas and Elizabeth Routledge] sold a horse three years old, likely for the saddle, for upwards of 30 pounds. the price of a yoke of oxen is about 17 pounds, milke cows from 5 to 7 pounds a peice, and sheep will average about 12 shillings a peice, beef 3d per pounds, Mutton about the same,, pork 4d – 6d per stone [a stone is an English unit of weight equal to 6.35 kilograms], butter 9 cents per pound, tallow 8d, wheat 16s per bushel, barly 10s, rye 13s, peas 12s, Indian corn 12s, oats 5s, potatoes 5s per bushel, apples 4s – 6s per bushel, whisky 2s, Brandy 7s, Rum 5s, [and] Wine 7s per gallon.
We live about 6 miles from the town of London which is the county town and city of London. I have 400 Acres of land 300 Acres of it lies all adjoining and about 70 acres of it well cleared and in a good state of cultivation. [O]ne hundred acres lyes within 4 miles of the town and a good clearing upon it which I have a farmer lives upon it. [A]ny man that comes here that is not of ability to buy land there are farms to be let for 7 to 10s per acre yearly for the cleared land that is fit for cultivation.
I have a pair of good draught horses and a yoke of oxen which I keep for working the place I
live on. I keep 6 milk cows and 14 head of young cattle, a flock of sheep and a good brood mare, and the taxes I pay for all I pocess land and stock is only 13s6d yearly. we can feed the best of beef and summer our milk cows in the woods clear of all costs. we have great privileges here that you have not in Bewcastle or no other part in England and we understand that times is always getting worse in England.
I now shall tell you the alterations of Families that was from Bewcastle – Deaths, weddings, etc. Roby Summers [George (b 1792)’s father in law (George was married to Jane Summers)] died three years ago last a[u]gust, my mother died two years ago last sept. My brother Allan died one year ago last October. I expect you have heard of myself being married to Jane Summers 15 years past last July and we have 6 children living and one dead, all boys but
One. my sister Margaret and Mary both married to men from Yorkshire. there [are] none of the lads [George’s brothers - Henry, William, Thomas Junior, and Joseph (Allan is noted as having died)] married but myself. they all have a great deal of land and other property, my father has a handsome Estate of land he lives on within 3 miles of the town.
Geo[rge] Kennedy [George Kennedy, husband of Grace Routledge b.1789] has 200 acres of land and is doing very well. we all got 100 acres of land a piece and what any of has more we have bought since from government.
James Nixon is doing well, he has plenty of land, stock and chickens. Roby Summers family has a good deal of land and other property. old Peggy [Margaret (Peggy) Bell wife of Robert (Robby) Summers (and mother in law to George Routledge b 1792)], John, Tho[ma]s, and Mary lives together [John Summers and Thomas Summers did not marry, Mary Summers was married to Eli Trowbridge]. Robert and Betty [are] married and live at their own homes [Robert Summers married Isabella Robson]. Mary is a widow.
and in short I can safely say that all the old neighbours from Bewcastle and other parts are doing well and has great plenty of almost everything and is all well contented in coming to this country. they can bring up their familys with great plenty and live well. much better than they
could have done in England. times has been a great deal better this last 18 months than they were some time back. Farming stock and produce ha[ve] brought good prices and money has been more plentifully.
you may judge from this, 4 years ago John Elliot and Sibby came to this part and when they came here they had nothing. they borrowed the money to buy a yoke of oxen to work the farm which they rented. now they have great plenty both German stock 6 cows, 2 yoke of oxen and 10 or 12 head of young cattle and a good mare. they have 9 children..
Henery’s [Henry Routledge, eldest son of Thomas and Elizabeth Routledge] best respects to you and your wife and so do we all. remember us to your brothers Wm. and Robt. I have often lamented that Wm. did not come to this country. he would have done well no doubt but he would have got rich. y]ou will show this with all our respects to our friends John and Richd. Routledge [Richard and John Routledge (brothers) are the sons of William Routledge who is cousin (unknown exact relationship) to George Routledge, the father of Elizabeth Routledge, the emigrant to London Township] likewise to John Dodgson [John Dodgson is married to Ann Routledge. Ann’s father is also a cousin (unknown exact relationship) to George Routledge, b.1729, the father of Elizabeth Routledge, emigrant to London Township] of Roantrees. they may expect two letters in a short time.
we will be glad to hear from you with all the news you can afford us. you shall hear more particulars in those letters that I have not mentioned here. in short, I must conclude I am and still will remain your most affectionate.
Geo. Routledge.
Ad[d]ress: George Routledge, London, county of Middlesex and District of London, Upper Canada
Note added by me to this letter:
When my Armstrong correspondent (also not related to this Armstrong family) forwarded me a copy of the 1837 letter she included a comment by Sally Ramshaw which said: “…The letter was given to me by Mr. Andrew Ewart (a 4th cousin of my father, the late William Harrison Armstrong) in case it was useful with my family research. Unfortunately the Armstrong is not one of my relations as far as I know but the letter contained a number of names that might be ancestors of other Cumbria Family History Society members as well as much fascinating social history that I thought it might be worth printing in the next newsletter.”
This letter was indeed printed in the Cumbria Family History Society newsletter at some point in the past. I do not know when.
For Routledge researchers trying to sort out their ancestry the above letter may be helpful. If you think you are tracing back to my Routledge lines I may be able to help you with that as Thomas (my 3x great grandfather) had no siblings who lived to adulthood and Elizabeth (my 3x great grandmother) had only half-siblings all of whom appeared to have remained in the Bewcastle area as well one of her half siblings was George Routledge mentioned in the Dodgson Manuscript (his ancestry coming down from Elizabeth's father George's second marriage to Elizabeth Armstrong (her mother was a Routledge)). Since I am starting with such a small base in the early to mid 1700s I can tell you if you are related to my lines.
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