Percival Hindmarsh 1694
Percival was the son of George and Ann Hindmarsh of Rookland. A George Hindmarsh or Hymers had a tenancy of Rookland in 1717, this could have been Percival's father or a brother although George, his father, died in 1738 and so it is more likely that George, his father, had the tenancy. My research has led me to believe that the daughter Susannah or Susan that Percival refers to in his will was not indeed his child and was the child of his brother Thomas who died young (but further research is needed with regard to this).The Will of Percival Hindmarsh of Ruckland who died 2nd July 1760;
Percival wrote his will on 19th May 1760 and died only a few weeks later aged 66. In the Will he describes 5 sons and 4 daughters, however from his gravestone, as you can see above, 2 sons had already predeceased him"two sons William died April 30th 1748 aged 3 months. James dy'd June ye 1st 1751 aged 5 years."
His surviving sons are George, Percival, James, Thomas and Henry (or Hendry) and his daughters are named as Susannah, Dorothy, Eleanor and Mary. My research does lead me to believe however that Susannah was in fact his brother's child whom he had taken in as his own.
Percival had married Eleanor Kirkup late in life at the age of 41 in June 1735. She was much younger than he was being only 17 when they married. Percival obviously loved her dearly as he refers in the Will to his "dear wife" and makes her the sole executrix of his estate.
"In the name of God Amen I Parcival Hindmarsh in Ruckland in the County of Northumberland in the parish of Alington being of sound mind and memory do make and ordain this my last Will and Testament in manner and form following. First I give and bequeath unto my eldest son George Hindmarsh the sum of forty pounds when he arrives to the age of thirty five years old he being tolerably well provided by me before. Secondly I give and bequeath unto my second son Parcival Hindmarsh the sum of sixty pounds when he arrives to the age of thirty years old. Thirdly I give and bequeath unto my third son James Hindmarsh the sum of sixty pounds when he comes to the age of twenty one years. Fourthly I give and bequeath unto my fourth son Thomas Hindmarsh the sum of sixty pounds to be payed to him when he comes to the age of twenty one years. Fifthly I give and bequeath to my fifth son Henry Hindmarsh the sum of sixty pounds to be payed to him when he comes to the age of twenty one years. Sixthly I give and bequeath unto my eldest daughter Susan Hindmarsh a Widow the sum of twenty shillings she having got the full portion before. Seventhly I give and bequeath unto my second daughter Dorothy Hindmarsh the sum of twenty pounds to be payed her in a year after her marriage. Eighthly I give and bequeath unto my third daughter Ellenor Hindmarsh the sum of twenty pounds to be payed when she comes to the age of twenty one years. Ninthly I give and bequeath unto my youngest daughter Mary Hindmarsh the sum of twenty pounds to be payed when she comes to the age of twenty one years. Lastly I give and bequeath unto my dear wife all that I have in the world consisting of goods and chattles and effects whatsoever and wheresoever the same may be and farms and ??? until the ends thereof to be disposed by her as she thinks most suitable for her and the childrens good. And on this condition I leave her the power of all that she pay all those legacies above mentioned and rents due by me at this term and debts and my funeral charges and thereby constitute and appoint her my executor of this my last Will and Testament hereby revoking all former will or wills by me at any time heretofore made in witness whereof I have set my hand and seal this 19th day of May One Thousand seven hundred and sixty
Parcival Hindmers
Signed sealed published and declared by me the above said Parcival Hindmarsh in the presence of us who in his presence and at his request and in the presence of each other have set our names as witnesses
James Bustie
Robert Roadhead"
Will Proved 1762
Original Will at Durham University Library Archives ref DPRI/1/1762/H15/1
"Parcival HINDMARSH, of Ruckland in the county of Northumberland in the parish of Alington [Alwinton, Northumberland]
Date of probate: 1762
will, 19 May 1760 (DPRI/1/1762/H15/1)"
I find it interesting that Percival had clear thoughts as to what age his sons should inherit, it would be wonderful to know just why that was.
Percival and Eleanor's Family
Husband: Percival HINDMARSH
Death: 04 Jul 1760 Ruckland, Alwinton, Northumberland
Marriage Bond: Durham Diocese Record Number: 378373.14 Denomination: Anglican 14 Jun 1735 Percival Hindmers, of Alwinton, Northumberland obtained a licence to marry Eleanor Kirkup, of Alwinton, directed to Alwinton Surety: Roger Nesbitt, of Alnwick, Northumberland
Marriage to Eleanor KIRKUP: 19 Jun 1735 Alwinton, Northumberland, England; Alwinton parish register. Percival is said to be from Rookland and Eleanor is from Cuttleside which was near Biddleston.
Wife: Eleanor KIRKUP
Birth: 25 Mar 1718 Haigh Kidland, Alwinton, Northumberland
Death: 05 Feb 1799 Alwinton, Northumberland
Children:
Susannah HINDMARSHBirth: 1736 Rookland, Alwinton, Alnwick Northumberland
Marriage to Thomas BOLAM: 16 Jun 1757 Alwinton, Northumberland; parish of Whittingham, witnesses John Woods and Henry Dodds.
George HINDMARSH
Birth: 29 Dec 1738 Rookland, Harbottle, Northumberland
Dorothea HINDMARSH
Birth: 03 Feb 1741 Rookland, Harbottle, Northumberland
Death: 20 Jan 1829 Shilmour, Alwinton, Northumberland
Marriage to John DAVIDSON: 12 Jun 1767 Alwinton, Northumberland; witnesses were Elleanor Hindmarsh and William Clark
Percival HINDMARSH
Birth: 29 Jul 1742 Rookland, Alwinton, Northumberland
Death: 17 Jan 1820 Peels Well House, Alwinton, Northumberland
Marriage to Ann DUNN: 18th May 1776 Alwinton, Northumberland; Banns on 27 May, 5 April, 12 April, witnesses Ruth Hutson and Thomas Hymers (Percival's brother) 1776 film no 577
Elenor HINDMARSH
Birth: 15 Mar 1744 Rookland, Harbottle, Alwinton, Northumberland
Marriage: 28 Jun 1770 Alwinton, Northumberland; witnesses Mary Dodds, John Anderson and
Parsivell Hymers
Spouse: Robert ANDERSON
James HINDMARSH
Birth: 15 Mar 1746 Rookland, Harbottle, Alwinton, Northumberland
Death: 01 Jun 1751 Rookland, Alwinton Northumberland
William HINDMARSH
Birth: 07 Feb 1748 Rookland, Allenton, Northumberland
Death: 30 Apr 1748 Rookland, Alwinton, Northumberland
Mary HINDMARSH
Birth: 08 Feb 1750 Rookland, Harbottle, Alwinton, Northumberland
Death: 15 Dec 1830 Sharperton, Northumberland
James HINDMARSH
Birth: 18 Jun 1752 Rookland, Harbottle, Alwinton, Northumberland
Thomas HINDMARSH
Birth: 10 Mar 1755 Rookland, Harbottle, Alwinton, Northumberland
Henry HINDMARSH
Birth: 20 Mar 1759 Rookland, Harbottle, Alwinton, Northumberland
Death: 05 Dec 1782 Flinty Crag, Alwinton, Northumberland
Marriage to Alice BELL: 25 May 1782 Alwinton, Northumberland; witnesses Ann Bell, James Dodds and Isabell
Lumsden
Old Rookland Farm
Only the ruins exist now, the last time the house was lived in was around the 1950s. The remains of medieval ridge and furrow plowing can be seen to the north of the ruins of Old Rookland. These wide ridges and furrows are very common throughout Northumberland giving the fields an undulating, corrugated appearance.
Prior to enclosure, plowing is commonly identified by the broad s-shaped undulations that were created by ox drawn plough as the ox team needed plenty of space to turn at the end of each furrow as they cut and turned the soil over. Ploughing in a slight curve allowed the plough to start to turn before the furrow had been completed making it much easier for the plough to be turned and brought back around into the curve of the preceding ridge. Each ridge and furrow was about 8 m wide. The ridge was cast up to faciliate drainage. The ridge and furrow ploughing predates some of the Old Rookland Farm as it can be seen to run under walls.
A large cultivated area can be seen at the front of the property and it is believed that this was used for potatoes and other domestic crops including rhubarb which was still growing there a few years ago.
View Larger Map
ROOKLAND OCCUPIERS - owned by Selbys of Biddleston
Hindmarsh's from at least 1717 to the end of 1800's1822 to some time after 1831 Robert Herbert
1847 John Douglass and Ellen Davison
1850 John Douglass and Ellen Davison
1950S BERT AND MARY HINDMARSH LIVED THERE THEN MOVED TO NEW ROOKLAND AND THEN MILKHOPE FARM
The farmers up in the hills were shepherds and David Dippie Dixon in his book quotes this rhyme;
"The following doggrel rhyme, written in their praise, is amusing and worthy of record:-
'Five eights are forty Colley dogs,
Sagacious and true,
Safe guardians of the fleecy flocks
On Cheviot's lofty brow.
At Milkhope, Dryhope, Kidland-lee,
Their value is well known;
At Rookland, too, and Punkerton,
Their fame will ne'er go down.' "