The Minor Family of Somerset

obit 1724 of Lower Bairstow & Birks Hall, Will 29 Jan 1722. Samu
el Kinge wasthe last of his line to occupy Lower Bairstow. He n
ever entered the bonds ofmatrimony, so that, with him, the fami
ly in a direct line of succession cameto an end. In 1705 we fin
d him party to an indenture of 7th May presumably tomake certai
n his claim to Lower Bairstow, and we find that, shortly after t
his date or withing a few years, he left his ancestral hom to ta
ke up his abode at Birks Hall, in Ovenden. We do not know the c
ircumstances which impelled him to take this step, but probabl
y like so many old families the Kings had been compelled to sel
l or mortgage their estate to pay off legacies, trusts, and th
e like, and depreciation in this way brings about gradual deca
y anddownfall. It is the old, old story, and nowhere better ex
emplified than inthe morgage deed of the 17th and 18th centurie
s. In 1714 Samuel Kinge mortgaged his house and lands at Trimin
gham, for 200 pound to one Jonathan Bamforth, of Stannery a clo
thier. To his half brother Thomas Murgatroyd 40 pounds,to half
-sister, Mary, wife of James Haw 40 pounds tohalf brother, Joh
n Murgatroyd 40 pound,to remainder of such sale moneys tobe equa
lly divided beweeenFrancis Ramsbottom and his son Samuel
M I Halifax Parish Church pg 21, Also Samuel Son of the John, Ma
che 30th 1724 who dyed without Issue. Also Sarah his Siter th
e Wife of Francis Ramsbottom of Birks Hall in ovenden Aug 1723