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.
Townships Surname Forename Suffix Standing
Nether Denton Hall Thomas
Nether Denton Bullman John
Nether Denton Crake Andrew
Nether Denton Crake Robert
Nether Denton Bell Lancelett
Nether Denton Bell John son of Lancelett
Nether Denton Bell George
Nether Denton Bell William brother to George
Nether Denton Bell William Lanyhurst
Nether Denton Nixon Simond Dodd
Nether Denton Livelocke Thomas
Nether Denton Peeres John Bankeman
Nether Denton Eliott John
Nether Denton Browne John
Nether Denton Browne John John's son
Nether Denton Bell Willyam his man
Nether Denton Heddrinton Anthony
Nether Denton Tynlin Peter
Nether Denton Bell David Nuke
Nether Denton Bell Willyam Baggery
Nether Denton Bell John ?lopeyill
Nether Denton Hall John
Nether Denton Dixeson John John Hall's servant
Nether Denton Bell Willyam Highfield
Nether Denton Bell John brother to Willyam
Nether Denton Peares John
Nether Denton Peares John son of John
Nether Denton Foster John
Nether Denton Richardson George
Nether Denton Crake Christopher
Nether Denton Bell Richard Nuke
Nether Denton Bell Willyam
Nether Denton Bell Thomas brother to Willyam eadem
Nether Denton Thompson Mathew
Nether Denton Bell Emont Dixons house
Nether Denton Bell William Emont Bell's man
Nether Denton Houghcastle James
Nether Denton Micheson Willyam
Nether Denton Carrieber John
Nether Denton Richardson David
Nether Denton Livelocke Lancelot
Nether Denton Waugh John
Nether Denton Ballentire Thomas
Nether Denton Bell Edward
Nether Denton Bell Thomas Elihewill
Nether Denton Hall Christopher Thomas Bell's man
Nether Denton Steward Abraham
Nether Denton Steward John Abraham's son
Nether Denton Lurner John
Nether Denton Cyles Salomon
Nether Denton Cyles John Salomon's son
Nether Denton Bell David
Nether Denton Ceeby John
Nether Denton Bell Jeffery
Upper Denton Deane Nicholas Minister
Upper Denton Bell Emond Churchwarden
Upper Denton Bell Thomas Churchwarden
Upper Denton Eliott Willyam Constable
Upper Denton Thurlewey Barthollomew
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