Page:History of the Fylde of Lancashire (IA historyoffyldeof00portiala).pdf/412

 of the poor by Jane, wife of John Clifton; arrears of rent due from Goosnargh; and funeral doles were all devoted to this purpose. In 1867 the fund amounted to £102 2s., yielding an annual income of £5 13s. 3d.

A sum of £12 was given by vicar Clegg, the interest to be paid to the clergyman preaching a sermon in Kirkham church on Easter Tuesday.

Richard Brown, by indenture dated 1639, conveyed for a term of 999 years a close called New Moor Hey with appurtenances, in Kirkham, to James Smith, upon condition that he, his heirs and executors, should pay the yearly rent of 20s. at Martinmas. "It is witnessed, that the said Richard Brown, in consideration of the good will he bore to the town of Kirkham, and the inhabitants thereof, and out of his zeal to God, and the charitable relief of the poor, needful and impotent people within the said town, granted to William Robinson and three others, their heirs and assigns, the said yearly rent of 20s., to hold the same upon trust, and to dispose of it amongst so many of the people of the said town, as the bailiffs thereof for the time being should, in their discretion, think most needful, on St. Thomas's day."

By indenture, dated 1734, Joseph Hankinson, of Kirkham, in consideration of £45 released and conveyed to Robert Hankinson, and four others a close in Kirkham, called Swarbreck's Old Earth, containing, by estimate, 1-1/2 acres, to hold the same to themselves and their heirs for ever; and in the deed it was declared that the consideration money belonged to the poor of the township, and that the grantees were only trustees of the same, and had laid it out by direction of the inhabitants for the benefit of the poor according to the wish of the benefactors. The indenture is endorsed:—"Conveyance of Swarbreck's Old Earth, for the use of the poor of Kirkham, purchased by monies given by Mrs. Clegg, widow of the Rev. Richard Clegg, vicar, and Mrs. Phœbe Sayle, wife of Mr. Charles Sayle, to wit £20 by the former, and £20 by the latter."

Thomas Brockholes, by an indenture of 1755, conveyed for £50 to John Langton and William Shepherd, their heirs and assigns, a close called Moor Hey, with appurtenances; and subsequently