One story that keeps cropping up is a continuance of lease granted to Alexander Lock (1679-1743):
“Extract from an old deed “Alexander Lock, carpenter of Ryhall in the County of Rutland, held a continuance of lease dated 7th January in the sixth and thirtieth year of the reign of the Sovereign Lord Charles the second of England, Scotland, France and Ireland, Defender of the faith, in the year One Thousand Six Hundred and Eighty Four, given the right to sell cattle in the streets of Stamford Lincs”.”
The Last will and testament of Alexander Lock makes no mention of any deeds. These deeds be inherited or otherwise. It also makes no reference to cattle.
This extract comes from others who do not seem to be able or willing to show proof of its existence. I have made many efforts to track down any evidence of this deed. These efforts include contacting Ryhall Parish Church where the deed is supposed to have originally been found. I have also visited archives, libraries, and any other sources that hold evidence of this deed. Yet, I have so far been unsuccessful. The search will continue though!
The dates are slightly difficult to interpret in this “deed.” It reads “7th January, in the six and thirtieth year” (36) in the reign of Charles II. Charles I was executed on the 30th January 1649. Charles II was reinstated to the throne in 1660. Yet, all documents were to assume he succeeded the throne in 1649. This virtually forgot Oliver Cromwell existed. But I digress! That being the case Charles II came to the throne on the 30th Jan 1649. Some argue that the 7th Jan in his 36th year of reign would change the date to 1686. The so-called deed then goes on to state the year “One Thousand Six Hundred and Eighty Four”. I’m not convinced a deed would mention two years this way. Still, I am willing to take it at face value.
One or two problems do come to mind. It states this is a “continuance of lease.” Who held this lease before Alexander? If the lease was dated 1684, Alexander would have been five years old at most. This was at the time of this lease. His father John actually died in 1682 would it have taken over two years to transfer/inherit the lease? And secondly, what happened to the lease? Did it lapse through non-use? Was it passed onto someone else? As stated earlier, Alexander’s will of 1743 makes no mention of this lease. It does not mention anything at all to do with cattle. He was primarily a carpenter. This trade was passed down through the generations of Lock men.
Alexander Lock married Anne Twilley, his second wife of three, on the 25 Mar 1706 at Ryhall, in Rutland. In researching the Twilley line, I discovered that others have done a great deal of research on the Twilleys. One document, in particular, is very interesting and helpful in finding this lease.
Twilley family history and lore written by Ian Twilley and Fenton Twilley in 1973.
Page 4 of this family history states:
“In 1706, an Alexander Lock married Anne Twilley, daughter of Lawrence Twilley. Alexander Lock’s ancestor (should say descendant!) W.B. Locke of Brice Rock, West Australia, found that Alexander was a tenant farmer on Lord Cecil’s estate. Documents show that he was licensed to sell cattle in the Red Lion Square.”
This is the first sign I have come across that Alexander Lock was a tenant farmer. It is also the first hint he had anything to do with cattle. Lord Cecil’s estate would be Burleigh Estate near Stamford Lincolnshire so would their archives offer any clues……. Red Lion Square is also the main Market Square in Stamford. This raises an important question. Was the lease part of any tenancy as a farmer? It is not specifically directed at Alexander Lock. So, did the lease pass onto the next tenant of any farm when Alexander Lock gave up the tenancy?
So the possibility of finding this lease would be increasing.
Acknowledgment and thanks are gratefully given to Jennifer (Jenny) Symien for supplying me with copies of pages from “Twilley Family History & Lore” relevant to Alexander Lock and Anne Twilley
Wayne and Sandra's Family History 