Thomas Dickinson (1653-1699)

Thomas married his wife Mary sometime in the 1670s, probably early rather than late. A man who took his chances when he could - the signature on his 1699 will was big and bold.

Thomas and Mary had three children: Mary (), Margaret (-pre1712) and John (). They managed to marry in such a way that any tidy family tree of the local upper yeomanry becomes instantly impossible.

His will is dated 29-07-1699. The inventory was taken 03-08-1699. The bonds are dated 06-11-1699. His wife Mary died in 1712 - her will is dated 24-03-1711/12.

Something happens to this family's fortunes under Thomas. His inventory is valued at £202 10s 10d, a far cry from the valuations for his father and grandfather - and his great-uncle Lancelot hadn't even yet died. He held a second property, Howgate in Frizington. He purchased this in 1686 for £100 13s 4d from Thomas Jackson and Bridget his wife, with great-uncle Lancelot being one of the witnesses. I had at first assumed that this was something to do with a marriage contract (his wife Mary could easily have been their daughter), but the question still boils down to: where did he get the money from? I'm inclined to think now that he was simply a canny opportunity-spotter - the new money was coal, and Howgate was in the coal seam - maybe he didn't have the cash, but borrowed in anticipation of the Howgate royalties.

Whatever, the basic value of the chattels of Woodend (household items, husbandry gear, animals, crops, etc.) was put at £112 10s 10s in 1699. The rest of the inventory (£90) was for money owing and for mortgages - his lifetime profits.

The first signature on his wil is of Daniel Dickinson [of Streetgate - who died soon after] - presumably the attorney in charge. The other witnesses were Henry Wood and David Dickinson [of Lackerton Wood - Thomas' cousin rather than his uncle]. Mary's will was witnessed by Henry Wood, Thomas Bowman and Lancelot Fearon, and organised by John Dickinson [of Streetgate].

Thomas' inventory was prized by Thomas Wood, Daniel Dickinson, William Harrison and Henry Wood. Thomas' executor was his widow Mary (who marked). The bondsmen were Henry Wood of Lamplugh (signed) and Henry Wood of Arlecdon (marked). I have no record of an inventory or bonds for Mary.

The two wills together provide a lot of information about relatives, which I have generally included in the relevant sections.

Margaret Wood of Brownrigg (-pre1712)

Margaret married 21-01-1694 in Lamplugh to Henry Wood of Brownrigg in Arlecdon. Her father. in his 1699 will, described them as 'my son-in-law Henry Wood and my daughter Margett his wife', and mentioned 'three children that is to say John Deborah & Jonathan'. By the time of her mother's death in 1712, the family had expanded by a further two - Joseph and Thomas. Their descendants can be traced at Brownrigg till at least the nineteenth century.

Margaret isn't mentioned by name in 1712, so had probably died by then. Henry was buried in 1758.

Brownrigg was within the manor of Lamplugh and Arlecdon, and was split into two tenements. The Woods are documented there as early as 1635.

John Dickinson of Woodend (c1681-1780)

John inherited Woodend and Howgate, purchased Redhow, and married three times, dying at the age of 99 (as noted in the register).

His first wife was Deborah Dickinson of Streetgate. They marriedon 27th May 1703 in Lamplugh, and had four children together (Anne, Thomas, Abigail, Mary). The last died a month after birth, and her mother a month later (she was buried 20th February 1710/11).

John married again a few months later [marriage bond dated 08-11-1711] to Isabel Hodgson. I know nothing about her background. They had a daughter Deborah. She was buried 23-01-1759 in Lamplugh as John's wife.

He married a third time 31-08-1765 to Elizabeth Johnson. She gave birth 26-10-1765 to Anne, so would have been heavily pregnant at the marriage ceremony. His child, at 84?

Mary Mirehouse of Miresyke (c1679-1776)

Mary married [marriage bond: 13-01-1705] John Mirehouse of Miresyke in Loweswater, an ancient family and surname there. They had children: John, Isabel, Jane, Mary, Margaret, Thomas, Ann and Jonathan, all in the baptismal record. Mary was buried 22-05-1776 aged 97, and John was buried 17-10-1771, aged 92. There must have been something in the water.

A Mirehouse pedigree [in Vol 5, Visitation of England and Wales 1903] gives her as Mary Rachel Dickinson of Redhow. It is perfectly possible that she could have stayed there while the marriage negotiations were going on. It seems unlikely that she would have two forenames - a c1900 Mirehouse researcher may have confused this 1705 marriage with a 1720 one between a Rachel Dickinson and a John Mirehouse in Lamplugh. Her father in 1699 gave her £30 as Mary, her mother in 1712 described her as 'daughter Mary wife of John Mirehouse of Miresyke'.