Kirkby (Berry) Family Tree

William was born in Underbarrow, Westmorland in 1745 (in his Will he is referred to as "William of Little Tullythwaite" and likely lived there his whole life).
He was one of at least four children born to George Kirkby "of Little Tullythwaite, Underbarrow" & Agnes Fothergill.
(William's siblings were George (1748), Thomas (1743), John (1751), and there may be others)
He married Elizabeth Cape (daughter of John and Mary Cape) on 2 Feb 1780 in Uldale (the Capes came from Uldale, Cumberland area and had a Reverend at the Church during this period).
William and Elizabeth had their first child, Rev John Kirkby, christened in Uldale in 1780.
A daughter Mary was baptized in 1782 in Underbarrow.
George and Agnes (likely twins) were baptized in 1784 in Underbarrow.
On 25th December in 1788 a daughter Elizabeth was baptized in Uldale (Had they returned to Elizabeth's parental home, or is this a mistaken entry given a later daughter Elizabeth was also baptized on 25 Dec 1796 in Underbarrow?)
Their next three children were William, Henry, and Elizabeth all baptized in Underbarrow in 1792, 1793, and 1796.
William died in 1827 likely owning, or part owning, both Little Tullythwaite and High Cragg.
(It's possible he built or part-built Tullythwaite House circa 1820 because his son George is living there by 1841 census).

In our Will record for "William of Little Tullythwaite" we have reference to his sons John, George, and Henry regards them being acknowledged (in court in 1866) as mutual executors of High Cragg. This suggests William owned both Little Tullythwaite (where he lived) and High Cragg when he died in 1827.

William's Will refers to him as "William of Tullythwaite" and 1866 Will reference has 1823 and 1827 entries "exclusive of the intack but inclusive commonage of High Cragg". The 1866 event is a court proof that John, George, and Henry were considered the Will executors (possibly done to prove inheritance link for later children).

His parents George and Agnes were at Little Tullythwaite in at least 1743, as it is recorded in their marriage record as "George of Little Tullythwaite, Underbarrow". Whether George also owned High Cragg is not yet known, but there are some entries for George Kirby (without a K) showing up in other areas of Underbarrow (more research required).

(When searching for records before 1800 it is common to find people referred to as Kirkby or Kirby (without the K) intermittently.)

(Note: this section may move or be repeated elsewhere in future website updates. It is here for now only for convenience)

*** Little Tullythwaite in Underbarrow, Westmorland:

1743 - William's father George (1708/1718? to 1763) was living at "Little Tullythwaite" in 1743 when he was married to Agnes.

William (1745 - 1827) likely lived his entire life at "Little Tullythwaite". In his Will he is referred to as "William of Little Tullythwaite".

*** Tullythwaite House, Underbarrow

1820 - Tullythwaite House is built around this time (its possible a tannery was next door already)
(It's possible William of Little Tullythwaite built Tullythwaite House circa 1820, as son George is living there by 1841 census).

1841 to 1851 - William's son George (1784-1860) is recorded living at Tullythwaite House in his 1841 & 1851 Census.

1861 - George's son Rev George and wife Elizabeth (daughter of Rev John) are living at Tullythwaite House in 1861 Census.

1871 - Tullythwaite is in hands of Rayne family (but is it rented out or has it been sold?).

1911 - Tullythwaite is in hands of Ross family (but is it rented out or has it been sold?).

(Between 1919 and 1925 Elda Mary Kirkby is orphaned and claims to have gone to live with "Aunts" at Tullythwaite House, later calling a house she co-built in "Rhodesia" after Tullythwaite)

*** High Cragg, Westmorland:

1784 - Cumbrian Archive Conveyance - "(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)" - It seems from this that William buys High Cragg earlier than 1810, as per next entry.

1810 - Our records Will entry- "Abstract of Title" checked 1866 says "Mrs Scarth & son William Scarth (Catherine Hardy) sell High Cragg to William Kirkby for GBP630 under marquis fee to Sir James Lowther and william, Earl of Londsdale, granted 17 Dec 1810". (seemingly this is pre-dated by the conveyance sale in 1784)

1823 & 1827 - William of Little Tullythwaite will amendments involve "exclusive of intack but inclusive of inclosure of High Cragg" part of an entry in 1866 to ascertain that William's songs John, George, and Henry are the rightful executors.

1841 to 1861 - William's son Henry (1793-1864) is recorded as living at High Cragg in his 1841, 1851 and 1861 Census.

In 1862 Rev John (William's son) dies and bequeths his share of High Cragg to his son John.
in 1864 Henry dies (William's son) and bequeths his share of High Cragg to his daughter Elizabeth.
in 1865 John and Elizbeth Kirkby marry (as cousins), and are living at High Cragg (farming 103 acres) in 1871.

1881 High Cragg leaves Kirkby hands when John & Elizabeth sell High Cragg estate in 1881 to local land owner George Dixon Atkinson & William Willison (pawnbroker), and move to Manchester.

ADDITIONAL NOTES*

William's son George (1784-1860) may have had mutual ownership of High Cragg, but our records only show his ownership of Tullythwaite which he passes to his son George (b. 1835) who marries his cousin (Rev John's daughter) Jane Mary Kirkby to keep both properties in the Kirkby family.

If William (b. 1784) owned High Cragg and Little Tullythwaite, what did his brothers own? Thomas (b. 1743), John (b. 1751), George (b. 1748).

There is a mysterious "Geo Kirkby trustee" note in the sketch map showing when High Cragg is sold in 1881. This is likely in the Strickland Ketel area, but there is no other mention of it at all that I have found as yet.

Miles Bateman (owner of Tullythwaite Hall, the main property a short walk from Little Tullythwaite) and Miles Kirby were land owners in Underbarrow & Strickland Ketel during 1600s (details still being researched, but I have not so far been able to find a confirmed connection between them and our family lineage).

Miles Kirby in 1636 inherits land from Adam Shepheard, who in turn inherited land from James Leybourne (possibly of Cunswick Hall) but all this is currently too vague in names and locations to confirm. (baptisms in Kendal are lost from 1630 to 1660 making it impossible to connect people, and the 1652 Civil War forfeit of estates didnt help, research is ongoing).