FOR THE PEACE AND QUIET OF THE FRONTIERS



On the 12th and 13th of September 1543, at Newcastle-upon-Tyne, a consultation involving Lord Wharton, the English Lord Deputy Warden General, the three deputy wardens and the captains of the castles at Carlisle, Norham, Wark and other strategic spots, appointed a number of watches to be set on the Border for ‘Peace and Quiet of the Frontiers.’

The watches were to be set nightly, with some in day time, ‘according to the ancient customs of the Marches’ and other clauses included that every man should follow a trod, upon pain of death, no man to harbour, aid or abet any fugitives, rebel, felon, murderer, English or Scottish, or ‘practice with them,’ also punishable by death.
Those that signed the document were Lord Wharton, Lord Eure, Deputy Warden of the East March, Lord Ogle of the Middle March and Sir Thomas Dacre of the West.
Sir Richard Musgrave, captain of Carlisle, Mr. Dunye, captain of Berwick, Sir John Horsley, captain of Bamburgh, Richard Bowes, captain of Norham, Thomas Carr, captain of Wark, John Musgrave, captain of Bewcastle, Thomas Gower, marshall of Berwick, Sir Thomas Gray, sheriff of Northumberland; the knights Sir John Widdrington, Sir John Delaval, Sir George Ratcliffe and Sir John Foster, and the Esquires William Pennington, John Preston, Robert Collingwood, William Swinhoe and Robert Constable. Also present were Anthony Featherstonehaugh, Cuthbert Horsley, Will Buckden, John Beadnell, Will Conyers, Rob Thirlway, Nicholas Ridley, John Shaftoe, Robert Lyle, John Medforth, Lancelot Lyle, Thomas Errington, Anthony and Christopher Mitford, John Musgrave, John Ogle, John Delaval, Robert Baines, William Strother, Gilbert Swinhoe, Thomas Carlyle and Thomas Rutherford. These people made up the important Border officials on the English side at the time. When it came to the people to run the actual watches, the border mafia made sure that they were in on the action, however.

CUMBERLAND

The Carlisle watch, covering the Esk, Leven and up to Liddlesdale was to be handled by Richard Graham and his associates. John Musgrave took responsibility for setting other watches in Cumberland, with Thomas Salkeld also overseeing one. William Skelton, Christopher Threlkeld, Christopher Crackingthorpe, Gilbert Wharton, Thomas Dalston, Robert Bristo, Richard Studholme, Richard Phillipson, Edward Story (Warder Sergeant), George Hetherington (the King’s Bailiff) and ‘Proud Dick’ Graham also got in on the action. Robin and Peter Graham were responsible around Rockcliffe.

WEST NORTHUMBERLAND & ALLENDALE

In the West of Northumberland, the main players were men such as Thomas Blenkinsopp, John Orsby, Albany Featherstonehaugh, Harry Wallace, Christopher Bowman, Nicholas Blakelock, John Coulthard, Rowland Bell, John and Nicholas Wallace; John Noble and Archie Story, Alexander Cowen, Nicholas White, Robert Thirlwall and Robert Carrick, Lionel Snawfell and Hector Snawdon, John Bell and Christopher Pattendon, William Tweddle and Edmond Crow, John Escheton and Rowland Waugh, John Short, Matthew Wigham, William Atkinson and John Mill, Nicholas and Michael Ridley, Clement Haugh and Oswald Ridley, Stephen Hutchinson and John Ridley, John Thompson and Thomas Stokoe.
Thomas Blenkinsopp and John Hornsby were setters and searchers for Bellister ford, with Lancelot Marshall and Clement Malap, Nicholas Maliper and Robert Lows, John Thompson and Thomas Pigg, Hugh Pattenson and Harry Chesman, John Ridley and Thomas Maughan around about.
The setters and searchers for the Greenford were Thomas Featherstonehaugh and Robert Thompson, while Robert Elrington and Thomas Armstrong were in charge at the Bonehaugh ford and the two fords at Woodhall near Haydon Bridge.
Warden, Newburgh and Langley were the responsibility of George Heron, Hugh Errington and Robert Kirssop, Rowland and Christopher Stokoe, Richard Carnaby and Roger Stokoe. Edward Hall, Andrew Errington, George Robson, Matthew Richardson, Alexander Basnet, Gilbert Thompson, Gilbert Barrow and Stephen Frank were also involved in the area, as well as Sir Thomas Robson, Rinyan Stokoe, Matthew Robson, Nicholas Errington and Matthew Turpin.
South of the Tyne around Allendale saw Peter Richardson and Clement Ramshaw, John and Thomas Whitfield, William and Matthew Richardson, Thomas Bee and John Vepound, Hugh Hutchinson and Harry Ferroler, William Hutchinson and John Spark, Cuthbet Hayden and Thomas Hewittson, George Rule and Robert Philipson, Matthew Whitfield and Thomas Wilson, John Ferroler and William Stoute, Michael Kenleside and and John Ferroler undertaking duties.
William Bateson and Robert Stoute, John Wilkinson and Edward Whitfield, William Wodmous, Nicholas Bateson, Matthew Bee, Hugh Shell, Christopher Bee and John Shell were also engaged.

HEXHAM

Between Hawknest and Thokrington was to be manned by the likes of John Carruthers, Percival Rede, John Shaftoe and Ralph Widdrington, Anthony Younger, Matthew Chatton, Oswald Tweddle and Raymond Shaftoe. George Armstrong and Anthony Liddle were setters of the watches with their overseers being Thomas Elrington, Anthony Ratcliffe and Anthony Carnaby. Robert Herd and William Carr, William Heron, Harry Armstrong, Richard Swinburne and John Hurde were also officials in the area alongside Hugh Brown, Richard Harrison, Thomas Swinburne and Edward Lawson.
Near the meeting of the waters on the Tyne were the watch of people such as Robert Chekyn and Richard Hutchinson, John Selby and John Marshall, with William Armstrong and John Spanne around Chollerford. James Bell and Sander Dawson were the setters and searchers around Chollerton. Robert Ratchester and John Bell, Edward Hedley and Hugh Halliday, Davy Carnaby, Thomas Carnaby and Thomas Errington of Bingfield, Robert Thirlwall, Edward Errington, Christpher Herd, Robert Dunn, Thomas Gibson and Edward Errington, Henry Ogle, Ralph Hurd, James Hurd, Christopher Manghene, Gilbert Carnaby and Gilbert Errington were also active in the general area, with overseers being Henry Ogle, Edmond Gibson and James Hurd.
A little further east and the men involved included Ralph Errington and William Coniers, Robert Stevenson, George Leyshman, Anthony Toller, Richard Gibson, Edward Hirst and John Ridley of Cosely, Robert Errington and Gilbert Carnaby, Alexander Heron, Alexander Baxter, Cuthbert Carnaby and Thomas Weldon.

TYNEDALE

Humshaugh was the responsibility of Arthur Errington and the bailiff of Humshaugh; John Heron of the Hallbarns and Sandy Armstrong were setters and searchers from New Meadows to Tayketleyes, while Simonburn was in the authority of John Heron of Simonburn and William Ridley of the Slatterfield. The watch overseers were George Heron, Keeper of Tyndale, and John Heron of Hallbarns, the bailiff of Simonside.
Watches placed from Errynfoot to the Marches of Redesdale were manned by the likes of George Heron of Chollerton and Anthony Woodman, Edward Heron of Barrasford, Davy Taylor, John Denand and William Robson. Anthony Nicholson the bailiff of Gunnerton, George Nicholson, Pate Nicholson and James Dodd, George Heron of Chipchase and his deputy, William Ledell; Edward and John Marshall, Roger Heron of Birtley, John Robson bailiff of Birtley, Gerard Milburn and William Robson of Edsmothe, overseen by the Tynedale Keeper George Heron and Ralph Widdrington.

NORTH TYNEDALE

The wilds of North Tynedale were the watch of the likes of Thomas Morley, John Ridley, John Wilkinson and Harry Charlton of the Hawkhill, William Charlton of the Carrowteith, Arthur Charlton and Lawrence Dodd. Roger Yarrow, Jenkin Dodd, Thomas Charlton of Hawkupp and John Robson of the Falstone, Adam Milburn of Dunstead and Arthur Dodd, William Charlton of Bellingham and John Robson, John Charlton of the Blakelaw and Rowland Charlton.

REDESDALE

The setters and searchers for Birdhope and Rochester were Clement Hall and Matthew Cookson, while John Hall of Brentshaw and Thomas Storey covered the two Durtrees. Alwinton and the Parkhead were the authority of Percival Harbottle and John Wilkinson. Gerard and Thomas Rede, Richard and Robert Foster, John Rede of Troughend, Clement Rede of the Old Town, John Rede of Blacame and John Fletcher of Evokstones (Ovenstones?), Clement Hall and Thomas Anderson of Birdhope, William and Davy Wallace, William and John Pott, Percival Fenwick and Sir John Hall were all involved.

COQUETDALE

A night watch was set for Coquetdale, beginning at Alwinton, where John Wilkinson the laird of Donesgreen and John Wilkinson ‘Gordes John’ were setters and searchers for the watch. At Clennell it was Percival Clennell and William Gallon, and at Biddlestone, Percival Selby and Thomas Davison. Thomas and Cuthbert Horsley, Thomas Collingwood and William Milburn, Harry Collingwood and David Hall; at Ilderton, it was Edward and Anthony Elderton, with the overseers of the watch being the Knights Sir George Ratcliffe and Sir John Horsley, Robert Collingwood, the captain of Harbottle Cuthbert Musgrave, Percival Selby and Percival Clennell.
The day watch for Coquetdale again came down the valley with men such as Percival Unthank and George Brown, Percival Horsley and John Shanks the setters.

INGRAM

Thomas Patterson and John Moody were setters and searchers between Reveley and Roddam, with Anthony Elderton and John Rodam also nearby officials, while further north was watched by Edward Humble. Thomas Elderton and Jasper Meelle were overseers of the Watch.

GREAT BAVINGTON

Oswald Widdrington, Simon Shaftoe and Percival Pasto watched from Thokrington to Sweethope, while Matthew Lorraine and George Shaftoe were the next watch. Robert Lorraine and Randolph Fenwick were overseers. Robert Harle, James Sporrie, William Elsden and John Rochester were setters and searchers around West Whelpington.



Jon Tait
Dick the Devil's Bairns
The Anglo-Scottish border was a virtual warzone for around 300 years and it created a lawless society that became known as the Border Reivers. Dick the Devil's Bairns is the story of the worst of the reiver clans. NEW AND UPDATED PAPERBACK VERSION.
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