Tall Trees and Tiny Acorns
THE LANGSTAFFES OF TEESDALE AND WEARDALE
BY
GEORGE BLUNDELL LONGSTAFF
Transcribed
by
CAROLE A.M. JOHNSON
COPYRIGHT 2001
All Rights Reserved
PART 23
P.394 - (cxcv.) Appendix XIII.
Wills of Dixon and Railton, illustrating Pedigree's nos. 8 and 9.
1630-31, March 19. Will of George Dixon of Ramshaw in the chapelry of Saint Helen's Auckland. To be buried in Cockfield Church as near as maybe the body of my wife Sussanna Dixon, deceased. My wife Ann Dixon to enjoy during her life one parcel of ground called Knightfield, according to the custom of coppiehold land.
Whereas there is a rent-charge of £7 per annum to be paid to Francis Raine during his life out of the ground called Knightfield, and £3 per annum to his wife Dorothie if she survive him, in consideration hereof I give an estate of one close called Brigfoote close, parcel of Evenwood Park, after the rate of £4 yearly, and for the other £3 remayning of the said annuity of £7 I will that my wife pay it. For the better education of my three children, Matthias, Anne, and John Dixon, I do assign unto my wife the Prebend of West Auckland and Evenwood, with all corn growing thereon, for life, then for my sons Matthias and John. If my sons Matthias and John should die after the decease of my wife without lawful issue, then I bequeath the said Prebend of West Auckland shall go to my sonne Thomas Dixon and his heirs, and in case of death without lawful issue to my sonne William Dixon and his son Robert Dixon. To my daughter Anne Dixon one great caldron.
Whereas my son William oweth me £300, I therefore direct him to pay Richard Wortley of Unthank £105. To Dr. Oyston £45, according to his deed of annuity. To my son-in-law John Corney, Vicar of Orton, £20. To John Robinson of Bishop Auckland £16 5s. 0d. To Richard Heighington £47 4s. 0d. To Hutton Gregory £20, and to Toby Bowes £22 10s. 0d. I desire the care of my daughter Susan Egglestone's children and my daughter Mary her two children unto my wife and son William. To my sonne John Corney one colt about three years old. I desire my loving friend and cozen Mr. Thomas Dixon, minister at Winston, to preach at my buriall, and for his pains I give him one white colt. To the augmentation of the stock for the poor people of St. Helen's Auckland 20s. To my grandchild Robert Dixon one ewe and a lamb. To my servant William Robinson one gymmer lamb. To Elizabeth Robinson one gymmer lambe. To John Dobinson one gymmer lambe. To my son Thomas, in lieu of his portion, his choice of one parcel of ground in Evenwood Parks called Craghill, and to closes likewise in Evenwood Parks called Bowes closes. Residue to my wife Anne
P.395 - (cxcvi.) Appendix XIII. - Wills of Dixon and Railton.
Dixon, my sonne Matthias Dixon, my daughter Anne Dixon, and my youngest son John Dixon, and to make them also executors. Supervisors: my loving friend Mr. Christopher Bierly, my sonne John Corney, Vicar of Orton, and my sonns William and Thomas.
[Signed] George Dixon.
Witnesses: Thomas Dixon, cler., John Vaux, cler.
[Seal: A chevron between three trefoils slipped.]
Amount of inventory £292 12s. 6d.
The testator's lease. -The moietie of Evenwood Parks which the testator George Dixon tooke of Sir Thomas Fairfax, knight, now Lord Fairfax, worth annuatim . . . .
Proved at Durham 1631.
[Though not proved to be connected with the Dixons of Raby, this will is printed here because of the interest attached to the testator in connection with the confirmation to him by St. George, in 1615, of the following coat, viz., Arms: Gules, on a bend or, three torteaux between six plates, a chief erminois. Crest: A cubit arm erminois, cuffed argent, hand proper, holding a roundle of the first.
There are several entries in the Cockfield and St. Helen Auckland Parish Registers relating to testator, but as the late Mr. C. G. Dixon Johnson of Aykleyheads, co. Durham, has privately printed a complete pedigree of the family, they are not reproduced here.]
-----------------------
1723, October 29. Will of Thomas Raylton of George Yard in Lumbard Street, London. I have been weekly for many years. To my sister Elizabeth Lock £50, and to her son Joseph £5. To my sister Mary Allinson £30, and to each of her children £5. These legacies to my sisters are for their own relief and help, and that their husband shall have no right to receive or make any use thereof. To the widows of my two brothers John and Christopher each a guinea, and to the children of my brothers £5 each, except my niece Sarah Raylton, to whom I give £10. To my niece Mary Hall £10. To Alice Rakestraw of Barnard Castle £5. To John Kipling of Bowes, formerly living at the place called Drygill Bent, £2. To John Bell in Clements Inn £5. To Benjamin Holme, £5. To John Freame £10. The residue to my dear wife Tacee, daughter of Andrew Sowle, late of the Holloway Lane, Shoreditch, , and she to be sole exx. Witnesses: John Falkner, Charles May.
Proved a P.C.C. 16 January 1723-4, by the affirmation of Tace Railton the relict.
[See PEDIGREE No. 8.]
THOMAS RAILTON, PRINTER.
Mr. Dinsdale says ("Songs and Ballads," by David Mallet, p. 182): " John, the youngest son of Thomas Railton, now [1857] living at Barnard Castle . . . . states that he has some recollection of a relative, a Quaker, in London, who kept a large book-shop. This might be the husband of his aunt Mary [Farquhar],who married and lived in London. "
I have recently unearthed in the British Museum a small pamphlet entitled, " Antiquarian Researches among the early Printers and Publishers of Friends, Books, extracted from "The American Friend' " ( Manchester, 1844). This mentions one will
P.396 - (cxcvii.) Appendix XIII. - Wills of Dixon and Railton.
Thomas Railton, whose early life the author gives " in his own words," but does not mention the source from which he obtained them:-
" I was born on the 30th of the sixth month, 1671 [i.e., 30 August 1671], at Bowes in the north part of Yorkshire, and educated in the way of the Church of England. In the year 1685, being about 14 years of age, and then a scholar with Richard Wharton, priest of the parish and teacher of a free school in Bowes it providentially happened that by the invitation of Francis Wrightson ( one called a Quaker), at whose house a meeting was kept about 2 miles from the place of my abode, my mother went to meeting there, and took me to ride before her; at which meeting there were two ministers, namely, John Bowron and George Rook, the latter then living in Cumberland, but since in Ireland, being come to visit Friends thereaways, by whose powerful Ministry and lively prayer it pleased God to open my heart and to see the vanity of this present world, of which, for my short time, I had had some share. . . . Now after I was joined with those people, the word of God more powerfully wrought in me, and shewed me that I was to alter the course of my conversation, that was, to leave the corrupt life and to shun evil company; forasmuch as I was bowed before the Lord, and had given up my name to serve Him, I then saw I must walk in the narrow way, and leave the vain compliments, the putting off the hat, and bowing the knee to man, etc. Upon which I was soon taken notice of, and complaint made to my mother of my neglecting to conform to these things, by the priest, my then master, who was moved at my behaviour, and, I suppose, intended at that time to use the rod, and having made preparation, called me to him, and said, "I heard today that thou wentest to Mr Bounskell, and didst not put off thy hat and bid good-morrow,' adding, 'What is thy reason for so doing?- whether is it pride or religion?' Upon which I told him it was not pride. 'Then,' said he, ' it must be religion; and if so, thou must not be whipped,' and so laid down the rod. ' But,' said he, ' if for religion, let me know why thou refusedst, and give me some precedent.' So I told him I had been reading in the Revelations, and there I found that an angel shewed John many things, and that John said, ' When I had heard and seen, I fell down to worship the angel that shewed me those things; but the angel said, " See thou do it not, for I am of thy fellow-servants, and of thy brethren the prophets, and them which keep the sayings of this book : worship God. " ' And for this, I told him, I refused to do it unto men. But he endeavoured to persuade me that what he requested of me was no more than a civil respect between man and man, and from thence he thought I might the better conform to it; and to make me the more willing to believe it was no worship, but respect, he turned me to the place of the children of Heth and of Abraham bowing to each other, and also proceeded to shew me something of the like kind among the children of Israel in the time of Moses and Joshua. But all these were to no purpose, for my eyes were open to see a more glorious dispensation than that of Moses, yea, or the prophets; for though they were good men, and that by the Spirit of Christ in them they did foretell the coming of Christ and of his sufferings, yet they did not live to see those things come to pass which they had spoken of: so that he had no force in his argument to make me use those things, which might be used among the fathers, and also after the law. And since the New Testament is silent, and gives no account of either Christ or his apostles being in the practice of bowing, I did not see why either knee or hat should be expected of me; for as for the latter I have no account at all, therefore I stood to my principal and kept to the light. . . . I had a quiet day. . . . after this, whether for the grief he was in . . . . or from the
P.397 - (cxcviii.) Appendix XIII. - Wills of Dixon and Railton.
persuasion of my parents, he began to be more severe, and told me that unless I would make congees to him ( as he called them) he would teach me no longer; although I must confess I would gladly have learned a little more, yet, perceiving it must be in a way I saw I must deny and bear testimony against, I forsook the school at that time."
This led to his leaving his father's house, but when sitting under hedge he was told that his master had interceded for him with his mother, and that he desired her to send him to school again, and said he would leave him to his liberty about religion. However, his parents proved less charitable, and he was beaten for refusing to ask his parents' blessing night and morning, and again left his father's house and took refuge with certain Friends, who ultimately took him back to his home and reconciled his parents to him.
Thomas Railton goes on to say : "The 30th of the Fourth Month [June], 1686, I went apprentice to a Friend in the county of Durham, by the approbation of my parents, being conducted thither by my father . . . . . Now, in the time of my seven years' apprenticeship to a laborious trade, being a blacksmith,* . . . . after I had served out the full time of my apprenticeship I went to the place of my birth, and there followed my trade for about a year. . . . . About the 30th of the Tenth Month [ December], 1695, being in a meeting house at the house of John Bowron in Cotherstone, after a little time my soul was divinely touched the power of God, and His word was again in my heart, as a burning fire in my bones, and I could then no longer contain, my tongue being loosed, my mouth was open to speak of the Lord unto His people in that meeting. . . . . As I grew in testimony a concern came into my mind to visit Friends in Cumberland, where, after some time, I went. " . . . .
About 1705 Thomas Raylton, after travelling as a minister of the Gospel, settled in London. He setup as a printer in White Heart Court, Gracious [sic] Street. At that time there was living in London one Andrew Sowle, also a printer. He was born about 1628, became a Quaker, and as early as 1664 was "a sufferer," having been committed to Newgate in that year. In 1680 he was described as a "printer and a book-seller, Devonshire New Buildings, without Bishop's-gate." In 1683 he lived at the Crooked Billet in Holloway Lane, Shoreditch, where he also had a place of business. In 1688 he had another shop at the Three Keys in Nags Head Court in Gracechurch Street; some of his books add "over against the Conduit." In 1691 he resigned his business to his daughter Tacy Sowle. It is probable that Andrew had no surviving sons, as he had brought up his daughter to be a practical printer. "She was," says a bookseller at that time, " a good compositor herself." Andrew died at the house in Holloway Lane 26 December ( tenth month) 1695 in his 67th year, leaving a widow Jane. It is it an interesting circumstance that on the very day before his death he was visited by William Penn, who had known him for many years.
Tacy Sowle is known to have carried on the business of printer and publisher at the Crooked Billet in 1692-3-4; in the last-named year she opened a book-store in White Hart Court, Gracechurch Street. It seems likely that this is the establishment that Thomas Railton went to on his arrival in London; at any rate the address is the
* Mr. J. J. Green of Tunbridge Wells conjectures that this may have been George Coates of Caselees, Lynesack, and Smelt House ( see PEDIGREE No. 17 ), since few Friends followed the trade of blacksmith.
P.398 - (cxcix.) Appendix XIII. - Wills of Dixon and Railton.
same. In 1697 we find Tacy at " the Bible in Leaden-Hall Street, near the market." She appears to have been held in high estimation by Friends. At that time her widowed mother lived with her (she died 1711). The Quaker Register contains this entry among the marriages:-
1706 8 mo. 10 Thomas Raylton of Gracechurch St., hosier, son of Wm Raylton, late of Bowes, Yorkshire, and Tace Sowle of Leaden Hall Street, spinster, daughter of Andrew Sowle, late of London, married at Devonshire House.
After Tace's marriage the business was carried on at the Bible, George Yard, Lombard Street, in the name of " the assigns of J. Sowle" ( 1712, 1715 ). In 1715, after the unsuccessful attempt of the Pretender, the name of Thomas Railton appears in a list of printers said to be well affected to King George." Thomas at that time was described as "very serviceable and edifying in his ministry, sound in doctrine, mighty in the Holy Scriptures, zealous for the truth, and a faithful reprover of any undue liberty in the professors of it."
He had very bad health. In 1722 he revisited Yorkshire, but returned to London. He died "at two o'clock in the morning of the sixth of the tenth month 1723, in the 53rd year of his age."
The Quaker Register says:-
1723 10 mo. 6 Thomas Raylton of Lombard Street, aged 56, buried in Bunhill fields.
[" in his own words" he was born 30 6th mo. 1671].
The copy of William Sewel's "History of the People called Quakers," from which the account of Anne Audland (p. 53) is quoted, bears the impress : " London. Printed & sold by the Assigns of J. Sowle, at the Bible in George Yard, Lombard Street, 1722," and for many years after the death of Thomas Railton the business was carried on there in the same name. In 1740-49 the name was T. Sowle Raylton & Luke Hinde." It is not clear whether this was Tacy or a child of hers, but anyway in 1750 the name was "Luke Hinde" only. In 1753 was published Besse's great work, "' A Collection of the Sufferings of the People called Quakers for the Testimony of Good Conscience' London : Printed & sold by Luke Hinde, at the Bible in George Yard, Lombard Street, MDCCLIII."
From the Quaker Register we learn :-
1679 2 mo. 24 Jonas Hind of Shoreditch and Jane Sowle of Shoreditch, spinster were married at Devonshire House.
Doubtless Luke was issue of this marriage, and very probably a cousin of Tacy. In 1667-74 the business was carried on by Mary, the widow of Luke Hinde. In 1775 we find " James Phillips, bookseller, successor to Mary Hinde, in George Yard, Lombard Street." Towards the close of the century James Phillips took into the business his son William Phillips, the celebrated mineralogist.
Yet one more printer. William Bradford was born at Leicester about the year 1663. He was apprenticed to Andrew Sowle in London, and shortly after he came of age married his late master's daughter Elizabeth Sowle, and about 1682-3 went to America, his wife following him in the next year. One Isaiah Thomas wrote an account of his life. He had a son Andrew Bradford, a printer, who mentions his aunt Tacy, also a nephew William Bradford
P.399 - (cc.) Appendix XIII - Wills of Dixon and Railton.
These facts may be conveniently thrown into the pedigree form. Unfortunately, wills throw no light upon the subject, neither is it clear whether Thomas Railton left any children .
Other entries in Quaker Register:-
1666 vi. 29 Simon Sowle of Turnmill St., died of the Plague, buried Bunhill Fields.
1679 ii. 24 Jonas Hind of Shoreditch and Jane Sowle of Shoreditch, spinster, married.
1725 xii. 18 Mary Raylton of the Parish of St. Bride's, aged 80, buried.
Even without the above will ( which came to light after PEDIGREE No. 8 was compiled) it was fair to assume that Thomas Railton was a near relative of the innkeeper, John II of Bowes. The strange name Tace was given to a daughter of the latter, who was probably named after her great-aunt, since Thomas was of the right age to be a younger brother of John I. It is curious that the Bowes Register does not give the baptisms of either Thomas, John, or Christopher; the one we know, the others we may well believe to have been sons of William.
____________
1743, May 26. Will of Ralph Dixon of Henknowl in the county of Durham, yeoman. I hereby charge my messuage, burgage, or tenement, situate in Bishop Auckland, now in the occupation of Henry Sidgwick, and also my messuage or tenement and garth, situate at Cockton Hill in the Township of Bishop Auckland, with the payment of 20s. a year to Elizabeth Dixon my wife for life, and afterwards to my son George Dixon. I charge my messuages, lands, and tenements at South Church, otherwise St. Andrew Auckland, with the payment of £10 yearly to my wife for life, and afterwards to my son Ralph Dixon. To said son Ralph my farm stock and my silver Tankard. To my three daughters Barbara Raylton, Elizabeth Studholme, and Abigail Dodshon my 9 silver spoons among them. To my son James Dixon £60. To my daughter Hannah Moody £8. To the four children of my daughter Susannah Briggs, deceased, £60. To the four children of my said daughter Hannah Moody, by her late husband Richard Robinson, £60. To my brother George Dixon of Raby £5. To Caleb Grainger of Raby one guinea. To John Trotter of Bp. Auckland one guinea. I appoint my said brother George Dixon, Caleb Grainger, and John Trotter
P.400 - (cci.) Appendix XIII. - Wills of Dixon and Railton.
Executors and Trustees. Residue to said Trustees upon trust for son George Dixon.
Proved at Durham 5 August 1743.
[See PEDIGREE No. 9.]
In a Canvass Book of the Durham County election in 1732 Dixon, Ra., Henknowle, is noted as " brother to George Dixon of Raby," and in an earlier Canvass Book (? 1722 ) as " brother to Vane's Dixon." Concerning the latter, " The Quaker Butler," see "Annals of Smith of Doncaster," etc., by H. Ecroyd Smith, p.p. 191-3.]
1755, November 8. WILL of George Dixon of Cockfield, yeoman. Two eldest son George Dixon my freehold House and garth, situate in Cockfield, after the decease of my wife Mary. I charge the above premises with the sum of £30 to my daughter Elizabeth Dixon. My freehold House with the appurtenances in Newgate Street, Bishop Auckland, to said wife for life, and after her death to my two sons Jeremiah and Ralph Dixon. My copyhold House and close, situate at Cockton Hill near Bishop Auckland, to daughter Hannah Dixon and her heirs. Residue to wife and son George, and appoint them Executors.
Proved at Durham 1759.
[See George (I.) of Cockfield, see PEDIGREE No. 9. ]
___________
1763, August 20. WILL of Mary Dixon of Cockfield. Whereas I did surrender on the 10th September 1756 to John Heighington of Durham, In Trust for the use of this my last Will, a copyhold estate called Benfieldside, and also another copyhold estate, the Haughs, nigh Shotley Bridge. Now I devise the above Lands and premises to my son George Dixon, chargeable nevertheless with the following legacies : To my son Jeremiah Dixon £50. To my son Ralph Dixon £50. To my daughter Hannah Chapman £50. To my daughter Elizabeth Dixon £50. To my grandson George Chapman £20. To my granddaughter Mary Dixon £10. I appoint John Heighington of Durham and Hugh Watson of Raby Trustees. I appoint my daughters Hannah Chapman and Elizabeth Dixon Executrixes.
Proved at Durham 1774.
[Widow of proceeding.]
__________
1777, July 28. WILL of William Dixon of Staindrop in the county of Durham, shopkeeper. To wife Sarah Dixon my freehold lands and tenements situate at Bolron otherwise Bowron in the parish of Startforth in the county of York in the occupation of William Roper. I devise to said wife all the residue of my estate, together with my freehold housing and land in Staindrop, absolutely, and appoint her Executrix.
Proved at Durham 2 February 1778.
[See PEDIGREE No. 16, to which the following notes may be added, viz. :- 1684-5 Mar. 16 Faith Dixon, wife to John Dixon, buried in woollen only. [Rokeby, co. Y.]
On the second page. John Dixon the miller was born in Chelsea Hospital circa 1809; his son's wife Harriet Edith was a daughter of Thomas Gurney.]
___________
1778, December 27. WILL of Jeremiah Dixon of Cockfield, co. Durham, gentleman. I devise my copyhold houses, garth, garden, dye-house, and premises within the
P.401 - (ccii.) Appendix XIII. - Wills of Dixon and Railton.
manor of Bondgate in Auckland to my good friend John Raylton and his heirs Upon Trust and for the benefit of Margaret Bland, and I further desire that any profits becoming due from these premises shall go towards the maintenance of the two daughters of the said Margaret Bland, namely, Margaret and Elizabeth, until 21, at which age the said copyholds are to go to them equally. I devise unto my brother Ralph Dixon my freehold dwelling-houses, dye-houses, garden, and premises being in Staindrop. Residue to sister Elizabeth Dixon and her heirs, and appoint her sole Executrix.
Proved at Durham 1779. [See PEDIGREE. No. 9.
Jeremiah and his brother George (II.) were both mathematicians, pupils of John Kipling of Barnard Castle. Jeremiah was on intimate terms with William Emmerson of Hurworth and John Bird of Bishop Auckland, two men of kindred genius, through whose instrumentality he was selected by the authorities of the Royal Woolwich Academy as a fit person to be sent, under Neville Maskelyne (subsequently Astronomer Royal), to Bencoolen in the Island of Sumatra, to observe this transit of Venus in 1761. (The observations failed owing to foggy weather.) It is related that the examiners at Woolwich asked Jerry, "Did you study mathematics at Cambridge or Oxford?" His simple reply was "At neither place." "Then at what public school did you get your rudiments?" "At no public school, " he answered. "Then at what particular seat of learning?" "In the pit cabin upon Cockfield Fell," replied the humble scholar. Though a Quaker, he donned the long red coat and cocked hat of the Royal Engineers of that day, and wore them to the day of his death.
In 1763-67 Jeremiah, associated with Charles Mason ( late Assistant-Observer at Greenwich), was employed by Lord Baltimore and Sir William Penn to measure a degree of longitude, and to set out the boundary between Maryland in Pennsylvania. This, still known as "Mason and Dixon's line," was a cutting through the forest (in latitude 39o 43' 26.3'') eight yards wide and 245 miles long, with each of the first 132 miles marked by a stone, each fifth stone bearing the arms of Lord Baltimore and Penn. The progress of the surveyors further west was stopped by the Indians. The free state north of the line was termed by the Negro's "Dixie's Land," and this originated the song so popular at that time of the War of the Secession.
Jeremiah returned to Cockfield 27 January 1769, but set off again for London 8 February of the same year, on his way, with William Bayley, to Hammerfest, near the North Cape, to observe another transit of Venus. This expedition was also organized by the Royal Society, but again the weather was against them.
It is a curious coincidence that among the names associated with the earliest observations of transits occur :-
Jeremiah Shakerley (Mercury, 1851).
Jeremiah Horrox (Venus, 1639).
Jeremiah Dixon (Venus, 1761, 1769).
Lanchester Common or Moor, the largest in the county of Durham, was surveyed and admeasured by Jeremiah Dixon in 1773.
Like many members of the family Jerry was a fine draughtsman. There still exists (or lately was) in the possession of Mr. Ernest Lingford of Bishop Auckland a very fine piece of penmanship on vellum, entitled " A Plan of the Park and Demesnes at Auckland Castle, Belonging to The Right Revd Father in God, John [Egerton], Lord Bishop of Durham. Taken in 1772 by Jere. Dixon."
P.402 - (cciii.) Appendix XIII. - Wills of Dixon and Railton.
Some of the above facts are taken from letters of members of the family in the writer's possession, but there is much about the two brothers in ''Smith of Doncaster,'' pp.197 and 202.]
1785, November 28. ADMINISTRATION of the goods of George Dixon of Cockfield granted to John Raylton of Cockfield, gentleman, a creditor and administrator (by Decree of Court) of the goods of the deceased, for the benefit of Sarah Dixon, widow, the relict, George Dixon, John Dixon, and Sarah (wife of John Greenwell), three of the natural and lawful children of the deceased. Said Sarah Dixon being elected curator and guardian of Elizabeth Dixon, spinster, and Thomas Dixon (respectively minors), to the children of the deceased, and the only other next-of-kin of the said George Dixon.
The proxy of renunciation by Sarah the relict, dated 14 November 1785, recites inter alia that George Dixon died in the month of October last past intestate; also that his daughter Elizabeth was aged 17 and upwards, and his son Thomas 12 and upwards.
[George (II.) of Cockfield and brother of Jeremiah, see PEDIGREE No. 9.
When a young man he went to London, and running short of money, took to painting china at the celebrated works at Chelsea. The first week he earned but half-a-crown by very hard work, but later earned several guineas a week. The author has a coffee-pot painted by him.
George (II.) of Cockfield claims to have been the first to use coal-gas for illuminating purposes, but he was a quiet, retiring man, and did not push his discovery to a practical result. In 1779 he established a coal-tar works, making about 6 barrels a week, besides ''coal-oil.'' He abandoned the business in 1783 in consequence of the heavy cost of the carriage of the tar to Sunderland, where it was used by the ship-builders. John Bailey of Chillingham, draughtsman and writer on agriculture ( his wife's nephew, see PEDIGREE No. 8 ), was sometime tutor to Dixon's children. Concerning the coal gas experiments Bailey writes:-
'' I remember being much amused when a little boy* by his filling an old tea-kettle half full of coals and setting it in the fire, and loading a tobacco-pipe with clay to the spout, and to this several others round the end and side of the room. After a certain time he put the flame of a candle to the end of the furthest pipe, and immediately a bright flame issued from it, where nothing was perceptible before. He then made small holes with a pin through the clay that luted the pipe heads and shanks together, and applying the flame of a candle to each, there were as many flames as pipe-heads. He only made this discovery a little before, and this was probably the third or fourth exhibition of illuminating rooms by gaslight.
This mode of lighting rooms was for a long time a favourite project with him, and he had thoughts of lighting his collieries with them, but was cured of it by the following experiment, at which I was present : Wanting to know the quantity of tar produced by a ton of coals, he erected a furnace with a large cast metal boiler, and to this was fixed two large cast metal pumps.+ One of them passed through water in order to condense the oil and tar. The end of this was filled by a wooden plug, with a small hole to let out the tar, etc. Towards the conclusion of the experiment he placed the flame of a candle to this hole ; the inflammable gas immediately burned with a large bright flame. To extinguish this he struck at it with his hat, the flame was driven inwards, the gas in the inside of the apparatus took fire as quickly as gunpowder, and exploded with a report like a cannon, driving out the wooden plug to a
___________________________________________________________________________
* Bailey was born about 1752 or soon after. William Murdoch lighted his own house and offices at Redruth in 1792.
+ The iron pipes forming portions of the long barrels of the pumps used in mines are sometimes called by the miners "pumps."
P.403 - (cciv.) Appendix XIII. - Wills of Dixon and Railton.
great distance, and exhibiting a cylindrical body of fire of several yards in length; the heavy cast metal pumps were removed from their places. From this time he considered his project of lighting collieries or rooms with gas as dangerous, and I recall this experiment with a view that it may probably be a useful hint to those who are at present engaged in similar projects of lighting manufactories and great towns with a material so subject to explosion.'']
_____________
1796, March 24. WILL of Sarah Dixon of Cockfield, widow. To son Thomas Dixon the messuages and lands which I late purchased of Thomas Waistell the elder and Thomas Waistell the younger, situate in Hespaby Lane in the said county. To son George Dixon, John Dixon, and Thomas Dixon the following properties, subject to several legacies which I direct shall be paid thereout, namely : 1. My interest and share in the Colliery or Coal-mine called Greenfield Colliery, held by Lease from the Bishop of Durham; 2. My share and interest in the Colliery or Coal-mine called Holbeck, otherwise Bildershaw Colliery, held by Lease from the late John James, deceased; 3. My share and interest in the Coal-mine and seams of coal called Railey Fell Colliery, held by Lease from Richard William Pierce, Esquire; 4. Also my right, title, share, and interest in the Colliery called Bitchburn Colliery, held by Lease from the said Richard William Pierce, Esq. ; 5. And also my interest in all those mines and quarries in the townships or places of Bondgate, Hamsterley, and Ricknal Grange, held by Lease from the Bishop of Durham. To daughter Elizabeth, the wife of George Langstaff, the sum of £100. I charge my estate with £10 each to my fifteen grandchildren, namely : Hannah, George, and Sarah, son and daughters of my said son George Dixon ; to Mary, Sarah, Ann, George, and Elizabeth, son and daughters of my said son John Dixon ; to George, son of my said son Thomas Dixon ; to Mary, Ann, John, and Elizabeth [Greenwell], and Sarah [Langstaff], son and daughters of my daughter Sarah Langstaff ; and to Sarah, daughter of my said daughter Elizabeth [Langstaff].
Whereas I am possessed of a promissory note, dated the 5th day of June 1794, given by my said daughter Sarah Langstaffe by her then name of Sarah Greenwell for the sum of £50. Now I direct my Executors to deliver the said note to my said daughter Sarah without asking for payment of same. I give to my said daughter Sarah Langstaffe the sum of £50. To my two daughters Sarah Langstaff and Elizabeth Langstaff my household furniture and linen in my house at Cockfield. Executors, the said sons George Dixon, John Dixon, and Thomas Dixon.
Proved at Durham 30 May 1797. Effects sworn under £1000.
[Wife of prec _______
1799, June 2. WILL of Elizabeth Dixon of Cockfield, spinster. To brother Ralph Dixon £100. To niece Elizabeth Langstaff £5. To niece Sarah Chapman my silver Pint. To nephew George Chapman a silver watch which did belong to my brother Jeremiah. To George Moody £10. Residue of my estate, freehold lands, etc., whatsoever ( after all just debts paid and the accompts between me and Margaret Bland being also first to settled) I give to my nieces Sarah Chapman, Hannah Chapman, Mary Chapman, and Ann Chapman equally. I appoint the said Sarah Chapman sole Executrix.
Proved at Durham 2 May 1800. Effects sworn under £300.
[Sister of Jeremiah.]
P.404 - (ccv.) Appendix XIII. - Wills of Dixon and Railton.
1804, December 9. WILL of John Raylton of Cockfield, gent. I give, devise, and bequeath my copyhold customary lands and tenements at Lynesack, and all my freehold tithes arising from the same, to my nephew George Dixon (III.) of Cockfield, gent, chargeable nevertheless with the following payments, namely : to my sister Barbara Haswell of Cockfield an annuity of £10, such an annuity not to be subject to the control of her husband Martin Haswell. To my nephew Robert Waysman [sic], now of Cockfield, a legacy of £15. To Jonathan Stephens the elder, now of Cockfield, an annuity of £10. To my nephew George Raylton ( now an officer of Excise) £60. To my nephew John Raylton ( now, I believe in the East Indies) £50. To my niece Ann Raylton (now at London) £30. To my nephew Thomas Dixon (now at Cotherstone) £50, and I also give to the said Thomas the Garth called Waistell's High Garth in the township of Cockfield. To my nephew John Dixon of Cockfield £140. To Barbara Errington ( wife of Robert Errington, now of Brignal in the county of York) £20. To Sarah Bond of Broom Lands House near Cockfield ( now my present house keeper) £30. To Daniel Turner the elder, now of Hilton, £10. To my cousin George Moody, schoolmaster, of West Auckland, £10. To my niece Sarah Langstaff ( wife of Thomas Langstaff, now of the city of York) £30. To my niece Sarah Langstaff ( wife of George Langstaff, now of Shildon) £100. To Sarah Langstaff ( only daughter of George and Elizabeth Langstaff of Shildon) £100 when she attains 21. To my nephew George Langstaff of Shildon £100, also my garden tools, rakes, barrows, etc. To Mary Dixon, Sarah Dixon, Nancy Dixon, and George Dixon, the daughters and son of my nephew John Dixon of Cockfield, £40 each when they attain 21 years. To my niece Elizabeth Langstaff, wife of George Langstaff and Shildon, all my household furniture, books, and plate, also my manuscript writings, accounts, manuscripts, and papers. My library of books to my nephews John Dixon, Thomas Dixon, and my niece Elizabeth Langstaff. Residue to said nephew George Dixon, and appoint him Executor.
Proved at Durham 28 December 1805. Effects sworn under £450.
[The Thomas Langstaff of York named in the will was the authors grandfather; George Langstaff of Shildon was George (IV.) of PEDIGREE No. 3. Their wives were sisters. See PEDIGREE Nos. 8 and 9.
George (III.) of Cockfield and his brother John, known locally as ''Maister Geordie'' and ''Maister Jackie," were great arguers, and used to argue when travelling ( as was then the rule) on horseback. They got so absorbed as to forget their horses entirely, so that latterly a servant always rode with them to prevent accidents!
They were lessees of the Black Boy Colliery at Bishop Auckland and were wealthy, but left the working of it in hands of their viewer, who for some years ( unknown to them) carried the workings under another man's land. A Chancery suit followed; they lost, and had to pay excessive damages, a blow that they never recovered from.]
