Parish of Elton

PARISH OF ELTON.

The Parish of Elton is bounded by Norton and Redmarshall on the North, by Stockton on the East, by Long-Newton on the South and South-west, and by Bishopton on the North-west. The Parish forms only one Constablery.

In the time of Bishop Philip de Poictou the manor belonged to William de Homez (fn. 1). The estate, some time later, was vested for several descents in the family of Gower (fn. 2). Thomas, son of Sir William Gower, Knt. living in 1378, was the ancestor of Ralph Gower, Gent. who died in 1546, seised of half the manor of Elton (and of half the advowson), leaving Laurence Tregoz, his next heir (fn. 3). Meanwhile another moiety of the manor was vested in the family of Bowes, at least as early as 1435, and this portion descended in 1556 to the coheirs of Sir George Bowes, of Dalden, of whom Dorothy intermarried with Sir Cuthbert Collingwood. In 1573 the same Sir Cuthbert conveyed his lordship of Elton, and his right and part of the advowson of the Rectory (parcel of the estate of Dame Dorothy his wife), to Thomas Serjeantson, of Preston-on-Skerne, and John Thomas and Christopher Jefferson, of Elton, yeomen. In 1584 Thomas Serjeantson is stated to die seised of a fourth of the manor held of Lord Clifford, leaving Christopher his son and heir.

Somewhat later a moiety of the manor was settled in the Erringtons.

The Sequestration Books bear testimony to the loyalty of the Erringtons:—

On pet'c'on of Mrs. Mary Errington, wife of Coll. John Errington th' elder, wee doe thinke fitt to allow a fift part of the profitts of the said Coll. Errington's estate being sequestered at Elton and Egglescliffe, or elsewhere, for the maintenance of Mrs. Errington and her family.

John Boasman holdeth of old Coll. Errington eight oxgangs in Elton, p (fn. 4) 40l. Robert Moory five oxgangs for 30l. John Taylerson one oxgang and a quarter, &c.

This portion of the estate rested in the Shafto family till a few years ago, when John Shafto, of Whitworth, Esq. sold to Thomas Wade, of Fatfield, Esq. for 11,000l.

In 1684 the freeholders were Sir Robert Shafto, Knt. Serjeant-at-law, John Jefferson, Esq. (fn. 5) Barrister, Joshua Jefferson an infant, Thomas Todd, of Dalton, and John Hendry, of Norton.

The heiress of the family of Jefferson intermarried with Thomas Hogg, Esq. whose son, John Hogg, of Norton, Esq. is owner of this portion of the estate, and of a third of the advowson.

The Suttons of Stockton held another portion of the manor, also derived, I presume, by descent from Jefferson. The late George Sutton, Esq. devised this estate to George Hutchinson (son of John Hutchinson, of Stockton, and Elizabeth-Caroline Sleigh), who assumes the name of Sutton (fn. 6).

There is a mansion-house in Elton (now the residence of Colonel Sleigh), with a handsome garden (fn. 7) and grounds, laid out by the late owner.

The Church

Is a small simple structure, consisting of a nave, chancel, and South porch; a circular arch divides the nave and chancel; another round arch, with the nail-head ornament, is closed up in the North wall of the nave. The old narrow lights are chiefly replaced by modern sashes.

A recumbent effigy of a knight in armour lies in the nave under the arch in the North wall. The head, in a close scull-cap, rests on a pillow; the face is open, the hands clasped on the breast, the sword hangs from a belt, the legs are crossed, the spurs on the heels, and the feet rest on a lion (fn. 8).

Monumental Inscriptions.

On a tablet of white marble against the North wall of the chancel:

To the memory
of
John Sutton, Esq.
of
Stockton, in this county.
He was born the 26th day
of September 1737,
and died most deservedly
lamented, on the 17th day of
October 1792.

On a flag in the floor of the chancel:

Here lieth Mary, the wife of Henry Doughty,
Rector, buried July 25th, 1683.
Come Lord Jesus.—Rev. c. xxii. v. 20.
Amen. Even so.

In the church-yard, on an altar-tomb to the South of the church:

Solomon Jefferson, died Nov. 7th, 1744, aged 49. Ann, his wife, died Feb. the 6th, 1776, aged 77. Also Jane (fn. 9), her sister, who died April 5th, 1764, aged 59. Elizabeth Metcalf, who died the 16th of March 1763, aged 59 years. Elizabeth Rymer, daughter of Solomon and Ann Jefferson, died May 2d, 1816, aged 87 years. Joseph Jefferson, departed this life the 1st day of May 1746, aged 16 years.

On an altar-tomb East of the church (fn. 10) :

Here lyeth George Jefferson, who was interred Dec. 15th, 1690, aged 51. And Israel, his son, who died May 5th, 1708, aged 39. Elizabeth, the wife of George Jefferson, died Oct. 12th, 1712, aged 82. George Sutton, died June 16th, 1738, aged . . .

According to an instrument in Madox, the advowson about 1200 belonged to Philip de Homez (fn. 11) : it was afterwards held, as should seem, by Gower and Bowes; and since by Errington and Jefferson; but Errington had two turns, and Jefferson one. Errington's right of patronage passed with the estate to Shafto; and Jefferson's is vested by descent in John Hogg, Esq.

Succession Of Rectors.

• William de Ellewike, 1311.
• Thomas Trowell.
• John de Brafferton (fn. 12), 1378, p. res. Trowell.
• William de Percebrigg, 1403.
• Robert Toppyng (fn. 13), p. m. Percebrigg.
• John Bowes, Chaplain, 1495.
• Peter Balyf, 1519.
• John Sayer (fn. 14), Chaplain, 1536.
• Thomas Wright (fn. 15), 1567.
• Robert Blaxton (fn. 16), 1571, p. depr. Wright.
• Thomas Bell, 1595.
• Richard Colmore (fn. 17), 1608.
• Richard Thursby, A. M. (fn. 18) 1619, p. res. Colmore.
• William Murrey, A. B. (fn. 19) 1621, p. res. Thursby.
• Tobias Markendale (fn. 20), 1649.
• Henry Doughtie, A. M. (fn. 21) 1668, p. m. Markendale.
• Timothy Mawman (fn. 22), 1709, p. m. Doughty.
• William Russell (fn. 23), 1716, p. depr. Mawman.
• John Rowntree (fn. 24), 1758, p. m. Russell.
• Thomas Ewbanke, A.M. (fn. 25) 1804, p. m. Rowntree.

The glebe consists of the site of the rectory adjoining the church-yard, with a stable, barn, fold-yard, and nearly an acre of ground called the Ashes on the East, a small orchard or garden on the North, and a plot of ground planted with fruit-trees on the South. Two fields on the South of the road leading from Darlington to Stockton, the one estimated at eleven, the other at ten acres, abutting on lands of George Sutton, Esq. West, on Coatham-grounds South, and on the high road to Yarm East; and four fields, respectively of eighteen, eleven, and ten acres on the North side of the same road from Darlington to Stockton, abutting on grounds of George Sutton, Esq. on the West, North, and East (fn. 26).

A composition or tithe-rent of 22l. 10s. (fn. 27) had existed in the Parish of Elton for a considerable time. In Michaelmas Term, 1804, the present Rector filed a Bill in the Court of Exchequer against the land owners, to compel payment of tithes in kind. In Easter Term, 1813, the Court directed an issue, which was tried at Durham the ensuing Assizes before Baron Wood and a Special Jury, when a verdict was found for the Rector, the alleged modus or prescript having been fairly proved to have been only a composition entered into by the Rector about 1641, and acquiesced in by his successors. In Michaelmas Term following the defendants moved for a new trial. The cause came on before the Barons in Hilary Term, 1814, when the Court, after hearing counsel on both sides, dismissed the application for a new trial, and decreed payment of tithes in kind, with costs both at law and in equity.