THE LANGSTAFFS OF TEESDALE AND WEARDALE
BY
GEORGE BLUNDELL LONGSTAFF
Transcribed
by
CAROLE A.M. JOHNSON
COPYRIGHT 2001
All Rights Reserved

PART 2.
7 Early Notices


1507-8 (?) February 28 (?) 23 Henry V11. Edward Langstaff of Stanhopp wed 8d and 6d

Durham Cursitors records, bundle 8, last folio( a book of recognicances)

A.D. 1513, Robert Abbot of the Monastery of St. John the Baptist of Eccleston, claimed damages against John Langstaff,yeoman of Lirtington and Richard Mickel, yeoman of Lirtington for forcibly entering his closes at Bolron and depasturing their cattle therein, to the damage of 5 marks and for taking his goods and chattels, value 100s. The places mentioned are all close to Mickleton.
De Banco Roll, Hilary, 4 Henry V111. M257


A.D. 1523, Michael Langstaff of Mikleton paid subsidy on his goods.
Value 40s. Paid 12d.

John Langstaff of Rombaldkirk paid subsidy on his goods.
Value 20s Paid 4d

Subsidy Roll 14 Henry V111

Is there not some evidence of the principal, so much vaunted by latter day Radicals, of a graduated income tax? The Rich Michael pays half as much % as the poorer John.

A vague rumour has reached me of a Longstaff, an Abbot of Lincoln in the reign of King John, but as yet only one solitary medieval ecclesiastic has come to light, viz one Johannce Longestaff, who in the time of Henry V111, was a chantry priest of Somerby in the deanery of Yarburgh, co. Lincoln, a benefice worth £4 less tithe! Can this gentleman have given rise to the Abbot myth, Somerby it may be remarked is but 4 miles from Kirmington. He got promotion however:-

1549. John Langstaffe, clerk, presented by Sir Thomas Heneage, Kent; to the Rectory of Knaith, co. Lincoln. [Vacant by death of Robert Baggley} was instituted.

Bishops Register, Lincoln

Fresh light is thrown on our subject by the Rolls of the Musters of the men of Richmondshire, fit for the Wars, at Richmond, co. York.

A.D. 1535 [ 26 Henry V111]

John Langstaff of Cotherston, an archer with horses and harness.

Lancelot Langstaff of Startforth, a billman with neither horse nor harness.

John Langstaff of Hunderthwaite, a billman with neither horse nor harness.

Valor ecclesiasticus, vol IV a return of the value of all benefices etc., made in accordance with the statute,
26 Henry V111
[1534-1535] This Syr John is mentioned in the Lincoln will of William Langstaffe 1537. He was admitted vicar of East Halton and vicar of Wrarby in 1557.

See Appendix X pp calm cxhm


8 Early Notices


A.D. 1539 [SO Henry V111]
Cotherston - John Langstaff. - Billman without horse or harness
Nicholas Langstaff. " " " "
Mykelton - Thomas Langstaff - An archer without horse or harness
Richmond Burgh - Robert Langstaff - An archer, horsed and harnessed
John Langstaff - Billman without horse or harness
Bowes- John Langstaff - Billman horsed and harnessed
It is grievous that poor Lancelot, the only one known of that pre-eminently knightly name, was doomed by cruel fate to fight on foot; it may have been a consolation to him that four years later, John of Cotherston was in the same plight.

Another subsidy levied was in 1543 when we find that:-

Bowes cum Bodrun- John Langstaff paid 2d

Mikelton, Crossthwayte and London:-

Michael Langstaff paid 1d

Thomas Langstaff paid 1d

Nicholas Langstaff paid 2d

A.D. 1555. At York, Hilary Term. 1 and 2 Philip and Mary, Sir Thomas Stanley, Knight.

Lord Monteagles sues Reginald Langstaff of Hebblethwaite in the parish of Sedburgh, labourer, for forcibly rescuing certain cattle which the plaintiff had seized for arrears of services due from the defendant.
De Banco Roll, M.369 dorso


A.D. 1545, 8 November. SS Henry V111

Aldbrough Court held at Borough Bridge. Leonard Langstaff sued Reginald Ward in a plea of debt
. Knaresbrough Manor Rolls.

The earliest Langstaff Wills now extant are 1543 and 1555, [proved at Richmond], 1557

[At Lincoln] 1569 [at Westminster ]1574 [at York] 1579, [at Durham] but of these hereafter.

A.D. 1553 19 October, 24, of Bp Cuthbert [Tunstall]

The jury presented John Longstaff for not keeping up his hedge at Daaygill to the injury of his neighbours, he was amerced in the sum of 8d.
- Halmode at Erymwold [Evenwood]

This entry, the earliest mention I have come across of any of the name in the Auckland district, is especially interesting from the place name "Daaygill" I have perused a lease dated 1769, by which "a parcel of ground, formally the Lords waste, called Daygill, otherwise Fletcher Hill" containing 6 acres and one rood was "letten" for 21 years to my Great Grandfather George Langstaff.


9 Early Notices


Daygill is marked in the Ordnance Map as a house or farmstead just above the Daygill Beck, a stream about a mile in length which flows into the tributary of the Gaunless some two miles from Evenwood. If it be not a direct proof of fixaty of tenure, it is at least a curious coincidence.

The above named John of Daaygill seems to have been a turbulent fellow as well as a slovenly farmer. At the Manor Court at Evenwood held May 1 1578:- John Langstaff fined, iijs Iiijd, for assaulting John Gaynforth" Note the heavy fine, for the former offence, 8d was considered an appropriate penalty.

Parish Registers were instituted in 1538, the first mention of a Langstaff therein was at Bishop Middleham , co. Durham, in 1559 ; That of Rokerby, co. York, actually begins thus:-

1598: Imperimus;- James Langstaffe sonne to Robert, baptised the xvi of April A.D. 1598.
But I shall have much to say concerning Parish Registers later.

A.D.1560:- Subsidy: Srd of Elizabeth, John Langstaff of Raby, on his goods value, 40s paid 5s.

By his will dated 12 November 1598, William Hodshon of the Manor House, Lanchester, gives: To one John Langstraffe of Rabie wf he be lyvinge at the daye of my deathe and yf he be dead to his children, or next of kynne in considerac'on of hisd losses he sustayned by me in the late rebellyon in the northe [1569] in the service of Charles the layte Earl of Westmorland, 30s, also I give in like manner, unto one Henrye Newbye, or to his children, or next of kynne, yf he be dead, 20s, also in like manner, unto Nicholas Botcherty of Rabye lordshipp, 20s.


Durham Wills, Surtees Society vol. Xxxviii,p.285

According to Sir Cuthbert Sharpe there were:
Out in the Rebellion of the North, 1569, with the Earl of Westmorland among others:-
Edward Marley of Ingleton [near Gainford]
Cuthbert Marley " "
Cuthbert Dixon of St. Helens, Auckland
Thomas Langstaffe of Raby
John Langstaffe of Shotton
Henry Langstaff Bowes MSS
As to this spelling see Chapter 11


10 Early Notices


Doubtless John Langstaffe of Shotton [close to Raby] is the man who paid subsidy in 1560 and nearly 30 years later after the Rebellion received tardy "considerac'on" for his mistaken devotion to his Lord.

Charles the 6th and last Earl of Westmorland, who fled beyond seas, and was attainted.

John, however, was lucky to have escaped with his head for Sir Cuthbert Sharpe tells us from "Stayndroppe" 44 joined the Rebellion of whom 7 were executed; and from "Rabye" 27 joined of whom 5 were executed . Bowes MSS

If John Shotton was a valient rebel, the great Queen had a trusty servant, in the person of another John a Richmondshire man, since his services [possibly under Sir Frances Vere in the defence of Bergen op Zoom against the Spaniards under Parma] earned him not a considerable pension for those days.

1595: Richmondshire Quarter Sessions, at Richmond: Lame Soldiers:- John Langstaffe MS.

[?maimed soldier], being commended by the letters of the Great Earl of Huntingdon, as serving beyond the seas in her Mag.... service as a Lewetenant of a companye under Capteyn....., is allowed for his yearly mayntenance the somme of £10--------North Riding Record Society vol. N

There was another Rebellion of the North nearly 200 years later which culminated in Culloden, in this a Cuthbert Marley, a Thomas Langstaff served together with a Dixon, but this time on the Kings side. A characteristically English creation was:- "The Yorkshire Association against the Rebellion of 1745." The Muster Roll of Captain Hutton's Company [North Riding] includes:-

Thomas Langstaff Inlisted October y 10 1745

He comes forth out of about 50 privates on the roll. The next name is Anthony Dixon and there is a very quaint account of the expenses of a Cuthbert Marley for riding into Westmorland and Cumberland. He was away 6 days November 16 - 21, to watch y" motions of y" rebels for the Association. His name does not appear on the Rolls but he was paid 10s 6d a day for this [possibly dangerous] service. The private soldier then, as now, got a shilling.

Daniel Longpray appears in the paylist of Captain Crowes Company.


11 Early Notices


Fifty years later, we for the third time find Langstaffs associated with Dixons and a Marley; Then however, the bonds were matrimonial instead of military comradeship [see Chapter V11]

A.D. 1589, Court of the Privy Council. To the Quene our most dreade soveraigne Lady

William Blithe of Quernaby, co. York, gent complains that were as John Blithe, late of Quernaby, plaintiffs kinsman, deceased, was inter alia, seised of a close of arable and pasture ground called Huscrofte situate in Barnaby on Don, co. York, and the said John so being seised assured the said close to divers persons and their heirs to the use of himself for life and after his decease to the use of Elizabeth, late the wife of the said John, now also deceased, for her life, And afterwards to the use of the plaintiff and his heirs. The said John Blithe died about two years ago and the said Elizabeth in May last: after her decease the said close descended to plaintiff as cousin and heir of the said John. So seised, plaintiff, in June 30, Eliz. {1588] caused his servants to drive 12 draught oxen, being yoked into the said close, and also to put there other cattle, which they accordingly did. But now so it is that Thomas Blithe, Hugh Cressy, gentleman, Christopher Langstaffe, John Grenebery, William Nelson and Nicholas Stevenson and divers other such like " lewde riotous and evelle disposed"persons to the number of 20, armed with swords, bucklers, daggers guns etc., and on the said 7th June in most furious and outrageous manner entered the said close, drove out the oxon and cattle and broke up their yokes. When plaintiffs servants went to rescue the said beasts, the defendants attacked them "and made one grat heynous assaulte and affraye upon them".putting them in peril of their lives. Plaintiff, therefore prays that writs of subpena may be directed to the said Thomas Blithe, Hugh Cressy, Christopher Langstaffe, etc.. commanding them to appear and make answer.



2 May 31 Eliz. The answer of Thomas Blithe, one of the defendants:- Defendant says that his Uncle, John Blithe, of Quernsaby in co. York . Esq.; was seised of the Manor of Quernaby, and of divers lands etc.; in Lynly, Barnby on Don, etc.; of the yearly value of 200 marks and more and having no issue, wrote to his brother Nicholas Blithe, late of London, deceased, and asked him to send his son, then an infant, to live with him, at Barnby on Don and promised to make him his heir. Whereupon, defendant went to live with him and when defendant was grown up his Uncle arranged a marriage for him, with Dorothy Key, daughter of John Key, gent., for which he received £200 in ready money. And the said John Blithe also conveyed all the said premises to John Saville of Middle Temple, esq. And others to the use of defendant, wife and their heirs.



12 Early Notices


When all of the said lands, descended to the defendant, he walked to the said close called Hurscroft, and finding plaintiffs cattle, depasturing there, without licence, he in most gentle manner, drove them out, as was lawful for him to do.

Star Chamber Proceedings, Eliz. B. 31,Eliz. 83-13

A.D. 1595, Thomas Langstaff of Barnard Castle, co. Durham, Saddler, with Edward Holme of Sickle Hall, co. York. yeoman, John Trymingham of Fishlake, Co. York. And Cuthbert Comyers of Richmond, co. York. Yeoman, were defendants in a plea of debt, at the suit of Henry Metcalf, who claimed 100s against them.

A.D. 1599, Thomas Langstaff of Therntoft, co. York, yeoman, with Roger Beckwith of Scruton, co. York., gentleman, and George Jackson of Gatenby, co. York. Esquire, were defendants in a plea of debt, at the suit of Maria Smithson, widow, late called Maria Belt, executrix to the will of Alicia Beckwith, widow, by Lancelot Bett, her attorney.

These Thomas Langstaffs would appear to have got into better ? Company and to have been involved in pecuniary liabilities by their grand friends. In the very next year, we find that Maria Smithson, widow, claimed £80 against Thomas Langstaff of Therntoft. Aforesaid.

[Thirntoft is near Northallerton]

His namesake was evidently much involved, for in the 3rd of James 1. [1604-5] Thomas Langstaff of Barnard Castle, co. Durham, saddler, was again defendant in a plea of debt.

1603, In the Quarter Sessions held at Durham, in the month of December, an indictment

was laid against Anthony Cradock, yeoman of Auckland Deanery and his servant, Michael Langstaffe for an assault upon the Bishops Bailiff, at South Church, both of whom were imprisoned. Mathew Richleys, "History of Bishop Auckland" p.32

1608-9, March 1. Bill of complaint of Robert Hutton, D.D. against Christopher Langstaffe, Alleged sale, by the defendant, of grey mare, worth vjli xiija iiijd., and one stott or stottrell [colt] worth iij li vjsviijd., which were in 1603 depasturing at Kyopsheld [?Kyo- hope- field] they being the plaintiffs owne proper goods and chattels

Durham Registrars Records, Bills and Answers, Bundle 5 no. 3

At about this time [1595 - 1617] we get several more references to Langstaffs in the Bishop Court Rolls. (See pp. clxiii clxiv.)

* The persistence of trades in families is illustrated by the entry of John Longstaff, a saddler of Barnard Castle, in a Parish Register, in 1806. See p. Ccxxxix



13 Early Notices



A.D. 1610, Michaelmas, 8 James 1. Fine: Chancery:-

Robert Langstaff, tenant of certain closes of land in Mortham and Rokeby, co. York.

Richard Langstaff, tenant of certain other closes in the same place.

Harrisons "History of Yorkshire" p.411

[See will, 1629-30, p. Lix and Rokeby Parish Register.]

A.D. 1619-20, 10 March, 17 James 1. Robert Hall of East Brandon, co. Durham, and Christopher Langstaff of West Auckland, co. Durham, yeoman, the manucapters* of Thomas Langstaff of Bishop Auckland, in the said county, mason, appeared before John Cradock, the Bishops Vicar General and was bound to the sum of £20 each, to produce the said, Thomas Langstaff, a prisoner, before the Kings Justices at the goal delivery at Durham, to answer for divers felonious transgressions and malpractice's. And the said Thomas Langstaff, was at the said time, likewise bound in £40 to answer as aforesaid at the next goal delivery at Durham, 5, April, the next following. And they did not come and the said bail was estreated.



A.D.1624. 15 September. 22 James 1. Inquisition taken at Richmond, co. York.

post mortem, John Langstaff, the jury say that on the day of his death, he was seised in his demesne as of fee of 1 messuage and 8 acres of meadow and pasture with the appurtenances in Sedburgh, co. York, and that he died on the 1 May 1623, that he held of the king in capite by military service and that James Langstaff, his son and heir was then aged 28 and upwards

[See will of James, 1659 p.ci.]

A.D.1627. 30 August, 3 Charles 1. Inquisitio: post mortem, taken at Ripley, co. York.

The jury say that Michael Langstaff, before the day of his death, was seised of 1 messuage and divers closes of land, arable pasture and meadow, with the appurtenances in Hartwith, containing by estimation, 30 acres, more or less, and of 20 acres of land in Hurwith, aforesaid, and being so seised he made his will and bequeathed the said premises, to Nicholas Langstaff



For the term of 7 years in consideration of paying certain moneys to Anthony Langstaff, his younger brother, and that said Michael, died, 1 April 1626, seised of the said lands etc.; held by the King in capite by Military Service. That Elene Langstaff, his widow, was living at Hartwith, and claimed her dower, and that Nicholas Langstaff, his brother and heir was then aged 47 and upwards.

[ See will of Michael, 1623-26. P.exiii*]



A.D. 1634, 10 Charles 1. Ferdinand Huddleston of Millam, co. Cumberland, Esquire, sayeth, that William Huddleston orators late father, was lawfully seised in his demesne as of fee of the manors of Cotherston and Thwaites in the county of York, with the rights, members and appurtenances within, which said manors, divers lands and tenements have for certain years



14 Early Notices



last been holden and occupied by divers several tenants under the pretence of paying not withstanding, to every Lord for the time being, upon change of the then Lord, by death; a general fine, and upon change of every tenant, by death or otherwise, such reasonable fine as the Lord for the time being was pleased to except, and other rents, duties, services, especially by doing of border service hereto-fore upon the Marches of Scotland, at the proper charge of the said tenants, which said Border Service, being now taken away by both the happy union of both the Kingdoms of England and Scotland, the said pretence of tenant right is all taken away and abolished and made void as well as in equity as in law etc. And the said William Huddleston, orators father, being seised of the said manors about the month of March, 3 Charles 1., died so seised, after who's decease, the said manors descended to the orator as his eldest son and heir; and the orator ought to have had from all of the tenants, a general fine, which he requested from all the said tenants in the said manors. The orator then states that William Bailes, Thomas Bailes, John Langstaffe, Anthony Craddock, Nicholas Langstaffe, Peter Allenson, Nicholas Bell, John Hugginson, John Craddock, Mathew Hutchinson, Christopher Hutchinson, William Horne and William Dent and divers others, who did formally hold and enjoy, by and under such service of tenant right, divers and several lands and tenements, parcels of said manors---- to the number of 19 persons or thereabouts---- have confederated and combined together to defraud the orator, of said fines--- and he prays for redress.

[Chancery Bill, Harrisons "History of Yorkshire" p.353



A.D. 1634, Michaelmas,10 Car. 1. Thomas Bowes re. William Rayne, snr., William Rayne, junr., William Tinkler, Thomas Rayne, William Langstaff, Edward Rayne, re manors of Mickleton and Lune, co. Durham, touching the custom of suit and service to Mickleton Mill providing mill stones etc. Exchequer Depositione, No.25.



A.D. 1637, April 12. Curia Capitalis with view of frank pledge held at Staindrop, for the Lordship of Raby, Co. Durham. James Langstaff was sued for 13s 4d for a load of oats and for 8s for a yard of hay.

Calendar of State Papers, 1636-37. P. 365.



A.D. 1642, May 3. William Langstaffe of Somerbridge, co. York, yeoman, administer to the goods and chattels of Michael Langstaff who died intestate.

Chancery Bill, Bundle L43. No. 34.

Summer Bridge is near Pately Bridge and Dacre Bank is close by.

[ The Bill is set out at length, pp.clxvi. Infra. also, Inquisition, 1627, p.13, Supra]



15 Early Notices



A.D. 1662. 14 Charles 11.

Hearth Tax Rolls

Co. Durham: John Langstaff of St. Andrew, Aukland had 4 hearths

Thomas Langstaff " " " " 2 "

John Langstaff " " " " 1 "

Widow Langstaff of West Auckland had 1 "

Widow Newby " " 1 "

. Marmaduke Langstaff of Sommerhouse had 1 hearth

Co. York: William Langstaff of Bolron had 1 hearth.

Anthony Langstaff of Fearby had 1 hearth

22 Charles 11. [1670]

Co. Durham: John Langstaff of Newgate in Auckland had 2 hearths

Co. York: William Langstaff of Mikleton had 2 hearths

Thomas Langstaff of Stainmoor had 1 hearth

23 Charles 11. [1673]

Co. York: George Langstaffe of Hunderthwaite had 2 hearths.

1679 : In a List of Inhabitants in Christ Church, Barbados, dated 22, December, we find Elizabeth Longstaff, possessed of 9 acres of land but no servants and no negroes.

MS in H.M.,s College of Arms

1689, September 4-11: In a list of Visitors to Prisoners in the Tower we find: To Lord Salisbury: among others: Mr Longstaff: Calender of State Papers: William and Mary: p. 241.

What then do these ancient records tell us? Their story, though fragmentary is clear enough. The name of Langstaff, does not appear to be especially associated with Westmorland, nor is its history limited to Kirkby Stephen Registers; but we have chased it back, close on upon seven centuries and found it in many distant parts of England.

In the thirteenth century, Langstaffs and Longstaffs lived in the counties of Norfolk, Lincoln and York; in the fourteenth century, two, at any rate, died in Essex; and others were found again in Lincoln, Norfolk and York. In the fifteenth century we find them in Somerset, Dorset, York and Lincoln. By the sixteenth century, they had passed From Yorkshire into Durham

16 Early Notices

James first Earl of Salisbury, having become a convert to Roman Catholicism, the House of Commons in 1689, resolved, that he should be impeached for High Treason, but the prosecution was not proceeded with.]

Two new classes of records now became available, viz. Wills and Parish Registers, these to put it very shortly, prove beyond all doubt, that the Langstaffs, have been firmly established in the counties of York, Durham and Lincoln from at least, the middle of the sixteenth century, to the present time. I have not been able to trace the name further in the other counties alluded to.

It has been conjectured with some plausibility, that John Langstaff, whose horse was forcibly taken from him in 1420 at Kingston-Juxta-Yeovil, co. Somerset, may have been a distcharged soldier returning from the French Wars. The same explanation might apply, but with less probability to William Langstaff of Beaminster, co. Dorset, in 1429. He is described as a weaver but as the soldiers of those days, were more like a Militia than our Regulars, this difficulty is not great.

In Essex, the properly constituted authorities, took early and effectual steps to check the progress of the Langstaffs. [See p.4]

There were Langstaffs definitely settled in the eastern counties sixty years before the earliest Yorkshire record and no evidence has yet come to light of any connection between the two branches of the family. It would however not be safe to argue from this, that they are descended from distinct stocks. The Langstaff record, "like the record of the rocks" is but fragmentary, and negative evidence is of but slight value. But if all be descended from a common ancestor, we are forced to assume either that he is of Neerford[1219] left offspring in the dales before going down east or that some of his descendants left the fen country and betook themselves to the uplands before 1279. It would be more in accordance with the usual course of history for the mountaineers to have descended upon the Lowlands.

In Lincolnshire, the places especially associated with the Langstaffs are Friskney, Kirmington, Somerby,Horncastle, Stixwold,Horsington, Roughton, Wispington and High Toynton.*

Mr A Gibbons, FSA., suggests that the Lincolnshire Longstaffs may very probably have come from the North, with some of the Bishops of Carlisle. The manor and soke? of Horncastle, belong to the Bishops of Carlisle. From temp Henry111. to temp Edward V1 and when the Border Wars, temp Richard 11. Had laid waste the See of Carlisle, Horncastle was for a long period, the principal residence.



17 Early Notices



The dalesmen in whom I am more particularly interested, seem to have had their head quarters in the large Parish of Romaldkirk or Rumaldkirk, with its townships of Mickleton, Cotherston, Hunderthwaite, Lartington, Lonton, Briscoe and Lunedale. This is one of the largest parishes in England, extending some seventeen miles in a north westerly direction from Barnard Castle and some seven miles from the Tees at Middleton to the Westmorland Borders. It comprises of no less than 54790 acres, yet but at the last census, it had but 3070 inhabitants
So that each man, woman, and child had 18 acres a piece! Forming the extreme north west corner of Yorkshire, it is thrust in like a huge tooth between Durham and Westmorland, being separated from the former by the River Tees and from the latter by a range of lofty moors
Culminating in Warcop Fell and Mickle Fell which reach a height of 2500 feet and upwards.
Even earlier we find a Langstaff settlement in the somewhat similar but more secluded parish of Sedburgh, at Hebblethwaite under Windscarth in Garsdale and at Dent under Little Whernside. The parish lies on the western slope of the watershed forming the second "tooth" so conspicuous on the Yorkshire map.
Such is the wild bleak country in which the tribe of Langstaff was nurtured, a country moreover much too near the Scottish border to give its inhabitants much sense of security.*
Such a land, the writer loves intensely and he has often wondered, whether the peculiar charm of the upland farm and the thrill of delight, which passes through his veins when he sets foot on lonely moor or craggy fell, but not an instinct persistently inherited from a dalesmen ancestor.
From what may almost be termed, these mountain fastnesses, one can picture the Early Lanhgstaffs, passing down the dale, by Rokeby, Brignall and Gilling to Richmond and thence to Catterick, Bedale and Fearby, to Dacre Bank and Hartwith beyond Pately Bridge.



18 Early Notices



Other wanderers took an opposite direction and going from Mickleton by way of Bowes and Stainmoor or from Sedburgh by Scar Top following the valley of the Eden ( along the line now taken by the Midland Railway) into Westmorland, founding the colonies at Kirky Stephen, Brough, Soulby, Crosby Garrett, and Great Asby and getting as far as Carlisle by the close of the seventeenth century.



E.g. A. D. 1070. Malcolm, King of Scotland, made an inroad through Cumberland [then in his hands] and carrying dreadful devastation down the course of the crystal Tees, penetrated into Cleveland and burnt and destroyed everything in his march. At Hunderthwaite, opposite Eggleston, the people of Teesdale made a stand, and were routed with great slaughter.



Longstaff* "History of Darlington" P.58



Yet another stream, that which interests me most, crossed the Tees at Middleton or Barnard Castle and spread over the County Palatine, by way of Staindrop, Cockfield, and the Aucklands to Durham, sending a flanking expedition to the west by Witton-le-Wear and Hamsterly, to Stanhope, high up in Weardale; another to the east by Denton to Darlington and Stockton.

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