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1687. Now in Perpetuam Rei Memoriam, (and for that Cause this is printed) Note,
THE Survey of the Mannour of Stepney, and on Record in that Court, by the Lady Ivy first (she knowing that it would by the Dean be) produced, taken in and about the 25th Eliz. with Reference to other Surveys, above 100 years older, sets out and describes by it self, the whole 130 Acres of Marsh, and Butts the same on the Lands of the Dean of St. Paul's, Lon∣don, held of the Mannour of Stepney, towards the East, and that is on this very Land.
The Act for Draining the whole 130 Acres in Henry the Eighth's time, Butts the same East on the Town of Ratcliff, which is also on this very Land (every part of it) Eastward of Foxes Lane, having always been reckon'd in Ratcliff, and ever so named in all Leases and Deeds, till Shadwell was by 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of Parliament made a Parish, distinct from the Hamlet of Ratcliff, in or about 1670.
And it is to be Noted, That this Land Eastward of Foxes Lane, was also among other Surveyed, and Sold as 〈◊〉〈◊〉 and Chapters Land in the late Times of Rebellion, in or about 1652. and was, and is all of it, (but just ••here the Ditches and Ponds were) 8 or 10 foot higher than the Lands Westward of Foxes Lane, which are al∣••••••ed to be part of Stepkins's Lands in the Marsh.
And besides this 130 Acres of Marsh, so set out as in the Survey aforesaid, the said Stepney Survey sets also out for the Dean.
Shadwel-Field by estimation 20 Acres, and Bounded as it really is, and 5 Acres of Linches, Bounded just as it 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
And also (this Land as it follows described) a Tenement called Derekin, and one Tenement late Pinserus de 〈◊〉〈◊〉, together with a Water-Mill, divers Tenements, Cottages, Mansion-Houses, Orchards, Gardens, Ponds, 〈◊〉〈◊〉, and Pitles, all lying together, Butting South on the Thames, and on Wall, (alias Wapping) Marsh, in part (Marked A in the Map) and on the Linches in part (Marked B) and on Ratcliff High-way in part on the North, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 on Wall (or Wapping) Marsh on the West, and upon the Lords Waste towards the East, held of the Mannour of Stepney freely, ever since Richard the Second's time, at 33 s. 3 d. ½ per annum quit Rent, and the same is still yearly paid for it.
And yet the Claim made by Lady Ivy as aforesaid, would take almost all this whole parcel away, and by that 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the Ground wherein these last mentioned Tenements, Orchards, Gardens, Ponds, &c. belonging to the Dean, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 most certainly lye, and are so exactly described in the aforesaid Survey; and without which there could be to place there, to hold and keep Water to drive the said Mill: And for the mending that matter, the Lady Ivy's Counsel at the last Trial alledged, it had once been an Overshot-Mill, and so did not want these Ditches and Ponds, to hold and keep Water to drive it withal; and the better to make that out, some Deeds were then given 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Evidence, with Stile and Titles before them, which were not in use at the time of the date of those Deeds, and so they were not believed, when produced, nor indeed is it sense in any sort to imagine that an Overshot-Mill, (there being no Water would drive one) could in Nature have ever been there.
And yet Lady Ivy again would pretend to this Land Eastward of Foxes Lane, as parcel of Wapping Marsh, not∣withstanding all this, and a Verdict against her at a Trial in 1684. before the Right Honourable George Lord Jeffreyes, Baron of Wemme, the present Lord Chancellour, then Lord Chief Justice of England, and what was 〈◊〉〈◊〉 said then (and may well be so again) against her new found Deeds, (the finder of which, as perjured, has already been Pillory'd for it) and notwithstanding that her Grandfather Iohn Stepkins Esq 16 Aug. 1615. did ••••mise to one Cayford the three parcels of Marsh, lying next to, and Westward of Foxes Lane (which is held by 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Lease till this day) and therein says, that it lies at the East end of Wapping Marsh, next towards Ratcliff, ••••••tting Eastward on the old Wall, which divided the same from the Mill-Ditch (which lay just East of Foxes L••••e). And the Michaelmas-Term following, the said Iohn Stepkins suffered a Non-suit in the King's-Bench, after 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Ejectment by him brought against the Dean's Lessee, for part (only) of Wall-Marsh-Wall, which he said was en∣croched on the Marsh. And
In 1617. the said Stepkins Claiming again the same thing, a Verdict on a full Hearing, and after a View, was in the Common Pleas given against him, and allowing the whole Wall to belong to the Dean of St. Paul's.
And notwithstanding that her Father, Iohn Stepkins Esq (in his Answer to a Bill preferr'd against him by the ••••••ches Lessee about 1629. then in quiet possession of Wall-Marsh-Wall, but Claiming some Houses Westward 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Foxes Lane, and therein setting out also the Deans Title in Fee to the Mill, with its Appurtenances in Ratcliff, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 to settle the Boundaries) on his Oath, had admitted that the Dean of St. Paul's was seized in Fee of the said Water-Mill, with its Appurtenances (which was this very Land) and that Wall-Marsh-Wall did anciently lye be∣tween the Mill-Ditch and his Land in Wapping, and that the Lands of the Dean and Chapter are divided from 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Land (and have been so time out of mind) by a common Way or Passage, and that was Foxes Lane, which 〈◊〉〈◊〉 that the Marsh (and so Stepkins's Land) ended there, and that it was the Dean's Land that lay Eastward of Foxes Lane, &c. And also
Note, The aforesaid Answer was perused and Signed by Sir Iohn Brampston deceased, Unkle and Trustee to the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Stepkins, and Executor to his Father, and who had the Custody of the Writings which concerned that E∣••••••te, and is the pretended Witness to (the so much talkt off) Glovers Lease, being the Chief Deed that gives ••olour to the Lady Ivy's Title, to the Batemans and Whichcot's Land, by her gotten in Wapping, and yet never was ••••ard of, till (wanted in) 1675. and then luckily found, where Lost, by Lady Ivy herself.