Miller at Olney - MUSKET/GRIGGS

[umalaka]

Hi all

I have just obtained a copy of the will of my 3x grt grandfather John Musket who lived in Olney. He died on 4 Oct 1829 occupation Miller. One of the executors is a John Osborn, Baker of Olney.

I'm assuming John Musket produced flour but does anyone know where in Olney this could have been? Is it more likely to have been a windmill than a watermill?   

He married Mary Griggs 26/12/1811  and they had at least 4 children, Ann, Sophia, John and Eliza

Many thanks

John

[DB10]

Hi John

Knowing Olney and its position immediately to the north of the river Ouse I would think it much more likely to have been a watermill - there where two in the immediate area and the following site has a description of a modern countryside walk which takes in both of them:

http://www.milton-keynes.gov.uk/countryside/DisplayArticle.asp?ID=14709

The walk begins at the site of Olney Mill, through a bridleway gate just past St Peter and St Paul's Church. There were two mills less than a mile apart on this part of the River Ouse and they generated much cart traffic to and for across the pastures. Just beyond Mill House and the Granary, the mill race makes an attractive small waterfall where it rejoins the main river.

After the field gate, a stone causeway appears underfoot which links three points known locally as the plank brides, with the site of Clifton Mill. Causeways are common near the river here and were probably built to prevent horses and loaded grain carts sinking into their own ruts.

The river has always been guilty of spreading vast quantities of water over the surrounding countryside and a situation can be imagine where Clifton Mill would have been stranded by flood. This was much regretted by Cowper who wrote the following lines when his favourite walk to a church event was cut off.

"I sing of a journey to Clifton
We would have performed if we could!"
Without cart or barrow to life on
Poor Mary and me thro' the mud.
Sle sla slud
Stuck in the mud
Oh it is pretty to wade through a flood.

The Distressed Traveller
or Labour in Vain COWPER 1808

Will have a dig around and see if I can find any more info - did you have a specific address for John Muskett from the will?

DB10

[DB10]

Pic of the mill at Olney

http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/285962

Seems to have had a troubled past as it burnt down in down in 1878 and again in 1964!!

DB10

[DB10]

This site also has a number of pics of the mill in its later form during the 1900s

http://apps.buckscc.gov.uk/eforms/photolibrary/webform1.aspx

DB10

[umalaka]

Hi DB10

Thanks for posting those interesting websites. 

Unfortunatley John Musket's will just refers to him as miller of Olney, no specific address. There are no individual items listed in the will either just that his estate was valued at under £20 when proved in 1833. So I'm wondering whether it is likely to be 'his' Mill in the photos as it does look rather grand.   

John

[DB10]

Hi John

I guess you are correct that he wouldnt be the owner of the mill - by the way the pics are all of the later mill built late 19th c. - but the original must have been fairly large to support the town and it's clear from the early maps I have looked at that the mill race was a fairly large one - suggesting a fairly large mill at the early stage as well.

I checked the Bank of England inflation calculator (yes thats sad I know  ) and £20 pounds at that time would be around £1500 now - so not super rich but certainly not a pauper!

The connection with the Griggs family is also interesting as they were a well established family in Olney and Surrounding parishes - see thread started by Dark Blue re Griggs in Sherrington

http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php/topic,382942.0.html

In the early 19th c. the Griggs were operating a butchers in Olney and are shown as supplying meat to the almshouses in 1812 - they were also being levied for the poor rates in 1808

See extracts from Oliver Ratcliffes Almanack:

http://www.mkheritage.co.uk/odhs/ratcliffframe.html

John Osborn (possibly the same as the executor) is also rated but no Muskets so that would imply that he wasnt a local business which would attract the levy.

Anyway hopefully a bit more background for you .........

DB10

[Orpheus]

Hello Umalaka

You might find the following books by The Eureka Partnership of use:

'Olney and the Hamlet of Warrington - 1821 Census'.  This is a transcription of the 1821 census found amongst the surviving parish documents for Olney.  It gives the name of the head of each household, his or her trade or profession, the number of males and females in the household (subdivided into age groups), the street in which he or she lived and their religious persuasion.  Several MUSKETs and OSBORNEs are included.

'The People of Olney'.  This is a miscellany of records relating to the parish of Olney and includes settlement certificates, settlement examinations, removal orders, bastardy papers, licensed victuallers of 1577, 1773 and 1784, Poll Books for 1710 and 1722, Land Tax assessment for 1801, Olney Troop of North Bucks Yeomanry for 1808, Trade directories for 1823/4 and 1842, and a Register of Electors for 1832.  Several MUSKETs and OSBORNEs are included in this book too.

Both books are very reasonably priced and can be purchased online at http://www.eurekapartnership.com

Orpheus

[umalaka]

Thanks for the additional info DB10 and Orpheus - I will take a look at the books mentioned I wasn't aware of the site, looks interesting.

John

[smokey1921957]

I am researching Muskett's from Carleton Rode, Norfolk which is not all that far away from Olney. Do you know if you have any relatives from there?