Title Deeds relating to Hollowstones

Whitehaven Record Office Catalogue Reference D PEN/81

Hollowstones was early divided into three properties - probably halved (1637), and then one half halved again since the rent for the three parts were 10 shillings, 5 shillings and 5 shillings. An additional 'Town Term' rent (13s 4d, 6s 8d, 6s 8d) was payable every 7 years3. The 'fine' payable on change of tenant or death of the landlord was twenty times the annual rent, ie £10 or £5. The rent and fine stayed unchanged for over 200 years, despite inflation - the 'customary tenancy' could be sold like a freehold and became increasingly valuable. At the Manor Court the seller 'surrendered' the 'customary tenancy' and the buyer was 'admitted'. Many of the documents listed below are such surrenders and admittances, or admittances following a death of a tenant or landlord.

The two 'quarters' are recombined in 1752; then the two halves in 1801.

9 Nov 12 K Charles (1637) William Pearson of Hollowstones sale of one half of his tenement Hollowstones to William Jackson of Colepitt House, Muncaster.
1 Jun 19 K.Charles (1644) William Pearson of Hollowstones to William Jackson of the same - an agreement better defining the division of the land.
20 Feb 1661 Deed Poll under the hand of William Dixon
William Dixon to Robert Stevenson?
1 Feb 1716 Admittance of William Dixon (£5)
25 Feb 1716 John Brown purchase deed of Hollowstones
William Dixon of the town of Halifax, Yorkshire, tailor, sale to John Brown of the Parke house, Muncaster for £56 [Note 1]
Feb 1716 William Dixon surrender, to John Brown of Parkehouse
15th Apr 1722 Customary Conveyance.
Roger Jackson of the parish of St Margaret's, Westminster sale to John Nicholson of Randellhow, blacksmith for £115
Aug 1730 John Brown admittance on death of Sir Wm Pennington (£4-5-0d)
7th Feb 1744 John Brown admittance on death of Sir Joseph Pennington (£4-5-0d)
12th Oct 1750 John Brown senior to John Brown junior
12th Oct 1750 John Brown the Elder surrender / John Brown the Younger admittance
11th Mar 1752 Abraham Brown to John Brown junior
16th Mar 1752 Surrender of Abraham Brown, Admittance of John Brown the Younger
12th Oct 1750 John Brown senior to John Brown Junior
21st Nov 1765 John Nicholson admitted to Hollowstones (£10) following the death of his father John Nicholson. Mary Nicholson widow and relict
2nd May 1768 Admittance of John Nicholson on death of Sir John Pennington (£9)
14th Jan 1782 Deed of Customary premises.
Transfer of the £10 property from John Nicholson the older of Randelhow to John Nicholson the younger of Hollowstones for the nominal sum of 5 shillings
14th Jan 1782 Surrender and Admittance John Nicholson  of Randlehow/  John Nicholson junior of Hollowstones
2nd October 1789 John Robinson to John Brown - Exchange Deed
"Indenture between John Robinson of Murthwaite Walk, Waller, and John Brown of Hollowstones"
I found it difficult to follow this - it seems to be concerned with Turbary rights (peat digging) on 1 ½ acres of Moor Close on Hollowstones
23rd Nov 1793 Admittance of John Nicholson on death of  Sir Joseph Pennington (£10)
3rd Feb 1801
(41st year of the reign of King George III)
Customary Deed
Indenture between John Brown of Hollow Stones and John Nicholson, also of Hollow Stones, the younger. ... now in the occupation of the said John Brown and Edward Bibby   ... for £850 
3rd Feb 1801 Surrender of John Brown, Admittance of John Nicholson the younger (£5)
       ditto                                         ditto
12th Apr 1814 Admittance of John Nicholson  on death of Sir John Pennington (3 off £4-15-0, £4-15-0, £9-10-0)
21st Jul 1819 Admittance of John Nicholson the older on death of Sir Lowther Pennington (£10)
21st Jul 1819 Admittance of John Nicholson the younger on death of Sir Lowther Pennington (£5)
21st Jul 1819 Admittance of John Nicholson the younger on death of Sir Lowther Pennington (£5)
20th July 1822 Admittance of John Nicholson
by descent from his late father John Nicholson deceased (£10) [Note 2]
17th Feb 1823 Conveyance of three customary tenements John Nicholson and Another to Benjamin Bibby
Indenture 17th February 1823 between John Nicholson of Randlehow, yeoman, (his mother) Isabella Nicholson of the same place, widow, and Benjamin Bibby of Howbank in the parish of Muncaster....

10/- rent formerly the property of Roger Jackson
5/- rent formerly the property of John Brown
5/- rent formerly the propert of John Brown, before him Abraham Brown

in occupation of William Wilson, John Wilson and John Gunson

Sold for £1600. John Nicholson signs, Isabella makes her mark.

17th Feb 1823 Surrender of John Nicholson, Admittance of Benjamin Bibby (3 off)
16/17 Feb 1831

29 Sep 1831

Indenture of Lease and Release  between Joseph Burrow of one part and George Yeates of the other
Further charge (as above)     (In 1876 conveyance)
16th Mar 1840 Admittance of Mr Benjamin Bibby to all 3 properties on the death of Sir Lowther Augustus John Pennington (£10, £5, £5)
22nd/23rd Feb 1836 Indenture of Lease and Release between John Gandy Thomas Reveley and John Braithwaite of the first part, John Burrow of the second part and Mary Hodgson of the third part. (In 1876 conveyance)
26/27 March 1839 Indenture of Lease and Release between Mary Hinde and Elizabeth Jackson of the first part James Hodgson and George Wildman of the second part Joseph Archer Burrow Wilson Perry and Anthony Benn Steward of the third part Joseph Burrow of the fourth part Benjamin Bibby of the fifth part and Robert Falcon of the sixth part. (In 1876 conveyance)
1st July 1863 Admittance of Mr Benjamin Bibby senior on death of Gamel Augustus Lord Muncaster (£10, £5, £5)
4th Feb 1865 Succession account on death of Benjamin Bibby
6th May 1865 Deed of Enfranchisement by the Guardians of the estate of the Honorable Margaret Pennington to Mr Benjamin Bibby (reserving hunting/fishing/shooting and mineral rights - but allowing use of clay and stone for repairs).  £164 11s 8d
18th May 1876 Conveyance Benjamin Bibby to Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway
of land for the railway both at Hollowstones and at Muncaster Mill for £394
Mention of Eleanor Bibby of Ravenglass, widow of Benjamin Bibby late of How Bank, father of Benjamin Bibby.
14th May 1877 Succession account on death of Eleanor Bibby
28th March 1889 Bond. Sale by     to Lord Muncaster for £1500
Abstract of title
Schedule of title deeds and documents
 

 

Notes

1    This sale will be following the death of William Dixon the elder in 1716 - see will

2    "21 Apr 1820: Eskdale Manor Court - John Nicholson is heir at law to a tenement at Randlehow" - but he is not admitted to Hollowstones until 1822.

3    The only reference to Town Term rent that I have come across is in Hutchinson's History of Cumberland 1797 p577

"The term, town-term; is a corruption from Tenagium, and implies a tow-ter-rent, (or land rent) which was paid to lords of manors, in lieu of boon services".

Since this is in the section concerning Eskdale, it may be that it was a particular survival in the area.