"The Curtis family home was the house known as 'Old Ford House', which was situated just to the north of Ford House and within its grounds. The house faced south on to a small open courtyard: it was stone tiled, had mullioned windows and was probably built by Thomas Curtis in the first half of the 17th century." [1]
1547 Thomas Curtesse, perhaps John's father or grand father, made a covenant on June 22, about the Holland estate at Ford, which was subsequently occupied by several generations of Curtis families. Ford House and closes: Covenant made between Robert Fox of Crich and Thomas Curtesse otherwise Thomas Woodthorpe of the Ford whereby neither will let any of their land at Ford "to any straunge person or persons" upon pain of forfeiting £40, with the exception of an indenture by John Fox clerk to Edmund Plattes. [2]
1573 John Curties, son of Thomas Curties, was baptized on March 27, at Dronfield parish, Derbyshire, England. [3] [4] [5]
1574 Ellen Fowler, daughter of Robert Fowler, was baptised on May 18 at North Wingfield parish, Derbyshire, England. [6] [7] [8]
1591 The will of John Revel, dated October 7, 1591 at Ogston in Derby, named son Edward Revell and John Curtis of the Forth as "supervisors and overseers" of the will, and stated "As my trust is in them." [9]
1598 John Curtis and Ellen Fowler were married on April 27, at North Wingfield parish, Derbyshire, England. [10] [11] [12] [13] [14] [15]
1597/98 Thomas Curtis, son of John Curtis was baptized on March 5, at North Wingfield parish, Derbyshire, England. [16]
1601 The will of Robert Fowler, dated April 14, 1601 in North Wingfield, Derbyshire, England, named daughter Curtesse and son-in-law John Curtesse, and grand-children Thomas and Judith Curtis. [17] [18]:
1601 or 1602 John Curtisse, son of Johanes Curtisse de fford was baptized the xxvij day September, testes (witnesses) Johannes Claye de Criche and Antonius ffoxe de London and Anna Simpson de Stretton filia jo. [19] [20]
1602 Articles of agreement made between Robert Collyor of Ogston gent, and Edward Revell of Ogston gent mentioned the messuage near the Ford occupied by John Curtis. Dated April 27, 44 Elizabeth. [21]
1603 or 1604 Robert Curtis, son of John Curtis was baptized on June 5, at North Wingfield parish, Derbyshire, England. [22] [23]
1605 "Revell will grant a rent charge of £20 to John Curtis of Ford gent and Thomas Fidler of Woolley husbandman, £10 payable during Margaret's life, £10 from the time Margaret and Robert surrender to Revell the mansion house, lands etc" [24]
1605/06 Richard Curtis, son of John Curtis was baptized on January 26, at North Wingfield, Derbyshire, England. [25] [26]
1611 "The claim of 'John Curtys of Foorth' (probably son of the former) to a coat of arms was noted as having been disallowed by Richard 5th George, Norray King of Arms, in the Derbyshire Visitation of 1611" [27]
1611 Bargain and sale by Thomas Loddington, parson of the parish of North Wingfield, to John Curtis of Ford gent. of three closes of land. Dated March 28. [28] Consideration £160. [29]
1611 Edward Curtis, son of John Curtis was baptized on November 14, at North Wingfield, Derbyshire, England. [30] [31]
The baptisms of four of the Curtis children were recorded at North Wingfield parish, Derbyshire, England. [32]
1614 "The Holland estate at Ford, Ford House and closes: Release and quitclaim by Edmund Pott of Stretton gent., George Newbold and Henry Yellott of Totley yeoman to John Curtisse of the Ford in the parish of North Wingfield of all their right etc. in Hollen Stubbings and Broom Riddings." Dated July 20. [33]
1615 Anthony Fox purchased the Holland estate at Ford, which he sold to John Curtis in 1619. Dated November 9. [34]
Ford House and closes: Feoffment by bargain and sale by Anthony Fox of Ford in the parish of North Wingfield yeoman to William Fox, citizen and draper of London, of a messuage at Ford and all appurtenances as set out in an indenture of 15 September 1607. Consideration £50. Anthony to have right of repurchase on or by 20 Nov. 1620.
1619 John Curtis exchanged land for the Holland estate at Ford on August 10. [35]
Ford House and closes: Part of a feoffment by Anthony Fox of Ford yeoman to John Curtis of Ford of land in Ford lately purchased by Anthony from his brother William, in consideration of an exchange of land with Curtis.
1623 Thomas Curtis of Ford yeoman, eldest son of John Curtis, purchased the Holland House from William Fox. [36]
The Holland estate at Ford, Ford House and closes: Bargain and sale by William Fox citizen of London, draper, and Anthony Fox of Ford yeoman to Thomas Curtis of Ford yeoman, eldest son of John Curtis, of one messuage, and one cottage and croft, and the Barn Croft, the Nicke Croft, Colepit Croft, one parcel of meadow (9 acres) called the Round Meadow lying in Wrights Close, the Hall Meadow, one fourth-part of the meadow called Forth Holme, and 22 acres of arable in the fields of Ford. Consideration £560. Dated 18 Augus
"
1624 Final concord and counterpart made between Thomas Curtis plaintiff and William Fox and Katherine his wife deforciants of lands etc. Dated octave of St Michael, 22 James I. [37]
1624 The will of John Curtis of Ford, North Wingfield parish, was made on October 27, 1624 and was proved in 1629 [38]:
"Being sickly and weak in bodie," he directs that his body be interred in the parish Church of North Wingfield, devises to "Hellen my now wife" the third part of all my lands and goods, except one Bond of my son Thomas Curtis for the payment of 130 pounds, for the use of my five youngest children: Robert, Ritchard, Edward, Edith, and Hellen. To my son and heir Thomas Curtis all my tenements, land, cottages, and hereditaments, deducting thereout his mother's said third, and to my said son Thomas Curtis two books: Pascall's Abridgement and Litleton Tenures. To my second son John Curtis, whom I have maintained at the University until he attained the degree of Master of Arts, half a piece in full satisfaction. To Ann Holliday 40 shillings, and to each of my servants at the day of my death two shillings. All the rest of my goods, after my debts, legacies and funeral expenses are paid, to my five youngest children abovesaid. If any of them die before age 22, their part to remain to the survivors. My loving brothers in law, George Fowler and John Fowler, to be trustees of this my last will and testament, they to imploy such money as shall be due to my said five children to the best behoof of them. I make Hellen my wife executrix of this my last will and testament. I give unto my daughter in law Joane Curtis, my son Thomas his wife, ten shillings. By codicil dated 27 March 1627: my son John Curtis, in lieu of the half a piece given him, shall have 20 pounds 20 nobles, to be paid 40 of his mother's third and the rest out of the remainder of my goods. Witnesses: George Fowler, John Fowler.
1629 The will of John Curtis, of Dronfield, was recorded at Lichfield, Staffordshire. [39]
1629 John Curtis de ford was buried on January 23, 1628/29 at North Wingfield parish, Derbyshire, England. [40] [41] [42] [43]
1629-1630 [5 Charles I] An Inquisition post mortem record mentioned John Curtis of Derby. [44]
1637 The will of Ellen Curtis spinster of Ford (perhaps the daughter of John Curtis and Ellen Fowler) mentioned her siblings John Curtis, Richard Curtis, Edward Curtis, Thomas Curtis; and her uncle John Fowler. [45] [46]:
In the name of God Amen, the ffourteenth day of Auguste Anno Dom 1634. … I Ellen Curtis of fforde in the County of Derby ?pinster …
Imprimis I give and bequeath to my brother John Curtis of fforde in the County of Derbye clerk the some of twinty poinds of currant English mony Item to my brother Richard Curtis of Chesterfield in the county of Derby weaver the some of thirtie poinds. Item to my brother Edward Curtis of the Chesterfield aforesaid gentleman the some of tenne poinds, which legacies I will shall be paid unto them by mine xecut'es hereafter named within six months nexte after my decease. Item I give and bequeath unto Sarah Curtis, daughter of my brother Thomas Cortis of ffoorde aforesaid gentleman, the some of ffive pounds. Item to Ellen Bower daughter of Richard Bower of Shirland in the countie of Derby tailor the like some of ffive pounds out of a bond remayninge in the hands of my brother Robert Curtis of Derbie weaver wherein one John Clay of ffoorde aforesaid ?deth bounds. And I will that these two legacies shallbe paid unto the children and parents or guardians for their uses within three months after the bonds shall growe due. Item I give to John Curtis sonne to my first brother? Robert Curtis the some of three pounds Item as my brother Thomas Curtis [his three]? youngest daughters the some of six pounds, to be equallie devided amongst them, Item I give to John Bower, Robert Bower, and Thomas Bower sonnes of the said Richard Bower, the like some of six pounds to be likewise equallie devided amongste them Item I give to my Goddaughter Ellen Wright the daughter of Edward Wright of ffoorde aforesaid husbandman the some of twenty shillings. All which childrens legacies I will shall be accordingly paid to their severall parents and guardians within six months nexte followinge after my decease Item I doe hereby make and ordeine my said brother Richard Curtis and Robert ffowler sonne to my vnckle [uncle] John ffowler of Chesterfield aforesaid tanner, my sole executors to whome I give and bequeath the some of five poinds vizt to each of them fiftie shillings Item my will and meaninge is and I doe hereby order & bequeath the rest and residue of mine estate mony goods and chattels hereby unbequeathed of what kinde or nature however they shall be, at the tyme of my decease & my debts & funerall expenses first deducted and ? to be equallie devided and dystributed by my said executors within convenient tyme after my decease amongst the children of my brethren and sisters to each of them parte and porton like And I doe hereby revoke and utterly disanull and make void all former wills legacies bequests and ? by me at any tyme before this tyme made named given or ? And I will that this shall be my very last will & testament in witness whereof I have hereunto sett my hand & seale the day & yeare first above written.
Signed sealed and published in the presence of: Thomas Curtis, William Moard?, Edward Johstoe?, John ?
Ellen Curtise
The Ford estate remained in the Curtis family for several generations [47]:
The Curtis family were yeoman farmers, but the date of their arrival in the area is unknown. The last of the family to live at Ford appears to have been John Curtis who married Anne, sister of William Revell of Ogston, in 1658, and held the office of constable of the manor of Stretton (in which Ford was situated) in 1663. Like others of his family John Curtis subsequently became a Quaker, and this was the reason why he left Ford. The latter part of the 17th century was a time of religious persecution for non-conformists, and a number of local Quakers, notably Thomas Revell of Chesterfield (a relation of the Revells of Ogston), decided to emigrate to America and start a new life free from the constraints of religious bigotry. About the year 1680, therefore, John Curtis sold Ford to George Holland of Swathwick (near Wingerworth) and he and his wife left England for New Jersey where the other Quakers had settled. John and Anne Curtis established themselves on the 'Ogston Plantation' (formerly known as Pleasant Hill or Mount Pleasant), near Georgetown, and John's name appears among those of guests attending the wedding of his friend Thomas Revell's daughter Anne to Joseph White in 1694. Thomas Revell was one of the witnesses of John Curtis' Will in 1695/6.
Research Notes:
This Curtis family of Derbyshire is different from the Curtis family of Bugbrook [48], as based on published documentation and lack of dna match among male Curtis descendants from these two lines. The relationship to Thomas Curtis, woolen draper of Reading and friend of George Fox, if any, is unknown.
[1] Gladwyn Turbutt, "Vanished Splendours of Derbyshire - Ford House", (When and where published?), p. 68-69.
[2] Derbyshire Record Office, Ref. No.: D37/MT/582, [Derbyshire_Record_Office].
[3] Derbyshire Record Office, Derbyshire Church of England Parish Registers, Dronfield, 1560-1743, D2441 A/P1 1/1 FHL film 1041034, Item 2, Derbyshire, England, Church of England Baptisms, Marriages and Burials, 1538-1812, [AncestryImage], [AncestryRecord].
[4] FamilySearch.org, [FamilySearchRecord].
[5] FamilySearch.org, [FamilySearchRecord].
[6] Lewis D. Cook, "John Curtis (1635-1696) of Derbyshire, England, and Burlington County, New Jersey," National Genealogical Society Quarterly 61 (1973), 83-99, at 83.
[7] J Charles Cox, "The Parish Registers of North Wingfield," The Reliquary 13 (1873), 35-39, at 38, [HathiTrust].
[8] Derbyshire Record Office, Derbyshire Church of England Parish Registers, Diocese of Derby, North Wingfield Parish Registers, 1657-1681, D1434 A/PI, item 2, FHL film 1041093, Derbyshire, England, Church of England Baptisms, Marriages and Burials, 1538-1812, upside down, first entry. Transcription incorrectly reports date as 1597, [AncestryImage], [AncestryRecord].
[9] The National Archives of the United Kingdom Catalog, UK National Archives, Prerogative Court of Canterbury, Dixy, PROB 11/84/357, [UKNationalArchives].
[10] Derbyshire Record Office, Derbyshire Church of England Parish Registers, Diocese of Derby, North Wingfield Parish Registers, 1657-1681, D1434 A/PI, item 2, FHL film 1041093, Derbyshire, England, Church of England Baptisms, Marriages and Burials, 1538-1812, column 40, [AncestryImage], [AncestryRecord].
[11] FamilySearch.org, [FamilySearchRecord].
[12] FamilySearch.org, [FamilySearchRecord].
[13] Lewis D. Cook, "John Curtis (1635-1696) of Derbyshire, England, and Burlington County, New Jersey," National Genealogical Society Quarterly 61 (1973), 83-99, at 83.
[14] J Charles Cox, "The Parish Registers of North Wingfield," The Reliquary 13 (1873), 35-39, at 38, [HathiTrust].
[15] Wikipedia article about St_Lawrence%27s_Church,_North_Wingfield, content subject to change, [Wikipedia].
[16] FamilySearch.org, [FamilySearchRecord].
[17] Findmypast, Staffordshire, Dioceses of Lichfield and Coventry wills and probate 1521-1860, [URL].
[18] W.P.W. Phillimore, ed., Calendars of Wills and Administrations in the Consistory Court of the bishop of Lichfield and Coventry, 1516 to 1652 (British Record Society, 1892), 212, left column, [GoogleBooks], [FHLBook], [FHLCatalog], [FHL_Wiki_Learn].
[19] FamilySearch.org, [FamilySearchRecord].
[20] FamilySearch.org, [FamilySearchRecord].
[21] Derbyshire Record Office, Ref. No.: D37/MF/9/1, [Derbyshire_Record_Office].
[22] FamilySearch.org, [FamilySearchRecord].
[23] FamilySearch.org, [FamilySearchRecord].
[24] Derbyshire Record Office, Ref. No.: D37/MF/9/2, [Derbyshire_Record_Office].
[25] FamilySearch.org, [FamilySearchRecord].
[26] FamilySearch.org, [FamilySearchRecord].
[27] Gladwyn Turbutt, "Vanished Splendours of Derbyshire - Ford House", (When and where published?), p. 68-69.
[28] Derbyshire Record Office, Ref. No.: D37/MT/586-587, [Derbyshire_Record_Office].
[29] Derbyshire Record Office, Ref. No.: D37/MT/589, [Derbyshire_Record_Office].
[30] FamilySearch.org, [FamilySearchRecord].
[31] FamilySearch.org, [FamilySearchRecord].
[32] Lewis D. Cook, "John Curtis (1635-1696) of Derbyshire, England, and Burlington County, New Jersey," National Genealogical Society Quarterly 61 (1973), 83-99, at 83.
[33] Derbyshire Record Office, Ref. No.: D37/MT/590, [Derbyshire_Record_Office].
[34] Derbyshire Record Office, Ref. No.: D37/MT/591, [Derbyshire_Record_Office].
[35] Derbyshire Record Office, Ref. No.: D37/MT/592, [Derbyshire_Record_Office].
[36] Derbyshire Record Office, Ref. No.: D37/MT/594, [Derbyshire_Record_Office].
[37] Derbyshire Record Office, Ref. No.: D37/MT/596-597, [Derbyshire_Record_Office].
[38] Lewis D. Cook, "John Curtis (1635-1696) of Derbyshire, England, and Burlington County, New Jersey," National Genealogical Society Quarterly 61 (1973), 83-99, at 83, citing Litchfield Wills, Joint Records Office, Public Library.
[39] W.P.W. Phillimore, ed., Calendars of Wills and Administrations in the Consistory Court of the bishop of Lichfield and Coventry, 1516 to 1652 (British Record Society, 1892), 419, right column, [GoogleBooks], [FHLBook], [FHLCatalog], [FHL_Wiki_Learn].
[40] FamilySearch.org, Church record, [FamilySearchRecord].
[41] FamilySearch.org, Curtis family record, [FamilySearchRecord].
[42] Lewis D. Cook, "John Curtis (1635-1696) of Derbyshire, England, and Burlington County, New Jersey," National Genealogical Society Quarterly 61 (1973), 83-99, at 83.
[43] Curtis website. Search for Curtis, John, b. c 1570, d. 23 Jan 1628/29, [URL].
[44] The National Archives of the United Kingdom Catalog, The National Archives, Kew, C 142/713/217, [UKNationalArchives].
[45] Staffordshire, Dioceses of Lichfield and Coventry wills and probate 1521-1860, [FindMyPastImage], [FindMyPastRecord].
[46] David Clay, Clay of Derbyshire, England (Webpage), north-wingfield, [ClayDerbyshire].
[47] Gladwyn Turbutt, "Vanished Splendours of Derbyshire - Ford House", (When and where published?), p. 68-69.
[48] Janet and Robert Wolfe, Genealogy Page for Thomas Curtis of Bugbrooke, [JRWolfeGenealogy].