******** contination of page 131 from popish recusants ********** CONVENTICLE ACT. Forasmuch as Joseph Hubert an old Irishman was brought to the Sesss. being suspected to be a Popish Priest and to have had a head in the popish plott who being required to fynd suretyes for his good behavyor hath refused to doe the same, committed to York Castle.-Wakefield, Jan., 1680. A Conventicle, held at Heckmondwike, March 12th, 1681, was reported, when Josias Holdsworth was preaching at the house of Isabell Rayner, and persons were there from Gomersall, Batley, Mirfield, Heckmondwike and other places. It 1682 it is recorded in the Leeds Session Call Book that for six or seven years great numbers of people have gone to Topliffe Hall to an Independent Conventicle, and that Josias Holdsworth, of Heckmondwike, preached there in May last, when sixty persons were present. At Rotherham Sessions, August, 1681, we meet with the traverse of Margaret Blackburn, of Langsett, a Recusant. Doncaster, Jan., l682.-Wm Bridges Rector of Castleford certifies that Thomas Fleming of Houghton for several years a popish Recusant did 3 or 4 months agone declare his sorrow for persisting so long in that his recusancy whereupon he procured his absolution from the Ecclesiastical Court and since that time hath duly resorted to his parish church of Castleford as a member of the Church of England.-Dated 15 Jan. 1682. Similar certificate by Sam. Hundle curate of KIRK BRANWITH and others, that Jane wife of Francis Kertshaw of Braithwait hath for some Lords days last paist com'd to the church to divine service and behaved herself orderly and decently, and is resolved ************* page ********************** 132 Conventicle to continew a dutiful and observant churchwoman for the future." Dated 15 Jan. 1682. Doncaster, Jan. 1682, certificate-that Thomas Bishop of our toune of Hatfield hath bene of late several lords dayes at our parish church dureing the time of divine service & doth promise to be a common frequenter of the same. Dated Jan. 15, 1682. Signed by Simon Simpson the minister and others. Mr Yarbrough's record of a Conventicle "Speaking or praying," in 1682. Certificate dated 17 April, 1683,-John Collins hath & doth in all things behave himself as a true conformeable son of the Church of England as flow established.-Signed Jo Brewer, curate of Drax. West Ridd ) Decimo die Julii Anno R. Regs, Carol Scdi nunc Com Ebor ) Angliae &c. xxvto Annoque Dom. 1683. Memorial of the account of ye moneyes menconed in ye Record Certifyed at ye last Qr. Sessions of ye peace houlden at Weatherby for ye sd Rydd. by Tho: Parker & Chr Wilkinson Esqres two of his Matys Justices of peace for ye same (forfeited as in ye sd Record is menconed in an unlawful assembly Conventickle or meeting held in the dwellinghouse of Wm. Holgate in Sawley upon Sunday ye 10th day of December last undr Colour of Exercise of Religion in other manner than according to ye Liturgy and practice of ye Church of England A pticular of such moneyes & forfeitures as have beene pd into ye hands of the sd Justices since the sd Qr Sessions held at Weatherby amounting in all to the sume of ten pounds his Matys third pte of ye same being three pound six shillings and eightpence tendred into ye Cort of ye genrale Qr. Sessions of ye peace held at Skipton ye 10th day of July 1683 And by the Apointmt of ye same by the sd Justices paid to Mr. deputy sheriffe for ye County afforesd to his Matys use. œ s. d. Thos. Driver of Gisburne ... ... ... O0 O5 OO John Aspenale of Standen in ye County of Lancre ... ... ... ... ... OO O5 OO John Aspenall in respect of ye poverty of the abovenamed Wm Holgate ... ... ... O9 10 OO -------------------- Suma 10 00 00 -------------------- ************* page ********************** Act. 133 His Matys third pte of ye 03 06 08 sd sume of œ10 is ... Wetherby Sessions, Jan. 1682, According to the Record in which John Lawson of Sawley husbandman and Richard Hayte of the same husbandman are the informants whose information is dated 29th December 1682 & is made at Gisburne before Thos. Heber, Thos. Parker Henry Marsden and Chr. Wilkinson, the conventicle was on the 10th December, at Holgates house in Sawley and there were found present Will. Holgate and Tho. Driver of Gisburne, John Scott of Sawley, Elizabeth Scott of the same, spinster, Ric. Cowburne of Clytherow in Lancashire, yeom., and John Aspenagh of Standen in same County yeoman. Holgate was fined œ20 & the others 5 shillings each. The return of ye Constable of Askwith, Wetherby, Jan. 1682. These persons hereafter named absent themselves from ye church -Robert Smith & Jane his wife & John Brown his Servant, Isabell Thackeray, Dorathy Shutt, Elizabeth Shutt, Ffrancis Kendall, Christopher Greenwood, Edmund Greenwood, Margrett Smith, Henry Thomson, Elizabeth his wife, Edward Thomson, Jane Gill, Thomas Crooke, John Brown of ye fold, George Darraine & Eliz. his wife, Will. Blakey, Thomas Pauson, & Eliz. his wife, All these be called Quakers. December 28th, Wee found these persons assembled in an house belonging to Henry Thomson, Senior. Henry Thomson Senr. de Askith, John Overend of Guisley, Will: Bradley of Swinesty, Jane Smith, Peter Hardcastle, John Barber of Leathley with several others yt refused to declare their names. December 31th we came to the same place and entring the house found the parlour door made fast soe yt we could not enter but suppose some persons were there and then assembled but we know not who they were. his Antony T ffell Constable his mark Lawrence L K Kendall Overseer. mke Joseph Hargreaves Churchwarden 1682, Dec. 31, Sabbath day. Meeting at house of Benjn. Parker of Thornton, Butcher, where, besides the family, were Thomas Higson of Kelbrooke Hatter, Joseph Higson of Easeby Linnen Webster, John Parker of Acronley in Lancashire, Rich Boothman, of Salterforth, husbandman, Willm Ellis of Broughton ************* page ********************** 134 Conventcle husbandman, all of them reputed Quakers, silently sitting in ye house, not a speaker amongst them. Joseph Higson confessed before Justice Assheton that he was present, but would not tell who else was there neither would he subscribe to his confession. Benjn. Parker confessed there was a meeting at his house but who were there or what it was about would not confess, and would not sign the confession respecting himself. 1683 Jeremiah Grimsaw of Rawden and many others indicted for being at a Conventicle there. July ye 7th (82 Recud. then of Christopher Tankred, Esqr, the sume of six pound thirteen shillings & four pence, (to be distributed among the poor of the town & parish of Little Ousburn, as the statute in that case directs) being the third pt. of the sume of Twenty pounds which was levied by distress on the goods of Richard Blythman; for suffering a conventicle to be holden at his house, Wee say recud by us John Abbay William leak Overseers for ye poor. Barnsley, Oct. 1682, Rolls. Thomas Cowper of Knottingley a Quaker indicted for being at an vnlawfull conventickle, contemptuously refused to plead to the indictment, fyned tenn pound, which he refused to pay ; to be conveyed to be imprisoned. Barnsley, Oct. 1682. Joseph Bailey of Denby, Edward Dickinson of the same, Robt Ellis of Penniston and Thos Cowper of Knotingley, Quakers, for absence from church three Sondayes, refused to find sureties: committed to gaol. Joshua [Green] of Denby, Matthew Burdett of Nether Denby, Thomas Spavald of Bawtry, William Hill of Thorne, indicted and convicted upon a Premunire refused to take the oath of allegiance. Committed to gaol. Barnsley, Oct, 1682. John Turner of Cawthorne, Quaker, being absent from church for three Sundays, required to find sureties but refused; com- mitted to York Castle. Robert Clarkson of Pontefract, a Quaker, contemptuously refused to take the oath of allegiance; committed to gaoler of York. ************* page ********************** Act. 135 Thomas Cooper of Knottingley (who was speaking or praying), Sarah his wife, Thomas Scafe of Pontefract, Samuell Wiedye of Pontefract, Richard Crabtree of Owston, Abraham Brigg of Kildwicke Parish, Peter Barrett of Carleton, on Dec. 24 last, held a conventicle at the house of Elizth. Stones. Barnsley, Oct. 1682. Tho. Midlebrook of Thorne, Robt Hallyfax, Henry Rustell, Thos. Brewley & Ro. Smith of Thorne, Joseph Clark of Rawmarsh, Hen Huntington of fferybridge, ffra. Boothes of Smawfitt, Quakers, committed. Barnsley Oct. 1682. Mark Trickett (ejected minister) both preached and prayed at Tanshelf: committed. 1682. POPISH RECUSANTS AND DESENTERS. Wakefield, July, 1683. Lotherton cum Aberforth.-Anthony Bell, Robert Sawer, Ann Holcroft, Ann Barker. Carleton cum Camblesforth.-Sir Miles Stapilton Bart, John Tayler, John Collin, Elizth Chapman, John Sothebie, gent, and Ann his wife, John Titherington and Ann his wife, William Awdas & Cath. his wife, John Britton, Michaell Hessley, Isabel Cliffe, Mary Palmer, Johne wife of Willm Hoyley Quakers 1683. James Marshall of Idle towpp. ffynd œ20 Ephraim Sandall of Idle ,, œ20 John Adcock of Idle ,, iijs Dec. 6. 1683. On Sunday last 11 a.m, the Ch.wardens of Weston being informed of a conventicle in a house belonging to Henry Thompson of Askwith; they found Henry Thompson Senior, Shoemaker, Christopher Greenwood of Askwith, Laborer, Edwd Greenwood Junr of same, laborer, Edward Thompson of ye same, cordwainer, John Browne of ye same, Laborer, Elizth ye wife of George Darwen of the same, laborer, Jane the wife of Robt Smith of the same mason, Dorathye wife of William Shutt of ye same labr., ffrancis Kendall of ye same laborer, Elizabeth Shutt of same spinster, Henry Thompson of Weston cordwainer, John Pawson of ye same, Catherine Ackman of ye same spinster, Mary Smith of ye same spinster, Robert Barber of Leathley cordwainer, John Myers of Otley linen webster, Mary the wife of John Blakey of Denton, laborer, Alice the wife of John Bainbridge of Lyndley, laborer, William Bradley of Swinstye, Walter ffawcett of Haverey Parke, labourer. ************* page ********************** 136 Conventicle 29 Novr. Thursday, 1683 in a house at Askwith, they found Joshua Dawson of Addingham, yeom. George Myers of same husbandman, John Myers of Otley Linnen webster, Samuell Thornton of Beckwith Shaw, Labr., John Bainbridge of Lyndley, Labr, John Onerend, clothier, Robt Smith of Askwith mason, Wm Bradley of Swinstee cordwainer, ffrancis Kendall, Walter ffawcett, &c. John Elum, John Whittiker Thomas Holmes & William Midgley of Halifax and Joshua Smith, Thomas Barber and John ffirth of Sowerby, and Robert Cowlinge of Northowrame, brought before Justices Farrer & Horton by order of Ambrose Pudsay Esquire, High Sherriffe : They refused to give bond : Committed to York Castle. Leeds, July 1683. Joshua Smith quaker fined œ60, same date. John Wordsworth of Horbury indicted for being psent at a conventicle, refuses to enter into recognizance Committed to York Castle. Leeds, July 1683. John Wright of Grindleton in Waddington is a true sonne to our comon mother the church of England. Certified, (Leeds Sess: July 1683,) Willm Calverley pastor ibid. Jo: Assheton Tho. Parker Henri Marsden Chr. Heber Chr. Wilkinson. [These 5 were J.Ps.] CONVENTICLE AT SKIPTON, NOV. 26. 1682. Abbigaill Stott Wid. for suffering the sd ) conventicle wittingly to be held in her house ) lb s d œ20, but adjudged not able warrant sent ) 10 00 00 out to levye vpon her goods and chattells ) only œ10 pt. thereof ) Abbigall Stott her daughter for being psent and ) 00 05 00 a hearer ... .., ) Braidley. Edward Wadkinson and Jane his ) 00 10 00 wife hearers ... ... ... ) Jtm. a ffine of 10lb pt of Abbigall Stott ) 00 10 00 fine of œ20 ... ... ... ) Skipton. John Hall, Taylor, Speaker for ) Teacheingn there fined 20lb but he adjudged ) 09 00 00 notable ... ... ... ) ************* page ********************** Act. 137 Jtm. Elizabeth his wife a hearer ... ... 00 05 00 Empsay. Richard Thompson Labr. & Anne ) 00 10 00 his wife hearers ... ) Jtm. fine œ5 upon Richard, pt. of John Hall ) 05 00 00 fine . . . . .. ) Carleton pish. Peter Barrett labr. hearer ... 00 05 00 OS 00 fined, part of John hall fine ... ... 02 10 00 00 John Smith and his wife hearers ... 00 10 00 00 fined part of John Hall fine ... ... 02 10 00 00 Skipton. John Cowper Labr. and Alice his ) 00 10 00 00 wife, hearers ... ... ... ) Jtm. fined pt. of John Hall fine... .. 01 00 00 00 Thomas Smith & Anne his wife labor, ) 00 10 00 hearers ) ffrancis Dune laborer hearer ... ... 00 05 00 Jane Bowcocke wid. hearer ... ... 00 05 00 Joshua Bowcocke labr. hearer ... ... 00 05 00 --------------- Sum of 44lb. OOs. 00d. 27 die 0 bris 34 Car 2di Hen Fairfax Tho. Fairfax Conventicle att ye house of Willm Sidgswick of fflasby when Willm Morehouse of Craco in Burnsall yeoman, preached; Christr Morehouse of Hetton, Tho. Morehouse of Hetton, Rich. Ibatson of Rilston yeomen, & others present. Knaresbro' Oct. 1688. CONVENTICLE 19 DEC. 1683, AT DENT. Fines. Richard Harrison ... ... ... 14 14 00 Jon Mason ... ... ... ... 00 05 00 Mary Mason, Gilbert Lund, Rebecca Lund, Jon Hugonson, Mar. Hugonson, James Capestick, Antho Mason, Eliz. Green- wood, Eliz. Lund, George Capestick Senr, Geo Capestick Junr., Chr. Capestick, Emma Capestick, Jon Dent, each 00 05 00 ... ... ... 03 10 00 Total ... ... œ18 09 00 The Kings third pte of the same is œ06 03s. 00d. ************* page ********************** 138 Conventicle UNLAWFUL ASSEMBLY (CONVENTICLE) AT HOUSE OF HENRY THOMPSON OF ASKWITH, 29 NOV. 1683: Committed to gaol for being present- Samuel Thornton of Beckwithshaw, labor. Stephen Marshall of Yeadon ,, Abm Marshall of Burley ,, Robt Smyth of Askwith mason ffrancis Kendall ,, laborer Joshua Dawson Adingham yeoman George Myers ,, ,, All discharged. Thurgoland, Oct. 1683.-Absenters from Church--Ann Morton, widd., Josias Coldwell & Mary his wife. Munk Breton.- Jonathan Broadhead & Jane his wife, Will Broadhead & Hannah his wife, Will Selvister & Elizabeth his wife, Henry Ellis, Alice Hill Widd., Joseph Sawnderson, all quakers Clayton.-Laurence Champney & Katherine his wife, Thomas Champney, John Whiteker & Margt. his wife, Alice ye wife of Edward Tyas, Frances ye wife of Richard Gaskin, Michael Anne Esq., & ffrances his wife DISSENTERS FROM CHURCH, OCTOBER 4TH, 1683. Wakefield Sessions, 1683. Walton cum Breton.-Mr. Thomas Watterton and his wife Catherine, Thomas Kirshaw and his wife Winnifred Lowton.- Gervis Hamand Esq, & Katren his wife, Thomas Challander and Mary his wife, Thomas Marshall and Anne his wife, all supoased papest Braton.- John Walker, Joseph Arnell, Rich ffoster, Thos Collin, Catheren Peninton Ossett.-Thos Pasley, Tho Schorey, popish Recusants. Tho Naylor, John Atacke, John Rider, James Rider Jun, John Claughton, Will. Claughton, Ann Claughton, John Bradford, Martha Pickard, Quakers Cleckheaton.-James Graue, William Pearson, Quakers Saxton cu Scarthingwell.-Joan wife of Willm Hamand, Esq., Widow Bywater and John her son, Willm Wright and Ellin his wife, Widdow Bellerby, Richard Gilliam and Mary his wife, Steven and Mary Gilliam theire children, ffrancis the wife of ************* page ********************** Act. 139 Willm Allison, Isabell wife of Marmaduke Robinson, Christopher Barker, Margaret his wife. Noe Conventiclers Ryther cum Osendyke.-Cattran Wright, John Wright, Elezebeth Wright, Mary Leafe, Edward Sedall, Susanna Sedall, Tho. Sedall, Cattran Sedall Waverley.-Abraham Wadsworth and Bridgett his wife and Benj. his son, Richard Lawson and his wife, and Wm Coppley Shelley.-John Robuck & Sarah his wife, John Kay and Elizth. his wife, Willm Kay, Daniell Broadhead, Joshua Sanderson Midgley.- Quackers. Jos. Wadsworth, John Turner, Sam Turner, Mary Wiggen, Henry Bettes & and his wife, Abraham Hellewell & his wife Gateforth.-Henry Smith & his wife, & Elizabeth Richardson Chrigleston.-John Reyner Crofton.-Robert Seele and ffrances his wife, Joseph Ward and Margrett his wife-popish recusants. Caterine ffirth stands excomunicate. Jennit Jefferson & Thomas Jefferson her son in law that lives in incest Aberforth.-Peter Slater and Mary his wife, William Tinsdaile and Vrsulay his wife, William Slater and Matthew Tinsdaile, John Milner Rothwell.-ffrancis Raner, chrisfor Roods, Will moor, Joseph Lupton, Abraham Buterfield Susan his wife, Edmond Walker, Elizabeth Moor, Gilbert Crauen Barkston.-William Nicholson, Mary his mother, Ann his sister, Julian wife of Anthony Saxton, Mary Cowthet, papists. Mar- garet wife of William Nicholson a dissenter Kirk Ffenton.-Charles Barker & Elizabeth his wife, Christopher Batley and Anne his wife. Ledsham.-Richard Gent. (? Sykes) Mrs Sykes and ye daughter of Mr Sikes hodersfilld.--Edmond Horsfall & Sara his wife, Edmond Kaye and Sara his wife, and Mary Kaye, ffilleph Horsfall, Anna Marsden, John Brooke, Richard Brooke, Quakers Parlinton.-Papists, Robert Harison, Thomas hepenstell, George Hepenstell, Elizabeth Hepenstell, John Peper, Ellin Peper, Dorothy Samson, Mary Hepenstell, Mary Sarvan. {Quakers} John Harrison & Mary his wife Monk ffriston.-a poore widow, quaker Maningham.-John Jowett of Breck Lane ************* page ********************** 140 Conventicle Selby.-There is none that absents from the church but Quakers That are already psented and are prisoners at York And are vnder Bayle when they come to Selby. Mrs Wright now married to Mr Potman a ptestant Qvarmby.-John Marslland & Doraty his wife qvakers Battley.-Samuell Hurd, James Janson, John Bradley, Nicholas Talbut ------*------ Leeds.-Lawrence Benson Lect. of Leeds tests. that Richard Atkinson attends church, and promises to take ye Sacrament next Lords Day John Ryder of Ossett ffyne lOOli. Robert Lumbe of West Ardsley fyne 1OOli. Committed to York Castle till they pay it: ffyned for refuseing the oath of allegeance. Quakers Grace ux. Ja. Pearson for being at a conventicle sub. fyne 4Os. 1683 Jacob Earnshaw, Dewsbury, for conventicle œ10, Rotherham Sess., July 1683. He sent an apology to the magistrates and promised to go to church. Wm Taylor, Scholes, popish recusant, refused to take the oath of allegiance Ger. Canby, Selby, Quaker for conventicle ... 40s. fyne Rob. Scott, Stainr., Quaker ,, ... 1Os. ,, Jo Leake Selby ,, ,, ... 4Os. ,, Anthony Collyer, Selby ,, ,, ... œ3 ,, {Quakers}.-Jo : Walker, of Brayton, for conventicle œ3 fyne Roth. 1683. Hen. Jackson, of Holmfirth, refused to take the oath of allegiance, quaker, œ10, 1683. John Earnshaw, Dewsbury for a conventicle, œ10, petition to have it forgiven and he would become a good Churchman. 1683 Joshua Raude, 6 Oct. 1682, I doe pmise to come noe more to any vnlawfull conventicles, Roth. July 1683 John Burgess and Henry Dickinson of Hooton Pannell, Quakers, committed to Castle at York. Roth. July 1683 Skipton Sessions, 1683, report of a conventicle at the house of Samuel Watson, gent., Stainforth in Gigleswick Preston Jaclin.- Oct. 1683.-Absent from church three weeks Philip Hamerton & his wife, Henry Addison & his wife, John Darley & his wife, John Spink & his wife, Sall. Shillitoe Quaker, ffrancis Shillitoe Quaker ************* page ********************** Act. 141 Langsett.-Dissenters: Hen. Dickinson & ux, Mary ux Dan Marsden, John Coldwell & ux, Geo Trout & ux, Jn Greene & ux, Margaret Haigh vid, Ann Haigh, Margt Blackburne, Jn Brownell, Jane Brownell, Jn Wordsworth Remington Constable reports-July 29, 1684, Wm Oddy & his wife, Tho Dryver & his wife, Jo Baldwin & his wife, Ja. Hoult now prisoner at York Castle, & Johnas Chapman all reputed Quakers, absent from church Conventicle at Wm Masons Stonehouse in Dent, recorded at Knaresbro, Oct. 1684 Tempest Illingworth, of Tong, Labr., indicted for speaking severall maliciouse and oprobrious words in contempt and derogation of the booke of Comon Prayer, Leeds, July 1687 The foregoing notes corroborate the statements made in some histories that the time of greatest persecution under the Stuarts was in 1683-4. Other particulars respecting the persecution of the Quakers will be found in {Besse's Sufferings}, and of other Nonconformists in {Calamy's Lives of the Ejected}, but I am not aware that anyone has gathered full materials for a history of the Yorkshire Sufferers. We have now reached the period of the " Glorious Revolution," and I am delighted to be able to place in a permanent form a list of the Founders of Nonconformist Congregations in the West Riding ; a list, probably complete, which I gathered from the numerous bundles of Sessions Rolls preserved at Wakefield. My extracts extend from 1689 to 1700. They are entered under the so-called TOLERATION ACT. ------*------ ************* page 141 continued with the Toleration Act ************