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THE WILL OF JOHN DE SUTTON.
We beg to acknowledge our indebtedness to the Rev. F. Brodhurst. Vicar of Heath (formerly Vicar of Sutton-in-Ashfleld) for the subjoined:—
"The Will of John de Sutton, 1391 (Translated and annotated) (1).—In the name of God, Amen: I, John de Sutton of Lincoln, the elder, citizen of that same City, of good memory, and whole mind, on the Monday before the Festival of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, in the year of our Lord, one thousand three hundred and ninety-first. (2), I dispose, appoint, and make my will in this manner. First, I commend my soul to God, to the Blessed Virgin Mary, and to all the Saints, and my body to be buried in the Church of S. Katherine's Priory (3), outsile Lincoln, with my best garment as my Principal (4), Also I leave to the fabric fund of the said church ten pounds. Also I leave twelve pounds for the repair and completion of a tomb over the body of my father in the Church of the Holy Trinity in Wigford. Also I give and leave twenty pounds for making and constructing a bell tower to the Church of Sutton-in-Ashfield (5). Also I give and leave to the Church of S. Mary, in Nottingham, one hundred shillings, to be spent upon that part of the Church where my mother lies, so that the tomb of my mother may be the better marked to the safety of her soul. Also I leave to be spent upon my funeral ten pounds. Also I leave to be distributed to the poor ten pounds. Also I leave to each order of the Friars (6) twenty shillings. Also I leave to John, the chaplain of Church of St. Andrew on the Hill, Lincoln, living as a recluse (7), there twenty shillings. Also I leave to Isabella, a recluse in the Church of St. Andrew's, in Wykford, thirteen shillings and fourpence. Also I leave to the Prior and Convent of Beauvale (8) ten pounds. Also I leave for sermons at Catteley ten pounds. Also I leave to John Croker there ten shillings. Also I leave to the veiled sisters of St. Katherine ten pounds. Also I leave to Cyprian, a malster, mykinsman, one hundred shillings. Also I leave to John of Wakerley ten pounds. Also I leave to William de Sutton, my relative, ten marks, with a russet mantle. Also I leave to John Ingram, my servant, ten marks and all my horses and all things belonging to them in the stable, and all my bows and arrows. Also I leave to Robert Butler ten pounds. Also I leave to John, my servant, ten pounds. Also I leave to my servant boy, Robert, twenty shillings. Also I give and leave to John de Busley, my servant, some ancient debts that are owed to me at London, namely, that of Richard Neville's, amounting to £120, and that of John Hoos's, amounting to £80, and that of Raunde's, amounting to £57. Also I leave to the said John a coat of mail. Also I leave to William Ingle all my marble or alabaster boxes, with whatever belongs to them. Also I leave to John Leake a maser (9) with its gilt cover, with two pieces of white falding (10) and one small chest. Also I leave to the image of the Blessed Mary, at the high altar of the Cathedral Church ot Lincoln, a sapphire ring (11), &c., &c. (1) John de Sutton had no doubt sprung from Sutton-in-Ashfield, in the county of Nottingham, to which place, as it will be seen, he left a legacy, as well as to other places in the county. (2.) The will was made in the year 1391, and therefore the value of money must be taken to be probably twenty times as much as in the year 1884. In other words, ten pounds at that time would be equal probably to two hundred pounds now. (3) St. Katherine's was a well-known Priory at Lincoln. It gave largely to, and might be called the founder of, the present Parish Church of St. Mary Magdalene, at Newark. John Burton, vicar of Newark, who made his will in the year 1475, and whose memorial stone may still be seen on the floor of the north chancel aisle of that church, gave half of his goods and all his residue to the Prioress and Convent of St. Katherine, outside Lincoln. (4.) "Aprincipal" was the mortuary or offering left to the Church, usually the best horse or beast. Mortuary fees are still received in some parishes, not paid in kind, however, but compounded for a payment of money. (5.) The bell tower at Sutton-in-Ashfield, to which John de Sutton left the sum of £20, probably equal to £400 now, is still standing, and the Architecture of its windows show it to belong to the end of the fourteenth century. (6) There were houses of black, grey, white and Austin Friars in Lincoln, besides a house of Friars de Sacoo, all which are described in the Monasticon. The Friars were the most popular of all religious orders at this period on accountof their noble courage and activity during the long and terrible visitation of the Black Death in England during the years 1348-49, when it is computed at least one-third, and perhaps nearly one-half of the population was carried off. Hardly a will occurs without a legacy to the different orders of Friars. (7.) Recluses lived at that time in churches, sometimes, as in Holme Church in this county, in the parvise over the porch; sometimes, as in Upton Church probably, in the tower, where there is a room with a fireplace, and which has sometime been inhabited. Sometimes the recluses lived in a small building in the churchyard. (8.) The Priory of Beauvale, in this county, or, as it was called in Latin, de Pulchra Valle in parco de Gresseley, was founded by Nicholas de Cantelupe in 1342. The last Prior was Thomas Woodcock. Beauvale is in the parish of Greasley, and there is now hanging in the fine tower of Greasley Church a bell which, tradition says, came from Beauvale at the Dissolution. It is a very sweet toned bell, and was probably the "angelus" bell at the Priory, and was rung at sundown to remind people to say their "Ave Maria gratia plena; Dominus tecum; benedicta tu in mulieribus." That was the salutation of the angel Gabriel, and was not a prayer to the Virgin; and it would be well if Christiana were reminded by the bell when it rings now, as it still does in some of our parishes, of our Lord's Incarnation—"that He was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary." The legend on the Greasley bell is, "Dulcis Sisto Melis, Vocor, Campana Gabrielis," I am of sweet sound; I am called the bell of Gabriel. (9.) A maser is a bowl made of maple wood, and used for drinking purposes. They were frequently ornamented with fillets or bands of silver. There is preserved in York Cathedral the maser of an Archbishop of this diocese (for until 1886 the county of Nottingham was in the Diocese of York). It has this legend upon it, "Recharde arche beschope scrope grants onto all tho that drynkes of thys cope xl dayes to pardun." It is of about the date 1413. (10.) Faldyng. Halliwell gives the meaning as "a kind of frieze or rough cloth." (11.) At the Dissolution of the Chantries in Cathedrals and Churches, many jewels and rings, and amongst them many sapphire rings, were taken from the Cathedral at Lincoln, and doubtless this one amongst them that had been presented by John de Sutton to the image of the Virgin Mary over the high altar."
RE-NAMING THE STREETS.
The naming, re-naming, and the affixing of name-plates at the entrance to the various streets, yards, and places in the parish, and the systematic numbering of each house, took place in or about 1894. On that occasion many of the old streets were renamed, but in some instances the old names have not yet by any means been forgotten.
INSTRUCTION OF THE YOUNG.
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Under the new regime: A group of boys attending the Mansfield Road School in 1875. On the right is Mr. W. Morris, the oldest Council headmaster in the parish, and on the left the late Mr. John Lindley, the Attendance Officer. |
Prior to the passing of the Education Act, 1870. the young boys and girls of Sutton had no means of securing a systematic education as they have nowadays. There were then no beautiful and commodious buildings for the young to receive their instruction, and no admirable currioulums and trained teachers to impart knowledge to their pupils, as there are now. Ought not, therefore, our boys and girls of to-day to be more intellectually advanced than those of upwards of half-a-century ago?' Infants in former times attended "Old Dames' Schools," or private houses, where the mistress attended rather to their amusement than the laying of the foundation in preparation for the building up of a fundamental education. Older boys and girls also attended the private homes, and other ill-adapted buildings, of John Oscroft, Edwin Wass, and James Slater in Duke Street; William Rhodes (Rhodes' Yard); Charles Jennings, Tom Dove (Parliament Street): J. E. Burrows (High Pavement), and others. Many of our inhabitants also received their instruction in the Old Tithe Barn (which stood on the Vicarage site) up to the time that a portion of the roof fell in, placing one or two of the pupils in jeopardy of sustaining serious injury, and likewise at the British School, which was built in 1836 by public subscription, and which was demolished a few years ago for the erection of Providence Hall in High Pavement. The headmaster of this school unfortunately lost his life while bathing in the Old Mill Dam, and so well was he respected that the inhabitants erected a memorial stone over his grave in Sutton churchyard bearing the following inscription:—"A tribute of respect. Reared by subscription in memory of John Congdon, from Launceston in Cornwall, and lately highly esteemed master of the Sutton British School, who was drowned while bathing June 14th, 1845, aged 23 years." In 1871 began a new era in regard to educational facilities, for then a School Board was formed, and whilst some of the present schools were in course of erection the Board entered upon their new duties in the schoolrooms belonging to the respective Nonconformist places of worship. School after school was then erected until now we have the following splendid array of buildings, scattered here and there, and testifying to the rapid growth in population and the advancement in the methods and conditions of education:—Mansfield Road: Infants, Boys, and Girls; Central (between I'riestsic Road and Outram Street): Infants, Boys, and Girls. These are separate blocks of buildings. Hardwick Street: Infants, Boys, and Girls (one building); Church Street: Infants; and Forest Street: Higher Standard School Mixed (Boys and Girls). The total accommodation for those and the National School is 3,662. The elected members forming the first School Board in 1871 were—Rev. Charles Bellairs, Vicar (Chairman), Rev. Edward Pringle. Congregational (Vice-Chairman), and Messrs. G. Kendall, H. Jephson, W. Bonser, B. B. Slater, and R. Carter. There was some debate in the town at the time as to the advisability of creating a Board, the late Duke of Portland having generously offered to provide the accommodation required, but the ratepayers eventually decided in favour of a Board. The Rev. E Pringle acted as Clerk for a little time at the outset; then the late Mr. G. H. Hibbert. of Mansfield, followed by Mr. W. A. Plumbe, of Mansfield (formerly of Sutton), who held the position for many years, relinquishing it in 1900; Mr. J. B. Meggitt, of Mansfield, afterwards held it for 6 months; the Correspondent now being Mr. J. D. Fidler. Mr. John Lindley was the first Attendance Officer, holding the office for upwards of 21 years, and then Mr. A. Jepson for a few years (now Attendance Officers' Superintendent, residing at Nottingham), and now Mr. K. Wright, of Howard Street. School Boards were dispensed with in 1903, and all their schools transferred to County Councils, bodies being approved by them to serve as local managers. The Sutton Managers are—Mr. G. G. Bonser (Chairman), Mrs. C. H. Kitchen, Mrs Mitchell. Mrs. Nesbitt. Revs. F. J. Adams (Vicar) and J. Stephenson (Congregational), Messrs. G. Stevenson, A. H. Bonser, J.P., C.C., J. Pickard. C.C., E. Pepper, G. A. Spencer, and H. S. Shacklock. Mr. Pickard was present at the opening of all the ratepayers' elementary schools in the parish.
PARISH CHURCH SUNDAY SCHOOL.
In the year 1818 the Sunday School in connection with the Parish Church was first established in the Old Malthouse now belonging to Mr. James Gelsthorpe, of Annesley Woodhouse, and which is situate off Portland Square. It was afterwards held in the Old Tithe Barn, and when the latter was removed to make way for the Vicarage it was transferred to the present National Schools.
SMEDLEY'S END.
Lies at the West portion of the parish, and is sometimes called "West End," but it is more familiarly known by its original name. "Smedley's End" was given to the vicinity after Mr. John Smedley. who first commenced building there, and who died about 1840. There are several members of the family buried in Sutton churchyard.
HARDWICK STREET.
This thoroughfare was so denominated on account of it being part of the ancient road leading to Kirkby Hardwick.
LONGEVITY.
Sutton can congratulate itself on having two nonogenarians in the parish
in Mr. John Searson, of High Pavement, and Mr. Thos. Dove, of Forest Street.
The first-named was born May 7th, 1816, and the latter May 4th, 1817. This
speaks well for the healthy situation of the town. Mr. Searson remembers
five monarchs— George III., George IV., William IV., Queen Victoria,
and King Edward VII.
CRIMES PERPETRATED IN THE PARISH, From 1817 to 1907.
A dreadful murder was committed in the parish of Sutton in the year 1817, on the confines of the parish, adjoining Blidworth. A young factory girl, named Elizabeth Shepherd, had gone to Mansfield in search of work and was returning home at dusk, expeoting to join her mother at Newstead toll bar, where they had appointed a meeting. The mother saw her descending the hill and shortly disappear, and a little after she saw the murderer pass through the toll bar with her daughter's umbrella, which she recognised. The body of the unfortunate girl was found soon after in the adjoining ditch, having been killed by a bludgeon. The murderer's name was Charles Rotherham, of Sheffield. He was soon detected, and was executed for the crime at Nottingham. A stone bearing an inscription marks the scene of the tragedy.
In 1830, Henry Shooter, aged 20, apprenticed to a doctor at Belper, murdered his father in King Street, Sutton, with a surgical instrument, and afterwards destroyed himself with the same. He also attempted the life of his mother. He perpetrated the crime in order to become possessed of his father's property.
The parish enjoyed immunity from such wicked crimes until December 25th, 1894, when at 12-30 on that morning (being Christmas Day), Edmund Kesioven murdered his paramour— Sarah Oldham (a married woman living apart from her husband) —by cutting her throat with a razor in a bedroom at the house where they lived in Penn Street. The murdered woman, who was aged 40, escaped from the room immediately the fatal wound was inflicted, and fled into the house of her relatives, a few doors away, where she expired shortly afterwards. Kesteven was promptly arrested and conveyed to the Mansfield Police Station. He was subsequently committed by the late Messrs. W. W. Hall and W. M. Oates to take his trial on the capital charge at the Notts. Assizes. The inquest on the body of the murdered woman was held in the Town Hall, Sutton, on December 26th, when the jury returned a verdict of "Wilful Murder" against Kesteven, who followed the occupation of a hand framework-knitter, and was at one time a professional cricketer. He was tried before Justice Hawkins at the Notts. Assizes on March 5th, 1895, and sentenced to death, Kesteven expiating for his heinous deed on the scaffold shortly afterwards. Both deceased were natives of Sutton.
Six years later—September 2nd, 1900—a youth named Charles Elliott, aged 19, of Sutton, was assaulted about 10 p.m. on Kirkby Road, and succumbed to the injuries early the following morning. His alleged assailant was apprehended and charged with "Manslaughter," but was discharged at the Notts. Assizes on December 1st.
Another ghastly murder was committed in the parish on February 2nd, 1904. About six o'clock on that morning a miner named Clarkson, residing in one of the Twitchell houses, was proceeding to his work, when, to his horror, he discovered the dead bodies of a young man and woman, the former lying aoross the narrow footpath midway in the Twitchell, and the latter by the Bide of the hedge. The bodies were subsequently identified as those of George Alfred Crocker, aged 31, a painter, lodging with a widow named Parnell at 23, Crown Street, Sutton, and Ethel Shooter, aged 19, single, residing at 21, Berkeley Street (off St. Ann's Well Road), Nottingham, daughter of Mr. George Shooter, auctioneer, of Nottingham (formerly of Sutton). Crocker was a married man, having deserted his wife two years previously at Pinfold, near Denby Dale, Yorkshire. His workshop was in High Pavement. The throats of both deceased were found to have been terribly lacerated, with a blood-stained razor lying by the man's side. Both bodies were conveyed to the Gas Works. At the inquest a verdict of "Murder and felo-de-se" was returned against Crocker, who was buried in the Sutton Cemetery in the presence of a large concourse of people, the Rev. J. Stephenson (Congregational minister) officiating. The unfortunate girl, whose acquaintance Crocker had made in Nottingham only several months previously, was interred in the Nottingham General Cemetery. The actual motive of the crime remains a mystery.
SUTTON SECTION OF POLICE.
The Sutton Section of Police, in the Notts. Constabulary, comprises the parishes of Sutton-in-Ashfield, Skegby. Huthwaite, and Fulwood, the headquarters being in Sutton, where the Police Station, at the junction of Market Street and Low Street, was erected in 1861. Prior to that time Messrs. E. Sills and William Foulds served r.s parish constables, whilst a Mr. Sherman acted as private constable to Mr. Unwin. We believe the first officer under the present regime was P.C. Saxton, and then came the following in order at the head:—Sergt. G. Radford,. 1861—1864; Sergt. R. Hind, 1864—1866; Sergt. T. Hallam, 1860—1877; Sergt. E. Brown, 1877—1891; Insp. Hnry. Sills, 1891—1900; Insp. John Duckmanton, 1900—1907; Insp. P. Brown, 1907. Altogether Mr. Sills was stationed in Sutton 22 years, first as constable and then as sergeant, whilst Mr. Duckmanton had a 24 years' similar service. The section now consists of—One Inspector, two Sergeants, and 11 Constables. A few years ago the privilege of holding an Occasional Court on Mondays at the Police Station was conceded, but advantage of the arrangement has rarely been taken.
EXCISE LICENSES.
The number of excise licenses, in respect to the sale of wines, spirits, and ales, in the parish is—Full Licensed Houses, 28; Beerhouses On, 9; Beerhouses Off, 11; Wine and Spirit Off Licenses, 4. The last full-license to be conceded in the parish was that to the New Cross Hotel in 1869.
PUBLIC-HOUSES.
There was formerly a public-house in the middle of Swan Street, and one at the top of Duke Street kept by the late Mr. E. Brooks. The license to the Portland Arms was obtained in 1832 by the late Mr. Wild, a tailor. In former times licensed victuallers were privileged to keep their houses open all night. NEW STREET.
Where this street now is, deer was running wild in the forest upwards of 100 years ago, and there was formerly a stile leading on to the green sward at the spot which marks the entrance from the Market Place. On the site of Mr. C. Stringfellow's premises once stood a public-house (or beer-off), where a Mr. Bridgett once lived, as well as Mr. Richard Tubsbury, junior. Up to 1852 the Devonshire Arms was known as the "Green Dragon." The sign bearing this name was blown down during a hurricane in that year, and the then landlord (Mr. S. Willey) bought the existing sign at Nottingham and had it placed on the inn. The shop now occupied by Councillor G. Stevenson at the junction of New Street and King Street was built by the late Mr. R. Littlewood in 1838.
Mr. A. H. BONSER, J.P.
Few public men in the pariah have had such a record as Mr. Bonser, who was born in Sutton April 14th, 1855, he being the youngest son of the late Mr. Wm. Bonser. draper, of Low Street, Sutton. He is a gentleman of independent means, residing at Forest Lodge, in Forest Street, which he had built in 1884, taking up his abode there in May of that year, after being in residence a short time at Sherwood House. Early in life he showed great taste for music, and he now holds the degree of A.R.C.O. He has composed many pieces, and the tune he provides each year to one of the hymns for the Church Whitsuntide Festival is always much appreciated. His services are frequently requisitioned as judge at musical contests, having officiated at places both far and near, and he is the conductor of the Sutton Harmonic; Society. The fact is—his whole heart and soul is in music. As an organist, he has a commendable reputation, and from 1889 to 1902 he officiated as organist at S. Peter's Church, Mansfield, and now holds a similar position (combined with that of choirmaster, which positions he entered upon February, 1907) at the Parish Church in his native town. He has been a member of the Mansfield Board of Guardians since 1887, having been vice-chairman of that body for 14 years, and is now chairman, being appointed to that position two years ago. He is one of Sutton's representatives on the Notts. County Council, where he has sat regularly since 1891. He is chairman of the House Committee of the Notts. County Asylum at Radcliffe, and it was about 24 years ago when he was first returned as a member of the old Sutton Local Board, of which authority, and also the Urban District Council, he has been chairman. He is now a member of the Sutton School Managers, and ever since the passing of the present Education Act he has been chairman of the Staffing Committee connected with the Managers. He is also a member of the County Education Committee, and of the County Staffing and School Management Committee. He was. too. chairman of the Gas Committee of the old Local Board for nine years, and seven years chairman of the Highway Committee. He was placed on the Commission of the Peace February, 1907. "Arthur Howard Bonser" Friendly Society, held at Forest Side, is called after him, Mr. Bonser taking a great interest in the Friendly Society movement. He also holds other minor offices in the parish.
Mr. J. PICKARD.
Who came to Sutton when a boy, has been connected with the affairs of the parish all his life. He first of all served on the old Highway Board before the formation of the Local Board, to which he succeeded, and then on to the Urban District Council, only being defeated in the 1907 election. He has officiated as chairman of those authorities. He has also served on the Educational Authorities of the town, on the Mansfield Board of Guardians, and is now the co-representative with Mr. A. H. Bonser on the Notts. County Council. He has had long associations with the Sutton and District Sunday School Union, Old People's Dinner Fund, Liberal Association, Primitive Methodism, etc. In fact, he holds a splendid record in connection with the parochial life of the parish. He is an octogenarian, and resides in Cursham Street.
Mr. G. G. BONSER.
Of Kirkstede, Church Street, is also a conspicuous figure in the parochial affairs of the parish. He has been one of the most useful members on the looal governing bodies, and he is very popular for his high intellectual abilities, his pet subject being history.
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