T193
Court Case King’s Bench between Hughes Minet & Rekar Fector and Martha Arnold, widow.
Defendant sets forth – John Arnold late City of Canterbury dec.d late husband of defendant.
On 21st May 1769 was indebted to the plaintiff for goods and merchandizes for £137 8s.
Also on the 20th Sept.r 1773 at Maidstone aforesaid was indebted to the sd plts in other £653. 2s for divers, other goods, weares and merchandise.
Cummings Attorney
(Very long and involved but repetitive)
T179
3rd June 1769
Probate for goods of John Arnold to wife Martha.
T181
Will of Henry Arnold parish of Kingston Kent, yeoman.
To John Arnold messuage and tenement with barn, garden, orchard etc.
To Susannah, daughter, wife of John Marsh, all household goods, dinner and household furniture.
To Grandchildren:
Susannah, Henry, John and Jane Marsh £50 each.
Henry Arnold £200 to set him as an apprentice, son of John Arnold
Henry Arnold, late of New York £20
T52
Letter to Mr R Symonds, at no. 4 Queens Square, Bristol
Jan 19th 1802
Dear Friend,
Ceylon – 10th Nov 1801
I wrote to you on my return from Bristol now near three months since and I fear either from your urgent uncertainty of our country past office on your having proved that you have not received it. I have therefore enclosed this to a friend of mine, Mr B Biggs, Linen Draper, High Street Bristol, through whose hands you will get it. I hope by this time you have got quite of your complaints by the help of care and your surgeons and if you can make it agreeable I will be happy to see you here to spend a little time.
I will furnish you with a house already equipped. Before I left Bristol I met our friend J T Mais and suggested or requested him to sell you of my being obliged to leave it and without doing my ….
Am your friend truly yours,
M Wm Drake
Devon
Near Axminster
Part of 268
Bird-Byrd-Byrde
In a self bound volume of the history of the families of Cumberland and Westmorland, printed about 1700 is an account of the owners of Broughton Hall in Cumberland.
Henry, descent of Bird Oswald a Dane who founded his home on the Great Wall about AD800 (a Viking) married about 1164 Joan Teasdale, heiress of Broughton Hall.
Several pages in the book deals with the family genealogy, trees are given. Quarrels between the Hall and the castle, especially during the time of the celebrated Countess, owner of the castle which ended on the Bird or Byrds having to pay a token fine in kind or in money to the Countess. (Bird Oswald is still marked in maps of the Great Wall.)
After being in possession of Broughton Hall for 500 years the history ceases abruptly. Ten sons fought for King Charles, the family plate was melted down, 8 or 9 sons were killed.
My father, rev Frederick Louis Byrde told me that no Byrde should ever allow people to say that Charles II was ungenerous or mean. He granted 3 considerable estates to them in recognition of their services to the Stuarts.
Elizabeth Hicks.
In the wars between the French and the English in America the family of Hicks moved from Virginia. Red Indians tomahawked the parents, two sons and two daughters, Elizabeth 10 years old – said to be beautiful, with beautiful hair, was spared. The chief put her into the care of his chief squaw. Before the move a Captain Gilmore had offered Elizabeth’s father £500 if he would keep her safely with him until his return as he wished to marry her when she was old enough. 1 brother Hicks escaped when the family was killed off.
During the two years that Elizabeth was with the Indians she hoped that her brother would rescue her. A Henry Bird, a Captain with Wolf at Quebec heard of her, he and another officer captured her from the Indians.
Henry kept Elizabeth shut up in a house at Detroit Canada in the care of a lady for 2 years.
He married her there when she was 14 years. She rode ponies and milked cows when with the Red Indians and her imprisonment was terrible. She kept a diary which unfortunately was burnt – the spelling was shocking and her sentences illegible.
Two sons were born to Elizabeth and Henry in Canada, from one is descended Admiral Byrde. Birds are mentioned in the Creevy or Creecy papers, the lead Montreal now stands on what belonged to Henry, who sold it before its value was realised. Several other children were born to Elizabeth at Goytrey house in Monmouthshire, where she insisted on milking the cows.
A son or grandson of hers was one of the Prince regent’s gay set and lost a great deal, the Abbey lands may have been paid for a gambling debt.
Joshua Reynolds was a friend of one of the sons and painted their mother at Goytrey.
De Fer – at the time of the French Revolution De Fer and her brother Pierre escaped from France to Kent in a fishing boat. The rest of the family were guillotined.
A Captain Henry Bird stationed at Canterbury fell in love with the French girl who was teaching French to live. Pierre returned to France to see about the family estate and was never heard of again. Henry and ? were married in the Crypt of Canterbury Cathedral. When stationed at Windsor the daughters of ? and Henry were (w Private) – as is. The daughters of George III. One gave, I think it was Adelaide Bird a carved ivory knife with a steel blade – probably Italian; this was given to me by my father, William Byrde.
The christian names of the children have now Frederick and Louis amongst the Augustus, Henrietta etc and Charles etc in the family genealogies.
Bird or Byrde spelt either way were great soldiers, undistinguished – not one became a general. They fought in the thirty years war, the wars of the Austrian succession. Peninsular war, Napoleonic wars, one was at Waterloo.
A boy of 18 was drowned at the battle of the Nile, China wars. On his return from China a Col. Henry Byrde bought land in Ceylon – he brought from China a great quantity of porcelain, bedroom and table and drawing room china. This was all marked with the family coat of arms in England. Most was sold after the death of my grandfather, Colonel Henry Louis Byrde, JP, deputy Lieutenant of Monmouthshire. He went back to the old spelling of Byrde. A brother of his, I think a Charles was wounded in the Crimea war. He was the youngest Major. He went to Ceylon to plant on some of the family estate.
My grandmother would not allow any of her sons to go into the Army. My father and his brother became Clerics. Richard was headmaster of All Hallows Devon.
Note: when I sang in a concert in Penrith Cumbria in ’98 the Penrith newspaper said “one of the Byrde’s of Broughton Hall which had been in the family for 500 years”. Cumbria had a long memory. The celebrated Lord Chancellor took his title from “Broughton” when he lived at Broughton Hall.
T 210
8th February 1823 – Will of Henry Bird
Elizabeth Bird, parish of Goytre relict of Henry Bird.
George Bird.
Lucy Bird, spinster.
Frances Bird, spinster.
Rev Wm Richard Lewis Walker Llanover and Georgina his wife, late Georgina Bird
Dorothy Bird, spinster.
Betsy Hayward Winstone of Bath, widow and relict of Wm Hayward Winstone.
To Charles £200 to put him in full pay in an old Regiment and fit him out service at such time.
Wife Elizabeth and other mentioned people, all stocks and shares and Goytre House – not to sell canal shares until they reach £100 per share.
House not to be sold.
T38
Copy of a letter from Lieut J M Pennington to the Secretary at War
Luzarches 19th December 1815
My Lord,
I have taken the liberty of begging your Lord’s interference in a lease the particulars of which are here detailed – after the battle of Vittoria, Lieut. Colonel Bird was left there on duty and his company (The Grenadiers) was paid by his brother for him until it was ascertained that the former was going to England about the 24th September when Major Clarke was appointed to the Company.
His brother and Captain Leech were authorised by him to settle his accounts both public and private.
The balances on the abstract 24th September were less by £106 9s, the amount of the minus credits to that period which was charged to Colonel Bird’s private account and creating to the Company account to October along with the balances to 24th September, after that the public account was signed by Captain Leech, for him, as correct and the receipts, memorandums &c to the period over to him for Colonel Bird last declaration.
The balance of his private account was sent to him as two remittances amongst which was credited the amount of our order drawn by Lt. Barry 87th Regiment for one hundred dollars on paymaster Sherlock which I counted as goods as having the money in my possession, being accepted by the latter and which I beg to leave to enclose. – On applying for the money it was refused on a plea that it was forbid by Lt. Barry in consequence for the horses (for which it appears the order was given) being claimed by Captain Thompson 83rd Regiment.
Finding I could not get the money for Colonel Bird I made him acquainted with it, as also that it would be charged by me to paymaster Boyd of the 2nd Battalion for him to repay as it was no transaction of mine whatsoever in paying the money before it was received and that he might be able to make some arrangement with Captain Thompson and Lieut. Barry concerning it.
I was however much surprised on being informed that Colonel Bird would not refund the money that being eighteen months ago and still preservers in with holding it from me.
May I request your Lord will have the goodness to assist me in recovering the amount from Colonel Bird by having it paid into the hands of paymaster Boyd on my account.
I am, Sr
Signed
J M Pennington
1st Battalion 5th Regiment
The Right Honble
The Secretary at War
CD/CP/70
41 – 15th October 1713
Marriage settlement – Melyn-y-coed
2 messuages 15 perches land 80a parish of Goytre. 1 messuage of 14 closes of land. 80 acres pg. 1 other close of land, messuage, mill 9 closes land
42 – 20th November 1746
Deed to levy a fine
To messuage, tenement, farm, Goytre
43 – 20th November 1746
As above, 1 messuage, 1 farm etc PG
44 – 1st January 1777
Messuage, tenement land in parish of Goytre and same in the parish of Abergavenny
45 – 2nd January 1787
1 and 2 as above
£100
50 – 16th July 1792
Lease for a year
Messuage, parcel of land containing 30a PG
51 – 17th July 1792
Release – As above
52 – 11th February 1797
Mortgage
£500 messuage and several parcels of land 30a PG messuage etc. 60a PG
53 – 25th March 1805
Lease for 3 lives
Close of land ¼ a PG
54 – 29th September 1807
Lease for 3 lives
Messuage garden 3a land PG
55 – 25th May 1815
Ass of a mortgage
£500 messuage and 30a land PG also newly erected messuage 60a PG
56 – 29th September 1813
Lease for 3 lives
£84 messuage etc 5 closes land 6a 2p PG
57 – 23rd February 1821
Assignment of mortgage
£518 messuage several parcels of land 30a PG. Messuage etc 60a PG
58 – 25th March 1821
Lease 3 lives
Messuage garden 3p land 3a p PG
59 – 2nd July 1821
Lease for 1 year
Ruin of a messuage several parcels of land 60a PG several parcels land 30a PG
60 – 3rd July 1821
Release
As before
61 – 4th July 1821
Transfer of mortgage
£2150 as before
62 – 10th July 1830
Feoffment
£9 piece of land 262ft x 68 x 61ft part of Pentre Bach farm PG
63 – 7th February 1832
£60 as before
64 – 29th September 1832
Lease for 3 lives
65 – 7th December 1832
Lease for a year
Messuage farm etc Pantysgawn 50a + messuage etc called Penystare 40 covers messuage etc PG + Lanvair Kilgeddin
66 – 8th December 1832
£3000 Pantysgawn + Penystare 120a PG and Lanvair
67 – 24th August 1834
Lease for a year
Messuage several closes of land 60a PG also messuage several parcels land 30a PG
68 – 25th August 1834
Release
£1947.19.2 as above
69 – 2nd December 1834
Certificate of commission for the deeds of married woman
To a deed 25th August 1834
70 – 26th January 1835
Appointment of assignment
71 – 28th Jan 1835
Mortgage
£1400 messuage several closes land and estate 60a but actually 38a 1r 27p PG also messuage several parcels land by estimate 30a but actually 22a 38p PG
72 – 25th May 1835
Further charge
£1500 messuage etc Pantysgawn
73 – 20th September 1836
Messuage farm etc Pantysgawn 50a messuage etc called Penystare 40 covers etc 120a PG and Lanvair
£4500
74 – 29th September 1838
Messuage with garden several closes land 3a 2r 10p PG
75 – 18th January 1842
Mortgage
Cottage and garden 30p parcel of land 2a 2r 10p
£25
76 – 14th June 1842
Conveyance
£150 parcel of land 262 x 68 x 61 ft part of a farm called Pentre Bach PG with a messuage built thereon
77 – 3rd January 1845
Further charge and mortgage
£500 messuage farm etc called Pantysgawn messuage etc called Penystare also Penycauseway parish of Abergavenny
78 – 9th September 1847
Transfer of mortgage
£2000 messuages – Pantysgawn – Penystare- Penycauseway
79 – 30th October 1848
Mortgage
£38 cottage and garden 30p parcel land 2a 2r 10p PG
80 – 9th November 1853
Conveyance
81 – 7th March 1850
Mortgage
£700 messuage several closes land 38a 1r 27p PG also messuage several parcels land 22a 38p PG
82 – 5th Feb 1856
Mortgage
£120 parcel land 262 etc farm called Pentre Bach together with messuage
83 – 24th April 1856
Transfer of mortgage
£1400 messuage close of land 3a 1r 27p PG also messuage several parcels land 22a 38p PG
84 – 9th March 1858
Conveyance
£1501 9s as above
85 – 30th March 1858
Mortgage
£1300 as above
86 – 24th March 1829
Transfer of mortgage
£2000 messuage etc Pantysgawn-Penystare etc
87 – 24th May 1859
Lease
Close of land 2a 3r 35p also 3 closes land 8a 2r 27p also parcel land called Ty Bach y Burcwm
88 – 25th October 1859
Conveyance
£80 dwelling house garden and 5a
89 – 25th March 1860
Lease for 3 lives
Cottage 4 closes land 4a 32p
90 – 18th December 1860
Mortgage
£1466 13s 4d same details as before
91 – 25th March 1861
Lease
92 – 6th May 1861
Conveyance
£920 262 ft etc as before
93 – 6th May 1861
Mortgage
£300 parcel land etc 262 Pentre Bach
94 – 21st September 1861
Lease
Ruins of a cottage 11 closes land 12a 3r 25p
95 – 31st July 1865
Mortgage
Messuage and several closes land 120a 23p (113a 2r 21p) PG and LK
£1547 12s 9d
96 – 5th July 1869
Deed of exchange
3 closes of land 9a 2r 19p
5 closes land 11a 28p
97 – 12th August 1869
Grant
Parcel land ¼ a at Penpellenny
100 – Goytre House Goytre
3 November 1949
Agreement for a pipe for conveying water from the Mon Brecon canal to Goytre House British Transport Committee + Mon CC
£1 10s pa
102 – Goytre House
8th December 1951
Agreement on Goytre House sewage system
SA Morgan and Mon CC
103 – Goytre House 1952
Abstract of title of SA Morgan to freehold property known as Goytre House
104 – 1st May 1952
Deed of grant
£50 full rights and liberty to lay drain on a plan for the passage of sewage from Goytre House
SA Morgan to Mon CC
111 – 7th August 1954
Land tax redemption certificate
£1 6s 1d
Concerning the above premises
112 – Goytre House 1st May 1954
For the erection of 5 poles and 5 stays and approx 50 yards of underground earth wire total 16/-
Mon CC and SWEB
117 – Goytre House 2nd September 1960
Agreement (c/part)
To let parcels of land situate in PG and Mamhilad containing 22a adjoining Goytre House from 2nd February 1960
£40 pa
Mon CC to Florence May Hamer
120 – Land adjoining Goytre House 20th May 1969
C/part tenancy agreement
Relating to 21.269a of land os plots nos: 105 part 106-part 963-901-902-960-960a situate adjacent to Goytre House
Plan
Annual tenancy from 2nd February 1969
Rent £55 pa
Mon CC to Robert Alfred Hamer Goytre House Farm
122 – 2nd June 1969
C/part agreement
For the tenancy of 2.168a land adjoining Goytre House and being enclosure number 963a and part of 963 on OS sheet for grazing purposes
Plan
£15 pa payable half yearly
Mon CC and Betty Prowlin
125 – Goytre Home for the Aged
2nd July 1976 – Tenancy agreement of the Lodge Goytre
129 – Goytre House
25th October and 15th November 1979
Correspondence relating to boundary line at Goytre House
130 – Goytre House
18th December 1981 – Copy letters and plan re tenancy to drive
T64
Miss Charlotte Bird –
1820 – July 20th – Paid for you at Bromley as per Mrs Chalklen’s account 12 19 6
1821 – March – Paid for piano forte to Mr Phillips 10 00 0
1822 – September – Cash to go to Aberayron 11 00 0
December – Stamp for transfer of Midland Shares 2 0 0
50 19 6
December 25 – To 1 share in the Mon’shire canal transferred to you 170 00 0
To remain in balance of your share of the property listed In the land by mortgage £512 10 11
£682 10 11
Total sum paid to you and received in the land £733 10 5
It appears by the above account that I have the sum of £512-10-11 of your money in the land for which you have a joint mortgage with your mother, Lucy, Fanny and Maria and the interest I have to pay your mother for you on this sum of £512-10-11 at five pounds per cent per annum amounts to £25-12-6 a year which I shall continue to pay to her on your account till forbid by you to do so.
Henry Bird
T258
Goytre House freehold lands situated in the parish of Goytre County of Monmouth the property of Col. Henry Byrde JP for the County of Monmouth
Ast 425 9 1 11
Plantation and pasture 426 1 12
Arable 427 2 1 23
Plantation and pasture 428 4 3 20
Manor house + farm bldgs 429 2 0 3
Arable 430 4 1 26
Pasture 431 2 3 29
Gorse 432 2 3 38
Arable 433 3 2 17
Arable 435 5 2 0
Pasture 530 2 0 12
Meadow 531 7 1 4
Pasture 532 2 0 17
Pasture 424 3 3 20
Arable 422a 3 7
Mamhilad
Arable 612 2 0 7
Wood 613 4 2 14
61 9 8
According to the tithes computation survey selected and surveyed by T Rees in the year 1863
T240
I devise and bequeath all the residue of my real and personal estate whatsoever and wheresoever to which I shall be entitled at my death unto my Trustees UPON TRUST that my Trustees shall sell, call in and convert into money the same or such part thereof as shall not consist of money with power to postpone such sale calling in and conversion for such period as my Trustees shall judge expedient (with particular reference to the shares held by me in Cerebos Ltd) and out of the money so produced and out of my ready money shall pay my funeral and testamentary expenses and debts and the legacies, bequests by this my will or any codicil hereto and all invest the residue of the said moneys in any authorised trust, investments with power from time to time to vary such investments for others of a like nature and shall stand possessed of the residue of such moneys and the investments for/the time being representing the same (herein called “my Residuary Fund”) upon the following trusts:
IN WITNESS whereof I have hereunto set my hand to this my WILL contained in this and the preceding sheet of paper this Twentieth day of November One Thousand Nine Hundred and Thirty Nine.
SIGNED by the said Owen Augustus Richard Byrde the testator as
And for his last will in the presence of us both present at the same Owen Richard
Time who at his request in his presence and in the presence of Augustus Byrde
each other have hereunto subscribed our names as witnesses.
C Evans SRC Thomas
The Old Bank House Patson
Abergavenny Park Avenue
Mon – Bank Manager Abergavenny – Bank Clerk