| Description | The smaller bundle concerns customary lands and messuages of the Hicken family, which are first described in 1824 as 2 messuages, a croft etc. of 2 acres in the occupation of James Bates and including a parcel of land of 1 rood 14 perches on Balsall Heath. Also present is the will of William Hicken of Haseley, cordwainer, and farmer, devising his Berkswell copyhold property to his daughter, Lucy Hicken; this was made in 1808, and Lucy was admitted to the property in 1810. Following the admission of William Hicken's assignee, (he being an insolvent debtor) in 1824, Edward Jobson, a relative, was admitted to 1/3 of the premises and in 1826 Frances Brown and George Cooper were admitted to two undivided third parts. In 1828 Edward Jobson of Haseley, a cordwainer and farmer, and a debtor, released to Luke Page of Shrewley, miller and farmer, and Joseph Barnett of Haseley, a farmhouse and 12 acres at Haseley, and covenanted to surrender the 2 copyhold messuages and 2 acres of land. Page and Barnett surrendered the third property to Frances Brown who mortgaged it and her other third portion to Luke Page. In 1838 Frances Brown was admitted as heir of George Cooper to his third of the property. Following the death of Luke Page and the paying off of the mortgage the whole property was sold to John Page of Shrewley, miller and farmer. In 1868 John Bellamy Page, son of the above was admitted. The property having been enfranchised by J.H. Wheatley, the Lord of the Manor in March 1899, a few days later, Ann Handley of 212 Stratford Road, Birmingham, wife of Joseph I. Handley, farmer, conveyed the messuages, croft of 2 acres and 1 rood 14 perches lately part of Balsall Heath to Walter F. Fawdry of the Manor House, Berkswell, gentleman on 26th March 1899. |