THE

OLDEST REGISTER BOOK

OF THE

PARISH OF HAWKSHEAD

IN LANCASHIRE. 1568-1704.

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THE

OLDEST REGISTER BOOK

OF THE

PARISH OF HAWKSHEAD

IN LANCASHIRE.

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1568-1704.

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Hf's/'COWPER, ,

Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries: and Author of " The Monumental Inscriptions of Haivkshead" " Through Turkish Arabia," etc.

WITH

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Xoitbon :

BEMROSE & SONS, LIMITED, 23, OLD BAILEY ; AND DERBY. 1897-

PAGE.

INTRODUCTORY CHAPTERS- CHAPTER I. — HISTORICAL SKETCH UP TO THE DISSOLUTION

OF THE MONASTERIES ix

CHAPTER II. — THE SIXTEENTH AND SEVENTEETH CENTURIES xx

CHAPTER III. — THE PARISH xxxviii

CHAPTER IV. — THE REGISTERS AND THEIR STORY .. .. liii

THE REGISTER OF HAWKSHEAD, 1568-1704 i

APPENDIX- BURIALS IN WOOLEN 395

INDEX OF NAMES 407

ILLUSTRATIONS- ARCHBISHOP SANDYS Frontispiece.

HAWKSHEAD HALL To face p. xiii

VIEW OF THE TOWN To face p. xxxviii

GEORGE BLACK (A PORTRAIT) To face p. liii

IN 1891 the Editor first projected the transcription of the earliest Register Book of Hawkshead ; but, owing to a variety of reasons, it had to be abandoned for a time. In 1893, however, he was enabled to commence work, and a verbatim and literatim transcript was proceeded with as quickly as possible, until in October, 1895, tne manuscript was placed in the hands of the publishers and circulars sent out. Owing no doubt to the rural character of the district, subscribers' names came in but slowly, so that it was not until the commencement of this year that the editor and publishers considered that they were justified in sending the work to press. From those whose names appear in the list of subscribers, the editor feels that he should ask pardon for the delay (unavoidable though it was) in the publication of the present volume.

Though the labour of transcription and proof reading of such a work is by no means light, the editor does not despair of one day issuing the other Register Books of Hawkshead, down to the end of the eighteenth century. These are

1. From Baptisms, 1705, to Baptisms, 1787.

2. From Births and Baptisms, Dec. 9th, 1787, to

Death and Burials, 1802.

3. Marriages, 1754 to 1790.

4. Marriages, 1790 to 1812.

That these later registers are well worthy of publication may be seen by the following extract, which shows the large amount of information occasionally gathered into a single entry.

vii, PREFACE.

Christenings 1778.

" George son of Robert Robinson of Great boat Ferryman son of Thos Robinson of Bownes Taylor by Marg1 his wife Daughter of Geo Dawson Millner The mothers name Jenet Daught1" of Matthew Baisbrown weaver at Bowness By Margaret Daughter of John Gibson

Born Octor ye 2 Ist Baptised ye Ist of Novr."

The Editor cannot conclude without acknowledging his gratitude to the Vicar of the Parish, the Rev. E. W. OAK, who not only took much interest in the work, but afforded every facility in his power towards its accomplishment. He cannot help also congratulating himself on having placed his work in the hands of his present Publishers, for it is unques- tionably the case that without their spirited co-operation the work might have been longer, and perhaps indefinitely, delayed.

H. S. COWPER. Haivkshead,

July, 1897.

I.

HISTORICAL SKETCH.

i. £o tbe ^Dissolution of tbe flDonasteries.

ONE day probably in the ninth or tenth centuries, there came over the fells from the sea a wild Norse sea-rover, who, with his companions, tall fellows with floating yellow hair and skins brown from the sea, cut themselves a road through the valley at the head of our lake, now called Esthwaite Water, cleared themselves a broad " thwaite " at the foot of the fells, and there built a long, rambling tenement of timber, and a great hall of the same make with dab and wattle. Then he christened it Haukr-setr, * the habitation and farm of the bold Viking Haukr. Thus sprang to life our Hawkshead.

Probably he came from Man, then a strong settlement of these Norsemen, and perhaps landed at Hammerside or Hilpsford on Walney, places whose names bear evidence of his fellow countrymen ; but with this we have nothing to do here. What we must note, though, is this, that although the home of Haukr was destined eventually to give its name to a parish thirteen miles long and six miles wide, this was but an accident, for many another Norseman took up land and settled it within the same district, and their names can with great probability be traced in the less important place names

* Or Haukr = sida, or possibly as Mr. Collingwood has suggested, Hakonar- setr, preserved it may be in the old form of the place name Haukenshead.

x HISTORICAL SKETCH.

of the parish. It is especially necessary that we should understand what a part this Norse settlement (unrecorded in history, yet none the less certain) played in the formation of the character of the inhabitants of the district: that is, of those whose names are recorded in the Register books of the Parish of Hawkshead.

Originated thus, we have to wait a long while before we get any direct evidence in any form about the place : not that this is of consequence at present, for in this sketch we only attempt to indicate the progress of Hawkshead as a unit of population ; and though we have pointed out that Hawkshead originated in the ninth or tenth century in a Norseman's farm, it does not follow that it developed into anything much more important for some time to come. The name does not occur in Doomsday, but it would certainly be rash to conclude from this that the place was too insignificant for notice ; for the surveyors stopped short at the Fells altogether, believing, probably, that such a rugged country must be destitute of corn-lands to be surveyed, if not, indeed, of inhabitants ; yet we know that the length and breadth of the present parish was occupied by a Norse-speaking people, even though sparsely, for a large proportion of the place- names bear witness to this. Probably Haukrset had begun to grow in a sort of way, for the old Northern pirate's family would have increased, scrub and forest round the lake head would have been felled, and the younger branches of the family finding that better land was not easily to be got in the vicinity, would build their new "Sets" close to their grandsire's older house, and so in this primitive timber-built hamlet began the growth of Hawkshead. It should be borne in mind, however, that this was not the only place within the limits of our present parish where this was going on : and we must guard against imagining Haukrset at this early period to have been the only place of habitation, because it eventually gave name to a parish— for this was only an accident. Rus- land (the land of Rollo or Rolf), Finsthwaite (Finni's clearing), Bouth, Arnside (Arneset), Haverthwaite (oat lands

HISTORICAL SKETCH. xi

clearing), Nibthwaite, * Satterthwaite (Setrthwaite), Grise- dalc, f Skelwith fold, J Sawrey, Oxenpark, Hawkshead hill, and Outgate, are all places of the same character, and no doubt of similar origin ; but, owing to its situation, Hawkshead grew into a market town, and gave name to a manor and parish ; while the other hamlets remained clusters of farms — in origin the homes of the first settlers and their progeny, and even in some cases until quite recent times almost entirely owned and occupied respectively by people bearing one family name.

So much for the origin of Hawkshead as a centre of population. Let us now turn our attention to it as an ecclesiastical division.

In 1127 Furness Abbey was founded by Stephen, Count of Bologne and Moreton, who endowed it with the Lordship of Furness, which had belonged to Roger of Poictou prior to his banishment. In consequence of the vague wording of the foundation charter, in which no boundaries were mentioned, nor even High Furness alluded to, it was not long before diputes arose between the Abbot and William de Lancaster, first Baron of Kendal, as to the delimitation of Furness Fells (Montanae de Fourneis) and the adjacent Barony. The decision eventually arrived at determined the boundaries of Hawkshead Parish and Manor. The dispute was settled by a reference to thirty sworn men, and their decision, afterwards ratified by a Royal Charter of Henry II., can be seen in the coucher book of Furness Abbey. In this confirmation it is stated first that the mountains of Furness are divided from Kendal by the boundary line.

" From where the water descends from Wrynose into Little Langdale, and thence to Elterwater, and from there by Brathay into Windermere, and so by Windermere as far as the Leven, and so by the Leven even to the sea." The country between this line and the Duddon was the disputed territory.

* The new burgh thwait. f The wild pigs' dale.

The shed's wood.

xii

HISTORICAL SKETCH.

The Abbot then drew a division line from North to South. "From Elterwater by the valley to Tilberthwaite, and from there by Yewdale beck to Coniston, and thence to the head Thurston water, and by the bank of the same water as far as the Crake, and thence to the Leven." - The Abbot drew the line, so the Baron chose. He elected as his share the part which joined the Abbot's line on the west, i.e., the Coniston and Duddon side, to hold from the Abbot by a yearly rent of 20s., and it was arranged that the Baron's son was to do homage to the Abbot. The east division, forming the present parishes of Hawkshead and Colton, was to be the Abbot's, except only the sporting rights, which the Baron reserved.! It appears, then, that the Abbot's share constitutes Furness Fells proper (*.*., the Fells belonging to Furness Abbey), and that to apply the term to the Coniston and Torver Fells is not, strictly speaking, correct.

About the beginning of the thirteenth century we first hear of the Chapelry of Hawkshead. It appears that the Arch- deacon of Richmond gave leave to the Abbot of Furness to celebrate mass with wax candles at their private altars when the country was lying under a Papal interdict ; and for this purpose he assigned the Chapelry of Hawkshead with one bovate of land, and four tofts in Dalton : in other words, the revenues of the chapelry were to be applied to the purposes of the Abbey ritual.J This was most probably the interdict in the reign of King John in the year 1208. Now interdicts varied in severity, but even in the less severe ones all masses

* This agreement is embodied in several deeds in the Furness coucher book, from which the above extracts are Englished, and the spelling of the place-names modernized. This spelling varies much in the different deeds, but is of interest as a guide to the original meaning of these place-names.

t A generation later these hunting rights were given up by Gilbert, son of Roger Fitz Reinfred who had married the Baron's heir, in exchange for holdings in Ulverston.

\ There is a great deal of difficulty about dating this transaction exactly, owing to an apparent contradiction in the documents in the coucher book. It is discussed in Mr. Atkinson's excellent edition (Chetham Society, vol. xiv., p. 646). It is sufficient here to state that the date must be between 1198 and 1208.

HISTORICAL SKETCH, xiii

were forbidden except on great festivals. But in this par- ticular case we find a curious piece of local evidence bearing on this grant of Hawkshead chapel to the monks. First, by the determination of the suit between the Abbot and the Baron of Kendal their boundary was settled ; and then the chapelry (how old at that time we cannot guess) had fallen into their hands : and accordingly, as, we may conclude, they would be forced into inactivity to some extent by the interdict, they took the opportunity of erecting their manor house of Hawkshead Hall, where a few monks and lay brethren could reside to attend to both the spiritual and civil business of Furness Fells. In support of this we find in the old Court House at Hawkshead Hall some architectural work of characteristic thirteen century style.*

Soon after this (1219-20) we come to some important documents in the coucher book bearing on the consecration of a burial ground at Hawkshead. It would appear from these, first, that the population was rapidly increasing ; and secondly, that the chapel had already existed for some time — long enough, as Dr. Whitaker remarks, for its rights and dependencies to call for the testimony of ancient clerks and laymen, and thirdly, that although the chapelry was immediately dependent on the mother church of Dalton, there was also some claim on it by Ulverston.

In the first place the inhabitants seem to have com- plained, and with good reason, of the necessity of removing their dead from Furness Fells to Dalton, a distance of about twenty miles. On this it appears the Abbot attempted to separate the chapelry from Dalton, probably with the intention of attaching it independently to the Monastery. But this elicited opposition from the Vicars of Urswick and Dalton, and an appeal was then made to the Papal Court. The Pope in reply issued a commission appointing the Priors of St. Bees, Lancaster, and Cartmel, to enquire into the merits of

* See the Editor's paper on Hawkshead Hall in vol. xi. of the " Transactions of the Cumberland and Westmorland Antiquarian and Archaeological Society."

XIV

HISTORICAL SKETCH.

the case, and to adjudicate. In their decision they state that the Abbot and monks had sufficiently proved by witnesses and deeds that Hawkshead Chapel should be free, and is separate (that is, at a distance) from Dalton Church ; and that the Vicar of Dalton had renounced his appeal in order that a burial-ground might be formed at Hawkshead. This amounted to a verdict in favour of the Abbot. Yet in spite of this, it does not appear that a formal division was made, for as late as the Dissolution we find in the certificate of Revenues of Furness Abbey the Chapelry of Hawkshead styled " parcell of the personage of Dalton."

At the same time we find the Parson of Ulverston abandoning a claim which he had before upheld, on the Chapelry, but which was proved on the testimony of "ancient clerks and laymen " to have been entirely without foundation. Yet for some reason the document chronicling this ends—" Yet the aforesaid Robert shall hold the chapel of Hoxet from the Church and Parson of Dalton, fully and quietly in all things, except bodies (i.e., funerals) which belong to Dalton, all his life by the acknowledgment of half a pound of incense at the feast of St Michael."

After the details of this ecclesiastical wrangle, we find that a bull of privilege was issued by the same Pope for a cemetery and chaplain " for our Chapel of Hawkshead."

It will be useful to take a glance at the condition of Furness Fells under Monastic rule. Hawkshead, a chapelry of some age, as we have seen, as early as the beginning of the thirteenth century, and dignified about the same time with a manor place, was the capital, and no doubt it pre- sented in the fourteenth century a fair type of a feudal village. The tenants were at first villeins, serfs, for the most part, though emancipated at a later date by indulgence of the Abbots. Can we picture to ourselves the little grey hamlet of cottars' huts, all jumbled and tumbled together (more so even than to-day), mostly one-storied, and one or two-roomed, half of stone, half of roughly chopped timber, and roofed most likely with ling and rushes rather than with

HISTORICAL SKETCH. xv

slate : on the hill above, the chapel, then not very old, as large in area as to-day, but low roofed, and dark inside ? * Above all, can we call up to mind the grim gibbet (true emblem of medievalism) standing out black and clear on the hill half way between the town and hall, which still men call Gallowbarrow. South of the town, and extending some distance along the margin of Esthwaite lake, lay the com- mon fields, which the tenants were bound to till for the Abbey, and the grain from which would be carried to be ground at the manor mill at the hall. These fields would originally be divided into narrow parallel strips of an acre each, divided by unploughed divisions or balks. But these divisions have long since disappeared, the holdings have been amalgamated, and the name of Hawkshead Field, and the parallelism of stone fences, are all that remains to tell of this ancient form of agriculture.

But the inhabitants of this hilly country were no doubt always, as at the present day, shepherds rather than agricul- turists. The corn lands round the vill were scanty — sufficient indeed for their own wants in good years, but liable no doubt to give short supplies in bad seasons. They would occupy the original thwaites or clearings made by the first Norse settler, but they would extend farther in all directions. The slopes of the hill sides were still covered with ancient woods, but the fell tops were clear, and hither the tenants drove their flocks of herd wick sheep. It was the face of the country that dictated the sites of our picturesque fell side homesteads, for the population of high Furness has never — and will never — draw together into centres of any size for this reason. Villeins as they were, bound down in a servile tenure, and fettered to drudgery and labour, the life of the dalesman in these early days was, as compared with that of the tenant of a midland manor, probably much superior. Fresh and sweet air

* I venture to adhere to the old opinion, which of late years has been questioned, that the columns and arches at Hawkshead are of early date, and part of the original church. This, however, is not the place to discuss the arguments for and against.

xri HISTORICAL SKETCH.

he always breathed, and his diet of mountain mutton, cheese, milk, oat bread, and porridge, was a diet from which a race of giants ought to spring.

But there were other industries and occupations which employed the inhabitants of the parish besides agriculture and herding. In Stephen's original charter of foundation Furness is mentioned as a forest, and this in all likelihood applied especially to the high ground, for in Furness Fells many of the valleys are still thickly grown with coppice : and it was this growth that led to a special industry.

At what period the smelting of iron began in Furness is unknown, but from the numerous traces of smelting forges (bloomeries) still to be found in High Furness, it is probable that the industry had an early origin. Mounds of scoriae are numerous, and place-names often reveal a site when no other evidence is to be found. Very probably they are of different date, and some may be of remote antiquity, but at any rate the industry was one of the sources of revenue to the Abbot of Furness. It appears that the ore, mined in Low Furness, was conveyed to the Fells, because the plentiful supply of wood fuel made it worth while. The method of transport would be partly by pack-horses and partly by the great water- ways of Coniston and Windermere. After the Dissolution of the Monasteries these forges were suppressed at the request of the inhabitants, as they were so destructive to their woods, the croppings of which were required for cattle.

Another important industry during the days of the Abbey must have been the fisheries. These consisted at one time of Windermere and Thurston water (Coniston), Esthwaite water and Blelham Tarn ; * and the Priest's Pot, at the head of Esthwaite, was no doubt a private fishpond for the hall. The right to have a fishing boat with twenty nets, and a large one for carriage of goods on each of the large lakes, was granted to the Abbot about 1240, but the fishing right on

* Fisheries at Haverthwaite and Finsthwaite are also mentioned in the Certi- ficate of the Revenues of the Abbey, 1537.

HISTORICAL SKETCH. xvii

Windermere was afterwards lost* The fisheries in the Hawkshead manor had no doubt to supply not only the modest board at Hawkshead Hall, and the granges in the fells, but also the refectory tables at the Abbey itself. These two great waterways of Coniston and Windermere no doubt took the place of wagon and pack-horse roads, and were of great use in facilitating traffic and commerce in early times.

In the same way huntsmen and hawkers would be main- tained in the fells to supply the Abbey with game. This had become the right of the Abbey by exchange with Gilbert, son of Roger Fitz Reinfred, in 1196, and this was afterwards con- firmed by a grant of free warren from Edward III. The buck, doe, and falcon mentioned in the early charters give a clue to what some of the most prized game was. The first two were probably the red deer, and the falcon (ancipiter) must refer to a breed domesticated and trained for hawking — perhaps similar to the highly valued Manx breed. The wild boar must have still abounded, and the black and red grouse still remain.

Of the land tenure under the Abbey we find traces in the farm names. Dotted about in Furness Fells, and chiefly at the northern end, are numerous farms called " grounds," which have, in every case a family name prefixed — as Sawrey Ground or Thompson Ground. I have collected a total of no less than fifty-three names of this sort, of which thirty-six are in Furness, and no doubt the list is not complete. In nearly every case these farms are upon what was formerly Abbey land, and we may take it that each instance records the en- closure of a piece of land to a farm by a tenant of the Abbey. West, indeed, says : " The Abbots permitted the inhabitants to enclose quillets to their houses, for which they paid encroachment rent," but he does not quote his authority nor suggest a date.

Another trace of monastic rule to be found in place names

* Beck: "Annales Furnesienses," p. 204.

xviii HISTORICAL SKETCH.

is the word "Park," which is common in Furness Fells, and signifies nothing more than an enclosure of fell or woodland larger and more important than the « Ground." ' Some writers state that an Abbot in the time of Edward I. obtained a license from the King to enclose large tracts in Furness Fells, but can find no authority for thisjt in the Coucher book, however, there is a license from the third Edward (1338) for parks to be made at Clayf, Furness Fell, and other places.

But the days of the Abbey were numbered, and in its old age, in those days of confusion which heralded the impending Dissolution, the management of secular matters became lax, and the tenants of the distant chapelry of Hawkshead and Furness Fells took advantage of the condition of affairs, and made greater enclosures to their farms than they had a right to. Accordingly, two agreements were made, one between the Abbot and Convent and the tenants of Furness Fells (1509), and the other between the same authorities and the tenants of Hawkshead (1532). These agreements, which have been printed by West and Beck, limited, on behalf of the Convent, the size of the enclosures according to the annual rental of the tenants, who, on their part, undertook not to exceed these limits, to fence their enclosures, and to forfeit their tenant right if they broke their agreement.

At the date of the Dissolution the Chapelry of Hawkshead was the richest of all the spiritualities in the possession of the Abbey ; for it yielded between two and three times the value of Dalton, although it was but a chapelry under it, and four times the amount of the ancient parish of Urswick. This sufficiently accounts for the fact that evidence

* The principal " parks " are Oxen, Abbot, Hell, Stot, Dale, Elterwater, Water- side, Lawson or Lowson, and Robert Bank Parks, also Park-a-moor. All these are enumerated in Abbot Rogers' Rental (Beck's "Annales Furnesienses, " p. 329) among the Granges of Furness Fells. There are also Hawkshead Hall Parks. In 1516 it appears that Abbot Banks made a real deer park five miles in circum- ference in Grisedale "of the tenements of Richard Myellner and others." "Duchy of Lancaster Pleadings and Depositions," quoted by Dr. T. K. Fell ; and by Mr. W. G. Collingwood, in his "Book of Coniston, 1897."

f West, and his copyists, but I cannot find the authority.

HISTORICAL SKETCH. xix

is not wanting that before the break-up the King conde- scended to beg of the Abbot the presentation. A slavish letter from this dignitary has been preserved and published by Beck, which well illustrates the relations then existing between King and Abbot. In this letter, which is addressed to Cromwell, Roger Pele sticks neither at fulsome adulation nor even at bribes, for he sends him "ten Ryalles for one token," and complaining that the King has desired him to send " our letters of presentacione under our convent sealle," he invokes Cromwell's intervention, arguing that Hawkshead never was "ony personage or benefice, bott of long tyme haithe been one chapelle of ease within the perochene of Dalton ; " further, that in consequence of its distance from the mother church, license had been given to celebrate sacra- ments within the chapel ; and, " if it shulde fortune that ony suche presentacione be had to the seid Hawkeshed both I and my brethren be utterly undone, and thereby shulde be com- pelled to leve of such power hospytalite as we have heretofore kept in the seid monastery."

II.

HISTORICAL SKETCH.

2. Gbe Siyteentb anfc Seventeentb Centimes,

THE Dissolution of the Monasteries must have been a blow severely felt in all the ecclesiastical districts, and trade and agriculture throughout Furness was probably para- lyzed for the moment. The Abbey was the market for all the produce of the fells. Mountain mutton, wool, raw and spun, smelted iron, crates of trout and char, all were con- veyed, we may feel sure, by pack-horse and barge to supply the necessities of the Abbey, or of the town of Dalton, which had grown under her wing. Grain was supplied by the tenants of plain Furness, for the hill men grew no grain but what was sufficient for themselves.

Thus, as their old market was gone, so their life changed, and new outlets for their produce must be found. As Dalton fell to decay, Ulverston rose to importance, which helped Hawkshead, as Ulverston wanted mutton and wool like the Abbey, and access was handier than to Dalton. Kendal was the great centre of the weaving industry, and its traders wanted the fleeces from the sheep farms of Furness, so that Hawks- head became a wool market. But the inhabitants were not content with selling wool and yarn, so they started weaving themselves. Looms existed in various parts of the parish, and old people will yet tell you where they formerly stood — as at Hannikin, Hawkshead Hill, and elsewhere.

Very old people can still tell us also something about these industries, as they were still practised at the com- mencement of this century, and remember more from the talk of their fore-elders ; for the ways and methods in use in the eighteenth century probably differed but in a few details from

HISTORICAL SKETCH. xxi

those of the seventeenth. In the first place the yarn was always spun at home by the farmers' wives and daughters, with distaff and wheel, or even in the most out of the way places in the older days with the spindle and whorl only.* The yarn thus spun was either sold in open market in Hawkshead, or in the shops,! or was bought by wool badgers who came round from Kendal and elsewhere for this purpose. Flax, to some extent, was also spun. The local weavers who bought the yarn manufactured chiefly linsey petticoats of various colours, and this and woven web was taken by carrier to be disposed of to the Kendal merchants and shearmen dyers. J The introduction of machinery towards the end of the eighteenth century, and the consequent selling of the wool in the fleece, caused the death blow of the local spinning and weaving, and the market began to sink in importance.

But as the extinction of the weaving trade had much to do with the downfall of the market, so probably its rise did, in the first case, create it. In the days of the Abbey the market was, as we have shown, the town of Dalton, but when this was all over, and our dalesmen had to shift for themselves, the advantages of a central depot of their own, which would be easily accessible for the inhabitants of Amble- side, Kendal, Ulverston, and Broughton, became at once apparent. Accordingly we find that letters patent were granted, in the time of James I., for a weekly Monday market and two fairs in the year ; one on the feast day of

* Miss Pepper, manageress of the revived linen industry at Langdale, has a spindle of this primitive form, which is a replica of one that originally belonged to her family in Borrowdale. It is all of wood, and is believed to have been used some three or four generations ago.

f Shop windows for the display of goods did not probably exist. But produce of all sorts was exposed on market day, under pent houses, which were numerous, or in the recessed front of certain buildings which were built on pillars.

% Linsey woolsey (coarse cloth of mixed linen and wool), kersey and duffel (both coarse woollen cloths) are mentioned in the Churchwardens' Accounts of 1792.

xxii

HISTORICAL SKETCH.

St. Matthias and the day following,* and the other on the feast of the Ascension and the day following; with all tolls, customs, privileges, and free customs belonging to such fairs and markets, with a pie powder court, etc., for the relief of the poor of Hawkshead. For the obtaining of these privileges the town was indebted to Adam Sandys, one of the family of Graythwaite to whom Hawkshead owes so much, and nephew to the Archbishop whose pious work at Hawkshead we shall have occasion to notice further on.

We have already noticed the iron smelting industry in Furness Fells. There is every reason to believe that during the existence of the Monastery this was of a valuable and important character, for not only is there evidence of this in the Furness Coucher book, which, though somewhat meagre, is eminently suggestive, and of considerable value,! but the numerous existing traces of "bloomeries" all point to this conclusion. We find, indeed, by the certificate of the revenues of Furness Abbey in 1537, that the King's Commissioners were able to lease three bloomsmithies only to William Sandes and John Sawrey for no less a sum than £20— a considerable sum in those days. It is evident that the lessees in this case took up the manufacture of iron with the laudable intention of supplying the forged metal to the tenants of the Manors of the Abbey, the needs of the tenants in this respect having been satisfied, at any rate to some extent, direct from the Abbey itself prior to the Dissolution. But the concern or speculation was not destined to be a success, for in the n Eliz. (1560) the smithies were put an end to by a royal decree, in con- sequence of the destruction of the woods, which were required for the flocks of High Furness. That there was much truth in this we need not doubt, but it is also probable that the

* The fairs are now nominally on Easter Monday (cattle, sheep, and hiring) ; Hallow Monday, that is the Monday before Ascension day (sheep and cattle), and October 2nd (sheep and cattle).

f This is well discussed by Mr. Atkinson in his preface to his valuable edition of the Coucher book (Chetham Society, vol. xiv.)

HISTORICAL SKETCH. xxiii

tenants were naturally somewhat aggrieved at finding them- selves compelled to buy from a private firm what up to that date they had probably received freely from their feudal lords in payment for their services. As long as the destruc- tion of the woods entailed by the manufacture directly benefited the Abbey, and indirectly themselves, as part and parcel of that institution, it had never occurred to them to grumble, but their case they naturally felt to be different when the profits were passing into the purse of a private firm. In that interesting document, " A Decree for abolish- ing the Bloomeries in High Furness," printed by West, we find that the rent of the smithies to be abolished was to be paid by the tenants of Hawkshead and Colton to the Crown, and other regulations with reference to musters and fines were enacted at the same time. And also as after the abolishment of the smithies the tenants " shall hardly come by iron, by reason that seldom any is brought from the partes beyond the seas, into any of the coasts near adjoin- ing and when any shall happen to be brought ....

yet the same cannot .... be carried because that

the ways be so strait and dangerous, and do ly over

such high mountains and stoney rocks, that no carriage of any weight can there pass ; " it was also further enacted that the tenants themselves were at liberty to make iron for themselves, using only the " shreadings, tops, lops, crops, underwood," but not the timber. It was this decree that gave rise to the bloomsmithy rent, which was paid by the tenants of High Furness until quite recently; and is so still in some townships.

At the end of the I7th century we find that charcoal smelting furnaces .were re-introduced into the district as private ventures, and wood for charcoal becoming valuable, the tenants enclosed portions of their woods to preserve them for this purpose. Ironworks were commenced at Force Forge by Captain William Rawlinson, who died in 1680, and furnaces were erected by Myles Sandys of Graithwaite, probably on the site of the old ones abolished by the

XXIV

HISTORICAL SKETCH.

above mentioned decree, and also at Backbarrow and Low- wood.*

Although an account of the manorial system would out of place here, some mention is necessary of the pro- cess by which the people of Furness Fells attained the position they held during the i;th and i8th centuries. The tenure by which the land was mostly held was of the kind called "customary freehold," which was in origin nothing more than a species of villenage. A military service, besides rents and payments, was required of these tenants by the lord— in this case, the Abbey— rendered necessary in these parts, as well as Cumberland and Westmorland, by the proximity to the Scottish Border. Thus we find that in 1553. tne following numbers of armed men were upon the general muster roll for Lancashire : —

Ballewicke of Hawkeshead ... ... xvij

„ Nybthwaite ... ... viij

„ Grisdall ... ... vij

Gythwt ... ... x

„ Claife ... ... vij

in all 49 men.t And in the decree for abolishing the Bloom- eries (1560) the tenants are ordered to furnish at their own cost " forty able men horsed harnised and weaponed " to serve in war for the defence of the Peel of Fondray or otherwise on that coast, "without allowance of wages cost, or conduct money," or elsewhere if necessary with these allow- ances " as inland men have." And in the muster of 1608, we ct a more detailed account : —

* In the Report on the Manuscripts at Rydal Hall by the Historical MSS. Commission is the following, being an entry in Sir Daniel Fleming's account book:

" 1674-5. Mar. 24. Given as earnest unto Charles Russell, hammer-man now at Conswick, to be hammer-man at Coniston Forge, for 355. per tun, to have grease only for the bellows, and leave for some sheep to go on the Fell. .£00 5.05 d.oo."

f Harl. MS. 2219; but Baines (Hist, of Lanes., I. 506) quoting another MS. gives also Colton, 8.

HISTORICAL SKETCH. xxv

Bills. Archers. Shott. Muskett. Pyke. Unfur.

Hawkesheade ... n i o o o 84

Graythwaite ... ... 10 2 i o o 67

w . f Nibthwaite baliffe 50 i o o 33

^ g } Hawthwaite* baliffe 30 i o o 70

£ ^ (Coulton baliffe 40 o o o 60

or a total of 39 armed men and 314 unarmed.f Now, in the certificate of the revenues of Furness Abbey we find a list of forty-three farms and hamlets, with their various rentals, and we may conclude that it was these that supplied the men-at-arms. The fact is, that each of these hamlets had grown up from a single tenement, some founded in the old Viking days, and some later, but all in the same manner. Sons and sons' sons had built their houses by the parent homestead, and so many of these hamlets presented a type of the patriarchal system, inhabited almost entirely by people of the same name and blood, united by the same interests, following the same employments, and rendering suit and service at the same court. Now, the customary tenure by which the greatest part of the land was held in Furness Fells became in course of time very little inferior to an ordinary freehold.f Certain rents the tenants had to pay, and certain rights of minerals and timber were held by the lord, but the estate, by custom, passed from father to son, and a right (not often exercised till after the I7th century) grew up to convey the estate, subject to certain fines due to the lord on such an occasion.§ Thus we find that from the end of

* Haverthwaite.

f Harl. MS. 2219.

J The bailiwicks of Nibthwaite, Colton, Haverthwaite, Satterthwaite, Sawrey (i.e., Claife), and Graythwaite, were bought free n James I. The remainder of the parish, Hawkshead, Monk Coniston, and Skelwith, remain customary.

§ These rights were confirmed by a code of customs and bye-laws 27 Eliz. The tenure was, of course, closely akin to the tenant-right of Westmorland and Cumberland, but it does not appear that Hawkshead took any part in the struggle between James II. and the northern tenants. This dispute, which was bravely fought by the statesmen of the crown manors of Cumberland and Westmorland, ended eventually in a confirmation of their rights. For details the reader should refer to "Elton's Custom and Tenant-right," 1882, p. 32-40.

XXVI

HISTORICAL SKETCH.

the 1 6th century till the beginning of the present one, our parish was inhabited by, and, with the exception of one or two squirearchal families, owned by a numerous class of small proprietors, whose interest lay entirely in their land and flocks, and whose pride it was long to keep intact the little demesnes they had inherited. These were the Furness statesmen, a class, alas ! which has now, as nearly as possible, disappeared. The clan system— the living together of many folks of the same name — will be further discussed in the part of the introduc- tion treating of the Registers themselves, but it is necessary to make a brief mention of it here. West in his "Antiquities of Furness," has noted that it appears from the Court Rolls of the time of Henry VIII., that Braithwaites then lived about Brathay, Sawreys at Sawrey, Hirdsons at Bowith (Bouth), Rawlinsons at Haverthwaite, Turners at Oxenpark, Rigges at Hawkshead. Tomlinsons were found at Grisedale, Redheads at Nibthwaite, Taylors at Finsthwaite, and Satter- thwaites at Colthouse. On examining the register we find that out of nearly four hundred surnames, a very small pro- portion, some thirty, occupy by far the most important place, and were borne by a very large percentage of the people. The commonest of these thirty are to be found in twelve surnames, each of which occur over four hundred times. Thus we find the Bensons cropping up in dozens in the Skelwith district, the Braithwaites by scores all over the northern half of the parish, but especially at Sawrey, and the Dodgsons in considerable numbers in various parts. The Holmes were a clan about Tilberthwaite and Oxenfell, and the Knipes spread widely in the north-west of the parish. The Mackereths were abundant at Skelwith and elsewhere, while the Rigges clus- tered in multitudes round Hawkshead. The name of Sandys, as might be expected, abounded in the south-east, while the Satterthwaites, springing from Satterthwaite itself, occupied the more central district. The Sawreys, rather less prolific than the Satterthwaites, had spread to Graythwaite, Sawrey ground, and the Monk Coniston side, while the Taylors swarmed in the lower ground, about Finsthwaite, Colton, and Penny

HISTORICAL SKETCH. xxvii

Bridge. The Walkers, a largish clan, were spread widely, but occur most commonly in the north.*

Although I have called this the clan system, it must be distinctly understood that it went no further than the co- habitation of a district or hamlet by a group of families of the same name and of a common origin. There was, as far as we know, nothing akin to the Scottish clan system in it, and the term is only used here for want of a better. The families were mostly statesmen of greater or less degree, equal in rank, and owning no allegiance to any chief, other than the ancient rents and services due to the lord of the manor. Each little farmer landowner tilled his little holding and shepherded his flocks, with the aid of his sons and his herd, and on market day he met his fellow dalesman on an equal footing to haggle with him on the price of herdwicks, or on the wrestling green to throw his man or to be cross- buttocked, as the case might be, without any feeling of spleen, whether his adversary was richer or poorer than himself. It is probable that in some of the more secluded parts where all the families were of one name, the states- men were known by the name of their homes instead of by their patronymics, as was the case till comparatively recently about the head of Langdale and Seathwaite, where all were Tysons, and where, in consequence, the different members were distinguished by such names as "Daniel of Cockley Beck," " Harry o' t' Hinging House," etc.f

What the home life of these fell folks was prior to the Dissolution we have little evidence to show. There is indeed very little to tell us what the farms and cottages themselves were like earlier than the end of the i/th century, for although there are few modern tenements}: even yet in the parish, there are hardly any older than that date. Here and there you will find a barn or farm house varying but little

* There were probably other groups of families in Colton ; but although the Register of the Parish has been published, it is not indexed, f See Dr. Gibson's "The Old Man," 1849, p. 45. £ Excepting gentlemen's houses.

xxviii HISTORICAL SKETCH.

externally from the others, but differing in construction from the usual type. In these, the principal beams which support the roof are not supported by the wall plate in the ordinary way, but spring from a footing in the wall, two or three feet, or even less, from the ground. They are always of massive oak, and curved, so as to meet at the ridge of the roof and form a wide arch. The framework of these houses would stand if the side walls were pulled down to the footing the beams rest on, and it would then look something like the ribs of an inverted and dismantled ship.*

In this, the ancient type of tenement, the walls may have been often constructed of timber, or dab and wattle, or of stone ; but the last would not be quarried, but picked from the beds of the streams. The cottars' huts would be even less pretentious. The roofs would at one time be thatched.

But the position of the tenant was established by the Code of Customs and Bye-laws of 27 Eliz., and from that date his prosperity steadily increased, so that about 1650 a fashion for rebuilding set in with such vigour that during the ensuing sixty years nearly every homestead appears to have been rebuilt, or adapted to the new fashion, and furnished throughout. Till of recent years, when the craze for col- lecting old oak, china, and bric-a-bac generally became fashionable, there were few fell farms which did not contain heirlooms in the shape of rudely carved oaken chairs, tables, settles, and kists. Thanks to the fact that one piece of furniture — the great oaken bread cupboard — was generally fixed in the wall, or partition opposite the fire-place, not a few of them have escaped the rapacity of the Semite. When- ever these pieces of furniture are dated, which is generally

• Of course this account applies only to the architecture of the farms which were originally the holdings of the villeins. In the manor house of Hawkshead Hall we have work earlier than the Dissolution, of a different and more pretentious sort. See a paper on Hawkshead Hall by the present writer in Vol. xi. " Cumber- land and Westmorland Antiquarian and Archaeological Society." Examples of the early work above described may be seen in a house and barn at Hawkshead Hill, l*rns at Fieldhead and Sawrey Ground, and elsewhere.

HISTORICAL SKETCH. xxix

the case, the date, in nine cases out of ten, is between 1650 and 1710.

The reasons for all this are not far to seek. In the first place, the Border warfare smouldering for a long while, and fanned to a flame by Henry VIII. and Wolsey, was destined at last to die out. While " The Troubles " and the Civil War held the country in agitation and distress, no small landowner could put his hand to the improvement of his estate or the building of a homestead ; but the pacification of the Border had commenced at the end of the i6th century, and the reduction of Scotland by General Monk, followed by the Restoration of Charles II. in 1660, opened up to the dales- man a prospect more peaceful and encouraging than he had ever yet known. Added to this was the spread of education, consequent on the founding of the Grammar School by Archbishop Edwin Sandys nearly a hundred years earlier, which we may be sure had by this time told its tale upon the residents of the parish.

At the end of the i/th century, then, the men of Furness Fells with one accord pulled down their old low, dark, and ill-built houses, and built them new ones, always two stories high, well made of stone, strongly roofed with heavy slates, and .snug internally with rude panelling and cumbersome oaken furniture. They as often as not faced them to the fell instead of to the smiling landscape, for the winter storms would drive through the chinks of the solid but ill-fitting doors and window-frames, and to men whose life was on the fells, a snug fireside was better than a view from the parlour window. Little as we know of the home life of the dales- man prior to these changes, we can, to some extent, realise what it was in these new homes. The low, dark house place, so low that the large-boned dalesmen must stoop beneath the beams ; the heavy carved oaken chairs, and bread cupboard, on whose well polished surface the gleam of the great turf fire, and flicker of the tiny rush candle fell intermittingly ; the rows of hanging mutton hams ; the groan of the malt mill, and the ceaseless whirr of the spinning-wheel : is it

xxx HISTORICAL SKETCH.

difficult to picture all this? The home life was simple enough. Abroad, on the fells and meadows by day, the men shepherded, tilled the lands, graved peats, or cleared the intack of ling and gale with the push plough. At the steading, the women spun thread, pressed cheeses, churned> ground the malt mill, and, as the evening came on, tended and milked the cattle. In the long winter evenings all collected in the dark parlour to simple fare and simpler amusements. In these days, when books were little read, for recreation at any rate, in such society as we are now con- sidering, tales and gossip were the chief forms of pastime, and we may rest assured that they formed no inconsiderable feature in the long evenings of our farm houses. An occa- sional ghost would enliven proceedings in a particular hamlet, and certain forms of " dobbies " were not uncommon ; but superstitious the dalesmen never were, that is when compared with many other districts." Market day came round every week, and thither went everyone who could. Many got drunk, but as now, in an innocent sort of way, and since they were too much of gentlemen to beat their wives (as is now the fashion in civilised towns), and since it was only on rare occasions that they even "lamed" their equals in strength, little harm was done. For recreation they had their wrestlings (as capital a sport as ever existed, until the tide of tourists filled the ring with professionals instead of ama- teurs), their foxhunting, their cockfights, their fairs, merry nights, and latings. Sometimes an occasional badger baiting was held.

Hawkshead, the market town, is a place which has moved so slowly that we need not find it difficult to picture it in the i ;th century. The houses were probably all two-storied rough-cast as now, and the streets were for the most part coarsely paved with cobbles, which must have caused a fine clatter under the feet of the pack-horses or the clogs of

• See the Editor's paper on "Superstition, Charms, and Witchcraft in Hawks- .sh'> in Vol. xiv. of the "Cumberland and Westmorland Antiquarian and Archaeological Society's Transactions."

HISTORICAL SKETCH. xxxi

the Grammar School boys. Through the Square ran the Vicarage Beck (uncovered and smelly, for sewage systems are a iQth century nicety), spanned here and there with bridges for transit. The Market-house was not rebuilt ; and the Institute and Police-station did not strike the eye with their glaring incongruity. All was harmonious, primi- tive, and perhaps insanitary. Shops there were none as we understand them, but penthouses, projecting from the walls of some of the houses, served the double purpose of hanging up yarn to dry in, and on market day to stack the farm produce, and that of the spinning wheel and loom, for the inspection of would-be purchasers. For the same reason some of the houses were built with the groundfloor recessed, and the upper part supported by rough stone pillars, the recess here forming the primitive market day shop : * for market day in former times was not as now in Hawkshead. The little town was then a centre for a large pastoral district, and great-boned states- men and buxom farm wenches thronged in from far and near. Inns were then, as now, a feature in Hawkshead, and good cheer was plentiful, and, in a word, times were better in this out-of-the-way corner of Lancashire in the i/th cen tury, before the civilising power of steam and Free Trade had made their appearance.

But quiet enough was the town during the rest of the week — quieter even than now, when in the season every mor- ning brings in its char-a-banc loads of tourists on their way from Windermere to Coniston. Little there was to wake it up, except the strings of pack-horses, which came jangling their bells twice a week past the school into the town on their way from Kendal. Others, no doubt, from Ulverston, Ambleside, Broughton, and even, perhaps, from Ravenglass.*

* Such a building still exists on the Church hill, on the right of the visitor approaching the Church. The house which the Institute replaced was of the same character.

* Before 1752 there were six pack-horses twice a week from Hawkshead to Kendal, and eighteen a week from Whitehaven ; but the latter town only sprang into importance at the end of the iyth century. The old port was Ravenglass.

xxxii HISTORICAL SKETCH.

Coaches there were none, for not even in later days, when the coaching system became fully developed, did a coach road pass through Hawkshead, and such as made a journey to Kendal, Lancaster, or Ravenglass, did it a-horse back, with their women-folk on a pillion, if they were a-mind to

go with them.

3 As for roads, they did not exist in the sense we know them, for wheeled conveyances of any sort were probably unknown in these parts till a comparatively modern time. The best of them, those that were the lines of traffic, were no better than our roughest fell roads in the high ground, while in the valleys they became spongy, miry tracks, along which the traveller and his steed floundered, and occasionally perhaps stuck fast.

An exception possibly existed in parts of the road from Ambleside to Hawkshead, and thence, via Dale Park and Rus- land, to Spark and Lowick Bridges, for although this is now anything but the best road in the parish, it is the oldest — possibly, indeed, originally laid out by the Romans, as a con- nection between the fort at Dalton and the camp at Ambleside. It is not suggested that the present road follows throughout the old line, or that the original road was a military way and elaborately engineered ; but the Romans, even when making their vicinal or branch roads, followed the best, driest, and most practical routes, clearing obstacles where necessary, draining bogs where they intercepted them ; and paving and bridging, perhaps, here and there, where abso- lutely necessary. But the Norse settlers, with their innate independence, struck out from the old line of road, and squatted wherever their fancy dictated, and gradually tracks of communication were formed between their thwaites, and tuns, and sets, which are now represented by our modern bridle paths and cross roads.

Another Roman road, that from Roman Ravenglass to Ambleside, by Hardknott, Wrynose, and the Little Langdale Valley, probably skirted through a corner of the parish at Skelwith, but it had no importance as regards the history

HISTORICAL SKETCH. xxxiii

of Hawkshead. The pack-horse route to Kendal followed the modern road, crossing Windermere by the Ferry, an in- stitution in itself, perhaps, Roman. Another old track led by Esthwaite and Graithwaite to Newby Bridge, and the ancient town of Cartmel. It was most probably by this and the ancient road from Ulverston which entered the old parish at Penny Bridge and went by Bouth to Newby Bridge, that the ore from Low Furness was brought on pack-horses, to the furnace at Cunsey. Another road, now little used, and only just passable by a two-wheeled trap, leaves the old Amble- side-Coniston road at Berwick-ground, and winds over Bor- wick-ground Fell to Oxenfell, and thence goes to Little Langdale. This road is built up and constructed in a way that shows it had once more importance than now, and was probably the pack-horse road from Raven glass (and after- wards from Whitehaven) to Hawkshead and Kendal. For a caravan of pack animals, with no wheels to consider, a considerable saving of distance was thus made. Most other roads which now are important are in origin easements, which from their convenience and adaptability have ousted the older lines of traffic. Thus, the features of the ground on the eastern margin of Coniston soon led to a track which gradually caused the partial abandoment of the Dale Park Road.* The tracks leading to the old chapelry of Satter- thwaite had the same tendency. In like manner, in quite modern times, the formation of the Yewdale road, leading from Coniston to Ambleside, took much of the tourist traffic from the road over High Cross, the ancient line of communication between Broughton and Ambleside.

The dalesmen then, as now, found little need to go long journeys, and even the roads that existed saw few passengers except the pack-horse caravans and the local people. An

* The bloomeries which we find on both sides of Coniston at the beck mouths, prove that tracks must have existed from the ore country since those bloomeries were made. Taking into consideration the difficulty of navigating heavily laden vessels on these lakes in ill-weather, we may feel sure that some portion of the ore for the bloomeries in Coniston and Windermere was brought by land, C

XXXIV

HISTORICAL SKETCH.

occasional journey to Kendal, Ulverston, and Ambleside, and still more rarely to Keswick or Lancaster, was the furthest afield the statesman stirred. Most of these he would tramp, and think little of it ; and for the longer journeys his horse and small leather saddle-bag were all he wanted. Yet the roads had then a romance. Sometimes, as in 1686, a storm would come on that cut the roads to pieces, and carried away the bridges, so that nothing could pass along them. On one occasion the ferry boat upset, and about fifty people and several horses were all drowned at the same time.- There were no highwaymen, for there were few travellers worth robbing ; but the roads were so universally bad, so ill- marked, and so devious, that easy it was at night to lose the way, and then woe betide the luckless traveller on the Fells, without compass, guide book, or ordnance map.

Crime of any sort was rare, as it is now, through all the dales of Cumberland, Westmorland, and Furness. Certain sorts of misdemeanours, especially those which were partly done in the spirit of bravado, such as illicit spirit making, poaching, etc., were well known in later days, and were no doubt common enough in earlier times. Immorality, as evi- denced by the birth of illegitimate children, was common, but the fault was sanctioned by immemorial custom ; but crime, brutal, savage, and blackguardly, was most scarce in the dalesman. Murder was but little known, but very occasionally, when instigated by drink or excessive hatred, was committed with great ferocity. This is a trace of the Norse Berserking Viking, half of whose time was spent in domestic happiness and the peaceful crafts of agriculture, but who when raiding a village thought it but sport to toss, in devilish play, the babes of his enemy from spear-point to spear-point. t Suicides appear to have been fairly common.

• These incidents will be further referred to in the Introductory chapter relating to the Registers.

fBeck in his » Annales Furnesienses » gives an account of a quarrel between two yeomen of Finsthwaite, which ended in the barbarous murder of one by the other. It took place shortly before the dissolution of the abbey.

HISTORICAL SKETCH. xxxv

But though in these old days the life of the Hawkshead statesman and villager was rustic and simple in the extreme, it must not be supposed that there was no illuminating ray of learning — no striving after better things, among them. During the time of Edward VI. and Elizabeth there was throughout Westmorland and the neighbourhood a great ten- dency towards the advancement of knowledge, by the founda- tion of rural grammar schools, at which the elements of the Latin and Greek tongues could be learnt. This fashion spread rapidly, and Mr. Hodgson in his " Description of the County . of Westmorland " tells us that,

"Before the conclusion of the I7th century, seminaries of this kind were commenced in every parish, and almost in every considerable village in Westmorland ; and education to learned professions, especially to the pulpit, continued the favourite method of the Westmorland yeomanry of bringing up their younger sons, till about the year 1760, when com- merce became the high road to wealth, and Greek and Latin began reluctantly and by slow gradation to give way to an education consisting chiefly of reading, writing, and arith- metic."

In this movement our little town was not behindhand, for in the loth year of Queen Elizabeth (1584-5), Edwin Sandys, Archbishop of York, sprung from the ancient family of that name, still resident at Graithwaite, and himself probably a native of the parish, obtained letters patent for a grammar school to be established at Hawkshead. The foundation charter and statutes, which are dated three years later, show well what was considered a good education in those days, and contain many other points of interest. We note that the education was to consist of " Grammar and the Principles of the Greek Tongue, with other sciences necessary to be taught in a Grammar School ; " and that nothing was to be charged for these advantages. We see also, what long hard hours of work were considered necessary, for between the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary and St. Michael the Archangel, it was ordained that work on every work day

HISTORICAL SKETCH.

should commence "at 6 of the Clock in the Morning, or at furthest, within one Half Hour after, and to continue until Eleven of the Clock in the Forenoon ; and to begin again at one of the Clocke in the Afternoon, and so continue until Five of the Clocke at Night." And, between Michael- mas and the Annunciation of the Virgin Mary, the hours were from seven or half-past seven till eleven in the morning, and then from half-past twelve till four in the afternoon. Special prayers were composed to be read before and after work, and before sitting down to dinner the scholars had to " Sing a Psalm in metre in the said School." Holidays were few and far between. The first was from a week before Christmas to the next working day after the Twelfth day of Christmas ; and the other was a fortnight at Easter. Also it was ordained that at the breaking-up time "The chiefest Scholars of the said School shall make Ora- tions, Epistles, Verses in Latin, or Greek .... that thereby the said Schoolmaster may see how the said Scholars have profited." Provision was made to keep the wilder spirits among the Scholars within bounds, for we read that, " Also they shall use no weapons in the School, as Sword, Dagger, Waster, or other like, to fight or brawl withal, nor any unlawful gaming in the School. They shall not haunt Taverns, Alehouses, or playing at any unlawful Games, as Cards, Dice, Tables, or such like."*

Thus we see that by the pious act of the good Arch- bishop, the path to knowledge was first laid open to the ignorant dalesmen and inhabitants of this retired corner of Lancashire. During the iyth and great part of the i8th centuries, the School flourished,! for those were the days when the classic tongues were esteemed, and "good mercan- tile educations " were unknown. The old monkish tradition of reading and writing in Latin was not yet extinct. Rome

* The Foundation Charter and Statutes are printed in full in Abingdon's "Antiquities of the Cathedral Church of Worcester," 1717.

f Mr. Beck, in an unpublished MS., observes that the most flourishing time of the Grammar School was about 1785, when there were over 100 Scholars.

HISTORICAL SKETCH. xxxvii

yet lived in a way, even here in the far North. Boys scribbled in Latin on the first page of their task books ; parsons kept their parish registers in Latin ; even auctioneers' sale schedules were partly made out in the same tongue. To patter Latin was, in the local vernacular, " collership," and the father whose son possessed this accomplishment was a proud and happy man. But the system came too late, for it came just before that great trade stimulus which was to stir the English people from end to end, and through which England was destined to climb to that mercantile supremacy which she now holds, or which, must it be said, she has hitherto held. For this new life the dead tongues were not wanted, and so Hawkshead, and other Grammar Schools founded on similar principles, lost, to a great extent, the reputations they had gained, and were ultimately com- pelled to seek re-organisation on newer and more modern principles.

III.

parish*

WE have already seen that early in the I3th century there was a dispute about the Chapelry of Hawks- head between the Abbot of Furness and the Vicars of Urswick and Dalton, which was referred to the Papal Court, with the result that a decision was given which to all appearance freed the Chapelry from any dependence on the mother Church of Dalton. For some reason, of which all evidence has disappeared, this severance was never made absolute, and we find from various sources that Hawkshead was indeed, even at the Dissolution, still a Chapelry under that Church. Roger Pele himself, in the letter we have quoted at the end of Chapter I., especially states that it never was "ony personage or benefice, bott of long tyme haithe been one chapelle of ease within the perochene of Dalton."

The Chapelry, then, up to this date was large, and, as we have already seen, valuable. It was conterminate with the Manor, and was, in fact, the Abbot's share, as settled by the controversy between him and William de Lancaster. It there- fore included the whole of the old parish of Hawkshead and the present parish of Colton, which fills up the triangle be- tween the foot of Coniston Lake and Windermere, and has its apex at the junction of the Crake and Leven at Greenodd.

Now the first step, in what may be called the modern history of the Parish, was made in 1578, when Archbishop Sandys (who afterwards founded the School) constituted Hawkshead an independent parish by an act of Metropolitan power. At the same time he made Colton parochial and consecrated the Chapel.

THE PARISH. xxxix

Now this parochial Chapelry of Colton was destined to become an independent parish in 1676, and it is necessary to say here a few words about it and the minor chapelries within the parish before we proceed.

As regards Colton, there appears to be little doubt that a chapel existed here in the time of the Abbey — " a mean un- consecrated chapel," Bishop Gastrell calls it, and as such it is mentioned as early as 1531. There is, however, some evidence that its antiquity is greater than this.* At the Dis- solution it was placed under Dalton, that is, we may presume, in conjunction with Hawkshead, for when the latter place was made a parish the Colton Chapelry was undoubtedly con- sidered a dependency. The Chapelry of Satterthwaite is sup- posed to have been consecrated about the time of the Reformation ; and as an unconsecrated Chapelry may be older.f It certainly existed in 1650, for in the Parliamentary Surveys of Church Lands of that year (Inquisition June 19, 1650) we find the inhabitants praying that " Saturthwaite Chapel may be made a Parish Church, and that Graisdale, Daleparke, Graithwaite, and Risland, consisting of 100 families, or there- abouts, and four miles distant from the Parish Church, may be added thereunto." This petition was ignored, as is evi- dent from the fact that the inhabitants continued to register till 1766 at Hawkshead.

Another ancient chapel, of which nothing but the most meagre record remains, existed at Graithwaite. Bishop Gas- trell, in his " Notitia Cestriensis," has preserved the follow- ing (our only) memorial of it : —

"This was formerly a chapel, but not made use of in ye memory of man. One Rob. Saterthwaite, w'n a Boy heard his Grandf. say he had been sev. times at Worship there. Certif. by Min. An. 1722. A poor mean building, about 12 yards long, not six within. The walls made use of for a

* See "The Rural Deanery of Cartmel, its Churches and Endowments," 1892, p. 83. There is, among other things, a pre-Reformation Bell at Colton.

fSee Gastrell's "Notitia Cestriensis," ed. by F. R. Raines for the Chetham Society, vol. xxii.; also Tweddell's " Furness, Past and Present," vol. i., p. 107.

^ THE PARISH.

Maltkiln and Turf room, by a Quaker in whose possession it now is. An. 1722."

It is unknown when, or for what reason, Graithwaite Chapel was abandoned ; nor, indeed, can the present writer point out its site. Not improbably it also owed its origin to the Arch- bishop.*

It is difficult to tell at what period the Parish was broken up into the quarters, townships, or divisions, as they existed through- out the 1 8th century, for no Parish account book is extant earlier than 1696. It is possible that prior to the separation of Colton no further subdivision was considered necessary than that of the old Chapelries ; but it was probably at that date that the quarters were formed for the organising of parochial business, as we find that both Hawkshead and Colton Parishes were each constituted of four quarters.

The divisions in Hawkshead were as follows : —

1. Hawkshead, which included Hawkshead Field and

Fieldhead.

2. Monk Coniston and Skelwith.

3. Claife, including Colthouse and the Sawreys.

4. Satterthwaite, which included Dalepark, Grizedale, and

Graithwaite. In Colton the four divisions were : —

1. Coulton, or Colton East side of Colton Beck, or

Colton East.

2. Colton West side of Colton Beck, or Colton West.

3. Haverthwaite, Finsthwaite, and Rusland.

4. Nibthwaite, which includes parts of Bethecar Moor. To the actual use of these divisions we shall revert later.

The following are the officials in whose hands the conduct of parochial affairs rested at Hawkshead : —

* The other Ecclesiastical Establishments are of modern date, and do not enter into the scope of this introduction. They are as follows :—

Finsthwaite, erected 1724.

Rusland „ 1745.

Haverthwaite ,, 1826. The Churches of Brathay, Wray (in Claife), and Sawrey, are of quite recent date.

THE PARISH. xli

The Minister or Curate.

The four Churchwardens.

The twenty-four Sidesmen.

The Overseers of the Poor.

The Overseers of the Highways.

The Parish Clerk.

The Incumbent was a stipendiary Minister or Curate, for no Rectory or Vicarage was ever ordained. His stipend during the i/th century depended on various bequests of money and the rents of some land and houses in London.* No parsonage house appears to have existed prior to about 1650, when Dr. Walker, Incumbent of St. John the Evangelist, in Watling Street, a native of Hawkshead, and an eminent Puritan divine, gave the house called Walker ground for this purpose. The present vicarage is probably the same building. Dr. Walker also made an allowance of £20 annually to the minister then in charge.f

The twenty-four Sidesmen were a sort of committee ap- pointed by the vestry for the management of parochial affairs. It has been conjectured that " Sidesman " was originally " Synodsman," because these officials had the power of pre- senting any offender against religion at the Episcopal Synod. Though no list of the twenty-four at Hawkshead remains, earlier than 1694, I suspect they were appointed before Hawkshead and Colton were separated, and not improbably, before Hawkshead was constituted a Parish. They were chosen from the most responsible men, gentle and simple,

* These were, 1625 — £200, left by Henry Banister, for maintenance of a

preaching minister at Hawkshead. 1640 — ,£200 left by Martha Hindley for same purpose, with

^140 of which, property in London was bought. 1669 — Mr. Dan Rawlinson, interest of £ioo> the third year in

every five to the Minister.

1677 — Mr. Dan Rawlinson £7 per annum, six of which were to go to the Minister for reading service on Monday (Market-day) and one to the Clerk.

f For a brief biographical sketch of Dr. Walker, see Mr. Raine's edition of Bishop Gabtrell's " Notitia Cestriensis."

jHi THE PARISH.

within the Parish, and were portioned out six to each quarter. Their duties were manifold. They were to help the Church- wardens generally, and to advise them in all matters relating to the well-being of the Parish. They presented Parish officers who neglected their duty, and fined themselves for non- attendance at their meetings.- Charities and endowments seem, to some extent, to have passed under their hands— and, to put it in a nutshell, they constituted a sort of Parish Council of those days.

The Churchwardens were four in number, one for each division or quarter. They were elected annually at Easter, and most resident statesmen came in sooner or later for his term at the office. Owing to the fact that no Church- wardens' accounts exist prior to 1696, we are in ignorance what the precise arrangements were prior to the division of Hawkshead and Colton, but the probability is that before that date the latter place had its own chapelwarden, and that Churchwardens were appointed for the less distant parts of the Parish.!

Although the first book of Churchwardens' accounts com- mences in 1696, they are most meagre in detail till about 1720, and it is perhaps doubtful if earlier books were kept. We have, therefore, no contemporary records from which we can ascertain the duties of these officials, and we can only judge from those of the i8th century. There can, however, be little doubt that in most matters, the duties of the Churchwardens in a rural parish in the iyth and i8th cen- turies were but little different. The account book of the 1 8th century includes general expenses, bread and wine at Christmas, Easter, and Whitsuntide, mending the clock, flagging and strawing the Church, new ropes for the bells, seeing to the steeple, mossing the leads to keep out the

* The general Parish meetings were held on St. Stephen's Day, and Tuesday in Easter-week.

f The first actual mention of the Churchwardens I have noted is in 1683, in an order of the Kirkbys to the Churchwardens to fine parishioners for non- attendance of Church.

THE PARISH. xliii

damp, ringing the bells at festivals, whipping dogs out of Church, glazing the windows, general repairs, paying for the destruction of foxes and ravens, washing the Church linen, buying Books of Articles and Forms of Prayer, mending the surplices, leathering the bell tongue, smithy work, lime and carriage, loads of sand, journeys to the Sessions at the end of the Wardens' term of office, cleaning the Church plate, making and mending the Communion cloth, and cushions, and pews. Much ale was charged for ringing at festivals and on other occasions. The dues payable for burials within the Church are continually mentioned. It was also the duty of the Churchwardens to collect fines imposed for non-attendance at Church, to aid in the suppression of Quaker conventicles, and probably also to see that all shops were closed during Divine service, and to herd any idlers from the public-houses or churchyard into the Church at the commencement of the service, and of the sermon.

The Overseers of the Poor were four in number, and were elected, like the Churchwardens, at Easter. There are, as in the case of the Churchwardens, no accounts extant earlier than the i8th century. Through their hands went the various little charitable bequests which had at different times been left to the poor. Their accounts were examined at the Easter Vestry, and probably passed at the same time as the Churchwardens at the Sessions.

Their duties were to provide relief for the poor in the shape of clothing, clogs, and sometimes meat. Old and destitute females were furnished with spinning wheels to give them a chance for earning their living ; treatment for the sick ; * lying-in and midwife expenses ; boarding poor people, and conducting them to their homes ; funeral expenses ; shifts, coffins, arval, etc.f

* Though the Parish accounts commence 1696, I have found no mention of a doctor prior to 1769.

f In 1732 a woman's coffin cost 4/9, her winding-sheet 3/-, the expenses of winding 1/6, Arvall was 6/2, the sale of her clothes 6d., Church dues i/io. — " Hawkshead Poor Account."

xliv THE PARISH.

The Overseers of the Highways, sometimes called Surveyors, were always elected the 26th of December, and were probably originally four in number, one for each ward. During the 1 8th century their number was increased, and they were elected to represent hamlets instead of divisions, and some- times even private estates. It is an office of no great anti- quity, and one no doubt very loosely administered in former days. Their chief duties would be to see that the pack-horse tracks were kept in some sort of repair.

The duties of the Parish Clerk at Hawkshead seem to have been of a varied description. The registers appear to have been sometimes kept by him ; he blew the pitch-pipe to give the keynote to the Psalms ;* he cleaned the Church, and no doubt dug the graves. A special allowance of £i a year was left him in 1677, under the will of Mr. Daniel Rawlinson, to attend at the Monday (Market day) service, which was instituted under the same bequest. No list of Parish Clerks exists for the I7th century, but we find that George Rigg registered off and on from 1640 till close to the end of the century. This faithful old servant of the Church deserves to be remembered by the people of Hawkshead, for by his will in 1706 he left a sum of ^100, the interest of which was to go to the poor of the Parish. What an example of humble industry and rare charity! Further mention of him will be made in the ensuing chapter.

A word should be said here about the tithes. At the time of the Dissolution, we have two valuations, one in Abbot Rogers' rental, and the other in the Commissioners' Certificate of the Abbey revenues in 1537. The first gives their value as ^87 odd, and the other ^90, and they con- sisted of lambs' wool, corn, Lenten tithes, offerings, etc. After the Dissolution they were impropriated and leased to various persons. About the 29th Eliz. they were let to Adam and Edwin Sandys for thirty-one years, they paying £go per annum for the first thirteen years, and ^100 per annum for the

*The last pitch pipe was made in 1764, and still exists. There is no record of the earlier one.

THE PARISH. xlv

remainder of the term. In the 3rd Jas. I. they surren- dered their lease, with a fine, and obtained a new one for forty years at the rent of ;£ioo per annum : but before the ter- mination of this lease the tithes changed hands, for in 16 Jas. I. we find Francis Moris and Edmund Sawyer, citizens of London, disposing of them by indenture to Roger Kirkby of Kirkby Hall for .£1,550. In that family they remained for some time, so that in 1650 the Parliamentary Inquisitors reported that " Hawkshead hath neither Vicarage nor Par- sonage, only some tithes of wool, lamb, and other small tithes the value of which is unknown. Profits to the Minister are nothing worth, but only what the people please to contribute, save £20 p. an. paid by Rev. Mr. Walker." In 1689 Roger Kirkby, great-grandson of the last-named, mortgaged the tithes for ,£2,000, and the mortgage being foreclosed, they passed into the hands of London bankers, who disposed of a portion of them in 1719 to some of the inhabitants of the Parish. Thus we see that the Curate in charge of the Parish never received the tithe, which was simply bandied about from squire to money-lender as a sort of speculation.* In Colton the inhabitants purchased the tithes from the Impropriator about the end of the I7th century, t

In the 1 7th century the inhabitants made an abortive attempt to prove that they had no liability to pay tithe on two technical points, one of which was the supposition that all lands held of the Cistercian Abbeys were exempt from that charge. This opposition was not confined to High Furness, for many fruitless and vain attempts to prove the exemption were made in various districts where the inhabitants held what had been Abbey land. West, in his " Antiquities of Furness," has much interesting information on this subject, including the statement of the case of Hawkshead, and the opinion of Sir Matthew Hales, who was made Chief Baron of

* The writer is partly indebted to an unpublished MS. by the author of " Annales Furnesienses," for some of the details about the tithe.

t Rev. A. A. Williams, in " The Rural Deanery of Cartmel (Parish of Colton) "

and elsewhere,

xlvi THE PARISH.

the Exchequer* soon after the Restoration, and afterwards Chief Justice of the King's Bench.

Hawkshead played a small part in the futile rising of 1537, called " The Holy Pilgrimage," or the " Pilgrimage of Grace," which followed on the dissolution of the smaller monasteries, being no doubt fomented by many of the lately dispossessed clergy. As the history of this rising can be found in our histories, and as the local connection with it has been treated at length already in two local works, the briefest mention is only necessary here.t The leader of this revolt, in which 40,000 took part, was one Robert Aske, by some called a gentleman of Yorkshire, and by others a man of low parentage. Their object was to bring before the King a series of vague and ill-considered charges. To the contingents raised at various places, Aske issued proclamations, and that despatched to Hawkshead is still preserved, and although it has already been more than once printed, we venture to again reproduce it.

" To the Commyns of Hawkeside Parish, Bailiffs, or Con- stables, with all the Hamletts of the same " Well beloved, we greet you well ; and whereas our brother Poverty and our brother Roger goith forward, is openly for the aide and assistance of your faith and holy church, and for the reformation of such abbeys and monasteries now dissolved and subpressed without any just cause. Wherefore gudde brethers forasmuch as our sayd brederyn hath sende to us for ayde and helpe, wee do not only effectualy desire you, but also under the paine of deadly sinne we comaunde you, and eury of you, to be at the stoke Greene beside Hawkeside Kirke, the Saturday next being the xxviii day of October, by xi of the clock in your best array ; as you will make

*See West's "Antiquities of Furness," ist ed., p. 75 et seq.

f Clarke's "Survey of the Lakes," 1789, p. 149. Tweddell's "Furness, Past and Present," i. p. 75. See also "Aske's Rebellion," 1536-7, by George Watson, "Transactions Cumberland and Westmorland Arch, and Antiq. Soc.," Vol xiv. p. 335 et seq.

THE PARISH. xlvii

answer before the heigh judge at the dreadfull day of dome, and in payne of pulling doune your houses, and leasing of your gudds, and your bodies to be at the Capteyn's will : for at the place aforesaid, then and there, yee and wee shall take further directions concerning our faith, so farre decayed, and for gudde and laudable customes of the country, and such naughty inventions and strange articles now accepted and admitted, so that our said brother bee subdued, they are lyke to goe furthwards to utter undoing of the Comynwealth." " Our brother Roger," mentioned in this queer document, has been conjectured to be the last Abbot of Furness, while "our brother Poverty," is said to have been a Hawkshead fisher- man.* The rioters eventually met the Duke of Norfolk at Doncaster, and through him a long list of demands was laid before Henry VIII. The King replied by a somewhat deri- sive letter, but pardoned the rioters, who dispersed. Aske and the Lords Darcy and Hussy were afterwards beheaded, and so also, according to Clarke's " Survey of the Lakes," " the Abbot and Prior of Sawrey, near Hawkshead." This must surely be an error for Salley, the last Abbot of which, as well as of the neighbouring Abbey of Whalley, suffered capital punishment.

Let us leave Hawkshead, with its smouldering memories of Popery in 1537, and turn to it as a centre of Nonconformity in the i/th century. During the period which had elapsed between these two dates, Popery had again for a brief period replaced Protestant Episcopacy, and had again given way to it. In the time of Charles I. a new religious change had taken place, and Presbyterianism had superseded Pro- testant Episcopacy. Through the agency of the " Westminster Assembly of Divines," t the Parliament in 1646 divided

* According to Mr. A. Craig Gibson, in the " North Lonsdale Magazine," 1866, p. 259. More probably, however, " our brother Poverty " was one of the four Penrith captains (Hutton, Beck, Whelpdale, and Burbeck), known respectively as Charity, Faith, Poverty, and Pity. See Mr. Watson's Paper, already cited.

f Dr. George Walker before mentioned was a member.

THE PARISH.

Lancashire into nine classical Presbyteries, the ninth of which consisted of Aldingham, Urswick, Ulverston, Hawkshead, Colton, Dalton, Cartmel, Kirkby, and Pennington. With Charles II. Protestant Episcopacy once more became the state religion, and at this date also commenced the history of modern dissent.

The earliest evidence of Nonconformity is thus chronicled in the Register: —

" Burials 1658. ffeb xth. Agnes the wife of Edward Rigge de Hye wray a Quaker which was buryed at Coulthouse in George Braithwt packe (parrock) the same beinge an intended buryinge place for that sect, and shee the first Corpse which was layde therein."

Now George Fox did not make his first visit to Furness till 1652, and his own chapel was not built at Swarthmoor till 1688. Yet, although the above entry shows how rapidly the earnest doctrines of this remarkable man took root in High Furness, it is no proof that the Hawkshead meeting- house is older than that at Swarthmoor. The deeds, which are kept at Kendal, do not actually state the date of erection, but they prove that while the land for the burial-ground was acquired in 1658,* that for the meeting-house was not pur- chased until 1688 : and also that previous to 1698 most of the meetings were held in Hawkshead, while in 1698-9 they were at Coulthouse. t It may be that it was in one of these years that the meeting-house was first completed and used. The necessity for a burial-ground was in all cases more urgent than that for a special meeting-house, for in these early days the Friends generally gathered in the private house of one of the more prominent of their number.

*The conveyance is dated 4 March, 1658.

fThe old meeting-house, an interesting structure, is still in use. Baines says it was erected in 1653, probably a clerical error for 1658, which we have seen was only the date of the formation of the burial-ground. It is curious to note that in the conveyance of the land for this purpose, it is stated that the parcel of ground was then known as the " Buriall place," although the first interment had only taken place less than one month before.

THE PARISH. xlix

It was in 1664 that there began the persecution of Non- conformists by the " Conventicle Act," which ordained that every person above sixteen attending any dissenting meeting after that date was liable to imprisonment for three months or a fine of £$ for the first offence, double for the second offence, and for a third, a fine of ^100, or seven years' trans- portation to the American Plantations, from which escape was death. That this tyrannical Act was no dead-letter at Hawks- head, a warrant for the suppression of such a meeting at High- wray, which is now in Kendal Museum, well illustrates. This warrant is dated i6th January, 1684, and is signed by Roger Kirkby of Kirkby Hall, the lay impropriator of the Hawks- head tithes, and the son of that Colonel Kirkby who was the relentless persecutor of George Fox and Margaret Fell. The meeting took place on the 3<Dth day of the previous November at the " mansion house of George Braithwaite," who is de- scribed in the warrant as "husbandman," which then meant farmer. The following were the convictions and fines : —

"George Braitewaite for suffering the con- venticle above mentioned to bee kept in his said house the sume of ... ... £20 oo oo

William Atkinson, of Monke Coniston, tanner, for his being present at the con- venticle aforesaid, and for his having before committed (and been duly con- victed of) the like offence ... ... oo 10 oo

William Satterthwaite, Coulthouse, mercer,

for the like ... ... ... ... oo 10 oo

Edward Satterthwaite, of Town end, tanner,

for the like offence ... ... ... oo 10 oo

Charles Satterthwaite, of Greene end, hus- bandman, for the like... ... ... oo 10 oo

Thomas Rawlinson of Graithwaite, gen., for his beinge present at the conventicle aforesaid, being his first offence ... oo 05 oo

John Park, of Skelwith, hatter, for the like oo 05 oo D

THE PARISH.

John Birkett, of the same, carpenter, for

the like ... ...£00 05 oo

Myles Birkett, of Cartmelfell, yeoman, for

the like ... - °° °5 o°

Agnes Satterthwaite, wife of the said

Edward Satterthwaite, for the like ... oo 05 oo Barbary Satterthwaite, wife of the said

Charles Satterthwaite, for the like ... oo 05 oo

And because the said Agnes Satterthwaite, and Barbary Satterthwaite, are feme coverts severally cohabiting with their said husbands, I have therefore adjudged the said severall ffines of five shillings (imposed on each of them the said Agnes Satterthwaite and Barbary Satterthwaite) to bee levied of the severall goods and chatells of their said husbands respectively.

A certaine man, unknowne, for his teachinge and preach- inge in the conventicle aforesaid, hath forfeited (by virtue of the said statute) the sume of twenty pounds, and because the same man is a stranger, and his name and habita- tion unknowne, soe that the said sume of twenty pounds by him soe forfeited cannot bee levied of his goods and chattells, I have therefore (by my discretion) adjudged the same twenty pounds to be levied of the severall goods and chattells of the respective persons (who were also present at the same conventicle) whose names are hereunder next mentioned, in manner following (that is to say)

The said William Atkinson, of Monke

Coniston (in parte of the same £20) the

sume of ... ... £05 oo oo

The said William Satterthwaite of Coult-

house (in further parte thereof) other ... 05 oo oo The said Thomas Rawlinson, of Graithwaite

(in further parte thereof) other ... 05 oo oo

The said Myles Birkett of Cartmell (the

residue thereof) other... ... ... o Oo oo"

THE PARISH. li

Even earlier than this date fines were imposed for non- attendance of Church, for it was presumed that noncon- formity was the cause of such neglect. Fifteen months earlier we find the following : —

" This is to the Churchwardens of Hawkshead to fine the persons named within for not attending Church 3 Sundays.

" 17 Oct . 1683.

"Com. Lanes.

Foreasmuch as the several persons hereunder named did not upon Sunday the sixteenth of September last past nor upon Sunday then next following, nor upon Sunday then next following, resort or repair to any church, chappell or any other place appointed for common prayer, and there heare divine service according to the form of the statute in that behalfe (made) and being called before us did not make sufficient excuse for their said defaulte to our satisfaction these are

therefore to will and require you or one of you

doe levye by distresse and sale of the goods of their several persons hereunder named respectively three shillings for their defaulte aforesaid to be employed to and for the use of the poor of your parish (ren- dering to every of them the overplus of the money) raised of the goods aforesaid respectively soe to be sould. And in defaulte of such distresse that you doe certify us or one of us thereof with all convenient speed to the end we may further proceed therein as to Justice do appertayne. Hereof fail not at your perils.

" Give'd under our hands and seals ye seventeenth day of October Ann° Regni Regis Caroli Secundi vicesimo quinto Anno Domini 1683."

This mandate is signed by Roger and William Kirkby, and bears two impressions in wax of the Kirkby coat of arms. The list of names of the delinquents numbers about sixty- one, many of them married couples ; and we recognise among them several who appear at the High Wray Conventicle, viz. :

Hi

THE PARISH.

John Birket, William Atkinson, George Braithwaite, William Satterthwait, Edward Satterthwaite and his wife, and Thomas

Rawlinson.

The next oldest Nonconformist establishment in the dis- trict is the Baptist church or chapel at Tottlebank in Colton. This was established at the house of one William Rawlinson "on the i8th day of ye sixth month called Augst 1669," and among the members joining at that time were the Reverend Gabriel Camelford or Camerford, who had already been ejected from Stavely chapelry by the Act of Uniformity, and Roger Sawrey of Broughton Torver, an old Cromwellian officer already nicknamed " Praying Sawrey." Camelford became the first Pastor, and during his time the place was visited by George Fox.

In 1678 a small Baptist Chapel was founded at Hawks- head hill, and about the same time and in connection with it, one at Sunnybank in Torver. The one at Hawkshead hill, recently re-edified, appears to have been formed out of an old cottage. Its old records are unfortunately entirely lost. Its small graveyard can still be seen, but contains no inscrip- tion prior to 1750.

The most recent of the old Nonconformist Chapels is that of the Friends at Rook How in Colton, which was founded in 1721.* It was erected as a convenient centre for monthly meetings : and it is believed that there were at that date but few, if any, resident Quakers in this immediate vicinity.

*The Rook How Meeting House is also called Abbot Oak, in which name we can trace, as in the neighbouring " Abbot Park," a relic of the Monastic rule. It is interesting to note that in all the Quaker Meeting Houses in this part of the world the same plan of building is universal, although their dates are often considerably apart. These in our own parish, Colthouse and Rookhow, are exactly of the same structural design as that at Swarthmoor and the one at the " Height" in Cartmel. The Baptist Chapel at Hawkshead hill and the Church at Tottlebank are, however, totally different from them and from each other, and both have probably been altered from dwelling-houses.

A FELL-SIDE FARMER. MR. GEORGE BLACK, AGED 92, FEBRUARY, 1897.

IV. IRegiatera anJ> tbeir Stor?.

r I "HE oldest Register Book of Hawkshead consists of ninety-eight pages of parchment, bound in a modern leather binding, and measuring with this binding twenty-one inches by seven inches : the actual skins being about one inch less in each direction. Within, on a modern paper leaf, is written : —

This book was rebound in the year 1836 Thos Alcock Beck \

Henry Forrest I

_ , > Churchwardens.

John Inman

John Creighton /

It is probably to the first-named of these — the industrious compiler of " Annales Furnesienses " — that we may attribute the present excellent condition of the volume.

The skins upon which the register is written vary some- what in character in different parts of the book. Thus, from the commencement to Burials 1599, the handwriting is un- changed and the skins bear a certain glaze, having evidently been prepared in the same way, and being of the same period. In the centre of the book the character of the skins is somewhat different, and they are in general somewhat thinner and whiter. After about 1680, the quality deteriorates, and the inferiority is shown by the way they have frayed at the edges in use, while they also lack the glaze of the older skins. From all this it is evident that the book is a com- position of several old registers, which have been bound up together. The enactments on the subject of Parish Registers, which will be hereafter referred to, bear this out.

liv THE REGISTERS AND THEIR STORY.

Without going deeply into the history of Parish Registers, a subject that has been ably treated in more than one work * it is necessary to mention the chief Acts and enactments, and see in what way they are illustrated in the book before us.

The first injunction for regular registration was made in 1536, and was the occasion of much foolish alarm on the part of the people, who ignorantly assumed it to be a novel method of taxation. It even became one of the grievances of the Pilgrimage of Grace "that no infant shall receiue the blessed Sacrament of Baptisme, bott onlesse an trybett to be payd to the King." This injunction was, nevertheless, fol- lowed up by a second in 1538, ordering every minister to keep a book in which he should write the day and year of every wedding, christening, and burial, and that the book should be kept "in one sure coffer, with two locks and keys," one for the minister and one for the wardens: and "which Book," the injunction proceeds, "ye shall every Sunday take forth, and in the presence of the said Wardens or one of them, write and record in the same, all weddings christen- ings and burials, made the whole week afore, and that done to lay up the Book in the said coffer as afore."

From this date, 1538, no less than 812 Parish Registers begin, and no doubt many others did, but the earlier parts have been lost. In other cases, however, it is extremely doubtful if the injunction was properly complied with. In 1597 a constitution was made by the Archbishop, Bishops, and Clergy of Canterbury, with the intent of the better pre- servation of these documents, and this was embodied in an ecclesiastical mandate of 1603. By this canon it was enacted that a parchment book should be provided in each parish, and the old register, which had hitherto been kept on paper, was to be transcribed therein, and that every page was to be signed by the minister and churchwardens. Furthermore it

* " The History of Parish Registers in England," by John Southerden Burns (London, 1862), and "Parish Registers in England, their History and Contents," by R. E. Chester Waters. To both of these authors I am much indebted for use- ful information.

THE REGISTERS AND THEIR STORY. Iv

was ordained that the book should be kept in a coffer with three locks, the minister and churchwardens each holding a key, and that yearly transcripts were to be made and sent to the Bishop or to bis Chancellor.

The first part of the Hawkshead volume, that from 1568 to 1599, is accordingly the transcript made in accordance with these enactments, and as there is a somewhat important heading to begin with, it is a question whether an earlier register had been kept. It is worth notice also that Hawks- head was not made into a parish until ten years after this date. A rather interesting feature is also found in the word- ing of the heading, which is evidently a copy of one on the older paper register, and also shows that the register from that date was kept in a book, and not on mere paper slips. Of the two remaining enactments in these orders we find that one was observed and the other neglected at Hawks- head. The coffer with three locks still remains in the church tower, though the registers are of course no longer kept there. The signing of the registers on each page by minister and churchwardens was never done at Hawkshead until 1722, in the ministry of the Reverend William Bordley.

The episcopal transcripts of the Hawkshead register are now at Lancaster, as Hawkshead was in the old archdeaconry of Richmond and diocese of Chester. They commence in 1676.

At the beginning of this first section of the Hawkshead register are several memoranda of later date, some of which are interesting. The first is an order with reference to Church dues, in consequence of an Act of 1694. This entry is now somewhat difficult to read, but fortunately it was printed in Thomas Hearne's " Antiquities of Glastonbury."* The parts in italics are supplied from that work, and are not now legible. Hearne also notes that the entry was then at the end of the register, so that it was probably inserted in its present place in 1836.

* Octavo, Oxford, 1722, p. 282. The entry was communicated to the Editor of this work by Thomas Rawlinson, Esq.

Ivi THE REGISTERS AND THEIR STORY.

" October ji 1694.

" Whereas There hath beene of late some difference (concerninge)* the Church dues due within the pparish of Hawkshead

" It is this day for the ascertaneng the said dispute for the future by the consent of Roger Kirkby Esqre Impropriator there, and of the four and twenty of the said pparish : Ordered that the dues ^following Shall be paid to the said Roger Kirkby and his Successors in manner and forme as formerly they have beene paid time out of mind

That is to say

ffor every marriage of fforeiners by lycence ... i A& ffor every Buriall in the chancell ... ... 6 8d

ffor every Churchinge of wives livinge within)

the Bailliwicke of Hawkshead

ffor every Buriall in any part of the church\

(except in the chancell) and alsoe in the I

churchyard of all persons dyinge within the F

Bailiwicke of Hawkshead J

ffor every marriage when either the man or the)

woman lives within Hawkshead Bayliwicke'

(The Chancell belonging to Mr Sandys Quire)

Southinge I burialls excepted >

Alsoe all ffreeholds to pay as usually for reges-

teringe for every churching % ... ... ^

ffor every marriage ... -; ^d

ffor regesteringe every Buriall 4d

Roger Kirkby Sam Sandys Myles Sandys Thomas Sandys William Braithwaite William Sawrey Adam Rigge

* Hearne reads " touchinge." f Hearne reads " touching." I Hearne reads " christeninge. "

THE REGISTERS AND THEIR STORY. Ivii

Henery Sawrey + mke George Kirkby + mke William Benson Robt Braithwait* Willm Sawrey f James Taylor mrke + John Braithwaite Robt Benson James Braithwaite (illegible) t Myles Sands . . yles Strickland Thomas Braithwt George (?) Banks William Satterthwaite John Sawrey Richard Harrison Gawin Braithwait "

On the same page is the following list of sidesmen for 1702.

"The names of the twenty foure of the Parish of Hawks- head aforesaid § and made up the 7th day Aprill 1702

Myles Sandys Esqre Mr Thomas Sandys John Sarey William Braithwaite Robert Satterthwaite Adam Rigge Robert Benson William Sarey (illegible) ||

* Hearne reads "Setterthwaite."

f Hearne reads " Caures," evidently wrongly.

J Omitted altogether by Hearne.

§ This list is also in Hearne, and reads here " appointed."

|| Omitted by Hearne.

Iviii THE REGISTERS AND THEIR STORY.

Will Benson

Richard Harrison

Oliver Sandys

Willia Sarey

William Mackereth

George Banks

William Satterthwaite

William Knipe

George Borwicke

Anthony Atkinson

James Braithwaite

Robert Robinson

George Braithwait

William Mackereth (of Browe)

March xxiiij die Isabell Sands of Fowlyete Affidavit

Dinah Knipe ? Myles Sandys ?

April ye ioth 1704 The names of ye 24 of the of

Hauxhead

Sattrthwaite divition

Myles Sandys Esq

Rob1 Sattrtwhaite

Wm Sawrey

Wm Knipe

Rob* Tayler

Wm Townson Claife divition

Wm Braythw1

Wm Sawrey

Olivr Sandys

Wra Satterthw1

James Braythw1

Wm Satterthw* Hauxhead Baylewick

THE REGISTERS AND THEIR STORY. lix

Field head Quarts

Thomas Sandys gent

Adam Rigg

Wm Benson

George Berwick

Rob4 Robinson

Wm Mackereth? Skelwith Quartr

Wm Mackreth

Rob1 Benson

Gawen Braythw1

George (?) Banke

John Sawrey

Richard Harrison *

After which is the following half-destroyed entry : To wch nomination the 24 have agree ....

day above written & Likewise .... . . . animouse consent agree yl a fine

shall be Imposed

by every . . .

upon notice . . .

On the third page is the following curious entry about a man servant, in which Dr. Craig Gibson has suggested that we see a faint trace of serfdom.!

"M° That the 13th day of June 1664 James ffisher of Ambleside yeoman, came to mee, with a certificate under the hands of Thomas Braithwaite of Hawkshead sadl .... Richard Knype of Coniston constable and Balth(azar) Puth parker and George Kirkby of Conistone affores(aid) which declared unto mee that James Nicolson late servante to William Sawrey of Conistone Waterhead hadd the free con- sente of her sayd master to departe out of his service Ita test

* In the Parish Account Books there are other lists for 1716, 1751, and 1766. t "The North Lonsdale Magazine," 1866-7, P- 260.

Ix THE REGISTERS AND THEIR STORY.

Christoph Edmonson pastor Emx

June 24th 1664"

The next entry shows how the volume was added to by new leaves in the i;th century.

"M. That us foure churchwardens did add to this booke 34 leaves and covered it this prsent yeare An0 Dom 1664 Robert Satterthwait \

John Braythwait /

' . ,_. > Churchwardens."

Robert Rigge I

Richard Walker

Then follows one of the most interesting entries in all the register — a most graphic account of a terrible storm :

" * Bee it remembered that upon the Tenth day of June att nighte in the yeare of our lord the one thousand sixxe hundred eighty and sixxe there was such a fearefull Thunder with fyre and rayne which occasioned such a terrible flood as the like of it was never scene in these parts by noe man liveinge ; for it did throwe downe some houses and milles and tooke Away seuerall briggs ; yea the water did run through houses and did much hurte to houses ; besydes the water wasn't upp greate trees by the roots and the becks and gills carried them with other greate trees stocks and greate stones a greate way off and layd them on men's ground ; yea further the water did soe fiercely run doun the hye-ways and made such deepe holes and ditches in them that att seuerall places neither horse nor foote coulde passe ; and besydes the becks and rivers did soe breake out of their races as they

* The writer of this account was not romancing, for in a small MS. volume containing an account of the disbursement of a Claife Charity, occurs the following note : —

"1686 The great thunder lightening and flood The IO day of June betwixt

6 and 10 in the afternoone."

This little volume, which is in the possession of Miss Hodgson, of Green-end, had been used as a private account book before any entries were made of the charity. The earliest of the latter is dated 1697-8.

•j

THE REGISTERS AND THEIR STORY. Ixi

broughte exceedinge greate sand beds into men's ground att many places which did great hurte the neuer like was knowne ; I pray God of his greate mercy graunte that none which is now liveinge can never see the like againe."

Such terrible devastation from a thunder storm has never been recorded before or since in the annals of the parish, although the tremendous gale of December the 22nd, 1894, almost equalled it in its destructive effects. Such an entry as this well illustrates the value of our old parish registers, and makes us regret that no similar manner of recording extraordinary events exists at the present day. Our news- papers, printed as they are on paper which will probably last but a comparatively short period, and which are not filed in any local depository for permanent preservation, and future information, can but poorly supply the place of the old vellum registers.*

The first section of the register, that from 1568 to Burials 1599, is written in a most careful and beautiful hand of the end of the i6th century. Omissions of any sort are ex- tremely scarce, and corrections are almost unknown. The names are written in their English form, but the headings are in Latin, as :

" Baptizationes Infantiu Ano Domi 1568"

The days of the month are generally shown in Roman numerals, although occasionally Arabic figures are used. The contraction used in these cases is always "th," even if they be 1st, 2nd, or 3rd, these being written ith, ijth, and iijth. Occa- sionally we get Firste instead of ith.

Down to 1580, we get no further information than the names of the persons baptised, buried, or married, with the exception of a plague year in 1577, which will be further noticed. In 1580, however, the system of giving the residence

* On the formation of Parish Councils it was decided, on the suggestion of the present writer (then on the Council), to keep an historical record of matters of general interest occurring in the parish. The writer was elected the first Parish Historian. The keeping of it is now in the hands of a small committee of the Council, and it is intended to continue the work from year to year.

Ixii THE REGISTERS AND THEIR STORY.

of the person buried is first found, although only in one instance —

May viijth Wm Rigge de Churchfield

and in the same year we find the occupation of the deceased given in one case —

June xxviijth Thomas Satterthwaite scolarus

In the following year we find the name of the father of the baptised frequently inserted, and this becomes general in 1582. Soon after, it is found, though not universally, in the burials. The placing of the residence of the deceased after his name is, however, very unusual until 1597, when there are several examples. After that date it is often found both in burials and baptisms.

Although it was not until the Act of 1653 that lay regis- trars (or registers as they were called) were ordered to be appointed, we find a notification in the Hawkshead register at the beginning of 1640, " Registered by George Rigg as followeth," and the handwriting accordingly appears to change here. At January, 1653, there is a marginal note, " New Register begins," but as the handwriting does not change, it would seem that this was but a little subterfuge, a precaution against any examination of the book, and that a new register did not begin then, George Rigg having apparently had that duty relegated to him in 1640. This George Rigg was for many years the parish clerk, who by his will, 1706, left a considerable sum to the parish. It appears that he also acted for a long period as registrar, for in 1668 we find under burials an entry, " Jan 3Oth Agnes Rigge my ant." And as late as 1697 we find two marriages inserted in a strange hand, with a memorandum that " Geo Rigg forgot these."

It is not improbable that when by the Act of 1653 lay registers were appointed, Rigg obtained the appointment, and on the death of the clerk, John Satterthwaite, in 1656, suc- ceeded him :

" November vth John Satterthw1 Clarke of the parish."

THE REGISTERS AND THEIR STORY. Ixiii

Thus he might register both before and after the restoration : but as we find him registering as early as 1640, he may also have been clerk before as well as after Satterthwaite.*

At this date, i.e., between the Act of 1653 and the restoration, marriages were celebrated by a civil form before a Justice, and accordingly we find them omitted in the Hawkshead volume from 1653 to 1655.

In 1644 The Directory of Public Worship was substituted for the Book of Common Prayer, and on the same occasion it was enacted that, besides the names of the children baptised, there should be entered in the register the names of the parents and also the time of birth and baptism. The times of marriages, deaths, and burials, were also ordered to be inserted. In the Act of 1653, births only, and not baptisms, are mentioned, and consequently at this date the registers often contain the former instead of the latter. This is, however, not the case at Hawkshead, and this lends colour to the supposition that here this Act was partly shirked. At the Restoration, 1660, the registration devolved on the clergy again : and about this date the handwriting changes in a somewhat puzzling way.

In 1679 was passed the curious Act enforcing the burial of all bodies in woolen. Originally enacted in 1666, with the ridiculous object of encouraging and protecting the woolen trade, it had been generally disregarded. Accordingly, by the new and more strict regulation, it was ordered that an affidavit was to be produced within eight days of the burial. Fortunately a large number of these affidavits have been preserved at Hawkshead, and the present writer himself rescued from the old parish chest no less than ninety, which were all more or less decaying from the damp and inroads of mice. They are of great interest as they serve to check the register itself and enable the student to fill up all gaps where the register is damaged or unreadable. The one

* There are, however, numerous changes in handwriting in the latter half of the book, all of which are notified in their proper places by footnotes.

Ixiv THE REGISTERS AND THEIR STORY.

hundred and ninety-four which still exist all belong to the years 1680 to 1696 inclusive. An abstract of them will be found printed as an appendix.

It is supposed that a much larger number of these certificates were in existence at Hawkshead until a com- paratively late date. It is said that some years ago, on the occasion of some alterations or restorations at the Church, the old chest was moved or opened, and many of those documents got loose and were blown about the roads leading to Hawkshead and lost in the mud. This story is apparently not without foundation, as the present writer has seen examples of woolen certificates in houses in the town.

Although certificates exist for the years 1680-1, 1683-91, and 1693-6, there is no alteration in the form of burial entries in the register itself, except in the years 1681-3, during which the names of the parties making affidavit is added to the name of the deceased.

In 1694 an Act was passed imposing a scale of dues to be paid for five years on all births, deaths, and marriages, " for carrying on the war against France with vigour." In consequence of this we find the list of dues already quoted, which is written at the beginning of the register book.* The original scale as provided for by the Act is given in Burns' " Parish Registers," p. 30., and provides a separate rate for burials, births, and marriages, of the different degrees of nobility, as Duke, Marquis, and Earl. This is, of couse, all omitted in the scale of dues at Hawkshead and it varies considerably otherwise. In the following year, 1695, it was enacted that all births were to be registered in a distinct Register ; but this was no more noticed at Hawkshead than elsewhere, and the register of births is neither found in the Parish register or separately. This Act was allowed to expire, and the system was not revived until civil registration was started in 1836.

As it is of some interest to compare the numbers of

*See p. Ivi.

THE REGISTERS AND THEIR STORY. Ixv

baptisms, marriages, and burials during the years over which this volume of the register extends, a table showing the figures is here given. Bishop Gastrell says that Colton continued to bury at Hawkshead till 1722, but the register of that parish commences with burials 1623, and I suspect it was about that date when they commenced to bury there. The year 1623 was a plague year, and in the Colton register the minister of the parish Sr Willm Greenupp forms the first entry. Probably the residents of Colton parish buried their dead wherever it was most convenient for them, for Colton Church was somewhat inacessible to those residing in the north-east part of the parish, and the roads were steep and bad.*

Baptisms. Marriages. Burials.

1568 ... 52 14 45

1569 41 7 42

1570 47 9 56

1571 ... 51 14 38

1572 ... 38 14 60

1573 ... 52 16 67

1574 .- 34 8 42

1575 ... 57 H 49

Note that this year the order of the entries changes, and the burials are placed after the baptisms instead of the marriages.

1576 ... 34 16 38

1577 46 14 86

This is noted in the register as the year of a " pestelent sicknes."

1578 41 7 44

1579 .- 35 5 35

Note that this year the order changes, and becomes burials, baptisms, marriages.

* The Colton register seems fairly complete from 1623 to 1643. The years 1644-50 have lost a good many entries. And then there is a complete gap to

Ixvi THE REGISTERS AND THEIR STORY.

Baptisms. Marriages. Burials.

1580

1581 ... 1582

1583 1584 1585 1586

1587

1588 ...

1589 1590

1592 1593 '594 '595 1596 J597 '598

J599 1600 1601 1602

I6°3 I6°4 I6°5 1606

1610 1611

23	14	52
48	6	3i
38	9	33
34	i6	5i
32	7	39
26	9	4i
3i	8	42
30	21	49
30	8	36
37	9	32
40	17	28
26	H	67
46	17	42
52	12	44
33	H	43
47	8	31
36	H	50
24	16	84
44	8	66
56	10	29
35	7	22
4i	ii	33
32	9	27
32	6	36
40	9	29
23	7	22
29	13	23
35	17	42
3i	15	47
4i	17	26
—	—	28
5i	14	15
44	10	61

This year the order is changed to baptisms, burials, marriages.

THE REGISTERS AND THEIR STORY. Ixvii

	Baptisms.	Marriages.	Burials.
1613	38	17	65
1614	41	13	4i
1615	37	19	37
1616	55	II	4i
1617	44	IO	3i
1618	48	12	3i
1619	59	8	3i
1620	39	18	33
1621	64	15	37
1622	43	H	56
1623	19	9	97
1624	—	—	—
1625	58	6	27
1626	39	17	29
1627	53	15	33
1628	5i	13	27
1629	44	H	28
1630	54	ii	5i
1631	37	13	35
1632	54	16	29
1633	39	9	36
This year the order	reverts to	baptisms, marriages, burials.
1634	57	10	46
1635	58	16	37
1636 ...	35	IO	67
1637	47	12	39
1638	46	9	27
1639	46	IO	44
1640	45	10	46
1641	49	5	15
1642	43	9	32
1643	4i	9	44
1644	53	2	39
1645	40	6	30
1646	48	2	35
1647	33	5	40

Baptisms.	Marriages.	Burials.
42	7	47
24	3	3i
46	6	30
39	2	33
30	I	47
25	—	43
38	I	27

Ixviii THE REGISTERS AND THEIR STORY.

1648 1649 1650 1651 1652

1653 1654

The marriage entered in another hand, but none in the ordinary course. Space for marriages has been left for 1653, 1654 and 1655.

1655 ... 29 31

1656 35 5 48

1657 21 14 35

1658 33 7 37

1659 ... 26 8 50

1660 ... 31 8 34

1661 ... 30 9 51

1662 32 15 37

1663 45 8 38

1664 36 16 28

1665 35 13 32

1666 ... 32 1 6 40

1667 31 12 41

1668 ... 19 6 60

1669 ... 30 12 65

1670 ... 24 10 63

1671 22 7 54 J672 ... 21 10 69

1673 40 5 36

1674 24 3 44

1675 ... 13 3 35 I(576 1 8 5 26

1677 .- 25 9 26

1678 3o Ir 23

1679 ... 15 8 23

1680 27 „ 23

THE REGISTERS AND THEIR STORY. Ixix

	Baptisms.	Marriages.	Burials.
i68i	26	IO	48
1682	29	9	43
1683	23	5	29
1684	32	10	23

The order of this year is : marriages, burials, christenings. Four christenings were at Satterthwaite.

1685 ... 28 21 32 Order — baptisms, burials, marriages.

1686 ... 27 12 34 Reverts to the old order, baptisms, marriages, burials.

1687 1688 1689 1690 1691 1692 1693 1694 1695 1696 1697 1698 1699 1700 The order here becomes baptisms, burials, marriages.

1701 ... 23 14 29 The order reverts to baptisms, marriages, burials.

1702 33 13 24

1703 ... 22 II 28

1704 ... 14+7 = 21 9 21

32	9	34
35	9	42
27	8	40
32	8	36
21	7	27
27	18	26
28	10	40
23	14	4i
26+11-37	16	43
24	10	53
28	13	4i
40	9	28
22	9	37
31	7	26

Ixx

THE REGISTERS AND THEIR STORY.

From this table we can deduce the following averages :-

Average No. Average No. Years in which the

	of Baptisms	of Burials	Burials were 10	over
Years.	per year.	per year.	the average
1568-1577	... 45*	52yso	1573 .••	67
			1577 ...	86
1578-1587	... 34*	7	1580 ...	52
			(1583 ...	51)
1588-1597	... 37TV	46	1591 ...	67
			1597 ...	84
1598-1607	... 361*0	32^	1598 ...	66
			1607 ...	42
1608-1617	Births 1610		1612 ...	61
missing, average for 9 years	1613 ...	65
	... 42*	39^
1618-1628	(1624 missing	throughout)	1622 ...	56
	... 47T3o	40T5-	1623 ...	97
1629-1638	... 481^0	39*	1630 ...	5i
			I636 ...	67
1639-1648	... 44	36^	1640 ...	46
			1648 ...	47
1649-1658	... 32	361.	1652 ...	47
			1656 ...	48
1659-1668	... 3i*	4iTb-	1661 ...	51
			1668 ...	60
1669-1678	... 24!	43*	1669 ...	65
			1670 ...	63
			1671 ...	54
			1672 ...	69
1679-1688	... 271	33i^	1681 ...	48
			1682 ...	43
1689-1698	... 27^5-	37i	1696 ...	53
1699-1704 ... 25! 271	1699 ...	37

It thus appears that from 1568 to 1704, the ten years of highest mortality were: 1573, 67; 1577, 86; 1591, 67; 1597, 84; 1598, 66; 1613, 65 ; 1623, 97 ; 1636, 67 ; 1669, 65 ; 1672, 69, and that the averages fluctuate in a very remarkable

THE REGISTERS AND THEIR STORY. Ixxi

manner, for if we take the average mortality of the years 1669 to 1678 we find it only 48^, while for the five years from 1668 to 1672 we get an average of no less than 62^, and in the following eight years it drops to 33!.

These years of excessive mortality show that Hawkshead escaped the plague no more than other northern parishes. This fearful scourge was, indeed, never absent in these counties from 1570 to 1598, and did not finally disappear from the English bills of mortality till 1679.* It was bad at Newcastle in 1570 and is supposed to have come to Cumberland from there. The mortality shown in the above table at Hawkshead proves that in 1572 and 1573 it reached Furness, although there is no mention of it in the register. The following three years— 1574-5-6 — were healthy at Hawkshead, although in the last year it was again at Newcastle. Apparently, it spread south through Cumberland in the same way, for the next year we find the heavy mortality of 86 at Hawkshead, against 38 of the previous year. It broke out in November, when we find the following entry in the register : —

" * In this monthe begane the pestelent sicknes in or pishe

wch was brought in by one George Barwicke wherof is

depted all those yl are thus marked * "

Thirty-eight names are accordingly starred as victims. The first plague burial was on the I9th November, the last on the 25th February. There were two deaths in November, sixteen in December, sixteen in January, and four in February. The thirty-eight deaths were in but eight families, or at any- rate among only eight surnames, and we may therefore con- clude that the pestilence was confined to a few households. The greatest sufferers were the Tomlinsons, of whom no less than twelve succumbed, two being buried on December i8th, and three on January I7th. Among the Hodgsons there were eight deaths. The Barwicks, who had brought it in, got off

* I am indebted to a paper on " Visitations of the Plague in Cumberland and Westmorland," by Henry Barnes, M.D., F.R.S.E., in vol. xi. "Transactions of the Cumberland and Westmorland Antiquarian Society," p. 158, for much useful information on this subject.

Ixxii THE REGISTERS AND THEIR STORY.

with six, the Kirkbys with five, the Wattersons with three, the Walkers with two, and the Rigges and Dixons with one

each.

From the i8th December to the 3ist there were twelve burials from the plague in thirteen days. There was then a pause of four days without a burial, and then from January 5th to 1 7th the burials averaged one per day. On the last-named day there were no less than four burials, of whom three were Tomlinsons.

After the 13th February there is only one name starred (also a Tomlinson) on the 25th. The next year the mortality was normal.

A curious entry during this plague year is on January viiith : " * Anthony Dixson buried in Langdall the last day of December and taken up agayne and brought to Hauxhead the xjth day of January." Perhaps Dixson was a Hawkshead man who died at Langdale of the plague, and the Langdale people rinding the ravages the plague was making at Hawks- head, thought that a plague-stricken corpse should not remain in their parish. It looks, in fact, as if the plague had not attacked that valley at that date.

In 1580 and 1583 the mortality was again considerably above normal, and in 1591 it attained to 67; and although there is in no part of the book any special memoranda referring to the causes of this, there need be no doubt as to what they were, even if it were only by the number of individuals of one surname who succumbed.

In 1597 the mortality suddenly jumped to 84, only two less than the plague year of 1577. This year is known as a plague year, for the disease raged with disastrous results at Newcastle, Carlisle, Penrith, Appleby, and in fact all over Cumberland and Westmorland.* At Hawkshead the deaths were more numerous in the early part of the year, being ten in April, twelve in May, and ten in June ; but it seems to

•For many details of this disastrous visitation see Dr. Barnes' paper already alluded to.

THE REGISTERS AND THEIR STORY. Ixxiii

have remained throughout the year and into the next year, when there were also sixty-six burials.

This plague of 1597 broke out in September, at Penrith, where it was brought by a " foreigner," and it has been said that its route was Newcastle, Kirkoswald, Penrith, Appleby, Kendal. The mortality being heavier at Hawkshead in the earlier months of the year, it would however appear to have reached Furness by some other line.

These days of calamity told their tale in another way in the register. The average number of marriages recorded per year from 1570 to 1599 inclusive, is just under twelve. But it is curious to find the effect of the epidemics. The years in which the mortality was above normal, the number of weddings were also above normal, but the ensuing years in each case were the reverse. Thus in 1572 and 1573 the marriages were fourteen and sixteen, but in 1574 they dropped to eight. In 1577 they were fourteen, in 1578 only seven. In 1580 they were fourteen, in the following year only six. In 1583, sixteen, and in 1584 only seven. While in 1597 we find sixteen, and in 1598 only eight.

Of course the month of the year in which the epidemic commenced sometimes influenced this. The visitation of 1577 broke out in November, and the first plague burial took place on the I9th of that month. The number of marriages in that year were already above the average, but no more were celebrated until September in the ensuing year, although the plague had ceased.

The plague of 1597 was more general throughout the year, and at Penrith, where the population was infinitely larger, no wedding was celebrated during the summer. At Hawkshead, no one ventured on matrimony, except three couples, until October, yet by the end of the year there had been sixteen.

The plague had not yet completed its work. Although there is no regular record of another visitation until 1623, there is no doubt that it lingered in the district ; indeed, Bishop Henry Robinson died of it at Rose Castle in 1616. Before this, however, we notice the high rate of mortality

Ixxiv THE REGISTERS AND THEIR STORY.

evinced by the Hawkshead register in 1612 and 1613, which were most probably less virulent outbreaks. In 1623, however, the burials numbered 97, much more than double the average of the years 1618-1628. This epidemic was common all over Cumberland, Westmorland, and even the South of Scotland. Dr. Barnes, in a paper already referred to, has published a tabular statement of the mortality at certain places in the district, during the various plague years, and from this it appears that many spots were even worse off than Hawkshead, the mortality at Greystoke, for instance, being more than five times the average in that year.* The year preceding had been much above the average, but it was from August to December, 1623, when the visitation was at its worst at Hawkshead. The following shows the burials for each month : —

March ... I October . 9

April ... 3 November ... 13

May ... 7 December ... 7

June ... 5 January ... i

July ... 7 February ... n

August ... 21 March ... 2

September ... 10

As there is no special note in the register, or mark showing which individuals died by the plague, it is not easy to say much about this epidemic locally, severe as it was. It does not, however, appear to have been so confined to certain households as that of 1577, though there seems to be six or seven examples of both husband and wife succumbing. It is curious that the following year is omitted from the register, except four or five entries which are inserted in the space for 1624, which is left blank. These are in different hands. In 1625 the register is resumed in the usual hand. Perhaps the Registrar himself was a sufferer. In 1625 there were,

* In 1623 there were no less than 270 burials at Lancaster, although the plague ceased a month before the end of the year.— J. S. Slinger, in " Lancaster Guardian," April ilth, 1896.

THE REGISTERS AND THEIR STORY. Ixxv

however, only six marriages, from which it is possible that 1624 as well as 1623 was a bad year at Hawkshead. Of the other years of high mortality, I have at present no means at hand for comparing Hawkshead with other parishes. The year 1636 was isolated, the mortality being normal in the years preceding and following. In 1656, a year, however, of average mortality, we find the following entry : —

March xxth Barbary Braithw1 xxjth Jane Braithwaite and Sybell Braithwaite

All three children of Will™ Braithw1 of Narr Sawrey and dyed of the Pocks.

After this the mortality remained fairly equable until 1668, when there were a series of bad years, the average mortality from that to 1672 inclusive, being, as already noted, no less than 62!, and the highest of the five being 69 in 1672. That these years were plague years seems to be proved by the three entries in 1668.

September 11 : George Attkinson fil Thomas de Keene

ground in ye Church 22 : uxr Joseph Keene de Keene ground eod die : Thomas Keene fil Leonard de Keene

ground. The same year:

Marche 5 : Charles Wilson of Arnesyde found dead at Eltarwater parke

In the following year, in September, three Braithwaites of Sawrey extra were buried on the I3th, 1 4th, and 1 7th, two of them being man and wife.

In 1670, on September i6th and i8th, Henry and Margaret Williamson, father and daughter.

In 1671, June I7th and July i5th, a son and daughter of William Braithwaite of Brathay.

February i3th and I5th the same year, Ellen and Mar- garet Knype of Keeneground.

In 1672 we find no less than four deaths in April,

Ixxvi THE REGISTERS AND THEIR STORY.

May, June, and July, at the isolated farm of Thompson ground.

These entries are picked out without any special search, but are sufficient to show that it was a true epidemic.

Again, it is noticeable that although the marriages went on as usual in these years of sickness, they dropped in num- bers when the mortality lessened. Thus—

1668 1669 1670 1671 1672 1673 1674 1675 1676 6 12 10 7 I0 5 3 3 5

Dr. Barnes gives no details of a visitation during these years in the north, but the prolonged period over which it lasted makes it more important than some of the shorter but more acute plague years. It will be noticed that it followed pretty soon the great visitation of London in 1665. As that was practically the last of the epidemic in the capital, so these years were practically the last in the I7th century at Hawks- head, for a much lower average mortality followed.

During the I7th century it was usual to bury in the church as well as in the churchyard. This is always notified in the register after 1607, but only in a few instances earlier, although no doubt burials in church were as common before that date. Before 1630 these entries were in English, " buried in the Church," or " in the Church," but at that date we find "in templo," which is often used afterwards.

From 1 60 1 to 1704 inclusive, 1,109 persons are notified in the register as buried in the church, giving an average of about n£ per year.

We find by the table of duties at the beginning of the book, the date of which is 1694, that no extra due was then payable for interment in the church, excepting in the chan- cel, where the due was 6s. 8d. Here many representatives of the squirarchal families, and one or two of the better-to- do statesmen, were interred. There are altogether forty-nine burials specially noted as having taken place in the east end of the church in the whole book. Amongst these the greater number are representatives of the Sandys family of Grath- waite, who are generally entered in the register as buried in

THE REGISTERS AND THEIR STORY. Ixxvii

the " Sands quire," or sometimes in the " litle chancell " or

"litle quire." We find in all- Sandys ... ... ... 27

Bensons ... ... ... 6

Nicholsons ... ... ... 4

Edmondsons ... ... ... 3

Rawlinsons ... ... ... 2

Gilpins ... ... ... 2

Sawrey ... ... ... i

Fleming ... ... ... i

Copley i

Bordley I

Sadler i

The Bensons were an old and very well-to-do family of statesmen settled in this parish chiefly at Skelwith fold, but the family was somewhat widespread and owned the manor of Baysbrown in Westmorland. The Nicholsons were of Hawkshead Hall for about six generations, and members of the family were well-to-do merchant adventurers in New- castle. The Gilpins were of course of the Kentmere stock, and were connected by marriage with the Nicholsons. The Copleys were a West Cumberland family who came into the Hawkshead Hall property by marriage. "Jane fleeminge de Amblesyde," buried in 1683, was no doubt one of the Rydal family. Mr. William Bordley, 1669, was the head-master of the Grammar School and was perhaps father of William Bordley who was head-master of Lancaster Grammar School 1690 to 1708, who again was probably identical with William Bordley incumbent at Hawkshead after 1720. Christopher Edmundson was also one of the incumbents from 1664 to 1675. The Sawreys were a widespread family. Mr. John Sadler (1691) was another of the schoolmasters appointed 1672. The Rawlinsons were the Graythwaite family, neighbours of the Sandys.

Marriages by license are often noted in the latter part of the book. The first entry of this sort is November 4th, 1662.

Ixxviii THE REGISTERS AND THEIR STORY.

There are a few entries of marriages celebrated elsewhere than at the Parish Church, as the following:

1582. Septemb : Received for ye weddinge of John Croud- son of ye pishe of Kirkby & Margaret Christall of this pishe married at Torver ye xixth of Sep- tember

1695 September 9: Mr Thomas Sands & Mrs Ann Sands

married att Crostwaite Church

November 21 : William Braithwait and Mary Cooke- son married att Grassmyre.

1701 September 30: Wm Braithw1 & Margaret Harrison married at Cartmell Church

In the same way we sometimes find baptisms out of the parish recorded. Thus in 1684 and 1697 we find short lists of infants baptised at Satterthwait Chapel. It should be remembered that the regular register book of this chapelry does not begin till 1766.

Occasionally baptisms are recorded as having taken place at home instead of the Church.

1682 June 5 Samuell Sands jfil Samuell de Haukeshead and Bridgett Sands > hall chrisned at home

There is one other case the same year, and four cases in 1685. In 1681 "Christenings" and "Weddings" are substi- tuted for the words " Baptisms " and " Marriages," or " Bapti- zationes " and " Nuptiae " ; but the old fashion is immediately reverted to.

Illegitimacy is noted in the register in a variety of ways : Bapt 1575 May xijth Agnes Rigge susceptor

June xjth puer Rowlandi Strickland susceptus

est. 1629 March xxijth William Asheburner fil Adam

base begotten

1674 Jannuary 17 : James the base begotten son of Dorothy Dodgson suposed to bee the son of one James Martin a Scotchman.

THE REGISTERS AND THEIR STORY. Ixxix

1632 June xjth Lament Banke the supposed daughter

of Geo : Burd 1634 March xxjth puer abort, sine patre noto.

1703 February: 28: William fil of Agnes Sarey

without any known fathr a bastard.

Bapt 1656 January viijth George the base childe of Doro- thye Nicolson.

Triplets are occasionally recorded in Baptisms —

1589 January xxvjth Jenatt Braithwaite\ ,.,

eode die Cathren Braithw1 • Ni h 1 i code die Margaret Braithw1

1594 Decemb : xxijth Elsabeth fflemingej omnes filiae eode die Margaret ffleminge I . , eode die Mary ffleminge )

After 1599 omissions and alterations are much commoner than in the earlier part of the book. Sometimes the Chris- tian name is omitted, and occasionally the surname. Inser- tions are now and then found added, in another hand, in the margin ; and, in the same way, omitted names are sometimes found filled up in a different writing.

This carelessness is shown in Marriages 1635 —

July xxijth John Holme and John Woodburne,

and in 1590, where we get the heading, " Sepulturae Infantii." About 1580 it became usual in registering the burial of married women, to use this form (omitting the Christian name of the deceased) —

1616 Aprill ijth uxr Jo: Braithwt.

Earlier than 1580 this method was very seldom used, the full name of the deceased woman being simply entered.

Occasionally we get glimpses of the trades and occupa- tions of the inhabitants in the register —

Burials 1599

Septemb: xix Jenatt Braithw1 Badger wif. (A Badger is a pedlar.)

Ixxx THE REGISTERS AND THEIR STORY.

Burials 1613

March xxiijth Wm Braithwait, Sheareman. He would probably be a member of the Guild of Shearemen Dyers at Kendal, an important and influential body at that date.

Burials 1618 June xxth uxr Ric Tailor Cowp

" Cowp " is here a contraction of " Cowper," probably meaning a horse cowper or dealer. Burials 1623

May iijth Jo : Tailor thrower.

A "thrower" is a turner of wood. Thus in a sale schedule of a Grasmere farmer, in 1710, I find "A thro wen chair," meaning evidently a chair in which the balusters, and perhaps back, were " thrown " or turned on the lathe, instead of being roughly cut or chopped out of wood.

Burials 1636

July xxiiijth George Holme miller. Baptisms 1631

June xixth Barbaric Braythwait fil : Wm de Sawrey

whistler. Burials 1654

ffebruary xxvijth William Hyrdson pyper. Burials 1660

Aprill xth Elisabeth Rigge ye daughter of Rigge pipper

who dyed at Consay. Burials 1691

May 1 6 : Agnes Holme fil George Holme fidler. These were no doubt the village musicians.

In the days when most of the people's apparel was home made Hawkshead boasted a hatter.

Burials 1668

September 9 : Issabell the wife of Wm Braithw1 hatter in the church*

*Hats were made at Hawkshead Hill till a comparatively late date.

THE REGISTERS AND THEIR STORY. Ixxxi

The making of swills or baskets of laths of wood is not yet extinct.

Burials 1673 May 13 : John Harrison Swiller who dyed at Grysdall

A record of smuggling days is seen in the following :

Baptisms 1694 July firste. Elsabeth the base begotten childe of Edward

Hall gaiger Baptisms 1700

ffebruary 23 : Thomas son of Thomas Daniell of Hawks- head gauger *695 Jannuary 14 Thomasin Twentyman fil : Thomas

a whitesmyth. A charcoal burner was a " colier."

Burials

1701 December 10 Clement Holm colier de Deal park. Paupers, mendicants, cripples, and insane people are occasionally mentioned.

Burials 1680. October 3 : Issabel the wife of John Penyson a poore

woman that beg(ged) her meate Burials 1661 Aprill xixth W™ Browne a poore criple borne at Newcastle

upon Tine Burials 1655. June xvth Margrett Townson fil . Willm Ideot.

We only get one allusion to that hardly used race of nomads, the gipsies.

Baptisms 1632 January xiijth Thomas Washington fil Henry an Egiptian.

Quakers are occasionally alluded to, but the interesting entry in the Burials 1658 has already been quoted in the chapter on the Parish. We find also :

Christenings 1695

Jannuary 6 : Wm Atkinson quaker chrisned his son William F

Ixxxii THE REGISTERS AND THEIR STORY.

Burials 1690 September 6 : Robert Pennington fil . Thomas buried att

buryinge place. The bailiff was a manorial officer.

Burials 1587 Aprill vijth uxr Robte Tayler baylif.

Baptisms 1599 January xvjth Agnes Tomlinson Thomae filia de bailifes.

Burials 1672 Jully ii William Sawrey balife in the Church

In the Commissioners' Survey of the Lordship of Furness, 1649, printed in West's "Antiquities of Furness," 1774 (p. 170 et seq.}, we find : —

" To William Sawry 2/. 1 33. 4d. as did appear unto us by a patent, bearing date 9° Feb. Anno 8° Car. whereby he was made bailiff of Hawkshead, with Hill Hawkshead, Robert, Water Park, and divers other hamlets thereunto belonging durante bene placito."

Burials 1672 Jully 29 : Myles Sawrey schoole master at Haukeshead

in church. Burials 1656

November vth John Satterthvvt Clarke of the Parish. The Register contains a long "chapter of accidents," and as the entries are often curious and interesting, they are reproduced here to save the reader the trouble of searching them out.

1596 January Ith Edward Robinson interfectus est 5 die

ante sepult ....

No other details are known of this murder. 1599 March xth John Braithwt : dround 1623 ffebruary iiijth uxr Robert Braithu1 slayne in her owne house buried in the church xxiijth a wench found at the Bracken-

thwait. The latter perhaps a plague death.

THE REGISTERS AND THEIR STORY. Ixxxiii

1629 ffebruarie vth Edward Vickars wch was drouned at

Satterthw1. 1631 Januarie xvth Edward Satterthw1 de Coulthouse

drowned beneath Poole stong

Pool stong (or stang) is the place where the road from Hawkshead to Colthouse crosses the beck. In 1836 some- thing like an ancient wooden causeway, apparently constructed to cross what was once a bog, was discovered near here.

1633 Aprill xxixth Leonard Oxenhouse whoe hanged himselfe in Nathaniell Nicolsons stable.

Nathaniel Nicolson was of Hawkshead Hall.

1636 July xvth James Taylior fil Richard de Lending

drowned by a boate in Windermere water

1637 July xxvijth Uxr George Taylior de Plowme

greene in the Church killed by a Bull

1639 October xxvth Elsabeth the wife of George

Braithwt de Tockhowe killd with the fall of a horses.

March xijth 1640 Robert Parke of Torver drowned hard beneath Ambleside and found at Windermer Watterhead and brought to Hawkeshead to be buryed the Ith day of May 1641.

The year, of course, began the 25th of March, and fifty days elapsed between the death and burial. From the words, " hard beneath Ambleside," it seems probable that the deceased was drowned in the Rothay in flood time.

1645 Aprill iiijth George Satterthwaite wife whoe hanged

herselfe in her owne house ffebruary xxiijth uxor John Robinson found dead betwixt

Graythw1 and Dalepke.

1647 ffebruary iijth John Satterthwaite fil Clement

drowned in the Thirse Gill

Ixxxiv THE REGISTERS AND THEIR STORY.

ffebruary vjth Thomas Townson fil Peter killed with the fale of a greate stone and buried in the Church.

1649 March xxjth John Jackson found att Consey nabb

drowned in Windermeere watter.

1650 May xxiiijth Agnes Rownson uxor Willm found

dead at Estwhaite intacke yeat & buryed in ye church

1653 July iith George Braithw1 son of Willm of the

fould supposed to be Slaine by they fale of a horse Backe.

1654 Md. That William Braithwaite of Skellwith de-

parted from his owne house in Skellwith on Wednesdaie the 5th of Aprill and was found drowned in the water att Arthure Benson field foote neare or aboute the Dubb : Ings : and was brought to be Buried at Hauxheade on friday the 28th of this present Aprill 1654 : as above.

1655 August viijth Agnes Braithwt fil Edward drowned

betweene Sawreys.

This is between near and far Sawrey. The next is a most pathetic record —

1657 March xxjth Elisabeth the Daughter of Willm Hodgshon of ffieldhead a younge childe under three yeares ould whoe went with her brother from Borwicke ground where they lived till Willm Mackreths house : And as shee was gooinge home againe by herselfe shee lost her way and wandered to the Hye greene and their was stervd to Death : And could not be found though sought by many untill foure days after that shee was lost, the day first menconed beinge the day on which shee was found and Buried.

Where the "Hye greene" is, I am not able to ascertain.

THE REGISTERS AND THEIR STORY. Ixxxv

1658 November viijth Jennett the wife of Willm Benson of Brow in Church whoe lived but six weeks & three days after shee was married.

1660 Aprill iijth John Robinson son of Henery a poore younge child who dyed by the highway side in Claife in his mother's armes

Aprill ye 4th 1664: Md That their was a man drownd in Thurston = water which was found casten upp att the water = head neare to the yeate in the High = way who hadd layde soe long in the sayd water untill the haire was comd of his head and his face was sore eaten and disvigered with fishes : hee beinge a stranger and not knowne by any was broughte to Haukeshead Church by a horse in a Carr and buried in his Close (clothes?) in the Church = yard att the north syde of the Steeple the day and yeare firste mentioned and expressed :

1665 Jannuary 25th Charles Satterthwaite of Coulthouse

drowned in the pool as hee was goeinge home from Hawkesheade and buried in the Church.

The " pool " is the beck running into Esthwaite at its North end.

1666 {February 11 : Thomas Rooke who hanged himself

in a hollinge (holly) in Robert Satterthwaite Allan Ryddinge.

i.e., in Robert Satterthwaite's (field called) Allan Ryddinge.

1668 Marche 5 . Charles Wilson of Arnesyde found dead

att Elterwater pke.

1669 Aprill 22 : Ann Braithwaite the Relict of George

Braithwt (de ?) Bristoe found drowned in the Oas in the foote of Easthwaite water where the fford lyes betweene Esthwaite and nearer Sawrey.

In this entry the " de " is supplied, the presumption being that it has been frayed away with the edge of the page, which

Ixxxvi THE REGISTERS AND THEIR STORY.

is here much worn. I know, however, of no place in the parish called Bristoe. " Oas " is now called Ees bridge, being the place where the stream runs out of Esthwaite to Out Dubs and is crossed by the road to Sawrey.

1672 Aprill 8: Thomas Lancaster who for poysonninge his owne family was Adjudgt at the Assizes att Lancaster to bee carried backe to his owne house att Hye=wrey where hee liv'd : and was there hang'd before his owne doore till hee was dead, for that very facte then was brought with a horse and a carr into the Coulthouse meadows and forthwith hunge upp in iron Chaynes on a gibbet which was sett for that very purpose on the south = syde of Sawrey Casey neare unto the Pooll = stang: and there continued untill such tymes as hee rotted everye? bone from other. . . .

The perpetrator of this crime was first brought up before Sir Daniel Fleming, of Rydal Hall, and afterwards was tried and sentenced at Lancaster Assizes. The following interesting letters on the subject were published some years ago in the Twelfth Report of the Historical MSS. Commission, Appendix Part vii, devoted to the Rydal Hall Manuscripts.

Extract of letter from Sir Daniel Fleming, of Rydal, to Sir Joseph Williamson, in London, November 24th, 1671 :

" Being lately in Lancashire I received there — as a justice of the peace of that county — an information against one Thomas Lancaster, late of Threlkeld in Cumberland, who, it is very probable, hath committed the most horrid act that hath been heard of in this countrey. He marryed the 3Oth of January last a wife in Lancashire, who was agreed to be marryed that very day, or soon after, to another ; and her father afterwards conveyed all his reall estate to this Lan- caster upon him giveing security to pay severall sums of money to himselfe and his daughters. And through covetousness to save these and other payments it is very

THE REGISTERS AND THEIR STORY. Ixxxvii

probable that Lancaster hath lately poysoned — with white arsenic — his wife, her father, her three sisters, her aunt, her cosingerman, and a servant boy, besides poyson given to severall of his neighbours — who are and have been sick — that people — as it is presumed — might think the rest dyed of a violent fever. I have committed him prisoner unto Lancaster Castle, and shall take what more evidence I can meet with or discover against the next assizes that he may there have a fair triall, and — if he be found guilty — such a punishment as the law shall inflict on such like offenders."

On April 3, 1672, Sir Daniel Fleming, writing to Sir George Fletcher, at Hutton, mentioned that at Lancaster Assizes Thos. Lancaster had been found guilty of poisoning eight persons, and was to be hanged in chains.

Writing on April 24, 1672, to Sir William Wilde, Justice of the Common Pleas, Sir Daniel Fleming intimated that Thomas Lancaster had confessed that he poisoned " the old woman " with arsenic, for a bribe of £24 from the heir to her estate, worth £16 per annum.

The place where the gibbet stood at Pool Stang is still sometimes called Gibbet Moss, and elderly people remember the stump of the gibbet still standing. Folklorists will be interested to know that a portion of the stump placed in a bad tooth was formerly considered at Hawkshead, a " maist terrible sure thing for t'toothwarke " (toothache).

1674 : October 19 : William Dixeson who hang'd himself in his dwellinge house att Braithey and did lye three days dead in the sayd house before that hee was buried

1682 : August 17 : Willm Hyrdson of Dale pke slayne with a stone which fell on his head out of the higer end of that house in Hawkshead in which Rosa- mond Knype lately dwelled.

Aff (Mary Taylor j

^Dorothv Satterthwt )

Dorothy Satterthw1 1689 December 16 : Bernard Swaineson who was Edward

Ixxxviii THE REGISTERS AND THEIR STORY.

Braithwaite Apprentice went with William Stamper a greate while within nighte into William Braith- waite shopp in Haukeshead for to beare him Com- pany a little, and att there meeteinge these three younge youths were all very sober and in good health : and Aboute twelve o'th Clocke o'th nighte ; they made a Bett ; that if this Bernard Swaineson coulde drinke of nyne noggins of brandy : then William Braithwaite and William Stamper was to pay for them ; but if Bernard fayld and coulde not drinke of nyne noggins of brandy then hee was to pay of his owne Charges for that hee had drunke ; now this Bernard drunke of those nyne noggins of brandy quickly : and shortly after that fell doune upon the floore : and was straightway carried to his bed where hee layde two and Twenty hours : dureinge which tyme hee coulde never speake ; noe nor never did knowe any body though many Came to see him and soe he dyed.

1691 May 15 : Clement Holme who was cuttinge downe

a tree att Coniston water-head & slayne by the fall of it

1692 March n: John Mackereth of Skellwith was drownd

in Skellwith dubs and a boate was fetcht from Bownas and putt on the sayd dubs for men to seeke him ; and when he was found he was draune out of the water into Gawine Braithwait lyifee(?) Knott

*693 June 30 : Michaell Nolon a workeman which wrought in the mynds on Coniston fell that was slayne when hee was burstinge a cragg with Gun pouder.

1697 September 16: James Braithwait late of Crofthead did goe to the waterfoote for a boate load of lyme stones for WTilliam Braithwait of briers, and as hee was comenge backe Againe was drownd in Winder- mere water : and three men that was with him by Gods greate mercy gott all out of the water

THE REGISTERS AND THEIR STORY. Ixxxix

and sav'd there lives ; the boate which they were in beinge loaden with lyme stones was lost & did sinke into the bottom of the sayd water : and hee was buried the day of the moneth first mentioned.

" Briers," formerly a farm-house at Sawrey, but transformed into the residence called " Brierswood." The " lyme stones " were no doubt quarried in the Cartmel district and carted to Lake side (" the waterfoote ").

1699 July 9 : John Satterthwait de Sawrey extra who hang'd himselfe in his own house.

Out of this record we find :

Drowning accidents ... ... ... 14

Suicides by hanging ... ... ... 5

Murders ... ... ... ... I

Deaths from various accidents ... ... 7

From excessive drinking ... ... i

Found dead ... ... ... ... 5

Executed for murder ... ... ... I

Various ... ... ... ... 3

The large number of deaths by drowning is remarkable : it is very probable that some of them were also suicides.

While on the subject of drowning accidents, it is curious to remark that no notice is taken in the Hawkshead register of the serious fatality that took place on Windermere in !635, when nearly fifty people perished. The occasion, according to local tradition, was a wedding at Hawkshead Church, and the victims the entire wedding party ; but in Burn and Nicholson's "Westmorland" they are only alluded to as returning from Hawkshead market. Curiously we have information on the subject from more than one source, although our register book ignores it. The most authentic of these is an entry in the Grasmere parish register, which has been most courteously copied and supplied me by the vicar of that parish, Mr. Jennings. It runs as follows :

;< The sixth of Octob. 1635 these were all drowned in

xc THE REGISTERS AND THEIR STORY.

Windermer Water in one boate coming over from Hawks- head

Mr George Wilson of Kendall

John Beck, his wife, his son, and a servant maide of Kendall

Thomas Powe of Kendall

Randall Noble of Kendall

John Kitchins son of Strickland feild

John Pearson and his wife of Skelsmore

Christofer Phillipson of Ashes

Gervis (sic) Stricklands wife of Staveley

Mary daughter of John Phillipson

Thomas Milner boateman and his 2 daughters

Henry Pearson and Dorothie his sister

Tho : Bateman of Crooke

James Warriner of the same

John Satterthwayte of the same

Christopher Willans wife'

Rolland Strickland

Myles Powe

Anthony Sewart

Anthony Elleray

Richard Robinson

Thomas Parke son of Rolland

Willrh Park of Colgarth

James Sewart

Myles Birkehead — son of Myles

Willrh Roberts son of Thomas

Christoph: Parke of Colgarth Willrhs brother

Willrh Rawes

Thomas Woods wife

Nicholas Bell wife

George Baxter and his wife

John Rowanson

Willrh Holme

Richard Robinson

Willm Sewarts wife

THE REGISTERS AND THEIR STORY. xci

Richard Scills daughter

Marke Harrinsons wife

Arthur Ellis

Myles Rigge

and 2 more or 3 and 7 horses and one that escaped."

Amongst the verses of Thomas Hoggart of Troutbeck, commonly called " Aid Hoggart," we find the following on this subject :

" Upon the 19th day of October 1630 (sic) the great Boat upon Windermeer water sunck about sun setting, when was drowned fforty seaven persons and eleaven (sic) horses : ffrom suden Death Libera nos.

Epitaph

Weepe not sweet friends, but wipe away all teares, We are delivered from all human feares ; Let no man rashly judge of this our fall, But rather let't a warning be to all, And let none censure what we did Our thoughts were known to God, to mortals hid ; And though our bodyes sunk into the deepe ; Our soules did mount, and therefore do not weepe."*

The " great Boat " was the public ferry-boat of that date, perhaps so called in distinction to a ferry-boat for foot passengers at Millerground, which formerly existed, and which may have been generally known as " little boat."

Lastly, in the "English Topographer," published in 1720, I find the following curious reference to the catastrophe. The book or pamphlet mentioned must be very rare, as after many enquiries I have absolutely failed to see or hear of a copy, even at our National Library, t

"Of Hawkshead we have some short account in the Preface

* From " Remnants of Rhyme, by Thomas Hoggart, of Troutbeck, selected from an old MS. collection of his writings preserved by his descendants." Kendal,

1853-

f I would esteem it a great favour if any reader who knows of a copy would communicate with me.

XC11

THE REGISTERS AND THEIR STORY.

to a Book entitled, ' The Fatal Nuptiall ; or the mournefull Marriage. Relating the heavy and lamentable Accident lately occurring by the drowning of 47 Persons, and some of these of Especiall Quality, in the water of Windermere in the North, October 19 1635. Lond. 1636. 12™.' " *

Here and there in the register entries give the old spellings of place names or preserve names now otherwise lost.

Burials 1668

August 12: Richard Asshburner de Annykin Syke

o

The present spelling of this place, which is on the west side of Esthwaite, is Hannikin, and the Syke must be some covered-in beck. There does not appear to be any house now specially known as Hannikin-syke.

Baptisms 1670

Aprill 17 : Ester Sawrey fil Anthony de Robert Banke Pke.

Robert Bank park, besides being several times mentioned in the register, occurs in the certificate of the Revenues of Furness Abbey, 1537: and as we know from Abbot Roger's Rental (Beck's " Annales Furnesienses," p. 329) it was an Abbey Grange. As a place name it is not now known : but it was no doubt the Park attached to Bank (i.e., Bank's) ground in Monk Coniston.

* In a common place book, kept by the late Mr. Thos. Taylor, of Sawrey, I find further confirmation on the subject. He gives a transcript of the Grasmere entry with the date xxth instead of sixth, which latter is probably incorrect. He also says that traditionally the couple whose marriage was being celebrated were Thomas Benson and Elizabeth Sawrey, who were married at Hawkshead, Oct. I5th, the first being a Bowness yeoman, the latter of Sawrey. Traditionally also he tells us that the unfortunate couple were buried under the yews in Bowness Church : but as the names do not occur among the Grasmere list, we may doubt the truth of this part of the story. The writer further notes that Burn & Nicholson call the victims a market party, and that the iQth October, 1635 (old style), w a Monday, which was market day, which leaves the balance of evidence in favour of a market rather than of a wedding party. The same storm, however, is referred to by Wharton, the Chronologist of Kendal, who says : " Eighteenth of October, 1635, the river Kent came into the vestry. And iQth Thomas Miller boatman, and 47 men and women were drowned in Windermere water, with 9 or 10 horses, having been at a wedding."

THE REGISTERS AND THEIR STORY. xciii

Baptisms 1682

Jully 23 : Mary Hugill fil James de Pull-Barne Pull Barne was most probably a cottage or farm near Pull Wyke on Windermere, and it may now be incorporated in the buildings of one or other of the modern residences in that locality.

" Crosse," which occurs in a solitary entry, is also unknown to the writer. There is Crosslands near Rusland, and High Cross on the road from Hawkshead to Coniston, but there is no house at the latter place.

The reader who is interested in the distribution and origin of surnames can make his own deductions from this volume and its index. There are, however, certain points which may be noticed here.

In examining the index, what is most noticeable is the extreme commonness of a few names, which monopolise, indeed, a large portion of the register. Something has already been said about this and the cause of it in the Historical Chapter, and it needs only to point out here the evidence of it.

Thus we find by the following table that there are thirty- three families of members of which there are over one hundred mentions, out of which there are fourteen with between two and four hundred ; twelve over four hundred ; and eight over six hundred. Three families alone are mentioned over a thousand times, and of these Braithwaite is easily first as the most numerous clan, being mentioned no less than two thousand five hundred and thirteen times, while the Rigges, who come next, have but one thousand six hundred and thirty-one.

Clans of which there are more than 100 mentions :

Ashburner ... ... ... ... ... 209

Atkinson ... ... ... ... ... 269

Bank, Banks 272

•-Benson 489

Berwick 133

* Braithwaite 2>5i3

xciv THE REGISTERS AND THEIR STORY.

Dickson 284

*Dodgson 433

ffisher ... 205

ffrearson *99 '

Harrison I27

Hodgson 247

*Holm, Holmes 789

Jackson ••• 254

Keen, Keene 294

Kirkby 289

*Knipe ••• 4^2

*Mackereth .... 796

Rawlinson ... 213

*Rigge, Rigg ••• 1,631

Robinson ... 125

* Sandys 761

* Satterthwaite 1,539

*Sawrey 830

Scale, Scales 274

Strickland 190

*Taylor 649

Tomlinson ... ... ... ... ... 190

Townson 363

Turner 241

* Walker 432

Watterson ... ... ... ... ... 108

Wilson 283

This paucity of surnames is well shown in the marriages for the year 1570, where out of nine marriages there are four in which husband and wife have the same surname. The names are Walker, Hodgson (twice), and Rigge. In 1577 there are fourteen marriages registered : of these there are four consecutive brides bearing the name of Braithwaite (two being Isabels) ; there are two bridegrooms Braithwaites ; three brides

* Those starred in italics are mentioned over 400 times.

THE REGISTERS AND THEIR STORY. xcv

and one bridegroom are Walkers ; and there are three bride- grooms of the name of Rigge.

The following notes -about the widespread families in the above list may have some interest :

Ashburner. — The home of this family is further south in Furness out of the parish. The name has been con- jectured to be derived from the occupation of working the bloomeries. It appears, however, more probable that it is the representative of the old Norse personal name Asbiorn (Asbiornr, the divine bear).

Atkinson. — Widely spread over the parish. Elterwater Park, Monk Coniston, Stottpark, Outgate, Eel House, etc. Atkin is a short form of Adam.

Bank, Banks. — This family is perhaps of purely local origin. It left its name at Bank-ground in Coniston. The name may possibly be originally Bankhouse.

Benson. — This was an old stock of statesmen seated chiefly at Skelwith fold, Bull close, and Stang end in Hawks- head, but extending into Westmorland, where they owned Baysbrown Manor, and estates at Loughrigg and Hugill near Windermere. Some branches of them were con- nected with the important local families of Braithwaite of Ambleside, Gilpin of Kentmere, Sandys of Grathwaite, Preston of Holker, Rawlinson, etc., and in all the older documents concerning Hawkshead, members of the family figure conspicuously. Foster, in his Lancashire pedigrees, deduces their descent from a Yorkshire family who were Lords of Ryssup in the twelfth century ; but I have never come across any evidence of this descent, and from their mumbers would rather consider them a purely local growth. There was also a family of the name at Blackbeck in Colton. Benson may originally have been Bennetson, Furness Abbey having been at first Benedictine i.e., of the order of St. Benedict or St. Bennet.

xcvi THE REGISTERS AND THEIR STORY.

Berwick. — This family probably sprang from Berwick near Lancaster. In the parish they existed at Monk Coniston, Hawkshead, and Fieldhead, and they left their name at Berwick-ground.

Braithwaite. — This, the most numerous and characteristic of our surnames, did not probably, however, originate in the parish, but must have sprung from one of the north country villages of the name. The supposition that they took their name from the river Brathay is ridiculous. The most important stock of this name was the family of Ambleside Hall just outside the limits of our parish, who, with collateral branches, became large landowners in Westmorland. But the name was so widely spread in Hawkshead, that it would appear that these squirearchal families were but branches of the Hawks- head stock who had risen to affluence.

A good idea of the geographical distribution of this family within the parish can be got from the Calendar of Wills, proved within the Archdeaconry of Richmond from 1457 to 1748, published by the Record Society. By this, we find that out of about one hundred and seventy-seven wills of Braithwaites, about one hundred and twenty-four are those of members of the family residing in Hawkshead Parish. There are no less than thirty-five which can be identified as inhabitants of Sawrey, nine of Wray, six of Skelwith and the vicinity, four of Brathay and the vicinity, and of the remaining seventy, a considerable portion are not identified as belonging to any special part of the parish, and would probably belong to the Sawrey clan. The Skelwith Wray and Brathay groups are perhaps, to some extent, offshoots of the Ambleside stock ; but the Sawrey group is probably distinct, or, to speak more accurately, were probably branched off at an earlier date.

Dickson or Dixon. — This is a widespread name found at Sattcrthwaite, Keen-ground, and out of the parish at Tilbcrthwaite. The name of Richard would no doubt

THE REGISTERS AND THEIR STORY, xcvii

give rise to several stocks of Dicksons. They left their name at three places called Dixon-ground. One in Hawkshead (afterwards called High house and the Castle, the writer's own home), Coniston and Dalton.

Dodgson. About half of the wills under this name in the Richmond Calendar are from this parish. They left their name at Dodgson-ground between Sand-ground and Sawrey-ground. They were also of Hawkshead Hill, Hawkshead, Nibthwaite, and elsewhere.

Dodgson, like Hodgson, was originally Rogersson.

Fisher. — Although fairly numerous in the parish, there are but few local wills of this family, and they probably came from the banks of the Morecambe Bay, where they obtained their name.

Frearson. — There are but a few wills extant of this name, and most of the earlier are from this parish. The name may be originally Friarsson.

Harrison. — Like Dickson the name is common throughout the Archdeaconry. In Hawkshead they belonged to Colinpit, Low Wray, Howhead, Tarnhows, Waterhead, etc.

Hodgson. — Another name common in the Archdeaconry. Found locally at Tarnhows, Bouth in Colton, Gallow- barrow, Hollinbank, Watterson ground, Tilberthwaite, Oxenfell, etc. See Dodgson.

Holm, Holmes. — Holme-ground, in the fell at the north-west corner of the parish, was the chief settlement of this family in the parish : and they are found rather thickly within and without the parish boundary in that quarter, at Oxenfell, Hodgeclose, Tilberthwaite, and Yewtree, and elsewhere at Claife, Outgate, and Colton. The name signifies an island, or a piece of ground liable to be flooded into an island, and not improbably their original home is near the coast.

Jackson is so common everywhere that it needs no com- ment. G

xcviii THE REGISTERS AND THEIR STORY.

Keen, Keene.—This name seems almost peculiar to Hawkshead in the Archdeaconry. They were chiefly settled close to Hawkshead, at Keene-ground, Thompson-ground, etc., but also occur at Yewtree, Cowpark, and Oxenpark. The name is probably Norse.

Kirkby, Kirby— These were all branches of the ancient stock of Kirkby of Kirkby Hall, who strayed north-east. They are found at Holling bank, Monk Coniston, Sawrey- ground, Rusland, etc.

A»/>*.— -This name belongs to the parishes of Cartmel and Hawkshead, and it has been derived from old Norse hnipr, Suio-Goth. Knip, a sharp or narrow ridge." In Hawkshead they are found in Monk Coniston, Grize- dale, and elsewhere. Gnype occurs as a name in the Furness Coucher-book (temp. Ric. II.), and there is a place of the name in Broughton.

Mackercth. — This is a very characteristic local name, about twenty-six out of thirty wills proved in the Archdeaconry being in Hawkshead. They were chiefly of Sawrey, Skclwith, Outgate, and Thompson-ground. The meaning of the name is obscure, but the family may well be autochthonous.

Rawlinson. — This was a very strong high Furness clan, who are still represented as landowners in the district. They existed as an armigerous family at Grathwaite, where they supplanted the Sawreys, and at Carke Hall in Cart- mel. Besides these places the name was scattered all over the parish, but was especially strong in Colton, where they were to be found at Greenhead and Rui land. Grizedale Hall belonged also to them at one tim< and in Monk Coniston they left their name at Rawlinson ground. They are probably of purely local origin. Raw- lin is a form of Rawland or Rowland.

* Robert Ferguson: "Northmen in Cumberland and Westmorland" (London, 1856). Mr. W. G. Collingwood, in a paper on "Some Manx Names in Cumbria" (in Vol. XIII. "Transactions Cumb. & Westm. Arch, and Antiq. Soc."), gives " gnipa,"— a peak.

THE REGISTERS AND THEIR STORY, xcix

Rigge. — This is the second strongest of all the families in Hawkshead in point of numbers, and out of one hundred and forty-four wills proved in the Archdeaconry ninety- seven are of Hawkshead. They were chiefly located about Hawkshead itself, where in fact there appear to be few farms which was not at one period or another inhabited by a Rigge. Further afield they were found at Satterthwaite, Sawrey, Haverthwaite, Watterson-ground, Penny Bridge, etc. They strayed to Bouth and Nib- thwaite, but seldom got out of the old parish. Keen- ground, at the beginning of the last century, belonged to a family of the name, which is now represented by the Rigges of Woodbroughton in Cartmcl. The family pro- bably grew upon the land, and took their name from some local feature.

A place called " rig " occurs in the boundary of Furness Fells, as set out in the agreement of 1196, between the head of Thurston water and Crake river ; but it is also found elsewhere.

Robinson. — Not specially belonging to the parish. Robin is, of course, a diminutive of Robert.

Sandys. — This ancient family migrated from St. Bees in Cum- berland, and settled at Grathwaite about the i$th century, where they are still represented. The name occurs also at Bouth, Hawkshead, Grizedale, and Finsthwaite, and no doubt all are of the same stock.

Satterthwaite. — This, the third strongest family in Hawks- head, is one of the few which evidently takes its name from a place in the parish : and is, of course, of purely local origin. The meaning of the place name is, without doubt, the setr or settlement in the thveit or woodland clearing. This name seems to have spread less than the other great stocks, and out of eighty wills in the Archdeaconry seventy are of this parish. They were found at Satterthwaite itself (where, however, they were less strong than at other places), Sawrey, Colthouse,

c THE REGISTERS AND THEIR STORY.

Parkamoor, Roger-ground, etc. Colthouse was the main stronghold of the name, and the family, which is still represented there, have long been members of the Society of Friends.

Sawrey. — Is another purely indigenous stock, but not so prolific as Satterthwaite and Rigge, and now unfortunately nearly extinct. In the time of Henry VIII. there was an armigerous family of this name at Low Grathwaite, who migrated to Plumpton Hall near Ulverston, and were supplanted at Grathwaite by the Rawlinsons. Originally, of course, they were of Sawrey, but out of forty-three wills of Sawreys within the parish, but five are of that place. On the other hand they did not stray out of the parish, for there are but sixty-one wills of the name between 1457 and 1748. In the north of the parish they left their name at Sawrey- ground, where they disappeared about 1700. The name was also widely spread elsewhere in the parish.

The origin of the place name is doubtful. It may be Saur-a, the Sour or Muddywater — a derivation not peculiarly applicable ; or possibly South Wray, in dis- tinction to Wray proper at the north end of Claife.

Sourer and Sourei are among the old forms of the word.

Scale, Scales. — The Scales family no doubt migrated from Scales in Aldingham. They are mostly found in the south part of the parish at Colton and Grizedale.

Strickland. — There was a colony of Stricklands in Colton

chiefly at Iconthwaite, Rusland, etc. They may well

have been a branch from the distinguished family of Sizergh.

Taylors. — This was a very prolific stock over the south part of the old parish at Finsthwaite, Nibthwaite, Thwaite- head, Colton, Penny Bridge, etc. The name is of course by no means confined to the district.

THE REGISTERS AND THEIR STORY. ci

Tomlinson. — The name is numerous outside the parish. Within it they were found at Grizedale, Hawkshead, Roger-ground, etc.

Townson. — This name is probably originally a contraction of the last. They left their name at Townson-ground in Monk Coniston. This house probably stood where the present Tent cottage is.

Turner. — Belongs chiefly to the south part of the parish, being found at Colton, Rusland, Satterthwaite, Nibthwaite, and Haverthwaite, and further north at Outgate and Knipe fold. This is an occupation name, and in the Certificate of the Revenues of the Abbey (37 Hen. VIII.), there is mentioned the industry of making " sadeltrees, cartwheles, cuppes, etc., wrought by Cowpers and Turners."

Walker. — This name is widely spread. There is Walker- ground near the town.

Watterson. — This name, the first stage in the process of con- traction from Walterson to Watson, seems peculiar in the Archdeaconry to Hawkshead, as three out of the four wills under this name belong to the parish. Although the stock was not very prolific, we find Watterson-ground near Outgate.

Wilson. — This name is common in Westmorland and Furness. In Hawkshead they existed at Colton, Crosslands, Rusland, Oxenfell, Fieldhead, Skelwith, etc. The family of Wilson, who have now been for many generations at High Wray, originally came from Langdale.*

Among the many other names to be seen in the index, the one or two occurrences of the name of Besbrown may be noticed, as the stock, which must have sprung from Baisbrown, in Great Langdale, appears to be practically extinct now. The name Blealelme, which occurs once (1606), is interesting, as it appears to be the same as Blelham, the small sheet of water

* The name Blumer is always spelled with a mark of contraction above the u ; for what reason I am at a loss to say.

cii THE REGISTERS AND THEIR STORY.

near Wray. This name Blelham is of some interest as being one of the very few place names in High Furness bearing the Saxon suffix ham. It is of course possible that the tarn received its name from some family early extinct of the name of Blelham, or, as we have it here, Blealelme, instead of having given its name to that family.

Another series of names will strike the reader as curious, differing as they do in every way from the rest. These are Godmunt (or Godmunte), Moser (or Mozer), Phemcke, Puthpker (Pughpker or Poughpker), and Raylesley (or Relsle). These are names brought into the lake district in the i6th century by the German copper-mining colonies at Keswick, and per- haps also at Coniston. The names got sadly mauled and altered in the lakes, and many and curious were the variations they went through in the hands of the keepers of the parish registers : — *

Baptisms, 1608.

Aprill Ith Hans Mozer fil : Martini

Burials, 1609.

December xxvth Michaell Suckmantle a Dutchman

Entries in the following form occur occasionally, and pro- bably denote illegitimacy : —

Baptisms 1635.

August iijth Rowland ffleemeing alias Rawlinson

Amongst the less common Christian names we find Abraham, Ambrose, Balthazar (Pughpker), Barnard, Bartle and Bartho- lemew, Cornelius, Ferdinando, Gawen, Hopkin, Huan, Jenkin, Jepthah, Jeremiah, Johnathan, Joell, Josuah, Lament, Nathan, Oswald, Renald, Sander, and Theophilus. Amongst the women, Barbary, Bathsheba, Christibel, Deborah, Dinah, Ealse, Emmas, Emmott, Gebaye, Gilliane, Judeth, Luck, Magdalen, Naamah, Obedience, Prudence, Rachel, Radagunga, Rebecca, Rosamond, Tomalin, Towsy, and Zuriall.

*See "The German Miners at Keswick," by J. Fisher Crosthwaite, F.S.A. ("Transactions Cumb. and Westm. Arch, and Antiq. Soc.," Vol. VI., p. 344).

THE REGISTERS AND THEIR STORY. ciii

Elizabeth in the early registers is always Elsabeth, but an early example of the modern spelling occurs in 1600.

An early example of the use of a surname for baptismal name is found in 1703: —

Baptisms.

June : 8 : Wilkinson Braithw1 fil Gaun de Braithway

We find a few instances of nicknames, but they are not common : —

Burials, 1604.

Marche viijth Christopher Satterthwt called Toy

Burials, 1673.

May 25th Issabell Rigge who dyed att fieldhead called greate I bee ....

Christenings, 1695.

March 1 5 : Agnes ffisher fil John bright Anthony daughters bastard.

Burials, 1696.

March 30 : Agnes ffisher alias Rigge bright Anthony daughters bastard.

The next is evidently a foundling : —

Burials, 1608.

November xvijth John wch God sent us.

Burials, 1620.

Aprill xxixth ffearful Allen fil. Geo : Sands

The next curious entry may possibly have some such meaning as the titles given to prominent statesmen in the Westmorland fells, viz., King of Mardale and King of Patterdale :—

Burials, 1638.

January ijth Queene of Clappersgate

The last is even more difficult of explanation : — Burials, 1699.

ffcbruary xxvijth Jo : Rigg lord.

civ THE REGISTERS AND THEIR STORY.

With regard to the foregoing, I can only state the following curious facts, which may throw some light on it. As late as a generation ago there was held at the hamlet of Outgate, within this parish, a curious mock Court, which may possibly have been of great antiquity, although in the belief of those who are now living and have heard of it, it was not so. Certain residents of the little hamlet were elected to the following posts : —

*John Martin The Bishop.

William Warriner of Birkwray Lord Short ot Birkwray.

tjohn Rigg Justice.

Rowley Scales ... Parson.

This quorum sat upon and really adjudicated minor offences, imposing (as far as I can ascertain) small fines on cases of drunkenness, etc. The Court did not, it appears, sit on any special day of the year, and those who remember it regard it as a sort of frolic. It may really, however, have acted as a slight check on the behaviour of the wilder spirits, in the days when Petty Sessions were held no nearer then Ulver- ston on Lake Side. The above entry, however, may refer to something of the sort two hundred and sixty years ago, and the whole thing may have some analogy to the mock Mayors formerly elected in various parts of the country.

* His son, Thomas Martin, of Fieldhead, only died in 1895 at an advanced age. By the death of "Tommy," as he was generally called, the parish lost one whose simple and honest nature made him beloved by all who knew him. Thomas Martin in earlier years was a man of great personal strength ; and the upright massive form and handsome head of the old labourer, as we last knew him in his old age, will remain long in the memories of all who were acquainted with him.

f Father to the present Mr. James Rigg, of Outgate.

Register Booke for the pishe of haukeshead Intended for the Registeringe of all such Marri(ages) Chrisinings and Burialls as shall hereafter happen within the sayd pishe made the Twenty fifte day of March in the tenth yeare of the Raigne of our most gratious Soueraigne Lady Elizabeth by the grace of God Queen of England Scotland ffrance and Ireland defender of the ffaith &c Ano Domi 1568

Inpr* BAPTIZATIONES INFANTIU Ano Domi 1568

March xxvth Jane Banks

eode die Elsabeth Satterthwaite Aprill iiijth James Sawrey eode die Margarett Braithwaite

vth William Rawlinsone vijth Clement Townesone xxiijth Margrett Banke xxiiijth Ellinoer Braithwaite xxviijth Ann Jacksone May firste Myles Mackareth iiijth John Rigge xiijth William Rigge xviijth Issabell Mackareth June firste John Rigge

xiiijth William Rigge Jully second John Mackareth

vth Robert Braithwaite

HAWKSHEAD PARISH REGISTER.

xjth Symond Kirkby xxjth Grace Townesone August vjth Dorothy Satterthwaite

vijth Ann Braithwaite September viijth Margrett Satterthwaite code die Richard Rigge

xth Margrett ffell xvjth Margrett Braithwaite October iijth Jennett Benson

vijth Agnes Satterthwaite xth Sybell Satterthwaite xxiiijth Margrett ffisher November iijth George Braithwaite vijth Clement Towneson xixth George Berwick december vijth Robert Walker xiijth Clement Rigge xixth Margrett Braithwaite January vth John Knype

vijth Issabell Braithwaite xxxth Christofor Kirkby ffebruary iiijth Katherine Holme

xjth Agnes Walker code die Bernard dixeson xiiijth Issabell Braithwaite xvjth Sybell Walker xxiijth Elsabeth Townesone xxjiijth Issabell Satterthwaite March iijth George Rooke vijth George Holme xiijth Margrett Braithwaite xviijth Jennett Mackereth xxjth Agnes Tyson xxiijth Margrett Braithwaite xxiiijth Ellinor Satterthwaite

HAWKSHEAD PARISH REGISTER.

NUPTLE ANNO PREDICTO.

July iijth Robert Greave & Jennett Braithwaite

code John Greave & Issabell Braithwaite August 2d Anthony Dixeson & Jennett Borwicke vijth William Rigge & Issabell Rigge eode John Taylor and Jennett Ashburner xivth Richard Rigge & Jennett Robinson xxijto Bryam Satterthwaite & Ellinor Walker Septembr xixth James Braithwaite & Mary Garnett October xth Rowland Turner & Elsabeth Kirkby

xxiiijth George Rigge & Alice dodgson November vijth William Banke & Elsabeth Hodgson xiiijth Willm holme & Jennett Walker xxjth Allan Pennington & Issabell Scale ffebruary vth Thomas Grigge and Margrett Rigge

SEPULTURE ANNO PREDICTO

Aprill iiijth Jennett Benson eode die Jennett Rigge

xth James Scale xviiijth William hyrdson May iith Margrett Johnson

. . . Robert Kirkby viiith Agnes .... xiijth Willim Ashburner eode die Jane dodgson

xvth Roberte Rawlinsone xvijth Steven Watterson June iiijth Sibell Rigge

xixth John Hirdson xxviijth Mabell Rigge July firste Elsabeth Satterthwaite iijth Issabell Walker iiijth Margaret hirdson ixth Mabell Rowlinson xxth Walter Willson Auguste ith Roberte Blumer

HAWKSHEAD PARISH REGISTER.

iijth John Tayler viijth Hughe Braithwaite xxijth Margaret Banke Sept vijth Myles Sands code die John Turner xxviijth Alice Holme Novemb: iiijth Elsabeth Tayler Decemb: iijth Willme Dracke January xth Roberte Rigge code die Emmas Pennington

xijth Margarett Satterthwte xiiijth Antonie Dodgson xvijth Oswald Keen February ijth Elsabeth Knype

vth John Rigge xxth Robert Tailer xxiijth Jenatt Tompson March vjth Jenatt Holme viijth Willme Hirdson xth Agnes Watterson xjth Alice Pennington xijth Wm Braithwaite xiijth Roberte Walker xiiijth Richard Holme xviijth Elsabeth Rawlinson xixth Thomas Keen finis

BAPTIZATIONES INFANTlC 1569

March xxvjth Issabell Holme xxviijth John Hodgson Aprill iiij^ Roberte Taylor xxiijth George Braithw1 xxvth Willme Satterthwaite xxixth Ann Sawrey May ixth Margaret Macrethe

xjth George Dixson xixth Clement Rigge

HAWKSHEAD PARISH REGISTER.

xxvjth Roberta Ashburner xxviijth Jenatt Tow(nesone) xxxth Elliner Braithwaite July xjth Margaret ffisher xiijth James Sattertwt xxth Sibell Rigge xxiijth Thomas Holme code die Agnes Rigge

xxvth xpofer Nicholson code die Rowland ffrearson Auguste xxviijth xpofer Walker September vijth George Dodgson

ixth Isabell Rigge xiiijth Ealse. Banke xvjth Wm Satterthwaite xixth Issabell Ashburner October xiiijth Willme Macrethe

xviijth(?) John Tailer Novemb: iiijth Cuthberte Rigge

xvjth Ellinor Tayler Decemb: xxjjth Jenatt Banke

xxiiijth Jenatt Satterthwte eodem die Jenatt Macrethe January xxixth Rowland Pennington code die Leonard Dodgson

xxxth Margaret Tayler ffebruary xxth Mabell Jackson Marche vth Margaret Banke code die Issabell Dodgson viijth Roberte Tompson xiiijth Williame Walker xvijth George Benson

NUPTI^: A° PREDICTO

Auguste vijth Hughe Jackson & Margaret Walker

xxjth Thomas Macrethe & Issabell Hirdson xxviijth John Braithwaite & Elline Braithwaite,

6 HAWKSHEAD PARISH REGISTER.

Septembe xith Anthonie Satterthwaite & Mabell Jackson Octob: xvith Roberta Tayler & Mabell Walker

xxiijth John Braithwaite & Issabell Braithwaite xxxth Bryam Benson & Mabell Benson

SEPULTURE A° PREDICTO

Aprill ixth John Macrethe xth Willme Sands xixth Mabell Rigge code die Williame Turner

xxiijth Jenatt Satterthwte xxviijth Roberte Hirdson eodem die Agnes Macrethe May ijth Thomas Dodgson xiijth Issabell Holme xixth George Dodgson xxjth Elsabethe Keen xxvth Issabell Rigge xxviijth Cathren Rawlinson xxixth Richard ffleminge June xvth James Brathwaite

xxjth Holme (sic) July ixth Alice Willson xiiijth John Stamforthe xviijth Robert Hobson Auguste xijth Clement Banks xiiijth Agnes Benson xvijth Elsabeth Towers Septemb: ith Issabell Rigge

iijth Rowland Walker xviijth Hughe Blurher Octobr: ith Agnes Tayler

viijth Margaret Braithw1 xxxth Renald Macrethe Novemb: viijth Margarett Towenson xth Cathren Pennington xxth John Tayler

HAWKSHEAD PARISH REGISTER.

xxviijth Charles Macrethe Decemb: xvijth James Satterthw1 January ixth Allice Kellatte xijth John Ashburner xvth Richard Ashburner xvijth Roberte Davide xviijth Margarett ffleminge ffebruary xijth Agnes Hirdson xviijth Mabell Dodgson xxvijth Rowland Pennington March iiijth Margaret Tyson finis

BAPTIZATIONES INFANTIU A° 1570

March xxviijth Agnes Tayler Aprill xxiijth Leonard Dodgson

xxvjth Thomas Scale May xxixth Elsabeth Tyson June ijth Margarett Braithwaite

vjth Agnes Scale code die Issabell sine patre note

xxxth Sibell Walker July xvijth Issabell Braithwaite Auguste ith Robert Banks vth James Benson xxixth Roberte Rigge Octob : xxijth Agnes Macrethe

xxviijth Willrhe Sawrey eode die Willrhe Walker Novemb : ijth George Braithwaite xijth Issabell Braithwaite xiijth Agnes Braithwaite xixth Myles Howson xxvjth Mabell Parke xxvijth Issabell Rigge Decemb iith Willme Satterthwaite vth Margarett Benson ixth Cathren Holme

HAWKSHEAD PARISH REGISTER

xxiiijth Agnes Hodgson xxvjth Alice Macrethe January iijth Elsabeth Towenson

xth Emmas Tayler xiijth Margarett Braithwaite xxiiijth Ellinor Pepper xxvjth James Satterthwait xxvijth Williame Satterthwaite xxviijth Thomas Satterthwaite ffebruary ijth Clement Holme iijth George Macrethe iiijth James Braithwaite xiijth Edward Bownes xvjth Thomas Braithwaite xixth Michaell Benson code die Jenatt Jackson

xxvth Margarett Tomson xxvijth Margarett Braithwaite code die Henery Sawrey March iith George Satterthwaite xjth Charles Satterthwaite Williame Sands

ANNO PREDICTO

July ijth John Benson & Margaret Sands xvjth Mathewe Joppson & Alice Rigge Auguste xiijth George Harrison & Elline Banke Septemb. iijth Richard Rigge & Agnes Holme xlh Edward Walker & Ann Walker Octob: ith Anthonie Kirkby & Issabell Rigge xxijth wm Hodgson & Cathren Hodgson xxix'h W™ Rigge & Elline Rigge January xxviijth Roberte & Agnes Hodgson

SEPULTURE ANNO PREDICTO

Marche xxvijth Rowland Tayler Aprill iiijth Richard Rawlinson

HAWKSHEAD PARISH REGISTER.

code die Agnes Rigge code die Agnes Dixson vth Thomas Sands vjth Issabell Readheade ixth John Braithwaite xxiijth Sibell Rigge xxvijth John Hodgson May ijth William Towers

vth Elsabethe Hodgson vijth Agnes Holme xth Roberte Satterthwaite code die Agnes Hodgson xiiijth Jenatt wreighte xvijth Elsabethe Willson June vijth Elsabethe Hodgson xjth ux Willme Hirdson July xviijth Jenatt Hobson code die Leonard Dodgson

xxvjth Catherine Rigge Auguste ixth Margaret Towenson xvth Rowland Strickland Septemb : xvijth Issabell ffisher xxvijth Myles Walker Octob : xth Margaret Turner Novemb : iiijth Jenatt Hirdson vjth xpofer Hodgson xjth Charles Benson xviijth Johne Rawlinson xixth Alice Hobson xxxth Myles Howson Decemb : iijth Rowland Ashburner iiijth Leonard Knype ixth Thomas Willson xth Thomas Jackson xvth Agnes ffleminge xixth Mabell ffrearson xxvjth Jenatt Walker

io HAWKSHEAD PARISH REGISTER.

January vijth Xpoper Scotson jxth Agnes Scale xth Robte Rawlinson xvth Issabell Rigge xviijth Roberte Benson xxiijth Margaret Sands ffebruary viijth Margaret Tayler

code die Elsabeth Towenson ixth Jenatt Braithwaite xxth Margaret Tayler xxjth Jenatt Scale xxiijth Agnes Macrethe xxvth George Macrethe Marche ith Margaret Jackson vth Elsabethe Tayler xvth Xpofer Hirdson xvijth Williame Jackson finis hujus Ann

BAPTIZATIONES INFANTIU A° 1571

Aprill xjth George Rigge xvth John Towenson xvjth Roberte Barwicke xxijth Robte Hodgson xxvijth George Benson May jth Rowland Braithwaite

iiijth Myles Willson code die Issabell Tayler

xxth Issabell Braithwaite xxvth Elline Kirkby xxxth Margarett Tayler xxxjth Edmund Walker June iijth Robte Dixson

xth Gyles Dodgson xxth Richard Kirkby July vth Elsabeth Macrethe xiiijth Emmas Holme

HAWKSHEAD PARISH REGISTER. u

xxiijth John Willson xxixth Rowland Braithwaite Auguste xvjth Agnes Satterthwaite xixth Renalde Satterthwaite xxijth Agnes Newby xxvjth Robte ffisher Septemb : iijth Edward Blurher xijth Wm Braithwaite xvjth Margaret Dodgson Octob : vjth George Banke

ixth Margaret Braithwaite xth Elsabeth Dodgson xxith Jenatt Rigge Novemb : xith James Watterson code die Richard Keene

xxth James Satterthwaite Decemb : xvjth Jenatt Braithwaite code die Elsabeth Braithw1 xxjth Sibell Rigge xxxth Roberte rfrearson January vjth Bryame Satterthwaite

xvth Thomas Knype xvijth Richard Crosfielde eode die Willme Crosfielde xviijth Emmas Macrethe xixth Agnes Tayler ffebruary xxijth Issabell Braithwaite Marche vth Roger Satterthwaite eode die George Satterthw1 vjth Cathren Rigge vijth Leonard ffell xvjth Elsabeth Rigge xxijth Elsabeth Dodgson xxiijth John Tomson

12 HAWKSHEAD PARISH REGISTER.

NUPTI^E ANNO PREDICTO

July xxviijth Thomas Satterthw1 & Sibell Rigge Auguste iijth Renald Braithw4 & Issabell Sands xijth Richard Satterthw4 & Alice Walker xixth John Keen & Agnes Rigge Septemb: ijth John Watterson & Margaret Sawrey

ixth Barnard Walker & Margaret Stainbank xvjth John Tonson & Cathren Tayler xxxth John Grave & Agnes Dodgson code die Robte Dixson & Agnes Braithwaite Octob: xiiijth Edward Rawes & Agnes Sands Novemb: xjth Richard Keene & Issabell Sands xxvth Wm Turner & Sibell Walker xxvjth Renald Bateman & Agnes Braithwaite Decemb : ith John Watterson & Mabell Pennington

SEPULTURE ANNO PREDICTO

Aprill viijth Issabell Rawlinson xiijth Margaret Turner xxjth Myles Dixson xxiijth Margaret Stricklande May xjth Wm Satterthwaite xviijth Issabell Rawlinson xxiiijth Agnes Braithwaite June xxijth Cathren Turner July ith Anthonie Satterthwaite

xiiijth Agnes Holme xx .... Issabell Kellate xxviijth John Willson Auguste iijth Jenatt Blurher code die Ealse Pennington code die Emmas Holme xvijth Issabell Rigge

xth Margaret Pennington xiijth Jenatt Watterson xiiijth Agnes Sands

HAWKSHEAD PARISH REGISTER. 13

Septemb : xvijth Agnes Braithwaite Octob: xvth Richard Tayler

xxixth Mabell Pennington Novemb : xvjth Edward Blumer

xxvjth Wm Dodgson Decemb ith Robte Kellatte

iijth John Braithwaite code die Mabell Pennington xxixth Jenatt Braithwaite January vijth William Dodgson

xth John Robinson xiiijth Cathren Dodgson xxijth Margaret Pennington xxiijth John Turner ffebruary xxijth Margaret Satterthwaite

xxvth Willrhe Pennington Marche ith Elsabethe Partrigge code die pd for Edmund Blumer vijth Mabell Robinson

finis hujus anni

BAPTIZATIONES INFANTIU 1572

Aprill ijth Alice Hobson ixth Margaret Rigge xth Dorathy Dodgson xviijth Jenatt Tayler xxth Barnard Benson xxvth Grace ffrearson May viijth Margaret Tayler

xxijth Thomas Banke June ijth Elsabeth Holme

iijth Barnard Macrethe xvjth Dorathy ffleminge xxiijth Issabell Macrethe July xvijth Issabell Holme iiijth Mabell Braithw1 Septemb. xxijth Issabell Walker

i4 HAWKSHEAD PARISH REGISTER.

xxiijth Charles Braithwaite xxvjth Arthure Macrethe xxviijth Roberte Willson Octob : vth Margaret Macrethe

xxjth Issabell Walker xxvjth Clement Turner Novembr. xxviijth Adame Walker Decemb : iijth Ellinor Sands

vth Elline Satterthwaite xiijth Anthonie Dodgson xxijth Willme Nicholson xxiijth Issabell Kirkby January xth Richard Walker

xijth Agnes Rigge xxijth George Rigge ffebruary ith George Tayler

vth Margarett Nicholson xjth Henery Banke xijth Barnard Benson xiiijth Issabell Tonson xviijtb Dorathy Blumer xxiiijth James Rigge Marche xxvijth Jenatt Braithwaite

NUPTLE ANNO PREDICTO

July xiijth Leonard Towenson & Emmas Blurher code die Cuthberte Blurher & Jenatt Ashburner xxth Thomas Bownes & Elsabeth Barwicke xxvijth Rowland Pennington & Elsabeth Walker August : iijth Edward Holme & Jenatt Holme

xth Edward Sawrey & Jennatt Braithwaite xvijtb Rger ffisher & Agnes Prette

Octob : vth George Ashburner ? & Margaret B

xijth Gyles Walker & Isabell

xxxi'b Wra Satterthw* &

Novemb: ijth John Walker & Margaret Scale

xxixth John ffrearson & Elsabeth ffrearson

HAWKSHEAD PARISH REGISTER. 15

January xviijth Symond Rigge & Mabell Tayler xixth Wm Sawrey & Jenatt Braithwaite

SEPULTURE ANNO PREDICTO

Marche xxxth Elsabeth Banks Aprill viijth Willrhe Keene code die Issabell Macrethe xijth Williame Howson June xxth Elsabethe Dodgson July viijth Rowland Scale

xxith John Turner Auguste ijth Elsabeth Rigge vth Alice Braithwaite xith Jenatt Braithwaite xiijth Jenatt Strickland xxijlh Leonard Rigge code die Wm Tayler

xxxith Clement Holme Septemb ith Margaret Braithwaite code die John Tayler

vth Margaret Hirdson Octob : vth Grace ffrearson xxijth Agnes Sawrey xxvijth John Watterson Novemb : xixth Jenatt Rigge

xxjth Margaret Braithwaite xxiijth Lawrence Rigge xxvjth Agnes Chamney xxxth George Sands Decemb : iijth Elsabethe Dodgson iiijth Margaret Todde xijth James Braithwaite code die Agnes Chamney

xviijth Agnes Scale code die ux Wm Rawlinson

xxijth Agnes Rigge code die Margaret Macrethe

1 6 HAWKSHEAD PARISH REGISTER.

xxiijth Williame Robinson xxvjth Jenatt Chamney xxixth Issabell Willson xxxth James Rawlinson xxxjth Alice Kirkby January jth Agnes Newby xth Myles Holme xjth Agnes Tonson xiiijth Rowland Pennington xviijth Issabell Satterthwaite

xxth John Scale xxiijth Wm Nicholson code die Jenatt Brockbanke

xxviijth George Rigge ffebruary vth George Chamney

ixth Cathren Turner xxvth Jenatte Walker code die Jenatt Dodgson xxvjth Alice Strickland Marche viith John Braithwaite

xiiijth Cathren Braithwaite xvth Edward Pennington xviijth Margaret Braithwaite code die Issabell Dodgson xixth Richard Walker xxijth Agnes Blumer xxiijth John Atkinson

finis hujus Anni

BAPTIZATIONES INFANTIU A° 1573 Marche xxixth Leonard Knype Aprill jth Thomas Satterthwaite xth James Pepper xvth Symond Blumer code die Thomas Scale

xvjth Elsabeth Satterthwt xxjth George Braithwaite

HAWKSHEAD PARISH REGISTER. 17

May iijth Willme Kirkby xvjth Nicholas Tayler xxjth George Braithwaite xxiiijth George Dixson June xxvth Barnard Benson May vijth John Pennington xijth Robte Walker xiijth Issabell Watterson xixth Margaret Banks Auguste xviijth George Rigge

xxjth Willme Benson xxixth David Rooke Septemb : ixth Dorothy Ashburner

xiijth Bryame Macrethe code die Elsabethe Satterthw1

xxth Issabell Braithwaite code die Myles Parke xxiiith Jenatt ffrearson xxxth Elsabethe Ashburner Octob : jth Roberte Borowe

xvjth Brigett Satterthwaite eode die Sibell Holme

xviijth Margaret Satterthwaite xixth Xpofer Willson xxvijth Issabell Benson Novemb : iijth Willme Sawrey

iiijth Margaret Satterthwaite xith Rowland Gregge Decemb: xvjth Issabell Holme

xixth Issabell Satterthwaite xxth Myles Braithwaite eode die Issabell Tonson xxiijth Issabell Braithwaite xxvth Elsabethe Knype xxxth Elsabethe Rigge January xth ffrancis Banke xvijth Percivell Holme

1 8 HAWKSHEAD PARISH REGISTER.

xxixth Mabell Scale ffebruary xiijth Roger Tomson xxvith Mabell Dodgson xxvijth Henery Rigge March jth Elsabethe Macrethe ixth John ffisher xijth xpofer Tayler code die Rowland Tailer xvijth Willme Satterthw1

NUPTLE ANNO PREDICTO

July xixth Wm Hirdson & Elsabethe Blurher code die Robte Jackson & Agnes Braithwaite

xxvjth Thomas Robinson & Elsabethe Tonsone Auguste ijth Jefferay Braithw1 & Mabell Watterson code die Robte Tonson & Jenatt Atkinsone

xvjth Willme Braithw* & Margaret Sawrey code die Cuthberte Birkheade & Jenatt Sands xxiijth Brya Braithwaite & Issabell Tonson eode die Thomas Howie & Issabell Sawrey Septemb: vjth Roberte Tayler & Cathren Rigge

xth Richard Jackson & Jenatt coke xxth John Hodgson & Jenatt Benson xxvijth Wm Rigge & Alice Keene Octob: xvijth Rowland dodgson & Mabell Dodgson Novemb : xvth James Braithw1 & Jenatt Rigge ffebruary xiijth Renalde Holme & Issabell Dixson

SEPULTURE ANNO PREDICTO

March xxviijth Leonard Braithwaite

xxxjth Elsabeth ffleminge April ith James Rigge

iijth Margaret nill

vjth Agnes Tonson

viijth Margaret Parkinson

xijth Mabell Holme

xvth Elsabeth Hodgson

HAWKSHEAD PARISH REGISTER. 19

code die Jenatt Dodgson code die Margarete Dodgson xv{th Allexander Holme xxijth Thomas Willson xxiijth Williame Satterthwaite xxxth Issabell Satterthwaite May iijth Thomas Benson

ixth Robte Rigge xiijth Thomas Hodgson xvjth John Tayler xxth John Nicholson •

xxvjth George Braithwaite xxviijth Leonard Holme xxxjth Willme Kirkby June ith Edward Rawlinson viith Mabell Blumer xvth Willme Hodgson xxjth Jenatt keene xxijth John Birkhead xxiiijth Robert Holme xxxth John Hirdson July xth Alice Rooke

xiijth Gilbert Pennington code die George Dixson xiiijth Jenatt Sawrey xxth Jenatt Tayler Auguste iiijth Myles Keen

xijth John Pennington xiijth Cathren Holme xxviijth Issabell ffleminge Septemb : iiijth Emmas Ashburner

viijth Issabell Robinson code die Elsabeth Turner

xxiijth Cathren Braithwaite Octob: iiijth Jenatt Walker xijth Wm Hodgson xxth Roberte Walker

20

HAWKSHEAD PARISH REGISTER.

xxvjth Alice Towers Novemb : jth Myles Rigge xvth John Willson xxvth Wm Sawrey Decemb : vjth Alice Braithwaite

xith Emmas Tayler xvijth Alice Tayler xxxth Issabell Hirdson January iijth Issabell Braithwaite iiijth Jenatt Macrethe vijth Sibell Brockbanke xxvijth Elsabethe Braithwaite

xxxth Elsabeth Knype ffebruary xxth Margaret Walker

xxijth James Braithwaite code die Agnes Dodgson xxvijth Mariane Moore Marche iijth Mabell Pole iiijth \vm Tayler xvijth Jenatt Turner xxijth Myles Braithwaite finis hujus Anni

BAPTIZATIONES INFANTIU A° 1574

Aprill vijth Xpofer Sands xviijth Sibell Tayler eode die Robte Braithwaite

xxxth Elline Rigge May iiijth Jenatt Tonson

xth Anthonie Sawrey xxijth Agnes rfisher June vijth Dorathy Holme

xth wm Walker eode die Clement Hirdson

xxth Elline Tayler xxiiijth John ffleminge July xxiijth Willme Braithwaite

HAWKSIfEAD PARISH REGISTER. 21

Auguste xxiiijth Bartholemewe Rigge Septemb : vijth James Braithwaite

xijth George Satterthwaite xxvjth Elsabethe Tonson xxixth Thomas Hawe Octob : jfc Robte Walker xiijth Mabell Sadler Novemb: viijtb Richard Rigge Decemb : xiijth Mabell Hodgson January itb John Sawrey

xth James Braithwaite xiiijth Wm Tayler xviijth Wm Walker code die Agnes Nicholson

xiijth Edward Satterthwaite xxvth Margaret Walker xxviijth Edmund Sands code die George Walker ffebruary xiijth Margaret Benson Marche xth Willme Benson

xjth Elsabeth Braithwaite

NUPTLE ANNO PREDICTO

July viijtb Robte Willson & Elsabethe Satterthwaite code die George Atkinson & Agnes Satterthwaite

xviijth John Bowes & Agnes Holme Auguste ith Edwine Rigge & Jenatt Rigge Septemb: vth Myles Braithw* & Elline Rigge Octob: xvijth Wm Watterson & Jenatt Holme Novemb : vijth Wm Macrethe & Agnes Rigge ffebruary xiijtb George Macrethe & Jenatt Satterthwaite

SEPULTURE ANNO PREDICTO

Marche xxvth George Readheade Aprill ixth Mabell Macrethe xvijth George Willson

22 HAWKSHEAD PARISH REGISTER.

xxvjth Elsabeth Turner May xxxtb Issabell Hirdson June viijth Jenatt Walker

xvijth ux Thomas Walker xxvjth Roger Tayler code die Elline Satterthw1 July xxvth Williame Burnes xxixth Robte Dodgson Auguste xiiijth Anthonie Sawrey Septemb : ith Jenatt Turner

xviiijth Mathewe Tayler Octob: iiijth Jenatt Walker

xvth Mabell Braithwaite Novemb : iijth Richard Rigge xjth Sibell Newton