Christopher Dodgson

CHRISTOPHER DODGSON:

There is no will as such left by Christopher but at the Borthwick Institute there is an admon which is fairly limited. In the parish registers of Gargrave where Christopher was vicar for many years the vicar who replaced him bemoans the fact that Christopher had been given large sums of money to repair and update the vicarage but had not spent a penny. Further even though Christopher had died the vicar says he has seen none of this money. Christopher's widow, Dorothy, a descendant of the Fountain family of Linton in Craven had sppedily left Gargrave for Skipton, no doudt with the repair money!! There are various memorials relating to her and the sale of property after this. One in Hellifield and two in Long Preston. These highlight that she had at some point moved to Kirkby Lonsdale in what was Westmoreland and then from there to Lancaster and then Leeds where one Christopher Fountain also mentioned in one of the memorials and probably her brother is described as a woollen draper. The references at Wakefield are RR 700 932, TT 523 676, TT 524 677, AU 236 316. The witnessesd to the Hellifield and Long Preston sales to Stephen Hammerton were Thomas Jenkinson of Kirkby Lonsdale gentleman, Lawrence Carr of Settle yeoman and Edward Salisbury of Newton gentleman. The later sale was witnessed by Christopher Fountain of Leeds woollen draper James Donaldson of Leeds grocer and Ann Jagger of Leeds spinster. A fuller memorial EE 597 874 made after the will of Christopher senior follows:

Memorial 1731

Indentures of lease and release bearing dates respectively 20th and 21st days of January AD 1731. The lease made between Christopher Dodgson of Gargrave in the county of York clerk of the one part and Henry Wilcock of Thornton in the said county of York gentleman and Richard Robinson of Skipton in Craven gentleman of the other part. And this release between Christopher Dodgson of Gargrave in the county of York clerk and Dorothy his wife late Dorothy Fountain spinster one of the daughters of William Fountain of Linton in the said county of York gentleman of the one part and Henry Wilcock of Thornton in the said county and Richard Robinson of Skipton in Craven in the said county gentleman of the other part. Of and concerning all that messuage and tenement called Ellingthorpe Grange also Elling Thorp Grange with the appurtenances and the houses buildings garths and waste grounds thereunto belonging. and also all those closes or parcels of ground called or known by the name or names of the Higher Orchard, the Lower Orchard and also those two closes or parcels of ground called or known by the name or names of Orchard Flat. And also all that one close of pasture ground called or known by the name of Rakes. And also all that one close, enclosure or parcel of ground called or known by the name of the Lays. And also all that other close, enclosure or parcel of ground called or known by the name of James Close Nook. And also all that other close, enclosute or parcel of ground called or known by the name of Leys Head. And also all that other close, or parcel of ground called and known by the name of Ing beyond the land. And also all that other close, or parcel of ground called or known by the name of Henry Dubbfields. And also all that other close, or parcel of ground called or known by the name of Raynes. And also all that other close, or parcel of ground called or known by the name of Starr Top Ing or by whatsoever other name or names the said premises or any part thereof is or are called or known. All which said premises contain together by estimation 28 acres be the same more or less. All which said premises are situate lying and being at or near Ellingthrop alias Ellingthorpe Grange aforesaid and in or near the township of Paythorne in the parish of Gisburn in the said county of York. And also all that one little Henry Garth now occupied with the said premises formerly parcel of the Ancient Tenements called Parkhouse in the county of York. All which said premises where formerly in the tenure or occupation of Francis Lister clerk his undertenants or assigns and afterwards of Christopher Dodgson father of the said Christopher Dodgson party to these presents his undertenants or assigns. And now are or late were in the tenure or occupation of William Dodgson as tenant of the same his undertenants or assigns and also all and every other the messuages, lands, tenements and hereditaments whatsoever of him the said Christopher Dodgson party to these indentures in the said parish of Gisburn in the said county of York with their and every of their rights members and appurtanances. Which said indentures are witnessed by John Alcock and Robert Pickersgill both of Skipton in the said county of York gentlemen. Sealed signed and delivered in the presence of us Thomas Brown, Robert Pickersgill (senior or junior)

Christopher Dodgson, Dorothy Dodgson.