Reference
X668/237
Title
Ravensden Charity deed. Release in trust for the poor of Ravensden [lease missing]: (i) Lawrence Castleman, Ravensden, farmer (ii) John, Duke of Bedford, Marquis of Tavistock; The Reverend Philip Hunt, Doctor of Divinity, vicar of Ravensden; Sir William Long, knight, Kempston House; The Reverend Hugh Wade Gery, Bushmead Priory, clerk; The Reverend John Brereton, Bedford, officiating curate of Ravensden; Lanoy Forbes, City of London, merchant; Thomas Charles Palmer, Apchurch Lane, London, esquire; William Barras, Ravensden, gentleman; James Smithson, Ravensden, gentleman. Reciting various deeds [Details given] Now (i) conveys to (ii) on trusts: piece of ground in Church Field, Ravensden (1 acre 3 roods 21 perches); part of Town Close (1 rood 34 perches); The Old Orchard (2 roods 19 perches) now in the occupation of William Grant; cottage in Ravensden, late in the occupation of William Miles and other poor people of Ravensden; 7 selions pasture; close pasture on North side of said cottage in the occupation of William Grant. To hold in trust: as to 3 pieces of land, to employ rents etc towards relief of the poor of Ravensden and aid of Town in common town charges; as to cottage, seven selions of land and close of pasture, on trust to dispose of profits among poor people of Ravensden yearly at feast of St Ann and St Thomas the Apostle. Signature of (i). Endorsed witnesses: J Gilham, Bedford; T Westley, Ravensden
Date free text
18 May 1816
Production date
From: 1816 To: 1816
Scope and Content
Details of recited deeds:
Reciting deed of 1 April 1631: (a) Thomas Browne, Stevington, yeoman; Francis Rawlins, Kempston, gentleman (b) Trustees. (a) enfeoffed to (b) property in Ravensden, as below, then in the occupation of William Savage, in trust for relief of poor people of Ravensden and for aid and ease of inhabitants in their common town charges.
Reciting also deed of 24 March 8 Charles [1633]: (1) Robert Robinson alias Smith, Ravensden, labourer; William Robinson alias Smith, Woodhill, elder brother of above (2) Richard Haines, the elder; Richard Wagstaffe; John Rush; Henry Watford (all of Ravensden). Reciting will of Agnes Martin dated 17 December 1565 by which she devised to cousin, Robert Moore all her free land on condition that his heirs should give to the poor of Ravensden yearly 40s, i.e. 20s at feast of St Ann and 20s at feast of St Thomas. Inhabitants of Ravensden have accepted £40 in lieu to purchase cottage and lands hereinafter mentioned, and rents and profits disposed of to poor of Ravensden yearly. Now (1) in consideration of £40, enfeoffed to (2) cottage in Ravensden, 7 selions pasture enclosed, another close on North side of said cottage and adjoining thereto, on trust to dispose of rents to poor of Ravensden.
By several other conveyances etc and ultimately by feoffment of 15 June 1806: (A) The Reverend Richard Leach, clerk, vicar of Ravensden and only surviving trustee (B) said Lawrence Castleman. (A) conveyed to (B) in trust:
-- close pasture (1 acre) in Wood End of Ravensden where a cottage stood, then in occupation of John Town and other poor people of Ravensden. Said close lately in occupation of William Watford and then of (B).
-- piece meadow called Dolemead (1/2 acre)
West Dolemead
East common brook
-- 1/2 acre in common fields abutting on Parsonage Yard
-- 1/2 acre arable in same field
-- 1/2 acre in Hillfield in Brook furlong in occupation of William Watford and (B)
-- 1/2 acre in Dawes field in Long Slade furlong
-- 2 x 1/2 acre land in Wilden, in Hunts Croft, which premises are same as those described in first mentioned deed
-- cottage in Ravensden in the occupation of William Mills and other poor people of Ravensden
-- 7 selions enclosed pasture
-- other close in Ravensden on North side of said cottage in the occupation of William Grant
By Inclosure Act of Ravensden, there was allotted to Vicar and Church wardens as trustees of the Poor Estate:
-- 1 plot land in Church Field (1 acre 3 roods 21 perches)
North east ancient enclosure to Leah Barringer
South (part) ) ancient enclosure awarded to trustees for poor of Ravensden
West (part) )
South west (part) ) Edward Wildman
South east )
South west (remaining part) ) Leah Barringer
North west )
-- 1 plot being part of Town Close with ancient fences, belonging to John Forbes (1 rood 34 perches)
South east town street
South west ancient enclosure of poor of trustees for Ravensden poor
North west other part of said Town Close
North east Leah Barringer
-- 1 other plot being ancient enclosure with ancient fences once belonging to estate of Leah Barringer called the Old Orchard (2 roods 19 perches)
South west Edward Wildman
all other parts Trustees for Poor
Which said 3 allotments, with allotment of 3 roods 6 perches awarded to Duke of Bedford in consideration of having paid £20, part of Trustees' expenses of Act, and fencing, were judged by Commissioners to be a fair exchange for rights of common of Poor trustees, and of ancient enclosure at Wood End (awarded at inclosure to Robert Holt Butcher).
In order to pay remainder of expenses of inclosure said 2 x 1/2 acre in Wilden were sold for £25.
Level of description
item