William Higden

  General Notes:

William is refered to in the following record dated 7 NovemberHenry vii (1491) 'Sale by Philip Leche of Chattesworth, Squier,to William Merlage of Derby of 13 Fothers of lead, "Bool Weghtand marchaundable" with undertaking to "block and bren d thesame;" with Bond by William Higden of Cromforth and John Coghenof Hoptone in 100 marks (£66/13/4d) for due performance'.Source - (Woolley viii 14) - Derbyshire Charters p.123. Fother= 22.5 cwt., Bool = furnace., Block & brend = Prepar e ore andsmelt lead. From this record it appears that William mayhave been a Brenner (lead smelter).NOTES ON THE LEECH FAMILY OF CHATSWORTHLeech, squire family of Bonsall, Chatsworth, Cromford, Matlockand Willersley.1412 Subsidy £20+.1430 Ralph Leech married Elizabeth Eyre,daughter of Robert Eyre (died 1460). Linked - Marriage ofRichardBullock and Isabel Hunt 1476.1436 & 1450 Subsidy £20 -39.Sir Roger Leech of Chatsworth, (died 1528) - daughter andco-heirmarried John Sacheverell (died 1459). Rog. Leech of Chatsworthisrecorded at Cromford in Samuel Sanders' parochial notes.Philip Leech of Chatsworth married Elizabeth Okeover, daughterof Humphrey Okeover (died 1538).Linked - Marriage of Robert Eyre III and Elizabeth Huddleston1471.1481 Lead mining - Three meers and cross meersnamed Four Works (Nestus mine, Matlock Bath). In 1551 Franci sLeech, Sir Henry Sacheverell, Sir George Vernon and RichardBlackwell had held shares in the mine for 70years. They were all under 70 years of age so this must be thedate when the families interest in the minecommenced.1482 Philip Leech betrothed to Anne Vernon,daughter of Edmund Vernon Linked - Ralph Sacheverell (died1488).Note Philip may have married twice or there could be twoPhilips.1491 'Sale by Philip Leche of Chattesworth,Squier, to William Merlage of Derby of 13 Fothers of lead, "BoolWeghtand marchaundable" with undertaking to "block and brend thesame;" with Bond by William Higden ofCromforth and John Coghen of Hoptone in 100 marks (£66/13/4d)for due performance'. Source - (Woolley viii14) - Derbyshire Charters p.123.1500 George Leech son and heir of Philip of themanor of Chatsworth married Ann Babington, remarried RogerGreenhalgh. Linked - Henry Sacheverell Knt., Thomas FitzherbertD. D., John Fitzherbert of Norbury, AnthonyBabington.1505 Linked - Roger Eyre of Holme.1509 - 1547 Leeches held lands in Matlock.1528 Roger Leech Esq. died , left son Francisestate at Bonsall.1551 Ralph Leech died, left estate to daughtersJoan, Elizabeth and Margaret. Joan Leech daughter and co-heiressof Ralph Leech of Chatsworth married the son of Thomas Dethickof Mercaston. Linked - John Montgomery, whoheld manors in STS and DBY (1513).

  Birth Notes:

Possible son of unknown #4182. Was of Cromford.

  Noted events in his life were:

• Occupation. Lead Mining/Smelting.

about 1490.