Barbara INMAN, the wife of Dr James ORTON, was descended from a family with roots in Nidderdale for many generations. The best account of the INMAN family of Nidderdale is that researched by Alfred H. Inman, and published in 1906 as a 70+ page Appendix to Harry Speight’s book, "Nidderdale, from Nun Monkton to Whernside".
This history of the family can be read on-line at 
Alfred Inman commences his so-called "Short Account" with a concentrated study of the Inmans living in Upper Nidderdale, at Calfal (Covill) House Grange, and at nearby Bouthwaite during the sixteenth century. Step-by-step he carefully considers each generation, citing many references found in various manuscripts, musters, Exchequer Books, rentals and registers. He not only studied each INMAN ancestor, but also those families with whom they intermarried.
The Appendix also includes (though not reproduced on-line) a folding pedigree, compiled by John F. Le Page, M.D., showing the "Royal Descents of Le PAGE, BAYLES, and INMAN", through the marriage, 12th August 1746 at Drypool, Hull, Yorkshire, of Barbara Inman’s grandparents, Michael INMAN and Deborah BAYLES.
This Michael INMAN, the last Inman of his particular line to be born in Nidderdale, was the first child of Christopher INMAN, gentleman of Bewerley and Harefield, both places within the parish of Pateley Bridge. Michael was baptised in St Mary’s Church at Pateley Bridge, 15th July 1716. His mother, Abigail WHALEY, the daughter of Thomas Whaley of Winterburn near Gargrave, died just three months later. As well as inheriting considerable Inman property at the death in 1737, of his father Christopher Inman, Michael eventually became the heir of his wealthy bachelor uncle Samuel Whaley; it was this Samuel Whaley who came to his nephew’s rescue on more than one occasion, when he was in severe financial trouble.
Michael and Deborah Inman had two surviving sons, Christopher, 1748, and Whaley Charles, 1754, both born at Kingston-upon-Hull, at the time when their father was residing there as a merchant. It seems that in 1749 Michael Inman placed all or a portion of his lands etc in Bewerley, in the hands of Trustees for his creditors, who included merchants, mariners, a shipwright, and a sailmaker. Then in 1752, he sold all his leaseholds and freeholds in Bewerley, to his uncle Samuel Whaley. But in 1764, Samuel Whaley died, and by his will dated 1754, left all this and other property to his nephew, but under certain conditions. By 1765, Michael’s eldest son Christopher had been set up in business in Halifax; Michael had advanced him money, but the failure of Christopher's business in May 1771, was the major cause of the downfall of the family. In 1774, the Bewerley estate was finally sold to John Yorke, esquire, and thereafter Michael Inman seems to have lived in retirement, at first in the town of Thirsk until about 1779, then in the parish of Kirklington, in the churchyard of which his wife Deborah was buried in 1782. He then moved to Doncaster to live with his late wife’s sister and brother in law, first cousins Barbara (nee Bayles) and John Wastell. It was there that he died in February 1784, and was buried in the South Chancel of the old Parish Church.
Michael Inman’s will is a curious document – anyone not knowing his history would be forgiven for thinking that he died a wealthy man. He mentions many properties by name, over which he might have "any right or power of disposal". These properties - in which he probably only had some very minor interest as heir to his deceased cousin Lydia Morley nee Whaley - he left to his second son and sole executor, Whaley Charles Inman. His elder son, Christopher, the main cause of the family's troubles, is not mentioned.
Michael INMAN, 1784……Prerogative Court of York
In the name of God Amen I Michael I give devise and bequeath unto my second son Whaley Charles Inman all and every my messuages farms land tenements and hereditaments situate in Carlton, Barnoldswick, Keighley, Bingley and Sutton in Craven in the said county of York and in Skircoat in the parish of Halifax in the same county and also all other my real estate whatsoever and wheresoever in the Kingdom of Great Britain of or over which I have any right or power of disposal whatsoever whether in possession reversion remainder or otherwise together with all and every my personal estate and effects of what kind or nature soever To hold the same unto and to the use of my said second son Whaley Charles Inman his heirs executors administrators and assigns according to the respective natures and tenures thereof absolutely for ever. Subject never the less to the payment of my debts and funeral expenses and I do hereby subject and charge my said real and personal estates to and with the payment thereof accordingly. And I make and appoint my said son Whaley Charles Inman sole executor of this my will which alone I hereby declare to be my last will and testament. And I revoke all former wills by me at any time heretofore made in testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this 28th day of November in the year of our Lord 1783. Michl. Inman [signed].
Signed sealed and published and declared by the said testator as and for his last will and testament in the presence of us who in his presence at his request and in the presence of each other have subscribed our names as witnesses hereto.
Matthew Tomlinson, Anthony Oliver, Thos Mitchell.
Inman of Doncaster in the County of York, Esquire, do make and publish this my last Will and Testament, whereby I give and dispose of all my estate and effects in manner following:
Parish Register Entries Relating to Whaley Charles INMAN & his Family:
Hutton Magna, Yorkshire: 
Marriage - Charles INMAN of this chapelry, batchelor, and Mary OLIVER of the parish of Kirklington,
Bedale, Yorkshire:
Baptisms -
25 Apr 1785, bap Deborah, dtr of Charles Whaley INMAN of Bedale and Mary
10 Sep 1786, bap Thomas son of Whaley Charles INMAN of Bedale and Mary
22 Feb 1789, bap Barbara dtr of Whaley Charles INMAN of Bedale and Mary
13 June 1790, bap Charles son of Whaley Charles INMAN of Bedale and Mary
Marriages -
23 July 1808 - James ORTON of the parish of Bedale & Barbara INMAN of this parish were married in this
21 Dec 1808 - Richard INMAN, clerk, and Deborah INMAN, spinster, both of this parish, married in this
From IGI:, Baptisms
INMAN Robert son of Whaley Charles INMAN/Mary 3 Feb 1792, Burneston, Yorkshire
INMAN Richard son of Whaley Charles INMAN/Mary 13 Mar 1794, Burneston, Yorkshire
INMAN Phillipa dau of Whaley Charles INMAN/Mary 27 Apr 1796, Burneston, Yorkshire
INMAN Frances, dau of Whalley Charles INMAN/Mary 25 July 1798, Burneston, Yorkshire
Kirklington, Yorkshire:
Burials:
1 Apr 1782, Buried Mrs INMAN, wife of Mr Michael INMAN of Kirklington.
16 Sep 1798, Buried Philippa daughter of Mr Charles Whaley INMAN of Londonderry, and Mary his wife.
1807, Buried Mary, wife of Charles Whaley INMAN, Bedale, died 6 February, buried 8 February, aged 44.
Todwick, Yorkshire:
Buried 21 April 1826, Deborah, wife of the Revd R. INMAN, Rector of this Parish, Todwick Rectory; aged
Buried 10 June 1826, Whaley Charles INMAN Esq., Todwick Rectory, aged 71.
Buried 12 Nov 1835, Sarah INMAN, Todwick Rectory, aged 15.
Buried 24 November 1852, James INMAN, Todwick Rectory, aged 29 years.
with the parish of Todwick near Sheffield,
Family Papers
After Michael Inman's death in 1784, his son Whaley
As a merchant, Michael Inman had business dealings with fellow merchants in Rotterdam - mainly with his Whaley/Ferrand/Hudig relatives, and mostly on behalf of his elder son Christopher, "a pretty young man, well behaved", but eventually a bankrupt who was forced to adopt the pseudonym of "Mr Thompson" and flee to America for a while. All this was a heavy drain on Michael, who, it is noted, died in 1784, himself "a bankrupt for the third time". These HUDIG family letters and documents are deposited in the Rotterdam Archives.
In 1802 Whaley Charles Inman decided that one document left by his father should be recorded. He then wrote this:
Charles, as executor, had the task of sorting through his father's remaining papers. Michael had carefully kept records of the INMAN family extending back many generations, with some quite detailed notes concerning births, deaths and marriages. Most of this would appear to be accurate, at least from about the year 1630. But prior to this there is much that is confusing, and totally unsupported by any dates and places. As has been stated above, Alfred H. Inman in 1906, produced the most convincing account of the earlier generations of the Nidderdale Inman family.
"Copy of a Memorandum left by my Father amongst Sir John Ingleby of Ripley, Letters.....
My Dear Son Whaley Charles Inman-
You are not unacquainted that my ever respected Worthy Friend Sir John Ingilby, has left two Sons. If ever you should have an opportunity tho now very distant of shewing your gratitude to that Family, I beg you will, from the friendship of the Father to me. Do it.
The friendship began before I married Your Mother, by which marriage you became the Relation with which he was highly pleased and always had a pleasure in acknowledging Us as near Relations. So did Sir Henry Slingsby the same -
His regard to your unfortunate brother within a few months before his death ought never to be forgott by our Family - I cou'd have drawn this up much better but I am hurried and it is nought between you and me which distroy after you have looked it over.
To them that succeed me - In Gratitude to that Noble Family at Ripley -A very agreeable correspondence was kept up between the late Worthy Sir John Ingilby and myself from 1744 to 1772, The Year of his Death - in whom I had a most respectful worthy Friend - And out of great regard to His Memory I distroyed many Letters that had pass'd between us in the above time, which my Extor. and the public had no bussiness with - many of them came from the secret of the soul and in great confidence of my faithfulness and Integrity -
His sentiments were Noble - his Friendship was steady and uniform - His equal as a Gentleman in every point I never met with -
I leave these few memorandums behind me to shew He thought me not unworthy of His regard til Death
- What I have distroy'd would have been a convincing proof of his great confidence put in me.-
NB. No date appeared to this memorandum but supposed to have been wrote at Doncaster some little time before my Father's Death, having on examining many papers, private Letters etc, burnt the above Letters of Sir Johns with several others he did not chuse to run the risque of being exposed to the public - This copied by me his son Whaley Charles Inman at Kirklington, the 12th of August 1802.
Family of Whaley Charles INMAN............
Whaley Charles Inman carried on the tradition of keeping a written record of his family's details. He wrote thus:
"Whaley Charles Inman, son of Michael Inman of Hull, afterwards of Beuerley in Neatherdale near Pateley Bridge, Yorkshire, was born at Hull, August 6th 1754, 50 minutes after 6 O'clock in the Morning, Christened at St Trinity's Hull. The said Whaley Chas Inman married Mary the Daughter of Anthy Oliver of Kirklington near Ripon Yorkshire, at Great Hutton near Greata Bridge, Yorkshire - on 11 September 1783 -
Issue, Viz:-
First - Deborah Inman, 6th March 1785, 5 minutes past 6 morning
Second - Thos Inman Born 31 July 1786, 21 minutes past 11 in ye morning
Third - Barbarah Inman Born 16th Jany 1789, 3/4 past 3 in ye morning
Fourth - Charles Inman Born 5 th May 1790 betwixt 12 and 1 in ye morning
NB The above four Childer was Christin'd at Bedale, Yorkshire.
Fifth - Robert Inman Born 16 Decr 1791 betwixt 1 and 2, morning
Sixth - Richard Inman Born 10 March 1794 Say 10th March
NB Robert and Richard was Christin'd at Burniston near Bedale in Yorkshire
Seventh - Phillippa Inman born 9th April 1796 betwixt two and three O'clock in the morning. NB. She took her name from Phillippa de Hainault, Queen to King Ewd 3rd, King of England, she being the 16th Grandmother as pr Genealogy of my Mother's Family, in a lineal descent."
Wall Tablets, Todwick Church, Yorkshire
The following three wall tablets to members of the INMAN family are to be found within the Parish Church at Todwick:
1. This tablet is erected in affectionate remembrance of the Revd Richard INMAN, for 50 years Rector of this Parish, who died April 16th 1866 aged 88 years
And of his wife Deborah, daughter of Whaley Charles INMAN Esqre, who died April 17th 1826 aged 44 years
Also of their children
Elizabeth who died June 20th 1838 aged 24 years
Sarah who died November 12th 1835 aged 15 years
James who died November 20th 1852 aged 29 years
And John who was lost at sea off the coast of Minorca, December 17th 1856 aged 30 years.
2. This tablet is erected in memory of Whaley Charles INMAN Esqre, son of Michael INMAN Esqre of Buerley near Pateley Bridge, Yorkshire, who died June 16th 1826 aged 71 years.
Also of his wife Mary, who died February 6th 1807 aged 44 years.
And of their sons
Charles, who died June 1833 aged 43 years
Robert who died October 28th 1820 aged 28 years
And Richard who died April 1831 aged 35 years.
3. In grateful and affectionate remembrance of Thomas INMAN Esqre, eldest son of Whaley Charles INMAN Esqre, and brother of Deborah the wife of the Revd Richard INMAN, Rector of this Parish.
This tablet is erected by his sister Frances and his nieces Mary, Martha, Barbara, Charlotte, Catherine and Annie, the surviving daughters of the said Revd Richard INMAN.
He died June 25th 1865 aged 78 years.
Abstracts of some INMAN Family wills can be found Here.And that for Barbara ORTON (nee INMAN), Here
More general references to the Inman surname in Nidderdale are to be found Here.
