Title
This charity was founded by Richard Hartwell who died in 1739, Quaker.
He was apparently the son of Joshua Hartwell and his wife, Joan Bennett. Joshua, a carpenter, who already had some land in Tartlett End, acquired rights in the 1680's to part of Hooks wood in some complicated transactions with the Dymoke family, Charles senior & junior. Hooks wood must have been extensive: the original estimate of the area was 61 acres (18), and Charles Dymoke senior was to have Little Hookes, Hookes meadow, and 6 acres of Great Hookes. But the area was subsequently found to be not much more than 40 acres (32), and there were modifications. It was also arranged that a way was to be made into Hooks wood from Hartwell's existing land. Various calculations of the timber and also of brickmaking have survived (25-31). In the end, it seems clear that Joshua Hartwell remained in possession of a substantial part of Hooks wood (35). A small part had been sold off to Stephen Parrish (17,32).
Joshua Hartwell also had common field land (1-2); and a copyhold cottage in Town End (36). His wife inherited from her brother, Richard Bennett, Gt. Hills close, 10 acres (3-16); and other copyhold property in Tartlett End (50).
Joshua's will (ABP/W1709/26) mentions beside his wife Joan a son Joshua, daughter Sara, and son Richard. Richard (who seems to have been a butcher: 65) was to have Hooks wood and 2 acres of freehold land (cf. 1-2), provided he made stipulated payments to his brother and sister. The latter, who afterwards married James Warr, is mentioned later, but it seems possible that Joshua junior died, as no more is heard of him. Richard inherited from his mother Joan in 1724 (ABP/W1724/44).
Thus Richard, when he died in 1739, had apparently neither children nor nephews and nieces. He therefore left the income from his property to trustees for his sister Sara Warr for life; thereafter for charitable purposes.
In fact the trustees were empowered to buy land for the charity, but they do not seem to have done so: there are no deeds of additional purchases, and the area has not increased at the time of the Charity Commission's Reports. (Will: 80-5). In fact the trustees were soon in difficulty from a claim from a young cousin, Joseph Hartwell, son of Richard, late of London, oilman, and of Ruth Middleton. Ruth seems to have subsequently married John Partridge of Asbley Guise, wheelwright (59,62). The elder Richard had left his young cousin £30 at the age of 14 for his apprenticeship, and £100 at age 21. Under a new Act of Mortmain, 1739, restricting charitable bequests, there was a question whether the charity was valid (107-68). A later lawsuit in the 19th century was fought with the rector over tithe, (169-214).
No regular series of minutes has survived, only one small late book, so slight that it may be a rough book. The account-book is good and well kept, and there is an extensive series of bills covering repairs and similar items, in connection with the property, which came to be known as Hartwell Farm. At the time of the Charity Commission Reports it was let to King Baker at £60 p.a One house was used as an almshouse by 3 poor women; and 3 other almswomen were allowed to live elsewhere. They received 3s. weekly; and 10s. at Christmas for gowns; and those in the almshouse were supplied with coal.
At the enclosure of Cranfield in 1840 the freehold land, as old enclosures, was unaffected, but there was an allotment of 1 a. 2 r. 3 p. for copyhold, (a plot being allotted in Southside and Stillipers Fields). The schedule shows a house - presumably the almshouse - and garden, 1 r. 3 p.; and the Farm is:- farmhouse & homestead 1 0 2 Home close 8 0 24 Home pightle 1 1 0 Lower pightle 3 0 14 Spinney close 5 3 22 Cow pen 37 Spinney 2 1 8 Town spinney 3 7 Turnip close 5 0 17 Ploughed close 9 3 6 The combined total is 39 a. 1 r. 23 p.
It is curious that, though the name Hook does not seem to have survived anywhere on Hartwell Farm, it appears in the award on adjoining land: Hooks grove, Hooks hill and Hooks meadow - presumably that part that went to Charles Dymoke.
The Victoria County History in 1912 gives the property as 3 almshouses, and 40 acres let at £65 p.a., and adds that by the Scheme of 1898 the net income was applicable in pensions to not more than 6 persons, of whom one half to be members of the Society of Friends, and the other half to be persons 5 years resident in the parish. In 1908-9 3 widows, inmates of the almshouses, received 2s.6d. weekly, and 3 annuitants £8 6s. p.a.
A curious point is that two small pedigrees (120-1) do not agree at all with the evidence of these documents. The discrepancy could only be cleared up by consulting Friends' registers.