Friday, May 4, 2012

Stapleton - 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
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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