description of Chorley Hall, showing that the stone portion or front is simply a casing added to preserve the timber framework when it had probably for two or three centuries previously suffered from the effects of the weather. We had a similar instance in our own immediate neighbourhood only a few years ago, in an old building in Turncroft-lane, recently taken down by Mr Hanson; it seems formerly to have been a farmhouse, to which was near an old half-timbered barn. When the house was taken down there were revealed the remains of some very good timber framing behind, and concealed by a stone casing in front. I have no doubt this old house is one that is described in the Adlington survey of 1577 as being in "Turne Crofte Lane." Bridge Hall in Adswood, originally a timberframed building, but now in a great measure underwalled with brick, had not many years ago in one of the wings a pair of crooks of goodly proportions; these crooks were carried up to the ridge piece, forming a sort of gothic arch; this was, no doubt, what may be termed the great hall, being open to the rafters. This arch-like appearance of the crooks led

In answer to the query by "A Councillor" in CHESHIRE NOTES AND QUERIES on the above subject I would say that in former times-prior to the advent of the nineteenth century—if the poor were refused relief by the overseers, they (the poor) could appeal to the magistrates, who would hear the evidence and decide on the merits of the case. In order to overcome this difficulty therefore at the time of the passing of the New Poor Law the magistrates were all made erofficio members of the board of guardians in their division for the special reason of protecting the poor. Judging by their attendances at the meetings of the boards of guardians in this part of the county the poor would be in a poor way indeed if they were the only protectors they had to look to.

Notes.

HISTORICAL NOTES ON CHESHIRE. I.

con

The vast fund of Cestrian information tained in CHESHIRE NOTES AND QUERIES is in itself a treasure of untold value; but it has moreover led to a study of the published histories of the nation, with a view of drawing out of them some pregnant facts relating to our own country, and which can be usefully employed in enriching your columns from time to time. The great work you have undertaken in your account of the electoral contests in Cheshire is interesting in every way, and when we come to reflect upon the character of past Cheshire men who took a part in the many national struggles for liberty, either with or against the sovereigns of this nation, we see how justly they are entitled to be ranked as among the "chief of men." When Charles the Second died, and his brother James succeeded to the throne, public opinion was much moved in Cheshire both for and against the Stuarts; and Macaulay, in his historical essays-called a "History of England"-has written much and nobly upon the sentiments entertained by all classes of our countrymen in that particular emergency. We need not agree with him in opinion when paying him a just tribute of praise for his glorious writings, but when perusing his pages the other day I fell in with the fol

lowing reference to the great election which took place in England on the ascension of James to the throne, and this is how he writes of Cheshire:-"In Cheshire the contest lasted six days. The Whigs polled about seventeen hundred votes, the Tories about two thousand. The common people were vehement on the Whig side, raised the cry of 'Down with the bishops,' insulted the clergy in the streets of Chester, knocked down one gentleman of the Tory party, broke the windows and beat the constables. The militia was called out to quell the riot, and was kept assembled in order to protect the festivities of the conquerors. When the poll closed a salute of five great guns from the castle proclaimed the triumph of the Church and the Crown to the surrounding country. The bells rang, the newly-elected members went in state to the City Cross, accompanied by a band of music and by a long train of knights and squires. The procession, as it marched along, sang 'Joy to great Cesar,' a loyal ode, which had lately been written by Durfey, and which, though like all Durfey's writings-utterly contemptible-was, at the time, almost as popular as Lillibullers became a few years later on. Round the Cross the trainbands were drawn up in order, a bonfire was lighted, the Exclusion Bill was burned, and the health of King James was drunk with loud acclamation. The following day was Sunday. In the morning the militia lined the streets leading to the cathedral. The two knights of the shire were escorted

with great pomp to their chair by the magistrates of the city; heard the Dean preach a sermon, probably on the duty of passive obedience; and were afterwards feasted by the Mayor." That rich moral is well suited for your local gatherings, and I have sent to you accordingly. How tame do our records of modern elections read by the side of the glowing picture of the doings of our forefathers in "the good old times." On one side the cry of "Down with the Bishops" is responded to by the other party with a shout of " Joy to Great Caesar." Church and King then, as now, played its part in the struggle, but so changed are we that a dean must not now be allowed to preach a party sermon, nor must it be tolerated that the knights of the shire should be escorted to the cathedral church on their election by the magisrates, nor need the militia here to line the streets to guard them on their way to church. It is well to look at both pictures, and to remember, when doing so, that notwithstanding all the many changes that have taken place in our demeanour upon public occasions, to-day, as in Stuart's times, Cheshire men are still "chief" in their loyalty to their country-be they Whigs, Tories, Conservatives, or Liberals-and so will they ever remain until patriotism has ceased to be looked upon as a virtue, and the unity of this great empire becomes a thing of no moment in men's eyes. A CESTRIAN.

POWNALL FEE TOWNSHIP RECORDS. The following is a continuation of the extracts for the records relating to the township of Pownall Fee, in the parish of Wilmslow:

A certificate given by Joseph Millner [Miller]' churchwarden of Cheadle, and Joseph Higham and John Chandley, overseers of Cheadle Buckley, acknowledging the settlements of William Leigh, Elizabeth his wife, Mary and Joseph, their children, and also of Thomas Hackney, an apprentice to the said William Leigh, to be in Cheadle Buckley. This document is signed and sealed 4 May, 1742, by

An agreement maid betwixt Ralph Sheapley, of Sumerford, in the county of Chester, of the one part, and Edward Tomson, of Sutton, in the county aforesaid, farmer, of the other part. Witnesseth that ye said Ralph Sheapley have let and set to Edward Tomson an Estate lying and being in Park-lane, commonly called Sbeapley's tenement, in consideration of which the said Edward Tomson is to pay the sum of seven pounds seven shillings a year and the window tax, and the said Edward Ton.son have

This lease or agreement is something interesting, as showing how small tenements were let 140 years back. I am afraid that in these days many landlords would object to grant a tenant such good and easy conditions as are in this old simple little lease.

An indenture of apprenticeship dated 2nd Feb., 1743, whereby Peter Taylor and Nathan Pierson, Overseers of Pownall Fee, did bind apprentice John Mottershead, a poor boy of Pownall Pee, to Edward Hewit, of Mobberley, a Taylor. The premium was £5.

The document is signed and sealed by

And witnessed by

DANIEL HEATHCOTE,

GEO. WHITTAKER,

EDWARD HEWIT,

But we do not find the names of the other contracting parties. It was, however, countersigned by two justices,

C. LEGH,

JOHN BASKERVILLE.

This Peter Taylor was an ancestor of Peter Taylor, a Manchester merchant, who bought the Riley Estate in Chorley, and built the present mansion house. He was uncle to the late Alfred Lowe, who succeeded him. The family was from the farm in Morley where Mr John Wright lives.

Indenture of apprenticeship dated 13th Feb., 1744, whereby Thomas Cash and John Worthington, overseers of Pownall Fee, bind as an apprentice unto Isaac Worthington, of Manchester, Dutch-loom weaver, a poor boy of Pownall Fee named Thomas Jenkinson. The premium £5. The conditions the same as in the last case.

The document given below is from the parish of Manchester. It is all written and in good order. The signatures are very good indeed, and apparently of very considerable persons.

We whose names are hereunto subscribed, two of his Majesty's justices of the peace in and for the said county, do allow the above-written certificate, oath having first been made before us by James Barrett, one of the said witnesses, that he, the said James Barrett, did see the sd churchwardens and overseers of the poor of the said town of Manchester, whose hand-seals are hereunto subscribed and set, severally sign and seal the same, and also that the names of the witnesses therein attesting such signing and sealing are of their own proper hand-writing.

JAMES CHETHAM, ROB. BOOTH.

Indenture of apprenticeship dated 13 Feb., 1744, whereby Thomas Cash and John Worthington, overseers of Pownall Fee, do bind as an apprentice unto Isaac Worthington, of Manchester, Dutch-loom weaver, a poor boy of Pownall Fee named Thomas Jenkinson, aged between eight and nine years, until he shall attain to the age of 21 years, the premium to be £5. The master was to provide for the boy and pay him twelve pence yearly as wages, and also to well and efficiently instruct him in the trade, mystery, or occupation of a Dutch-loom weaver, which he now useth, with all things thereto belong ing. Signed and sealed by the contracting parties in the presence of

WM. HEPWORTH,
THOMAS FALKNER,
THOMAS CASH,

And countersigned by Justices,

C. LEGH,

JOHN BASKERVILLE.

The order of Ralph Leycester and Henry Wright, Esquires, two of his Majesty's justices of the peace and quorum, dated 28th July, 1744. Complaint having been made by overseers of poor of Pownall Fee concerning a female bastard child born in Pownall Fee on the body of Sarah Hooley, single woman, they did find that John Woodall, of Pownall Fee, husbandman, was the father of the said child; and they did order that John Woodall shall pay one pound and five shillings for expenses then already incurred anent the said

The subjoined examination of John Ainsworth before justices, evidently anent his settlement, is interesting in several particulars. (1) It shows what hunting up and tracing of settlements there was under the old aw of hiring and service. (2) It shows the rate of wages at the time in farm labour, and (3) it shows a custom, now quite gone out, of going from Cheshire and Lancashire into Warwickshire for the purpose of reaping the corn harvest. We have known many old men that had been "uppart" [upwards], as they called it, to shear. In some localities this old custom was called "cokeing."

Cheshire to Wit.

The examination of John Ainsworth, of the township of Pownall Fee in the said county, taken upon oath before us, two of His Majesty's Justices of th Peace for the county, this 9th day of January, 1746. Who on his oath saith: That about twelve years since he was hired for a year with John Jackson, of the township of Nether Alderley in the said county, farmer, and served the said John Jackson the said year, and received his wages for the same, and after that continued with his said master, in the said township, the space of four years as a hired servant, and received wages for the same, and after that was

hired for a year with Daniel Ward, of the township of Pownall Fee, and lived with his said master pursuant to the said hiring till the first of May, when upon some difference betwixt him and his said master he left his said service for four days, when meeting with his said master he agreed to go with him to his said service again, upon conditions that his master was to allow him a month's time to work at harvest-work in the county of Warwick, for which he was to abate his said master a month's wages, and for every day that the said John Ainsworth stayed from his sd. service over and above the said menth he was to allow his sd. master sixpence, and he farther saith that he stayed a week over and above the said month, when he returned to his said service and continued in it till the end of the term, and after that he was hired for another year with his said master and continued in his said service three months, when by his master's consent he left his said service, and since then he hath not done a year's service or any other act that he knows of to gain a settlement.

Sworn before us the day and

year above written,

his

mark.

Then John Bray and Ro't (?) Ward, being constables for the year 1746, made up their accts. and it appeirs in their hand 4 shillings, which the have pd. to Aaron Coppock, being overseer of the poor for the present year.

JON. TAYLOR. PETER TAYLOR. JON. HULME. JOHN PEERSON.

This year has a document which we do not like. It is but short, and therefore we give it in full. January ye 3d, 1747.

Memorandum.-It is agreed between Aaron Coppock and Charles Miller as follows:-The said Charles Miller is to take his mother for a whole year for 10 pence per week, to be paid quarterly by the said Aaron Coppock, now overseer of the poor; and in case she shall die within the compass of one year the said Charles Miller is to bury her, and to have her bed and every other thing which belongs to her, his said mother.

As witness our hands.

AARON COPPOCK, his

CHARLES MILLER,

mark

HUGH HULME,

JONATH. THARPE.

Removal order for John Ainsworth, his wife, and child, dated 5 January, 1747, directing the family's removal from Pownall Fee to Nether Alderley, made by justices.

WM. WRIGHT,

JOHN BASKERVILLE.

A bond, given by Henry Pigott, of Haslingden, in the county of Chester, maltster; Elizabeth Deane, of Bollin Fee, spinster; Ruth Dean, of Bollin Fee aforesaid, widow (mother of the said Elizabeth Deane); and Mary Worrall, spinster, of Bollin Fee aforesaid; Thomas Cash, and Aaron Coppock, overseers of the poor, for ffifty pounds anent the cost of the maintenance of a male bastard child of the said Elizabeth Dean, of which the said Henry Pigott was adjuged to be the father.

Signed by the bounden parties,
In the presence of

like to point out a slight slip in his article. The words "To be a knight or baronet est gradus, etc," are not Sir Edward Coke's, but a somewhat free translation of an extract from Sir Robert Broke's "Graunde Abridgement" (London, 1573, folio), part II., folio 95; title, "Nosme," § 33. Your correspondent doubtless took the words from the 6th edition of "Guillim's Heraldry" (London, 1724, folio), pp. 266, where they are given as in his article, and where they are ascribed to "Brooks in his abridgement of that case Nosman de Dignitie, 33." Of course "Nosman" stands for "Nosmes" (i.e., names), and the words " of that case ought never to have been inserted, so the reference is glaringly inaccurate. In conclusion I would recommend to those who desire further information on these names of dignity, "Viner's Abridgement" (N.D. folio), title, "Nosmes," vol. 15, p. 596. H. A. THORNE. Cambridge.

Queries.

"

ANTIQUITY OF CHEESE-MAKING IN CHESHIRE.-The following extract is quoted from the editorial columns in your paper of last week in reference to the antiquity of cheese-making-"Cheshire retains its celebrity for cheese-making; the pride of its people in the superiority of its cheese may be gathered from a provincial song, published, with the music, about 1746, during the Spanish War, in the reign of George II." Is the song known to exist? It would be very interesting to most of your readers if it could be inserted in CHESHIRE NOTES AND QUERIES. Altrincham.

F. L. TAVARE.

GEORGE HENRY PHILLIPS.-The death of Mr Phillips, at Abbey-cum-hir, Radnorshire, has just been announced, and it is said he was a native of that county. We know that he was son of the late Mr Francis Aspinall Phillips, of Bank Hall, Heaton Norris, and grandson of Francis Phillips, a well-known Manchester merchant. How came he to be a Radnorian by birth? I presume that Mr Phillips was of the same family as Nathaniel and John Phillips, who something more than a hundred years ago commenced business at Manchester as smallware manufacturers, and that Mark Phillips, once member of Parliament for Manchester, was of his kindred? Were the Phillips's of Welsh descent? There is a history in stones; a far more interesting one in men, who making their own way in the world leave marks behind them which time can never destroy. Among the many men who helped to make Manchester what she is, her merchant's and manufacturers must always occupy a foremost place The men of this class, who in early days helped a