Francis White

died in 1743


Francis's signature and seal on an indenture in 1709 ⁽¹⁾

No record of Francis's early life has been found, but what clues there are point towards him being born in Monyash, the son of Francis and Mary White, probably in the 1670s or 1680s ⁽¹⁾. He was first referred to as Francis White the younger in 1709, when he arranged to lease 10 acres of land in Flagg comprising Nether Crotia, Middle Crotia, Doore Close, New Close and Overmost Close from Nathaniel Bagshaw of Tideswell for seven years, at 10 pounds a year. ⁽²⁾. This lease may well have been related to his setting up home at the time of marriage, as his eldest known child Mary was born around spring the following year ⁽⁴⁾. His brother Thomas appears to have moved into a house on this land around the end of 1712 ⁽²⁾. He also had a son Ralph in 1713 ⁽⁸⁾ and a daughter Elizabeth in 1716 ⁽⁵⁾.

Francis was a husbandsman ⁽²⁾⁽⁶⁾, but described himself as a yeoman in his will ⁽³⁾, and also mentioned owning various properties/land in both Flagg and Monyash, so he was relatively comfortable financially.

He died in 1743 and was buriad in Monyash on 10th January ⁽⁹⁾. He was survived by his wife ⁽³⁾.

• Mary has her own page.
• Elizabeth was baptised in 1716 ⁽⁵⁾ and was probably still a spinster, in 1740 ⁽³⁾. At some stage she married a Mr Webster and they had children Matthew, Sarah, Francis & James.
• Ralph was probably his only son (or at least the only one still alive in 1740 ⁽³⁾). he doesn't appear to have ever married as he bequeathed his estate to his nephews and niece when he died in 1782.

1. Around the time that Francis would probably have been born, the parish registers for Chelmorton are very poor, and those for Monyash are missing. However, the bishops transcripts for Chelmorton survive back to 1663 and those for Monyash to 1672. His baptism does not appear in them. Judging by all the available evidence though, I believe there is a very high probability that Francis was the son of Francis White (who I call Francis senior below for clarity) and Mary Birds. The evidence is as follows:
   
   • Francis senior held land in Monyash and Flagg up until he lost it in 1691. The land that Francis the younger leased in 1709 was part of the same land, and he leased it from a member of the same family that took possession of it 1691. The fact that he is called 'the younger' in 1709, and that that description was obviously added to the lease as an afterthought (see scan of document ⁽²⁾), could be to distinguish him from his father who previously held the land. He was also seen to hold land in Monyash at the time he wrote his will ⁽³⁾.
   • The Francis in the indenture is the same one who wrote their will in 1740, as can be seen by comparing the 1709 signature to the 1740 one
   • Francis senior lived in Monyash until at least 1691, but at that time appears to been forced to move out of his home there after the land was sold. He did retain some land in Flagg though, so its very possible he and his family moved the mile or so into Flagg, where Francis the younger first appears, after this happened
   • At the baptism of Francis's daughter Elizabeth in 1716 he was no longer called "the younger" ⁽⁵⁾, indicating that the older Francis may have died. A death between 1709 and 1716 falls in the right time frame with Francis senior's marriage in 1666, meaning that if he married at or soon after 21 he died approaching 70.
   • Francis was a husbandman and yeoman, and Francis senior was a yeoman who farmed the same land. Given the amount of lead mining in the area the similarity of profession has some significance.
   • Francis senior's father was called Ralph and his wife Mary. Two of Francis's three children were called Ralph and Mary.
   • Francis senior had a son called Thomas, and Francis junior had a brother called Thomas.
   • There are no other candidate baptisms of a Francis White in Chelmorton or its adjoining parishes (or much much further afield based on a simple IGI search). Similarly, other than the son of Francis senior, there are no other potential baptisms for his brother Thomas in Chelmorton or the adjoining parishes. There are however 2 baptisms of a Thomas White in Longstone at the right time.
   • The ages are a very good fit. Francis senior married in 1666 and died between 1709-1716 so he would probably be having children from about 1666 up till the late 1680s, dependant on his wifes age (Two known to be in 1674 and 1683). Francis the younger first appears in 1709 leasing the land, and the first child known about was born in 1710 (although given that his last known was in 1716 there could have been earlier ones), so he was almost certainly born somewhere during the time Francis senior was having children.
2. An indenture (reference CM/330 in the Crewe Muniments held at Sheffield archives) reads:
   This indenture made the ninth day of September in the eight years of the Raign of our Sov^eraign Lady Anne by the Grace of God of Great Brittain France and Ireland Queen Defender of the Faith Between Nathaniel Bagshaw of Tiddeswall in the County of Darby Gentleman of the one parte And Francis White ^{the younger} of Flagg in the said County of Darby husbandman on the other parts Witnesseth that the said Nathaniel aswell for and in Considerat of the Rents reservations Covenants provisos and conditions after Reserved and mentioned hath Devised Granted sett and [to Farme] lett unto the said Francis White his Executo^rs Administrators and assignes All those tenn acres ^[.....] of Inclosed Land and one Rood lying ^[....] to in Dale land all in Flagg Town Fields called by the names of ^the Nethercrotia middlecrotia Doore close new close and overmost Close with all Commons priviledges and appurtenances to the said tenn acres & three Roods belonging or in any wise appertaineing All [w^th] s^d Devised p^emises are now in the tenure and occupation off Francis White of his under tennant To have and to hold all and singular the s^d Devised p^emises and every part and parcel thereof unto the s^d Francis White his executo^rs administrators and assigns From the Five and Twentyth Day of March next ensueing after Date hereoff For and Dureing and untill the Full end and term of sea- -ven yeares from thence next ensueing & from thence being accounted fully to be compleated expired and ended Yielding and paying therefore yearely dureing the s^d term unto the s^d Natahniel Bagshaw his heirs or assignes the yearely Rent of ten pounds of lawfull money of ^great Brittaine ^{[yearely & every yeare]} att Michalmas ~~~~~ and Lady Day ~~~~~~~~~~ by even & equal portions and also paying & dischargeing all taxes & assessments that shall be asessed or imposed upon the s^d Devised p^emises or any part thereof dureing the aforesaid term Provided allways upon condition that the s^d yearely Rent of Tenn pounds or any part thereof shall be behind and unpaid by the space of Fourteen Days next after or over either of the s^d Dayes or times of Paym^nt on w^ch the same ought to be paid by the true intent and meaning of theise [........] being lawfully demand^d That then & Imediately after such non payment of Rent as aforesaid this [...] Indenture & the sexin hereby Granted shall cease [Deformine] & be utterly void & then & from thenceforth it shall & maybe lawfull to & [......] Nathaniel bagshaw his heirs and assigns into all & singular the s^d Devised p^emises to reenter & the same to have hold reposess enjoy as is his or theire former estate anything in theise [....] containd to the contrary in any wise notwithstanding And the s^d Francis White for himselfe his heirs Executo^rs Admin^s & assigns & for every of them [... ... & ....] and Grant to & w^th the s^d Nathaniel Bagshaw his heirs & assigns & to & w^th every of them by theise [......] that he the s^d Francis White his Execto^rs Admin^s assigns shall & will well & truly pay the s^d yearely Rent as the same shall Grow Due & also will sustain & maintaine all walls & Fences belonging to the s^d [Devised p^emises] in Good sufficiant & Tennantable Repairs dureing the s^d term & att the end of the s^d term shall in such tennantable repair ^[.........] quietly & peacably leave & yield up he same unto the s^d Nathaniel Bagshaw his heirs & assigns and that he ^{[the sd Francis White]} will [.. .....] The ~~~ land according to Custom And the s^d Nathaniel Bagshaw for himself his heirs Executo^rs Admin^s & assigns & for every of them [Doth ..... p^emise] & Grant to [.....] the s^d Francis White his ~~~ Executo^rs Admin^s & assigns & w^th every of them by theise [....] That it shall & may be lawfull to [....] the s^d Francis ^White his Executo^rs Administrat^s & assigns For & under the Rents reservations & [....] provisos & Conditions herein before mentioned lawfully [............] to have hold posess & enjoy all the s^d Devised p^emises & every part & parcel thereof. [................] Claime & demand of him the s^{d Nathaniel Bagshaw} his heirs ~~~~~~~~~~~~ [...] assigns dureing the s^d term. In witness whereof the parties above said to theise [.....] Indentures have [........bly] put theire hands & seales this ninth day of September One Thousand seven hundred & nine 1709:
                           Francis White
   Reverse side reads:
   Sealed & delivered in this
   [.. ......] off -
   Thomas White
   Jos: Hall
   
   [Memorand] It is agreed before the enseale-
   ing of theise [presente] that in Con-
   sideration of Francis White paying
   the [.... ....] not [expressed] within
   [....] to [..... back .....] Rent day
   five shilling Wittness my hand
   [...(a signature?)...]
   
   Memorand this 22^d day of October 1712: It
   is agreed upon by & between ye parties within
   named & Tho^s White (bro: of ye within mentioned F:
   that whereas ye within named [..] Bagshaw hath laid
   out in building a dwelling house upon ye premises within
   mentioned ye sume of nineteen nine shillings & seavenpence
   that y^e s^d Tho^s shall hold ye s^dhouse for y^e[......] within
   demised payeing for ye same nineteen shillings six pence yearely
   by two equall [pai..ch] at ye daies within appoint[..] one half of ye [....]
   within [.ellen] payeing his proportion of ye rent within [....] In wittness
   whereof ye partyes abovesaid have hereunto put their hands ye day & years
                                                                                                   above said
   Memorand before ye signing hereof ye said [........] Nathaniel Bagshaw
   Covenant to uphold y^e s^d house in tenantable repaire
   to quit y^e same in such repaire at y^e expiration of y^e [......] within devised
   Witness hereof Geo: Alsop - A his mark                        Francis White
   Wm: Lomas - I his mark                        Thomas White
3. Will of Francis White (Top half, Bottom half) (ref: B/C/11/Francis White, Flagg, 1743 @ LRO) reads:
   In the name of God Amen January 19 1740 = in the fourteent year of
   the Reige of our Soverenge Lord King Georg the second by the Grace of God
   over Great Brittaine & Annoqu Dommeni: 1740 I Francis Wite of Flagg in
   the parish of Bakewell & County of Darby yeoman Being Weak of Body
   but of sound mind ad perfect memory blessed be God Do make and ordaine this
   My last Will and Testament in manner and forme folloing furst and prinsapally
   I Commend my soul in to the hands of allmighty God my maker hopeing to
   Receve free pardon of all my sinns; and my body to the Earth to be Decently buryed
   at the discrestion of my Exec^t hear after named and as for such temporall Estate as it
   hath pleased allmighty God to bestow upon mee I give devise and bequeath the saime
   as followeth Imprimis my Will and mind is that all my funeral Charges bee Discharged
   and all the Dets I ow to anny person be honestly paid as for and concerning all my meseuages
   lands & Tenements my will and mind is that my Wife Doth Injoy for or Dureing her nateral
   life those crofts commonly coled by the name of thurstain crofts and the long accers bothem
   belonging to mee sitteating lying or being in the town of Flagg wich I do nomenate and apoynt
   in the Room of her Therds and one Cow wich she shall chuse and one bed vu I Give and bequeath
   unto Mary Allen my eldest Douter and to her Eyrs Lawfully born of her own body all that housing
   lying or being in the town of Monne Ash belonging to mee ajoyning to tag lane end butt for want
   of Eyrs of her own body my will and mind is that the same housing Return to my son Ralph and
   his Eyrs Vis I give and bequeath unto my Douter Elezebeth forty five pound to bee paid her by my
   Execter here after named and as for the Rest of my Estate Goods Cattels I give & bequeath unto
   my son Ralph and I do nommenate and apoynt my son Ralph Wite to bee my sole Execter
   of this my last Will and Testament by mee
                                       Francis White
   Tested in the presens of
   John Bott
   Joseph Bott
4. Bishop's transcript of the Parish Register of St John the Baptist's, Chelmorton, includes the entry:
   Mary the Daughter of Francis White was baptized May the 2^d 1710
5. Parish Register of St John the Baptist's, Chelmorton includes the following entry:
   [1716] Apr 16 Bap^d Elizabeth daughter of Francis White
6. Inventory of Francis White (Top half, Bottom half) (ref: B/C/11/Francis White, Flagg, 1743 @ LRO) reads:
   A true and perfect Inventory of all and singular
   the Goods Chattles Cattle and Effects of Francis
   White of Flagg in the County of Derby late
   Deceased Taken and Appriz'd this 14th Day of January
   1742* by us whose names hare hereunto subscribed
   

   		l ; s ; d
   Imps	His purse and apparel	2 ; 2 ; 0
   	In ye House place
   	Two long Tables one Form Seat little table & [press] chairs	1 ; 5 ; 0
   	Four pewter Dishes 6 pewter plates	0 ; 14 ; 0
   	Landiron Tongs and Pottracketts	0 ; 5 ; 0
   	Two Brass potts three Iron potts	1 ; 5 ; 0
   	Six Chairs one Slopping Form and 4 Shelves	0 ; 5 ; 0
   	In the parlour
   	Two Churns three Kitts and other woodenware	0 ; 14 ; 0
   	In ye Chamber over ye Parlour
   	One Bed and Bedding	0 ; 15 ; 0
   	One Press Boxes and Wheel	0 ; 5 ; 0
   	In ye Chamber over ye House
   	Two Beds and Bedding	1 ; 10 ; 0
   	One Ark one Chest and two boxes	0 ; 15 ; 0
   	Two spinning wheels two Gobutts & Spitts	0 ; 5 ; 6
   	Two Mares	3; 10 ; 0
   	Two Cows four Heifers and one calf	18 ; 10 ; 0
   	Eighty five sheep	25 ; 0 ; 0
   	Corn and Hay	5 ; 0 ; 0
   	One Cast Plough Harrow & other Husbandry ware	2 ; 10 ; 0
   	One swine	1 ; 15 ; 0
   	Lumber ware and Things forgot	0 ; 5 ; 0
   		__________
   		66 ; 10 ; 6

   Hugh Goodwin       \ Appraisers
   William Goodwin   /
   * Note: The date is from the Julian calendar, so for 1742, read 1743. See note in glossary.
7. Probate of Francis White (ref: B/C/11/Francis White, Flagg, 1743 @ LRO) reads:
   Bakewell Aprill 22^d 1743
   Let a Probat of this will be granted to Ralph
   Wite Sole Executor herein named
                                       Oath made before
                                       Tho^s Groor Surrogate
   
8. Bishop's transcript of the Parish Register of St John the Baptist's, Chelmorton, includes the entry:
   Ralph the son of Francis White of Flagg bapt: August the 4^th [1713]
9. Bishop's transcript of the Parish Register of St Leonard's, Monyash includes the entry:
   [January 1743] 10^th Bur^d Francis White of Flagg