There is a record of a John Traverse being baptised at Netherbury, with his father named as Richard, on 5th April, 1734.

On 7th April, 1786 John Travers of what appears to be written as "Bittlake" is recorded as purchasing a "Dwelling House situate in Netherbury Street together with the Plot of Ground to the same belonging called the Hempland" from Grace Curram for £50. The house is now known as Yew Tree Cottages and Netherbury Street is now called St James Road.

On 16th May, 1787 the Court Baron of Thomas Cook Esq, Lord of the said Manor of Slape, granted him "admission" under a copyholdType of feudal land tenure
with duties and obligations
to the Lord of the Manor tennancy.

By 1790, when he would have been 56, he was paid 6 shillings for producing 24 stones (152Kg) of Hemp under a scheme set up by the government to encourage the growing of hemp and flax.

In that same year he sold the copyholdType of feudal land tenure
with duties and obligations
to the Lord of the Manor to the house in Netherbury Street and the "Plot of Ground called the Hempland" to Mary Sergaent for £57 10s.

In 1805 the will of a John Travers of Bidlake, Netherbury was lodged for probate and a 72 year old John Travers was buried at Netherbury on 16th July, 1805. Census returns show that there were still Travers at Bidlake in 1851. Bidlake Farm lies between Salway Ash and Broadoak.