SLALEY VICARS AND CURATES. A.D. 1501, William Thompson. 1577, Jan. 25, Cuthbert Pattenson, Scotus. He had no letters of orders or licence. In Bishop Barnes's Visitation he was admonished to serve no longer till he be licenced. 1723, Feb. 2, John Topling, clerk, after death of Richardson. 1756, William Wharton, clerk, after death of Robinson. Patron, Sir Walter Blackett, Bart. The burial register states:-1774, Dec. 27th. Then was buried the Rev. W. Wharton.' In 1773, Thomas Martindale, Jona". Jefferson, William Dalston, John Orton, A. Brown, P.C. of Whitley, All sign the registers as curates. 1775-1792, Thomas Martindale, minister. He died March 24th, 1792, aged 76 years. 1. II. III. IV. 1832, Richard Heslop, P. curate. The present church and vicarage were built during his incumbency. 1850, Blythe Hurst, Ph.D., incumbent. A linguist of superior attain ments. 1854, Wm. Sisson, the present vicar, who is also vicar of Whitley (or Hexhamshire). SLALEY REGISTERS. Contains baptisms, marriages, and burials, beginning A.D. 170. This consists of 9 pages on paper in poor condition. Contains baptisms, marriages, and burials, A.D. 1725 to 1752. 40 pages Contains baptisms, marriages, and burials, also churchwardens' accounts, Contains baptisms and burials, A.D. 1769 to A.D. 1812; also banns and V. Contains baptisms, A.D. 1813 to A.D. 1860. VIII. Contains baptisms, A.D. 1860 to present date. IX. Contains marriages (in duplicate), A.D. 1838 to present date. EXTRACTS FROM REGISTERS. 343 The following are the earliest legible entries : BAPTISMS. February ye 29th, Anno Domini 170.-Joseph Carr, son of William Carr, and Mary, his wife, were then Baptizd. Septem' ye 12th, Anno Dom. 1703.-John Farbridge, son of John Farbridge, and Mary, his wife, was then baptizd. Decem' the 3a, Anno Dom. 1705.—Leonard Farbridge, son of John Farbridge, & Mary, his Wife, was then Baptizd. March ye 5th, Anno Dom. 1705.-John Carr, son of William Carr, and Mary, his Wife, was then Baptizd. MARRIAGES. December the 28th, 1722.-Then was marryd by Publication Henry Carr, of this Parish, and Alice Milton, of St. Nicholas, in the City of Durham. April ye 23, An. Dom. 1723.-Then was Marryd by Publication Joseph Foster, in the Parish of Hexham, and Mary Linton, of ye Parish of Slealey. April ye 24th, 1723.-Then was marry'd Wm Taylor, of this Parish, & Ann Spark, of ye parish of Hexham, by Publication. 26th. then buried. BURIALS. [obliterated] [1720] An. Dom., Burials. ... mber ye 24th.-Gerrard Farbridge was then buried. April ye 12th, 1721.-Mr Tho. Teasdale was then buried. APPENDIX. An Abstract of the title deeds of John Thornton, Esq. [of Netherwitton], to the Rectorys and tythes of Bywell St. Andrew and Slaveley in the County of Northumberland. 10 Oct. 5 Jac.—A Copy of a Grant from King James to Geo. Ward and Robt Morgan and their heirs (inter alia) of the Rectory and Church of Bywell St. Andrew, Count. Northumb., with its rights, members, and appurtes of the yearly rent of 6li. 13s. 4d., late belonging to the Monastery of Blanchland in the sa County, and also yo Advowson, donation, free disposition, and right of patronage to the Vicarage Church of Bywell afores, with all the lands, tenements, tythes, meadows, pastures, feedings, court leets, view of frank Pledge, &c., to the said Rectory belonging, under the yearly rent of 6li. 13s. 4d., payable to his Majty, his heirs, and successors. To be held of Mann' of East Greenwich. 21 May, 6 Jac.-By bargain and sale inrolled in Chancery the said Geo. Ward and Rob Morgan grant and convey the said Rectory, advowson, Tythes, &c., of Bywell Andrew, as fully as his then Majty granted the same to them (inter alia) by the Grant last above mentioned unto Cuthbert Radcliffe, of Blanchland, Esq., his heirs, and assigns, under the said Crown rent of 6li. 13s. 4d. 29 Oct. 9 Jac.-By Indenture reciting that Queen Elizabeth by her L'res Patents dat y 11 Apr', in the 21st year of her reign did grant to Sir Chr. Hatton, Kn1, and his heirs (inter alia) all and all manner of tythes of what nature or kind soever of and in the town, fields, parish, and hamlet of Slaveley, in the s County of Northumberland, theretofore belonging to the late Monastery of Hexham, with all houses, buildings, barns, dovecots, orchards, gardens, gleablands, meadows, pastures, Tythes as well greater as lesser, advowson, gift, free disposition, and right of patronage to the Vicarage of Slaveley aforesaid, as fully as her s Majty held the same, reserving to her sd Majty, her heirs, and successors for the s prem'es the yearly rent of 6li. 13s. 4d. for the maintenance of a fit minister or Clerk in the Church or Chapel of Slaveley afores, which s Tythes and prem'es in Slaveley the sd Sr Chr. Hatton by Indre of Bargain and sale inrolled in Chancery Dat. 12 of the sd April in ye sd 21 of her sa Maj"ty reign, did grant to St John Foster and his heirs, who conveyed the same to S John Fenwicke and his heirs. He the sd St John Fenwicke grants and conveys the sa Tythes, advowson, and prem'es in Slaveley afores to the abovenamed Cuthbert Radcliffe, Esq., and his heirs, renewing the yearly rent of 4li. towards payment of yo yearly rent reserved by the sa L'res Patents, for Slaveley, and also the sa rent of 6li. 13s. 4d. for Ministers wages or Stipend. (A Counterpart of this conveyance executed by Radcliffe.) 6 Oct. 11 Jac.-By Indenture reciting as in the last above-mentioned Indenture is recited the sd Sir John Fenwicke grants and conveys the sd Tythes, advowson, and prem'es in Slaveley afores to John Radcliffe, of Blanchland, Gent., and his heirs under ye sd rent of 4li., and the said rent for Ministers wages of 6li. 13s. 4d. (A Counterpart of this deed signed by John Radcliffe.) 29 Oct. 9 Car.-The said John Radcliffe by his last will and testament gives to his brother Anthony his Rectory of Bywell Andrew and the Chappelry of Slaveley, and to his brother William all his moyety of Corn Tythes in Chester [i.e., Chester-le-Street], and makes his said brothers executors of his said will. 22 Oct. 1647.-A probate of the last will and testament of William Radcliffe, whereby he gives the Tythes of Slaveley Parish, and the Tythes or Rectory of Bywell Andrew to his sister, Jane Witham, and her heirs. 25 May, 1649.-By Indenture John Witham and the sa Jane (his then wife) grant and convey unto John Thornton, of Netherwitton, Gent., and his heirs all their messuage or tenement called Hassewell, alias Hassiwell, in the County of Northumb, with a pasture there called Wattefield, alias Watchman's Bogg, and all that Rectory and Church of Bywell Andrew, the free gift, and right of patronage of the Vicarage of Slaveley, one rent charge of 8li. per annum issuing out of West Calecoates, one other rent charge of 12li. out of the Mann' of North Charlton, one other of 40li., out of Great Swinburne, West Swinburn, Cockwell, Whiteside Law, and Holmes Haugh, one free rent or White rent of 40s. out of Great Framlington and Little Framlington, one other of 40s. out of Todburne and Horseley, and one other of 39s. 11d. out of Riplington, and also the Moyety or one half of the Prebend, Rectory, and Vicarage of Chester in the Street aforesd. To hold to the sd John Thornton and his heirs, to the use of John Witham and Jane, his wife, for the life of the sd Jane, then to the use of the sd John Thornton and his heirs, Provided the sd John Thornton, after the death of the s Jane, did pay to his brother Henry Thornton and his heirs the yearly rent of 30li. per annum, if the sd Henry did pay to Margaret Thornton, his sister, 100li., and the further sum of 200li. if the sd Jane did appoint and declare the same by her last will and testament. A Copy of the Capcon of a fine of the sd prem'es from the sd Witham et Ux. to the sa John Thornton. 1 Apr. 1653.-By Indenture the s John Thornton covenants to stand seized of the Rectory and Tythes of Bywell Andrew and Slaveley and the advowson thereof, and of one moyety of the Prebend Rectory and Vicarage of Chester to the use of himself for life, then to the use of Henry Thornton and the heirs of his body. In default of such to the use of William Thornton and the heirs of his body, and for default of such, to the right heirs of him the said John Thornton. 3 June, 1659.--A Copy of the said Jane Witham's will, whereby she constitutes her son, Henry Thornton, sole executor of all her estate, real and personal, provided that he pay to her daughter, Margt Thornton, sister to the sd Henry, the sum of 300li. pursuant to the deed of the 25 of May, 1649, above-mentioned. 1 and 2 Oct. 36 Car. 2.-By Indentures of Lease and Release, the release being 3-partite and made between the sd Henry Thornton of the first part, Edward Burdett and Anthony Anderson of the 2a part, and Richard Pepper of ye 3d part, the sd Henry Thornton grants and conveys the sd Rectorys, Tythes, advowsons, and prem'es of and in Bywell and Slaveley, the sd moyety of the Prebend, Rectory, and Vicarage of Chester, to the sd Burdett and Anderson and their heirs to make them tenants of the freehold, in order to suffer a recovery thereof. The uses whereof is thereby declared to be to the use of such person and persons for such estates charged with such annual paymts and with such sums of money as the s Henry Thornton should by any writing or last will in writing direct or appoint, and subject thereunto To the use of the s Henry Thornton, his heirs, and assignes for ever. Hil. Pro. 36 of 37 Car. 2.-An Exemplification of a recovery of the prem'es pursuant to the deed last abovementnd, wherein Richard Pepper is demant. against the said Burdett and Anderson on Tenants and the said Henry Thornton le Vouchee.. 14 Mar. 4 Jac. 2. 1687.-A Copy of the last will and testament of the s Henry Thornton, whereby he gives and devises the s moyety of the s Prebend, Rectory, and Tythes of Chester in the street, with the appurtenances, to his nephew, Nicholas Thornton, and his heirs, and gives to his cousin, Margt Sackvile, an annuity of 101i. per annum for her life, chargeable on the Rectory of Bywell Andrew and tythes of Bywell Andrew and Slaveley afores, payable half-yearly at Pent. and Martinmas; and devises the sd Rectory, advowson, Tythes, and prem'es of and in Bywell Andrew and Slaveley aforesaid to his sister, Margt Thornton, for her life. Then to her executors for 7 years from her death for payment of her debts, subject to the sd 10li. per annum given to Sackvile, and after the expiration thereof gives the s tythes and premises to his sd nephew, Nicholas Thornton, and his heirs, subject to the sd annual payment of 10li. above-mentioned, and further devises to his sd sister Margt and her heirs an annual rent charge of 8li. issuing out of Shelley, one other of 6li. per annum out of one messuage or tenement in Kirkley, and out of all other the lands late of Sir Nicholas Thornton in Northumberland, and makes the said Margaret, his sister, executrix of his said will. By memorandum the sd Henry Thornton wills That his s sister Margaret enjoy Chester Tythes for her life, and in defect of such enjoyment gives a rent charge of 201i. chargeable on Bywell Andrew and Slaveley Tythes to the s Margaret and her heirs, But in case the sd Margaret enjoy Chester Tythes for her life, then all his said tythes to come to his s nephew, Nicholas Thornton, and his heirs.-Hodgson's MS. Materials, M. p. 100 and S. p. 101. John Thornton, whose name stands at the head of these abstracts, was son and heir of the above-named Nicholas. By the marriage of his grand-daughter, Margaret, to Walter Trevelyan, the Slaley tithes passed into the hands of the Trevelyans of Netherwitton. Two fields near the church, still known as Glebe Fields, belong to that family. The tithes, passed by sale into the hands of the Silvertops, and are at present held by Mr. Witham, of Lartington, who pays to the vicar of Slaley the annual sum of £6 13s. 4d., and provides wine for holy communion. The patronage of Slaley is now in the hands of Mr. W. B. Beaumont. MERCHINGLEY OR MARCHINGLEY HERMITAGE IN THE PARISH OF SLALEY. In the thirteenth century a hermitage existed at a place called Merchingley or Marchingley, in Northumberland, on land belonging to Walter de Bolbeck, and granted by him to two monks from Kelso, about the year 1280. From the names of places and the boundaries mentioned in the following charters I have come to the conclusion that the hermitage and church of St. Mary must have been situated within the parish of Slaley, and not far from the borders of the present parish of Healey, somewhere near the burn now called March burn, which forms the boundary. Unfortunately, the name Marchingley has entirely disappeared, and no traces of the hermitage or of the church now remain to mark the spot. It has been suggested |