( See items 12 and 38 in Thomas Russell’s Will )
The following inscription appears on a charity board in Blithfield Parish Church :-
THOMAS RUSSELL, OF THE CITY OF LONDON, BY WILL DATED JULY, 7TH.,1589 52s. LEFT YEARLY FOR EVER TO BUY 12d.IN BREAD FOR EVERY SUNDAY IN THE YEAR TO BE GIVEN TO THE POOR OF YE PARISH OF BLITHFIELD CHARGED UPON HIS ESTATE AT MARCHBARN IN THE PARISH OF HERMITAGE.
Notes :-
(a) The inscription at Colton Parish Church is almost identical, but the words “ of ye parish “ are omitted.
(b) The date of Thomas Russell’s Will was 1593, not as shown above.
(c) “Marchbarn” is the present Marsh Barn Farm at Handsacre.
(d) "Hermitage" is the old name for Armitage.
Thomas Russell bought Marsh Farm from his brother-in-law, Thomas Bailey, on the 13th.August, 1591, but allowed Thomas and his wife, Joane, (Thomas Russell's sister), to continue to live there. Thomas Russell then gave the farm to his nephew, Richard Bailey (as from 1526) on condition that he paid to the churchwardens of Colton and Blithfield the sum of 52s. a year each so that twelve pennyworth of bread ( at 13 loaves to the dozen ) could be given to the poor of the parish.
The money was to be paid in four instalments L- at the Feast of the Annunciation, at the Feast of the Birth of St. John the Baptist, at the Feast of St. Michael and on Christmas Day.