The James Scott Manuscript - A History of Cradley (1800-1826)

Presbyterian minister James Scott left a priceless legacy to Cradley in the form of a manuscript recording contemporary events and personalities

The Reverend James Scott was Presbyterian Minister in Cradley from 1789 until his death in 1827. Scott was a prolific writer. Amongst his numerous works is A History of Cradley 1800-1826, also known as the James Scott Manuscript or simply "J.S.M.".

This is an important primary source of information for local and family historians about the people of Cradley and their lives and times. The original book, a leather-bound volume of some 550 pages, hand-written in ink, is held in safe-keeping by Higgs & Sons, Solicitors, Stourbridge. Cradley Links has had the opportunity of inspecting the manuscript and taking notes, which we reproduce here. We are indebted to Mr. Brian Evers, a Trustee of the Park Lane Unitarian Chapel, for assisting us in gaining access to the James Scott Manuscript, and also to Higgs & Sons for providing facilities for our research.

James Scott was born to John and Elizabeth Scott of Stourbridge on 1 March 1768. He was invited to succeed Joseph Baker as Presbyterian Minister in Cradley just as he was about complete to his studies at the Dissenter's Academy in Daventry, in 1789. The Reverend Scott was the driving force of the new "Religious Discussion Society" in The Lye at about the same time. He first preached at Cradley on 21 June 1789 and was ordained at the Pensnett Meeting House on 11 May 1790. The building of the Park Lane Presbyterian Chapel (now Park Lane Unitarian Chapel) commenced under Scott, and he officiated at its opening on 15 May 1796.

James Scott died on 19 December 1827, at the age of 59.

Portrait of James Scott by Jonah Child of Dudley

The Manuscript has a Title Page in faint pencil giving its full title as: "History of Cradley, Principally designed to record interesting transactions depicting its religious societies and more especially the Presbyterian Church."

William Scott records (Stourbridge and its Vicinity, 1832):

... some further particulars may be inserted, when treating of Cradley, his chosen residence, and the scene of his distinguished usefulness. A catalogue of his numerous publications, principally consisting of various religious tracts, besides several single sermons; will attest to the industry and fidelity of the author as a christian minister. A folio volume of Cradley Records is still extant, with various other MSS. by the same hand. Not only the proceedings of the body to which the writer belonged are here detailed; but the ancient and modern history of Cradley and its vicinity, extending to that of the neighbourhood at large, with notices of public events, are here to be found.

G. Eyre Evans wrote of Scott and the manuscript (Midland Churches, 1899) thus:

Scott was a born antiquary and historian; he never seems to have let even the most trivial events in his congregations pass unrecorded, with the result that as time goes on his manuscripts and records become of the greatest value. Had all old and modern societies been so fortunate as to own great, heavy, substantial volumes such as are the priceless treasures of Cradley in its MS. History of Cradley Presbyterian Church, by James Scott ; of Stourbridge in its 3 MS. Vols. of Records of the Presbyterian Church, by James and William Scott ; [...] the task of historians would be far easier than it generally is.

The extremely valuable volume [...] is enriched with water colour drawings, engravings and portraits, as well as containing important notes by Scott on the histories of neighbouring societies.

Chapter 1st is an "Ancient History of Cradley", extracting from Nash's History of Worcestershire. However, most of the book comprises Scott's own observations on and descriptions of all manner of things. He touches on parish accounts, geology, genealogy, politics, industry as well as, of course, religion. The work was begun in 1800 and covers the period until 1826, shortly before his death.

In a foreword to the book Scott describes his purpose in writing the book, which in some respects resembles a diary. He writes as follows:

This Volume the preparation of which has been the amusement of leisure hours, is respectfully dedicated to the Trustees, and other members of the Society assembling for public worship at Park Lane Chapel Cradley.

It was originally intended only to write a brief history of the Presbyterian Church in this village. It was then thought to be expedient to add some particulars respecting the other religious societies, and also concerning the antiquities, and present state of Cradley. As the period in which it was written was pregnant with great events, it was supposed that a very concise note of the most remarkable political occurrences of each year might be interesting. And it was afterwards judged that a few essays, and historical details, immediately and remotely connected with the general subjects of this book, might be inserted with propriety, and that an Obituary would be prove a valuable appendage. A copious general Index has also been added.

Thus what was originally intended only to occupy a small Octavo, has imperceptibly swelled into a large volume, which is perhaps too diffuse and desultory. Being written at different times, and at distant intervals, some things will be found repeated, though in a different connection, or in more full detail. This Record, which consists chiefly of local transactions and occurrences, is not designed to meet the eye of the public. It may, however, be interesting to some of those for whose it was composed, and with this in mind is given to the Trustees of Park Lane Chapel Cradley, for the use of the congregation, to be deposited with other writings belonging to the Society.

The following data extracted from Scott's History of Cradley comprises the Obituary and two smaller sections. The Obituary is a list of members of the Cradley Presbyterian congregation who died between 1791 and 1827. There are one or two missing numbers in the entry list, at least one entry added out of order, and some unnumbered entries, where the deceased is perhaps not a member of the Cradley Presbyterian congregation but in some other way associated with it. The names extracted here are of all the persons listed by Scott, together with dates of and ages at death and places of residence, where given. However, the memoirs are only a sample of those given by James Scott, as time did not permit us to extract them all in full.

The details of Local Taxation, money raised for the Poor, and the quantity and value of Land in Cradley, are derived by Scott or others before him from the Parish Books. The Members of the Presbyterian Congregation in 1800 resident in Cradley may be valuable, especially in conjunction with later Censuses and other sources, in identifying some families and individuals, and also in determining local surnames at this time.

State of the Congregation at the close of 1800. Including those who occupy sittings in the Park lane Chapel, with their respective families, and places of abode. Parish of Halesowen Cradley District

Netherend Mr. Thos. Pargeter    Mrs. Do.

Mr. Sh. Pargeter    Son

Servant    Do.

Do. Do.

Do. Daughter

Do. Do.

H. Cox Senr. Do.

Mrs. Do. Mrs. Phillips

Jos Bloomer    C. Probert

Mrs. Do. Wm. Newton

Son  Lanes End J. Grovenor

Do. Servant

Do. Enoch Billingham

Do. Mrs. Do.

Daughter    Son

Mr. T. Meredith    Elijah Rock

Mrs. Do. Mrs. Do.

Miss Eleanor Do. Light Green R. Box

Miss Mary Do. Mrs. Do.

Mr. Joseph Do. T. Souden

Mr. Wm. Do. Mrs. Do.

Servant    Son

J. Moss Apprentice    Daughter

Mrs. Brettell    Do.

Jos. Weston    Do.

Mrs. Do. Do.

R. Leonard Apprentice    John Brettell

Jas. Bloomer Junr. Cradley Village Mrs. Forrest School Mistress

Mrs. Do. Ab. Sutch

B. Homer    Daughter

Mrs. Homer    S. Buffery

W. Brook Junr. Mrs. Do.

Mrs. Do. Mrs. Shaw

Jas. Scott Minister    Son

Servant    Mrs. E. Forrest

Do. Daughter

D. Mansell  Overend W. Beasley

Mrs. Do. Mrs. Do.

Son  Colman Hill Mrs. Roper

R. Forrest    Son

Mrs. Do. Do.

Son  Colley Gate Revd. J. Baker

Daughter    Mrs. Baker

Do. Mr. Brettell

Do. Servant

Mrs. Hamus    Mrs. Ph. Hill

Daughter    Mrs. Sermon

Mr. Wm. Oliver    Mr. W. Tay

T. Oliver    T. Bennet

H. Perks    Mrs. Do.

Mrs. Do. Son

Daughter    Daughter

W. Grovenor    Do.

T. Martin    Do.

Mrs. Do. Do.

Son    D. Mole

Wm. Parkes    D. Mole Junr.

Mrs. Do. Mrs. Do.

W. Do. Son

T. Do. Do.

Daughter    Mrs. Cox

Do. Mr. E. Brettel

Do. Mrs. Do.

S. Brook    W. Light

Mrs. Do. Park-Side Mr. J. Pargeter

Daughter    Mr. H. Shaw

Mrs. Drew    Miss E. Shaw

R. Carter    Miss Maria Do.

Mrs. Do. Servant

Son    Mrs. Haden

Daughter    Son

J. Stafford Junr. Daughter

Mrs. Do. Mrs. Round

Son    Son

J. Perkes    Jos. Dix

Mrs. Do. Mrs. Do.

Son    Son

Do. Do.

Do. Daughter

Daughter    Jos. Beasley

Do. Mrs. Do.

Do. Chapel House Mr. H. Buffery

W. Dunn Junr. Mrs. Do.

G. Deally    Mrs. Giles

Mrs. Do. W. Gavin

Son    Servant

Do. Park Lane J. Instone

Daughter    Mrs. Do.

Do. T. Edwards Junr.

S. Hill    B.R. Simpkiss School Master

Son    Jos. Brettel

W. Stafford    Mrs. Do.

Mrs. Do. Jas. Do. Son

Wm. Junr. Do.

Jos. Dunn    Do.

B. Drew    Daughter

Son    Do.

Near Cradley J. Bloomer Senr. Do.

Old Forge W. Bloomer    Do.

Taxes and Money Raised for the Poor in Cradley 1798-99

The following is a correct statement of the amount of the Taxes in the Township of Cradley, for the 5th of April 1798, to the 5th of April 1799.

£ s d

Land Tax 74 18 6

Duty on Windows 46 1 6

- On Inhabited Houses 1 7 4

- On Horses for riding or drawing Carriage 14 8 0

- On Horses used in Husbandry or Trade 12 18 0

- On Dogs 2 14 0

Income Tax from April 6th 1799, to April 5th 1800 158, 17, 4 ¼

Total 311,, 14,, 8 ¼

The money raised for the Poor from April 6th 1799 to April 5th 1800 by 7 Levies at 10d in the pound, amounted to £417,, 11s 0d which added to the Taxes will produce the sum of £729,, 5s,, 8 ¼.

Quantity and Value of Land in Cradley 1782

The quantity of Land in the Hamlet of Cradley, exclusive of Houses and Gardens, according to a survey made by Mr. H. Court of Stourbridge in the year 1782 is 756 acres,, 2 rods,, 19 perches. [Note by Cradley Links: This equates to about 306 hectares, or 3 square kilometres, or 1.18 square miles.] The average value of which at that time was about thirty shillings per Acre and amounts to the annual value of £1134,, 18s,, 6d.

Obituary Containing a list of persons deceased of the Presbyterian Church Cradley - commencing 1791 - with occasional Memoirs

No. Date  Name Surname Residence Age Memoir

1 1791 Jan 20 Jonathan Crampton

2 1791  Humphry Taylor

3 1791    Crane, Mrs Margaret's Hill

4 1791  Caroline Hannah Pargeter Carless Green Infant

5 1791 Nov 3  Pargeter, Senr., Mrs Foxcoat

6 1792  Mary Nock     A promising young person.

7 1792  Thos. Leonard

8 1792  Phoebe Deally

9 1792  William Forrest     An aged and venerable member of the Church.

10 1792  Phoebe Bloomer, Senr.

11 1793  Thos. Edwards  21 Died of consumption.

12 1793  Hannah Leonard

13 1794  Thos. Talbot, Junr.

14 1794  Lucy Nock

15 1794  John Brecknel

16 1795  Susanna Cartwright

17 1795  Wm. Gardiner

18 1795  Wm. Dunn, Senr.

19 1796  Thos. Bloomer  16

20 1796 May 9 Phoebe Hill, Mrs.  84

21 1796  Thos. Taylor

22 1796  Richard Forrest, Junr. 18

23 1796  Jemima Westwood   Infant

24 1796  Ruth Forrest   Infant

26 1796  Elizabeth Mansell   Infant

27 1797 Jan 7 Elizabeth Pargeter, Mrs. Park Side 51

28 1797  Nicholas Hancox Pargeter Carless Green 45

29 1797  Jane Bradley Lye Waste

30 1797  J. Wstwood Carless Green Infant

31 1797 Jul 4 Anne Shaw, Mrs. Near the Lye Forge

32 1797 Jun 2 Elizabeth Taylor

33 1797  Hannah Stafford   8

34 1797  Enoch Forrest Cradley   A man of well informed mind in an humble station. He had formerly been in the army; had travelled through many external regions of Europe and America, acquired some knowledge of the French and German languages, and read with advantage a great variety of Authors especially upon religious subjects. He was the person who first suggested the idea of this Work, which was actually begun in the year 1800.

35 1798 Mar 10  Holland, Mrs. Cradley Heath

36 1798  Elizabeth Mansel Light Green

37 1798 May 23 Mary Dix Park Side

38 1798 Jun 20 Alicia Probert Cradley Forge

39 1798  Mary Harris Cradley Forge 80

40 1798  Hannah Stafford Near Netherend

41 1798  Hannah Grovenor Lane End

42 1798  Mary Westwood Chornal ( Gornal ?)

43 1798  J. Grove   Infant

44 1799 Feb 17 Wm. Davis Near Cradley Heath

45 1799 Mar 15 Mary Chandler, Mrs. Park Side 66

47 1799  Phoebe Jones Near the Salt Well

48 1799  Mary Rose Netherend 80

49 1799  Wm. Roper Near Cradley Park

50 1799  W. Roper, Senr. 87

51 1799 Oct 27 Daniel Dix  70

52 1800  Anne Roper Park Side 72

53 1800  Sarah Addleton

54 1800  Wm. Cartwright  12 Fell into a Coal Pit.

55 1800  Thos. Hill Netherend

56 1800  W. Westwood Haye Green Infant

57 1800  Leah Hingley Cradley Heath Infant

58 1800  Wm Davis Cradley Heath Infant

59 1801  Abel Shaw

60 1801  Hannah Dunn   70

61 1801  James Bloomer, Senr. 81

62 1801  Philip Pargeter, Mr.

63 1801  Samuel Westwood, Senr.

64 1801  Thomas Jones

65 1801  Elizabeth Bloomer (late Weston) Netherend

66 1801 Aug Daniel Mansel Netherend

67 1801  Joseph Grovenor Newtown

68 1802  Richard Box Light Green 79

69 1802  Benjamin Westwood Green Lane, Lye Waste

70 1802  Eliz. Westwood, Senr. Netherend

71 1802  Jesse Bloomer Near Cradley Forge 6

72 1803 Mar 9 William Rose Near Newtown

73 1803 May 15 E. Sermon, Mrs. The daughter of Joseph Ainesley Esq and a member of the Revd. Noah Hill's Church London. Having lost her husband by death, she came to reside in Cradley for the benefit of her health. She was regular in her attitude upon all the ordinances of Religion, bore her last illness with fortitude and resignation.

1803 Jun 14 Thomas Franks

1804 Jan 5 Samuel Griffiths, the Revd. Pastor of the Presbyterian Church in Wolverhampton.

74 1804 Jan 20 John Forrest    He had been a thoughtless youth, but during a long and painful illness discovered pleasing evidences of faith, persistence and resignation.

75 1804 Novr. Wm. Grove Senr.

1804 Feb 6 Joseph Priestley, the Revd., LLD, FRS    At Northumberland in North America ... many years Pastor of the New meeting Society in Birmingham.

76 1805 Jan 21 Joseph Baker, the Revd. 78 27 years Pastor of the Presbyterian Church in Cradley.

77 1805 Jan 28 Elizabeth Forrest    School mistress. Conscientious, pious and amiable, she well improved the talents committed to her trust, and discharged with fidelity the various duties of her office, being much respected and extremely useful.

78 1805 May 26 Elizabeth Cox

79 1805 Jun 8 Wm. Tay, Mr.  72

80 1805 Oct 25 Wm. Trowman Newtown 31

81 1806 Feb 28 Ann Buffery, Mrs. Chapel House 79

82 1806  Thomas Martin Netherend

83 1806 Mar 30 Samuel Brook Netherend

84 1806  Noah Buffery Cradley Forge

85 1806    Cartwright, Mrs. Musham   Far advanced in years.

86 1806 Dec 2 Sarah Homer Cradley Heath 77 Her original name was Lambert. She first married Fellows and some years after his Decease Daniel Homer.

87 1806  Thos. Pargeter Foxcoat Infant Son of T. Pargeter, Esquire

88 1807  John Grovenor Netherend

89 1807 Feb 11 Mary Kettle, Mrs.  58

90 1807 Mar 18 Sarah Bloomer Overend

91 1807  Caroline Pargeter, Mrs. Carless Green 76

92 1808 Mar 2 Humphrey Buffrey, Mr. Chapel House 76 Nail Ironmonger.

93 1808 Dec 1 Mary Westwood Cradley 33 Wife of James Westwood (Farmer)

94 1808  Jane Stafford Netherend

95 1808 Feb 4 Nathanial Trowman Newtown 78

96 1808 Nov 4 John Perks

97 1808 May 12 Sarah Bissel    Widow of Mr. Isaac Bissel who once resided at Park Side House and died May 12th 1784 aged 62.

98 1810 Jan 23 James Williams  62

99 1810 May 4 Daniel Mole Colley Gate

100 1811 Jan 7 Sarah Box  82

101 1811 Jan 21 Elizabeth Weston Netherend 68

102 1811 Jan 27 Henry Sweet Cradley 5

103 1811 May Harry Cox Netherend 79

104 1811 Jun 10 John Shaw    Whose death was occasioned by an unruly horse throwing him under the wheels of a loaded Waggon.

105 1811 Jul 24 Wm. Cartwright  67

106 1811 Aug 6 Humphrey Perks Netherend 63

107 1811 Nov 1 Mary Cox Netherend 79 Widow of H. Cox.

108 1811 Nov 22 Wm. Newton  79

109 1812 Sep 16 Sarah Giles, Mrs.  90

110 1812 Oct 30  Yardley, Mrs. Lye Waste

111 1812 Nov 29 Thomas Meredith, Mr. Netherend 65 Scythe Manufacturer.

1813 Jan 8 Ann Scott, Mrs. Birmingham 82 Relict of Mr. William Scott, who died in 1791. Her father Mr. John Toncks was a native of Harborne and a Dissenting Minister.

112 1813 Jun 13 Elizabeth Meredith, Mrs. Netherend

113 1813  William Forrest Light Green

114 1813 Dec 21 Elizabeth Forrest Cradley

115 1814 Jan 6 Margaret Watts Lye Waste

116 1814 Jan 9 Phoebe Round Lye Waste

117 1814  John Bourne Lye Waste

118 1815 Jan 4 Timothy Brooke Netherend 16

119 1815  Hannah Beasley

120 1815  Jos. Beasley Senr.

121 1815 Jul 11 William Barton, Mr. 56 He died of Apoplectic Seizure.

122 1815 Jul 17 Lucinda Sweet, Miss. 19 At Cheltenham.

123 1815 Sep 12 Susanna Allport Netherend

124 1815 Dec 23 Jane Billingham Netherend

125 1816  Ann Cox, Mrs. Youngest daughter of Mrs. Phoebe Hill and sister to the Revd. Noah Hill.

126 1816  Mary Mucklow

127 1816 Nov 23 Benjamin Carpenter, the Revd.

128 1816 Nov 26 Bennet Raybold Simpkiss    School Master at Netherend.

129 1817 Apr 1 Anne Oliver Netherend 16 Daughter of Mr. Wm. Oliver.

130 1818 Feb William Parkes Netherend

131 1818 May 7 Isaac Fellows Netherend

132 1818  John Instone Cradley

133 1818  Nancy Bloomer Near the Forge   The Mother of a numerous Family.

134 1818 Dec 10 Samuel Buffery Cradley

135 1816 Aug 26 Mary Brettell Cradley  Wife of Edward Brettell.

1819 Jan Joseph Haden Netherend

1819 Feb 2 John Cardale, Mr.  87

136 1819 Feb 7 Thomas Harvey

137 1819 Feb 13 Elizabeth Perks Netherend 74

138 1819 May 18 Phoebe Wooldridge Lye Waste

139 1819 Jun 7 Elizabeth Pargeter Foxcoat 84 Relict of Mr. Thos. Pargeter Senr. Who died in 1791.

140 1819 Jul 3 Mary Drew Netherend 88

141 1819 Sep 16 William Bloomer Near Cradley Forge 58

142 1819 Nov 4 Richard Carter

143 1819 Dec 10 Charles Probert

144 1820 Jan 7 Sarah Mansell  52

145 1820 Mar 1 Richard Forrest

146 1820 May 5 Phoebe Hill, Mrs

147 1820 Nov 3 Phoebe Brookes  80

148 1821 Jan 31 Marab Brook

149 1821 Feb 10 Phoby Deally Near Netherend

150 1821 May 4 Sarah Haden Netherend

151 1821 Oct 15 John Edwards Colman Hill  Son of Mr. Richard Edwards

152 1821 Oct 12 Elizabeth Pargeter Carless Green 46

153 1822 Jan 22 Mary Instone

154 1822 Nov 1 Henry Crampton  67

155 1822 Jan 15 Ann Brooks Netherend 82

156 1823 Jan 6 Mary Parks Netherend

157 1823 Jan 14 William Forrest Brockmoor

158 1823 Jan 15 Joseph Brettell Near Cradley Field 92

159 1823 Apr 22 E. Marston, Mrs.

160 1823  William Walker Light Green

161 1824 Jan Elizabeth Mole, Mrs.  50

162 1824  Rebecca Baker, Mrs.   32

163 1824 Mar 30 John Bradley Lye Waste

164 1824 May 7 Sarah Forrest    Since the death of Mrs. M. Bate in 1799, she daily conveyed letters to and from Stourbridge.

165 1824  Lydia Jones Near Shut End   Born about the year 1753.

166 1825 Jan 16 Esther Kendrick Cradley 72

167 1825 Jan 15 Phoebe Stafford Netherend 82

168 1825 Mar 14 William Hornblower, Mr. 44 Iron Master.

169 1825 Mar 17 Timothy Bloomer

170 1825 Aug Sebright Stafford

171 1825 Sep 14 Thomas Taylor Billingham  25

172 1826 Jan 20 William Stafford

173 1826  Mary Darby

174 1827 Feb 23 Sarah Philips Netherend 95

175 1827 Mar 8 Edward Brettell, Mr.  65