Scope and Content
Willam Claridge the elder of Leighton Buzzard, gentleman, died seised of:
6½ acres purchased of J Townsend (Admission 19 Jan 1797)
6 acres and 2 acres purchased of William Rutley (Admission 16, 17 May 1799)
8 acres purchased of Thomas Britten (Admission 16, 17 May 1799)
5 acres and 2 acres purchased of Thomas Chene (Admission 16, 17 May 1799)
2 roods purchased of J Townsend (Admission 31 Oct 1799)
8 acres purchased of William Newman (Admission 31 Oct 1799)
10½ acres purchased of J Dell (Admission 6, 7 Jun 1805)
25 acres purchased of Arthur Clarke, esquire (Admission 29, 30 May 1806)
copyhold part of close at Leedon, 3 acres and 3 half acres at Leedon, purchased of A Clarke (Admission 30, 31 Oct 1806)
4 acres arable , 2 acres lammas meadow, 3½ acre meadow purchased of Arthur Clarke (Admission 30, 31 Oct 1806)
10½ acres purchased of Leah Firth and others (Admission 14, 15 June 1810)
3 lands purchased of Leah Firth and others (Admission 14, 15 June 1810)
*Messuage called the Unicorn in the Leck End, Leighton Buzzard, formerly in occupation William Pursell, then William Langdale, then Robert Measey, then Robert Marlton
*cottage formerly part of the Unicorn Inn, late in occupation Thomas Cooper, then Thomas Wilney, with mill house and loft over adjoining
farmyard, stables etc., behind the Unicorn and divided from it by a gateway
Home Close, 2 acres
wheathouses, wheatframes, barns, sheepyard, rickyard and garden, formerly occupied with farmyard and Homeclose by Thomas Cooper, then Thomas Marriot, then Arthur Clarke
* 2½ acres meadow in Kings Mead, Mrs Flemons north, Robert Emerton south, occupied with the Unicorn late by Robert Measey, then Robert Marlton, purchased of Arthur Clarke (Admission 14, 15 June 1810)
5 acres purchased of J O Stubbe (Admission 14, 15 June 1810)
Toft on which a messuage had formerly stood, with orchard and barn in Eggington, and open field arable and pasture formerly in occupation J Partridge junior, theretofore estate of Thomas Brown, esquire, and other pieces of arable etc. in Eggington and Clipstone (55 acres), formerly estate of William Valentine, gentleman, then Samuel Sandys, then Francis Moore, then Samuel Greathead, purchased of J Paget, esquire (Admission 25, 26 May 1820)
* to this property William Claridge junior, grandson of William Claridge senior, was admitted 11, 12 June 1840
By his will dated 14 January 1828 William Claridge devised:
- to his sons William and Charles Claridge
Farmyard at the top of the Unicorn yard
All closes and pieces of land in Leighton Buzzard not specifically devised to sons and daughters
- to son George Claridge
Messuage or inn called the Unicorn, then in occupation George Claridge, with messuage adjoining in occupation Mary Claridge, widow (right of access to street reserved for owners and occupiers of farmyard behind)
William and Charles Claridge are therefore admitted to remainder of above copyhold.