History of Cockermouth

APPENDIX 3 – 1300-1854 Officials Of The Castle Estates

The following are amongst those having custody of the castle between 1300 and 1323, either in their own right or for the

Crown:

 Thomas de Richmond

John de Sancto Johanne

Crown – John de Kirkeby

Piers Gaveston

Crown – Gilbert de Culwen

Crown – Robert de Layburne (twice)

Edmund de Malo Lacu

Thomas de Richmond

Crown – Robert de Layburne

Andrew de Harcla

The Records Office, Carlisle Castle, has extracted from the castle records officials for the following posts and periods, with some gaps:

Receiver 1441/2 – 1558/9

Feodary 1500/1 – 1588/9

Bailiff of Derwentfells 1437/8 – 1594, 1640 – 1800

Bailiff of Five Towns 1437/8 – 1596, 1640 – 1800

Bailiff of Allerdale 1437/8 – 1597.

The Records Office has similarly produced the following list of agents or stewards of the Cumberland Estate, acting under Petworth or London. Routine matters were supervised by a local official, sometimes the bailiff of Derwentfells who often lived at the castle.

1. 1591 – 1619 Sir Wilfrid Lawson occurs prominently.
2. 1633 – 1661 Hugh Potter.

1702 onwards Thomas Beach, the agent in the north, appointed as his Cumberland deputy

1702 Joseph Relfe

probably 1713 John Muncaster

1725 John Christian, first local agent proper.

(Agents were attorneys in 18th. and early 19th. centuries.)

Agents c. 1725 – 1745 John Christian of Underigg. (d. 1745)

1745 – 1748 Thomas Simpson of Penrith.

1748 – 1750 Ewan Christian of Underigg when Simpson lost agency under Algernon, Duke of Somerset.

1758. 1750 – 1758 Thomas Simpson, restored by Earl of Egremont. Ill-health 1758.

1758 – 1778 Robert Baynes of Cockermouth, first Cockermouth resident agent. Ill-health 1778.

1778 – 1807 Thomas Benson, son-in-law and partner of Baynes. d. 1807.

1807 – 1816 Robert Benson, son of Thomas. Ill-health 1816.

1816 – 1830 Nathaniel Nicholson, former partner of Robert Benson. d. 1830.

1830 – 1836 Robert Benson, nephew of Robert. Dismissed 1836.

1836 – 1854 William Bragg.

APPENDIX 4 – 1640-1800 Bailiffs Of Cockermouth

Elected by burgesses. From Michaelmas of year preceding date shown.

APPENDIX 5 1830 Vestry selection

First Select Vestry, 1830.

Rev. John Benson

Abraham Robinson

Edward Sancton

John Slack

William Wood

Joshua Sim

Thomas Matthews

Isaac Brown jnr.

Abraham Hetherington

John Stamper

1833, replacing three of above, were added

John Steel

Joseph Priestman

Stephen Green

George Sanderson

Joseph Wise