SECTION 4. CURIOUS EXTRACTS FROM THE PARISH REGISTERS,— VESTRY MINUTES,—AND ACCOUNTS OF THE CHAPELWARDENS. Curious Extracts from Parish Registers. PARISH Registers were first introduced in the 30th. Henry VIII. (1538.) From that period to the present time, excepting a short interval, the Births and Burials of the townspeople of Uxbridge have been registered distinctly from those of the parish of Hillingdon. Marriages were formerly celebrated at the chapel, up to the year 1694; since which time they have been confined to the mother-church. The Register Book, No. 1. contains Baptisms and Burials from 1538 to 1648:-No. 2. from 1778 to 1811; in this book from the year 1805 to 1811, the Baptisms of Uxbridge and Hillingdon are registered together; and No. 5. contains Baptisms of Uxbridge only for 1812. Another book, No. 3. contains burials from 1681 to 1774; another No. 4. from 1775 to 1804; another No. 5. from 1805 to 1812. In the books of Baptisms Nos. 2. and 3. are the following entries. "1663 May 28 Anne the Daughter of Simon Cottifford and of Anne his wife borne and baptized the 23d of June following borne about 5 a clocke in the morning signe in the brest borne one holy Thursday." "1728 NB July 7 Unity Winch did penance at morning service for May 26 on the 26 of May is an entry of the baptism of the illegitimate child of Unity Winch." "1639 Septembe 7 Faith Hop Charite daughters of George Lamb & Alice his wife." The Register Book, No. 1. also contains the following entry of the burial of four children born at one birth. "1630 Septembe 14 Nathaniell, Nycholas, Edmond, a daughter unbaptized these wear the sonnes & daughters of Edmond Lyons and Aune his wyf all fower born on Sunday morning Aliue and in perfect shape being the 12 of Septembe." There are also in the same book two instances recorded of three children at a birth:-in the burials, viz. "Three infants unbaptized the children of Robert Freny were buried Jan. 7. 1638." And the three above-mentioned Faith, Hop, Charite. The mortality in this place during the years of the plague was as follows. Richard Claydon buried Feb. 20 1715 ..... Dec. 2. 1722 Ann Reynolds Widow March 15. 1755 .... Dorothea Spooner 1791 aged 97 99 101 91 94 96 Francis Gardner April 27 1796 Average of Baptisms and Burials*. There is also a Register of the Marriages which were performed at the Chapel from the year 1538 to 1694, subsequent to which time that ceremony has uniformly taken place at the mother-church at Hillingdon. The following is extracted from the book No. 1. which contains the marriages from 1538 to 1653. "1599 April Henry Batty of Thame & Sara Turno' of this towne the 30 day Memorandu that the same daye Henry Reddinge one of the executors of Raffe Turnor late of Pynner dyd pay to the said Henry Batty & Sara his said wief in the house of Robte Winstone her father in lawe at the Cocke in Woxbridge Twentye pounds in money One Fyne towell two paier of Fyne Sheets and a pyllouse beexe as of the Gyfte of the said Raffe Turner her Uncle by his last will in writinge in the pnce of George Battye Robte Wynston John Edlyn Willm Gatton & Sundrye others." During the commotions in 1655, and for some little time afterwards, it is stated the publications of banns were made "in the public meeting place," and in some cases "three several market-days in the market-place of Woxbridge" and the ceremony, which was then considered as a civil contract merely, was performed be fore a magistrate, who has signed the certificates in the register book. In the book No. 2. which contains the marriages from 1653 to 1694, is an entry of the last marriage performed in the chapel, in the following words : 66 'April 9 1694 John Tice & Mary Browne." Vestry Minutes. The following are extracts from the Vestry Minute Book. ༡༤ "May 28. 1734 At a Vestry it was also Represented that Jno Crosiez of Cowley in the county of Middlesex Esq who frequents Divine Service and Sermon in this Chappell is desirous to Errect a Gallery in the same in the Lower part of the North Isle of this Chappel, and that he will at his own Charge Errect and finish the same provided the Inhabitants of the Towne of Uxbridge will permitt him his friends and Successors to have the sole Use thereof for his or their attending Divine Service to wch request we whose hands are hereto sett in Open Vestry afores do Consent and Agree for & on the behalf of all the Towns-inen of Uxbridge afores as Witness our hands" "Be it Remembred that a Publick Vestrey held this 29th day of April 1747 in the Vestry Room in the Chappel of Uxbridge in the county of Middx. ss. |