408 Notices of Heathpool. By James Hardy. 



Burke commences his pedigree of the Eeeds of Hoppen, with George 

 Reed, Esq. of Heathpool, living in 1743. In a note he states that "in 

 Kirknewton churchyard there is a tomb to Gabriel Reed of Heathpool, 

 a.d. 1696, also to Miss Mary Reed, 11 Oct., 1696, and to Lancelot Reed, 

 14 June, 1709." 



In a MS. compiled by the late Mr William Dickson of Alnwick, now in 

 Mr W. T. Hindmarsh's possession, entitled " Records of Sessions of 

 Justices," under 1702, there is mention of the " Revd. Mr Lancelot of 

 Hethpoole ; " but his relationship to the Reeds, which is very probable, is 

 not known. There were subsequently at least 4 Lancelots in the Reed 

 family. 



Iu 1722, George Reed, freeholder, votes for Hethpole. Burke says of 

 him that " by his will, which bears date in 1743, he leaves a sum of money 

 for the poor of the parish of Kirknewton, and mentions his cousin Ilderton, 

 of Ilderton, then the representative of that most ancient house." 



By an arrangement made during his lifetime (before 1739), it is not 

 explained on what account, his sister Miss Reed, and her husband Robert 

 Roddam, became joint possessors of Heathpool estate. Mr Roddam died 

 on Christmas Day, 1744, and his wife on the same festival in 1745, both of 

 small-pox, leaving two daughters, Sarah 5 years, and Mary 2 years old, 

 co-heiresses. The rent was then ortly £180.* 



My friend Mr R. G. Bolam, informs me that from the old Court Rolls of 

 Wooler, it appears that from 1743 to 1747, George Reed (living in 1748) 

 farmed Heathpool ; and from 1755 to 1757, the heirs of George Reed 

 occupied Heathpool, and were followed by Ralph Comptoa (as will appear 

 subsequently there were two Comptous), continuing up to 1771-3, when 

 Edward Potts becomes successor. 



Knowing that the Reeds who afterwards farmed Heathpool are identical 

 in race with the late proprietor, George Reed, whose will is dated 17 Oct., 

 1743, I take George, who farmed the place (whose owners were his aunt 

 and nieces) to have been the oldest son, called by Burke, George Reed, 

 Esq., of Hoppen. He may have managed Hoppenf also for his next 

 brother Lancelot, who was the owner, and who died in London, without 

 children, 27 Nov. 1784, when his estate devolved on his sister. Another 

 brother, William, was blown up by a gunpowder explosion at the taking of 

 Guadaloupe. Their sister Mary of Hoppen, died in London, unmarried, 

 in 1790. She devised Hoppen by will, dated 1789, to her nephew, Thomas 

 oldest son of George Reed, her eldest brother, aud Elizabeth Werge only 

 daughter of Thomas Werge, Esq., Horton Castle, Northd., and grand- 

 daughter of the Rev. John Werge, vicar of Kirknewton, and Miss Wood, 

 Falloden. This Thomas Werge, says Burke, " settled at Horton Castle," 

 i.e., I apprehend occupied it, as neither he nor his elder son John vote for 

 it, but for freeholds in Milfield, where dwelt Thomas Wilson, whose 

 daughter Elizabeth, Thomas Werge had married. In 1722, James Wilson, 

 junr., residing at Coupland, voted for Milfield. In 1747-8, James Wilson, 



* Autobiography of the Rev. Alexander Carlyle, D.D., p. 405. 

 f Formerly the estate of the Brandlings.— T.C. 



