Kirkby (Berry) Family Tree

About High Cragg In Relation to Kirkbys:

Location:

See the 1858 Ordinance survey map for zoomable premises locations. ( https://maps.nls.uk/view/102347904 )

See 1858 map image of High Cragg and surrounds. (image here)

Google maps location here - High Cragg location on Google Maps

Location confusion between 1700s and 2022:

There is some confusion around the location.

A current online real estate agent showed it as “High Crag, Crook, KENDAL, Cumbria, LA8 8LE” - Latitude 54.34556600, Longitude -2.82822000" but this location on Googlemaps is Ellerbeck Farm, Kendal LA8 8LE which is just a little way north from our positioning for High Cragg, but on the same Dolholme Hill.

The 1858 map further confirms High Cragg location to be as we have presented it here, but the map does not extend as far north as Ellerbeck farm. (Further research is needed to determine if Ellerbeck Farm was part of "Cragg" land at some time around 1700s.) Google street-view images of our claimed location for High Cragg also confirm the name of the farm on the wall of the premises at the road entrance. (see images in the media section)

The (Thomas) Jefferys 1770 map (map image in citations below) surveyed in 1768 shows a "Mill High Cragg" much higher up towards the road that would now be the B5284. Tracing a line from Underbarrow due North, it is nearly in what is now Crook. This is clearly much higher positioning than our High Cragg now, or where it was in 1858, and this could arguably be the location of what is now Ellerbeck Farm.

On the (John) Cary 1789 map (map image in citations below), High Cragg is seen to the north of Grigghall and again close to what is now the B5284. Notice also that the road going north (today Mountjoy Brow that becomes Dolholme Hill) used to travel east of the river/creek that you can see on the map, while on Googlemaps today the road runs to the west of the river.

This confusion brings up a number of questions:

1. Did the B5284 road that runs horizontally along the top move further north between 1700s and today?
2. Did Dolholme Hill, the road going north from Underbarrow to High Cragg move further west between 1700s and today?
3. Did irrigation redirect the river/creek that runs through Underbarrow headed north?

For now we are working on the assumption that the 1858 map location for High Cragg is the correct one.

Naming:

The spelling varies between "High Cragg" and "High Crag". In some instances it is called simply "Cragg". There is an "Orphan Crag" on the 1858 map in Underbarrow, but it seems most references to "Cragg" in archives related to the High Cragg location (which may include Low Cragg, High Cragg, Crag Hills, & Craghills plantation, as seen on 1858 map image).

Kirkbys At High Cragg:

A Robert Kirkby was living at "Cragg, Underbarrow" as a "tailor" in 1756. Robert was likely the son of William Kirkby (b.1710), who was the son of Thomas Kirkby and Elizabeth (Maskew). (Confirmation of their connection to our line is still not proven by official record, but other events suggest it to be true.)

In 1785 our William Kirkby (b.1745) - married to Elizabeth Cape in 1780 - had been renting High Cragg for 6 years (1779-1785) according to a rental receipt.
In 1784 he had officially bought High Cragg from Catherine Hardy and Robert Scarth (whose family had bought it from Mary Bateman in 1685).

In 1813 William Kirkby (b.1745) paid land rent to the Earl of Lonsdale on "High Cragg, Far Orrest, Appleththwaite", locations yet to be understood but likely later became the "intack". (This rent was probably some kind of additional land rent to the main owner of everything locally; the Earl of Lonsdale)

One question requiring further research is where his brothers lived during this time? George (b.1748), Thomas (b.1743), John (b.1751).

In 1827 William (b.1745) died and in 1866 notes regarding a court order revisit of his Will we have the first mention of an "intack" land, which is the local acreage associated to High Cragg property. Though the size at the time is not mentioned, by the time it was sold in 1881 it was at least 103 acres.

Interestingly, William is referred to as "William of Little Tullythwaite" in the 1866 Will revisit. Does this mean he lived there while owning High Cragg, was born there, or just liked using the moniker? George Kirkby (b.1708) - father of William - also refers to himself as "George of Little Tullythwaite" on his marriage to Agnes Fothergill. William was, then, likely born at Little Tullythwaite, but this is conjecture.

From at least 1841 to 1861 (Census records) Henry Kirkby (b.1793), the son of William (1745-1827) was living as a farmer and owner of High Cragg with his wife Isabella (Sandford) and family. In 1851 he notes, "farmer 90 acres emp 2 ag lab"

An 1851 book of Underbarrow - available on Google, see later notes - mentions "Tullythwaite House, George Kirkby esq… High Crag, Henry Kirkby, esq" confirming George (b.1784) and Henry (b.1780) are resident heads of household at these two local properties.

In 1862 our Rev John Kirkby (b.1780) died - William's son, and brother of George (b.1784) and Henry (b.1780) - and bequethed his share of High Cragg to his son John Henry Kirkby (b.1834) (Henry was still alive at this point and living at High Cragg). Rev John Kirkby had spent most of his life as a Chaplain for HM Dockyard in Sheerness, he was married to Nancy Fayrer whose family were important in the Heversham area and involved in shipping and gunpowder manufacturing locally. Rev John seemingly never lived in Underbarrow after moving away, but clearly had a third-part inheritance in High Cragg.

When Henry died in 1864 it opened High Cragg up for the next generation to move in. At this point Rev John's son, John Henry Kirkby, married Henry's daughter - his cousin - Elizabeth Kirkby, and they both moved into High Cragg to begin farming the now 103 acres there. That was around 1865.

Rev John & Henry's brother, George, who owned Tullythwaite House had died in 1860. Tullythwaite House had gone to his son Rev George at that point. Rev George had also been married off to his cousin, Jane Mary, who was the daughter of Rev John. All very confusing, but essentially it was a good way for all the brothers to keep Tullythwaite House and High Cragg in the family line (another brother William had died in 1817, and we have yet to ascertain what became of their sisters Elizabeth, Mary, and Agnes)

But in 1881 John and Elizabeth Kirkby had enough of farming and sold High Cragg to a local land owner and a pawnbroker, and moved to Manchester where they "retired" (he was aged 55). There is question of whether this would have been approved of by the parents given they went to such lengths to keep the properties in the family. John had seemingly never worked before he became a farmer upon inheriting High Cragg, and his later census records suggest he never worked again. There was certainly no mention of inheritance going to his son William Cape Kirkby (b. 1876) and we have yet to trace the eldest son George (b.1877). Though it is known that local farming and industry suffered after the completion of the Kendal Canal in 1850. There was also the abolishment of slavery which the area of Milnthorpe, and the Fayrers, had been involved in. All of which likely led to valid reasons for the move away.

There is another curious mystery property that seems to be in the Strickland Ketel area and existing around 1881 referred to as "Geo. Kirkby's Trustee", but other than a note on a hand-drawn map, we have no other record of it.

Other High Cragg Info:

tbc

Dated Archives on High Cragg:

1756 - Robert Kirkby (b.1737) has a Will update: (this is the son of William (b.1710), who is son of Thomas Kirkby and Elizabeth (Maskew))

https://www.findmypast.co.uk/transcript?id=GBOR%2FLANCASHIRE%2FPROBATE%2F027693

Date: 4 May 1756
Occupation: Tailor
Archive reference: R495/27
Record set: Lancashire Wills & Probate 1457-1858
Minor place: CRAGG
Township: UNDERBARROW

1782 - William Kirkby (b.1745) is 6 years (pre-1785) renting High Cragg: (1810 Will confirms it is not William (b.1710) whose son Robert is at High Cragg)

https://archiveweb.cumbria.gov.uk/calmview/Record.aspx?src=CalmView.Catalog&id=WDTW%2f1585%2f8%2f1%2f12

Reference: WDTW/1585/8/1/12
Title: "Release"
Description : of Margaret Scarth of Underbarrow, Spinster, cousin of John Scarth, and daughter of his father Jacob's eldest brother Isaac, as Bridget Scarth agrees herewith to pay the £60 originally charged on High Cragg, Underbarrow by the will of JS.
Attached: Receipt of William Kirkby for "the Sum of 8s 6d for a purchase fine for an estate called ... Cragg ... in Underbarrow ... being six Years Rent"
19 March 1785
Date: 23 Mar 1782

1784 - William Kirkby (b.1745 age 39) buys High Cragg: (1810 Will confirms it is not William (b.1710) whose son Robert is at High Cragg)

https://archiveweb.cumbria.gov.uk/CalmView/Record.aspx?src=CalmView.Catalog&id=WDTW%2f1585%2f8%2f1%2f16&pos=7

"Reference: WDTW/1585/8/1/16
Title: "Customary Conveyance
Description:
1 Catharine Hardy of Kendal, Widow
2 Robert Scarth of Kendal, Yeoman, only son and heir of Bridget Scarth, late of Kendal, Widow, deceased
3 William Kirkby of Tullithwaite in Underbarrow, Yeoman
Recital of the Mortgage of 1782, made between Bridget Scarth and (1) and subsequent death of BS intestate, soon after. (2) has agreed to sell High Cragg, Underbarrow to (3), repaying to (1) the outstanding Mortgage sum of £322 2s 10d
Consideration: £630
Date: 14 Feb 1784"

This entry tallies with the 1866 entry in our Will info, but this article puts the sale somewhat earlier than our previously thought sale date of 1810.

1810 - Our records, a Will entry- "Abstract of Title" checked in 1866. (This is now pre-dated by the conveyance sale in 1784. See also William Kirkby (b. 1745) notes)

"Mrs Scarth & son William Scarth (Catherine Hardy) sells High Cragg to William Kirkby for GBP630 under marquis fee to Sir James Lowther and william, Earl of Londsdale, granted 17 Dec 1810".

1813 - William Kirkby (b.1745) tenement at High Cragg, Far Orrest, Appleththwaite annual rent.

https://archiveweb.cumbria.gov.uk/calmview/Record.aspx?src=CalmView.Catalog&id=WDTW%2f1585%2f8%2f1%2f18

"Reference: WDTW/1585/8/1/18
Title: "Enfranchisement"
Description: 1. Right Honorable William Earl of Lonsdale and Viscount Lowther of Whitehaven, Knight of the Garter
2. William Kirkby of Underbarrow, Yeoman, and Customary Tenant
Premises: Messuage and tenement at High Cragg, Underbarrow of an annual rent of £1 2s 5and a half pence, free rent 2s and a messuage and tenement at Far Orrest, Applethwaite, of an annual rent of 6s 5d and free rent of 8d
Date: 8 Nov 1813
Physical description: printed document"

(Note: this ws probably some kind of additional land rent to the main owner of everything locally; the Earl of Lonsdale)

1823 & 1827 - William (b.1745) dies in 1827 leaving a Will & amendments:

"exclusive of intack but inclusive of inclosure of High Cragg" - (citation from Will notes in family possession)

This is part of a later entry in 1866 to ascertain that William's sons John, George, and Henry are the rightful executors. In the 1866 Will revisit he is referred to as "William of Little Tullythwaite" therefore William had ownership of High Cragg while he was potentially living or maybe just born at Little Tullythwaite. (See William Kirkby (b.1745) notes for more info)

1841, 1851, & 1861 Census - Henry Kirkby (b. 1793), son of William (1745 - 1827), is now living at High Cragg with his wife Isabella and their children.

He puts "farmer" as occupation in 1841, "Farmer 90 acres emp 2 ag lab" in 1851, and just "farmer" in 1861.

1851 - Citation in book on Google lists other local people living in the Underbarrow area as well as Henry Kirkby and George Kirkby.

“The residences in the township are Tullythwaite House, George Kirkby esq…. High Crag, Henry Kirkby, esq.”

Quote from - "History, topography, and directory, of Westmorland; and of the hundreds of Lonsdale and Amounderness in Lancashire ... by Mannex & Co - 1851. Page 332" - https://books.google.com.au/books?id=h6pgAAAAcAAJ&lpg=PA332&dq=high%20cragg%20underbarrow&pg=PA332#v=onepage&q=high%20cragg%20underbarrow&f=false

1862 - Rev John Kirkby (b.1780) (William's son) dies and bequeths his share of High Cragg to his son John Henry Kirkby (b.1834). (citation from Will notes in family possession)

1864 - Henry Kirkby (b.1793) dies (William's son) and bequeths his share of High Cragg to his daughter Elizabeth Kirkby (b.1840). (citation from Will notes in family possession)

1865 - John Henry Kirkby (b.1834) and Elizbeth Kirkby (b.1840) marry (cousins), and sometime after Henry's death in 1864 are living at High Cragg (farming 103 acres).

1871 Census - John Henry Kirkby (b.1834) (Son of Rev John Kirkby (b.1780)) is living at High Cragg with wife Elizabeth Kirkby (his cousin, and daughter of Henry Kirkby) (see John Henry Kirkby (b.1834) notes)

1881 - High Cragg sold, leaves Kirkby hands:

John Henry Kirkby (b.1834) and Elizabeth Kirkby (b.1840) sell off High Cragg "intack" to local land owner George Dixon Atkinson & William Willison (pawnbroker), and presumably soon after sell the estate and move to Manchester area. Though they are still listed as living at High Cragg in the 1881 Census, presumably they sold or moved after the Census was taken. (Note: Kendal Canal was finished in 1850 and is known to have negatively impacted farming and industry in the area)

1891 Census - a John Cooper Garman is living at High Cragg with this wife but no mention of farming the land. He puts occupation “living on own” despite having a wife, stable boy, and servant on site. (High Cragg ‘intack’ had been sold according to our will in 1881 to George Dixon Atkinson). - https://www.findmypast.co.uk/transcript?id=GBC/1891/0029677255

1901 Census - George D Atkinson now living at High Cragg and lists himself as farmer (he also bought the "intack", presumably all 103 acres, in 1881). - https://www.findmypast.co.uk/transcript?id=GBC%2F1901%2F0031374361

1911 Census - a William Handley is living at High Cragg and puts his occupation as “Private means”. - https://www.findmypast.co.uk/transcript?id=GBC/1911/RG14/31673/0053/1