"The parish of Morland (Moorland) is bounded on the East by the parishes of Kirkby Thore and St. Michael's Appleby, being separated from them by the River Eden; on the South-east by the parish of St. Laurence Appleby; on the South, by the parish of Crosby Ravensworth; on the South-west, by the parish of Shap; on the West and North-west, by the parishes of Bampton and Lowther; and on the North , by the parish of Cliburn: And contains about 271 families; all of the church of England, 7 only excepted.

The church of Morland (according to Dr. Todd) is dedicated to St. Laurence. It is a vicarage. The church at Morland is a fair large building, with two rows of pillars, three in each row; with a tower steeple, and three good bells.

Strickland (Stirkland) gave name to the family of Strickland, which continued here for many generations, and afterwards removed to Sizergh.

Thrimby is a small village in this parish, consisting only of about six families.

There are many places of the name Newby (which means no more than new town); and therefore this, by way of distinction, and from the nature of its situation, is called Newby Stones.

Slegill, Sleagill, probably hath its name from sloe trees (vulgarly pronounced slea trees) having grown there. This seems to have been esteemed anciently part of Newby.

King's Meaburn, as then belonging toi the crown, was so called by way of distinction from Maud's Meaburn, which belonged to Maud wife of the first Robert de Veteripont... the one was Meaburn Regis, the other Meaburn Matilde.

Bolton was variously written in ancient times; as Boelthun, Boeltun, Bovelthun, Botheltun: From all which may be conjectured that it received its name from the owner, Bothel, Bovel, Boel, or the like. Bovel, and Bolt, are names yet in use in Westmorland. [in 1777]

Eastward from Bolton, and about a mile and an half west from Appleby, is a pleasant seat belonging to the bishop of Carlisle, called Buley Castle, on the south side of the river Eden, opposite to Crackenthorp, It was formerly controverted, but now agreed to be in Morland parish. "

Nicolson and Burn: The history and antiquities of the counties of Westmorland and Cumberland. 1777. Transcribed by Anne Nichols.

Cemeteries

Census

Returns survive apart for Sleagill for the 'census' of 1787 and are held at the Kendal Record Office of Cumbria Archives Service. The Record Office reference is WQ/SP/C. They are transcribed in Vital Statistics published by Curwen Archives Trust 1992. ISBN 1897590008. There are trancriptions on EdenLinks for

• Morland
• Bolton
• Kings Meaburn
• Newby
• Great Strickland
• Little Strickland
• Thrimby

Census returns are available from the usual sources for 1841-1901.

Transcript and index for 1851 has been published by the Cumbria Family History Society and also in 'North Westmorland - An Index to the 1851 Census' compiled by David Lowis and Barbara Slack.

Church History

St Laurence. The oldest tower in the county - C11th Saxon. C12th N and S aisles. N and S Early English transepts with fine lancet windows. Chancel is Perp with 4-light windows. C17th S porch.. C13th coffin and C16th brass to John Blythe.

St Barnabas. Great Strickland Chapel.

Church Records

The parish records and BTs are held at the Kendal Record Office of Cumbria Archives Service.

For searching on www.familysearch.org see Jake Prescott's list of IGI batch numbers.

Directories

The details for the parish from the Parson & White's Directory for 1829 are transcribed on Edenlinks site.

History

Strickland, the Lordship and Seat of a Family, that took their Name from it, of whom
many were in their Generations Men of great Honour and Reputation; but their Name in
our Records, is usually written Stirkland. Many of this Family were Knights of the
Shire for this County, viz. Robert de Stirkeland 15 Edw. II. Walter de Stirkeland 1
Edw. II. and both of them together 16 Edw. II. John de Stirkland 1 Edw. III. Walter
de Stirkland 6 Edw. III. and 17 Edw. III. Thomas de Stirkland 7 Hen. VI. Walter de
Stirkland 20 Hen. VI. and John de Stirkeland 12 Edw. IV. And as this Family produced
Men serviceable to the Civil State, so it wants not some of Eminency in the Church in
their Time, viz.

William Strickland, born here in 1396, descended of a good Family in this County, was
chosen, by joint Consent of the Chapter, Bishop of Carlisle; but by the Concurrence of
the Pope and King Richard II. One Robert Read was put into that See. Dr. Strickland
could not but resent the Disappointment, as both unjust and affronting, but bore it
with much Moderation. After some Time Read was translated to Chichester, and Thomas
Marks succeeded him, but was not long after removed by the Pope to a Grecian Bishoprick;
and Strickland being chosen again, was consecrated Bishop of Carlisle in the Year 1400.
He sat nineteen Years, and besides other benefactions to his See, he will be ever
memorable in the Town of Penrith in Cumberland for this extraordinary Work, viz. He
caused a Passage to be cut with great Art, Industry, and Expence, from that Town to the
River Petterel, for the Conveyance of Boats into the Irish Sea. He died in the Year of
our Lord 1419. and was succeeded by Roger Whelpdale.

John Strickland, educated in Queens College, Oxford, after he had taken his Degrees, and
entred into Holy Orders, became Chaplain to the Earl of Hertford, and being admitted
Bachelor of Divinity in 1632, was presented to the Rectory of Middleton, alias Pudimore
Milton, in Somersetshire, by Sir John Horner, Knt. He was always puritanically inclined,
and upon the Change of the Church-Government by the House of Commons took the Covenant,
and was one of the Assembly of Divines, being then esteemed a Person of Learning and
Judgment. He was afterwards Minister of St. Peter le Poor in London, and St. Edmund's in
Salisbury, at both which Places he shewed great Zeal for the present Establishment, being
in Judgment a Presbyterian. He was ejected in 1662, for Non-conformity, and dying in 1670,
was buried in the church of St. Edmund in Salisbury abovesaid, in which Parish he some
Years held a Meeting, and preached.

Kings-Meburne, the Lordship of Roger Lord Clifford, who being inveigled, or rather forced to join
with Thomas, Earl of Lancaster, 13 Edw. II. In his
rebellious Attempts, was taken Prisoner by the King's Forces at
Burrough-brigg, and beheaded at York. His Estate becoming thus forfeited,
the King bestowed this Lordship on Anthony de Lucy, Esq.; for Term of Life.
But upon the loyal and dutiful Behavior of his Son and Grandson, both Rogers
it seems, this Lordship returned to the Family; for the last of them died
possessed of it, with other the forfeited Estates of his Ancestors, 13 Rich.
II. Leaving them with his other Lands to Thomas his Son and Heir, who was a
great Favourite of King Rich. II. And sat in Parliament 13, 14 and 15th
Years of that King's Reign, but died young in the last of those Years.

Magna Britannica et Hibernia.Volume 6: Westmorland  by Thomas Cox (Vicar of Bromfield, Essex) 45 pages, printed in 1731.
Transcription by Sarah Reveley,  Joan Fisher and Lisl Schoenwald. (Rootsweb Westmorland Listmembers)  (c)  2003

British History Online provides historical notes for Morland from The Later Records relating to North Westmorland by John F. Curwen (1932)

A history of Little Strickland Hall is given on EdenLinks.

Maps

A present-day web map is available from Multimap.

Population

Probate Records

Morland is in the diocese of Carlisle and wills will be in Carlisle Record Office.

Taxation

Hearth Tax records for 1674 Morland transcribed on Edenlinks.
Hearth Tax records for 1674 Bolton (Morland) transcribed on Edenlinks
Hearth Tax records for 1674 Great Strickland (Morland) transcribed on Edenlinks.
Hearth Tax records for 1674 Little Strickland (Morland) transcribed on Edenlinks.
Hearth Tax records for 1674 Kings Meaburn (Morland) transcribed on Edenlinks.
Hearth Tax records for 1674 Newby Stones (Morland) transcribed on Edenlinks

Window Tax records for 1777 Reagill transcribed on Edenlinks
Window Tax records for 1777 Crackenthorpe transcribed on Edenlinks.
Window Tax records for 1777 Kings Meaburn transcribed on Edenlinks.
Window Tax records for 1777 Morland transcribed on Edenlinks.
Window Tax records for 1777 Maulds Meaburn transcribed on Edenlinks.
Window Tax records for 1777 Newby transcribed on Edenlinks.
Window Tax records for 1777 Strickland Great transcribed on Edenlinks.
Window Tax records for 1777 Strickland Little transcribed on Edenlinks. transcribed on Edenlinks.

Last updated: Nov 2009 Dave Huddart