I do not know Staffordshire and if I have made misidentifications I hope someone will tell me!
To introduce this I'd like to say that George was a very young man who seems to have been working with little or no supervision, for a man whose character does not (to me, anyway) come over well. George had to make significant payments out of his own pocket in order to do the work - for labourers' wages, accommodation, travel, and even for the paper on which to draw his plans.
Incidentally Robert Harvey lived at Dunstall in Staffordshire.
Some years later George's work was criticised in a court case relating to the Teddesley Enclosure, which is what George was working on at the start of the period, the autumn of 1815. The bare facts are that it was alleged that fraud had been committed by Robert Harvey (who had died) and others. The defence, seeking to show their characters in the best possible light, examined witnesses who said that Mr Harvey had paid George out of his own pocket for defective work, rather than charge it to the account of the Enclosure. But this was not proven. George was apparently not asked to say whether he had in fact been paid by anyone, and it seems to me quite possible that money that should have been paid to George, ended up in someone else's pocket!
I will say something about this court case in a third piece, to follow this one.
........................
Edited summary of Box 1/019 papers placed into approximate date order:-
Information in italics comes from elsewhere.
October and November, 1815 until December 4
George surveyed and plotted about 1600 acres of land in the Manors of Otherton, Lyne Hill (he wrote Lynall), Pillaton (he wrote Pileton), and Penkridge, on account of the Teddesley Enclosure. No expenses are recorded in this period and the papers do not detail where he was working from day to day. He was working for Robert Harvey ....... who was one of the Commissioners appointed under an Act of Parliament passed in 1814.
Throughout this period George lodged at Otherton, and when he left the lodgings and paid for that, on he charged – about 10 guineas - to the Penkridge Enclosure.
December 5-9
George was attending a meeting at The Littletons’ Arms Inn at Penkridge on account of the Enclosure. He seems not however to have been continuously in this meeting, but to have been assigned to start work on a different project.
From early December much more detail is given, and the work is on lands belonging, perhaps not in a modern sense, to Lord Willoughby de Broke. One such place was Rodbaston [between Penkridge and Gailey] (but it would seem, not Rodbaston Hall or its farm).
From early December much more detail is given, and the work is on lands belonging, perhaps not in a modern sense, to Lord Willoughby de Broke. One such place was Rodbaston [between Penkridge and Gailey] (but it would seem, not Rodbaston Hall or its farm).
Dec. 8
He bought two quires of foolscap and some tracing paper. He also paid a chain drawer for work at Rodbaston, this for the account of Lord Willoughby. Also he measured three closes of land in Gailey Manor belonging to Lord Willoughby, an area of about 31 acres.
Dec. 11-22
On these dates George was “collecting the Names of the Owner and Occupiers of the Lands surveyed by me and casting same.” This must have been mainly for the account of Lord Willoughby, to whom he charged the cost of ink, quills and vellum paper bought on Dec. 19, and the cost of going to Stafford and back that day.
23 December
George was at Mr Turner’s of Penkridge “making Sketch from Parish Plans of Land in the Manor of Rodbaston” (Lord Willoughby). Another assignment was starting as the same day George was also “sketching from my own Parish Plans of Land belonging to E Littleton Esq and others.” George says this was about 321 acres but I don't know if this was all at Rodbaston.
The landowner referred to here had changed his name to Littleton when he inherited Teddesley in 1812 at the age of 21, and from 6 June 1812 he was the Member of Parliament for Staffordshire (History of Parliament). Presumably the Teddesley Enclosure was taking place wholly or partly at his wish. Some years later he would be the one to complain about the work on it, and bring an action alleging fraud in the way it had been carried out.
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| Map showing main places mentioned (south) |
24-25 Dec.
No details. I wonder if George had the opportunity or the time, or the money, to go to Birmingham to have Christmas there. If so, it was a short break.
26 Dec.
Mr Turner gave him £13.
26 Dec. until 8 Jan. 1816
For Lord Willoughby. Most of this time, surveying Coppenhall Farm in the occupation of a Mr Webb and also certain Lands in the occupation of a Mr Oakley and another (whose name I cannot make out). This was about 323 acres. [Coppenhall about 1 mile SW of Stafford, I suppose]
27 Dec.
George made Copy of what he had been doing on 23 December. He says this was by Order of Mr James Turner [I suspect James Turner might be Lord Willoughby's Agent]
1816
8 Jan.
George paid two labourers for 8 days…. No doubt for work at Coppenhall.
On 8 January George moved to other work, perhaps following instructions given him in letters from Dunstall and Butterton that he had received and paid for on 4 January. The night of 8 January he stayed at the Littleton Arms at Penkridge and reached Butterton on 9 Jan.
This is the Butterton about two miles south of Newcastle -under-Lyme, just west of the M6 motorway.
The work from now on appears mainly to have been on Thomas Swinnerton's estate. Mr Swinnerton, a barrister of the Inner Temple (admitted in 1774 and called in 1779) and Recorder of Stafford, had married in 1793 and seems to have considered having a new house built at Butterton but not to have done so. George's work appears to be unconnected to the Teddesley Enclosure Act…. Was it for Enclosure purposes at all? Or was it for some other purpose, eg Mr Swinnerton wanted to be able to better understand and manage his estate? Mr Swinnerton did it appears have a new “farmhouse” designed in 1815 (lostheritage website) and this perhaps is the “New Farm” mentioned here, or on the site of it.
January 9 onwards
His initial work was at or near Butterton Hall “surveying Lands there belonging to Thomas Swinnerton esquire vizt Farm in the occ of Simpson Stevenson – [some words deleted] – meadows and lands called Roe Lane Meadows, Grinsley Meadows, Broomy Leys, Long Croft and Land late Marquis of Stafford in the occupation of (blank) Snape much dispersed” … About 102 acres.
I think “much dispersed” means that the areas to be surveyed and measured did not lie neatly next to one another.
George engaged two labourers for four weeks until Feb 4. It does not seem to be clear where he lodged.
Jan 19 and 20
“Staking out Lands to be divided and set to the respective Tenants plotting same upon the Butterton Map and casting same” for two days. Also surveying and plotting the Woodhouse Farm in the occupation of (blank) Brayford and Scotts Land. About 155 acres.
A Woodhouse Farm is located about 3 kms west of Butterton at Dab Green. The name is common but I think this is the right one. Woodham Farm is mentioned later. I think that may be an error.
24 Jan.
George paid for a letter received from London (perhaps from Mr Swinnerton himself, or more likely from Mr Harvey).
26 Jan.
George walked to the Carr House at Audley surveying 35 acres of land in the occupation of Revd Smith.
Carr House is on Carr Lane, west of the village of Audley, and very near the line of the M6 today. It would have been a good 20-mile round walk.
29 to Feb 2
“Surveying and plotting the New Farm at Butterton in the occupation of Benjamin Harding (one word I cannot make out).” About 211 acres. On a day in February Mr Harding paid George £10 (this was before 5 Feb as George mentioned it in his letter of that date).
The location of “Butterton New Farm” is north of the A5182 rather close to what is now the motorway junction. This may be a “Home Farm” of the estate there.
(Staffordshire Advertiser 10 March 1821 contains a notice of sale, at Butterton near Newcastle, of the farming stock and furniture etc of Mr Benjamin Harding, who is said to be leaving the Butterton Farm).
3 Feb.
Measuring and mapping “Foot Roads” (paths etc) near Butterton Hall and “made certification thereof to present to His Majesties (sic) Justices of The Peace for the Co of Stafford” (1 day).
4 Feb.
George paid two labourers for the previous four weeks work. This incidentally was his twentieth birthday.
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| Map showing main places mentioned (north) |
5 Feb.
He paid the servants at Butterton, and then his initial account says he went to Cheadle. That would be for Mr Swinnerton but this entry was deleted. He in fact says he went from Butterton, or from Trentham, to Penkridge by coach (noting that he was riding outside, which was obviously cheaper for his employer).
Also on 5 Feb he wrote to Mr Harvey or started to do so, about money owed to him. [see letter, in the previous post]
5 -9 Feb.
George was attending a meeting on the Penkridge Inclosures. Again he seems not to have been confined to the meeting, for on 8 Feb he measured and plotted the Great Moor at Rodbaston. 41 acres. Before leaving Rodbaston he paid a man for one day for Lord Willoughby's account.
10 Feb.
George now went back from Penkridge to Butterton, now of course noting that the charge should be to Mr Swinnerton …… he had dinner at Stone, which is about half way….... He says -” took Plan of New Farm to shew Mr Harding and to receive instructions as to the surveying the Delph House and Haywood Grange Farms”…..
11 Feb.
George now paid the Butterton servants and on 12 he went to Lane End and onwards to Cheadle, with some luggage sent to Trentham.
“Lane End” refers to a place now called (or part of) Longton on the east side of Stoke-on-Trent, at or near ST3 1SU, and was presumably a place for changing coaches. It was on the route from Butterton to Cheadle, something like half way.
12 and 13 Feb.
George stayed two nights at the Royal Oak at Cheadle because accommodation that had, it seems, been arranged for him at a place called Whitehurst was not suitable, or was not ready (…. “my lodging at Whitehurst being unprepared”). He then did lodge at Whitehurst, until 24 February.
This must be Whitehurst Farm, on Whitehurst Lane, ST10 2PG. It is a couple of miles from Cheadle.
12th to 24 Feb.
“Surveying Haywood Grange Farm belonging to Thos. Swinnerton esquire in occ of Thos. Heath, and the Delph House Farm in the occ of Ed. Eardley. “Quantity 186-2-26 (NB he has also written the number 195 and totalled it to 382).
Haywood Grange or Heywood Grange in Tickhill Lane in Dilhorne, is very near Whitehurst. A c17 farmhouse there.
Delph House is at or near ST10 2NN to the west of Cheadle.
22 Feb.
He paid some men at the Roebuck Inn at Brooke House…….. and charged for dinner.
The Roebuck Inn is marked on the old 6 inch map as just south of the crossroads at Brookehouses, a short distance west of Cheadle. This is very near Delph House.
24 Feb.
He paid two labourers for a week's work. Later on 24 Feb he went back from Cheadle via Stone to Penkridge, getting some paper on the way, which was needed for Littywood…
27 to March 9 …… I think till March 5 rather than 9
He seems to say he spent these days “Surveying the Littywood Estate the property of Lord Willoughby in the occupation of Edw. Reynolds and Thos. Stanley.” 530 acres.
He seems to say he spent these days “Surveying the Littywood Estate the property of Lord Willoughby in the occupation of Edw. Reynolds and Thos. Stanley.” 530 acres.
Littywood is a historic site a few miles south west of Stafford at ST18 9DW, very close to Coppenhall.
March 5
He goes from Penkridge via Stone to Cheadle
March 7 from Cheadle to Stafford
March 9 and 10 he goes back to Cheadle with an overnight at Stone.
March 10 to 30
He lodges at Whitehurst again, apparently doing “desk” work there writing up the previous surveys. He says:- “At the Whitehurst Laying down plotting and casting the Littywood Estate, casting the Woodham Farm [perhaps an error, see Woodhouse Farm above], Scotts Land, Lands at Audley, the New Farm, Coppenhall Farm, Haywood Grange and the Delph House Farm and finishing surveys on hand making out accounts.”
It is hard to understand why this work was done at Whitehurst, seemingly a remote location but I think it was a property perhaps belonging to the Swinnerton (Butterton) estate, so it was perhaps cheap.
31 March About this time he goes from Cheadle – via Stone – to Penkridge.
April 1
“To Boormoor Corner(?) Micklewood Heath, setting out and measuring the centres of the Old Roads etc etc” (Tiddesley Inclosure).
Micklewood Lane runs SE from Penkridge. Notices in the Staffs Advertiser in June 1822 show that Micklewood Heath was part of Otherton, or very near. The word transcribed as “Boormoor” is probably Boscomoor, a name which occurs between Penkridge and Otherton.
EMB 19 April 2020
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