State Papers (Dom.). Corn.. for Compounding, G, 86, No. 34 b. Cal. of Corn. for Corn. Cases, 1647-1660, p. 2747.
The premises were conveyed 7th June, 1631, by Sir William Hewitt and Thomas Hewitt to Sir John Fenwick of Wallington, knight, Robert Anderson of Newcastle, esquire, and George Fenwick of Gray's Inn, esquire, in trust for Sir William Fenwick, and comprised lands in Amble in the several tenures of Edward Clark, at the rent of 19s. 7d. ; Nicholas Thew, 26s. 2d. ; John Wilson, 25s. 6d. ; Henry Johnson, 19s. 3d.; William Taylor, 25s. 1d.; Elizabeth Gibson, 3s.; Edward Thompson, 1s.; the rent of assize of bread and beer, the rent of 24 quarters 4 bushels of barley paid by the fourteen tenants, the manor house, the salt pit, the coal mines, and the coney garth. The grant also included the lands in Hauxley in the tenure of William Jackson, at the rent of 32s. 5d., and of William Taylor, at the rent of 29s. 9d., with the mill, pigeon house, etc., and the rent of assize.
Particulars of fee farm rents, fol. 38, No. 804. Gibson, Tynemouth, i. p. 243. Schedule of Amble Deeds, Rev. John Hodgson's Collection.
Exchequer Depositions, 13 James I. Michaelmas, No. 4. Ibid. 14 James I. Michaelmas, No. 3o. Cf. Hist. of Berwickshire Club, xiv. pp. 256-261, where an abstract of the depositions is given.
i.e., the date of Robert Patterson's copy.
Land Revenue Record Office, Surveys, Northumberland, James I. vol. 42.
Ex cartis Cookson of Meldon. Rev. John Hodgson's Collection
Ex inf. Mr. M. H. Dand. The appointed day was the 2nd February, and it was kept as a general holiday.
Cal. Border Papers, Bain, i. p. 23.
n the returns of the great muster taken on Aberwick Moor in 1533 the tenants of Amble were associated with and included in those of Warkworth. Arch. Ael. 4to series, iv. p. 162.
Ministers' Accounts, 30-31 Henry VIII. Gibson, Tynemouth, i. p. 227.
Duke of Northumberland's MSS. Bailiffs' Accounts, 2 Hen. VII.
Ibid.
Ibid. 14 Edw. IV.
Ibid. Bailiffs' Accounts, 12 Edw. IV.
Inquisicio capta apud Anebell' die Mercurii proximo post festum Ascencionis domini, anno regni Regis Edwardi tercii a conquestu decimo, per sacramentum Adae de Haukeslowe, Roberti de Raynham, Nicholai filii Adae, Rogeri filii Willelmi, Rogeri de Raynham, Roberti filii Willelmi, Adae Perot, Johannis filii Radulfi, Johannis filii Thomae, Rogeri flit Simonis, Adae filii Henrici et Roberti Hodd qui dicunt super sacramentum suum quod Adam filius Johannis filii Simonis de Anebell' est natiuus prions de Tynemuth' de maneno suo de Anebell' et dicunt quod praedictus Johannes pater ipsius Adae recognovit se fore nativum praedicti prions de manerio praedicto in plena curia tenta apud Anebell' die Mercurit proximo post festum Sancti Michaelis Archangeli anno regni regis praedicti octavo et quod omnes antecessores sui fuerunt natiui praedicti prions et super hoc praedictus Johannes fecit fidelitatem suam domino tanquam natiuus, unde dicunt quod praedictus Adam est nativus praedicti prions ut praedictum est sicut omnes antecessores sui a tempore quo non extat memoria semper fuerunt natiui. In cuius rei testimonium praedicti juratores' huic inquisicioni sigilla sua apposuerunt. Dat. apud Anebell' die et anno supradictis.' Ibid. fol. 174 b.
`Pateat universis per praesentes quod nos Ricardus prior de Tynemuth' recepimus de domino Johanne de Clavering' per manus Willelmi de Alwenton' receptoris denariorum diets domini Johannis in Northumbria xx solidos sterlingorum pro multura tenencium nostrorum in Haukeslawe et Anbell'. Saluis nobis arreragiis annui redditus quadraginta solidorum quae nobis et domui nostrae de praecedentibus terminis debentur pro praedicta multura. De quibus xx solidis dictum dominum Johannem acquietamus per praesentes quibus sigillum nostrum est appensum. Dat. apud Anbell' die Jovis proximo post festum Sancti Mathiae apostoli anno domini millesimo trescentesimo tricesimo.' Concessum est Baty piscatori de Anbell' et sociis suis habere piscariam eiusdein villae a festo Paschae anno domini millesimo cccmo xxix usque ad festum sancti Michaelis proximo sequens reddendo inde ad praedictum festum sancti Michaelis c solidos.' Tynemouth Chartulary, fol. 161 b.
Johan de Clavering a William de Alwenton nostre receivor en Northumbr' salutz. Nous vous mandouns e chargeoms qe vous paiez au priour de Tynemuth' pour la rente qe nous lui deuoms de sa moute de Anehell' e de Haukeslawe ceo est a savoir xx souz de ceste terme de seint Martin e xx souz de terme de Pentecoste prochein suaunt de nos fermes issaunz de nostre molin de Werkeworth'. E prenez de lui aquitaunce. E faites taunt qe le dit priour soit paie de an en an de la dite rente as termes avaundiz ceo ne lessez. E ceste lettre vous serra garraunte. Done a nostre chastel de Werkeworth' le Jeodi prochein devaunt la feste seint Martin Ian du regne le roy Edward le tierce apres le conquest tierce.' Licet contineatur (sic) et precipiatur in predicta commissione quod viginti solidi de praedicto annuo redditu soluantur ad festum Pentechoste tamen in scripto per quod dominus Johannes de Clavering tenetur soluere praedictum annuum redditum continetur quod idem annuus redditus xl solidorum debet et habet solui ad festum sancti Johannis Baptistae et ad festum sancti Martini.' Tynemouth Chartulary, fol. 160 b,
Ibid. fol. 166.
Ibid. fol. 160b.
Tynemouth Chartulary, fol. 61.
For an explanation of the meaning of cane-fish, see vol. ii. p. 40.
Ibid. 20 Edw. II. p. 467
Rot. Pat. 17 Edw. II. p. 2. Duke of Northumberland's Transcript, pp. 416-418.
Cal. Rot. Pat. 10 Edw. II. pt. I, p. 597.
Ibid Gibson, Tynemouth Monastery, i. pp. 117-118.
Tynemouth Chartulary, folios 4, 6.
Placita de Quo Warranto Rolis, 21 Edw. I. ; Hodgson, Northumberland, pt. iii. vol. i. p. 149 ; Tvnemouth Chartulary, fol. 193. Placita corans rege, Pasch. 21 Edw. I. rot. xv. ; Gibson, Tynemouth, i. p. 114.
Tynemouth Chartulary, fol. 206.
Ibid. folio 6 b.
Carta de multura de Anebill' et Hawkeslawe. 'Radulfus Gubiun permissione divina prior de Thunem' et conventus ejusdem loci omnibus hominibus presentibus et futuris ad quos praesens scriptum pervenerit salutem in vero salvatore. Noverit universitas vestra nos dedisse et concessisse et hac praesenti carta nostra confirmasse Roberto filio Rogeri et heredibus suis totam multuram nostram de terris nostris et omnibus hominibus nostris de villa de Ambbill' et de Hawkeslawe cum omnibus pertinenciis suis salva nobis multura nostra de nostro proprio et salva nobis multura nostra de dominico nostro trium carucatarum terre in Ambbill'. Habendam et tenendam sibi et heredibus suis de nobis et successoribus nostris jure hereditario bene et in pace libere et quiete et honorifice inperpetuum. Reddendo inde annuatim nobis et successoribus nostris ipse et heredes sui quadraginta solidos ad duos terminos scilicet xx solidos ad festum sancti Johannis Baptistae et viginti solidos ad festum sancti Martini proximo sequens. Inveniet eciam idem Robertus et heredes sui nobis et successoribus nostris meremium ad tres carucas et ad tres hercias et septem carectatas hosci ad focum nostrum de bosco suo capienda et habenda annuatim ubi ipse et heredes sui ceperint eas apud Werkeworth, ad usus suos pro omni servicio et consuetudine et exaccione et demanda. Et ut haec donacio nostra rata sit et inconcussa eam sigilli nostri municione coroboravimus. Hiis testibus,' etc. Percy Chartulary, fol. 112 a.
Recital in a confirmation charter granted 29th June, 55 Henry III. Ibid. i. p. 61
Matthew Paris, Vita Ric. Abbot. Gibson, Tynemouth Monastery, i. p. 42.
 

TOWNSHIP OF AMBLE. Continued 2

 

      Originally a member of the great Vesci barony, Amble was one of the manors with which Robert de Mowbray endowed the priory of Tynemouth when it was refounded and affiliated to the Benedictine abbey of St. Alban's in 1090. In the apportionment of estates made in the time of abbot Richard de Albini (died 1119) it was agreed that the abbot and his successors should retain Amble and Coquet Island, with the churches of Woodhorn and Bywell, and also a pension of 30s. a year out of the church of Tynemouth, but that no further demand should be made upon the priory. N
     Amongst the many estates mentioned in the recitals in the charter of confirmation granted on the 28th of December, 1189, by Richard I., before setting out for the Holy Land on the third crusade, were Ambell and Hauekeslowe, but this charter having been lost or mislaid, and an infraction of the rights given by it having been made during the king's captivity in Austria, it was renewed at the Chateau Gaillard near Les Andelys in Normandy on the 13th of November, 1198. N
     At the beginning of the thirteenth century an agreement was made between Robert fitz Roger, lord of Warkworth (died 1214), and Ralph de Gubion the prior (circa 1209-1223), and the convent of Tynemouth to regulate the service due from the tenants of Amble and Hauxley of grinding their corn at the manorial mills of Warkworth. The produce of the demesne (which comprised three plough lands) in Amble was to be exempt, but all the tenants were to pay multure, and on the other hand, Robert fitz Roger bound himself and his successors to find the convent with timber for three ploughs and three harrows, to supply seven loads of firewood from the woods Of Warkworth, and to pay 40s. a year to the prior.L
      On the 13th of November, 1280, an enquiry was ordered concerning the seizure at Amble of the ship of Stephen of Frisem. N
       In the taxation of Pope Nicholas in 1292, the prior and convent held in Anebell two carucates of land worth (after deducting an annual expenditure of 21s.) 42s., rents paid in money, 46s. 7d., a rent-charge arising in Warkworth, 40s., and a similar payment from Hauxley of 45s. 10d. ; they also received from Amble 42 quarters of malt or barley, worth at 2s. 6d. a quarter, £5 5s. N  Shortly afterward the abbot of St. Alban's and the prior of Tynemouth were required to prove their rights as against the king to sea wreck and free warren in Amble and Hauxley, and the amercements of the tenants there ; they entered an appearance before the king's justices at Newcastle, on the 18th of June (?) 1293. N
     In 1295 the demesne lands in Amble were found to comprise 44½  acres in the South-flat, 30 acres in the East-flat, 15½ acres in the West-flat, 7 acres in the Crooks, 16 acres in the flats at the Hope, 30 acres in Gonuldes Cross, and 23 acres in Dolakelawe, 2½ roods in the Syket-meadow at the North side Hope, 3 roods in the Syket-meadow under Gonuldes Cross, 6 acres in the West-mede at Blaklawe, 1½ acres in the East-mede, and 20 acres in the Strother. N There were eighteen tenants who asserted that they were freeholders (tenantes per se ut dicunt libere), and there were also twenty-two bond tenants who amongst them held 465 acres of land.

 

 

ANBELLE TENANTS CLAIMING TO BE FREEHOLDERS, 1295 : N

 
   A. R.    A. R.
Nicholaus  26 0 Adam Newbond   5  2
Henricus filius Simonis  29 1 Johannes le Lepol   2  0
Simon Trottyng  18 1 Robertus filius Hytred   2  2
Willelmus Lond   6  0 Willelmus filius Walteri   3  2
Nicholaus filius fabri   6  0  Juliana Leysyns   1  0
Randulfus filius Galfridi   9  0 Adam filius Petri   3  2
Willelmus Wanpayn   1  2 Alicia filia Randolfi   1  0
Alicia Gune filia   3  2 Alicia uxor Lyalf   1  0
Asplyun faber   7  0 Simon filius Walteri   0  2
 
 
    These names and quantities may be compared with the contemporary list of persons who were rated to and paid the following subsidy :
 

AMBEL SUBSIDY ROLL, 1296.

 
  £.  s. d.   s.  d.
Summa bonorum    Symonis filii Walteri 0  14  4 unde regi 1   3¾
Summa bonorum    Willelmi filii Willelln 0  13  0 unde regi  1  2¼
Summa bonorum    Roberti filii Hutredi 0  12  0 unde regi 1    1
Summa bonorum    Roberti filii Eliae 0  13  0 unde regi 1   2¼
Summa bonorum    Walteri filii Rogeri 0  13  0 unde regi 1   2¼
Summa bonorum    Ranulphi filii Henrici 0  13  0 unde regi 1   2¼
Summa bonorum     Symonis filii Ranulphi 0  13  0 unde regi 1   2¼
Summa bonorum    Ranulphi filii Galfridi 0  12  6 unde regi 1  1¾
Summa bonorum    Thomae Punder 0  17  0 unde regi 1  7½
Summa hujus villae    6  1  8 unde domino regi 11  0¾
Summa bonorum    Nicholai de Ambel   2  17  8 unde regi 5   3
 
 
    In 1316 a ship laden at Hartlepool with wheat, rye, and salt, and bound for Berwick-on-Tweed, for the sustenance of the garrison there, having been driven ashore at the port of Warkworth by the attack of pirates, was boarded by Richard de Thirlewal, Robert de Arreyns, Eustace the constable of Warkworth, John de Aketon, Hugh Galoun, John of Lescebury and others, who carried away the cargo and arrested the ship. A commission was thereupon issued at the suit of Richard de la More and others, the master and freighters of the ship. N
     Eight years later a ship belonging to certain merchants of Bruges and Ypres (John Robin being master), and freighted `cum lanis, coriis, pellibus, lanutis,' and other goods to the value of £600, shipped at Berwick and bound for Flanders, was cast ashore at Amble in a storm. The master and crew escaped safe to land, whereby the said goods and chattels could not be called a wreck according to the law and custom of England ; yet Adam son of Nicholas of Haukeslawe, Robert de Raynham, Roger son of Robert de Raynham, Robert brother of the same Roger, William son of Thomas, Roger son of William son of Thomas, Robert son of William son of Thomas, Nicholas son of Adam of Haukeslawe, Henry de Rihill of Werkeworth, Adam ` le taillour,' William Fox, Thomas Egly, Henry ` le peschour,' Nicholas Scot, John Cokkebayn, Alan Alegode of Werkeworth, Richard the grieve of Togesdene, William son of Robert, Stephen of Togesden, Adam son of Peter of Anebille, Henry son of Robert, William son of Henry, Robert ` ponder,' Robert Batyn, John son of Simon, John `le fevre' of Anebille, Hugh Wayt of Aclynton, William Paynesman of Aclynton, Nicholas Mawsone of Newbiggyng, Alexander son of Elias, Robert Shoute, John Hant, John son of John ' le clerk,' John son of Juliana, Roger Botting, and Robert del Borne of Newbiggyng and others, seized and robbed the ship at the vill of Anebille. The king, on the petition of the merchants, on the 28th of March, 1324, ordered an enquiry. N
    Two years afterwards all the ships of Warkworth capable of carrying 40 tons and more were ordered to join the royal fleet under the command of John de Sturmy, the king's admiral. N
     In 1328 the twenty-two bond tenants in Amble paid for `huse-male,' 7s. 4d. a year in money, and rendered in labour, eggs, and fowls, £5 12s. 9d. (of which sum there was usually expended 20s. in charges). A pasture called Vilkemer yielded a rent of 5s. ; certain meadows were let for 40s., `de forlandes dimisso diversis tenentibus,' 41s. 8d.; 2s. was paid for abbotscoth ; fifteen cottagers paid 12s. 2d. ; 40s. was received from Warkworth mill ; but the Scodewell fishing was unlet, and the cane-fish N and the marsh lands produced nothing. N In the following year, however, the fishing was
let to one ' Baty,' a fisherman at Amble, for the large rent of £5 year. N
    About this period Richard de Tweng, the prior of Tynemouth (1320-1339), granted several short leases of parcels of demesne lands. Roger, son of William of Hauxley, obtained 4 acres near Blakelawe for eight years, at 8d. an acre ; John, son of Thomas of Amble, 2 acres ; William Pikenot', 4 acres ; and John Allison of Hauxley, 4 acres of land lying near ` Gunnildes-crosse ' for similar periods and at similar rentals. N
    On the 1st of August, 1329, the last lord of Warkworth of the family of Clavering issued an order to his receiver to pay to the prior of Tynemouth the sum of 40s. due to him in respect of the manors of Amble and Hauxley for a rent-charge out of the mill at Warkworth, L and in February, 1330, the prior, being at Amble, released a payment of a moiety of the same rent. L
     On the Tuesday after Ascension day, 1336, an inquisition was taken at Amble to ascertain whether Adam, the son of John, the son of Simon of Amble, was or was not a nief of the prior of Tynemouth. L
     Henry Percy, the new lord of Warkworth, being desirous to ascertain the mutual obligation of the prior and convent and himself, caused an inquisition to be taken in 1347 in which it was found that the tenants of Amble and Hauxley were bound to grind their corn at Warkworth mill and pay the fourteenth measure for multure ; that the tenants of Amble were entitled to have in their town two hand mills, and the tenants of Hauxley one hand mill, which they might use only when the Warkworth mill was hindered by floods or in time of necessity. The tenants of both townships were chargeable with multure on the malt paid as rent in kind to the convent, but in case they were so impoverished by war or fire as to be unable to pay that rent in full, then only a proportionate part of multure on the malt was to be exacted. The monks of Coquet Island had their corn ground free. The finding of the jury was embodied in an agreement made between the prior and Henry de Percy at Tynemouth, at Michaelmas, 1317. Link (Latin/ French)
     At the end of the fifteenth century the earl of Northumberland used to farm a portion of the corn tithes of the rectory of Warkworth for the provision of his household. At Michaelmas, 1472, Robert Brown and William Cowyke were each allowed 3s. 4d. for collecting the tithe sheaves of Amble and Hauxley, and 12d. was allowed for three tubs of beer given to the tenants there and at Hadston, ` nomine regardi ad decimandum insimul totuut granum ibidem.' William Hordon and Richard Brown were paid 6s. 8d. for driving the two wagons employed to carry the said sheaves to the lord's grange, being at the rate of 8d. a day between them. N  At Michaelmas, 1474, the keeper of the granary takes credit for the delivery to the household of 18 quarters 1 bushel and 2 pecks of wheat at 5s. 4d. a quarter, and of 1 quarter 4 bushels at 4s. a quarter, also of 42 quarters of oats at 2s. a quarter, parcel of the tithes of Amble, Hauxley, and East Chevington. The barley, beans, and peas had not yet been threshed. N William Cowyk was paid 3s. 8d. for collecting the tithe sheaves of Amble, John Snape 3s. 8d. for collecting those of Hauxley, and William Cuthbert 3s. 8d. for collecting those of Hadston. N At Michaelmas, 1486, the sum of 4s. 9d. was allowed for the carriage of nineteen waggon loads of white straw from Amble, Hauxley, and Hadston for thatching for the roof of the lord's granary at Warkworth. N
     At the period of the dissolution of the monasteries there were fourteen tenants in Amble, besides cottagers, apparently seven in number. In the Ministers' Accounts of the year 1539, John Widdrington, the bailiff; accounts for £15 13s. 6d., being rents received from twenty-one copyhold tenants for their holdings, for a pasture field called Wylde-mere-mede and for a meadow called Halle-mede, possibly parcels of the demesne lands; for £5 6s. 2d. for the value of 24 quarters of barley paid in kind by the fourteen tenants at the rate of 1 quarter and 6 bushels apiece ; for £1 6s. 8d. for four score of salt fish accruing from four cobles; for 1s. for a cottage ; for 6s. from the fines or assize of bread and ale paid according to ancient custom ; and for 14d. for the pannage of swine ; making a total revenue from the township of £22 14s. 6d. N
     The tenants N of the manor were less indulgently treated under the Crown than under their former masters. In 1580 it was reported that they were so `exacted by the queen's officers they are ready to give up their holdings.' The rents continued to be paid partly in money and partly in kind. Of the latter it was the custom that the payment should be `delayed till the auditt twelfemonth after and then of curtesie of th' officer yt ys set at a grote a bowl under the price of the markett at Newcastle.' N This arrangement subsequently fell through, and the payment of the hall corn-barley, consisting of 24 quarters, was made by the tenants to the representative or farmer of the lord of the manor, upon an appointed day on the site and near the remains of the old manor house, by being poured out by the tenant upon a great sheet and then measured up by the lord's representative. This system continued until the beginning of this century, when it was superseded by a money present. N
There is not sufficient evidence to prove that the prior and convent of Tynemouth had a cell at Amble, but they undoubtedly possessed the old manor house which occupied a site on the brow of the bank or terrace which overhung the river Coquet. Of this house there only remains a fragment of masonry, dating from the fifteenth century, showing a window of two lights.


     Amongst the tenants who during the sixteenth century held lands in Amble by copy of court roll was the family of Arnold. In a case of disputed succession heard at York in 1611, before the Council of the North, Robert Smith of Amble, a man of seventy-eight years of age, deposed :

          That he did well knowe John Arnolde of Ambell, and that the said John Arnolde died seized of a tenement in Amble, now in the tenure or occupation of Robert Arnolde of Berlinge, or his assigns; and he did knowe Thomas Arnolde, brother to the said John Arnolde, and that the said Thomas had a son whose name was Thomas, and that the said Robert Arnolde is son and heir of the said Thomas the younger; and he dothe further saie upon his oath that he doth well remember that the prior of the monastery of Tynemouth was in displeasure with the said John Arnolde; and the said John did goe to London, and at his return went to the prior and did . . . . with him, and the prior would not grant him a coppy of the said tenement in Ambell, untill he was content to give so many nobles as there were dores about his house, and there were found xiiij dores, and John Arnolde giving satisfaction to the prior, he had his coppie according to custom. N
 

ARNOLD OF AMBLE

Arnold of Amble

 
 

PATTERSON OF AMBLE

 

EVIDENCES TO PEDIGREES OF ARNOLD AND PATTERSON.


          At a court holden in the manor of Amble and Hauxley on the 25th of January, 1592/3,' Juratores dicunt quod Robertus Howey mortuus est et dicunt quod . . . . dedit . . . . de et in tenementum in Ambell coram prox . . . . Roberti Patersone filio Johannis Patersone et heredibus suis secund. consuetud. et p. def. exit. ad opus Edvardi Patersone fratris ejusd. Roberti. Salvo Jane uxor Johannis Patersone durante viduatate.' Ex cartis Cookson of Meldon.

          1597, 21st December. Memorandum that I, Richard Spence, have delivered to William Hall for the debt of Mr. William Crowe, merchant, due to Edward Paterson, mason, three webbes of lead and one stithie (? anvil) of cast iron, on condition that if the said Edward be not paid 30s. before, etc., he may sell the said lead and iron and pay himself. Ibid.

          1606, 1st November. Will of Robert Paterson of Amble, husbandman. To be buried within the parish church of Warkworth. I give to my nephew Nicholas Scrogges two oxen, to my niece Elizabeth Scrogges one boule of oates : My wife Elizabeth Patterson and my children to be executors of this my will. Proved 1606. Amount of inventory, £49 5s. 6d. Durham Probate Registry.

          1608, 10th May. Warrant to enquire if Robert Arnold be the kinsman and next heir of John Arnold, deceased, against Elizabeth Paterson, widow, who holds 40 acres of land, 6 acres of meadow, and 40 acres of pasture and 100 acres of common, with purtenences in Amble claimed by the said Robert. Ex cartis Cookson of Meldon.

          1610, 26th August. Bond from Robert Arnold for £60 to admit Arthur Forster into a tenement in Ambell in the possession of Elizabeth Patterson. Ibid.

          1611, 8th August. Answer of Arthur Forster to the bill of Edward Patterson. It appears by the joint answers of Arthur Forster and Elizabeth Patterson, widow, that the plaintiff, Edward Patterson, claimed his brother Robert Patterson's estate on the ground that Elizabeth had had a child during widowhood and thereby forfeited her estate, but `she doth not acknowledge that any widowe by the custome of the said mannor (i.e., of Amble) if she in her widowhood doe lyve unchaist and incontynently and shall have a child unlawfully begotten, shall loose the said premisses or shall be avoyded from the same before her widowhead be determyned. But if the matter of incontinency and haveing a childe which is objected in the bill of complaint against the defendent were true, yet whether therby this defendent should loose her widow's estate in and to the premises by any custome in the said mannor or no yis a matter fytt to be tryed at the comon lawe and is not fitt to be brought in question in this honourable court, as she is informed by her counsell, being a matter soe penal to this defendant as is pretended whereby if there be any such custome her estate might be in jeoperdye.' Ibid.

 

    By order of the Court of Exchequer ` a survey of the mannor of Ambell and Auxley' N was made in September, 1608, by Bartholomew Haggatt and George Warde, gentlemen, as commissioners, who found that there were in Amble fourteen tenants who held their lands by copy of court roll ; there were also five cottage tenants. The sum of the copyhold rents was found to be £16 0s. 5d., and the leasehold and other rents amounted to £9 6s.10d.
 
 

SURVEY OF AMBLE, SEPTEMBER, 1608.

 

Copyhold Tenants.  Former Tenants. Date
of Copy
Money
 Rent.
Barley
Rent.
 
Annual
 Value beyond
 Rent.
     

£ s. d.

Winchester
Bushels.

£ s. d.

Robert Hudson Robert Hudson, his father 7th April, 1598 1 6 4 14 7 0 0
Hugh Hodgson William Hodgson, his father 9th Oct., 1594 0 19 4 14 6 10 0
Edward Clarke Edward Clarke, his father 24th March, 1586/7 0 19 7 14 6 10 0
Robert Widdrington John Barnell (? Arnell) 23rd April, 1602 1 1 3 14 6 13 4
Robert Smith, jun Robert Smith, his father 24th March, 1586/7 1 1 3 14  6 13 4
Dionise Wilson Roger Smith, by surrender of Robert Smith, his son 4th August, 1603 1 3 7 14 6 10 0
Nicholas Thew George Thew , his father 7th April, 1598  1 6 2 14 7 0 0
Edward Tayler Robert Tayler, his father 4th August, 1603 1 0 11 14 6 6 8
John Wilson Robert Wilson 25th Oct., 1596 1 5 6 14 6 13 4
Henry Johnson  George Hudson Oct., 1590  0 19 3 14 6 6 8
Elizabeth Patterson Robert Patterson, her husband 24th March, 1586/7 N 0 19 11 14 6 6 8
William Tayler Robert Tayler, his father 24th March, 1586/7 1 4 1 14 6 13 4
John Clarke William Wright 24th March, 1586/7 0 19 1 14  6 5 0
John Hudson Roger Bayard 7th April, 1598 0 17 9 14 5 13 4
 
 
 
 

SURVEY OF AMBLE, SEPTEMBER, 1608.

 

Cottage Tenants. Date of Copy. Rent. Value beyond Rent.
    s. d.  s. d.
Elizabeth Gibson, late wife of Robert Gibson, deceased, one cottage during her widow-
hood, by her late husband's copy ... ...  
9th October, 1594 2 0 6 8
Ibid., one cottage during her widowhood by copy of Robert Gibson, her husband's father ...   9th October, 1594 1 0 4 0
Elinor Hall, late wife of Cuthbert Hall, deceased, one cottage, by her late husband's
copy ...
12th April, 1597 2 8 6 8
Edward Thompson, late Robert Thompson,
his father ...  
9th October, 1594 1 0 3 4
Robert Bullock, late William Browell ...   24th March, 1586/7 9 9 20 0
       
 

 

 
     John Parkar of Norwiche houldeth there the scite of the mannor of Ambell, per annum 3s. 4d. ; the scituation of the salte-pannes ther, 4s. ; all mynes of coales ther and in Auxley, per annum 40s.; and a conny warren upon Ambells-heughe, per annum I10s., by letters patentes graunted to him bearing date 30th March, 1589/90, for 21 yeeres, and afterwardes in reversion unto Roger Molsdale and Henrie Paule dated 6th July, 1590, for 21 yeeres, £2 18s. 4d. Annual value beyond the rent, £11.
     All the tenantes ther have ancientlie paide for the assize of breade and beere 6s. per annum by custome onley; by which they doe give licence to some one to brew and bake within the mannor, and at present they have licenced one Elizabeth Gibson, who paieth yerely 6s.
    All the tennants ther, beinge 14 entire tenements, doe paie yeerlie 14 bushells of barlye per everie tenement, Winchester measure, as is before showen, besides their money rent ; all which rent-come is letten in lease unto Robert Woodrington and others by letters patentes dated 7th August, 1590, for 21 yeeres rendering per annum £6 2s. 6d. Annual value beyond the rent, £8.
    William Toppinge houldeth ther a quarrie of stones within this mannor by letters patentes granted from our late soveraigne Queene Elizabeth, but he nether appeared nor showed the same.
     The tenants ther claime to houlde their lands of the mannor of Tynmouth by coppie of court roll secundum consuetudinem husband. and that after the death of every tenante his next heire of the whole bloode is to be admitted accordinge to the custome, paying a yeere's rent for a fine, and two yeeres' rent for a fine upon every surrender.
     But wee cannot finde that they have any such estate of inheritance for that wee finde divers coppies graunted sibi et assignatis suis.
     For the payment of their fines wee finde an incertaintie and cannot reporte whether they ought to be arbitrable or noe, for that the earle of Northumberland's deputy captaine was always deputy steward ther, who governed them, as they say, not accordinge to their customes but accordinge to his owne will. The recordes are in the earle of Northumberland his keepinge, and will best showe the state of their tenure and customes whereunto he refers us. Their fines, amerciaments, and profittes of court, etc., are received by the earle of Northumberland's officers as due to him by his letters patents, but whether hee ought to accounte for the same wee cannot tell, because wee never sawe his letters patents.

 

  In the years 1615 and 1616 there were suits in the Court of Exchequer brought by Robert Hudson and others, tenants in the king's manor of Amble, against John Wharrier, Thomas Davy, Robert Arnold, Hugh Elder, William Wharrier, and Thomas Elder, tenants in the earl of Northumberland's manor of Birling, concerning the boundary of the respective manors and townships, and more particularly concerning the pasturage of some 16 acres of land called the Salt-goates on the north side of the Coquet. Witnesses deposed that the Coquet had worn away much of the ground upon the south side of the river, and had laid it to the parcel of ground in question lying upon the north side; that it had formerly been the custom to ride the bounds between Amble and Birling upon St. Helen's day. N
    The manor remained in the Crown until the 25th of September, 1628, when, with Hauxley and many other estates of the dissolved priory of Tyne-mouth, it was sold by Charles I. to Edward Ditchfield and others as trustees of the corporation of the city of London. N The grant included :
 
      The township of Ambell, with lands in the tenure of divers persons at the lord's will, of the yearly value of £15 13s. 6d.; 24 quarters and 4 bushels of barley, annually paid by fourteen tenants (that is to say, 1 quarter and 6 bushels by each tenant) valued at £6 2s. 6d. per annum; a cottage worth 12d. yearly ; all the rents of assize of bread and ale payable by the tenants there, amounting to 6s. yearly ; the pannage of swine payable by fourteen tenants there, viz. by every tenant, 1d.; all that manor house or site in the street of Ambell, then or late in the tenure of Robert Bullock, worth 3s. 4d. per annum; the site of a salt pit or salt-pan there, worth 4s. per annum; the coal mines there, valued at 41s. per annum; a coney garth worth 10s. per annum; the whole being worth £25 2s. 6d. per annum.
 
      The whole was to be held of the Crown as of the manor of East Greenwich by fealty in free socage at the reserved or fee farm rent of £25 2s. 6d. On the 8th of March, 1629, it was sold to Sir William Hewitt of Brightwell, Suffolk, knight, and Thomas Hewitt, his son, who by bargain and sale dated the 23rd of November, 1630, conveyed to Henry Lawson of Newcastle, merchant, and Henry Horsley of Milburn Grange the lands and tenements in Amble which were formerly in the occupation of :
 
  £ s. d.    £ s. d.
Robert Hudson, at the rent of, 1  6  4 John Clark,    at the rent of, 0  19  1
Hugh Hodgson      " 0  19  4 Robert Widdrington      " 1  1  3
Robert Smith      " 1  1  3 Robert Taylor      " 1  0  11
Roger Smith      " 1  3 7 Robert Bullock     "  0  9  9
Robert Patterson     " 0  19  1 Cuthbert Hall     " 0  2  8
  9  4  1
 
 which tenements were at that time severally in the tenure of Robert Hudson (son of the above-named Robert), Robert Garrett, Thomas Smith, Dionis Wilson, George Browell, John White, Margaret Bullock, widow, and William Hall. The purchasers covenanted to pay £9 4s. 1d. parcel of the fee farm rent of £15 13s. 6d. reserved to the Crown. The vendors specially reserved to themselves the hall corn-barley payable yearly at the feast of the Purification at the manor or hall house of Amble, and also the coal mines with wayleave and stayleave, and the liberty of digging pits, paying to Lawson and Horsley and their heirs `the accustomed recompense for breaking and digging the ground in which any pit for getting coal shall hereafter happen to be sunk or wrought.' The rights reserved under this deed were subsequently conveyed by Hewitt to certain persons as trustees for Sir William Fenwick of Meldon. N
     The manorial rights, the site of the manor house, and the royalties which were acquired on the 24th of June, 1631, by Sir William Fenwick were forfeited by him during the civil wars and vested in the commissioners for compounding. On the 17th of June, 1652, Martin Fenwick of Kenton, after stating that he had farmed the manor house, the salt-pans, and the colliery under the yearly rent of £46, petitioned them for a renewal of his lease because :
 
         Your peticoner hath disbursed for the wining of the collery there, what is not as yett pfected, above one hundred pownds more then the profitts he hath hitherto received, which had beene utterly lost and is still in danger, butt by your petconer's speciall industry and excessive charges.
        Thatt the said mannor howse is much ruined and ready to fall for want of repaire, your peticoner hitherto haveing had noe allowance for repaire thereof, althoe he have beene farmer for many yeares by past. N
 
 

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From "A History of Northumberland", volume V,  by John Crawford Hodgson. Published 1899

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