PEOPLE: Berkin, Hall, Robinson & Others

Joseph Robinson of Belper, a Cotton Spinner, got into financial difficulties and had to sell up. Following bankruptcy proceedings, a series of advertisements appeared in the local newspaper detailing his property to be sold at auction.

This is important for the project since it lists various properties in the Hutfall Field, possibly including even our own plot of land. Further details can be found on the Gratian pages.

Derby Mercury newspaper adverts

1785 April 21/28 To be Sold by Auction
on the premises (and subject to such conditions as will be produced on the Day of Sale.)
On Monday the 2nd of May next at ten o' clock in the forenoon, the estates and effects of Joseph Robinson of Belper, a Bankrupt.
The Machinery of a Cotton Mill, in separate lots
Also to be sold:
on Tuesday 3rd of May at two o'clock.
At the house of Susannah Jackson, being the Bull's Head in Belper aforesaid:

All that new-erected building lately made use of as a cotton mill, with two good stables and about an acre of land adjoining the same.
One piece of land called the Three Roods
One other piece of rich land called The Eyes, containing two acres more or less.
One other piece called Glue's Croft (Glew's Croft) containing three roods.
Also about three acres of exceeding good land at the White Moor in possn of Joseph WATSON and John VARNEY.
One tenement and garden in possn of Thomas WARWICK.
One ditto in possn of Henry ROE
A messuage and tenement in possn of Robert GAUNT
One ditto in possn of Widow HUNT
One ditto in possn of Samuel BRIDGES
All the above estates are freehold and situate at Belper ...with common rights upon an extensive piece of land near the Town.
Apply to Samuel JACKSON at Belper.

Second advert: 1785 May 19/26 and June 2/9
In Robinson's Banruptcy. To be sold by Auction at the house of Susannah Jackson the Bull's Head in Belper.
Monday 12th june
All that newly-erected Public House situate in the Market Place in Belper with a brewhouse, stable, croft and garden adjoining in the possn of Susannah JACKSON with one other stable, barn and cowhouse upon the said premises.
Also that well accustomed INN known by the sign of the UPPER SWAN, facing the Market Place in Belper together with a barn, stables, orchard, garden etc in the possn of William WATSON.
Likewise, two dwelling-houses, one in possn of Joseph WATSON the other in possn of Benjamin BRIDGES, together with a barn, stable and piece of excellent land called Dam Close containing about two acres.
Also three messuaqges or tenements near the Tan-Yard in Belper now or late in the possn of Benjamin ANNABLE, Robert HALSWORTH and William HODGE with gardens to eacH, together with a stable and cowhouse in possn of Mr MILNES.
Also one piece of rich meadow-land known by the name of GRATIAN'S CROFT, in Belper, containing about two acres more or less.
Likewise three messuages or tenements with gardens to each, now or late in the possn of Robert GAUNT, Samuel BRIDGES and Widow HUNT;
Also two ditto in possn of John BERISFORD and Samuel KIRK. NB. the above are freehold with right on commons near Belper.
Also five acres of fallow wheat, etc etc at White Moor.
A variety of articles in the cotton-spinning business.

Again June 1/8 and 8/15th 1786
Sold at Auction
At the house of Susannah Jackson, the LOWER SWAN
Auctioning the Upper Swan Inn, as before.

November 1789
Now HUMPHREY LANE is the proprietor of the LOWER SWAN.

[Note: Humphrey Lane is mentioned in the Spendlove wills. He is in occupation on the land of George Spendlove of Shottle. See this separately on the Spendlove pages]

There is a claim made against Joseph Robinson's estate by Mrs ELIZABETH SPENCER, widow and administrator of the late JOSEPH SPENCER. (signed Charnel BATEMAN.)

Another meeting 1787, January 29th
Creditors who have proved their case are to meet.
Suits are against Joseph Robinson and William Robinson both of Belper.

Again, creditors' meeting 1787, 18th April.
At the Bell Inn, Derby.
Note - in April of the same year, Susannah Jackson is now at the Bull's Head, Belper.

5th May 1787, another meeting
At the Bull's Head, relating to part of Joseph Robinson's estate:
All the above-mentioned house (Bull's Head, presumably) with brewhouse, stable and croft adjoining, with stable barn and croft, and cowhouse.
Also a piece of land near the Fleet in Belper.

NOTE: Joseph Robinson has left Belper? at this date, as he is spoken of as "late of Belper" in 1787, August. They met at the Geroge Inn in Derby to settle up. Estate of the late Joseph SPENCER mentioned.

1787, December
A meeting to look into the claim of WILLIAM ROBINSON, son of the Bankrupt.

In 1788 (Enclosures meeting in February) The Upper Swan is said to be the House of WILLIAM WATSON.
Same year, June, Mrs LANE was keeping the LOWER SWAN.

1789, land sold including Swinney Well Croft:
At Mrs Lane's, Upper Swan in Belper, 4th Feb 1789
Upper part of a Croft in Belper in the middle of Belper Town, late in the possn of Sarah Harrison, about 2 roods.
Stone Croft, about one acre
Swinney Well Close - two acres
Piece in The Field - two acres
Piece in the Five Roods - three roods
allotment to be made to the above and other premises on the Enclosure of Belper Common;
premises now in possn of MR SPENCER.

John JACKSON and JOHN SPENCER are both Nailers (mentioned 1790.)

John WARD said to be "Brook Side" in Belper, 1792.
Another John Ward, "Lane" (Belper Lane?)

John SPENCER drowned in Nov 1792. Found lying in a pool of water, near Duffield. He fell off his horse, one can only guess why - tiredness, an accident or most likely drunk. His son "begs leave to inform his friends" that he will carry on the nail-making trade as before.

SELLERS FAMILY of Belper, emigrated to the States in the 17th century: Sellers Hall, Upper Darby, PA
p. 315: "Sellers Hall". By Horace W. Sellers. -- After leaving the city line at Cobb's Creek, the West Chester road passes westward for the distance about a mile through what was for nearly two centuries the property of the Sellers family. The original tract, consisting of one hundred acres, was granted in 1690 by patent to Samuel Sellers, who had held it prior to that time under a rental from William Penn. It included two small farms of fifty acres each upon which George and Samuel Sellers settled after their arrival in the Province in 1682. They were brothers, and came from Belper, in Derbyshire, England, the home of the family for many generations ... George and Samuel Sellers jointly built and occupied the dwelling that now forms part of the old homestead, still standing, and known until recent years as 'sellers Hall.' The general plan of the house is in the form of an 'L,' with semi-detached out-buildings, forming in all a picturesque group. The old portion faces the south, and from this front the lawn slopes to a terrace wall that the higher ground of the garden from meadow land through which flows 'Naylor's Run.' It is said that in building this wall the workmen came upon a fireplace with fragments of a blackened hearth and charcoal, the remains of what was supposed to have been the cave or dug-out in which the settlers lived in 1682 before the house was completed."