Archdeacons' Visitation Records

The Borthwick holds a good collection of visitation records of the Archdeaconry of the East Riding. The collection consists of 14 subclasses, but only the ones that contain details of the parishioners will be discussed here.

Court Books [ER.V/CB] 1663-1885 (27 Volumes)
The court books are arranged by rural deanery, i.e. Buckrose, Dickering, Harthill and Holderness. Until the early 1830s the Court Books consisted of two types of 'Calls' -

Visitation Calls: which simply records the incumbent and the old and new churchwardens for every parish within every deanery. The parishes are in alphabetical order within each deanery.

Correction Calls: these are of more use to the genealogist, recording the moral 'crimes' of the parishioners, non-payment of church dues, and many other offences. A full list from Court Book 4 (1675-1679) is provided below.

After 1835 the Court Books are more in the nature of general act books of the archdeacons,  since they contain induction mandates, citation mandates, inhibitions and relaxations, subscriptions, surrogation acts, convocation business, various commissions, monitions and archidiaconal charges to the clergy. They contain very little regarding the parishioners, and Correction Calls have ceased by then.

The Court Book volumes and their coverage are as follows:

1. 1663
8. 1691
15. 1734-1742
22. 1827-1840
2. 1665
9. 1691-1704
16. 1743-1749
23. 1841-1849
3. 1670-1674
10. 1694-1706
17. 1750-1759
24. 1850-1855
4. 1675-1679
11. 1707-1713
18. 1760-1773
25. 1855-1861
5. 1679-1687
12. 1713-1719
19. 1774-1785
26. 1862-1873
6. 1688
13. 1720-1725
20. 1786-1805
27. 1875-1885
7. 1689
14. 1726-1733
21. 1806-1826


Note: There are placename indexes to the court Books, 1665-1848, in ER.V/CB.28a-h.

Churchwardens' Presentments [ER.V/Ch.P] 1672-1834 (15 boxes)
The boxes are arranged by parish, so when ordering do not specify a year, specify the parish. Inside a box you will find two to four bundles, each relating to a particular parish, and each bundle contains all the Presentments for the coverage period. Those for Aughton covered the period 1708-1834 (though presentments of parishioners end in 1739). All the presentations found are summarised below.

Correction Citations [ER.V/Co.C] 1671-1827 (3 boxes)
These citations were issued by the Archdeacon's Registrar in York (Thomas Jubb, in the 1720s). They were in the nature of a form, with underneath a brief description of offences, often for several parishes at a time, and requiring the Ministers of the parishes concerned to attend the Visitation, held in St. Mary's Church, Beverley, and publish the process against the persons cited.

Excommunications [ER.V/Exc] 1669-1792 (6 boxes)
Those found guilty of most moral sins were routinely excommunicated. This was not a permanent status, and was usually lifted once the Penance had been performed.

Penances [ER.V/Pen] 1692-1803 (6 boxes)
The penances were very formulaic, and an example is provided below which demonstrates their humiliating nature.

Visitation Returns [ER.V/Ret] 1. Parochial Returns 1720-1724
Rarely an Archdeacon or his representative would Visit individual parishes, to ascertain their general state of repair, and the number and condition of books, vestments and vessels generally considered necessary to perform Divine Service. These Parochial Returns have been examined, and Aughton and East Cottingwith was found to have been visited on the 25th September, 1723, and the return is provided in full below.



Archdeacons' Visitation Court Books
ER.V/CB
Vol 1
1663
Randolphus Smith of Allathorpe
Witholding 13s 4d from the poor of Aughton given by George Smith, deceased.
1663
Maria Frankland and Maria her daughter
Not resorting to the parish church (papists)
Vol 2


1665
George Buttle, grassman, and Maria his wife
Not resorting to devine service
1665
Katherine Blanshard, widow
For working on the Lord's day
1665
Heirs of John Wray and Christopher Gowlton, farmers of the Rectory of Aughton and trustees for the use of the executors of Mr William Richardson, deceased, who had a lease thereof for lives.
William Bethel, arm.
Lady Osburne widow
John Vavasour, arm.
For not providing a Minister at the said church of Aughton, they being the impropriators of the said parish
1665
Maria Frankland of East Cottingwith, widow
Not attending devine service
1665
Alice Webster
Adultery
Vol 3

1672 Henry Harre and William Spright, churchwardens For suffering the bell in the church steeple to be cracked
1673 Lord Fanshaw, impropriator or Lord of Aughton
Lord Osborne of Seaton
Lady Francis Bethel of East Cottingwith
John Vavasour, esq. of Spaldington
Hugh Fawcett and John Newton of Laytham
impropriators, Lords or farmers
For suffering the chancel of the parish church of Aughton to be in great ruin and decay insomuch that in all likelyhood without timely prevention it will shortly fall to the ground and endanger the whole church.
Vol 4


1675
George Wilson and John Biggin, churchwardens
Not exhibiting a presentment at last Visitation
1675
Thomas Sharre and Ellen Grayburne, late of Bubwith but now of Aughton
For a clandestine marriage
1676
John Webster
For not paying his church tax
1676
John Holburn
For not baptizing his children
1677
Robert Scott and his wife
John Holburne and Maria his wife
Josephine Ridsdale
Anna Henlocke, widow
Anna Hesslewood, widow
Eliza Smith and John Smith her son
For not coming to church at Easter last
1677
George Buttle
For not coming to his parish church
1677 George Webster and Christopher Blanshard, chapelwardens of East Cottingwith For non-payment of fees at the Visitation
Vol 5 Nil
Vol 6


1688 Rectory (farmers of) Chancel is out of repair.
Vol 7 Nil
Vol 8 Nil
Vol 9 Nil
Vol 10

1694 John Webster, Thomas Frost de Sutton, Joseph Ridsdale For not repairing the parish churchyard fence at Aughton
1696 George Ellison, clerk, vicar and the Improprietors of the Rectory For suffering the chancel to be out of repair
1704 ditto
1705 William Lolly and Thomas Swan For not exhibiting a presentation (Aughton)

Thomas Swan For not exhibiting a presentation (East Cottingwith)
Vol 11

1707 George Ellison, clerk, vicar and the Improprietors of the Rectory
For suffering the chancel to be out of repair
1708 John Deny For not present the chapel out of repair (East Cottingwith)
1709 Francis Watson of East Cottingwith For not repairing his part of the churchyard of Aughton fence
1710 Dom. Castleton, Baron Barwick Fairfax, Rad. Ashton, widow Bethell, the impropriators For not repairing the chancel
Vol 12

1714 Miriam Bethell of Ellerton, widow, Humphrey Trafford of Spaldington and the other impropriators For neglecting to repair the chancel
1714 Joseph Heatsy For not paying his sess of 1s.
  Christopher Smith for the same, being 1s. 8d.
  George Wilson, churchwarden od Aughton for 1711 for not paying the sum of 20s. remaining in his hands to Edward Bayley the present churchwarden
  John Hindesley of Latham for neglecting to repair his part of the churchyard fence of Aughton
  Henry Sharp of Latham for the same
  Robert Hoilding of Aughton for the same
  John Ridsdale of East Cottingwith for the same
1715 Duke of Leeds for not repairing his part of the church
  Sarah, Vicountess Castleton for the same
  Alice Battell, widow for the same
  Humphrey Trafford of Spaldington for the same
  John Nottingham of Latham for the same
  H. Bethell for the same
  Richard Fawcett of Hull for the same
  Mary Fawcett of Latham, widow for the same
  John Hindesley for the same
  Peter West for the same
  Joseph Ridsdale of East Cottingwith for not paying his assessment towards the necessary repairs of the church being 5d
1716 Elizabeth Blythe and Rich. Lolley for the crime of fornication or adultry together she having born a bastard child of which he is the reputed father
1717 Inserted note by Rev. William Storr, dated at Aughton, Jan 22, 1717 Sir, I received excommunications against several of my Parishioners amongst whom was Richard Lolley the bearer hereof, who having formerly been presented for being the reputed father of a bastard child & upon the good character of his neighbours being dismissed at the time upon paying the court fees, which was a guinea; I suppose his name may be inserted by a mistake having heard nothing against him (since he took up the scandalous matter) which may occasion such a process; I desire that you will be pleased to satisfy in this matter by a line or two from your own hand, & herein you will oblige. Your Humble Servant,
  John Holburn for not paying his church sess being 1s 9d.
  John Nottingham for the like being 3s. 6d.
  John Hyndesley for the like being 7s. 0d.
  Eliza Blyth for the crime of adultery with Richard Lolley she having born a bastard child
  David Thompson of East Cottingwith for not paying his church sess being 3s 6d.
  John Ridsdale of East Cottingwith for the like being 3s. 10d.
     
Vol 13    
1721 Inserted note by Rev. William Storr, dated at Aughton, Mar 18, 1720/21 The Churchyard fence at Aughton is so very ruinous that nothing can get it repaied but an order from the court, so I hope you will remember to send to Josiah Walker or present churchwarden in so doing you will oblige
  Richard Lawson and Anne his wife for the crime of fornication together before their marriage
1724 Sarah Pearson of East Cottingwith and George Gray of Yapham for the crime of fornication together
1725 John Brown for the crime of adultery with Hannah Holgate of Wheldrake
 


Churchwardens' Presentations
ER.V/Ch.P
(arranged by Parish)

For most years the Churchwardens had nothing to report, and their return to the Archdeacon's Visitation was a signed form. Here is an example, from 1788.

We, the churchwardens of Bubwith having diligently perused the Book of Articles given us in charge at the VISITATION of the Right Worshipful Robert Darley Waddilove, Clerk, Master of Arts, Archdeacon of the East Riding, held in the year of our Lord One Thousand Seven Hundred and Eighty Eight do declare we have nothing to present.


The presentations that they did make are given below:
1715
Elizabeth Ridsdale
For not paying her assessment 3s. 6d.
Joseph Ridsdale of East Cottingwith For the like
1720 Robert Holburn of Rudding Grange For refusing to pay his church sess 4s. 6d.
1725 Anthony Brownbridge and Ann his wife Fornication before marriage
1731 Henry Noble of Rudding Grange For non-payment of his assessment
1736 Thomas Clarke and his wife For anti-nuptial fornication
1739 Mary Young For fornication with William Wilson of Hive in the parish of Eastrington
Richard Jackson and Isabell his wife For anti-nuptial fornication

Correction Citations
ER.V/Co.C

1721
Richard Lawson and Anna his wife of Aughton
Prenuptial fornication
1721
Thomas Smith and John Hindsley, Aughton churchwardens
The churchyard fence being out of repair
1724 Sarah Pearson of East Cottingwith and George Gray of Yapham Fornication
1725 John Brown For adultery with Susannah Holgate
1727 Sarah Dean and Martin Harper Fornication
William Harper of East Cottingwith For non-payment of church sess
Thomas Shaw of East Cottingwith For non-payment of church sess
Richard Precious For teaching school in East Cottingwith without a license
1728 William Turner For neglecting to repair his part of the churchyard fence
William Masterman For not frequenting his church or any other
Richard Kedder For the chapelyard (East Cottingwith) fence being out of repair
1729 John Vause and Joan his wife For not frequenting this church
John Donnelson and Ann his wife For not frequenting this church
William Sissins and Susannah his wife For not frequenting this church
John Rudderforthe His churchyard (East Cottingwith) fence being out of repair
John Horsley His churchyard (East Cottingwith) fence being out of repair
William Harper His churchyard (East Cottingwith) fence being out of repair
Richard Keader His churchyard (East Cottingwith) fence being out of repair
John Wilson His churchyard (East Cottingwith) fence being out of repair
Thomas Hunter His churchyard (East Cottingwith) fence being out of repair
Anna Blanshard of East Cottingwith For fornication
Matthew Savadge and Jane his wife, of East Cottingwith For pre-nuptial fornication
1730 William Masterman For non-payment of his sess
1731 Thomas Meggitt of East Cottingwith For fornication with Ann Blanshard
1732 Thomas Smith For non-payment of sess
said Thomas Smith and Sarah his wife For not frequenting this church
William Masterman For non-payment of his sess
Richard Lolley For the like
Edward Bayley For the like
Benj. Hindsley of Laytham For the like
John Bingley of Laytham For the like
1733 Henry Noble For not repairing his part of the churchyard fence
Thomas Wilson and Mary his wife For pre-nuptial fornication
1734 Alice Ware alias Ward For bearing a bastard child, father unknown
1735 Edward Bailey For fornication with Ann Smith of Bubwith
Edward Lawton For adultery with Mary Shainton, his maid servant
William Hindsley, churchwarden For not appearing at the Visitations
Mary Dow alias Dove For bearing a bastard child
1737 Robert Holborn and Elizabeth Sherburne Suspicion of fornication
George Lelley and Elizabeth Cowpland Fornication
Elizabeth Keadar of East Cottingwith For fornication with Matthew Walters of Wheldrake
1740 George Empson For fornication with Elizabeth Jackson of East Cottingwith
1741 Elizabeth West of Seaton For not paying her sess
John Fawcett of Kingston upon Hull, gent For not paying his sess
William Hindsley of Laytham For not paying the clerk's wages
William Cowthrop of East Cottingwith For the like
1742 - 1746
1751 Francis Maynard of East Cottingwith
John Ward
John Holmes
George Metcalf
Robert Smeaton and Jane Mason
John Garton
Thomas Robinson
Ann Stubbins
Wm Browne
Edward day
Elizabeth Watson
Wm Ridsdale
Ann Green
John Holmes
Eliz Dun Carr
Henry Clarke of Seaton
Henry Wilberfoss of Seaton
Wm Thornton of Seaton
John Noble of Seaton
List of citations only, no offences given
1768 John Webster the elder 
John Webster the younger
Simeon Webster
For not paying the parish clerks
For the like
For the like
1787 Elizabeth Tate For non-payment of the parish clerk's dues for 1785 and 1786
1823 William Young and James Brabbs, churchwardens For suffering the chancel to be very much out of repair
1824 The Rev. George Ion
--- Bethel
Robert Nottingham Nottingham
lay impropriators of Aughton
For suffering the chancel to be very much out of repair

Note: By the second half of the 1700s the numbers of parishioners cited for moral crimes, non-payment of their church assessment, etc had dwindled considerably, and the by the early 1800s had disappeared completely, leaving only citations to the churchwardens or lay propriators for neglect of duty.



Excommunications


Excommunication was the most common of censure in the Ecclesiastical Courts of York. Ostensibly to be used only for the more serious of crimes, the practice in York was to use Excommunication routinely in cases of debt, especially debts to the Church, and for non-attendance in court to answer cases (presentments) brought against them by the churchwardens during Visitations of the Archdeacon.


Before 1734 Excommunications were in Latin, and in English thereafter. The typical form was as follows (English version):


Jaques Sterne, Doctor of Laws – Archdeacon of the Archdeaconry of the East Riding in the Cathedral and Metropolitan Church of Saint Peter in York, lawfully founded, To all and singular Rectors, Vicars, Curates and Clerks, whomsoever and wheresoever, within our Archdeaconry aforesaid, Greeting, We do hereby order and charge You, that during the Clebration of divine Service, on Sundays and other Holydays, in your Parish Churches and Chapels, you do publickly denounce, and with Effect declare all and singular the Persons, whose Names and Sirnames are underwritten to these Presents, to have been, and to be respectively Excommunicated for their respective Contumacies in not appearing before Us, or our lawful Representative at a certain Place, on a certain Day and Hours, now sometime past, to answer certain Articles, Heads and Interrogatories concerning the Souls Health and Reformation of their Manners, and especially the Crimes and Offences in our late Visitation found and presented, having been lawfully cited to this Effect, and openly, publickly, and often called upon, long waited for, but no way appearing, or excusing their Delay; and what you shall do in the Premises, you shall duly certify Us or our Representative, together with these presents. Given at York, under the Seal of our said Archdeaconry this ninth day of March in the Year of our Lord One Thousand Seven Hundred and Fifty two.

By Decree of Court

Robert Jubb

Register

[Names of those excommunicated]


The Excommunication was endorsed by the Vicar to certify that the denouncement had been duly made during Divine Worship, giving the date, and then it was returned to the Registry in York.


Only occasionally does the Excommunication state the offence (noticeably during the 1730s), so recourse must be had to the Archdeacons’ Visitation Records and the Presentments made by the Churchwardens.


The following are the Excommunications found for the parish:


20 Aug 1721

Thomas Meggitt of East Cottingwith


3 Jan 1725

John Brown of Aughton


8 Feb 1725

Sarah Pearson of the chapelry of East Cottingwith


23 October 1727

Sarah Dean and Martin Harper, both of Aughton


23 October 1727

William Harper and Thomas Shaw of the chapelry of East Cottingwith


24 Feb 1728

William Masterman of Aughton


13 Feb 1729

John Rudderforth; John Horsley; William Harper; Richard Kedder; Thomas Hunter; Ann Blanshard; Matthew Savadge and Jane his wife; all of the chapelry of East Cottingwith


13 Feb 1729

Mary Johnson of Spaldington and George Blanshard; John Donnelson and Ann his wife; William S--- and Susan his wife; all of the parish of Aughton


28 Feb 1731

William Sissons (scored through); Joseph S---; William Masterman and John Ward, all of Aughton


1 Feb 1732

William Masterman; Benjamin Hindsley and John Bingley, all of Aughton


25 Feb 1733

Henry Noble for not repairing his part of the churchyard fence; and Thomas Wilson and Mary his wife of Aughton, for fornication before marriage.


19 Feb 1734

Alice Ware otherwise Ward of Aughton, presented for bearing a bastard child, the father thereof unknown


10 Feb 1735

Edward Bailey; Mary Straniton and Mary Dow otherwise Dove of Aughton, presented for the crime of fornication


15 Mar 1737

Elizabeth Cowpland of Aughton, presented for the crime of fornication


15 Mar 1737

Elizabeth Ilsadar of the chappelry of East Cottingwith, presented for the crime of fornication


2 Jan 1740

Elizabeth Jackson of the chappelry of East Cottingwith


4 Jan 1741

Elizabeth West of Seaton in the parish of Aughton


9 Mar 1752

Robert Smeeton; Jane Mason; John Garton; Thomas Robinson; Ann Stubbins; William Brown; Edward Day; Elizabeth Watkin; William Ridsdale; Ann Green; Elizabeth Dunbarr; and John Noble, all of Aughton.


Penance

Penance enjoined to be done by James Grundy of Spaldington in ye parish of Bubwith and jurisdiction of ye Archdeaconry of the East Riding.

20 February 1730

Tho: Hooke, surrogate

The said James Grundy shall be present in the parish Church of Bubwith aforesaid upon Sunday being the 21 or 28 of Feb or 7th March next in the Time of Divine Service, between the hours of IX and XI of the clock in the forenoon of the same day, in the Presence of the whole Congregation then Assembled, being bare-head, bare-foot, and bare-legged, having a white sheet wrapped about him from the shoulders to the feet, and a white wand in his hand, and immediately after the reading the Gospel he shall be placed upon some form or Seat before the Pulpit or place where the Minister readeth Prayers, and say after him as followeth

Whereas, I good People forgetting my duty to Almighty God, have committed the Detestable Sin of Fornication with Mary Blackburn and thereby have justly provoked the heavy wrath of God against me, to the great Danger of my own Soul, and evil Example of others I do earnestly repent, and am heartily sorry for the same, desiring Almighty God for the Merits of Jesus Christ, to forgive me both this and all other my offences, and also ever hereafter, so to assist me with his Holy Spirit, that I never fall into the like offence again, and for that End and Purpose, I desire you all here present to pray with me, and for me, saying, Our Father, which art in Heaven etc.

And of the due Performance hereof he is Certifie under the hands of the Minister and Churchwardens at the Register Office in York, upon or before ye Eleventh day of March next, together with these presents

Thomas Jubb

We whose names are Subscribed do Certify that James Grundy of Spaldington, did duly perform Penance in the Parish Church of Bubwith the 21st day of Feb Instant in the presence of the whole Congregation Assembled.

John Turton, Vicar
William Gealty, Thomas Weddall, Churchwardens

Note: By 1730 the white sheet had been dispensed with, and the form then says 'being in their accustomed Apparrel'.

Parochial Visitation Returns
1723, ER.V/Ret

Aughton
fol 94
We do certify that the Burtree trees in ye Churchyard of Aughton are stubbed and that a new surplice and a table of marriages are provided according to the order of the Rev. Dr. Deering, Archdeacon of the East Riding.
25 Sep 1723
Wm Store, vicar
Henry Battell, churchwarden

fol 93
A Schedule of the Books, Vestments and Vessells that belong to the Parish Church of Aughton delivered in the Parochial Visitation of the Right Worshipful Heneage Dering, Doctor of Laws, Archdeacon of the Archdeaconry of the East Riding which was held in the Parish Church of Aughton within the Deanery of Harthill upon the 25th day of Sep, 1723. 
A great Bible, and two Common Prayer Books
A Register of Parchment
A Surplice and Carpet for the Communion Table
Linen Cloth  for the communion table
A linen cloth to cover the Elements
A Cushion and cloth for the Pulpit
A Flaggon, Chalice, and two Plates for the offertory

Wm Store, vicar
Math: Alleson, churchwarden

East Cottingwith
fol 95
There is a new communion table and fixed close to the wall in the Chapel, a new carpet for the communion table is provided, also that there is provided a linen cloth for the communion table and a cloth to cover the elements, also a pewter Chalice and Flagon and plate to collect the offerings on is provided, a new pulpit cloth is provided, that there is a table of the degrees of marriage provided, a cover for the font is provided, and that the floor of the Chapel is in good repair, and all the inside walls are whitewashed and a new surplice for the minister is provided.

Wm Store, vicar
Robert Williamson, Thomas Swan, John Blanchard, chapelwardens

fol 93
A Schedule of the Books, Vestments and Vessells that belong to the Chapelry of East Cottingwith delivered in the Parochial Visitation of the Right Worshipful Heneage Dering, Doctor of Laws, Archdeacon of the Archdeaconry of the East Riding which was held in the Parish Church of Aughton within the Deanery of Harthill upon the 25th day of Sep, 1723. 
A surplice
A cushion for the puplit
A bible, 2 common prayer books

Wm Store, vicar
Thomas Swan, chapelwarden