I have transcribed the Churchwarden's accounts 1675 to 1766 [Microfiche D\P\Butl/4/1/1, acquired from the Somerset Record Office] and they are especially important since they cover the period of John Radford's tenure as vicar when not a single record seems to have been kept by him of births, marriages nor deaths. The full accounts can be seen as follows;
It was never intended to be an exact transcription of the minutiæ since my interest has largely been the genealogical and property material contained therein. To cope with all the information in these accounts, and also the complete record of Overseers of the Poor accounts I have, to some extent, used ‘copy and paste’ techniques to save time and labour. If one record has Wm and the next William, for the same person, I haven’t in every case transcribed it exactly as written. There may be slight misreadings of individual letters, none serious I hope, and any other errors are entirely mine. I have retained most of the original spellings as they occur in these accounts.
One interesting fact in the tables of ratepayers [both in the Churchwarden’s and Overseers accounts] is their name sequence which in most cases seems to be based upon a geographical context. When a name disappears and is replaced by another it actually refers to a change of that property’s owner [often corroborated by wills or deeds of transfer] and the adjoining names/properties are in some cases those belonging to relatives. Building the genealogical trees of each family has been much assisted by recognising this fact.
Additional information contained within the Churchwarden’s accounts;
P. 5 - List of contributors towards the building of St. Paul’s Church, London
P. 27 - Initial list of Rates collected - 1714-15
P. 44 et al - Rates collected and expenses paid on repairing the church 1728
P. 77 - Decision not to assist beggars and vagrants 1740
P. 102 - Resolution to rebuild the Church roof 1750
P. 109 - The disbursements for the same 1750-51
P. 132 - Memo that Churchwardens rates to be spent only within the churchyard, not on highways and bridges etc and that the parish documents to be locked in a chest
P. 139 - A scheme for repairing highways, controlling liquor and miscellaneous
P. 140 - A list of Commoners in 1672 and 1779, and those to serve as Tythingmen
From the records 1675-1714 I have culled the names on the following table which I have incorporated into 'Butleigh People' to show who was alive in this period and any other useful information. If the person mentioned was churchwarden at any time then I have put their year of tenure as CW in bold. Some people appear solely as witnesses to the accounts and some people occur in additional lists such as that of donors in 1680 towards the building of St. Paul's church (Cathedral) in London. One interesting aspect of the accounts was that the churchwardens financed the killing of vermin from 1683, 4d each for polecats and hedgehogs (latter reduced to 2d but then raised again) while sparrows fetched 2d per dozen. A fox-head brought 1 shilling. The polecat was heavily attacked (circa 180 in 30 years) and today it is more or less reduced to inhabiting the wilder parts of Wales only. Why the hedgehog (with its many wonderful spelling variants) was treated as dangerous is a bit of a mystery though folklore did suggest they drank the milk from the udders of reclining cows!
.
Table of people mentioned in the CW accounts 1675-1714
|
Name |
Years |
Occupation |
CW |
other |
vermin |
miscellaneous |
|
Abbott Alice (Aulse) |
1680 |
|
|
donor St. Pauls |
|
|
|
Abbott Richard |
1698-9 |
|
CW |
|
2pc |
|
|
Abbott Thomas |
1679, 80,1,3,5, 91,5,8,1708 |
|
CW |
witness, donor |
1pc, 1hh |
|
|
Allen John |
1704 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Allen Kate |
1690 |
|
|
witness |
|
|
|
Armstrong James |
1696, 1704,5,10,14 |
|
|
|
1fx, 3pc, 1hh |
|
|
Austin John |
1702,4 |
|
CW |
|
1pc |
|
|
Avery Philip |
1676, 9, 81-3,5,6,7-8, 97,8,1700 |
woodworker |
CW |
|
|
|
|
Avery Thomas |
1695,6,8, 1700,5 |
ironworker |
|
|
1pc |
|
|
Avery William |
1708 |
|
|
|
1pc |
|
|
Banbury Richard |
1711 |
|
|
|
3pc |
|
|
Barnard Edward |
1693,4, 1700,3,6 |
leather |
|
|
3pc |
'Burnard' |
|
Barnard John |
1698 |
|
|
|
1pc |
|
|
Barnard Robert |
1685,6,7, 90,1711 |
|
|
|
3pc |
cleaned church |
|
Barnard William |
1699 |
|
|
|
1pc |
|
|
Bayliss John |
1687 |
church chancellor |
|
|
|
|
|
Bishop John |
1705,11 |
|
|
|
1pc, 1hh |
|
|
Black Thomas |
1703 |
|
|
|
1pc |
|
|
Boake (Beck) Philip |
1687,9, 93 |
glazier |
|
|
|
|
|
Brock Robert |
1704 |
|
|
|
1hh |
|
|
Browning John |
1688,9-90,2,5(sen),7,8, 1706 (sen) |
|
CW |
|
1pc, 8hh |
|
|
Browning William |
1710 |
|
|
|
1pc |
|
|
Burdham George |
1683,4,5,6, 90,2,3 |
|
|
witness |
|
|
|
Burdham John |
1673-5, 6 |
bell work |
CW |
witness |
|
|
|
Burken John |
1703 |
|
|
|
1hh |
|
|
Burnett Sarah (?) |
1702 |
leather |
|
|
|
|
|
Callow Edmund |
1706 |
mason? |
|
|
|
|
|
Callow Edward |
1689, 92, 1710 |
|
|
|
1pc |
|
|
Callow Humphrey |
1673-5, 79-84,6,9,90,3,1702,3,6,11,14 |
ironworker |
|
|
2pc |
|
|
Callow widow |
1680 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Callow Thomas |
1692,1708,10 |
stone worker |
|
|
1pc, 7hh |
|
|
Casset (?) Richard |
1699 |
|
|
|
2pc |
|
|
Challor Henry |
1680 |
|
|
donor |
|
|
|
Chaplin Edward |
1712 |
|
CW |
|
|
|
|
Chapman James |
1680, 2, 3,4,6, 91,2,3,4,8 |
|
CW |
witness, donor |
|
|
|
Chasey Agnes |
1689 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Chasey Andribus |
1680 |
|
|
donor |
|
|
|
Chasey John |
1689, 90,91,9,1702,3,6,11 |
|
CW |
|
2fx, 4pc, 3hh |
process against |
|
Clapp Roger |
1673-5,6, 9,80,2,3 |
blacksmith |
|
|
|
|
|
Clapp Stephen |
1681,5 |
tailor? |
|
|
|
|
|
Clinton Mr. |
1673-7, 83,4,6-9,90,4 |
Glaston clerk |
|
|
|
|
|
Collins Henry |
1684,1701 |
|
|
|
3pc |
|
|
Collins Mathew |
1683 |
|
|
|
2pc, 6hh |
|
|
Colmer Humphrey |
1678, 91,4, 1704,7,11 |
|
CW |
witness |
1fx, 1pc, 4hh,18sp |
|
|
Colmer Bub (Humph?) |
1704 |
|
|
|
1hh |
|
|
Colmer Thomas |
1673-5, 81, 92,98,1712,13 |
blacksmith |
|
|
1pc |
|
|
Colmer William |
1673-5, 8,9,86, 93 |
|
CW |
witness |
1pc |
|
|
Cooke Emanuel |
1711 |
|
|
|
1pc |
|
|
Cooke Thomas |
1673-5, 7, 80-4, 1702, 3,4 |
bell-ropes |
CW |
witness |
4hh |
|
|
Cox (?) Daniel |
1685 |
|
|
|
2pc |
|
|
Curtis Ralph |
1686 |
|
CW |
|
|
|
|
Curtis William |
1711 |
|
|
|
1pc |
|
|
Daniels Edward |
1695 |
|
|
|
2pc |
|
|
Davis John |
1683 |
|
|
|
3hh |
|
|
Davis Roger |
1676,1710 |
lead worker |
|
|
1pc |
|
|
Davis Thomas |
1687-9,91-8,1700 |
bell worker |
|
|
|
|
|
Difford Joseph |
1697 |
|
CW |
|
|
|
|
Fearing Stephen |
1710 |
|
|
|
1pc, 8hh |
|
|
Fisher James |
1712 |
|
|
|
|
bur. Ann Hopkins |
|
Gane Edward |
1699 |
|
|
|
4pc |
|
|
Gane (?) Thomas |
1704 |
|
|
|
1hh |
|
|
Gatherine Will |
1707 |
|
|
|
1hh |
|
|
Gattern Henry |
1710,11 |
|
CW |
|
7hh |
'Gaterin' |
|
Gibbs Jacob |
1704 |
|
CW |
|
|
|
|
Gill John |
1700,1711 |
|
|
|
3pc |
|
|
Gill Ralph |
1695 |
|
|
|
1pc |
|
|
Gorman Nicholas |
1693 |
|
|
|
2hh |
|
|
Grant John |
1704 |
|
|
|
3pc |
|
|
Grant Katherine |
1692 |
|
|
|
|
had a child |
|
Grant Richard |
1695,1711 |
|
|
|
3pc |
|
|
Gregory Henry |
1686,7, 91-5 |
iron worker |
|
|
1fx |
|
|
Grimes Humphrey |
1683,4 |
|
|
|
2pc |
|
|
Haime Edward |
1703 |
|
|
|
2hh |
|
|
Harte John |
1688,9, 93,5 |
bell worker |
|
|
|
|
|
Helyar Richard |
1673-5, 8, 80,1,6 |
|
CW |
witness, donor |
|
gent |
|
Helyar Mistress [Edith] |
1688,9,90-3 |
|
|
witness |
|
for womans seat |
|
Helyar Thomas (?) |
1702 |
|
|
witness |
|
|
|
Hiett Richard |
1685 |
|
CW |
|
|
|
|
Hockey |
1708 |
|
|
|
4hh |
|
|
Hodges Thomas |
1677, 92, 3 |
|
CW |
|
|
|
|
Hodges Will |
1706,8 |
|
|
|
1pc, 3hh |
|
|
Holman Richard |
1689,92 |
|
CW |
|
1pc |
|
|
Homan John |
1677 |
|
|
overseer |
|
|
|
Hooper Daniel |
1684 |
|
|
|
1pc |
|
|
Hooper George |
1679, 80,3, 93,4, 5-6,8, 1700,1,2,5,7,10 |
|
CW |
donor, witness |
12pc, 1hh |
|
|
Hooper John |
1688, 90 |
|
|
witness |
|
bought seat in chch |
|
Hooper Simon |
1713 |
carrier |
|
|
|
|
|
Hooper William |
1711 |
|
|
|
1pc |
|
|
Hopkins William |
1697, 1705,7 |
|
CW |
|
7hh |
|
|
Hopkins widow (Ann) |
1710, bur. 1711 |
|
|
|
|
breaking grnd chch |
|
Howe William |
1698 |
|
|
|
1hh |
|
|
Jacklett Edward |
1684 |
|
CW |
|
|
|
|
Jacklett Thomas |
1673-5, 80, 2 |
carpenter |
CW |
donor |
|
|
|
James John (jnr) |
1688,9-90 |
|
CW |
|
|
|
|
James (?) Philip |
1708 |
|
|
|
3hh |
|
|
Kellway John |
1673-5, 6,7,8,82, 95,1705,13 |
|
CW |
witness, overseer |
|
|
|
Kellway William |
1708 |
|
CW |
|
|
|
|
Kelly John |
1704 |
|
|
witness |
|
Kellway? |
|
Knight Thomas |
1695 |
bellfounder |
|
|
|
|
|
Larcombe Edward |
1673-5, 86, 96 |
Mason |
CW |
|
|
|
|
Linnon John |
1704 |
painter |
|
|
|
|
|
Lintrin John (?) |
1712 |
tiler |
|
|
|
as last? |
|
Look Thomas |
1673-5, 7, 82,6, 92, 3 |
|
CW |
witness |
|
|
|
Looseman (?) Henry |
1699 |
|
|
|
1pc |
|
|
Marnard Thomas |
1689,90 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Martin Will |
1707,11 |
|
|
|
1hh,18sp |
|
|
Masters Dan [next?] |
1680 |
|
|
donor |
|
|
|
Masters David |
1684 |
|
CW |
|
|
|
|
Meaker Clement |
1692-4,6,7 |
|
CW |
|
7pc, 6hh |
|
|
Meary Thomas |
1704 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Millar(d) Benjamin |
1679,80,1,8 |
handyman |
|
|
|
|
|
Moone Joseph |
1693 |
brass caster |
|
|
|
|
|
Paine Stephen |
1680 |
mason |
|
|
|
|
|
Paulett? George |
1680 |
|
|
witness |
|
|
|
Periam James jnr |
1681, 3-6,8,9,90,1,5,8,9,1700,4 |
|
CW |
witness |
2pc |
|
|
Periam James |
1704 [split with previous], 08-10,11 |
|
CW |
|
17pc |
|
|
Periam Jocket (?)'s man |
1704 |
|
|
|
2hh |
|
|
Periam John |
1673-5 |
leather |
|
|
|
|
|
Periam John (jun-tanner) |
1684, 90,1700,11 |
|
|
|
3pc, 1hh |
|
|
Periam Rebecca |
1682 |
|
|
|
|
widow bur. of husb. |
|
Periam Richard |
1695 |
|
|
|
1pc |
|
|
Periam Thomas |
1703,4,13 |
|
|
|
1hh |
|
|
Periam William |
1699,1710,12,13 |
leather |
|
|
3pc |
|
|
Periam Zachary |
1704 |
|
|
|
1hh |
|
|
Perks John |
1708 |
|
|
|
1pc |
|
|
Pike John |
1680 |
|
|
donor |
|
|
|
Pope Benjamin |
1680 |
|
|
donor |
|
|
|
Pope Briant |
1686 |
carpenter |
|
|
|
|
|
Pope Cha[rles] |
1680 |
|
|
donor |
|
|
|
Pope Christopher |
1673-5, 80,5,6 |
|
CW |
donor? |
4pc |
|
|
Pope Edward |
1698,1702-7,10,11,13,14 |
|
|
|
86dozsp, 9dzrook,1pc, |
|
|
Pope Florare |
1680 |
|
|
donor |
|
|
|
Pope Henry |
1673-5, 80, 90,1700,2,3,5,8 |
|
CW |
witness, donor |
9pc |
|
|
Pope John |
1678,9,81,2, 3,4-6,90-2,4,5,8,9,1700,4,7,8,10 |
|
CW |
witness |
3pc, 2hh |
|
|
Pope Thomas (elder) |
1673-5, 85, 89, 90,1701 |
|
CW |
witness |
|
|
|
Pope William |
1685, 1701 |
|
|
|
3pc,1hh |
|
|
Potenger John |
1676 |
|
|
vicar |
|
|
|
Radford John |
1677-1714 |
|
|
vicar |
|
|
|
Randall John |
1688,9 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rocke Mr. |
1673-5 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rocke John's boys |
1699, 1705,11 |
|
|
|
1pc,1dzsp |
|
|
Rocke John |
1673-5 |
|
|
vicar |
|
|
|
Rocke John |
1699, 1700,5,8,10 |
|
CW |
witness |
|
|
|
Roe William |
1678, 80,91,7,8-9 |
|
CW |
donor, witness |
2pc |
bought seat in chch |
|
Roly Richard |
1699,1711 |
|
|
|
3pc |
|
|
Roly Thomas |
1710 |
|
|
witness |
|
|
|
Rugge Henry |
1695 |
|
|
|
3pc |
|
|
Rugge Thomas |
1684,5 |
|
|
|
|
kept the bells |
|
Russell William |
1694 |
glazier |
|
|
|
|
|
Salter James |
1702 |
|
|
|
|
Marshallsea Gaol |
|
Sam Andrew (late) |
1688 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Sam Thomas |
1683,86,94 |
|
CW |
overseer |
1pc |
|
|
Samson James |
1686 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Scott Samuel |
1688,9 |
|
|
|
|
'Scoatte' |
|
Seamour John |
1695, 1705,10,11 |
|
|
|
4pc, 2hh |
|
|
Seamour Thomas |
1680, 1705 |
|
|
donor |
3pc |
|
|
Sheat John |
1714 |
|
CW |
|
|
|
|
Sindercorn Edward |
1688,9 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Slade John |
1704,5,10 |
candlemaker? |
CW |
|
1hh |
|
|
Slade Stephen's boys |
1701,4,5,10 |
|
|
witness |
1pc, 1hh |
|
|
Smith William |
1680, 96 |
|
CW |
|
2pc, 1hh |
|
|
Smithfield James |
1710 |
|
|
|
5pc, 4hh |
|
|
Smithfield John |
1704,5,6,10 |
|
CW |
witness, o/seer |
3hh |
|
|
Somer John |
1703,4 |
|
|
|
3hh |
|
|
Splott Thomas |
1699 |
|
|
|
1hh |
|
|
Squire Joane/John |
1689, 1703,7,10 |
supplied oil |
|
witness |
1hh |
|
|
Stickling Joseph |
1714 |
|
|
|
|
cleaning church |
|
Strode Charles |
1701 |
|
CW |
|
|
|
|
Strode John |
1699,1706,7,11,12, 13 |
|
CW |
|
8pc, 1hh |
|
|
Strode Thomas |
1695,7,8, 1702 |
|
|
|
6pc |
|
|
Strode William |
1702-5, 6-7,8,11 |
|
CW |
|
15hh, 3dzsp |
|
|
Sweet Samuel |
1695, 1700,3-5,12 |
handyman |
|
|
|
|
|
Symcockes Katherine |
1691,3,4,6 |
|
|
wife of Thomas |
|
washed linen |
|
Symcocke Robert |
1681 |
|
|
|
|
cleaned church |
|
Symcockes Thomas |
1684, 91-6,8,1708 |
|
|
|
2pc |
cleaned church |
|
Symcockes widow |
1682 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Symes Stephen |
1691 |
|
CW |
|
|
|
|
Talbott Edward |
1698, 1704,11,13 |
|
|
|
1pc,1hh |
|
|
Talbott Henry |
1712 |
|
CW |
|
|
|
|
Talbott John |
1695 |
|
|
|
1pc, 5hh |
|
|
Talbott Thomas |
1678, 86,7 |
leather |
|
overseer |
|
|
|
Talbott William |
1680, 92,1713-14 |
|
CW |
donor |
1pc |
|
|
Thomas Edward |
1686, 1704,12 |
merchant |
|
|
|
|
|
Thomas John |
1713 |
builder |
|
|
|
|
|
Toghill Richard |
1711 |
|
CW |
|
|
[Taghill] |
|
Tugwell John |
1698 |
|
|
|
1hh |
[Taghill] |
|
Vagg John |
1700-10 |
clerk |
|
|
|
|
|
Vagg Ann widow |
1711 |
|
|
|
|
church clean |
|
Warburton Jane |
1696 |
|
|
|
1pc |
|
|
W(e)ason |
1686 |
labourer |
|
|
|
|
|
Webb Anne |
1680 |
|
|
donor |
|
|
|
Webb Elizabeth |
1713 |
|
|
witness |
|
|
|
Webb James |
1676,7, 9, 81-6 |
|
|
witness, donor |
|
gent |
|
Webb John |
1693,6,1708 |
|
|
witness |
|
|
|
Webb Ka |
1691, 5,8 |
|
|
witness |
|
|
|
Webb Mrs' boys |
1705 |
|
|
|
3pc |
|
|
Webb William |
1676,7, 9, 80-5 |
|
|
witness |
|
|
|
White Daniel |
1679 |
woodworker |
|
|
|
|
|
Willcox John |
1687,8,1710 |
|
CW |
|
|
|
|
Woole |
1708 |
|
|
|
4hh |
|