Dews Green (Whitfield)

Listed as a "ruin" on the Ordnance Survey (First Edition) map.  John Hodgson wrote in 1840 a possible reason for the ruination; the changes made to the Estate when the wealthy Ord Family took over: "At this time (pre 1840?), the roads through the parish were mere track-ways and the pricipal employment of the people was the conveyance of lead ore to the neighbouring smelt-mills, in sacks, on the backs of ponies.  There was not a cart in the country.  The farms were very small - seldom above 20 pounds a year,and the dwelling houses and farm-offices upon them of the most wretched description.  Of these, the present owner pulled down between 78 and 80; and has replaced them with large and substatial farmhouses and comodious offices; besides building numerous cottages, workshops and mills for grinding corn and sawing timber."

1612
Feb 3    Richard Bell of Whitfeild, yeoman; at Dewesgreen, stole one white gelding worth 46s.8d., from John Ridley of Dewesgreene. [NRO QSI/1, f130v (599)]

1698
Jan 17  'The will of John DICKINSON, yeoman of Dues Green, dated 17th January 1778, was proved at the Prerogative Court of York 30th June 1779 by the executors, his two sons Jacob and Joseph and his daughter Hannah TAYLOR, wife of George TAYLOR.  He leaves his wife, Jane, £5 per annum and the household goods for her lifetime.  Apart from two bequests of 2s 6p each to two grandsons, John and Thomas DICKINSON, the residue of the estate was left equally to the sons Jacob and Joseph DICKINSON and the daughter, Hannah, wife of George TAYLOR.  Four of John's children Ann, John, the first Joseph and George are not named in the will.  The first three had pre-deceased him; nothing more is known of George but he had probably died before his father.  The two grandchildren named would be John's sons.

1739
Nov 25   Baptism of George, son John Dickonson of Dewes Green.

1746 The Yearly Rent of Whitfield Estate in the County of Northumberland as at Mayday

Dews Green £5.00.0; (on separate lines) Jno Dickinson £9.10.0; Jno Nicholson £7.15.0; Jacob Dickinson £8.00.0; John Bush £7.8.0.

1752 "Whitfield Rental from Mr. Clark with arrears May Day"

Dewsgreen Nicholas Whitfield (two payments of £6.00)

Dewsgreen Jno Dickinson (two payments of £10.00.0)

Dewsgreen Jno Nicholson Leased (two payments of £7.00.0)

1754

"1754 Whitfield farms particulars of what each farm is to consist of and alterations when lett from May Day 1755".

"Dewes Green now in two farms one House to be pulled down to be let in one farm (if J Bush will take it. J Dickenson farms the Laws) East Dyke Raw one house to be pulled down an be let in one Farm (some land to be added to Laws Farm) 14 £18.10 Laws Farm J Dickenson Ten. a good one"

1755

A letter Feb 21st 1755 "John Dickinson of Dewes Green has proposed to lay ?limestone ?quarry dry. by fetching up a level for £4" from John Armstrong at Whitfield Hall to William Ord Esq Fenham.