Sunday, April 29, 2012

Kirk Andrews - Eskdale Ward Protestation Returns (Cumberland, England)

A few years ago I photographed and transcribed all the Protestation Returns for Eskdale Ward in Cumberland and these records were taken in 1641-42. The history behind these particular statistics follows (http://www.tackbear.co.uk/Protestation%20Returns.htm):

The Protestation Returns relate to the years 1641/42, around the start of the Civil War. The Protestation was an Oath of loyalty to the King, and was originally drawn up and taken by the members of the House of Commons on May 3rd 1641. The following day the Protestant Peers in the House of Lords also swore it.
On July 30th the House of Commons passed a resolution that all who refused the Protestation were unfit to hold office in Church or Commonwealth. The scope was widened so that it should be sworn by all adults over the age of 18.  In practice this meant all men; women were not usually asked to sign.

A letter was sent by the Speaker of the House of Commons to the sheriffs instructing them to take the protestation with the justices of the peace in their county, and then the incumbent of each parish was to read the protestation to his parishioners and they were all to sign. This took place in February and March 1641/2. The Protestation Returns were then sent back to Parliament.

The Oath:
I, _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ do, in the presence of Almighty God, promise, vow, and protest to maintain, and defend as farr as lawfully I maye, with my Life, Power and Estate, the true Reformed Protestant religion, expressed in the Doctrine of the Church of England, against all Popery and Popish Innovations, within this Realme, contrary to the same Doctrine, and according to the duty of my Allegiance, His Majesties Royal Person, Honour and Estate, as alsoe the Power and Privileges of Parliament, the lawful Rights and Liberties of the Subjects, and any person that maketh this Protestation, in whatsoever he shall do in the lawful Pursuance of the same: and to my power, and as farr as lawfully I may, I will appose and by all good Ways and Means endeavour to bring to condign Punishment all such as shall, either by Force, Practice, Councels, Plots, Conspiracies, or otherwise, doe any thing to the contrary of any thing in this present Protestation contained: and further, that I shall, in all just and honourable ways, endeavour to preserve the Union and Peace betwixt the Three Kingdoms of England, Scotland and Ireland: and neither for Hope, Feare, nor other Respect, shell relinquish this Promise, Vow and Protestation.

In total I transcribed eighteen parishes in Eskdale Ward which included: Arthuret, Bewcastle, Brampton, Castle Carrock, Crosby Eden, Cumrew, Cumwhitton, Denton, Farlam, Hayton, Irthington, Kirk Andrews, Kirk Linton, Lanercost, Scaleby, Stanwix, Stapleton, and Walton. I have proofread only Lanercost and it was published in 2010 in The Cumbria Journal. I will post a blog every day for the next eighteen days with the names of the individuals who signed the Protestation Returns in each of the eighteen parishes (there will occasionally be a suffix or an occupation and sometimes there will be the name of a particular property within the parish. If this is helpful to anyone that is great. If you have a query then please leave a comment and I will try to answer. I am only researching the Routledge, Tweddle, Robson  and Bushby families (and primarily Routledge because most of my Routledges married other Routledges. Remember I have only proofread Lanercost and I have adhered to the spelling as shown on the original document. If you think that I have a letter wrong in a name feel free to query it and I will answer as soon as possible.

Surname    Forename    Suffix    Standing    Queries
Cairlill    Lancelett        Mister   
Story    Herbert           
Willson    Andrew           
Dinghillson    Robert           
Morrey    Mathew           
Grahame    George           
Willson    Thomas           
Wright    George           
Wrighte    David           
Blackburne    Herbert           
Wright    David           
Grahame    William           
Grahame    David           
Grahame    William           
Moore    William           
Grahame    Christopher           
Cowbhart    John           
Grahame    Rinie           
Newall    John           
Grahame    Thomas           
Lamb    Fergas           
Lamb    David           
Bell    John           
Sowdon    Allie           
Wh?    John           
Grahame    William           
Bowman    George           
Johnson    Richard           
Glendening    William           
Whitley    Robert           
Grahame    William           
Turner    William           
Turner    William           
Morrey    James           
Grahame    William           
Turner    Christopher           
Lamb    James           
Holidday    John           
Bowman    John           
Edgar    John           
Blair    David           
Lamb    John           
Edgar    Ozie           
Martin    John           
Lattimer    Robert           
Grahame    Symon    the younger       
Stockbrigs    George           
Grahame    Francis           
Robson    James           
Purdoms    George           
Grahame    William           
Johnson    David           
Sinderson    john           
Grahame    John           
Glendening    John           
Glendening    David           
Glendening    George           
Litle    Robert           
Grahame    George           
Tayt    Robert           
Johnson    William           
Bell    John           
Grahame    John           
Tayt    Thomas           
Baylie    David           
Grahame    Symon    the elder       
Newall    William           
Bell    Richard           
Armestrong    Alexander           
Grame    Symon    younger       
Morrey    William           
Baytie    Richard           
Rigg    James           
Urwen    Robert           
Walkin    Abie           
Grahame    Quintin           
Richardson    George           
Richardson    John           
Grahame    Dickye           
Holieday    John           
Usher    Mr. Charles        Constable   
Rae    David        Constable   
Atkinson    William        Constable   
Stockbrigs    John        Churchwarden   
Grahame    Thomas        Churchwarden   
Stockbrigs    Jo:           

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