Morality, Dissent and Church Discipline in Fishlake, the evidence from Visitation Records.
Introduction.
The Visitation process of a diocese were ordered by church leaders for the purposes of monitoring, inspection and correction became a standard practice from the thirteenth century onwards but many of these have been lost, for the Yorkshire area records survive from 1567 onward.
A Visitation is the yearly inspection by which the bishop, archbishop and archdeacons supervise the work of the clergy and churchwardens in the parishes of the diocese. It was first used by medieval bishops chiefly as a means of maintaining discipline in the religious houses in their dioceses. At the height of its powers in the 16th and 17th centuries however, the ecclesiastical discipline exercised in the visitation process extended to the maintenance of church fabric as well as disciplinary matters, concerning the morals and behaviour of the clergy and laity.
From the late seventeenth century onwards (notably after the 1688 Act of Toleration) there was a shifting emphasis away from moral concerns towards the maintenance of church fabric.
In the 18th century, more detailed clergy visitation returns were required giving additional information include details of the size and population of parishes, names of patrons, curates and teachers, as well as the numbers of religious dissenters. They may also contain details of parish schools, charities, and on the state of repair of churches, churchyards and parsonage houses, services held and records kept.
The following article draws together a number of archived documents which goes some way to illustrate the social behaviour among the clergy and parishioners in Fishlake from the 16 th to the 18 th centuries. These records remain under safe keeping of the Borthwick Institute of Historical Research at York.
The following information contained in this article is largely derived from visitation report’s and court books. Apart from the obvious social and behavioural value to local historians illustrating life is a rural parish. The catalogue of family names of individuals along with information about their beliefs and attitudes provides a mine of data for family historians as well. It will be noticed that family names are often repeated over and over especially those families and individuals who are regarded in the eyes of the Church to be dissenters.
Royal Visitation of 1559. Although not strictly speaking a visitation requested by the church but rather one by the Crown, however, it gathered similar information about the clergy and laity at the time.
Queen Elizabeth 1st required the Visitation of 1559 to check on the damage caused to Protestant reforms under Queen Mary.
The Act Book and State Papers covers the dioceses of York, Durham, Carlisle and Chester originally two volumes, providing detailed information about every aspect of the Church in English society at this critical time.
Taken from The Royal Visitation of 1559 Act book for the Northern Province Dr Kitching in Public Record Office pub 1972…..Retaining the original spellings.
Fyslake
The wardens and parishners do presente that William Hall and Margaret Rydall do lyve…in fornication Jane Shatter doth use inchauntment and wychecrsfte
Lawrence Padleye troblethe the curate in tyme of the common Praier
John Wilkinson
William Auleye
George Tailor. Doo didpise the commen service.
The parson dothe not keep a covenant tyme for the commen prayer.
Archbishop Grindal’s visitation 1575
thanks to WJ Sheils, Borthwick Institute York University.
Fishlake Agnes Howson and William Turner parishioners ther, single person, suspected of fornication together.
Cuthbert’s Parkyn refuseth to paie his laie to the church.
John Coleman presented for sellinge fishe in service tyme.
John Briggs did go oute of the churche in service tyme with one John Bryan and talked about a private bargain between them.
Regarding this last matter, JS Purvis in Tudor Parish Documents of the Diocese of York 1948, p 83 behaviour in church comments….’The offence is not a common one, less than a dozen cases were presented in the whole diocese in all the visitations between 1567 and 1598. But the entry in the Commission Books for York Minster suggest perhaps a greater frequency.
I am not entirely sure the source of this record but it appears to be from a visitation report and as such it has been included.
1602. The nave of the church was in decay and 40s had to be found. A vestry meeting was called and a levy was agreed upon at a 1d per acre, assessed by this six chosen persons. Richard Atkinson, John Duck, Edward Hanson and John Howson.
The follows are extracts over many years taken from Visitation reports, Court and Exhibit Book Papers associated with these inspections.
1662-3.
James Mahun vicar.
Henry Harrison Clerk.
John Doughty, John Jurdie, William Wells Churchwardens.
Thomas Perkins and Nicholas Hill for not repairing to divine service.
Jo Whittecar and Elizabeth his wife, William Franckland, Maria Saile, Thomas Hill and Margeria his wife Edmund Hill, Thomas Wilson, Jo Pettie skinner and his wife Alicia Balderston, William Swindon and Elizabeth his wife, Thomas Womersley, Dorothy wife William Williams, Joseph Buntin and Jenetta his wife, Elizabeth wife William Womersley, Robert Womersley and William Womersley.
Jane West, Mathew Sayle and Isabel his wife, Sarah Devon with Abraham, Robert Goodridge, Grace wife of Joseph Melwood, Bridget Bladworth, William Bladworth, Maria Parkin, Maria wife Richard Doughtie, Robert Cooke sen, Robert Cooke jun, Edward Cooke, Anna Brooke widow, Maria Howson widow and Joseph Ellison.
Hernry Cooke and Jane his wife, Anthony Maplebecke and Sarah his wife, Maria Laverocke widow, Anna Mangall, William Topcilffe, William Benson and Anna his wife, Richard Howden and Jane his wife, George Beamont and Jane his wife, John Walker and Thomas Naylor.
Some of them for not baptising their children. Keeping conventicles in their houses.
William Williams for marrying two sisters excommunicated.
John Scholey excommunicated.
Thomas Wilson clandestine, excommunicated.
Henry Harrison.
John Doughty and Thomas Hamton churchwardens to certify the providing books and to ……….and send in a terrier.
All the following Fishlake residence listed as excommunicate.
Excommunication, a form of church punishment when a parishioner is excluded from the communion, the rites or sacraments of the church, the rights of church membership but not exclusion from membership of the church.
1664
John Whittaker, Elizabeth his wife, William Franchland, Mary Saule, Thomas Hill and Margery his wife, John Petty a Skinner and his wife, William Swindon and Elizabeth his wife, Thomas Womersley, Dorothy his wife William Williams, John Bunkin Elizabeth wife of William Womersley, Robert Womersley, William Womersley junior, Thomas Perkin, Jane West, Mathew Saile and Isabella his wife, Sarah wife of Decow, Gracie wife of John Melwood, Bridget Bladworth, William Bladworth, Mary Perkin, Mary wife of Richard Doughty, Nicholas Hill, Robert Cooke senior, Robert Cook junior, Edward Cook, Mary Howson widow, Joseph Ellison, Mary Laverocke widow, Henry Cooke and Jane his wife, Anthony Maplebacke and Sarah his wife, Ann Mangall, William Topliffe, William Benson and Ann his wife, George Beaumont and Jane his wife, John Walker, William Womersley senior, William Williams, John Petty Tanner, Abraham Decow, John Melwood, Henry Doughty, Robert Dickinson, John Hill taylor, Richard Saile, Nicholas Crabtree and Richard Crabtree for standing excommunicate.
William Williams and John Scholey for marrying without prohibited degrees of blood formally prohibited.
Joseph Whittaker, Joseph Petty, William Williams, Mathew Saile, Abraham Decow, Joseph Melwood, Richard Howdon, Henry Cooke, William Benson, George Beomont for keeping their children unbaptised.
John Doughty Churchwarden for no appearance.
1666 John Petty tanner, Jane West, Mathew Sayle, Joseph Melwood, Henry Doughty for refusing to pay their assessments towards the repair the church.
John Whittaker, Elizabeth his wife, William Frankland, Mary Saule widow, Thomas Hill, Margery wife of Joseph Petty skinner, Willliam Swindell, Elizabeth wife of Thomas Womersley, Dorothy wife of William Williams for standing excommunicated being Quakers.
Joseph Bunting sen, Eliza wife William Womersley, Robert Saile, Isabella his wife, Sarah wife Abraham Decow, Grace Milwood widow, Bridget Bladworth widow, William Bladworth, Mary Parkin widow, Mary wife Richard Doughty, Robert Cooke sen, Robert Cooke jun, Edward Cooke, Mary Howson widow, Joseph Ellison, Mariam Laverocke widow, Henry Cooke, Jane wife Anthony Maplebecke, Sarah wife Richard Howson, Jane wife William Topcliffe, George Beamont, Jane wife and John Walkin for the like.
Thomas Perkins gen, Thomas Waite, Thomas Fairburn, Dorothy wife and Richard Crabtree for the like.
William Williams and John Scholey cor standing excommunicated formally presented for marrying each of them their former wife’s sister.
Brian Wood and Robert Laverock cor standing excommunicated formally presented for not paying their assessment.
Married man Henry Smith gen a parish resident, William Womersley, Henry Doughty. William White, Jeana wife Abraham Decow, Catherine wife William Wright, Mary wife Richard Atkinson, Robert Smith and wife Thomas Clark, Alexandra Cheeseman, Elizabeth his wife, Jane wife Joseph Ellison, Henry Smith, Jane wife Thomas Padley for not coming to church being quakers.
Elizabeth Wels widow, Samual Pmshon and Elizabeth his wife, George Wright, alias Rusby, Anna wife Marmaduke Coates, Margery wife Richard Crabtree, Joseph Hill, Nicholas Crabtree, Thomas Crabtree, Honor Hill widow, Richard Saile, Anna wife Edmond Howson, Elizabeth wife George Bramham and Richard Huscroft for not coming to church being sectarians.
John Pettie tanner and Elizabeth Womersley for fornication together.
Thomas Salter gen for holding conventicles at his own house.
William Wright for keeping his children unbaptised.
1667
Thomas Perkin gent for standing excommunicated, Thomas Fairburne and Dorathy his wife for not paying assessment and being excommunicate.
Thomas Salter gent for keeping conventicles at his house.
William Wright for keeping his children unbaptised.
Henry Smith a popish recusant, (a dissenter)
William Womersley, Henry Doughty, William White and Joan his wife for not coming to church nor receiving the sacrament being reputed Quakers.
Abraham Decow, Katherine wife of William Wright, Maria wife Richard Atkinson, Robert Smith and his wife.
Thamas Clarke, Alexandra Chesman, Elizabeth his wife, Joan wife of Joseph Ellison, Henry Smith and Jane wife of Thomas Padley.
Elizabeth Ness widow, Samuel Pinshon, Elizabeth with of George Wright alias Rusby, Anna wife of Marmaduke Coates, Margaret wife of Richard Crabtree, John Hill (tayler), Nicholas Crabtree, Thomas Crabtree, Hannor Hill widow of Richard Sayle, Anna wife of Edmund Howson, Elizabeth wife of George Brahma and Richard Huscroft.
John Petty (tanner) and Elizabeth wife Thomas Womersley for fornication or adultery together.
John Whittaker, Elizabeth his wife, Maria Saul, Thomas Hill, Margaret wife of John Petty, William Swindall, Elizabeth wife of Thomas Womersley, Dorothy wife of William Williams, John Bunting sen. Elizabeth wife of William Womersley, Robert Womersley, Jane West widow and Mathew Sayle and Isabella his wife for Quakers excommunicated.
Sarah wife of Abraham Decow, Grace Milnwood widow, Bridget Bladworth widow, William Bladworth, Maria Parkin widow, Maria wife of Richard Doughty, Robert Coooke [sic] sen, Robert Cooke, Edward Cooke and Maria Howson widow.
Joseph Ellison, Marina Laveroke widow, Henry Cooke, Jane wife of Anthony Maplebeck, Sarah wife of Richard Hawden, Jane wife of William Toplife, George Beamont, Jane his wife and John Walker.
Thomas Parkin a sectarian for standing excommunicate.
William William and John Scholey excommunicated for marrying each of them two sisters.
Thomas Waite a Quaker, Thomas Fairburne, Dorothy wife of Richard Crabtree, Bryan Wood and Robert Laverocke for not paying assessment being all excommunicate.
1672
Edward Wormley old church warden for not appearing. Thomas Bainey, Nicholas Walker gent and Edward Cooke old Church warden for not exhibiting a presentment.
George Holgate for not paying his assessment being 7s 9s. Francis Rockley for detaining a person of 20 nobles per annum due to the school there.
Joseph Swift Churchwarden old and Brain Methley Churchwarden new.
1673
Richard Lawson, Edward Wilson, William Pease, Samuel Walsh for not coming to church nor receiving the communion.
Robert Dickonson, William Leavens, Samuel Walsh and Edward Wilson for not baptising their children.
William Huscroft, Elizabeth ……… wife for a clandestine marriage.
Francis Thompson and ……wife for the like.
Edward Wormley Churchwarden non attendance.
1674
Nicholas Pease and Bertha Briggs ….. wife presented for incest she being his uncles wife.
1675
John Foster, Isabella ….. wife , John West, Maria …… wife for not coming to church.
Robert Dickonson for not baptising his child for keeping a conventicle in his house.
Thomas Lockwood for buying his wife in his garden.
John West and Maria ….. wife presented for being married clandestinely.
Nicholas Crabtree for the like.
Anthony Markin for the like.
1679
Robert Dickonson, Nicholas Crabtree, Richard Cooke and Nicholas Cooke for not baptised their children.
Cathrine Dickonson and Audrey Crabtree for not coming to partake of the office of thanks giving.
William Pease, Marian Saule widow, Elizabeth Doughty widow, Robert Burnley, Nicholas Cooke, Richard Cooke, Robert Smith taylor, William Benson and William Huscroft for not burying their dead in the parish church or church yard.
Mario an Heathley widow, Thomas Fish and Anna wife ….. for not coming to church.
1680
William Huscroft, Joseph Ellison and Richard Beamont for not baptising their children.
Elizabeth Huscroft, Joan Ellison and Grace Beaumont for refusing to come to church to be partakes of the office of thanks giving.
William Huscroft, Elizabeth Doughty widow, Elizabeth Womersley widow, Thomas Fish, John Foster and William Levens for not burying their died in the church yard.
John Pettie skinner and Jane Hill for fornication.
Richard Beaumont and Grace Wilson fro being married clandestinely.
Nicolas Cooke ad Elizabeth Doughty.
Nicholas Watson of Sykehouse for fornication with ….
Court Books 1681-1690
1681 Marian Todd for refusing to church to be partake of the office of Thanksgiving.
Hester Heap of Stainforth for having a bastard who saith Henry Stapilton of Fishlake is the father.
1682
John Petty. Joseph Ellison, Robert Beaumont, George Beaumont, Nanoth Pears, William Pears, George Capes for not coming to divine service on Sundays and holy days.
Richard Howson and Robert Smith for hedging on the Sabbath day.
Nicholas Cooke for not baptising his child.
Elizabeth wife of Cooke for not coming to partake of the office of thanksgiving.
William Huscroft for not burying his children in the church nor churchyard.
1687
Nicholas Cooke for refusing to pay his assessment towards the repairs of the church being 2s 6d.
John Howson 1s 2d
Azariah Williams 1s 3d
William Leavens. 2d
Robert Smith. 3 1/2d
1689
John Wilkinson of Fishlake for not paying his assessments being 10s 3d
1685
Thomas Bourne vicar of Fishlake presents persons to the number of 345.
For not paying their assessment….1
For not receiving The sacrament…273
For being wilful dissenters and Quakers…63
John Crabtree and Anna his wife for common swearing.
William Crabtree, Stephen Goodridge, Joseph Hill, Henry Smith and William Bolton New Churchwardens to certify the beautifying the church the providing a pattern and anew table of degree.
1691.
Anna Stafforth for fornication.
John Rhodes writing master for teaching school upon the 30 th of January and for public teaching in the free school upon Candlemas day in time of Divine Service forenoon and afternoon keeping the youths from coming to be catechised at the Church and by baldly boasting that he will do this in spite of the Minister, and that he values not a presentation, and herby hath made the young people neglect coming to be catechised on holydays as they used to do.
Dorothy wife of John Rhodes for selling wares upon Sundays which she frequently hath done and continues to do though often admonished by the Minister not to do it.
Thomas Fairburn sen for having a seat in the church irregular and not uniform.
1692
Joseph Hill and Nicholas Fish Churchwarden do suffering the walls and widows and the roof of some part of the church to go out of repair and the bell ropes and bell frame to be so much decayed they they are not fit for public use.
1696
Richard Lane and John Margrave Churchwarden for now providing a cushion and covering for the pulpit.
1705
Thomas Petty and John Cook for not getting the Great bell repaired which is broken.
1727
John Taylor for not paying the accustomed fee of 8d for the funeral of Joseph Taylor and for causing the dead to be buried in the chapel yard of Sykehouse without a clergyman.
Sykehouse. John L’Isle clerk vicar of Fishlake for refusing to visit the sick when desired or to administer private baptismal particularly to a child of Thomas Reynolds when not well.
From a lecture by Dr J Addy:
After 1720 Bishops and deacons directed their visitations to the clergy rather than the church wardens as churchwardens became very lapse in recording the information needed and often just put that ‘all was well in the parish’.
Between 1764 and 1868 visitation returns by the Archbishop for Yorkshire seems to have been lost or non taken which leaves a sad gap for that period.
Between 1720-1830 the arch deacon of York was very strict about the condition of churches and church yards at the time as most were in a bad state of repair. Church wardens had not been collecting the repair money and things are getting out of hand.
From the Church wardens accounts from Fishlake in 1722.
Jonathon Goodridge, Churchwarden for that year.
Spent at ye Arch visitation & Court Fees…..2.4.0
At Arch Deacons Visitation spent & Court Fees. 0.18.6…..
Conditions in 1726 at Fishlake as reported by the vicar John L’Isle and Thomas Gamble Churchwarden.
There were weeds in the steeple, elder trees to be stubbed up, pew bottoms were rotten. The church interior to be whitewashed. And the rubbish and cobwebs need clearing away. Clean the Kings Arms, (probably George 1 st). A new carpet needed for the common table which was often a silk cloth (often buckram).The chancel roof to be repaired in lead and timber as it leaked onto the vicar.
1727
Thomas Cambell, David Cass. Churchwardens old.
G. Leesham, Thomas Retford. Churchwarden.
Abednego Green and Sarah Silvester for the crime of fornication.
Elizabeth Levens for fornication.
John Smalpage for not paying his church rates being 8s 11 1/2d
John Heading of Kirklass Green for the like being 7s 6d.
Sam Gray for the like being 2s 1d.
Mariam Middleton for the like 12s 8 1/2d.
Thomas Cambell and David Cass my guardian to explain their presentment by setting forth the reputed father of Elizabeth Levens bastard child and the person with whom widow ……….. committed adultery, also to name the reputed father of Grace Bowin’s Bastard child of Sykehouse.
Robert Gillian for the crime of fornication with Elizabeth Levans she having born a bastard child of which he is the reputed father.
George Groundy for the crime of fornication with Mary Lee.
…….. ……… having born a bastard child of which he is the reputed father excommunicated.
Alexander Miles for the crime of fornication with Grace Brown alias Bowin she having born a bastard child of which he is the reputed father excommunicated.
1743 Archbishop Herring’s Visitation returns, 1743. Volume 1.
Authors: Sidney Leslie Ollard, Philip Charles Walker.
Summary: In 1743, the appointment of a new archbishop of York, Thomas Herring (1693-1757), led to the creation of one of the most useful historical records of parish life in eighteenth-century England. Here is the complete record with original spelling as follows……
By the best intelligence that I can receive there are about Two Hundred families in the parish, of dissenters we have 2 families in the parish of Quakers 2 widows 2 what are wives, but their husbands no Quakers, and one family of Anabaptists (1).
We have no licenced meeting houses of any Denomination. The neighbouring Quakers come once a year to preach in a Barn here —- no other Dissenters have ever any meetings here.
We have a free school endowed and a school house. The curate of Sykehouse in or, Parish employs an usher to teach Petty scholars, the number is said to be about 30 sometimes and the usher instruct them in the catachisum and brings them to church as the cannon requires. The patrons are the minster and trustees.
We have a workhouse and 4 Almshouses Mr Allyn’s Charity (2) giving cloths to the poor a little before Christmas yearly, the Minister and Trustees are managers by the said Gentleman’s will. One close for the poor, Mr Rands Hartfield money for the Benefit of the poor. No lands left for the repair of the church, but tis well repaired by the parish.
I personly reside upon the cure do the duty of it myself and live in the vicarage house.
I do the Duty of the church myself as it pleases God to enable me, and by the order of this church, and I invite all young person to come to me, that I may prepare them for confirmation by instruction and they do come.
I perform duly the publick service twice every Lords day in the church, as the act of uniformity and cannons of the church require and if I be sick the curate of the chaple of Sykehouse in or Parish, assists me.
I catachize every Sunday the youth of the parish as the 59 th cannon directs, who after the second lesson at evenyngprayers are openly in church instructed and examined by me in our church catachizam, and I shew them the meaning thereof.
I administer every Sunday in advent, Christmas Day, in Lint, Palm Sunday, Good Fryday, Easter Day, [at Whit sunday and Trinity Sunday, in margin] in Passion week at the chaple of Sykehouse and after the in gathering of the fruit at Michaelmas (4) we have a competent number at all other times.
I always give warning the sunday before the Sacrament is to be administered. The people have never used to send in their names as the rubrick before the communion service shews And I admit no notorious evil livers, if I know of them before repentance to the holy communion.
A difficultly I meet with in the discharge of my Duty is that one David Taylor (2) a teacher of the methodist, seduces the people, mostly at Sykehouse in our Parish offered himself to receive at Whitsunday the sacrament, but was refused on account of which I have sent to the Arch Bishops principal official Dr John Audley, as I am order by the rubrick, all this attested by John L’Isle (5) vicar of Fishlake
An added note.
The Methodist has been, but once teaching at Fishlake and tis thought, He will never come there any more, it was the last Whitsunday 1743.
V. John L’Isle Inst. 27 th Aug 1707.
D. York 11 th June 1704.
P. York 8 th June 1707. Peterhouse Cambridge.
BA 1703.
GR school master John Gibson Liv 11 th Aug 1716
Parish Clark James Pickmam Lic 20 th Sept 1726
Churchwardens old William Dickinson, Noah Wood.
new John Beardshaw, Thomas Fish
Fornication AB and CD (Sykehouse). He confessed and did penence.
Notes from the above.
1 Anabaptists. Anabaptism is a Christian movement which traces its origins to the Radical Reformation in the 16th century. Anabaptists believe that baptism is valid only when candidates freely confess their faith in Christ and request to be baptized.
2 See separate article, Support for the Poor in Fishlake through the Ages, in this series.
3 David Taylor. Rev David Taylor was one of Methodism's early itinerant preachers, beginning in 1739, one of the Countess of Huntingdon’s itinerant preachers.
He was a Wesley early helper, began to preach the Gospel in Cheshire and Derbyshire about the time that Wesley began his public labours. David Taylor had some chaotic experiences: he was with Charles Wesley during the riots at Sheffield and Thorpe in May 1743. On one occasion he was waylaid, with Charles Wesley, and severely wounded. He died, in obscurity, about 1780.
4 This is an early reference to Harvest Festivals.
5 John L’Ise see separate article on this family in this series.
1865
Rev George Ornsby, vicar. Two Sunday services, morning at 10.45 and afternoon. Also on New Years Day. Communion 8 times a year with 14 communicants. Congregation of 100-120. There was an offertory monthly for the service expenses and the York Diocesan Society.
There is an endowed school of 40 children not a grammar school at this time with it being an agricultural area the chosen frequently mis lessons. The Sunday School has 40-50 students but few attend when they have left school, they leave the parish for our parts.
There is 3 Dame School of 15 children each. I tried to set an evening school up but it did not success no one attended. Rev Ornsby as not happy with his congratulation for 50 % went to a Primitive or New Connection Chapels.
1871
There was no change on the service etc but he does a lecture on Friday in Lent and he has 18 communicants. He collects for his expenses, the SPG (Society For The Propagation Of The Gospel) and for the relief of the wounded in the wars, one being the French and Prussian War.
No church rates as in 1868, it was abolish. He reports friendly relations with the church wardens and he strongly objects to a church council.
1875
Now he has a curate. He provides 2 services and one on Ash Wednesday and on Friday in Lent. He takes the Cataclysm in school and 13 attend.
Collects are made for the Clark’s wages, ell ringers and heart if the church. There is an elementary school with 90 children. 2 Dame schools with 20 children each. The Sunday school has 30 attendants. He still has a lot of ground people passing to other area.
He tried an evening school but it did not work. He still worries about the dissents two of of three frequents chapel.
1884
By now he has lost his curate. In this year he held communion with 16 attendants eg 15 in the morning and 17 in ten afternoon.
He still collects for his services and the Archbishops Pastoral Letter Fund and the National Society.
He still cannot establish an evening class.
The stipend dropped to £213 at the time of an Agricultural slump which was national but effected this Ada particularly baddy in particular between 1875-79 with a succession of bad harvest.
1894
Eliezer Flecker vicar. He has his usual serve is including winter. The school does not teach Latin and is elemental. He has found a place to have his parish meetings instead pf the vestry.
He has now established a church committee. The population is small and scattered and the church is large and cold. There is a need for £100 to repair the church.
A few notes and observations.
An analysis of the above records reveals very clearly that Fishlake, like many villages in South Yorkshire, had a high incidents of non conformity and an unwillingness to participate in Church of England practices among the rural population. For example in 1685 the vicar Thomas Bourne presented 345 residents for disciplinary behaviour.
For not paying their assessment….1
For not receiving The sacrament…273
For being wilful dissenters and Quakers…63.
This must surely account for over half the population at the time.
During the seventeenth century, among others, there was significant Quaker following. For a very helpful over view regarding Fishlake Quakerism including information about the Bladworth Legacy, see an article entitled Quaker Burial Grounds in Fishlake by Carole Smith located in the Historical Research file at www.fishlakehistorysociety.uk website. On this site.
Further to this during the 1660’s there are long lists (see above) of residence listed as Quakers including Thomas Slater whose house was used as a meeting place.
Apart from one resident who buried his wife in their garden, others found not to be burying their dead in the church yard were presumably using the Quaker burial ground at Fosterhouses established by the Thomas Bladworth’s legacy in 1658.
A special reference is needed for the name of Robert Dickinson who list frequently listed from 1664 as a Quaker. In an article by R E Leader The Origins of Nonconformity in Sheffield published in Hunter Archeological Society Journal Vol 3 page 337. Richard Dickinson was “ an officer, a preacher elder of the Sheffield church. In 1672 a licence was granted to this Richard Dickinson for preaching in his house in Fishlake”. Furthermore, according to the Diaries of Oliver Haywood, he was “ a member and ruling elder of the (Sheffield) Society, an English scholar only, but a good man of are parts, and hath preached about 10 years at seasons and in his own house beyond Doncaster, 18 miles from Sheffield”.
Rev Canon George Ornsby, 150 years ago, as noted that in the Quaker Burial Ground at Fosterhouses a broken tombstone was found bearing the following inscription as recorded by the Rev Ornsby ‘Here lyeth interred Robert Womersley of Fishlake who departed December ye 12 th 1724 42. Elizabeth who departed 1735 aged.’ This family name appear in the Visitation reports.
By the 19 th century the largest threat to the established church was the huge growth of Methodism which at one point, in 1865, 50% of the population of Fishlake attend Methodist chapels.
The following is a request to Licence a meeting house.
We whose name are here under written being Protestant Desenters request licence for a Dwelling House situated at Fosterhouses in the Parish of Fishlake in the County of York the property of Samuel Cook for the public worship of Almighty God Witness or Names this 24 day of November 1798.
Jonathan Heaps, Jonathan Goulden, Samuel Cook, John Thorp Stephen Eversfield, George Heaps.
Registered 26 th Nov 1798.