Original document held at Lancashire Archives
DDLX 19/416A
Stoops Farm on Whalley Road was at one time the home of Thomas Mercer, grandfather of John Mercer the chemist.
The will of John Aldred can be read here.
This Indenture made the Twenty seventh day of August in the Year of our Lord One Thousand Seven hundred and Seventy three and in the Thirteenth Year of the Reign of his Majesty King George the third Between John Atherton of Prescot in the County Palatine of Lancaster Esquire Robert Moss of Sandhills in the same County Esquire (the two Surviving Executors and Trustees of the last Will and Testament of Alexander Nowell late of Read Hall in the same County Esquire deceased John Barcroft formerly of Gisburn in the County of York, but now of Clithero Castle in the said County Palatine Gentleman ~ ~ John Alcock of Skipton in Craven in the County of York Gentleman and William Guy of Littledale in the said County Palatine Gentleman of the one part and John Aldred of Read in the said County palatine Yeoman of the other part Witnesseth that in Consideration of the sum of Five Shillings apiece of Lawfull Money of Great Britain to them the said John Atherton Robert Moss John Barcroft John Aldred and William Guy in hand well and truly paid by the said John Aldred at or before the Sealing and Delivery of these presents The receipts whereof are hereby respectively acknowledged the said John Atheron Robert Moss John Barcroft John Alcock and William Guy have and every of them hath Granted Bargained and sold on pieces and parcels of Ground lately of him the said Alexander Nowell in Great Harwood in the County palatine aforesaid now or lately in the actual possession of one Thomas Mercer or his Undertenants called the Long Field The Wood The Burned Field and the further marled Earth containing nine Acres and sixteen perches being part of the park Tenement and also all those other Closes Closes Closures pieces and parcels of Ground in Great Harwood aforesaid now or late in the possession of the aforesaid Thomas or his undertenants called the near marled Earth middle marled Earth and Formost marled Earth containing Eight acres three Roods and Thirty two perches being part of Fieldings Tenement which together in the whole contain Eighteen Acres and Eight perches of the measure there used or thereabout to be the same more or less and likewise all that Messuage or Dwelling House called the Stoops house with the outhousing and the parcels of Ground therewith now or lately Occupied also lying and being in Great Harwood aforesaid by the said Thomas Mercer and his Undertenants called and known by the names and names of the Fold the little Field the Great Field the higher Meadow and the lower meadow Containing Four Acres three Roods and Thirty perches of the measure there used or thereabouts and also all and singular houses Outhouses Edifices Barns Stables Gardens Orchards Ways Waters Watercourses Liberties Easements profits privileges Advantages and Appurtenances whatsoever to the same or to any part or parcel thereof belonging or in any wise appertaining and the Reversion and Reversions Remainder and Remainders Yearly and other Rents Issues and profits thereof and of every part thereof. To have and to hold The said Closes Closures pieces and parcels of Ground and all and singular other the premises herein before mentioned or intended to be hereby bargained and sold and every part thereof with the Appurtenances unto the said John Aldred his Executors Administrators and Assigns from the day next before the day of the date hereof for during and unto the full end and Term of one whole Year from thence next ensuing and fully to be compleat and ended Yielding and paying therefore unto the said John Atherton Robert Moss John Barcroft John Alcock and William Guy their heirs or Assigns the rent of one peppercorn upon the Twenty Ninth day of September now next ensuing the ——- hereof if the same be lawfull demanded To the Intent That by Virtue of those presents and by force of this Statute made for Transferring Uses (?) into possession the said William Guy may be in the Actual Possession of the said premises and may be hereby enabled to accept and take a grant and Release of the Reversion and ? thereof unto and to the use of him the said William Guy his heirs and Assigns for ever. In Witness whereof the said parties to these presents have hereunto set their hands and seals the day and Year first above written.
John Atherton
Robt. Moss
John Barcroft
John Alcock
Will Guy