acon

HISTORY OF ACONBURY. A COLLECTION OF

NOTES FOR FAMILY HISTORIANS

If you are "surfing" or have a specific interest in this place - a BIG welcome!

During the many years researching ancestry in this parish a few items of interest have been collected along the way. It is presented in the hope that it may aid others with similar interests and illustrate some of the available records of this interesting parish and the historical context. Included are some 19th century directory entries for parishes neighbouring Aconbury.

PARISH AND CHURCH HISTORY

The parish is about five miles SSE of Hereford City and was remarkable for its wooded hills, especially Aconbury Hill anciently called Caer Rein. On its summit is an entrenchment said to be the remains of a Roman camp. During the Civil War a large Scottish Army encamped there and on Dinedor.

In 1871 the population was just 144 (in 35 inhabited houses), and in 1901, 117 - less than half of its neighbours Much and Little Birch. The whole of the parish in the 19th century, save for three small tenements, was the property of Guys Hospital Herefordshire Estates.

The church has some important monuments -

Dame Maud de Cobdene, wife of Roger de Clifford. (ancient)

Joan Pauncey or Dauncey (ancient)

Sir Henry Barnard, Knight 25 April 1680 - "leaving his daughter Elizabeth wife of James Lord Chandos and Emma, wife of Sir Josiah Child of Wansted.

Giles Wilton, gent 1718

Thomas Eustance, 1775

Fortune his wife 1767

James, Lord Chandos 1714

The monument of John Pearle of Aconbury, 1643, is in Dewsall Church.

(His will PCC 1649 includes bequests to his labourers - Thomas Smith, Thomas Hodge, Thomas Morgan, Thomas Griffith, William (Sime?), Richard Jones and John Phillips.)

(The Herefordshire Family History Society have recorded monumental inscriptions in the churchyard and they are available on their web-site, searchable by surname and on CD Rom.)

The church is dedicated to St John the Baptist as suggested by steps leading down into the church, symbolising descent into the river for baptism. One authority suggests St John of Jerusalem. But the records of the Knights Hospitallers make no reference to Aconbury being in their possession.

The church is all that remains of what was an important Augustinian priory, a female religious house of influence founded by Margery Lacy for the souls of her father and mother William and Matilda de Braose in the time of King John (1199-1216). To this place, for religion and probably a degree of education, came the daughters of those "landed": families of Herefordshire and South Wales.

The site was well chosen, being a knoll of about four acres leading into the surrounding forest, with a lake on three sides. Later, fish ponds were made with embankments to conserve water and water-wheels to drive corn mills. The site of the nunnery is occupied by an old mansion, Aconbury Court Farm house near the church.

Some of the Prioresses whose names are known were (with representative dates) -

1280	Beatrice de Gamages	1288	Catherine de Genevile	1346	Matilda de Grandison
1399	Joan of Ledbury	1415	Ann Barry (Barre?)	1452	Agnes King
1474	Joan Draper	1481	Cecily Mason	1489	Isabella Gardiner
1535	Joanna Scudamore

When, in 1538, the Priory was dissolved the value of its estates was estimated at 75 pounds 7 shillings. Joanna Scudamore, the last Prioress, was granted a pension of nine pounds. The record is silent as to the other nuns.

The Bailiff then was John ap Gwillim. His final account records the demesne lands, three water mills and the following pasture -

Boughgard	Kings Close	Further Huntley	Millerough	Little Walbrooke	Gosty Lesue	The Bury
Adams Valley	Pykemedowe	Hygyns Medow	Stanke Medow	The Court Close	Rydings or Strekynge	Syssills Ford
Goose Lezowe	Meadows abutting the Worme Brook - (presumably in Much Dewchurch)	Skydmore (Scudamore?)	Mantell Medowe	Quarrell Field	Mill Field

(Many of these field names, in their modern spellings, are on the 1841 Tithe Map.)

The big timber was reserved to the King (Henry 8) and granted to John Seycill, gent. It is recorded that William Wilcock held a house and lands called Meryvalle. But soon after the whole manor, including Rowlstone in Little Birch, was granted to Sir William Sydney. It then came into the hands of Hugh Parry of Poston and then to his heir who married into the Pearle family. It devolved similarly, in 1627, to the Bridges family. (See "After the Dissolution"). I have used the spelling Bridges for this family, but am aware it was often written Brydges, anciently Bruges.

In 1538 after the Priory was closed, it was recorded that - "the trees with the underwoods growing about the foresaid lands and tenements pertaining to the said manner and parsonage of Acornebury and Rowlston, and in hedges inclosing same will barely sufice to repair the houses standing there, and the said hedges which with the tenants have used to repair the same by their custom of old time used."

Some of the Priory's earlier accounts and transactions are in Duncomb's "Collections Towards the History and Antiquities of the County of Hereford" 1912. Here are some extracts from the account of Phillip Godrich who was Bailiff in 1400 -

Farm of John Taillour for Mury Valefeld, thirteen shillings and four pence

Farm of the mill demised to John Whithed by Roger Comyn, thirteen shillings and four pence

For 30 stone of wool at two shillings per stone

Recouped the price of 45 skins sold two shillings and not more because they were putrid

By the sale of 60 sheep at seventeen pence each

For seven bushells of wheat, five shillings and ten pence

For one bushell of barley, six pence

Defects of rents at Hereford seven shillings and two pence.

And four shillings and two pence in Foye because the Bailiff dare not distrain.

And in defect of rent of Ewyas, six shillings and eight pence because the Bailiff dare not levy it.

Necessary expenses. And in one man brought to raise stone from the quarry and to hold a plough in the absence of the Bailiff who had gone on business of my Lady (the Prioress).

And in one carpenter engaged to repair the great cloister on the east, to saw timber and make the granary at Childesmalmeshull and make wheels for 30 weeks deducting festival days, twenty shillding and ten pence.

And in mowing Keilnowe twenty shillings (ie Kivernoll, Much Dewchurch).

Corn received of the whole issue of the grange of Malmeshullacy (ie Mansel Lacy) this year, Roger Comyn, granger.

Delivered to William Brower, baker for bread for the hospice, fifty two quarters of wheat.
And delivered to him for making the capital brew, thirty quarters.

To William Moill for custody of the meadows, two bushells of wheat.

And delivered to Roger Smith by my Lady's orders, two bushells.

Bailiffs in this period were Walter Jackeson, Richard Dobbins, Richard Wall. Edward Chylde and Thomas Barry are recorded as proctors in 1412 and Robert Kent, 1447. Caldecot Manor in Aconbury was anciently a parcel of the Priory, but in 1533 held by the Priory of Llanthony, Gloucester and the tithes demised to Henry ap Thomas.

Prior to the Reformation Little Birch was a chapel of Aconbury church. After the Reformation the benefice of Little Birch was held with Aconbury.

An interesting feature in this parish is St Ann's Well which was believed to be of great medicinal value, especially for eye troubles. According to Jacqueline Simpson ("Folklore of the Welsh Borders") Aconbury folk used to compete for the first bucketful at the magic moment - midnight on 12th night. The well seems to have been purposefully used, being boarded and with a door.

ACONBURY CHURCH
(with thanks to Glen Peel for the photo)

AFTER THE DISSOLUTION

A forlorn attempt to exclude the Nunnery from closure was made by Bishop Lee of Coventry in a letter to Thomas Cromwell, 1536. The Priory and all of its land went first to the mayor and burgesses of Gloucester. But soon after it was in the hands of Hugh Parry (or ap Harry), who in 1572 was the subject of an inquisition concerning spoil of woodlands in the parish. His daughter Elizabeth Parry married John Pearle in 1600. Thus the manor came to that family. Through the marriage of their daughter to Sir John Bridges in 1627 the manor devolved to their descendants, Dukes of Chandos and Buckingham, for whom it served as an occasional summer residence. Their principal seat was at Wilton in Bridstow near Ross-on-Wye.

James Bridges (or Brydges) Duke of Chandos ("Princely Chandos") was born at Dewsall Court in 1674 and died at his mansion Canons in Middlesex, 1744. (Although the matter does not concern Aconbury's history, he was succeeded by his son Henry, the one famous for buying his second wife, a chambermaid at the Pelican Inn, Newbury, the wife of Jeffries the Ostler there.)

That family's Herefordshire estates, including Aconbury were vested by Act of Parliament in the Duke of Chandos (born 1674) absolutely, reserving rights of the Dowager Lady Carnarvon, her daughters and the daughters of Henry, Marquis of Carnarvon. For financial reasons, not in pique at his defeat in the Hereford election in 1714, as some have written, Chandos began negotiations with Guys Hospital of London in 1728. Agreement was substantially reached in 1732. But he was unable to fully dispose of the entire property until 1754 because of reversionary clauses. After 1754 almost the whole of Aconbury parish became the property of Guys Hospital. They disposed of it in 1962 and it is now mostly owned by the Duchy of Cornwall.

Guys Hospital estate records in Hereford Record Office include those of their predecessors, Bridges. The genealogical benefit of some of this material may be useful for periods where the parish register is defective.

When the leases Guys took over expired, they were often commuted to annual rentals in accordance with the policy adopted by Guys for all of their estates. The estates were administered from their Counting House in London and by local agents.

Many of the estate papers are itemised on the "A2A" catalogue, on-line. But for quick reference a brief summary, down to 1870 is given below. In some cases farm plans have survived, especially for 1841 as a result of the Tithe Survey. Some rental data for selected dates, which has not been catalogued with detail, is at the end of this section.

At the time of the Militia Assessment 1663 Lord Viscount Scudamore (of Holme Lacy) owned property in the parish. And Sir William Powell alias Hinson of Pengethly Manor, near Peterstow, also held some land in Aconbury through his marriage to Mary (Pearle), widow of Sir James Bridges. But that ownership appears to have reverted to Bridges. Scudamore appears to have owned much of Athelstones Wood in the parish. The Public Record Office, London hold various deeds for the Scudamore estate which may have Aconbury material for the early period. Their catalogue is on-line but unavailable for refined searching. For those reasons extracted data on leases and rentals must be considered incomplete especially for the period prior to Guys accessions circa 1754. However it is an illustration of the type of material available for researchers and, hopefully might be of specific help to some.

It should be noted also that the Manor of Aconbury was a small part of the total holdings of Guys (and the Bridges family before them). Other estates included the Manors of Callow, Dewsall, Wilton and farms and cottages in Much and Little Dewchurch, Bridstow, Peterstow, the Manor of Monnington Stradle in Vowchurch, mills and other properties in St Weonards, Michaelchurch and Tretire and estates in Pipe and Lyde and Stretton Sugwas. It is therefore possible that some families, or individuals moved for work on these other components of the Herefordshire estates.

During the period when Bridges was lord of the manor some leases had the peculiar requirement that the lessee was to keep a hunting dog and cock. The lease to Thomas Eustance of Caldicott Farm, 1736 allowed him to "run his horses and colts into the Coppice wood adjoining Netherwood for the first two years after every fall, they doing no damage" .... and after the end of two years, to run his horses, colts, sheep, swine and cattle (except goats) into the same coppice.

After acquisiton by Guys the organisation appointed agents answerable to their Treasurer in London, who in turn was responsible to the Governors. The Governors seldom viited Herefordshire, not through disinterest but because of the hazards of 18th Century roads - it was a 140 mile coach journey. But during one of their visits their survey revealed the poort state of buildings and much almost orthless farm land. .

A survey of all of the acquired estates was conducted by Guys in 1754 and it is recorded that many houses were in bad repair. Even as late as 1798 when John Verry took a tenancy for ten pounds per annum, Guys rebated it by nine pounds nine shillings "towards putting the dwellinghouse and other buildings into repair". Nor was it just small holdings affected for in 1864 Archibald Hepburn of the Aconbury Court Farm sought arbitration regarding rent and the condition of the property. Nevertheless the accounts suggest that the various manors were well administered, both from a committee at Guys Counting House in London and by their local agents.

William Fortune, their first agent in Herefordshire, who had earlier worked for he Duke of Kent (and therefore should have been competent) was demoted because of his neglect of duty and the Governors' distrust. One of the complaints against him concerned his inability to explain large arrears of rent. The hospital's choice of agents thereafter was to be central to its policy - "A person fit to be a Bailiff to a nobleman or gentleman would be very sufficiently qualified for the service". The Woodhouse's (uncle and nephew) were their agents 1791-1809 followed by Whaley Armitage. Arthur Armitage , his son held the position between 1849 until 1889. This almost "dynastic" appoach to appointments extended to their gamekeepers and woodmen. In 1780 John Verry was appointed head woodman and gamekeeper, including their Manor of Callow, succeeding Robert Powell. His son John Verry took over in 1808 and with duties extending to their neighbouring Manors of Twyford (in Callow) Dewsall and Much Birch. Indeed the Verry family (and their Preece relations) were employed by Guys in various capacities well into the 20th century.

Thomas Lewis was appointed gamekeeper after John Verry died in 1842 (after 45 years' service according to his monument in Aconbury Churchyard). James Mathews was a gamekeeper from 1817. Charles Macklin of Kingsthorne in Much Birch was bailiff in 1851 and in 1881 William Lewis of Mount Skippett farm, Much Birch and Aconbury was Chief Woodman employing five men and one boy. In 1890 Thomas Mumby, a builder of Kings Thorn Cottage, Much Birch was an agent for Guys.

The tenancy agreements often contained clauses instructing tenants to clear ditches, maintain hedges and graft fruit trees. Preventative clauses included forbidden crops such as hops which could be grown only with permission. On some of their Herefordshire farms ploughing of land for three or four consecutive years was allowed only because it was local custom. But on one of their rare visits in 1781, the Governors thought the use of cots to house sheep ill advised but did not enforce changes as "it is a custom so generally practised it could not be broke thro".

By the end of the 18th century clover had become common due to the agents persuasion and on the heavier land swedes were encouraged. And at the end of that century an agricultural commission commented on the success of Guys in improving their estates.

The French Wars caused rentals to rise markedly throughout England. But those for Guys Herefordshire estates the rise was more moderate in comparison, no doubt attributed in part, to the charitable disposition of the organisation. Many of their cottages in Aconbury Hill are now in ruin but, given free access to timber for warmth and cooking, access to game, their tenants lives were probably comfortable in comparison to others affected by the Industrial Revolution in the cities.

Upper Twyford in Aconbury was administered with that manor. Lower Twyford was part of the Manor of Callow. Therefore, records of the Callow estate may need to be considered also. Farm boundaries are often invisible with respect to parish and manor boundaries.

MISCELLANEOUS LEASES, RENTALS GUYS ACONBURY ESTATE

(including those documents acquired from their predecessor)

DATE	NAME	DETAILS
1670	Roger PRICE, carpenter, Aconbury son of Thomas (believed to be PREECE)	Dwelling/Land
1671	John ROBERTS,weaver, Aconbury Hill	House Aconbury Hill for lives of John ROBERTS, Margaret and Edward EDRIDGE
1694	Rees PRICE, yeoman, Dewchurch (probably Little Dewchurch	House late Mary and Thomas PRICE for lives Rees PRICE, William and Benjamin, his sons
1694	John SKYNNER, husbandman, Dinedor	Netherwood Farm late Mrs Jane ABRAHALL for lives John SKYNNER and children William and Anne
1695	Mary WOOD, Widow, Dewchurch	Part Pigges Farm or Navilla Green for lives children Richard, Elizabeth, Ann
1698	Thomas EUSTANCE, husbandman, Aconbury	Caldecott Farm
1700	Christopher TORR, Dinedor	Benefit of watercouse (for mill at Dinedor)
1704	Katherine PREECE, spinster and John PREECE, yeoman, Llanwarne	House Aconbury Hill
1707	Elizabeth RUDGE, daughters Jane and Susan	Cottage
1712	James MEREDYTH, yeoman	House/land
1715	Thomas EUSTANCE, yeoman, Coldicott, Aconbury and son Thomas	Capital messuage and Aconbury farm (Eustance Snr died 1716)
1717/18	Mary WOOD, widow, Much Dewchurch, son Richard	Recitation 1695 lease etc.
1720	Thomas WILLIAMS, yeoman, the Bower, Holme Lacy	Maddoxton Farm
1723	John WILLIAMS, Upper Twyford, Aconbury	Upper Twyford House (occupied by his father Theophilus)
1731	William ROBERTS, sawyer, Aconbury	Cottage, Aconbury Hill
1731	Charles THOMAS, yeoman, Aconbury	Cottage
1732	John WILCOX, yeoman, Lower Twyford, Callow	Land Twyford and Aconbury
1734	Thomas EUSTANCE, yeoman, Aconbury	Aconbury Farm
1734	John PREECE the younger, yeoman, Aconbury	Cottage, Aconbury Hill
1736	Frances MEREDITH, widow of Thomas, of Brainton	Pyes Nest
1737	William JONES, yeoman, New Tindings, Much Birch	"Cottage he built 12 years ago and land he inclosed of Much Birch Common and Aconbury Hill"
1742	James BAILEY, labourer, Wooolhope, wife Susan daughter of Elizabeth RUDGE	Assignment lease to Richard TAYLOR, yeoman, Aconbury (cottage)
1752	Charles WILLIAMS, yeoman, Aconbury	Hosiers Farm ex James THOMAS
1754	By this date most properties assigned from Bridges to Guys Hospital Estate
1754	Thomas MEREDITH, yeoman, Mancell Lacy son of Frances, widow, deceased	Pyes Nest
1756	Assignment Pyes Nest to Guys Hospital Estate
1771	James SMITH, yeoman, Bolstone	Benefit of water-course
1779	John PENNER, yeoman, St Martins, Hereford	Merrivold (sic) Farm late Joseph BALDWYN
1791	Richard GARROLD, yeoman, Little Dewchurch	Moraston, White house and land in Aconbury and Little Dewchurch
1792	Mary WILCOX of Twyford, Callow	Land in Upper/Lower Twyford, Cottage Aconbury in occupation of John and Mary WILCOX
1819	William ROBINS, labourer, Little Birch	Cottage/land enclosed of Aconbury Hill Common
1857	Thomas HUGHS, labourer, Aconbury Hill	Cottage, Aconbury Hill
1857	Thomas WILLIAMS, labourer	Cottage, Aconbury Hill
1858	Thomas DAVIES, labourer	Cottage, Aconbury Hill
1859	William JONES, yeoman	Cottage, land Aconbury and Much Birch, late Thomas JONES
1861	Re: Probate Benjamin PREECE (Ann his widow, executrix)	Pyes Nest
1870	Ann PREECE, Widow, Aconbury	1 acre land Aconbury

NOTE: The following properties had been purchased by Chandos circa 1713: Morriston and Whitehouse in Little Dewchurch and Aconbury, purchased from William Fellows; House of John Abrahall in Twyford, Aconbury. All other property in Aconbury had been acquired at earlier dates by marriage settlements.

In addition Hereford County Quarter Session Records include a deposited deed for Thomas BINOLS Jnr, gent of Aconbury 1 January 17 Chas II but it may relate to property elsewhere.

Duncombs's "Collections Towards the History and Antiquities of the County of Hereford" 1912 says: "Other homesteads in this parish are Kings Pit, Merryvale, The Warren, Mount Skippet and Cross-in-Hand".

RENTAL RECORDS: MANOR OF ACONBURY (Guys Hospital)

The following data was extracted from the ledger records for selected years, 1785, 1808, 1820, 1832 and 1840. Some data was not copied such as amounts allowed for land tax and shire hall rates, these being included in the total rent. Rent during the 19th century was generally collected at Michelmas, 29 September. Later rolls were not copied as it is felt that the census returns from 1841 provide a more satisfactory record for family history research.

Many of the cottages on Aconbury Hill remained in poor condition. In 1871 Arthur Armitage, Guys agent reported on them and referred to those built on waste-land who were paying an "acknowledgement" of one or two shillings per annum. Some tenants declared the property to be their own. His earlier report in 1857 includes personal comments on some tenants as well as the condition of the buildings. That biographical matter should be of interest.

Plans made of specific farms in Aconbury for the 1841 Tithe Survey include Moraston Farm (P Garrold Jnr), Maddoxton and Caldecot, the Cross in Hand (J Verry), Merrivale Farm (William Bickerton). The records also include other plans, surveys and measurements made at diverse dates. The catalogue should be checked for specific properties particularly under the general heading "Surveys and Measurements". The plan for the Cross-in-Hand farm includes a list of fields and their use in 1841. Presumably others do likewise.

As far as can be discerned each roll of tenanted cottages is in the same order, year by year, but with an increasing number of additions, presumably of cottages newly built, occupied or became chargeale. In some cases new tenants were related to the old. This is sometimes noted on the ledger.

The cottages are not named in the ledgers. Some are known - Woodhouse, Camphouse, Pyes Nest,Upper House, Priory Cottage, Hill Cottage. Finally, there was presumably some sub-letting of cottages not represented in the ledgers such as Merryvale Cottage on Merryvale Farm and Bowle House Cottage.

EXTRACTS - RENT ROLL:
MANOR OF ACONBURY (GUYS HOSPITAL ESTATES) 1785

RENT PER HALF YEAR
Pds=Pounds
Sh=Shillings
P=Pence

NAMES OF FARMS etc	TENANT	ARREARS	RENT
Aconbury	Thomas EUSTANCE		100.00.00
Caldecott Farm	Thomas EUSTANCE		15.00.00
Mournhall Farm	John PENNER		45.00.00
Rabbit Warren	John PENNER		20.00.00
Maddoxton Farm	Roger EDWARDS		16.00.00
Upper Twyford	Mary WILCOX, Widow		16.00.00
Kings Pitts	Francis POWELL	3.10.00	7.00.00
A tenement and lands	John VERRY	3.10.00	1.10.00
Bowl Farm	Thos. EUSTANCE	3.00.00	6.00.00
A tenement and lands	Mary THOMAS	2.10.00	2.10.00
Water Course to Torrs Mill	Wm. SKYRME ex James SMITH	1.11.06	1.01.00
Pyes Nest	Robert POWELL the Woodward		NIL
Cottage/garden Aconbury Hill	John PREECE ex wid. NICHOLAS	0.15.00	0.10.00
Cottage/land Aconbury Hill and Much Birch	Walter MEEK		1.05.00
Cottage/ Aconbury Hill	MILBRO, JONES ex Edw. Wm. RAVENHILL	0.02.00	0.02.00
Cottage Aconbury Hill	Wm. SKYRME ex Wm. COLEBORNE	0.00.06	0.00.06
Moraston, White house in Wilton and woodlands in Aconbury	Richard GARROLD		65.00.00

EXTRACTS - RENT ROLL:
MANOR OF ACONBURY 1808

RENT PER ANNUM

NAMES OF FARMS etc.	TENANT
Aconbury, Bowle and Caldicott Farms	Walter FISHER	166.00.00
Madoxton Farm	Walter FISHER (Sic)	50.00.00
Mournhall Farm and Rabbit Warren	Thos. BULLOCK now Sam BICKERSTON	110.00.00
A tenement called Cross and Hand and part of Kings Pitts farms	John VERRY	10.00.00
Parish House, the Camp Piece and late Smiths Rough	Mary SKYRME	5.05.00
Water Course leading to Torrs Mill	Chas. BODENHAM Esq (of Rotherwas)	1.02.00
Cottages etc. on Aconbury Hill	Mary SKYRME Edward MAYOS Daniel BIGGS Samuel WILLIAMS William SEAL Thos. PREECE Thos. JONES John SEAL	0.01.00 0.00.06 1.15.06 0.01.00 0.01.00 0.01.00 0.01.00 0.01.00
Moraston and White house and Woodlands etc	Richard GARROLD	104.08.06

NOTES:

Cross and Hand recorded in other documents as Cross-in-Hand which appears historically correct, and may have been the site of a pre-Reformation chantry.
The name Bickerston appears from other records to be derived from Biggleston.

EXTRACT - RENT ROLL: MANOR OF ACONBURY 1820

NAMES OF FARMS etc	TENANT	RENT PER ANNUM	ARREARS 1819
Aconbury Court and Bowle Farms	Thomas NASH	350.00.00	272.14.00
Madoxton and Caldicot Farm	S BICKERSTON Jnr	130.00.00
Mournhall Farm and Rabbit Warren	BICKERSTON	110.00.00
Cross and Hand tenement, meadow etc.	John VERRY	26.00.00
Water Course to Torr's Mill	C BODENHAM Esq (of Rotherwas)	1.02.00
Cottages etc. on Aconbury Hill	M SKYRME E MAYOS D BIGGS S WILLIAMS W SEAL Thos. PREECE Thos. JONES Mary SEAL ? SEALE	0.00.06 1.15.06 0.01.00 0.01.00 0.01.00 0.01.00 0.01.00 0.01.00 0.10.00	0.01.00 0.01.00 0.08.00 0.08.00 1.10.00
Moraston, White house and Woodlands etc	Richard GARROLD	200.00.00

LAND TAX, SHIRE HALL RATES (included in rent) 1820 - examples	LAND TAX	SHIRE HALL
Thomas NASH	7.06.00	1.04.08
S BICKERSTON	3.12.00	1.04.08
BICKERSTON	3.12.00	0.00.00
J VERRY	1.00.00	0.05.00
GARROLD	5.04.00	2.03.08
No tax or hall rates were levied on cottages on Aconbury Hill

EXTRACT - RENT ROLL: MANOR OF ACONBURY 1832

TENANT	NAMES OF FARMS etc	LAND Acres Roods Perches	ARREARS	RENT PER ANNUM
Thomas NASH	Aconbury Court and Bowle Farm	418.2.39	103.14.02	330.00.00
Samuel BICKERSTON	Madoxton and Caldicot Farms	170.0.23	97.00.00	100.00.00
Wm. BICKERSTON	Murrivale and Warren Farms	Not Recorded	56.08.00	66.00.00
Joseph VERRY	Cross and Hand tenem't and meadows	44.2.24		20.00.00
Chas. BODENHAM	Priory Sheen tithes in Dinedor			25.10.06
Chas. BODENHAM	Watercourse to Torrs Mill			1.02.00
Chas. BODENHAM	Road to Mainscroft Wood			0.01.00
James POWELL	Cottage on Aconbury Hill			1.15.06
Ann now Thos. HARRIS	Cottage on Aconbury Hill			0.01.00
William WILLAMS	Cottage on Aconbury Hill			0.01.00
Sam'l WILLIAMS	Cottage on Aconbury Hill			0.01.00
Will'm WATKINS	Cottage on Aconbury Hill			0.01.00
Thos. PREECE	Cottage on Aconbury Hill			0.01.00
Thomas JONES	Cottage on Aconbury Hill			0.01.00
Late SEAL	Cottage on Aconbury Hill			0.01.00
Richard SEAL	Cottage on Aconbury Hill			0.01.00
John HUGHES	Cottage on Aconbury Hill			0.01.00
Richard DAVIES	Cottage on Aconbury Hill			0.01.00
John PREECE	Cottage at Netherwood late "Ann Seal" (possibly refers to Davies)			0.01.00
Thomas POWELL	Cottage on Aconbury Hill			00.01.00
Late Thos. VALE	Cottage on Aconbury Hill			00.01.00
Jors. MACKLIN	Cottage on Aconbury Hill			00.01.00
Richard GARROLD	Moraston Farm etc in Little Dewchurch	278.2.15		168.00.00

NOTE: Between Macklin and Garrold is a note "Thomas Davis, Hughs, J Biggs - Much Birch" (no amounts shown).

EXTRACT - RENT ROLL: MANOR OF ACONBURY 1840

TENANT	FARMS, COTTAGES	LAND Acres Roods Perches	ARREARS 1839	ANNUAL RENT
Catherine NASH	Aconbury and Bowle Farm	418.02.29		330.00.00
Thomas ADDIS	Madoxton and Caldecot Farms	162.02.03		94.00.00
Wm. BICKERTON	Merrivale Farm	153.02.27		72.00.00
Mary VERRY	Cross and Hand ten't and meadow etc	44.02.24		20.00.00
Chas. BODENHAM Esq (of Rotherwas)	Priory Sheen tithes in Dinedor Water course Aconbury to Torrs Mill Road access Maincroft Meadow	261.01.12		25.10.06 1.02.00 00.01.00
Revd. Mr HAMPTON	House and land in Little Birch		05.00.00	05.00.00
James POWELL	Cottage and land on Aconbury Hill			01.15.06
Ann HARRIS "now John"	Cottage and land on Aconbury Hill			00.01.00
Late William WILLIAMS "now Mary WILLIAMS"	Cottage and land on Aconbury Hill			00.01.00
Sam'l WILLIAMS	Cottage and land on Aconbury Hill			00.01.00
Wm WATKINS	Cottage and land on Aconbury Hill			00.01.00
Late Thos. PREECE now B PREECE and his sister	Cottage and land on Aconbury Hill (Note: probably Benjamin PREECE)			00.01.00
Will'm JONES	Cottage and land on Aconbury Hill			00.01.00
Rich'd DAVIS	Cottage and land on Aconbury Hill			00.01.00
Richard SEAL	Cottage and land on Aconbury Hill			00.01.00
John HUGHES	Cottage and land on Aconbury Hill "two tenemants"			00.10.00
Richard DAVIES	Cottage on Aconbury Hill			00.01.00
John PREECE	Cottage and land on Aconbury Hill			01.10.00
Tho's POWELL	Cottage and land on Aconbury Hill			00.01.00
Ann HANDLEY	Cottage and land on Aconbury Hill ("Allotment")			01.00.00
John BIGGS ) Mary HARRIS )	Cottage and land on Aconbury Hill Cottage and land on Aconbury Hill			00.01.00 00.01.00
Will'm VERRY	Cottage and land on Aconbury Hill			00.01.00
Charles MACKLIN	Cottage and land on Aconbury Hill			00.01.00
Caleb DAVIS	Cottage and land on Aconbury Hill			00.01.00
James ADDIS	Cottage and land on Aconbury Hill Note: bottom of page "arrears six pence"			00.01.00
Charles MACKLIN	Allotment in Much Birch six years at 10 shillings per annum. (Note: that is what it says).			03.00.00
xx Ann HANDLEY married COLBORNE? 1 November 1841	Note: the writing for this note is poor. I think it says "Colborne" or similar.
John SEAL	Cottage near Netherwood		03.00.00	01.10.00
James MORRIS	Land in Much Birch		01.10.00	00.15.00
Richard GARROLD	Moraston Farm etc in Little Dewchurch and Aconbury	278.02.15		168.00.00

NOTES:

The annotation in line John Hughes may relate to Richard Seal but it is in line John Hughes. A note bottom of page referenced to William Watkins states: "John Meek is to be added. He + Watkins succeeded Wm. Seal whose daughter (Ann?) they married".
There is no Handley/Colborne marriage on the IGI but Colborne/Coborn names are in the parish register.
Biggs/Harris are bracketed for no clear reason.

FOR 1857 THE ACONBURY ESTATE RECORDS INCLUDE -
ACONBURY HILL

Mary POWELL	Thomas DAVIES	Mary WILLIAMS	James PREECE
Esther and Mary PREECE	William JONES	John SEAL	Thomas PORTER
Charles MACKLIN	Richard DAVIES	John PREECE	Sarah VERRY ("late WILLIAMS")
John BIGGS	Mary HARRIS	Margaret WATKINS ("late William WATKINS")	Elizabeth DAVIES ("now son-in-law John HUGHES")
James ADDIS	Henry George WATTS	Benjamin PREECE	John MORGAN

MUCH BIRCH

James MORRIS

TENANTS: Twyford Common in CALLOW 1857 included:

William COOKE	John PREECE	Ann CLOSE	William PREECE	Thomas PREECE
Thomas POWELL	Elizabeth "late Richard HODGES"	Richard "late Mary TOMKINS	John POWELL	James MORGAN "son of old Rebecca MORGAN"
Walter "late Mary COOKE"	William ":late Mary BEVAN"	Benjamin MORRIS	Esther MERRICK

LASCELLES 1851 DIRECTORY OF MUCH BIRCH INCLUDES -

NAME	OCCUPATION	PLACE
John TOMKINS	Farmer	Aconbury Common
James TREHEARNE	Shopkeeper	Aconbury Hill
Willim WATKINS	Shoemaker	Aconbury Common
Sam. TULLY	Shopkeeper	Reform Cottage, Aconbury Common
Joseph LEWIS	Shoemaker	Aconbury

LITTLEBURY'S GAZETTEER AND PARISH HISTORY 1876/7 - ACONBURY

is on GENUKI>HEREFORDSHIRE>TOWNS AND PARISHES>ACONBURY

(You may have arrived here via that site).

That directory for "Callow with the Hamlet of Twyford" includes Thomas Dance, Kings Pit Farm (in Aconbury Manor Records).

HEADS OF HOUSEHOLDS ACONBURY
(as enumerated 1881 Census)

(Having failed to locate a reasonably complete 19th Century Directory of Aconbury (too small perhaps?) I have created the following which will also serve as a quick reference to the 1881 census).

HEAD OF HOUSEHOLD	OCCUPATION	RESIDENCE	BIRTH PLACE
Eliz. ADDIS	Market Gardener	Cundy Gate Cottage	Much Birch
George BAILEY	No occupation recorded	Bowl House Cottage	Lugwardine
William BLUNT	Ag. Lab.	Tars Mill Cottage	Stoke Lacy
Thomas CHARD	Ag. Lab.	Aconbury Cottages	Preton, Worcs.
Thomas DAVIES	Carpenter	Priory Crossway	Little Birch
John DAVIS	Ag. Lab.	Aconbury Cottages	Radnorshire
Richard DAVIS	Ag. Lab.	Aconbury Cottages	Aconbury
Thomas EDWARDS	Ag. Lab.	Priory Cottages	Weston (Penyard?)
John FOWLER	Farmer, 300 acres	Morrastone Farm	Buckley, Gloucs.
Martha FRANCIS	Charwoman	Priory Cottages	Callow
John HALFORD	Farmer	Kings Pitt	Fownhope
William HODGES	Ag. Lab.	Woodland Cottage	Kings Caple
Henry HUSTINGS	Ag. Lab.	Merryvalle Cottage	Glewson
Joseph JONES	Farmer	Warren Farm	Aconbury
William E LEWIS	Chief Woodward, Guys Estate	Mount Skippet Farm	Ross
James E LITTLE	Police Constable	Callow Pike Cottage	Claines, Worcs.
Edwin NORRIS	Carpenter/Wheelwright	Pyes Nest Cottage	Much Birch
Daniel PAINE	Farmer	Merryvalle Farm	Gloucester
Richard PANNIERS	Farmer, 85 acres	Kings Pitt Farm`	Sutton
James PARRY	Labourer	Vine Cottage	Clifford
Eliz. PREECE	Charwoman	Old House Cottage	Brecknock
Esther PREECE	Charwoman	Castle Pool Cottage	Bolston
James PREECE	Farmer, 11 acres	Upper House	Hereford
Samuel PREECE	Ag. Lab.	Hill Cottage	Hereford
Samuel PREECE	Gen. Lab.	Priory Crossway	Aconbury
Thomas PREECE	Farmer, 77 acres	Crosshand Farm	Allensmere
Thomas PRICE	Gen. Labourer	Castle Pool Cottage	Little Birch
William PRITCHARD	Carpenter/Joiner	Hill Cottage	Middlesex
George PROSSER	Ag. Lab.	Aconbury Cottages	Hentland
Mary ROOKE	Market Gardener	Holly Cottage	Monmouth
Thomas SALTER	Farmer, 386 acres	Aconbury Court Farm	Battlefield, Shrops.
John VERRY	Gen. Lab.	Thorne Cottage	Aconbury
Thomas VERRY	Gen. Lab.	Thorne Cottage	Up. Bulllingham
William VERRY	Mason	Old House Cottage	Aconbury
Mary WALL	Monthly Nurse	Green Cottage	Aconbury
Edward WALL	Ag. Lab.	Warren Cottage	Little Dewchurch
James WATKINS	Farmer, 160 acres	Caldicot Farm	Clodock
Richard WEST	Ag. Lab.	Caldicot Pike Cottage	Llanwarne
Frederick WILLIAMS	Unemployed farmer	Crosshand Farm	Llanwarne

Aconbury had no Inn but a James Preece is recorded as a brewer of beer in 1870.

(FULL CENSUS is available on-line on LDS Family Search site.)

ACONBURY AND THE CIVIL WAR

Aconbury played an important part in the Civil War in Herefordshire. In 1642 Lord Herbert (for the King) came from Raglan and briefly occupied Aconbury hill. In the same year Parliament occupied Hereford. In 1645 Leslie Earl of Leven occupied both Aconbury and Dinedor hills. His men, unpaid, had to eat what food they could find. Apparently being unused to cider apples many became ill.

Of Leven and his Scots stay in Herefordshire Webb wrote - "Herefordshire felt every day more and more heavily how disastrous is the pressure of ill-paid, unfed, unrestrained soldiers. During the first fortnight in November the troops on the Monmouthshire border, augmenting their numbers and drawing up towards the invaders for observation and attack, or cutting their resources, had shown themselves in foraging, or reconnoitering parties along he course of the Worm (brook), making their way into places seldom visited by strangers......" "Thus they penetrated still further towards Hereford where amidst the lovely woods ..... stood the vestiges of the Priory."

The news of the arrival of the King's forces pannicked the Scots and they dispersed. A few of the clergy and inhabitants addressed a petition to Parliament in 1642. It is unsurprisingly lacking in signatures, for the bulk of the county was Royalist.

"To the Right Honourable Henry Earl of Stamford, Governor of the City of Hereford. The woeful Complaint and humble Petition of divers well affected to the King and Parliament in that evil evil (sic) affected Country:

Humbly shewing,

That, since the beginning of this present Month of November we whose names are subscribed, and some others, have been constrained to flee, with our Wives and Children, for our lives and safety, from our Habitations and Estates, and have had our Houses rifled of all our Goods and Stuff, our Cattle driven away, our Corn and Grain threshed and carried from us, by the barbarous Cavaliers of the Welsh Parts, who are under the Command of a dangerous Papist, the Lord Herbert, Son and Heir to the Right Honourable Henry Earl of Worcester; so that many of us are wholly deprived of all present Maintenance; Wherefore we commend our miserable Condition to your Honours' pious consideration, and rest, Your Honours' in all Observance,

Rich'd DEW, Gent	Wm. NEWPORT, Minister of Kenderchurch
Tho. THOMPSON	Jo. TYRER, Minister of Cornebury (ie Aconbury)
Tho. GWITHAN, "who was carried Prisoner to Ragland for no other cause but for being a Protestant".	Martin HUSBANDS, Gent
Tho. RAWLINGS, Gent	Jo. SAISE, Gent
Ric'd GREENELEAFE	James PERRIN
Tho. HUSBANDS	Tho. PRICE
Roger PRICHARD

("Memorials of the Civil War Between King Charles 1 and the Parliament of England as it Affected Herefordshire" Webb - 1879)

Stamford, for Parliament took Hereford in September 1642 with little resistance. But in response to the hostility of its citizens he wrote - "The county, as well as the vile city is so base and malignant." In 1642 he withdrew his army to the comfort of Puritan Gloucester.

A useful article on the Civil War in Herefordshire can be found here.

PARISH REGISTER COPIES

Aconbury and Little Birch were one benefice. There are Aconbury family names in the Little Birch register. It is recommended that both be searched.

ACONBURY

LITTLE BIRCH

ORIGINAL REGISTER

1736-1971 FILM 992633 Items 11-14

ORIGINAL REGISTER

Marriages 1911-1969
Banns 1941-1969

FILM 1594647
Items 2-3

ORIGINAL REGISTER

Christenings 1557-1884
Marriages 1557-1837
Burials 1557-1812
Banns 1755-1812

ORIGINAL REGISTER

Marriages 1837-1963

FILM 1040327
Items 13-17

FILM 1040016
Items 1-3

BISHOPS TRANSCRIPTS FILM 993073 Item 1	BISHOPS TRANSCRIPTS FILM 992310 Item 3
Christenings 1665-1867 Marriages 1665-1846 Burials 1665-1865	Christenings and Burials 1661-1871 Marriages 1661-1847 Christenings and Burials 1661-1871 Marriages 1661-1847 FILM 1593752 Item 1 (duplicate filming)
The transcripts have the following years missing - 1667/8, 1706/12. 1726/7, part 1742 and 1757, whole of 1759.

Film numbers are LDS British film numbers.

ACONBURY	LITTLE BIRCH
IGI BATCH NUMBERS	IGI BATCH NUMBERS

C071552 1771-1871	J071553 1736-1875	K071553 1736-1875	J137721 1557-1875	M137721 1557-1837
M071552 1771-1846	M071553 1736-1883		K137721 1557-1875	M137722 1837-1885

Each needs to be checked - not exact duplicates

CHURCHWARDEN AND VESTRY ACCOUNTS

It appears that no early accounts have survived.

VISITORS' BOOK

Herefordshire Record Office hold the Visitors' Book for Aconbury Church, 1942-1971. Perhaps some visitors noted family links to the parish? The church "closed" in 1972.

WESLEYAN METHODIST

There was a chapel at Little Birch during the 19th century. It was within the Hereford Circuit. It was converted to a house in 1912. Herefordshire Record Office hold a photo of the Chapel. I have been unabled to locate the whereabouts of any surviving registers. If anyone knows please email.

RECUSANTS

The Recusant Rolls record only two for Aconbury (cf. Much Dewhurch with twenty three).

Ann Abrahall 1677
Joan (Jane), wife of William Abrahall

VICARS OF ACONBURY WITH LITTLE BIRCH

The last pre-Reformation vicar was John Gregg, 1516. Post-Reformation vicars were -

1570 John YONGER	1611 William HIGGS	16?? John TYRER **
1664 Hugh OWEN	1679 Titus NEVE	1733 Thomas WILLIM
1750 Richard REECE	1767 Richard GOMOND	1777 William WHITMORE
1792 William BARRY	1810 Richard LUCAS	1833 William HUTTON
1835 Thomas PHILLIPS	1838 Henry HAMPTON	1850 Vernon GUISE
1852 Richard FOOT	1855 Stephen THACKWELL	1883 Henry MARRIOTT-DODINGTON
1890 Walter FITZWARINE-SMITH

** TYRER's tenure may have been short. Known from the Civil War petition, but not listed officially as vicar.

The benefice was held with Little Birch for much of this period.

LANDOWNERS - Militia Tax 1663
(extracted from "Herefordshire Militia Tax Assessments" M A Faraday 1972).

Aconbury was assessed with Little Birch and Little Dewchurch. I have listed each parish. Names are in descending order of property value.This book should be available through most library services if the rateable value is required, or email me. (Note that these are landowners, not tenants /leaseholders although some may well have leased land also.)

LITTLE BIRCH	LITTLE DEWCHURCH	ACONBURY
Viscount SCUDAMORE	Rudhall GWILLIM Esq	The Lord Viscount SCUDAMORE (ie of Holme Lacy)
Jo KIDLEY, gent	Thos. RAWLINS Esq	Sir James BRIDGES
Wm. GUILLIM, gent	Mr GETHING	Sir William POWELL
Jo. GUILLIM, gent	Mr HELMES
William HIGGS, Clerk	Mr VOILE
Mary ABRAHALL, widow	Mr BARNES
Tho. PARSONS	Mr EDWINS
Jo. GWATKIN	Thos. JONES
Tho. WEAVER	Rich. JONES
Tho. BINKES	Jo. HEY
Ri. ROGERS	Phil.WITHESTONE
Tho. BANTON	Phil. LAMBERT
	Phil. OSBURNE
	Ja. BILLINGSLEY
	Tho.WILCOCKS
	The Widow WILLIAMS
	Jo. JONES Jnr
	Thos. BIGGS
	David FREYER
	Walter UNDERWOOD
	Jo. BENNETT
	Guilb.WILCOCKS
	Jo. HOPKIN
	Wm. ROBERTS
	Thos. BIGGLESTON
	Wm. PITMAN
	Ri. COMBE
	Ja. ANDREWES
	Edw.WITHERSTON
	Ja. LINKE

HEARTH TAX RETURNS

The Herefordshire Family History Society have indexed the returns for Lady Day 1664 and Michaelmas 1665, which they will search for a fee. All houses with a hearth were taxed unless the occupier was exempted by poverty.

The largest Hearth Tax charge in Aconbury 1664 was for Giles Wilton who had nine. In 1712 a Giles Wilton with William Wilton Snr of Madley was involved with the lease of Twyford Green from Bridges.

PROBATE

Most wills and administrations prior to 1858 are at Hereford Record Office. There is no on-line index. There is a private index. See Hereford Family History Society site for details and costs. PCC wills are being indexed on-line but is not complete for the earlier years. Those for Aconbury as at July 2003 are:

Issord FISHER 1626, John PEARLE, gent 1649, Richard TAYLOR yeoman 1655.

Visiting Aconbury today it is difficult to comprehend that it was not always the settled peaceful community it seems. In 1682 alone William WILTON of Twyford in Aconbury was presented before the church court for abusing Willoby DAVIS, churchwarden of Little Birch and threatening to break down the church door (keen to pray?!). And William MATHEWS, Vicar of Aconbury, with his churchwarden Henry HODGES attested that although Blanche GRIFFITHS was presented for being a curser and making seditious comment, was but a poor woman - the proceedings apparently based upon false assumption and envy. Lucky Blanche! In some places she might have been ducked, or worse.

SCHOOL

The nearest and earliest school was at Little Birch. In 1841 the schoolmistress was Martha HODGES of Dove Cottage with eleven pupils. In 1881 Alfred BUGDEN from Kent was a certificated schoolmaster with a role of about 70 pupils which suggests it was a newer school. I do not know if there are surviving records for either.

NOTE: BUGDEN is wrongly written BUGDEW on the 1881 Census


WOODLANDS ACONBURY HILL	KING PITS FARMHOUSE


MOUNT SKIPPETT FARMHOUSE	OLD CIDER PRESS

MY ACONBURY INTERESTS (briefly)

John VERRY baptised 1756 son of William VERRY of the Haywood near Hereford, Gamekeeper, Guys Hospital, Aconbury married Elizabeth MORGAN, Much Birch 1777. Tenanted part of Kings Pits and from 1808 Cross-in-Hand farm.
William VERRY baptised 1780 son of 1. above, cordwainer of Camp House, Aconbury Hill, married Philadelphia EDWARDS of Skenfrith.
John VERRY baptised 1782 son of 1. Gamekeeper, Guys Hospital, Aconbury. Married Alice PREECE. Tenanted cottage Aconbury Hill, but will 1842 demised freehold house and orchard at Little Birch. Also tenanted Mount Skippett.
Joseph VERRY baptised 1785 son of 1. Rented Cross-in-Hand farm, married Mary POWELL from Breconshire.
John VERRY baptised 1807 Upper Bullingham, son of 3, shoemaker, Aconbury. Married Elizabeth VERRY, his cousin from Monmouth.
Thomas VERRY baptised 1814 Upper Bullingham, son of 3, woodreve, Guys Hospital, Aconbury. Rented Woodhouse, Aconbury Hill. Married Mary MORRIS of Aconbury. This couple had numerous descendants. Many still reside in Herefordshire.
James VERRY baptised 1819 at Callow, son of 3, bootmaker of Drybrook, Forest of Dean, Gloucestershire. Married Mary PRICE of Cwmyoy, Monmouthshire. Their son Richard VERRY, a leather goods merchant of Ripley, Derbyshire married Ada MANGER and their son Arthur emigrated to New Zealand in 1905 (my grandfather).

ACONBURY KELLY'S POST OFFICE DIRECTORY 1856 (Abstract)

(including some adjacent parishes - abstracted. Note that the directory does not include all residents. At this period much mail was directed care of landlord, employer etc).

ACONBURY
ADDIS, James	Parish Clerk
ADDIS, Thomas	Farmer	Caldicott
BICKERTON, William	Farmer	Merryfield
DAVIES, Thomas	Carpenter
HUGHES, Thomas	Stonemason
JONES, William	Farmer	Warren
MANSELL, Thos.	Farmer	The Cross-in Hand
MORGAN, John	Sawyer	Aconbury Hill
PREECE, James	Carpenter
PRITCHARD, Wm.	Carpenter	Aconbury Hill
SPENCER, Wm.	Farmer	Aconbury Court
VERREY, John	Shoemaker

"Letters through Much Birch"

LITTLE BIRCH (PARISH) - KELLY's PO DIRECTORY 1856 (Abstract)

THACKWELL, Rev. Stephen MA		Rectory
BULLEN, William	Farmer
DAVIES, George	Tailor
DAVIES, William	Farmer	Well Orchard
GREEN, William	Farmer	The Green
GUNTER, Benjamin	Stonemason
JONES, James	Stonemason and Parish Clerk
JONES, William	Farmer	Castle Hill
LAWRENCE, John	Farmer	Church Farm
LAYTON, Thomas		"Castle"
McMULLEN, John	Beer Retailer
MATHEWS, James	Shopkeeper and -	"Little Castle"