Whalton and its Vicinity, by the Rev. J. E. Elliot. 237 



corn to the market there, across the backs of horses, two bolls 

 to each horse ; the farmer or his man trudging alongside of the 

 train in their wooden clogs. Besides this, in the general 

 order issued by Lord Wharton for the establishment of night 

 watches and patrols along the frontier, which was only a 

 better organization of a system which had prevailed " accord- 

 ing to the old custom of the marches," we find that the line 

 ran close to the neighbourhood of Whalton. It provided that 

 " The passages from Callcottes to Meldon deugles at Wans- 

 beke, to be watched with 16 men nightly of the inhabitants 

 of Callcottes, Highamdykes, Kyrklaye, Barwikehill, Horton- 

 grange, and Brenkleye to Belsooedge ; and the inhabitors of 

 Ogle, Whalton, Trewycke, Mosden, Melden, and Repling- 

 toun, from Belsooedge to Melden deugles ; setters and searchers 

 ol these passages — John Tussel, Thomas Symson, Richard 

 Anderson, Edward Rawe, Thomas Robson, George Leighton, 

 Robert Symson, and Christopher Yonge. Overseers — 

 Lancelot Ogle, Harry Ogle the lord of Melden, Jarret Heron, 

 and Christopher Fenwyke." A force which, including the 

 setters and searchers and overseers (who were mostly county 

 gentlemen of the neighbourhood), could not have been much 

 less than 1000 strong, was thus employed from the 1st of 

 October to the 13th of March* 



This disturbed and warlike period in the annals of the 

 parish came to a conclusion with its connection with the great 

 baronial families, in the reign of James I. It was to be suc- 

 ceeded by times more favourable to the development of 

 civilizing influences, which had hitherto had little opportunity 

 of making themselves felt. As the progress of these in the 

 Whalton neighbourhood is chiefly associated with the history 

 of its rectors, it is to that I now propose to turn. 



Until the reign of Henry VI1L, the advowson of the living 

 was in the hands of the prior and convent of Tynemouth. 

 Of the rectors presented by them little else than the names 

 remain. In the absence of any resident baron, they would 

 probably superintend the military as well as the civil and 

 ecclesiastical affairs of their parishioners ; for the priests were 

 by no means exempted from the former duties. During some 

 repairs which were made on the older portion of the rectory 

 in my predecessor's incumbency, a good serviceable broad- 

 sword was found, which had evidently seen service, and 



* Nicolson's Border Laws, p. 319. 



