Portbury Hundred Quarter Sessions.

Collated by Mary Mason.

1600-1700.

 

Wells Sessions. Jan 21. 1670.

Admission of Richard Brockman of Portbury , a poor man who faithfully served Charles I in the late unhappy wars, to a yearly pension of 40s.

 

Wells Sessions. Jan 14. 1673.

Order to the treasurer of the maimed soldiers to pay 20s. to Merven Hales for the use of William Browne of Portbury, a poor maimed soldier.

 

Bridgwater Sessions.

15 Jul 1673.

Order for payment of 20s by the treasurer of the maimed soldiers to ………..Browne of Portbury.

 

Wells Sessions. Jan 12 1669.

A conventicle of Quakers is called at the house of Thomas Parsons in the parish of Portishead every month on a Wednesday.

 

Wells Sessions. Jan 11 1676.

Order on a dispute between the inhabitants of Portishead and William Beakes of the same. That Beakes do keep and provide for Sarah Heale, a poor child of the parish placed with him as an apprentice in respect of a tenement worth 60s. yearly which he rents of Sir Thomas Hooke, in accordance with an indenture of apprenticeship dated 28 July 1675, unless he show could cause to the contrary at the next General Sessions.

 

Jan 11 1676.

On complaint by William Phillipps of Long-Ashton that he and Richard Large of Bedminster were chosen constables for the Hundred of Hartcliffe cum Bedminster at a Court Leet held about Michaelmas last, and that Large has refused to be sworn; the Court orders Large take the Oath forthwith, and desires Sir Hugh Smith, K.B. and Bart, Edward Gorges and Richard Morgan, Esquires, justices, to bind him over to the next General Sessions if he refuses to do so.

 

Wells Session. Jan 9. 1666.

The Court desires Francis Vaughan, Samuel Gorges, and John Tint Esquires, justices to, to enquire into a dispute between John Godwin of Naysey and John Lawrence touching an alleged detention of wages from the latter; and if they pay them, with costs, binding him over to appear at the next Sessions if he refuses. The matter was referred at last Sessions to the two first-named justices but nothing has been done, Mr. Gorges having been lately sick.

 

Ilchester Sessions. April 12. 1670.

Order for the absolute settlement of Nicholas Pym in the parish of Naylsey; as it appears upon the testimony of himself and Nicholas Heath that he was a covenant servant with John Twitt of Naylsey with wages 5s a year, and that he stayed there for a quarter from Michaelmas last and received his covenant money.

 

Illchester Sessions.

Apr 4 Discharge on appeal of an Order by Sir Hugh Smith K.B. and Bart, and Edward Gorges, Esquire, justices for the removal of Nicholas Rogers from Nailsey to Clutton; and order that he be absolutely settled at Nailsey.

 

Illchester Sessions.April 4.

The Court desires Sir Hugh Smith K.B. and Bart. Sir Edward John Churchill, Knight and Sir Edward Gorges, Richard Morgan, Francis Vaughn and Hugh Tynt Esquires to examine into a dispute between the parishioners of Backwell and Mrs Eleanor Goodrick touching the refusal of the latter (on the grounds that she is over-rated to the poor and that the others in the parish have no apprentice placed on them) to maintain Hannah Pope, a poor child of the parish, who was placed as an apprentice on her or her tenant in Backwell, and was maintained by the said tenant until he died. The said Justices are also desired to order payment to be made of the costs of the parishioners in maintaining the child since the death of the said tenant.

 

Wells Sessions. Jan 13 1674.

Discharge of Hugh Jeanes from his apprenticeship with James Norcott of Wrington, in accordance with an order by Francis Vaughn and John Prowse, Esquires, justices; as Jeanes is a very infirm person and suffers from a running sore called the King`s Evil, which was well known to his Uncle John Harris of Yatton, who directed Jeanes not to discover the same until after the indentures of apprenticeship were sealed.

 

Wells Sessions Jan 12 1675.

Order on an appeal against an order by Sir Hugh Smith and Sir Thomas Gore, Knights, justices, for the removal of Thomas Jeanes from Clapton to Kenn. For the return of Jeanes to Clapton, where he was formally for more than a year an apprentice to Thomas Rogers of that parish, husbandman, and for his settlement there.

 

Wells Sessions. Jan 10 1671.

Discharge of an order by Sir Hugh Smyth. K. B. and Bart and Samuel Gorges Esquire, justices, touching the maintenance of James, a base child of Joan Nethway of Clevedon by James Barber of the same, the latter having a very small estate, and fresh order touching the matter.

 

Bath Sessions. Oct 6 1674.

Confirmation of an order by Sir Hugh Smith, Knight and Edward Gorges, Esquire, justices, for the removal of Thomas Mudge from Tickenham to Clevedon, an order accordingly.

 

Wells Sessions. Jan 12 1675.

Order by Sir Hugh Smith K.B. and Bart and Sir Thomas Gore, Knight, justices, touching the maintenance of a bastard daughter of Frances Gay, single woman, born at Barrow; the reputed father being John Leamon of Bleadon/Blagdon innholder.

Dated at Fayland, Wraxall, 18 Dec 1672.

 

Ilchester Sessions. April 24 1666.

 

Confirmation of a monthly rate of 14-2-9d made by Sir George Norton, Knight, Thomas Gore, Knight and Samuel Gorges and Thomas Pigott, Esquires the four justices nearest to Bedminster, on the hundreds and parishes within 5 miles of Bedminster, towards the relief of the persons in the parish of Bedminster infected with the plague: as the 400 inhabitants of Bedminster are very poor, their chief maintenance consisting in manufactory, which they cannot prosecute at present, being debarred from trade with Bristol, where most of their commodities were sold.

 

Wells Sessions. Jan 13 1674.

Order by Sir Hugh Smith K.B. and Bart and sir Thomas Gore, Knight for the relief of the parish of Bedminster, touching the maintenance of a bastard daughter of Elizabeth Polton, late of Bristol. John Christopher being the reputed father. Dated 7 January 1674.

 

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1656 June 30.

Complaint of Blanche Tripp of Long Ashton made to Richard Jones, who made unreasonable charges against Joseph Crossman; for although his men had by mistake shorn and marked two of her sheep; he had offered the wool and five shillings to finish the matter.

 

1655/6  Jan 20.

Confession of Susan Saunders of Abbots-Leigh concerning her present condition, made to William Cole.

 

1656 Apr 14.

Complaint of the bad behaviour of John Salter of Wraxall, made to William Cole.

Thomas Gorges minister of wraxall said that Salter while drunk had come into church and there behaved in a very unseemly manner. And on Easter Monday last in the afternoon when Mr. Gorges and the parishioners were in the churchyard making choice of churchwardens and overseers of the poor, the said Salter and his wife behaved in a very uncivil manner.

 

No date.

Uppon hearing of the several parishes of Portbury and Clevedon touching of a settlement of one Maudelin Patch who was born at Portbury and is now residing at Clevedon. This Court doth see no cause to remove the said Maudlin from Clevedon but doth conceive her to be settled there.

 

1658 Nov 16.

Examination of Thomas Doubting and John Lullett concerning a deer found dead in the river near a park of ground of William Coles of Clevedon; taken before Thomas Baynard at Wrington.

 

 

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