The medival manor house had been on a moated site adjacent to the par ish church. The old part of Barkham is the small settlement by the parish church and is close to Barkham Street. A contractor cutting bricks for the wall of the partially-restored wild and natural walled garden at Warley Place, Brentwood. His main home in the area, however, was in Earley and he soon sold Barkham
An open field system of farming prevailed in the parish until early in the 19th century. They lived in the parish from the late 15th to the mid-17th century, but William Ball, the man once thought to have emigrated to Virginia and become Mary's great grandfather, actually died in London and his family lived in the East Berkshire area for at least two more generations. For most of its life, Barkham
Route [ edit] Lord William Joseph of Barkham Manor Ball - Ancestry The living is a rectory in the diocese of Oxford, and was held in conjunction with Arborfield in the 17th century; net yearly value, 247 with residence. Children of John Ball and Sarah Howell Fairchild are: 5 i. Silas Ball was born 1445 in Barkham, Berkshire, England. William Standen died childless, and his heir-at-law was a kinsman called William Ball, who was the gra ndson of Edmond Standen's second brother. 7d. George Washington's mother, Mary Ball, was born here and John Walter lived here. Ordnance Survey Licence number 100024900.© British Crown and SeaZone Solutions Limited 2023. This database contains family trees submitted to Ancestry by users who have indicated that their tree can be viewed by all Ancestry subscribers. John
It seems that William Standen's. Upon Mary Standen's death
[10] He was a Freemason, historian and prolific author. The church was rebuilt in 1862. Heritage Apprentices in a training session on the Researching The Historic Environment module and training in Architectural Photography. wife looked after her aging mother there, followed by her mad brother. Leveson-Gower of Bill Hill
With William Page he co-edited three Berkshire volumes of the Victoria County History, which were published in 1907, 1923 and 1924. A group of volunteers from The Friends of Balaam's Wood Local Nature Reserve clearing brambles at Gannow Green Moated Site, New Frankley in Birmingham, Two horsemen reading The Sportsman, 30 Oct 1902, Farnborough, Stratford-on-Avon, Warwickshire. We have transcribed the entry for Barkham from the following: The Return of Owners of Land in 1873 for Berkshire is available to browse. Rev. The Bull Inn public house in Barkham is named in reference to their surname. It is a rural parish, mostly consisting of dairy farmland and woods, despite being surrounded by the town of Wokingham and the large villages of Winnersh, Arborfield Cross and Finchampstead. The family name is also reflected in the name of the Bull pub. Richard Ball b. 1639 Barkham Manor, Barkham, Berkshire, England d. 1677 from Sonning. William Standen died in 1686, and was succeeded by his son John. living in Barkham at the right time. The centre bay has an arched staircase window. Mostly sash windows with glazing bars and rubbed brick arches. According to the surviving hearth tax returns for 1662-64. 1639 Barkham Manor, Barkham, Berkshire, England d. 1677 Maryland: Geneagraphie - Families all over the world However, in
The orginial building was enlarged in the 18th and 19th centuries when the Georgian and Victorian elements were added. Be the first to add a photo and help showcase this place to others. In the following excerpts from Mr. French's pending book, a William Ba ll, referred to as a "kinsman" and heir to William Standen (owner of Barkham Manor at the time of his death in 1639 and childless), with wife Margaret, lived in Barkham Manor as early as 1645 and as late as 1657. Largely based on
The records that Joseph Ball was using were compromised by the Great Fire of London in 1666 that burned almost 2/3 of the city and many many earlier records. (fn. Planning issues remain an interest of the BVRA. Barkham, Berkshire - genealogy heraldry and history - UKGA Several chimneys. 2 storeys. Barkham Manor (formerly listed as Manor House) 26.1.67 GV II Manor house and stables, now large house with stables and staff accommodation over; built on a moated site, part of which remains. The identity of the lord of Barkham after Eleanor Bullokys' death, an d of the lord of Arborfield after Thomas Bullock's, decease in 1463, is unclear, on account of the paucity of surviving re cords, but by 1502 Gilbert Bullock was lord of both, manors. RBH: History of Barkham Manor, Berkshire It is listed Grade 2 building of special architectural or historic interest and is mentioned in Sir Nikolaus Pevsner's Building of England. Death 30 May 1543 - Barkham Manor, Workingham, Berkshire, England Mother Elizabeth Celeter/ Lady Father William Joseph Ball, Lord 14GGF Quick access Family tree New search John BALL family tree Family tree Explore more family trees Parents William Joseph Ball, Lord 14Ggf 1449 - 1480 Elizabeth Celeter/ Lady 1454 - 1475 Spouse (s) Lady Margaret Moody Some of these histories were first
In September 1755 William Waterman III began raising money on the secu rity of the estate, and a number of complicated. Type the name of the parish in the search bar; Click on the location pin on the map Governors and Prime ministers Other. About William Ball, Lord of the Manor of Barkham 1. By 151 4 Gilbert Bullock had died, and had been succeeded, by his son Thomas (who presented Thomas Hornby to the rectory of Barkh am in that year)(17), who remained lord of the, manors of Arborfield and Barkham until his death in 1558. His son, Rev. lordship was in the hands of another Gilbert Bullock (who could have b een his son)(7), who lived until at least 1415. Son of Richard Ball of Galloway, MP and Sarah Ball BARKHAM MANOR, Barkham - 1313101 | Historic England Find out about services offered by Historic England for funding, planning, education and research, as well as training and skill development. Son of Sir John Ball, Knight and Lady Sarah Fairchild William Ball was born around 1450, married c. 1470 and died in 1480. Mostly sash windows with glazing bars and rubbed brick arches. Osgood, who served as High Sheriff of Berkshire i n 1748/9, leased Barkham House from 1751(15) until, his death (aged 47) in 1768, when the contents of the house were aucti oned in a two-day sale, and the house offered for. (also in Hampshire). Husband of Margaret Ball Although the present house (apart from the cellars) dates from the en d of the eighteenth century, the reputed origin of the, ornamental lakes as stew ponds and the magnificent plane tree (Platanu s Orientalis), reputed to be up to 450 years old, may, indicate the existence of a high status building on the site since a t least Tudor times. Wm. often missed by historians, including those which only joined
Having married Gilbert Bullock, Agnes brought
Location: Barkham, Wokingham, Berkshire, RG41, Lieutenancy Area (Ceremonial County): Berkshire, BARKHAM 1 Barkham Manor Barkham Road, Barkham, Wokingham, Berkshire, RG41 4DQ Role Active Director Date of birth March 1930 Appointed on 1 February 1995 Nationality British Country of residence. The Bullocks
kinsman, William Ball, a supporter of the Parliamentary cause and writ er of political pamphlets, took up residence at Barkham, where he and his wife Margaret continued to reside, when not in London , until at least 1652(7). The first house on the site was
years later - although he rented it to John Nares in the meantime. Brother of John Ball and Edward Ball, http://www.gurganus.org/ourfamily/descend.cfm?fid=156273, http://www.angelfire.com/tx4/custer/ball.html. SLC, UT 84010) GEDCOM file imported in 1997, based on the works of Edward Graham Ball in 1987. Post town, Wokingham; money order and telegraph office, Arborfield. East front:- a projecting late C18 section of 3 bays on the right, with walls carried up to a plain parapet with stone coping; tall windows, 2 on the ground floor blocked. 26.1.67 Youll get hints when we find information about your relatives . List of Baronetcies in The Baronetage of England. that have shaped each place. Search over 400,000 listed places Overview Official List Entry Comments and Photos Previous Overview Next Comments and Photos (Berkshire) p.75. For many centuries the manor house was a secondary home of the Bullock family. Little is known about. From Streatley to Padworth and Ruscombe to Finchampstead,
See how you can help. considerably expanded and are joined by many new histories of places
1700, the estate was sold to William Waterman of Southwark in Surrey. William. Historic England holds an extensive range of publications and historic collections in its public archive covering the historic environment. In about 1783, the manor was purchased by the Dowager Countess Gower, the third wife of John Leveson-Gower, 1st Earl Gower, and became the property of the Leveson-Gower family. I. pg. Barkham House had nine fireplaces at this time(9). "Colonel William Ball of Virginia" by- Earl L. W. Heck, FHLC 921.73 - B21h 3. The National Heritage List for England is a unique register of our country's most significant historic buildings and sites. [4] The manor passed by marriage and inheritance through the Standen, Waterman, Kingsmill and Pitt families. See "Edward Ball of 1670, Family Line" and "Family Record of James Ball 1690 of Carteret Co. North Carolina". For any other issue or if you need help, please email: Our website works best with the latest version of the browsers below, unfortunately your browser is not supported. His main home in the area, however, was in Earley and he soon sold Barkham to his valet, William Neville. Little is known about Gilbert Bullock, except that he presented Rober t Towneshend to the rectory of Barkham in 1504(16), and married Margaret, daughter of Sir William Norris of Bray. Contents 1 Vital Statistics 2 Biography 2.1 Nashaway Plantation 3 Inventory of John Ball's Estate - 1655 4 Marriage & Family 5 Children 6 Siblings The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system. White was a wealthy man by, contemporary standards, leaving a personal estate of ?81. By way of background to this conclusion, please also find attached th e chapters about the modern Barkham, Manor and the Bullock family (lords of Barkham) which will appear i n a book I am writing about the history of, Barkham. Birth 1475 - Barkham Manor, Berkshire, England Death 30 May 1546 - Barkham, Berkshire, , England Mother Sarah Cooke Father Arthur Hathaway Quick access Family tree New search Robert Hathoway family tree Family tree Explore more family trees Parents Arthur Hathaway 1460 - 1510 Sarah Cooke 1460 - 1510 Spouse (s) Patience Pope 1480 - 1530 Use England Jurisdictions 1851 Map. The manor house is a pleasantly situated mansion of red brick. The Rev.d John Gabriel became tenant of Barkham House by 1780. Read about our current news, projects and campaigns nationally and in your area. dissolution of Reading Abbey) in 1536 and 1542. Husband of Elizabeth Celeter That source indicates that William may have been born at Barkham Manor, Berkshire, England. Barkham, a village and a parish in Berks, on a small affluent of the Loddon, 2 miles SW of Wokingham railway station. William lived his whole life in Barkham, Berhshire County, England. 32, Page 28 !Page 114 "A Brief Look At The Family Of Colonel William Ball of Virginia. C17 enlarged C18 and C19, altered C20. Little is known about William Waterman, although he serve d as High Sheriff of Berkshire 1709-10. parish. 1) The Barkham Brook, a tributary of the Loddon, flows through the village, and there is a small lake in the parish called Longmoor, constructed by the late Mr. John Walter, where formerly the Longmoor bog existed. Barkham Manor, Berkshire, England - Our Family Tree Use of this data is subject to Terms and Conditions. anyway; so he put up a new place in Barkham and moved his family in. Possibly the old building had fallen into disrepair over twenty years of
Interior:- much altered but with C18 staircase with square newels, turned balusters, and moulded handrail, and moulded tread ends. All rights reserved. George Washington's mother, Mary Ball, was born here and John Walter lived here. thirteen', in all probability recruited amongst his tenants in Arborfi eld and Barkham. By the 1270s, the manor was in the hands of St Thomas Cantilupe, the Bishop of Hereford. Barkham - Wikipedia Whether you are
The living is a rectory in the diocese of Oxford, and was held in conjunction with Arborfield in the 17th century; net yearly . Geneagraphie - Families all over the world : Reigning Deposed Extinct. William Standen (kinsman), except that he was at some time a member o f the Barber Surgeons' Company in the City of London. in Hurst as a future dower
Geni requires JavaScript! The first house on the site was probably built in the 1640s to replace the old medieval Barkham Court which stood half a mile away within the moat that survives today next to the church. Lord William Joseph of Barkham Manor Ball married MRS. WILLIAM BALL. "A Brief Look At The Family Of Colonel William Ball of Virginia, Grandfather of Mary Ball, Mother of Pres. for full details and purchase options. place. In 952AD it was Beorchamme. This List entry helps identify the building designated at this address for its special architectural or historic interest. Parish History [edit | edit source]. Governors and Prime ministers Other. Lord Robert William Ball (1475-1546) FamilySearch Following Eleanor's death, Arborfield became the permanent seat of the Bullocks, and the manor ho use at Barkham was let as a farm to a succession. After his death, his
She was born 1405 in Barkham Manor Berks. The last of the Barkham Nevilles was Agnes, who has a late 14th century wooden effigy in the church porch. It was subsequently let to the Stronghill family
Connect to the World Family Tree to find out, Barkham Manor, Barkham, Berkshire, England, Wokingham, Berkshire, England (United Kingdom), Reading, Reading, England, United Kingdom, William Ball, Lord of the Manor of Barkham, http://genforum.genealogy.com/ball/messages/5374.html, http://maryballwashington.com/E.berksBalls.pdf, Death of Robert Ball, of Barkham Manor at Barkham Manor, 1543 death of his son, Robert Ball of Barkham, 1550 death of Robert's eldest son, William, at Wokingham, [1558] death of Robert's second son, EdwardE3. Barkham Manor (formerly listed as Manor House) Watermans, Kingsmills & Osgoods 1700 to 1768, The Standens continued to own the manor of Barkham until 1700, when Ed ward Standen sold the Barkham estate (including, the lordship and the advowson) to William Waterman I of Southwark (gra ndson of Sir George Waterman, Lord Mayor of London, 1672)(10). you enter the church) is fulsome in its praise of his generous natur e and Christian virtues. The Rev.d John Waterman seems to have divided his time between Barkha m House and Sydmonton Court, which appears to, have been his principal residence, where his wife Penelope would hav e looked after, initially, her mother, Dame Rebecca, Kingsmill, who died in 1727, and her brother William, who, though a ce rtified lunatic, was head of the Kingsmill family from, John Waterman appears to have ministered to the needs of his parishion ers in Arborfield from Barkham House, since a notice, in the Reading Mercury in 1746 about criminal damage to a coppice owne d by him in Arborfield indicates that he was then, resident in Barkham(13). Record can be found in the Miscellaneous Unofficial Collections (Catalogue 14), among Transcripts and Copies . "Area selected: Wokingham (Unitary Authority)", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Barkham&oldid=1058311630, This page was last edited on 2 December 2021, at 19:32. When Mary Standen (widow) died in 1645, William and Sarah Standen move d from Barkham to Arborfield manor, whilst his. The Barkham man died in Holborn in 1647 with a different family of at least seven. The origins of the mansion house called Barkham Manor are obscure, sin ce there are few surviving records before the 1750's. Gathered from those who lived during the same time period, were born in the same place, or who have a family name in common. He married Elizabeth Celeter in Barkham, Berkshire, England. Find out about listed buildings and other protected sites, and search the National Heritage List for England (NHLE). Lord Robert William Ball (1475-1546) - Genealogy Online Abt 1587 Barkham Manor, Barkham, Berkshire, England d. 1 Nov 1656 Concord, Middlesex County, Massachusetts, USA: Geneagraphie - Families all over the world. George Washington." In 1581 Thomas wa s Escheator of Oxon and Berks, and he also served, as High Sheriff of Berkshire 1581-82. HISTORY OF BARKHAM MANOR, PART I (1540-1787). Birth Abt. Another prominent farming family, that of Ball, is erroneously said to be that of George Washington's mother, Mary Ball Washington. Barkham is an Anglo-Saxon word meaning Birch Tree Home. Title: A. Elden Ball, (4190 Butternut Rd. William Ball, Lord of the Manor of Barkham - Geni http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barkham#Manor, 1. Waterman's daughter Eleanor married Edward Standen's son, also calle d Edward (of 'The Ballad of Molly Mog' fame). To the left is a long wing of 5 bays with an old tile roof. Barkham, a village and a parish in Berks, on a small affluent of the Loddon, 2 miles SW of Wokingham railway station. [3] One of these survives, having been divided into two cottages. In the 1240s, the manor was owned by a family who took their name from the
de Nevill (see Chapter 18). Fridays and during Lent) an d during winter. Barkham is a village and civil parish situated three miles from Wokingham in Berkshire. Start a free family tree online and well do the searching for you. Curious ly, however, although the medival manor house was, described as a 'faire houfe' in a 1613 survey of the parishes in Winds or Forest, none of the other twelve houses in Barkham, If there was a high status building on the site in Tudor times, one o f the early occupants may have been John White, a partner, in the Reading and Wokingham bellfoundries(2), who retired to Barkham , where he died in 1551. [9], A number of members of the Leveson-Gower family are buried in the church, including Lady Mary Tufton, Countess Gower, widow of the first Earl Gower; her son Admiral John Leveson-Gower (d.1792); his son, General John Leveson-Gower and daughter-in-law Isabella Mary Leveson-Gower (ne Broke); as well as his grandson, John Leveson-Gower (d.1883), with his wife Charlotte (d.1876), son Sackville (d.1874), and mother-in-law the Right Hon. The name evolved via forms including Berkham' in the 14th century and Barcombe in the 18th century. Son of William Ball, Lord of the Manor of Barkham and Lady Elizabeth Celeter This map is for quick reference purposes only and may not be to scale. No information is available on the name of his wife. Barkham is a small parish 1,388 acres in area, of which 417 acres are arable, 559 permanent grass and 333 woods and plantations. In 1343 Gilbert Bullock presented John de Insula as new rector to Bark ham church(3). The present manor house is a late 18th century Georgian building of two wings of differing dates. Irregular plan. At some stage during the first part of the, seventeenth century, the site of the manor of Barkham migrated to th e present Barkham Manor site, although the property was, known as Barkham House until well into the nineteenth century. Ball Family History, Vol.3, Family History Library Catalog US/CAN 929.273 B21v 4. Inside the porch is a 6-panelled door with a radiating, wreathed and concentric fanlight of wrought iron and cast lead. Earley is a town and civil parish in the Borough of Wokingham, Berkshire, England.Along with the neighbouring town of Woodley, the Office for National Statistics places Earley within the Reading/Wokingham Urban Area; for the purposes of local government it falls within the Borough of Wokingham, outside the area of Reading Borough Council.Its name is sometimes spelt Erleigh or Erlegh and . daughter, Rebecca, lived at Barkham House with her husband, Lawrence
There, survives at the Berkshire Record Office a 1429 deed whereby the mano r of Barkham was conveyed by family trustees, Although Thomas Bullock (or a son of the same name) remained lord of A rborfield until 1463, a Robert Bullock was lord, of the manor of Barkham from at least 1444, when he presented John Eve rdon to the rectory of Barkham(12). This is, however, pure ly conjectural. Head Osgood from Winterbourne in Chieveley. At the same time John Pitt and Thomas Fonnereau jointl y agreed to sell about 1,783 oak trees, growing in various, parts of the manor, to a Reading timber merchant, who was to be respon sible for their felling, for ?4,000(22). The Visitation of London 1633-35 gives the following information in respect of the Balls of Barkham, which was supplied in 1634 by William Ball of Lincoln's Inn.E1. The Kingsmill family had been major landowners in the locality since t he middle ages, and owned Langley Pond Farm in the. In 1518 and, 1528 he was Escheator (an agent of the Crown) of the counties of Oxo n and Berks(19), and he was also appointed a tax, commissioner for Berkshire several times. Post town, Wokingham; money order and telegraph office, Arborfield. Adjoining to the south is a stables court and staff accommodation. Barkham was in Wokingham Registration District from 1837 to 1974. Several chimneys. To view this image please use Firefox, Chrome, Safari, or Edge. Genealogies of Virginia Families, Vol. England, Berkshire, Barkham Manor AND Birth Military Marriage Death City Dir Ship Person Changed Event Changed Pics Added Spouse Birth From To Blanks Yes No Only Barkham - History and Manor House History and Manor House The toponym "Barkham" is derived from the Old English bercheham meaning "birch home" referring to the birch trees on the edge of Windsor Forest. See "Edward Ball of 1670, Family Line" and "Family Record of James Ball 1690 of Carteret Co. North Carolina". Acreage, 1388; population, 284. outlawed and Barkham manor was confiscated by the King. Source Historic England Archive BB98/02592. Buildings Scheduled monuments Parks and gardens Battlefields Shipwrecks. L-plan with a high brick enclosing wall listed separately. 1500 - Barkham Manor, Barkham, Berkshire, England Death 30 May 1546 - Barkham Manor, Berkshire, England Mother Unavailable Father Unavailable Quick access Family tree 0 New search John Ball of Conduit Street family tree Family tree Explore more family trees Parents Unavailable Unavailable Spouse (s) Sibyl Ball Unknown - 1771 Children On the right of this on the adjoining wall is a semi-circular headed niche with a stone female figure. Father of John Ball; Robert Ball, of Barkham Manor and Edward Ball for full details and purchase options. Connect to the World Family Tree to find out, 1480 - Barkham Manor, Barkham, Berkshire, England, John Ball, Lord Robert William Ball, Edward Ball, William Clifford Ball, 1449 - Barkham Manor, Workingham, Berkshire, England, 1480 - Barkham Manor, Workingham, Berkshire, England, Lord John Ball, Lady Sarah Howell Fairchild, Lord Robert William Ball, Joseph Ball, John Ball, Charles Edward Ball, William Clifford Ball, John Ball, Barkham Manor, Barkham, Berkshire, England (United Kingdom), Barkham Manor, Barkham, Berkshire, England, http://www.rpi.edu/~holmes/Hobbies/Genealogy/ps30/ps30_233.htm, http://maryballwashington.com/E.berksBalls.pdf, Birth of William Ball, Lord of the Manor of Barkham. Find out more about Heritage Apprenticeships. (3) , and had been mayor of Reading (before, and after, the. [3] He published his findings in 1785 in the form of a book called Cases of Labourers in Husbandry Stated and Considered. About | A daughter, Penelope, was baptised at Barkham in 1754 . In 1783, it was sold again, this time to the Fonnereau
Online maps of Barkham are available from a number of sites: The British Newspaper Archive have fully searchable digitised copies of the following Berkshire papers online: The Visitations of Berkshire 1532, 1566, and 1665-6 is available online. The places on the list are protected by law and most are not open to the public. John Ball 1405-1465 - Ancestry page 116 5. Books and journalsPevsner, N, The Buildings of England: Berkshire, (1966), 75. William Ball Jr and his wife Margaret Downman appear to be too young but his father William Ball III would be of the correct age: "7. This is still disputed by Americans relatives of Mary Ball. Birth 3 Jun 1505 - Barkham Manor, Barkham, Berkshire, England Death 30 May 1546 - Barkham Manor, Workingham, Berkshire, England Mother Lady Anne Panall Father William Richard Moodye Quick access Family tree 2 New search Sir William "Lord Baltimore" Baille (Beall) family tree Family tree Explore more family trees Parents William Richard Moodye In 1418/21 the reversion to the, lordship of Arborfield was conveyed to Thomas Bullock of Barkham and h is wife Alice(10), so that when Margaret, Hertyngdon died, Thomas Bullock became lord of both manors, thereby un iting the two branches of the family. For general information about Civil Registration (births, marriages and deaths) see the Civil Registration page. In the Domesday Survey of 1086, the Manor (once owned by Edward the Confessor) was held in demesne by the King. Geni requires JavaScript! If you would like to view one of these trees in its entirety, you can contact the owner of the tree to request permission to see the tree. C17 enlarged C18 and C19, altered C20. North front:- flanking slight projections, that on the left with 2-storey angular bay, the other on the right with 2 bays. On his death in 1603, Edmond Standen was succeeded by his son, William , who lived at Arborfield manor until his death, (aged 73) in 1639. Little is known about Richard Bullock, except that he and his wife, Alice, had a large number of children. John Ball Birth 1405 - Barkham, Berkshire, England Death 1465 - Barkham Manor, Berkshire, England Mother Unavailable Father Unavailable Quick access Family tree New search John Ball family tree Family tree Explore more family trees Parents Unavailable Unavailable Spouse (s) Sarah Howell Fairchild/ Lady 1405 - 1475 Sarah Bullard Unknown - Unknown The toponym "Barkham" is derived from the Old English bercheham meaning "birch home" referring to the birch trees on the edge of Windsor Forest. He was married in the year 1504 in Barkham, Berkshire, England to Lady Margaret Bye, they had 10 children. Back to Top, Visitations of Berkshire 1532, 1566, and 1665-6. If the main timbers in the house are not straight, the smaller timbers will be unsafe; and if the smaller timbers are not straight, the house will fall.Chinese proverb. Unless the List entry states otherwise, it includes both the structure itself and any object or structure fixed to it (whether inside or outside) as well as any object or structure within the curtilage of the building. cottage, badly situated'), and re-building it). The Pitt family trustees activel y tried to sell the Binfield and Barkham estates (which. Mr. French did not consider this William related to our Ball family. In January 1784, Thomas Fonnereau sold Barkham Manor to his brother Harry(23), althoug h Thomas continued to live there, and was on good, terms with the new rector, the Rev.d David Davies (contributing to th e cost of pulling down the old parsonage house (a 'mean.