Appendix to Visitations of the Archdeacon of Canterbury

( 75 ) APPENDIX TO VISITATIONS OP THE ARCHDEACON OE CANTERBURY. BY ARTHUR HUSSEY. [The following items of information, extracted from the Acta Curia of the Archdeacon of Canterbury, relate to the Deanery of Westbere. They consist for the most part of suits for unpaid tithe. They include also a record of a cess or rate made upon their lands by the parishioners of Minster in Thanet for the reparation of their Church in the year 1624; of proceedings taken, apparently in the Consistoriul Court, by a parishioner of the same place against an assessment made upon the glebe lands for the repair of the nave of the Church in 1676 ; and of the grant of a certificate of exemption, or licence for religious worship, in favour of " the people of God called Quakers " in the parish of Swalecliff in 1700. The volumes from which these excerpts are made are preserved in the Cathedral Library; there are a few odd volumes in the Wills Office. They are labelled with the title Acta Curia and the years which they cover; only part of the series is numbered. This contribution to Archo3ologia Cantiana forms a suitable appendix to Mr. Hussey's extracts* from the series entitled Comperta et Detecta relating to the parishes of the same Deanery, and shewing the presentments made by churchwardens in the Archdeacon's Court from the accession of Queen Elizabeth to the reign of Queen Anne.—EDITOR.] * Printed in Vols. XXV., XXVI., and XXVII. 76 APPENDIX TO VISITATIONS OP CHISLET. 31 January 1637. Ambrose Eose, senior, and Ambrose Eose, junior, Farmers of the Eectory of the Parish Church of Chislet, sued Eoger Laminge of St. John the Baptist in the Isle of Thanet for unpaid tithe. Vol. 69 (1636-7) Acta Guria. 6 October 1640. Jane Gee, widow, relict and executrix of the testament and last will of John Gee,* clerk, whilst he lived Vicar of the Parish Church of Tenterden [1633—39], sued for unpaid tithe Hugh Finn of the same parish. (Fol. 45.) Vol. 73 (1640-41). MINSTEE. 24 April 1551. John Wildbore,f Vicar of Minster in Thanet [1550—57], brought an action for unpaid tithe against Matthew Griffin of the same parish. Also against William Poley and Edward Long. Vol. — (1550—52). 28 February 1598. John Batchelor, farmer of the Eectory of Minster in Thanet, sued William Troward of the parish of S. Lawrence in Thanet. (Fol. 31.) 20 June 1599. He sued William Swinfield of the same parish for tithe unpaid. (Fol. 101.) Vol. 41 (1598-9). 12 June 1601. Eichard Clerk, D.D.,J Vicar of Minster [1597—1634], sued Nicholas Colbrand of the town of Sandwich for unpaid tithe. (Fol. 156.) Vol. 42 (1599—1601). 25 January 1625. William Jenkin, farmer of the Eectory of the Parish Church of Minster in Thanet, sued Eoger Omer of the same parish for unpaid tithe. (Fol. 192.) Vol. 60 (1623—25). [The following extract is of local interest as giving the names of the parishioners and the amount of land they occupied:—] 1626. A part of the Cess or Taxation objected to by Mr Tanget in the case of Jenkin against the churchwardens of Minster in Thanet, 23 May 1626; taken out of the cess book of the same parish. * See Archceologia Cantiana, Vol. XXV., p. 25; Biotionary of National Biography, vol. xxi. t Ibid., Vol. XVIII. ,p. 449, and XXV., p. 104. X Ibid., Vol. XXV., pi 105. THE ARCHDEACON OE CANTERBURY. 77 " A cess made and granted the ninth day of May by the churchwardens and collectors and others of the parish of Minster, for and towards the reparation of the Church of Minster, at a penny the acre marshlands, and a half-penny the acre upland, as well parishioners as outdwellers, by us whose names are underwritten. John Picard T William Goldfinch ) churchwardens. Peter Ambrose, William Palmer, Eoger Omer, Daniell Pamplett, Stephen Hunt." [Marshlands: William Barbett Isaac Terry . John Fuller Eoger Omer Stephen Hunt Eobert Turner Peter Ambrose Nicholas Consant William Jenken Daniel Pamflett Matthias Jones William Goldfinch Eichard Terry Upland:— William Barbett Isaac Terry . John Fuller. Eoger Omer Stephen Hunt Eobert Turner Peter Ambrose Nicholas Constanl William Jenken Daniel Pamplett Matthias Jones William Goldfinch - ] Aores. 114 43 19 58 160 . 66 30 39 5 55 28 31 35 Acres. 320 125 16 135 210 310 140 100 115 135 100 120 s. 9 3 1 4 13 5 2 3 4 2 2 2 d. 3 7 7 10 4 6 6 3 5 7 4 7 11 Total, £ s. 13 5 5 8 12 5 4 4 5 4 5 d. 4 2 8 7 9 11 10 2 9 7 2 0 Thomas Giles William Palmer William Coffam Henry Arnold John Polyn . Eoger Baker John Brent . Abraham Wood Widow Omer Edward Wildbore Nicholas Stander Thomas Jones Adam Terry 3 9s. 8d. Eichard Terry Adam Terry John Gore . Andrew Whitfielc Abraham Wood Nicholas Stander Widow Omer William Palmer John Bing . William Cossam Henry Arnold John Polyn . Acres. 7 14 6 10 3 10 4 . 23 5 3 31 3 15 Acres. 60 50 80 70 360 19 8 4 7 6 8 6 s. 1 1 2 1 s. 2 2 3 d. 7 2 6 10 3 10 4 11 5 3 7 3 3 d. 6 1 4 2 11 15 0 9 4 4 3 3 4 3 78 APPENDIX TO VISITATIONS OE Eoger Baker John Brent . Edward Allen Henry Cosby Edmund Wildbore James Jones Thomas Vernam . Acres. 8 4 6 6 23 9 2 s. d. 4 2 3 3 11 4 1 Thomas Binge Thomas Wilde John Ambrose Nicholas Jackson Henry Catlin Widow Til son rotal, £5 Os. lOd. Acres. 3 2 4 6 2 3 s. d. 1 1 2 3 1 2 24 March 1626-7. Eeceived back again the Cess Book, out of and by which this above written is registered in the same manner that it was extracted, according to a decree in that behalf made the tenth day of October 1626. William + Goldfinch. Witnesses -. Polycarp Tangett, George Norwood. Vol. 61 (1625-26). 12 April 1676. John Castillion, D.D., farmer of the tithes belonging to the Eectory of the Parish Church of Minster, called Alland Grange. That the Dean and Chapter of the Cathedral and Metropolitical Church of Christ Church, Canterbury, are seized in fee in the right of their Church, and are Proprietaries of the Eectory of Alland Grange, with the appurtenances belonging to the Parish Church of Minster aforesaid. And that Dr. Castillion is the lawful farmer of the said Eectory with the appurtenances, and hath the same in lease from the Dean and Chapter, and so accounted reputed and taken to be. That the Eectory with the appurtenances is, according to the custom used throughout England, charged with the repairs of the chancel of the Parish Church of Minster; and that the Dean and Chapter and their farmers or tenants for the time being have accordingly, time out of mind, maintained, and do still maintain, the chancel in repair, and that by reason thereof neither the rectory nor any part thereof ought, according to the custom of England, to be assessed or taxed towards the repair of the body of the Parish Church, and that it is by law actually discharged from the same, and that notwithstanding the said custom discharged by law the parishioners of Minster have- in fact assessed and taxed the glebe lands, which is part and THE ARCHDEACON OE CANTERBURY. 79 parcel of the rectory, towards the repairs of the body of the Church, without the knowledge or consent of the Dean and Chapter and of Dr. Castillion. That the said rectory doth maintain the repairs of the chancel as is alleged, and the glebe lands, being part of the rectory, is absolved towards the repairs of the body of the Church, but withal alleging that the glebe hath been, time out of mind, and at present is absolved towards the repairing of the body of the Church, according to a custom used in the Parish time out of mind; and that the said cesses have from time to time been constantly paid. Whereupon the judge, for that full proof of neither end in this cause did appear unto him whereby to determine the right of either party, and for that it did not appear that the Dean and Chapter aforesaid and the said Dr. Castillion, the present farmer of the rectory, did ever assent to such assessment or payment, did direct (without prejudice to the right of the Dean and Chapter and Dr. Castillion, the present farmer of the rectory) that all further proceedings as to this present suit shall cease. And in case the parishioners did hereafter assess the glebe towards the repair of the body of the Church, they should bring their suit or action for such assessment, in case they thought fit to demand or require the same. (Fol. 171.) Vol. 77 (1670—78). ST. JOHN'S IN THANET. 16 November 1624. Eichard Gurnard, gent., and George Marly, farmers of the Eector or Grange of Salmeston with Deane or Le Dane, sued for unpaid tithe Geoffrey Jancock or Johncocke of the parish of St. Lawrence in Thanet. (Fol. 153.) Vol. 60 (1623—25). 24 October 1626. They sued Augustine Stowes or Tooes ; also Thomas Giles and William Chillenden, all of Minster. (Fol. 16.) Vol. 62 (1626-7). 10 April 1638. John Tomlin, John Quilter, and Daniel Pamplett, farmers of the Eectory Colonice or Grange of Salmestone with Deane, or called Salmestone alias Dane or Deane, sued James Bennett of the parish of St. Lawrence in Thanet. Vol. 69 (1636-7). 8 0 APPENDIX TO VISITATIONS OE 28 September 1640. They sued one William Bing of the parish of St. Lawrence for unpaid tithe. (Fol. 34.) Vol. 73 (1640-41). ST. PETEE'S IN THANET. 19 October 1624. William Parker, gent., farmer of the rectory of the Parish Church of St. Peter's in Thanet, and further farmer of the rectory of Callis Court or Callis Grange, sued for unpaid tithe Thomas Jenkin of St. John the Baptist in the Isle of Thanet. (Fol. 126.) Vol. 60 (1623—25). SEASALTEE. 14 July 1568. Eobert Ben, farmer of the rectory of Seasalter, sued Thomas Lunse of the same parish for unpaid tithes. Also James Swanton and Stephen Swanton of Whitstable for the like. (Fol. 39.) Vol. — (1567-8). 23 February 1575. Thomas Gardiner, Vicar of the Parish Church of Seasalter, sued Edmund Bicker of the same for tithes and ecclesiastical dues unpaid. (Fol. 50.) Vol.— (1573—78). 17 April 1577. Thomas Gardiner sued John Bownde of Seasalter for unpaid tithe. (Fol. 95.) Vol. — (1578—82). 12 December 1599. Vincent Huffam, Vicar of Seasalter, sued William Hennan of Ospringe for unpaid tithe, £4. (Fol. 198.) Also Hamon Eucke of Selling for 25s. (Fol. 198.) Vol. 41 (1598-9). 4 June 1600. He sued William Crathorne of Whitstable for the like. (Fol. 48.) 22 October 1600. He sued Thomas Cowland of Ospringe and Hamon Eucke of Selling for unpaid tithe. (Fol. 114.) Vol. 42 (1599—1601). 20 July 1614. Edward Gonneston, Vicar of the parish of Seasalter, sued for unpaid tithe Thomas Oliver of Sheldwich. (Fol. 19.) Vol. 53 (1614-15). 24 January 1632. He sued Miles Bull of the parish of All Saints in Canterbury for unpaid tithe. (Fol. 262.) Vol. 65 (1630-31). THE ARCHDEACON OE CANTERBURY. 81 SWAYLECLIFFE. 11 April 1551. Lawrence Bright, Sector of Swaylecliff, sued John Holman for unpaid tithe. Vol. — (1550—52). 12 January 1601. William Cock, Eector of Swaylecliff [1587—1610], sued William Higgins of the parish of Holy Cross, Westgate, Canterbury, for unpaid tithe. Vol. 42 (1599—1601). 4 November 1612. Thomas Cleybrooke, Eector of the Parish Church of Swaylecliff, sued Thomas Gaye of same parish for unpaid tithe. (Fol. 13.) ' Vol. 52 (1612-14). 24 February 1633. He sued for the like John Menvile of the parish of Hackington or St. Stephen's, Canterbury. (Fol. 191.) Vol. 66 (1631—33). To the Archbishop of Canterbury. We whose names are hereunto subscribed, in the behalf of the people of God called Quakers, do desire (according to the Directions of an Act of Parliament, entitled an Act to Exempt His Majesty's Protestant Subjects from the Penalties of certain Laws) that it may be Eegistered in the Eegistry a Meeting place for religious worship in the house of Eobert Barrett in the parish of Swaylecliff in the County of Kent, and that we may have a certificate of the same: Henry Peene, Isaac Collins, John Love. The abovesaicl certificate was presented by John Love, and registered this 31st July 1700. (Signed) Paul Lukin, Deputy Beg1'. (Fol. 231.) Vol. — (1(578—1735). WHITSTABLE. 19 July 1581. John Turner, farmer of the rectory of Whitstable, sued William Cheese of the same parish for unpaid tithe. (Fol. 142.) Vol. — (1580—84). 13 November 1583. Alice Turner, as relict and administrator (sic) of the goods of John Turner, deceased, whilst he lived farmer of the rectory of Whitstable, sued for unpaid tithe John Shipton of Nackington. (Fol. 30.) Vol. 30 (1583-84). TOXi, XXVIII, & 82 VISITATIONS OE ARCHDEACON OE CANTERBURY. 15 March 1592. Joseph Turner, farmer of the rectory, sued Thomas Jagger of Saints Cosmus and Damien in the Blean for unpaid tithe. (Fol. 11.) 5 April 1592. He sued Eichard Denne of Cbartham for unpaid tithe. (Fol. 16.) Vol. — (1591-93). 24 September 1600. He sued Thomas Longe, one of the Aldermen of the City of Canterbury, for unpaid tithe. (Fol. 98.) Vol.42 (1599—1601).