West Barnes/Moat Farm in the 18th century

West Barnes/Moat Farm in the 18th century

Under his 1718 will, James Carpenter of Kingston left to his wife Martha for life and then to his son John Carpenter, subject to annuities to his two daughters Mary (wife of Stephen Gray) and Rebekkah Carpenter:¹

all that messuage or farmhouse called West Barnes and all the lands and grounds, barns, edifices and buildings and other the appurtenances thereunto belonging and therewith used and occupied, situate and lying and being in Martin alias Merton in the county of Surrey now in occupation of Charles Newington or his assigns and all [his] share, right, title, interest in and to the same

A document of 1836 recites the descent of the property:²

On 9 February 1718/19 John Carpenter of Kingston upon Thames, mercer, mortgaged to Francis Sturgis of Hampton Court for £300:

his 5 parts (of 6) of all that capital messuage called West Barnes in Marton

Further mortgages, each for £100, were undertaken on 30 October 1719 and 16 February 1720/21, and on 16 October 1734 the mortgages were assigned by the executors of Francis Sturgis to Joseph Stanwix

Indentures for lease and release dated 13 and 15 October 1737 transferred the freehold from Joseph Carpenter of Reading and Frances his wife to Joseph Chitty, for £2540:

Capital messuage called West Barnes in Marton with land as follows:

parcel called The Upper Green

parcel called The Lower Green

parcel called 8 Acres

close called Barley Close

meadow called Lingfield Mead

meadow called Hoppin’s Mead

parcel called Hoppin’s Coppice (formerly wood ground but lately grubbed up)

parcel called North Hoppins (as the same was then divided)

parcel called South Hoppins (as the same was then divided)

parcel called The Pickles

close called Orchard Close

parcel called Sparrow Croft

parcel called Thistle Croft

all of which were late in the occupation of Nathaniel Chalkhill and/or George Newington deceased, afterwards Charles Newington, and then James Carpenter, his undertenants, etc.

Encumbrance: lease for 2 years to James Carpenter from Joseph Carpenter.

also 3 indentures of mortgage

The indenture summarises the totals as follows:-

1 messuage, 3 barns, 1 stable, 1 orchard

120 acres land

15 acres meadow

65 acres pasture

Total: 200 acres.

The former Westfields, which perhaps formed the remaining sixth part of the estate, was in separate ownership by 1737, and its descent can be followed under its later name of Blue House Farm (Visit our pages on Blue House Farm).

On 6/7 April 1744 Joseph Chitty and his wife Elizabeth sold by lease and release to Jacob Chitty:

messuage late occupied or enjoyed by Joseph Chitty

Josiah Chitty’s will of 19 October 1749, proved 28 June 1750, executors his brothers Abraham and Thomas Chitty and his sister Sarah Gibbons, left an annuity to his wife, and divided his goods among his brothers, sister, nephews and nieces. An annotation of 1816 on the will refers to Josiah's 400-year term in five sixths of West Barnes, Merton, being granted on behalf of Essex Henry Bond, a grandson of Josiah's brother Thomas.³

In his will of 20 March 1762, proved 22 December 1762, Sir Thomas Chitty appointed his daughters Eleanor Bond, wife of George Bond, and Sarah Seawell his executors, leaving to Eleanor, for life, then to her son Thomas and his heirs, in default to his brother George, in default to his brother John:⁴

On 19 April 1802 Thomas Bond left the two farms and other properties to his wife Margaret, with remainder to his brother Essex Henry Bond.

¹ LMA DW/PA/5/1718/30

² British Railways Property Board (transcribed by John Wallace)

³ TNA PROB 11/780/368

⁴ TNA PROB 11/882/388