Wath (St. Mary)

WATH (St. Mary), a parish, partly in the wapentake of Allertonshire, and partly in that of Hallikeld, N. riding of York; containing, with the townships of Melmerby, Middleton-Quernhow, and Norton-Conyers, 709 inhabitants, of whom 208 are in Wath township, 4¼ miles (N. by E.) from Ripon. The parish comprises 3563a. 3r. 3p., of which 134 acres are woodland, and the rest pasture and meadow, and arable, in nearly equal portions. About 737 acres are in the township of Wath: the village is distant from the river Ure a mile and a half. The living is a rectory, valued in the king's books at £17. 17. 1., and in the gift of the Marquess of Ailesbury: the tithes have been commuted for £918. 10., and the glebe comprises 74a. 3r. 15p. The Rev. Peter Samwaise, in 1690, founded a free school, and endowed it with lands and houses now producing about £75 a year.