282 



within its limits no less than 8 different townships, 

 which Contain a collective population of 1747 in- 

 habitants, viz., Middleton 247, Aislaby 147, Wrel- 

 ton 193, Cavvthorn 22, Rosedale, east side, 339, 

 Cropton* 321, and Lockton 324. At the two lat- 

 ter are situated chapels of ease, distant from the 

 mother church, the one 4 and the other 6 rniles, in 

 different directions. Rosedale was also formerly 

 a chapel of ease to Middleton, but has been separa- 

 ted by the governors of the bounty of queen Anne ; 

 the vicar of Middleton still remaining entitled to 

 the patronage. The church at Middleton is a 

 vicarage in the deanery of iiyedale, value in the 

 king's books 10. 11s. 3d., present value of the 

 livin* according to the parliamentary return, ^90. 

 patrons the Rev. Francis Wrangham, archdeacon 



* Year Cropton is Deckhouse, once the residence of 

 the Robinson family ; and now the property of the repre- 

 sentatives of the late Rev. John Robinson, of Weluurn. 

 It is used as a farm house, and is inhabited by Mr. 

 George Thorpe, tenant to Messrs. Cayley, Wrangham, 

 and Smith. This house is very ancient, and is said t 

 have been built with materials brought from an old man- 

 sion at Cropton. In the south wall of the building, near 

 the parlour window, cut in stoue, are the initials 



M. M. 

 W. H. E. H. 



1668. T. v. 

 Near these initials is this singular inscription 



HE THAT COMES TO STEAL 

 A PLOUM LOOK UP AND SIC 



WHO IS ABOWN ; 

 BE WAKE; GOD SEES. 



Over the upper window is the bust of a person in a 

 clerical habit, to whom the depredator is adm ni.-hed to 

 look when he comes to steal a plum ; tins figure, it 

 appears, is to represent the deity. 



