Merrieweathers

Profile manager: Chris Weston [send private message]

Overview

Co-ordination of references to Merrieweathers house, mill and farm near Mayfield in Sussex. Please feel free to add historical information, pictures, etc.

The following timeline has been created in the hope of clarifying Weston ownership and descent of Merrieweathers, but any events connected with the property should be added to it.

Timeline

4 Aug 1635: William Weston (Weston-2380?) freely holds house and an estimated 45 acres of land called MerryWeathers at £10.^[1]

1643: William Weston (Weston-2380?) freely holds a Messuage and water mill called Merrieweathers near Sharnden in Mayfield, formerly Moones.^[1]

11 Mar 1647: William Weston (Weston-2380?) owner of Moones Mill acting as witness to the marriage settlement of Thomas Weston of Willingdon.^[2]

30 Jun 1661: William Weston (Weston-2380?) holdeth freely a house, barn, watermill and divers lands thereto called Merrieweathers containing 45 acres near Sharnden in Mayfield and payeth therefore yearly besides £5.^[1]

4 Aug 1662: Merryweathers is left by William Weston of Mayfield to Thomas Weston of Willingdon for life and thereafter to his son John Weston and his heirs.^[3]

1667: Held by Thomas Weston father of John Weston.^[1]

After 1667: Held by John Weston son of Thomas Weston.^[1]

6 Jun 1728: In a new rental for the Manor of Sharnden amongst the freeholders listed: John Weston (A Miller) for a House Barn Water Mill with Divers lands thereto called Merywether cont by estimation fforty five acres more or less situate lying and being near Sharnden in Mayfield late Thomas Weston his father paying yearly 5s 8d.^[4]

9 Sep 1757: 'A MAP of Merryweathers alias Moons Mill farm, lying in Mayfield, in the County of Sussex, belonging to Mr John Weston.' Estate map showing present Merrieweathers Farm with mill pond and surrounding land. Shows houses, paths, names of neighbouring owners; table of field names and acreages; compass star, scale of chains; original 25½" x 21½". By W [alter] Gale, 9 Sep 1757. Memorandum at foot of map giving details of boundary dispute between John Arkold of Sharnden and John Weston of Merrieweathers, award by John Smith of Hempstead in Framfield, 27 June 1757, appointed by the arbitrators, John Newington of Wadhurst and Samuel Duplock of Mayfield gents, the details of which award are embodied in the map.^[5]

31 Jan 1787/8: Will of John Weston the elder of Mayfield, miller, bequeathed a farm and water-mill in their joint occupation (presumably Merrieweathers) to his son John Weston (proved at South Malling on 21 July 1792).^[6][7]

6 Apr 1831 Merrieweathers Watermill and Windmill were sold under the will of John Weston (the grandson^[8] of John Weston who made the will of 1787/8^[6]). The watermill was occupied by Aaron Weston and the windmill by Edward Weston.^[9]

1841: William Packham and family resident at Merryweather, Mayfield, Sussex, England.^[10]

1861: William Packham, Miller & Farmer 90 Acres Emp 4 Men & 3 Boys, and family resident at Merry Weather, Mayfield, Sussex, England.^[11]

1 Jan 1863 - 30 Jun 1863: Auction book of BURTENSHAW AND SON OF HAILSHAM, AUCTIONEERS AND VALUERS: p.111 Hailsham, Westham and Chiddingly: lands, and Laughton, Harbins Farm, and Mayfield, Merryweathers Farm and watermill: Ellman/Browning/Ingram/Packham/Bennett/Gorrange).^[12]

1952: Mayfield: Merrieweathers old mill Plan.^[13]

Mar 1954 - Oct 1955: Rights of way objection files: Mayfield 54b at Merrieweathers Farm by the Maharani Saheba of Nawanager.^[14]

1997: Printed sales particulars and photographs of Rolfs Farm and 379a, Luckhurst Crouch Farm and 6a, Merrieweathers farm buildings and 46a in Mayfield.^[15]

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4} West Sussex Record Office: Cap/III/7/3
2. ↑ Marriage settlement, East Sussex Record Office, SAS/WH 248
3. ↑ Copy of the will of William Weston of Mayfield dated 4 Aug 1662, included amongst the papers of Barton v Short at the National Archives, Kew: C 103/152 and C 103/153
4. ↑ East Sussex Record Office: XA 23/9; West Sussex Record Office: CAP III/9/1.
5. ↑ East Sussex Record Office: AMS5761/1
6. ↑ ^{6.0 6.1} East Sussex Record Office: PBT 2/1/10/173
7. ↑ Deeds of Laurel Cottage, South Street, Mayfield. East Sussex Record Office: LIB/501912/82.
8. ↑ Mortgage for £200 at 5%. East Sussex Record Office: AMS 5442/2/32.
9. ↑ ARGOS HILL POST MILL: Past, Present and Future by Bob Bonnett, Sussex Industrial History No. 43, 2013
10. ↑ "England and Wales Census, 1851," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:SGJK-7GL : 9 November 2019), William Packham, Mayfield, Sussex, England; citing Mayfield, Sussex, England, p. 1, from "1851 England, Scotland and Wales census," database and images, findmypast (http://www.findmypast.com : n.d.); citing PRO HO 107, The National Archives of the UK, Kew, Surrey.
11. ↑ "England and Wales Census, 1861," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M7TB-LSS : 3 March 2021), William Packham, Mayfield, Sussex, England, United Kingdom; from "1861 England, Scotland and Wales census," database and images, findmypast (http://www.findmypast.com : n.d.); citing PRO RG 9, The National Archives, Kew, Surrey.
12. ↑ East Sussex Record Office: BUR/2/1/124
13. ↑ East Sussex Record Office: BMW/A/12/31
14. ↑ East Sussex Record Office: C/C/44/246
15. ↑ East Sussex Record Office: AMS6384/26