Mr. Urban, -
Nash, in his "Worcestershire" (1799), vol. i. p. 155, says of Barndesley Hall, Bromsgrove:
"This seat of ancient gentry, as Mr. Habingdon styles it, is pleasantly situated on the skirt of the Lickey hill. In the time of Edward I. it was called Brandeley, mentioned before among the villages existing at that time in Bromesgrove. Afterward it obtained the name of Barndesley without much variation, and then of Barnsley. There is reason to suppose that a family of the same name lived here from a very early period, though no authentic evidence fixes it sooner than the reign of Edward III. They were descended from the Ardens of Parkhall in Warwickshire. Barndesley Hall was in the possession of a Mr. Barndesley in the time of Queen Elizabeth (Habingdon MSS.); and William Barnesley, of Barnesley Hall, gent., entered his pedigree at the visitation of Worcestershire, anno 1634 (C. 30, F. 107 in Coll. Armor)."
At p. 163 of the same volume, Nash says that
"in the middle aile of the church (Bromsgrove) lieth one of the ancient family of Barnesley, of Barnesley Hall. The brass plate on which was the inscription is taken away."
I have in my possession a manuscript copy of a pedigree of the Barnsley family, the early part of which was written upon parchment by one of that name long since deceased. The original was lent to me several years ago by a member of the family, a female, whose needy circumstances illustrate, the strange declensions and vicissitudes of the families of ancient gentlefolks. As the information contained in the pedigree is somewhat curious, I transcribe the same for your pages. The heading runs as follows:-
"The Barnsley family came in with William the Conqueror, and possessed an estate of £1500 p' annum. William Barnsley, Esq., was worth £300 p. ann. at Barnsley Hall. His whole estate was valued at about £1700 p. ann."
(V. Ambassador's Travels, p. 81 and 131, Fo. Edit London, 1662.)
There is a reputed thigh bone of a giant preserved at Barnsley Hall. I measured it in the small 1 f. 2 circumference. It is clasped with iron, and locked on the old staircase. There is a handsome brick gateway remains, and an old hall built of oak; above are oak beams screwed to the floor, and supporters of the same wood. The remains of the old house is brickwork with stone coins, windows, and the rest was burnt.
The father [see below], William, and his son John's pictures in small oval gilt frames was left to Mrs. Katherine Giffard by Mrs. Macklow by will, which are in that family, hung over the chimney at Chillington in Staffordshire. I have an excellent portrait of that ancestor hung over the best room up stairs at Charingworth, with a beard quite down to his middle, and his gown clasp'd with jewels, the gift of Mr. Roden of Quat by Bridgenorth, whose wife Mary desired him to leave it to me by legacy. Old Mr. W. B. had a white horse that kneel'd down for him to mount and get off, and a white bear that waited on him, which rifled a higler's pots while he was within, but after some merriment he was paid for them. He died by cutting a corn and its bleeding profusely. His son John disinherited his son Henry of Barnsley Hall, and gave great portions to his daughters, leaving his eldest son only £50 a year, who being an officer in the Parliament Army drove off his fathers best fat cattle to feast with his companions at Bromsgrove. Dr. Atwood of Worcest. told me of a gentleman's passing by Barnsley Hall saw 3 Barnsleys in a direct line cracking nuts together, and observed that Death very seldom came that way. One of them replied "It is very true, but when he did he took them by clusters."
Then follow several notes which are referred to by letters and a mark in the pedigree, as -
"X In the parish register at Broomsgrove, 1591-1664. W. Register office at Worcester, 1590-1711. Consulted j* Register office at Lichfield, 1562-1667. II. Herald's office."
[Note: "living" in the first part of the tree referred to a date previous to 1868; "living" in the latter part of the tree did refer to the date of publication in the magazine.]
Here ends the pedigree, the latter part of which was written at a more recent period than the earlier. From other sources I have ascertained that the only one of the last-mentioned eight children now alive is Benjamin William [BARNSLEY], a very aged man, who for many years has resided in Australia, and who has a son and daughter living [in January 1868].
- I am, &c,
Edward J. Wood.
5 Charles Square, N. [London]
[Note: the following newspaper article refers to two BARNSLEYs - the second (at the bottom of the page) is Benjamin William, and may have been he listed above.]
POLICE COURT - ADELAIDE, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 14
[Before Mr. S. Beddome, P.M., Hon. Major O'Halloran, J.P., R. J. Turner, J.P., and Dr. Ward, J.P.]
ASSAULTING A SHERIFF'S OFFICER.
Edward McEllister appeared to the information of Charles Thomas Barnsley, charged with unlawfully assaulting and beating him on 9th November. Mr. Boucaut appeared for the defendant; and the Crown Solicitor and Mr. Wearing, for the prosecution.
Charles Thomas Barnsley said he was a sheriff's officer, on 9th November. Saw the defendant on that day. Received a warrant from the sheriff against the goods and chatels of the defendant in the case of Fenn v. McEllister. In pursuance of his duty he went to the defendant's residence, at Prospect Village, about 12 o'clock. First saw Mrs. McEllister in the garden feeding poultry. Asked her if Mr. McEllister was in. She said "no." Went into the house and pulled out the warrant and showed it to Mrs. McEllister. Went into the room, and sat down to a table. Mrs. McEllister said, "Make out the costs, and I will pay you". Was making out the costs when defendant came into the room. Mrs. McEllister then left the room. Defendant appeared the worse for liquor, and showed fight. Mrs. McEllister tried to hold him back, and said, "Get out, see what a state he is in." He rushed from her, and made across the room towards him. Witness then ran out to get a stick or a stone. Left his father sitting in the room. Was absent about a minute when he heard a noise; returned, and saw his father against the wall. The defendant was behind the door. His father then got out of the widow. He and his father then went into the garden. Defendant came out immediately after them with a broom in his hand. It was not like the one produced, it was a deal one, and not a bamboo handle. Defendant held the broom in both his hands, and chased them, making blows at them at different times. He did not strike him with the broom. Would have given him (Mr. McEllister) a blow if he could have got the opportunity. He chased them out of the garden down the carriage drive. Whilst chasing them he said "I'll murder you," or something very like it, Defendant made several blows at him whilst running down the carriage-drive. His father could not run as fast as he, and defendant raised the broom, struck him with it, and felled him to the ground. He (defendant) then chased them into the road. Took his father into town; he was very weak, and could hardly get into the cart. The car-driver, when he saw his father knocked down, ran off. Saw his father that morning; he was very weak, and could not attend. By Mr. Boucaut - His Father was always strong. He was about 76 years of age; strong enough to be a bailiff's assistant. Got the warrant about 12 o'clock, from the Sheriff personally. Did not know what time judgment was signed. Was not a sworn sheriff's officer; was appointed by Mr. Boothby by word of mouth. Went off to the defendant's house immediately he got the warrant. First saw Mrs. McEllister, and said "I have got a very unpleasant duty to perform," and showed her the warrant. Offered to read it to her. She asked to have it in her hand. Told her he could not allow that. Opened the warrant. Did not call her attention to the seal. Did not read it to her. She said she would pay all the expenses. Positively swear that he showed Mrs. McEllister the warrant. Was not asked by her to show her his authority, and did not reply "I cannot show you the warrant." Was sitting at the table when Mr. McEllister entered the room. His father was sitting opposite him (witness). Defendant did not ask them for their authority. He came in with a rush. Directly he entered the room he made a blow at him, and he (witness) immediately ran out of the room. Defendant had not the broom in his hand when he entered the room. He (witness) immediately ran out of the room. Defendant had not the broom in his hand when he entered the room. He (witness) got his father's stick when they reached the garden. Got valiant when he got outside. Would have struck him with the stick if he could. Did make several blows with the stick at Mr. McEllister. Ran into defendant several times with the intention of throwing him down. Said to him, "Mind what you. are doing; I'm a sheriff's officer." It looked like a deal broom. It was like the broom produced. Would not swear it was not the broom. Would not swear what broom it was. It did not look like the broom produced.
By the Court - Do not think Mr. McEllister ever saw him (witness) before. Was never struck at all by Mr. McEllister.
Patrick MoNamara, cabdriver, stated on 9th November he drove the last witness to Prospect Village. It was about 12 o'clock. Drove them to the gate on the road. Saw the last witness and his father go into the house. After that he saw the last witness come out of the house without a hat on. He and his father went down the avenue, and defendant followed them with a broom in his hand. Saw defendant knock tbe old gentleman down with a broom-handle. Last witness then said "Come away, father." Defendant never struck the last witness. The last witness attempted to strike Mr. McEllister with a stick, and Mr. McEllister defended himself with a broom-handle. Saw two females attempt to quiet Mr. McEllister. Drove the last witness and his.father into town. The Crown Solicitor asked that the case mtght be sent to the Supreme Court, inasmuch as that class of offences, one of which the defendant had committed, was out of the jurisdiction of the Local Court. Mr. Boucaut objected to the point raised, and contended that the case against Mr. McEllister should be dismissed, as the charge was not sustained. There had been no assault or battery committed on the complainant; but on the contrary defendant had defended himself against the attacks of the informant. For the defence he called Mary McEllister, who stated she was in the employ of Mr. McEllister, at Prospect Village. Saw the informant (Barnsley) on 9th November, at defendant's residence. Saw him and his father in the house. Mrs. McEllister was in the verandah. Heard her ask him for his authority. He replied, "No; where is the master?" Saw Mr. McEllister afterwards with a broom following them down the carriage drive. The broom produced is the one he had. Held defendant while in the garden for fear he should strike them. When Mr. McEllister entered the room, the informant was there. He said "What brought you here?" He did not reply to the question, but continued writing out something on the table. The defendant had the broom in his hand when he entered the room in which the informant was. Saw him (defendant) strike the elder man, who immediately afterwards leaned against the fence. Defendant did not strike the young man (informant). Informant took a stick out of the old man's hand, and said "come on now," and whirled the stick round his head, the old man was quite able to walk and talk when he got into the car.
The defendant was committed to take his trial at the next sittings of the Supreme Court. Bail allowed.
The same defendant was then charged with assaulting and beating Benjamin William Barnsley, on 9th November, at Prospect Village. The evidence in this case was precisely similar as that in the former case. The case was remanded till Monday next for the attendance of the informant. Bail allowed in two sureties of £25 each, and himself in £50.
The newspaper article on the National Library of Australia website