At present we know little of Richard Hawksworth, although we do know of indentures that relate to land nearby this which  refer to  Richard Hawksworth of Bristol merchant and Elizabeth Corsley, his wife, and her children in connection with their recent marriage.  However the IGI shows that this marriage took place in Bristol on 22nd July 1707.  This Richard Hawksworth could be the grandfather of the Walter Hawksworth who sold it in 1752. 

On 12^th  November 1752 there was Conveyance or Lease of Mr Walter Hawksworth to Mr John Stone, a maltster.  Walter Hawksworth a merchant of Bristol named in the document was said to be the only brother and heir of Richard Hawksworth late of the same city Merchant deceased.  Walter and Richard were sons of Richard Hawksworth sometime since of Alveston Gent also deceased, Richard being the elder son and heir of his father of the same name.

We know from an abstract of title dated 1870 that at one time John Stone a maltster owned another property, Porch House on The Plain (now known as 10 and 11 The Plain).  It seems that he ran into severe financial problems.  On 8th January 1766 there was an attested copy of a conveyance of Porch House for the benefit of his creditors who included William Turton of Tockington, John Marsh of Thornbury and Samuel Thomas a skinner from Bristol. 

In order to avoid  bankruptcy John Stone agreed to convey to the gentlemen mentioned earlier a messuage  in which "Joanna Stone formerly dwelt and John Marsh now dwells" and two acres of land near Crossways, four acres of land called The Paddocks, seven acres which were known as Butlers Mead in Banwell and a "fardell" of land called Old Auster.  All these had been bought by John's grandfather William Stone.

The sale was also to include the property in Castle Street which was then described as "all those three messuages sometime since rebuilt by Richard Hawksworth deceased and converted into one messuage and a malthouse .. and one parcel of land one quarter acre formerly in Tilt Field but now inclosed called Draycott ...... all purchased by John Stone (party hereto) from Walter Hawksworth of Bristol and now in the occupation of John Stone." 

This document also explains some of the family history of John Stone.  From the documents it becomes clear that that some of the property he owned was originally bought by his grandfather William Stone who left part to his daughter Mary and after her death to his son John Stone the younger.  John Stone the younger and his wife Joanna were the parents of the John who bought the malt house in 1752 and of his sister Ann Stone who later acquired it.

An indenture of 18^th July 1799  concerned the surrender of land called Draycotts to another member of John Stone's family, his natural or reputed daughter Mary Stone, spinster, purchased by John Stone from Abraham Richard Hawksworth to the use of said Mary Stone.

At Gloucester Records Office (reference D866/R/19) are documents dated 1782 which presents the case why tax was payable on the malt house and the rest of the property.  It explains that Richard Hawksworth had previously owned this property and he had paid the required tax.  It also describes the premises as two messuages adjoining, one of which was converted to a malt house and "hath time immemorial been occupied with the other messuage."  The court case heard that in 1752 the property was sold to John Stone who refused to pay, presumably because he couldn't.  Ann Stone who succeeded him to the property also refused to pay.

Ann Stone was mentioned in the Assessment to pay Poor Relief which was drawn up in 1770.  The  property on which she was supposed to pay tax was described as "late Hawksworths."  This is presumably because John's sister Ann had acquired the property as a result of the threatened bankruptcy and subsequent sale.

At Gloucester Records Office we have seen some documents which relate to the malt house.  These show that from 1768 Miss Ann Stone was leasing out the malt house and stables which at some point had become a messuage, malt house and stables.  From the 1780s to at least 1800 Land Tax Records show that John Stone was being charged, if not actually paying, 9s tax on a property in that area.   John Stone died on the 11th October 1800 aged 80 years and his sister died on 31st March 1802 aged 89 years.

The property was devised by Ann Stone in her will to Thomas Burnell of Thornbury whose under-tenants were already occupying the property.  There was a mortgage on it at that time which was held by James Allen of Moreton a yeoman.

In a lease and release of 6th and 7th April 1807 Thomas Burnell and James Allen conveyed what was then three  properties to Joseph Parslow.  They were described as having been lived in by John and Ann Stone and now occupied and used by Thomas Burnell and his under- tenants.  These properties had a house owned by John Box on one side and one owned by William Limbrick on the other.  The properties had a yard, garden and orchard of one acre and one parrock which was generally known as Draycotts.

Click here to read about what happened to the property after it was bought by Joseph Parslow.