MORTLAKE PARISH RECORDS II

The first deposit comprises most of the records in volume form including the parish registers for the parish church of St Mary and the chapels of ease of Christ Church, All Saints' (both in East Sheen) and St Andrew's, Clifford Avenue; the churchwardens' accounts 1652-1966; account books of the parish stock (charities), 1800-1894; overseers' accounts, 1615-1886; and surveyors' accounts, 1767-1829.

The second deposit comprises the remaining volumes, including Vestry Minute Books, 1578-1903 (the first volume also has churchwardens' accounts from 1577) and Parochial Church Council Minutes, 1921-1959; and a large number of nineteenth century parish papers relating to the activities of the parish officers, the Vestry, the churches' fabric and property and the numerous parochial charities, including schools.

The large number of deeds and papers relating to Mortlake Charities reveal a wealth of benefactions, including three almshouses, gifts of bread, clothing and coal for the poor and bequests to the charity schools. The earliest of these gifts was that made by Thomas Whitfield, lord of the manor of East Sheen and Westhall, in 1607, of lands for the upkeep of the parish church (see 2414/9/1-74). Some confusion existed as early as 1828 about the origins of various pieces of parish land and exchanges and changes of use further complicate the story.

The school records include papers relating to the setting up of a School of Industry, a school on Dr Bell's system, and school rules and regulations (2414/19/104-234).

In addition to the Charity School papers there are a number of references (2414/2/356-358) to Temple Grove School, a preparatory school for boys founded by the Rev Dr William Pearson (1767-1847) and moved to Temple Grove, the house of the Temple family, in 1811. Pearson was an astronomer, who lived at Observatory House, East Sheen, and was instrumental in founding the Astronomical Society of London. Temple Grove School was moved to Eastbourne in 1908, but the school chapel remained as the Edgar Memorial Hall until it was destroyed in 1944 (see 2414/2/358). A map of Pearson's estate at East Sheen in 1811 is also in Surrey Record Office (90/40/2).

The position of Mortlake on the route from Richmond to London made it vulnerable to the encroachments of various improvement bodies, and the conservative land-owning vestrymen paint themselves in reactionary colours by opposing just about everything that was not their idea in the first place, for example: the aqueduct to supply pure water for London, 1829 and 1830; the Richmond railway, 1837 (an 'unnecessary and hazardous speculation'); the improvement of the highways by the Kingston Highway Board, 1868; a drainage scheme, 1873; the Thames Valley Sewage Works, 1883; a tidal lock and weir at Isleworth, 1883; the erection of a hospital for infectious diseases, 1888; and a dust destructor, 1890.

The overseers' papers include the usual settlement examinations, removal orders etc. in abundance. Of particular interest is the case of the settlement of Mary Dornier, 1804 and 1805 (see 2414/6/351), disputed with Marlow, Bucks, as an example of the complexity of the law and the lengths to which a parish might go to avoid relieving a pauper. Also of interest are two documents which throw some light on the transport arrangements for removing paupers (see 2414/6/107 and 132). The first notes the cost to each parish passed through, 1784, and the second is an order to a contractor for conveying vagrants, 1798. Also of special interest in this section are the papers relating to the cholera and smallpox epidemics of 1832-1868 (see 2414/6/643-677), which reflect the appalling conditions of squalor under which many people lived and a genuine attempt to deal with it and to relieve the suffering.

2414/1/75-91 Papers apparently collected by William Woolfe, Vestry Clerk, ?1787-1828 relating to the Parish Case versus the curate on fees:

[The documents 2414/1/89-91 do not appear to relate to fees but seem to have been part of William Woolfe's collected legal information.]

APPENDIX

CONVERSION TABLE FOR PARISH NUMBERS

Note: Numbers on the left hand side are those given at the parish survey of 1855 and later and relate to the book referred to in the Vestry Minutes see 2414/48 and retained at the church.

1 2414/1/41

2 2414/1/42

3 2414/1/43, 44

4 2414/1/45

5 2414/1/45

6 2414/9/235

7 2414/9/246

8 2414/9/243

9 2414/9/244

10 2414/9/257

11 2414/3/37, 38

12 2414/3/39

13 2414/3/40

14 2414/9/4

15 2414/9/6

16 2414/9/7

17 2414/9/9

18 2414/9/12

19 2414/9/15

20 2414/9/17

21 2414/9/26-29

22 2414/1/62-64

23 2414/1/65, 66

24 2414/1/73

25 2414/6/572

26 2414/4/14

27 2414/3/30

28 2414/9/274

29 2414/1/68-71

30 2414/3/44

31 2414/9/330-334

32 2414/1/72

33 2414/3/47

34 2414/7/29B

35 9/359, 360

36 2414/7/31

37 2414/9/367

38 2414/9/307-309

39 2414/9/324, 326, 327, 329

40 2414/9/104-118, 120

41 2414/9/258

42 2414/9/306

43 2414/9/47B

44 2414/9/259

45 2414/9/262

46 2414/9/261

47 2414/9/316

48 2414/9/48

49 2414/9/49

50 2414/9/263

51 2414/9/50, 317

52 1799 Admission to Mullen's Path

53 2414/9/285

54 2414/9/51

55 2414/9/311, 318

56 2414/2/129

57 2414/2/130

58 2414/1/79

59 2414/1/80

60 2414/1/81

61 2414/1/82

62 2414/2/128

63 2414/1/83

64 2414/2/131-144

65 2414/9/340

66 2414/9/365

67 2414/9/369

68 2414/9/370

69 2414/9/371

70 2414/9/30

71 2414/9/245

72 'copyhold estates' marked with ? on label

73 2414/9/368

74 2414/9/250, 251

75 2414/9/373

76 2414/9/372

77 2414/9/350

78 2414/9/131

79 2414/9/374

80 2414/9/339

81 not received 'Clark-Eyton & Eyres' Charity' 1825 ? on label

82 2414/9/129

83 2414/9/123

84 2414/9/126

85 'Treasurer's acct. Capels Charity' 1810

86 2414/9/125

87 2414/9/130

88 2414/9/132

89 2414/9/227

90 2414/9/226

91 2414/2/10

92 2414/9/128

93 2414/9/133

94 2414/9/121, 122, 124

95 label only: Miss Best's bequest to School 4 debentures £100, 1852 Given to Mr Penrhyn 7 Feb 1856

96 not received: Enfranchisement of land for School 1848, for copy see 2414/606

97 2414/9/83 these all have queries on label

98 2414/9/85 these all have queries on label

99 2414/9/87 these all have queries on label

100 2414/9/65

101 2414/9/283B, 288

102 2414/9/260, 265, 267, 273, 277

103 2414/9/46B

104 2414/9/23, 24, 44

105 2414/9/37

106 2414/9/5

107 2414/9/46B

108 2414/9/10

109 2414/9/11

110 2414/9/247

111 2414/9/13

112 not received: Agreement for purchase of Black Dog premises near church 1810

113 2414/7/28

114 2414/2/2

115 2414/2/3, 4

116 2414/2/5, 6

117 2414/2/11, 12

118 2414/2/170

119 2414/2/170

120 2414/2/171

121 2414/2/171

122 2414/2/172

123 2414/2/173

124 2414/2/173

125 2414/2/174

126 2414/2/174

127 2414/2/175

128 2/176, 177

129 2414/2/178

130 2414/2/179

131 2414/2/179

132 2414/2/180

133 2414/2/180

134 2414/2/181

135 2414/2/181

136 2414/2/182

137 2414/2/183

138 2414/2/184-186

139 2414/2/187

140 2414/2/13, 14

141 2/36-38, 48-52

142 2414/2/27

143 2414/2/28

144 2414/2/43-45

145 2414/9/61

146 2414/9/62

147 2414/9/63

148 2414/9/64

149 2414/2/110

150 2414/9/45

151 2414/2/111

152 2414/9/300

153 2414/9/323

154 2414/9/281

155 2414/9/282

156 2414/9/491A

157 2414/9/497B

158 2414/9/497C

159 2414/6/563B, C

160 2414/6/563D

161 2414/9/498A

162 2414/9/498B

163 2414/6/498C

164 2414/6/498D

165 2414/6/498E

166 2414/6/498F

167 2414/6/498G

168 2414/6/498H

169 2414/6/498I

170 2414/6/498J

171 2414/6/498K

172 2414/6/498M

173 2414/1/94

174 2414/1/96

175 2414/1/95

176 2414/1/67

177 2414/1/74

178 2414/3/42

179 2414/3/41

180 2414/3/43

181 2414/9/328

182 2414/9/325

183 2414/2/9

184 2414/2/24

185 2414/5/3

186 2414/9/2

187 2414/1/77

188 2414/9/283A

189 2414/9/271

190 2414/9/272

191 'Workhouse now school' 1784

192 2414/9/269

193 2414/9/268

194 2414/9/270

195 2414/9/264

196 2414/9/266

197 2/39, 40

198 2414/6/579

199 2414/6/580

200 2414/6/581

201 2414/6/583

202 2414/3/31

203 2414/6/584

204 2414/3/32

205 2414/6/585

206 2414/3/33

207 2414/6/586

208 2414/6/587

209 2414/6/588

210 2414/1/48

211 2414/4/31

212 2414/9/346, 347

213 2414/9/335-337

214 2414/9/75

215 2414/9/352

216 2414/9/353, 354

217 2414/9/355

218 2414/9/78

219 2414/9/314

220 2414/3/34

221 2414/7/76

222 2414/1/209

223 2414/7/84

224 2414/7/85

225 2414/4/46

226 2414/1/128

227 2414/1/129

228 2414/1/130

229 2414/1/131

230 2414/1/184-187

231 2414/6/498L

232 2414/6/626

233 2414/4/44

234 2414/3/9

235 2414/1/50

236 2414/1/127

237 2414/6/644-647

238 2414/6/648

239 2414/6/649

240 2414/6/650

241 2414/6/651

242 2414/6/653

243 2414/6/654

244 2414/6/655

245 2414/6/656

246 2414/6/657

247 2414/6/658

248 2414/6/659

249 2414/6/660

250 2414/6/661

251 2414/6/662

252 2414/2/191

253 2414/2/192

254 2414/2/193

255 2414/2/194

256 2414/2/195

257 2414/2/197

258 2414/2/198

259 2414/2/199

260 2414/2/200

261 2414/2/201

262 2414/2/202

263 2414/2/203

264 2414/2/205

265 2414/2/204

266 2414/2/206

267 2414/2/207-210

268 2414/2/213

269 2414/2/214

270 2414/2/215

271 2414/2/216

272 2414/2/217

273 2414/2/218

274 2414/2/219

275 2414/2/212

276 2414/14/2

277 2414/14/3

278 2414/14/4

279 2414/14/5

280 2414/14/6

281 2414/14/7

282 2414/14/8

283 2414/14/9

284 2414/14/10

285 2414/14/11

286 2414/14/12

287 2414/14/13

288 2414/14/14

289 2414/14/15

290 2414/14/16

291 2414/14/17

292 2414/6/385B

293 2414/6/59

294 2414/6/60

295 2414/6/61

296 2414/6/65

297 2414/6/62

298 2414/6/64

299 2414/6/63

300 2414/6/66

301 2414/6/68

302 2414/6/67

303 2414/6/190

304 2414/6/89

305 2414/6/323

306 2414/6/69

307 2414/6/324

308 2414/6/191

309 2414/6/325

310 2414/6/71

311 2414/6/70

312 2414/6/326

313 2414/6/72

314 2414/6/327

315 2414/6/74

316 2414/6/328

317 2414/6/73

318 2414/6/319

319 2414/6/329

320 2414/6/193

321 2414/6/77

322 2414/6/78

323 2414/6/79

324 2414/6/76

325 2414/6/75

326 2414/6/330

327 2414/6/80

328 2414/6/81

329 2414/6/84

330 2414/6/83

331 2414/6/82

332 2414/6/331

333 Removal Curtis 1737 ?

334 2414/6/85

335 2414/6/194

336 2414/6/195

337 2414/6/86

338 2414/6/87

339 2414/6/200

340 2414/6/197

341 2414/6/196

342 2414/6/198

343 2414/6/199

344 2414/6/88

345 2414/6/332

346 2414/6/90

347 2414/6/201

348 2414/6/91

349 2414/6/92

350 2414/6/202

351 2414/6/189

352 1713 re Stanhill ('removal order')

353 2414/6/592

354 2414/6/593

355 2414/6/594

356 2414/6/595

357 2414/6/596

358 2414/6/597

359 2414/6/598

360 2414/6/599

361 2414/6/600

362 2414/6/601

363 2414/6/602

364 2414/6/603

365 2414/6/607

366 2414/6/609

367 2414/6/610

368 2414/6/611

369 2414/6/612

370 2414/6/613

371 2414/6/614

372 2414/6/615

373 2414/6/616

374 2414/6/674

375 2414/6/675

376 2414/6/676

377 2414/6/677

378 2414/11/1-28

379 2414/3/45

380 Poor Rates 1816

381 2414/9/284

382 2414/9/249

383 2414/9/3, 25

384 2414/7/81B

385 2414/4/34

386 2414/9/379

387 2414/7/82

388 2414/7/83

389 2414/4/30, 33

390 2414/9/380

391 2414/6/629

392 2414/3/11

393 2414/3/12

394 2414/3/13

395 2414/9/348

396 2414/9/378

397 2414/2/220

398 2414/2/222

399 2414/2/221

400 2414/9/91

401 not received

402 not received

403 not received

404 2414/6/499

405 2414/6/500

406 2414/6/501

407 2414/6/502

408 2414/6/503

409 2414/6/504

410 2414/9/38

411 2414/9/31

412 not received

413 2414/9/60

414 2414/9/382 transfer papers trust property receipts etc.

415 transfer papers trust property receipts etc.

416 2414/9/382 transfer papers trust property receipts etc.

417 2414/9/39

418 2414/1/55, 6/505

419 2414/1/132, 6/506

420 2414/9/345

421 2414/9/383

422 2414/6/634

423 tracing of parish property?

424 2414/2/225

425 2414/2/225, 6/589

426 2414/6/322

427 2414/7/86

428 no label

429 2414/1/134, 135, 136, 137

430 2414/1/99

431 2414/1/97

432 2414/7/90

433 2414/1/197-199

434 Phillips guaranty James Gaby

435 2414/7/91

436

437 2414/3/16-23

438 2414/4/35

439 2414/6/617A-624

440 2414/6/507

441 2414/6/508

442 Appr. Indr. G.V. Duckett? not found

443 2414/6/509

444 2414/6/510

445 2414/6/511

446 2414/6/512

447 2414/6/513

448 2414/6/514

449 2414/6/515

450 2414/6/516

451 2414/6/517

452 cancelled. Indr. of Charles Leywood marked on label given up taken out 27 Jan '87'

453 2414/7/89

454 2414/6/518, 7/87

455 Indr. of Daniel Reid? label marked 'given'

456 2414/6/519

457 2414/6/520

458 2414/6/393, 395, 397, 398, 400-498B

459 2414/6/521-549

460 2414/6/550-560

461 2414/6/355, 561, 562, 563A, 564-570

462 2414/6/24, 26-52, 55, 56, 387

463 2414/6/93-162, 164-187, 203-318, 320

464 2414/6/351, 352

465 not received

466 not received

467 not received

468 2414/6/396

469 not received

470 not received

471 not received

Nos. 472-500 not received.

501 2414/11/2

502 2414/9/358

503 2414/1/98, 100-107, 109-113

504 2414/9/290, 292, 293, 294, 296, 297, 299, 305

505 2414/1/196, 200, 201, 203, 204

506 2414/1/75, 76, 90-92, 574, 8/1, 3-23, 33-94, 97, 99, 100

507 2414/2/104-108, 112-127, 226B, 248, 251, 318, 3/56-58, 9/73, 241, 9/301, 302, 304, 313, 10/41, 11/28

508 2414/9/134-203, 207

509 2414/A=1/46, B=1/55, C=1/47, 49, 53, 54, 56-59, 51, 52, 75, 1/61

510 2414/1/138-176, 179-183

511 2414/2/159

512 no label

513 2414/2/145B, 147

514 2414/2/15-23, 60-63

515 2414/2/73B

516 2414/2/167

517 2414/2/77-80

518 2414/2/154, 155A, 156-158, 160

519 2414/2/150

520 2414/2/58, 346, 3/48, 49

521 2414/2/25, 26, 66-71, 75, 81-89, 91-95, 97-99, 101, 153

522 2414/2/74

523 2414/1/206

524 2414/1/202

525 2414/2/259-261, 277

526 2414/2/262

527 2414/2/275, 283

528 2414/2/294, 295

529 2414/2/272-274

530 2414/2/286, 296-300

531 2414/2/265-271

532 2414/2/284, 285, 287-293

533 2414/3/52

534 2414/2/155B

535 not received: St Andrew's Church: Abstract of title 1912, Agreement, Conveyance, Consent to build - sent to solicitors

536 2414/2/301

537 2414/2/316

538 2414/2/317

539 2414/2/319

540 2414/2/303-305

541 2414/2/307

542 2414/2/314

543 2414/2/310

544 2414/2/306, 308

545 2414/9/275, 276, 279

546 2414/9/315, 321, 322

547 2414/9/248, 252-256

548 2414/9/236-239, 278

549 2414/9/310, 312, 384

550 2414/9/351

551 2414/9/1, 18-22, 32-36, 40-43, 46A, 66-68, 76, 77

552 2414/9/70-72

553 2414/9/103A, 364, 385-394, 397-407

554 2414/1/114-120

555 2414/2/322

556 2414/11/31-33

557 2414/2/354

558 2414/2/323-325, 327-338, 340-344, 346-350, 355, 6/399

559 2414/1/121, 122, 2/188, 189, 223, 226A, 229-232, 241-246

560 2414/4/40, 42

561 2414/6/608, 625, 642, 8/27

562 2414/5/4-6

563 2414/8/28-30

564 2414/10/32, 35-37

565 2414/9/320, 341, 342, 344

566 2414/4/17, 12/5

567 2414/12/1, 3, 4, 6, 7-15

568 2414/6/1-23, 25, 53, 57, 58, 163, 388, 391, 392, 573, 582, 591, 604, 605A, 606, 643

569 2414/6/590

570 2414/7/1-26, 32-75, 76-80, 92, 93

571 2414/13/1-23

572 2414/7/27, 30

573 2414/4/36

574 2414/4/16

575 2414/6/385A, 389, 390, 7/29A, 81A, 9/47A, 52-57, 366

576 2414/2/190, 359, 3/3-7, 9/286, 287, 289, 361, 376, 377

577 2414/9/58, 74, 15/4-7

578 2414/6/664-673

579 2414/10/40

580 2414/3/50, 6/578

581 2414/8/25

582 2414/6/575, 576, 2397/6/43

583 2414/1/189-195

584 2414/1/210, 2/72, 151, 10/30, 31

585 2414/11/27

586 2414/1/89, 205, 211, 212, 356, 3/59, 60, 4/37, 43, 6/54, 9/375, 10/33, 11/29, 30

587 2414/14/1

588 2414/16/1

589 2414/11/36

590 not received

591 not received

592 not received

593 2414/9/298

594 2414/2/278, 279

595 2414/2/309

596 2414/1/214

597 2414/2/103

598 2414/3/54

599 2414/2/166

600 2414/1/126

601 2414/2/280-282

602 2414/2/256-258

603 2414/2/168

604 2414/9/79-81

605 2414/9/92

606 2414/9/82

607 2414/9/349

608 2414/9/90

609 not received

610 2414/9/98

611 2414/9/95

612 2414/9/96, 97

613 2414/9/99

614 2414/9/100

615 2414/9/101

616 2414/9/215, 216

617 not received

618 2414/9/219

619 2414/9/221

620 2414/9/218

621 2414/9/103B

622 2414/9/229

623 2414/9/228

624 2414/9/231

625 2414/9/232

626 2414/9/233

627 2414/9/234

628 2414/9/205

629 2414/9/230

630 2414/9/211, 11/34

631 2414/9/381

632 2414/9/204

633 2414/9/206

634 2414/9/208, 209

635 2414/9/210

636 2414/2/358

637 2414/16/3

638 2414/2/345

639 2414/2/339

640 2414/2/169

641 2414/2/102

642 2414/10/38

643 2414/10/43

644 2414/1/213

645 2414/1/208

646 2414/16/2

647 2414/3/55

648 2414/2/321

<p>For other deposits relating to Mortlake see 215/11/1, 269/3/1, 241/2, 4/83, 1871/1/1-34, Acc 352, 2110/1, 2566 and 2608.</p>

Mortlake parish records were deposited by the Incumbent in two lots in November (2397) and December (2414) 1979.

Mortlake owes the survival of so many of its records partly to a resolution of the Vestry in 1855 to enter all the parish papers in a book and index them. According to a Vestry minute of 1856 this work was carried out by W G Chapman. The papers were numbered serially either by piece or by bundles and the numbers were entered in a register. This register is retained by the parish. Work on the records was continued in 1965 and 1966 by Miss Caroline Crimp, former chief librarian for Barnes, who continued the old numbering system to include the remaining and more recent papers. The present list does not closely follow the inherited arrangement as this appears to have been made without any overall plan. The parish numbers have, however, been retained, and can be easily related to the new numbers by means of the conversion table in Appendix I.

At the time of the continuation of the parish listing in 1966 some records, believed to be duplicates, were transferred to Richmond Library. These comprise bundles of 18th and 19th century vouchers, rough Vestry minute books 1839-54 and 1855-1870, Goodwin's books of extracts from the parish records and some Collectors' book (see 2414/1/213).

Mortlake is situated on the banks of a southward loop of the River Thames between Barnes and Putney to the east and Kew and Richmond to the west and includes the still desirable residential area of East Sheen, where most of the more important residents of the parish lived from the eighteenth century. A substantial part of the parish was taken into Richmond Park at the time of its inclosure by Charles I in 1637. The King's failure to compensate the parish is recorded on several occasions, but ultimately being able to number royalty among its parishioners was perhaps some payment. The present Queen Mother, as Duchess of York living at White Lodge, laid the foundation stone of All Saints' Church, East Sheen.

In spite of its position of importance Mortlake remained a perpetual curacy of the vicarage of Wimbledon until 1865. The manor of Mortlake belonged to the Archbishops of Canterbury from before the Conquest and the manor house, until about 1547, was the archiepiscopal residence on the banks of the Thames on the site of the present Ship Inn. It was held with Wimbledon and the parishes of Wimbledon, Putney and Mortlake were all peculiars of the diocese of Canterbury in the archdeaconry of Croydon. In 1846 Mortlake was taken into the diocese of London, archdeaconry of Middlesex; in 1877 it became part of the diocese of Rochester in the archdeaconry of Kingston and finally in 1905 it went into the new diocese of Southwark.

The church of Mortlake was founded in 1348 by a Licence in mortmain of Edward III to Archbishop Stratford (for copy see 2414/1/41) by which a site in Berecroft was to be assigned to Adomar, Parson of Wimbledon, for a chapel of ease for East Sheen and Mortlake. In 1536 Archbishop Cranmer exchanged the manors of Mortlake and Wimbledon with Henry VIII, who in 1546 granted the advowson of Wimbledon to the Dean and Chapter of Worcester. They covenanted to provide curates for the chapels of Putney and Mortlake with stipends of £6 13s 4d each (for copy see 2414/1/51). The old church was pulled down in 1543 and a new one built on the present site. The exact site of the original church is not known.

The Vestry minutes, churchwardens' accounts and papers in 2414/2 reveal the various additions, alterations and rebuildings which took place, until by 1905 the church had been entirely rebuilt with the exception of the lower part of the tower, the vestry room on the north side and the 1725 south aisle. The frequent rearrangement of seating which took place from the 18th century, accelerated after 1800, reflects the rapid increase in population which took place at that time, and culminated in the opening of Christ Church as a chapel of ease for East Sheen in 1864. The Vestry minutes for 15 May 1845 also record a resolution to form an open space for recreation because of the great increase in population especially of children, who were obliged to play in the road (2414/4/7 p.260)

The position of the incumbent of Mortlake as a perpetual curate with a fixed stipend, increased from the original £6 13s 4d to £40 at the request of Archbishop Laud (see 2414/1/44) gave rise to controversy about fees in 1784 (see 2414/1/62-64), and occasional requests to the Dean and Chapter of Worcester for augmentation who, however, having leased the tithes to Lord Spencer, Lord of the manor of Wimbledon, said they had no resources from which to respond.

It was stated that no man without private means could afford to be perpetual curate of Mortlake. Certainly the incumbent could have felt at a disadvantage among his wealthy parishioners.