The Minor Family of Somerset

birth estimated from the Monumental inscription on the wall of H
alifax ParishChruch
Also Frances, Wife to the abovesaid Captain John Fournis, who di
ed the 29th of June and was buried the 3 of July, 1770, Aged 8
1 years.
Halifax Antiquarian Society, 1925 "Excursion to Ovenden" page 97
On Sept 16 1725, Mrs.Furness married Gabetis Norton, of Sawley
, near Knarewboro, who thereupon took up his residence at Ovende
n Hall. Mr. Norton died Oct 17, 1754, leaving nofamily. In se
ttling her husband's affairs. Mrs. Norton claimed as personalpr
operty, certain articles at Ovenden Hall, coming to her from he
r first husband, Captain Furness. A complete inventory of thes
e was taken in May, 1755. .....
Mrs. Norton was also defendant in a long Cancery action, which l
asted from 1761 to 1773 - twelve years- concerning the ownershi
p of Brackenbed Grange, brought against her by Isaac Smith.
Frances Norton died July 3, 1770,aged 81 years. She was the la
st survivor of the Furness family, of OvendenHall. Her nephew
, John Dearden, of The Hollins, was her sole executor and throug
h her, what was left of the Ovenden and Northowram estates of th
e Furnesses, passed to the Dearden family with the exception o
f Ovenden Hall itself,which was left to her housekeeper, Elizab
eth Steele.
Francees Norton had lived in the old house for a longer time per
haps than anyone else has done, andshe must have dearly loved i
ts old Grey face and panelled rooms, for there was a persisten
t tradition that her spirit could often be seen gliding along th
e old corridors and flitting about the rooms and even yet ther
e are thosewho declare they have seen her shadowy form, and spe
ak of "the Haunted Houseat Ovenden."