Page:History and characteristics of Bishop Auckland.djvu/116

 mSTOBY OF BISHOP AUCKLAND. 89 As has already been stated, Jock's Row^ was a place of some note in olden times, and extended for a considerable distance along the water-sida The dwellings consisted of low, humble-looking cottages, nearly all of which were swept away by the great flood of 1771, when the Wear is said to have risen eight feet higher than at any prior, or subsequent period, and stood at that height for several hours. It began to rise on the 16th of November, and was at its greatest height about two o'clock in the morning, but had fallen considerably by six. Frosterley, Wolsingham, and Witton Bridges were swept away by this flood. 1651 — October 8. — The wife of George Byerley, of Midridge, buried. 1684.— July 29.— William Byerley, of Bitchbume, buryed. The principal residence of the Byerleys was at Midridge Grange. The loyal Colonel Anthony Byerley, who commanded a regiment in the service of Charles L, garrisoned his house at Midridge for the King ; and his troops were long remembered in popular tradition as Byerley's bull-dogs. Colonel Byerley afterwards compounded for his loyalty by a fine of £2,000, and died April 22nd, 1667, aged 47 years. His son, Kobert Byerley, Esq., represented the County of Durham in the parliaments of 1685 and 1688, and was afterwards member for the borough of Knaresborough in several parliamenta He died in May, 1714, and was buried at Goldsborough, in Yorkshire. Midridge Grange was, in those days, a treble gable-ended mansion, and could not be made capable of any regular defence ; but Surtees observes, " as the colonel's neighbour, Loyzeluve, of Coatsay-Moor, bore a captain's commission under the parliament, it might be necessary to keep a few buflf-jackets and bandeliers in the house of Midridga" The same writer adds, " that he remembers having seen a number of crooks in the long lofts or galleries under the roof, where the soldiers are said to have swung their hammocks." 1698. — January 1. — Ellenor, daughter of Robert Hilton, Bpp. Auckland, [baptised]. 1702.— August 11.— Elizabeth, daught. of Robt. Hilton, GentL, Bp. Auckland, [baptised]. 1705. — March 27. — Anne, daughter of Mr. Robert Hilton, Bp. Auckland, [baptised.] 1724 —March 23.— Elizabeth, ye wife of Mr. Robert Hillton, De Auckld., Epis., [buried.] 1728. — September 8. — Mr. Robert Hillton, De Auckld. Epis., [attomey-^t-law, Registrary to the See, buried]. Few families have figured more largely in the annals of early county history, or have played a more important part in local matters, than the Hiltons, a branch of whom appear to have resided in Bishop Auckland. The origin of this family may, doubtless, be referred to a very remote antiquity, and its early history is much obscured by fabla Tradition relates that a raven flew from the north, and perched on a tower on the banl^s of the Wear, where it received the embraces of a Saxon lady, whom her father, a powerful Thane, had there confined, to protect her from a Danish chieftain. This wild tale is supposed to symbolise the commencement of the family in a mixture of Danish and Saxon blood. There are other traditions, scarcely less fabulous, which profess to identify the Hiltons three centuries before the conquest Adam Hilton, living in the time of King Athelstan, A.D. 924, gave to the Monastery of Hartlepool a pix or crucifix, which was, in weight, twenty-five oimces in silver, and caused his arms to be engraved on it, which, Fordyce says, " are yet to be seen upon the gates of Hylton Castle." He, likewise, gave the said monastery a cope and vestments, with silver to make a censer. Another authority states that, " upon the coming over of William the Conqueror, Lancelot de Hilton, with his two sons, Henry and Bobert, espoused his cause and joined hiTn. Lancelot being slain in the service of the Conqueror at Feversham, in Kent, he gave to the elder son, Henry, a large tract of land on the banks of the river Wear, as a reward for his own and his father's valour. This Henry built Hylton Castle, in the year 1072, and was one of the deputies that treated with the Conqueror othct of the authorities, and were asked by them from whence they came, ther generally replied by holding up the fingers of the right hand, the middle finger of which was osually found wanting. This mode of reply was known by those in power to signify <*from Jock*8 Row." The mutilation was self-inflicted, and was for the purpose of preyenting them from being drafted into tke militia or sent to serve as regular soldiers. Digitized by Google ^
 * When ftny members of those wandering tribes who formerly resided at Jock's Bow were hronght before a magistrate^ or anj