The Minor Family of Somerset

The precise date at which the family of Waterhouse first settle
d in Skircoatis not clear to me, but there is no reason to doub
t that the first member ofthe name to take up his residence the
re was Robert Waterhouse, the third sonof Richard Waterhouse o
f the Hollins in Warley. We cannot find any definitemention o
f the first place of settlement in Skircoat, but it is on recor
d that Robert Waterhouse was Constable of the Township in the ye
ar 1454-5, and the mere fact of his holding such an important of
fice marks him as being a manof more than ordinary influence an
d estate, for the old Constables of the 15th Century were ofte
n men of good, even high position, and it was left to the18th c
entury to degrade the office. Thomas Dekker in the "Gull's Hor
n Book" first published in 1609, says:-
"All that are chosen Constables for their wit go not to heaven,
" but as we know nothing of the latter place we prefer tothin
k that here at least our old Constables were men of with and lea
rning,and did not degrade their offices in the North as was und
oubtedly the case in the South of England.
It seems a far cry back to the Days of King Henry theSixth, an
d year which saw the commencement of the thirty years' struggl
e between the rival Roses, and local history of this period is s
hrouded in a veilbwich leave much to the imagination, and tha
t gift is one in which the careful Antiquary may not deal. Of R
obert Weaterhouse, therefore, we know little,except what may b
e gleanged fro his will, and it is to documents of this characte
r, happily preserved to us that we owe much of our information o
f theeary foundation and rise of our local families.
This will bears date July 20th1481, and Robert Waterhouse desir
es that his body should be buried in the Churchyard of Halifax
, and that his best beast should be given to the Vicar asmortua
ry according to the ancient custom. To Margaret Wood is bequeat
ed two shillings and to Thomas Horsfall one gown." Also I leav
e to the fabric ofthe belfry of Halifax Church 12d. "The resid
ue of all his goods, the testator placed at the disposal of Joha
nna hsi wife and John Waterhouse his son, whome he appointed Exe
cutors of his will Probate was Granted Sept 10th, 1481 (Hx Will
s). (Robert Waterhouse of the parish of Halifax. I bequeath m
y bodyto be buried in the churcyard of Halifax. I leave to th
e Vicar of the aforesaid Church my best beast for my mortuary
. To Margaret Wood 2/s to Thomas Horsfall one gown. Also I lea
ve to the fabric of the belfry of Halifax Church12/d. Residu
e of all my goods I place at the disposal of Joh Waterhouse my s
on and Johanna my wife, and make them executors. Witnesses, Joh
n Haldeworth, Richard Waterhouse, and William Doughty. Pr. Se
p 10m 1841. Footnote: Probably the father of John Waterhouse o
f Newhouse, from whom descended the Waterhouse of Newhouse, Wood
house, Bankhouse, and Skircoat.)
It is evident isevident that this was the year in which his dea
th occurred - the year following the death of Vicar Wilkinso
n - in whose vicariate great alterations were made to our Paris
h Church. The bequest to the belfry would lead one to thinktha
t it was then in process of building, but this is by no mean
s a certainty. It is traditionally said to have been twenty yea
rs in building, and as weknow that it was not completed in 1471
, and also the bequests of the fabricof the tower extend ove
r a period of from 1459 to 1481, it is probable that the tower w
as then completed. A bequest to the "fabric" does not necessari
ly imply that the building was in process of erection.
Robert Waterhouse was the ancestor of the varioud branches of th
e family, which are found residing inSkircoat at a later period
, but with which we have no concern at present.
John Waterhouse, the son and heir mentioned in his father's will
, and who cameinto his estate was, I take it, one of the Trust