Manfield History (cont)
In the early 13th.C. Agnes quitclaimed to Easby abbey of the advowson of a moiety of the church of Manfield (half or part of the benefice) and also that of Warcop (Westmoreland). In 1340, one Brian Pigot (Picot) of Manfield settled tenements, a mill and a quarter of a Knight's fee in Manfield and Newsham on himself for life, with successive remainders to his son John and his heirs, and to Henry, son of Geoffrey le Scrope, Knight, and his heirs. Presumably, he had bought the mill back from the abbey, or had in some way, been granted these rights, perhaps for services rendered. Torfin's descendants, notably the Marmions and the Fitz Hughs, were mesne lords of the part immediately under the Earl of Richmond; that is to say, they were next in line to the earl in importance. By the early 16th Century however, of five carucates originally held by the Fitz Hughs, they now held only one, the other four being held by the king.
Other highranking people owned or held lands in Manfield during the next
few hundred years, with many of them being well connected to other manors both near
and far. Names such as, the Greys of Rotherfield (Sussex?), the de Morvills, Lord
Robert Marmion (married the heiress of the Fitz Hugh family) the Fitz Hughs of Ravensworth,
who also owned West Tanfield. In 1572, these manors with others were granted to
Lord Burghley and claimed by the Dacres in 1580. Other names of local interest, which
have cropped up, are Nicholaus de Stapilton and Johannes de Cleseby, but we suspect
that these would lead to an early, and different branch of research, perhaps another
time! The Parish Registers of 1594-
Anno Regni Elizabethae xIiiij yeare of her majesties reigne Anno domini 1600
Ambros Clemit ane Dent And a Heye(?) witnesses. Ane Clemet the daughter of Thomas Clemet was baptised the xxvij th. Daye of November 1600 a bastard.
Thomas Lu'ley of this towne of Manfield, was maryed and tooke to wife Anne Hall the daughter of John Hall of clowbeck of the same parish the 21st. of Dece'ber 1653.
Anno Domini 1614 Eden Renerson daughter to Wilma Renerson was baptised the 11th.of August.
John Baynbridge sonn to Peter Baynbridge was baptised the viij th of January Ao:p'dict.
Mary Cleesby daughter of Peter Cleesby was baptised the 20 of December 1615.
Xpopher Pinkney sone to Percival Pinkney was baptised the 13th. Of Aprill 1617.
Margaret Cockrillae Merrill was baptised the 2 of Septembre 1617.
Marmaducke Stubbs the sonne of Thomas Stubbes of Clowbecke was Baptised the first of nove,ber 1638.
John Cuthbartson the son of Henrye and Marye his wife was Baptised the 10th. Of October Anno 1652.
The birth day of John Cuthbartson two daughters was the eighth day of January 1653.
The following years have been difficult to trace, therefore the next record found was that of 1751, when the village belonged to Lord Marmion, the owner of Tanfield. Then, just over a hundred years later, in 1857, Richard Basset Wilson became owner. In 1823, when Edward Bains published his History Directory an Gazeteer of the county of York, he had this to say about Manfield: Manfield, in the wapentake of Gilling East, and liberty of Richmondshire: 9 miles north of Richmond; a parochial village; the church is an ancient structure with a tower steeple, and is dedicated to St Michael. The living is a rectory, in the patronage of the King. Here is a small free school, with an endowment of 10l. per annum. Population 440.
Cochrane Honourable and Rev. James Arthur, rector.
Sinclair Rev.J.Curate.
Farmers and Yeomen.
Appleby Richard
Bradley Geo.
Cliff Wm.
Gibson Wm.
Gibson John.
Richardson Thos.
Weatherill Wm. Wheelwright
John. Wright Thos. Binks John, vict. Wheat Sheaf.
Brown John vict. Shoulder of Mutton.
Carter George, mason.
Dodds George, schoolmaster.
Twedel Thos, blacksmith.
Wright Thos, corn miller.
The reference to the school is of interest. Richard Basset Wilson built the present school in 1857. On a map published in that year, a school is shown at the end of Cottagers Lane and the Main Road.
This presumably was the free school. It would be interesting to find out, when that was built?
To be continued ?.
If interested in further details, then look at www.genuki.org.uk
where much useful research was carried out. Also, English Heritage
from which details of the listed monument were drawn.