KK904/1-2

Copy of brief of Bill and Answer.

1788

From: 1788 To: 1788

Bill: Prebendary of Leighton Buzzard has always nominated a curate to serve chapel at Eggington. At last vacancy in 1736, Charles Leigh nominated Reverend Samuel Clarke, who obtained bishops licence 30 August 1736, and was curate until death in January 1787, 28 December 1787 plaintiff nominated John Wilson as curate, but bishop refused to licence him on ground that defendants had right of nomination. Defendants say that Charles Leigh gave inhabitants right to nominate by Decree of Chancery. Defendants have nominated Humphrey Drape. Answer: Before 1650 lands in Eggington were vested in trustees to maintain a curate – c.100 acres in Eggington and Clipston. Commission of Charitable uses 4 July 1649, settling trusts to this purpose. Similar ruling made for Billington at this time. Suit in Chancery 1719 to determine in whom right to nominate was vested decided in favour of inhabitants. Further Answer of Humphrey Drape: (To bill of 4 November 1791) Does not know whereabouts of evidence of title of inhabitants to nominate. In 1739 all trustees of charity were dead, hence lands escheated to Charles Leigh, who conveyed them to new trustees 24, 25 September 1739; this embodied in Decree in Chancery, 1749. Had applied to Lady Leigh for nomination, but she had replied that she would not do anything disagreeable to the inhabitants of Leighton Buzzard. Further Answer of Chapel Wardens: Can give no instance of a nomination by inhabitants of Eggington, except that of John Roe (ob:1716) mentioned in Decree of 1722.

item

Leigh, Charles,
Clarke, Samuel,
Wilson, John,
Drape, Humphrey,
Leigh,
Roe, John

LEIGHTON BUZZARD, Prebendaries, curates, EGGINGTON, clergy, DEATH, Clipstone, BILLINGTON, Bills