Bryan Phillips’ presentation given to the history group on 7 Jun 2023 is now available for members on this website. The pdf contains the full speaker notes.
The MALHG have a spreadsheet of more than 1000 field names contained in maps and documents of Milton Abbas. Thanks to several members who have contributed by examining our maps.
We would welcome any member to research these field names and locate them. Please get in touch using the Contact form for further information.
I have just finished reading this book. I have to say that it was one of the most difficult books I have ever read – not because of its difficulty, erudition or academic depth – but because of the sheer injustice of the period. It covers the Regency 1811 – 1820 and the appalling treatment of ordinary people by the wealthy and powerful. There are twenty three chapters that will make your blood boil. From the sinecures of church and state – paying friends up to £18,000 a year to do nothing, to the suspension by parliament of habeas corpus – putting protestors in jail without charge. And the newspapers of the time supported the aristos. Why on earth did we not have a bloody revolution such as the French did?
I thought I knew how bad matters were for the poor agricultural labourers of MIlton Abbas because we have transcribed the Overseers of the Poor Books of this period, we know what they and their families were paid, and we have researched the Combination Acts of 1799 used to condemn our six Milton Abbas Martyrs in 1803 for trying to improve their conditions. But this was clearly a national problem and the state used fair means and foul to oppress its ordinary people by the privileged and wealthy few.
This book is extraordinarily difficult to find or purchase – it is not even available on Amazon, and it is not in Libraries West Catalogue. Allegedly it can be ordered from Waterstones for £14.95. It is available to buy at the Family History Books website
The question is – is is worth buying?
Has anyone read it?
Most importantly has the author referenced the Milton Abbas Local History Group for its holdings and transcriptions?
Please let us know at our Contact page
I am writing a series of articles about Milton Abbas during the reign of Edward II 1307 – 1325 and trying to discern what life was like for the people living here 700 years ago. Milton Abbas was a very important market town at the time having the third largest number of tax payers in Dorset.
The first article is about the homes of the peasants. Click here to open it.
If you are interested in medieval history then you can ‘Follow’ us by clicking on the blue button on any of the pages of this website.
We would love to hear your comments. Please use the Contact form.
At our last meeting Helier Exon gave an account of the chapel, including the mystery of when it might have been founded. This presentation will shortly be available on our Member’s Section of the website.
There are several myths about King Athelstan and the reasons he founded Milton Abbey in 934. These stories and the known facts are available in Bryan Phillip’s book Athelstan’s Dream which is available to buy on Amazon. All proceeds go the Milton Abbey Heritage Trust.
The following are a huge cast of interrelated characters named by Clive Barnes in his research on the Wool stealers gang of 1836. Why not find out more about these people and what life, poverty and justice was like in the local rural community of Milton Abbas and surrounding villages.
Clive’s research shows just how using our records can tell a full story of social history and people’s struggles.
Members can read the full story on our website.
James Drake
James Cox
Philip Arnold
James Vatcher
Annabella Vatcher (nee Churchill)
Thomas Cox
George Joice (or Joyce)
Samuel Elford
John Waters
Robert Joice (or Joyce)
James Burt
William Bryant
William Sebley
Lady Caroline Damer
Henry Dawson-Damer
Thomas Fox
Andrew Cross
James Vatcher
George Bankes
Mary Cox
John Hanham
Joseph Cox
Jane Cox
Jemima Cox
Stephen Harvey
Solomon Drake
Maria Cox
Esther Cox (nee Alford)
Mary Legg
Mary Ann Cox
Eliza Jane Cox
Emma Joice
John Waters
Maria Chaffey
Fanny Drake
Elizabeth Butler
Barbara Drake
Eliza Sturney
Our member Clive Barnes recently gave a presentation on the wool stealers gang. From Milton Abbas James Drake, James Cox, Philip Arnold, James Vatcher and Thomas Cox were charged in 1838 with stealing and receiving wool, wool sacks and sheepskins. John Hanham, and George Joice (or Joyce) of Winterborne Houghton, and Samuel Elford and John Waters of Winterbourne Stickland were charged with stealing wool. Robert Joice (or Joyce) of Winterborne Houghton gave evidence against the others. The men were charged with stealing from three local farmers: James Burt of Clenstone Farm, Winterborne Clenstone; William Bryant of Higher Farm, Winterbourne Houghton; and William Sebley of Whatcombe farm, Winterborne Whitechurch. All the men were found guilty at their trial.
Clive Barnes’ full research is available on the Members Section of this website
Thanks to grants from the Street Fair and MATCH and all the personal donations the pendant has now been acquired by the Dorset Museum, and they have released the story to the press, e.g. Daily Telegraph 10 Mar p2.
On Wednesday 8 March the donors were invited by the museum to see the pendant and hear more about this unique and very high status 22 carat gold and rock crystal jewel of the Anglo-Saxon period. The dedicated staff at the Museum have been extremely generous with their time and effort, giving presentations to our group and inviting donors to the unveiling of the pendant. They have freely shared their expertise and knowledge. This meeting was in the John White Learning Centre at the museum. It was good to meet the finder who told us of his feelings as he dug up the find of a lifetime, and to hear from the director of the museum, the finds liaison officer and the archaeologist..This adds enormously to our knowledge of the history of this amazing place, but as is usual with such finds, there are many more questions than answers, although the design and artistry is of 6th to 7th century date where did it come from before it was laid to rest (or dropped) in Milton Abbas? Where was it made? Where did the rock crystal come from? The gold? Was the cross motif a deliberate Christian symbol?
As far as we know this is the only surviving Anglo-Saxon object from Milton Abbas, the only other object was a piece of carved stonework on display in the Abbey Church but now missing, presumed stolen. Of course we know that King Athelstan granted land to Milton Abbey in 934 and a monastery was built here, but there are no surviving remains of that. St Catherine’s Chapel was built in the late 12th century.
It was good to see that the many donors were mostly from Milton Abbas and mostly history group members.
Our progress so far – we have collected all the leases for the grammar school in Milton Abbas which are in the Dorset History Centre. These 34 leases from 1616 to 1774 prove that the feoffees of the school were active in the management of Little Mayne Farm which provided the funds for the payment of the master, maintenance of the buildings, and free schooling for local boys.
This shows that the statement of the lord of the manor in 1786 to his peers in the House of Lords was inaccurate, and that he misled them into allowing the school to be moved to Blandford. The feoffees were the great and the good of Dorset and fought hard to maintain the school in Milton Abbas.
Thanks to one of our transcribers we are making good progress on transcribing these leases. However there are more to do if anyone would like to have a go. The text is now quite easy to read.
| Date | DHC Catalogue | Title | transcriber |
| 25-May-1616 | D1 11744 | Will of Thomas Best of West Knighton. Mentioned: John, Elizabeth and Joane Moore children of son in law Moore, daughter Moore, Joyce Cossens my sister, Richard Moyes son of Peter Moyes, wife Elizabeth.. 25 May 1616 | BP |
| 29-Jun-1625 | D1 11746 | A Copy of Mr William Talbot’s Lease of the School Farme of Little Main | |
| 29-Jun-1625 | D1 11746A | Copy of lease of Little Mayne | SC |
| 3-Dec-1629 | D1 11741 | Award. Sir Francis Ashley, sergeant at law and William Noy of Lincolns Inn | SC |
| 24-Sep-1630 | D1 11740 | Note about division of land the subject of award D.1/11741 [the manor of Little Mayne to the use of the free school of Middleton] | SC |
| 17-Mar-1632 | D1 11743 | Power of attorney to Thomas Merry to receive rents of Little Mayne in West Knighton | SC |
| 13-Oct-1634 | D1 11745 | Bargain and sale. (1) Thomas Lord Arundell of Warder Castell, Wiltshire and Richard Swayne of Blandford Forum, esquire. (2) Henry Arnold of Milton. Manor and farm of Little Mayne in West Knighton. Witness: Matthew Davye, Ambrose Vincent and John Cox. 13 Oct 1634 | SC |
| 14-Oct-1634 | D1 11748 | Lease. (1) Thomas Lord Arundell of Warder, Wiltshire and Richard Swayne of Blandford Forum, esquire, feoffees of MiltonAbbas School. (2) Thomas Merry of Milton Abbas, schoolmaster. Manor and farm of Little Mayne in West Knighton. Witness: Matthew Davye, Ambrose Vincent and John Cox | SC |
| 27-Sep-1692 | D1 11749 | Lease (1) Sir John Moreton of Milborne St Andrew, baronet, Robert Coker, senior of Mappowder, esquire, Robert Coker, junior of Dorchester, esquire and Robert Freke, junior of Upway, gentleman. (2) William Talbott of Little Mayne, gentleman. Manor and farm of Little Mayne in West Knighton. Witness: Robert Swaffield, Thomas Delacourt and Richard Kaines | SC |
| 17-Oct-1709 | D1 11750 A | Lease. (1) Robert Coker, senior of Mappowder, esquire and Robert Freke of Upway, esquire. (2) John Jollie of Winterborne Stickland, gentleman. Manor and farm of Little Mayne in West Knighton. Witness: Henry Humber, Henry Bestland and J. Lane | SC |
| 20-Oct-1709 | D1 11738 | Lease of Manor and farm of Little Maine (1) Robert Coker the elder Mapowder and Robert Hicks of Upwey (2) John Jollie of Winterborne Stickland | SC |
| 20-Oct-1709 | D1 11751 A | Counterparts to D.1/ 11750 A, B [Lease (1) Robert Coker, senior of Mappowder, esquire and Robert Freke of Upway, esquire. (2) John Jollie of Winterborne Stickland, gentleman. Manor and farm of Little Mayne in West Knighton] | SC |
| 21-Oct-1709 | D1 11750 B | Release. (1) Robert Coker, senior of Mappowder, esquire and Robert Freke of Upway, esquire. (2) John Jollie of Winterborne Stickland, gentleman (3) Sir Nathaniel Napier of Critchell. Manor and farm of Little Mayne in West Knighton | |
| 21-Oct-1709 | D1 11751 B | Counterpart D.1/11750 B Release.. 21 Oct 1709 | |
| 7-May-1728 | D1 11753 A | Lease (1) Robert Browne of Frampton, esquire and Richard Bingham of Melcombe Bingham, esquire. (2)Luke Harrison of Milton Abbas, gentleman. Manor and farm of Little Mayne in West Knighton. Witness: Robert Symes, William Prickett, Thomas Applin and Richard Devenish | SC |
| 8-May-1728 | D1 11753 B | Lease (1) Robert Browne of Frampton, esquire and Richard Bingham of Melcombe Bingham, esquire. (2)Luke Harrison of Milton Abbas, gentleman. Manor and farm of Little Mayne in West Knighton. Witness: Robert Symes, William Prickett, Thomas Applin and Richard Devenish | SC |
| 22-Jul-1731 | D1 11739 | Memorandum. At the Farm House at Little Mayne, Richard Noyes, William Talbott, Francis Aishley, William Noye | SC |
| 6-Aug-1731 | D1 11754 | Lease (counterpart). (1) Robert Browne of Frampton, esquire and others. (2)John Spratt of Little Mayne. Little Mayne Farm in West Knighton. Witness: Narcissus Marsh and Luke Harrison | |
| 1-Aug-1739 | D1 11756 | Lease (counterpart). (1) Sir William Napier of Moore Critchell, baronet and others, trustees. (2) John Spratt of Little Mayne, yeoman. Little Mayne Farm in West Knighton. Witness: John Chinn and Luke Harrison | |
| 1-Sep-1746 | D1 11257 | West Knighton. Lease | |
| 24-Apr-1749 | D1 11757 A | Lease (1) Sir William Napier of Moore Critchell, baronet and others. (2) Radford Gundrey of Dewlish, esquire. Manor and farm of Little Mayne in West Knighton. Witness: Stephen Bowridge Lloyd and others | |
| 25-Apr-1749 | D1 11757 B | Release. (1) Sir William Napier of Moore Critchell, baronet and others. (2) Radford Gundrey of Dewlish, esquire. (3) Sir William Hanham of Deans Court, Wimborne Minster, Gerrard Napier of Middle Marsh, John Browne of Forston, John Stratham of Milton Abbas, Charles Bryune of Plumber, Edward Berkely of Winfrith, Thoms Gundrey of Dewlish. Manor and farm of Little Mayne in West Knighton. Witness: Stephen Bowridge Lloyd and others | missing inside |
| 11-Jul-1754 | D1 11737 | Agreement (1) James Martin, clerk. (2)Richard Pearce of Affpuddle. That (1) to use his endeavors with Sir Gerard Napier, baronet and other trustees of Little Mayne Farm in West Knighton that (2) may be admitted tenant. Witness: Andrew Pearce and Roger Woolfry | SC |
| 1-Feb-1755 | D1 11758 | Lease. (1) Sir Gerard Napier of Moore Critchell, baronet and others, trustees. (2) Richard Pearse of Affpuddle, yeoman. Little Mayne Farm in West Knighton. Witness: Includes John Hutchins | |
| 1-Feb-1756 | D1 11351 | Lease. (1) Sir Gerard Napier of Moor Critchell and others, trustees. (2) Richard Pearse of Affpuddle, yeoman. Little Mayne Farm in West Knighton. Witness: Andrew Pearse and William Ricketts | |
| 31-Aug-1757 | D1 11736 | Lease (1) William Talbott of Broadmayne, gentleman. (2) Sir William Napier of Moore Critchell, baronet and others. Chapel Close and Little Mayne Farm in West Knighton. Witness: George Bingham and John Spratt, junior | SC |
| 26 Jul 1763 | D1 11760 A | Lease. (1)George Chafin, senior of Chettle, esquire and others. (2)Thomas Morton Pleydell of Blandford Forum, esquire. Manor and farm of Little Mayne in West Knighton | |
| 27-Jul-1763 | D1 11760 B | Release. (1)George Chafin, senior of Chettle, esquire and others. (2)Thomas Morton Pleydell of Blandford Forum, esquire. Manor and farm of Little Mayne in West Knighton | |
| 22-Feb-1765 | D1 11761 | Lease (counterpart). (1)Anthony Earl of Shaftesbury and others. (2) James Sherren of Little Mayne, yeoman.Relates to Milton School Little Mayne Farm in West Knighton. Witness: George Cooper and G. Stickland. 22 Feb 1765 | SC |
| 6-Jul-1768 | D1 11762 A | Lease. (1) John Bankes of Kingston Hall, esquire and others. (2) Thomas Morton Pleydell of Blandford Forum, esquire. Manor and farm of Little Mayne in West Knighton | |
| 7-Jul-1768 | D1 11762 B | Release. (1) John Bankes of Kingston Hall, esquire and others. (2) Thomas Morton Pleydell of Blandford Forum, esquire. Manor and farm of Little Mayne in West Knighton | |
| 30-Jul-1773 | D1 11763 | Lease (counterpart). (1) Feoffees of Milton School. (2) James Herren of Little Mayne, yeoman. Little Mayne Farm in West Knighton. Witness: George Cooper and G. Stickland. | |
| 17-Mar-1774 | D1 11764 A | Lease. (1) Sir William Hanham of Deans Court, baronet and others. (2) Harvey Ekins of Philiolls, esquire. Manor and farm of Little Mayne in West Knighton | |
| 18-Mar-1774 | D1 11764 B | Release. (1) Sir William Hanham of Deans Court, baronet and others. (2) Harvey Ekins of Philiolls, esquire. Manor and farm of Little Mayne in West Knighton |
Following a recent talk on Dorset Justice of the 17th century a number of questions were raised. The Dorset Record Society book volume 14 ‘Dorset Quarter Session 1625 – 1638’ is a transcription of the earliest surviving Order Book for Dorset. It is a font of information on life in Dorset in the early 17th century before the Civil War. We cannot reproduce extracts from this book for copyright reasons, but here is a list of the names of the people in Milton Abbas who occur in the book.
| Brian Ham |
| Robert Goldisborough |
| Elizabeth Squibbs |
| Thomas Barnes |
| Henry Whinnell |
| Mary Maultus |
| Zerobabel Maultus |
| Jonah Delacourt |
| Thomas Gape |
| James Harbyn |
| William Lovell |
| Edith Dammon |
| Henry Dammon |
| George Woolridge |
| John Hoble |
| Matilda Lovell |
| Matilda Saunders |
| William Saunders |
| Thomas Benville |
| Richard Allin |
| Henry Pope |
| John Cole |
| Elizabeth Browne |
The introduction to the book discusses the judicial and administrative roles of the court of Quarter Sessions. Also highly recommended is ‘Dorset Justice’, Terry Hearing, 1999, which explains terms such as Recognisance, tippler, maltster, Assizes, Petty Sessions, Justice of the Peace. There will be a presentation next season of the Milton Abbas Local History Group which will cover these topics specifically for Milton Abbas.
We have extracted all the occurrences of Milton Abbas people from the Dorset Quarter Sessions 1625 – 1638 book, their occupations and why they appeared in court One of our members is extracting all occurrences of Milton Abbas from the other Dorset Quarter Sessions Order Books 2 to 8 which are available at the Dorset History Centre and available to view by subscribers to Ancestry. These books have not been published.
Another of our members has completed the extraction of books 9 to 12 which takes us up to 1804. These will be available to our members. Please contact us for more information.
Together with our complete transcriptions of all the extant Overseers of the Poor Account Books 1771 – 1836 we, and family history researchers, are able to tell the stories of many of the poor people who lived in Milton Abbas in the past. Our transcriptions are available to members only.
Milton Abbas Local History Group, Dorset, UK 