ECCLESIASTICAL MEMORANDA AS TO HALSALL. Communicated by Wm. Fergusson Irvine, Acting on the instructions of the Reverend Canon Blundell, Rector of Halsall, I recently made search in the Diocesan Registries at Lichfield and Chester for information respecting his church and parish. At Lichfield, the Bishop's Registers are in excellent condition, and on the whole, wonderfully complete. A large proportion of the institutions to the various livings in the diocese are arranged under Archdeaconries, and are thus comparatively easy of search, but at the same time a number of odd presentations are scattered up and down the volumes, without any apparent arrangement, amongst lengthy lists of Commissions, Visitations, Probates, Licenses, copies of Papal Bulls, and so on. To have made a thorough search would have taken a considerable time, so it was decided simply to examine those institutions which were arranged under Archdeaconries, and then, if possible, bridge any gaps that might occur by a search amongst those institutions which were not arranged; the result is, probably, a complete list of Rectors, but it is possible that one or more may be missing between Richard de Halsall, who was instituted in 1336, and Roger Milnegate, who was instituted in 1365. As it will be remembered, between these two dates came the Black Death, in which Lancashire suffered severely, and the fact that Roger Milnegate was presented by the Bishop "owing to lapse," looks as if the Halsall family, who were the usual incumbents, had suffered severely, and R had no one amongst their immediate friends whom they could appoint. The list of institutions appears to be defective between the dates 1365 and 1395, and I have placed John Spencer about the middle between these dates at a guess, as I could not find his institution, the fact of his having been a Rector only being gathered from the mention of his name. in the institution of his successor. My reason for dating Gilbert Halsall 1426 is, that William de Newhagh, the previous Rector, also held the prebend of Derset, and this appears as vacant in the Register, though no reason is given, in 1426; William de Newhagh was alive at Henry Halsall's death in 1423, as he resigns his mediety of Denwall Hospital in 1423, which mediety he held along with Henry Halsall, and as the institution list is again defective between the years. 1426 and 1429, there can be no doubt that in this gap Gilbert Halsall should appear. The extracts from the Chester Diocesan Registry do not need any comment, but I may explain that the phrase "Conductus," used with reference to William Symkynson in 1541, simply means "pre"sented by." Under 1548, the note "Mortuus," after the name of "Dominus Thomas Mollenex," is in a different hand-writing from the rest of the document. Iconomi" is the word used by this scribe for "churchwardens." Under 1562, the note after the Rector's name is to the effect that he appeared in the person of a proctor. RECTORS OF HALSALL. 1307. Register of Robert de Redeswell, Archdeaconty of Chester. Walter being Bishop. October, 1307. [Vol. j, p. 27.] vij Idus Novembris. At the presentation of Gilbert de Halsale, true patron, etc., HENRY DE LEE, accolite, was admitted to the Rectory of Halsall, etc. xix Kal: Februarii. Licence of absence granted to HENRY DE LEE, Rector of Halsall, from his living, for the purposes of study. Ordination List-Secular Subdeacons. HENRY DE LEE, subdeacon, ordained to the title of the Rectory of Halsall, at the Church of the Friars Preachers, Derby, on the Saturday in Ember, December, 1307, by the Bishop of Carlisle. 1336. Register, Volume II. Roger being Bishop. vj Kal Martii. At the Church of Ichington, RICHARD SON OF THOMAS DE HALSALL, clerk, was admitted to the Church of Halsall, at the presentation of Gilbert de Halsall. The vacancy commenced x Kal: Feb: ultimo, through the death of Henry de Lee, late Rector. [Vol. ij, p. 111.] 1361, Nones of December. The Bishop grants to Auty [?] de Halsale the right of oratory at Halsall for two years. [Vol. v, p. 7.] 1365, Item. v Idus Aprilis. At Heywood, MR. ROGER MILNEGATE was collated to the Rectory of Halsall, vacant by lapse, clerk "primam tonsuram." [Vol. iv.] 1395, xxij December. HENRY HALSALL, aged 19 years, in minor orders, by a dispensation from the Apostolic See, instituted to the Rectory of Halsall by Commissary of Chester, and Richard, Bishop of Coventry and Lichfield, at the presentation of Gilbert Halsall, K', true patron, etc. The living being vacant by the free resignation of Sr John Spencer, otherwise called Clanger, late Rector. [Vol. vj, p. 6od.] 1395. Ordinations in the Cathedral Church of Lichfield, by the Bishop of Pharey [?]. Secular Subdeacons. HENRY HALSALE to the title of the Rectory of Halsale. 1413, 15th May. At Heywood, by John, Bishop of Lichfield, MR. WM. DE NEUHAGH admitted to the Rectory of Halsall by the free resignation of Henry de Halsall, late Rector, and also to the Prebend of Derset, in the Cathedral Church of Lichfield; and Henry de Halsall admitted to the enjoyment of the Archdeaconry of Chester and the Prebend of Bolton in the Cathedral Church of Lichfield, by the free resignation of Mr. Wm. de Neuhagh. [Vol. vij, p. 103d.] 1422. Archdeaconry of Chester and Prebend of Bolton vacant 7th March, 1422, by the death of Henry Halsall; also part of the Mastership of the Hospital of Denwall, for same. reason. [Vol. ix, p. 112d.] 1426. Prebend of Derset vacant. 1423. Letters of dispensation to Henry Halsall, scholar, granting dispensation for "defectum natalum." Recites Papal dispensation. Heywood, 17th Sept., 1423. [Vol. ix, p. 140.] 1452, 9th Feb. At Lichfield, EDMUND FARYNGTON, clerk, admitted to the Rectory of the Parish Church of Halsall, vacant by the natural death of Gilbert Halsall, late Rector, at the presentation of Henry Halsall, armiger. (Sede vacante.) [Vol. xj, p. 4d.] 1495, 2nd June. At Salop, William being Bishop, HUGH HALSALL, clerk, admitted to the living of the Parish Church of Halsall, vacant by the death of Edmund Farington, last Rector; presented by Henry Halsall, true patron, etc. [Vol. xiij, p. 158]. 1502. Dispensation granted to HUGH HALSALL, Rector of the Church of Halsall, on account of his being of the age of 19 years when he was instituted thereto, and was promoted to orders being as yet not of canonical age. Absolved from all sentences and risks of excommunication, etc. Given at St. Paul's, London, 16th April, 1502, and at Lichfield, 12th June, 1502. [Vol. xiij, p. 158d.] 1513. At Lichfield, by the Chancellor of the Diocese, RICHARD HALSALL, clerk, instituted to the Parish Church of Halsall, vacant by the natural death of Hugh Halsall, last Rector, at the presentation of Henry Halsall, K', true patron, etc. Vol xiiij, p. 58d.] FROM THE DIOCESAN REGISTRY AT CHESTER. During the life of Richard Halsall the following clergy appear to have been at Halsall, according to lists in the Visitation Books:1541-2. Dominus Robertus Kyrkbe, curatus ex stipendio Ricardi Halsall, Rectoris. Dominus Johannes Heskene ex stipendio dicti Rectoris. Dominus Williamus Symkynson conductus per Jacobum Halsall. 1548. vij July, 1562. Dominus Richardus Halsall, Rector comparuit p pcur. Thomas Tatlock. William Arnold. Edmund Tarleton. } Richard Hesketh. [Guardiani.] Roger Underwood. John Gilder. } Peter Such. [Jurati.] 1563. The following is a short abstract of the will of the Rev. Richard Halsall: vij daye of Auguste. . Ml vc and threescore. . I Richarde Halsall, Clerke, p'son of the pishe Church of Halsall . . desire that my bodie be buryed in the Chauncel of the pishe Churche of Halsall .. in the Tombe made in the walle upon the North syde of the same churche. . . Mentions "a mortgage which William Colley of Windell hath "made unto me of certen landes, etc." "John Halsall sone of James Halsall of Altcarr gent." "Richard Halsall brother unto the seide John." "To my seide cosin John Halsall sone of the seide James Halsall, the sume of foure score and eighteen pounds iijs iiijd toward his exhibition and learninge." "To my nephew Henry Halsall Esquire one broyche of golde with the picture of Sancte Johne Baptiste thereopon." "Mr Halsall the younger." 66 66 My brother James Halsall of Heskyn." 'My sister Ursula Halsall wyffe to my brother Edward Halsall." "To Sir John Prescotte my servaunte and curate one whole yeares wages." "To my godson Thomas Eccleston and Anne Halsall my goddaughter, daughter to James Halsall my servaunte, 20 markes, toward her preferment in marriage." "To Richard Halsall sone to the seide James Halsall my servaunte 20 pounds." "I make S Thomas Stanley Knight and my trustie servaunte and kinsman James Halsall my executors." Overseers: The R' Hon: Edwarde Erle of Derbye and my brother Edward Halsall. Codicil, 1563, mentions "My servaunte Richard Asmoll." "Richard Dodgson." "Anne Halsall daughter of my nephew Richard Halsall deceased . . . towards her marriage." "My executors shall bestowe one Chalice price [hole in parchment]i iiijs iiijd to the use of Halsall Churche." |