History
Wills
Robert Mirfin
Reference: Mar D/79 Will and probate of Robert Mirfin of Thurcroft, yeoman He bequeaths to each of his daughters a 15s. piece of gold, £5 to the poor of Laughton (the interest to be distributed yearly by the minister of the Church), a 20s. piece of gold to his brother George, 20s. yearly to be paid to his brother Francis by the executor, an ingell (angel) towards the repair of the schoolhouse of Laughton, and the residue of the estate to his son Robert, sole executor. 17th March, 1623/1624. Probate 17th March, 1626.
Robert Mirfeild
Will and probate of Robert Mirfeild of Thurcroft, gentleman He bequeaths to his wife, Margaret, a cottage in Brookhouse occupied by John Sheppard, and 3 closes called the Lounds and Pickles, 2 closes called the Scattergoodcroftes and one close called Smitheyardsend, 2 closes called the Firthes, one close called the Greatsteadfoulds, one close called Little Steadfolds, 3 closes called the Lepwell Feild and all his other freehold land in Laughton, for her life, and after her death to his nephew William Leake, excepting for certain specified closes which are to go to his nephew Robert Laughton; upon condition that his wife pass from her estate of dower lands in East Markham (in the county of Nottingham), the capital messuaged lands to Robert Laughton, payments from the same estate being made to his sister Jane Mirfeild and aunt Barbarye Foster; bequests of silver, money, books to his sister Leake, sister Laughton, his brother Harberte Leake, brother Laughton, Mr. Lixam, William Leake, Robert Layton, schoolmaster, Jervase Hopkin, and servants; the residuary estate to his wife, sole executrix. 23rd February, 1643/1644. Probate 9th May, 1644
William Beckwith
Reference: Mar D/202 Copy will of William Beckwith of Thurcroft, esquire. Date:1760.
He
bequeaths, in addition to the sums due to them under his marriage settlement, £75 to his son, William, and £1000 to his
son John, now in the West Indies with his regiment, both sums to be raised out of his personal estate. A large bible
and book of common prayer and the desk they are kept in to be preserved as an heirloom for the use of the family.
£50 to his wife, and gifts of plate, linen etc. £10 to buy coals for the poor of Laughton the winter after his decease.
Bequests to servants. The residue to his eldest son Woodifield Beckwith, who is to be sole executor. 29th December, 1759.
Proved 26th April, 1760.
Woodifield Beckwith
Reference: Mar D/210-211
Copy of will of Woodifield Beckwith of Thurcroft,
esquire. Date:1817.
Bequeaths to trustees the manor of Trimdon with the advowson and
his messuages and lands in the same parish, all messuages and lands in Thurcroft, Brookhouse, Carr, Laughton-en-le-Morthen,
and Kirklevington, all lands in Fishburn and Cornforth in the parish of Sedgefield (in the county of Durham) except ing
lands and tithes comprised in his marriage settlement, on trusts which are stated to provide for his wife and children.
Bequeaths tithes of the parishes of Ripon and West Tanfield to trustees on stated trusts. His wife Dorothy to be executrix.
10th August, 1776, proved 5th June, 1780. Attested copy of release. Richard Wright of Sedgefield, esquire, to George
Robinson late of Easington, but now of Sunniside near Sunderland, gentleman, and James, his brother, gentleman
(all places in the county of Durham). Desiring to withdraw as a trustee under the above will, he releases
to the remaining trustees all the property in trust mentioned in the will 20th April, 1780. Copy made 7th October,
1817.