1695
That whereas John Procter of Greenbank did by the delivery of William Myers, he being the Lord Morley and Mounteaghes¹ keeper, take three oake trees, within a hedge belonging to William Rawson, of Middle Salter, the said hedge being at Middle Salter or in the grounds thereof and erected but seaven yeares before the time of the said delivery, for which the said John Procter and William Rawson failing att variance, for the ending whereof by consent of them both they chose William Tonwson of Hornby he being the said Lord Morley and Mounteagles Baliffe for the manours of Hornby and Tatham in ye county of Lancaster. And upon hearing the allegations of both the said parties and many other customary tenants of the said manors with deliberate consideration upon the custome and wood decree for the said manors of Hornby and Tatham and upon greate consideration of the premises at last he came to a fanall determination or awarding of the same upon the first day of Aprill in the yeare of our Lord God 1695 in his owne house att Hornby afforesaid in the presence of the said John Procter and William Rawson, as also Thomas Dowbiggin of High Winder, Thomas Chroley of Thursket, Richard Walker of Greenebank, and some others, the said William Townson delivering his awards in three expressions or words as follows -- The Awarde; ffirst I do order and awarde that from henceforth all strifes or variances about the said woods shall determine and cease. And if any proceedings at lawe bee begun by the said William Rawson against the said John Procter for the said three trees or for trespass upon his customary tenement in traileing or carrying them away the same to cease and determine. Also I doe order and awarde That the said John Procter doe immediately pay to the said William Rawson the sum of four shillings for satisfaction for the said three trees and one shilling for damage upon his tenement in taking them away, and to acknowledge that he comited an error in taking the said trees and for the future not to comit the like.
Mem: that upon the making of the said awarde upon ye first day of Aprill 1695 the said John Procter did immediately pay the said sum of 5/- in ye sight and presence of all the persons above said.
(John Procter of Greenbank in the parish of Melling died about 1703, William Rawson of Middle Salter, Roeburndale, died about 1733 There were Procters and Rawsons in the same neighbourhoods for many generations previously - at any rate in the early part of the sixteenth century, and the same may be said with regard to the Walkers.)

Under the date August 3rd, 1695, Thomas Dowbiggin of High Winder granted to his second son, Gilbert, then an infant his messuage, one dwelling house, with one barn, one turf house, and gardens etc., also two parcels of ground known by the names of Lower firld and the Parrock, also the third part of his ground called Meaner Holme, containing eight acres of meadow and pasture land, and all which said premises he "lately purchased (on August 3, 1688) of one Richard Pooley, alias Marshall, and Ellen Pooley, widow, which Ellen is since dead;" and all his cow gate or common of pasture for one cow or any other cattle equivalent in stint and adjustment, in and through the pasture called Nicholas Close and all which said premises were situated at Lower Salter, jointly holden of Thomas Lord Morley and Mounteagle, and under the yearly customary rent of six shillings and eightpence, and at the date mentioned in the occupation of Thomas Dowbiggin. The Grant was signed by Thomas Dowbiggin and Lord Morley and Mounteagle, and witnessed by Gilbert Thornton, Oliver Thornton and Ignatius Morley.

Copy of Thomas Dowbiggin's will:- Memorandum. That upon the third day of August, in the year of our Lord God one thousand six hundred ninety five current, Thomas Dowbiggin late of High Winder, in the parish of Melling and county of Lancaster, yeoman, deceased, then being sick in body of the sickness whereof he shortly after died, but of perfect mind and memory and having a mind to make his last will and testament, nuncupatively in words only and not in writing declared the same in these words following or words to the very same effect viz. I give and bequeath to my son Lancelot the overplus or remaunder of my personal estate after my funerall expenses and just debts be payed, upon condition that he pay to my daughter Elizabeth to sum of ffour score pounds when she shall attain the age of twenty one years or be married, or which shall first happen. I give the bed whereon I lye and the furniture thereof to my wife, or five pounds out of my goods at her discretion, and also two silver spoons and a chest and desk called her chest and desk, and I also order my wife to be executris of my will, and she to have the tuition of all my children. I give my brother Christopher 10 /- my sisters Trythena and Margaret each two shillings. - All which he uttered and declared as his last will and testament the day and year above written in the presence of us witnesses, whose names are subscribed hereunto this fourteenth day of August Anno Dmi, 1695, above written, and departed this life upon the ninth day of the same month and year.
Witness our hands.
Ignatius Morley, Gilbert Thornton,
Oliver Thornton, Elizabeth Dowbiggin.
(In the same month Lancelot Dowbiggin, son and heir of Thomas Dowbiggin, deceased, was admitted as tenant at High Winder - before Lord Morley and Mounteagle at Hornby - in the place of his father.)

Webmaster's Notes:
¹Mounteagle, spelled correctly later in the same paragraph.

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