Life History

Notes

• Thomas Dyson  Born 1684 - Lord of the Manor of Inkberrow
  
  Thomas Dyson, Lord of the Manor of Morton Hall, was one of the most influential of the Dyson's. He was born at Inkberrow, the only son of Thomas and Elizabeth Dyson of Morton Hall in 1684. He was married three times, and fathered seven children. He firstly marries Katherine by whom he fathered two children and she died about 1713.  He then married Mary, who bore him five more children before she died and was buried at Inkberrow  on 29th March 1728, aged 30 years.
  
  Thomas remained a widower for 35 years, until he married his third wife, Kitty Jeffries of Spetchley, on 25th July 1763. She was then 30 years and he was 79 years. Kitty was the daughter of the Revered Jeffries of Spetchley, and they actually lived in White Ladies Aston, Worcester.. An amusing article appeared in Berrows Worcester Journal, dated 2nd August 1763, just after the wedding, "On Wednesday 25th past, was married at Inkberrow, Mr Thomas, an eminent farmer, of that Paris, near 90 years, (an exaggeration by 10 years) to Miss Kitty Jeffries, aged 30 years, daughter of the Revered Jeffries of Spetchley. A young lady eminently endowed with ever necessary accomplishment to make the marriage state completely happy"
  
  Thomas, around the time of his second marriage, to Mary, was active in his role as Lord of the Manor, and the Parish documents show him instrumental in administering the law on paupers. By  an Act of William III every person receiving Parish relief, (an early form of social security), was to wear a badge, of the shoulder, with a large letter P in red and blue cloth, together with the initial of the Parish. The removal of Paupers, not of the parish, called foreigners, to their rightful parish was carried out by persons appointed by the Parish Manor Committee, usually headed by the Lord of the Manor. Inkberrow Parish Register list many paupers being buried, having died during the journey back to their rightful parish.
  
  On 13th December 1728 a large Parish meeting adopted stringent measures, and appointed two person to attend sessions to remove 'foreigners' and inspect other neglected affairs. Such appointees were allowed 2s 6d per day each for a journey of more than 4 miles from Inkberrow and 1s 6d if less than 4 miles.  Mr Russell Laugher and Mr Richard Windle were appointed for the ensuing year. (Richard Windle was the father of John who married Thomas's daughter Elizabeth) The document of appointment was signed by Thomas Dyson, E Mugge, vicar, and 11 other persons forming the Manorial Committee. About this time the country was devastated by small pox which for a period of three years more than doubled the death rate and much increased the number of paupers.
  
  Thomas died on 21st April 1768 aged 84 years and a memorial stone is in the porch of Inkberrow church. Thomas's will, made on 24th July 1764 was not proved until 25th April 1776, probably due as he had bequeathed one third of his estate to his young wife, who had entered the marriage, 'of no fortune'.
  
  
  Indenture dated 23 April 1737 showing that Little Bouts was granted to Thomas Dyson of Inkberrow
  
  Note: All references in this Indenture to the Lord of the Manor refer to Thomas Dyson
  
  This Indenture in three parts, made the 23rd day of April, in the year of our Lord 1737, and in the tenth year of our Sovereign Lord George 2nd, by the Grace of God of Great Britain, France, Ireland, King, Defender of the Faith. Between Thomas Dyson of Holberrow Green in the Parish of Inkberrow, in the County of Worcester, Gent, in the first part, Thomas Shepheard of Hallow Park in the County of Worcester, Gent, in the second part and Andrew Williams of Norton, in the County of Worcester, Clerk, of the third part. Whereas, at a court seat and court baron of the Right Honourable William, Lord Abergavenny, held for the Manor of Inkberrow, in the said County of Worcester, on the 10th day of October 1728. The said Lord, by his steward, did grant Thomas Dyson, Gent, one customary messuage and the lands thereof belonging with all appertinances in Little Bouts, within the said Manor, then late in possession of William Walford, late father of George Walford of Martley, in the said County of Worcester, Gent, to hold to him and his, according to the custom of the said Manor, at and under the year by rent of Heriot and other services therefore due, and of right accustomed, and the said Thomas Dyson was then admitted Tenant of the said premises. And whereas, by indenture, bearing the date 10th day of April in the year of our Lord 1731, made or mentioned to be made, between the said Thomas Dyson on the one part and George Bagney of Martlet, aforesaid, Gent, of the other part. Thomas and Thomas Dyson did thereby declare that the said grant of the said premises, so to him made, as aforesaid, was in Trust for the said George Bagney. And whereas by certain articles of agreement tripartite, bearing the date 30th Day of September  in the year of our Lord 1732, made or mentioned to be made between the said George Bagney of the first part, the said Thomas Dyson of the second part, and the said George Walford of the third part. The said George Bagney did thereby agree that the said Thomas Dyson, and all and every person or persons lawfully claiming any estate, right, title or interest, in trust or otherwise, in or to, the said premises. Should, at the next Court, or any other Court Baron to behold on the said Manor of Inkberrow on the request, costs and charges of the said George Walford, his heirs or assigns, surrender the said premises into the hands of the said Lord of the Manor, to the intent that the said lord, by his steward, might regrant the said promises unto the said George Walford or unto such other person or persons as the said George Walford, his heirs or assigns, should direct and until the surrender should be made aforesaid. The said Thomas Dyson should stand and be seized of the said premises, to the use of and in Trust for the said George Walford, his heirs or assigns. And whereas in and by a certain Indenture and Declaration of Trust bearing date on or about the 17th day of January 1733 and made, or mentioned to be made between the said George Walford of the one part and the said Thomas Shepheard on the other part, after reciting as above recited and also reciting that the said George Walford on the day and date of the said Indenture, had borrowed, of the said Thomas  Shepheard, the sum of £400 and for securing the payment thereof with interest for the same, after the rate of £4 and 10 shillings for £100 by the year, he, the said George Walford, had, (by Indenture tripartite, bearing even date with the said Indenture made, or mentioned to be made, between Thomas Goodwin of the Parish of Tardebigge, in the County of Warwick, Gent, in the first part, the said George Walford of the second part and the said Thomas Shepheard of the third part) mortgaged all his, the said George Walford freehold messuages,  lands and tenements in the said Parish of Inkberrow for the better securing the repayment of the said £400 and the interest  there of his mentioned, that the said George Walford did covenant, and agree with the said Thomas Shepheard that the said Copyhold, messuages and tenements should, from thenceforth stand charged and chargeable, with the payment of the said £400 thereof, as a collateral security for the sum, and that the said Thomas Dyson and all and every person or persons lawfully claiming estate, right, title and interest in trust, or otherwise in or to the said granted promises  should and would at the next or any other Court Baron to beholden, for the said Manor of Inkberrow, at the request of the said Thomas Shepheard, his heirs or assigns, and at the costs and charges of the said George Walford, his heirs or assigns, surrender unto the hands of the Lord of the Manor, according to the custom of the said Manor, all and singular the said Copyhold, Promises therein, before mentioned, free and clear and freely, and clearly acquitted and discharged of, and from, all former surrenders, forfeits etc., incumberances whatsoever, to the intent that the Lord, by his Steward, might regrant the same to the said Thomas Shepheard or to such other person or persons as the said Thomas Shepheard, his executors, administrators or assigns should direct or appoint, and that until, with surrender should be made aforesaid, the said Thomas Dyson should stand and be seized of the said promises with the appurtenances to the use of and, In Trust, for the said Thomas Shepheard, his heirs or assigns, and to and for no other use, intent or purpose whatsoever, under a proviso that if the said George Walford, his executors, administrators or assigns did and should pay or cause to be paid unto the said Thomas Shepheard, his executors, administrators and assigns, the said sum of £400, and interest thereof, according to the proviso in the said Indenture of Mortgage mentioned, then the said Indenture between the said George Walford and Thomas Shepheard, and every claim, matter, and thing therein contained, should cease, determine, and be void, anything therein contained, to the contrary thereof in anywise notwithstanding. And Whereas, in and by a certain Indenture of Release Tripartite bearing date on, or about, the 10th day of July last past. And made or mentioned to be made between the said George Walford of the first part, Charles Watts of Bromsgrove, in the said County of Worcester, clothier, of the second part, and the said Thomas Dyson of the third part, for the considerations therein mentioned, he, the said George Walford, did absolutely sell and convey his equity or redemption, not only or in, and to, the said freehold messuages, lands, premises in mortgage, to the said Thomas Shepheard above recited, but also in, and to, the said Copyhold, messuage, lands and promises as in, and by, the said copy of Court Rolls ever accredited Indentures or Declarations of Trust, relation being thereunto respectively had more fully, and at large it doth, and may appear. And Whereas the said Thomas Dyson lately contracted and agreed to , and with, the said Andrew Williams, to sell and covey to him, the said Andrew Williams, all the said freehold and copyhold messuages, lands and promises at and for, the rate and price and sum of £660 and thereout to satisfy whole principal money and interest due and owing, not only upon, and by virtue of the aforesaid, mortgage, securities, but also the £100 and interest likewise due to the said Thomas Shepheard upon and by virtue of and additional mortgage, made of the sum and promises by the said George Walford to the said Thomas Shepheard, bearing date, in or about the 17th day of April 1735. Now this Indenture witnesseth that the said Thomas Shepheard aforesaid, for and in consideration of the sum of £522 and 10 shillings that hath been, on the day and date here, hereof paid to him by the said Andrew Williams, by the order of the said Thomas Dyson. And of the said purchase money for satisfying the said mortgage debt of the said George Walford, according to the said recited contract at the request and by, and with, the discounted approbation to the said Thomas Dyson, testified by his being in, and a party here to. And examining hereof, hath agreed, and by these present, doth for himself, his living executors and administrators covenant and agree to and with the said Andrew Williams, his heirs, executors and administrators, and every of them that the said copyhold messuages, lands and promises, shall from henceforth remain and be freed, released and discharged, as well, from the said £400 and interest, as also from the said £100 and interest, and that the said Thomas Dyson, heirs, executors and administrators, shall also be freed and discharged, from the ernst influence then reposed or declared concerning the said several sums and the interest thereof, and that the said Thomas Dyson shall or may, from henceforth, remain, continue, and be in Trust only for the said Andrew Williams, his heirs, executors and administrators as hereinafter mentioned without any less trouble, denial, hindrance, molestation or interruption of, or by, the said Thomas Shepheard his heirs executors and administrators, covenant, promise and agree to, and with the said Andrew Williams, his heirs, executors and administrators, and to, and with,  every of them that he, the said Thomas Dyson, his heirs, executors and administrators and all and every other person or persons lawfully claiming, or to claim, all estate rights, title or interest, in Trust or otherwise, in or to the said copyhold, messuages, lands and promises, or part thereof allowed, will at the next, or any other, Court Baron or customary Court to be held for the said Manor of Inkberrow, at the request, costs and charges, or the said Andrew Williams, his heirs executors, administrators or assigns surrender into the hands of the Lord of the said Manor for the time being according to the custom of the said Manor. All and singular the said copyhold, messuage, lands and promises free and clear, and freely and clearly, acquitted, freed and discharged forms, from all former and other surrenders and of, and from, all forfeitures and incumbrances whatsoever to the intent of the Lord, by his Steward, may regrant the same to the said Andrew Williams, his, according to the custom of the said Manor, or as the said Andrew Williams, his heirs, executors, administrators, hall direct or appoint, and that in the meantime, and, until such surrender shall be so made as aforesaid. He and the said Thomas Dyson and his, shall and will stand and be seized of all the said, copyhold, messuage, lands and promises with the appertinances to the use of, and in Trust for the said Andrew Williams, his heirs and assigns, and that the said Andrew Williams, heirs and assigns, shall have the rents, issues and profits of the said copyhold, promises until such surrender shall be so made as aforesaid without any account to be given or rendered to the said Thomas Dyson, his executors or administrators for the same, or any part thereafter. The said Andrew Williams, his heirs, assigns, indemnifying and rendering harmless the said Thomas Dyson, his heirs, executors and administrators of, and from, all the chief rent and services that shall, from henceforth, grow, due or ought to be paid, donor performed, for, in respect of, the said promises, or any part thereof. In witness, where of the party above named to these present Indentures have interchangeably put their names and marks, the day and year, first above written.
  
  Signed:Thomas Dyson,  Thomas Shepheard
  
  
  Will of Thomas Dyson of Inkberrow - 1765 - Proved 1776
  
  I Thomas Dyson of Holberrow Green, in the Parish of Inkberrow, in the County of Worcester, Gent, being now of sound and perfect mind, memory and understanding, praised be God for the same, seriously considering the uncertainty of mortal life. Do make and declare this my last will and testament in manner and form following, that is to say whereas by Articles of Agreement, this article having date on or about 24th day of July in the year of our Lord 1764, and made or mentioned between the said Thomas Dyson on the first part, Catherine Jeffreys then or late of White Ladies Aston, in the said County of Worcester, spinster, of the second part and Thomas Laugher of the Ganway, in the said Parish of Inkberrow, in the said County of Worcester, Gent, and Thomas Jeffreys, Gent, brother of the said Catherine of the third part, reciting that a marriage was agreed on by and between the said Thomas Dyson and Catherine Jeffrey upon the terms therein after mentioned and by reason that the said Catherine had no fortune and had no prospect if she happened to survive the said Thomas Dyson, to become entitled not only to have her dower or third out of his freehold estate called Morton Hall, lying in the said Parish of Inkberrow, but also to have and to hold the Copyhold Estate (which then and now belongs to the said Thomas Dyson, that he holds of the Lord of the Manor of Inkberrow, as the first taken thereof) for the term of her natural life, valued to be better worth than £29 a year. Therefore the said Catherine Jeffreys did thereby covenant and agree to, and with the said Thomas Laugher and Thomas Jeffreys and their executors, administrators and assigns, and every of them that in case the said marriage took effect, and she should happen to survive the said Thomas Dyson, her intended husband, she would at the first Court to be held for the said Manor after his death, apply to be admitted Tenant for her life, according to the Custom of the said Manor (to all the said Copyhold Estate) and from the death of the said Thomas Dyson, during her natural life (for the reason aforesaid) would accept of the clear sum of £20 a year during her life and pay, or suffer to be received, the surplus of the said rents and profits of the said Copyhold Estate unto only such person or persons who the said Thomas Dyson, by his last will and testament, or verbally should order, give, direct or assist the same to be paid to her.  And the said Catherine Jeffreys did thereby further agree that from the death of the said Thomas Dyson, (if the said marriage took effect) she would accept and be contented with £20 a year clear of taxes and impositions and charges of repair and Parish Payments in lieu of all Dower or thirds out of the said Freehold Estate discounting every item such as £20 a year aforesaid, out of, or by the rents or profits of the said Copyhold Estate, or by the articles, references, being thereunto had, will more fully appear. And whereas the said intended marriage soon after took place and the said Catherine hath ever since has been well behaved to me in a fond, dutiful and affectionate manner that the provision be made or intended for her and which she agreed to accept to by the said recite and articles are, I think, by no means adequate to what she deserves, Therefore in order to show my love and esteem for her, and to make such further provision for her, to what I think she justly merits. I give devise and bequeath unto her the said Catherine my beloved wife, one annuity or yearly rent charge of £10 a year of lawful money of Great Britain to be payable to her, the said Catherine or her assign, yearly and every year during the term of her natural life free from all taxes, deductions, or abatements whatsoever on the 29th September and 29th March yearly by two even and equal payments out of my said Freehold Estate called Morton Hall. The first payment thereof to begin and be made on such of the said day that shall first happen after my death upon condition that she, my said wife, payeth and suffers the said copyhold Estate and the rents and profits thereof to go and be held and enjoyed according to the said recited article and for the further and better securing the true payment of the said annuity or yearly rental charges, I do hereby charge and make chargeable, all my said  freehold Estate, with the payment thereof accordingly, and do give to my said wife, or her assign, full power to distrain for the said annuity or any part thereof that shall be in arrears or unpaid for the space of one and twenty days any or either of the days or times whereon the same ought to be paid and such distress or distresser to detain, appraise and sell in like manner in every respect, every Leaser or Landlord may do for non payment of rent as often as occasion may require and subject to the said annuity. I give devise and bequeath unto my son Henry Dyson and my friend, the said Thomas Laugher, and to his heirs to the survivor of thence. All my messuage, or moiety of a Tenement, called or known by the name of Morton Hall, situate being  the said Parish of  Inkberrow and also all dwellings, Courts, Yards, Gardens, clover grounds, meadows and lands belonging to Morton Hall to have and to hold by the said son Henry Dyson and Thomas Laugher, and, in trust, to receive £250 out of the said estates by Rents, Profits, Mortgaging, to be added to the £50 of my money my son in law, John Windle, had in like manner of my gift of the said £250, to be paid said son in law as soon as he hath made settlement on my daughter Elizabeth, his wife, and her issue, according to my said trustees approbation thereof. In the meantime my Freehold Estate is to stand charged with the £250, and the interest on this of 4% to be paid to the said Elizabeth for her natural life, to be paid half yearly until her death, then to be paid to her issue during their minority, and the £250 to be paid to such issue when he, she, or they attain the age of 21 years. And subject to the said Annuity, a payment of the said £250, and interest, I give and bequeath the said Estate unto my said son Henry Dyson, his heirs and assigns for ever. I give and bequeath unto the children of my late daughter, Anne, £10 a piece, when they are 21, and in case any of the issue by my wife, the said Catherine, I give them £100 to equally divided between them. And I give and bequeath unto my said wife Catherine the sum of £20 out of my personal Estate. And lastly my will and desire is that all my funeral expenses, debts, legacies be justly paid and satisfied and subject thereto I give and bequeath all the residue from my goods, chattels and personal estate unto my son Henry Dyson, and constitute and appoint him my said friend Thomas Laugher, joint executors of this my last will, in trust to see the same fully performed hereby revoking all former and other wills by me at any time hereto foremade. I publish and declare this is my last will and testament. In witness whereof I have hereunto put my hand and seal this 15th day of June in the year of our Lord 1765.
  
  Signed Thomas Dyson
  
  Signed, sealed, published and declared by the said
  Thomas Dyson to be his will in the presence of us
  At his request, and in his presence and in the presence
  of each other have subscribed our names as witnesses
  Hereunto:
  George Timings
  William Milward junr
  Robert Hunt junr
  
  On 25 April 1776 Henry Dyson one of the [  ] was then sworn in common form (a like power being reserved to the other when and so forth) before me
  
  Edward Taylor  Surrogate

Sources

• 1. Inkberrow Pr
• 2. Tibberton PR
• 3. Worcester Family Hist Soc
• 4. IGI Record
  • A457973