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
Milborne Richard
Milborne John
Greant Richard
Packson Edward
Nichollon Robert
Dixon John
Dixon Christophr
Dixon William
Cruser Willam
Railton John
Railton John son of John
Hayton Gill John
Hayton Bill Thomas
Hayton Milborne Richard
Hayton Railton Christophr
Hayton Railton Henrie
Hayton Balie Lancelot
Hayton Moises Thomas
Hayton Wesyurch John
Hayton Tinlinge John
Hayton Wigurth John elder
Hayton Browne John
Hayton Crowe John
Hayton Newton John
Hayton Tinlinge Thomas
Hayton Wesgarth Thomas
Hayton Moises Thomas
Hayton Wisgarth Christophr
Hayton Tompson Richard
Hayton Dixon John
Hayton Bell John
Hayton Railton James
Hayton Dixon Edward
Hayton Grame Andrew
Hayton Moises Christopher
Hayton Dixon Christopher
Hayton Balie Evonard
Hayton Balie Simond
Hayton Jackson John
Hayton Knight Anthonie
Hayton Knight John
Hayton Knight John son of John
Hayton Drydon William
Hayton Robinson Anthonie
Hayton Robinson John
Hayton Railton Thomas
Hayton Warrick George
Hayton Railton John
Hayton Dixon John
Hayton Bell Thomas
Hayton Dixon Jonson
Hayton Grame Andrew
Hayton Grame John
Hayton Grame Thomas
Hayton Grame Francis
Hayton Grame Humfrey
Howe Hall Thomas elder
Howe Hall Thomas
Howe Knight Thomas
Howe Knight Anthonie
Howe Maxwell John
Howe Maughen John
Howe Milborne John
Howe Browne John
Howe Milborne Christopher
Howe Hall Richard
Howe Hall William
Howe Milborne Richard
Howe Railton Christopher
Howe Watson Richard
Howe Watson Thomas
Howe Watson John
Howe Railton Thomas
Howe Browne Thomas
Howe Moises Robert
Howe Haule John
Howe Bell George
Howe Moises Michaell
Howe Mandlen John
Head Fenton Haule John
Head Fenton Weller Humfrey
Head Fenton Mattinson Leonard
Head Fenton Stolleck William
Head Fenton Grame John
Head Fenton Hutchenson William
Head Fenton Hutcheson John
Head Fenton Grame John
Head Fenton Crake James
Head Fenton Grame William
Head Fenton Grame Thomas
Head Fenton Railton Thomas
Head Fenton Hall John
Head Fenton Noble Thomas
Little Corbie Tharprow John
Little Corbie Sowdon John
Knight Thomas minister
Dixon John Churchwarden
Haule Edward Churchwarden
Grame John elder Churchwarden
Grame John Churchwarden
Railton Henrie Constable
Gill John Constable
Dalton Thomas Constable
Coven Josepath Constable
Hutchenson William Constable
Milborne Jeffrey Constable
Milborne Richard Constable
Talkin Milborne Thomas
Talkin Milborne Thomas
Talkin Milborne William
Talkin Milborne Robert
Talkin Teniswood George
Talkin Skellecke John
Talkin Hodgson John
Talkin Fisher Richard
Talkin Pribbley George
Talkin Tenswood Nicholas
Talkin Heaviside John
Talkin Heaviside John son of John
Talkin Milborne Robert
Talkin Milborne Thomas
Talkin Hetherington Gandell
Talkin Milborne John
Talkin Milborne Yandell
Talkin Heaviside Anthonie
Talkin Milborne John
Talkin Milborne George
Talkin Milborne Thomas
Talkin Milborne John
Talkin Milborne Thomas
Talkin Crowe Peter
Talkin Milborne Henrie
Elisabeth, thanks for this wonderful blog. I am in the process of tracing my Etherington line back to the original Hetherington line in Cumberland. Finding Randall Hetherington at Hayton in 1641 has been a real treat. Thanks again fro your wonderful work. From sunny Australia, John Cherry
ReplyDeleteElisabeth, thanks for this wonderful blog and your efforts on transcriptions. I am currently tracing my Etheringtons back to the Hetheringtons in Cumberland and finding a Randall Hetherington at Hayton ahs been a big help. From sunny Australia, John C.
ReplyDelete