PEOPLE: The Gratians

The Gratians of Belper play an important part in Belper, and of the property in Green Lane in which I once lived. Their history can be traced back to the 17th century, and through the marriages of the Gratian children we can link up almost every name mentioned on this website.

The Gratian land is HUTFALL FIELD, which is a large tract of land of some ten acres or more that once straddled Chesterfield Road and Green lane and reached at least to Bridge Street. (Chesterfield Road did not exist until the 19th century.)

The small piece of land called SHORT LANDS (as it was then known) was once included in The Hutfall (or Hatfull) but over the years portions of the Hutfall were sold off, willed to family members and divided between siblings.

It's difficult to be precise about the origins of the Gratians of Belper, because the name was spelt phonetically in early documents. Variants of the name could be: GRACION, GRAYSON, GREYSON, GRANTAM, GRATION, GREESON, GRASON, GRASHON, GRATON, GRATTAN, GRATTEN, GRATTION, GRATTON, GRETTON (Or even Gresham??)

The precise Gratian spelling is rare in Derbyshire, and does not seem to appear in Belper either until the 17th century. Most often it seems to have been confused with the GRATION spelling, although there may well have been separate family lines with this variant. Certainly, I have found many Grations that I know were in fact Gratians, but this does not mean that each and every time a Gration is found in the records, that Gratian is meant.

Pigot's Directory for 1835 lists a Joseph GRATIAN in Belper, (Organ Builder, Chapel St.) but also a Joseph GRATION in Belper (Grocer, Long Row) and a Joseph GRATTON in Belper (Seedsman, Long Row). How confusing is THAT?

I have a deep suspicion that the name may have been GRACION or GRATTON in the early days, but this is not something I can prove conclusively, leaving me at a loss, because I cannot rightly include the many alternative names into this research.

Whatever the situation, it is a strange fact that the Gentry of Derbyshire gave certain lands to the Gration family, for some reason, in the 17th century. This may have been because a Gratian married into the Gentry, or for other reasons yet to be proven.

The earliest reference that I can find for the (specific spelling) of the GRATIAN family refers to a weathly banking family that supported a renegade Pope in Italy.

"... open resentment ensued with a bloody fight in January 20, 1045 in which the Stephanian family, an offshoot of the Crescentians were able to gain the upper hand and force Benedict out of the city, installing their own candidate John of Sabina, the local bishop in Rome, as the next pontiff. John took the name Pope Silvester III on March 10, 1045. ... on May 1, 1045, [he was] able to conjure up a large sum from the wealthy banking family of the Gratians if he would abdicate, [thus] he signed the papers and withdrew to Frascati, Italy to live under the protection of Tusculum. However in the fall of 1046 Henry III, in an effort to sort everything out and restore order to the papacy and the kingdom of Italy, not to mention the Holy Roman Empire, held a synod in Sutri near Rome and formally deposed both Silvester III and Benedict IX .

That left only Pope Gregory VI who had been elected when Benedict IX abdicated twenty days after being reinstated. Gregory had been elevated on May 5th, 1045, largely through the political and financial influence of the Gratian family who had bought Benedict off. Now they had their man in office and the selection of this wise and elderly Pope Gregory VI met with the approval of the electorate who felt this would be a welcome change from the immature and young Benedict who had shown his true colors. On December 20 in Rome Henry III, seeking to finalize things after a thorough investigation found Gregory VI and the Gratian family guilty of simony. (From "The History of the Mass", Chapter 34)

Early Gratian references in Derbyshire are hard to find, as I said, but a few [for Duffield and the Belper area] are listed here:

• Gratian Marriages from 1646 - 1847
• Gratian Christenings from 1665 - 1875

At the Derbyshire Petty Sessions:

1787. GRATION George (Belper, Appletree Hundred) Framework Knitter [Poaching] fine: £10.00 (Justice: Gell p)
1828. GRATION Joseph [Vandalising windows] fine: 10/-+18/6d (Justice Halton)
1801. Executed at Derby on August 11th: JAMES GRATIAN of Heage, aged 28, for housebreaking.

Gratian Deeds in the Strutt Archive

Reference: D3772/T7/3/1-15 Creation dates: 1668-1805 Land in Hutfallfield, Belper

Handwritten Notes about the Gratian family:

This document explained the circumstances of Geroge Gratian's will, in that his children died before he did, and his porperty was left to his grandsons, in trust.

(Summarised) "Old George Gratian lived in a house at Field Head on a copyhold estate of his own. He had two sons and four daughters. His eldest son [George] died before him. His eldest son had two daughters. George left his estate to his youngest son, James, and wished him to marry his brother's widow [Hannah nee Slater]. He co-habited with her and had two sons, James and George. He made his will to the two grandsons; they married and both died, one of them having a child - in their wills they left property to their wives and heirs.
(Note at Bottom) " The two sons died before him, who - being afraid that the children of his second son, being illegitimate, could not inherit his property - was found heir to his estate and left it by his wife to the said children. See will of 18 July 1784 from George Gratian to George and James (grandsons).
NB. George may have been insane at the time of the will, it was asserted - there was at the time a question as to whether the will was good; the children of his four daughters pretend to claim in opposition.

[George married Hannah Slater in June 1760. James did not formally marry his brother's widow. See the Gratian Christenings for a suggestion as to the births of their children.]

1680: Surrender - Humphrey Morrell and Mary his wife to George Gratian

Dated "15th April 20th [year of] Charles 2nd." (Charles 2 reign began 1660) If date is same as below, then that would be 1660 plus 20 = 1680. However, In another place the date 1669 is mentioned.

Abstract of a title of James Gratian between Humphrey Morrell of Morley Park, yeoman, and Mary his wife, and George Gratian of Belper, yeoman. H.M. did grant unto G.G. all those acres of ??arable land "in a ffyld" called Hutfall, called The Long Acres and abutting on a piece called The Woodwall, then in the possession or occupation of Humphrey Morrell.

The document refers to the will dated 29 April 1715 of Richard Gratian of Belper, yeoman (the land was inherited from his father George the elder). (My Note: This Richard Gratian is the brother of Mary Gratian who married Thomas Spendlove and died 1694. See her will.) Refers to messuage, house, barns, stables, orchard, garden with the closes adjoining to his house heretofore divided into four parts but were then divided into five parts containing ten acres, more or less. Also containing:

• One acre of land more at the upper end of the Hutfall, which he bought of Mr Richard SPENCER his wife and Mrs Elizabeth SMITH. (see below)
• One acre in the upper end of Hutfall, both of which were then enclosed in two of his closes with other of his lands.

(all the above) to his son George (and Hannah his wife until George be of full age). Also

• £20 to Testator's daughter Hannah Gratian
• £20 ditto Mary
• £20 ditto Elizabeth

Executed by Richard 18 July 1784 The will of George Gratian whereby he gives [his lands] to his grandsons George and James, or reputed sons, James being dec'd. Note on document: "Hannah was before the wife of his son George, formerly Hannah SLATER, spinster."

29th April 1715 The will of Richard Gratian of Belper, yeoman

Probatum approbatd. Eujns vorum exemplar prilibus est annoxd coram nobis HENRICO RAYNCE (?) parkis of dom dom EDWARDI providon divina 2nd Oct millimo septiquinimo decimo nono... etc. etc. [Note: due to handwriting cannot be sure this Latin is correct.]

Richard Gratian, yeoman... (and Hannah Gratian his wife) willed his messuage, house, barns, stables, orchard, garden and closes adjoining to the house - ten acres. As before, mentions the piece at the upper end, of Mr Spencer, his wife and Mrs Smith. Richard has two sons: George and Richard, not yet of age, and four daughters = Hannah, Mary, Elizabeth and Martha. [See pedigree below] Mentions the close called the Great [something that looks like Harrofloo], three acres, and "my other close of land" called the Little [ditto].

Signed Richard Gratian
Witnessed by JO TAYLOR (probably the Father of John Taylor, Mary Gratian's husband)
and Jn BRIGGES (probably the Father of Charles Brigges, Elizabeth Gratian's husband)
and another unreadable name.

18th April 1784 The will of George Gratian

in which he gave [his property] to his grandsons George and James, the sons of his late son James by Hannah his wife, who was the wife of George his first son. Samuel TAYLOR was appointed his sole Executor and Guardian of his grandsons until the age of twenty. [Note: Samuel Taylor was the son of John Taylor who had married one of Richard's daughters, Martha Gratian, in 1730.]

Witnessed by George MILNES
Charles BRIDGES (he also signs BRIGGES in another place - see my note on the Briggs pages)
John BOWER (The Bower family married into the Stathams)

13th Feb 1792 delivered

An Indenture of Lease and Release tripartate between Jacob BERKIN, victualler, James GRATIAN, nailer in the first part and William WATSON of Belper, victualler (a trustee named by the first part on the part and behalf of the said James Gratian as therein aforementioned of the third part.) George Gratian, their grandfather, passed one acre of freehold land (his will dated 19 Feb 1785) which [went] to George Gratian his grandson, and was allotted to James Gratian, to be held by him. George Gratian's [the grandson] will dated 6th June 1791 gave land to Jacob Berkin and James Gratian and agreed that the same one acre should be conveyed to William Watson in trust for the said James Gratian. Refers to the land in the field called Hutfall, abutting to Woodwall, formerly the property of Humphrey Morrell, which was divided, enclosed and one acre of Hutfall called the Great Field, some of which was in the possession of John SIMPSON.

[Note, George married Anne BERKIN and Jacob was her father; James married Hannah WATSON and William Watson was her father.]

Indentures of 15th-16th July 1792

...between William Watson, James Gratian and Mary MILNES of Duffield, spinster and Sarah MILNES, spinster - (related to George MILNES who witnessed the will above - see the Pedigree Pages). Held at a small court baron at Duffield 26th Jan 1792 (?)...James Gratian surrendered two closes of meadow/pasture of Great and little Field in the possession of John Simpson. The Little Field [was the property of] George Gratian dec'd and Ann [Berkin] his wife. £300.

The will of James Gratian 1794, died 8th August 1794 proved at Lichfield by William Watson.

(This is a cover sheet but there is nothing inside it. But see in the bundle below, where it is also listed.)

1802 The Release of five parts to George MILNES, of Turnditch, Gent, cousin and heir at law of Mary and Sarah Milnes, and Mary BARNETT of Nottingham, John ROBINSON of Belper, shopkeeper, and William WATSON, John BOWER of Chesterfield and Richard HOLDEN of Duffield, Maltster. With a proviso of John Robinson and William Watson, that if they paid to Bower £371-7-6 then they would have the land.

21st March 1805 Agreement for the sale of freehold/copyhold land. Mr Robinson with G. B. Strutt

Memo on Agreement between John Robinson, shopkeeper, the surviving trustee of James Gratian and G. B. Strutt. Surrendered 5th April 1805; those closes, pieces or parcels of land called Gratians Great and Little Fields, now in occupation of Thomas Slater and Anthony Slater, for the sum of £500, Witnessed by Isaac Greaves. (Note - he was the husband of Hannah, the widow of James Gratian.)

7th November 1805 Land in Hutfull from Robinson/Bower to Strutt

Hutfull Lease, BOWER-FOX; an Indenture made 6th November in the 46th year of our Lord George 3rd (1780+46=1826)

Between John BOWER of Chesterfield, Richard ARKWRIGHT of Willersby in Matlock, and Samuel FOX of Thurlston Grange. Five shillings given to Bower. He "hath bargained and sold" to Arkwright and Fox, "all freehold land, meadow and pasture ground in Belper in a certain field called the HUTFALL, formerly called the WOODWALL and formerly the property and in the possession of Humphrey Morrell, which said field called Hutfall has been heretofore divided and inclosed and the said one acre of freehold land sold, which was then part of the field called The Great Field and the remainder was of copyhold tenure and was formerly in the possession or occupancy of John SIMPSON, but now of late, Thomas SLATER his undertenant.

To see the relationship of the people mentioned in the Gratian wills, please see the Pedigree Pages.

D3772/T8/38/1-19 Gratians Field, for Methodist Chapel

This bundle relates to a piece of land from Hutfall that was sold to the Trustees of the Mewthodist Church, to allow them to build a Chapel off Chesterfield Road. The documents prove title to that land, and also show the progression of events in relation to Gratiahn's title and his ownership of the land.

The documents "were sent to John Strutt in June 1855". the land is described as one acre, two roods and 29 perches, a portion of Gratian's Great Field and also of Little Field and Berkin's piece in Hutfall, formerly of James Gratian. It is on the west side of the Turnpike Road from Belper to Heage (Chesterfield Road) and formerly in the possession of John SIMPSON and George GRATIAN, afterwards of Ann Gratian, since then of Thomas SLATER and Isaac ROBINSON, and subsequently of Abraham Newham HARRISON and John SHORTHOUSE. Berkin#s Piece in Hutfall was formerly the estate of Jacob BERKIN and in his occupation, lately in the occupation of Thomas Ingle, in the holding of W. Ingle.

Documents listed in April 1836

• Jan 1792 Gratian to Gratian
• Feb 1792 Gratian to Milnes
• April 1792 Jodrell to Strutt
• Aug 1797 Strutt to Darwin Evans
• June 1801 Deed indorses on above
• June 1801 Edwards to others, to Arkwright anf Fox
• Apr 1802 Milnes and others, to Bower
• May 1804 Jodrell to Strutts
• July 1804 Deed indorses on above
• Nov 1805 Bower to Strutts
• Oct 1829 Strutt to Arkwright & Fox

The top part of Gratians' Field, next to what is now Chesterfield Road, was then called Swinney Well. (Note: it seems to me that central Belper was enclosed on all four sides in a rough square by four lanes or streets in common use, which today are called: Bridge Street on the West, Long Row and Mill Street on the North, King Street, The Market Place and The Butts on the South, and St. Johns Road, Penn Street and Swinney Well Lane on the East. The plan attached to the document relating to the new Primitive Methodist Chapel off Chesterfield Road (the new toll road) have "Swinney Well" as the bounding road to Hutfall Field on the East.)

The plan lists the Strutts as owning the lower parts of Hutfall Field at that date. It shows Thomas Watson having the Watson cottages off Field Row. A "Mrs Jennison" owns a piece of land at the top of the field, next to the public house known as the Thorn Tree, on the corner of Swinney Well Lane. A strip of land down the side of Hutfall Field is labelled that of the devisees of the late Mr. Ingle, but previously "Mr. Walker's land". There is a gate shown just where the Watson cottages meet the Unitarian cottage, similar to today.

Attached to paper dated 1807, Nov 25th

From Jacob Smith, Jnr: "For purchase of 91 square yards of copyhold land in Gratian's Greater Field by the new turnpike road, and lying in the bottom or West End of the garden of his father Jacob Smith, the elder, of Belper. "

Copyhold lands in Gratian's Great and Little Fields - summary of deeds.

Jan 1792 Surrender: James Gratian to Mary Milnes and Sarah Milnes of Duffield

May 1794 Surrender, James Gratian

Gt Field in possession of Jon Simpson
and Lt field in possession of George Gratian, and afterwards Ann Gratian
Surrender to James Gratian

June 1794 The Will of James Gratian.

November 1798 Court Baron:

Surrender of James Gratian to himself; found in his will that he gave lands to John ROBINSON and William WATSON.

1802 Court

Milnes ladies are now dead, Their Second Cousin George Milnes of Turnditch was made heir, admittance of George Milnes.

1802 Same Court

Surrender of G. Milnes and Mary Barnett of Nottingham, for sum of £371, mortgage. To use of Richard HOLDEN of Duffield, in trust for John BOWER.

Abstract of Title of James Gratian (piece 14 of bundle)

23 Oct 1634 Court:

Richard Gratian dead, admits George Gratian. Richard Gratian now dead, his heirs are seized of one cottage in Belper, four closes called the Hutfall amongst other premises. George, the son, being of full age admitted.

7th Oct 1657 Court, John ROBINSON surrender:

John Robinson surrendered one acre of land in Hutfall to George Gratian.

27th April 1659 Court, John ROBINSON surrender:

John Robinson surrendered one acre to George Gratian in Hutfall.

12th August 1659 Court, Richard MILWARD and Isabella his wife:

Surrendered three acres of arable land in Hutfall, tenure of Richard Milward, to Richard Gratian.

17th March 1671 Court,

Charles WHITTINGTON, Gent, surrendered three roods of arable land in Hutfall in occupation of Richard Milward, to Richard Gratian.

28th April 1685 (?) date out of sequence

Surrender, George Gratian: One messuage, cottage or tenement in the close called Hutfall Closes then divided into four parts = ten acres, plus one acre of arable land in Hutfall amongst other premises, to George Gratian.

17th Oct 1683 Court and jury: George Gratian held by copy Court Roll

One messuage (all as above), TWO closes called the Hutfall Close, divided into four = ten acres, plus another acre as before, other premises; to George Gratian. And in his will of 23rd Oct 24th king Charles 2nd, gave premises to his son Richard.

8th Nov 1683 Court:

Richard Gratian surrendered, one cottage, two closes, one acre as before to Richard Gratian and Elizabeth his wife.

9th April 1696 Court:

Richard SPENCER and Mary, plus Elizabeth SMITH surrendered one acre of land in Hutfall with appertenances to Richard Gratian.

31 st April 1730 Court and jury:

Presentement of death of Richard Gratian and admittance of Hannah. Concerns cottage, two closes, one acre to Richard and after him to his heirs. Jury found that Richard is dead, that in his will of 29th April 1715 he gave to Hannah his wife, until his eldest son George became of full age; after that Hannah was to have half the property for life.

At the same Court: Jury

Richard Gratian, concerns three acres of arable land; One parcel of land = three roods, to George Gratian. (son?)

27th Oct 1730 Surrender:

George Gratian: Cottage and two closes formerly divided into four, now into two (= ten acres), to the use of George Gratian and his wife Mary - One acre of land and three acres of land to George Gratian.

5th May 1768 Recovery and Surrender:

from George Gratian to the use of George Gratian and to the use of James Gratian, son of George.

7th Dec 1782 Recovery and Surrender:

from George Gratian; one acre, three acres, one parcel of three roods, enclosed, now in the possession of George Gratian, to use of George Gratian.

5th Feb 1784 Court:

refers to May 1768 surrender to James, to use of George; to the use of the heirs of George Gratian. James died before that Court was held, so heirs seized of land. James in his will of 1780 gave as following: "whereas at the court of 5th May 1768 my father George surrendered to the Lord of the Manor a cottage, two closes (etc) to Samuel Nathem (?) to make him tenant for the purposes of a recovery, all afterwards surrendered at the same Court to the use of my father George Gratian and after his death to me, James - he wills unto his reputed sons, George and james of Hannah Gratian, formerly Slater, formerly the wife og George the younger dec'd, to hold until the sons come of age."

18th Feb 1784 Court with Jury:

That in November 1685 Richard Gratian surrendered to Richard Gratian and Elizabeth; jury found that Eliz died in the lifetime of her husband and Richard died many years before this court, thus admitted George Gratian, the eldest son of Richard, dec'd.

Jury:

• George Milnes
• Jacob Berkin
• William Spencer
• JOHN STRUTT
• John Frost
• Abraham Walker
• Saml Street
• John Tomlinson
• Humphrey Lane
• Saml Flint
• Charles Bridges

Same Court

Presented that on 9th April 1696 that Richard SPENCER and Mary his wife, and Elizabeth SMITH gave lands to Richard Gratian. Thus same to George (he now dead) the will of 29th April 1715 bequeathed the house, orchard, garden, closes and ten acres in five parts at the upper end of Hutfall, which I bought of Mr Spencer and Mrs Smith, to Hannah his wife, then to his sons. Hannah being dead, his eldest son and heir George inherited.

Same Court Surrender George Gratian to George, grandson.
Same Court, Surrender George Gratian to James Gratian

18th Feb 1784 George Gratian's will

Gave to his two grandsons, George and James, the reputed sons of his late son James by Hannah, who was the wife of George, both sons being dead - the lands equally divided between grandsons.

27th May 1784 Court and Jury

Refers to George Gratian to George Gratian, George the grandson being 17, James being 15 - Delivered to Samuel Taylor their legal guardian. NB: George Gratian is said to be a Framework Knitter

27th May 1791 Court

Abraham Harrison, George Gratian and Ann (Berkin) his wife and James, surrendered.house, four closes adjoining known as the House Closes, Stone Close, The Pingle and the Nether Pasture = ten acres, in the possession of John Simpson, one moiety surrendered to Abraham Harrison by George Gratian for £150 To the use of A. Harrison for 500 years. To the use of George Gratian.

Same Court, Surrender

Abraham Harrison, George and Ann Gratian, James Gratian surrendered Great and little Fields = six acres; Great Field in possn of John Simpson, Little Field in possn of A. Harrison and G. Gratian - to James Gratian

END OF SUMMARY

Conveyance of Gratian land to Primitive Methodists, for Chapel off Chesterfield Road

Trustees

• George Ride, Turner
• William Bond, Nailer
• Joseph Turner, Nailer
• James Noble, Stonecutter
• Richard Belfield, Labourer
• William Saunders, Nailer
• Thomas Mather, Weaver
• John Sailthorpe, Labourer
• Robert Storer, Turner

All of Belper. Also:

• William Clowes, licenced Teacher. Turnstall
• John Benton, ditto, Wyreley
• Hugh Bourne, ditto, Bermesley, Norton in the Moor, Stafford
• Richard Weston, Farmer, Lexhead.

The land was off the new turnpike road (now Chesterfield Road) which was Gratian land but then belonged to the Strutts; it was bounded by the land of Jacob Smith on the North.

D3772/T7/4/10 Land in Belper - Strutts, Gratians

15th April 1800? Purchase of ROBINSON: Conveyance to Strutt from Robinson