it will appear, that there were 418 inhabited houfes, and 445 families, which will give upwards of 41 to each family; that the males and females are nearly equal; and also, that the number of perfons employed in trade and manufactures, is nearly equal to that of those occupied in husbandry. THE PARISH OF HILDERWELL, OR, as it is corruptly written, Hinderwell, feems to derive its name from Saint Hilda, || Lady Abbess of Whitby, to whom the church here is dedicated. In the church yard, there is a well, or fpring of pure water, called St. Hilda's well (near which it is conjectured she had an occafional retreat) which not only still retains her name; but communicates the fame to the parish. Rowland, in his Mona Antiqua SAINT HILDA was neice of Edwin, King of the Northumbrians, and with him was converted to Christianity and baptized by Paulinus, the firft Archbishop of York. Having devoted herself to a religious life, fhe first went into a monaftry in France, where fhe continued about a year; but was prevailed upon by Aidan, Bishop of the Northumbrians, to return to her own country, where she became a Nun in a small monaftry on the banks of the river Were; and foon afterwards was appointed to prefide over a small community of Nuns at Hertefie (Hartlepool) founded according to Tanner, about the year 640, on the first converfion of the Northumbrians to Chriftianity, by a religious woman na ned Hieu, or as fome writers have it, St. Bega. Being highly esteemed for her piety and wisdom, fhe was appointed by King Ofway, to prefide over the monaftry at Streneshall, (Whitby) which on his fignal victory over Penda, King of Mercia, in confequence of his folemn vow to God, he built and endowed. She continued Abbefs here during the remainder of her life, having conducted the fame with regularity of government and difcipline for feveral years. She died in the year 680. A convention was held at Whitby, in the year 664, before the Abbefs Hilda, who with Colman, Bishop of Lindit farne, withftood to the utmost of her power, the tonfure of the clergy, and the celebration of Eafter after the Romish manner; but being oppofed by Wilfred, a man of great eloquence and knowledge of difputation, it was determined in favour of the cuftom of the Romish church. Reftaurata, thinks it probable, that in very diftant ages, churches were dwelling-houses for the priests, as well as places of worship for the ple; and that therefore they were generally built near a well of clear water. peo THE village of Hilderwell ftands upon gently rifing ground, about a mile distant from the fea; and eight miles distant from the town of Whitby, towards the north-weft. The parish, including the chapelry of Rousby, is of confiderable extent, ftretching from east to west fix miles, and about three miles from north to fouth. It is bounded on the east and fouth by the parish of Lythe; by Eafington on the west, and is washed on the north and north-east by the fea. IT It appears from the Domefday book, that the manor here was taxed for four carucates and fix bovates; ‡ and contained two carucates and a half more that might be rendered arable; with thirteen acres of meadow. It was held by Norman before the Conqueft; but was afterwards granted by the Conqueror to William de Percy, and was then wafte; valued in the Confeffor's time at twenty fhillings.. “TERRA WILLIELMI DE PERCI. "MANERIUM IN HILLDREUUELLE HABUIT NORMAN IIII. CARUCATAS "TERRÆ ET VI. BOVATAS AD GELDUM; UBI POSSUNT ESSE II. CAR. ET “DIMIDIUM. WILLIELMUS HABET, ET WASTUM EST. PRATI ACR. XIII. "T. R. E. VALEBAT XX. SOLID.” THERE were alfo ten carucates here within the foke of the manor of Lofthouse, held at the time of the Conqueror's furvey by Hugh, Earl of Chester, but were then waste. THIS lordship, at an early period, became the property of the Thwengs of Kilton-Caftle, who were powerful Barons in the north; in which family it continued for feveral generations, till the last male A BOVATE or oxgang is faid to be as much as one, or a pair of oxen could plough or keep in husbandry tilth in a year; by fome accounted 24 and 18 acres, by others but 10, 12, 15, or 13; but like carucates and other portions of land, was uncertain, according to the foil, which was harder, or easier to plough. Reg. Hon. Richm. II. Brad. Hift. 141 heirs, Robert and Thomas, being clergymen, died without iffue, when their large eftates defcended, in the reign of Richard II. to their fifters, as coheireffes; and Hilderwell,and other lands, came by marriage with Lucia the eldest to Sir Robert de Lumley, Knight, His defcendants continued Lords here till the reign of Henry VIII. when John, Lord Lumley, engaging in the northern infurrection called the Pilgrimage of Grace, was attainted for high treason; and this, and all his other eftates became forfeited to the Crown. We have no evidence of the fucceeding proprietors of this manor till the beginning of the reign of Charles I. when the Sheffields became owners thereof; from whom it descended, and is now part of the great poffeffions of Lord Mulgrave. "It was THE church here, (dedicated to St. Hilda) is rectorial. * anciently under the patronage of the Lords Mauleys and Thwengs, "who prefented by turns. The Thwengs' part defcended to the Lumleys, Knights; and the Mauleys' came to the house of Salvins, who "alfo prefented by turns.' Torr's M. S. 66 * HILDERWELL RECTORY. DEDICATED to St. Hilda. Tenths 14. 5s. 41d. Proc. 7s. 6d. INCUMBENTS. 1307. Rob. Fil. Thomæ, pres. Peter de Mauley. 1309. John de Kilton; pres. Marmad. de Tweng. 1328. Rad. de Hoton, pres. P. de Mauley. 1344 Will. de Rydelyergton, pres. Rob. de Thweng. 1365. John de Brathwell, cap. pres. P. de Mauley. 1379. Leo. de Hedon, pres. Rex. ut Tutor Hæred. de Thwang. 1407. Will. Gaunton, pres. P. de Mauley. 1409. John Waftell, pres. John de Lumley. 1416. John de Kilvington, J. Eller ker & alii. 1439. John Kighley, pres. Tho. Lumley. 1452. John Smallwood, pres. J. Salvine. 1457. J. Gibson, p. Tho. Lumley. 1489. John Jackfon, cap. p. Afig. Tutor. Salvine. 1506. Richard Lumley, p. Geo. Lun ley. 1515. Rob. Keclyn, p. Rad. Salvine. 1519. Will. Highyngton, p. John Lumley, Miles. 1544. Ric. Salvine, M. A. p. Gerard Salvine Ar. 1561. Fr. Scarthe.-1601. Ph. Weath, cl. p. Rad. Sal vine. 1633. James Talbot, M. A. p. Tho. Talbot. hac vice. 1670. W. Middleton, B. A. p. Rob. Crompton, Gent. 1714. Rich. Ofbaidefton, Dean of York, and afterwards Bishop of Carlisle and London, p. the Archbishop ratione lapfus. 1747. Matt. Dutton, by the King on the promotion of Dr. Ofbaldefton. 1763. Nich. Howlet, by Boynton Langley, Esq. 1781. J. Gilby, by the Archbishop, by lapse. 1790. Gilbert Ainsley, by Mountain Lind, Efq. 1793. William Smith, by Dame Marg. Boynton, and John George Parkhurst, Efq. Sir Francis Boynton, Bart. patron. Firft fruits 12/. 135. 61d. |