Archdeacons' Visitation Records
1. 1663
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8. 1691
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15. 1734-1742
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22. 1827-1840
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2. 1665
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9. 1691-1704
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16. 1743-1749
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23. 1841-1849
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3. 1670-1674
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10. 1694-1706
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17. 1750-1759
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24. 1850-1855
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4. 1675-1679
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11. 1707-1713
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18. 1760-1773
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25. 1855-1861
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5. 1679-1687
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12. 1713-1719
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19. 1774-1785
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26. 1862-1873
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6. 1688
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13. 1720-1725
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20. 1786-1805
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27. 1875-1885
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7. 1689
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14. 1726-1733
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21. 1806-1826
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Archdeacons' Visitation Court Books
ER.V/CB
Vol 1
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1663
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Randolphus Smith of Allathorpe
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Witholding 13s 4d from the poor of Aughton given by George Smith, deceased.
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1663
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Maria Frankland and Maria her daughter
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Not resorting to the parish church (papists) |
Vol 2
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1665
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George Buttle, grassman, and Maria his wife
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Not resorting to devine service
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1665
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Katherine Blanshard, widow
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For working on the Lord's day
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1665
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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.
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For not providing a Minister at the said church of Aughton, they being the impropriators of the said parish
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1665
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Maria Frankland of East Cottingwith, widow
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Not attending devine service
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1665
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Alice Webster
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Adultery
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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
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1675
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George Wilson and John Biggin, churchwardens
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Not exhibiting a presentment at last Visitation
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1675
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Thomas Sharre and Ellen Grayburne, late of Bubwith but now of Aughton
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For a clandestine marriage
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1676
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John Webster
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For not paying his church tax
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1676
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John Holburn
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For not baptizing his children
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1677
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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
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For not coming to church at Easter last
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1677
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George Buttle
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For not coming to his parish church
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1677 | George Webster and Christopher Blanshard, chapelwardens of East Cottingwith | For non-payment of fees at the Visitation |
Vol 5 | Nil | |
Vol 6 |
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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) |
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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 |
1715
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Elizabeth Ridsdale
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For not paying her assessment 3s. 6d.
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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 |
1721
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Richard Lawson and Anna his wife of Aughton
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Prenuptial fornication
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1721
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Thomas Smith and John Hindsley, Aughton churchwardens
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The churchyard fence being out of repair
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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.