Breathwaite, William 1825
(Lancashire Record Office
WCW/William Braithwaite 1825)

William Breathwaite of Great Harwood, in the County Palatine of Lancaster, yeoman. Made the 19th July 1823.
Mentions: Son William, daughters Cicely wife of William Walne and Ellen wife of Richard Carter, grandchildren William Breathwaite and Ann, Margaret and Elizabeth Walne.
Executors: Son William Breathwaite, grandson William Breathwaite and James Fielding.
Witnesses: John Cronshaw, John Ratcliffe and William Harrison

Also John Radcliffe mentioned as a tenant.
See Will.

Calvert, Robert 1719
(Lancashire Record Office
WCW/1719/Calvard, Robert)

Robert Calvard of Harwood Magna in the County Lancaster clothier. Made the 20th June 1718.
Bequeaths to my son Joshua 'my bed as it stands and all my Clothes with the chest that they are in likewise the Cheare that I sit in and the great Bible'. Bequeaths to daughter Marye 'my Trunk and that which is in it and the Table Cheare' and 'to Robert my Desk'. To son John 'one shilling to be paid within six months if he demands itt'. Then lists children as follows: Danial, Joshua, Obadiah, Jonathan, Samuall, Robert, Mary.
Executors were Daniel and Joshua Calvert
Witnesses were Alexander Marcer and John Polard
Robert made his mark.

Cunliffe, John 1679
(Lancashire Record Office
WCW/1679/Cunliffe, John)

John Cunliffe of Harwood Magna in the Countie of Lancaster, Clothier. Made on the 8th September 1679.
Mentions Isabell his wife and sons Richard and Martin.
Executors were Richard and Martin Cunliffe.
Witnesses: Thomas Mercer, John Heaton and Jon ?
John Cunliffe of Banks was buried at St. Bartholomews (St Laurences) on 29th March 1691.
See Will and Inventory.

Feilden, Robert 1671
Lancashire Record Office
WCW/1671/Feilden, Robert

Robert Feilden of Great Harwood. Made 4th January 1670
Messuages etc to James, eldest son, Thomas son, Richard youngest son. Elizabeth daughter £40 5 years after death. Robert grandson £20, loving sister Jenett Harwood of Altham executor.
Signed Robert Feilden
Witnesses Henry Feilden Thomas Whalley
(Jenett Harwood widow executrix gives up everything to James and Robert 20 Jan 1691)
Inventory 8 feb 1671 - £72 4s Thomas Whalley James Whalley John Feilden appraisers Richard Brewer co owner

Fielden, Thomas 1680
Lancashire Record Office
WCW/1680/Fielden, Thomas

Thomas Fielden of Great Harwood 1680. Made 1 Feb 1679
Jane Feilden 'now wife' a tenement in Great Harwood leased from Thomas Hesketh of Rufford. Thomas Feilden the life of Henerie and William my sons. “Thomas Fielden is the eldest son of my son Henerie.”
Witnesses Isabell Ryley Christopher Wiggin John Feilden
Inventory 19 May 1680. Appraisers Ralph Hindle sen. John Hindle John Feilden Ralph Hindle jun. £64 4s 2d

Grimshaw, Alice 1579
Lancashire Record Office
WCW/1579/Grimshaw, Alice

Alice Grimshaw of Much Harwood. Made 4th June 1579
Alice Grimshaw of Much Harwood widow to be buried in the church yeard of Harwood - to Jenet Grimshaw 3 yards of white woollen cloth, Elizabeth Childers 3 yards of woollen cloth Otwell Hindle and [------] Hindle one great chest Alice Cook one coverlet, blanket and one sheet, Ellen Miskin one gray coat, Anne Fielden a bakestone, a neath bodice of a smock and a pail. Jenet Hindle 2 stondes and one sheet, to Grace Hindle a p[---] and a cloak to Ellen Baron a coat. Executor Robert Hindle, witnesses Robert Fielden John Baron Alice wife of Nicholas Grimshaw deceased Robert Hindle John Baron James Hindle.
Inventory 4 June 1580 Apprasiers Robert Hindle John Baron Edward Baron James Hindle.

Heyes, John 1798
Lancashire Record Office
WCW/1798/Heyes, John

John Heyes of Bell-mount in Great Harwood in the County of Lancaster Farmer. Made 17th February 1798.
Mentions: Joanna Heyes his wife, David Heyes his son, Alice Heyes his daughter, Mary Smith his daughter wife of Alexander Smith,
Ann Taylor his daughter wife of Jeffray Taylor and grandsons John Smith and John Taylor.
Cottages in the old hold of Accrington and at Snig Brook in Blackburn are bequeathed to son David.
Executors: David Heyes his son, John Rothwell of the old Hold of Accrington and Hugh Lonsdall of Church.
Witnessed by James Baron, William Fielden and Matthias Aspden.

Cotton manufacturer David Taylor, son of Jeffray Taylor and Ann lived at Bellmount until his death in 1890.
See Will

Hindle, Thomas 1813
Lancashire Record Office
From DDLX 19/425a/4

Thomas Hindle of Hancoats in the Parish of Whalley and in the County Palatine of Lancaster.
Made 22nd September 1813.
Mentions: wife Ellin Hindle, daughter Ann and her sons Thomas Thompson a soldier and William Thompson
Leaves real and leasehold land and premises in Great Harwood to his wife.
Executors: Lawrence Walmsley of Great Harwood and Ellin Hindle his wife.
Proved at Chester by the said Lawrence Walmsley and Ellen Hindle on the 17 th of May 1814 , the Testator having died in January preceeding

The freehold premises were the Dog and Otter Inn, leasehold land included Ryley's and Dobson's Tenements.
For Hancoats read Huncoat.

Hoyle, James 1767
Lancashire Record Office
WCW/1767/Hoyle James

James Hoyle of Great Harwood, yeoman. Made on the 28th of May 1767.
Mentions: John Hoyle his son, Rebecca Hoyle his daughter, Mary Houlden wife of Oliver Houlden his daughter,
Jennet Clark widow of Lawrance Clark his daughter, James Hoyle his son.
Leaves Tottleworth Lee to his son John and Cowden to son James.
Executors were John and James Hoyle.
Witnesses: John Dugdale, Thomas Royston and George Fowler
See Will and Inventory

Mercer, William 1611
Lancashire Record Office
WCW /1611/Mercer, William

William Mercer of Great Harwood in the County of Lancaster, yeoman. Made 20th November 1610.
Mentions: His wife Ellen and children Richard, Thomas and Jennett Mercer.
Executors: Ellen, his wife, and Christopher Mercer of Simonstone his uncle.
Witnesses: William Hindle, Thomas Mercer and William Mercer of Cowden.
See Will and Inventory.
See copy of the Will.

Mercer, William 1613
Lancashire Record Office
WCW/1613/Mercer, William

William Mercer of Harwood, yeoman. Made on the 29th of September 1613.
Mentions: Elizabeth his wife (deceased) Brother Thomas Mercer, children, John, Thomas Christopher , Edward, Grace and Jenet Mercer. Wife of Roger Feildene. Robert son of Roger Feildene.
Executors: Roger Feildene and Thomas Mercer his son.
Witnesses: Lanslet Maser, William Maser his son.

William Mercer was buried at Great Harwood on the 10th of October 1613. His wife was buried there on the 29th of September, 1613, which was the day he made his will.
This is the Mercer family of Cowden.
See Will and Inventory

Mercer, Thomas 1625
Lancashire Record Office
WCW/1625/Mercer, Thomas

Thomas Mercer of Much Harwood in the County of Lancaster, husbandman. Made 15th July 1624.
Mentions: his wife Grace Mercer, daughter Elizabeth wife of Henrie Ryley (exempted from a share having had her portion), second son
John Mercer (excepted as he had already been assigned a messuage and tenement), Alexander Mercer his son, his grandchildren
(sons and daughters of Alexander and Elizabeth), his sister Elizabeth Squires and her children and his youngest son Edward Mercer.
Witnessed by Edmund Cockshott, Lawrence Hyndle, Thurstan Hyndle and Robert Squire.

Thomas Mercer, possibly of Tan House, was the ancestor of the Mercer family of Tan House.
His sister Elizabeth married Robert Squire of Squires Farm Gt Harwood, son of Henry Squire and Dorothy Hesketh and the grandson of Thomas Hesketh (Lord of the Manor) and Alice Holcroft.
The family were engaged in all the processes of woollen cloth production, possibly including fulling which would be unusual.
See Will and Inventory

Mercer, Grace 1626
Lancashire Record Office
WCW/1626/Mercer, Grace

Grace Mercer of Great Harwood, widow. Made on the 27th January 1626.
Mentions: Sons Alexander, Edward and John Mercer, daughter Elizabeth Riley wife of Henry Riley, Ellin her daughter in law wife of Alexander, William Mercer of Symonstone, Robert Flecher of great Harwood, Robert Squire her brother in law, Elizabeth Mercer daughter of her son Alexander, Grace Ryley daughter of Henry Ryley her son in law, the children of Alexander Mercer her son, the children of Henry Ryley her son in law, the children of Robert Squire her brother in law, John Holker of Read her nephew.
Executor: Alexander Mercer her son.

Grace was the widow of Thomas Mercer above..
See Will and Inventory

Mercer, John of Coulden 1669
Lancashire Record Office
WCW/1669/Mercer, John

John Marcer of Coulden in Great Harwood, husbandman. Made on the 20th August 1669.
Mentions: Margery his wife, children William, Thomas Edward, Elizabeth, Alice and Cycely.
Executors: Thomas and Edward Marcer his sons.
Witnesses: Thomas Mercer and Thomas Mercer.

John Marcer of Coulden (Cowden) was buried on the 23rd September 1669
See Will and Inventory

Mercer, John 1704
Lancashire Record Office
WCW/1704/Mercer, John

John Mercer of Couden with Harwood magna, yeoman. Made on the 23rd March 1703.
Mentions: Margaret his wife. Children: William, Ann and John.
Executrix: Margery his wife.
Witnesses: Alexander Marcer and Richard Grimshaw.

John Mercer of Cowden was buried on the 8th of April 1704.
See Will and Inventory

Mercer, William 1754
Lancashire Record Office
WCW/INFRA/Mercer, William/1754

William Mercer of Great Harwood in the County of Lancaster, yeoman. Made on the 7th October 1754.
Mentions: Brothers Richard and Thomas (both deceased). Nephews William Mercer and Thomas Mercer. Nieces Ellen Tattersall wife of James Tattersal and Tamer Mercer.
Also Mary Mercer, Mary Boocock, Elizabeth Wigglesworth and Jennet Tattersall. Mary Hindle and Robert Mercer. Thomas Mercer son of Alexander of Harwood and William Whittaker son of William Whittaker of Rishton.
Executors: William Mercer of South Oram and William Peacop of Great Harwood.
Witnesses: James Wenslay, Rogger Wenslay, and William Aspden.

William Mercer of Lower Fold was buried on the 11th of October, 1754.
See Will and Inventory.

Smalley, Henry 1694
Lancashire Record Office
WCW/1694/Smalley, Henry

Henry Smalley of Billington 1694
Mentions: Emma his wife. Children: daughter Alice wife of William Tompson of Clayton le Dale, John, only son.
Henry Smalley son of Thomas Smalley of Blackburn , godson.
Nephews: Thomas Dewhurst son of James Dewhurst of Blackburn, Richard Smalley of Livesey, Thomas Haworth of Lower Darwen.
Also Richard Smalley of Accrington and Richard Smalley of Sailsbury.

Value of his inventory £104 00 02

Smalley, Thomas 1715
Lancashire Record Office
WCW/1715/Smalley, Thomas

Thomas Smalley, Fearley Hey 1715
Mentions: Ann, wife (Leaves to her tenement in Billington and cottage at Snodworth)
John Smalley, son (Leaves to him Fearley Hey) William Smalley, second son. Henry Smalley, son
Thomas Smalley, grandson - son of John. Thomas Smalley, grandson - son of William

Total of Inventory £30 06 00

Smalley, William 1726
Lancashire Record Office
WCW/1715/Smalley, William

The Will of William Smalley, Cooper 1726
Mentions: Smalley Thorn, tenement by lease from Thomas Hesketh
Catherine, wife.Leaves lease of Smalley Thorn to her and after her decease to John Smalley, nephew
Henry Smalley, nephew – to whom he leaves Duckworths, adjoining Smalley Thorn, also held by lease from Thomas Hesketh
also his brother's and sister's children, excepting those already mentioned
Says that John and Henry admitted as lives to above tenements

Total of Inventory £77 00 10

Smalley, John 1752
Lancashire Record Office
WCW/1752/Smalley, John

John Smalley of Great Harwood, yeoman. 20th February 1752
Admon.
Mentions: Mary Smalley widow granted admon.
Six sons and two daughters.
Wife Nancy and her two sons – Richard and Ainsworth Aldred - to these all benefits until youngest son 21.
Trustees: Thomas Mercer, Great Harwood, tanner, and Thomas Leeming, Forest of Bowland.
Only property mentioned is in Penny Street Blackburn (cottages and dwelling houses)

Swain, Robert 1798
Lancashire Record Office
WCW/1798/Robert Swain

Robert Swain of Great Harwood in the County of Lancaster, yeoman.
Mentions: Margaret (nee Hindle) his wife. Children Robert, Alice, Mary wife of William Mercer, Margaret wife of John Ainsworth.
Executors: Robert and Alice Swain his children.
Witnesses: James Baron, John Smalley and James Smalley.
Probate 24th April 1798.

Robert Swain's estate was both leasehold and freehold some of the latter tenanted at the time by Jonathon Dugdale.
See Will

Taylor, John 1674
Lancashire Record Office
WCW/Taylor, John 1674

John Taylor of Great Harwood 1674
No will but the "goodes chattels" of a probable alehouse proprietor.
See Inventory.

Walmsley, Lawrence 1765
Lancashire Record Office
WCW/ Walmsley, Lawrence 1765

Lawrence Walmsley of Great Harwood in the County of Lancaster, yeoman. Made on 18th November 1765.
Mentions: Sarah his wife, sons Robert, Laurence and James, daughters Margaret wife of Thomas Hindle of Rishton, Ellen wife of Thomas Hindle of Lower Fold, Ann and Mary.
Also Ezra Riley
Executors: Laurence Walmsley his son and William Aspden of Great Harwood.
Witnesses: John Calvert, Laurence Walmsley, John Duckworth and Cuthbert Gibson.

Whittaker, James 1766
Lancashire Record Office
WCW/1766/Whittaker, James

James Whittaker of Great Harwood, yeoman. Made 20 March 1766
To James Critchley of Rishton and John Smalley the younger of Smalleythorn in Great Harwood a messuage in Great Harwood under Sir Thomas Hesketh of Rufford to let as trustees until John Whitaker son of my son James attain 21. Pay Alice my wife £8 per year to be divided into four payments. £70 (if Alice is dead) among other grandchildren when 21, John excepted. If John die to the next child.
John Livesey Stephen Banister William Ashden.
Probate 11th June 1766.