Thomas Bewley (abt. 1595 - 1681)

Born about 1595 in Woodhall, Cumberland, England [uncertain]

Descendants

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Biography

Thomas was a Friend (Quaker)

Thomas Bewley of Haltcliffe Hall was born around 1595, probably in his father's house in Woodhall. In 1641 he bought from John Salkeld of Threapland a freehold house and lands at Haltcliffe, Caldbeck, situated about one mile from Woodhall. He rebuilt the house at Haltcliffe, which became known as Haltcliffe Hall in 1653.^[1] In the same year, he became a zealous follower of George Fox, the Quaker, and was later prosecuted and imprisoned for non-payment of tithes.

Thomas Bewley married Dorothy Nicholson , circa 1630/1638, and had three children, George, Thomas, and Mary Bewley.

Thomas suffered personal attacks, seizures of goods, and imprisonment on account of his beliefs. In 1672 it was reported that:

Thomas Bewley of Haltcliff-Hall, aged about seventy eight, was prosecuted by Arthur Saveage Priest, for 3 l. Prescription Money, and had taken from him his Feather Bed, Bedclothes, and a Cupboard, worth 5 l. The hardship of the poor old man’s case so affected the neighbourhood with compassion, that when the bailiff exposed those goods to sale, no body would buy that at any rate : whereupon the priest sued the bayliff, and made him pay both his demand and his costs.^[2]

In 1673, Thomas was imprisoned for non-payment of tithes.^[2]

Thomas died in December 1680 and was buried at Whelpo, near Caldbeck, on 11 February 1681. Dorothy died in May 1682 and was buried in Caldbeck parish churchyard on 21 May 1682.^[3]

Research Notes

Birthdate estimated based on sufferings report above.

Sources

1. ↑ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Listed_buildings_in_Caldbeck
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1} Besse, Joseph, Sufferings of the People called Quaker, London, 1753, 132,
3. ↑ Bewley, Sir Edmund Thomas. The Bewleys of Cumberland and their Irish and Other Descendants. Dublin: William McGee, 1902. Main Volume, Pedigree B