ted until they can read, and they are instructed in the classics, writing, and arithmetic. Of the scholars above mentioned, three or four were learning the classics. The Commissioners report that the school was then much reduced in numbers from what it had been formerly; a circumstance which it seems was to be attributed entirely to the misconduct of the Rev. John Pattison, then master. It is now, however, gradually reviving under the mastership of his successor, the Rev. John Parker.

Thompson's Charity. In the Parliamentary Returns of 1786, it is stated that John Thompson, by deed, in the 1st Geo. I., gave to the poor, and for upholding and maintaining the church at Norton, land then vested in Thomas Smith, John Hogg, and John Burdon, and producing £6, 3s. per annum. After passing through the hands of various intermediate trustees, this property is now held in the name of Thomas Jefferson Hogg, of the Temple, barrister. The premises consist of a field near the town of Norton, containing about four acres, let to Colonel Grey, as yearly tenant, at a good rent of £18; and two other closes, containing together about five or six acres, let to George Smith, as yearly tenant, at a good rent of £12. The rent of the close first mentioned has, as long as can be remembered, been carried to the account of the church-rate, and the rent of the latter to the account of the poor's rate.

Snowdon's Charity.-John Snowdon, by will, date unknown, gave to the poor of the parish of Norton, to be transferred to the vicar and churchwardens, £100 three per cent. reduced annuities, the interest to be divided amongst four decayed housekeepers belonging to the parish. The sum of £100 three per cent. reduced now stands in the names of the Rev. Christopher Anstey, deceased, John Hogg, Thomas Robinson Grey, and John Grey. The dividends are received by Messrs. Clarke and Bailey, solicitors, of Stockton, and paid over to the vicar and churchwardens, who divide the amount amongst five or more poor widows of shoemakers.

Blakiston.

The manor of Blakiston stands on the north-western verge of Norton parish, adjoining Thorp and Wynyard. The old hall was taken down many years ago, and the materials sold at Stockton. The scite was near the road, with deep meadows on the west, and some broken ground falling rapidly to the Thorp beck.

William de Carilepho, bishop of Durham, in 1093 granted the manor of Blakiston to the prior and monks of Durham. Bishop Flambard disseised them of this possession, then called Blecheston, and granted it to his nephew, Richard (ancestor of Fitz-Marmaduke). The monks complained; and, feeling compunction on his death-bed, the bishop was borne in his last moments on his couch into the cathedral, and made restitution by the ceremony of offering his gold ring on the high altar. King Henry I. confirmed this possession, with an especial warranty against Richard, "that I," said the king, "be no more afflicted with the clamour of the monks.” The convent granted the estate, under certain reserved rents, to the family of Park. Galfrid, del Park, of Blakiston, is mentioned in 1264. About 1320, Richard de Park, lord of Blakiston, founded a private chapel here.* His son Richard, in 1341, alienated to Roger de Blakiston (in one evidence most plainly Roger the Cook) a messuage, five oxgangs of arable, and the meadow which he

* He gave, for the souls of himself, his wife Amice, and their successors, to God and St. Mary, and the chapel of the Holy Trinity in Blakiston (by consent of the prior of Durham, chief lord of the fee), and to John de Blaykeston (the first mentioned of that name), chaplain, and to all his successors, four oxgangs and seven acres, and a toft and croft, with their meadows, in Blakeston, which Richard de Oveton some time held, and four acres which Robert Trigg held, and ten acres which Germanus of Norton held, and an acre and a half which Walter the Mower held for term of life; to celebrate matins and all canonical hours daily, and mass, viz. requiem three times; and on the other days the mass of the Virgin, with placebo and dirige. The prior of Durham shall present on every vacancy, on the nomination of Richard during his life, and afterwards at the pleasure of the prior; and if the chantry cease during forty days, the founder or his heirs shall re-enter and distrain; and John of Blaykeston, and his successors, shall perpetually reside and serve the chantry personally with one honest and sufficient clerk. Tuesday, in the Exaltation of Holy Cross, 1323. Witness, William de Kilkenny, Knight; Roger de Fulthorpe, Henry de Langton, Richard de Stanlaw, Peter de Brackenbury, and others.—Translated by Surtees from the original in the Dean and Chapter's Library,

already held for term of life. At the same time, he released to Hugh Blaykeston (the direct ancestor of the family) the messuage which he held in Blakiston, and 6s. rent. On Tuesday in Passion-week, 1349, a fine was levied, between Roger de Blakeston and John Fitz-Roger, of Herdewyke, complainants, and Richard de Park and Christian his wife, deforceants, of six messuages, 200 acres of land, 12 acres of meadow, 200 acres of pasture, a moiety of a messuage, and a mill, with their appurtenances, in Blakiston.*

The manor continued in this family,† which gradually advanced in wealth and importance, till the time of William Blakiston, who married Alice, daughter of William Claxton, of Wynyard, Esq., November 26, 1581; and was knighted at Whitehall July 23, 1603. His son, Sir Thomas Blakiston, was created a baronet in 1615, and sold the estate in the same year, after it had belonged to his ancestors for a series of 300 years.‡

Alexander Davison, merchant, of Newcastle, purchased Blakiston. He was charged with a horse, &c. for the king, was afterwards knighted, and lost his life at the age of 81, during the gallant defence of Newcastle, together with Joseph Davison, his youngest son. His eldest son, Thomas Davison, Esq., who inherited his father's spirit and loyalty, compounded for his estates for £1412. He was afterwards knighted; and, on the Restoration, was made high sheriff of Durham. He died May 23, 1667. His grandson, Thomas Davison, of Blakiston, Esq., married Anne, daughter of Sir John Bland, of Kippax, co. York; and afterwards Theophila, daughter of Charles Turner, of Kirkleatham, Esq. Thomas Davison, Esq., eldest son of the above by his first wife, married Martha, daughter of William Hoar, of Limehouse, by whom he had issue Thomas, born January 8, 1744-5, who took the additional name of Bland (which has since been borne by his descendants), and resided at Kippax Park in Yorkshire. The manor of Blakiston was sold, above 30 years ago, to William Russell, of Brancepeth Castle, Esq., whose grandson, William Russell, Esq., M. P., is the present proprietor,

PARISH OF STOCKTON.

The parish of Stockton, which was divided from Norton by act of parliament in 1711, is bounded by the latter parish on the east and north, by Elton, Long Newton, and Egglescliffe on the west and south-west, and by the Tees on the south and south-east. It includes four constableries, viz. 1. The Borough of Stockton; 2. The Copyhold Township of Stockton; 3. East Hartburn; and,

Long after, in the reign of Edward IV., Edward Park, Esq., the lineal representative of the ancient lords of Blakiston, in vain endeavoured to recover the estate by suit in the court of the prior of Durham, chief lord of the fee, against the Blakistons.

+Marmaduke Blakiston, a younger son of Thomas Blakiston, of Blakiston, Esq., was attainted in the rebellion of the earls in 1569.

Sir William Blakiston, second baronet, and son of Sir Thomas, was a colonel in the service of King Charles I. He refused to compound for his estates, and afterwards underwent a long imprisonment in Maxtoke Castle, Warwickshire. His estates, valued at £600 per annum, were restored at the Restoration. The title expired in him; but numerous families of the same name had descended from the younger branches of the original stock.

4. Preston-on-Tees. The population of this parish, in 1801, was 4177 persons; which num' er, in 1811, had risen to 4406. In 1821, there were 976 houses, inhabited by 1158 families, comprising 5184 individuals. Of these families, 105 were employed chiefly in agriculture, and 456 in trade, manufactures, or handicraft; the remaining 597 being either engaged in professional pursuits, or unemployed. The annual value of property in the parish of Stockton was estimated for the county-rate, for the year ending January 12, 1829, at £15,951, 10%.

STOCKTON.

The town of Stockton forms two distinct constableries, one called the Borough, and the other the Town. The former comprehends that part of the town in which all the property is freehold ; and the latter comprises the houses and streets that have been added at different times to the original town, and are copyhold or leasehold under the vicar and vestrymen, not included within the jurisdiction of the Borough. But, though these districts have each a constable, the same churchwardens and overseers of the poor act for both, as they form but one township.

The origin of Stockton cannot now be ascertained, and its early history is involved in deep ob scurity; but its antiquity may be inferred from its giving name to one of the Wards of the county. Mr. Brewster, in bis History of Stockton, says, "Whether the town of Stockton derives its origin from its vicinity to the Castle, or whether the Castle was erected there for the convenience of the town, is neither easy nor material to determine. It is most probable, however, that this, as well as many other towns and villages in similar situations, was built for the protection afforded by the Castle in those times of feudal tyranny, when the inferior inhabitants of this country, from the de pressed state of their minds, and the severity of unequal laws, were not able to protect themselves." It has been conjectured that the Castle and manor of Stockton belonged, about the time of the Conquest, to some of the Norman barons, by whom they were given to the see of Durham; as, although a member of the wapentake of Sadberge, this place was part of the possessions of the see before the purchase of that earldom. But the earliest authentic description of the bishop's manor here is in Boldon Book, to the following effect:

There were eleven villains and a half in Stockton, each holding two oxgangs of land; their rents and services being the same as the villains of Boldon, except cornage. There were also six who held nine oxgangs of land in farm, performed their services, and paid as those of Norton. Adam, the son of Walter, held one carucate and one oxgang of land, rendering a mark in silver. William de Tumba held four oxgangs for half a mark, and one oxgang by favour of the bishop, and was free from work whilst he continued in the bishop's service, but when out of that service, was to work in proportion to half a carucate of Walter's lands. Robert held the hall toft near to his house, paying 16d. Elwin and Robert, cottagers, paid 12d. for two tofts; and Goderine, the cottager, 6d. Suane, the smith, paid 4d. for a toft. The punder had six acres and his thraves in Stockton, Hartburn, and Preston, as others, and rendered fourscore hens and 500 eggs. The passage of the river produced 20d. The whole vill provided a milch cow. The bishop held an oxgang of land on the other side of Tees, opposite to the hall, which rendered 4s.

In Hatfield's Survey is a very particular account both of the Borough and manor. Tenants within the Borough :-Walter Webster held a burgage, and did suit at the Borough court once in three weeks, and was free from toll within the franchise of Durham, except of Sadberge wapentake, and paid at the four terms 6d. William Osbern held two burgages by the same service, 22d.

Thomas Fouler and thirty-eight others held nineteen burgages and seventeen half burgages by suit of court and rents. Tenants without the Borough :-Richard Brantingham, souter, dwelling in Auckland, held half a burgage for life, did suit of court once in three weeks, and paid for each omission 6d. and 1d. at the four terms. John Collesson and John Worksall held each a burgage by 6d. and 8d. rent respectively. John Alverton, fysher, dwelling in Alverton, and seven others, each held halves of burgages as above. John at Towneshend and Thomas Dobynson, neifs of the lord, held the one half, the other the fourth of a burgage. John Tose in Sedgefield, and twentytwo others, held fourths of burgages. Free tenants:-John of Wersall held a messuage and four oxgangs, once of Adam Preston, parcel of a carucate of land said to be held by charter and knight's service, 6s. William Osbern two oxgangs, parcel of the same carucate, 3s. Robert Toby two oxgangs of the same, 4s. 4d. John of Elvet a messuage and four oxgangs, once Thomas Potter's, by charter and knight's service, and he cleaned the mill-pool and the mill-race of Norton mill, and paid 20s. The same John held a toft and oxgang, and three acres of meadow, once of Richard de Stokton, on the south of the Tees, opposite the manor-house, and paid 13s. 4d. Of the town of Claxton, for fee-farm rent, at the four principal terms, 13s. 4d. John Carrow a like fee-farm rent in the vill of Seaton, 2s. 2d. Adam Fulford (Fulthorpe) for the vill of Grendon, nigh Thorp, at St. Cuthbert's day, in September, 2s. The Borough :-Richard Maunce and his partners paid for the fee-farm of the Borough of Stockton, with the tolls, perquisites, fines for alienation, the bakehouse, the toll called tourist, and 22s. 11d. ob., Borough-rents as above in two parcels, in all 106s. 8d. There was a park, with an ancient orchard, and seven acres and a rood of inclosed meadow, which were leased for £8; and a pasture called Bishopholme and Turspit, 40s. The ferry and ferry-boat were also leased for 53s. 4d. Thomas Fowler held a messuage and oxgang, once of Alan Gernet, and did all service like the farmers in Norton, and paid at the four terms 3s. 4d. Emma, that was wife of William Fitz-Thomas, held in dower a messuage and oxgang, sometime of the said Alan, and since Adam Stephenson's; also a messuage and oxgang, once of Robert Fitz-John; and did services for her proportions as the farmers of Norton, and paid for each tenement 3s. 4d. There were nine carucates of demesne land, containing 810 acres of meadow, under 4d. rent per acre, £13, 10s., leased to pay at Michaelmas £8. Cottagers:-Robert Dykon made four portions in autumn, and carried the hens and eggs rendered by the tenants to the bishop's dwelling-place, wherever it occasionally might be, between Tyne and Tees. Emma, widow of William Fitz-Thomas, a tenement in dower, and rendered and paid as above, 6d. These two coterights paid 18d. in lieu of works, at Michaelmas. Bond-lands:-John Dobbe a messuage and two oxgangs (each fifteen acres), paid 2s. 6d. at the Purification for scat-pennies, and six bushels of scat-oats, 16d. for averpennies, and performed days' works and harrowing, and work in autumn, and woodlades, and all other service like the bonds of Norton, and paid 14s. 2d. Thomas Tuly and seven others held nine messuages and seventeen oxgangs, and did service and paid rent as above. The tenants jointly held Punderland, six acres, 5s., and paid at Martinmas in lieu of one milch cow 6s. Every bond rendered two hens at Christmas, and ten eggs at Easter, in all twenty hens and 200 eggs. The punder paid fourscore hens and 500 eggs. Of the selfodes and servants of the bonds, as in Norton. There had been a smithy in the lord's waste, which used to pay 4d., then waste and out of lease. The tenants jointly held the common bakehouse...for rent for castlemen at the four terms 12d. Exchequer-lands:-William Shepherd and Robert Slowcok a messuage and four oxgangs, once bond-lands, and sometime belonging to Miles Fitz-Robert, paid 16s. 8d., for scat-pennies 2s. 6d. and six bushels of oats, for averpennies 12d., for five wood

lades at the Nativity of St. John Baptist 12d., and he did service at the mill like the bonds, but no other bond-work, save rendering two hens at Christmas and ten eggs at Easter, 21s. 6d. William Fitz-John at Touneshend, and five others, held two messuages and two oxgangs, one tenure and two parcels, and worked and paid as above. Chantry lands:-Four oxgangs, with a messuage, once of Robert Combe, which used to pay 6s. 8d., now nothing, because they were in mortmain for a certain chantry, occupied by a certain chaplain, there continually celebrating; an old toft moreover, once of Robert de Combe, the scite of his hall-house, used to pay 16d., also nothing, being in the tenure of the same chaplain. A plot, once of William Fitz-Thomas, exchequer land, used to pay 2d., now in the lord's hands since the death of Emma, wife of William.

Valor Manerii.—The jurors say that there is a manor-house, of which the scite is worth nothing beyond reprise. An orchard, of which the fruit and herbage are worth, comm. ann., 2s. A park, with an ancient orchard, eight acres and a rood of inclosed meadow, valued and leased this year together for £8. Seven score acres of demesne meadow, lying in divers parcels, amongst which are named the Camp-syke, East and West Hallburn, Bailey-gate, Janitor-gate, and Normantonmore, worth 3s. per acre, in all £21. Other distinct portions occur, let at various rents. The punder held, in right of his office, two parcels of meadow called Mirershevid, and Wybbysgat, and the Porkside towards the south, one acre and a half, and Beligate, and Jarnirgate, and the road which leads to Preston. Divers pasture grounds were let for £6, 13s. 4d.; and the woods in the park for 16s. 8d.

Of course, there are few free tenants named in the records, and those for small parcels of land. At this day, nearly the whole of the lands are held under the see of Durham by lease or copy of court-roll,

The Castle.

It is not known whether the scite of the ancient Castle of Stockton was ever occupied by the Romans; though, about 40 years ago, a coin of Nero Claudius Cæsar, who invaded Britain about the year 59, was found when digging the foundation of a quay, near the spot where the Castle wall joined the river. This structure is said to have been of great strength, and to have been built by one of the kings of England, after which it became the occasional residence of the bishops of Durham. In Boldon Book, however, it is merely called "The Hall; and, in Hatfield's Survey, "The Manor-house."* Whilst Richard I. was preparing for the crusades, Hugh Pudsey, the munificent but ambitious bishop of Durham, inflamed with the zeal of the times, "after the example of many other prelates, also took upon him the vow and the cross, and on his part levied money for the expedition. He built for his own use a beautiful galley [either at Stockton or Hartlepool] for his passage, together with several other ships to transport his troops, retinue, and attendants.” But the king persuaded him to waive his intended journey, and remain at home, where he officiated as regent for the north of England during the absence of King Richard. Philip de Poictou, the next bishop of Durham, was particularly attached to King John, whom he is said to have entertained on a visit at Stockton Castle, where John afterwards granted a charter to the burgesses of Newcastle, dated "Stockton, February 5th, 1214." Bishop. Farnham made Stockton almost his constant residence for eight years, and died here in 1257, previous to which he had "abandoned

* "The term of Castle," says Surtees, "as applied to Middleham, Auckland, and Stockton, seems the courtesy of later times. The early charters are universally Apud Stockton, or in Manerio nostro, &c.”