Parish Register Oddities

[paulr1949]

I am sure there are plenty! From the register of Melton Magna (Great Melton) in the front of the book commencing 1725 (although obviously added to later) is the following:
Some observations transcribed from the Old Register and incidentally elsewhere.

The succession of Kings from Hen. 8th inclusively, with some remarks of Things worth notice in some reigns.

Monarch Began to reign Dyed

Henry 8th April 22 1509 Jan 28 1540
Edward 6 Jan 28 1546 July 6 1553
Mary July 6 1553 Nov 17 1558
Eliz. Nov 17 1558 Mar 24 1602
James 1st Mar 24 1602 Mar 27 1625
Charles 1st Mar 27 1625 Beheaded Jan 30 1648

The Kingdom turned into a Commonwealth Feb 7th 1648

The Government of this Commonwealth lodg’d in the hands of a Protector Dec 16, 1653
Oliver Cromwell, who made himself Protector, dyed Sep 3 1658
Rich’d his son succeeded as Protector Sep 3 1658

The Governm’t changed again into a Commonwealth by the soldiers May 7 1659
The Parliament cast out by the soldiers Oct 13 1659
The same parliament restored again Dec 26 1659
The members excluded in 1648 put in again by General Monke Feb 21 1659

The Long Parliament dissolved by their own act and another called to begin at Westminster on ye 25th April following Mar 16 1659

The King (Charles 2nd) [voted?] in May 1st 1660
proclaimed at London May 8th 1660
and came to London with infinite joy and triumph May 29th 1660 (his birthday)

The Rectors of the Church of All Saints from the year 1496

Name Entered upon Dyed or left it
their living AD

1. Robert Jermyn 1496
(Lord of the Maner of Peverill)
2. Gilbert Wheeler June 2 1533 1533
3. Walter Sparry 1533 Aug 11 1557
(The Downy Curate 1544)
4. Robert Wincop Dec 17 1557 1579
5. Hugh Castleton March 2 1579 1589
6. Thomas Browne Oct 3 1589 1631
7. William Yonger Oct 1 1631 1661
8. Thom. Warde 166# Sep 16 1680 # - actual year missing
9. John Amya Feb 6 1680 July 26 1723

NB. In Mr Anya’s Time, i.e. about the Year 1710 or thereabouts (by an act of parliament in R. Ann’s reign) the two Livings were consolidated and made One and that one Living or Parish called in the Act by the name of Melton St Mary and All Saints

After Consolidation

William Selth Jan 13 1723 Oct 20 1740 NB. one of the Fellows of Caius College
(New Patrons)
Charles Tucke April 8 1741 April 23 1774
Samuel Story October 3 1774 Dec 3 1803
James Willins Feb 29 1804 Feb 16 1851
Charles Eyres August 1851 Nov 1 1876
Alfred George Day April 9 1877 Oct 1 1901
Nigel Wood Paine Nov 28 1901 ?
Humphrey John Paine June 3rd 1945

Paul

[paulr1949]

And another one from Norfolk, this time from Foulsham, near Aylsham.

0 Foulsham parish record treatment for whooping cough.JPG (161.92 KiB) Viewed 3132 times

A receipt for a Whooping Cough

Communicated by a Person of Distinction.

R Oil of Mace, half an ounce; about an inch and a half of old Tallow Candles, Saffron, a pennyworth,
Best French Brandy, a quarter of a pint.

Let them just simmer together over the fire in a new earthen pipkin. Cut a piece of brown paper in the shape of a heart, spread this ointment on the paper, and apply it to the Stomach, the sharpened end of the paper uppermost. Anoint the Stomach, Night and Morning, with the Ointment, still keeping the paper on

I wonder how many that cured?!

Paul

[Guy]

Yes there are many additional notes and observations in the early parish registers including mentions of the weather, storms and frosts, etc.
There are also mentions of marriages where the persons spouse has been transported and the "abandoned" wished to marry another
Cheers
Guy

[pinefamily]

I have also enjoyed the notes that the ministers sometimes wrote about their parishioners. It gives an insight into the mindset of the clergy.

[Chiddicks]

You can normally find some pretty humeorus ones