Catalogue description 1628

1. CHESTER (St Oswald) Marjorie Chambers c Thos Willins calling her an "idle housewife" - libel, responsions, depositions (fragile).

2. CHESTER (St Oswald) John Barnes c Edward Brocke concerning his title to a seat in church in right of his house in St Werbergh's Lane; references to the Dimcock family; depositions.

3. CHESTER (St Michael) Churchwardens c Eleanor Brereton for not paying quarterage of four shillings due to the church - libel, depositions, decree from York (fragile).

4. CHESTER (St Oswald) Robert Ince c Churchwardens concerning the removal of the pulpit and seats of the mayor and aldermen as well as the parishioners - responsions.

5. CHESTER (St Oswald) Ann Evans alias Morgan c Robert Lloyd concerning the burial of Henry Battye, a stranger and a Welshman, on 12 Nov 1626 and entered in the parchment Register Book begun in 1538.

6. CHESTER (St John Baptist) John Powell c Henry Lloyd alias Jones saying that Margaret Lloyd was his whore - libel.

7. CHESTER (St John Baptist) John Warman c Elena Wright calling him "a cuckoldy witwally foole" the words spoken in Commonhall Lane - depositions of Henry Rose, schoolmaster and sentence.

8. CHESTER (St Oswald) Churchwardens of Bruera c Wm Case vicar of St Oswald for not providing a minister to serve the cure - responsions. Also 1630 no.3.

9. CHESTER (St Peter) Churchwardens c Robert Gwynn for non payment of assessments - libel, responsions.

10. STRETTON Richard Kirke clerk c John Grimsditch - sentence.

11. ECCLESTON Alexander Clarke rector c Thomas Johnson of St Mary, Chester for non payment of tithe - libel.

12. URSWICK William Gardner c Nicholas Marshall clerk, schoolmaster for neglect of school, drinking in Hawkshead, Dalton and Urswick, for beating Samuel Harrison preacher of God's word, also for adultery and fornication - libel, responsions, depositions.

13. WHALLEY Office c John Bowker for adultery with Margaret Walmesley and getting her with child as reported in Whalley, Blackburn, Kirkham and Preston - libel, responsions.

14. OLD HUTTON (1629 - No.5) Wm Waller c Wm Whitwell reader for non payment of stipend. He had discontinued to pay towards Whitwell's stipend because he was given to drink and a troublesome man. Has paid nothing for 20 years and is not legally bound to do - responsions.

15. WETTENHALL George Lightfoote c John Wood for non payment of his assessments to the repair of the chapel - libel.

16. PRESTBURY Laurence Leicester clerk of Wilmslow c Margaret Mottershed for defamation - libel.

17. PRESTBURY Laurence Leicester c Anna Lawe for fornicating in his barn - libel.

18. PRESTBURY Thos Leigh impropriator c Jacob Baxter for tithe lambs - libel, responsions.

19. PRESTBURY List of parishioners involved in a dispute with Thos Leigh. The names appear to be by pew ownership.

20. CLITHEROE Office c Thos & Wm Greenfield of Whalley for threatening Thos Warriner minister of Clitheroe to kill him and also has beaten him with his first and his staff, drawn blood and challenged him to a fight - libel, certificate of attack.

21. CLITHEROE Ellen Atherton of Lower Stayning in Castle parish c Wm Bayley for lascivious approaches to Ellen in the highway after divine service - libel, depositions, penance.

22. TARPORLEY Humphrey Guest of Great Budworth c Margaret Davenport for adultery with Peter Large - libel.

23. TARPORLEY Margaret Witter c Wm Richardson & Wm Hugheston saying she had been naughty with them - libel.

24. BARTHOMLEY Robert Kettle c John Hulse alias House saying he had a child by Sherrett who was his wife's servant - libel.

25. LEYLAND Impropriators of rectory c John Shorrock concerning tithes of Penwortham and Leyland. Commission to take evidence and copy of the sale of tithes by Wm Fleetwood, who had bought them from the Crown, for £3,088:16d to Henry Leigh and others - responsions.

26. OLDHAM Richard Brerely c Jacob Wolfenden & Edmund Cocker saying he saw Brereley commit adultery in a barn - libel.

27. ROCHDALE Office c John Wolstenholme for saying that Francis Wolstenholme had gone to the devil and his bones were roasting in hell - libel.

28. ROCHDALE Janet Hargreaves c Abraham Heaward saying she concealed some good as Robert Holden worth 63/4d contrary to her probate oath - libel.

29. ROCHDALE Arthur Whitehead c John Butterworth for erecting a private pew in the chancel. There were no seats in the chancel and it was unpaved. The only seats were pieces of timber on which the schoolboys sat. Order issued to make seats decent and uniform - responsions.

30. MALPAS Elizabeth Warburton daughter of Francis Warburton c Charles Nuttall for breach of marriage contract - libel, responsions, depositions. (In a very bad condition).

31. THORNTON LE MOORS Samuel Knype c Anna Redman concerning tithes from Stone Closes in the Netherland - libel, responsions.

32. THORNTON Office c Edward Harrison curate for irregular order and intruding into benefice. Says he was ordained by Tobie Matthew of York and has the degree of M.A. from Emmanuel College, Cambridge - libel, responsions.

33. HOLT Office c Robert Frances and Alice Cowper who were married by "verba presenti" by Henry Jones at Holt in 1613.

34. LANCASTER John Kitchen of Cockerham c Janet Rowe of Lancaster for adultery with John Smith & Thos Agelbie of Lancaster of Cockerham - libel.

35. WINWICK Office c Wm Holcroft for marriage to Ann Smith widow alias Mather and grand daughter of Wm Holcroft - responsions.

36. WINWICK Anne Knowles & H Naylor c Richard Worthington of Wigan for defamation - libel.

37. WHITTINGTON Fragment of a matrimonial case concerning legality of a marriage between Leonard Evans and Agnes Bland at Whittington. John Sherran a witness lived in Durham City being a fisher, fowler and knitter of nets - depositions (fragile).

38. WINWICK Katherine Goodyear c Richard Robinson for defamation - libel.

39. MANCHESTER Francis Lloyd c Anna Lillie for defamation concerning her marriage - libel.

40. MANCHESTER Anna Lille c Francis Lloyd and Katherine Sagar saying she was Edward Sagar's whore - libel.

41. NANTWICH John Haslehurst sen. c Margaret Cumberbach for saying that when she asked him to, "garth her butter tubb", he said he would garth her butter tub when butter came from Ireland - libel, responsions.

42. SADDLEWORTH Alice Mallalewe c Margaret Buckley for defamation - libel.

43. SADDLEWORTH Alice Marsland impropriator c Francis Gartside for tithe on 1,000 hattocks of oats - libel.

44. SANDBACH Elena Noden wife of Thomas Noden c Margaret Broome for defamation - libel (fragile).

45. BLACKBURN Sir Ratcliffe Ashton c Wm Fleetwood for tithe hay - libel, appointment of commission to take evidence.

46. BOWDEN Margaret Vaudrey c Henry Leigh for tithes arising in Baguley - responsions. (Very poor condition).

47. BUNBURY George Wilbraham c Katherine Webster saying he was a cuckold & Grace his wife a whore - libel, depositions.

48. PRESCOT Thomas Willin of Upton c Margaret Lawton of Farnworth in marriage contract. She was born in 1614 and married in 1625 aged eleven - decree of nullity.

49. WEAVERHAM Katherine Goodyear c Ralph Dutton saying she committed adultery with John Eccles her servant.

50. LEYLAND Sir Henry Leigh and others c Richard Dawson concerning tithes - libel.

51. PRESTON Margery Janion c Anna Shakesshaft for defamation - depositions, sentence.

52. NESTON John Woodward c John Sharp for defamation - responsions, depositions.

53. CHILDWALL Jacob Critchley vicar c John Johnson alias Richardson for tithe hemp - libel.

54. CHILDWALL Jacob Critchley vicar c John Ireland for tithe hemp and flax - libel, responsions.

55. CONGLETON Robert Carter c Ann Browne for saying he had got her with child - depositions

56. TARVIN Robert Bruen c Matilda Smith in a matrimonial dispute. She was to meet him at the cole pitt beyond Chester and be ready in a lane leading to Pulford and Rossethgogh Green where he would take her in a cart to be married - libel, interrogations.

57. TATTENHALL Richard Egerton c William Dod concerning tithes - sentence.

58. ALDFORD Anna Fitton c William Harrison of Bruera Chapel for tithes from pasturing cattle in Poolefield, Pearetree field, Le Middle Croft, Halesfield and Gibbons field - libel.

59. CHRISTLETON Office c George Eccles rector for excessive drinking of wine, ale, beer and so drunk he fell down in the street in Chester, failing to preach a sermon against drunkenness and marrying several couples in private houses - libel. (fragile).

60. WIGAN John Francis c Matthew Anderton L1.B concerning payment of fees - interrogations, fees.

61. WIGAN William Ormshaw c Laurence Anderton concerning title to a seat and burial place - depositions, sentence.

62. HAWKSWELL Office c Francis Burgh for advising the churchwardens appearing in Bedal church to refuse to take the oath - libel, depositions.

63. FRODSHAM Richard Johnson of Alvanley c Henry Whitby for slander - sentence.

64. HANMER Humphrey Hanmer c John & Anna Davies for defamation - sentence.

65. WHITEGATE John Darlington c Joan Whalley saying he was but a common usurer - libel, sentence.

66. KNUTSFORD Office c Thomas Stubbes for attending the burial of his nephew while standing excommunicate - depositions.

67. Office c Samuel Eaton clerk for refusing to bow his head at the name of Jesus as he believes it to be a superstitious action. He was presented to the Rural Dean of Wirrall.

68. Confession of George Croft that he committed adultery with Elizabeth Holin.

69. Responsions in a case of adultery between Humphrey Naylor and Anna Knowles.

70. CHESTER Responsions of John Owen in a case of drunkenness.

71. Miscellanea