THE BCH ARCHIVE
LOCAL HISTORY FOR
BIRTSMORTON
CASTLEMORTON
HOLLYBUSH
And The Surrounding District
Archive of Reports and Anecdotes
Reports and Anecdotes :-Introduction
These reports have been gleaned from archives in public records. This includes newspaper reports, court records, willls and legal documents. It forms a facinating picture that helps us add character and flesh out the inhabitants of the three parishes.
If you are interested in any particular family or person use your browser to search the page. As the page progresses I will endeavour to bookmark each name so you can directly link to anyone on these pages. (Note Page 10 is intentionally missing.)
Page 1.
Bartlett, Rowland 1750?-
See Winifred Barlett
Bartlett, Winifred 1772-1778
Born 1772, died 24 February 1778 Louvain. Professed as a Nun 24 June 1731. Daughter of Rowland Barlett of Hill End and Castlemorton and his wife Anne Tasburgh of Bodney, Norfolk.
wwtn.history.qmul.ac.
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Bland, John 1780?-
Petition and Schedule of Prisoners to be heard at the Court house in Portugal Street, Lincolns Inn Fields, on Monday 22 February 1830. John Bland, formerly of High Street, Ledbury, Grocer and Tea Dealer, then of Mitchell, Herefordshire, out of business, and late of Castlemorton.
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Boulter, Henry 1789-186
Excellent household furniture, pate and plated articles, table and bed linen, china and glass, a few books, eight dozen manuscript sermons, engravings, an excellent violoncello with case and bag; flute,, by Monzani; concertina, capital 8-day clock, kitchen requisites, dairy articles, light spring cart, fowls, bacon pig, and numerous Effects, of the late Mr Henry Boulter, at Residence, Castlemorton Common
Published: Saturday 16 March 1867
Newspaper: Worcester Journal
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Bray, John 1525?-
Gave evidence in 1584 to an enquiry by Queen Elizabeth into practices in the Royal Forest. He was aged about 60.
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Bullock, Richard Benbow 1843-1925-
This e-mail maybe of interest to BULLOCK MALVERN researchers.
From : Hamilton, Esley <EHamilton@stlouisco.com>
Sent : 13 October 2006 20:49:12
Subject : Guarlford Realty
Mike, Your inquiry has been forwarded to me.
Guarlford Realty Company, which built the house at 6344 Wydown, was one of several real estate and development companies owned by the Bullock family.
According to his obituary in 1925 and a 1912 biographical record in “The Book of St. Louisans”, Richard Benbow Bullock was born in Malvern, Worcestershire, England on March 19, 1842, the son of Richard and Violetta Bullock. He came to St. Louis in 1872 and married Sarah S. Absolom the next year. He started a dry goods business with H. J. Powell in 1872 and started his own company two years later, which he operated until 1909.
He started Bullock Realty and Investment Company about 1906, and it was continued by his sons Richard A. Bullock and George B. Bullock, along with their sister Violet’s husband Walter H. Kobusch. All three children and their mother Sarah built houses for themselves in the same neighborhood as this speculative house. I believe another company they owned was called Malvern Realty, but it never occurred to me that Guarlford was a place name. Thanks for the information!
There is another St. Louis connection in your area, as the Beringtons of Little Malvern Court are descended from John Francis Queeny, the founder of Monsanto Chemical Company here.
Mr. Esley Hamilton, Preservation Historian
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Devereux, Samuel
Upton upon Severn. Police Court. At the Police Court, on Thursday, before the Revds A. B. Lechmere and G. H. Clifton. Major Peyton, E G Stone, H. Wlllan and J. W. Empson, Esqrs., Samuel Devereux, of Castlemorton, was summoned by Sergeant Potts for having allowed 9 sheep to stray on the highway, at Castlemorton, on the 28th July. Fined Is., and costs 7s. 6d.
Published: Saturday 09 May 1868
Newspaper: Worcester Journal
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Hill, John 1779-1863
PRESENTATION OF A TESTIMONIAL TO MR. JOHN HILL, OF CASTLEMORTON.
We had the pleasure, some short time ago, of recording a very gratifying demonstration of respectful feeling enter, tamed towards a neighbour, and generous appreciation of public services willingly rendered and efficiently performed, on the part of the inhabitants of Dodderhill, when honouring Mr. John Tolley with a testimonial, indicative of their regard and esteem. It is with no less gratification that we have now to notice another instance of the exhibition of a similar feeling occurring at Castlemorton, in this county, the subject of it being Mr John Hill, a gentleman who has resided in the parish for fifty years past, and who, for upwards or forty year, has been regularly elected to serve the office of pariah churchwarden. Throughout a wide district he has been long known and deservedly respected as an excellent neighbour and a capital farmer, while to all sportsmen he has endeared himself by his hearty support and unbounded hospitality. At the commencement of this year it became known that he was about to give up farming and retire from the active pursuit, of business to the enjoyment of the calm eventide of life. The circumstance caused no little sensation among the circle with which he had been so long connected, and it was determined to present him with a testimonial expressive of their good wishes and esteem, for which purpose a subscription was entered into and sufficient funds soon raised to procure a massive silver tankard, (manufactured by Messrs. Angell, Sirand, London,) and a purse of eighty sovereigns. The tankard bears the following inscription:— “Presented to Mr. John Hill by 142 neighbours and friends as a testimonial of their esteem for his excellent character, and in approbation of his conduct for many years as Churchwarden for the parish and Poor Law Guardian of Castlemorton. May, 1852."
The presentation of this pleasing testimonial was celebrated by a dinner of the subscribers on Wednesday last, at the Feathers Inn, Castlemorton, on which occasion about fifty gentlemen assembled, and at half past four o'clock sat down to an excellent repast, provided with much good taste by Mr. Beaman, the landlord, and which, together with the wine, did him much credit. The president was Mr. John Lane, (Mr. Hill's successor in the offices of Churchwarden and Guardian,) and Mr. Holland, solicitor, of Upton, acted as Vice-President. Among the company present were the incumbent of the parish, the Rev. John Hill; Messrs. F. Higgins, H. Lakin, H. B Marsh, C. Shuard, John Winnall, W. Lane, W. E. Cooper, J. Farr, John Rayer, R. Loid. G. Hill F. Inall, A Pike, R. Guilding. W. Beach, H. Hill, T. Weaver, J. Ellis, H. Bundy, F. Bradley, G. Beecham. G. Beecham, jun., H. Trebearne, E. Perrins, B. Hall. G. W. Birchley, A. Lane, John Grundy, James Grundy, W. Price, &c. &c.
Grace was said by the Rev. Mr. Hill, and after the removal of the cloth the customary toasts were proposed and well responded to. In proposing the toast of the evening, the Chairman, after apologising for his inadequacy to fill the position which had been assigned him by the Committee, (than which a better Committee he had never been connected with,) proceeded to observe:— It has been said that such things as testimonials are getting common-place, but gentlemen I wish they were a great deal more common-place than they are. It is the right of all men who deserve well of society to receive the due meed of approbation, and it has even been observed that where deserving men have been denied justice by their contemporaries, posterity has at length done them justice. (Hear.) In this spirit it was that this testimonial was commenced and carried through. Mr. Hill has resided for fifty years in this parish, and when he first became a parishioner be found Castlemorton just emerging, in common with many other parishes, from a slate of barbarism as it may be said. At that time agriculture was in a very bad state at a very low ebb; the greatest part of the parish still lay in common field; and the roads were in so wretched a state as to be impassable for wheeled vehicles. Thanks to Mr. Hill, it is not so now; our friend set his active mind to work in the improvement of the parish, and now our agriculture is not much behind the best, and our roads can challenge a comparison with those of any parish or district. (Cheers) In other respects Mr. Hill has been eminently useful. Forty years ago he was selected to serve the office of churchwarden for the parish, and ever since he has been re-elected year after year to fill that office. (Cheers)
Churchwardenship is a sinecure now comparatively speaking; it was not so when Mr. Hill was first elected, or for many year, thereafter. The whole of the parish business was then devolved upon the churchwardens; and I can truly affirm, according to the canon law, that in his office he did all thing, decently and in order. (Cheers) I must mention one more subject: in the year '35, that is seventeen years ago, Mr. Hill was elected Guardian of the poor of this parish, which is perhaps the largest in the Union returning only one Guardian; he has filled the office up to the present year, and constantly assisted in carrying out the good and benevolent designs for which the Union was instituted. In doing that, while he has most sedulously cared for the wants of the poor, he has also been most careful for the interests of the ratepayers. In the course of these seventeen years, looking to the fortnightly meetings of the Union, deducting five per cent, for necessary absence, I find that Mr. Hill must have made about 600 journeys to Upton. (Cheers) l am sure when I come to speak of my friend's hospitality, I shall not need to say much to you who all know it so well. I can I believe most truly say that there never was a farmer or sportsman more hospitable or more delighted to see his neighbours at all times, and, in short, in every relation of life, whether social, moral, or religious, I believe that Mr. Hill has been always most highly and deservedly esteemed; nay, I believe that even the envenomed tooth of slander has seldom or rather never reached my friend's character. (Cheers) And now, gentlemen, entertaining all these feelings for Mr. Hill, when he is going to live in comparative privacy, can we do less to testify our regard than to present him with this small testimonial of our esteem ? (Cheers) Mr. Hill has well deserved our respect for the example he has set; he has shown that however busy a man may he, if he has the will he has yet time to do good to his neighbours; and no one can consider his course of life without agreeing with the sacred writer, that man was not altogether made in vain. (Great cheering) The Chairman concluded by presenting the Testimonial to Mr. Hill, and also banded him a list of the subscribers neatly engrossed on parchment. The list was headed by Earl Beauchamp and Gen. Lygon for £5 each.
Mr. Hill, on rising to return thanks, was received with hearty cheering, which lasted for some time. He observed be would only say that he returned his sincere thanks to his friends present and also those who were absent, but he must also make a few observations ; and first in regard to being churchwarden. He had filled the office for forty years, but he must say if he had not had some friends in the parish— be might truly say all the parishioners were his friends— be could not have acted as he had. He could neither have made the roads nor repaired the Church, nor done half nor quarter what had been done. It was impossible for him to go to a parish meeting and say “This thing must be done,'' or " That thing must not be done ;" he required assistance, and had found it; but this he would say, that his aim had always been to do his duty conscientiously (Hear ) He believed that no one but himself bad been a resident in the parish for 50 year, or had filled office so long. Of course he was not bound to take office, nor would he take it but on conditions. When he was requested to take office, he said, “Gentlemen, if you will audit your accounts I will accept office, but not otherwise." The parish books had not been audited for three years; they were audited, and there had been an audit every year since then. There never had been any division at a parish meeting since the year '29. In April of that year there was a division at a meeting called by the Incumbent, thee Vicar of Longdon. It happened that be (Mr. Hill) went to Upton to a meeting of Commissioners sent down to look into the affairs of schools and charities He passed his accounts all right, and he recollected that in a book 117 years old the account given of the parish agreed with his. At that meeting the Vicar got up and said he wished to choose feoffees instead of having his property in the parish remain in the hands of the churchwarden. He said that he wished him to call a parish meeting to take the subject into consideration. He (Mr. Hill) refused, but asked who he intended to be feoffees: the Vicar replied Lord Somers, Sir Anthony Lechmere, Mr. Dowdeswell, and himself, (Mr. Hill) His reply was— “Thank you ; I have three colleagues now, but with feoffees I should have none." He asked him (Mr. Hill) to permit him to call a meeting, which he did; the meeting took place, and was attended by thirteen, twelve of whom voted against the Vicar. It had been said that there was a good deal of difference between the office of churchwarden when he took office and now, and so there was. There was a good deal to do with removals of paupers, and other things, such as orders and appeals. He had had plenty to do of that kind of work, and could say that he never lost an order or an appeal; and that was saying a good deal, "And not only that, "said Mr. Hill, with much animation, "but I never employed counsel or attorney. I shall say no more on that head than this— l ought not to have taken office if I did not intend to do my duty; having taken office I performed it fearlessly, and transacted the parish business just as well, and no better and no worse, than I did my own. (Hear) Allow me again to thank you for this handsome present, which is more valuable to me as a testimonial of the respect of my friends and neighbours than in any other way. I shall always think that I have gained that, not for doing more than others, but rather for doing my duty, and that I hope I shall still continue to do." (Mr. Hill resumed his seat amidst great cheering.) The following toasts were subsequently proposed and well received:—“The health of Mrs. Hill" (responded to by Mr. John Hill, jun) “The Vice-President, Mr. Holland"; who suitably returned thanks, and proposed “The Health of the Committee, and thanks to them for their labours".
Published: Thursday 27 May 1852
Newspaper: Worcester Journal