Collated by
Mary Mason.
1629
Upon the
motion of Mr Baber, being of counsell with the inhabitants of Dundry, in the
presence of the parishioners of St. George (Easton in Gordano) it is ordered by
the Court that Edith Brock and her base child, nowe remaying at Dundrey
aforesaid, shall forthwith sent to St. George aforesaid, there to be kept and
relieved according to the Lawe; and the parish of St. George is to receive them
accordingly.
1631
Whereas by
examination taken before Sir Francis Popham Kt and Francis Baber Esq (J
P`s) It doth appear that Roger Hilsey
born at Backwell was by the parishioners of Backwell for the sum of £4 given
with him at his age of three or four years placed as an apprentice or otherwise
put unto Richard Lukins of Bedminster in the said County about four years since
to learn the trade of a Carpenter; and that the said Lukyns had lived at
Bedminster aforesaid by the space of twenty years before; and that about our
Lady Day (25 March) last past the said Richard Lukins was hired and employed by
William Claxton Esq to come into Compton Dando in the County aforesaid to do
some Carpenters work there for the said William Claxton and brought him from
Bedminster aforesaid his wife and the said Roger Hilsey, and lived in a lodge
of the said Mr Claxton’s far remote from the rest of the Parish; and the said
Roger Hilsey seldom comes to Church the said parishioners of Compton Dando
could not take any notice of his being a parishioner; and that about Candlemas
(2 Feb) last the said Lukins dying at Compton Dando aforesaid the said Roger
Hilsey returned and went unto Backwell aforesaid where he was born, and from
thence was by warrant under the hands of some of His Majesties Justices of the
Peace of the said County sent unto Bedminster aforesaid, and from thence by any
other like warrant unto Compton Dando aforesaid to be kept by the same parish.
Now forasmuch as the said Roger Hilsey was not known to be a parishoner at
Compton Dando until the death of the
said Richard Lukins, and the said Roger Hilsey was not in law a parishoner
there, it is ordered by the Court that the said Roger Hilsey shall sent to
Backwell aforesaid there to remain and be provided for as the law in such case
requireth; and the Churchwardens and Overseers of the Poor of Backwell
aforesaid are to receive him accordingly.
1637
Wheras this
court is enformed that William Maskall of Abbotts Leigh was lately chosen
constable of the Hundred of Portbury and in an obstinate manner standeth out
and will not be sworne to execute the same office, whereby the weight of the
Kinges service within the Hundred lyeth wholly upon William Vawer, the other
Constable of the same Hundred, notwithstanding the said Maskell hath been
divers tymes ordered and payed in the Leete of Portbury to take upon him the
execution of the said Office; it is therefore ordered by this court that the
said Maskell upon sight of this Order shall go before one of the next Justices
of the Peace within or neare the said Hundred and take his oath for the
execution of the said office; and in default thereof the said next Justice of
the Peace on complaint to him made of his neglect therein; shall send for the
said Maskell and commit him to the goale of this County, there to remayne until
he shall do the same.
Maskell a
gentleman, was bound to the Epiphany Quarter Sessions 1637/8 for refusing to
take the Oath of Office. Having manifested reasons, he was discharged and one
Mathew Coxe of Flax Bourton was ordered to serve, if William Capell J P found
he was a continual inhabitant of the Hundred; otherwise, Maskell was to serve.
It is apparent that Maskells adversaries, having lost at the previous sessions,
were trying again, at Assizes.