Lesbury Parish, by the late George Tate, F.G.S. 451 



other by William Anderson, at 10s, ; and at Bilton, one tenement 

 was held by John Sheperde, at the rent of 10s. Early in the 

 seventeenth century, Robert Brandling purchased along with 

 other tithes, the tithes of Lesbury ; but in the course of time the 

 property in them was split into shares. Part of them passed 

 to Edward Cook, son-in-law of Ralph Brandling, and eventually 

 to Isaac Cookson, who sold this share in 1824, to the Duke of 

 Northumberland. Another part passed to Jane Forster, a grand- 

 daughter of Ealph Brandling, and afterwards by inheritance, 

 to Eobert Ogle of Eglingham, by whose descendant it was sold 

 to the Duke of Northumberland. Francis Brandling, in 1725, 

 sold five-twelfth parts of the tithes of Alnwick and Lesbury, to 

 William Coulter of Lesbury ; whose grandson William conveyed 

 them to Eobert Gelson, who sold them to Isaac Cookson. Eichard 

 Brandling in 1712, conveyed to Francis Forster, one-fifth of the 

 Lesbury tithes, which in 1717, passed to Thomas llderton ; and 

 it is now held, along with another share acquired in 1776, by his 

 descendant, the Eev. Thomas llderton, vicar of Felton, and now 

 of llderton. According to the poor rate schedule of 1870, the 

 rent charge for tithes in the Lesbury and Hawkhill townships, 

 amounts to £370 4s., and belongs to John Cookson, of Aleldon, 

 and the rent charge for tithes in Bilton township, amouuting to 

 £313 2s 6d., belongs to the Eev. Thomas llderton. 



The Vicarial tithes were continued as an endowment of the 

 church, which is described as " dedicated to St. Mary, a dis- 

 charged vicarage, valued in the king's books at £8 2s lOd, the 

 king being patron." These tithes have been commuted into a 

 rent charge, which, in 1870, amounted to £281 13s 5d. The 

 churchwardens in 1569 held freely two selions of land in the 

 fields of Lesbury at a quit rent of 2d yearly. A part of Les- 

 bury moor, which was in Shieldykes township, also belonged to 

 Lesbury church ; it consisted of a cottage and twenty-five acres 

 of land ; but, some years ago, this was exchanged with the duke 

 of Northumberland for other property in Lesbury township. 



We will now trace the succession of vicars, subsequent to 

 the Reformation. 



Thomas Winfield, the vicar in Eoman Catholic times, conform- 

 ing to the new religion, continued vicar of Lesbury till his death. 

 On October 2nd, 1556, Edward Adthe succeeded him. Before 

 his death he resigned. A will of Edward Athey, clerk, made in 

 1565, is printed in the Surtees' Society publications ; several 

 bequests are left to the Atheys of Longhoughton, and. to the 

 Taylors; among others he leaves to his sister Agnes Taylor, 

 widow, one old Eiall, and to Eobert Taylor, vicar of Lesbury, his 

 best gown ; the residue of his property is also left to them whom 

 he appoints as his executors. Tailyour was deprived by Queen 

 Elizabeth. After Taylor, John Lademan, or Ledeman, was 



