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Miscellaneous documents

Reference: D/X 715 Catalogue Title: Miscellaneous documents Area: Catalogue Category: Other Records Description: Hall family and others of Hamsterley, Bishop Auckland

Covering Dates: 17th century-1937

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Catalogue Description

Deeds, letters, receipts and copy wills of the Hall and related families of Hamsterley,
Bishop Auckland, deposited on long-term loan, 2 July 1976

(Acc: 1445(D))

Catalogue Contents

Hall Family Papers (Ref: D/X 715/1-44)

Documents relating to the Hall family of Monkfield and Shipley in the parish of Hamsterley, Bishop Auckland. The earliest known record of the family in the area is that of the death of Henry Hall of Monkfield in 1661. Thereafter at least eight generations of Halls have occupied the land there. The family were part of the Anabaptist congregation of Hamsterley from at least 1700 and were closely allied through business and marriage with many of the other long standing, local Baptist families.


Receipts for payment of £6 annual rent for his farm at Shipley Row from Thomas Amber and David Dixon to William Hall (d. 1695), 11 January - 12 November 1692
(paper, 1 folio)


Inventory of the goods and chattels of William Hall of Monksfield in the parish of Hamsterley, yeoman, 24 May 1695
(paper, 1 folio)


Deed of appointment of Joseph Hall (1655-1727) and Michael Ayler as overseers of the Poor for South Bedburn; signed Robert Eden and Robert Jenison, 22 April 1697
(paper, 1 folio)


Receipts from Cuthbert Bowes and Joseph Mowbray, agents of William Montagne, Dean of Durham, to Joseph Hall (1655-1727) for rent of Monkfield, 15 April 1704 to 22 November 1718
(paper, 8 folios)


Copy warrant issued to the local constables for the collection of duty upon houses within South Bedburn (see D/X 715/3), 3 October 1709
(paper, 1 folio)


6 May 1724 (1) Joseph Hall and Jonathon Hall, his son. (2) William Wren, Anthony Reed and Robert Johnson. Admittance, at the Halmoot Court of Wolsingham of (1) to (2) to land in Eastfield, Longlands, Todd Pool and Hamsterley Common formerly held by (1)
(parchment, 1 membrane, Latin)


Declaration by William Hall (b. 1700) of Routhford, of having received of Margery Hall, executrix of the late Joseph Hall (1655-1727) of Monkfield, the £5 legacy bequeathed to him by Joseph Hall, 13 January 1727
(paper, 1 folio)


23 November 1757 (1) Joseph Hall of Oaksraw (1718-1794) (2) Jonathon Hall of Monkfield (1720-1778) Bond for the payment of (2) to (1) of £200 plus interest. Witnessed William Stobbs and John Brown.
(paper, 1 folio)


Probate copy of will of Jonathon Hall (b. 1720) of Monkfield, proved 31 January 1778, 9 January 1778
(parchment, 1 roll)


13 June 1794 (1) Jane Kirkley and Ann Parker of Wolsingham, widows. (2) Joseph Hall of Monkfield (1766 -1855), farmer. Bond for the payment of (2) to (1) of £100 on condition of the sale to Joseph Hall of land of William Kirkley, deceased, at Wolsingham to discharge the debts incurred by his widow.
(paper, 1 folio)


Certificate issued to Henry Hall and William Goodburn to prove that the house of Joseph Hall of South Bedburn was registered with the Bishop of Durham as a public meeting house for Protestant dissenters, 5 May 1796
(paper, 1 folio)


13 May 1797 (1) Jonathon (1760-1851) and John Hall (1756-1835) of Monkfield, farmer (2) William Iley Bond of (1) to (2) for £140
(paper, 1 folio, printed form)


Probate copy of will of Thomas Stobbs brother of Sarah Hall (1723-1792) of Thornley, Durham., proved 13 July 1805, 20 November 1800
(parchment, 1 roll)


Memoir of John Hall of Hamsterley (1712-1793), Deacon of the Baptist Church (incomplete), n.d. c.1800
(paper, 1 file)


Expenses for Thomas Stobbs' funeral who died May 7 1805, aged 78, n.d. c.1805
(paper, 1 folio)


Receipt of Margery Emerson nee Hall (b. 1750) to Jonathon Hall (1720-1778) for £10 bequest made to her by her uncle Thomas Stobbs, June1806
(paper, 1 folio)


Receipt of John Charlton to John Hall (1752-1835) for 6s. payment for small tithes for Monkfield owing to J. W. Elliot, Esq., 20 October 1824
(paper, 1 folio)


Printed begging letter from Rev. Samuel Tapscott of the America Mission to Joseph Hall (1766-1855) requesting financial aid for a Baptist Minister in Canada, 16 May 1836
(paper, 1 folio)


Letter from R[alph] Hall in London to his sister, Miss Hall re. family news, 1839
(paper, 1 folio)


Invitation to the three Misses Morrass from Mrs. and Miss White to take tea at Hamsterley Lodge, 29 August 1841
(paper, 1 folio)


Pocket book for 1847, inscribed 'Wm. Morras' s Memorandum Book' [William Morras, brother of Hannah Hall nee Morrass (1821-1903) emigrated to Hyria, Iowa, U.S.A., in 1849] Although once owned by William Morrass, the notebook has been added to by various individuals from 1848 to 1857, one of whom was William's mother who used the book as a diary after his emigration to America. There are also notes on teaching techniques, planting and propagating fruit and vegetables and household accounts, 1848
(paper, 1 booklet)


Letter from William Morras at Liverpool to his mother giving details of his setting sail for America, 10 July 1849
(paper, 1 folio)


Printed memorial to Miss Mary White of Hamsterley, n.d. c.1850
(paper, 1 folio)


Letter from William Morrass, Illyria, Iowa, U.S.A., to his sister and brother-in-law, Hannah and Jonathon Hall of Monkfield. Gives details of his setting up a farmstead in U.S.A., 28 August 1853
(paper, 1 folio)


Letter from Ralph Hall (1816-1822) in London to his parents informing them of his impending marriage, 1854
(paper, 1 folio)


Letter from Monkfield to Julia (Snowdon nee Hall b. 1845) (from her mother?) giving family news, n.d. c.1880
(paper, 1 folio)


Letter from Thomas Marsden to George Atkinson forwarding the probate of the will of Joseph Hall (1766-1855), 12 March 1855
(paper, 1 folio)


Valuation by Nicholas Chapman and Joseph Jopling of the estate of Joseph Hall of Monk field, deceased, 29 March 1855
(paper, 1 folio)


Accounts of Joseph Hall (b. 1805) and George Atkinson as executors of the estate of Joseph Hall of Monkfield (1766-1855), 1856
(paper, 1 folio)


Details of marriage and children of John Hall (1821-1912) of Edgeknowl and Hannah Morras (1821-1903) his wife, post-1865
(paper, 1 folio)


Letter from Ralph Hall (1816-1882) in London to Hannah Hall re. the illness of his brother John and Christmas presents received, 8 January 1872
(paper, 1 folio)


Letter from Ralph Hall (1816-1882) in London to his neice Julia (Judith Ann Snowdon nee Hall), 23 May 1873
(paper, 1 folio)


Letter from William Anderson in Newcastle to John Hall in his illness, urging him to repent his sins before death, 17 November 1873
(paper, 1 folio)


Probate copy of the will of Ralph Hall (1816-1882) of London, 10 February 1882
(paper, 1 file)


Copy will of Ralph Hall (1862-1887) of Shipley Farm, South Bedburn, 15 November 1887
(paper, 1 folio)


Draft trust statement and accounts of the estate of Ralph Hall (1816-1882) of London with a family pedigree giving the entitlement of each of his descendants to a share of his estate and a schedule of his assets, 1929
(paper, 1 file)


Photostat copy of an early 20th century family group photograph. Annotated "Julia H." (Judith Ann Hall b. 1845), n.d.
(paper, 1 folio)

Title Deeds (Ref: D/X 715/45-67)

The following title deeds all relate to the same houses and land in Hamsterley Village which were originally owned by Isaac Surtees (d. 1711).


2 October 1711 (1) Isaac Surtees of Myers Flatt in the parish of Haughton, gent. (2) Henry Hugill of Little Smeaton in the County of York, gent. (Surtees' father-in-law) (3) Thomas Rudd of New Elvet in the City of Durham, clerk. Lease for a year from (1) to (2) of all closes called Myers Flatt, 57 acres at Bankston occupied by Stephen Garrett, 49 acres at Hunwick occupied by Ralph Wake and tenement in Hamsterley occupied by William Little; to enable (2) to make a deed of common recovery of the same land to (3)
(paper, 1 folio)


23 November 1711 (1) Thomas Rudd, Clerk, defendant (2) Henry Hugill, gent, tenant (3) Isaac Surtees, vouchee. Deed of common recovery by (1) from (2) of the land in D/X 715/45 above
(paper, 1 folio)


Isaac Surtees of Darlington; copy will, 12 December 1711
(paper, 1 folio)


24-25 November 1728 (1) Robert Hilton of Darlington and Jane, his wife, and Abraham Hilton of Darlington, gent, and Margaret, his wife; the said Jane and Margaret being daughters and co-heirs of Isaac Surtees, deceased (2) Ralph Hearing, the elder of Hamsterley Lease and release from (1) to (2) of land and property, etc., at Hamsterley occupied by Joseph Wilson.
(parchment, 2 membranes)


25 November 1728 (1) Robert Hilton of Darlington and Jane, his wife, and Abraham Hilton of Darlington, gent, and Margaret, his wife; the said Jane and Margaret being daughters and co-heirs of Isaac Surtees, deceased (2) Ralph Hearing, the elder of Hamsterley Bond for performing covenants re. the sale of the property as in D/X 715/48-49
(paper, 1 folio)


20 December 1728 (1) Robert Hilton of Darlington and Jane, his wife, and Abraham Hilton of Darlington, gent, and Margaret, his wife; the said Jane and Margaret being daughters and co-heirs of Isaac Surtees, deceased (2) Ralph Hearing, the elder of Hamsterley Final concord of property as in D/X 715/48-49
(parchment, 1 membrane, Latin)


Probate copy of will of Ralph Heron of Hamsterley, 18 September 1740
(parchment, 1 roll)


Copy will of Ralph Heron of Hamsterley, 18 September 1740
(paper, 1 folio)


14 June 1786 (1) Thomas Wyld of Hamsterley, plaintive (2) Ralph Heron, Elizabeth, his wife and John Heron, deforceants Final concord re. the lease to (1) from (2) of 4 messuages, 4 cottages, 4 gardens, 50 acres of land, 50 acres of meadow, 50 acres of pasture and appurtanances at Hamsterley, to secure 100 marks of silver
(parchment, 2 membranes)


27-28 May 1787 (1) Eleanor Sanderson of Toft Hill, spinster ,John Heron, son and heir of John Heron of Hamsterley (2) Thomas Wyld of Bishop Auckland, butcher Lease and release from (1) to (2) of all messuages, tenements, dwellinghouses and gardens in the North Row of the town of Hamsterley plus two acres of arable land lying behind the same, as once held by Isaac Surtees, to secure £400 plus interest
(parchment, 2 membranes)


22-23 November 1789 (1) John Heron of Hamsterley, yeoman, Thomas Wyld of Bishop Auckland, butcher (2) Reed Surtees of Stranton, esq. Lease and release from (1) to (2) of the property as in D/X 715/56-57 to secure £600 plus interest
(parchment, 1 membrane, 1 roll)


23 November 1789 (1) John Heron of Hamsterley, yeoman, Thomas Wyld of Bishop Auckland, butcher (2) Reed Surtees of Stranton, esq. Mortgage bond from (1) to (2) for £600 plus interest on the security of the lease of property as in D/X 715/56-57 above
(paper, 1 folio)


19-20 July 1792 (1) John Heron of Hamsterley, yeoman (2) David Dixon of Stockton Bridge House, in Yorks. , yeoman (3) Robert Jefferson of Fulthorpe, Durham, yeoman Lease and release from (1) to (2) and (3) of messuages, houses and closes comprising 26 acres at Hamsterley plus all other messuages lands and hereditments in Hamsterley currently conveyed in mortgage to Reed Surtees to secure money to pay debts outstanding to Surtees, Dixon and Jefferson from Heron
(parchment, 2 membranes)


23-24 September 1792 (1) David Dixon of Toll House, Stockton Bridge, Yorks., gent. and Robert Jefferson of Fulthorpe, Grindon, yeoman (2) John Heron of Hamsterley, yeoman. Lease and release from (1) to (2) of the same property as in D/X 715/61-62 above
(paper, 2 folios)


18 September 1795 (1) Elizabeth Surtees, late of Stranton, now of Bishop Middleham, widow of Reed Surtees. (2) Robert Surtees of Mainsforth, Esq., and George Surtees of Bishop Middleham Esq., nephew of Reed Surtees, deceased. (3) Aubone Surtees of Newcastle-upon-Tyne, banker, son of William and second cousin of Reed Surtees, deceased. Conveyance from (1) to (2) as per bequest of Reed Surtees; of the land in Hamsterley mortgaged to Reed Surtees by John Heron, Esq. Includes mortgage from (2) to (3) of the same property to secure the sum of the debt owed to the late Reed Surtees by Heron.
(parchment, 1 membrane)


9 July 1800 (1) Robert Surtees of Mainsforth, Esq., Aubone Surtees of Newcastle, banker , John Heron, late a prisoner for debt in the gaol, Durham and Ralph Heron of Hamsterley. (2) Edward Smith of Bishop Middleham, gent. Lease for a year from (1) to (2) of the houses and land in Hamsterley as in D/X 715/65
(Parchment 1 roll)


7 November 1800 (1) William Surtees, of Newcastle, son and heir of Aubone Surtees (2) Edward Smith, gent, of Bishop Middleham. Lease for a year from (1) to (2) of the same property as in D/X 715/65-66 above
(parchment, 1 membrane)

Title deeds re. other property of Edward Smith (Ref: D/X 715/68-69)

19 October 1795 (1) Joseph Watson, the younger, of Wolsingham, innkeeper (2) William Iley Copy surrender in the halmoot court of Wolsingham by (1) to (2) of all that dwelling house and gardens in Wolsingham lately occupied by William Iley, the property being held in trust by Watson for the owner, Jonathon Hall of Monkfield.
(paper, 1 folio)


13 February 1800 (1) William Watson of Wolsingham, common brewer; Joseph Tomlinson of Wolsingham, innkeeper; Thomas Grenwell, gent.; Joseph Watson, gent. (2) Edward Smith of Bishop Middleham. Lease for a year from (1) to (2) of houses and tenements in North Street, Hamsterley and the land behind them as once held by Isaac Surtees, deceased.
(parchment, 1 membrane)

Miscellaneous (Ref: D/X 715/70-85)

A curious rhyming political riddle written as a prophesy of the civil war, death of Charles I and interregnum, n.d. 17th century
(paper, 1 folio, fragile)


Lawyers bill re. "William Teasdale's judgement," received for Abraham Hilton by William Mowbray, 20 September 1683


9 May 1769 (1) Richard Willis of Ashes, Wolsingham, yeoman (2) Richard Metcalf of Wolsingham, barber Mortgage in £120 for the conveyance from (1) to (2) of 2 allotments on Wolsingham common lately purchased by (2)
(paper, 1 folio)


Admission of Nicholas Philipson of Newcastle-upon-Tyne, gent., son and heir of John Philipson, late of Broadwood, Stanhope; at the Halmoot Court of Wolsingham, to possession of the house on Wolsingham town street, lately occupied by Ann Dunn and Ann Vasey and held by his father in trust for Thomas Moses, 1789
(parchment, 1 membrane)


December 1795 (1) George Angus (2) William Dawson, nephew and executor of William Dawson, deceased. Release from (1) to (2) of a legacy of £10 bequeathed to Angus by his uncle, William Dawson, deceased.
(paper, 1 folio)


A scholars copybook containing the rules for mathematical processes and a copy letter, n.d. c.1800
(paper, 1 booklet)


Copy of a poem "God took not woman from man's head", n.d. c.1800
(paper, 1 folio)


Page possibly from an exercise book on which a poem is written and copied in another's writing, n.d. c.1800
(paper, 1 folio)


Printed broadsheet of Burns poems, n.d. c.1800
(paper, 1 folio)


Printed copy of particulars re. the sale by auction of pieces of land in Stanhope; with 2 plans of area concerned, 1845 Scale 4 chains to 1 inch
(paper, 1 file with 2 folios,coloured,each 41 x 34 cms.)


Valuation by William Baxter of Bishop Auckland of some gold and silver items, 15 October 1846
(paper, 1 folio)


Notes of household expenses, n.d. c.1850
(paper, 2 folios)


Note of four conundrums, the equal, the letter, the corkscrew and the wheelbarrow, n.d. c.1850
(paper, 1 folio)


Booklet originally for a record of donations to a testimonial for Inspector Snowdon but used mainly as a notebook, diary and household account book, c.1890 - 1916
(paper, 1 booklet)


Copy of a dialect tale, "Betty Podkin's visit to Bishop Auckland Flower Show", by William Egglestone, Hushieldfield, Stanhope, copied from the original by Tom Lonsdale, May 1937
(paper, 1 booklet)