1630

1. CHESTER (St Oswald) Churchwardens c Wm Ryder and Miles Cook for non payment towards the church fabric on the grounds that the accounts were defective concerning the cost of moving the pulpit to a new site, re-arranging the seats for the mayor and aldermen, enlarging the entrance doors, glazing a window over the same, alteration and removal of pews and the Dean and Chapter's neglect to fulfil their preaching duties in the church - libels, responsions.

2. CHESTER (St Oswald) Depositions of witnesses in the above case.

3. CHESTER (St Oswald) Ralph Cotton & Joshua Maddock c Wm Case, vicar for neglect of duty in providing a curate to serve Bruera Chapel which has a nave, a chancel, two bells, pulpit and font - libel, interrogations, depositions.

4. CHESTER (St Mary) Thomas & Ellen Vause c Thomas Leech chaplain for saying that Thomas Vause was a cuckold - libel.

5. CHESTER (St John Baptist) Thomas Jackson c Jane Jackson his wife at Manchester for adultery with Jacob Whitely - libel.

6. BLANK

7. CHILDWALL Jacob Garland vicar c John Ireland for tithe eggs "had not one pennyworth in 1625". Interrogations, responsions, depositions - repair.

8. LYME Sir Edmund Ashton c Robert Taylor, Jacob Whiteworth and others for tithe wheat, barley and oats from lands on north side of Red Brook - libel, responsions, depositions, lease of tithe.

9. LYME Sir Edmund Ashton c Jacob Wylde, Richard Whittaker for tithes from lands north of Red Brook - libel.

10. MARBURY CUM Impropriators c Thomas Halmerke for tithe wheat WHITCHURCH - interrogations, depositions.

11. BARTHOMLEY Richard Fowler, rector, c Peter Jackson for tithe cattle - interrogations.

12. THURSTASTON Richard Burgess, rector, c Thomas Rathbone & John Eaton for tithe herbage - libel.

13. DAVENHAM Thomas Mallory dean of Chester and rector of Davenham c John Leftwich & Wm Brereton for tithe cattle - libel, responsions.

14. KNUTSFORD Excommunication for Wm Clarke, George Strongharme and Roger Cadman in tithe dispute.

15. ASTBURY Excommunication for Hugh Barker of Buglawton in tithe dispute.

16. BROMBOROUGH Sir Thomas Pennruddock impropriator c Thomas Wilkinson for tithes - repair.

17. PLEMSTALL Edward Russell impropriator c John Hurleston for tithe oats - libel.

18. WINWICK Sir John Fortescue, Frances his wife and Petronella Stanley c exors of Robert Slynehead deceased for mortuary dues - libel.

19. PENNINGTON Richard Urmston c Richard Bucke for tithe wheat - libel, interrogations, responsions, depositions, repair.

20. ECCLES Eli Hey impropriator c Laurence Bent & Thomas Greve for tithes from the Lordship of Barton. Detailed information upon John Booth former impropriator and his disputed will - libel, responsions.

21. ECCLES Eli Hey c John & Richard Davies for tithe barley and oats of Barton - details of families of lessees of manor - libel, responsions.

22. WHALLEY Ralph Ashton c Joseph Stanworth and others for tithe oats and barley (1622-29) - libel.

23. WHALLEY Sir Ralph Ashton c John Dawson for tithe sheep and Easter dues - libel.

24. WHALLEY Sir Ralph Ashton c Samson Rawcliffe for tithes. Rawcliffe objects on grounds that the land was formerly property of Whalley abbey and is exempt. Detailed account of the abbey rights - libel, responsions.

25. WARRINGTON William Ward rector, c Thomas Salomon for tithe cabbage, carrots, hartichoke, parsnips - libel, responsions.

26. MALPAS Thos Dod STP and Thos Bridge clerk, c Ursula Johnson, widow, for tithe of 30 sheep - libel.

27. MALPAS Thos. Dod STP and Thos Bridge clerk, c Ralph Bryan and Thos Hopley for tithe sheep, wool, geese - libel, sentence.

28. STALMINE John Greenhalgh impropriator c Henry Dickenson and Jacob Fisher for tithe on vetches and French wheat - libel.

29. BLANK

30. PRESTBURY Thomas Legh of Adlington impropriator c Thomas Stephenson of Ranow for tithe cattle - libel.

31. PRESTBBURY Margaret Legh widow of Brian Legh c Elena Eccles of Butley for tithe cows and calves - libel.

32. PRESTBURY Office c Wm Birch and Anna Taylor for adultery -interrogations.

33. NORTHENDEN Henry Legh c Wm Foster for tithes from Rye Croft, Black Carr, Long Meadow, Three Toad Holes, Wall Riddinge being parts lately enclosed -responsions.

34. TAXALL Anthony Elcocke clerk, rector, c Richard Bennett for tithe sheep - depositions.

35. BLACKBURN Sir Wm Fleetwood c Radcliffe Ashton for tithes - sentence.

36. LEIGH Richard Urmston c Richard Bucke for tithe wheat and malt from the mill - libel, depositions, sentence.

37. CHADDERTON (Oldham) Edmund Ashton c Abraham Taylor, Jacob Hall, Elizabeth Sholes for tithe barleyband oats from the ground lately cleared of roots, tree stubs and rubbish - libel, responsions.

38. CHADDERTON Edmund Ashton c Jacob Wylde and Richard Whittaker for tithe grain - libel, depositions, responsions.

39. PRESTWICH John Glover clerk, c Edward Holland of Heaton for non payment of, "halfe an old hoope of oate meale of Manchester" on each quarter day due to rector as tithe for Heaton Hall - libel.

40. BOLTON Ralph Holden c Wm Crompton for tithe corn and grain in Little Bolton manor - libel.

41. WILMSLOW Philip Antrobus of Peover c John Hobson concerning title to a burgage house in Milne Street, Congleton and a seat in Astbury Church - libel.

42. DAVENHAM John Yate c John & Elizabeth Walton, Robert Worrall saying he committed adultery with Thos Neild's wife - libel, depositions.

43. SHOTWICK Henry Trafford clerk c Wm Richards blacksmith for saying he lived with him at bed and board but was too familiar with his wife - libel. 43A KIRKHAM Laurence & Ann Worthington c Elizabeth Parker alias Tompson for sexual slander - libel.

44. ASHTON UNDER LYME Mary Hyde c John Smith saying he committed adultery with Margaret Crompton; references to Penistone Moor and Barnsley Fair (Yorkshire) - libel, interrogations, responsions.

45. RUNCORN Anna Hugh c Thos Hough for drinkenss, severely beating her so, "her arms, legs and thighs were black and blue" - libel.

46. GREAT BUDWORTH Maria Brooke daughter of Richard Brooke c Thos Starkey for breach of contract - libel, responsions, sentence.

47. GREAT BUDWORTH Elizabeth Booth c Hugh Corsbie concerning his title to a seat in right of Burrows Hall - libel, sentence.

48. WILMSLOW Thomas Ciles (?) c Matthew & Margaret Wright for being married without banns or licence - libel.

49. BOWDEN Richard Vaudrey impropriator c Henry Leigh and John Taylor for tithes - libel, responsions, depositions (fragile).

50. BOWDEN Sybil Lingard widow c Elena Lingard of Altrincham saying she abused her husband and practised witchcraft - libel.

51. ASHTON UNDER LYME Anne Groundshaw c Wm Radcliffe accusing her of bastardy at Tideswell, Derbyshire - libel, presentment.

52. BLACKBURN Maria Sutcliffe c Thurstan Modesley and Roger Thropp for slander - libel.

53. BANGOR Churchwardens c Humphrey Shone for non payment of an assessment on his lands - libel, responsions, depositions.

54. NANTWICH Viscount Cholmondeley of Kells c Thomas, Ralph & Robert Burroughs concerning their title to the front pew on the south of the nave and destroying the same - libel.

55. NANTWICH Eleanor Woodward c Henry Maddock for calling her a Chester whore - libel.

56. CHEADLE Excommunication for John Gibbons and others for detaining salary of Richard Cartwright, parish clerk.

57. DEAN Ellis Aynsworth c Thos Legh for tithe from lands in Farnworth, copy of lease of tithes of Farnworth by Chris Anderton of Lostock to Ellis Aynsworth 1629 - libel, depositions.

58. DEAN Office c Ralph Darbyshire for adultery with Jane Parkinson - libel, responsions, certificate.

59. DEAN Office c Ellis Aynsworth for adultery with Anna Corundy - libel.

60. BUNBURY Office c John Swain minister for refusing to read the burial office and not meeting the corpse at the church but only carrying his book - libel.

61. BARROW Jane & Oliver Battricke c John Pyke saying he had committed adultery - libel.

62. GREAT BUDWORTH Edward Masie c Churchwardens, when making their presentments and accounts at the Cock Inn, for refusing to enter his presentation to the clerkship in the register book - depositions, libel.

63. LIVERPOOL Elizabeth & Thos Bridge c Margaret Slater & Elizabeth Rainer for slander - sentence, costs.

64. BUNBURY Thomas Gardner c Thomas Turner of Sandbach calling him a cuckold - libel.

65. ASTBURY Robert Thorneley c Richard Orton for defamation - libel.

66. WEAVERHAM Thomas Basnett c Peter Warburton for tithe grain and animals - deposition.

67. BOLTON Responsions of Tim Aspinwall, clerk, to the church wardens that he did not conform to the gesture of kneeling and that it was his choice to approve who should administer the wine.

68. STOCKPORT Office c John Arderne for adultery with Beatrice Newton - libel.

69. STOCKPORT Mabel Bradshaw c Anna Anstall of Bowden that she had given two pieces of gold to Wm Oldham to christen her bastard child - libel.

70. STOCKPORT Office c John Daniel for adultery with Maria Hulme - libel.

72. ASHTON UNDER LYNE Anna Groundshaw c Elizabeth Warren saying she committed adultery - libel, depositions.

73. TARPORLEY Elenora Butler c Elenora Vernon saying he cousin Elenora was naughty in the forest - libel.

74. HANMER Susanna Crompton c Katherine Darbishley and Margaret Bradshaw saying that Wm Younger occupied Susanna at the house end - libel, depositions, sentence.

75. DIDSBURY Hana Guest c John Davenport clerk for marrying persons without banns or licence - fragment.

76. MANCHESTER Margaret Holcroft c Wm Richardson for defamation - libel.

77. MANCHESTER Alice Andrews c Elizabeth Wharmbie for defamation - libel, costs.

78. WYBUNBURY Elizabeth Stringer c Anna Harrison saying she was ugly and ill favoured - libel, depositions.

79. MARBURY Hugh Wicksteed c Wm Constantine concerning a pew at the upper end of the south aisle - depositions.

80. PRESTBURY Edward Leigh, parish clerk, c Ralph Morris of Bosley for non payment towards his salary - libel.

81. SADDLEWORTH Anna Buckley c Alice Bradshaw for defamation - libel.

82. ROCHDALE Office c John Stot for adultery with Janet Whittaker - libel.

83. ROCHDALE Office c Richard Lightowler for adultery with Jane Schofield.

84. ENNERDALE Chapelwardens c Churchwardens of St Bees concerning assessments due from the chapel - "a long and tedious suit in the Consistory Court of Chester" - libel. (This suit was still being heard in the court after 1665).

85. LITTLEBOROUGH Absolution and costs in case between John Butterworth and Grace Lightowler c John Schofield.

86. NEWTON (Manchester) Decree that Wm Kennity and Jane his wife shall not be disturbed on grounds of fornication.

87. ECCLESTON Henry Lathom c Margaret Lathom in a case of corruption. Documents from Court Leet included.

88. CHESTER (St Mary) Francis Edwards clerk c Richard Bythell of St Michael's for tithes - libel.

89. CHESTER (St Oswald) Katherine Roberts c Bartholomew Godfrey for compensation arising from his refusal to marry her - depositions.

90. CHESTER (St John Baptist) Thomas Jackson alias Keller c Jane Jackson alias Keller on a charge of adultery - libel, depositions, responsions, sentence.

91. CHESTER (St Oswald) Alice Mason c Edward Bostocke for calling her a drab - libel.

92. CHESTER (St Mary) Office c Robert Morris and John Powell for serving a writ upon Thomas Eaton, a singer in the Cathedral choir, during service time and pulling him up and down the church and struggling with him - libel.

93. CHESTER (St Oswald) Richard Williamson c Mary Powell wife of John Powell saying he committed adultery in Eli Thropp's house in Chester - libel.

94. HANMER Inhibition of a case between John Croston and Thos Hanmer to be heard on appeal at York.

95. BRERETON Confession that Manbill Bradshawe stated that Ann Artenstall had a child by Wm Clapham at Brereton Green.

96. Interrogations in case of Thurstan Maudesley & Roger Broxcop c Maria Sutcliffe for defamation.

97. CHESTER Hugh Higginson c Wm Ince for defamation in Newgate Street - depositions.

98. DODLESTON Bill of Costs.

99. Alice Herolowe c Catherine Adams for slander - interrogation.

100. MANCHESTER Fragment of depositions in the disputed election of churchwardens.

101. Miscellanea.