Fenland people & places, 1823-26

[pipsqueak]

I would put this in a county forum except the places I want to find out about are in different counties.

I'm working on transcribing a Will written in 1823 with a Codicil added in 1825, which was Proved in 1826. The Will mentions several parcels of land which were purchased from some people and bequeathed to others. I've been trying to Google up some information about these places (and people) but some are eluding me. Any strange spellings would either be a mistranscription on my part or they are spellings used in the document (eg "ffen" for "fen"), but it could be quite interesting to see if anyone here knows any of these people and places.

Names of people in 1823:

Stephen CHERRINGTON (of Crowland)
Stephen CHERRINGTON
Robert CHERRINGTON (of Pinchbeck)
Richard CHERRINGTON
Sarah CHERRINGTON
John CHERRINGTON
William CHERRINGTON
Mary Ann CHERRINGTON
ffrances CHERRINGTON
Elizabeth & Samuel PRICE [Elizabeth nee Cherrington is my g-g-g-gm]
Isaac Congreve HARDY
George TOOLEY
John & Mary TOOLEY (aka 'The Elder', of Crowland)
John TOOLEY (the Younger)
William TOOLEY
Thomas TEAT
John DOLBY
Thomas ATKINS
Ann & George CASSWELL (of Postland)
Stephen Cherrington CASSWELL
Mary CASSWELL
Richard CASSWELL
Henry CASSWELL
Sarah CASSWELL
John CASSWELL
Stephen Joyce CASSWELL
Robert Derby CASSWELL
Elizabeth CASSWELL
William ELAM
WIlliam FFRENCH
Christopher & Susannah SOUTHWELL
Mary Ann SOUTHWELL
Thomas Orby HUNTER, Esq.
Robert GREEN
Samuel GREEN
John COLESON
Joseph DICKINSON
John RENOW
Reverend Fortor BUCKWORTH
Theophilus BUCKWORTH, Esq
Mary CLEAVER
Ann CLEAVER
Samuel DOADS
James SPOOK or HOOK
John ALLEN
Mary Ann ALLEN
Benjamin ARCH
Stanford BEVERIDGE

Places mentioned, other than those above:

Moulton and Moulton Chapel
Leverington Parsons Drove
Whapload
Whapload Drove
Whapload Drove Common
Newborough
Borough ffen
Holbeach Common
Alderlands of Crowland
Kings Delph
Mowborough
Coggush Land

Finally, can anyone explain these terms for me please?

Washes
ffodderlots
Appurtenances
Messuage
"without impeachment of or for any manner of waste except wilful waste"


Thank you!

[Peter Goodey]

A messuage is a dwelling plus appurtenances (outbuildings, garden, perhaps land)

Could washes be wastes?

Ffodderlots sounds as if it could be something to do with fother/fodder meaning a load. What's the context?

[Thomasin]

I thought that perhaps washes meant some kind of inlet or bay, like 'The Wash' which is not too far from this area.

'ff' was used for capital F.

Thomasin

[Jan1954]

I have found a reference to fodderlot on British History Online, referring to the Fenlands:

Men with little or no land could support themselves through their rights over the extensive common pastures and fens, listed in 1340 as fodderfen, turffen, fodderlot, and sheeplot.

[pipsqueak]

A messuage is a dwelling plus appurtenances (outbuildings, garden, perhaps land)

That's what I thought.

Could washes be wastes?

I don't think so (see below). I did wonder if it's to do with the drainage of the fens.

Ffodderlots sounds as if it could be something to do with fother/fodder meaning a load. What's the context?

Here is the full context:

And I give and devise unto my Nephew Richard Cherrington a Son of my brother William Cherrington all that my Copyhold Messuage in the East Street in Crowland and four Acres of land in the Alderlands with all the Appurtenances to the same belonging (except the allotments on the late Common the fodderlots and the Washes) now or late in the occupation of the said Richard Cherrington and Samuel Doads and purchased by me of James Spook(?) to hold the same to the said Richard Cherrington his heirs and Assigns for ever

This is the only place on the document where fodderlots is spelt with only one F. Here it is on the will:



Fodderlots could be common land, as seems to be indicated in Jan's reference.

[Geoffers]

Is there mention of livestock in this will - especially sheep - or was this known to be an area were sheep were kept?

If so, then 'washes' might refer to washpits for sheep-dipping.

[pipsqueak]

There is no mention of sheep or any other animals, but they were farmers, of course. One tract of land was specifically stated as being given to Arable crops and another was Meadow. Other than that, there are no specifics. Several parts of the Will have the same words, ie: ".....with all the Appurtenances to the same belonging (except the allotments on the late Common the fodderlots and the Washes)" , always in connection with "the late Common" which sees to have been part of an "Inclosure" which I take to refer to more land reclamation in the Fens.

I need a Fen historian I think!

[Geoffers]

I need a Fen historian I think!

You might try the Wisbech and Fenland Museum.

[Jan1954]

I need a Fen historian I think!

Try the Fenland Family History Society.

[Thomasin]

I found this definition of 'wash' by Googling:

A piece of ground washed by the action of a sea or river, or sometimes covered and sometimes left dry; the shallowest part of a river, or arm of the sea; also, a bog; a marsh; a fen; as, the washes in Lincolnshire.

Thomasin