Page:History and characteristics of Bishop Auckland.djvu/143

 116 HISTORY OF BISHOP AXJCKLAOT). '* The Free Grammar School of King James ;" to have a head master and usher, and twelve governors for managing the revenues of the schooL He thereby nominated the Right Noble Ralph Eure, Knight ; Lord Ejiire ; Cuthbert Pepper, Knight ; Henry Belasys, Knight ; Thomas Calverly, Esquire ; Richard Frevyle, Ralph Butler, Thomas Lever, Stephen Hegge, Anthony Trotter, Thomas Kynge, gentlemen ; Henry Bayles and Roger Bradley, the first governors, and made them and their successors a body corporate and politic, by the name of " The Governors of the Goods, Possessions, and Revenues of the Free Grammar School of King James, within the Village of North Auckland, otherwise Bishop Auckland, in the County of Durham;" and " that they should have a common seal, aAd be capable in law to take lands and other possessions, demise and assign the same, and to sue and be impleaded in all courts of law, with power for them, or the major part, to elect new governors on the death or removal from time to time, being persons of good name and fame, dwelling within the parish aforesaid, and to appoint a head master, who should be a Master or Bachelor of Arts, and also an usher, and so in succession, when any vacancy might happen by death, relinquishing, departing, displacing, or removing of the master or usher ; and the Governors were empowered to have, perceive, receive, and [possess to them and their successors for ever, for the perpetual sustenance and maintenance of the school, the manors, messuages, lands, tenements, meadows, pastures, feedings, woods, imderwoods, rents, reversions, services, and other hereditaments, of the said Ann Swyfte, so that they may not exceed the clear yearly value of £10 ; and of the King, his heirs, or successors, or any other person or persons whomsoever, besides the said Ann Swyfte, so that they may not exceed the yearly value of twenty marks." By deed poll, bearing the date 12th April, 1605, the above-named Ann Swyffce granted to the Governors of the Free Grammar School in Bishop Auckland an annual rent of £10, which she had purchased of Ralph Madison, issuing out of the grange or tenement called " Ellergill," in the parish of Stanhope, and all the messuages, lands, and tenements of the said Ralph Madison, in EllergiU, payable at the Feast of St. Martin the Bishop, in winter. The Governors were thereby empowered, with the assent of the Bishop of Durham for the time being, to make statutes, or ordinances in writing; and it was directed that all the profits of the endowment should for ever be applied to the maintenance of the master, usher, and scholars of the said school, and not otherwise. By iudenture, bearing date 17th April, 1605, between Ralph Madison of the one part, and the Governors of the other part, reciting, that by deed, dated 10th April preceding, he had granted to Ann Swyfte an annuity of £10, which the said Ann Swyfte had granted to the Governors by the deed of the 12th April above-mentioned. He confirmed the same to the said Governors, and further granted to the said Governors another annuity of £6, issuing out of the same premises, payable on the same day, and gave them a power of distress in case of non-payment. By deed poll, bearing date 17th April, 1638, Thomas Morton, Bishop of Durham, granted to Lindley Wren and others, governors of the Free Grammar School, and their successors, the school- house lately built near the chapel or guild of St. Ann, situate in the Market-place at Bishop Auckland, and the cottages adjoining the said house, with the appurtenances, for the use of the said school, paying to the King, or to the Receiver-General for the County of Durham, 2s. By court roll, bearing date 15th October, in the 22nd Jac. L, the Lord of the Manor of Bishop Auckland granted a parcel of waste land, containing eight acres, called "West Mylne Batts," lying in or near the town of Bishop Auckland, to Richard Richardson, and his sequels in right, at a rent of 4s., and by surrender, bearing date 11th October, 15 Car. IL, Richard Richardson conveyed the same to Lindley Wren, Robert Eden, Francis Wren, Richard Lilbum, John Wilkinson, Henry Bayles, and Richard Comforth, and their sequels in right. At a Court, held 2nd March, 1770, Farrer Wren, described as great nephew and heir of Francis Wren, who survived the other trustees above named, was admitted tenant to these premises. Digitized by Google