THE BCH ARCHIVE
LOCAL HISTORY FOR
BIRTSMORTON
CASTLEMORTON
HOLLYBUSH
And The Surrounding District
The Dees Family
Dee
The Dee family of Castlemorton can be traced back to Thomas and Mary Dee who married in Coddington in 1670. John Dee (1527-1608), Rector of Upton upon Severn (1559-1584), astronomer, Astrologer, Occult Philosopher and Advisor to Queen Elizabeth I does not seem to be related.
Thomas grandson, John Dee (1699-1761) was buried at St Gregory. He married Ann Barnes and they had five children, all baptised at St Gregory:
Hannah (1728)
Ann (1732)
Mary (1734)
John (1738-1826, buried at St Gregory) – John Dee (junior)
Thomas (1745-1814, buried at St Gregory)
John Dee (senior) had a cousin, Thomas Dee 1715-1760) and he had a son William, baptised at St Gregory in 1770.
It was John Dee (senior) who bought Biddles Farm from Nathaniel Reeve in 1741. Documents relating the sale and mortgage have been transcribed and are published under the history of Biddles Farm. He also owned The Bannut Tree.
His son, John Dee (junior) inherited Biddles and the Bannut Tree. In 1811, he sold The Bannut Tree to Edward Jakeman. In 1821, he was a Churchwarden. At his death, his two properties: The Bannut Tree and Biddles Farm were sold by auction – Appendix 5. This means he must have bought The Bannut tree back from Edward Jakeman.
John Dee (junior) married Elizabeth Stone (1725-1824, buried at St Gregory) and they had five children, all baptised at St Gregory:
Thomas (1745-1828, buried at St Gregory)
Elizabeth (1767-1767, buried at St Gregory)
John (1768)
William (1770)
James (1773).
The eldest son, Thomas, married Ann Elcox and by 1839 owned Micklefield Farm, which he rented to his brother William, although he lived in what is now Dees Cottage. The 1839 tithe award shows William also renting other land in the Parish, and renting out Dales Hall – which he owned. Dales Hall is probably the property he was advertising to rent in 1832. In fact, William had been forced to sell Hill Cottage, (presumed to be Dales Hall) in 1838, to pay off his creditors – Appendix 6.
Thomas Dee (1745-1814) married Mary and they had ten children. The eldest (Thomas Dee 1775-1835) married Betty Beale (1776-1846). Thomas was a Shoemaker and after his death Betty lived at Micklefield with William and then at The Club House (now Penbode). In 1823, he is recorded selling seven fields in Castlemorton to Daniel Green. The sale document is Appendix 1. The sale of property after his death is shown in Appendix 3.
His son, Thomas Dee (1808-1893) was also a Shoemaker and in 1841 was living with his wife Maria and family at Stephens's, now known as Dees Cottage. His other sons, William (1813-) and Joseph (1815-) were living elsewhere in Castlemorton, probably at what now is the Old Smithy. In 1841, William was a Shoemaker and Joseph an Agricultural Labourer.
William appears to have moved to Malvern and in 1875 successfully sued John Bullock of Castlemorton for £1. 6s. for pair Wellington boots, and for a few shillings for other goods supplied as far back 1865.
Joseph and his wife were still living in Castlemorton in 1881, as Lodgers. He was working as a General Labourer,
By 1851, Joseph was a Dealer and occupier of 6 acres. By 1861 he was Horse Dealer's Assistant and was living at Hollybed Street with his wife Eliza and four children. In March 1871 he was still there, now a Labourer, but in July the property was sold after the death of its owner, John Hill Clifton, together with Little Newlands Field which Dee also rented.
In 1882 he was fined 5s for not sending his children to school.
The youngest son of Thomas Dee (1745-1814), John Dee (1761-) married Lydia and in the 1851 Census is recorded living and farming in Castlemorton.
By the 1891 Census, there are no Dee's in Castlemorton.
Appendix 1 - Surrender of Mortgage Term 1800
Mr Francis Lucy to Mr John Dee dated 31st July 1800
This Indenture made the thirty first day of July in the fortieth year of the reign of our Sovereign Lord George the third by the Grace of God of Great Britain, France and Ireland, King, Defender of the Faith and so forth and in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred between Francis Lucy of Hanley Castle in the County of Worcester, Gentleman, of the one part and John Dee of the Parish of Castlemorton in the said County of Worcester, Gentleman, eldest son and heir of John Dee late of the same place, Wheelwright, deceased of the other part.
Whereas by Indenture of Mortgage bearing date the seventeenth of February one thousand seven hundred and forty one and made between the said John Dee of the one part and Nathaniel Reeve therein described of the other part it is witnessed for the considerations therein mentioned the said John Dee deceased did devise grant bargain and sell unto Nathaniel Reeve all that messuage or tenement called by the name of Biddles with the garden orchard and close thereto adjoining containing by estimation seven acres situate and lying in the said Parish of Castlemorton and in the said County of Worcester then in the possession of the said John Dee party thereto and hereto with the appurtenances to hold to the said Nathaniel Reeve his Executors, Administrators and Assigns for the term of one thousand years from thence next ensuing at a pepper corn rent, subject to redemption upon payment of forty pounds and interest at a day and time therein mentioned and since past.
And whereas by a Deed Poll annexed to the said Indenture dated the seventeenth of February one thousand seven hundred and forty one the said John Dee deceased did further charge and make chargeable the premises above mentioned and comprised in the said recited Indenture with the payment of thirty pounds and interest.
And whereas by Indenture of Payment Tripartite dated the third of August one thousand seven hundred and forty two made between the said Nathaniel Reeve of the first part, the said John Dee of the second part and William Hill therein described and since deceased of the third part, the said Nathaniel Reeve for the considerations therein mentioned did bargain and assign and set over and the said John Dee deceased for other considerations therein expressed did grant and confirm unto the said William Hill, his Executors, Administrators and Assigns, all the said messuage or tenement and premises with the appurtenances to hold to him the William Hill, his Executors, Administrators and Assigns, for the residue of the said term of one thousand years, subject to redemption at the time therein expressed and since past.
And whereas by Indenture of Assignment of the three parts dated the ninth of August one thousand seven hundred and forty nine made between William Hill therein named and described to be sole Executor of the said William Hill deceased of the first part, the said John Dee deceased and Ann his wife of the second part and Samuel Rose therein described of the third part, after reciting (among other things) to the effect hereinafter recited, it is witnessed that the said William Hill party thereto for the considerations therein mentioned did bargain sell assign and set over and the said John Dee deceased and his wife Ann did grant bargain sell ratify and confirm unto the said Samuel Rose all the said messuage ore tenement garden orchard and premises with the appurtenances to hold to him the said Samuel Rose, his Executors, Administrators and Assigns for the residue of the term of one thousand years subject to redemption by the said John Dee deceased and Ann his wife at the time therein mentioned and since past.
And whereas by Indenture Tripartite dated the sixteenth of March one thousand seven hundred and fifty two made between the said Samuel Rose of the first part and the said John Dee deceased of the second part and Bridget Wagstaff therein described (and since deceased) of the third part after reciting (among other things) to the effect hereinbefore recited, it is witnessed that the said Samuel Rose in consideration of one hundred pounds paid by the said Bridget Wagstaff and of thirty pounds also paid by the said John Dee deceased to the said Samuel Rose did bargain sell assign and set over and the said John Dee deceased did receive grant ratify and confirm all the said messuage or tenement garden orchard and premises with the appurtenances to hold to the said Bridget Wagstaff, her Executors, Administrators and Assigns, for the residue of the said term of one thousand years subject to the proviso for redemption contained in the last cited Indenture.
And whereas by another Indenture Tripartite of assignment dated the seventh of August one thousand seven hundred and seventy one and made between George Wagstaff therein named and described to be the sole Executor of the said Bridget Wagstaff then deceased of the first part and the said John Dee party thereto and thereto of the second part and Richard Hunt therein described of the third part, reciting to the effect hereinbefore recited and also reciting that the said sum of one hundred and thirty pounds and interest had not been paid to the said Bridget Wagstaff according to the said last recited proviso whereby the estate and interest of the said Bridget Wagstaff in the said premises was become absolute in law and also reciting that there was then due to the said George Wagstaff as Executor of the said Bridget Wagstaff on the said recited security of the sum of one hundred and thirty eight pounds five shillings and six pence .
And further reciting that the said John Dee party thereto and hereto had prevailed on the said Richard Hunt to lend him one hundred and sixty pounds upon the said premises as well to pay off the said George Wagstaff as to supply his other occasions. It is witnessed in consideration of one hundred and thirty eight pounds five shillings and six pence by the Richard Hunt to the said George Wagstaff and of twenty one pounds fourteen shillings and sixpence paid by him to the said John Dee party thereto and hereto to the said George Wagstaff did bargain sell assign and set over unto the said Richard Hunt, his Executors, Administrators and Assigns, all the said messuage or tenement garden orchard and premises with the appurtenances together with several recited Indentures and the said John Dee party thereto and hereto, he the said George Wagstaff did bargain sell and assign and set over unto the said Richard Hunt, his Executors, Administrators and Assigns, all the said messuage or tenement garden orchard and premises with the appurtenances together with the several recited Indentures and the said John Dee party thereto did grant ratify and confirm the same premises unto the said Richard Hunt to hold to his Executors, Administrators and assign for all the residue of the said term of one thousand years subject to redemption by the said John Dee thereto and hereto on payment of one hundred and sixty pounds and interest as therein mentioned.
And whereas by another Indenture Tripartite of Assignment dated the fourteenth of May one thousand seven hundred and seventy eight made between the said Richard Hunt of the first part, the said John Dee party hereto of the second part and the said Francis Lucy party hereto of the third part reciting to the effect hereintofore recited and also reciting that the said sum of one hundred and sixty pounds was not paid according to the said last mentioned proviso but that all the interest and respect thereof and forty two pounds in part of the principal had been paid by the said John Dee party thereto and hereto to the said Richard Hunt. And further reciting that there then only remained due on security of the said premises to the said Richard Hunt the sum of one hundred and eighteen pounds and that the said John Dee had prevailed upon the said Francis Lucy to pay off the same, it is witnessed in consideration of one hundred and eighteen pounds paid by the said Francis Lucy to the said Richard Hunt and ten shillings also paid to the said John Dee party thereto and hereto, he the said Richard Hunt did bargain, sell, assign and set over and the said John Dee party thereto and hereto did grant ratify and confirm unto the said Francis Lucy, his Executors, Administrators and Assigns, all and singular the said messuage, tenement and other the said premises with the appurtenances comprised in the said recited Indenture of the seventh of August one thousand seven hundred and seventy one, to hold unto the said Francis Lucy, his Executors, Administrators and Assigns, for all the then residue of the said term of one thousand years subject to redemption by the said John Dee, part thereto and hereto, on payment of one hundred and eighteen pounds at the time and therein mentioned and since past.
And whereas the said sum of one hundred and eighteen pounds was not paid according to the said cited proviso whereby the estate and interest of the said Francis Lucy of and in the said premises for the residue of the said term of one thousand years is become absolute in law though redeemable in equity and whereas upon account stated between the said John Dee the party hereto and the said Francis Lucy there appears to be due up to the day of the sale of the present for principal money and interest on security of the said premises the sum of one hundred and twenty five pounds two shillings and eleven pence.
And whereas the said John Dee, party hereto, hath proposed to pay off the said sum of one hundred and twenty five pounds two shillings and seven pence which the said Francis Lucy hath agreed to accept and to surrender and yield up the remainder of the said term of one thousand years of and in the said premises so become vested in him by virtue of the said last recited Indenture of Assignment as aforesaid.
Now this Indenture witnesseth that the said Francis Lucy for and in consideration of the sum of one hundred and twenty five pounds two shillings and eleven pence to him in hand paid by the said John Dee party hereto at and before the sealing and delivery of these presents, he the said Francis Lucy hath assigned surrendered and yielded up and by these presents doth assign surrender and yield up unto the said John Dee, party hereto, his heirs, Executors, Administrators and Assigns, all and singular the said messuage or tenement garden orchard close hereditaments and premises above mentioned and described and which are comprised in the said recited Indenture of the seventeenth of February one thousand seven hundred and forty and the reversion and reversions, remainder and remainders, rents, issues and profits thereof and evert part and parcel thereof, and also all the state right, title, interest, term of years, yet to come and unexpired, trust, property, claim and demand both at law and in equity of him the said Francis Lucy of into or out of the said hereby assigned or surrendered messuage tenement hereditaments and premises and every and any part thereof, to have to hold the said messuage or tenement garden orchard close hereditaments and premises hereinbefore mentioned and intended to be hereby assigned and surrendered with their and every of their appurtenances unto the said John Dee, party hereto, and to his heirs and Assigns to the only proper use and behoof of him the said John Dee party hereto his heirs and Assigns for ever. To the intent that the within mentioned term of one thousand years of and in the said herby assigned and surrendered premises be merged, drowned and extinguished and the said Francis Lucy doth hereby for himself, his heirs, Executor and Administrators covenant promise and agree to and with the said John Dee party hereto, his heirs and assigns, that he the said Francis Lucy hath not at any time heretofore done, committed or wittingly or willingly suffered any act, matter or thing whatsoever whereby or by means whereof the said messuage or tenement hereditaments and premises hereinbefore mentioned and intended hereby to be assigned and surrendered or the said term of one thousand years therein is are shall or may be surrendered, forfeited, avoided, impeached, charged or incumbered in Title Charge Estate or otherwise howsoever .
In witness whereof the said parties to these presents have hereunto set their hands and seals the day and the year first above written.
Sealed and delivered being first duly stamped in the presence of William Reece.
Received the day and year first within written of and from the written named John Dee party to the written Deed, the sum of one hundred and twenty five pounds two shillings and eleven pence being the full consideration money within mentioned to be by him paid as witness my hand.
William Reece, Attorney, Ledbury
Francis Lucy
£125:2:11d
Interpretation
On 17 February 1741 John Dee (senior) took two mortgages from Nathaniel Reeve, for £40 and £30.
The mortgage changed hands several times and ended up with Francis Lucy. John Dee (his son) redeemed it on 31 July 1800.