PENKRIDGE
Hurd of Congreve
Elizabeth I passed through Penkridge in 1575. (fn. 97) Royalist troops quartered here were worsted in a small skirmish in May 1645. (fn. 98) Richard Hurd (1720 – 1808), Bishop of Coventry and Lichfield (1774–81) and of Worcester (1781–1810), was born at Congreve, the son of John Hurd, a wealthy farmer there, and was educated at Brewood Grammar School. (fn. 99) He was appointed preceptor to the Prince of Wales and the Duke of York in 1776 and declined the Archbishopric of Canterbury in 1783. (fn. 100)97. Penkridge Par. Reg. 74.
98. Tildesley, Penkridge, 18 n. [A History of Penkridge, ... , by James Carpenter Tildesley]
99. & 100. Dictionary of National Biography
http://www.oxforddnb.com/index/14/101014249/ --------
There was a forge at Congreve, probably on the site of the former mill, by 1717, and its output then and in 1750 was 120 tons. (fn. 108) It continued in use until at least 1832 (fn. 109) but was untenanted c. 1841. (fn. 110)108. E. Wyndham Hulme, 'Statistical History of the British Iron Trade, 1717–50' (Newcomen Soc. 1928), 8 (copy in W.S.L.); Penkridge Par. Reg. 311.
109. Penkridge Par. Reg. 319; Yates, Map of Staffs. (1799), based on a survey made between 1769 and 1775; S.R.O., Q/RDc 22a; Teesdale, Map of Staffs. (1832). It was stated in 1817 that the forge had been held by an ironmaster named Barker, father of the Miss Barker of Congreve who wrote a novel called 'A Welch Story': Pitt, Staffs. 258. A Thomas Barker, junior, occurs in 1777: S.R.O., D. 260/M/box 16, bdle. a.
110. Tithe Maps and Apportionment, Penkridge (copy in William Salt Library), no. 2798; it was owned by the lord of Congreve.
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The surname of Richard Hood of Stamford Bridge, Parish of Catton, Yorkshire, was spelt Hurd in the Register (Thread: Manor of Catwick, near Leven ... Reply #13, regarding Richard Hood)
http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php?topic=752071.msg6214889#msg6214889Mark