THE AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF LEONARD WHEATCROFT. 3 1 



Ashover Wakes, [when] Mother Hawley and many more came 

 to Ashover for to wellcome us to house again. In the same 

 week I went towards Lundon to be an evidance for Cullenbell 

 as I said befor. After my retourne, then to Derby 'size [assize] 

 about the same [matter] . 



" After these long jorneys I and my man went to a great bull- 

 beating at Wensley ; then to my mother-in-law's at Winster, 

 where I had much discours with my Relations. Some of these 

 did [ap]poynt to meete me at Matlock Wakes which was about 

 Sep. 2, 1669, and according to promis they came. There did 

 my mother-in-law give me five pounds, with which I came 

 merrily home. Then did my wife and I (Sep. 6) go to Boul- 

 souer for some more goods, '■'• which came home by a drought, f 



"Then having a little set my house in order, and provided 

 work for my sarvants, I had occasion to go to London againe ; 

 and upon Tuesday Nov. 23, I arrived there where I stayed 

 till Nov. 27. All that time I spent in walking up and downe 

 about Law matters. I had then a very fowle jorney by reason 

 of foule weather frost snowe and raine. 



"Dec. II. I fetched more goods from Boulsouer and placed 

 them at home. 



"Then Dec. 27, 1669, I went with brother Samuell to his 

 wedding at Trinity Chapell.'' 



[This wedding is recorded in the Morton Church Register, 

 for this chapel was in the old parish of Morton before Bracken- 

 field was formed into a separate Ecclesiastical district. The 

 entry is as follows : — " Samuell Whetcroft of Ashover and Ann 

 Chadwick of Wirksworth were married by Licence 27 December 

 1669." 



This ancient but now disused chapel lies in Brackenfield on 

 the lower slope of an off-shoot of High-Ordish, one of the 

 highest summits in the district. The approach to the chapel 

 is about a hundred yards beyond " Mather's Grave," on the 

 way to Knot Cross and Ashover from Brackenfield. It is now 



* Probably left in pledge. f By wain and oxen. 



