AFTER 1520
A blanket search of 16th century records (Tax assessments, wills, Parish registers/records, Manorial Court Rolls, Muster Rolls etc.), in the counties of Lancashire, Westmorland and the West Riding of Yorks., was undertaken to identify the parishes where our family of Harlings had removed since first recorded in Burton in Lonsdale in 1379. Only three parishes in the whole blanket search produced substantial evidence of Harling occupation. Ingleton (Burton in Lonsdale is a village in this parish), and the adjoining parishes of Kirkby Lonsdale and Clapham. It appears family movement from 1379 had been but only a few miles.
The earliest record available to us; that is to say, of use to us as family historians, is the "Loan Book" a Subsidy Roll dated 1520, which lists all Harlings in the Craven area (Ingleton and Clapham) liable for tax. Manorial Court Rolls of contemporary date give details of Kirkby Lonsdale Harlings. It is from these sources that, with luck, a pedigree can be constructed through to the present day.
From these three Parishes, three separate families had already been established by 1520, albeit they probably all enjoyed a common ancestor. Ramification from these families is noted during the 17th/18th centuries. By the 19th century Harlings had spread far and wide, being drawn principally into the newly established industrial towns.
THE THREE EARLY FAMILIES
But let us now return to the 16th century and look a little closer at these three early families, in an effort to find out a little about them. Sheep played a very big part in the lives of all three families. Breeding sheep for the food market and the woollen trade was their main source of income.
Having purchased their "Copyhold tenancies" (a form of rental) from the Lord of the Manor, the Kirkby Lonsdale branch of the Harlings became rich Yeomen, they now owned their own farms and land. Education followed, resulting in this branch of the family producing sons who became lawyers, wealthy merchants and soldiers. One of whom is John Harling, born at Newbiggin (Kirkby Lonsdale) in 1595, the seventh child of John Harling, who in his will of 1606 left £10 for John's education. Subsequently John married and became the father of ... Ann 1627, Henry 1628 and John 1630. But it isn't untill 1642 that we learn of his activities and deeds in the service of King Charles I.
Having purchased their "Copyhold tenancies" (a form of rental) from the Lord of the Manor, the Kirkby Lonsdale branch of the Harlings became rich Yeomen, they now owned their own farms and land. Education followed, resulting in this branch of the family producing sons who became lawyers, wealthy merchants and soldiers. One of whom is John Harling, born at Newbiggin (Kirkby Lonsdale) in 1595, the seventh child of John Harling, who in his will of 1606 left £10 for John's education. Subsequently John married and became the father of ... Ann 1627, Henry 1628 and John 1630. But it isn't untill 1642 that we learn of his activities and deeds in the service of King Charles I.