Kingston entries in Corfe Castle Peculiar Court Records

Kindly transcribed by Rachel Kent  

1581

28 Nov: At the Visitation Court two Churchwardens and four assistants of Corfe Castle and two Churchwardens and two Tidesmen of Kingston make separate and distinct presentments – and the Churchwardens and Tidesmen of Kingston present (amongst other things) – that the Chaunsell Door doth lye in decay and in want of repairation – and that those doth  lack a seat in the Chaunsell for the Minister to sit in – And also that the Communion Book is torn, and that there doth lack a Homily book and that the Communion Cup is not according to order

? Dec: The Official agt. The churchwardens are admonished save the churchwardens of Kingston……………….

1585

13 Jul: The Office agt. VINCENT and EDMUNDS. On which day appeared William BATTERLY Curate of Kingston and certified that he had denounced excommunication agt. Vincent in this Chapple Kingston

15 Jul: The Official of the Judge agt. VINCENT and EDMUNDS. On which day appeared William BATTERLY, Curate of Kingston & certified that he had denounced Excommunication agt. – VINCENT in the Chappel of Kingston

1587 

23 Nov: At a Visitation Court – present two Churchwardens and three Tidesman of Corfe Castle and two Churchwardens and two Tidesmen of Kingston

Presentment of the Churchwardens of Kingston

Item: We present Richard HARVIE for 20s 6d that he oweth to our Chappel

Item: We present Simon DAVIE for 40 shillings that he oweth to our Chappel

Articles exhibited to said Churchwardens and Tidesmen of said Court concerning the Parson and Parish:

5th Article – Item: have you in your Church Chappel and in every of them a decent and comely table framed or joined for the Ministration of the Holy Communion with a comely and decent carpet or covering for the same and a Communion Cup of silver

8 Item: Do your Parson or Curate every Sunday when there is no Sermon in the church read one part of one of the Homilies set forth by the Queens Majestys Authority, & recite to the Parishioners in the Pulpit the Lords Prayer, the creed & in the English tongue

 9. Have you or your Quarter sermon preached in your church by a learned and sironed preacher

10. Item: Have you or your Church and Chappel a Register Book in the which is registered and written the times and the names of all that are christened married and buried.

6 Feb: The Official Agt. VINCENT and HARVEY the Churchwardens of Kingston. On which day Vincent appeared and was admonishd to provide all Books, except the Bible for the Chappel of Kingston, by the 27th February next and the Bible to be provided by the Feast of Easter next under the penalty of the Lanett?

Same Court. The Official agt. Richard HARVEY and Simon DORY of Kingston

For debts to the Chapel of Kingston that each 20s – Rispited to this day on which day VINCENT took upon himself the layment of said 40s for said HARVEY and DORY.

1602

Extracts from the books of the Acts of the Peculiar of Corfe Castle

16 Dec: The Official agt. Richard HARVEY and John BEACHMAN – Churchwardens of Kingston.

It is presented that there is no Register Book kept of the Christenings and Weddings and that the churchwardens ought to proved the same. At which day the parties appeared whom the Judge admonished to buy such book before the next Court on pain of excommunication

1603 

27 Apr: The Official agt. Richard HARVEY and John BEACHAM. They being ordered to buy a Book for the preservation of the names of those who are born, contract Matrimony and die. One of them appeared and certified that he had procured such Book according to Monition of the Judge upon which the Judge dismissed them without fees.

1623

25 May: The Churchwardens of Kingston admonished to replace the Church …… of Kingston

1624

3 Jun: Presentment of the Churchwardens of Kingston

item: We present that the walls of the Chapell yard of Kingston and one of the windows of aforesaid chapel are in decay in default of those parishioners as belong to the said Chapel.

1625

12 Sep: Presentment of the Churchwardens of the Chappel of Kingston by Dr KERCHEN at his Court at Corfe Castle

Item: we present that we have not one prayer on the Sabith day as usually. We have not our prayer Wednesdays and Sundays as usually we had before Dr KRECHEN had the Bonofice

Item: We present that one of the Windows in the church is in decay and both windows in the Chaunsell and also in the Thatchis.

26 Sep:The Official agt. Mr Gervais RUSSELL, Clerk and Curate of Kingston. On which day appeared Edward PACKOMBE, John BEACHAM and John PURSE and alleged that morning prayers ought to be celebrated Christmas week in the Chapel of Kingston by the Rector or Curate of Corfe Castle from time immemorial and thereupon pray that prayers be desired to be celebrated in said Chapell according to said custom. upon which the Judge assigned them a day for proving their allegation in the presence of said Gervais RUSSELL who denied the truth of said allegation

1626 

6 Mar: Same cause – Dachombe appeared and prayed Publication of the Evidence produced which was decreed in the presence of RUSSELL who dissented

This cause was continued several courts afterwards but nothing farther done in it. None of the evidence can be formed.

3 Apr: Same cause – More witnesses produced to prove allegation and sworn in court.

1628 

29 Apr: Presentment of the Churchwardens of Kingston

Item: We present that the Chaunsell and Chaunsell windows are in decay in the default of Dr Kerchen

Item: We present that the walls of the Chappel yard are in decay in default of the inhabitants

1629

23 Apr: Separate churchwardens for Corfe Castle and Kingston chosen at an Ecclesiasteal Court

1630

20 Apr: Presentment of the Churchwardens of Kingston

Item: Several seats presented of hung in decay and also the chest belonging to the church

Item: We present the Chauncell floor for being in decay and the seiling over the Commyon table.

Item: We present the West end of the Chappel is decayed. We determine to mend it – signed by the Churchwardens

Underneath is written – The Judge admonished the new Churchwardens to repair the aforesaid defect to them belonging by the Feast of St Michael the Archangel next and to certifie the next court.

1635 

4 Jun: Presentment of Churchwardens of Kingston

Item: We present that we have not our prayers in due tyme and that the Minister doth serve two Curses.

1638

3 Apr: Presentment of Churchwardens of Kingston

Item: We present that we had no morning prayer the Feaste Sunday this year in the Chauncell.

Item: We present that the Chauncell is in decay for want of reparation over head and in the inside.

There are some other presentments of the Chauncell of Kingston Chappell for being in decay but it is not said to whom it belonged to repair it – nor have there been any proceedings on any of such presentment in the Ecclesiastical Court

1732

A list of the Lorvall Persons called to appear at this Visitation Court held this 18th of July 1732

New Churchwardens

 For Kingston Chapple, John EDMONDS

Old Churchwardens

 For Kingston Chapple, Thomas CROOMS

Tidesmen

 For Kingston Chapple, Thomas CULL