Reference
X744/50
Title
Papers respecting the claim to Tithe hay. Judgement of 2 royal deputies in the case of John Clarke, Anthony George and other the inhabitants of Wrestlingworth v Thomas Crabtree, vicar of Potton, and Miles Syll, parson of Wrestlingworth. The case is being determined according to an Order of Court dated 23 June 1616. The evidence has been examined 'divers times' but the defendants [Crabtree and Syll] refused his Order. He has therefore certified the state of the case and left the Order to the Court. Potton and Wrestlingworth are 2 ancient parishes a mile and half apart. '... the way betweene them in Wynter foule and watery'. In Wrestlingworth the great tithes of the farms in the tenure of John Clarke, Anthony Blany, John Squire, Thomas Wright, Richard Culhicke and of the one where John Eltham lately dwelt have been appropriated a long time ago. Small tithes of these farms and of some cottages and small parcels of land have been claimed by the Vicar of Potton, yet paid to the parson of Wrestlingworth who has paid money to the vicar of Potton for these small tithes. Last yearly sum paid to Mr Crabtree and his predecessor by the parson of Wrestlingworth was 40s. The occupiers and the rest still resorted to Wrestlingworth Church. However after Mr Syll became parson he refused to pay the 40s to Mr Crabtree, but still did not receive the small tithes valued at £9 p.a. Mr Crabtree tried to take 'means for some arbitrable end' but as this was ineffective he sued Mr Syll and one of the occupiers for the tithe hay of the farms. Mr Crabtree recovered against Mr Syll at the Assizes and against one of the occupiers by a nihil dicit Mr Crabtree having proved 'as it seems to me' by some evidence and records that the small tithes of those farms and lands belonged to the Vicar of Potton. Mr Syll refused to allow the Complainants [John Clarke and others] to be of Wrestlingworth parish or to christen their children or to perform any Church rites for them unless they pay him their small tithes. As a consequence of the former Judgement, the complainants 'forebeare to do' this. Mr Crabtree still requires them to come to church to Potton which is very inconvenient for the inhabitants to do. If it may seem good to the Committee 'that the cause may proceed to hearing and decree in this honorable corte where unto all parties are willing to submit themselves ans they inform me' Signed by Humfrey Winche Romy Edwards 'Deputat Regis'
Date free text
Feb 1616 -1617
Production date
From: 1616 To: 1617
Level of description
item