X647

Collection of Title Deeds relating mainly to small pieces of land in Totternhoe and Eaton Bray in Bedfordshire and Edlesborough in Buckinghamshire Deposited by Mr. William Twidell, Totternhoe on permanent loan 19 January 1983

1619 - 1877

From: 1619 To: 1877

This collection of title deeds relates mainly to small pieces of land in Totternhoe and Eaton Bray in Bedfordshire and in Edlesborough in Buckinghamshire. It is obvious that the Bedfordshire property came into the hands of the Pratt family of Totternhoe and there are also personal and probate papers for the Pratt family which suggests that this is the remains of a small family archive. The documents would help towards a pedigree of the Pratt family who have remained yeomen-farmers in the Luton/Totternhoe area since at least the 16th century. An apprenticeship indenture of John Pratt, son of Thomas of Totternhoe, husbandman to a Totternhoe tailor in 1729 contains the provision that “the master shall freely allow the said father to take home the said Apprentice one month in every winter during the first two yeares of the said terme to the intent he may be sent to school by the said father” (no 84). The title deeds for the land in Edlesborough, Buckinghamshire are fragments from an archive showing the creation of a small estate there by the Perry family. There is no evidence here to show that this property too came eventually to the Pratts but that would be a reason for the documents being in the same collection today. Most of the deeds related to the purchase or mortgage of very small pieces of land in the open fields. Of the houses or cottages mentioned there is insufficient evidence to show where the cottage called “Gentle Coates” once stood (nos 106) though the descriptions show that it adjoined Pinks. Map A shows the area marked PINKS on the Totternhoe Tithe Award Map of 1840. It would seem that Englands Close once had a cottage on it (no 20) which was down by 1766 (no 21) and later deeds describe it as next Englands Lane on the north. Map B shows the area marked ENGLANDS on the 1840 Tithe Map. The close is presumably no 217 then owned by George Pratt and occupied by Hannah and Maria Pratt. 217 (1) was 2 areas of arable; 217 (2) 1 acre 3 roods 18 pieces of meadow. The site of the Snoxell family’s house, Wells’ House (nos 43-68/2 1767-1849) is well know today and no 68/2 shows that more cottages were built near to it between the years 1831 and 1847. This is shown on the Tithe Map of 1840 as no 60 when it belonged to John Olney (Map C). The difficulty of identifying correctly the small plots of land awarded under the Eaton Bray Enclosure Award is show in nos 70-72 from which it appears that Maria Pratt and Enoch Gurney had each entered on the other’s allotment. Letter from Mr Twidell 30 January 1983: Re the name Pinks on the map. In my boyhood days this area was always referred to as “Down Pinks” by old locals. I remember an old well down the north side of Pinks 212 approximately 100 yards from the road which may have been used by “Gentle Coates”. However there were several old wells between here and the Cross Keys. They were filled in during road improvements 55 years ago. There were 2 in “Long Meadow” now Brookfield Caravan Site. The meadow was owned by my uncle Jesse Bird, formally by his aunt Hannah Clements who owned the Cross Keys. Mrs Curran has a photo of Coombe Farm. It shows my grandmother Mary Twidell in the doorway and “Foreman” Will Pratt who last farmed Castle Yard, the crop being Swedes.’

fonds

DEEDS, TOTTERNHOE, EATON BRAY, Edlesborough