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The National Archives: E134/13Wm3/Mich40 - Exchequer Depositions:
William Peirson v. Thomas Miles, William Miles.:
Manor and town of Stokesley, in the county of York, and the ancient
water corn mills belonging. Touching the custom of "suit and grist"
(i.e., grinding corn, &c.) due by the inhabitants of said town and
manor to said mills.: York
Brief notes, limited mainly to those of
biographical nature. This reference includes an extensive set of
depositions, which much detail of Stokesley:
Depositions on part of William Peirson Esq complt v. Thomas Miles & William Miles deft taken at the house of Christian Storr, widow, Stokesley. 28/8/1701 before Robert Hilton gent, Thomas Maynard gent & William Justice gent:
[Note
that from the details of the depositions, it is clear that the dispute
turns upon whether the inhabitants of Stokesley have the right to make
their own arrangements for grinding corn & baking, or whether they
are obliged to use the mill & bakehouse belonging to the manor]
Deponent: Thomas Jackson, Knayton c. 73 yrs of age. His father Mr Thomas Jackson was Steward of the Mannor of Stokesley
Deponent: John Middleton, Middleton upon Leven, c. 83yrs - mention of Robert Garbutt, merchant of Stokesley c. 60 yrs since.
Deponent: Edward Crome of Stokesley, glazier c. 83 yrs
Deponent: Willm Stoope? late of ?Saunton? now of Kildale c. 74yrs
Deponent: Henry Potter, Great Busby, gent. c. 72 yrs
Deponent: William Potter, Newby upon Wiske, gent. c. 70 yrs. His father was Marmaduke Potter
Deponent: Symon Busby, Millne Wright of Yarme c. 38 yrs.
Deponent: Robert Lowick, Pearsebridge, Co. Durham, gent, c. 77 yrs. He was born at Stokesley. His Father in Law was Robert Garbutt, Steward to the Manor of Stokesley.
Deponent: Miles Mann, Stokesley, yeoman. c. 80 yrs.
Deponent: Henry Prissick
formerly examined on defts behalf. Now produced, sworne & examined
on complts behalf. "... he is an inhabitant & has been for many
years of within the town or mannor of Stokesley" He believes he ought
to grind & bake at the Lords mill & bakehouse and has done so
"..whenever he had reason" [ this is interesting in that he is one of a
number of deponents to be re-examined on behalf of the complt, and
whose re-examination is favourable to the case for the complt. These
rather contradict the flavour of the original examinations, which
tended to make a case for long standing custom of independent milling
(either at other local water mills, or 'horse mills' in the town) and
baking]
Deponent:Robert Kirby, Stokesley, cordwainer, c. 67 yrs. Born in Stokesley
Deponent: George Stubbs, Stokesley, husbandman, c. 73 yrs. His stepfather was George Coates, and he is a freeholder, as was his father.
Deponent: Willm Radcliffe, Ugthorpe, Millwright, c. 56 yrs.
Deponent: Mary Harrison, Stokesley, widow, c. 52 yrs. An inhabitant since her infancy. Her grandmother Ann Hewthwaite was an inhabitant of Stokesley
Deponent: Margaret Bartram wife of James Bartram of Stokesley, c. 86 yrs. Has lived in Stokesley for upwards of 50 years
Deponent: William Morley, Stokesley, Thatcher, c. 57 yrs. An inhabitant since his infancy.
Deponent: John Dobson, Stokesley, miller, c.61 yrs.
Deponent: John Storr of Stokesley, Innholder, c.28yrs.
Deponent: Thomas Thomson, Stokesley, yeoman, c. 35yrs. His father John Thomson was a freeholder in Stokesley
Deponent: John Morton, Stokesley, yeoman, c. 35yrs
Depositions on part of defendants:
Deponent: Francis Boote, Hutton Rudby, miller, c. 70yrs
Deponent: William Stoope, c. 74 yrs.
Deponent: Thomas Wilson, Ingleby, Miller, c. 50yrs. He kept Easby & Ayton mills.
Deponent: William Thompson, Sexhough, yeoman, c. 60 yrs. Has lived all his time att or neare Brawith. His father in law was Roger Iley.
Deponent: Elizabeth Potter, Stokesley, widow, c. 50 yrs. Her husband's mother was Margery Potter
Deponent: Henry Priswick, Stokesley, Maltman, c. 42 yrs. "...Christopher Priswick
this dep late father...............kept hand mills in their houses and
they did grind upon such mills .... all the mallt they used in
their house." " .... this dept was a farmer of the defte Thomas Miles hand mill for seaven yeares & upwards ending about seven or eight yeare since.."
Deponent: Robert Bell, Stokesley, Malster, c. 50 yrs. About 12 years ago he married the widdow of Christofer Priswick of Stokesley. She had a hand mill, and said that her late husband (Christofer Priswick) had used it for 20 - 30 years before
.. substantial number of further deponents not extracted.