THE LANGSTAFFS OF TEESDALE AND WEARDALE

                                               BY
                     GEORGE BLUNDELL LONGSTAFF
                                      Transcribed
                                                by
                               CAROLE A.M. JOHNSON
                                    COPYRIGHT 2001
                                             All Rights Reserved

 

 

 

                                         PART 3

                                       THE NAME

                                       19 Chapter 2
 

One of the most wonderful works of its kind, is the Index to the Births Deaths and Marriages at Somerset House. Almost all these important events that have occurred in England and Wales since 1 July 1837 are there arranged in strictly alphabetical order. Since 1866 the indices have been beautifully printed and admirably bound, each three months having a separate volume, complete in itself, for births, marriages, and deaths, respectively. The information that they give, as to surnames, is unrivalled. 
In order to avoid, as far as possible, foreign names, which are every year imported in larger and larger numbers, from Germany and elsewhere, recourse was had to the earliest printed indices and the births and deaths were searched for five years. 1866 - 1870 
There were in all, 72 Langstaff births including a very few Longstaffes and 45 Langstaff deaths: Of Longstaffs, including a very few Longstaffes, there were 390 births and 278 deaths, so that whereas in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries there were far more Langs than Longs, now the reverse was the case and to every Langstaff there are today between five and six Longstaffs. 
Taking the two names together, we get 462 births and 278 deaths. 
Now during the five years dealt with those indices referred to no less than 3875,245 births and 2462,541 deaths; [ WHAT AN INDEX!] 

By a simple calculation, we find that out of every million births, 119, and out of every million deaths, 112 were those of Longstaffs or Langstaffs.* The population of England and Wales in 1868, the middle year of the period was close upon 22 millions 
*These two numbers are surprisingly concordant, since the Longstaffs to a very large extent live away from the large towns, their comparatively low death rate is just what might have been expected.

20 The Name 


A proportion sum, gives according to the births, 2617, according to the deaths, 2469 --- 
say 2500 --- as the number of the clan, living in this country in 1868. If they have kept pace with the times, there must now be 3750 of them, men, women and children,* and if there were to be today, a levee en masse' like those of the men of Richmondshire, in the sixteenth century, the tribe of the Longstaffs ought to be able to put into the field a sturdy battalion 500strong. Let us hope that they would shoot with the rifle as well as they did with the bow, and wield sword or bayonet as well as they did their bills or quater staves in the good old times. These 739 births and deaths teach me something more than the mere numbers. It might perhaps have been thought that thirty five years after the opening of the Liverpool and Manchester Railway, the association of names with particular localities would have nearly come to an end. Accordingly, we do find the Longstaffs scattered over many counties. Not only are a fair number to be met with in Cumberland, Westmorland and Lincoln but also Lancashire, Stafford, Cambridge and Hertford. There are a few in Kent and Bedford and scattered individuals in Derby and Northampton, Hereford, Nottingham, Gloucester, and Hampshire. But the Longstaff counties are still York and Durham: The Langstaffs are mostly found in York, indeed nearly two thirds of them, but the Longstaffs are by far the most numerous in Durham. 
Durham and the North Riding still hold more than half the tribe. Every registration district in Durham, yielded its quota of Longstaff or Langstaff births or deaths; not only that but every registration district in the adjoining counties of Northumberland Cumberland, Westmorland and Yorkshire that touched the boundary of the County Palatine. 

21 The Name 


There is a Durham district, termed Weardale which still forms the home of the Longstaffs; another district, termed Teesdale, comprising, Raby, Staindrop, Barnard Castle, Startforth, Egglestone, Cotherstone, Middleton, Mickleton and Romaldkirk fosters many more; but of all the districts in England, none now numbers near so many Longstaffs as Auckland. [one sixth of the whole] 
The Auckland registration district contain St. Andrew and St. Helen and West Auckland. Middridge, Hamsterly and Witton-le-Wear 
Next to Durham and Yorkshire come Northumberland and London, mining, manufacturing and commercial developments easily account for these latterday migrations. 
Now, as regards the theory of a Welsh origin. Not one Langstaff is found in the Principality, 
Surnames in Llan are few and far between. I doubt much if I saw 20 in the forty volumes of indices and none of these could conceivably be any corruption of Llanstephen. 
Many Welsh names appear to have dropped one L. The exceptions being Lloyd and Llewellyn* but none of these had any resemblance to Llanstephen. 
It will have been observed that the two names, Langstaff and Longstaff, have been treated above as one, a conclusion that even a very short study of the matter inevitably leads to. 
In the eastern counties, the name has always been spelt with an "o" but as may be expected, an "a" prevails in the Northern Counties. Although many Longstaffs occur in the Durham Registers from 1570 onwards. The spellings are may and varied with the taste of the parson or clerk. The following list, gives 26 ways of drawing attention to the fact, that a mans ancestor carried a longer stick than his neighbours! But it is probanly not exhaustive:- 
Langstaf 1325 - 1792 Longstaf 1274 - 1765 
Langstaff 1219 - to present day Longstaff 1557 - to present day 
Langstafe 1568 - 1729 Longstafe 1682 - 1719 
Langstaffe 1445 - present day Longstaffe 1570 - to present day 
Langestaf 1326 


22 The Name 

Langestafe 1585 Longestafe 1603
Langestaff 1702 Longestaff 1535 [? 1335] 
Langestaffe 1612 - 1698 Longestaffe 1587 - 1603 - 1700 
Lanstaff 1548 - 1619 - 1733 Lonstaff 1800 
Lanstaffe 1614 - 1749 

____________________________ 
Langstaph 1759 Laingstafe - 1661 
Lankstaf 1705 Lanzaffe - 1641 
* Lanckestafe Landstaffe- 1743 - 1749 
Loongstaff. 1615 (Lincolnshire.) 

Now the above variations are natural enough and there is no difficulty whatever in believing that they all relate to persons of one stock. It is easy to understand the change from "a" to "o"and the insertion of mute vowels. On the other hand some of the old parish clerks seem to have rivalled modern American editors in the endeavours to get rid of all superfluous letters. Some of the variations are clearly mere slips in writing or printing. The last points clearly to dialect. 
We know come to another group, characterised by the insertion of a totally different letter, "r" Of these the following variants occur in various Durham records, between 1588 and 1676, rarely later:- 
Langstraff Langstrafe Longstraff [or Longstrawe] 
Langstraffe Langstreffe Longstraffe 
Langestraffe Langstriff Longstriff 
Langstraffe Langstroff Langstroffe 
Mr W.H.D. Longstaffe in a "History of Darlington" Page 278:- 
Such is certainly the promotion of Captain Longstaff of the "Strombolo" fire ship in 1740 
(Gentlemans Magazine, Vol.X P.248) The official list of officers of the Royal Navy for 1739 
Includes Thomas Langstaffe among the Lieutenants, the date of his commission being 25 February 1705. The "List", for 1742, places him among the "Masters and Commanders" with the seniority of 1 March 1739, so he had to wait for his promotion for 34 years. The will of Joseph Comber, Surgeon of his Majesties fire ship "Strombolo"dated 8 May and proved at the Principal Consistory Court on 26 November 1740 and witnessed by Thos. Langstaffe, Capt. The name does not appear in the List for 1754.


23 The Name 


There is not much doubt that these are all one and the same name: but I must admit that it took me some time to admit that that name was Langstaff. 
The spelling of the name in the Lordship of Raby, [Parish of Staindrop] is however, so remarkable, that the evidence is set out here in detail:- 
A.D. 1491 November 11. Staindrop; Thursday before the feast of St. Martin in Yeme.
7 Henry V11. Of William Wytton, chaplain, because he has not John Qunyers to answer Robert Langstroth in a plea of assault [ ?], ijd. 
A.D. 1492 April 8. Staindrop; Thursday, before the feast of S Dionysious 
7 Henry V11. Langley Forest, William Langstroth, one of the jurors 
Staindrop Court Rolls, Pro, 171. 10 
A.D. 1570, In Homberston's Survey of the manor of Raby, we find among the tenants,
Men bearing strange uncouth names:- 
Raby: Johann Langstropp holds a tenement and 2 bovats of land at the will of the Lord, and pays at the Feast of Pentecost and St. Martin, 26s John Langstropp holds moiety of tenement and 2 bovats of land with all appurtenances 25s 4d. 
James Langstropp holds cottage and croft, 3s 4d 
Johanna Langstropp holds parcel of meadow lying on the south side of Milbeck, 11s 8d 
Staindrop:- Chris Langstrat holds cottage with garden and orchard, pays 2s. 
Langley:- Chris Langsthropp holds cottage with garden, called Burye Lodge with appurtenances, pays yearly 6s. 
Shotton:- John Langsthrat 6s 8d and four others hold a close, called Slaughter Close, from Henry, Earl of Westmorland, by indenture, dated 13 July, 5 Eliz., 33s 4d This Survey was made for the Crown on the attainder of the last Earl of Westmorland after the Rebellion of 1569; the commissioners employed, may well have been strangers, unfamiliar with local nomenclature, and unused to north country dialects. 
Mr. T.W. Marley writes me: "The same document spelt wildly in other names, much more so, than the Church Registers of the day--- and they are quaint enough" The last four names have not been found in any other record. 
24 The Name 


A.D.1600. September 4. Particulars For Lease 
Parcel of the possessions of Charles, late Earl of Westmorland. 
Farm of the tenement and 2 bovates of land, meadow and pasture in Raby, late in the tenure of Joan Langstropp, widow, and now in the tenure of John Langstropp, yearly value 26s. And of the moiety of a tenement and 2 bovates ogf land etc. in the tenure of said John. Yearly value 25s 4d excepting wood, etc.; demised to James Pickering by Letters Patent, 21 May 27 Eliz. A.D.1585. for 21 years, paying per annum 31s 4d. 
Farm of a cottage, garden, 1 acre of land and one close in Raby, now in the Tenure of Richard Marshe, yearly value, 13s 4d. Also of the common oxen in Raby and a close called The Crookes, a meadow called Ladie Meadow, with common of pasture there, now inthe tenure of said Richard Marshe, yearly value of 25s 4d excepting wood etc., demised to Thomas Marshe, by Letters Patent 10 May 27 Eliz. A.D. 1585, for twenty one years, paying per annum 38s 8d. Farm of a cottage with garden in Raby, late in the Tenure of Thomas Nevell, rent per annum, 2s. 
The first parcel to pass James Pickering, father, John and Richard has sons, for three lives successively, the other two parcels to Henry Langstropp, father, James and Henry his sons fore three lives successively: fine: 3 years rent, yearly value of the premises is £4 12s, the fine is £13 16s. Two several leases to be made: Samuel Goff and other tenants, bound in an obligation for payment of rents and obserance of covenants. 
Tenement called Little White, in Brancepeth, parcel of the Lordship of Brancepeth, late in the tenure of William Farrow and demised to the same by Letter Patent 12 July 34. Eliz.for 21 years, paying per ann. 61s 3d. 
[This clause erased but referred to in Calender, p.171. tenant Thomas Langstrop.] 
Augmentation Office. File 35. No. 29. 
A.D. 1600 October 9. Demise to Henry Langstropp of tenements etc.,
In Houghton, Shotton, etc., 42 Elizabeth 

The Queen, etc., greeting. Know ye that we for a fine of £4 19s 91/2d, paid by our beloved Henry Langstrappe have granted to the said Henry Langstropp (1) all our tenement in Houghton in the Bishopric of Durham, late in the tenure of William Preston, yearly rent 22s., and (2) the tenement in Shotton, late in the teure of John Bales, yearly rent 23s 4d., and (3) the tenement in Shotton, late in the tenure of John Langstropp [Langsthratt], except wood, underwood, mineral and stone, yearly rent 23s 4d., parcel of the possessions of Charles, late Earl of Westmorland, attainted of high treason [all three demised 25 The Name 


to John Bales by Latters Patent of Queen Elizabeth under seal of the Exchequer 28 June 28 year (A.D.1586) for the term of 21 year from 25 March last, paying therefrom 68s 8d,] and also one parcel of the close called Slawter close[ for the pasture of the oxon of the tenants of Shotton], late in the tenure of John Langstropp, in Shotton, yearly rent, 6s 8d., and another parcel of the same close, late in the tenure of John Bales, excepting wood, etc., yearly rent, 6s 8d, [both demised to Robert Banckes by Letters Patent, etc., 28 June 28 Elizabeth [A.D.1586] from 25 March, for 21 years, yearly rent 13s 4d ] also a third part of a tenement and 3 bovates of land in the township and fields of Raby[parcel of the lands of Charles, late Earl, etc.;] sometime in the tenure of Henry Thompson and now in the tenure of Henry Langstropp, excepting etc.; yearly rent, 12s 91/2d.,[ demised to John Ratcliffe by Letters Patent etc., 20thn Nov. 28 Eliz. 
[A.D..1586] for 21 years, from Michaelmas, last part, yearly rent, 12s 91/2d.],and also certain lands in Cotham, late in the tenure of Roland Stockbourne, and parcel of the possessions of the late preceptory off the Mount of St. John, of Jerusalem, yearly rent, 5s. Term 21 years from Michealmas, last part. Rents payable at the annunciation and Michaelmas. And the said Henry, his executors, and assigns, shall serve us in war, in the northern parts, against the Scots, with men, horses, etc-, as of old time, wont....." To hedge and ditch the said premises, when appointed by our steward, to repair the buildings when necessary, to have "sufficient houseboote, hedgeboote, ploughboote, etc., upon the premises aforesaid." Provided that the several rents, be not in arrears for the space of forty days and that he do not expel any of the present tenants and shall demise in writing to each tenant of each parcel, his separate tenure, for the said Henry's whole before the Feast of the Purification next after the date of these Letters Patent while the said tenants shall pay their rents, etc., 
In witness etc., Augmentation Office, Transcripts of Leases. 42 Eliz., No. 77. 
[ The words in Brackets added from "Particulars for Leases, Durham, File 26, No. 23," dated A.D.1399 Feb. 20 
The name is spelt in the calendar, Langstop ( pp. 179, 189, 199and Lanstrop, p.204)] 
From a list of the tenants of Raby manor, without date, we get in the early part of the seventeenth century, the following:- George Langstraf holdeth under lease from the Exchequer, 23 October, 42 Eliz.,[1600] 
granted to Henry Langstraf, his father, for the term of 21 years. 
Elizabeth Langstraf, Widow, holdeth under the title of a Chequer Lease, dated 9 July 44 Eliz.[1602], granted to Henry Langstrafe and James 26 The Name 


Langstrafe and Henry Langstrafe his sons for their lives, successively in remainder. 
Charles Langstrafe holdeth as Tenant on sufferance. 
Henry Langstrafe holdeth part of the vicars land, called, Bench House. RABY- FREE TENANTS
Christopher Dixon holdeth a Cottage and Garth. 
Grace Langstafe holdeth a Cottage 
Henry Langstrafe and James his son holding in common by Lease, dated Queen Eliz. [1600 10 Oct. 42], lands to the amount of £52 per annum In a subsequent list of tenants the same names occur, with what are, I take, the chief rents. 
Raby. Geo. Langstraffe..... 12 9 
Charles Langsraffe.. 12 8 
Christopher Dixon... 16 
Grace Langstraffe.... 1 
Henry Langsraffe..... 7 1 
Charles Langstraffe.. 7 1 
Tenant for lives Henry Langstraffe..... 6 8 
A.D. 1610. Staindrop. Court holden there, 18 April 8 James 1.
Ingleton. Item of Robert Shawe vijd., Wm. Langstaff, iiijd.,..........for defaults in the feylds 
A.D. 1610. Staindrop. Item of Henrye Langstaff, for his hedges vid., 
Item of Charles Langstaff for taking of the stints iis vjd 
Raby Court Rolls P.R.O. 171, 9, m. 2. 
Later Raby Court Books mention:- George Langstaff. 1640, 1674. James Langstaff. 1634. Thomas Langstaffe 1677, 1695. Thomas Langstaffe. 1684. 
1641. March 25. A Rental of the Lordships of Barnard Castle and Raby and of all other lands and tenements with the same Lordships, belonging to the Right Hon. Sir Henry Vane, Knt., Controller of his Majesties household, wherein is set down as well the ancient yearly, payable to his Majesty, as also 27 The Name 


all increased rents and rents payable to the said Sir Henry Vane, by the several Tenants as hereafter may particularly appear in this booke. Among others:- Annual Rent Increased Rent 
Margery Langstaff for the half of one half of A tenement and 2 oxgangs of land 12s.8d 
George Langstaff for 1 oxgang of land - 12s . 8d - £1.15s.0d.
Thomas Langstaff for Lady Meadow and Raby 
Bakehouse £1.5s.4d.
Spearman M.S.S. Vol.vii. In Bishop Cosins Library. 

In the Staindrop Parish Registers, 1641-1679, among many Langstraffes:- 
George, Margaret, Jane, Thomas, and James Langstaff, all described as, of Raby. 
But in the same register we find, in a list, dated 1637:- 

Langleydale with Shotton, James Langstraffe £1.10s.0d.
Raby Town, Margery Langstrap 12s.8d.
Geo. Langstrap 12s.8d.
We have thus, among the tenants in a certain manor in 1570, a number of "stropps" and "sthrats" but no "staffs", some forty or fifty years later, in the same manor, a number of "strafs" and "strafes" but no "stropps" or "sthrats" or "staffs" Yet, a few years later, still in the same manor, "staffs" make their appearance in a later Raby rent roll as well as in the earliest Parish Registers of Staindrop, in which that same manor was situated. It is surely a less violent hypothesis to assume these are all, but different symbols to denote the same set of men, than to suggest that a succession of families displaced one an other within a century in the farmsteads of the Nevilles and the Vanes. But on the other hand, we must not lose sight of the fact, that as early as 1183, there lived at Norham, near Berwick-on-Tweed one Edward Langstrappe or Edfald Langstirap (for Mss. Of the Bolden Buke vary), while at Arnford, near Settle, there was circa 1366 one Uctred Langstirap [see Appendix 111., p. Cxix] Moreover, the Staindrop, Langstrothe at the close of the fifteenth century should be taken into account. 28 The Name 


From an independent source, we know that Thomas Langstaffe of Raby and John Langstaffe of Shotton, were out in the Rebellion in 1569, the latter probably identical with John Langstraffe of Rabie, named in 1598. [see p. 9, supra] The Durham will of George Longstriff* of Rabey, dated 1675, named his sister Isabella Longstriff, his brother Thomas Longstaff also Ann Langstraff wife of Thomas Langstraffe and finally signs himself, Geo. Langstraffe, while the inventory refers to him as Geo. Langstaffe, the younger; five forms in one document! In the extracts from the Darlington Churchwardens' Accounts [1634-1694] ( "History of Darlington" p. 237-240) the parish clerk (A blacksmith probably)is called indifferently, George Langstraffe, George Langstafe,George Longstaff, Longstaff, Lanstafe, his widow, Longstafe, and his son, Henry Langstaffe! Lastly, in 1710, an administration of the goods of Thomas Langstaff, late of Raby, is granted to son, George Langstaff of Raby, yeoman: and a little later in the same year, an administration of the goods of Jane Langstaff, late of Raby, in the parish of Staindrop, is granted to the brother, the same George Langstaffe of Raby, yeoman; He signs both papers in a good hand, the one Geo. Langstraffe, the other, Geo. Langstaffe. The proof of identity seems therefore complete. Whether or no, the Langstropps of Raby, were descended from the Langstaffes, there is no doubt whatever that their descendants were called first, Langstraffes, then Langstaffs and probably most of their present representatives appear as Longstaffs. The immediate descendants of the Langstraffes of Witton and the Aucklands were certainly Langstaffs or Langstafes [see pp. 83,84 and PEDIGREES, No. 1 and 2] It must be borne in mind, that in those times, clerks had to write by sound, since few outside their order could spell. Mr. W.H. Dyer Longstaff, the accomplished author of the "History of Darlington" met with the name Langstreth in the Halmote Books, this, he says, in that work, is another form of Langstaff. 
* The will of his father, dated 1673, gives the same, in three forms. 
29 The Name 


Here, once more, I regret that I cannot agree with him, This to me seems but a variant of Langstroth, a place name found in plenty in the York wills of farmers of Beckermonde and Arnecliffe and in the parish register of Burnsall (as Langstrouth), places all in or close to Langstrothdale. It was formally most prevalent in Lancashire, Yorkshire, and Gloucestershire, and still occurs as Langstrath, Langstreth, and Longstreth, in those counties as well as in Wales and London, but Langstroth appears to be extinct. 
The Patent Rolls contain [temp. Edward 111.] Langestrogh and Langestrothe and [temp. Edward V1.] Langstroth, Langstorough, Langstruath, and Langsterueth. The varients of this name are especially numerous, comprising:- 
Langstrath, -e, Langstraith, Langstreath, Langstroth, e, Langstrott, e, Langstruth, e, 
Langstrough, Langstreagh, Langstreth, Langsteth, Langstereth, Langstreeth, Langstrett, 
Langstrith, Langhstroth, Langestranghe, Langstrouthe, Lancastrath, Lancastreth, Longstroth , e, 
Longstreath, Longstreth, Longstreeth, Longstrith, Longstrough, Longstweth, Longstothe; 
Longstretch, Gloucester, 1808, Longstreet, Longstret, 1601, Lonstrete, 1633. 
Langstroffe [Whittlesey, Lincoln, 1633] might well be a corruption of either Langstraff or Langstroth. Langstop [Leeds 1631] christened his children, Langstaff; Langstay and Langstawe ( wills) are almost certainly, slips of the pen for Langstaff, so is Hangstaff, (Durham 1641) 
Whlie there is an entry at Rokeby, co. York, which might read either Langstaft, Langslast or Langshaft. In the fifteenth century, Norfolk, Chester, and London, there was a family, long since extinct, variously named:- Longstrother, Longstrather, Langstrothyr, Longstrother, Longstruther. This Last calls to mind, the Scottish Anstruther. * The Calendar of Richmond Wills (Western Deaneries) refers to the last will of Thomas Longstaff, alias Langstruthe, who died in 1579 30 The Name 


It is well to bear in mind, that at the head waters of the Wharfe, only 8 miles from Dent and some 25 miles from Romaldkirk, lies Langstrothdale Chase: Also in the lake district there is Longstrath Beck. 
To show the great variations in spelling which have unquestionably taken place, the following instances of town names may be given:- 
Acle, Aclet, Acleat, Auclit, Auclent, Akelande Aukland, Aukeland, Auckland, Aucklande, Awckland. 
Dunelm, Dunolm, Duresme, Durham. 
Stainthrop, Stainthorp, Staynedroppe, Staindrop. 
Appended is a fairly complete list of names in Lang and Long, omitting a few obviously foreign names of recent importation:- 
Lange, Longe etc., 


Inserted by Carole A. M. Johnson. 


I am omitting all following Longstaff name variations from this chapter which are included in the original copy of THE LANGSTAFFS OF TEESDALE AND WEARDALE. 

I believe this will in no way be detrimental to the rest of the information in this extremely informative literature. 
31 The Name


Of all the names in Long and Lang, the first, pure and simple is by far the commonest at the present day. 
The Registrar General, in his sixteenth annual report, gives a most interesting account of the relative frequency of occurrence of a large number of English surnames. He gives a Number of figures relating to the fifty commonest English names.
Amongst these is none, beginning with Long, indeed, the least common of the fifty, Griffiths, is sixteen times as common as Longstaff, while the commonest, Smith, is 120 times as common, and the Jones's very nearly equal the Smiths. In discussing the etymology of Langstaff, the other names with a like ending, must not be lost sight of:- i.e.: Bagstaff, Biggstaff, Biggerstaff etc.... Wagstaff:- It is curious to observe, among the archives, at Stratford upon Avon, a record of proceedings, between Richard Wagstaff and John Shakespeare, the latter being the poets father, See "Halliwells "Life of Shakespeare, p.41 
Mr M.A. Lower says: Langstaff, Longstaff:- The first bearer carried such a weapon :- John o' the Lang Staffe, a medieval sobriquet. In his later work, the same writer says: To this list of names from personal and mental qualities, I may appropriately adjoin such as had their origin in some fete of personal strength or courage as, Armstrong, All fraye, Langstaff, Wagstaff, Hackstaff, Hurlbat, Winspear, Shakeshaft, Shakestaff and Shakespeare. Also Boxall, Tirebuck, Turnbull, Breakspear. Which last, was the original name of our countryman, Pope Hadrian the Fourth. Mr R. Ferguson considers it a sobriquet to be classed with Shakespear and Breakspear he considers it refers to a baton or staff of office and quotes Grimm who connected it with the German stab. 
Everything points to the Parish of Kirkby Stephen being the fountain head of the race, flowing down by Mickleton, and thence dispersing.
32 The Name 


Canon Raine says that the Langstaffs and Raines, still nearly monopolise Mickleton in Teesdale, between them. 
Not withstanding my fathers' traditions as to Wales, I am sometimes tempted to think that we have taken the name from Kirkby Stephen. It is true that in Henry 11's Pipe Rolls, Robert de Cherkbi Stephen occurs, and in Richard 1's Villata de Kirkebisteffan but Ethelred 11, coined at Lannsif. This cannot have been on the territories of the Welsh princes. Can it have been the Westmorland Town before the translation of Llan into Cherk, a curious combination of Church and Kirk. The Langstaf of the Lincoln Pleas, [1218-19] looketh much like the common ancestor. 

Persons of one name are common in the North at that time. The Pollards of Auckland who have given name to the township of "Pollards Lands" must as one would think, have originated from Pollard, a witness to Bishop Pudseys Charter. So the Allgoods from one Algode. To what has been said above, it will suffice to add, that no Westmorland record, prior to the will of Robert Langstaff of Great Asby, proved at Carlisle in 1675 or the marriage of George Langstaff to Margaret Grainger at Kirkby Stephen in 1655, has yet come to light. The York records quoted are of course far older, this does not of course prove the point, but is undoubtedly strongly in favour of the Yorkshire origin, which is moreover much more central. 
To one who is no expert, the evidence appears conclusive, that the name is derived from a Long Staff, but whether it be a nickname or be due to personal prowess, whether the Staff be a weapon or a badge of office, there is nothing to shew. There are no pages missing from this, my transciption. 

Discontinued at page 32 .
I have kept the transcript running in the original authors numeric order, Due to my removal of some variations of the Longstaff surname,
I now continue with page 40. [ C.A.M. Johnson ] 
40 Chapter 3 

 
 

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