Inmans of Nidderdale - 4th Generation

FROM THE WEBSITE

In the time of this Michael, the family had a small estate at Harefield, in Low Bishopside, but within the Monastery of Fountains; when they acquired it has not appeared. On May 23, a. 1681, Thos. Furnis, clerk, renounced the 'executorship of the Will of Judith Darnbrooke in favour of Michael Inman of Harefield and Elizabeth, his wife; it has been suggested above that entry into Harefield may have been made ahout the time (a. 1678) of the marriage of Robert Inman. It is not unlikely that Harefield was the tenement, rented at 1. 2. 9, in the tenure of John Hodgeson, 'on the bank of the Nidde', late in the tenure of John Ploumelande, which is returned under Bishopside in an account of lands formerly of Fountains Abbey (Min. Acc., 35-36 Hen. VIII., say, a. 1544); the same tenant was still there in a. 1557, and at the same rent (Min. Act., 3-5 Ph. and Mary). In a. 1570. Christopher Hardcastell, of Heayrfeald, of the Chappelrye of Patelabrige, mentions his lease of Hearfeild, which he holds of John Beckwythe, gent. [probably of Scough, par. Fewston]; the Feet of Fines (Feinnes?) (a. 1598) point to a conveyance to a Christopher Hardcastle, and others, of messuages and lands 'in Bishopside, 'Pateley Bridge, and Netherdale', with proviso to warrant against the heirs of John Beckwith, deceased, in a. 1627, Anna Hardcastle is described in her Will (York Reg.) as of the Hairfeeld; it is very unlikely that the Inmans had an interest here before this date, and it, of course, does not follow that the Harefield they owned was exactly coincident with the tenement 'on the bank of the Nidde', supposing that they have been rightly connected.. Harefield was in the township, but not in the manor of Bishopside; it had belonged to the Monastery, and should he represented in the Fountains Calls, under Pateley Bridge. There are Calls, naming Pateley Bridge, for a. 1667, 1668, 1750, and onwards,. but the name Inman does not seem to occur for Harefield till the Call Roll for a.. 1720-1723; then, at the end of the Fellbeck district entries, occurs a note, afterwards crossed out, Hairfield, Mr. Chris. Inman, adm. It is, notwithstanding, fairly clear that the family owned the estate from c.a. 1681 to a. 1790; the fact that the name of Inman does not appear under Pateley Bridge in a. 1667, 1668, is no positive proof of non-ownership at those dates and I rather incline to suppose that Michael Inman bought a freehold estate at Harefield after his father's' death (early in a. 1662) and not later than a. 1681. In a Bishopside Court Roll, Robert lnman is described as of Harefleld in a. 1684, and the Par. Reg. of P. B. mentions one seat on the north of the 'Quire' erected by Mr. Michael Inman for Harefield House; these, with other facts, are in favour of ownership in the 17th c. It is most unlikely that Harefield was part of the inheritance of a. 1681*; (*See Note C) it is not openly mentioned in the Will of John Darnbrooke (or in that of his father), nor is his name in the Fountains Calls, a. 1667, 1668, under Pateley Bridge. Judith Dambrooke was yet in life on April 18, a. 1681,at which date Michael Inman was probably living at, and owner of, Harefleld; at any rate, he was described as of Harefield, yeoman, in the next month.
Something maybe said as to the chronology of migrations of the family in the last quarter of the 17th c.; it would appear that Michael Inman was still at or near North Pasture in a. 1676, and that, in that year, or probably a little later, he removed to Harelield, which he seems to have purchased in a. 1662-1681 This change of residence may have been due to the marriage (a. 1678) of his son, Robert, who appears to have been living at North Pasture House or at Fellbeck as late as a. 1681/2. About this time, and, at any rate, suppose not later than a. 1684, Michael inman and his wit~ removed to a place in the township of Bewerley, and Robert and Katherine Inman went to Harefield; in a. 1690 both father and son were living in Bewerley township, neither of them residing in a Darnbrooke house which had been inherited in a. 1681.