John Hodgson, by will dated 25th of September, 1761, devised his messuage and lands in Marton, and his personal estate, to John Hull and Richard Whittam, their heirs and assigns, in trust, to dispose of the same, and after paying his debts and funeral expenses, to lay out at interest the remainder of the money so acquired, and devote the yearly income therefrom to the purchase of meal for poor housekeepers of Great Marton, not relieved from the town’s rate. The meal to be distributed annually on the 25th of December. The net amount of the legacy was £100. Edward Jolly, of Mythorp, by indenture, dated 13th of February, 1784, conveyed to James Jolly, James Sherson, and Thomas Fair, their executors and assigns, the sum of £60, to the intent that it should be placed on good security, and one shilling of the yearly income derived be expended weekly in bread, to be distributed each Sunday to those poor persons who had attended divine service in the morning at the chapel of Great Marton. The deed directed that the dole should be given at the door of the chapel immediately after morning service, by the clerk or some other authorised person, and that in the event of Marton Chapel, which was then unconsecrated and supported by subscription, being closed for four successive Sundays, or converted into a Dissenting place of worship, the bread money should be transferred to the townships of Great and Little Singleton, and Weeton-cum-Preese; and the weekly allowance of food be distributed as above at the parochial chapel of Great and Little Singleton. The dole, however, had to return to Marton chapel as soon as service, according to the Church of England, was again conducted there. The chapel alluded to was Baines’s school-house, where it had been the custom of Edward Jolly to distribute bread each Sunday for several years previously, and it was with the intention of rendering this practice perpetual, that the indenture was made. No re-investment of the money can be legally made without the approval of the minister of Marton church. POPULATION OF GREAT AND LITTLE MARTON. 1801. 1811. 1821. 1831. 1841. 1851. 1861. 1871. 972 1,093 1,397 1,487 1,562 1,650 1,691 1,982 The area of the township amounts to 5,452 statute acres, inclusive of the sheet of water called Marton mere.