The Middlemores of Great Sheepey and Stepney

Figure 27  Key Pedigree K.  The Middlemores of Great Sheepey and Stepney

W

E now turn to that cadet branch of the Middlemores of Haselwell which descended from the second marriage of George Middlemore (20)with Joyce Whittell, and can be traced for four generations in Great Sheepey, in Leicestershire, and Stepney, in Middlesex.  The ancestor of this branch was Josias Middlemore, of Great Sheepey, who, as will be seen was involved in much litigation with his elder half brother, George Middlemore (21)of Haselwell.. It is pretty clear that he was constantly in pecuniary difficulties which compelled him to mortgage and ultimately to sell his property at Great Sheepey to his half-brother, George Middlemore. The litigation to break away from this on the part of Josias continued about sixty years, being prolonged into the third generation, when his grandson, Humphrey, sought during the years 1678-92 to recover Great Sheepey from Thomas Levinge and others who had bought it from George Middlemore.

But all this litigation was fruitless, and the expense entailed can only have served to further impoverish these Middlemores who removed to London, and can be traced there down to the middle of the last century, but they ceased to maintain the ancient standing of the family, and were content to describe themselves as " yeoman," and the like. It is not known whether this line be yet extinct and, in fact the name of Middlemore has occurred amongst people
 of humble rank in the East End during recent years.

We commence this pedigree with

20. George Middlemore, of Haselwell and of Great Sheepey, jure uxoris, died about 1637. Of him full particulars are given, pp. 99-102 ante. He married for his second wife, about 1605,Joyce, one of the two daughters and co-heirs of Richard Whittell, of Great Sheepey, by Dorothy Wrottesley, and had issue

i. Josias Middlemore, of whom next (37).

ii. Elizabeth.


37. Josias Middlemore, of Great Sheepey, Leicestershire, gentleman.

It seems probable that he was one of that class of persons who are unable to conduct business, and consequently the property which descended to him from his mother, Joyce Whittell, passed away from him and his family.

 

Text Box: Great Sheepey.-According to Nichols in a dispute in 1595 as to the manors of Great and Little Shepey, the latter was awarded to Richard Whettell, who, in 1603, granted the manor of Little Shepey to Robert Manley and Susan, his wife, to the use of Whettell for life, sans waste, with remainder to Robert Manley and Susan and the heirs of Robert. In 1614 Robert Manley granted the manor to Thomas Astley, to whom Great Sheepey manor had been awarded in 1596, and his son, Walter Astley, in 1677 alienated both manors to Thomas Bayley and Thomas Levinge. It is not easy to state precisely the dispositions of the manors of Great and Little Sheepey, for the account given by Nichols, who, strangely enough, omits any mention of the Middlemores, does not wholly agree with the facts disclosed by the Chancery proceedings, and it is probable that some confusion between the two manors has arisen. It may be assumed that Richard Whettell's interest in one or both of the manors was divided between his co-heirs, that the one moiety descended to his daughter, Joyce Middlemore, whose son, Josias Middlemore, parted with it to his half brother, George Middlemore, who, in turn, in 1637, sold it to the Levinge family, who at the same time purchased the other moiety from the Astleys. It is of interest to note that the Vincent family, to which the herald, Augustine Vincent, belonged, was settled at Great Sheepey. It must be remembered that it is his manuscripts which supply various facts respecting the earlier generations of the Middlemore family.
On the security, as he stated, of the moiety of the manor of Great Sheepey and of various premises in Great and Little Sheepey, of the yearly value of £150, Josias borrowed £250 from his half-brother, George Middlemore, who, however, alleged that this was an absolute sale to him and that the loan was made in April, 1632.

In 1633 George Middlemore, of Haselwell (father of Josias), in whom Great Sheepey had become vested, jure uxoris, conveyed it to Matthew Whitwicke in trust for his wife Joyce and his heirs. On Matthew Whitwicke's death the trust passed to his cousin, Alexander Whitwicke. About the year 1634 Josias sold a moiety of the lordship of Great Sheepey to William Stanforde of Perry Hall, Staffordshire, esquire, and Frances Wolfrestan, of Stotfolde, Stafford, gent., and they, who were merely trustees, on 20 September, 1634, for £500,conveyed it to George Middlemore (half brother of Josias) and his wife Frances.

In 1637 George Middlemore, then of Great Sheepey, gentleman, sold this estate (with one small exception) for £800 to Thomas Baylye, of the Mythe, in Sheepy, gent., Thomas Levinge, senior, of Baddesley Ensor, Warwickshire, and Thomas Levinge, junior, so that he apparently made some considerable profit out of the transaction, which not improbably accounts for the persistence with which Josias and his descendants tried to recover Great Sheepey.

In November, 1633, being of Great Sheepey, he filed a bill against his half brother George Middlemore, Thomas Whetell, and Alexander Whightwick, asking for an injunction against them.

In June, 1634, being of Great Sheepey, he filed his bill against Richard Thomas, in respect of the lease of certain premises in Whittington, which he alleged he never signed, or, "if he did, it was when he had had drink given to him with an evil intent by the said Thomas."

And 4 June, 1635, he filed yet another bill, alleging that his father and mother, George Middlemore and Joyce, a daughter and co-heir of Richard Whettle of Great Sheepie, were seized of the moiety of Great Sheepey, which after their deaths descended to him.

On 30 June, 1635, a "commission of rebellion" was issued against Josias for "contempt of court."

On 15 January, 1636, the following depositions were taken. Simon Cobbett, of Great Shepie, yeoman, aged thirty-five years, stated that he had known the parties for five years, that he was present two years before when
 Josias made an absolute bargain for the sale of the moiety of the Great Sheepy manor and certain mills in Little Sheepie to his brother George, who gave him two twenty-shilling pieces as earnest money, and was to pay £520 more for the purchase: " that he was not in any way distempered with drink or unfit to make the bargain; " that he had heard Josias confess that he had received all the money.

Robert Middlemore, of Moseley, gent. [son of the plaintiff George], aged twenty-seven, deposed that he had seen the defendant pay ,£200 to Josias and that he had seen an indenture sealed by Josias for £325. At the trial 17 June, 1636, Josias failed to appear, and his suit was dismissed.

In November, 1641, describing himself as late of Great Sheepie, gent., "now a distressed prisoner in the common gaol at the suit of George Middlemore, esq. his half brother," he again set up a claim to Great Sheepie alleging that he had mortgaged the premises only.

In 1661 there were further proceedings between the brothers and the answer of Josias “ a poor prisoner-in Leicester gaol " states that being desirous to better his estate, he contracted with Thomas Goodall to build certain corn mills in Little Sheepy for £255, and then borrowed £200 from his brother, giving him the lands in security, that George, taking advantage of the short absence of Josias, took possession of the estate including the mills, worth in all £1,200, thrusting out Josias and his wife and children, and about a year past arrested him and kept him in gaol ever since.

As we shall see, the litigation many years later was renewed by Josias' grandson, Humphrey Middlemore; according to his bill in 1678 Josias, his grandfather, had settled the premises in 1631 then worth £300 a year, upon his marriage and died about five years later[1], and that his father George died about six years ago.

He married Elizabeth, daughter and co-heir of Humphrey Hatchett, of Whittington; settlement 19 May, 1631, one moiety[2]of the manor of Great Sheepie being settled on Josias
and his heir, and "the other moiety on himself and his wife and his own right heirs, whilst her father gave her a marriage portion of £400. She survived her husband some few years.

They had issue a son:

i. George Middlemore, of whom next (38).

And apparently

ii. Humphrey Middlemore, who in 1657 bought from Ann Matthewe a copyhold cottage and premises in Whittington which in 1659 he sold to Mary, wife of George Harding,clerk.  Nothing more isknown of him, unless indeed he may be identified with the Humphrey Middlemore apparently living in Christ Church parish, Newgate Street, London, in 1668-9, for in the burial register there we have the following entries: Jane Philips, a servant to Mr. Middlemore, buried 21September, 1658.

John, son of Humphrey Middlemore, buried 24April, 1669.

Elizabeth, daughter of Humphrey Middlemore, buried 25 June, 1669.

38. George Middlemore, alleged by his son, Humphrey, to have become seized of one moiety of Great Sheepey on the death of Josias and of the other upon the death of his mother. He died about 1669, aged about thirty-seven, his son and heir, Humphrey, being aged eighteen.

By his wife Alice, whose death was presented at Longdon Manor Court on 30 September; 21 Charles 11, 1669, he had issue :

i. Humphrey Middlemore, of whom next (39)•

ii. Ann.

iii. Jane Clack, both named in their brother's will in 1726.

39. Humphrey Middlemore, of Stepney, yeoman,
 who was apparently born about 1651, was admitted to sue "tin forma pauperis," on 16 March, 1677, and on 8 November, 1678, he filed his bill against Thomas Levinge and others who had bought the moiety of the manor of Great Sheepey from George Middlemore, of Haselwell, as long before as 2 June, 1637, and had given the substantial purchase money of £800, though Humphrey Middlemore alleged that it was only £700. He based his claim on the settlement made by his grandfather Josias, 19 May, 1631, on the marriage to Elizabeth Hatchett, and he stated that Levinge 11 pretended " some title to the property.  The litigation continued some years, for on 18 July, 1692, an interlocutory decree was made. The final decree has not been found, but it is evident that he failed to substantiate his claim.

He was of St. John's, Wapping, deal merchant, in 1718, when as administrator of Alexander Henderson, of London, gent., he sued John Saunders.

Will, 3 June, 1726, as Humphrey Middlemore, of St. Dunstan, Stepney, deal merchant ; sons Humphrey and Josias, and son-in-law Alexander Henderson, sisters Ann Middlemore and Jane Clack; to his wife Mary freehold messuage in Rickman's Rents, Limehouse, remainder to Humphrey for life, remainder to Josias and his heirs. His widow Mary, being sole executrix and residuary legatee, proved the will 4 November, 1727.

 

It is evident that he was married more than once, as his widow in her will speaks of her son-in-law Josiah Middlemore.

He probably married twice, the name of the first wife is not known; his (probably) second wife was Mary Peast.

Her will, dated 9 March, 1740, of St. Olave's, Old Jewry, widow, was proved 1 April, 1741. She mentions nephews and nieces named Peast, Ingram, Basdon, Waldie, Kettilby, and her position in life is indicated by the nature of the articles specially mentioned, such as a silver tankard, a silver punch ladle, diamond ring, diamond girdle, silver salt-cellars, etc. She also named her " son-in-law " Josiah and the latter's son Josiah.

Humphrey Middlemore had issue presumably by his first wife :      

i. Humphrey Middlemore, named in his father's will : probably the Humphrey Middlemore who made his will as of Limehouse, Stepney, mariner, 28 January, 1715-16, giving all his property to his wife Mary.  He afterwards was of Chatham, Kent.  His widow did not prove the will and ultimately, 26 March, 1730, her executrix, Mrs. Margaret Dafforne, administered.  His widow, Mary Middlemore, being of Chat­ham, made her will 15 October 1729.  She mentioned her niece, Mary Brambly, giving her a silver tankard marked T. M., a striped lute-string, etc., Thomas Reddick, father of Mary, John Brambly, her cousin John Stoakes who received a silver cup marked J. M., and made her cousin Margaret Reddick her executrix and residuary legatee who proved the will 26 March 1730.  It seems clear that he died s p.

ii. Josias Middlemore, of whom next (40).

iii. Probably a daughter who married . Alexander Henderson, described as "son-in-law" in will of Humphrey Middlemore, 1726.  Probably son of Alexander Henderson of London, gent., whose administrator in 1718 was Humphrey Middlemore.

40. Josias Middlemore, mentioned in his father's will, 1726, as in remainder for the house in Rickman's Rents, Limehouse, and also in will of his mother-in-law (i.e. stepmother), Mary Middlemore, 1740.

Evidently married and left a son:

i. Josiah Middlemore, mentioned 1740 in Mary Middlemore's will, but nothing further is known of him.

Probably John Middlemore, of St. George, Ratcliff Highway, mariner, who made his will, 5 October, 1731  which was proved by his widow, Rebecca, sole executrix and legatee, 8 September, 1741, was of the Stepney line; perhaps, son of Humphrey Middlemore (39), and brother of Humphrey Middlemore, " mariner."

 


[1] Le. about 1636.  As we know that Josias was living at least as late as 1641, this may be taken as a warning against placing too much reliance on the allegations contained in Chancery proceedings.

[2] Probably this means a moiety of the moiety, for the Middlemores succeeded to a moiety only of the manor as Joyce Middlemore was one of the two daughters of Richard Whetull.