The Minor Family of Somerset

or Helen
from "Vicar Favour and his times pages 64/65
"1610 Januarii 15, vid.John Hopkinson, Halifax, foemina pia qua
e medietate Xenodochii edificavit, et viduam dominneityu esset i
n perpetuu. This Helen Hopkinson was one of ye Hemingwayes of y
e Over brea in Northowro, a good old woman who with her sisterJ
ane builded the almes houses in both ther lyfe tymes..
Dodsworth, who visited Halifax 5th April 1619, records:-
Att the West ende of the Churchyard standeth an almeshouse of st
one very faire, over the door this inscription:- 'Infavor of Ch
urch and comonwealth, to the glory of the blessed Trinity. Thes
e almeshouses were builded by the Christian charity of Hellen Ho
pkinson and Jane Crowther of the family of Hemingway of Overbrea
r, sisters widowes, for 188 poore widdowes of the Towne of Halif
ax and one mistris to teach poore children the catechisme, whos
e memory be blessed for ever. Blessed is he that judgeth wisel
y of the pore, the Lord shall deliver him in the tyme of troub
e Ps 1610' Note thes 2 sisters gave 10 pounds per annum for was
hing pettyes'
The wills of these two sisters, and the history of their charity
, are too longfor mention here. A short account of their famil
y, however, will not be outof place.
I
John Hemingway of the brays, made his will, proved, 23 septembe
r 1528, Maister Dr. Haldesworth vicar of Halifax, John Waterhous
e and Roberthis son being witnesses. At a manor court held 28t
h July 1508, Thomas Northende and Henry Sharp rendered etc 10 ac
res of Roideland jacet in loco coat Brereay etc ad opus John Hem
myngway. Fine 5s 6d. At another court held 22nd June 1511 (?
) John Hemingway took of the lord, the 10 acres of Roideland lyi
ng at a place called Brereay in Northworam, which had been lease
d to Henry Sharpe for ten years. Fine 10s. His issue was John
, of whom more hereafter: George and Sir John, join legatees i
n their father's will for 20 pouns "evynlyto be divided. I
t I yeve them evynly betwixt them as is said, on bill ofdet
t of myne, that I have of on dwellyng in Calice ,to do the bes
t with all"; and Richard to whom his father surrendered in 1528
, a close called Brodynge in Shypden which he had of the gift et
c of Edward Waterhouse gent: Alice married Edmund Farebanke an
d Jennet who married John Horton