DEPOSITION BOOK

Compiled by W.E. Thumwood, 1974

This Calendar is in a highly abbreviated form, covering only the names of witnesses, the type of case, and some notes on exceptional points. A full indexed, version, giving biographical details for each witness, is to be found in Ep/I/88/33.

f 1r Thomas Woodyer Tithe in Thakeham.

Mentions : Thomas Arcoll, Richard Bishopp, John Brooker, Thomas Jackelt, Mr. Lusher.

f 3r Lambert Cayger Tithe in Thakeham.

f 5r John Brooker Tithe in Thakeham.

Mentions : Mr. Bennett, Robert Edens, Richard Cole.

f 7r Daniell Cole Tithe in Thakeham.

f 9v Thomas Arcoll Tithe in Thakeham.

Conversion of land to meadow.

Mentions : John Arcoll, John Clarke, Christopher Sole, Richard Wood, Thomas field, John Forder.

f 12v John Northe Tithe in Houghton.

Tithe on wool.

Mentions : Richard Hobbes, James Lacker, Mr. Kempe.

f 14r Thomas Northe Tithe in Houghton.

f 14v Thomas Cooke Defamation in Fittleworth.

James Browne called "Ayledraper", cuckold and whore-house-keeper by William Humphrey in inn kept by William Blundell at Lower Fittleworth. Gambling at tables.

f 16v Richard Rooke Defamation in Fittleworth.

f 17v John Perley Tithe in Madehurst.

Whether Rowell Lodge Titheable. Holy water carried to each house in Queen Mary's time. Search of house by Tithing man. Annual perambulations of the manor.

Mentions : Sir Robert Glociter, Mr. Richard Coxe, James Pellett, clerk.

f 20r John Coote Tithe in Madehurst.

Commons in Madehurst.

f 22v John Page Tithe in Madehurst.

The building of Rowell Lodge; its occupiers.

f 25v Stephen Cradell Tithe in Thakeham.

f 26v Christopher Cooke Tithe in Thakeham.

f 29r Robert Smith Tithe in Thakeham.

f 30r John Hawarde Tithe in Thakeham.

Mentions : Thomas Arcoll.

f 32r John Comber Tithe in Thakeham.

f 33r Thomas Haywarde Tithe in Thakeham.

f 34v Thomas Woodland Disputed contract. (Selsey)

f 35r Thomas Wadye Tithe in Thakeham.

Mentions : John Brooker, John Scutt and Henry Slator, all deceased; Richard Wood and Thomas Feild.

f 37r Edward Stradlinge Tithe in Madehurst.

New pew in Madehurst church.

f 39v & 42v Antony Stradlinge Tithe in Madehurst.

f 40r Thomas Northe Tithe in Madehurst.

- Wilbye built Rowell Lodge 74 years ago; paid Hollybreads and clerks wages; built a cross on highway between Crescroftegate and Wickenscorner, with seats round it; at perambulations on gangemonday brought two great spiced cakes and drink for the parishioners.

f 45v Henry Harrison Disputed contract. (Selsey)

Mentions: Agnes Daniell, Thomas Woodland, Robert Bishopp.

f 46v William Feames Will of Thomas Standen.

f 47v John Elise Will of Thomas Standen.

f 48r William Belchamber Will of Thomas Standen.

f 49r Thomas Furlonger Will of Thomas Standen.

f 50r John Lawrence Will of Thomas Standen.

f 52r Edward Darkenoll Will of George Hunt. (Houghton)

f 54v Daniell Jaxon Will of George Hunt.

f 56v Francis Cobbye Will of George Hunt.

f 59r Mark Pitt

Dispute as to whether tithe of New Wood should be paid to Rogate or Harting. Reference to an inclosure of part of the wood to form Mill Marshe (f 59v).

f 61v Thomas Marner Will of George Hunt.

f 64v Roger Turner Will of George Hunt.

f 67 John Penn Will of George Hunt.

f 70v William Bradfold Will of George Hunt.

f 73v Nicholas Somer Will of George Hunt.

f 76v Anthony Ware Will of George Hunt.

f 79r Thomas Wadye

Defamation of Robert Johnson, clerk, by Henry Johnson. H.J. and his wife Joan brought her child to the church at W. Chiltington onw Sunday and left it with R.J. accusing him of being the father. Alo claimed that R.J. had offered H.J. £40 to marry Joan.

f 80r John Greenfield Will of George Hunt.

f 81v Thomas Drewett Legacy of corn under the will of Alice Stamer. (Yapton)

f 83r John Esteade Legacy of corn under the will of Alice Stamer.

f 84v John Graye Legacy of corn under the will of Alice Stamer.

f 85v James Pellett Defamation. (Houghton)

Reference to statement by John Northe, father of James, at a general muster that his son was an innocente and a foole and deaf, and that he was struck off Muster Roll (f 94r).

f 88r William Gardyner Defamation.

f 89v Oliver Cobbye Defamation.

f 90r Robert Finche Defamation.

f 91r John Austyn, jun. Defamation.

f 92r Oliver Markes Defamation.

f 93r John Austyn, sen. Defamation.

f 94r John Thorneden Defamation.

f 94v John Stempe Defamation.

f 95v Richard Gardener Matrimonial. (Singleton)

Disputed marriage contract between John Bridge and Mary Coote. J.B. is alleged to be married already; M.C. forbad the banns for his wedding (f 97).

f 97r Edward Gardyner Defamation.

Continuation of ff 85 - 94. Reference to status accorded by use and ommission of "Mr." (f 98v).

f 99r Nicholas Beache Defamation.

f 100r Richard Smithe Matrimonial.

Continuation of f 95v above. Describes marriage portions f 100.

f 101v Richard Greenfeild Tithe in Oving.

f 102v Henry Peachye Tithe in Oving.

f 103r Richard Stronge Tithe in Oving.

f 105v Thomas Page Defamation (Lodsworth)

"Baggage" a term of abuse meaning a woman suspected of adultery.

f 106v Edward Longe Defamation.

f 108r John Butcher Defamation. (Houghton)

f 109 Edward Parson Defamation.

f 110r Robert Legate Defamation.

Continuation of f 105v.

f 110v Barbara Skynner Defamation.

f 112 Edward Darkenoll Defamation.

Continuation of f 97r above. Richard Hobbes called a blasphemer thro' misreading a psalm at Divine Service.

f 114r Gideon White Defamation.

f 115v Joan Etherton Defamation.

f 117r Thomas Stiant Defamation.

f 118v John Welles Defamation.

Continuation of f 108r. Money collected from parishioners of Houghton for purchase of new Bible and Book of Common Prayer (f 120r). Edward Beake falsely accused of stealing goose, accuser beg forgivemess in church (f 122r). Evidence of sheepstealing, against John Austin. (f 124). Oliver Markes appealed in church for suit between Lacker and Hobbes to be ended (f 128).

f 119v William Beak Defamation,

f 122v Edward Beak Defamation.

f 124r John Perley Defamation.

f 126r Anthony Stradlinge Defamation.

f 128v Thomas Hunt Defamation.

f 130r Daniel Courte Matrimonial.

Continuation of f 100r. Description of pledging man & wife (f 131v); act of separation (f 132v), calling of banns.

f 131v Edmund Home Matrimonial.

f 133v Robert Slater Tithe in Wiston.

f 138v John Northe Defamation.

Continuation of f 118v above.

f 141r Robert Hitchecocke Tithe of honey in [?] Bepton.

f 142v John Styler Tithe.

Continuation of f 133v above.

f 145v John Kyne Defamation.

Continuation of f 122v above.

Richard Floate Tithe in Shillinglee Park.

Conversion of waste in cultivated land; "devenshireinge", Tithe on converted land can only be claimed after 7 years. Conversion of Shillinglee from a deerpark and laying park out into fields.

f 148v Robert Arnold Tithe in Shillinglee Park.

f 150r John Rasoll

Mortuaries or "course presents" in Stoughton; payment of "crisome" presents and their value.

f 150v Joan Howcrofte Tithe in Shillinglee Park.

f 151v Thomas Catcheler Tithe in Shillinglee Park.

f 152v John Hull Church rights, etc.

Concerning Linch Farm. Inhabitants have rights in Bepton church, where used to attend service, be buried and pay mortuaries.

f 154r Henry Voake Church rights, etc.

f 155r William Newton Church rights, etc.

f 156r Thomas Baylye Mortuaries at Stoughton.

Continuation of f 150r.

f 156v John Crowcher Mortuaries at Stoughton.

f 158r Edward Woldredge Church rights.

Continuation of f 152v above.

f 158v Joseph Andrewe Church rights.

f 159v Ellis Hames Fragment.

f 162r David Pritchard

Making of will of William Gradell, sen., of Binstead. D.P. sometimes read prayers for Gradell at Tortington and Binstead. Will written by Constantine Harman, clerk.

f 164r Henry Page Fragment.

f 165v Edward Mason Fragment.

f 166v Constantine Harman Fragment.

f 167v Ellis Hames Fragment.

f 168v Robert Billingshurst Fragment.

f 169v John Dowse Fragment.

At 'vitalinge house' at Eastergate kept by -- Hubbard, heard Edward Duffield accuse Katheryn Squier of adultery.

f 170v Thomas Floate Fragment.

f 172r William Upfield Fragment.

f 173v Mark Apitt

Making of will of William Lodger. Testator wore fustian doublet; asked his mother Margaret Palmer to be good to the poor. Nicholas Diggons, vicar of Stoughton, wrote the will. (Up Marden)

f 175r Nicholas Diggons Fragment.

N.D. wrote the will.

f 177v Margaret Apitt Fragment.

f 179v William Rumbridger

Tithe of Weekelands, part of Stubcroft Farm, E. Wittering.

Commutation was custom except when land was "eared, plowed and sowed". W.R. went to school yo Sir Christopher Raye, parson of E. Wittering, and stayed at his house. (f 180).

f 182v William Sutton Fragment.

f 186r Thomas Holmes Fragment.

f 188r Sarah Maister Defamation.

Defamation of Marie Carden by Nicholas Marber in victuelling house of Campion St Arundel.

f 189r Agnes Mayne Defamation.

f 190r John Newton Tithe.

Continuation of 179v above. Mowing of hay in "yockroomes" or hedge ows around cornfield.

f 191v William Chercher Tithe.

f 192v John Steele Testamentary. (Up Waltham)

Noncupative will.

f 193r Oliver Ide Testamentary.

f 193v Joan Russell Testamentary.

f 194v Thomas Russell Testamentary.

f 195r Thomas Marten

Will of Laurence Carpenter of Chichester. Will written by Mr. William Yalden, scrivener of Petersfield.

f 197r Henry Colbrooke Testamentary.

f 198v Joan Oliver

Will of William Weste of Ford. Details of Weste's marriage settlement arranged at "Mr. Birde's house, the Swanne" in Chichester (f 202v). John Drewett employed at husbandry by W.W., sometimes by the day, sometimes by the week, and sometimes by the quarter (f 205v).

f 200v Eden Wall As above.

f 202v Lawrence Alcocke Testamentary.

f 203v John Madgeweeke Testamentary.

f 204v John Drewitt Testamentary.

f 205v John Cooper Testamentary.

Will of William Page of West Marden. Mr. Edward Bannister had W.P.'s corn in his barn; W.P. ordered that it was to be threshed, "wymed" (f 206r) and taken away; but Bannister refused to allow it to be moved until he had been compensated for a sow he said W.P. had killed. W.P. had a mare and struck out one of her eyes with a "Whippe stub", mare was pastured on Warblington Common (on "enter common" which lies in Sussex and Hants; believes mare was usually on Hampshire portion. (f 207r).

f 207v Edmund Clemente Testamentary.

f 209 Richard Harris Will of William West.

Continued from 198v above. Deathbed delerium of W.W.; attacks on characters of previous witnesses.

f 212v Thomas Leaper Will of William West.

f 213v Thomas Stronge Will of William West.

f 215v Arthur Lodger Will of William Page.

As f 205 above. Making of the inventory of W.P. (f 216).

f 216r Thomas Till Will of William Page.

f 217v Nicholas Greenoe Will of William Weste.

Continued from f 209v above. Further attacks on characters of previous witnesses.

f 219r John Madgewicke Will of William Weste.

f 220r Thomas Greene Will of William Page.

As above - f 215v.

f 220v Richard Knighte Will of William West.

Continued from f 217 above. Statement as to characters of witnesses. Edith Walles left her husband and worked as a servant because he did not give her sufficient maintenance; husband and wife reconciled by the minister. (f 223v).

f 221v John Drewett Will of William West.

f 223r John Ellise Will of William West.

f 225v Henry Ball Will of William West.

f 226v Henry Harriden Testamentary. (Steyning)

Debts due to estate of Michael Slater. State of six of his debtors, four had fled the county because of debt, leaving children to be maintained by parish; one had been put in Horsham gaol for debt and died within a month.

f 229r William Carus Will of William West.

Continued from 220v above. Details of a lost earlier will, written by W.C.

f 230v Richard Gosden Will of William West.

f 232r James Cappe

Incident in victualling house at Shipley kept by Edward Hayler.

f 233r John Henley Will of William West.

f 234r Henry Browning Tithe in Eartham.

Lambs, cows and wool. Parishioners of Eartham put ewes out of parish to pasture between St. Thomas's Day and the feast of the Annunciation.

f 235v Thomas Peachie Tithe in Eartham.

f 237r William Pyndham Tithe in Eartham.

f 238r William Shorte Defamation. (Middleton)

Accusation that Agnes Nashe eas "burned" meaning that she "committed fornication or adultery with one man or other besides her husband". (f 240r).

f 239r Margaret Cooke Defamation.

f 239v Hugh Launder Defamation.

f 241r Thomas Farnefolde Estate of Michael Slater.

As f 226 above. Valuation of M.S.'s leasehold property.

f 216r Thomas Till Estate of Michael Slater.

f 217v Nicholas Greenoe Will of William Weste.

Continued from f 209v above. Further attacks on characters of previous witnesses.

f 219r John Madgewicke Will of William Weste.

f 220r Thomas Greene Will of William Page.

As above - f 215v.

f 220v Richard Knighte Will of William West.

Continued from f 217 above. Statement as to characters of witnesses. Edith Walles left her husband and worked as a servant because he did not give her sufficient maintenance; husband and wife reconciled by the minister. (f 223v).

f 221v John Drewett Will of William Weste.

f 223r John Ellise Will of William Weste.

f 225v Henry Ball Will of William Weste.

f 226v Henry Harriden Testamentary. (Steyning)

Debts due to estate of Michael Slater. State of six of his debtors, four had fled the county because of debt, leaving children to be maintained by parish; one had been put in Horsham gaol for debt and died within a month.

f 229r William Carus Will of William West.

Continued from 220v above. Details of a lost earlier will, written by W.C.

f 230v Richard Gosden Will of William West.

f 232r James Cappe

Incident in victualling house at Shipley kept by Edward Hayler.

f 233r John Henley Will of William West.

f 234r Henry Browning Tithe in Eartham.

Lambs, cows and wool. Parishioners of Eartham put ewes out of parish to pasture between St. Thomas's Day and the feast of the Annunciation.

f 235v Thomas Peachie Tithe in Eartham.

f 237r William Pyndham Tithe in Eartham.

f 238r William Shorte Defamation. (Middleton)

Accusation that Agnes Nashe eas "burned" meaning that she "committed fornication or adultery with one man or other besides her husband". (f 240r).

f 239r Margaret Cooke Defamation.

f 239v Hugh Launder Defamation.

f 241r Thomas Farnefolde Estate of Michael Slater.

As f 226 above. Valuation of M.S.'s leasehold property.

f 241v Richard Gates Estate of Michael Slater.

f 242 v John Scutt Matrimonial.

Betrothal of John Burdye als Burdocke and Frances Tester.

f 243v Alice Pittel Matrimonial.

f 244v Richard Juxon Testamentary.

The writing of the will of Henry Blaxton, Chancellor of the Cathedral and Residentiary Canon.

f 248 Nicholas Digens Defamation.

Defamation of Margaret Taylor of Stoughton by Richard Tilborough.

f 249r Maria Digens Defamation.

f 250r Mary Hancocke. Defamation.

f 250v Alice Martyn Defamation.

f 252r William Newton Will of Richard Shorter. (Bepton)

Legacy by Margaret, R.S.'s deceased wife, to her granddaughter Joan Johnson.

f 253r Margaret Newton Will of Richard Shorter.

f 254r Joan Alewyn Will of Richard Shorter.

f 255r John Alewyn Will of Richard Shorter.

f 256v Godfrey Blaxton Will of Henry Blaxton.

As f 244 above.

f 258r John Baylie Defamation.

Defamation of Rose Harris by Edward Gray at Christmas Dinner given to the Poor of Tortington by Sir William Gratwicke.

f 258v Richard Haynes Defamation.

f 259r William Blaber Defamation.

f 260r John Taylor Tithe in Warnham.

On Denne Lands als Pynese Land, Knelles als Gilles and Blunde als Blundeland; composition arrangement, cultivation of flax and hemp.

f 264v Thomas Lucas Tithe in Warnham.

f 269v John Bowton Tithe in Warnham.

f 272r John Charman Tithe in Warnham.

f 274v Anthony Nashe Tithe in Yapton.

Reference to pasture including "rueus" [Hedgerows] f 275r.

f 276r William Stamer Tithe in Yapton.

f 277v John Peachie Tithe in Yapton.

f 279v Edward Talmye Defamation.

Defamation of Thomas Harold of Pulborough by Elizabeth Hitchcocke; T.H. accused of being a witch and bewitching cattle and children. Reference to threshing of fatches [vetches] f 280r.

f 280v Simon Talmye Defamation.

f 281r Margarite Fivian Defamation.

f 283r Alice Talmye Defamation.

f 283r Edward Wolridge Will of Richard Shorter.

As f 252 above.

f 284r Joan Tayler Will of Richard Shorter.

f 285r George Skinner Matrimonial.

Marriage contract between Richard Coote and Joan Elliot, arranged by J.E.'s guardian so as to involve minimum expense in marriage arrangements. Contract took form of declarations from Book of Common Prayer, read by Curate of Midhurst; held in private house but parties stood uncovered.

f 285v Nicholas Byshoppe Matrimonial.

f 286v Ellis Hames Matrimonial.

f 287v Robert Billingshurst Matrimonial.

f 289v Richard Langrishe

Engrossing and sealing a lease made by George Chatfield