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The Cutler family were landowners and farmers in Somercotes in the 18th and 19th centuries. The surname Cutler is surprisingly common in the area, with families in Alfreton, Ripley and Pentrich parishes, and it is often difficult to separate them within the records that have survived.

 The first mention of a Cutler in Somercotes is Thomas, whose name appears in an advertisement as part of a testimonial for “Mr Page’s elixir and restorative” and is signed Thomas Cutler, Somercotes, near Alfreton, Derbyshire, Sept 4, 1781. This advertisement appears in several editions of the Derby Mercury. Exactly who Thomas is, is not certain and no other records of him seem to have survived, but this is an early reference for Somercotes and would almost certainly refer to the area now known as Lower Somercotes.

In the early to mid-1800’s there are several references to a Thomas and Samuel Cutler. It is not clear what relationship existed between them but it seems likely that they are part of the same Cutler family and related to each other. Samuel is probably the Samuel Cutler who was baptised at St. Martin’s Church Alfreton on 15th March 1767. His parents are recorded as William and Hannah. Alfreton was the parish church for Somercotes at the time and Samuel married Ruth Caudwell there in 1791.

Both Samuel and Thomas appear to be fairly wealthy men. In 1816 the Alfreton Inclosure records Samuel as owning many acres of land. The map below shows some of his holdings [in yellow]. The pair also appear in the 1832 Poll Book for Alfreton:

• Samuel Cutler - Summercotes - Freehold [confirming his status as landowner
• Thomas Cutler - Summercotes - Rental

MAP: The land in Somercotes owned by Samuel Cutler [marked in yellow]

The tale of a debt owed in 1830 shows the standing in the community of Thomas Cutler. Joseph Wilson of Alfreton carried on a legal practice in the town and purchased from John Eardley Wilmot Carnfield Hall. Wilson though, appears to have lived far beyond his means and despite the fact he was a solicitor he was himself prosecuted by Thomas Cutler of Somercotes in 1830 for the payment of a long outstanding debt of £500, a considerable sum of money in those days. Many other creditors soon followed Thomas’s example and Wilson sold land in order pay a proposed 10s. in the pound [50%] to clear the debts. Thomas Cutler demanded payment in full and Wilson was arrested and charged with fraud and debt. In an ironic twist of fate, he was taken to Derby Gaol, where people he had previously prosecuted and sentenced to hang had spent their last days. It was only in 1840 that his son-in-law paid bail for his release and he died just two months later. Thomas Cutler and the other creditors were left to pursue his estate for the money.

 Samuel Cutler died in May 1833. The Derby Mercury printed a small notice on 8th May: “Lately, at Somercotes, near Alfreton, Mr Samuel Cutler, an opulent farmer – he had been in a declining state for some time and is much regretted by his family and acquaintances”.

Meanwhile, on 8th April 1835, Thomas Cutler also made the Derby Mercury: “ALFRETON APPOINTMENTS – At a Petty Session held at Chesterfield for the Hundred of Scarsdale, on Monday last, Mr. William Wilson, Mr. Thomas Cutler and Mr. Isaac Tattershall were appointed overseers of the poor for the parish of Alfreton for the year ensuing”.

It appears that the land that Samuel Cutler owned was inherited by a member of his family after his death, and continued to be owned within the family for the next 14 years. Then, on 13th January 1847 an auction notice appeared in the Derby Mercury, which described the whole of the late Samuel Cutler’s estate in some detail. The notice is transcribed below. Many of the flied names on the Inclosure Map are mentioned by name: “BY MR. ROLLING. VALUABLE FREEHOLD ESTATE, AT SOMERCOATES, NEAR ALFRETON. TO BE SOLD BY AUCTION, By Mr. ROLLING, At the Angel Inn, in Alfreton, in the County of Derby, on FRIDAY, the 29th day of January instant, at Four o'clock in the Afternoon, in one Lot, or in the following or such other Lots as may be agreed upon at the time of Sale, and subject to the conditions then to be read (unless previously disposed of by Private Contract, of which due Notice will be given); Lot 1. ALL that MESSUAGE or DWELLING HOUSE, at Somercoates aforesaid, adjoining to the Turnpike Road leading from Alfreton to Nottingham, with the Garden and Premises belonging thereto, as now occupied by John Radford. And also all those two Closes or Parcels of most excellent Land, lying near to the said Dwelling-house, known by the names of the Well Croft and Cowslip Close, now in the possession of Mr. Cutler, altogether containing by admeasurement 3a. 3r. and 34p. or thereabouts more or less. Lot 2. A Messuage or Dwelling House, at Somercoates aforesaid, adjoining to the said Turnpike Road, with the Garden and appurtenances as now in the occupation of George Bansall; and also a Valuable Piece of Land on the Eastwardly-side thereof, as now staked or marked out, in the possession of Mr. Cutler, containing altogether by admeasurement la. Ir. 10p. or thereabouts, more or less. Lot 3. All tbat Messuage or Dwelling House, at Somercoates aforesaid, in the possession of Mr. Cutler, and which has recently been enlarged and improved at very considerable expense; and also all those substantial commodious and most conveniently arranged Barns, Stables, Cowhouses, Granary, Carriage-house, Cattle Sheds, and other Outbuildings, adjoining to the said last mentioned Messuage and Premises, as occupied by Mr. Cutler, with the Stack-yard, Gardens, and Four Closes or Parcels of excellent Land, called the Near Long Shutts, Part of the Far Long Shutts, The Cow Pasture, and the Lintail Close, and altogetber containing by estimation 16 a. Or. 19 p. or thereabouts, more or less. Lot 4. All that Piece or Parcel of valuable Land, at Somercoates aforesaid, as now in the possession of Mr. Cutler, being the other part of the said Close, called the Far Long Shutts, and adjoining to the Road leading from Somercoates to Birchwood, containing by admeasurement 2a. Or. 1p. or  thereabouts, more or less. Lot 5. Two Closes of capital Land, lying near to Somercoates aforesaid, now in the possession of Mr. Cutler, and known by the names of the Near Close and the Far Close, or Hill Close, containing by admeasurement 6a. Ir. 15p. or thereabouts, more or less. Lot 6. All those Four several Closes, Pieces, or Parcels of Land, at Somercoates aforesaid, in the possession of Mr. Cutler, known by the names of the Riley Croft, the Near Pasture, the Birchwood, and the Far Pasture, with the Cottage or Tenement standing on one of the said Closes, and containing in the whole by admeasurement 20a. Or. 19P. or thereabouts, more or less. For further information and particulars, application may be made to Mr. Cutler, of Somercoates, the Owner; or at the Offices of Mr. Cressy Hall, Solicitor, Alfreton. Alfreton, 1st January, 1847”.

Finally, on 17th April 1847 the Derbyshire Courier ran the following notice: “Also, at Somercotes, near Alfreton, on Tuesday last, Thomas, son of Thomas Cutler, farmer, of the former place”.

It seems that many within the Cutler family still lived in Somercotes long after these events, but no-one held land or position as did Samuel and Thomas.