Scope and Content
Thomas Middleton, now at Winchester School, aged 17 years, infant (son & heir of Thomas Middleton of Lincoln's Inn (county of Middlesex)), gentleman, to Samuel Pepys Cockerell of HM Board of Works, surveyor, in trust for Robert Taylor of Spring Gardens in the liberty of Westminster (county of Middlesex), esquire, [the purchaser].
-- The Manor and advowson of Little Barford; free fishings in the River Ouse in Little Barford, Eaton Socon, and Tempsford; the farm-house &
several closes of arable, meadow, and pasture, containing together 271 acres 2 roods 9 perches; the farm house and several closes containing
266 acres 1 rood 5 perches, in the occupation of John Peck; the farm-house and several closes containing 267 acres 17 perches, in the
occupation of Edward Peck; several cottages in the occupations of Edward Emery, John Selby, William Landen, [blank] Lewis, William Beby,
Edward Wells, John Darlow, Richard Emery, George Pell, Thomas Peck, and Martin Crowcher; [all the above property is in Little Barford].
The Manor of Astwick alias Estwicke, in Astwick, Stotfold and Langford, with the advowson of the rectory of Astwick; the Manor house and
farm of Astwicke, with appurtenant lands, in the occupation of Edward Pain; the 'Greyhound' or 'New' inn, situate near the London Road in
Astwick, in the occupation of William Leonard; several closes of [arable] land, meadow, and pasture, containing 170 acres 19 perches, in the
occupations of Edward Pain and William Leonard; and several parcels of arable lying dispersed in the Common Fields, called the Red Field,
Chain Furlong, alias Marsh Furlong alias Middle Furlong, John a Vines Furlong, Toplis Hill Furlong, Langford Hill Furlong, and Stocking Close,
containing 478 acres 2 roods 18 perches, in the occupation of Edward Pain. Also a few quit-rents from each manor [specified]. [The above
abstract gives all topographical & personal details of the properties]. [The deed recites numerous wills, mortgages, assignments & other deeds
also deaths, marriages, etc of various members of the Browne family of Arlesey, from 1713 to 1779. These include two marriage settlements, viz
( i ) Samuel Browne (son & heir apparent of Thomas) & Mary St John; & ( ii ) John Schutz junior (son of John) & Mary Lee (Widow of John Lee,
& niece of Thomas Browne); dated 1713 & 1763 respectively.
Also a deed of 1749 regarding the Manor of Eatonsbury in Arlesey; the rectory, tithes & advowson of Arlesey; the mansion-house wherin
Thomas Browne lately dwelt; a messuage and water-mill in the occupation of John Reynolds, in Arlesey; 3 cottages in Arlesey, in the
occupation of Mary Hurst, Archibald Maxwell and Thomas Alborn; farms in Arlesey, in the occupation of Daniel Thompson, John Green,
Widow Pryer, Thomas Cannington, and John Wilton; a cottage in Arlesey, in the occupation of Thomas West; messuages with appurtenant
lands in Arlesey, in the occupation of Edward Robinson, John Topham, and William Plasted; a cottage and close in Arlesey, in the occupation
of Richard Arnold; a close of arable in the Common Field of Henlow, in the occupation of William Green;
Also the Manor of Langford, and all other the messuages, lands etc, purchased of John Draper of Hitchin (county of Hertfordshire), in Langford
and Clifton; a cottage with lands in Astwick, in the occupation of Edward Paine; and farms in Wilhamstead and Houghton Conquest, in the
occupation of John Smith.
Also a deed of 1764 regarding the Manor and advowson of Little Barford; free fishings in the River Ouse in Little Barford, Eaton Socon, and
Tempsford; the site of the Manor with appurtenant lands, viz a close of pasture call Fimmins, containing 10 acres; a close of pasture called
Forge Close, containing 4 acres, a close of pasture adjoinging the Parsonage yard, containing 4 acres; Lammas Close containing 3 acres;
Midsummer Meadow containg 9 acres; 29 acres 1 rood of meadow, lying dispersed in Lammas Meadow and Midsummer Meadow; 277 acres
of arable and lea, dispersed in the Common Fields of Little Barford; [all of the above property is in Little Barford, Ainesbury [Eynesbury],
Tempsford, and Worsley [Waresley], and were formerly in the occupation of Jasper Edwards]; a messuage in Little Barford, with a close
adjoining, formerly in the occupation of Edward Thrassett, and now of Jasper Edwards; and several farms, cottages, etc, in Little Barford,
Ainesbury [Eynesbury], Tempsford and Worsley [Waresley], viz a farm with lands containing 140 ares of arable, 10 acres of meadow, and 3 acres
of pasture, in occupation of Robert Peck; a farm with lands containing 76 acres or arable, 10 acres of meadow, and two closes containing
together 2 acres 2 roods of pasture, in the occupation of Thomas Tingey; a farm, with lands containing 176 acres of arable, 15 acres of
meadow, and two closes containing together 8 acres of pasture, in the occupation of Widow Harding; a farm, with 9 acres of arable and lea, 3
roods of meadow, and 2 acres of pasture, in the occupation of William Lavell; a messuage and a close of pasture containing together lac. 2
roods, in the occupation of the Right Honourable Oliver, late Earl of Bolinbroke; a cottage with close adjoinging, sometime in the occupation
of Thomas Watts; a cottage, with a close adjoing containing 2 roods, in the occupation of Richard Adey; a cottage, with close containing 2
roods, in the occupation of Widow Tiley; a cottage with close adjoining, in the occupation of Widow Allenson; and 9 cottages in the several
occupations of John Collier, John Hooks, John Roods, AnnTilley, the Widow Botham, James Bayley, and Leonard Wright;
Also the Manor, etc of Astwick [alias Eswicke, as above].
[All topographical details are given in the above abstract]
[Several armorial seals]