The Early Horobins: pre 1496 to 1606
John Horobin
When Richard Horobin takes one messuage at Whytell in 1496-1497, he is referred to as being the son of John Horobin.
Although there is no concrete evidence, it is possible that the John Horobin. who was fined at Hartington Manor Court in c.1472 may have been his father. John was fined 2d with several others, including the Sleighs and Sterndales, for trespassing and, presumably, taking wood from the forest of the Frith. (1)
Richard Horobin, copyholder at Whitle 1496/1497 to post 1506
All we know about Richard was that he was the son of John Horobin and takes the messuage at Under Whittle. He renegotiates this in 1505 so that it can be passed on to his son, also called Richard, and then his grandson William. It is probable that the Ricard Horobin, involved in the disputes over a cottage in c. 1534 was his son and Richard, senior, had died by this time.
Richard Horobin copy holder of Whittle ....? to c. 1534?
At the end of 1533, there is a dispute between the Horobins and their neighbours, the Mottrams, over a cottage, with its 9 ½ acres, in Whitehillbank. Both families claim it is theirs and have possibly been been subletting it – though who they have been subletting it to differs.
At Hartington Manor Court, on the 30th December 25 Henry VIII, (1533), Richard Horobyn of Whitehillbanke, represented by his ‘attorneys’ William Harrison and Hugh Percival, surrendered a cottage called Whytylbanke, lately in the tenancy of Radolphus Chadwyk , now in the tenancy of Reginald Mottram, to the work and use of Richard’s son William Horobin.
However, at the first proclamation, Reginald Mottram came and claimed the cottage as his by right and inheritance, being given it by Henry VII. He also states that it had been lately in the tenancy of William Grenesmyth.
The jury felt that Reginald was right and he was admitted as tenant paying 12d.. (2)
There is evidence in later manor court records that the Mottrams held a cottage, called Mare Dole, as well as their message. It is likely this is the same cottage. (3)
Attorneys were usually neighbours and/or older men who may know who would have held it previously. In this case, Hugh Percival was Richard’s neighbour from Broadmeadow. We don’t know if the William Harrison is the same William Harrison of Cronxton Grange who may be related to the John Harrison who takes the farm next door in 1581.
By the time the Court of Chancery case, between William and Roger Horobin occurs, Richard appears to have died.
William and Margery Horobin Copyholders c. 1536 – c. 1552 plus
The dispute between William and Roger Horobin over the rights to the messuage in Whitle is documented in detail in Peeling Back the Layers: Final Report. Both Roger and William claimed the family messuage but the case was found in William’s favour. Interestingly, though William claimed he had taken the messuage for himself, his wife and his son William at the manor court in 1536, so far, the earliest record of his taking the messuage was after the Court case in 1539.
In 1552 William is concerned he may be dying and makes his will leaving most of his goods to his wife and his three (unnamed) daughters. The priest/vicar writes his will with his neighbour Richard Percival being a witness. Nicholas Sleigh, who lived at the other side of the Dove was to be the overseer of his will. Nicholas, along with James and Hugh Sleigh will also appraise his goods with Hugh Percival.
William’s appraised goods come to just over £8. The inside of his house seems very basic with just one chair, one pot, one pan and three small dishes. The board would have been multi purposeful, being used for eating, preparing food etc. ‘Lomes’ may refer to wooden buckets or looms. Though the number of cattle often varied with the number of people who were able to milk them, as well as the time of year, it is noticeable he has four oxen. Many small husbandmen in the area had one ox or at most two. He is still growing crops but there is no indication what these are. It is also noticeable that he has only six sheep. (See Wills)
As his wife, Margery, was still living and had the right to take over the farm after his death she may have continued farming here. Her son William Horobin surrenders and take back the copyhold in 1566, possibly, following her death but an earlier surrender to her son may be missing from the records.
William and Margery Horobin: Copyholders c. 1566 (or before) – c. 1606
In 1566 William and Margery took the farm at le Whittell for their lives and their son, another William. Why there was a gap between his father’s death and taking the farm is not clear.
William regularly witness his Whitle neighbours’ wills or appraises their goods following their death. In May 1578 he witnesses Richard Botham’s will and then appraised his goods in September. In December he witnesses Hugh Ward’s will and then, again, appraisers his goods. In 1580 he appraisers Roger Percival’s goods and ten years later he is an appraiser for Roger’s son. Though neighbours were often asked to be witnesses and appraisers it feels as if he was respected and trusted. (See Wills)
William and Margary appear to have five children who survive to adulthood, William, John, Elizabeth, Ellen and Katherine.
John, described as ‘Sir John Horobyn, clarke ‘ (ie a curate or other role related to the church), must have been educated. We haven’t found out how this was paid for and where it occurred. We are still investigating whether the John ‘Horobine’, who is listed as a vicar at Repton in 1602, is William’s son as the dates and positions don’t quite match up with other information. According to the Church of England database, a John Horobin was ordained as a deacon in 1602 and then as a priest in September 1605. It mentions that he was at the parish church of Walton (on Trent). He seems to have moved to Scropton, as in 1605, John ‘Howbyn’ is referred to as being the curate. He continued to be curate there until his death in 1612. (4) John died intestate but an inventory was made of his goods. At the end of the inventory the informers of his death /executors are Elizabeth Horobin, alias Barnes and Reginald Barnes of Rodesley. Reginald Barnes is the son-in-law mentioned in William Horobin's will. (See Wills)
On the 10th October 1606, William’s wife, Margery, is buried at Sheen. Ten days later William makes his will and dies soon after. He is buried on November 2nd 1606.
At the time of their deaths their home appears more comfortable with both a cupboard and a dishboard for displaying their pewter. They have cushions and ‘nappery’ ware as well as bedding. There is also a good stock of stored food: meal, malt, white meat,(cheese), bacon and grease as well as corn and hay. There still have another two pigs who would have been slaughtered during the year along with some of their eight geese. With 12 lbs of woollen yarn and another 6 lbs of wool it looks as if this is for sale rather than just their use. The grease may not have just been used within the home but also could have been used in the process of making yarn.
Like his father he has four oxen, along with the five cows and two calves, but again with a smaller flock of fourteen sheep. (See Wills)
1. Sheffield City Archives : ACM 100 / D/ 29 Hartington Manor Court 12 Edward 1V
2. Sheffield City Archives : ACM 100 / D/ 32 Hartington Manor Court .
3. See Peeling Back the Layers: Final Report 1581 Sheen Manor Court
4. Church of England Database: https://theclergydatabase.org.uk/jsp/search/index.jsp