Janson Deeds
Introduction
Contents
Arrangement

Catalogue

Reference code: GB-0033-JAN
Title: Janson Deeds
Dates of creation: 1652-1856
Extent: 52 items
Held by: Durham University Library, Archives and Special Collections
Origination: two sets of unconnected deeds relating to the Janson family, and the Umfreville and Askew families.
Language: English

The Janson family Although the spelling Janson is used in the deeds, the Trade Directories for Darlington always list the family under the name of Ianson. In the 1820's they are described as flax and tow spinners, flax merchants and linen manufacturers. Later in the century they became glove manufacturers, engineers and iron founders. Charles Janson of Charles Janson and Co. at Whessoe Foundry was named as executor in the wills of both Joshua and Ann Janson.
The Umfreville and Askew families The two families were united by the marriage between Hannah Askew and Henry Umfreville a silk thrower of Whitechapel in 1734, and as part of the marriage settlement Henry was taken into partnership with his father, Thomas, who is described as having "for many years last past used and exercised and still doth use and exercise the art trade or mistery of a silk thrower for his own benefit and hath now a good sett of customers who deal with him in his said trade". Another part of the same settlement would appear to have been the settlement of a small messuage in Mitcham which had been acquired by a Thomas Umfreville in 1679. It is just possible that this could be the same Thomas but it is equally likely that it could have been an earlier member of the same family, particularly as the descriptions given for Thomas Umfreville in the deeds vary over the years. In 1682 he is described as a citizen and tin plate worker of London, in 1719 and 1721 as a gentleman of Ewell, and in 1734 as a silk thrower of long standing. The deeds may be referring therefore to two or even three separate Thomas Umfrevilles.
The presence of two deeds relating to Ewell in Surrey in 1721 and 1744 suggests that, despite their occupations, they might be part of the family of Umfrevilles described by Surtees as being "seated at Ewell" from the late 15th to the end of the 18th centuries, a collateral branch of the Umfrevilles of Farnham Royal, Buckinghamshire, and possibly descended from the Umfrevilles who held land in Durham and Northumberland from the time of the conquest to the death of Sir Robert Umfreville in 1436 (Surtees History of Durham II. 325, 394-5). The pedigree of the Umfrevilles of Ewell includes three consecutive generations of Thomas's, the last of whom had a son, Henry, aged 5 years in 1710. This accords with the evidence of the deeds and would make Henry about 29 years when he married in 1734. The family was extinct at the time Surtees was writing.

Contents

The first section of 29 items, named Janson Family Deeds, is mainly concerned with properties in Darlington which were acquired by John Janson, a linen manufacturer in Darlington, between 1799 and 1801. The last three documents in this section are a lease of a moiety of Black Boy Colliery in Coundon by Joshua and the above mentioned John Janson in 1821, and Probates of Joshua and his wife Ann in 1843 and 1856 respectively.
No connection has been established between the Janson Family Deeds of the first section and the documents of the second section which contains 23 items relating to the Umfreville and Askew families and their properties in Whitechapel, Stepney and Southwark, Mitcham Enfield and Ewell in Surrey, Cheshunt in Hertfordshire, and Southweald in Essex from 1656- 1768.
The collection is unusual in that many of the most important deeds for establishing title are missing. There is, for example, a high proportion of Indentures of Fine without an accompanying Bargain and Sale or Release, and although we have documents for at least four transactions associated with the marriage of Hannah Askew and Henry Umfreville, the settlement itself is absent.

Accession details

The collection was deposited in the University Library of Durham by Mrs. Warden, nee I'Anson, on behalf of Mrs. Sprott of Blakeney, Norfolk, in September 1948. It consists of two apparently unrelated groups of documents.

Arrangement

Section I:
The deeds to these properties which were in Bondgate-in-Darlington and Northgate have been grouped by property and arranged chronologically.
Section II:
As there are no substantial runs of documents relating to particular properties this section is arranged in one chronological sequence.

Catalogue

Janson Family Deeds
Bondgate-in-Darlington
1-3
Cottage and piece of garden 11½ yds. by 6 yds.
1   5 December 1767
Surrender by Joseph Lee, his wife Elizabeth formerly widow of Thomas Spence deceased, and her son Thomas Spence to the use of Richard Bland of Darlington, shopkeeper, in trust for Thomas Spence.
Parchment   1 m.
2   24 October 1769
Surrender by Richard Bland of Darlington, shopkeeper, and Thomas Spence, weaver, to the use of Thomas Leyburn of Darlington, and his wife Jane.
Parchment   1 m.
3   2 June 1795
Surrender by Thomas Leyburn of Darlington, gent., and his wife Jane to Reuben Binks of Darlington, grocer, in trust for Anthony Bosomworth of Darlington, grocer.
Parchment   1 m.
4-7
Cottage and piece of garden 5¾ yds. by 6 yds.
4   30 January 1783
Surrender by Peter Green of Darlington, cordwainer, to the use of John Wright of Darlington, weaver, and his wife Margaret.
Parchment   1 m.
5   28 May 1793
Surrender by John Wright of Darlington, weaver, to the use of Caleb Hedley of Darlington, farmer.
Parchment   1 m.
6   5 June 1800
Surrender by Caleb Hedley of Darlington, farmer, to Robert Simpson, weaver, and John Arman, gent., both of Darlington in trust for Benjamin Moss of Darlington, cordwainer.
Parchment   1 m.
7   29 October 1800
Surrender by Caleb Hedley now of Cockerton, farmer, Benjamin Moss of Darlington, cordwainer, Robert Simpson of Darlington, weaver, and John Arman of Darlington, gent., to Edward Pease of Darlington, woollen manufacturer, and Thomas Robson the younger, linen manufacturer, to the use of Anthony Bosomworth of Darlington, grocer.
Parchment   1 m.
8-9
House, cottage and garden.
House and garden in Northgate.
8/1 and 2   31 October 1800
Two admittances of Moorcroft Wastell of Great Burdon, gent., nephew and heir of Robert Wastell of Great Burdon, gent. deceased.
1m. each. 
9/1 and 2   12 January 1801
Two surrenders by Moorcroft Wastell of Great Burdon, gent., and others, executors of John Clement of Darlington gent. deceased, to the use of James Janson the elder and William Janson the younger, both of Darlington manufacturers, in trust for John Janson of Darlington, manufacturer.
Parchment   1 m.
Northgate, Darlington Borough
10-14
Burgage in Norgate on the north side of a burgage garth called Currier Garth
J10/1   11 June 1652
Bargain and Sale by John Pattyson of Whickham, Yorks., yeoman to Thomas Bell the younger, son of Thomas Bell of Darlington barber, for £16.
Parchment   1 m.
10/2   11 June 1652
Attached:
Bond of Pattyson to Bell for the performance of covenants in the Bargain and Sale.
Parchment   1 m.
11   4 July 1664
Bargain and Sale by Thomas Bell of Darlington, barber, to Thomas Brantingham of Darlington, loriman, for £20.5s.
Parchment   1 m.
12   4 July 1664
Bond of Bell to Brantingham for the performance of covenants in the above Bargain and Sale.
Parchment   1 m.
13   10 October 1665
Admittance of Thomas Brantingham of Darlington, loriman, to the above premises purchased, 4 July 1664, from Thomas Bell of Darlington, tonsor.
Parchment   1 m.
14   30 January 1683/84
Probate of Thomas Brantingham the elder of Darlington, spurrier. Will dated 21 March 1683.
Parchment   2 mm.
15/1 and 2   29 and 30 December 1713
Burgage, garden, orchard and shop in Norgate Street on north side of Currier's or Cobbler's Garth.
2nd pew in the middle alley of the church in Darlington.
Lease and Release by Francis Brantingham of Darlington, pattinmaker, to Richard Hallaman, dyer, for £25.
Parchment   1 m.
16-24
Burgage
16   21 June 1751
Mortgage by Thomas Rowell, roper, and Christopher Rowell, woolcomber, his son by his first wife Alice, daughter and devisee of Richard Halliman, both deceased, to James Allan, gent., all of Darlington, for £12.
Parchment   1 m.
17   15 May 1755
Mortgage by Thomas Rowell of Darlington, roper, and his son Christopher Rowell, woolcomber, to James Allan of Darlington, gent., for an additional £6 making a total of £21.
Parchment   1 m.
18   27 May 1757
Mortgage by Thomas Rowell, roper, and his son Christopher Rowell, woolcomber, both of Darlington to James Allan of Darlington, gent., for an additional £19 making a total of £40.
Parchment   1 m.
19   29 June 1767
Lease for a year from Thomas Rowell of Darlington, roper, and Christopher Rowell, woolcomber, his eldest son by his first wife Alice, daughter and devisee of Richard Halliman the elder of Darlington yeoman, deceased, to John Greathead, butcher.
Parchment   1 m.
20   30 June 1767
Release by Thomas and Christopher Rowell to John Greathead for £107.15s.; and assignment of mortgage by James Allan of Darlington, gent., to Robert Wastell of Darlington, gent.
Parchment   1 m.
21   23 April 1782
Admittance of John Greathead of Darlington, butcher, to the above premises purchased, 30 June 1767, from Thomas Rowell, roper, and Christopher Rowell, woolcomber, his eldest son by his first wife Alice, daughter and devisee of Richard Halliman the elder of Darlington yeoman deceased.
Parchment   1 m.
22   12 May 1797
Mortgage by John Greathead of Darlington, butcher, to Robert Wastell of Darlington, gent., for £150.
Parchment   1 m.
23   18 May 1801
Lease for 1 year from John Greathead of Darlington, butcher, to John Janson of Darlington, gent.
Parchment   1 m.
24   19 May 1801
Release by John Greathead, butcher, to John Janson, gent., for £400; and assignment of the residue of 1000 years, created in a mortgage by Timothy and Christopher Rowell to James Allan 21 June 1751, by John Barker of Stockton, Esq., executor of Robert Wastell, to William Janson the younger, gent., in trust for the said John Janson.
Parchment   1 m.
25   29 August 1717
Burgage and garth, dyhouse and outhouses on the east row of Northgate Street.
Covenant by Thomas Whitehead of Darlington, dyer, for the repayment to George Allan the elder of Darlington, merchant, of £50 remaining due on a mortgage taken out by his father and of a further £73.
Parchment   1 m.
26   30 June 1799
Several messuages with yards and a garth.
Agreement for sale by John Trotter of Croft, Yorks., to John Janson of Darlington, linen manufacturer, for £800.
Paper   2ff.
Coundon
27   17 September 1821
Two fourth parts of Blackboy Colliery.
Lease for 14 years from Joshua Janson of Blackboy, Coundon, coalowner, John Janson of Darlington, linen manufacturer, and others to John Sharp of Woodland, coalowner (holder of the other moiety of the colliery).
9mm. 
Janson, Joshua, of Bishop Wearmouth, brewer.
28   24 January 1843
Probate granted at Durham. Will dated 18 November 1834.
Parchment   2 mm.
Janson, Ann, of Bishop Auckland, widow
29   5 April 1856
Probate granted at Durham. Will dated 24 February 1848.
Parchment   2 mm.
Umfreville and Askew family deeds
30   17 October 1656
Surrender of a close containing two acres of land in the manor of Ravensbury, Mitcham, Surrey, by Thomas Hedge of Mitcham, gent., to Francis Kidd, citizen and draper of London.
Parchment   1 m.
31   Michaelmas Term 1679
Fine for conveying a messuage, garden, orchard and two acres of land in Mitcham from Francis Kidd, gent., and his wife Alice to Thomas Umfreville for £60.
Parchment   1 m.
32   30 May 1682
Mortgage of two adjoining messuages on the south side of Philpott Street in Limehouse, Stepney, by William Smith, citizen and goldsmith of London, his wife Rachel, Thomas Howson, citizen and horner of London and Thomas Umfreville, citizen and tin plate worker of London, to Ann Umfreville of Leadenhall St., widow, for £53.
Parchment   1 m.
33   Hilary Term 1686
Fine for conveying two messuages and two curtilages in Philpott Street, Limehouse, Stepney, from William Smith, his wife Rachel, Thomas Howson senior and Thomas Umfreville to John Peyner and Thomas Howson junior for £120.
Parchment   1 m.
34   Michaelmas Term 1705
Fine for conveying a messuage, barn, garden and orchard in Enfield, Surrey, from Robert Bates and his wife Anne to Thomas Umfreville for £60.
Parchment   1 m.
35   18 May 1716
Lease, with Inventory, of a messuage and yard on the west side of the High Street of the Borough of Southwark, in the parish of St. Saviour, from Nathaniel Holloway, citizen and draper of London, to Nathaniel Green, citizen and apothecary of London, for 11 years at £30 a year.
Parchment   1 m.
36   29 April 1721
Surrender of a messuage with brewhouse, barn, stable, garden and orchard in the manor of Ewell, Surrey, by William Maybank and his wife Susanna to the use of Thomas Umfreville of Ewell, gent.; the said premises having been mortgaged to Thomas Umfreville, 26 October 1719, for £136.10s. and for an additional sum of £34.10s.
Parchment   1 m.
37   25 August 1726
Letters of Administration granted at Canterbury to John Askew in respect of his father John Askew of the parish of St. Mary, Whitechapel.
Parchment   1 m.
38   16 October 1729
Letters of Administration granted at Canterbury to John Askew in respect of his mother Elizabeth Askew alias Noore.
Parchment   1 m.
39   20 August 1733
Lease, with Inventory, of a messuage called the Butcher's Arms in the north corner of Fowle Lane on the west side of the Borough of Southwark in the parish of St. Saviour, by Hannah Askew of Goodman's Fields, Middlesex, spinster to Robert Harrison of the parish of St. Saviour, butcher, for seventeen and a half years 88 days at £60 a year.
Parchment   1 m.
40 and 41   Hilary Term 1734
Left and right hand indentures of Fine for conveying four messuages in Stebonheath alias Stepney from Thomas Umfreville to William Newland for £100.
Parchment   1 m. each.
42   12 March 1733/34
Assignment of two messuages on the west side of the Borough of Southwark, in the parish of St. Saviour, by William Newland of the Inner Temple, London, gent., and Hannah Askew of Whitechapel, spinster, to Constantine Cant of London, mariner, and John Macklecan of Hounsditch, sugar baker, subject to trusts to be declared in a settlement the next day; the said premises being:
a messuage and yard formerly occupied by Nathaniel Green, and the Butcher's Arms at the north corner of Fowle Lane, both subject to a mortgage for £400.
(See also 35 and 39).
Parchment   2 mm.
43   12 March 1733/34
Articles of Partnership between Thomas Umfreville of Whitechapel and his son Henry, both silk throwers, prior to the marriage between Henry and Hannah Askew.
Cancelled 2 June 1740.
Parchment   3 mm.
44 and 45   Easter Term 1734
Left and right hand indentures of Fine for conveying a messuage, barn, stable, garden and seven acres of land in Mitcham from Thomas Umfrevile to William Newland, gent., for £60.
Parchment   1 m. each.
46   21 July 1736
Mortgage of a messuage called the Butcher's Arms at the north corner of Fowle Lane on the west side of the Borough of Southwark, for £60, by Robert Harrison, butcher, to Elizabeth Fudge, widow, for the residue of his lease from Hannah Askew.
(See 39)
Parchment   1 m.
47
Parchment   1 m.
47a. (47 recto)   20 October 1736
Certificate by the Justices, at the Session of goal delivery of Newgate, discharging Samuel Unwin from all manner of parish or ward offices for his part in the apprehension and conviction of a horse stealer.
47b (47 verso)   4 April 1740
Bargain and Sale of the above Certificate and its attendant rights by Samuel Unwin, now of the parish of St. John and Wapping, victualler, to Henry Umphreville of Whitechapel, silk thrower, for £9.10.6d.
48   20 November 1744
Lease for a year of a messuage with yards, gardens, barns, stable and outhouses in Ewell, Surrey, by Henry Umfreville of St. Mary Whitechapel, silk thrower, to James Walmesley of Grays Inn, gent.
Parchment   1 m.
49   November 1745
Mortgage of a messuage, orchard and garden in Cheshunt Street, Cheshunt, Herts., by Henry Umfreville of Marine Square, Whitechapel, gent., to James Walmesley of Gray's Inn, gent., as security for the payment of £50 owing for professional services. Unexecuted.
Parchment   1 m.
50   Morrow of St. Martin (12 November) 1747
Left hand indenture of Fine for conveying 4 messuages, 4 gardens, 4 orchards and 20 acres of land in Mitcham, Surrey from Henry Umfreville and his wife Hannah to Ann Umfreville, widow, for £200.
Parchment   1 m.
51   16 March 1761
Lease for 21 years of two messuages with yards and gardens in Ropemakers Fields, Limehouse, in the parish of St. Ann, one of which is called the Three Mariners, by Hannah Umfreville of Well Close Square, Middlesex, widow, to Robert Hewer of St. Anne's parish, shipwright, for £10 a year.
Parchment   1 m.
52   22 August 1768
Admittance of Elizabeth Umfreville of Well Close Square, St. George in the East, Middlesex, spinster, to a moiety of premises in the manor of Southweald, Essex, surrendered 15 September 1766 by Sir Walter Wilson and his wife Ellen Elizabeth, formerly Walmsley, and Thomas Newman and his wife Mary, formerly Walmsley, to Miriam Umfreville and the said Elizabeth Umfreville;
the said premises being: a messuage and half a rood called Godfreys, a croft called Great Swains 13 acres of land called Things, and a hoppett of one rood being part of land called Scarletts.
Parchment   1 m.