942.4601 Stl3c 1915 3rd ser. v. 40 1867357
hit wwi-L.ecTiQM
ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY
l 3 1833 00662 7282
5^ 4a
COLLECTIONS
FOR A
HISTORY
OF
STAFFORDSHIRE
EDITED BY
Sbc IHIUlItam Salt Hrcb<toIO(Ucal ©octet?
1915
STAFFORDSHIRE INCUMBENTS AND PAROCHIAL RECORDS (1530-1680) By WALTER NOBLE LANDOR, B.A.
" And in this undertaking, the Reader may see what Furniture (though it lie disperst) our Publick Records will afford for History : and how plentifully our own may be supplied and improved, if pains were taken therein : for what is hitherto made publick, hath been collected, chiefly out of old Annals, and they filled with few things but such as were very obvious, nay the Annalists themselves (for the most part residing in Monasteries) too oftened byass'd with Interest, and Affection, to Times and Persons : But on the contrary, in our publick Records lye matter of Fact, in full Truth, and therewith the Chronological part, , carried on, even to days of the Month. So that an industrious
Searcher may thence collect considerable matter for new History, rectifie many mistakes in our old and in both gratihe the world with unshadowed verity." Ashmole's History of the Garter.
LONDON :
PUBLISHED FOR THE SOCIETY BY
THE SAINT CATHERINE PRESS, STAMFORD ST., S.E.
19 1 6
1867357
Staffordshire Record Society . Third series
La^4^ S^f£qrilsMxe incumbents and paro-
chiaYrecords, 1530-1680. By Walter Noble Landor. 1915 (1916)
Vol.40 (of whole series. See T & C)
Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2014
https://archive.org/details/collectionsforhi340staf
MR. LANDOR much regrets that the publica- tion of this volume has been so much delayed. His manuscript was sent to the printers in June, 1915, and there has been no delay on his part in the revision of proofs or the preparation of the indices. The printers state that the delay has been caused by shortage of labour owing to the War.
July, 19 1 6.
W. H. SMITH & SON STAMFORD STREET. S.E.
303440
Zbc William Salt Hrctoeoloofcal Society.
1915.
PRESIDENT:
The Right Hon. the EARL OF DARTMOUTH, P.c!
Nominated by the Trustees of the William Salt Library. The Right Hon. the LORD HATHERTON, C.M.G. Sir REGINALD HARDY, Bart. Mr. W. S. BROUGH. The Rev. F. J. WROTTESLEY. Mr. WALTER N. LANDOR.
Elected by the Members of the Society.
The Rev. F. P. PARKER.
Sir THOMAS A. SALT, Bart.
The Rev. W. BERESFORD.
The Rev. E. R. O. BRIDGEMAN.
Commander JOSIAH C. WEDGWOOD, D.S.O.. M.P.
Comm. JOSIAH C. WEDGWOOD Mr. JOHN T. HOMER.
HONORARY TREASURER: Mr. C. J. SALT.
MONORARY AUDITOR: Mr. WILLIAM MORGAN,
HONORARY SOLICITOR:
Mr. EUSTACE JOY.
HONORARY SECRETARY :
Commander JOSIAH C. WEDGWOOD, D.S.O., M.P.
ACTING HONORARY SECRETARY: Mr. JOHN T HOMER
ASSISTANT SECRETARIES: MR. JOHN W. BRADLEY, The William Salt Library, Stafford. Mr. WALTER J. DEAN, 9, St. Mary's Grove, Stafford.
BANKBRS
LLOYDS BANK (Limited), Stafford
COUNCIL:
EDITORIAL COM MITT BE :
The Rev. F. P. PARKER. The Rev. W. BERESFORD.
The Rev. E. R. O. BRIDGEMAN. Mr. WALTER N. LANDOR
RULES OF THE SOCIETY
I. — That the Society be called the " William Salt Archaeological Society."
II. — The leading object of the Society shall be the editing and printing of original
documents relating to the County of Stafford, to which, however, may be added papers selected by an Editorial Committee, illustrative of the same, or coming under any of the eight following heads : —
(a) Abstracts of the Monastic Chartularies, and of Ancient Family Deeds, with the names of witnesses and fac-similes of seals ; Genealogies of Nobility and Gentry (accompanied by proofs), Heraldic Visitations, and other papers touching the general history and descent of properties and families.
(b) Printing and editing of the Public Records relating to the County, including the Exchequer or Pipe Rolls, the Assize Rolls, Fine Rolls, Inquisitions, Perambulations of Forests, Subsidy Rolls, and Assessments, &c, &c.
(c) History of Parishes and of Manors, and of Manorial Customs and Tenures, illustrated by Copies of, or reference to, original grants.
(d) Church Notes hitherto unpublished, such as Ecclesiastical Surveys, Extracts from Episcopal and Parish Registers, Copies of Epitaphs, and Description of Monuments and Ecclesiastical Buildings, Abstracts or copies of Wills, &c.
(e) Notices of British and Roman Remains, and Roads and Buildings, and the Antiquities generally of the District.
(f) Autograph Letters and other Documents relating to the Civil War.
(g) Notices of distinguished Worthies, Broadsides, Election Squibs, &c.
(h) Correspondence, in which enquiries may be made and answered, on any of the above subjects, and miscellaneous information, including corrections of errors.
III. — The general affairs of the Society shall be managed by a Council of ten, of
whom five shall be trustees of the William Salt Library, and nominated by them, from time to time, and five shall be elected at an Annual Meeting of the Subscribers. The Council shall be empowered to delegate, if they see fit, the selection of the papers to be printed to an Editorial Committee. Of the Council, three shall be a quorum, and in ca's'e of equality of votes, their Chairman shall have a casting vote.
IV. — The Officers of the Society shall be a Treasurer, a Secretary, and an Auditor,
to be appointed by the Council. These Offices shall be honorary, but the Council shall have power to appoint an Assistant Secretary to be paid at the discretion of the Council, as the nature of his duties may warrant.
V. — The Subscription shall be One Guinea annuaDy, to be paid in advance upon the first of January in each year, and such annual payment shall entitle each Subscriber to the volume issued for the year of such subscription. Any Subscriber shall be permitted to withdraw from the Society by giving notice of his intention three months before the termination of any year of Subscription.
N.B. — To save trouble, it is recommended that the Members of the Society pay their subscriptions to the Society's bankers by revocable order upon their own bankers, a printed form for which may be obtained from the Assistant Secretary.
V
LIST OF MEMBERS.
Corrected to ist September, 191 5.
The year in which Members joined the society is prefixed. Where marked thus * the year is that in which the predecessors in title of the present Member joined.
19 10 Adam, W. A., The Dawscroft, Brewood, Staffs.
1912 Adams, Geo. N., J. P., C.A., Summerfield, Wolverhampton.
1905 Adams, Percy W. L., Moreton House, Wolstanton.
1913 Adams, T. Byron, J. P., Compton Hall, Wolverhampton. 1913 Addison, J.vF., 24, Bridge Street, Walsall.
1910 Alcock, S. King, M.D., Portland House, Burslem.
1913 Allen, W. C. Harwell, The Laurels, Old Duston, Northampton.
1879 Amphlett, John, Gent, Stourbridge.
1910 Anglesey, The Most Hon. the Marquess of, Beaudesert, Staffs.
1899 Anson, Captain The Hon. G. A., M.V.O., D.L., Stafford.
1909 Antiquaries of London, Society of, Burlington House, Piccadilly, W. 1913 Arblaster, W. G., Coombe House, Brownhills, Walsall.
1901 Argles, T. A., Haregate, Leek.
1915 Atkinson, Rev. Lawrence, M.A., Drayton Bassett Rectory, Tamworth.
19 10 Attwood, T. A. C, Sion Hill House, Kidderminster.
1898 Bagot, The Rt. Hon. the Lord, Blithfield, Rugeley.
1912 Barns, Rev. Thos., M.A., Hilderstone Vicarage, Stone.
1885 Bayliss, William, Ivy House, Walsall.
191 1 Beck, F. T., Wulfrun Chambers, Darlington Street, Wolverhampton. 1890 Beech, Col. Rowland J., The Shaw, Cheadle, co. Stafford.
1901 Beresford, The Rev. E. A., B.A., Hoby Rectory, Leicestershire.
1879 Beresford, The Rev. William, Vicar of St. Luke's, Leek.
1879 Bill, Charles, J. P., Farley Hall, Oakamoor, Stoke-on-Trent.
1881* Birch, Miss L. J., Wheatham Lodge, East Cliff, Bournemouth.
1881 Birmingham Free Library.
1913 Bostock, H. J., Shawms, Radford Bank, Stafford.
1879 Boston (Massachusetts, U.S.A.) Public Library. (Parceh through Mr.
Bernard Quaritch, 11, Grafton Street, New Bond Street, London, W.)
1913 Boucher, Arthur S., J. P., C.A., Sharpcliffe Hall, Ipstones, Staffs.
1913 Boulton, Francis A., J. P., C.A., Moor Court, Oakamoor, Staffs.
1879* Bourne, J., J. P., Hilderstone Hall, Stone, Stafford.
1913 Bowers, W. A., C.C., Caverswall Castle, Stoke-on-Trent.
1879* Bradford, The Right Hon. the Earl of, Weston Park, Shifnal, Salop.
1 886 Bree, The Venerable Archdeacon, Allesley Rectory, Coventry. 1913 Brettell, H. C, Town Clerk, Dudley. (Deceased.)
1912 Brevitt, Sir Horatio, Town Clerk, Wolverhampton.
1879* Bridgeman, C. G. O., it, Stone Buildings, Lincoln's Inn, London.
1879* Bridgeman, The Rev. Ernest R. O., M.A., Blymhill Rectory, Shifnal.
1913 Brindley, F. P., 18, Woodville Road, Leytonstone, Essex. 1913 Brough, J. V., Eversley, 29, Alexandra Vilas, Finsbury Park, N. 1879 Brough, William Spooner, J. P., C.A., Leek.
1906 Broughton, Rev. R. E., M.A., The Vicarage, Prestbury, Cheshire. 1911 Brown, W., The Grange, Tipton, Staffs.
1915 Brown, The Rev. A. E., Astonfield Vicarage, Ashbourne.
1913 Bruxner, H. R., Chaseley House, Rugeley.
1879 Burne, Miss, 5, Iverna Gardens, Kensington, W.
»
VI
1911 Burton-on-Trent Free Library.
1913 Burton-on-Trent Natural History Society, Burton-on-Trent.
1879 Caddick, Edward, Wellington Road, Edgbaston, Birmingham.
1892 Cambridge University Library (F. J. H. Jenkinson, Librarian).
1913 Canby, T., 33, Arboretum Road, Walsall.
1 910 Carter, Geo. W., Eccleshall Castle, Staffs.
1879 Carter, W. Fowler, Maidsmere, Bromsgrove.
1910 Challinor, W. F., Pickwood, Leek.
1913 Charnwood, The Right Hon. the Lord, C.A., Lichfield.
1896 Chatham's Library, Manchester (H. Crossley, Librarian!. 1913 Clarkson, Mrs. Jane, 31, Parkdale, Wolverhampton.
1913 Claughton, Sir G. Hy., Bart., J. P., C.A., The Priory, Dudley.
1910 Coghill, Archibald F., J. P., Brampton Tree House, Newcastle, Staffs.
1909 College of Arms, Queen Victoria Street, London. 1879 Collett, The Rev. E., M.A., Retford, Notts.
1913 Congreve, Brig.-Gen. W. N., V.C, C.B(, D.L., Chartley Castle, Stafford.
1912 Constitutional Club Library, Northumberland Avenue. W.C.
1910 Cooper, Sir Richard Powell, Bart., C.A., Shenston Court, Lichfield.
(Deceased.)
1910 Cotterell, H. H., F.R.Hist.S., F.R.S., F.G.S., " Myvod," Foden Road,
Walsall.
1908 Crallan, Miss A. Arden, Helston House, Dalby Square, Margate.
1879* Crewe, The Most Hon. the Marquess of, K.G., G.C.V.O., Crewe Hall, Cheshire.
1913 Cullwick, W. W., 33, Oaklands Road, Wolverhampton.
1879 Dartmouth, The Rt. Hon. the Earl of, P.C., V.D., Patshull, Wolverhampton.
1879 Davenport, Rev. G. Horatio, M.A., Foxley, Hereford.
1914 Dent, H. H. C, Oakleigh, Oaks Crescent, Wolverhampton. 1913 Dewsbury, Alfred, Eastmoor, Streetley, Sutton Coldfield. 1879* Downing, W., Aldine Cottage, Olton, near Birmingham.
1911 Dudley Free Library (J. F. Timmins, Secretary). 1879* Duignan, Carl, Gorway, Walsall.
1910 Edge, The Rt. Hon. Sir John, The Banks, Robertsbridge, Sussex.
1897 Farrer, W., Hall Garth, Carnforth. *
191 1 Fausset, H. J., Tamworth, Staffs.
1888 Fletcher, Rev. Wm. G. Dimock, M.A., F.S.A., Oxon Vicarage, Shrewsbury.
1882 Foley, Paul Henry, J. P., Stoke Edith, near Hereford.
1915 Foster, W. A., The Limes, Sedgley. 1879 Freer, J. H., Rugeley.
1899 Gibbons, John L., J. P., Ellowes Hall, Sedgley, Staffs.
1896 Gibbons, W. P., J. P., Fox Hills, Wombourne, Wolverhampton.
1896 Gill, George, Highgate House, Walsall.
1913 Gimson, T. W., Sunnyfield, Newcastle, Staffs.
1913 Gordon, Rev. W., M.A., Bishton, near Wolverhampton.
1879 Grazebrook, George, F.S.A., Odnall Cottage, Clent, nr. Stourbridge. 2 copies
1 915 Green, George, Graseley Old Hall, Wolverhampton.
1909 Greene, H. Barratt, Elmhurst, Wolstanton, Staffs. 1913 Grout, Dr. J., 25, Oaklands Road, Wolverhampton.
1908 Grundy-Newman, S. A., F.R.Hist.S., F.S.A.Scot., Littleton Place, Walsall.
1911 Guildhall Lihrary, Loudon, E.G. (B. KETTLE, Librarian).
191 3 Guppy, H. G., M.A., The John Rylands Library, Manchester.
Vll
190a Hambleton, A. J., CX., Buttcrton, Leek.
1900 Handsworth Public Library, Soho Road, Handsworth, Birmingham.
1907 Hanlev Public Free Library (A. J. Milward, Chief Librarian).
1909 Harcourt, The Rt. Hon. Lewis, B.C., M.P., Nuneham Harcourt, Oxun.
1894 Harding, Geo., 64 Great Russell Street, London, W.C.
1879* Hardy, Sir Reginald, Bart., C.A., D.L., Dunstall Hall, Burton-on-Trent.
1913 Harrison, F., School House, Newcastle, Staffs.
iS<,7 Hartley, George T., D.L.. J. P., Wheaton Aston Hall, Stafford.
1890 Harvard College, Cambridge (Massachusetts, U.S.A.). (Parcels per
Messrs. Allen and So)is, 14, Grape Street, Shaftesbury Avenue, W.C.)
1879 Hatherton, The Rt. Hon. the Lord, C.M.G., Teddesley, Penkndge.
1904 Heywood, B. C. P., Wooton Lodge, Ellaston, Ashbourne. (Deceaseds
1885 Holden, Sir Edward Thomas, J. P., Glenelg, Walsall. 1S79* Holland, Miss Mary, Barton-under-Needwood, Staffs.
1910 Homer, Rev. F. A., 81, Lansdown Road, Handsworth, Birmingham.
1911 Homer, J. T., J. P., C.A., Dormston, Sedgley.
1909 Hopwood, C. H., M.B., Baker Street, Fenton, Stoke-on-Trent.
19x3 Hughes, Mrs. T., The Old Vicarage, Weston, Stafford.
1905 Huntbach, A., J. P., Lime Tree House, Stone, Staffs.
1891 Hutchinson, Rev. Sandford William, M.A., Blurton Vicarage, Stoke-on-
Trent.
1915 Ingram, The Rev. A. Winnington, M.A., Enville Rectory, Stourbridge.
1879* Jackson, W. F. Marsh, M.D., Bearwood Hill, Smethwick.
191 3 Joy, Eustace, M.A., The White Lodge, Milford, Stafford.
1895 Joyce, The Hon. Sir M. Ingle, J. P., 16, Great Cumberland Place, London.
1913 Keyworth, Rev. W. G., M.A., 51, Littleton Street, Walsall.
1913 Lambert, Rev. Lionel, M.A., The Rectory, Stafford.
1902 Landor, Walter N., J. P., C.C., Chadscroft, Rugeley.
1908 Lane, H. J. H. V., D.L., J. P., C.C., King's Bromley Manor, Staffs.
1896 Lichfield, The Rt. Hon. the Earl of, Shugborough Park, Stafford. 1881 Lichfield, The Right Rev. the Lord Bishop of, Bishopstowe, Lichfield. 1879 Lichfield, The Librarian to the Dean and Chapter of, Cathedral Library. 1 9 1 3 Lichfield, The Very Rev. the Dean of, Lichfield.
1900 Lincoln's Inn, The Hon. Society of (A. F. Etheridge. Chief Librarian), Chancery Lane, W.C.
1886 Liverpool, The Free Public Library (G. T. Shaw, Chief Librarian). 1 88 1 London Library, 12, St. James's Square, London, S.W.
1904 Longton Free Library (Joseph Hobson, Librarian), Longton.
1879 Macgregor, The Rev. W., M.A., J. P., Bolehall Manor House, Tamworth.
1913 Macpherson, Geo., J. P., D.L., C.A., The Llovd House, near Wolverhampton.
1879* Madan, Mrs. F., Watford, Eccleshall.
1905 Mainwaring, Captain G. Cavenagh, Coltoh House, Rugeley.
1881 Manchester Free Public Library (C. W. Sutton, Chief Librarian).
1904 Mander, Geoff, L. M., J. P., Wightwick Manor, Wolverhampton.
1906 Mander, Gerald P., The Dippons, Compton, Wolverhampton. 1913 Mathie, Wm. S., Kelvin House, Bilston, Staffs.
1906 Meakin, Mrs., Darlaston Hall, Stone, Staffs.
1913 Mentz-Tolley, R., J. P., F.H.S., Moseley Court, Bushbury, Wolverhampton.
191 1 Meyni i.l, Francis H. L., J. P., Hoar Cross, Staffordshire.
1890* Mills, H. C, Georgia Gardens, Head Down, Niton, Isle of Wight.
VI 1 1
n)04- Mitchell, John E., J. P., Kelvin Grove, Smethwick.
1915 Moncrief, Rev. Canon Archibald, M.A., The Close, Lichfield.
1910 Moody, A. Rowley, M.B., Richmond House, Shelton, Stoke-on-Trent.
1Q15 Moat, Mrs., Johnstone Hall, Eccleshall.
1879 Moreton, Loetus B., D.L., J. P., Moseley Hall, Wolverhampton. 1879* Morgan, William, Walton Lodge, Walton Hill, Stafford. 1 88 1 Mort, Lieut. -Col. Frederick D., Stafford. (Deceased.)
1899 Murray, Rev. D. S., M.A., Blithfield Rectory, Rugeley.
1900 Nfwberry Library, The, Chicago, U.S.A. (Parcels to care of Messrs. B. F.
Stevens and Brown, 4, Trafalgar Square, London.) 1895 Newcastle, The Free Library (Joseph D. Myatt, Librarian, Newcastle- under-Lyme).
1,9x0 New South Wales (Sydney), Public Library of (care of Messrs. Truslove and Hanson, Publishers, 153, Oxford Street, London, IV.)
1897 New York Public Library, U.S.A. (Parcels to care of Messrs. B. F. Stevens and Brown, 4, Trafalgar Square, London.)
1914 New York State Library, per G. E. Steckert & Co., 2, Star Yard, Carey- Street, Chancery Lane, London, W.C.
1910 Nicholson, Sir Arthur, J. P., C.C., Highfield Hall, Leek.
1911 Nicholson Institute, Leek (Arthur Vinen, Secretary).
1911 North Staffs. Field Club, Stone (W. Wells Bladen, Secretary).
1885* Okeover, Capt. Haughton E., M.V.O., Okeover, Ashbourne, Derby.
1911 Oldham, Capt. C. Dansey, J. P., Bellamour Lodge, Rugeley. .
1913 Palmer, Rev. J. R., F.P.L.S., F.S.P., Gratwich Rectory, Uttoxeter.
1879 Parker, The Rev. F. P., M.A., Colton Rectory, Rugeley.
1913 Parker, Alfred D., Brooke House, Lichfield.
1912 Parkes, John, Holbeche, Tipton, Staffs.
1913 Parry, D. C, Croxdene, Bloxwich, Staffs.
1882* Phillips, W. Morton, D.L., J. P., C.A., Heybridge, Tean, Stoke-on-Trent.
1913 Phillips, Rev. Preb. L. A., M.A., Theological College, Lichfield.
1888 Plymouth, The Rt. Hon. the Earl of, Hewell Grange, Redditch.
19 1 3 Prouse, B. A., 35, Parliament Street, London, S.W.
1905 Rae, C. D., Leigh, Stoke-on-Trent.
1912 Rochester, The Very Rev. the Dean of/the Deanery, Rochester. 1896 Rollason, Arthur, 5, Union Street, Birmingham.
1 88 1 Rotton, Sir J. F., K.C., M.A., Lockwood, Frith Hill, Godalming, Surrey.
1 9 10 Salt, A. E. W., Hongkong University, Hongkong, China.
1913 Salt, Miss A., Star Croft, Lichfield. 1879* Salt, C. ]., Lloyds Bank, Stafford.
1901 Salt, The Rev. F. J. (care of William Salt Library), Stafford.
1914 Salt, John, 50, Charles Street, Hanlcy.
1879* Salt, Major Sir Thomas A., Bart., D.L., J. P., Chatcull, Eccleshall, Staffs. 1879 Salt, The William (Salt) Library, Stafford. 2 copies.
Salt, The William (Salt) Library, free, for exchange with : — The Derbyshire Archaeological Society.
The Bristol and Gloucester Archaeological Society, Public Library,
Gloucester (Roland Austin, Librarian). The Shropshire Archaeological Society. The Thoresby Society, Leeds.
The Yorkshire Archaeological Society, 10, Park Street. Leeds (W, T. Lancaster, E.S.A., lion. Librarian').
IX
1906 Science and Art Library, Victoria and Albert Museum, South Kensing
(G. H. Palmer, Librarian:. r88a Scott-Catty, Sir A., Garter Principal King of Arms, College of Arms, Queen
Victoria Street, London, E.C. 1879 Scrivener, A., Hanley.
1913 Shapcote, Very Rev. E. L., S.T.L., Hawkesyard Priory, Rugeley. 1913 Shaw-Hlllilr, E., J. P., Wombourne Wodehouse, near Wolverhampton. 1913 Sheldon, H. B., B.A., 63, Tenscore Street, West Bromwich. 1913 Short, F. C, 15, Sutton Crescent, Walsall.
1902 Shrewsbury and Talbot, The Rt. Hon. the Earl of, Ingestre, Stafford. 1913 Shufflebotham, Miss Ada, Grosvenor Road, Newcastle, Staffs.
1913 Shufflebotham, F., M.D., C.C., 21, London Road, Newcastle, Staffs. 1913 Slater, A., C.C., Ryton, Shifnal, Salop. 18S2 . Smith, William, 17, Queen Street, Leek. 1913 Sneyd, G. A., Bastard Hall, near Leek.
1905 Sneyd-Kynnersley, J. R., Loxley, Uttoxeter.
1913 Solly, Rev. W., M.A., St. Philip's Vicarage, West Bromwich.
1914 Stafford, The Rt. Hon. the Lord, Meretown House, Newport, Salop. 1913 Staffordshire Society, Penrith, Stanhope Road, Sidcup, Kent. 1S79* Stanton, Miss Deborah, c/o Child and Co., 1, Fleet Street, London.
1910 Staveley-Hill, H. S., M.P., D.L., T.P., Oxley Manor, Wolverhampton. 1S81 Stoke-upon-Trent Free Library (A. C. Caddie, F.R.H.S., Librarian). 1S79* Swinfen-Broun, Col. M., D.L., J. P., Swinfen Hall, Lichfield.
1879 Swynnerton, The Rev. Charles, Leonard Stanley, Stonehouse, Glos.
18S7 Talbot, Rev. Preb. Arthur, M.A., Edgmond Rectory, Salop.
1903 Taylor, Rev. Thomas, M.A., F.S.A., St. Just-in-Penwith, Cornwall.
1915 Thicknesse, Ralph, 5, Little College Street, Westminster, London, S.W. 1913 Thorneycroft, Edward B., 24, Darlington Street, Wolverhampton. 1901 Thorneycroft, Geo., J. P., Dunston Hall, Penkridge.
1S79* Tildesley, Cecil, Penkridge, Staffs.
1913 Trubshaw, R. N., Little Haywood, Stafford.
1 91 1 Tunstall Free Public Library, Tunstall.
1906 Twemlow, Col. F. R., D.S.Ov, J. P., C.A., Peatswood, Market Drayton.
1909 Twyford, Thos.' W., D.L., J. P., Whitmore Hall, Newcastle, Stalls.
1913 Venables, Rowland G., Oakhurst, Oswestry.
1910 Victoria, Public Library of, Melbourne, Australia. (Parcels care ot
Agent-General for Victoria, Melbourne Place, 'Strand, London, W.C.)
1S85 Walsall Free Public Library (A. Morgan, Librarian), Walsall. 1913 Walton-Walker, Col. G., The Firs, West Bromwich. 1879* Ward, Mrs., Rodbaston, Penkridge. (Deceased.)
1905 Washington, D.C., U.S.A., Library of Congress. (Care of American
Agency, 14, Grape Street, Shaftesbury Avenue, London, W.C.) 1913 Waterhouse, Col. T. F., Penn Hall, Wolverhampton.
191 1 Watney, V., Cornbury Park, Chartbury, Oxon.
1901 Watts, James, Abney Hall, Cheadle, Cheshire.
1906 Wedgwood, Mrs. Clement F., Barlaston Lea, Stoke-on-Trent.
1879 Wedgwood Institute (J. Wilcox Edge, C.A., J. P., Curator), Burslem.
1902 Wedgwood, Commander J. C, D.S.O., M.P., C.C., Moddershall Oaks, Stone.
Staffs.
1800 Wbdreswvky Free Pubi ic Library, Wednesbury,
19x3 Wenger, A. N. C, Trentham, Staffs.
1881 West Bromwich Free Library, West Bromwich.
191 1 Westwood, A., Harbourne Manor House, Harbourne.
1004 White, John H., 175 High Street, Camden Town, London, N.W.
X
1913 Whittaker-Swinton, J. H., Garth, Stafford.
1900 Wiggin, Sir Henry A., Bart., D.L., J. P., Walton Hall, Eccleshai!, Stafford-
shire.
1913 Wilkinson. Col. J. H., D.L., J. P., Ashfurlong Hall, Sutton Coldlicld. 1903 Wilson, Rev. R. A., M.A., Witley Rectory, Worcester.
191 1 Wisconsin State Historical Society (per Messrs. G. E.\Steckert and Co.,
2, Star Yard, Carey Street, Chancery Lane, W.C.). 1913 Wolferstan, CoL E. S. P., J. P., Statfold, Tamworth.
1S82 Wolseee Y, Sir Charles Michael, Bart., D.L., J. P., Wolseley Park, Rugeley. 1 88 1 Wolverhampton Free Library, Wolverhampton. 1908 Wood, J. M., Longland, Holkham, Norfolk.
1879* Wrottesley, The Rt. Hon. the Lord, 8, Herbert Crescent,rHans Place, S.W. 1879* Wrottesley, The Hon. Mrs. George, 75, Cadogan Gardens, SAV. (Hon. Mem...!
1901 Wrottesley, Rev. F. J., M.A., Denstone Vicarage, Uttoxeter.
239 Subscribing Members and 3 Honorary Members.
XI
Zbc mutant Salt Htxbrcolooical Society
ANNUAL MEETING, OCTOBER 20th, 1914.
The Annual Meeting of this Society was held at the Library, Stafford, on October 20th, 1914. Owing to the war there were several important members absent, including Lord Dartmouth, Lord Hatherton, Lord Charnwood, Sir Reginald Hardy, Bart., Sir Thomas Salt, Bart., and Mr. Josiah Wedgwood, M.P., hon. secretary of the Archaeological Society (both of whom had gone to the front), Mr. H. S. Staveley-Hill, M.P.. and Capt. Anson. In their absence, Col. Twemlow, D.S.O., F.S.A., was voted to the chair, and Mr. J. T. Homer acted as hon. secretary. There were also present the Revds VV. Beresford, E. R. O. Bridgeman, E. Collett, F. A. Homer, S. YV. Hutchinson, L. Lambert, D. S. Murray, G. T. Royds, F. P. Parker, Colonel F. D. Mort, Messrs G. N. Adams, P. YV. L. Adams, T. B. Adams. F. T. Beck, W. Brown, S. A. H. Burne, \Y. F. Carter, A. Huntbach, W. X. Landor and A. Scrivener. Apologies for ab- sence were received from the Rev. F. J. YVrottesley. Mr. C. Masefield and Mr. H. H. Cotterell.
The Report, presented by the Assistant Secretary, Mr. J. W. Bradley, stated : —
The number of members at the end of 1913 was 232. By addi- tions and losses during 19 ra to date this total was increased to the present total of 235. Eleven new members have been added during the year, and the Society has lost by death four members — namely, Colonel T. B. Shaw-Hellier, Mr. W. C. T. Mynors, Mr. Benjamin Whitehouse, and Mr. W. C. Harwell Allen ; and, by withdrawal, four members — namely, Mr. W. Essington Hughes, Mr. Robert Harcourt, M.P., Mr. James Lovatt, and Mr. John Lowry.
The accounts of the William Salt Archaeological Society showed a balance in the bank of £188 6s. iod., as against £36 10s. sd. at the beginning of the year, an increase of £151 16s. §d. The subscrip- tions received (£256 1 js. 6d.) were £%6 14s. more than the previous year. The sales of back volumes (£21 i6s, fed.) had brought in
practically the same amount. The arrears of subscriptions at the 30th of September, 1914, amounted to £65 2s.
The report of the Editorial Committee stated : —
The volume for 19 14 is with the printers. It will contain the latter half of Chetwynd's History of the Pirehill Hundred, edited by the Rev. F. Parker, and a valuable paper by the Hon. Secretary (Mr. J. C. Wedgwood, M.P.) on the Harcourt Family. It is proposed that the volume for 1915 shall contain Mr. Landor's work on " The Staffordshire Incumbents from 1500 to 1680, with notes on all the chantries, and a map showing the boundaries of the Staffordshire parishes as they were formed in Elizabethan times, and also giving the populations of the same within the aforementioned period, together with the augmentations during the Commonwealth." It will also contain a paper by Mr. Charles Bridgeman dealing with certain North Staffordshire manors, and the customary review of the Public Record Publications.
The Acting Secretary (Mr. J. T. Homer) observed that a whole treasure-house of information was at their disposal. They ought at least to issue two volumes in the year, and even more than that. That, however, depended upon their obtaining a still larger ac- cession to the membership. It was hoped that every year would see a large increase in their numbers ; were that brought about the members themselves would meet with their reward in the increased number of volumes of absorbing interest they would be enabled to issue. Mr. Homer explained that the great number of outstanding subscriptions was due to the fact that the subscri- bers were waiting to receive their volume before sending in their subscription.
The report was then adopted.
The question of ancient monuments was raised by Mr. Alex. Scrivener, who pointed out that two years ago the preparation of a list of the ancient monuments known to exist in the county was taken up by this Society and the North Stafford Field Club. The list of such monuments which was prepared included a wayside cross near Werrington. He should like to know if the Salt Archaeological Society could help in preserving that cross. It was a shaft four or five feet high, and two or three steps, and it was or. the side of an old pack-horse lane at Washerwall. The Vicar ol Werrington had it in his mind to take it down and re-erect it in the new churchyard about three-quarters of a mile away. Vhe
Xlll
reverend gentleman said he certainly would not do it if there was any objection. It had been suggested that he (Mr. Scrivener) should see the Cheadle District Council with respect to its preserva- tion, and he proposed to act upon the suggestion. If he could get some expression of opinion on the matter from that Society, perhaps it would assist him in his effort to get the Cheadle District Council to take the proper care of the cross.
Mr. J. T. Homer was afraid this was a matter which did not come within the scope of the Society.
The Rev. W. Beresford thought the Society should strengthen the hands of the Field Club. It was important that these old crosses should not be removed, because he believed it would be proved that they showed them the site of where once stood a Royal residence. He hoped they would induce Mr. Scrivener to do all he could to prevent the cross being removed from its present site.
On the motion of Mr. Beresford, it was resolved that, in the opinion of the Society, the cross in the Werrington district should be preserved, and not be removed from its present site.
Mr. J. T. Homer was thanked for undertaking the secretarial duties during the absence of Mr. J. C. Wedgwood. In reply, he said that the Hon. Secretary had been engaged in very important work at the front, and was at the siege of Antwerp.
XVI
CONTENTS OF PREVIOUS VOLUMES.
Vol. I, 1880. — Pipe Rolls of 1130 and 1155-89 ; Latin Text and Notes, Liber Niger of 1 166, Wrottesley, and Eyton. Thie Register of Bishop Roger de Norburv 1322-58, Bishop Hobhouse. History of Blymhill, The Hon. Geo. Bridgeman.
Vol. II, 1881— Pipe Rolls of 1189-1216 ; Latin Text and Notes, Eyton. Stafford- shire Cartulary, Eyton. Part II, Obligatory Knighthood, tempi. Charles I., Grazebrook. Arms taken in the Visitation of 1O63-4, Grazebrook. History of Blymhill, The Hon. Geo. Bridgeman.
' «
Vol. Ill, 1SS2. — Plea Rolls of 1189-1216, Wrottesley. Final Concords of 1189-1216, Wrottesley. Staffordshire Cartulary, Wrottesley. Part II, The Visitation of 1 5 S3, Grazebrook. The Wasteneys Family, Parker.
Vol. IV, 1883.— Plea Rolls of 1216-72, Wrottesley. Final Concords of 1216-72, Wrottesley. Ronton Priory Cartulary, Wrottesley. Part II, History of- Church Eaton, Bridgeman.
Vol. V, Part I, 1S84. — Burton Abbey Cartulary, Wrottesley. Hundred Rolls, 1255 and 1275, Wrottesley. Pleas of the Forest, 1262, 1271, 1286, 1300, Wrottesley.
Vol. V, Part II, 1884.— Visitation of Staffs., 1663-64, Grazebrook.
Vol. VI, Part I, 18S5— Plea Rolls, 1272-94, Wrottesley. Stone Cartulary, Wrottesley. Plea Rolls of 1218-38, Wrottesley.
Vol. VI, Part II, 1885.— Capitular Muniments at Lichfield, Dr. C. J. Cox.
Vol. VII, 1886.— Plea Rolls, 1294-1307, Wrottesley. Subsidy Roll of 1327, Wrottesley. Part II, History of the Swynnerton Family, Bridgeman.
Vol. VIII, 1S87. — Military Service of Staffordshire Tenants, 1230-1374, Wrottesley. Cartulary of St. Thomas', Stafford, Parker. Part II, History of Castle Church Parish, Mazzinghi.
Vol. IX, 1888. — Assize and King's Bench Rolls, 1307-27, Wrottesley. Fine Rolls, 1307-27, Wrottesley. Part II, The Barons of Dudley, Grazebrook.
Vol. X, 1889. — Coram Rege Rolls and Pleas of the Crown, 1307-27, Wrottesley. Subsidy Roll of 1332, Wrottesley. Younger branches of Sutton of Dudley, Grazebrook.
Vol. XI, 1890. — Plea Rolls, 1327-41, Wrottesley. Final Concords, 1327-15.47, Wrottesley. Cartulary of Trentham Priory, Parker.
Vol. XII, 1891. — Plea Rolls, 1341-59, Wrottesley. Final Concords of mixed counties, including Staffordshire, 1485-1558, Wrottesley* Final Concords, 155S-9, Wrottesley. Part II, Supplement to the History of Blymhill, Bridgeman.
Vol. XIII, 1892.— Plea Rolls, 1360-87, Wrottesley. Final Concords, 1559-73, Wrottesley.
Vol. XIV, 1893. — Coram Rege Rolls, 1327-83, Wrottesley, Final Concords, 1573 80. Military Service of Staffordshire Tenants, 1377-99, Wrottesley, Part 11, History of VVeston-under-Lizard, Bridgeman.
Vol. XV, 1894. — Plea Rolls 1387-1405, Wrottesley. Final Concords, 15S0-Q. Muster Roll of 1640, Wrottesley,
Vol. XVI, i8()s. — Staffordshire, extracts from the Cheshire Plea Rolls, 1327 141
Wrottesley. King's Bench and Coram Rege Rolls, 1377-1411, Wrottesley. Final Concords, 1589-1603. Rydeware Cartulary, Wrottesley.
xvn
Vol. XVII, 1896— Plea RoUs, 1413-35, Wrottesley. The Poll Tax, Hundreds of Oftlow and Cuttlestone, 1379-81, Wrottesley.- Final Concords of mixed counties, including Staffordshire manors, 1558-88. Shenstone Charters, Grazcbrook.
Vol. XVIII, 1897. — Final Concords, mixed counties, 1588-1603 ; ditto of cities, 1558-1603 ; ditto of Staffordshire, 1603-7. Part II, Calais and Crecy, Military Service at, Wrotteslcy.
Vol. I, N.S., 1898. — The Gresleys of Drakelowe, Falconer Macian.
Vol. II, N.S., 1899. — History of Weston-under-Lizard, E. R. 0. and C. G. 0. Bridge- man.
Vol. Ill, N.S., 1900. — Final Concords, 1607-12. The Swynnertons of Eccleshall and Chell, Chas. Swynnerton. Plea Rolls, 1435-60, Wrottesley.
Vol. IV, N.S., 1901. — Final Concords of mixed counties touching Staffordshire, 1603-25 ; of Staffordshire, 1613-7. Plea Rolls, 1456-74, Wrottesley. Muster Roll, 1539 (Offlow Hundred).
Vol. V, N.S., 1902. — The Giffard Family, Wrottesley. Muster Roll, 1539 (Cuttlestone and Pirehill Hundreds).
Vol. VI, N.S., Part I, 1903. — Final Concords, 1615-9. Muster Roll, 1539 (Seisdon and Totmanslow Hundreds). Plea Rolls, 1474-85, Wrottesley. Inventory of Church Goods, 1552, Wrottesley.
Vol. VI, N.S., Part II, 1903.— History of the Wrottesley Family, Wrottesley.
Vol. VII, N.S., 1904. — History of the family of Okeover, Wrottesley. Final Concords, 1618-22. Early Chancery Proceedings, 1377-1509, Wrottesley.
Vol. VIII, N.S., 1905. — Register of Bishop Roger de Stretton, 1360-85, Rev. R A. W ilson.
Vol. IX, N.S., 1906. — Chancery Proceedings, 1560-70. Sir James de Audley, K.G., and the Audley Family, Wedgwood. The Burton Abbey Surveys, /. Horace Round. Cartulary of Dieulacress Abbey, Wrottesley.
Vol. X, N.S., Part I, 1907. — The Tenure of Draycot-under-Necdwood, /. Horace Round. Final Concords, 1622-5. Star Chamber Proceedings, Henry VII. and Henry VIII. Forest Tenures of Staffordshire, Wrottesley. Alrewas Court Rolls, 1259-61, W. N. Landor.
Vol.. X, N.S., Part II, 1907.— Lichfield Bishopric Register, 1358-85, Rev. R. A. Wilson.
Vol. XI, N.S., 1908.— History of the Bagot Family, Wrottesley. The place called Monetville in Dorhesday, W. Fowler Carter. The Inquests on the Stafford- shire estates of the Audleys, 1273-1308, Wedgwood. Reviews of the P.R.O. Publications, 1350-4, 1405-8, 1429-41.
Vol. XII, N.S., 1909. — Chetwynd's History of Pirehill Hundred, Part I, Parker. Reviews, 1247-58, 1300-26, 1354-60, 1441-6, 1509-5S, 1544, 1675-0, 1689-95.
Vol. 1910. — Star Chamber Proceedings, 1516-49. Alrewas Court Rolls, 1268-73, Landor. History of the Lane Family, Wrottesley. Notes on Staffordshire Visitation Families, W. Fowler Carter. Reviews, 1234-7, 1284, t3oa 7. 1396-9, 1408-13, 1446-52, 1676-7.
Vol. 1911. — Final Concords, 1272-1327. Inquisitions Post-mortem, &C, 124a- 1327. — The Testa de Nevil, 1212-1316, Wedgwood. Staffordshire Cartulary, 1200-1327, Wedgwood. Reviews, 1258-66, ^54 -68, 1 413- 16,
6
XV111
Vol. 1912, — Star Chamber Proceedings, 1498-1553. Review uf the " Lists and Indexes " of the P.R.O., Wedgwood. The Early Swynnertons, Chas. Swynner- ton. Staffordshire Sheriffs, Escheators and Justices, Wedgwood. Reviews, I307-35i 1546, 1615-21, 1666-70, 1669-72, 1677-8, 1699-1701.
Vol. 1913. — Inquisitions post-mortem, etc., 1327-66, Notes on the Manors of Aston and Walton, near Stone, in the Thirteenth and Fourteenth Centuries a.d., C. G. O. Bridgemun. A Newcastle Cartulary of the Early Fourteenth Century, Chas. Swynnerton. Early Rolls of Arms and Armorial Seals of Staffordshire, Wedgwood. Reviews and Correspondence.
Vol. 1914. — Chetwynd's History of Pirehill Hundred, Part II, Parker. Harcourt of Ellen hall, Wedgwood.
CONTENTS OF VOL. 1915.
Staffordshire Incumbents and Parochial Records (1530-1680). By Walter Noble Landor, B.A.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
PAGE
Preface . . . . . . . . xxiii
Abbreviations and References . . . xxv
|
Introduction : |
||
|
I. |
The Ecclesiastical Features of the Period . |
xxix |
|
II. |
The Number of Separate Parishes and the |
|
|
Map . . . .. |
XXX |
|
|
III. |
The Information given about each Parish |
xxxii |
|
IV. |
The Chapels of Ease . |
xxxiii |
|
V. |
The Chantries and Chantry Priests . |
xxxiii |
|
VI. |
Obits and Lights . . . . |
xxxiv |
|
VII. |
The Institution of the Clergy . |
xxxiv |
|
VIII. |
Identifications of Incumbents . |
xxxv |
|
IX. |
Clerical Graduates ..... |
xxxvi |
|
X. |
University Degrees .... |
xxxvii |
|
XI. |
Licensed Preachers . . . |
xxxviii |
|
XII. |
The Characters of the Clergy |
xxxix |
|
XIII. |
Ordination Lists . . . |
xl |
|
XIV. |
Henrician and Edwardian Nonconformists |
xl |
|
XV. |
Marian Nonconformists, with Lists . |
xli |
|
XVI. |
Elizabethan Nonconformists and Conform- |
|
|
ists, with Lists . . * |
xlii |
|
|
XVII. |
Nonconformists and Conformists during the Commonwealth and in 1662 |
lil |
|
XVIII. |
Advowsons ...... |
Ixii |
|
XIX. |
The Incomes of the Clergy |
Ixii |
|
XX. |
The Commonwealth Augmentations |
Ixii |
|
XXI. |
The Approbation of Ministers during the |
|
|
Commonwealth ..... |
Ixv |
|
|
XXII. |
The Number of Householders in each Parish |
|
|
in 1563 and 1665, etc. |
lxvi |
|
|
XXIII. |
The Population of Staffordshire, 1086-180 1 |
|
|
(Commander Wedgwood) |
Ixxv |
The Parishes arranged Alphabetically . . r
XXII
|
Appendices : |
PAGE |
|
|
I. |
Lists of the Chantry Priests and Chantries |
361 |
|
T T II. |
Elizabethan Recusancy, with Lists of Lay Recu- |
|
|
sants ....... |
367 |
|
|
III. |
Roman Catholic Landowners in 1648 |
389 |
|
IV. |
Typical Inventories of Clergymen circa 1600 |
393 |
|
V. |
Specimen of the Interregnum Admission Orders . |
395 |
|
VI. |
List and Description of the Authorities quoted . |
396 |
|
Indices : |
||
|
I. |
Lists of Incumbents . . . . . |
4i3 |
|
II. |
Names of other Persons ... |
4^9 |
|
III. |
Places . . . |
445 |
|
IV. |
Subject and General . . .' |
454 |
PREFACE
THIS volume is in the main an attempt to throw fresh light upon the ecclesiastical history of Staffordshire in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, and is practically a supplement to the existing county histories.
The information it contains has been chiefly obtained and condensed from hitherto unpublished and contemporary manuscripts, but some use has been made of the State Papers and other similar documents which have already been printed. Books dealing with the university degrees of the clergy and the lives of the more noted among them have also been used to a limited extent, and full references thereto are given so as to facilitate the task of any future parochial historian. The list of Edwardian Church Ornaments in each parish has been made as complete as possible, although this has involved reprinting the partial lists already given in S.H.C., vi, n.s., part i.
Perhaps some apology may be needed for the Introduction, which is in effect only an analysis and restatement of the facts necessarily scattered throughout the rest of the book. It seemed, however, desirable that this should be done, in order to render the work more generally useful. A similar desire has led to the modernisation of the uncouth old spelling in most cases, though a few typical quotations are left unaltered.
Staffordshire readers who are not specially interested in ecclesiastical matters may like to see the particulars of the former population of their parish and county, or may find some information about the character, attainments, or income of some clerical ancestor or relation which has hitherto escaped them.
It is hoped that any reader who discovers a mistake, or who can add to those lists of incumbents that are still defective, will communicate with the author, in order that the correction or addition may be made in the copy placed in the Salt Library for the use of the public.
The writer takes this opportunity of expressing his gratitude
xxiv
to Mr. Gerald Mander, author of the History of the Wolver- hampton School, for writing the article on Wolverhampton (pp. 321-354) ; to the Hon. Secretary for his valuable note on the population of Staffordshire ; to the Registrars of the diocese and of the Dean and Chapter (Messrs. H. C. Hodson and R. R. Redmayne) for kindly allowing the writer unrestricted access to the invaluable documents in their custody; to the Rev. Claude Jenkins, Librarian of Lambeth Palace Library, for revising a portion of the Introduction ; and to a great many of the present Staffordshire incumbents for allowing their registers to be inspected without the payment of any fees, and for much kind hospitality.
WALTER N. LANDOR.
Chadscroft,
Rugeley.
October, 1915
ABBREVIATIONS AND REFERENCES
Most of the manuscripts and two of the books referred to in the present work are described in detail in Appendix VI and have a distinctive number, which is that given in the following list :
(a) =Chan. Certif. 40. See No. 12.
(b) =Chan. Certif. 54. See No. 13.
(c) =Chan. Certif. 44, pt. i. See No. 14.
(d) =Chan. Certif. 44, pt. ii. See No. 15.
(e) =Chan. Certif. 43. See No. 16. ff. =paid first fruits. See No. 4.
(h) =Chan. Return Sep. 1552. See No. 17.
(/) =Chan. Return Dec. 1552. See No. 18.
(w)=Chan. Return c. 1552-3. See No. 19.
(n) =Chan. Return Apr. 1553. See No. 20.
(p) =pensions. See No. 2ja.
(q) =pensions. See No. 2jb.
(r) == Rentals. See No. 21.
(s) =" in the steeple."
(t) = Ministers' Accounts, Eliz. See No. 28.
Accounts=D. of L. Ministers' Accounts. See No. 26.
Act Book=Lich. Chap. Act Book. See No. 2.
Add. MSS.=Additional MSS. in B.M. See No. 31.
approp. =appropriate.
ar.=armiger (i.e. esquire).
Assistants in the removal of scandalous ministers. See No. 36.
Aug. = Augmentation Dept. of Court of Exchequer. B.A. ? See p. xxxvii.
Bercsiord— Diocesan History of Lichfield, by Rev. Wm Beresford. B.M. = British Museum.
Bod. MSS.=Bodleian MSS. at Oxford. See No. 31. Calamy = 77/£ Nonconformists' Memorial, by Edmund Calamy, D.D., ed. by Sam Palmer, 1775.
xxvi
Chan. Proc. =Chancery Proceedings in P.R.O. Cherry •= Stafford in Olden Times, by J. L. Cherry, Stafford, 1890.
Ch. Orn. =church ornaments from inventory of 1553. See No. 29.
Ch. wds. —churchwardens, See No. 29.
Commissioners c. 1548 =Mildmay and Keylwey. See No. 30.
Commissioners (1653-9) =the commissioners for the approba- tion of public preachers. See p. lxv.
Compounding =The printed calendar of the proceedings of the Committee for Compounding.
Cox ===S. H. C, vi, part ii. .
Crown appointments. See No. 7.
D. —deanery.
D. of Lanc.=Duchy of Lancaster, documents in the P.R.O. depr. =deprived.
D.N.~B.=Dictionary of National Biography. Dom. =Domestic State Papers in the P. R.O. The references will sometimes be found in the printed calendars. Exch.— Exchequer.
Exch. Plea Rolls = Exch. of Account, First Fruits and Tenths, Plea Roll No. 1 (Easter 1 Mary to Hilary 2 & 3 Philip and Mary).
Fee farm=Exch. Aug. partic. for sale of fee farm rents. See No. 34.
Foster = Alumni Oxonicnsis, by J. Foster. Gee. See No. 35.
Grants =Partic. of grants for schools. See No. 30. Gregory =Gregory King's MS. note-book, c. 1680, in Wm Salt Library.
Griffith =The Free Schools and Endowments of Staffs., by Geo Griffith.
Had. MSS. =Harleian MSS. in B.M.
Harwood=77j£ History and Antiquities of Lichfield, by Rev. Thos Harwood, 1806.
Hibbert = r//£' Dissolution of the Monasteries, by F. A. Hibbert, 19 10.
Hutchinson —The Archdeaconry of Stoke-on-Trent, by S. \V Hutchinson, 1893.
Keeper =The printed reports of the Deputy Keeper of the Records. See No. 7.
XXV11
King's Pamph.=King's Pamphlets. See Nos. 32, 33. Lamb. MSS. == Lambeth MSS. See No. 31. Lans. MSS.=Lansdowne ]\1SS. in B.M. See No. 7. Leases = Aug. Enrol, of Crown Leases. See No. 23. M.A. ? p. xxxvii.
Mander=/f istory of Wolverhampton Grammar School, by Gerald Mander.
May or —Admissions to S. Johns Coll. Camb., by Joseph Mayor. From 1630. Mis. Bk. =Miscellaneous Book in P.R.O. ob. =obit (i.e. died).
occ.=occurs in. For the year named see Clergy Lists, No. 9. P.R.O. =Public Record Office, Chancery Lane, E.C. pr. = proved.
preb.=prebend or prebendary. pst=priest.
Rentals = Rentals and Surveys (General Series). See No. 21. res. =resigned. rest. =restored.
Return of 1533, 1535, etc. See Clergy Lists of these years, No. 9.
Roy. Comp. =Royalist Composition Papers, which are quoted from the transcript of them in the Wm Salt Library.
Scandalous ministers, assistants to remove same. See No. 36.
Scholaris etc. This description in Latin of a clergyman is taken from the Return of 1593. See p. 398.
seq. — sequestered.
Shaw =27^ Church under the Commonwealth, by Wm A. Shaw, Litt.D., 1900.
Shaw's Staffs. —The History and Antiquities of Staffordshire, by Stebbing Shaw, 1798-1801.
signed testimony 1648. See No. 32.
Simms =Bibliotheca Staff ordiensis, by Rupert Simms, 1894. Sion MSS. See No. 31. S.P. =State Papers.
Stebbing Shaw. See Shaw's Staffs, (above).
subscribed 1559. See No. 35.
Subsidies. See Nos. 10 and 11.
Testimony. See " signed testimony " (above).
T.R.=Treasury of Receipt in the Court of Exchequer,
transcript =transcript of parish register at Lichfield
XXVU1
trustees =?= The trustees for providing maintenance for preach- ing ministers (1650-60). See p. lxiv.
Valor — Valor Ecclesiasticas, 1534-5. See No. 9.
Venn=The Book of (Cambridge) Matriculations and Degrees, by John and J. A. Venn, 1913.
Vic. ch. = Vicar choral.
Walker —Clergy sequestered, etc., in the Grand Rebellion, by John Walker, 1714.
w.p. —will proved. All the wills mentioned in this book were proved at Lichfield, unless a reference is given to a book at the P.C.C. London — e.g. 38 Grey, 96 Fairfax, etc. — or the name of some other provincial court is added.
THE LEGAL AND CIVIL YEARS
Until 31 December 1751 the legal year in England was computed to begin on 25 March and to end on 24 March. It is this year which is used in the parish registers and most other contemporary documents. In the present work the days from 1 January to 24 March inclusive are printed with the double date, the first being the legal year, the second being the present civil or historical year. To make matters perfectly clear it may be added that practically all the contemporary writers state that Charles I was beheaded on 30 January 1648 — i.e., towards the end of the legal year 1648, which was, of course, the beginning of the civil year 1649. Hence in modern histories the date is given as 1649. In this book the date would be given as 30 January 164S-9.
In some two or three cases only one year is named. This is due to the fact that in these cases the year has been taken from some comparatively modern work, the author of which does not make it clear whether he uses the historical year in accordance with recent custom or whether he has transcribed the date without alteration from some contemporary source, in which case the legal year would be almost certainly the one used by the original writer.
INTRODUCTION
THE ECCLESIASTICAL FEATURES OF THE PERIOD
The sixteenth and seventeenth centuries are of the greatest importance to all students of English church history on account of the religious upheavals that took place in them. Innumerable volumes have been written thereupon, but there has been little attempt made to discover how and to what extent the local parochial clergy in any particular district were affected by the changes they were compelled to make in the church services. It is hoped that this book will do something to fill up this gap, at all events as regards the county of Stafford.
Summarizing the results of the detailed investigations that are made later on in this introduction and the appendices, it seems probable that :
(1) Nearly all the Staffordshire parish clergy acquiesced in the Henrician, Edwardian, and Marian religious settlements ;
(2) Not more than two-thirds of the Marian incumbents ultimately conformed to the Elizabethan settlement ;
(3) About four-fifths of the episcopalian clergy conformed more or less to the Commonwealth settlement ;
(4) About 54 per cent, of the ministers conformed in 1662, including the old episcopalian clergy who had conformed during the Interregnum ;
(5) About two-thirds of the ministers established during the Commonwealth (i.e. excluding these episcopalians) did not conform in 1662 ;
(6) The number of chantry priests decreased very rapidly during the last fifteen years of the reign of Henry VIII, and there were only about half of the original number left at the date of their dissolution ;
(7) The number of clergy with university degrees rose from about 12 per cent, in 1593 to perhaps So per cent, in 1630 ;
(8) The number of clergy licensed to preach their own sermons increased from somewhere about 15 per cent, in 1503 to 28 per cent, in 1604 ;
(9) Nearly one-half of the clergy had an income of less than
XXX
INTRODUCTION
III. per annum in 1604, and only three out of ten had more than 2/1. ;
(10) More than one-half of the ministers had their income increased by augmentation grants during the Commonwealth period ;
(11) Scarcely any of the influential families in Staffordshire welcomed the Reformation.
THE NUMBER OF SEPARATE PARISHES AND THE
MAP
The area of Staffordshire in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries was slightly different from what it is to-dav, and in some cases it is difficult to say whether a certain district was an independent parish, a chapelry in some mother parish, or extra-parochial. It has been impossible to adopt the mediaeval divisions of the parishes in this book, for these were in some cases changed after the dissolution of the monasteries, the collegiate churches, the royal free and the chantry chapels. Some of these monastic or other churches became parish churches with a definite and — in some cases — a new district assigned to them ; others were destroyed and the district formerly served by them was assigned to a neighbouring parish or became in a few wild places an extra-parochial district A like fate befell the old chantry chapels which were situated at a distance from their parish church, though in their case most of those which survived became chapels of ease in their old parishes. Neither has it been possible to adopt the modern parochial districts, for many of these have been formed out of the old parishes within the past hundred years, and consequently are not mentioned in this book.
On the whole it has seemed best to take the parishes as certified in or about 1503 (see p. 397), even although this arrangement involves a few anomalies. 1 These parishes have been rearranged in alphabetical order and the few emu-ions supplied.
1 Most of these anomalies occur in the neighbourhood of Stafford, where the certificate states that the incumbents ot the chapels at ElU* n. 1 Upton. Marston, Salt, and Whitgreave had the cure (of souls), though "without institution" — i.e., that these were separate parishes. Hence they ;m treated as such in this book, although originally all these chapels belonged to the collegiate church at Stafford and seem to have been reunited to this parish early in the seventeenth century.
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According to this computation, there were 143 separate parishes in Staffordshire, and the map1 shows all 2 their respec- tive boundaries. It also marks the districts3 assigned to the chapels of ease within such parishes ; the situation of the suppressed chantry chapels that were birlt at a distance from a parish church1; most of the extra-parochial districts ; the situation of a few chapels outside the county boundaries, but within a Staffordshire parish and some townships within the county, which were parts of parishes in the archdeaconries and counties of Salop and Derby or in the dioceses of Chester, Hereford, and Worcester. These extra-parochial places and townships are mentioned in the population tables, but not in the alphabetical arrangement of the parishes, except in the cases of Bobbington and Haselour.
If it were not for the certificate attributed to 1563, it would have seemed better to classify some of these " parishes " as chapels of ease rather than as independent parishes. It is certain that their status at tins date was somewhat doubtful, so' the following table has been prepared as an alternative classification :
Doubtful parishes Suggested mother church
Bednall . . . . . . Berkswich
Butterton . . - . . . . Mayfield
Calton . . . . . . Mayfield
Cheddleton . . . . . . Leek
Codsall . . . . . . Tettenhall
Croxden . . . . . . ?
Edingale . . . . . . Alrewas
Enson . . . . . . Stafford
1 The oldest map of the county which gives the parish boundaries on one sheet is the Ordnance Survey of* '1875-86. This map has been constructed therefrom, as it is believed that the new parishes formed between 1563 and this date were all subdivisions of one ancient parish. The boundaries of these ancient parishes can be easily ascertained from this survey, and they were substantially the same in the last half of the sixteenth and the first half of the eighteenth centuries. The map, however, must not be regarded as absolutely accurate, as it has been impossible to show upon it a lew fields, which were detached from their mother parish and altogether surrounded by some other parish, and also a few districts, such as Needwood Forest . Which were extra-parochial in 1563 and not assigned to parishes until a later date.
1 All with the exception of three small parishes or chapclries within the old parish of S. Mary's, Statlord.
1 The boundaries of some of these districts cannot now be ascertained, and are perforce omitted.
4 The names of the chantry chapels arc printed in smaller type than those oi the chapels of ease.
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INTRODUCTION
Doubtful parishes
Suggested mother church
Hopton
Horton
Ipstones
Marston
Okeover
Onecote
Salt
Shareshill Sheen
Whitgreave . .
Stafford Leek
Leek
Stafford
Ham or Blore
Leek
Stafford
Penkridge
Ham
Stafford
If this classification be accepted, the number of Staffordshire parishes would be 125 instead of 143.
THE INFORMATION GIVEN ABOUT EACH PARISH
The information about each parish and its incumbents is arranged in the following order, viz. :
(1) The status of the parish in 1563 — i.e. whether it was then a rectory, vicarage or curacy — whether it then had any chapels of ease attached to it or was under any. peculiar juris- diction, the deanery to which it belonged and the name of the monastery (if any) to which it had formerly been appropriated.
(2) Particulars about any change in its status winch took place in the reigns of Hen VIII or Edw VI, the value of the possessions of the dissolved collegiate churches, free chapels, etc.
(3) The church ornaments from the inventory of April and May 1553.
(4) A few notes about recusants, patrons, and other parish matters subsequent to 1563.
(5) The names of the last deans, prebendaries, and vicars choral of the dissolved collegiate churches.
(6) A list of the incumbents of the parish, with the exact dates of their appointment to the parish and of the termination of their cure.
(7) A similar list of the curates or assistant ministers.
(8) The names of any stipendiary priests or chaplains that cannot be identified with any particular chantry.
(9) Particulars of any chantries within the parish church,
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including their endowments and the names of their founders and last incumbents.
(10) Similar particulars of any obits or lights maintained within the parish church.
(n) Similar particulars of any dissolved chantries at a distance from the parish church.
(12) Chapels of ease attached to the parish church in 1563, with their ornaments, etc.
(13) A list of their incumbents with dates, as in No. 6.
(14) Particulars of any chantries, obits, or lights formerly attached to these chapels, as in Nos. 9 and 10.
(15) Notes on the incumbents and the value of their benefices at various periods, with full references.
THE CHAPELS OE EASE
It seems probable that a very large number of the chapels of ease mentioned in this book had been originally founded as chantries, though most of them had lost this status before the reign of Hen VIII and were then regarded as strictly chapels of ease. Some of them even had a chantry established within them, just as the parish churches had. Other chapels that were still regarded as chantries in the reign of Hen VIII had their status changed by the Edwardian commissioners, who found them so convenient for the people living in their neigh- bourhood that they permitted them to remain as chapels of ea^e to some mother church at a distance and — presumably — to retain their ancient endowments. A few of these chapels were closed as chantries by the commissioners and their endowments confiscated, though they were reopened as chapels of ease in the reign of Elizabeth or later.
THE CHANTRIES
The incompleteness of all the extant chantry certificates and returns makes it impossible to give exact particulars of the Staftordshire chantries the endowments of which were con- floated by the Crown in the reigns of Hen VIII and Edw VI. 1
Excluding the chantries in the dissolved monasteries, with which this book does not deal, it is, however, clear that there
1 It should be noted that in some cases the Edwardian chantry certificates State that chantries were founded by persons who in reality only re-endowed pieviously existing foundations.-
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INTRODUCTION
wore at least 145 chantry priests in Staffordshire at the begin- ning of the sixteenth century, and that by 1548 this number had been reduced to 74 or thereabouts.
Eighty-five priests are known to have been serving their respective chantries in 1545.
At least 1 ten of these kept a school, usually free for the children of the parish, and four or five of them were permitted to remain and continue their schools at salaries varying from 5/. 17s. 2d. to 3/. 10s.
Of the remaining 75 about 23 may have subsequently obtained preferments and about 52 probably did not. The great majority of these priests were granted a pension in 1548, but there is little evidence to show how long this was paid.
Altogether there seem to have been at least 112 chantries endowed at altars within parish churches or chapels of ease and some 43 chantry chapels at some distance therefrom, including the suppressed eleemosynary foundations known as hospitals at Stafford, Stoke, and Tamworth.
All the particulars known are summarized in the lists printed in Appendix I, which, however, must not be regarded as exhaustive (see p. 364, List 5).
OBITS AND LIGHTS
The endowments of 169 obits are named . in this book, but of these 82 were at Lichfield Cathedral, 25 at Tamworth, 14 at Walsall, and 9 at Stafford, which leaves only 39 for the rest of the county.
These endowments were of very small value and, no doubt, were easy to conceal from the King's commissioners. Probably this wras successfully done in most parishes.
There are about 55 endowments for lights or lamps men- tioned in the certificates.
THE INSTITUTION OF THE CLERGY
In 1563 and for many years afterwards the incumbents of many of the churches in Staffordshire were not instituted or inducted into their several cures by the bishop or his officials.
1 It is quite possible that several other priests kept a school, though, it s>>, the fact has not been mentioned in the certificates [see Index, heading Schools," particularly pp. 203, 2.20).
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XXXV
Hence there is no record of their appointment in the diocesan register or the bishops' certificates of institution. The most important of these were the ancient collegiate churches of Gnosall, Penkridge, Tamworth, Tettenhall, and Wolverhamp- ton ; the monastic churches of Burton, Croxden, Rocester, Stone, and Trentham, and most of the churches which were exempt from the jurisdiction of the bishop. Those of lesser importance were the churches at Barlaston, EHenhall, Cheddle- ton, Gayton, Horton, Kingstone, Shareshill, Tipton, Waterfall, West Bromwich, Weston-on-Trent, etc. Some of the in- cumbents of the old chapels of ease had practically the entire charge of their district, had endowments quite distinct and independent of their mother churches, and seem to have been appointed for life, just as if they had been independent rectors or vicars, but there is no record of their appointment in any extant diocesan documents. 1
In all the foregoing cases it is impossible to compile a complete list of the incumbents from any official sources, and all that can be done is to give information about them that is found in the parish registers, wills, and other fortuitous sources of informa- tion.
IDENTIFICATIONS OF INCUMBENTS
It has been a matter of considerable difficulty to decide how best to deal with a very large number of cases where it is certain that the incumbents of two, three, or more cures had the same name and where the dates and perhaps other circum- stances suggest that it was the same individual who had successively occupied these cures, but where there is no independent or conclusive evidence of identity. On the whole it has been considered best that the 'compiler should indicate his opinion as to the identity by making use of such expressions in the notes as show whether he considers it probable or merely possible. Similar difficulties with regard to degrees are dealt with under the heading " University Degrees."
It should be noted that in every case where such an expres- sion as " probably," " perhaps," or " possibly " is used it may be replaced by the following formula : viz., " One of this name was." In all cases where the word " probably " is used it indicates that in addition to the name being identical there
1 See Longnor,, Betley, Chapel Chorlten, Edingale, etc.
C2
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INTRODUCTION
are other circumstances — in most cases obvious to the careful reader — which render the identification likely and in many cases almost certain.
CLERICAL GRADUATES
An attempt has been made to estimate the number of university graduates among the Staffordshire parochial clergy from the following data.
The 1593 return gives definite information about 109 of these clergy. Of these 14 had degrees, 95 had not, though 11 of these are stated to be scholars of Oxford or Cambridge, who apparently had not taken their degrees.
The 1602 return mentions only 78 clergy, 17 with degrees, 61 without. The return of 1604 does not, as a rule, state whether the ministers had degrees or not, but a careful examina- tion of the statements made in this return and in those of 1593 and 1002 enables the compiler to state that in 1604 there were about 22 ministers with degrees and some 95 without. There were also about 53 other parochial clergymen about whom nothing can be stated with certainty, though it is not probable that more than a very few of these had degrees.
The few odd ordination lists of 1023-31 give the names of 23 ordinees, who subsequently obtained benefices in this county, and of these 20 had degrees, 3 had not. Altogether 95 ordinees are mentioned, 76 with degrees, 19 without, i.e. 17 " students " and 2 literates.
The diocesan register records 48 Staff ordshire institutions between 1619-31 and mention's that 43 of these presentees had degrees ; 5 apparently had not.
Summarizing the afore-given figures, it would appear that the percentage of parochial clergy who possessed university degrees was 12'8 in 1593, 21'8 in 1602, i8"8 in 1604, 79 of the whole number of ordinees or 87 of the Staffordshire ordinees in 1623-31, and 89 of the presentees in 1619-31.
Graduates would naturally be selected to fill the more important benefices " with institution " ; consequently the percentage of graduates to the whole number of clergy would be considerably less than 87 or 80 per cent. Still it is clear that Bp Morton (1619-32) increased the number of graduates among the clergy very considerably. He was noted tor bis liberality in supporting scholars at the universities.
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UNIVERSITY DEGREES In all cases where it is absolutely certain from contemporary evidence that an incumbent had taken a degree, such degree is placed after his name without any query sign. The Alumni Oxoniensis of Joseph Foster (referred to as Foster) and The Book of [Cambridge) Matriculations and Degrees compiled by John and J. A. Venn (referred to as Venn) have usually enabled the compiler to give the date of the degree, the college, from which it was taken, and sometimes the parentage of these incumbents. 1
In a very large number of other cases it is probable that a graduate mentioned by Foster or Venn is identical with a Staffordshire incumbent. In these cases the degree is queried and it must be understood that there is no direct and indis- putable authority for the suggested identification, although in many cases the occurrence of one or more of the following circumstances renders the identification practically certain.
Thus an incumbent has been provisionally identified with a graduate of the same name and date if the incumbent were prima facie likely to be a graduate by reason of his holding
(1) A college living — e.g., Cheadle ;
(2) An important benefice usually held by graduates — e.g., Hanbury, Grindon, Clifton Campville, etc. ;
(3) A living to which he had been appointed by the Crown, by 2 the committee for plundered ministers or their successors ;
1 The numerous references to Foster and Venn merely indicate that a man of this name matriculated or graduated at the college and in the ye ar named, and that further particulars about him are given in their books. Venn never makes any attempt at identification; and although Foster does do so in many cases, the compiler takes the responsibility for all the suggested identifications of Staffordshire incumbents, but he relies upon Foster for those outside the county.
Persons interested in any particular clergyman are advised to consult the college register in all cases where it is intimated that he may have been con- nected with a college, as these registers should give the parentage, date of birth, social status, school and residence of each member of the college, and will frequently confirm or disprove the suggested identification.
1 1 here was a striking increase in the number of students at the universities for twenty years or so before the Commonwealth, and on the whole it con- tinued even during the Interregnum among those families that were not active Royalists.
It would seem as if the Puritans even at this period attached great im- portance to a university education, for this book shows that almost all the nominees in Staffordshire of the committee for plundered ministers, the trustees for the maintenance of preaching ministers, the Council of State and the Lord Protector of the Commonwealth, may have been university men, and probably were so in the vast majority of cases.
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INTRODUCTION
(4) A prebend ;
(5) A licence to preach.
Similarly graduates have been identified with incumbents of the same name and date in cases where
(1) The name is an uncommon one ;
(2) The graduate was a Staffordshire man or came from the neighbourhood of the incumbent's parish.
In other cases where a graduate may be identical with an incumbent, but the balance of probability seems to be against the identification, this possibility is stated in the notes, but the degree is not placed after his name in the lists.
It may be added that the original documents on which, this work is based usually omit degrees, except in the returns of 1593, 1602, and the bishop's registers.
The old forms of S.T.B. and S.T.P. are given as B.D. and D.D. respectively, except in the case of the Wolverhampton clergy.
LICENSED PREACHERS
In the reign of Elizabeth "no pastor was at liberty to expound the scriptures to his people, without an express appointment to that office by the bishop." 1 Writing from Coventry on 10 July 1560, Thos Lever, the archdeacon, stated that " Many of our parishes have no clergyman . . . and out of that very small number who administer the sacraments throughout this great country, there is hardly one in a hundred who is both able and willing to preach the word of God ; but all persons are obliged to read only what is prescribed in the books." 2
Only a very few of the parish clergy received licences to preach, and according to Bp Overton there were scarcely five " tolerable " preachers in Staffordshire in 1584. 3
The three returns of 1593, 1602, and 1604 definitely state whether the clergy named therein were preachers or not, and from these it appears that among the parish clergy there were in 1593 16 preachers, 93 non-preachers ; in 1602 17 preachers, 61 non-preachers ; and in 1604 44 preachers, 112 non-preachers.
1 Quoted from Prebendary Perceval Wiburn's description of the Church 01 England circa 1566 {Zurich Letters, 2nd ser., p. 35S, ci. p. ioj). * Zurich Letters, 1st ser., p. 85. 3 See pp. 370, 377.
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XX XIX
This gives a percentage of preachers in 1593 of 147 ; in 1602 of 2I"8 ; and in 1604 of 28*2. 1
THE CHARACTERS OF THE CLERGY
There is an interesting record of the character and erudition of individual clergymen in the archidiaconal return of 1593 and the Puritan return of 1604.
It is only possible to compare the statements made in these returns in some 60 cases, as there was a considerable change in the personnel of the clergy during these eleven years, and, of course, there is no record in the 1593 return about the 30 clergymen who did not then appear for examination.
There does not appear to be any essential contradiction between these returns in 49 out of these 60 cases, although the additional information given by the Puritans often alters the impression given in the 1593 return. Thus 10 men are merely described as public or licensed preachers in the earlier return, whereas the later one adds that 5 of these were non-resident in their parishes, and that 2 of the remainder preached but seldom. Again, a man jejunely called by the archdeacon or his informant " mediocriter doctus " is more bluntly called by the Puritans " ignorant," " very ignorant," " scandalous," " a worldling," " a swearer," " a drunkard," or even something worse.
In only three instances does the earlier return give a more unfavourable report of a clergyman than the later one. 2
In some 11 cases there is a definite disagreement between the two returns. Thus 4 men are described as " in sacris litteris incumbens, instructus, or bene exercitatus " in the first return, but as ',' unlearned, ignorant or very ignorant " in the second return, and 4 others are said in 1593 to instruct their respective flocks in a praiseworthy way, while in 1604 one of these is said to be " offensive to the whole county, preacheth very seldom," another is " of scandalous life, seldom preacheth,"
1 The summary at the end of the 1604 return runs as follows : " There be no preachers 111 83 parish chin ches and 35 churches annexed and chapels ; so that there be 118 congregations which have no preachers, neither have had (for the most) now more than 40 years. There lie 16 non-residents and plurahtants, whereof 11 [arej preachers and 5 no preachers."
2 In these cases the 1593 return states that these men were " onmino indoctus," " utcunque doctus," and " mediocriter doctus," whereas the l6o«| return confines itself to the statement that these men were " no preachers." Two other incumbents were given a thoroughly bad character by the archdeacon, but neither of them occurs in the ioo.j return (pp. 210, 239).
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INTRODUCTION
the third is a "preacher, weak, of loose life," and the fourth is " no preacher, a gamester, drunkard." In the remaining three cases the men are thus described : " in sacris litteris experittib " and "a mere worldling " ; " bene litteratus " and" a worldling "; " in sacris litteris exercitatus " and " of loose life."
In these n cases an effort has been made to discover from contemporary evidence which return is the most credible, but only at Rugeley has this effort been partially. successful. In this case the vicar was certainly a gamester, as is alleged by the Puritans ; but on the other hand the parish register shows that he was diligent in baptizing, marrying, and burying his flock throughout the whole of his long vicariate, so that, apart from this weakness, he may Lave been as learned and satisfactory as is alleged by the archdeacon.
The summary at the end of the 10-04 return states that there were then 18 congregations served by laymen and 40 by " scandalous " clergymen.
ORDINATION LISTS
There are no ordination lists in the diocesan registers between 1554 and 1662, but there are a few ordination dates mentioned in the 1593 return and also in some odd loose leaves kept in the register between 1623-31. It has been thought worth while to print these in the notes, as they show that many of the clergy obtained benefices immediately after their ordi na- tion, and also that it was not uncommon for men to be ordained both priest and deacon on the same day. In 1630 no fewer than 5 men (2 Staffordshire ones) received both orders on the same day, and in 1662 and 1663 the same happened to nearly all the Commonwealth ministers who were ordained.
HENRICIAN AND EDWARDIAN NONCON- FORMISTS
There does not appear to be any extant record of the depriva- tion of a Staffordshire parochial incumbent on account of his refusal to make the changes in the church services that were ordered by the Crown and parliament between 154.] and 1553.
In the last three years of the reign of Men VI T I the resigna-
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tions of some six 1 incumbents may perhaps be attributed to this cause, but in the next reign only three resignations are known to have taken place ; one being due to preferment to a better living2 and two being pluralisrs who resigned one out of many preferments. 3
Of course drastic alterations were made in the staff of the dissolved collegiate churches, and the Edwardian commis- sioners at the Augmentation Office took care that the curates whom they appointed to serve these churches were in sympathy with the changes that were then being made, and they took similar care with regard to any other appointments that they made4; but they do not seem to have interfered with the incumbent of any ordinary church or chapel.
MARIAN NONCONFORMISTS There is but little evidence of nonconformity in the reign of Queen Mary. Only three incumbents are known to have been deprived of their livings in Staffordshire during this reign, and six resigned their livings for some unknown reason.
List of those deprived Robt Aston, Muckle^tone and Sandon, depr. 1553. Laur Nowell, 5 Drayton Bassett, 1553-5. Thos Sale, Wednesbury, 1555-8.
List of those who resigned* Samson Burne, Tixall, 154S-57. Rich Edwards, Bushbury, 1546-57. Hen Elkin, Made-ley, c. 1533-57. Nic Harwar (Audley, 1542-54) ? Uttoxeter, 1554-7. Wm Horsley, Milwich, c. 1533-5S. ? (Rich Slany, Penn, 1547-?) John Wilson, Colton, 1546-5S.
1 Wm. Brymley, of Uttoxeter; Edw Harlyng, of Thorpe Constantine; Arthur Meverell, of Tutbury: John Pilkington, of Bradeley; Rich. Talbott, of Drayton. Bassett; and Wm. Wycherlcy, of Shettstone.
* Ralph Cox, of Shenstone.
1 John apHarry resigned Lichfield S. Mary's, and Anth. Draycott resigned Draycott rectory. ■ See p. 303.
* Nowell, afterwards dean of Lichfield, was certainly deprived for his nonconformity.
* Five of these were appointed in the reign of King Edward, and probably did not approve of the Marian regime. Possibly they may have been married pnests.
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INTRODUCTION
EL IZA BET HA N NONCONFORMISTS 1 It is very difficult to form any reliable estimate of the number of the parochial clergy in Staffordshire who refused to conform to the religious changes made by parliament in 1559. There is very little direct evidence2 available, so the following lists have been prepared with the hope and belief that the general results may approximate to the actual facts. The information about the clergy of the chapels of ease and the unbeneficed clergy is far too scanty to be of any value ; so the first nine lists deal exclusively with the incumbents of parish churches or " churches with cure " and List 10 with the dignitaries of Lichfield cathedral.
In spite of the vigorous opposition of all the surviving diocesan bishops, who were supported by the apparently unanimous protest of convocation, the x\cts of Supremacy and Uniformity received the Queen's assent early in May 1559. Several 3 of the more prominent church dignitaries refused to subscribe to these Acts, and were deprived of their various preferments or compelled to resign them within the next year or two ; but most of the less prominent clergy who were recalcitrant escaped ejection for a few years.
The commissioners who came into Staffordshire to obtain the subscription and assent of the clergy to these Acts spent but two days in the county, and barely obtained the subscrip- tion of three-quarters of the clergy who seem ultimately to have conformed (Lists 1, 2 and 3).
1 Readers who are interested in this subject should consult The, Elizabethan Clergy and the Settlement of Religion, -by Hen. Gee, BJD. (Oxford, 1898), and The Elizabethan Religious Settlement, by H. N. Bift, Ci.S.B. (London, 1907). The former comes to the final conclusion that " the number of clergymen deprived for Pupal sympathies between 1558 and 1 564 . . . cannot have greatly exceeded two hundred " (Preface, p. viii). The latter considers it probable that more than one thousand nine hundred clergy abandoned their livings between June 1559 and 1505 from conscientious inability to con- form (p. 203).
Both base their conclusions upon a study of contemporary documents, which are largely quoted, but Gee deals with far fewer documents than Birt does, and, moreover, does not take into account the remarkable " movement " of the clergy between 1559 and 1565. These lists deal with the " movement in Staffordshire, and tend to show that even Birt's estimate is too small.
2 It has been impossible to consult a return of the diocesan clergy which is believed to have been made by Bp Bentham in the winter ol I560-I. It is usually kept m the library of Corpus Christi College, Cambridge, but has been moved to a place of greater security in consequence ol the war, and is at present inaccessible.
8 Including all the diocesan bishops, save the Bp of St. Asaph, and some 19 out of 30 Marian dignitaries in the diocese of Coventry and Lichfield (List 10).
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xliii
On the other hand, it is not improbable that some, if not all, of the subscribing clergy mentioned in Lists 4 and 5 sub- sequently repented of their hasty action, as is known to have been the case in other dioceses. 1 It is therefore suggested that not much importance can be attached to the subscription list of 1559-
In August 1562 the recusant commissioners certified that a groat part of Staffordshire was evil inclined towards religion ; the evidence of Bp Bentham in 1564 is to the same effect, and in 1565 he apparently admits that some of his clergy are dis- orderly and continue to preserve secretly in their churches idols and other monuments of idolatry and superstition. 2
Hence it is not really safe to assume the genuine conformity of all the clergy who died in possession of their livings between 1565 and 1572 (List 2), while the attitude of those who died in 1563 and 1564 is most uncertain (List 3). However, they are here classified as probable or possible conformists.
On the other hand, there is some uncertainty about the clergy classified as nonconformists in Lists 4, 5, and 6, for it is possible that some of the " movements " may have been due to some unknown preferment, death, or moral misconduct ; and it is also just possible — though by no means likely 3 — that some of the four resignations and deprivations between 1567-71 were due to excessive puritanism.
Still, it seems reasonable to assume that any individual mistakes in Lists 4, 5, and 6 will be counterbalanced and counteracted by similar errors in Lists 2 and 3, and that the general result will be fairly trustworthy,' or at any rate indicate the maximum number of those who ultimately accepted the Elizabethan settlement.
The total number of conformists mentioned in the first three, lists is 47, and the number of nonconformists in the next three lists is 24. This gives a percentage of about 66 conformists and 34 nonconformists ; in other words, it seems probable that more than one-third of the old parochial clergy in Staffordshire
1 " Comparatively few (of the parish clergy) were deprived at once. The majority acquiesced m the settlement, at all events outwardly, and a pro- portion of these seem to have changed their attitude and to have been ejected as time went on" (Gee, p. 247).
1 Sec pp. 367, 369, 371.
3 Two oi these were in strongholds of recusancy, the third was an old Henrician priest instituted before the first breach with Koine, and the fourth was the sinecure rector of Creswell.
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INTRODUCTION
ultimately abandoned or were deprived of their livings from a conscientious inability to comply with the changes in the church services that were ordered by Queen Elizabeth's first parliament.
The following considerations seem to show that if there is any appreciable error in the results thus provisionally arrived at, the error is probably in the direction of an over-estimation of the number of conformists : —
(i) No notice has hitherto been taken of the nonconformists mentioned in List 7, because they cannot now be identified with any known Marian incumbent. If included, the per- centages would be : conformists 60, nonconformists 40.
(ii) Although there is no definite information now available with regard to the incumbents of the many small parishes and peculiars given in List 9, it is probable that man)' of them were without an incumbent during the first few years of the reign of Elizabeth. 1 In 1564 Bp Bentham complains that many offenders against religion had taken refuge in these peculiars to avoid correction, 2 and even as late as 1604 they are reported generally to be strongholds of papistry, 3 so that it does not seem possible that there could have been a large majority of conforming incumbents therein.
(hi) List 8 shows that only 4 of these incumbents subscribed in 1559, as against 5 who did not subscribe ; but no particular stress is laid upon this fact.
(iv) List 10 shows conclusively that a large majority of the cathedral dignitaries were deprived of or forced to resign their preferments between 1559 and 1562 ; and it seems reasonable to assume that if Queen Elizabeth had thought it desirable to permit similar pressure to be put upon the inferior clergy, they also would have resigned in the same proportion. At any rate, this would probably be the case 111 the peculiars, as these livings were, of course, in the gift of the cathedral dignitaries.
(v) Even after Elizabeth had been on the throne for twenty years and more there were a few influential Staffordshire families the heads of which repeatedly suffered imprisonment and fines on account ol their devotion to the " old religion,"4 and a very large number of other influential families that
1 See p. xxxviii. a Sec p. 369. 3 Set p. 49,
4 A phrase used by Queen Elizabeth. (5. P. Spanish, 1568, printed calendai P- 5*0
INTRODUCTION
xlv
evidently had conformed under compulsion and were more or less secretly opposed to the Reformation. 1 All these would naturally endeavour to protect and retain the old clergy as long as pos- sible, and perhaps in a few cases- they succeeded in doing so until the severe measures that were taken against papist recusants after the excommunication of the queen by the pope in 1569.
(vi) Even as late as June 1565 the pope himself thought it possible that Elizabeth might marry a papist and return with her kingdom to the communion of Rome3; so perhaps it is not very surprising to find that some of the Marian clergy conformed to a certain extent for a time, salved their con- sciences with a similar expectation, and did not abandon their livings until all hope of this event had finally vanished.
* Indicates the clergy who subscribed at Lichfield in 1559. t Indicates the clergy who occur in one of the first six lists and in List 10.
LIST 1
Conformists. — Twenty-three incumbents who were still in pos- session of their respective livings in 1572.
*Thos Allcock, Sedgley, 1558-73. *Thos Bakewell, Bramshall, 1532-ob. 15S5. *John Beech, Sheriff Hales, 1556-ob. 1586. t*Thos Bolt, Church Eaton, 1549-ob. 1579 > Handsworth,
I557-re5. 1571 > Rolleston, 155:4-79. ♦Andrew Bowyer, Ashley, 1551-ob. 1574 ; Wolstanton,
c. 1539-74- Griffin Broke, Darlaston, 1528-ob. 1591. John Copenhall, Stoke-on-Trent, 1553-ob. 1575. f*Arthur Dudley, Kingswinford, 1556-ob. 1577. *Thos Fox, Penn, 1554-ob. 1572. *Wm Hay, Thorpe Constantine, 1558-ob. 1577 *Roger Hodson, Pattingham, 1551-ob. 15S1. Adam Javon, Gent, 1557-ob. 1597. Wm Marten, Mavesyn Ridware, 1531-ob. 1575.
1 See pp. 373, {76, 378, 370, etc.
1 See, for example, Brewood. Eccleshall, Haxnsfall Rid'w&re, Madeley, Swynnerton, and the other centres of recusancy.
s Anglo-Roman Relations, C. Q. Bayne, Oxford, 1913. p. ^13.
xlvi
INTRODUCTION
♦Ralph Masfen, Blymhill, 1555-ob. 1606. *Wm Norman, Blithfield, 1550-ob. 1573. *John Russell, Colwich, 1554-ob. 1580. ♦Nich Sylvester, Shenstone, 1551-occ. 1594.
Thos Tatton, Colton, 155S-0D. 1572. ♦John Underhill, Ingestre, 153S ?-ob. 1577. f *Wm Walkeden, Clifton Campville, 1558-res. 1607.
♦Edmund Walker, Aldridge, 1557-ob. 1575. (?♦) John Warde, Blore Ray, c. 1533-013/1578.
Nich Whitlock, Biddulph, occ. 1533-res. 1577.
LIST 2
Probable Conformists. — Nineteen incumbents who were in pos- session of their respective livings on 1 Jan. 1564-5, but who seem to have vacated them by death before 1573.
*Robt Alsop, Alrewas, 1545-ob. 156S.
♦Wrn Caterbank, Leigh, 1550-ob. 1568.
♦Rich Civile, Stone, Sandon, Stone occ. 1548-67.
?Rich Crewe, Stone, occ. 1557-65.
♦John Goodwyn, Ham, 1549-ob. 1571.
Rich Gorste, Lapley, 1543-ob. 1566.
Hum Lee, Forton, 1555-ob. 1570. ♦?Thos Leeke, Weston-under-Lizard, June 1558-ob. 1572.
Hen Lorte, Hanbury, 1558-ob. 156S. ♦Thos Mailer, Mayfield, 1557-ob. 1569. ♦Rich Okeley, Norbury, 1556-ob. 1566. ♦YVm Ridware, Swynnerton, 1556-ob. 1570. ♦Andrew Sht-rrard, Leek, 1546-ob. 156S. ♦?John Stanley, Alton, 1546-Qb. 1569 ?
Ralph Thorley, Barlaston, 1548-ob. 1569. ♦John Turner, Walsall, occ. 1535-ob. 1569. (?♦) John Warde, Gratwich, occ. 1533-ob. 1570. ♦Rich Whorwood, Enville, 1538-ob. 1571. ♦Rich Wilson, Bushbury, May 1558-ob. 1567.
LIST 3
Possible Conformists. — Five incumbents who died in possession of their livings in 1563 and' 1564.
Rich Brett, Haughton, 1551-ob. 1563 ; Rushall, ere. 1533-ob. 1563.
INTRODUCTION
xlvii
Kobt Bruce, Kingsle}*. 1530-ob. 1564. •Edward Fletcher, Rugeley, i55S-ob. 1564.
Edmund Jackson, High Offley, 1544-ob. 1563. •John Willdeblod, Caverswall, occ. 1539-ob. 1563.
LIST 4
Xoncotifonnists. — Seven incumbents who resigned or were deprived of their respective livings in 1559. 1500 or 1561. 1
•JThos Chedulton, Stafford S. Mary, 1549-depr. c. 1560 ? - + Anthony Draycott, Checkley, occ. 1520-depr. 1559 ; Grin- don, 1544-depr. 1559. ♦Geo Hilton, Uttoxeter, 1557-res. 1561 ? •Roger Houghton, Audley, 1554-res. 1561. tWm Manley, Hams tall Ridware, 1557-depr. 1561. Rich Sam pole, Himley. Feb. 1558-9-^. 1561. Win Stapleton, Draycott-m-the-moors, 19 Nov. i55S-res. c. 1560.
LI^T ^
Probable Nonconformists. — Twelve incumbents who vacated their respective livings from some unknown cause (but probably not by death — see List 8) before I Jan. 1562-3 or resigned or were deprived of them at a later date.
*\Vm Bacon, Standon, 1526-depr. 1570. *\Vm Elde. Tutbury, 1544-61.
Oliver Gill, Mucklestone, 1554-9 ? •Geoffrey Gosling, Eccleshall, May 1558-res. 1565.
Ralph Hales, Madeley, 1557-depr. 1567.
Win Hare, Creswell, 1553-res. 1570. •Rich Nycolls, Mihvich, 155S-9.
Wm Okcden, Rocesttr, occ. 1559-62 ? *f ? Robt Sutton, Wednesbury, 155S-0. •James Walker, Drayton Bassett, 1555-9.
Rich Wharton, Brewood, 1553-res. 157 1.
Thos (illegible), Kinver, occ. 1560.
1 The Dean of Wolverhampton was also deprived in 1559. but can sea reel v be considered a Staffordshire incumbent.
1 There is no doubt about the depn\-ation of Chedulton from the prebend of Pipa parva and the vicarage of Worfield (Gee. p. 275). but it is not quite certain that at this time he was vicar of Stafford. See p. 245. notv 10.
xJviii
INTRODUCTION
LIST 6.
Possible Nonconformists. — Five unknown incumbents who vacated the following churches (q.v.) early in the reign of Elizabeth.
? Burton-on-Trent.
Cheadle. A new rector 2 Jan. 1561-2. ? Elford. A new rector 14 Aug. 1561. Lichfield, S. Mary's, c. 1560 ? Tamworth. No vicar in 1563.
LIST 7
Other possible Nonconformists. — Eight incumbents who were appointed in the reign of Elizabetli and cannot now be identified . with any Marian incumbent .
*Edm Barber, Tutbury, depr. 1570. Arthur Blunt, Uttoxeter, 1562-depr. 1566. Thos Bradshaw, Hamstall Ridware, 1562-? res. 1563. Rich Gattacre, Swynnerton, 1570-depr. 1573. Hugh Hall, Hamstall Ridware, c. 1561-depr. 1562. Gilbert Magnolds, Eccleshall, 1565-res. 1573. Thos More, Elford, 1561-depr. 1567. Hum Steele, Madeley, 1567-res. 1575.
LIST 8
Nine incumbents who died after Nov. 155S and before 1 fan.
1562-3.
*Wm Asteley, Seighford, 1543-ob. 1561.
Rich Grene, Longdon, 1527-ob. 1560.
John Legg, Hints, ob. — Jan. 1558-9.
Geo Mason, Tatenhill, 11 Nov. 1558-ob. 1562.
Robt Moore, Bradeley, ob. 6 Sep. 1562. *Hugh Sheldon, Alstonerield, occ. 1533-ob. c. 1562.
Thos Thomkynson, Dilhorne, 1534-ob. 1559. *Geo Webb, Wombourn, 1555-ob. 1561. *Thos Wilson, Abbots Bromley, ob. 15b!.
LIST 0
Fiftv-thrce parishes the incumbents of which do not occur in any of the foregoing lists, as nothing is known or can be inferred
INTRODUCTION
xlix
\bout their attitude towards the Elizabethan settlement of religion except what is stated on p. xliv.
Parishes '.with institution
Chebsey Patshull
Ellastone Tixall
Parishes without institution
Buttcrton Marston
Caldon Okeover
Calton Onecote
Cheddleton Penkridge
Codsall Ronton
Croxden Sheen
Ellenhall Stafford, Castle Church
Enson Stowe
Gayton Tettenhall
Gnosall Tipton
Haselour Trentham
Hopton Waterfall
Horton West Bromwich
Ipstones Weston-on-Trent
Kingstone Wetton Maer
Peculiars
Acton Trussell Harborne
Adbaston Kings Bromley
Arley Lichfield, S. Chad
Armitage Lichfield, S. Michael
Bednall Norton Canes
Berks wich Pipe Ridware
Cannock Stafford, S. Chad
Edingale Wee ford
Farewell Whittington
LIST 10 CATHEDRAL DIGNITARIES (a) List of those who conformed and retained their preferments or obtained oilier preferments. *Geo Lee, Treasurer.
♦Rich Walker, archd. of Stafford, preb. of Pipa minor, etc.
d
1 INTRODUCTION
*fThos Bolt, preb. of Stalfold. *|Arth Dudley, preb. of Colwich. (*Arth Lowe, preb. of Dernford) ? 1.
*(Edm Meyrick, preb. of Freeford from 9 Dec. 155S, etc. etc.)? 5 Hen Sydall, preb. of Tervin. 2 *t\Vm Walkeden, preb. of WMttingfon. 3
*Hen Wilshaw, preb. of Dassett parva. 1
(b) List of those who seem to have conformed, as they are believed
to have retained their prebends until 1568 or later.
Win Broke, preb. of Bishopshull from Oct. 1543. Successor
admitted Nov. 1569. Thos German, preb. of Flixton from Nov. 1553. Successor
admitted Aug. 1568. (Edmond Hare, preb. of Gaia major from Feb. 1558-9.
Successor admitted May 1569) ? 5 Leon Hurst, preb. of Ufton decani from Dec. 1557. Successor
admitted Feb. 1577-S.
(c) List of those deprived of their preferments in 1559 or shortly
after.
Ralph Bayne, Bp of Cov. and Lich., depr. 26 June 1559,
died 18 Nov. 1559. John Ramridge, dean and archd. of Derby, imprisoned in
1561, died abroad. fAnth Draycott, vicar general, preb. of Longdon, depr. 1559. Hen Comberford, precentor, depr. 1559.
Alban Langdale, chancellor, archd. of Chichester, etc., depr. 1559-
|Thos Chedulton, preb. of Pipa parva, depr. c. 1559. Geo Palmer, preb. of Wolvey, archd. of York, depr. 1559. John Stephenson, preb. of Tachbrook, depr. c. 1501. Edmond Steward, preb. of Offley, dean of Winchester, depr. 1559-
1 Prebend vacant in Jan. 1560-1 (Subsidy 19-509), but Lowe seems to have been preb. of Sandiacre 1559-70. One of this name was depr. of preb of Friday thorpc, York, in 1563.
8 See Lichfield, note 20.
8 Walkeden vacated this prebend in or before March 1559-60, but retained the rectory of Clifton Campville. 1 [e subscribed 111 1559 [Gee, p. 1 2 \), but not at Lichfield.
4 See Lichfield, note 6.
5 Admitted in the reign of Elizabeth, so can scarcely be described as a Marian priest, although Bayne was still in possession of the si r.
INTRODUCTION li
(d) List of those who probably did not conform, as they vacated their preferments between 1559 and 1563, and they are not known to have received other preferments or to have died between
these dates.
Wm Hill, archd. of Salop and preb. of Weeford. 1 Successor appointed Nov. I561.
Mich Ansty, preb. of Sandiacre from June 1554. Successor appointed 1559.
Wm Derley, preb. of Ufton cantoris from 1522. Successor appointed 1 Feb. 1560-1. fWm Manley, preb. of Curborough from Mar. 1555-6. Suc- cessor appointed 26 May L559-
Elizeus Heywood, preb. of Eccleshall from May 1554. 2 Successor appointed June 1564.
Hen Hilton, preb. of Eyton from 1545. 3 Successor appointed Jan. 1559-60.
Thos Lewyn, preb. of Gaia minor from Ap. 1558. Successor
appointed Sep. 1561. *f(Robt Sutton, preb. of Bobenhall from 1554. Successor
appointed Ap. 1563) ? Wm Thompson, preb. of Wellington from 1541. Successor
appointed Jan. 1559-60. Rich Weaver, preb. of Hansacre from 1554. 4 Successor
appointed July 1561.
(e) Supplementary.
John Blithe, archd. of Coventry, died c. Nov. 1558, and was succeeded c. 1560 by Thos. Lever, B.D., who had been preacher to King Edward VI.
Eleven of the vicars choral subscribed on 22 Sep. 1559, while the commissioners were at Lichfield, and only one seems to have resigned without subscribing. Two of the eleven subsequently became succentors ; the after-career of the remainder is not known. (See the Lichfield notes for . their names.)
1 See Longdon, note 2.
1 Heywood is said to have been a Jesuit at Lou vain in 13 74 (D .YTO 3 Lichfield, note 19.
* One R. Wever of this diocese subscribed in 15^0 [Gee, p. 124), but not at Lichfield.
dz
lii
INTRODUCTION
EPISCOPALIAN AND COMMONWEALTH CONFORMISTS
In the following lists an attempt is made to give the names and benefices of the episcopal1 y ordained clergymen -in Staf- fordshire who conformed more or less to the requirements of Parliament during the Civil War and the Interregnum, and also of those who did not so conform. The last four lists deal with the conformists and nonconformists in 1662.
The Interregnum.
It must not be assumed that all the episcopalian clergy who are described as " conformists " yielded full obedience to the ordinances of Parliament. It is probable that some of them in the secluded villages continued to use the Book of Common Prayer in secret, and a few certainly continued to baptize children throughout this period, and perhaps even to marry people with the old service. 1
Still, there must have been some degree, or at any rate some appearance, of conformity to the lav/ for ministers to have retained their livings, and it seems therefore correct to describe them as " conformists."
List 1 (as corrected) 2 gives the names of 76 episcopalian conformists, List 2 the names of 12 episcopalian noncon- formists, and List 3 the names of 20 doubtful episcopalian nonconformists.
Eliminating the 20 doubtful cases, the percentage is S6"4 conformists and 13*6 nonconformists ; including the doubt- fuls, the percentage is 70^4 conformists, 20/6 nonconformists ; the averages of these two percentages being 78" 4 conformists, 2i'6 nonconformists.
In other words, it seems probable that nearlv four out of hve of the episcopalian clergy conformed more or le^s during the Commonwealth period.
The Restoration.
List 4 gives the names of 70 ministers during the Common- wealth who conformed to the episcopalian settlement uf 1662 (of these some 41 had probably received episcopal ordi-
1 Ste Milwich, Patshull, Haughton, etc.
2 See List 1 (f).
INTRODUCTION
liii
nation before the Civil War) ; List 5 the names of 4 doubtful conformists ; List 6 the names of 53 ejected ministers ; List 7 the names of 16 ministers who may have been ejected. Elimi- nating the doubtful cases in Lists 5 and 7, the percentage is 57 conformists, 43 ejected ; including the doubtful cases the percentage is 51*7 conformists, 48*3 ejected ; the averages of these two percentages being 54 conformists, 46 ejected.
If the 41 episcopalians and Lists 5 and 7 be excluded, the percentage of ministers appointed during the Commonwealth who conformed to the 1662 settlement is only 34' 6 compared with 65-4 who were ejected.
In other words, it seems probable that about two-thirds of the genuine Commonwealth ministers were ejected soon after the Restoration.
LIST 1
THE CONFORMING EPISCOPALIAN CLERGYMEN
This list is confined to incumbents who were in possession of their benefices or were acting as curates before 1643, as those who were appointed in or after that year may not have been ordained by a bishop.
(a) Fourteen incionbents who held their livings . throughout the Commonwealth period and until 1664 or afterwards. All these occur again in List 4.
Ralph Astle, Sandon. John Lightfoot, Ashley.
Rich Bathoe, ob. 1663, Josiah Lightfoot, curate of
Patshull. Ashley. Francis Cooke, Yoxali. John Mainwaring, Stoke-on-
Robt Dowley, Elford. Trent. Thos Fletcher, Haughton. Nich Paston, Kingswinford.
John Hanson, Himley. Rich Pretty, Aldridge.
? Thos Hubbock, Lichfield, Jas Shaw, Milwich.
S. Michael. Sam Woolaston, Thorpe
Constantino.
(b) Four incumbents who remained in possession until 160T.
Gawin Hamilton, Alstone- Robt Lyon, Pipe Kidware.
field. John Mackmath, Harboine.
Wm Jennings, Church
Eaton.
[IV
INTRODUCTION
(c) Twenty-seven other incumbents who are officially returned as ministers of their several parishes in the winter of 165 1-2.
Thos Badderley, Eccleshall. Thos Bciston, Tettenhal]. John Bowyer, Biddulph. John Creeke, Bramshall. Geo Dixon, Gayton. Simon Dudson, Seighford. Robt Dyott, Darlaston: ? Ant Fowke, Enville. Gilbert Galamore, Colwich. Edw Holbrook, Forton. Robt Holme, Longnor
chapel. Rich Holte, Rushall. Ant Horridge, Tutbury. Ralph Hulme, Betley chapel Christopher Hunt, Colton.
Thos Lightfoot, Uttoxeter. Gilbert Littleton, Hands- worth.
John Lyneall, Stafford,
Castle church. Robt Marchenton, Maer. Thos Mountney, Ham. Wm Parkes, Sedgley. Thos Pyott, Stowe-by-
Chartley. Nath Royle, Mucklestone. Ithiel Smart, Wombourn. Hen Stubbs, Blore Ray. Geo Taylor, Kingsley. Hen Taylor, Barlaston.
(d) A " reader " in 1620, described by the committee for plun- dered ministers as a learned and orthodox divine in 1646.
John Cross, Kinver.
(e) Fourteen incumbents who changed their benefices between 1645 and 1650 and apparently conformed.
Thos Adams, Rushton chapel — Trentham.
Robt Ashton, curate of Colwich — Bednall.
Wm Barton, Maylield — London — Leicester.
Thos Blake, Tamworth — Shrewsbury — Tamworth.
Rich Bourne, Thursfield chapel— Cannock — Walsall.
Wm Chandler, Brewood — Bushbury.
Rich Chapman, Leigh — Thorncton.
Deliverance Fennyhouse, Stone — Leigh
Geo Hambleton, Warslow chapel — Butterton.
Rich Hunt, W.dsall— Chester.
John Jackson, Madeley — Lapley.
Isaac Keeling, Burslem chapel — Wolstanton,
? Sam Smith, Penn — Kinver.
Thos Pickin, curate of Blithlield — Swynnerton,
INTRODUCTION
lv
(f) Twelve incumbents who died between July 1646 and 1649.
The use of the Common Prayer Book was forbidden by Parliament in August 1645, so their conformity is more or less probable. In the introduction to this section it is only assumed that 8 of these conformed, as the attitude of those who died in 1646 and 1647 is very uncertain.
?? John Balcanquell, ob. Feb. 1646-7, Tatenhill. ?? Francis Birch, ob. Jan. 1646-7, Edingale. Francis Bowyer, ob. Nov. 1648, Leek. John Buckberry, ob. Nov. 1649, Drayton Bassett. Thos Bury, ob. May 1649, Norbury.
Alex Howe, ob. c. Nov. 1649, Caverswall and Draycott-in-
thc-moors. Thos James, ob. Oct. 1649, Blymhill. John Langton, ob. Sep. 1648, Mavesyn Ridware. Rich Lee, ob. 1648, Wolverhampton. John Morton, ob. Dec. 1649, Sheriff Hales. ?? John Newton, ob. c. Apr. 1647, Berkswich. ?? Nich Richardson, ob. July, 1646, Newcastle chapel.
(g) Eight other probable conformists. See the notes in each parish for particulars.
Walter Bromsgrove, curate at Cheadle — Abbots Bromley. Edw Cowper, Marston — Ellenhall. Wm Grace, Shenstone.
Edw Lane, curate of Aldridge — West Bromwich.
John Thacker, Gratwich.
Chris Turner, curate of Cheadle — Grindon.
Win Wilson, Himley— Pelsall.
John Presbury, Hanbury.
■ LIST 2
THE NONCONFORMING EPISCOPALIAN CLERGYMEN
Twelve incumbents who were sequestered or ejected from their benefices by parliament and who did not subsequently conform,
? John Cank, Eccleshall, Chapel Chorlton chapel, ob. at
For ton. Thos Cantrell, Dilhorne.
Ivi
INTRODUCTION
Roger Fleetwood, Hanbury. Hen Gilbert, Clifton Campville. Hen Goche, Cheadle. Hugh Humphreys, Longdon. Ant Huxley, Abbots Bromley. Wm Kellsall, Audley. Rich Shelley, Wolstanton. ? John Starsmore, Ingestre. Nath Williams, High Offley. The vicar of Penkridge.
LIST 3
VERY DOUBTFUL CASES OF NONCONFORMING EPISCOPALIAN CLERGYMEN
(a) Fifteen incumbents who are known to have been in posses- sion of their benefices in one or more years between 1640 and 1644 and who vacated them from some unknown cause between 1645 and 1650. Some of these vacancies were no doubt due to death.
Edw Archer, curate of Enville. John Beardmore, Blithfield. Thos Bentley, Rocestef. Walter Biddulph, Rolleston. John Bould, Alrewas. John Coles, Weeford. Rich Dolphine, Wednesbury. ?John Folkingham, Burton-on-Trent. John Greenwood, Standon. Jas Osborne, Bilston chapel. Jas Povy, Lichfield, S. Mary. Rich Rhodes, Kingstone. Symon Savage, Weston-on-Trent. John Wood, Gent. Jonathan Yates, Bradeley.
(b.) Five incumbents whose livings were sequestered by parlia ment, but wlio subsequently acted as ministers during the In- terregnum in small villages, icJiere it is possible they may have continued to use the Prayer Book:
Daniel Baylcy, Stafford— Tixall— Stafford.
Rich Harrison, Lichfield— Tettenhall— Blithfield— Liehfn Id.
INTRODUCTION
lvii
John Hill, Ellastone — Rocester.
Kobt Hilton, Lapley — Tong — Lapley.
Thos Mason, Chebsey — Ellenhall with Ronton — Chebsey.
LIST 4
THE CONFORMING COMMONWEALTH MINISTERS (a) Sixty-six Commonwealth ministers who continued to hold benefices in Staffordshire in and after 1664 and so must have conformed in 1662. Twenty-jive of these — marked *—had been ordained by a bishop, as they had held a benefice before the Commonwealth period; 10 of tliese — marked (♦?) — probably had been so ordained, judging from the dates at which they took their degrees, etc. ; 5 of these — markedr — arc somewhat doubtful, in 3 cases because their conformity to the Commonwealth regime is uncertain and in 2 cases because of their identity ; 9 of these — marked ** — were ordained by Bp Hackett in 1662 or 1663 ; 17 of tliese — with no mark-before their names — conformed, but when or where they were ordained is not known.
Of these 66 ministers, 3S had probably received episcopal ordination before the Interregnum, 28 probably had not.
*Thos Adams, Rushton — Blurton — Trentham. Joseph Ainge, Handsworth. *Wm Armett, Alton — Biddulph. *Ralph Astle, Sandon.
*Daniel Bailey, Stafford — Tixall and Stafford.
*Rieh Bathoe, Patshnll. ♦♦Edw Beardmore, Whitmore — Keele. (*?) Francis Birch, Barton — H arias ton.
•Rich Bourne, Thurslield — Cannock — Walsall. ♦♦Lancelot Bromwich, Enville.
♦Wm Chandler, Brewood — Bushbury.
*Francis Cooke, Yoxall. Robt Darwin, VVeston-on-Trent — Stowe.
♦Laurence Dawson, Uttoxeter — Bramshall ♦♦John Dolman, Brewood — Wombourn.
♦Robt Duwley, Elford. Thos Dresser, Thursheld — Dilnorne. Mich Edge, Uttoxeter. ♦♦Rich Emery, Shareshill — Brewood.
•Deliverance Fennyhonse, Leigh.
Iviii
INTRODUCTION
*Thos Fletcher, Haughton. John Greensmith, Stafford — Cohvich Win Greenwood, High OrTley. *John Hanson, Himley. Geo Harding, Whittingham. f*Eich Harrison, Lichfield— Tettenhall— Blithfield.
John Hilton, Barr. (*?)Nath Hinde, Penkridge.
(*?)Thos Hinkley, Croxden and Bradley-in-the-moors. f*Thos Hubbock, Lichfield. (*?)Wm Jennings, Church Eaton. (*?)Thos Jones, Rugeley.
*Isaac Keeling, Burslem — Wolstanton. John Kelsall, Bet ley— Audley. Sam Langley, Swettenham — Tamworth. (*?)Rich Leaves, For ton.
*John Lightfoot, Ashley.
*Josiah Lightfoot, curate of Ashley. (*?) Roger Linch, Norton Canes.
*John Mainwaring, Stoke-on-Trent, f *Thos Mason, Chebsey — Ellenhall — Chebsey. **Nath Mott, Longdon — Abbots Bromley — Lapley.
Ralph Murhall, Talk — Barlaston. (*?)Edw Nevill, Standon. **John Nicken, Blymhill.
*Gabriel Offley, Mucklestone.
*Nich Paston, Kingswinford.
♦Rich Pretty, Aldridge.
Hum Repton, Weston-on-Trent — Norton-ih-the-moors. **Francis Rowley, Chapel. Chorlton— Codsall. John Saunders, Colton. *James Shaw, Milwich.
tWm Shaw, Broughton — Mavesyn Ridware — Mucklestone. tjohn Smith, Audley — Draycott-in-the-moors — Tutbury — Grindon. (*?)Wm Southall, Pattingham. Devercux Spencer, Cheadle. *Robt Spenceir, Bradeley. *Jolm Stephenson, Burslem. Josiah Stubbs, Blore Ray — Kingsley. Hen Thompson, Fradswell — Marston.
INTRODUCTION
lix
**Matt Thornton, Ingcstre. Robt Tompson, Waterfall — Caldon.
♦Christopher Turner, Grindon.
*Sam Woolaston, Thorpe Constantine. (*?)Chas Wynne, Perin. **Wm Yates, Blore Ray.
(b) Four ministers who held benefices in Staffordshire during the Interregnum and who conformed and held benefices outside the county subsequently.
*Wm Barton, Mayfield — London — Leicester. (*?) Christopher Comyn, Norbur}^ — Frees.
*Wm Langley, Ellastone — Cheadle — Lichfield — Wellington —
Stoke-on-Tern. **Abram Smith, Ellastone — Osmaston.
LIST 5
VERY DOUBTFUL CASES OF CONFORMING COM- MONWEALTH MINISTERS
Four ministers who are known to have been in possession of their benefices in 1661, before their ordination by Bp Hackett, and who may have been there in the Commonwealth period
**Thos Aspinall, Blurton. **Thos Broad, Alton — Swynnerton. **Thos Reynolds, Gnosall. **Joseph Shilton, Burton.
LIST 6
THE NONCONFORMING COMMONWEALTH MINIS- TERS
(a) Forty-seven ministers who left or were ejected from their benefices in Staffordshire circa 1660-2. Two of these — marked * — had probably received episcopal ordination ; 8 of these — marked (*?) — had perhaps received it. All of them are named by Calamy except Bolt, Burford, Wild and the vicar of Biddulfh.
Rich Astley, St owe. Thos Badland, Willenhall chapel. (*?)Thos Bakewell, Rolleston. Thos Baldwin, Clent.
ix
INTRODUCTION
Hen Bee, Hanbury.
Thos Bladen, Barton chapel — Adbaston — Alrewas.
Wm Bott, Caverswall.
Thos Brookes, Hints.
Noah Bryan, Stafford. *Hen Bnrford, Tatenhill.
John Bntler, Lichfield. (*??)Thos Buxton, Tettenhall. (*?)Hen Byard, Barton chapel.
Rich Chauntry, Weeford. (*?)Rich Cleyton, Lichheld — Weston-nnder- Lizard — Wolver- hampton— Seighford.
Geo Cross, Clifton Campville.
. . . Davenport, Thursfield chapel.
Joseph Eccleshall, Sedgley.
Wrn Fincher, Wednesbury.
Thos Ford, curate of Clifton Campville.
Timothy Fox, Drayton Bassett. *Wm Grace, Shenstone.
John Greensmith, Colwich.
Ralph Hall, Newcastle chapel — Maer.
Sam Hall, Barlaston.
Rich Hilton, West Bromwich.
Rich Hinckes, Tipton.
Geo Lorige, Newcastle chapel.
Nath Mansfield, Armitage.
Thos Miles, Onecote — Lichfield.
Thos Morton, Kinver.
John Mott, Kings Bromley. (*?)Sampson Newton, Chebsey — Weston-under-Lizard.
John Nott, Sheriff Hales.
Thos Pool, Talk chapel.
Wm Rocke, May&eld. (*?) Joseph Sond, Newcastle chapel — Swynnerton.
Wm Southall, Berkswich.
Rich Swinfcn, Mavesyn Ridware.
. . . Toogood, Bloxwich chapel.
Wm Tut ton, Rowley Regis chapel. (*?)Robt Wild, Tatenhill. (*?)Thos Willesby, Wombourn,
Wm Wilson, Pelsall chapel.
INTRODUCTION
lxi
. . . Woolrich, Chebsey. Rich ? York, Rushall. * , the vicar of Biddulph.
(b) Six ministers who had held benefices in Staffordshire, but had moved out of the county and were ejected from the benefices they then held circa 1662.
John Beebee, Kingstone — Tidswell— -Sheldon.
Zach Crofton, Newcastle — Dilhorne — Wrenbury — London.
Rich Dowley, curate of Elford — Stoke Prior.
Geo Reeve, Caverswall — Donnington.
Francis Tallent, Lichfield — Shrewsbury.
Andrew Tristram, Clent — Bridgenorth.
LIST 7
VERY DOUBTFUL CASES OF NONCONFORMING COMMONWEALTH MINISTERS
Sixteen ministers who were in possession of their benefices during the closing years of the Interregnum and who vacated them from some unknown cause before. 1665.
Some of these vacancies were probably due to death — e.g., Lyneall & Lyon. Those marked * had received episcopal ordination, those marked (*?) had perhaps received it.
Wm Bromsgrove, Weston-on-Trent. Rich Edge, Horton. (*?)John Hall, Gnosall. *Gawin Hamilton, Alstonefield. (*?)Jolm Jackson, Lapley. *John Lyneall, Castle Church, Stafford. *Robt Lyon, Pipe Ridware. *John Mackmath, Harborne. Rich Morrall, Acton Trussell. (*?)Wm Overton, Audley. John Reynolds, Wolverhampton. Thos Rushton, Fulford chapel. Philip Sharp, Armitage — Burton-on- Trent. Caleb Stopford, S. Chad's, Stafford. Ralph Strettell, Shareshill. (*??)Thos Wynmell, Leek.
Ixii
INTRODUCTION
ADVOWSONS No attempt has been made to deal with these, as they mostly belonged to a manor and pertain to its secular history, but the names of a few patrons are given from the diocesan register and the Commonwealth manuscripts. The advowsons of the peculiars all belonged to the dean, chapter, or prebendary to which they were appropriate, though in some cases they were leased with the tithes to laymen.
CLERICAL INCOMES
The returns of 1602 and 1604 give the salaries or the actual value of the benefices of 137 clergy, 127 incumbents and 10 curates. According to these returns, less than 30 per cent, of the clergy had incomes of 30/. and upwards and nearly one- half of them had less than 11/. per annum. 1 Comparing these incomes with those stated in the orders of the committee for plundered ministers, it appears that in 9 cases the incomes had decreased during these 40 years, in 7 cases they were about the same, in 12 cases there was a moderate increase and in 9 cases a large increase, the incomes in this last class being doubled, trebled, quadrupled, etc.
THE COMMONWEALTH AUGMENTATIONS
The committee for plundered ministers and their successors attempted to increase these low incomes and issued orders to augment the salaries of the ministers in 62 churches and 10 chapels of ease, as is detailed in the notes ; but these orders were constantly being changed, and in some cases it is probable that the ministers did not receive the augmentations ordered.
1 There was i living (Tatenhill) worth £140 p. a., 3 (Rnville, Forton and Leigh) worth 100/., 2 worth 80/., 3 worth 66/., 7 worth 60/., 1 worth 50/., 8 worth .40/., 1 worth 32/., 15 worth 30/., 6 worth 26/., 2 worth 24/., 10 worth 20/., 3 worth 16/., 5 (including 1 chapel) worth 13/., 1 worth 12/., 1 worth 11/., 9 (including 1 chapel) worth 10/., 9 (including I chapel) worth 8/., 5 (including 2 chapels) worth about yl., 12 (including 4 chapels) worth 61., 10 worth about 5/., 5 (including 4 chapels) worth 4/., 3 worth 3/., 2 chapels worth 2/., while the incumbent of the chapel at Warslow liad il. and food, at Billington 5s. and at Talk 4s. od.
One assistant curate had a salary of n/., 2 had 10/., .} had 81., and 3 had 3/. p.a.
The amounts stated in these two returns frequently differ to the extent of a few pence or shillings, which shows that they must have been compiled independently and considerably increases their general reliability.
A few clerical inventories are printed on pp. 393, J94, so as to give some idea of the value of money at this period and the style in which incumbents lived.
INTRODUCTION
lxiii
Between 1645 and 1653 all these augmentations were made by parliament, which usually acted on the recommendation of one of the many committees that had been set up to deal with ecclesiastical questions. The chief of these committees was that known as " The committee for plundered ministers," which was originally set up on 31 Dec. 1642 to consider how best to relieve the distress " of such good and well-affected ministers as have been plundered " by the King's army, and also of how these might supply the cures and receive the -profits of malignant ministers who had left their charges to join the King's army. 1 It soon obtained much wider powers and practically became a board of ecclesiastical commissioners for a completely disestablished and a partially disendowed church! Thus from July 1643 it had the power of nominating clergy to livings in the gift of malign ants ; it deprived " scandalous and delinquent ministers " of their cures, usually after an enquiry had been held by the local parliamentary county committee or by a local sub-committee of its own ; it had to provide for the taking of the Solemn League and Covenant throughout the country, to settle questions of heretical doctrine and holidays, also at a later date cases of preaching without licence, the employment of the Book of Common Prayer or the disregard of the Directory, etc., etc.
Perhaps the chief work of this committee was the granting of augmentations to ministers whose salaries were insufficient. Until 1649 the money to pay these augmentations principally came from the estates of compounding delinquents and espe- cially from any spiritualities — such as 'rectories or tithes — that were owned by them, and up to 1650 the actual payment was made by various bodies of sequestrators, who acted under the direction of the committee for compounding, which sat at Goldsmiths' Hall.
It was part of the duty of the committee for plundered ministers to see that these augmentations were paid, and also that their nominees to any sequestered livings received the income of the same, so that it was often brought into close relations with the Goldsmiths' Hall committee.
On 9 Oct. 1646 an ordinance passed both houses of Parliament for abolishing the government of the Church by bishops, etc., and for the sale of their possessions for the use of the Common-
1 Commons Journal, ii, p. 909 ; cf. Lords Journal, v, p. 510,
Ixiv
INTRODUCTION
wealth. This was amended by an ordinance passed a month later, which provided that all the spiritualities of these sees should be applied towards the maintenance of ministers. A similar provision was made in 1649, when the sale of the possessions of all deans and chapters was authorised. Soon after this — viz., on 6 Jan. 1649-50 — Parliament established^ " The trustees for providing maintenance for preaching ministers and other pious uses," and handed over to these trustees the management of the funds thus created, and the actual payment of the augmentations.
Between 24 June 1650 and 21 Ap. 1652 the existing aug- mentations were reviewed and sometimes altered by the committee for the reformation of the universities, but the activities of this committee did not interfere — at all events in Staffordshire1 — with the work of the committee for plundered ministers, which continued to make augmentation grants, etc., until its dissolution on 19 Ap. 1653. It was revived by the reassembled Rump on 22 June 1659 an<^ entrusted with most of its old functions, until its final extinction on 16 Mar. 1659-60.
Between Ap. 1653 and June 1659 the augmentations were mainly granted and reviewed from time to time by the afore- mentioned trustees, whose orders were subject to the approval of the commissioners for the approbation of public preachers.
Sometimes the augmentations were recommended by the Council of State, in which case the trustees merely had the duty of registering or paying them.
The trustees also inherited the power of the plundered ministers' committee to nominate the clergy to those livings that were in the gift of delinquents, including those formerly in the gift of the bishops, but there was no formal interference with private patronage that was in the hands of persons well affected to the Commonwealth. The universities, after they had been " cleansed," continued to exercise their advowson rights, and the Commissioners of the Great Seal and afterwards the Protector succeeded to the advowsons that had belonged to the Crown. Some ministers during this period appear to have been elected by their parishioners, but this seems to have been technically illegal. In such cases probably the consent of the legal patron was afterwards obtained or presumed to
1 S. P. Dom. Inter. F. 2, pt. 1, pp. 2S5, 300 ; cf. Compounding Col. p. 2485 : Bod. MS. 328, etc.
INTRODUCTION
lxv
have been obtained. There was, however, a great deal of usurpation of and interference with patronage during the Commonwealth period, and the foregoing resume only indicates the general lines on which this subject was dealt with.
THE APPROBATIOX OF MINISTERS
Parliament early realised the necessity for obtaining some certiiicate of fitness for the ministry that should take the.place of the abolished episcopal ordination and institution. Many and various were the schemes proposed by parliament to meet this need, and some of them were tried for a time in various parts of the country. Here, however, it is not necessary to deal with them, for in Staffordshire the general procedure in the case of clergy nominated to livings by any of the afore- mentioned patrons seems to have been as follows. -;
In 1645, 1640, and 1647 the presentees had to obtain a certificate of fitness from the Westminster Assembly of Divines.
After this date, and until the establishment of the com- missioners for the approbation of public preacher^bn 24 Mar. 1653-4, it seems probable that the questional their fitness was left to a great extent for the patrons to determine. 1 It is certain that this was the case as regards augmentation grants, as these are frequently stated to have : .been made to clergy who had approved themselves to the committee that had the duty of recommending them.
The bill that set up the commissioners directed that all clergy who were presented to livings should receive their formal approbation before thev, could enter upon their bene- fices, and this bill remained m force throughout the Inter- regnum. A further proviso made it obligatory upon the clergy appointed between 1 Ap. 1053 and the establishment of the coirrrrriabiuners to obtain their approbation.
The commissioners usually required each applicant for approbation to furnish them with a certificate of his fitness for the ministry, which had to be signed by local ministers who were personally acquainted with the applicant. Many Staffordshire ministers are mentioned in the notes to this work as signing these certificates.
1 No doubt they all had to sign the Engagement to be faithful to the Commonwealth, and a few are known to have been ordained by the Classical Presbyteries. See Index.
Ixvi
INTRODUCTION
Before 1653 the recipients of augmentations were often called upon to furnish similar certificates, though these might be signed by " persons of repute " in their county as well as by " godly " ministers. After 1653 the augmentations granted by the trustees were all subject to the approval of the commissioners.
POPULATION TABLES
The first column gives the number of households in each parish as given in the certificate attributed to 1563. The second, third, and fourth columns give figures taken from the Hearth Tax return for county Stafford, made circa 1665' by Anthony Dorner, Esq. (Exchequer, K. R. Lay Subsidy, Staffs., Bundle 256, No. 31). This valuable return is very nearly perfect and it gives the names of every householder in each constablewick — often divided into its various hamlets, wards or streets — who was chargeable or not chargeable to the Hearth Tax, together with the number of hearths for which the tax was paid. It is in fact an excellent directory of the county of Stafford , at this date and ought to be printed in extenso. Persons were not chargeable with this tax who did not pay 20s. per annum of full improved rent, and in other returns are described as " paupers " or those " certified " as not being chargeable.
In . some cases the number of persons returned as non- chargeable seems to be far too small, and one suspects that many of their names have been omitted and that the total number of persons ought to be larger than it is. Hence, in order to make this table more accurate and useful, it has been necessary to specify in each case the number of persons returned as chargeable and not chargeable, so that persons with special local knowledge who are interested in any particular parish may be able to determine whether the total number of house- holders is possibly too small or not.
In a few cases a constablewick consisted of parts of two or more parishes, and in these cases an apportionment between these parishes has had to be made ; but t Ids apportionment has been carefully done, and the errors arising therefrom are probably quite trivial. The town of Lichfield is not given in the afore- mentioned return, so the figures therefor are taken from an
INTRODUCTION
Ixvii
undated roll of that period. (Bundle 256, No. 35.) The Hammerwich figures are taken from the Assessment of 1673 (Bundle 179, No. 328), and the Wolverhampton figures are also partly taken from this assessment, as there are no non- chargeable persons returned as being within the town of Wolverhampton in the 1665 return.
The figures in the fifth, sixth, and seventh columns are taken from a manuscript book in the William Salt Library, Stafford, called " Ecclesiastical Census, 1676." They are generally supposed to refer to persons over 15 years of age, and, if compared with the 1665 returns, tend to show that there were 3 to 4 adult persons in each household.
The aforementioned certificate shows that there were 9,183 households in the archdeaconry of Stafford and in the peculiars situated within the county of Stafford. To compare these figures with those of 1665, it is necessary to deduct the figures for those parishes in this return which lay outside the county, and also to estimate the number of households in those places omitted from the 1565 return.
The total number of households in all those places, which are mentioned in both the 1563 and 1665 returns, comes to 8,767 and 18,560 respectively, or 47*2 as compared with 100 in 1665.^
Estimating the number of households in the places omitted in the 1563 return on this basis, it appears that the total number of households at this date in the county of Stafford was 9,743, as compared with 20,628 in 1665, and with 55,080 inhabited houses in 181 1. It must be remembered that the actual number of households in 1665 was probably somewhat larger than the number stated, and it is quite possible that this also may be the case with the return of 1563, so that the following notes on the population must be read with this caution in mind.
The population of Staffordshire seems to have about doubled itself every hundred years between 1563 and 18 11.
The following parishes show the greatest increase in their population between 1563 and 1665. The households in Butter- ton were 17 times more numerous in 1065 than they were in 1563 ; in Kingswinford about 9 times ; in Audley and Burton- on-Trent about 7 times ; in Biddulph about 5 times ; in Alton, Arley( Hanbury, Leek, Sedgley, Stoke-on-Trent, Whittington
lxviii
INTRODUCTION
and Pelsall (Wolverhampton) about 4 times ; in Aldridge, Alstonefield, Talk (Audley\ Blymhill, Cannock, Darlaston, Enville, Harborne, Kinver. Rushton (Leek), Leigh, Bagnall 1 Stoke), Bucknall (Stoke), Newcastle (Stoke), Stone, Swynner- ton, West Bromwieh, Wolstanton and Wombourn about 3 times.
There seems to have been a slight decrease of population in the following places, viz.. Adbaston. High Offley, Dunston (Penkridge), Sandon, Tatenhill, Tixall and Yoxall.
It is difficult to account for the large increase which took place in the purely rural areas of Alstonefield,- Butterton. Alton, Blymhill, Hanbury, Leigh and Whittington, and the writer ventures to suggest that many households in these dis- tricts may not have been enumerated in the 1563 count, perhaps owing to the difficulty of getting about the scattered country parishes.
The other large increases can be accounted for or explained by the rapid growth of the industrial areas near Stoke, in the south of the county and at Burton. A further analysis of these tables shows that the population in purely country districts increased during these hundred years by 40 to 50 per cent., while in towns and industrial districts it increased by 150 to 200 per cent., the increase for the whole county being 112 per cent.
INTRODUCTION Ixix
POPULATION TABLES Places with no sign before their names are reckoned as separate parishes in this book. See pp. xxxi, xxxii. * Signifies chapels of ease, t Signifies extra-parochial places.
J Signifies townships within the county of Stafford which were part of a parish belonging to another county. -
§ Signifies parishes within the archdeaconry, but outside the county of Stafford.
|| Signifies a detached part of Lichfield parish.
Note. — The estimated population in 1563 of places not mentioned in that return is given in the adjustment table.
|
HOUSEHOLDS |
1676 |
||||||
|
> |
cn |
||||||
|
— |
tn § |
SB ^ _S O |
s |
c £ |
|||
|
O ^ |
a 0 |
'c |
O 00 a a |
in '5, |
|||
|
1563 |
1665 |
cl |
|||||
|
Abbots Bromley (i) |
175 |
240 |
180 |
60 |
506 |
31 |
IO |
|
Acton Triissell |
23 |
53 |
31 |
||||
|
Adbaston |
82 |
69 |
40 |
2 3 |
|
|
|
|
Aldridge |
32 |
94 |
64 |
30 |
|
||
|
*Great Barr chapel ... |
43 |
87 |
72 |
15 |
- |
|
|
|
Alrewas ... ... ... |
120 |
196 |
137 |
59 |
— |
— |
— |
|
Alstonefield (2) |
93 |
356 |
225 |
131 |
|||
|
♦Elkstone chapel |
16 |
30 |
19 |
11 |
) \ 454 ) |
||
|
•Longnor chapel ... |
20 |
39 |
25 |
14 |
2 |
I |
|
|
*Wurslow chapel |
26 |
69 |
43 |
26 |
|||
|
Alton (3) ... |
30 |
127 |
99 |
' 38 |
400 |
M |
|
|
JAmblecote ... ... ... |
62 |
31 |
31 |
||||
|
Annitage ... |
25 |
53 |
42 |
1 1 |
|||
|
Arley |
3« |
163 |
90 |
73 |
|||
|
Ashley ... ... ... ... |
32 |
55 ■ |
43 |
12 |
220 |
0 |
0 |
|
Audley ♦Bet ley chapel ... |
32 |
246 |
158 |
88 |
1,000 |
40 |
I |
|
46 |
98 |
65 |
33 |
254 |
- |
- |
|
|
•Talk" chapel |
18 |
5o |
32 |
18 |
|||
|
JBalterley |
35 |
27 |
8 |
||||
|
Barlaston |
20 |
38 |
• 35 |
3 |
186 |
||
|
Bednall |
14 |
21 |
21 |
||||
|
Berkswich |
' 46 |
9i |
55 |
36 |
|||
|
Biddulph |
20 |
105 |
74 |
3i |
333 |
12 |
15 |
|
Blithfield |
52 |
57 |
47 |
10 |
— |
||
|
Blore Ray (4) |
17 |
27 |
18 |
9 |
152 |
||
|
Blymhill ... ; |
16 |
52 |
35 |
'7 |
147 |
2 |
|
|
{Bobbing ton ... |
48 |
3? |
17 |
||||
|
Bradeley near Stafford |
47 |
78 |
62 |
16 |
250 |
6 |
9 |
|
Bramshall ... ... |
17 |
3i |
23 |
8 |
97 |
4 |
0 |
|
Brewood |
177 |
300 |
20 1) |
9i |
|||
|
Broom ... .... |
23 |
M |
9 |
||||
|
Burton-on-Trent (5) |
61 |
•159 |
277 |
182 |
|||
|
Bushbury ... ... |
t>2 |
133 |
82 |
51 |
|||
|
Butterton |
3 |
53 |
32 |
21 |
106 |
0 |
0 |
|
Caldon |
f9 |
27 |
M |
13 |
aS |
||
|
Calton, included in Croxden, |
|||||||
|
Kocester and May held (6) |
_ |
||||||
|
Cannock (7) ... ... |
104 |
303 |
188 |
115 |
lxx
INTRODUCTION
|
HOUSEHOLDS |
1676 |
||||||
|
21 |
|||||||
|
Persons Cliargeab 1665 |
« ^ |
■ tn G m |
|||||
|
... |
Non- able, |
— — 5 C |
y (X |
||||
|
tCanwell |
3 |
3 |
|
|
|||
|
Caverswall |
51 |
io5 |
81 |
24 |
205 |
7 |
15 |
|
fChartley Holme ... ... ... |
|||||||
|
Cheadle |
90 |
207 |
123 |
84 |
1 ,000 |
1 |
4 |
|
Chebsey ... ... |
32 |
01 |
42 |
19 |
175 |
10 . |
1 |
|
Checkley ... ... ... ... |
fin 09 |
I30 |
98 |
38 |
473 |
6 |
39 |
|
Cheddleton (12) |
57 |
154 |
123 |
31 |
300 |
20 |
6 |
|
fChfslyn Hay |
|||||||
|
§Ches\vardine (Salop) |
34 |
|
|
39° |
10 |
||
|
Church Eaton |
40 |
75 |
57 |
18 |
302 |
13 |
|
|
Clifton Campville |
37 |
77 |
51 |
26 |
— |
||
|
*Chilcote chapel, co. Derby |
1 5 |
|
|||||
|
•Harlaston chapel |
23 |
43 |
17 |
— |
|||
|
Gent |
1 00 |
62 |
38 |
||||
|
* Rowley Ret-'is chapel |
250 |
180 |
7° |
||||
|
Codsall |
97 |
60 |
37 |
||||
|
Colton |
27 |
00 |
52 |
14 |
140 |
30 |
77 |
|
Cohvich |
*59 |
124 |
35 |
||||
|
•Fradswell. chapei |
2 I |
29 |
18 |
1 1 |
|||
|
JCroxall |
| |
1 |
|
||||
|
Croxden |
35 |
27 |
8 |
||||
|
Darlaston |
x45 |
58 |
87 |
||||
|
Dilhorne |
tl 40 |
104 |
81 |
2} |
35 1 |
1 1 |
2 |
|
Dray co tt-in-t he -moors |
3° |
43 |
28 |
^8 |
1 2 |
||
|
Drayton Bassett (part of), say |
86 |
41 |
45 |
||||
|
Eccleshall (S) |
4 2t) |
284 |
142 |
||||
|
Edingale |
% |
32 |
22 |
10 |
— |
||
|
Elford ... |
41 |
60 |
50 |
10 |
— |
||
|
Ellastone (9V... |
/ 7 |
1 3-1 |
I20 |
4 (?) |
273 |
^4 |
|
|
EllenhaM |
20 |
35 |
26 |
9 |
130 |
||
|
1-^ Tl V 1 1 1 A J , 1LV111C ... ... ... ... |
41 |
125 |
96 |
29 |
|||
|
Farewell ... |
31 |
49 |
38 |
1 1 |
|||
|
Forton . .,. ... |
74 |
79 |
52 |
27 |
2 55 |
||
|
Gay ton ... ... ... ... |
2 2 |
40 |
33 |
7 |
1 10 |
z |
|
|
Gnosall (10) ... |
1 19 |
2 06 |
170 |
90 |
J |
||
|
Gratwich |
* 15 |
J9 |
14 |
5 |
52 |
2 |
|
|
Grindon |
3° |
77 |
52 |
25 |
1 5" |
43 |
_ |
|
Hamsta1! Ridware ... |
36 |
47 |
35 |
12 |
|||
|
Hanburv (11) |
|||||||
|
•Marchington chapel |
- 100 ) |
485 |
353 |
132 |
— |
— |
|
|
Handsworth |
226 |
161 |
65 |
||||
|
Harborne |
53 |
152 |
92 |
60 |
|||
|
*Edgbaston chapel (W'arw.) |
33 |
||||||
|
fHaselour ... ... ... ... |
|||||||
|
Haughton |
24 |
49 |
34 |
15 |
120 |
2 |
1 |
|
High Offley • ... |
72 |
65 |
40 |
2 5 |
|||
|
Himley |
1 8 |
4 1 |
26 |
M |
|||
|
Hints m |
21 |
42 |
25 |
\? |
|||
|
Horton |
56 |
105 |
73 |
332 |
7 |
8 |
|
|
Ham (17) |
19 |
26 |
10 |
37 |
167 |
6 |
I |
|
Ingestre |
13 |
18 |
18 |
^3 |
|||
|
Ipstones (12) |
40 |
79 |
62 |
17 |
403 |
73 |
12 |
|
Kings Bromley |
04 |
DO |
58 |
32 |
— |
||
|
Kingsley ... ... |
59 |
i"5 |
83 |
22 |
3«)u |
3 |
X |
|
Kingstone ... |
27 |
4 9 |
32 |
1 7 |
121 |
||
|
Kingswinford |
29 |
283 |
182 |
101 |
|||
|
Kinver |
75 |
230 |
125 |
105 |
|
||
|
Lapley |
45 |
77 |
75 |
2 |
250 |
||
|
Leek (12) |
Iiq |
5*3 |
36J |
160 |
1 7 |
»
INTRODUCTION
lxxi
Leek (12) — contd. •Rushton chapel ...
Leigh (13a)
Lichfield, including some of the de tached prebends, etc. (136)
b. Mary's S. Michael's * Hammer wich chapel Stowe
Lichfield Lichfield, Lichfield Lichfield Longdon ... Madeley Maer ...
% Market Drayton (Tyrley quarter)
Mavesyn Ridware ...
Mavheld, excluding Butterton §Middleton ( Warwickshire) ...
Mihvich
Mucklestone (The 1563 figures elude the four townships Salop) ... Norhury Norton Canes jOgley Hay ... Okeover Onecote (12)...
Patshull
Pattingham Penkridge (14)
*Coppenhall chapel
•Dunston chapel ...
*Stretton chapel ... Penn ...
Pipe Ridware ... .- .«-.. §Quatt-Malvern (Salop) Ranton Rocester *Bradley-in- the- moors
Rolleston
Rugeley (15)
Rushall
Sandon
Sedgley .
Seighford ... ... ...
Shareshill
Sheen (17)
Shenstone (18)
Sheriff Hales
Standon
Stafford, S. Mary's (19) Stafford, S. Chad's ... Stafford, Enson and Salt chapels( Stafford, Hopton chapel Stafford, Marston chapel Stafford, Whitgreave chapel Stafford, Castle cliurch Stafford, Creswell ... Stafford, fWorston
Stafford, tVarlet
RStattoid
HOUSEHOLDS
1503
40 103
400
20
1665
102
73
in 27
1 12
74 157 15 67 28
34
9 26 28 55
9 74
26 4i 126
67 30
82 53 30 247 42 j 16 I 20 I 12 14 5i
143 118
564
30
17S 129 57 97 52 67
86
118
61 67
114
202 19 39 39 95 12
43 9i 18 124 221 41 35 490
103 79 42
199
99 48
[342
33 32 14 27 57 1
c i
c< XX o Ph U m
439
121 85 46 74 41 53
59
14 73 135 14 25 30 55 9
1 676
125
116
500
402
268
47
9 16
:9a
640 212
O u
35
2 8
13 ; 2 — 17
33 81 14 83 118
33 35
231 78 52 33
125 74 41
171
27 24 12 2 7 35 1
10 10 4 41
103
8
259 25 27
9 74 25
7
171
6
107 223 45
154
171
|
312 |
2 |
|
|
164 |
2 |
I |
|
I,IOO |
155 |
13 |
Ixxii
INTRODUCTION
|
|
HOUSEHOLDS |
1676 |
|||||
|
1 S63 |
1665 |
Persons Chargeable, 1 1665 |
| Conformists |
Noncon- formists |
I Papists |
||
|
Stoke-upon-Trent ... |
8v |
324 |
194 |
Tin |
— |
— |
|
|
•Bagnall chapel |
T (1 IO |
19 |
$ |
— |
— |
— ■ |
|
|
•Bucknall chapel ... |
20 |
61 |
42 |
— |
— |
— |
|
|
•Burslern chapel ... |
32 |
87 |
81 |
5 |
427 |
- |
17 |
|
•Newcastle chapel... |
78 |
2 70 |
175 |
TO I |
1,000 |
5 |
— |
|
*Norton-in-the-nioors chapel |
75 |
26 |
— |
— j |
— |
||
|
•Whitoiore chapel... |
•7(1 20 |
28 |
2 |
124 |
— |
— |
|
|
Stone... |
478 |
299 |
I 79 |
— |
— |
||
|
Stowc (20) ... |
97 |
II g |
89 |
20 |
300 |
3 |
3 |
|
Swynncrton ... |
38 |
t 1 r |
101 |
I O |
240 |
4 |
1 1 |
|
Taimvorth (21) |
2^1 |
153 |
8l |
— |
' — |
||
|
TatenhiU (22' |
77 |
08 |
68 |
— |
— |
— |
|
|
*Barton-under-Need\vood chapel |
86 |
132 |
86 |
a 6 |
— |
— |
|
|
*\Vichnor chapel ... |
2 I |
27 |
23 |
— |
— |
— |
|
|
tTeddcsley Hay |
— |
— |
— |
||||
|
Tettenhall (23a) |
207 |
155 |
S2 |
— |
— |
— |
|
|
Thorpe Constantine |
8 |
8 |
— |
' — |
— |
||
|
Tipton |
1 1 5 |
70 |
4 c |
— |
— |
||
|
Tixall... ... |
T 7 |
14 |
1 |
54 |
7 |
5 |
|
|
Trentham |
IO^ |
74 |
I |
427 |
2 |
2 |
|
|
Tutbury |
95 |
99 |
72 |
27 |
— |
— |
|
|
Uttoxeter (23k) |
240 |
s S 7 j j / |
386 |
171 |
1,965 |
32 |
5 |
|
Walsall (24) |
ion |
u4 J |
300 |
QIC |
39 |
— |
|
|
Waterfall (25) |
2') |
*f J |
40 |
D |
|||
|
Wednesbury (26) |
1^2 |
218 |
134 |
84. |
|||
|
Weeford ... ... |
a n 4U |
39 |
|
|
|||
|
West Bromwich |
lib |
Q T T |
194 |
117 •* 1 / |
|||
|
Weston-under- Lizard |
22 |
*J |
2 1 |
94 |
|||
|
Weston-on-Trent |
18 |
25 |
16 |
59 |
1 |
||
|
Wetton (27) |
33 |
48 |
43 |
6 |
|||
|
Whittington |
20 |
87 |
66 |
21 |
|||
|
Wolstanton ... |
72 |
244 |
197 |
47 |
936 |
^3 |
|
|
*Keele chapel |
30 |
65 |
43 |
22 |
207 |
8 |
1 |
|
Wolverhampton, sjiy (28) ... |
323 |
858 |
499 |
359 |
|||
|
•Pelsall chapel (28) |
14 |
53 |
38 |
15 |
|||
|
Wombourn ... |
37 |
in |
56 |
55 |
|||
|
•Trysull chapel |
34 |
66 |
51 |
15 |
|||
|
t Woodford Grange ... |
|||||||
|
|YVorheld (Salop) |
134 |
||||||
|
YoxalL |
LSI |
M5 |
no |
35 |
|||
|
Totals |
9\i83 |
20,628 jx 3,864 |
6,764 |
ADJUSTMENT TABLE
Column No. I gives the number of households in 1563 as estimated, being 47*2 per cent, of the householders there in 1665.
Column No. 2 gives the number of householders in places within the archdeaconry, but outside the county of Stafford, as given in the 1563 return.
Column No. 3 gives the number of householders in 1665,
INTRODUCTION
Ixxiii
|
from which the number |
of |
houselioldcrs |
given in |
the first |
|
|
column has been deduced. |
|||||
|
Amblecote (Old Swinford) |
29 |
— |
62 |
||
|
Balterley (Barthomley) |
16 |
— |
35 |
||
|
Bobbington |
— |
48 |
|||
|
Broom |
11 |
— |
23 |
||
|
Canwell |
2 |
— |
3 |
||
|
Cheswardine (Salop) |
34 |
||||
|
Chilcote (Derby) |
|
|
|||
|
Clent |
47 |
— |
r 100 |
||
|
Rowley Regis ... |
118 |
— |
250 |
||
|
Codsall |
46 |
— |
97 |
||
|
Croxall (Oakley) ... |
1 |
— |
1 |
||
|
Croxden |
16 |
— |
35 |
||
|
Drayton Bassett ... |
40 |
— |
86 |
||
|
Handsworth |
107 |
— |
226 |
||
|
Edgbaston fWarw.) ..s |
33 |
||||
|
Maer |
27 |
— |
57 |
||
|
Market Drayton (Tyrley) |
46 |
— |
97 |
||
|
Middleton (Warw.) ' ... |
<>2 |
||||
|
Mucklestone (The Staffordshire pa |
-t Of; |
118 |
|||
|
Quatt (Salop) |
— |
26 |
— |
||
|
Rugeley • |
.. . 104 |
221 |
|||
|
Sheen |
20 |
42 |
|||
|
Statfold |
.. 1 |
1 |
|||
|
Tamworth |
no |
234 |
|||
|
Tettenhall |
98 |
207 |
|||
|
Thorpe Constantino |
4 |
8 |
|||
|
Tipton |
54 |
115 |
|||
|
GresweH and Yarlet |
1 |
||||
|
Worfield (Salop) ... |
134 |
||||
|
Totals |
976 |
304 |
2,o68 |
Note. — 976, the total of the hrst column, is 47"2 per cent, of 2,068.
NOTES
In the case of many of the aforenamed parishes additional information is available concerning their population or the number of communicants in each parish in" other years. These are summarized in the following notes. It is probable that these figures refer to the whole parish in each case, including the dependent chapelries.
The figures for the year 1604 are taken from the return of that year.
(1) Abbots Bromley, 1604, population 700.
(2) Alstonefield, 1604, communicants 2,000 (sic).
(3) Alton, 1604, communicants 120.
(4) Blore Ray, 1604, communicants 100.
(5) Burton-on-Trcnt, 1604, people 1,500.
(6) Calton, 1666, householders, 11 in Roccster parish, 6 in Mayfield parish, probably about 5 in Croxden parish.
(7) Cannock, 1604, people 400.
lxxiv
INTRODUCTION
(8) Eccleshall, 1548, communicants 800 (c) ; 1604, com- municants 1,300, and many recusants.
(9) Ellastone, 1604, communicants 600.
(10) Gnosall, 1649, communicants 750 (Bod. MS. 326, p. 290).
(11) Hanbury, 1604, people Soo.
(12) Leek, 1604, people 4,800 in the ancient parish, which included the chapelries of Cheddleton, Ipstones, Meerbrook, Onecote and Rushton.
(13a) Leigh, 1604, people 500. (136) Lichfield, 1604, people 6,000.
(14) Penkridge, 1546, communicants 1,200 in the whole parish, including the chapelries (a) ; 1604, communicants 1,100, and 18 recusants.
(15) Rugeley, 1646, communicants " many hundred " (Bod. MS. 323, p. 357).
(16) Salt (see p. 224). In 1550 the parishioners asserted that there were more than 100 communicants here.
(17) Sheen may have been regarded as a chapel in Ham in 1563, and the Ham figures lor this year may include those of Sheen.
(18) • Shenstone, 1604, people 500.
(19) Stafford, 1546, communicants 3,000 in the old parish, which included the chapelries of Creswell, Enson, Hopton, Marston, Salt, Whitgreave, etc. (a) ; 1604, communicants 2,000 ; 1646, communicants — S. Mary's 1,500, S Chad's 300 (Bod. MS. 323, p. 267).
(20) Stowe, 1646, communicants 500 (Bod. MSS. 323, p. 360, and 325, p. 279).
(21) Tamworth, 1546, communicants 2,400 — i.e. within the cure of the collegiate church there, which included several places in Warwickshire (a) ; 1604, people 2,000.
(22) Tatenhill, 1604, people 800 in the whole parish. (23a) Tettenhall, c. 1552, communicants 1,000. (236) Uttoxeter, 1604, people 1,600.
(24) Walsall, 1548, communicants " at least 1,000 " (c) ; 1604, communicants 2,000, and many recusants ; 1646, com- municants 1,000 (Bod. MS. 323, p. 268).
(25) Waterfall, 1604, communicants 190.
(26) Wednesbury, 1646, people 900 (Bod, MS. 323, p. 268).
(27) Wetton, 1604, communicants 140.
INTRODUCTION
lxxv
(28) Wolverhampton, 1604, people 4,000 here and at Pelsall ; 1646 and 1650, communicants 4,000 (see p. 327).
A NOTE ON THE POPULATION OF STAFFORD- SHIRE AT DIFFERENT PERIODS
By Commander. Wedgwood.
According to Mr. Landor's tables, the censuses of 1563 and 1665 give the total estimated households in the county as 9,743 and 20,62s. Now the censuses of 1801 and 1811 give the population as 254,084 and 308,129 respectively. The first censuses were taken carelessly, without any previous practice. It is generally calculated that the first gave figures at least 5 per cent, below the real figures, and the second about I per cent, below the actual. If there was this error to be set to the charge of the officials of 1801, we may assume that the clerical compilers of the earliest censuses made even larger errors. I suggest as a pure guess that we should add 10 per cent, to the number of households in 1665 and 20 per cent, to the number in 1563. It is obvious from Mr. Landor's notes and from the inspection of the figures in detail that in the earliest census the hamlet, rather than the whole scattered parish, was often all that was counted. This raised the estimate of households to 11,692 in 1563 and 22,691 in 1665.
How many were there in each household ? Obviously more than at present. The return of 1676, if it be any real guide to the numbers of people over 15, shows that there were as many as 3 1 in each household over that age. Having in view the enormous infantile mortality of those days, I cannot think we should be wrong in assuming that there were 2.V under the age of 15. If that is so, we must multiply the households by 6 1 to get the population of the county. The number per household was 5*6 in England in 1861.
At a rough guess, therefore, we have : Population, 1563, 70,152 ; 1665, 136,146. This is an increase of nearly 100 per cent, in the 100 years, or of 7 per cent, each decade. W hen in the nineteenth century we mec^ with reliable figures as to the increase each decade, we find the population growing at
1 Maitland used the multiplier 5 to obtain the actual population from the recorded population of Domesday. 1 have taken 1^: actual families in the y< .u - 1676 and 1706 and find the average per household to work out at o i persoi S without any allowance for servants or apprentices.
Ixxvi
INTRODUCTION
the rate of 15 per cent., then 17 per cent., then 20 per cent, each decade down to 187 1. Yet the population in 1801 cannot have been more than 270,000 souls. If it was 136,000 in 1665 and 270,000 in 1801, then during that period of 135 years the population had only increased at a rate of 5 per cent, each decade. This slowing down in the rate of increase after 1665 came about in spite of the growth of manufactories in north and south during the last half of the eighteenth century. Yet it is quite possible that these figures and deductions are correct, and that there was a genuine slowing down of the rate of increase, due partly to emigration to America, partly to the enclosures and the engrossing of large farms, which first began to affect Staffordshire during the eighteenth century, partly to the famine years that set in between 1770 and 1796. If the figures are anything like correct, they indicate a period of amazing prosperity between 1503 and 1605 in the county of Staffordshire.
Following these pseudo-statistics farther back, we may deduce for the population of Staffordshire in 1461 some 45,000 souls. (Staff or dshire was not affected by the early enclosures.) Still farther back, after the Black Death in 1361, the popula- tion might be 25,000. Before the first Black Death in 1348 perhaps it was 40,000 again ; and when Henry of Anjou ended the civil wars of the reign of Stephen — in 1154, when SS hides were utterly waste — then, I should think, 15,000 people was all there would be in our county — 12 to every square mile, a population about as dense as is that of the Orange River Colony to-day.
The Domesday Book figures, giving the households in 1086, back up this estimate. The total number of persons — tenants, freemen, priests, merchants, villeins, boors and serfs — enumerated in Staffordshire in 10S6 is 3,236. This is Stafford- shire as included in Domesday, but with the part now in Salop deducted. To this figure we must add townsmen in Tamwonh, priests and townsmen in Lichfield, and probably in Wolver- hampton and Burton-on-Trent ; some 60 heads of families. We must add, too, many outlaws, for half Staffordshire was waste. Total, some 3,35° families. Against underestimation by the compilers we have to set off the possibility that many families are enumerated twice over in different names. To get the actual number of inhabitants, Maitland, in his / \ mesday
INTRODUCTION
lxxvii
and Beyond, multiplies the households by 5 after taking all factors into account. This gives a total of 16,750 souls twenty years after the Conquest.
Lastly — or firstly — there were five hundred hides in the five hundreds of Staffordshire — only five hundred, for it was the last settled by Middle English from the east and by the Hwicci from the south, and it was a wild land. I suppose these hides were not fully settled into and occupied till a.d. S50. Roughly, 500 families settled with their retainers — perhaps 10 to a family — like the Boer vortrekkers. If there were 5,000 of the invaders, there were at least as many of the Celts left behind on the land alive, many free in the moorlands and in Needwood, but most perhaps hewers of wood and drawers of water for all time.
THE PARISHES
ARRANGED ALPHABETICALLY
ABBOTS BROMLEY
In 1563 called " Bromley Pagets," a vicarage, without any annexed chapels, in Tamworth D., formerly approp. to the Abbey of Burton-on-Trent.
Cli. Orn., 4 May 1553: 2 silver chalices with patens; 4 "bells (s) ; 2 damask copes, 1 red, 1 crimson; 6 vestments, 1 of blue worsted, 1 blue full of birdes, 1 of red worsted, 1 of dark red (worsted) wrought with silver, 2 white ones ; 3 albes ; 3 amices ; 1 copper cross ; 1 brass censer. Ch. wds. : Hugh Clerke & Rich Pixley.
Patrons: The Pagets of Beaudesert (5. H. C, xn, p. 216).
VICARS
occ. 1491 ob. 1526
14 Feb. 1526-7 8 Jan. 1561-2 12 Sep. 1572 14 May 1586 16 Oct. 1626
w.p. 17 Nov. 1561 w.p. 6 June 1572 res. 1586 w.p. 6 Oct. 1626 left Dec. 1633
22 Jan. 1633-4 depr. 1646 10 Dec. 1646
occ. 1649
occ. 1651-2
occ. 1661 c. 1662 restored res. 1665 27 Ap. 1665 res. 1668 3 Nov. 1668
Hen Fydcock Thos Wilson 1 Thos Webbe Wm Tat ton Geo Stone 2 Edward Holbrooke
M.A. 3 Anthony Huxley M.A. 4 John Sammon B.A.? 5 Wm Beeby G Walter Bromsgrove
M.A.?7 Nathaniel Mott M.A. 8 Anthony Huxley M.A. Nathaniel Mott M.A. 8 Geo Wright B.A.
THE PRIEST'S SERVICE
Certified in 1548 that certain persons then unknown had endowed a priest here with lands worth 1/. 5s. 6d; net to sing daily mass in the church and that the said priest had always kept a school, but not a free one (b, c, r), There were no plate or goods.
B
ABBOTS BROMLEY
INCUMBENTS
occ. 1533 Chas Benteley
occ. 1548 John Stephenson 9
A LAMP
Certified in 1548 that a yearly rent of 6d. had been left to provide a lamp to burn every holy day in the chancel between matins and mass for ever (b).
NOTES
1 Wilson alias Wetton subscribed in 1559. Probably vicar of Longdon 1526-7.
'-> Stone. Scholaris ruralis et in sacris litteris bene exercitatus. Ordained by Thos Bentham and presented to this vicarage by the Crown. Formerly curate of Marchington chapel. No degree,- no preacher (i()02-4 returns). Vicarage worth 16/. in 1004.
3 Holbrook. M.A. 1623 Trin. Coll. Ox., born in co. Stafford [Foster). Ordained priest 13 June 1024. Vicar of Pattingham 1633-46, rector of Forton 1635-53. Many pluralists were compelled to choose between two livings c. 1646 and Holbrook appears to have been one of these.
4 Huxley. B.A. 1618 Magd. Coll. Camb., M.A. 1024 Ox. (Foster), M.A. 1630 Camb. ( Venn). He was with the Royalist garrison at Lichlield on its surrender on 10 July 1646. In the following November lie refused to appear before the committee for plundered ministers to answer certain matters alleged against him by his parishioners, so on ro Dec. r646 it sequestered the vicarage from him on the ground that lie had deserted his cure and betaken himself to the forces raised against parliament. Huxley managed to retain possession of the vicarage house until 15 Mar. 1646-7, when the comm. of parliament for co. Stall, was instructed to turn him out forthwith. On rr Ap. 1647 his wife Hanna was allowed a full fifth of the living for her maintenance provided that she and her husband yielded all due obedience to the sequestration. (Bod. MS. 324, pp. 28, i3r, r37, 396.)
5 Sammon or Samon. Probably B.A. 1641 Glouc. Hall, Ox. If so, son of John Samon of Budsey, Wore, priest (Foster). Described as a godly and orthodox divine, when the committee for plundered ministers sequestered this vicarage to his use; on 10 Dec. [646 and referred him for approval to the Westminster assembly of divines, which was duly given. (Bod. <}fS. 324, pp. 137, 103, 396.) Ou .\ NToV, 1646 the committee ordered the salary (26/. 13s. od.) of the minister here when appointed to be increased by the following rents, resen ed
ABBOTS BROMLEY
3
to the dean and chapter of Lich. from the following impropriate rectories, viz. 10/. from Longdon rectory, 4/. 13s. 4d. from Dilhorne rector}'', ()/. 13.S. 4</. from this rectory and ill. 13 s. 41/. from Brewood tithes. (Bod. MS. 323, p, 360.)
G Beeby. On 25 May 1649 the committee for plundered ministers ordered all arrears of this augmentation of 50/. to be paid to Beeby and o months' salary at this rate was ordered on 25 Bee. 1649. (Bod. MS. 326, p. 290 ; Shaw, 11, p. 543.)
7 Bromsgrove. Probably identical with one of this name who matriculated 1619 King's Coll. Camb., M.A. 1628, was ordained priest at Lichfield 9 Mar. 1O27-S and was curate at Cheadle in 1629.
8 Mott. See Longdon.
9 Stephenson. Salary 14s. bd. (c), pension 13s. bd. (/>). Possibly prcb. of Gaia minor 1557-8 and of Tachbrook 155S-62.
ACTON TRUSSELL
In 1563 a church approp. to the preb. of Whittington & Baswich and subject to his peculiar jurisdiction.
Ch. Orn., May 1553: 1 silver chalice with paten; 1 corporal; I green linen cloth vestment with albe & amice; 1 blue linen cloth cope; 2 altar cloths; 2 cruets; 1 -copper cross; 3 bells; 1 sacring bell ; 1 towel.
In 1604 a chapel in Baswich parish.
CURATES
occ. 1533-8 RobtGryme1
occ. 1604 a curate 2
occ. 1651-2 Rich Littleton B.A.? 3
occ. 1661 RichMorall4
occ. Oct. 1661 ob. c- 1C78 Wm Vincent B.A.? 5
occ. c. 1680 Wm Watwood 6
A LAMP
Certified in 1548 that lands worth Sd. net p. a. had been left by persons then unknown to provide a lamp to bum in the parish church for ever (b, r).
NOTES
1 Gryme. In 1538 the priory'of S. Thomas the Martyr by Stafford owed him 3/. 6^;. Sd. and he possessed a " stondyng cup " belonging to this priory. ( Hibbcrt, p. 234.)
4 ACTON TRUSSELL
2 Curate. Not named in 1604 return. No preacher.
3 Littleton. Perhaps B.A. 1639-40, Peterhouse Coll. Camb. ( Venn.) Minister at Wolverhampton in 1648.
4 Morall. Paid a subsidy of 10s. in 1661.
5 Vincent. B.A. 1653 Pemb. Coll. Camb. ( Venn.) Ordained both priest and deacon 13 July 1602. Occurs in the Lich. transcripts 17 Oct. 1 661 and probably held this living with that of Bednall. (Keeper, XL, p. 172.) Died in prison. (Gregory.)
6 Watwood. Mentioned by Gregory.
ADBASTON
CUM KNIGHTON, BISHOPS OFFLEY, FLASHBROOK & TUNSTALL
In 1563 a church, without any annexed chapels, approp. to the dean of Lich. and subject to his peculiar jurisdiction.
Ch. Orn., 4 May 1553: 2 silver chalices with patens; 1 albe; 4 great bells (s) 1 ; 1 little bell; 3 vestments; 2 crosses, 1 of maslyn, 1 of lead. Ch. wds.: Win Green & John Parkar.
CURATES
occ. 1533 John Wolrych
occ. 1604 ob. 1616 Wm Cowper-
12 July 1647 occ. 1651 Rich Butler3
occ. 1658 Thos Bladen 4
occ. 1666 John Cook5
res. c. 1679 Sam Prichard B.A.? 6
c. 1679 Andrew Corbet 7
LIGHTS
Certified in 1548 that Nich Mylward had given 10s. od. to maintain a light of 7 tapers every Holy Day; in 1549 that there was a rent of 2s. od. p. a. from lands here for lights and other common charges (b, e) .
BISHOPS OFFLEY CHAPEL Not mentioned in the 1563 or ariy subsequent return. Certi- fied in 1548 that no service was then maintained therein, nor were there any lands thereunto belonging, but that a cow valued at 10s. had been given to this chapel for a priest to sing (mass) in it and that there were 4 02. of white plate and 1 bell at the end of the chapel (b).
AD B ASTON
5
TUNS TALL CHAPEL Not mentioned in the 1563 or any subsequent return. Certified in 1548 that no service was then maintained therein, nor were there any lands thereunto belonging, but that there was one little bell at the end of the chapei (b).
NOTES
1 Bells. Only 3 bells were left in the charge of the ch. -wds. in 1553.
2 Cowper. No preacher, stipend 81. (return of 1604).
;l Butler (PBuller). On 12 July 1647 the committee for plundered ministers granted him an augmentation of 10/. 10s. od. p. a. out of the rent reserved for the dean from this impropriate rectory, in addition to the 14/. os. od. p. a. which was accustomed to be paid by the farmer thereof and the parsonage house, churchyard, etc., wortli 2/. I os. od. p. a. This augmentation was regularly paid him until 26 Sep. 1651. (Lamb. MSS. 976, p. 326; 978, p. O22 ; 979, p. 35b; Bod. MSS. 325, p. 217 ; 327, p. 484 ; Sion MS., p. 495.) Graduates of this name took their M.A. at Oxford in 1616 (Foster) and at Cam- bridge in 1613 ( \ Te)ui).
4 Bladen. Succeeded Buller. Aforenamed augmentation paid him e. 1058. (Lamb. MS. 994, p. 142.) Became vicar of Alrewas, q.v.
5 Cook. Vicar of Eccleshall 1662-8. Became rector? of Northenden, Ches., in 1668 (Gregory). As vicar certified the hearths here and at Eccleshall in 1666. Six Cambridge graduates of this name took then- degrees between 1651-61 ( Venn).
6 Prichard. Probably B.A. 1643-4 King's Coll. Camb. Became rector of Preston-upon-the-Wild-Moors c. 1679 (Gregory).
7 Corbet. Mentioned by Gregory. .
A LD RIDGE
In 1563 a rectory, with an annexed chapel of ease at Barr, in Tamworth 1).
Ch. Orn., 14 May 1553: 1 silver chalice with paten; 1 copper cross; 1 blue damask cope ; 2 suites of vestments, 1 of camlet, 1 white; 1 black vestment; 3 bells (s) ; 1 sanctus bell (s); 1 hand bell; 2 altar cloths; 1 surplice. Ch. wds.: Hen Wiganne & Thos Stone.
In 1604 there were many recusants here.
Patrons: 1557 John Pore, 1575 Wm Scotte from Margaret countess of Hereford, 1622 canon Robt Master LL.D.
6
ALDRIDGE
RECTORS
occ. 1533 w.p. 26 Sep. 1556 Philip Wylden 1
18 Jan. 1556-7 w.p. 20 Feb. 1574-5 Edmund Walker 2
21 Aug. 1575 bur. 21 Mar. 1021-2 John Scott B.A.? 3
19 Mar. 162 1-2 bur. 4 Sep. 1630 John Fulnetby B.D. 4
22 Sep. 1636 bur. 14 Mar. 16S2-3 Rich Pretty M.A. 5
1C83 Nathaniel Dolman
B.A. 6
Curate
occ. 1620 Edward Lane v
OBITS
The following obits were certified in 154S. The first sum is their net annual value, the second is the amount thereof spent on the poor or church repair.
John Gybbyns, one tenement, 4s. od., 3s. Sd.
John Smyth & Symon Harley, one cottage, 5s. od., 3s. 6d.
Elen Eawlynson, one tenement, 4s. od., 3s. on the Aldridge poor and 6d. on the Walsall almeshouse (b, c, r).
BARK CHAPEL
Certified in 1548 that the priest here was paid by the rector of Aldridge; that there were endowments for the parish clerk of ys. 4c?. net p. a., for church repair of 8s. od. net p. a., for a lamp is. od. net p. a. and 4 sheep worth 6s. Sd. ; and that there were 4 oz. of white plate, some ornaments worth 9s. Sd. and 2 bells at the end of the chapel (b, c, r) .
Ch. Orn., 14 May 1553: 1 little bell; 1 sanctus bell; 1 hand bell. One bell had been stolen by some one then unknown.
Curates
occ. 1533 Wm Schclfeld
c. 1550 no incumbent
occ. 1571-73 Nich Rathbone8
occ. 1593 Rich Dolphine 9
occ. 1620 Daniel Joven
occ. 1651-6 John Hilton M. A.? 10
OBIT
Certified in 1548 that John Northall had left a yearly rent of 2s. Sd., of which the priest had 6d. and the poor js. 2d. [b, c, r).
ALD RIDGE
7
NOTES
1 Wylden or Weldon.
2 Walker. Described as a chaplain when instituted. Subscribed in 1559 and buried here in Feb. 1574-5. Possibly curate of Salt chapel in 1533 and of Hopton chapel (q.v.) in 154S. Probably vicar of Wed- ncsbury 1553-5.
3 Scott. Scholaris oxoniensis et ad docendum gregem suum habilis et idoneus. Ordained priest and instituted by Thos Bentham. A priest of this name supplicated for his B.A. at Oxford on 24 Jan. 1558-9 (Poster), but if identical with this rector the 1593 return cannot be correct as to his ordination. Described as a good lawyer, but no preacher in 1604, when the rectory was worth Sol. Will pr. 26 Mar. 1622.
4 Fulnetby. See Handsworth.
5 Pretty. M.A. 1634 Oriel Coll. Ox., son of Thos Pretty of Yardley, Wore. (Foster). Vicar of Hampton-in-Arden 1636-47, preb. of Bobenhall 1660-83. Mentioned as the minister here in 1651-2 return, compelled to resign one of his two livings c. 1646 and resigned Hampton (Walker) .
6 Dolman. B.A. 1676 Magd. Hall, Ox., son of the vicar of Worn- bourn (Foster). Married Winifred Prett}'e (Simms).
7 Lane. See West Bromwich.
8 Rathbone. Paid subsidies of 6s. 8d. in 1571-3 (19-522, 523).
9 Dolphine. Scholaris oxoniensis et in sacris litteris versatus. Became vicar of Wednesbury in 1597 on the presentation of the Crown. A preacher " sometimes preacheth " (1604 return, under Wednesbury). Will pr. 24 Ap. 161 9.
10 Hilton. B.A. 1631 S. John's Coll. Ox., ?M.A. 1637 Hart Hall. Son of Rich Hilton of Bloxham, Oxon, and brother of West Bromwich minister (Foster). Paid a subsidy of 6s. 8d. in 1 661.
ALREWAS
In 1563 a vicarage appropriated to the preb. of Alrewas and subject to his peculiar jurisdiction.
Ch. Orn., 14 May 1553 : 1 partly gilt silver chalice, with paten ; 1 green silk cope ; 3 vestments, 1 of white silk, 1 of white bustian & 1 of red silk; 1 gilt copper cross; 3 altar chubs;
3 towels; 2 brazen candlesticks; 2 tin cruets; 1 brass censer ;
4 streamer cloths, 1 of green silk, 1 of red silk, & 2 of painted linen cloth; 2 bells (s) ; 1 sanctus bell (s) ; 2 linen cloths & 1 surplice. Ch. wds.: Win Clarke & John Birkeham.
8
ALREWAS
VICARS
ob. 1530 Nich Tyrry
28 July 1530 res. 1531 Wm Collyer M.A.
18 Nov. 1531 Jolm Lache 1
occ. 1533 ob. 1545 Hugh Lache 2
. 17 Oct. 1545 ft", ob. 1568 Robt Alsop3
14 July 1568 bur. 10 Feb. 1619-20 John Falconer4
21 Ap. 1620 bur. 8 Feb. 1637-S Wm Booking M.A. 5
23 Feb. 1637-8 occ. 1646 Rich Martin 6
1646 ob. 11 Dec. 1657 John Bould B.A.? 7
20 May 1658 ejected 1662 Thos Bladen8
5 Feb. 1662-3 occ- x666 Isaac Sympson 9
OUR LADY'S SERVICE
Certified in 1549 that an ancient lord of Alrewas had given a cottage and lands to find a priest to sing mass in Our Lady's chapel for the souls of the ancestors of the said lord and for all Christian souls ; that this service had continued until about 1545 and that the net annual value of this property was iZ. 6s. 8i. (c).
INCUMBENTS
occ. 1533 Ralph Alen
occ. 1545 Robt,, Alsop 3
NOTES
1 - Lache. Either John was succeeded in or before 1533 by Hugh or, more probably, John is a clerical error for Hugh.
3 Alsop. Originally the " Lady " priest here, instituted as vicar 11 Nov. 1545, and subscribed in 1559. The subsidy due 25 Mar. 1558 was not paid (19-506).
4 Falconer or Fakener. Seholaris ruralis et in sacris litteris bene instructus. Ordained by Thos Bentham. Also held the rectory of Haughton. Nq preacher, a pluralist and non-resident (1604 return). Certainly living here in 1581 and buried here. In 1593 he had a curate at Haughton.
5 Bocking. Will pr. 30 Ap. 1638 (P. C. C. 49 Lee).
6 Martin. Possibly matric. c. 1591 S. John's Coll. Camb., M.A 1598, B.D. 1606 (Venn). One of this name ejected from Monk's Kirby, Warw., 1662 (Calamy).
7 Bould. Perhaps B.A. 1643-4 Jesus Coll. Camb. (Venn). Suc- ceeded Martin in 1646 (Stebbing Shaiti). Signed testimony in 1648
ALREWAS
9
On 27 Aug. 1O46 the committee for plundered ministers granted to an unnamed minister here; probably Bould, 50/. p. a. from various rents, etc., previously paid to Lichfield Cathedral to increase his maintenance, which at most was but 40 marks (i.e. 26/. i^s. 4c/.) {Bod. MS. 323, p. 269). The augmentation actually paid to Bould was 24/. p. a. (Lamb. MSS. 976, p. 516; 978, p. 625; 981, p. 201), which was granted to his executors from his deatli on 11 Dec. 1(357 till 25 Mar. 1658, as his wife Elizabeth looked after the parish during this interval. (Lamb. MS. 995, pp. 253, 254.)
8 Bladen. Perhaps matric. 1055 at Camb. ( Venn). Nominated by the trustees 20 May 1658, admitted by the commissioners, received the 24/. p. a. augmentation and paid subsidy of ids. in 1661. (Lamb. MSS. 981, p. 20 ; 983, p. 103 ; 995, p. 261 ; etc.) Had been curate of Adbaston.
9 Sympson. See S. Mary's, Lichfield.
In 1563 a vicarage, with 3 chapels of ease, in Leek D., formerly approp. to Combermere Abbey.
Ch. Orn., 8 May 1553 : 2 silver chalices with patens ; 2 velvet copes, 1 blue, 1 red; 1 yellow & red sarsenet covering for the sepulchre; 3 vestments with albes, amices, stoles & fans, 1 of velvet, 1 of saie, 1 of bustian; 4 old vestments of saie & bus- tian ; 1 albe ; 2 stoles ; 5 fans ; 12 palls ; 2 chasubles ; 4 corporals ; 5 old altar cloths ; 4 towels ; 1 covering for the font ; 1 surplice ; 1 rochet ; 8 old banner cloths ; 2 brass candlesticks ; 3 brass crosses ; 1 pair of brass censers ; 2 wood paxes ; 2 cruets ; 1 lantern ; 1 old veil ; 3 great bells (s) ; 1 hand bell ; 4 little bells ; 1 pyx & covering therefor; 1 wood holywater stock; 1 pick & 1 spade to make graves with. Ch. wds.: \Ym Cruclielborne & John Halle.
Patrons: 1504 Laurence Bcresford & Thos Bcresford.
ALSTONEFIELD
VICARS
occ. 1533 ob. c. 1564 (10 June 1562
Hugh Sheldon1
Rich Smyth)? -
Robt Aston3
John Crofte
Hugh Chaplain B.A.? 4
8 July 1564 ob. 1604 18 Oct. 1604
19 Sep. 1607 occ. 1638 18 A p. 1638 occ . 1 06 1
Gawin Hamilton M.A. 5
10
ALSTONEFIELD
1666 1667 19 Mar. 1674-5 27 May 1683 24 Nov. 1684 15 June 1712 5 Ap. 1714
May 1576 May 1577
bur. 17 Mar. 16S bur. 9 Feb. 1711-2
Priests
bur. 1 Aug. 1559 bur. 28 Aug. 1559
Curates
occ. 1569-/3 occ. 6 June 1576
bur. 2 Dec. 1G17 occ. 15S6-92 occ. 1666
Thos Gould 6 Wm Lisett 7 3 Roger Farmer M.A.? 6 Josias Rhodes Edw Bishop B.A.? 9 Humphrey Rep ton 1 0 Peter Parr
Rich Botte 1 1 Rich Wayne12
Rich Smyth 2 Hugh Morris 1 3 Thos Rudyard 1 3 Francis Paddy 1 4 James Hambleton 1 3 Robt Taylor 1 5 *
OUR LADY'S SERVICE
Certified in 1548 that a yearly rent of 10s. ioi. had been given by persons then unknown for " Our Lady's priest " daily to sing mass in the parish church and that there were no plate or ornaments then belonging to this service (b, r).
occ. 1533 in 154S
INCUMBENTS
Rich Bunsh all No incumbent (c)
THE GUILD OF BLESSED MARY
In 1567. a piece of pasture here worth 6s. Srf. p. a. belonging to this Guild was discovered by Robt Hurleston and leased bv the Crown to him for 21 years. 1 6
ELKSTOXE CHAPEL In 1563 a chapel of ease with cure.
In 1552 the ch. orns. were in the hands of John Legg? priest (h, m).
Ch. Orn., 8 May 1553: 1 old vestment with an albe, amice,
ALSTON E FIELD
ii
stole, and fan ; i altar cloth ; i towel ; i little bell (s). Chap, wds.: Thos Hansorde & James Belfield.
Curates
(occ. 1552 John Legg)? (h, m
occ. 1593 a curate 1 7
occ. 1602-4 Rich Bullock 1 8
occ. 1620 Geo Salt
LONGNOR CHAPEL In 1563 a chapel of ease with cure.
Certified in 1540 to be endowed with a toll of id. for every covered booth and Id. for every open stand at each of the 4 yearly fairs at Longnor, value 4s. od. net p. a. There were 3 oz. of white plate and certain ornaments, not then valued, because the inhabitants asked that they should remain for their ease, as the chapel was 4 miles from the parish church (c).
Ch. Orn., 22 May 1553: 1 vestment; 1 albe; 1 altar cloth; I partly gilt silver chalice with paten; 1 bell; 1 hand bell; 1 cross of wood; 1 surplice ; 1 laver. Chap, wds.: Lien Manyfold & John Woode.
Curates
bur. 30 Sep. 1554 Geo Shore
occ. 1593 a curate 1 9
occ. 1604-2 Hum Godwin 20
occ. 1620, bur. 12 July 1653 Robt Holme
WARSLOW CHAPEL In 1563 a chapel of ease with cure.
Ch. Orn., 1553: 1 silver chalice with paten; 1 altar cloth; 1 vestment of red saie with albe, amice, stole & fan ; 1 towel ; 1 little bell ; 1 bell hanging in the chapel.
In 1552 these ornaments with 20 nobles or 2I. 13s. 4^. were discovered in the hands of Rich Smith of Warslow (h, m).
Curates
bur. 18 Sep. 1553 John Leigh
bur. 28 Nov. 1585 Rich Blackhurst
occ. 1593 • a curate 1 9
12
ALSTONEFIELD
occ. 1602 ?bur. 20 Sep. 1621 Hen Smith2 1 occ. 1620 Geo Hambleton22
bur. 10 Jan. 1655-6 Rich Berisford 2 3
NOTES
1 Sheldon. Subscribed in 1559. The subsidy due 25 Mar. 1558 was not paid when due (19-506).
2 Smyth. Presented by the Crown to this vicarage on the petition of Mr Stanhope (Lans. MS. 443), but does not seem to have been instituted (see next note). Occurs as curate in the register in 1569-70- 71 and Mar. 1572-3. One of this name was buried in the church 11 July 1591 and another described as clerk on 21 Nov. 1592. The parish register records that Roger (sic) Smythe, being lately autho- rized by the bishop to preach, did make a " predicacion " on 18 Oct. and 8 Nov. 1573.
3 Aston. Scholaris ruralis et mediocriter doctus. No preacher, non-resident, pluralist, a grievous swearer, whoremaster, drunkard and very unlearned (1604 return). Ordained deacon Nov. 1567. Although appointed vicar in 1564 on the death of Sheldon (Dioc. Reg.), the parish register states that he did not enter the parish as vicar until 14 Mar. 1572-3. Also rector of Standon, where buried 2 Aug. 1604. Will pr. 7 Aug. 1604. Vicarage worth 30/. in 1604.
4 Chaplain. Probably B.A. 1603-4 Magd, Coll. Camb. ( Venn). Elizabeth his wife was buried here 3 Jan. 1638-9 and his daughter on 30 Oct. 1652.
5 Hamilton. On 1 Ap. 1646 the committee for plundered ministers granted him 50/. p. a. from the profits of the impropriate rectory of Alstonefield sequestered from Sir John Harpur kt, as his tithes brought in in the best times but 40/. and " in these times " but 10/. p.a. Harpur was also ordered to restore the vicarage house. (Bod. MS. 322, p. 275.) On 18 Sep. 1646 the committee varied this order by granting him the 50/. p.a. from the profits of the impropriate rectory of Pattingham, sequestered from Sir Robt Mosly, delin- quent, instead of from the rectory of Alstonefield. (Bod. MS. 322, p. 360.) Hamilton signed the testimony in 1648 and paid a subsidy of 10s. in 1661.
6 Gould, 7 Lisett. Mentioned in a list of vicars printed by Rev. Wm Beresford.
8 Farmer. Probably M.A. 1640 Emman. Coll. Camb. ( Venn).
9 Bishop. Probably the B.A. of Peterhouse Coll. Camb., who was ordained deacon by Hackett 31 Dec. 1662 and priest 21 Feb. 1663-4,
1 0 Repton. See Weston-on-Trent.
1 1 Botte. Mentioned as priest in register.
♦
ALSTONEFIELD
13
1 2 Wayne. Mentioned as priest in register. Perhaps had been chantry priest at Anslow 1535 and/or at Uttoxeter 1548.
13 Morris, Rudyard, Hambleton. All mentioned in register. Rudyard " entered " in May 1576. See Sheen.
1 4 Paddy. Scholaris ruralis et mediocriter doctus. A worldling, no degree, no preacher (1602-4 returns). Ordained by Thos Bentham. Entered as curate in May 1577 (Par. Reg.) and paid subsidies of 6s. 8d. in 1580 and 1586 (19-533, 535).
1 5 Taylor. Certified the number of hearths as curate in 1666.
16 Leases, Roll II, no. 18.
17 Curate. Rest blank in 1593 return.
18 Bullock. No preacher, reader and young scholar, going to a grammar school all the week. Stipend il. p. a. and " Holyday " board (1604 return).
19 Curate. Not named, did not appear for examination in 1593.
20 Godwin. No preacher, a lay reader, no degree (1602-4 returns).
21 Smith. Same as Godwin.
22 Hambleton. See Butterton.
2 3 Berisford. Mentioned in burial register as " sometime " curate of Warslow.
ALTON
In 1563 a vicarage, without any annexed chapel, in Leek D., formerly approp. to the Abbey of Croxden.
Ch. Orn., 8 May 1553: 1 pewter chalice; 1 brass pyx; 2 corporals with cases ; 4 vestments ; 4 amices ; 3 albes ; 2 copes bordered with flowers ; 1 surplice ; 9 altar cloths ; 7 towels ; 1 veil cloth ; 1 cross cloth ; 5 banner cloths ; 3 bells (s) ; 1 sanctus bell; 1 sacring bell; 1 brass chrismatory; 3 cruets; 2 brass crosses; 1 wood cross; 3 coffers; 3 brass candlesticks. Ch. . wds. : Nich Key, Wm Gledenhurste & Wm Hewet.
Patrons: 1569 the Crown, 1604 Robt Meverell and — Hering.
VICARS
occ. 1533 ob. 1545 John Holme 1
6 Jan. 1545-6 ff. ?ob. 1569 John Stanley 2 4 July 1569 w.p. 11 Jan. 1610-1 Thos Rawlin 3
29 Dec. 1610 occ. 1633 James Rawlin B.A.? 1
occ. 1651-2 Wm Armitt M.A.? 5
1661 res. 1662 Thos Broad M.A.? G
15 Dec. 1662 occ. 1666 RalphWooley7
1681 John Repton B.A. 8
14
ALTON
OUR LADY'S SERVICE
Certified in 154S that John Lovett had left lands worth 15s. net p. a. to find a priest to sing (mass) in the church for all Christian souls for ever and that another donor then unknown had given 12s. in money for the same (b). Certified in 1549 that Phelop? Worth, widow, had given a croft in Cheadle worth 10s. net p. a. to " Our Lady's priest " here (e). This croft was then owned by Anthony Rowseley of Bradshaw, co. Derby. 9 The possessions of this service were valued c. 1550 at il. qs. od. [r)m Discovered in April 1553 that John Hulme, priest, had pur- chased for .the use of the same 1 messuage, etc., at Farley worth 9s. net p. a. and 3 cottages 10 in Alton worth respectively 4s., 3s. and 2s. net p. a. ; also that there was 4/. in money belonging to the same (n). Probably this 4/. came from the sale of 6 kine, which had belonged to this sendee in 1552 [h, m).
1 Holme. Paid tax of Ss. as vicar in 1533. One of this name, the vicar of Woodford, Ches., paid the Exchequer 2s. rent for some property here in 1559. [Ministers* Accounts, Eliz. 2015.)
2 Stanley. Subscribed in 1559, occurs in the Act Book of 1560 as vicar. Probably died in 1569, as Rawlin was appointed on the death of an unnamed predecessor.
3 Rawlin (Thos). Scholaris ruralis et in sacris litteris incumbens. No preacher, ignorant (1604 return). No degree (1602 return). Or- dained by Thos Bentham and presented to this vicarage by the Crown. Vicarage worth 30/. in 1604.
4 Rawlin (Jas). Perhaps B.A. 1603 S. Edmund Hall, Ox. [Foster, under Rawlings). Mentioned in will of Godfrey Needham of Alton, pr. 1633.
5 Armitt. See Biddulph.
6 Broad. Probably M.A. 1655 Jesus Coll. Camb. ( Venn) and/or M.A. 1661 Ox. (Foster) If so, ordained by Hackett both deacon and priest on 13 July 1662. Probably rector of Swynnerton 1662 1703 and possibly also rector of Aylton, co. Hereford, 1663 — ?
7 Wooley. No degree, ordained by Hackett both deacon and priest 14 Dec. 1662.
INCUMBENTS
occ. 1533 occ. c. 1545 in 1548
Thos Horpe 1 1 Robt Shenton [n] No incumbent (n)
NOTES
»
ALTON
15
8 Repton. B.A. 1680 Brasenose Coll. Ox., son of Humphrey Repton, curate of Norton-in-the-moors (Foster). Became rector of Stoke-on-Trent in 1692.
9 Aug. Mis. Bk. 522, pp. 39, 40.
1 0 Messuage and cottages in the tenure of Peter Richardson ; Wm Morise?, Morreys? or Marys? ; Alex. Shaw and Nich Smith.
11 Horpe. Paid tax of 5s. 4^. in 1533.
ARLEY
In 1563 a church, without any annexed chapels, appropriate to the dean and chapter of Lichfield and subject to their pecu- liar jurisdiction.
Ch. Orn., 15 May 1553: 1 partly gilt silver chalice with paten ; 2 vestments, 1 of green Turkish satin, 1 of crimson Bruges satin ; 2 copes, 1 of green Bruges satin, 1 of crimson linen cloth ; 2 brazen candlesticks ; 3 great bells ; 1 sanctus bell. Cli. wds.: Thos Holway & John Broune.
See the Annals of Arley, by the Rev. H. R. Mayo, M.A., vicar of Arley, for particulars about the earlier and later in- cumbents of this parish.
4
VICARS
occ. 1575-77 Philip Tusten 1
(occ. 1578 Josua Tusten)?
occ. 1600-29 Wm Greene 3
1629 bur. 4 Mar. 1659-60 John Thomase
28 Oct 1658 eject. 1660 JohnOrford5
occ. 1665 Edw Mackerum? 6
1666 res. 1682 John Waldron 7
1683 Thos Parkes
NOTES
1 Tusten (Philip). Mentioned as minister in register.
2 Tusten (Josua). Mentioned as " clarkc of this church " in register.
3 Greene. Mentioned in register as curate and minister of God's word.
4 Thomase. Mentioned in register. Arley is not mentioned in return of 1651-2.
5 Orford. Nominated by trustees for this cure on 28 Oct. 1658, received augmentation of 55/. and/or 40/. (Lamb. MSS. 983, p. 130 ; 981, p. 22 ; 994, p. 142), " outed " 1660 (Par. Reg.).
i6
ARLEY
6 Mackerum. The last four letters of his name are doubtful. Certified the number of hearths here as minister c. 1665.
7 Waldron. Expressed his feelings on resigning this cure by writing in register " Ingrata parochia, ne ossa mea quidem habes " : O un- grateful parish, you have not even my bones.
ARMITAGE
In 1563 a church, without any chapels of ease., approp. to the preb. of Hansacre and subject to his peculiar jurisdiction.
Ch. Orn., 14 May 1553 : 1 silver chalice with paten ; 2 corpo- rals & 3 cases ; 2 copes, 1 of tawny Bruges satin & 1 of " cheker " ; 4 vestments; 6 towels; 6 altar cloths ; 3 brass candlesticks ; 1 coverlet ; 1 wood cross ; 2 cruets ; 2 streamers ;
1 veil; 1 brass pyx; 1 chrismatory; 1 lead holywater stock;
2 bells (s) ; 1 hand bell ; 1 sacring bell. Ch. wds.: Robt Knosall & Rich Lelie.
CURATES
occ. 1533 Wm Hill 1
occ. 1626 Thos Hargreve 2
6 Jan. 1646-7 occ. c. Dec. 1651 Philip Sharpe B.A.? 3
3 May 1654 Peject. 1661 Nathaniel Mansfield
M.A. 4
occ. Jan. 1661-2 — Brierly 5
occ. 1663 John Ashbrook 6
occ. c. 1666 JosiasDeane7
A LAMP
Certified in 1548 that a lord of Hansacre had left land then worth 2d. net p.a. for a lamp to be maintained in this church
NOTES
1 Hill. Paid tax of 5s. 4^. in 1533. See Longdon.
2 Hargreve. Mentioned in transcripts, formerly curate of Wee- ford.
3 Sharpe. Probably B.A. 1647 Emman. Coll. Camb. ( Venn). A " godly and painful minister," preacher at Kings Bromley in 1648, signed testimony in that year, became minister at Burton (q.V.) in Dec. 1651. By an order of the committee for plundered ministers dated 12 May 1647 an augmentation of 6/. out of this impropriate rectory was granted to an unnamed minister here, and in Oct. 1650 it
ARM IT AGE
was ordered to be paid to Sharpe with arrears from 6 Jan. 1646-7. (Bod. MS. 327, pp. 4S4-5.) Next year he was in receipt of an aug- mentation of 46/. p. a. (Lamb. MSS. 976, p. 323 ; cf. 979, p. 358, and 97S, p. 624.)
4 Mansfield. B.A. 1651 Corpus Ch. Ox., M.A. 1654 Peterhouse Coll. Camb. (Foster and Venn). Appointed to this curacy by the trustees, received an augmentation of 50/. p. a. for 5 or 6 years. (Lamb. MSS. 1017, p. 5; 973, p. 675; 994, p. 142.) Said to have been ejected in 1662 (sic) and afterwards to have lived at Wolver- hampton and Walsall (Calamy, Simms, etc.).
5 Brierly. Paid subsidy of 5s. in 1661. See Wichnor.
6 Ashbrook. Signed transcripts in 1663, became vicar of Harborne in 1668.
7 Deane. See Sandon.
ASHLEY
In 1563 a rectory, without any annexed chapels, in New- castle D.
Ch. Orn., 4 May 1553: 4 old vestments; 3 albes; 3 altar cloths; 2 towels; 2 surplices; 1 old censer; 2 coffers; 2 old copes; 1 silver chalice with paten; 2 cruets; 1 copper pyx; 1 cloth to put over a box with " oyle & crem." ; 1 copper cross, partly gilt ; 3 small bells (s) ; 1 sanctus bell ; 2 sacring bells ; 1 painted cloth. Ch. wds.: Wm Cradock & Rich Anwell.
Patrons: 1574-1625 the Gerrards (S. H. C, xiii, p. 229), 1630 Sir Rowland Cotton kt.
RECTORS
occ. 1533 res. 1536 Andrew Rode
23 Mar. 1536-7 John Hampton
12 Feb. 1542-3 ff. w.p. 2 Ap. 1551 Rich Aston
28 Ap. 1551 ff. bur. 12 Feb. 1573-4 Andrew Bowyer 1
10 July 1574 w.p. 31 Oct. 1606 Robt Freeman B.A. 2
13 Jan. 1607-8 ob. 8 Sep. 1630 Edward Shipton M.A. 3 15 Sep. 1630 ob. 6 Dec. 1675 John Lightfoot D.D. 4 22 Jan. 1675-6 bur. 17 Nov. 1683 Josiah Lightfoot jun. 5
1683 ChasShaw6
Curates
occ. 1533 Rich Bryne 7
occ. 1560 — Broke8
occ. 1576 Francis Purdy 9
i8
ASHLEY
occ. 1628 occ. 1629 occ. 1632
occ. 1631-76
Geo Dixon 1 0 Jo Podmore 1 1 Samuel Lightfoot M. A. 1 2 Josiah Lightfoot sen. 1 3
NOTES
1 Bowyer. Instituted 7 May 1551, subscribed 1559, formerly curate of Keele 1533, vicar also of Wolstanton 1548-74.
2 Freeman. B.A. praedicator publicus, very 'slow in preaching (1604 return) . Ordained by Thos Bentham. Rectory worth 30/. in 1604.
3 Shipton. M.A. 1599 Brasenose Coll. Ox., son of Wm Shipton of Lombard Street, London (Foster). Appointed rector of Aldcrley, Ches., in 1625, so reinstituted here on 2 Sep. 1625 and paid first fruits for 2nd time 17 Nov. 1625.
4 Lightfoot (John). Matric. 1617 Chr. Coll. Camb., master 1650 of Cath. Hall, Camb., D.D. 1651, vice-chancellor of Camb. 1654, preb. of Ely 1668-75, became one of the most prominent members of the Westminster Assembly of Divines, aided in Walton's Polyglot Bible in 1657, a voluminous writer. (D. A7. B., Venn, Redfern, p. 259, Simms, etc.)
5 Lightfoot (Josiah, jun.). Inducted into this rectory by Josiah Lightfoot, sen., formerly curate at Stoke-on-Trent.
6 Shaw. Became vicar of Madeley, where bur. 1702.
7 Bryne. Paid tax of 6s. 2%d. as curate in 1533.
8 Broke. Paid a subsidy of 6s. 8d. in 1560 (19-508). One " Adam Broke " subscribed by proxy at Shrewsbury in 1559.
9 Purdy. Paid a similar subsidy in 1576 (19-526).
10 Dixon. Mentioned in par, reg., minister at Gayton in 1651-2.
11 Podmore. Mentioned in par. reg., married Dorothy Abberley at Eccleshall in 1637.
12 Lightfoot (Sam). M.A. 1635 Chr. Coll. Camb. ( Venn), brother of Josiah Lightfoot, sen. (Redfern, p. 261).
13 Lightfoot (Josiah, sen.). Ordained deacon as "student" 16 Jan. 1630-1, acted as resident- curate here for his absentee brother the rector, paid subsidy of il. 10s. o^. in 1661 and a tax on 7 hearths in 1666.
In 1563 a vicarage, with 2 annexed chapels at Betley and Talk, in Newcastle D., formerly approp. to Hulton Abbey. Ch. Orn., 14 May 1553 . 2 silver chalices with patens ; 4 vest-
AUDLEY
AUDLEY 19
ments, 1 of red Bruges satin, 1 of blue taffety, 1 of worsted, 1 of red silk; 4 albes; 2 copes, 1 of Bruges satin & 1 of " pe- culd " silk; 5 altar cloths; 2 towels; 1 brass censer; 4 bells (s). Ch. wds.: John Garnet & John Welche.
Patrons: 1554 the Crown, 1562 Thos Bulkeley, 1604 — Beeche.
VICARS
occ. 1533 w.p. 26 Ap. 1542 Ralph Madocke 13 Ap. 1542 res. 1554? Nicholas HarwarM. A.? 1
1 Feb. 1553-4 res- 1561 Roger Houghton 2 24 July 1562 occ. 1572 Andrew Beech3
2 July 1590 ejected 1646 WmKelsall4
8 July 1646 occ. 1648 John Smith B.A.? 5
occ. 1650-59 Wm Overton M.A.? 6
occ. 1661 ob. 1669 John Kelsall 7
7 July 1669 . Ralph Harpur B.A. 8
S. KATHERINE'S AND S. MARGARET'S SERVICE
Discovered in 1552 to be possessed of 20/. in money, which was in the hands of John Bolton, the elder; Rich Parker; Rich Olcote ; John Ryve, the elder ; & John Smyth [h, m).
INCUMBENT
(w.p. 28 Ap. 155 1 Thos Wylkynson)? 9
BETLEY CHAPEL In 1563 a chapel of ease with cure.
Ch. Orn., 5 May 1553: 1 silver chalice with paten; 3 vest- ments ; 2 albes ; 2 copes ; 3 bells (s) ; 1 hand bell ; 1 altar cloth ; 1 towel ; 1 maslyn cross ; 1 banner ; 1 chrismatory ; 1 cruet ; 1 censer. Ch. wds.: John Hassal & Thos Massie.
Curates
w.p. 12 July 1532 John Poynton
occ. 1533 Wm Browne
(occ. 1549-50 John Pickstock)? 1 0
w.p. 20 Sep. 1557 Geoffrey Heath
23 Ap. 1581 occ. 1601 Hugh Tilston 1 1
occ. 1602-4 Ralph Eaton 1 2
C2
20
AUDLEY
occ. 1604 Roger Barber 1 3
occ. 1620 bur. 3 Dec. 1653 Ralph Hulme14 occ. 1663-6 Wm Cataline 1 5
TALK CHAPEL In 1563 a chapel of ease with cure.
Ch. Orn., 14 May 1553: 1 bell (s). 1 suite of vestments had been given up to Rich Forsett, surveyor. Chap, wds.: John Rylley & Rich Taylor.
Curates
occ. 1533-50 Hugh Smith 1 6
occ. 1593 a curate 17
occ. 1604 Thos Beech 1 8
in Sep. 1649 no incumbent 19
occ. before 1652 Gabriel Smith 2 0
4 July 1655 Ralph Murhall M.A.? 2 1
occ. 1659 eject. 1662 Thos Pool B.A.? 22
c. 1665 GeoReeveB.A.?23
NOTES
1 Harwar. Perhaps became vicar of Uttoxeter. If so, the first entry in the diocesan register (see next note) is erroneous.
2 Houghton, Hawghton. Occurs thrice in the diocesan register, first as being instituted on 7 Mar. 1553-4 on- the death of the last incumbent, second as being instituted on 21 May 1554, and lastly as "Harrington" as resigning on the appointment of Beech. As Houghton he subscribed in 1559. The subsidy due 25 Mar. 1558 was not paid (19-506).
3 Beech. Mentioned in par. reg.
4 Kelsall. Scholaris ruralis et sacrarum litterarum experitus (i.e. without any practical knowledge of the Scriptures). A mere world-' ling, no preacher, no degree. (1602-4 returns.) Ordained priest by Wm Overton 25 Jan. 1589-00. Vicarage sequestered from him as a delinquent on 8 July 1646 by committee for plundered ministers, but their order not enforced for a year. (Add. MSS. 15670, p. 302 ; 15671, p. 61.) Buried here 12 July 1649, will pr. 14 July. Vicarage worth 40 marks in 1604.
5 Smith. Probably son of Wm Smith of Audley. If so, B.A. 1637 Magd. Hall, Ox. (Foster). (Another B.A. of this name was ordained priest by Bp Morton on 19 Sep. 1629.) On 8 Jaly 1646 the committee for plundered ministers described him as a godly and orthodox divine and granted him this vicarage. He had a good deal of diffi-
AUDLEY
.21
culty in obtaining possession of it, for articles of complaint were brought against him in Nov. 1646, but no one appeared in support of them, so on 23 June 1647 the parliamentary comm. for Staffs, were instructed to assist him to enter the vicarage and obtain possession of the register books, rentals, etc. (Add. MSS. 15670, p. 302 ; 15671, pp. 61, 85, 86, 103, 121 ; Bod. MS. 324, p. 82.) Meanwhile on 8 July 1646 he had been granted the Audley tithes up to 50/. p. a., which had been sequestered from Col. Ralph Egerton of Betley, delinquent, as this living was only worth about 40 marks. (S. P. Dom. Inter. F. r, p. 90; Bod. MS. 323, p. '268.) Many different orders were made upon Egerton, and on 1 July 1647 Smith complained that Egerton would not comply with this order. (Compounding, p. 1521 ; Shaw, 11, p. 486.) Smith signed the testi- mony in 1648. See Draycott-in-the-Moors.
6 Overton. Possibly son of a Warwickshire clergyman. If so, M.A. 1625 Trin. Coll. Ox. and rector of Fringford, Ox., in 1635 (Foster). Received an augmentation of 20/., as he had to pay 30/. to the minister at Talk. (Lamb. MSS. 970, p. 46 ; 994, p. 142 ; 981, p. 22 ; cf. Shaw, 11, p. 486.)
7 Kelsall (John). Paid a subsidy of 2I. in Jan. 1661-2 though not instituted until 18 Aug. 1663, when the vicarage was declared vacant by the death of Wra Kelsall, the last incumbent (Bps. Reg.). Son of Wm Kelsall, either he or the vicar of Mayfield matricu- lated at Brasenose in 1650 (Foster).
8 Harpur. B.A. 1661 University Coll. Ox., became a rector at Pontesbury, Salop, in 1682 (Foster).
9 Wylkynson. Described as priest at Audley in his will. Chaplain at Madeley in 1533.
10Pickstock. Mentioned as priest in the wills of Thos Sparry (1549) and Wm Bradshaw of Betley, so probably chaplain here.
11Tilston. Scholaris ruralis et mediocriter doctus. Ordained deacon by Wm Overton and does not appear to have been a priest in 1593.
12 Eaton or Eyton. No preacher, without orders, no degree, salary 8/. (1604 return) or yl. (1602 return). See Whitmore.
1 3 Barber. Mentioned in register.
14Hulme. On 12 Dec. 1646 Egerton was ordered to settle 20// p.a. on the church here. (Shaw, 11, p. 486.) About 1649 about 70 of the parishioners here beg for their minister, " who for these 20 (?3o) years has been a painful preacher amongst them," the impropriation of the parish which would amount to 30/. p.a. excepting the tithes of the compounder Col. Egerton. (Compounding, p. 3283.) His pre- sent income was no more than 14/. p.a. [Roy, Comp., 1 scr., vol. VII, P- 705-)
22
AUDLEY
15 Cataline. Called "rector" in register, probably became curate of Horton. Apparently there was no incumbent here in 1659 as an augmentation of 20/. payable to the minister here has no name opposite to it. (Lamb. MS. 994, p. 142.)
1 6 Smith. Mentioned as priest in the wills of Thos Sparry, pr. 1549, and Wm Bradshaw, pr. 1550.
17 Curate. Not named, did not appear for examination in 1593.
18 Beech. No preacher, a lay reader, no degree, salary 4s. od. (sic) (1604 return). Possibly curate at Bramshall in 1658.
1 9 On 5 Sep. 1649 the committee for plundered ministers report that no minister has yet been settled here, but grant an augmentation of 30^. p. a. from the rectory of Talk, sequestered from Ralph Eger- ton, to a minister when appointed. (Bod. MS. 326, p. 293.) ■ .
20 Smith. Mentioned as the last curate in 1651-2 return.
21 Murhall. Probably identical with a Camb. graduate who occurs as Murkatt, Murail and Murhalt. If so, M.A. 1652 Pemb. Coll. Camb. (Venn). Approved of by the commissioners 4 July 1655, received payment of aforenamed augmentation till c. 1659. (Lamb. MSS. 968, p. 11 ; 970, pp. 46, 55 ; 981, p. 22 ; 994, p. 142.) Probably became curate of Barlaston in 1663.
22 Pool. Perhaps B.A. 1657-8 Jesus Coll. Camb. ( Venn).
23 Reeve. See Caverswall.
BARLASTON
In 1563 a church, with cure but without institution, in Newcastle D., formerly approp. to Trentham Priory.
Ch. Orn., 5 May 1553: 1 silver chalice with paten; 2 small candlesticks; 2 corporals with cloths for one altar ; 1 tin pyx; 2 maslyn crosses ; 1 pair of maslyn censers ; 3 bells (s) ; 1 hand bell; 2 vestments; 2 copes; 2 vestments for deacon & sub- deacon. Ch. wds.: John Col cloughe & James Webb.
CURATES
occ. 1548 w.p. 14 Mar. 156S-9 Ralph Thorley 1
occ. 1588-1621 James Bayley2
occ. 1630 Thos Lister3
occ. i632?-53 Hen Taylor 4
19 Sep. 1656 ejected 1662 Samuel Hall B.A. 6
Feb. 1661-2 occ. 1678 Ralph Murhall M.A.? 6
occ. 1680 Thos Mathews
BARLASTON
23
NOTES
1 Thorley. Did not subscribe in 1559, will dated 28 Jan. 1568-9.
2 Bayley, Bealie. Scholaris ruratis et mediocriter ernditus. No preacher, no degree, salary yl. (1602 return), 61. (1604 return). Or- dained by Wm, bp of Chester, occurs in 1580 as exor. of John Ridgware.
3 Lister, Listey? Perhaps matric. 1618 Queens' Coll. Camb. ( Venn), mentioned in parish register.
4 Taylor. On 12 Aug. 1646 Sir Rich Leveson of Trentham, delin- quent, was ordered to settle 35/. p.a. out of this impropriate rectory upon Taylor in addition to the 10/. p.a. he had formerly given to him, as his stipend was only 10/. p.a. (Bod. MS. 323, p. 269.) On 17 Sep. and 1 Oct. 1646 Leveson was ordered to settle 50/. p.a. upon him. (Shaw, 11, p. 481 ; Roy. Comp., ser. 1, vol. cxin, p. 291 ; cf. King's Pamph., vol. ccclxxxviii, No. 30.) On 25 May 1653 Taylor begs for possession of the glebe lands, etc., in addition to the tithes of the rectory which had been settled on the minister in part payment of Leveson's fine. (Compounding, p. 990.)
*5 Hall. B.A. 1655-6 Jes. Coll. Camb. ( Venn), son of Ralph Hall of Maer. Nominated by the trustees 19 Sep. 1656, subject to approval by the commissioners, received aforenamed augmentation of 50/. from this rectory till his ejectment, paid subsidy of 3s. in Jan. 1661-2. (Calamy; Lamb. MSS. 970, p. 180 ; 974, p. 205 ; 981, p. 22 ;
993, P- 279:994. P- 142.)
6 Murhall, Morrall. See Talk chapel.
BEDNALL
In 1563 a church approp.. to the preb. of Whittington and Baswich and subject to his peculiar jurisdiction.
Described in 1549 and 1553 as an (independent) chapel (e, n), the tithes and oblations of which have " time out of mind " been received by the priest here as a stipend and are worth 40s. p.a. (n).
Also described c. 1552 as a chapel in Cannock parish (h, I, m) ; in 1604 as a chapel annexed to Baswich (return of 1604) ; and in 1680 as a chapel in Acton Trussell parish (Gregory).
Ch. Orn., May 1553: 1 silver chalice with paten; 1 green linen cloth vestment with albe and amice; 1 blue linen cloth cope ; 1 corporal with case ; 2 cruets ; 1 copper cross ; 2 bells ; 2 sacring bells ; 1 censer ; 1 coffer ; 2 altar cloths ; 1 towel.
Some of these ornaments were discovered in 1552 (//, m, n).
In 1604 there were many recusants in this chapelry.
24
BEDNALL
INCUMBENTS
(occ. 1604 a vicar) 1
occ. 1651-2 RobtAshton2 10 May 1658 Wm Southall 3
occ. 1661 ob. 1678 Wm Vincent B.A. 4
Curate
occ. 1604 a curate 5 -
LIGHTS, ETC.
Certified in 1549 and discovered in 1552-3 that some persons then unknown had given a house and 2 butts of land occupied by John Ashe at a rent of 3s. for the repair of the church, lights and other like things ; also a rent of 2d. [2s. (n)] from a small croft occupied by Thos Tofte for lights in the " parish church " here (e, h, I, n).
NOTES
1 Vicar. No preacher, stipend 20 marks (1604 return). Probably this note should refer to the vicar of Baswich.
2 Ashton. See Colwich.
3 Southall. Nominated to this curacy by the Protector. (Lamb. MS. 999, p. 21.) See Berksvvich.
4 Vincent. See Acton Trussell.
5 Curate. No preacher, salary 5/. (1604 return)
BERKSWICH OR BASWICH
In 1563 a church approp. to the preb. of Whittington and Berkswich and subject to his peculiar jurisdiction. Although the rectorial or great tithes were so appropriate, the bishop had successfully claimed the right of presentation to the living in the reign of Edward III 1 and probably had passed on this right to the priory of S. Thomas the Martyr by Stafford, which was in receipt of tithes and Easter dues therefrom and also owned glebe lands there in 1535. 2 Probably these were vicarial.
Ch. Orn., 1553: I silver chalice with paten; 3 bells; 1 little bell; 2 candlesticks; 1 latten cross; 1 silk banner cloth for the same; 2 vestments of green and red camlet; 3 painted linen banner cloths; 1 red silk cope; 1 brass bucket; 2 altar cloths.
BERKSW1CH OR BASWICH
25
The following had been stolen : 1 surplice ; 4 towels ; 1 old coverlet ; 1 latten censer.
Patron: 1554 Wm Lord Paget. (S. H. C, xn, p. 194.)
VICARS
occ. 1533 Ralph Cooke
occ. 1604 a vicar 3
Ap. 1606 w.p. 22 May 1647 John Newton B.A.? 4
occ. 1649-50 Clifton Stone M. A.? 5
c. 1650 occ. 1658 Thos Addenbrook 6
4 Mar. 1658-9 occ. Nov. 1659 Wm Southall 7
?John Powell 3
29 May 1663 bur. 24 Ap. 1693 Thos Tooth 9
Curate
w.p. iS Dec. 1644 Edw Harding 1 0
BROCKTON CHAPEL Not mentioned in 1563. Certified in 1549 to ^e a chapel, wherein service hath been sometime kept and sometime not, as the devotion of the inhabitants there served them. Then endowed with a croft or garden in Brockton, given by Thos Warde and a messuage, together worth lis. p. a. There was also the chapel yard worth 4^. p. a., 1 bell and ornaments worth i6d. [e).
NOTES
1 Introduction to printed parish register.
2 Hibbert, pp. 68, 232 ; cf. S. H. C, xn, p. 194.
3 Vicar. No preacher, a " mass priest " (1604 return). This descrip- tion indicates that he had been ordained before Elizabeth came to the throne. (See Blymhill notes.) Vicarage worth 20 marks in 1604.
4 Newton. Probably B.A. 15S1 S. Mary's Hall, Ox., born in Shrop- shire (Foster). On 12 Aug. 1646 the committee for plundered minis- ters found that the maintenance of the minister here was but 10/. p. a. and ordered that it should be augmented by 20/. p. a. out of this impropriate rectory (sic), sequestered from Walter Fowler, recusant, also by 18/. p. a. from some tithes here that were claimed by Lord Paget. (Bod. MS. 323, p. 269.) See note 6.
5 Stone. Probably M.A. 1653 New Hall Inn, Ox., vicar of Stanton Harcourt 1661, of North Leigh, Oxon, 1663 and of Marston S. Laurence, Northants, 1667 (Foster). On 13 Aug. 1649 the Stafford-
26
BERKSWICH OR BASWICH
shire parliamentary committee reported that Stone was attempting to get the impropriate rectory (sic) and tithes here, although Fowler's sequestration had been discharged and he was willing to continue the 20I. augmentation. (Compounding, p. 1894.) On 19 Sep. 1649 the committee for plundered ministe/s ordered the aforenamed sums of 20/. and 18/. to be paid to Stone. (Bod. MS. 326, p. 294.) Pay- ment of the 18/. is recorded up to 25 Mar. 1650. (Shaw, 11, p. 543 ; Lamb. MS. 979, p. 353 ; cf. Bod. MS. 327, p. 478.)
6 Addenbrook. Settled here 3 Jan. 1650-1 (Bod. MS. 328, p. 393), granted by the trustees the aforenamed augmentation of 18/. 13s. 4^. in accordance with an order made by the committee for the reforma- tion of the universities dated 22 Jan. 1650-1 (Sion MS., p. 491 ; Lamb. MS. 1004, p. 129), regularly received payment of same until his departure c. 1658 (Lapib. MSS. 1004, p. 129; 973, p. 680; 976, p. 329; 978, pp. 617, 623 ; 981, p. 20 ; cf. 994, p. 142), granted by the committee for plundered ministers on 21 Mar. 1650-1 an augmentation of 20/. a year with arrears due by any former order out of the impropriate vicarage and glebe (not rectory) of Berks- wich, sequestered from Walter Fowler, recusant. (S. P. Dom. Inter. F. 2, pt. i, p. 285.) The amount of this augmentation is stated at 21/. 6s. 8d. circa 1659. (Lamb. MS. 994, p. 142.)
7 Southall. Formerly curate at Bednall, admitted to this vicarage by the commissioners 4 Mar. 1658-9, received the augmentations aforenamed, which are now given as 18/. 13s. 4^. and 21/. 6s. Sd. (Lamb. MSS. 987, pp. 167, 168; 994, p. 142; 1004, p. 129.) Calamy says that Rich (sic) Southall was ejected in 1662 and went to Dod- dington. See Pattingham.
8 Powell. Mentioned in the introduction to the printed register, but no date is given.
9 Tooth. Perhaps matriculated 1655 S. Mary's Hall, Ox. (Foster).
10 Harding. The will of one Edw Hardinge of Berksvvich, clerk, was pr. 18 Dec. 1644 (21, Rivers) by Edw Harding the elder. He married Ellen Talbott in 1638 and had his children baptized here up to Nov. 1644 (Par. Reg.).
BIDDULPH
In 1563 a vicarage, without any annexed chapels, in New- castle D., formerly approp. to Hulton Abbey.
Ch. Orn., 5 May 1553 : 1 silver chalice with paten ; 1 bell (.0 ; 1 sacring bell ; 2 vestments ; 1 albe ; 2 corporals ; 1 cope ; 1 sur- plice; 2 iron candlesticks. Ch. wds.: Rauff Thorley & John Wynkle.
BIDDULPH
27
In 1604 there were divers recusants here.
The names of many earlier and later incumbents are given in S. H. C, xii, n.s., p. 11.
Patrons: 1577 Ralph Thorley from Andrew Bowyer, 1604 John Bowyer, 1619 Sir Wm Bowyer kt.
VICARS
occ. 1533 res. 1577 Nich Whitlock 1
31 Aug. 1577 bur. 11 July 1597 John Thorley 2
1 Aug. 1597 ob. 1619 Rich Badeley 3
29 Sep. 1619 res. 1622 Anthony Rowley M. A. 4
21 Oct. 1622 occ. 1651-2 John Bowyer M. A. 5
ejected 1662 a puritan 6
14 Jan. 1662-3 res- x665 . Wm Armett M.A. 7
12 July 1665 Maurice Harrison M.A.
w.p. 26 Sep. 1689 John Barber
NOTES
1 Whitlock, Wyllocke, Whelock. See S. H. C.t 1912, pp. 75, 121.
2 Thorley. Scholaris ruralis et utcunque litteratus, ordained by Wm, bp of Chester, also rector of Brereton, Ches.
3 Badeley. No preacher, no degree, ignorant, very worldly, salary 10/., the rectory being impropriate to John Bowyer, esq. (1602-4 returns) .
4 Rowley. M.A. 1618 S. John's Coll. Camb. ( Venn).
5 Bowyer. M.A. 1624 Exeter Coll. Ox. {Foster), signed testimony 1648, granted on 28 May 1647 by the committee for plundered minis- ters an augmentation of 50/. p. a. from the sequestered rectory of Eccleshall, q.v., no record of its payment known. (Bod. MS. 325, p. 219.) Invalidly presented with Stoke rectory, p. 254.
6 Puritan. The episcopal register states that the living was vacant in Jan. 1662-3 by reason of the non-subscription of the last incum- bent— perhaps Bowyer.
7 Armett. Probably had been minister at Alton in 1651-2. Foster identifies this vicar with a son of Geo Armell (sic) of Thornelee, co. Staff. If so, B A. 1633 Magd. Hall, Ox.
BLITHFIELD
In 1563 a rectory, without any annexed chapels, in New- castle D.
Ch. Orn., 4 May 1553: 1 silver chalice with paten; 3 great
2S
BLITHFIELD
bells [s] ; i sanctus bell; 2 hand bells; i cope; i suite of vest- ments ; 2 towels ; i surplice ; I corporal ; 2 table cloths ; 2 cruets. Ch. wds.: Andrewe Walkar & Thos Walkar. Patrons: 1533 Sir Lewis Bagot kt, 1573 Rich Bagot.
RECTORS
occ. 1533 w.p. 16 Feb. 1549-50 Francis Kynnersley1 12 May 1550 ft bur. 13 July 1550 Geojosselyn2 iS Sep. 1550 w.p. 17 Feb. 1572-3 YVm Norman 3 24 July 1573 res. c. 1610 Rich Cook 4
15 Jan. 1610-1 occ. 1640 John Bear dm ore 5
(occ. 1651-2 res. c. 165S John Middleton M.A.)? *
4 Aug. 165S ob. Ap. 1676 Rich Harrison M.A. 7
22 May 1676 ff. ob. May 1713 Geo Roades M.A. 8
Curates
bur. 7 June 15S9 Rich Burne
occ. 1593 Wm Talbot 9
occ. 1595-9 Roger Bolton 10
occ. 1604 Hen illegible 1 1
c. Mar. 1604-5-11 John Beardmore 5
occ. c. 1635-May 1645 Thos Pickin M.A. 1 2
OUR LADY'S SERVICE
Discovered in 1552 and 1553 that this service had been endowed with 5 kine, which were then in the hands of Humphrey Cotton of Bold [ht m).
INCUMBENT
occ. 1533 Thos Brandesbury
LIGHTS
Discovered in Apr. 1553 that a sum of 21s. was in the hands of the said Hum Cotton, which had been left to find tapers in the church (n). On 4 May 1553 this sum was handed over to Rich Forsett, surveyor. 13
NEWTON CHAPEL