Agnes Ward's Ancestors
An Account of some Ancestors of Agnes Ward of Crosby Ravensworth
This account was written 30 years ago by Mr Ted Relph, of Holly Cottage, Crosby Ravensworth, a local historian, who abstracted much of the information from the title deeds of the next door cottage, Fell Gate. He has sent me a photograph of the cottage and added this information.
"The photo above, taken off an old postcard from about 1908 shows the cottage, or rather "smallholding" known as Fell Gate. Over the door of the porch is a lintel with the date 1759 and the initials J (&) A W which stand for James and Agnes Ward.
The Ward Family can be traced back through the parish registers of St Lawrence's Church Crosby Ravensworth to about 1610 and probably earlier, when John Ward was born. He married Jane Walters there on 20th July 1637. Their son James (1655 - 1728) married Grace, surname unknown. James and Grace's eldest son was called Thomas, (1695 - 1740) thus establishing a naming pattern which would be continued for several generations. Thomas Ward married Margaret Fawcett on 17th November 1719 and it was their son James who had married Agnes Rigg
at Crosby Ravensworth church on the 4th February 1755, who became the owners of 'Fell Gate'. Their first daughter Mary, being baptised on the 28th of July of the same year. In all they had nine children. It appears that James bought the house from an Elizabeth Wilkinson of Raisbeck (Orton Parish) in November 1755 and is admitted as "Customary Tenant" at the Manor Court in 1757, so he must have rebuilt it in 1759. The George Robinson who witnessed the Conveyance of 1755 lived next door where I live now, in the cottage which looks to be behind it, but is in fact much further back from the road."
Any additional information has been inserted in brackets by Rosemary Brown 4 x great granddaughter of James Ward
JAMES WARD 1727 – 1807
James Ward, who was the son of Thomas Ward, was descended from a local family dating back to 1597, some of whom lived at Hause Farm. His wife Agnes Rigg was of Lanehead, her mother’s maiden name had been Wilkinson, and thus may have been connected with the Elizabeth Wilkinson from whom James bought the property at Crosby Townhead in the following November.
He is described as a mason, and seems to have rebuilt or altered the house, putting the initials and date over the porch door.
He appears to have lived at Crosby until about 1772, by which time he and Agnes had 7 children. They then removed to Lanehead , which had been in his wife’s family for some years. In 1773 he raised a mortgage of £30 on his property at Townhead, which he would appear to have repaid in the 3 years stipulated in the deed. He raised another £30 by another mortgage in 1790, only a few days before the death of his wife.
After the move to Lanehead in 1772 they had 3 more children. Their youngest boy Henry, married a Rebecca Dixon and became an innkeeper at Crosby, possibly The Butcher’s Arms, but he died when only 37. His widow remarried and as a Rebecca Richardson continued at the Inn until 1842. The two youngest of James Ward’s children were girls and both died in their teens, one at High Yards. Slacks, which had been connected to the Rigg Family and was described as the "Poor House" 1770 – 1780. It used to be the custom for the house of the person in charge of the Poor Relief to be described as the Poor House. A number of aged persons are recorded as having died there about this time.
James Ward lived to be nearly 80 years of age and seems to have died at Crosby. One of his daughters, Elizabeth, had married her cousin Jonathan Rigg in 1799 and they took up residence at Lanehead, which continued in the Rigg family for many years. The eldest daughter, Mary, married an Atkinson.
The edest son’s name was Thomas Ward. He had married an Elizabeth Furness in 1784 (Elizabeth, bap. Oct 5 1763, dau of Edward Furness of Oddendale C.R.) and later lived at Townhead Orton. There were two other sons, Jonathan and James. James married a Richardson (Margaret.) One of these was probably the father of James Thornborrow Ward, who became vicar of Askham.
THOMAS WARD 1759 – 1820
Thomas Ward, the eldest son of James Ward, was 48 when his father died, and the Townhead property came to him. He purchased the freehold in 1816, by which time he was living at Orton. In 1819 he made his will. We do not know from the Crosby records when he died, (1820) but he had 3 children, Agnes James and Anthony. Agnes married a Holme (George) and had several children. James seems to have married Ann Berry at Natland near Kendal but no more is known concerning the marriage. He became a portrait painter, first living in London for 20 years before returning to Kendal. He painted the Church at Crosby Ravensworth, this picture was presented to the Vicars of C.R. and is there to this day.) For further information regarding James Ward, see separate article in THe Ward Area. Anthony married but there is no record of any children. (Anthony was ordained priest by the Archbishop of York on 20th December 1812. He became Vicar of Eastrington in Yorkshire 18th July 1825 and chaplain to the Earl of Mexbrough in 1830. He was buried at Orton on November 5th 1840.)
When their father died James and Anthony inherited "in Common" and after the death of Anthony’s widow in 1854 the freehold estate was left to William Holme, the second of Agnes’ sons.
After it had been in his mother’s family for 126 years, William sold the house and land to James Dover in 1881.
PROPERTY AT FELL GATE CROSBY RAVENSWORTH Miss A. Taylor.
12th November 1755 Conveyance by Elizabeth Wilkinson of Raisbeck, spinster
To James Ward of Crosby mason for £20.10s
"her messuage, house, byer and garth thereto adjoining….situate, lying and being at Crosby Townhead…including common of pasture and turbary…and holden according to the custom of the said manor…"
Witnesses George Robinson Signed Elizabeth Wilkinson
John Denison
Thos Gibson
Memorandum from the Court Baron of Sir James Lowther of Friday 21st October 1757
Held at the house of Thomas Holme in Crosby, before John Robinson, gentleman, steward of the said manor.
James Ward for a house, barn and garth with the appurtenances
Within the said manor….
Customary rent 2s 0d
General arbitrary fine assessed as upon the death of Robert Lowther,
According to the improved value of the said premises 10s 0d
28th May 1773 James Ward of Lanehead mortgaged his property at C.R. Townhead to William Beatham of Low Dalebanks.
Viz "All that his messuage, house or houses, barn and byer, garth and garden and croft behind the same …and also one croft adjoining to the land of George Robinson on the South side and the land of John Collinson on the North.
Yearly fineable rent now 9s 10d.
Mortgage money of £30 repaid in 3 years at £1 2s 6d interest per annum.
Witnesses to deed: James Langhorn
William Salkeld
Elizabeth Holme
2nd February 1790 James Ward of Lanehead again mortgaged his property at C.R. Townhead to Thomas Robinson of Crosby Townhead, Yeoman.
Property similarly described, except that the Coft is now described as adjoining the land of George Robinson on the South side and of George Gibson on the North.
Mortgage money of £30 to be repaid in one year with interest.
Witnesses to deed: Mathew Beetham
William Beetham
31 October 1816 There is an Indenture of Enfranchisement.
Thomas Ward of Orton, Yeoman, pays £48 0s 2d and the property becomes freehold.
A messuage and tenement at C.R. Townhead annual yearly cust. rent – 5s 2d
Dwelling house, cowhouse, barn etc. and garth 2s 0d
One acre of land in Crosby Ravensworth croft 1s 0d
Stamped in the presence of
Robert Lund, agent to the Earl of Lonsdale
Geo Kinsey
SEALED and delivered in presence of John Robinson, Anthony Metcalfe.
29th September 1819 Thomas Ward of Orton made his will.
This states that he had lately conveyed his messuage and tenement at C.R. to his two sons James Ward and Anthony Ward as tenants in common, and gives and devises his freehold close called Croft to them, as tenants in common and not as joint tenants.
Various payments are required "out of the close in favour of the the two children of my nephew, James Atkinson, deceased, as they severally come of age, and in favour of my daughter Agnes Holme."
Agnes Holme is appointed executrix.
Witnesses Robert Milner Jane Milner
Robert Gibson Margaret Milner
24 December 1840 James Ward of Kendal, portrait painter, left the property in his will to his "nephew William Holme, second son of my deceased sister Agnes Holme" and other arrangements in favour of her other children.
& by a codicil dated 18th January 1845 arrangements as to property willed to him by his late brother Anthony Ward, after the death of his widow Mary Ward.
Executors: James Thornborrow Ward, vicar of Askham (cousin)
Thomas Holme, oldest son of his late sister, Agnes.
Witnesses to will Henry Holme of Crosby Ravensworth
Thomas Johnson of Crosby Ravensworth
Witnesses to codicil Richard Braithwaite
Edward Braithwaite
13th October 1881 There is a conveyance by which the property is sold by Mr William Holme, 1, Bardsley Street, Leesfield, Lees , Lancs, retired farmer, to Mr. James Dover, Woodfoot, yeoman for £440
"all that freehold messuage and dwelling house with the outbuildings, garth, garden and croft thereto belonging situate at Crosby Townhead …three acres or thereabouts …bounded on the east by Crosby Ravensworth common, on the West by the lands of Mr John Atkinson, on the South by the lands of the Revd. George Frederick Weston (Could there be any connection here with Rev. George Frederick Holme son of Rev. Thomas Holme?) and on the North by a house of Mr. William Idle Nos 289 & 290 on the ordnance map.
Also "all that freehold close of land called Park Croft’’’one acre and two roods…. bounded on the East by the lands of Henry Rigg, on the South by the land of William Bowman and on the North and West by the lands of Wilkinson Dent Esq.
Witnesses to conveyance: J.P. Shepherd, solicitor, Appleby
Wm. Hewitson, his articled clerk.
An Inland Revenue Form Register W 1854 Folio 289 gives an account of the Succession Duty of £7 10s 5d paid by William Holme . He succeeded to the property on the death of Mary Ward 25th September 1854. He was born on 12th January 1819. At the time of the Succession (1854) the saleable value is stated as £190.