ELMS WELL AND ITS OWNERS. 171 



His wife was Elizabeth fiau. of Stephen Thompson, of Humbleton, by Mary dau. of Henry Blakiston 

 of Archdeacon- Newton, CO. Pal. Durham. Administration of Elizabeth Hotham, widow, of South 

 Dalton, was granted Dec. 20, 1697, to Sir Charles Hotham, Baronet. On a blue stone altar slab on 

 the south side of the church yard of Little Driffield is this inscription ; "Here lie the bodies of Mrs. 

 Hotham and her daughter Mrs. Best; The first, relict of Mr. Hotham, Rector of VVigan, who was 

 buried April 29, 1685. The other daughter to the said Mr Hotham, and wife to Charles Best, Esqre. 

 of Elmswell, who died September 15, 1710. Here also lieth the body of Charles Best, Esqre. who died 

 August 2, 1719. Hunc iapidem posuit Kranciscus Best,in memoriam sepulturw charissimorumejus 

 Parentum, quorum virtutes et benelacta animo suo semper retinebit." The only other notice I can 

 find in the Register is this, -'1692 April23, John, the son of Sir Charles Hotham, Knight and Baronet, 

 baptised." 



X Charles Best, Esq., of London, was born at Beverley, July, 1732, and was bur. at Walcot, near 

 Bath, .May 28, 1813, aged 80. By his wife Henrietta Harriett Light he had issue, first, Charles, in 

 Holy Oraers, who married a daughter of the Kev. Race Godfrey, D.D., and left a son Charles ; 

 secondly, the Rev. James Wilkes Best, i\l..\., of Compton, Berkshire, father of the male represent- 

 ative of the name, Head Pottinger Best, Esq. of Donningtcn Park, in that county, who has issue. 

 There is no evidence to connect any other families of the name, even in Yorkshire, with this offshoot 

 from that of Middleton Quernhow, of which stock all the otter branches have died out. 



February 8, 1581-2. Richard Best of Middilton "Whekn-ot, to be 

 buried in the parishe church erthe of Wathe — my house and all my 

 landes in Sutton Howgrave* to my three youngest sons, John, Hugh, 

 and Eichard Best — my son Eichard under 21 — my brother John Browne. 

 "I do will yt my sonne Henry Best do allowe twentie noblis in his 

 portion which he had when he whent to printisship." My wife Doro- 

 thy, John, Hugh, Eichard, my sons, and IssabeU Best my daughter, 

 executors. Witnesses and records Henrie Stubes parson, John Browne, 

 with other moe. [Proved March 2 following, at Eichmond.] 



Inventory made Feb. 20. Inprimis, 8 oxen 13?. Item, 10 kyne 

 131. 6s. Sd., 3 bulles 53s. 4d., 5 stoytts 5J., 2 oxe sturkes 30s., 7 horses 

 and meares 10/., 2 foiles 23s., 25 yowes 51. 4s., 40 hogges 51. 6s. 8d., 

 10 swyne 42s., one iron bone wayne, one head yocke, one wayne head 

 shakle, and one teame geven bie legace 3/., 2 olde wayne bodies, 2 

 peare of iron boune whelles 31. 6s. 8d., 3 cowpes wyth stanges 15s., 

 wayne geare, and plue geare in the wayne house 40s. In the oxe house 

 5 peare of cowpe stanges, one ganne of fellowes, with other implements 

 10s., 2 saddles, and 2 bridles, one loed saddle, and 2 panels 10s. One 

 bed in the said house for servants, with furnitorie for the same 5s. In 

 the lame one pare of wayne blades, 2 bords, 3 stees, scaffolds, and all 

 other suche tymber in the said barne 13s. 4(?. In the hjlne 8 yockes, 

 one spenenge wheel, one litle wheell, one barell, one bushell, one steepe 

 fatte, one kylne heare, one peare of fleakes, and one peare of reple comes 



* Sutton Howgrave is in the adjoining parish, of Kirklington, and ahont three 

 miles distant from the church of Wath. Of the children named, John was bapt. 

 May 3, 1571, and in 1598 is described as of London, grocer. Hugh was bapt. Feb. 

 1, 1572-3, and Isabel, Sept. 26, 1577. To the goods of these last two James Best of 

 Hutton Cranswick their brother administered in 1598. Richard executed, May 20, 

 1598, in conjunction with his brother John, a deed of release to his brother James 

 for 40 marks, his share of the personalty of the deceased brother and sister ; he 

 married at PickhiU, Nov. 3, 1601, Anne d. of Robert Dagget of How, and was bur. 

 July 5, 1620.. His sons Henry and John, bapt. respectively Jan. 2, 1614-5, and 

 Oct. 6, 1619, were living 1638-9. 



This Richard Best made his will Dec. 16, 1619, desiring to be buried "attor 

 imder the great .stone at St. John Chappell, Southe ende." One Edmund Best "of 

 Myddilton Whirne," by will dated Dec. 11, 1562, desires to be bmied "within the 

 parish church yerthe of our Lady of Wath nere my father and my mother, a bye end 

 of St. John Chappell." For the will of Sir Christopher Beste, chantry priest of the 

 said chapel, dated Apr. 23, 1557, see Surtees Society's Richmondshire WiUs, p. 96. 



