Middlemore Family Genealogy

52. John Middlemore, of Hawkeslow, esquire, succeeded upon the death of his father in March, 1633-4. He appears to have got into great financial difficulties and ultimately died in the gaol at Worcester about 1643, having been imprisoned there for six years. How far his troubles were caused by the litigation with his tenants, by fines for recusancy, or through extravagance, is not clear, but it may have been due toall three.

 King's Norton Maxor.-This place derived its distinctive appellation from the circumstance that it formed part of the ancient demesne of the Crown of England, being a portion of the great manor of Bromsgrove in the beginning of Elizabeth's reign. King's Norton seems to have been separated and thenceforth to have formed a separate manor, and both Hawkesley and Haselwell at one time had the repute of being manors. It would be foreign to our purpose to enter at length into the manorial history, but it will be well to collect together some notes from the ExchequerCourt relative to the manorial disputes during the reigns of Elizabeth, James, and Charles, in which three generations of the Middlemores were involved.

In 1565 John Wilie and John Baker, in the name of the Queen's tenants and copyholders of her manor of King's Norton, complained of John Middlemore in the Exchequer for suing Wilie for a copyhold contrary to the custom of the manor. The court granted an injunction against Middlemore and the following year directed the dispute to be tried at the assizes by the Lord Chief Baron.

In 1595 disputes arose between the customary tenants of the manor of Bromsgrove, of which King's Norton formed part, and the Middlemore family. John Butler, William Chaunce, and other freehold and customary tenants of the Queen's manor of Bromsgrove in that year filed their bill in the Exchequer against John Middlemore (50), esquire, and William Middlemore and Robert Middlemore, gentlemen (probably his sons), alleging that they, "being men not regarding their duties or her majestic's laws had lately molested the tenants and attempted to make title to a great part of the said manor," and further, that John Middlemore had set up a claim to a "pretended manor" within the bounds of Bromsgrove manor, and that "by fraud" they had possessed themselves of divers court rolls belonging to the said tenants and copyholders.

In 1608 we learn that the court rolls of the manors of Bromsgrove and King's Norton were kept in a chest in the steeple of Bromsgrove, and the Exchequer court directed them to be delivered to the auditor of the county.

In 1624 the Attorney General sued John Middlemore (52) [the grandson], claiming that certain lands in King's Norton were leasehold and not customary lands. The records and court rolls were ordered to be brought into court, and in Trinity term, 1628, the matter was remitted to the Common Law.

On 9 September, 1624, William Middlemore (51), of [Hawkesley], King's Norton, esquire, aged sixty-six, deposed that the manors of Bromsgrove and King's Norton were formerly one entire manor until 4 or 5 Eliz., 1560, and that Butler surrendered them to the use of John Middlemore, grandfather of John, and that he, William, to whom they descended, had surrendered them to the use of his son John (52).

In 1639, one John Sheldon, of Madeley, assignee of the annuity of £40 granted by William Middlemore (51)in 1597-8 to his brother Robert, was obliged to sue John Middlemore for non payment of it, as already mentioned _(p. 181 ante).

In 1641 John Mildmore, esquire [i.e. Middlemore], is stated to be "outlawed," but by June of the same year this was reversed. At this time he was imprisoned in Worcester gaol "in consequence of the greatness of his debts," and he remained there till he died "about Michaelmas 1644." (an evident error, as the letters of administration prove), without paying the gaoler for his board and lodging, which then amounted to ,£40, though with the consent of his son and heir apparent, William Middlemore, esquire, he had contracted with Norris the gaoler for his diet, board, and washing, who took a .bond for £80from the son. On 12 December, 1648, Norris sued William Middlemore for this £40, and in the bill appear these particulars of John Middlemore's unhappy history.

Figure 34  Signature of John Middlemore

Letters of administration were granted to his widow, Bridget, 13 June, 1643, and the inventory, amounting to only £28 9s. 2d., taken on 22 December, 1643. The following appears in this: "Item-one mare, a year old colt, and a cowe seized for Harriott [i.e., heriot] for the. King, Lord of the Manor of Bromsgrove."

He married Bridget, daughter of Thomas Betham, of Rowington, co. Warwick, by Margery, daughter and co-heir of John Walliston, of Ruislip, Middlesex. On this marriage his father, William Middlemore, conveyed to him two freeholds in King's Norton called Close -and Parre's tenement.

 She is probably the " . . . . Middlemore, widow, of Hawkesley," fined, £60 for recusancy, in 1647, who was buried at King's-Norton, 10 December, 1650.

John Middlemore and Bridget Betham had a large family, at least thirteen children

1. William Middlemore, of whom next.
2. John Middlemore, of Northfield, gentleman, was fined for recusancy, 31 Charles II (1679), again in 32 Charles II, in 1680, his fine had increased to £60, and the following year to £120.  He is named as second son in his uncle William's will, receiving £300, and was executor to his sisters Elizabeth, Margaret, and Mary: his will, dated 6 July, 1705, was proved at Worcester, 26 October, in same year, the inventory amounting to ,£184 9s. 2d.  He left ,£10to charity, and his will names, William Middlemore, of Hawkesley, 5s.; brother George Middlemore, £10; nephew David Middlemore, of King's Norton, £15 and wearing apparell; his kinswoman, Mary Davies [daughter of deceased brother, Henry Middlemore], and his nieces, Mary and Margaret Middlemore; he left his land in Dormeston to his nephew, George Middlemore, of Bromsgrove. Executors: Richard Reeve, of Edgbaston, Roger Kelshaw [P Culcheth], of Wattonbury, and his nephew, David Middlemore. Probably -the following marriage licence at Worcester, dated July, 1660, relates to him: "John M. of Northfield, gent., aged 20, Mary M. of Yardley, widow, consent of parents on both sides." She was doubtless the widow of Robert Middlemore of Yardley, fifth son of Robert Middlemore (q) of Edgbaston, and daughter of John Harington of Albrighton near Wolverhampton. See p. 61 ante.

3. Richard Middlemore, named in will of grandfather, 1632, and in will of uncle, William, 1643.
4. Thomas Middlemore, mentioned in will of uncle William, 1643.
5. v. Henry Middlemore, was of Alvechurch, gentleman, a recusant in 1658, when he forfeited two-thirds of his goods to Oliver, Lord Protector.  Mentioned in wills of sisters Elizabeth and Margaret, 1673 and 1686, but was dead in July, 1705.

   His wife's name is unknown.

   Henry Middlemore had issue

1. John Middlemore, mentioned in will of aunt, Mary Middlemore, 1671. Perhaps the John Middlemore, of Northfield, whose administration was granted to George Middlemore, his brother, 25 May, 1699.

2. George Middlemore, a legatee in will of Margaret Middlemore, 1699. Presumably living 1699, and perhaps died before 1705.

3. Mary, living 1673, under age (see will of aunt, Mary Middlemore). She married . . . . Davies, and in 1705, had issue, two children.

4. David Middlemore, ofHarborne and King's Norton. Living 1671 and 1673, under age, 1686. Administration to relict, Ann, 31 March, 1707, Simon Holden, of Northfield, yeoman, and Edward Onions, of Bromsgrove, husbandman, were bound. Inventory valued at £48 0s. 6d.

   Married, being then of Northfield, 26 February, 1687, at St. Peter's Roman Catholic Church, Birmingham, Ax Partridge, of Harborne.

   David Middlemore and Ann Partridge had issue

   1. John Middlemore, baptized, 11 March, 1688, at St. Peter's, the sponsors being John Middlemore (presumably the uncle), and Joan Partridge. Evidently the "Joannes Middelmore infans de Harborne com. Staff:" who was entered amongst the " defuncti," 25 February, 1689.
5. Jane, living, 1671 and 1686.
6. Robert Middlemore, mentioned in will of his uncle William, 1643, and living 1673 and 1686, being named in the wills of his sisters- Elizabeth and Bridget.

7. Edward Middlemore, named in the will of his uncle William, 1643.

8. Stephen Middlemore, buried at King's Norton, 4 June, 1637, as Steeven, son of John Middlemore, esquire,

9. George Middlemore, named in will of his uncle, William Mid­dlemore, 1643, Living 1686, and in will of his brother, John, in 1705 ; probably the "George Middlemore, gent.," buried at King's Norton, 4 June, 1706.
10.  Margaret, of Northfield, gentlewoman.  She was a recusant, 32 Charles 11, 1681, fined £20, as also were her brothers, William and John, both then of Northfield.

Her will, 10 January, 1686, proved at Worcester, 15 January, 1687; inventory, X154 11s. 4d. Names brothers, Henry Middlemore, £20, Robert Middlemore, £5, George Middlemore, £5 ; sister Bridgate, £10, a ring, bedstead and sheets and wearing apparel, niece Margaret, daughter of Mr. William Middlemore, of Hawxley, £4 and one pair of sheets, cousin Mary, his daughter, £5 ; cousin George Middlemore, his son, £3; cousin Mary Davies, daughter of Henery Middlemore, £3, bed etc.; cousin George Middlemore, son of brother Henry Middlemore, 40s.; cousin David Middlemore, son of same, £3; cousin Joan, daughter of same, 40s.  John Middlemore, brother, to be executor.

11. Elizabeth, of Northfield, spinster, probably the Mrs. Elizabeth Middlemore buried at King's Norton 9 February, 1673-4.

    Will, 9 December, 1673, proved at Worcester, 17 February, 1673-4, with inventory £114 10s. 3d., names many relatives, viz.: well beloved friend my brother, Henery Middlemore, also brother Robert .Middlemore, George Middlemore, and sisters Margaret Middlemore, Brigget Middlemore; children of William Middlemore, late o Hawkslowe, esquire, viz., Margaret, William Middlemore, George Middlemore, Mary Middlemore, Susannah Middlemore ; children of brother Henery, viz., George Middlemore, Mary Middlemore, David Middlemore, Jane Middlemore.  Brother, John Middlemore, executor.

12. Mary, of Northfield, spinster.  Buried there as Mistris Mary Mid'more, 9 September, 1671.  Named in will of uncle, William Middlemore, in 1643.

Will, as of Norfeild, "spinster, sick and infirm," 14 August, 1671, proved in London, 12 February, 1671-2, names: brothers Henery, Robert, George, William deceased, and John, executor ; also sisters Elizabeth, Margaret, Bridget ; also the five children of Henry, viz. : John, George, David, Mary, and Joan; also children of William, viz. : Margaret, William, George, Mary, and Susan. Executor, brother John.

13. Bridget, -of Northfield, is named in uncle William's will, 1643, and in will of sisters Elizabeth, 1671, and Margaret, 1686. She also was a recusant, being fined £60 in 33 Charles II, and £120 in 34 Charles II.