Hilton

Protestation Returns, 1641-2

Transcribed from "Protestation Returns, Dorset, 1641-1642" and donated to the Dorset OPC Project by Kim Parker

Amid the tensions that would eventually break out into the English Civil War, it was decided that everyone should make a "protestation" (i.e. a declaration) of loyalty to King Charles I and to the Church of England. It was so agreed and ordered on the 3rd May 1641 by the House of Commons, with the House of Lords following suit the next day.

The Protestation was to be made by everyone. The Speaker of the House of Commons sent a letter to the Sheriffs of each county. They and the Justices of the Peace (JP) were required to take the protestation. Then, Rectors, Churchwardens and Overseers of the Poor had to appear before the Justices of the Peace in their region to make their protestation. On their return, each incumbent was tasked with reading the protestation to their congregation from the pulpit, after which any two of those sworn before the JPs were to witness the taking of the Protestation Oath by all males in the parish over the age of 18 years. All names were listed, with those unable to write and sign for themselves marked by a cross, while anyone who refused was also noted. This took place in February and March 1642 and the returns were then submitted to Parliament.

The protestation itself reads:-

I, [NAME] do, in the presence of Almighty God, promise, vow, and protest to maintain, and defend as farr as lawfully I maye, with my Life, Power and Estate, the true Reformed Protestant religion, expressed in the Doctrine of the Church of England, against all Popery and Popish Innovations, within this Realme, contrary to the same Doctrine, and according to the duty of my Allegiance, His Majesties Royal Person, Honour and Estate, as alsoe the Power and Privileges of Parliament, the lawful Rights and Liberties of the Subjects, and any person that maketh this Protestation, in whatsoever he shall do in the lawful Pursuance of the same; and to my power, and as farr as lawfully I may, I will appose and by all good Ways and Means endeavour to bring to condign Punishment all such as shall, either by Force, Practice, Councels, Plots, Conspiracies, or otherwise, doe any Thing to the contrary of any Thing in this present Protestation contained: and further, that I shall, in all just and honourable ways, endeavour to preserve the Union and Peace betwixt the Three Kingdoms of England, Scotland and Ireland: and neither for Hope, Feare, nor other Respect, shell relinquish this Promise, Vow and Protestation.

The following 124 men were listed for the parish of Hilton (spelt "Helton" in the return):

Henry ABBOTT

William ADDAMS

Tobias ANDREWES

John ARGENTON

John ARNOLD

Robert ARNOLD

William ARNOLD junior

Christopher BONIS

Alexander BRIDLE

Michaell BURDEN

Richard BURDEN

James BUTCHER

John BUTCHER

Richard CHALDECOT

Edward CHECKLE

John CHYLDE senior

John CHILDE junior

Hendry CHILES

Nathanuiell CHILDE

Richard CHYLD

William CHILDE

William CHILDE

George CHIPPE

Henry CHIPPE

Robert CHIPPE

Robert COOKENEY

Daniell COWARD

Joseph COWARD

Roger COWARD

Arthur COWFFE

John CROCKER

John CROCKER

Humphry CROMIDGE

Giles DAY

John DINALL

Anthonie DRAKE

Daniell DRAKE

Edward DRAKE

Thomas DRAKE

Jeffery DREW

Bartholomew DURRANT

Robert DURRANT

Bartholomew DYRANT

Mathew DYRANT

John FREAKE

Robert FREAKE

Jerom FRENCH

Thomas FRY

Thomas GLYD

Joseph HARRIS

Jesper HART

Thomas HELLIER

Edward HODGES

Henry HOLLAND

Marke HOOPER

Thomas HOOPER

William HOOPER

Robert HOSKINS

John ILFE

John KEINES

Martin KEINES senior

Martin KEINES junior

John LAN the elder

John LANE

Roger LANE

William LANE

Henry LEMON

Nicholas LEMMON

Humphry LOCKE

John LOCKE

Robert LOCKE

William LOCKE

William MICHAEL

Richard MICHELL senior

Richard MICHELL junior

Robert MICHELL

Robert MICHELL

John MORRIAN

Thomas MORRIS

William MORRIS

William MORRIS junior

Roger NELMES

Richard NOTTER

Richard NOTTER

Hugh OTTER

Richard PARSONS

Richard PAYNTER

Thomas PECUME

Francis PELSANT

Robert PETTY

Joseph POPE

Richard POPE

John PUXLER

Hugh PYSINGE

George RAYMOND

Richard RAYES

Robert RAYSE

William REASON

John ROLE

Nicholas ROLE

Richard ROLE

Robert ROLE

Robert ROLE junior

John SADBURY senior

John SUDBURY junior

John SAUL

Thomas SAULE

William SAUL

Robert SHORY

William SHOYLE

Christopher STICLAND

Christopher STICLAND junior

Jeffery TIZARD

John TREGONWELL

John TRIVAT

George TUCKER

Roger WHITE

John WILCOX

 

Johannes ANTRAM vicar de Helton

William CHILDE churchwarden

John HARRIS churchwarden

William ARNOLD overseer

John CHIP overseer

John ROLE overseer

 

[where the same name appears twice, this may either be because the men are cousins, or because "senior" and "junior" has been omitted]

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