From "Le Tall's Woodhouse" by William James Le Tall (1876) ----------- Page 8 : [...] Where Thomas Ward, senior, pig jobber, at present resides, we find these initials, N G M 1688 I believe it to be Godfrey and Mary Newbold. Whether the Godfrey that rented some of the land belonging to the Friends, or the Godfrey Newbold, senior, that is mentioned in the old records of the Friends meetings at Woodhouse, I cannot say, but that it was one of them there appears no doubt [...] ----------- Page 19 (bottom) to page 20 (top) : [...] Woodhouse Common was enclosed in 1804 and 1805. [...] When the Common was unenclosed there were gates near the Brick Kiln Close, to keep cattle from straying into the town when put upon the Common. Thomas Ward, pig-jobber, 1873, says the valley on the north of Northanton Hill was a sheep run of George Hibbard's, and on the south side of Peter Birks' in his grandfather's day. [...] Page 20 (later in page) : The only wood frame building still in existance in Woodhouse is the stabling of Thomas Ward, on J. Housfield's property : it has recently been filled in above with brickwork. At Treeton this description of house is still to be seen (1862). ----------- Pages 26 to 27 : JOHN BIRKS, son of PETER III., married CATHERINE WARD. | +--------------------+------+------+--------------------+ William Birks, senr.; Emma; Catherine; Peter John. | | | married Wm. Gray's married married daughter Matthew Wm. Birks had issue but dead. Habershon (son of P.P.Birks.) [...] WARD FAMILY. The Ward's are a cattle-dealing family. Thomas, George, and Daniel, all in the cattle line, are the sons of one Thomas, who dealt in cattle, and Thomas was the son of George, and George was the son of John, so John would be the great-grand- -father of the Thomas, George and Daniel of this generation. Thomas tells me his great-grandfather was a shoemaker by trade, and lived on the property at Stubbin Lane-end which the Wards purchased ultimately. he commenced dealing in sheep, which he kept on the common and took to Chesterfield market to sell. He preferred cattle-dealing to shoemaking so left the last: and his descendants have evidently approved of their great-grandfather's act, for they keep to cattle-dealing. George has retired: he paid particular attention to pig-jobbing when in business. Upon his retiring he built Netherfield House in 1870. Thomas, his elder brother, took his trade, and now (1873) does a large business. His sons Tom, James and Fred are all his assistants. They procure many cattle and swine from Ireland for the English Market. Daniel died at Derby: his son is also a cattle-dealer. John Ward, another branch of family, was a stone-mason: William, his brother, was a gardener. John Ward, butcher, living 1873, is another branch. Rowland, auctioneer, is brother to John the butcher: he is living (1873). The Wards of Swallownest are also blood relations to the Wards of Woodhouse. [...] ----------- Page 37 : {Le Tall discusses some people who liked rhyming, Jont Ward apparently took offence at one of them, and the passage continues} Jont' Ward incurred his displeasure, and in his rhyme against him was- "His nick in chalk and his short measure, He's gone and left his ill got treasure." Ward was a publican at Swallow-nest. With these snatches I leave the rhymer. ----------- Pages 41 to 42 : 1871, William Ward died: he built the square house at top of town on left hand going to Gosp. Close. He was butcher and gardener, fond of ale, and full of anecdote when touched with liquor. I obtained most of my snatches of Massey's rhymes from him. He could be very aggravating when in liquor. I am told he once irritated Joseph Taylor, now dead, then landlord of "Royal," severely. Taylor had irritated William about some trifle. A pint of ale was called for by William, which he proffered silver for, so on the landlord returning with beer and change Ward took the change as if to count it, singled out a piece of silver from it, drew the attention of company to it as to its now being right, which Joseph noticing, Ward said quietly "Not right, Joseph! Not quite right, I think Joseph!" and rang it on the table. "Not quite right, Joseph! doesn't ring right, I think, Joseph!" and appealed again to the company. Joseph flew into a rage- "You're always finding some'at wrong: hand it here!" but William only reiterated "Not quite right, Joseph! Not quite right!" and proffered it to Joseph, who stood opposite, across the table, the glass of beer being between them. Joseph held out his hand, and William watching his time, handed it to him saying "Not quite right, I think!" Here their hands met directly over the pint can or glass. William dropped the silver as though into Joseph's hand, but he missed it, and down to the bottom of the beer it went as he finished his sentence with "Joseph." There was a general laugh at landlord, who up with can and retreated to fish it out. It was a peculiarity of William Ward's to reiterate his assertions. ----------- Page 56 : {key to map on page 57 : } [...] 3. Geo. Ward [...] 17 Thos. Ward [...] 27 Eliz. Ward [...] 39 Jno. Ward [...] 81 Wm. Ward [...] f N G M 1688 {see page 8, where it says this house is where Thomas Ward lived} [...] ----------- Page 60 : {following from page 59, which discusses the year 1876} [...] Geo. Ward., who built Netherfield House, died this year. [...] {goes on to discuss 1877 on the same page.} ----------- Page 66 : Rowland Ward, who became depressed from increasing infirmity, destroyed himself by cutting his throat this year. - VII, '82. {goes on to discuss 1883 and 1884. Therefore, "VII, '82" probably means the 7th month of 1882.} ----------- Page 67 : 1884. - Rowland Ward's widow now lives in Peter France's house, Beighton Road. George Ward's widow, late Netherfield, lives where Emma Habershon (Matthew's widow) did reside and where she died in 11, 84. ----------- Page 82 : "Parish Meeting assembled 14th of February, 1849. BENJAMIN LETALL in the Chair. Resolved:- 1. That it is the opinion of this meeting and in accord with former minutes entered in the parish book, that the only right, proper and legal manner of electing a Schoolmaster for the Parish School in the village of Woodhouse is vested in the ratepayers in Vestry assembled. 2. That this meeting be adjourned to the 21st instant at half-past six for the purpose of appointing a committee, and the following persons are to wait upon the Churchwardens and Rector to come to an amicable arrangement. Signed by Edw. Hobson, Geo. Ward, Sen., Wm. Hooley, Benj. LeTall. The Vestry then adjourned from the 14th to the 21st of February." "Meeting on 21st. Assembled. The deputation appointed report they had an interview with Rector and Churchwardens, which was not to satisfaction: for they refuse the parishoners the right of electing a committee; which this meeting now declares to be arbitrary and contrary to all former precedent in the electing of a Schoolmaster for the Parish School at Woodhouse, and the following persons were proposed by the deputation as a committee: - John B. Brown, Thomas Dunn, Edward Dodson, William Cadman, Matthew Habbershon, Robert Hawksworth, George Ward, Senr., J. W. Birks, P. France, Benjamin LeTall, Danl. Ward, William France, together with the Rector and Churchwardens for time being. And this meeting is of the opinion that it is a fair, just and reasonable appointment and any other parties appointed will be deemed illegal and unjust, unless in accordance with former precedent. - Signed by these parishoners present. - P. France, George Ward, J. W. Birks, Wm. Newbould, Junr., J. H. Jones, John Rodgers, Senr., Wm. Castle, Thomas Bower, Joseph Dennison, Joseph Ward, Thomas Bacon, George Gray," etc., there are 38 signatures in all. ----------- Page 85 : Thomas Hoyland in 1686 was Churchwarden and Overseer for his own house and land in Woodhouse, this probably was the cause of the name Hoyland Lane - still used in Woodhouse for the road leading from Main Street to Meeting House Lane. "Tommy" Hoyland occupied a thatched house, adjoining Hoyland Lane, seventy years ago. There were two of these houses adjoining, on the site of the shops and houses now occupied by Samuel Ward and others. [...]