of the time of Elizabeth or James, with a spacious and high-walled garden adorned with terraces and ornamental buildings, which seem to accord most naturally with English scenery; and are associated with a peculiarly interesting and romantic period of the past. Some slight terraces on the west, and one in front of the house adorned by four noble old yew trees, are still preserved; together with that liberal extent of garden so necessary an appendage to a country residence: but two ornamental turrets, or banquetting rooms, a little further down, at the extremity of the first division, and some similar ornaments at the entrance, were destroyed by the late proprietor; who I am sorry to suppose could find no other materials whence to erect a small house in the village. An extensive lawn with fish ponds, and a shady walk by the side of the brook, complete the seductions of this most agreeable retreat. The eastern wall of the house and some neglected buildings behind, with square-headed, mullioned and labelled windows, are of the original fabric, and now used as a stable and other offices. The hall and the ample staircase have been included also in the modern erection. The former is a fine wainscoted apartment 30ft. 10in. by 17ft. 9in., with a richly ornamented fire-place at the south end, said by some strange error to have been brought from Keverstone. In its centre compartment is a mantled shield, bearing a fess gobony, between three lions' heads erased, a crescent for difference; impaling three chevronels interlaced - the arms of Henry Birkbeck, Esq.,. who no doubt erected the house, and Ann his wife, daughter of Henry Brakenbury, Esquire, of Sellaby. The crest is broken off. At the other end of the room is a large full-length, but rudely executed painting of a forgotten member of the family; but most likely this said Henry. He is standing bare-headed, in a suit of black, with vast breeches girt round his waist by a gilt cord, and has a large cloak of similar hue thrown across his arm. His neck is adorned by a neat laced collar; and his right hand rests, near his low-crowned and broad-brimmed hat, on a clumsy table. Above this is a small window, which opens into a garden, inscribed on the upper margin, in red, and almost illegible, characters, Sumum Peto; and below, Estote humiles et patientes. In the opposite corner of the picture is, Suæ Ætatis 55 Anno 1619; but not the smallest trace of any name or description is visible. On the east side of the house are some small enclosed grass yards, one of which a wavering tradition points out as the burial place of a Puritan family that resided here in the seventeenth century. Whether this is the precise locality or not, it is certain from the following record that one person was hereabout unceremoniously committed to unconsecrated earth: P "Presentment by the Churchwardens of Gainford at the Archdeacon's Visitation April 30, 1678. Mr. Thomas Mossock of Headlam hath 4 Children unbaptized, and William Hutton hath 3 Children unbaptized; And that one Anne Bainbrigge lately dyed at Wm. Hutton's house and was buried in ye Orchard of Mr. Henry Draper of Headlam.”’* Mr. Surtees also remarks, that in 1663, the Archdeacon of Durham complained that three children of Mr. Mossock of Headlam had been buried in an orchard, without any service.† Mossock married Henry Draper's daughter; and the three children, no doubt, appropriately rest in this unhallowed cemetery. The following shields of arms in stained glass were removed from the staircase window, which remains in its original mullioned form, by the late Mr. Brocket, to prevent any accident that might have happened to them while the house was used as a boarding school. 1.-A fess gobony, between three lions' heads erased, gules.Birkbeck; impaling, sable, an orle, ermine, semée of owls, argent. 2.-Birkbeck as before; impaling azure, a fret argent. 3.-Quarterly, 1st and 4th, Birkbeck as before; 2nd and 3rd, argent, two bars gules, on a canton of the second, a mullet of the first-Lancaster; impaling Lancaster, as before. 4.-Birkbeck impaling Lancaster as before. They are yet unrestored, now that the danger has ceased, but are in the possession of Mr. Brocket's widow; who has also a silver gilt cup, thus inscribed: THYS WAS THE GYFT OF THOMAS BIRKBECKE ESQVIRE TO M ANNE BIRKBECKE HIS DAVGHTER IN LAW: 1609. Arms below: a fess gobony between three lions' heads; impaling two bars, on a canton a mullet of five points, pierced. Another estate was held at Headlam by the Garths. In the 23rd Henry VII. Thomas and Robert Garth were resident freeholders here; and the family continued to make additions to their estate, to the time of William Garth, the last who was permanently resident here, and died in 1715. From the title deeds of their mansion house, and that contiguous part of the estate, now in the possession of Mrs. Clarke of Killerby, I gather that, previous to the marriage of this William's grandson John with Margaret Burrell, who was entitled to a fortune of £1300., he settled, by indenture dated 22 Jan. 1713, this estate and other lands on them and their heirs, with a provision of £1500. for his younger sons and daughters, and for one daughter if she should alone survive-reserving to himself an annuity of £60. the privilege of living in the chamber of the house where he then was, and Dr. Hunter's MSS., vol ii., p. 157. + History of Durham, vol. i. p. 148. common of garden and orchard. This John Garth removed to Bow Lane in Durham, and died without issue, leaving his widow Margaret "the dwelling-house in Bow Lane where he then lived, with the stables, gardens, buildings, &c.;" and devised in trust to the Rev. John Waring of Durham City, and James Dunning of Stockton-on-Tees, merchant, “all his lands, leasehold and freehold, in the counties of Durham and York and elsewhere, for the use of the said Margaret;" out of which lands they were also directed to pay £500. on her decease to such person or persons as she should in her will appoint. This interest, previous to her marriage with lord Darcy of Navan, she conveyed by her indenture, dated 3rd April, 1725, to Richard Shuttleworth of Forcett; and Henry Darcy of Colburne, Co. Yorks., Esquires; to whom also she devised the messuage in Bow Lane, in trust, until the marriage was solemnized: after which, it was directed to be sold, and the proceeds to be applied to the purchase of lands either in the counties of York or Durham, for the use of her future husband and their heirs; and, in default, to the right heirs of the survivors of the said Lord Darcy and Margaret Garth. I am not aware what share of the Headlam estate actually descended to the last Garth's "neice, and heiress," Mary Middleton, who married George Crowle of Spring-head in Yorkshire; between whom, and Lady Darcy, it was observed in 1730, "that differences have occurred, and are likely to occur." In that year Crowle acknowledged, probably in whole or partial quit-claim, the receipt of £3000. from the Darcies; which was raised by a mortgage of £1600. from Mr. Mauleverer of Arncliffe, £1100. from Mr. Shuttleworth of Forcett, and £300. from William Davile Senr. Lady Darcy's interest in her estate here, is not specifically defined or mentioned in her will; but it seems that the several shares remained encumbered until nearly the close of the last century, when they were divided into portions, which it is unnecessary to trace further. * An abstract of this will may not be uninteresting. It is dated 5 July, and proved at York Nov. 1 in the same year. After charging all her estates, real and personal, with the payment of her debts, &c., she bequeaths to Dr. Peter Burrel 1001. To his daughter Margaret 1007. To her nephew Thomas Bowlby 100%. To her nephew Peter Bowlby 100%. To her sister Bowlby the interest of 2001. for her life, and at her death 1007., part of the said principal sum of 2007., to go to her daughter Mary Inman; and 1007. residue of the said principal sum of 2001. to her other daughter Elizabeth Marsden, To Frances, Hannah, and Catherine, daughters of her late sister Stackhouse, each 1007. "Also, I give to the Honorable Mrs. Yorke, of Richmond, and John Hutton of Marske, Esquire, 20 guineas each, to be paid them at my decease for mournings. Also I give to Andrew Wilkinson, of Boroughbridge, Esquire, and his lady, and to Miss Jessop and Miss Gell, each of them a ring of 2 guineas price, payable at my decease. Also I direct that the Diamond Ring, given me by my late husband Lord Darcy, be returned at my decease to his heir at law, according to my promise to his lordship. Also I give to Anne the wife of George Wanley Bowes, Esquire, my Picture of the late Lord Darcy set in gold; and to her sister Miss Betty Hutton, her mother Hutton's picture, also set in gold; the said Pictures to be delivered at my decease. Also I give to each of my servants who shall live with me at my decease, and shall have lived with me a year before that time, three The house formerly occupied by the Garths here, is of the second class of manorial houses. It stands at the corner of the village, by the road to Killerby. The doors and windows are slightly but neatly moulded; and a massy chimney, older perhaps than the house, runs up the gable. In one of the rooms is an ornamented ceiling; but concealed at present by modern underdrawing. The genealogy of this family with its several branches, is annexed in a tabular form. I have expended much fruitless pains in tracing the last lingering descendants of this elder line; not more from a respect for the name which has been ennobled by its celebrated cadet, than the obscurity in which it is now involved. To the many who incline to the dictum of Nevisanus of old 66 - Disputare de nobilitate generis sine divitiis est disputare de nobilitate stercoris " -such research may seem sufficiently idle. Still, while ample pages may perpetuate men stained with cruelty and crime, why shall not a brief space be allotted to those whose ever honourable and time-honoured name is clouded only by its association with poverty. Genealogists too often view with apathy the history of families that have fallen from the dignified estate of their fathers; yet then, when removed from general observation, they surely require our increased and particular attention. The course of unforseen hereditary interests is then most likely to be forgot. Whatever might be gained by an investigation or perpetuation of their descent is then the most needful and acceptable; and if a pedigree is to be considered (as it too often truly is) as a memorial of pride, these narratives should be appended as incentives to humility. full year's wages, to be paid at my decease, over and above that shall be due to them." As to the residue of her real and personal estates, one moiety she bequeaths in trust to Geo. Crow, of Stockton-on-Tees, Merchant, in trust for her sister Elizabeth Dunning for her life, and sole and separate use. After whose decease, the monies to be raised by its sale, are to be divided amongst her three daughters, Margaret and Mary Dunning, spinsters, and Elizabeth wife of the Rev. Mr. Sisson, under certain provisions and limitations. The other moiety of her estates she bequeaths to her sister Barbara Waring, in like manner as before; and the monies to be raised by its sale after her decease to her daughter Elizabeth Waring, or to her grandson John Grant Waring, then "an infant of tender years," or to both of them, or to the issue of them. In case the issue of both her sisters failed she devises the whole residue of her property to the above named Dr. Peter Burrel, for his own use. Elizabeth Dunning and Barbara Waring joint executors. Signed, &c. in the presence of Francis Wyvill, P. Johnson, Jun., Willm Thistlewaite. "No escutcheon or hatchment; a plain Wainscot Coffin; a Hearse to carry my body to Coney Street Church, to be laid as near my worthy friend, Lady Graham, as I can; a mourning coach for my four servants, which is all the attendants to my grave I woud have; to be buried early in the morning; to give at my death 201. to the poor-51. in this Parish, and 51. to Durham, 51. to Gilling, 57. at Headlam; and all the money that is left in my poor purse to be given to the poor. And I declare this is a part of my will, &c. My Bearers to have Hoods, scarfs, and Rings. My Bearers : "Mrs. Lowther Mrs. Lamplugh Mrs. Morritt Mrs. F. Wyvill Mrs. Thompson Mrs. Fountayne Mrs. Cooke. "I desire to be kept three or four days." Mrs. Twisleton Mrs. Dobson e Bainbridge of Hugglescote, Esq., the present representative of Sir Samuel Garth.‡ Gainford Parish Register. ned at would on far ied in virtue ionally York hether oputed mondof dis ves or Sarah Ri 1826. יז Isaac, a tv friends-for the majority, if not the whole, of those records in the county of Durham have, for fact. The surname of Samuel I believe was derived from his mother's family. It had not bee quently invest a child with its distinction; except his brother, Colonel Thomas Garth, and po who transmitted it-doubtless with some fond aspiring hope-ten years after the heart of the The descendants of Sir Samuel Garth were traced for Mr. Surtees by that able and zealo labours. The following persons of this name were freeholders in the County of York in 1741, and v Bankhead in Swaledale; John Garth of Swaledale; John Garth of Swaledale; James Garth Ge of Bolam Co. Dur., at Barton. I cannot conjecture how those persons in the West Riding we family, as the name is not of specific local derivation. Dr. Hickes, in his Addenda to Thoresb cors, villa, from the Danish verb Giorda. |