Edward
Wortley was ‘n Yeoman. Yeoman het
grond in eiendom gehad, maar huurders van groot, gentry plase
was ook yeomen, sonder om 'n akker in eiendom te hê.
Yeomen was welvarende boere, d.w.s. met ‘n inkomste van meer as £40 per jaar in
1600. (Sommerville, J.P.: Economy and society in
early modern England.) Die Yeoman was ‘n kommersiële
boer. Hy het nie net vir sy eie gebruik geboer nie, maar ook vir die
mark. Sy plaas was groot genoeg om arbeid van buite af in te kry.
Toe die prys van graan en vee in die vroeë 17de eeu opgaan, was yeomen boere
die grootste produsente vir die mark. Large-scale commercial
farmers often obtained leases of Crown and church estates, and since the
wealthier gentry and aristocracy normally leased out rather than farmed
directly most of their estates – yeomen farmers actually occupied and profited
from the expanding holdings of the gentry. Daar was geen defnitiewe
lyn tussen die yeoman se plaas en die van ‘n husbandman nie.
(Zell, Michael: Early Modern Kent, 1540-1640) Husbandmen,
earning about £15 pounds per annum in 1600. (Sommerville,
J.P.: Economy and society in early modern England.)
Dit wil voorkom asof William
Hepworth van Shepley Hall as 'n prokureur gepraktiseer het; sy naam kom
op daardie tydstip dikwels in transaksies van openbare en private sake van die
distrik voor. Ten spyte van sy office of coroner van die
wapentake, en so ook dié van invorderaar van sy Majesteit se huur (waarvoor hy
£ 20 per jaar verdien het, sowel as £ 15 per jaar se huurgeld uit Lancashire,
wat aan sy vrou behoort), was sy omstandighede nie voorspoedig nie. Hy
was ook in diens van Sir Francis Wortley, van Wortley, baronet, to
receive the modus in lieu of the rectorial tithe of this parish, wat hy op
daardie tydstip op huurkontrak van die kroon gehou het. Dit lyk of hy op
intieme voet met Sir Francis was, want hy het oor hom en sy gesin 'n paar
besonderhede aangeteken. (Morehouse, Henry James: The
history and topography of the parish of Kirkburton and of the graveship of
Holme, Holmfirth in the county of York. Huddersfield MDCCLXI) In 5
Charles I. (1629) die 12de Junie, verkoop hy, all his moiety of the
manor of Shepley, the hall, &c., lands, woods, free rents, perquisites of
courts, &c., reserving to himself and his wife certain annuities during
their lives aan John Firth, van Cumberworth. Hepworth het
voorheen 'n deel van die estate vir £ 100 aan Gámliël
Whitaker, predikant van Kirkburton en sy vrou Hester verpand; the
interest of which was stipulated to be paid " in the south porch of
Kirkburton Church." (Morehouse, Henry James: The history and
topography of the parish of Kirkburton and of the graveship of Holme, Holmfirth
in the county of York. Huddersfield MDCCLXI)
(http://maps.nls.uk/geo/explore/sidebyside.cfm#zoom=16&lat=53.5861&lon=-1.6996&layers=6&right=BingHyb) Toe die koning openlik oorlog
verklaar, het William Cavendish, Earl of Newcastle die bevel van die vier
noordelike provinsies gekry. In November
1642 het hy tot in Yorkshire gevorder, vir York omring en vir Fairfax
teruggedryf.
Oliver Cromwell was was een van die
bevelvoerders van die New Model Army en was
'n Parliamentarian, ook as Roundheads
bekend. Fairfax, wie se huis in York was,
was sy general-majoor. In 1642 was hulle
betrokke by die Slag van Edgehill (die eerste in die Burgeroorlog); en in 1643 die Slag van Gainsborough.
Die mense van die Kirkburton omgewing was baie
geinteresseerd en aktief betrokke by die Burgeroorlog van 1642. Terwyl sommiges hulself arrayed het
onder die vaandels van die rojaliste, het andere van verskeie klasse, met gelyke
erns en ywer onder die vaandel van die parlementariërs aangesluit. Though
involving principles of the highest importance, both civil and religious, yet
they were regarded with very opposite views, and maintained by each party, with
a pertinacity almost incredible. (Morehouse,
Henry James: The history and topography of the parish of Kirkburton and
of the graveship of Holme, Holmfirth in the county of York. Huddersfield
MDCCLXI)
Dit was in die lente van 1643, terwyl
die Earl of Newcastle met sy groot leër by Wakefield gelê het,
wat die inwoners, onmiddellik aan die westekant van Wakefield (naamlik die
gemeentes van Almonbury, Kirkburton en Penistone), genader is en waar die
partydigheid ten gunste van die parlement baie sterk was. It is evident
that the inhabitants of this district were, for the most part, favourable to
the parliament, and many of them were deeply tinctured with republican sentiments. (Morehouse,
Henry James: The history and topography of the parish of Kirkburton and
of the graveship of Holme, Holmfirth in the county of York. Huddersfield
MDCCLXI)
—Extract from the Proclamation issued by Sir
Thomas Fairfax, at this time, “ to raise the countiy ” against the King’s
forces. “ To the Constable of Mirfield, . . .I do hereby require you to give
notice hereof to all the inhabitants in yor constablery that be of able
bodyes from the age of 16 to 60 to comand them to repair to Almondbury or
some other 'place near Mirfield upon Saturday next being the 29th day of this
instant January by 9 a.m. each with the best weapons they can procure and there
to stay until they receive further orders from mee that by unanimous consent
wee may through the helpe of God drive out the popish army, establish peace in
this County and obteyne free trading again to the comfortable support of poore
and rich. Let every man that is able bring -with him 4 or 5 dayes provision and
let the poorer sort bee furnished by yu the Constable out of ye comon stocke
for ye like time. Hereof faile yu not at yr prill as yu tend yu tend yor ovvne
good & the good of this bleeding & distressed country. Given under my
hand at Bradford the 19th day of January, 1642-3. “ Tho : Fairfaux.” (Collins,
Frances Anne, ed.: The Parish registers of Kirkburton, co York.
Vol. I. 1541—1654. 1887) Die inwoners van Holmfirth het ‘n honderd
musqueteers tot diens van die Parliament gelewer op die bevel van Lord General
Fairfax. (Collins, Frances Anne, ed.: The Parish registers of Kirkburton,
co York. Vol. I. 1541—1654. 1887. P.240 – 241)
Daar is 'n bewyse dat
Cromwell se troepe aktief in die Shepley/Kirkburton gebied was in 1643-1644. By die Slag van Marston Moor in Julie 1644
het die Parliamentarians die noorde van Engeland oorwin, maar kon hulle nie die
koning gesinde weerstand beëindig nie.
Met die Slag van Preston
(1648) was daar nog 'n poging deur die Parliamentarians om die noordelike
koningsgesindes finaal te verslaan. Daar
was sterk konings gesinde weerstand in Liverpool, selfs in Holm Firth en die Vicar van Kirkburton, sy familie en 'n paar naburige gemeentes, was
ook sterk koningsgesinds en het vir weerstand gepreek. Daar was selfs sprake van ‘n rebellie. In
hierdie deel van Yorkshire was die geestelikes magtige, invloedryke en aktief in
konflik met die Parliamentarians.
Op daardie stadium was die Firths prominente
families in Shepley. Daar was twee
afsonderlike families. Die vredeliewende Quakers was die rooikop Firths van Lane
Head. Die Firths van Shepley Hall is beskryf
as die swartkoppe. John Firth of Cumberworth, het Shepley Hall in 1629 gekoop en
het daar gewoon tot 1682. Hierdie John
Firth was koning gesinds in 1643 en hy is deur ‘n groep afgevaardigde soldate gedwing
om hulle na die Kirkburtonse Parish Church pastorie te neem, waar hulle die Vicar Gámliël Whitaker inhegtenis moes
neem, vir sy konings gesinde sieninge. Firth
het daarin geslaag om in Box Ing Wood op die Shepley-Kirkburton lyk roete te
ontsnap. Hy moes hy op 'n perd agter een
van die soldate ry. Oppad Kirkburton toe het hy egter met geleentheid
van die perd afgegly, skuiling in 'n aangrensende woud geneem en homself
so bevry. (Morehouse, Henry James: The history and topography
of the parish of Kirkburton and of the graveship of Holme, Holmfirth in the
county of York. Huddersfield MDCCLXI. P. 24)
Ten
spyte daarvan dat hulle tot die aand toe na hom gesoek het, is Firth nie gevind
nie. Die nou woedende soldate is hierna Kirkburton toe om vir Gámliël Whitaker
in hegtenis te neem. Hulle het die huis en tuin deursoek, maar kon niemand anders,
insluitende sy vrou Hester, vind nie. Op
een of ander manier was sy vrou doodgeskiet.
Die Revd. Whitaker is by Manchester in die trunk gesit waar hy ‘n maand
later van hartseer en swak behandeling dood is.
Carr House een van die oudste huise in die omgewing is in 1740 deur vuur vernietig. Die huis is herbou en die Tinker familie het vir baie jare daar gewoon. (Billington, David: Shepley, Believe it …… or Not!) Die Tinkers was hulle (die Firths) se bure vir talle generasies. Hulle was ook aansienlike grondeienaars. A popular saying at the time included: “Firths o’t’ Lane Head and the Tinkers o’t’ Carr Went up Nabs Cliffs as far as they dar” (Billington, David: Shepley, Believe it …… or Not!)
It seems that one of the Tinker patriarchs was a wild, hectoring type of individual. By all accounts, this character was obsessed with hunting and would ride the hills all day with his hounds – often carelessly across his neighbours’ land – before returning to the homestead to drink and carouse the night away. Suffice it to say, he was not popular in the district and few were sorry when he died at quite a considerable age. However, it transpired that Tinker was not going to permit death to prevent him form terrorising his neighbours. One night, following his passing, an elderly subsequent resident of Carr Shouse was disturbed by a blood-culling howl, causing her hair to prick up like ‘nine pins on a door mat’. Presently, she heard the sound of the horses whinnying and kicking in the stables, but whilst she attempted to ignore the cacophony, it persisted until she realised she would have to venture out into the darkness to investigate. The old woman found the stables locked as she had left them, but as she unfastened the doors and thrust her candle inside, she was confronted by the horses stamping and frothing at the mouth in fright. The animals holted and as the woman fled, she caught a fearful glimpse of the source of their terror. It was the pallid spectre of Tinker, risen from the grave to indulge in a final hunt. Indeed, some locals say that his ghost can be seen riding down Carr Lane on stormy nights still. (Roberts, Kai: Haunted Huddersfield)
(Collins, Frances Anne, ed.: The Parish Registers of Kirkburton, Co. York, 1541-1654, 1887. P.240)
Wortley inskrywings in die
Kirkburton register vir hierdie tyd:
Mei
1633. 8813. Annis wife of Richard
Wortley buried the xvjth day.
Jun
1634. 9001. John Wortley buried the
xxvijth day.
Sep
1642. 9829. Thomas sone of Thomas Wortley
buried xvith day.
Nov 1643. 10.018.
A crisome child of Thomas Wortleys buried same day.
Des 1644. 10.162.
Mary daughter of Thomas Wortley bapt xvth day.
Aug 1645. 10.277.
Richard Wortley buried same day.
Okt
1646. 10.397. John Wortley of Shaley was buried the
2th day.
Nov 1647. 15.548.
Willm the sonne of Thomas Wortley was bapt the 12th day.
Mar 1649. 10.686.
... the sonne of Edward Wortley was buried the 10th day.
Aug 1649. 10.745.
Edward the sonne of Thomas Wortley was buried the 10th day.
Okt 1651. 10.934.
Thomas the sonne of Thomas Wortley was bapt the 26th day.
Mar 1651. 10.961.
John Wortley was buried the 22th day.
Apr 1652. 10.968.
Agnes the wife of Thomas Wortley was buried the 20th day.
(Collins, Frances Anne,
ed.: The Parish registers of Kirkburton, co York. Vol. I.
1541—1654. 1887)
Na die teregstelling van Koning Charles I in 1649, het Cromwell beheer oor die ‘Commonwealth of
England’ gehad. Cromwell
(of een van sy manne wat namens hom geteken het), was verantwoordelik vir die
teken van ‘n deed waarin bepaal word
dat nie meer as 6 mense vergaderings by Shepley - Lane Head Meeting House mog
bywoon nie. Dit moes voor 1650 gewees
het, aangesien Cromwell meer verdraagsaam teenoor die Quakers en hul verdeeldheid met die kerk was. Daar word vermoed dat die opregtheid en
toewyding van die Quakers 'n
belangrike faktor in die verandering van sy houding was.
Hill End House is in ongeveer
1650 gebou.
In a
chequered history, it was in a strong Quaker area; rumoured to have been used
for religious meetings (probably illegal); as a working farmhouse which
included new textile machinery - attacked by Luddites in 1812. (Billington, David: Shepley, Believe it
…… or Not!)
In 1656 was daar ook deeds vir Long Close Farm, aangrensend
aan die Wool Road na New Mill Bridge.
(http://maps.nls.uk/geo/explore/sidebyside.cfm#zoom=16&lat=53.5861&lon=-1.6996&layers=6&right=BingHyb)
Edward Wortley word in 1665 in die Askham Area van die All Hallows Church in Kirkburton
begrawe. (Edward Wortley, of Shepley,
yeoman, was buried January 4th, A.D., 1665.)
Begrafnisgangers sou sy liggaam met Long Lane tot by Corn Mill Bottom
geneem het, vanwaar hulle die ‘corpse route’ oor Box Ings na Kirkburton, tot by
die kerk se lychgate sou neem.
(http://maps.nls.uk/geo/explore/sidebyside.cfm#zoom=16&lat=53.5861&lon=-1.6996&layers=6&right=BingHyb)
All Hallows Church Kirkburton
Askham Area.
Graveref - AO98A
Surname – Wortley
Forenames - Edward
Died – 1665
Age – 60
Domicile - Shepley
Interest - Yeoman
Graveref - AO 98
**Ander navorsers plaas e.1. John, geb. c. 1633 as die seun van John, ged. 25/04/1604. Aangesien hierdie John, geb. c 1633 se kleinseun, John geb. 1704 egter in dieselfde graf as Edward, ged. 21/08/1608 begrawe is, maak hierdie skakeling meer waarskynlik.
All Hallows Church Kirkburton
Askham Area
January,
1665-6. Edward Wortley of Sheapley buried the iii; die. On a tomostone near to
the South Porch is the inscription: " Here lyeth interred the body of
Edward Wortley of Shepley, yeoman, who was buried the 4!" day of January,
A.D. 1665." This is supposed to be the oldest lettered tombstone in
Kirkburton churchyard. (https://huddersfield.exposed/api/content/books/ocr/17990/)
.
(http://kirkburtonchurchyard.co.uk/)
Graveref - AO98A
Surname – Wortley
Forenames - Edward
Died – 1665
Age – 60
Domicile - Shepley
Interest - Yeoman
Graveref - AO 98A
Surname – Wortley
Forenames - John
Died – 1788
Domicile - Shepley
Graveref - AO 98A
(http://kirkburtonchurchyard.co.uk/askham/)
Kinders:
Kirkburton. Geen registers vir drie jaar, vanaf Maart 1630 tot 25 Maart 1633. (Collins, Frances Anne, ed.: The Parish registers of Kirkburton, co York, Vol. I 1541-1654, 1887. P 215.
e.1. John, ged. c. 1633, Kirkburton, Yorkshire, Engeland, oorl. 1707, Yorkshire, Engeland, trou op 28/10/1658, Kirkburton, Yorkshire, Engeland met Alice POGSON, ged. c. 1637, Kirkburton, Yorkshire, Engeland, begr. 29/04/1672, Kirkburton, Yorkshire, Engeland.
e.2. Mary, ged. 05/10/1634, Kirkburton, Yorkshire, Engeland.
e.3. Edward, ged. 04/11/1638, Kirkburton, Yorkshire, Engeland.