1700s
The National Archives, Reference C 112/27~29 (1734-1736)
Three boxes of papers mainly concerning the tithes of Bubwith and Spaldington, Yorkshire, with correspondence, account books, bills, etc. Copies of cause papers and various Lowther family leases. Will of Richard Lowther of Kirkby Stephen, Westmorland, 1697.
C112/27 - Bundle 1 - 16 stitched pages containing the defendents' answers to the bill of complaint, viz:-
Walter Vavasour says he owns all the said land in Willitofte and names all the closes, garths etc.
Samuel Guy says in 1723-1724 he lived in Spaldington and occupied a farm under Humphrey Trafford and in 1724 he took a farm in Gribthorpe under the Duke of Somerset and has lived there ever since. In 1733 he took another farm in Gribthorpe under the Duke, all land, closes, garths etc are named.
Peter Wilson of Harlthorpe, lists all land
James Caid at Willitofte, lists all land, under Peter Vavasour.
All defendents say they have heard and believe that parts of Spaldington and Willitoft lie partly in the parish of Aughton and partly in the parish of Bubwith. They speak of tithes of corn, rape, line, hay, wool and lamb. They say the tithes of Harlthorpe are in two moieties. One moiety belongs to the vicar of Bubwith, and the other moiety to Nicholas Blanshard.
Concludes with a complete schedule of all land held, cattle etc.
Bundle 2 - Defendents' answers to the bill of complaint (copy)
Bundle 3 - Copy of the Bill of Complaint
Bundle 4 - A brief of the entire case, with complaint, answers, and depositions all briefly summarised. A moiety of the tithes of the Rectory of Bubwith are owned by the D&C of York, the other by H. Trafford, bought of the Crown, ex-Ellerton priory.
Bundle 5 - 120 stitched papers containing the answers of the defendents (not to interrogatories, so presumably to the bill of complaint).
Bundle 6 - 266 stitched pages of depositions (paginated), taken 19 April 1736. For example, on page 177:
Nicholas Blanshard of Newsam, parish of Wressle, yeoman, aged 72, was born at Gribthorpe and lived there until he was 24 years old; says the townships of Harlthorpe and Gribthorpe lie wholly in the parish of Bubwith, and Spaldington and Willitofte lie partly in Bubwith and partly in Aughton parishes. Speaks of his late father, George Blanshard. In 1723 and 1724 he did farm 5 closes called Racehill and one close called The Ings in Spaldington within the parish of Aughton; also 2 closes called West Corn lands, 1 close called Bowland Howlands, and 2 closes called Wood Dales, all 5 in Spaldington in the parish of Bubwith; also 4 closes called Common Closes in Spaldington, one moiety of which were in the parish of Aughton while the other moiety was in the parsh of Bubwith, all of which consisted of meadow, pasteure and arable land. His son rents a house in Spaldington, which lies in Aughton, and 56 acres in Aughton and 53 acres in Bubwith. Also says about 7 years ago he was called to Mr. Trafford at his manor of Spaldington Hall.
Bundle 7 - 77 stitched pages of answers of the defendents
Bundle 8 - Another copy of the answers. [1]
C112/28 - A copy of the Survey of Spaldington, listing all field names and annotated A = Aughton, B = Bubwith, C = Commons, D = Demense, M = Mediety, P = Parish.
Will of Richard Lowther, 25 Sep 1697
Various legal correspondence
Various bills, receipts, and bonds
Book of Accounts, very few names listed
Land tax bills, and payments
Deeds
Book of Household Accounts (Lowther's housekeeper)
Listing of fields, closes + farmers in Breighton in 1690, 1700 and 1732, 1734.
Tithe payments
C112/29 - This box contains (only) the deeds, leases and conveyances of the Lowthers (primarily of tithes). [1]