Notebook of William Page, Moor Hall and Manor Farms, Aston Botterell and Middleton Scriven

William Page, born 1850, was the son of a farmer from Oreton, in Stottesdon. By 1890 he was farm bailiff at Moor Hall Farm, Aston Botterell, working the farm for Mary Beddoes following the death of Thomas her husband. On the death of Mary, he took over the farm himself. In 1904 he moved to Manor Farm, Middleton Scriven. He kept a notebook to record his major purchases and sales. Whilst this may not be complete, it gives a good idea of his business, predominantly raising and selling sheep and beef cattle. It also gives details of the hiring of his workmen and their pay. Extracts for the notebooks are below.

1890

June 20th Pd W Boraston £1-0-0
July 24th Cheese to J. Wellings, 24lbs @ 4d, 8/8
July 31st Sent 32 sheep to the hill
Sept 26th Pd A Parton £1-0-0
Nov 1st Sent 32 sheep to the hill
Dec 22nd Cheese to J Price, 17lbs @ 4d, 5/8
Part of 2 days work to J. Price
Dec 26th Cheese to Whatmore 21lbs @ 4d, 7/-
Dec 31st Pd W Boraston £1-0-0

1891

Jan 4th Pd A Parton £1-0-0
J Price 1½ days
Jan 12th Cheese to J Welling 22lbs @ 4d, 7/7
Jan 28th W Boraston went home
Feb 14th B Davies died. Pd J. Price up to this date, W. Boraston returned
Feb 16th H. Whatmore went home. Pd H. Whatmore £1-0-0
April Lent J. Price £1-0-0
May 11th Sent 18 sheep to the hill
May 16th A Page left
May 1st Hired John Poyner £14-0-0
May 2nd Hired Henry Haycox £8-0-0
May Annie Parton £1-0-0
May 20th Cheese to J. Welling 19½lbs @ 4d/lb, 6/6
May 27th 30 ewes and 40 lambs to the hill
June 20th 40 ewes and 34 lambs to the hill
June 23rd J Poyner £1-0-0
July 10th 40 bags wheat to Messrs W. & E. Webb, Wordsley @ 16/6 bag
July 11th John Duce commenced harvesting @ 2/- per day
Aug 12th 3 ewes to Mt H Jones @ 45/- per head, pd £6-15-0
Aug 17th Pd H Haycox 17/-. Cow to H. Jones, pd £8-0-0
Aug 19th 2 bags wheat to Mr Wheeler @ 16/- per bag
Aug 24th Pd A Parton £1-0-0
Aug 27th 32 sheep to the hill
Sept 23rd 2 bags of wheat to Mr Wheeler @ 16/- per bag, £1-12-0
Oct 5th Wm Page, bag of wheat
Oct 15th John Poyner £1-0-0
Oct 26th Lent John Price £1-0-0
Oct 29th A. Parton £1-0-0, H. Haycox, £1-0-0
Nov 4th 40 sheep to the hill
Nov 14th Pd John Poyner £1-0-0, John Price 13/-
Nov 28th Due from John Price 6/-
Dec 28th Henry Haycox £1-0-0

1892

Jan 2nd A Parton £1-0-0, John Poyner £2-0-0
May 1st Hired Annie Parton £11-0-0, John Poyner £15-12-0
June 10th Charles Hughes £13-10-0
July 25th Pd C. Hughes on ac 21 bags of wheat to Harvey & Co. @13/-. Wool to Smith, Salop, 247lbs gross @9½d, £13-13-0
Aug 19th Pd Annie Parton on ac of wages £1-0-0
Nov Pair of boots, C. Hughes
Oct 17th C. Hughes on ac 10/-
Oct 21st C. Hughes £1-0-0
Dec 1st Pd Robt Southern £2-0-0
Dec 12th Pd C. Hughes 10/-
Dec 18th Pd Robt Southern £1-0-0

1893

May 1st Hired Mary Booton £8-0-0, Edward Evans £16-0-0
July 18th Alfred Glase hired to May 1st “12-0-0
Oct 16th Cheese 24lbs @ 4d to W. Stephenson, 19lbs @ 4d to Jas Wellings
Oct 25th 7 beasts to Mr Wheeler, £90; 2 cows to Mr Walker £45-10-0
Nov 3rd Cheese 37lbs @ 4d to Ric Page, Oreton
Dec 21st 50 bags oats to T Baker @ 8/9 per bag to Cleo M. station, £21-17-6

1894

Jan 23rd 16 bags barley to Mr Haines, 11-8lbs @ 29/- per quarter
Feb 10th 19½lbs cheese to Wellings @ 4d, 6/6
Mar 1st 6 bags wheat to Mr Wheeler 110 lbs @12/-, £31-12-0
April 13th 1 pig to Mr Jones, Norton for store £1-0-0
April 17th 12 bags wheat to Mr Wheeler @ 12/- per bag
July 6th Wool to Mr Beddoes 143lbs @ 10d, £5-19-2
July 25th Ric James commenced harvesting midday at 10/- per week
Aug 22nd 19lbs cheese to Wellings @ 4d/lb, 6/4
Aug 25th Sold 2 cows to Mr Jones, Chorley, £39-0-0
Sept 25th Hired Kate Barker at rate of £10 per year
Oct 25th 6 bullocks and heifer to Mr Wheeler, £89-10-0

1895

Jan 14th Hired Susan Childes @1/- per week
Jan 30th Mrs Beddoes, the Hall, 25lbs cheese @ 4d, 8/4
Feb 11th 20 sacks barley to Mr Ridley @ 12/6, 17lbs cheese to J Wellings @4d
June 12th Mr Jones, 2 heifers £28-0-0
June 13th, 20th 2 lambs each @ £1-10-0 each sale
June 21st Mr Parton, Stottesdon, ½ bag of potatoes 3/6
July 1st Wool, sheet No 349, gross weight 232 lbs; sheet 12 220lbs @ 10d. Mr Kinnish paid £9-3-4
July 17th Mr Jones, fat cow, £18-10-0
Aug 27th Hired R Cartwright @ 5/- per week
Sept 23rd Mr Parton, rabbits, 1/6
Oct 12th 8 beasts to Mr Wheeler, £102-0-0
Dec 2nd William Lane hired, 5/- per week

1896

Mar 7th Pd T. Hughes for mare to Mr Bishop’s horse count
April 29th 4 sheep to keep, Geo Poyner, 3d each
May 1st William Lane hired £14-10-0, C. Hughes hired £14-10-0
June 1st Sarah Yapp hired £10-0-0
June 22nd G. Poyner, sheep away
Aug 17th Jerry Jordan hired @ 5/- per week
Nov 7th Sold barley stack to Mr Haines, Wheathill, £35-0-0
Nov 9th Mr Jones, cow, £9-0-0

1897

Jan 15th Mr Hodnet, Leasows, turkey, 17/-; rec’d on account 10/6
Jan 20th Mr Haines, Wheathill, 15 sacks barley @ 14/- per sack
April 14th Mr Wheeler, 10 bags wheat @12/6 £6-5-0
April 20th Mr Jones, 10 sheep @ 43/- each, 2 sheep @ 45/- each, £26-0-0
June 8th Mr Jones, 12 sheep, £24-0-0 each
July 16th 327 lbs wool @ 9½d to Messrs Webb & Sons
July 22nd Mrs Beddoes, the Hall, 17lbs cheese @ 4d
Aug 7th Mr Jones, 2 cows £34-10-0
Aug 7th, 28th Mrs Beddoes, cheese 29lbs
Sept 1st Mrs Beddoes cheese 37lbs
Sept 27th Mrs Beddoes cheese 126lbs
Sept 28th Mr Jones, sheep and lambs £13-5-0, cow £18-0-0. Mr Inston, B’north, 5 pigs @ 24/- each, £6-0-0
Oct 2nd H. Hammonds, 1 pig @ 24/6
Oct 6th Bought foal of W. Porter
Oct 7th S Inston 3 pigs @ 24/6 each and 1 sheep, 30/-
Oct 13th W. Jones, heifer, £14-10-0
Nov 20th A Heayers, duck, 3/-
Dec 20th S. Inston, 1 sheep, part 10/-

1898

Aug 11th Burwarton stores, 86lbs lard gross @ 7d
Aug 13th Mr Lyons, Neenton, 16lbs ruin honey @9d, 12/-
Sept 10th T. Breakwell, 11lb cheese @ 4d

1899

Oct 14th Nora Corfield, 16lbs cheese @4d
Dec 12th Hired Joe Mullard @ 6/- per week
Dec 16th Pd Mr Scott for threshing on 4th and 5th Dec

1900

Jan 1st Joe Mullard, tobacco, 6d
April 2nd 15 sheep to Mr Williams @ 38/- each
April 23rd Returned cask 1770 to Shifnal brewery
May 10th W. Lane hired £14-0-0

1901

May 1st Hired Harry James @ 8/- per week
May 7th Hired Arthur Palmer @ £13 pa
May 8th Yearling colt to Mrs Hodnett to keep
May 18th Mare to Cannock Horse
May 21st Sow to Burwarton
June 29th Weight of wool sold to Messrs Marston Bros at 7 ½ d/lb; sheet No 201, gross weight 283lb, sheet No 77 gross weight 311 lbs, total 594 lbs. Weight of sheets 26lbs. Net weight 568 lbs.
July 3rd Dr Hodges, leg of mutton, 10½ lbs @ 9d; Mrs Kinnish, 18lbs paid @ 7½
Sept 14th Mr Boddey 1 pot of greengage plumb 7/6, 2 pots pears @ 10/- each, £1-0-0
Oct 14th Mr Lyons, 14lbs honey @ 8d per lb
Oct 23rd Cheese to Mr Kinnish, 58 lbs @ 4d; 4 cows to Mr Walker @ £17-15-0 each
Nov 9th Norah Corfield cheese, 16 lbs @ 4d
Nov 16th Mrs Kinnish cheese, 16lbs @ 4d
Nov 27th Mrs Kinnish cheese, 36 lbs; Mr Walker, 6 beasts @ £14-10-0 each
Dec 8th Arthur Palmer 1 pig £1-0-0, boots 12/-, legins 4/-
Dec 21st Goose, 17lbs @ 6d; goose 18lbs @ 6d
Dec 25th Mrs Kinnish 2 geese, 34lbs @ 6d

1902

Jan 2nd Mr Walker, 10 ewes @ 4/- each £20-10-0
April 29th G Bowen 3 bags barley, 10 scores @ 13/6
May 2nd Hired William Thomason, £12-0-0
June 10th Mrs Morrison, 3 bags barley @ 15/- each
June 11th Mare to Bishop’s horse
Sept 29th 39 sheep @ 46/- and 1 cow, Mrs Dalkin
Dec 12th 7 beasts to Mr Walker @ £15 each, 3 ewes @ 44/- each
Dec 20th Mr Boddey, goose, 19lbs @ 6d, 9/6
Dec 23rd Mrs Kinnish, goose, 20lbs @ 6d, 10/-
Dec 27th Mr Boddey, goose, 17lbs @ 6d, 8/6

1903

Feb 10th Mr Hall, Detton Mill, 1 bag wheat, 11 score (crossed out and replaced with W. Hughes)
Mar 24th W. Hughes, bag of wheat
May 1st Hired Henry James for the year, £23
May 11th Henry Blount, 5/- per week
June 10th W. Hughes, bag of wheat, 13/-
June 21st Frost-cut potatoes in garden
July 27th W Hughes, bag of wheat, 11 score
Aug Norah Corfield stocking, 1/6; Henry James trousers 3/6, cash £1-0-0
Sept 8th Mr Walker 8 pigs @ 27/- each, £10-16-0; 6 lambs @ 28/- each, £8-0-0
Sept 9th Mrs Gittins, cheese, 10lbs @ 4d, 3/4
Oct 16th Mrs Gittins, cheese, 13lbs @ 4d, 4/4
Oct 29th Pd John Shingler of hire of trap for swede judges, 15/-
Nov 3rd Mrs Beddoea, Stottesdon, cheese, 20lbs @ 4d, 6/8
Nov 7th 28lbs wool, 42lbs washed wool to Millon, dyers
Nov 13th HE Jones, heifer, £10-10-0
Nov 16th G Walker, 2 heifers, £30-0-0
Dec 26th Mrs Bowen, cheese, 23lbs, 7/8
End of wettest year on record

1904

Jan 8th Mrs Gittins, 16 lbs cheese, 5/4
Jan 22nd Mrs Bowen 21 lbs cheese
Jan 26th Mrs Beddoes, 19 lbs cheese
April 8th Let cottage to Garbett and Duce
April 23rd Mrs Wellings cheese, 15lbs, 5/-: Mrs Beddoes cheese, 19lbs, 6/4
May 14th Hired Florey Griffiths, £11-0-0
May 19th Hired George Edwards, 5/- per week
June 29th Mr Jones, 1 cow £17-10-0, 1 sheep £2-12-0
July 6th Mr Jones, cow, £17-10-0
July 15th W Jones, pig £2-0-0
July 25th H Jones, 14 sheep @ 46/- each; £32-4-0
Aug 17th Mr Jones; beast (Bunney) £17-10-0, cow £18-0-0, 6 pigs @ £1 each, £6; 1 lamb, 44lbs @ 8d, £1-7-6
Dec 22nd 6 pigs £6-0-0; 1 heifer, £16-0-0

1905

Jan 18th 2 ewes to keep, 1 heifer £16-0-0
Feb 9th 1 heifer @ 6½d per lb, 13-0-0
Feb 23rd Ewes taken away
March Mr Attlee ½ bag of wheat and eggs, 6d, 7/6
March 20th ½ bag potatoes, 2/6
March 31st Hawkes bullock, 670lbs @ 6½d, 18-2-11
April 18th Finished hauling timber for Mr Bunney
May 11th Ewe, Mr Jones, 90lbs @ 7½d/lb
May 15th Wm Jones, pig, £1-2-0
May 17th 4 heifers to keep with Mr Hall @ 5/- per week
June 3rd Wool, 84lbs @ 11d from Mr Hall
Aug 10th Mr Jones, 4 sheep, 40/- each; 3 ewes, 45/-, cow 600lbs @ 6½d
Sept 14th Cow 728 lbs @ 6½d £19-11-4
Sept 27th Lamb, 47 lbs £1-11-4
Sept 28th Pig 180 lbs @ 6d £4-0-0
Dec Beast 604 lbs @ 6½d, £16-7-2

1906

Sales, etc to H.E. Jones
Jan 4th 1 ewe @ 45/-, 1 beast 667lbs @ 6½d, £18-2-3
Jan 16th Hauling 2 tons of coal 10/-, beast £17-10-0
Jan 24th Beast £17-10-0
Feb Cow £22-0-0
April Cow £15-11-0 and a skin
May Sheep skin and lambs, 3 pigs 27/6 each, 2 sheep 85lbs and 60lbs in wool, 2 sheep 65lbs and 84lbs, 2 sheep 79lbs and 90lbs, 2 beasts heifer and bullock £26-0-0
Aug 22nd 1 cow, £16-10-0
Sept 1 sheep 34lbs @ 7½d, 1 sheep 43½ lbs @ 8½d, ½ bag oats 80lbs 4/6, 1 sheep 59lbs @ 8½d, 1 sheep 70 lbs @ 7½d. Grinding 2 bags of beans, 1/9
Oct 1 ewe 78lbs @ 7½d, grinding 2 bags 2/-, 3 sheep 75lbs, 85lbs and 80lbs @ 8½d, 2 pigs 74lbs and 63lbs @ 6d, 2 pigs @ 74lbs and 43 lbs £2-18-6
Nov 1 sheep 86lbs @ 8½d, 1 sheep 74lbs @ 7½d, 1 sheep 98lbs @ 8½d, grindign1 bag 1/-, 1 sheep 90lbs @ 8½d, grinding 4 bags 4/-, 1 sheep 72lbs @ 7½d
Dec 1 sheep 75lbs @ 7½d, 1 cow 695lbs @ 6d, 1 beast 591 lbs @ 7d, 1 beast 680lbs @ 7d, 1 beast 663lbs @ 7d, 1 lamb 41lbs @ 8d

Feb 2nd Rec’d all rent due from W Preece upto Michaelmass last
Feb W Preece 6 score pig feed, bean barley 7/6
May 25 gallons of cider 12/6
June 12th Wool off sheep at halves with Mr Hall, 48½ lbs
June 25th Bridgnorth District Council, horse and man, coals and binding, 1 day
June 26th, 27th, 28th Bridgnorth District Council, horse and man, water cart, 6/6 each day
Sept 20th Returned 3 oil drums to Schleicher, London, carriage paid, 8d
Nov ½ bag pig feed, 5 score, 6/6

1907

Estate work for Mr Bunney
March 2 horses and man fetching timber, carriage from Oreton ½ day
March 11th-14th, 4 horses and man, ½, 1, 1 and ½ day respectively
May 6th Cart of coals from Billingsley 5/-
Moving Engine from Faintree

Feb 20th Mr P. Preece, blacksmith, 1 bag wheat and grinding 14/-
Oct 17th Hauling 2 tons slag from Bridgnorth, Mr J Hall

1909

April 12th 12 beasts to keep with Mr J Winwood @ 1/6 per head
May 3rd 5 beasts taken away
May 17th 7 beasts taken away
June 9th 20 ewes and lams to keep
June 10th 7 heifers to keep, 1/6
July 16th Ewes and lambs taken away
August 11th Heifers taken away
Sept Burwarton Club subscription 5/-
Sept 14th 6 heifers to keep
Nov 3rd Heifers taken away
Dec 22nd ½ bag cobbled oats, 10/- Mr J Hall

1910

Jan 28th ½ bag of cobbled oats, two cows to beast Mr J Hall
Feb 8th ½ bag of cobbled oats, Mr Hall
Mar 7th ½ bag of cobbled oats, Mr Hall
April 5th ½ bag of cobbled oats, Mr Hall
May 5th Two cows, Mr Hall
June Bag wheat meal, 15/-, Mr Hall
July 6th Wool to Messrs Smith and sons, Salop. Sheets 750-563-555; 2cwt-2qr-7lbs, 2cwt-3 qr-7lbs, 2cwt-1qr-27lbs, gross weight 7cwt-3qr-13lbs. Mr Hall 234 lbs, Mr Bowen 92lbs @ 1/0½ per lb, 837 lbs net
Oct-Dec Mr J Winwood, grinding 16½ bags

1911

Feb 7th Mr Williams, Oreton, cow to beast 5/-
March Mr Winwood Grinding wheat and bran, 2/-. Less pig-killing, 6/-
May 2nd W Reynolds, pig, allowed 10/- for foal, ½ bag wheat meal 7/-
1 bag seed potatoes 7/- Mr Shaker
June; Mr Shaker Hive of bees 5/-, cider 30 gallons @ 6d, 15/-, 1 cwt potatoes 5/-, 2 pigs £1 each
June Wool to J. Smith & Sons, 3 sheets, 7cwt-3qr-17lbs @ 1/- per lb
July 30 gallons cider @ 6d,
Sept 30 gallons cider @ 6d
Oct 30 gallons cider @ 6d
Oct 9th Mr Wellings Oreton, cash on account of lime, 10/-
Dec 1 cwt potatoes 4/-, 30 gallons cider @ 6d

1912

June Wool to J Smith & Sons, 250lbs and 235lbs (two sheets = 32lbs).

1914

May 8th Blackbird to Zealot