WRAGBY REGISTERS, BOOK No. II. By the REV. EDWARD H. SANKEY, M.A. THE second book of the Wragby Registers is a parchment volume of twenty-two leaves. It measures eleven and a half by seven and a quarter inches. The original binding has been removed and it is now strongly bound in parchment boards, and is carefully preserved with the other registers in the vestry safe. It contains the Baptisms, Marriages, and Burials from 1605 to 1630. There are recorded in all, 461 Baptisms, 130 Marriages, and 306 Burials; or an average per annum of about 17 Baptisms, five Marriages, and 11 funerals, the preponderance of baptisms over funerals shewing that the population was increasing, though not very rapidly, there being apparently little movement of the population. This register is not nearly so interesting as the first book,1 being little more than a record of the names of village folk. Notes on extraneous subjects, which are pretty frequent in the first book, are almost entirely absent; nor does it, like the earlier volumes, contain any church wardens' or overseers' accounts, for which a separate book has been provided. No leaves are missing. The entries are most carefully made, the only omission being the marriages for 1624. Each entry is placed under its proper heading from 1605 to 1625, after which they are consecutive. English is used until 1618, after which Latin is introduced and is continued to the end of the book. At the beginning of the book there is a fly-leaf, which appears to have originally been a title-page, but the writing is now almost entirely obliterated: all that is decipherable being "Wragbye Register made in the yeare." At the bottom of this fly-leaf is a long note, only a word or two of which can be made out, so that it is unfortunately impossible to arrive at its purport. At the top of the next page is the following heading, some small portion of which is 1 See Journal, vol. xii. p. 309. torn off, "The Register of all the chryste (nynges) Burialles and mariages of the paroshene of wragbie in the year of our lord god 1605 anno regni regis Jacobi magnæ Britaniæ Ffranciæ et Hyberniæ tertio." In the first book some rather uncommon Christian names occurred, but in this they are essentially commonplace; the only ones worth noting as being something out of the common are Gervase, Jonas, Rosamund, Ursalie. The fact of a person's death is expressed in many different ways; among them we find "did change his life," "vitam hanc caducam in immortali mutavit," "postquam ultimum spiritum exhalasset," or simply "obitus" or "obiit." Sometimes the burial only is recorded, " was buried," or "sepultus erat:" sometimes both death and burial, “obiit et sepultus erat." Occasionally the date of both death and burial is entered, from which it appears that burial in those days usually took place the day after or the second day after death, and was not delayed as now for the greater part of a week. The owner of the Nostell estate in 1605, when this register begins, was Sir Richard Gargrave, Knight, and the entries under this name are very numerous, and will be given below. Sir Richard had only female issue, but his younger brother Francis, who was a clergyman, had a large family. In 1613 Nostell was purchased by William Ireland, Esq., in whose family it remained until 1629. There are three entries only relating to this family, which will be found in their proper place below. The first entry in the book is, 1605. Amye Browne daughter to William Browne was Bapt the vii daye Marche. 1605. Mr. Francis Gargrave and Marie Sissope was maryed the xii daye of Maii. This is, I presume, the younger brother of Sir Richard above mentioned. 1605. Mr. William Fennicke and mres (mistress) Elizabeth Gargrave was maryed the twentie seventh of Julii. 1605. Mary Brian did change her lyfe Being slayne bye thos: Waterton at Wakefield the seventh of Maij and was Buried in the churche and payed ten grottes. In the churchwardens' accounts for this year there is a receipt of 3s. 4d. for the burial of one Harry Beylins in the church, but there is no receipt on behalf of Mary Brian. 1606. Mr. Robert Gargrave sonne to Sir Cotton Gargrave did change his lyfe the twenty eight day of marche. In 1579 occurs the following entry Robert the sone of Cotton Gargrave was Bap. the fyrst daye of Apryll. 1606. Thomas Gargrave sonne of Mr. Thomas Gargrave was Bapt the tenth of Maii. 1606. John Gray and Anne Gargrave was married the fourth day of Maij. 1606. Maistres Elizabeth Saltonstonstall did change her lyfe the third day of September. This was the second wife of Samuel Saltonstall, Esq., of Huntwick Grange in the parish of Wragby. She was the daughter of Thomas Ogden, and was married in 1592. The churchwardens' accounts inform us that in 1605 Mr. Saltonstall, as he is called, paid six shillings for his last year's assessments to the church rate. In 1619 his son is spoken of as Sir Richard. They appear to have lived at Huntwick at the end of the 16th and during the earlier part of the 17th century, and were people of great importance. Samuel Saltonstall owned Rookes in the parish of Halifax, and Huntwick Grange; he also held lands at Saltonstall, the ancient possession of his family, also Winteredge Hall at Hipperholme, and Rogerthorpe in the parish of Badsworth. His brother Sir Richard was Lord Mayor of London in 1597, and his son Sir Richard was Lord of the Manor of Ledsham, a Justice of the Peace, and treasurer for lame soldiers in 1625. Other members of the family resided at Rogerthorpe and Pontefract. After his wife's death in 1625, Sir Richard, son of Samuel, sold his lands and went with his children to New England. In his will dated 1658 he left a legacy to Harvard College. From him spring the Saltonstalls of America, many of whom have held eminent positions. On his return from New England he resided in London. His second wife was a daughter of Lord Delawarr, his third wife was Martha Wilford. I append a pedigree of the Saltonstalls so far as they were connected with this parish.2 For further information about this family, see Watson's Halifax, or Drake's History of Boston, U. S. 1. Ann, d. of John Ramsden, Longley. of Gilbert Saltonstall, of Rookes, in the parish of Halifax. Richard. Samuel Saltonstall, of=2. Elizabeth, d. of Thomas Sir Richard Saltonstall, d. 1658, aged 72; bap. at Halifax, April 4th, 1586. Rosamund, bap. Sir Richard Saltonstall, Lord Mayor of London, 1897. Grace, d. of Robert Kaye, of Woodsome, buried June 27th, 1625, at Wragby. (This is the lady styled piissima and sanctissima in the Register.) Robert, bap. July 3rd, 1617, at Wragby. Henry, hap. Two other children, Samuel and Peter, are also recorded elsewhere. Grace, hap. John, bap. Nov. 28th, 1624, at Wragby. The house inhabited by the Saltonstalls at Huntwick is still standing. It appears to have been built about the middle of the 16th century, and though sadly altered, still retains many traces of its original beauty. In one of the rooms, which is panelled throughout in oak, is a handsome carved mantelpiece in the renaissance style, which three grotesque figures divide into two arched panels, with a frieze above. The house has been let as a farnihouse for upwards of a century, though it was formerly occasionally used by members of the Winn family, the present owners. Near the house is a large and handsome pigeon-cote of about the same date, and some of the farm buildings are also ancient. 1608. Ralfe Gargrave did chaunge his life the xvii of September. 1609. Edward Gargrave dyd chaunge his lyfe the xiij day of october. 1609. Mychell Gargrave did chaunge his lyfe the vij day of november. 1609. Richard the son of Thomes Beckwith did chaunge his life the vijth day of ffebruarie. The above is written with a hand at the side as shewn. In 1643 a Thomas Beckwith left a "Pighell" producing an annual rent of 3s. 4d. for the poor of Wragby. The benefaction has long been lost, the last recorded payment being in 1712. 1610. Isabell the wyfe of Mychell Gargrave did chaunge her lyfe the xj daye of June. Thus Michael and Isabel Gargrave died within about seven months of each other, having lived together, happily let us hope, for upwards of thirty years. Their marriage in 1578 is thus recorded: "Mychell Gargrave and Isabell Roodhouse were maryed the xxviij of September." 1610. Anne the dowghter of Thomas Gargrave and Ursalie her mother was Bap: the thyrd day of Marche. 1612. Rosamunde the dowghter of Mr. Richard Salterstall was Bap: the xvi day of Aprill. 1612. Elizabeth the dowghter of Anthonie Gargrave was Bap: the xv daye december. 1612. Nan Beldame did chaunge her lyfe the vij day of november. 1612. Ralfe Cariare and Sybble Gargrave were maryed the xxi dayc of June. 1614. Mr. John Leprevicke Clerke did chaunge his lyfe ye xth day of december. 1616. John the sonne of Tho: Gargrave was Bap: the xxj daie of April. 1616, William Walker and Elyzabeth Gargrave were maryed the xxviijth daye of Julii. 1617. Robert the sonne of Rychard Saltonstall Esquire was Bap: the iij day of Julii. In 1617 Mr. John Atkinson, who had a laudable habit of signing his name, which other early incumbents of Wragby lacked, signs himself adjoining the registry of burials thus "Johanne Atkinsono clerico." 1619. Gulielmus Ireland de Nostell Esquier Armiger sepultus erat in Ecclesia par Wragbiana primo die Martii postquam Londini ultimum spiritum exhalasset.3 The names of godparents are not usually given, but in the following and some few other instances they are recorded. It will be observed that the Richard Saltonstall, Esquire, of 1617 is now, 1619, Sir Richard. 1619. Rosamundi (sic) filia Johannis Atkinson et Edithæ uxoris ejus baptizabatur tertio die Octobris cujus compater erat Thomas Beckwith Commatres autem Rosamundi Heaton Annaque Ffosterd. 1619. Henricus filius Ricardi Saltonstall militis et Gratiæ uxoris ejus Baptizabatur nono die Novembris cujus compatres erant Henricus Smith et Samuell Saltonstall milites, Commater autem erat Catherina Wainworth. Who was this Samuel Saltonstall, miles? Not Sir Richard's father, for he died in 1612. Was he a son of the Lord Mayor? 1621. Christopherus filius Johannis Atkinsone et Edithæ uxoris ejus baptizab. decimo septimo die Maii cujus compatres erant Christopherus Hutchinson vicarius de Felkirk et Thomas Oxley Commater autem Da Nellson de Crofton. The child died on June 21st of the same year. 3 For a pedigree of the Irelands, see Hunter's South Yorkshire. |
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