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
Blaythwat Gaven Clerke
Blaythwat William
Crowe John
Tayler John
Foster Richard
Foster Edward
Wilson John
Wilson Symond
Foster Francis
Foster John
Boustead Robt:
Boustead Johne
Mulcaster James
Lyttle Thomas
Grahame George
Stowe Arthur
Armestrong Hugh
Moffet Edward
Armestronge Thomas
Foster Edward
Foster John
Holliday William
Armestrong George
Lytle William
Foster Thomas
Lyme John
Foster John
Musgrave William
Foster Thomas
Nicholson John
Scote Rowland
Foster Rowland
Ewart Robt:
Irwen William
Twedall Hinsord
Foster Thomas
Grame Arthur
Grame George
Grame Francis
Hore John
Sumner Thomas
Sumner William
Sumner Thomas
Taylor Richard
Taylor John
Mulcaster Randall
Mulcaster Edward
Crome Thomas
Pearson Xpopher
Foster William
Poole Renald
Rogerson Edward
Blackburn John
Ghrame Arche:
Taylor Edward
Routledg Xpopher
Foster James
Dalton Rowland
Taylor John
Gibson John
Armestronge John
Bell John
Lynne John
Musgrave Edward
Routledg William
Tayler Gilbert
Nicholson John
Baylie George
Foster Anthonie
Little John
Foster Arther
Grame John
Ellott John
Armestrong Hector
Blackburn John
Pattinson John
Pott Rowland
Wilson William
Croser Gifford
Foster William
Croser Quintin
Person Arche:
Burn William
Musgrave Mr. John
Foster John
By__y William
Wilson Richard
By__y George
Ellott Stephen
Dodgson Andrew
Dodgson Robt:
Routledg Allan
Bell William
Armestrong George
Browne Thomas
Browne Andrewe
Roatledge Robt:
Baytie Arche:
Lynne Robt:
Bell John
Moffett William
Taylor Richard
Tymir Richard
Taylor Martin
Wilson John
Foster William
Irwen David
Foster John
Foster William
Wilson Robt:
Bell Richard
Bell John
Blackburn Edward
Lytle John
Blaythwat Gaven Minister of Stapleton
Taylor Martin Churchwarden
Wilson Richard Churchwarden
Taylor Gerrard Churchwarden
Bell Rowland Constable
Sampson Thomas Constable
Croser Gifford Constable
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