Although many of the oldest families remain, having tenaciously clung to the homes of their forefathers, a few have completely disappeared, among them being those mentioned below:

In a previous chapter those voted from Bradwell at the election of 1734 were mentioned. But we have been favoured with an extract from the Poll Book of the Election at Derby on the 11th, 12th, and 13th December, 1701, when the candidates were the Right Hon. William, Marquis of Hartington, Right Hon. Lord John Roos, John Curzon, Esq., and Thomas Coke, Esq. The following electors from “Bradwall” voted:

At the Crown Barr, Thursday, 11th December, George Trickett voted for Hartington and Roos.

At the Nisi Prius Barr, same day, Robert Balguy, Edmund Greaves, and Ellis Middleton voted for Curzon and Coke.

At the Town Hall, 12 December, there voted from “Bradwall” the following: Thomas Hallam, Thomas Toft, and Ellis Slack voted for Hartington and Roos; Godfrey Webster, Godfrey Kirk, and Joseph Ward for Curzon and Coke; and Ellis Middleton for Roos and Coke.

The total number of voters in the county who polled at this election was 3057, and the candidates polled as follows: Coke 1659, Curzon 1581 elected, Hartington 1562, Roos 1289.

Cresswell.

A history of this once notable family would be highly interesting. Their seat was at “The Old Hall”, at Smalldale Head, a fine old house that ought not to be allowed to suffer any further disfigurement. This spacious hail, now in two tenements, has over its main entrance “I.H. 1670”, so that it is clear the Cresswells did not build it. But it was not long their seat for they did not live here a century. The lands above were allotted to them when the Commons were enclosed, hence their name “Cresswell Part”. The splendid fences round the gardens, and some of the fine old yew trees still remain. It is said that the carriage drive to the Hall was from Granby, along what is now known as “Boggart Lane”, and forward through the lands (since enclosed) to the Hall. There are still distinct traces of the drive. The Rev.

Jacob Cresswell was vicar of Hope 200 years ago, and Thomas Cresswell, of the old Hall was a churchwarden in 1789. It is said the last of the Cresswell's to reside at the Hall, a famous sportsman, was killed whilst hunting.

The Cresswells were an ancient Derbyshire family from Malcalf, Chapel-en-le-Frith, and Ralph Cressweil bought lands in Edale in 1630. Thomas Cresswell, of Blakelow, Edale, afterwards of Smalldale Hall, yeoman, was baptised on the 27th of March, 1726, and died on the 12th August, 1808, and was buried at Hope. He married Betty, daughter and heiress of Mr. Oliver, and niece of Daniel Roe, of the Hall, Smalldale, at Hope Church, on the 12th July, 1749, and she died on May 17th, 1801. From this short pedigree it will be seen that the heiress of these brought the estate to the Cresswells.

Trickett.

The Tricketts were a family of wealth and influence here and in other parts of the Peak for many generations, but they have long ago completely disappeared, and no one knows where their Bradwell residence was. But they had land and residence in other places. One of their old homes was in Smalldale. In 1599 Mark Trickett had a tax levied upon his land for imperial purpose, and in 1658 Henry Trickett resided at the old home and occupied the lands of his ancestors. A member of the next generation, George Trickett, was a churchwarden of Hope, in 1690. A George Trickett was the owner of the Smalldale estate in 1701 and 1734, and went to Derby to record his vote. The Trickett lands have long passed into other hands.

Greaves.

The Greaves family, long ago extant so far as Bradwell is concerned, has left its name as a place name in the village. They were a family of influence, position, and substance, and although no trace of their old homestead remains, we have the well known “Greaves Croft”, a portion of their estate through which a public footpath runs. Edmund Greaves was here in 1701 and voted at Derby in that year. John Greaves was the owner of the family estate at the beginning of the 18th century, for he voted at Derby in 1734, and in the same year was a churchwarden for Hope. The importance of this family may be gathered from the fact that their vaults are inside Hope Church, and beneath their tombstones in the central aisle lie many generations of the family.

Padley.

The ancient family of Padley held lands here for several centuries, but they have long ago disappeared. In 1448 Thomas Padley and Rose, his wife, sold some of their property, but several members of the family were here more than 200 years later.

for in 1658 there was Adam Padley, two Thomas Padleys, and the widow of a Thomas Padley, all holding lands in Bradwell.

Wagstaff.

One branch of this old Glossop family appears to have long been settled at Bradwell, and were considerable landowners here. Their estate was at “Wortley Fold”, near the Bridge, at the bottom of Church Street. That John Wagstaff was one of the leading lights centuries back may be imagined from the fact that he was one who, in 1685. dared to proceed against the great Eyre, of Highlow, which resulted in his having to give up certain lands belonging to the Bradwell Commnns, which he had enclosed. The last of the family of which we have any record, is another John Wagstaff. in 1774, then late of Glossop, farmer, who sold “a messuage in Bradwell, a parcel of land thereunto belonging, one other messuage and one croft called Whortley Yard, in Bradwall, another messuage there, and a little building in Bradwall aforesaid, and a barn called the Cock Barn, and the several hereditaments subject to a life estate therein of Oliver Wagstaff”.

Worsley.

Certainly far more than two hundred years the family of Worsley were settled here, and for more than a century it was a family of considerable property and some influence. When this ancient family first settled here is not known, but George Worsley was a landowner, farming his own lands in the year 1658, when his “Easter due” to the vicar of Hope was one of the largest in the parish. And nearly a century later - in 1734 - Richard Worsley was owner of the lands. The family appear to have fallen on evil days, for the last of the Worsleys is remembered to have been in humble circumstances.

Oliver.

THE OLD HALL, SMALLDALE.

For long the residence of the family of Oliver.

For many years the family of Oliver resided at the Old Hall, in Smalldale. They were people of substance, and strong Churchmen, but the members of the family were not numerous. In 1744 “Mr. Oliver, of Smalldale”, and William Oliver too, were churchwardens of Hope, an office which in those days was held only by prominent people. More than thirty years later Samuel Oliver was one of the wardens, but these are the only records we have of

the family, other than that the heiress took the estate to the Creswells.

Millward.

A family of ancient lineage and substance was that of Millward. Nearly seven hundred years ago, to be exact, in the year 1284, Rictard Millward de Bradwall, with other notabilities of those times, were proceeded against for breaking the forest laws. That they held lands here for several centuries is proved by the fact that in 1599 John Millward and Robert Millward were defendants in an action brought against them by Rowland and Jarvis Eyre, some of the properties, etc., in dispute being the demesne of Bradwall, fishing of the river, and lott and cope of the lead mines. They were still here in 1658, when Richard Millward paid Easter dues to the parson of Hope, but the name is afterwards lost. It would be interesting to know whether the family had any connections with the famous Millwards of Snitterton Hall. We suspect they were, as their shield contains the heraldic quarterings of the families of Savage of Hope, Balguy of Hope, and Daniel of Tideswell.

Pearson.

The Pearsons were an old family. In the eighteenth century they were in business as cotton spinners with the Arkwright family, at Cromford, when the Preston banker, afterwards Sir Richard Arkwright, was laying the foundation of the family's fortunes. From Cromford they removed to Brough, where they erected three cotton mills, one of which was afterwards converted into white lead works, another transformed into farm buildings and a house for the farm bailiff, at the bottom of Stretfield Road, and the third was the large mill between Bradwell and Brough. These three mills were kept running by the family for over half a century, during which time they were the largest employers of labour in the district. They built and resided at Brough House, and were owners of considerable property in the neighbourhood. But they must not be confounded with the still older family of Pearson, many of whom still remain.

In the 12th year of the reign of Elizabeth (1570), there was a great case in which the plaintiffs were Robert Pereson and Anthony Marshall, tenants of the Town of Bradwell. and the defendants were John Marshall and William Smythe, claiming by conveyance from Thurstran Townsende as seized in fee. The premises and matters in dispute were “divers specified lands, parcel of the waste of the Manor of Castleton, particularly Smaldale and Edwentrie, and Lands in Bradwall Field”.

Pickford.

The old family of Pickford has long ago been forgotten by those who remain on the soil. They were landowners and residents here centuries ago, and became famous folks in the world. Few are there who know that their old home was here. They were a family of substance and importance, and Philemon Pickford was a churchwarden of Hope, in 1715. He voted as a freeholder of Bradwell at the Parliamentary election of 1734, and died in 1749. Thomas Pickford, probably his son, was a churchwarden in 1753.

Other Families that have Disappeared.

Other old families of note that have long ago removed are those of Hamilton, Charlesworth, and others mentioned in various parts of this work.

The Dudden or Goodwin Family.
An Interesting Romance.

One of the most ancient families is that of Goodwin. It may not be generally known to this generation that Goodwin (locally pronounced “Guddin”) is merely a corruption of the name “Dudden” or “Dudding”. The Duddens will be seen throughout this work in various capacities, down to about the middle of the eighteenth century, when the name is spelt “Goodwin”. They were prominent people here at least three hundred years ago. In the year 1658, George Doodin, Thomas Doodin, and the widow of John Doodin, all paid Easter dues to the vicar of Hope, and in 1638 among the inhabitants of Bradwell between 16 and 60 years of age were John Dudden, George Dudden, and Thomas Dudden. Thomas Dudden was the owner of a freehold estate in Bradwell in 1734, and voted at Derby at the election of members of Parliament for the county. And so late as 1782 Samuel Duding was one of those liable to be called upon to serve in the Militia. A member of this family was connected with what may be described as one of the most interesting romances of modern times, and revealed a claim to the earldom and estate forty years ago.

This, indeed, is a highly interesting romance, contained in the documents put forward at that time. In these it was stated that:

The Honourable Charlotte Radcliffe, eldest daughter of Charlotte Maria. Countess of Newburgh, and Charles Radclyffe, Earl of Derwentwater, was born in France in 1729. In the year 1743, when a girl of, fourteen, she was brought to Scotland by Sir Archibald Primrose, a Jacobite confederate of her father in the cause of the Prince Charles Edward, and placed with Mrs. Murray, of Perth, a relation of James Murray, the Prince's secretary, with whom she resided till 1747, suffering in consequence of her father's attainder and ignominious death.

It is at this time that the Bradwell lad comes on the scene, for on the second of April, 1747, the Hon. Charlotte Radcliffe,

when 18 years of age, was married in Scotland, it is said at the house of Mrs. Murray, to George Goodwin (or Dudding), who descended from an old Derbyshire family, and was a native of Bradwell, in the parish of Hope. This marriage at Perth was solemnised in accordance with Scotch law.

Here the trouble began. George Goodwin was a Protestant, and his wife a Catholic, but they were devoted to each other, and so they journeyed over to England, landed at Bradwell, and on the 25th of the same month, it is said, that the marriage was again solemnised according to the rites of the Church of England, at Hope Church, by the Rev. Thomas Wormald, who was vicar of Hope at that time.

The course of true love did not run smooth, and so the aristocratic young bride, having married a Protestant, became alienated from her family, and was anathematised. The couple made their home at Bradwell, where the husband's ancestors had lived for generations, and there in a cottage in Hugh Lane, dwelt those who had contracted a wedding under such romantic circumstances.

But tragedy followed comedy. On the 14th of February, 1749, they had born to them a son - her only child. This son was named George, after the father. But Goodwin lived only eight years after his child was born, for he died in the year 1757. As often follows such marriages, differences arose as to the religious training of the child, and at the father's death the child was adopted by its uncle, who resided in Bradwell, the mother returning to Lisle in France, where she re-entered the Roman Catholic Church, and lived at Lisle. “suffering great mental and pecuniary distress”, until 1790 when she removed to London, where she died on March 11th, 1800. She lived under her maiden name.

But what about the child - the Hon. George Goodwin? As time goes on the story grows in interest. His uncle Birley was his Protestant guardian. The father had desired that his son should be brought up in the Protestant faith, and therefore the mother, under the influence of the guardian, had not been allowed to interfere with the religious training of her son, who was received into and brought up in his uncle's family. When a young man he went Barnsley way, and at the age of 27 married Margaret Senior, of Dodworth, but he had to fight the battle of life, “in obscurity and poverty”. and when three score years and ten. George Goodwin and his wife entered the Shrewsbury Almshouses at Sheffield; where he died in 1835 at the age of eighty six.

Thereon hangs a tale that has often been told, in which, the registers of Hope Church are concerned, for it being alleged that certain entries therein were tampered with a century ago. The Bishop of Lichfield held a Court of Inquiry into the matter in the year 1870. Evidence was heard at great length, and here is the affidavit of the Parish Clerk of that day, or rather that portion of it relating to the romantic wedding, omitting all reference to the registers:

The Parish Clerk's Recollections.

1. I, Nathan Woodroofe Ashton, of Hope, in the County of Derby, deceased, make oath and say that I am the sexton of the parish of Hope aforesaid; and that I am the grandson of Nathan Woodroofe, the parish clerk of the said parish of Hope, deceased; and that I was brought up with my said grandfather and lived in his house until I was about seven years of age, when I went to live with my said father, and lived with him until he died in 1837, when I again went and lived with my grandfather, the said Nathan Woodroofe, again, I being then nearly 13 years old, and I lived with him till October, 1844, I being then over twenty years old.

2. And I further say that I first heard, in February, 1838, about the marriage of George Goodwin, of Bradwell, and Lady Charlotte Radclyffe (the daughter of the Earl of Derwentwater) when my grandfather, the said Nathan Woodroofe, and William Evans, of Smalldale, deceased, were talking about it at my said grandfather's public-house, and were wondering if the Goodwin family would ever get anything from the Radclyffe family; and that whilst my grandfather and William Evans were talking about the said marriage and the families, Thomas Elliott, of Eden Tree, deceased, came into my said grandfather's house to order a grave to be made for his father, and the same subject was talked over again, and thereupon the said Thomas Elliott told my said grandfather that the said George Goodwin and Charlotte (formerly Radclyffe) his wife, lived at Bradwell in a house in Hugh Lane; and I declare that I know that such talk as aforesaid took place in the month of February, 1838, because it was at the end of a long and very severe frost, and just after my said grandfather and I had to dig a grave in the cross-roads for Thomas Bagshawe, of Hazlebadge, who had hung himself, and we found great difficulty in digging the grave on account of the frost having struck upwards of a foot into the ground; and I further say that my said grandfather frequently afterwards during his life told me of the sad marriage of the said George Goodwin and Charlotte Radclyffe, the daughter of the Earl of Derwentwater.

3. And I further say that up to some years after eighteen hundred there is only one book for the entry of the register of baptisms, deaths, and marriages for the said parish of Hope. And I further say that my said grandfather, Nathan Woodroofe, was parish clerk from about the year 1798 until the time of his death in 1855, and that the said Nathan Woodroofe

had access to the registers from the time he commenced clerking, which was in March, 1798 (when his father, who was parish clerk up to the time of his death, died), until the death of the Rev. John Ibbotson, the vicar, which took place in December, 1828, as is shown by the entries of baptisms, deaths, and marriages, in the said registers made in my grandfather's handwriting; and that after that time the said Nathan Woodroofe, my said grandfather, had the sole charge of the said registers until May, 1843, when they were taken possession of by the Rev. W.C.B. Cave, the then new vicar; and I say that the said registers were generally kept in an old oak chest in the church, but if any person wanted to see them the said Nathan Woodroofe would often fetch them to his own house and get what was required from the said book of registers there while sitting over their glasses, the parish clerk's house being a public-house. And I further say that I have seen the said book of parish registers lying on the table in the parlour of my said grandfather's public-house for weeks and months together, in fact, until it was taken back into the church, so that any person who went into the room might have access to them. And I say that I often stayed away from Church on Sunday afternoons to look at the said book of registers, to find out how old different people were whom I knew.

*   *   *   *

4. And I further say that from what I have heard from my said grandfather and others talking about the said George Goodwin and Charlotte his wife (formerly Lady Charlotte Radclyffe, the daughter of the Earl of Derwentwater), I firmly believe that they, the said George and Charlotte Goodwin, were man and wife.

5. And I say that I have always heard, and I believe, that George Goodwin, the son of the said George and Lady Charlotte Goodwin, lived with his relatives at Bradwell village, in the parish of Hope, in the County of Derby aforesaid, from the time of his father's death till he was old enough to go to work for himself, when he went to and settled at Sheffield.

Such is a romance of the Duddens.