THE GLEBE TERRIER’S OF FISHLAKE   CHURCH.

 

 

Glebe means land and a terrier, from the Latin terra earth, is an inventory or list. In this case of land belong to the church, specifically the Church of England. 

In essence an account of all church property and possessions.

 

 

These documents were drawn up yearly, often by the Churchwarden during an arch-diocesans visitation. See separate article in this series for more information and local examples of local Visitation records. The following extracts from Fishlake Glebe Terriers are proving of great value to local, family and church historians. 

 

They were first required to be prepared from 1571 and many later Glebe Terrier have survived. The Yorkshire collection are kept at the Borthwick Institute, University of York. 

They list all Church property in the parish. The following are the kinds of information they may contain…

 

The church and churchyard….. a list of everything in the church itself, including its fabric, furniture, plate, bells and books, the churchyard with special notes about customary obligations to repair walls or fences.

 

The parsonage….a detailed description of the parsonage house.

 

Other properties owned by the church.

 

Information about church land holding.

 

Tithe revenues and Income and fees for such things as performing baptisms, marriage and burial services.

 

Below are samples of Fishlake Glebe Terriers. There is a good deal if repetition so in some only the changing names of the witnesses as included for the benefit of family historians. Most of the extracts have been collected from the original documents seen  at the Borthwick Institute. I have modernist the spelling and grammar for ease of use.

 

 

For the year 1684.

There is a house standing in Garth commonly called the vicarage the Garth containing by estimation about one acre of ground butting on the parsonage fould South and the Hay green North here is about 60 pounds per annum paid by the Dean and Chapter of Durham out of the Rectory one part at Midsummer and the other at Candlemas and the surplus [torn] (so far as we know) hath been in enjoyed by the vicar.

Thomas Bourne vicar of Fishlake.

Thomas Perkins, William Huscroft John Doughty.

Church Wardens.

Thomas Simpson

William Cooke

Thomas Change

George Hembrough

Robert Goodridge

 

 

1716

A terrier of the Endowments of the vicarage of Fishlake in the County of York.

Firstly. A House in Good and sufficient Repair fifteen yards in length and six yards in Breadth. A Barn six yards and three Quarters in Breath.

Two Garden places being twelve yards in length and seven yards and an half in Breadth. A Garth in which the House stands Reputed an Acre.

The Salary to the vicar is sixty pounds a year paid by order of the Dean and Chapter of Durham a Reserved Rent from the lease of the Rectory of the said 

Parish towards and in Augmentation of poor vicars and curate and is paid at two half yearly payments at he Feast of the Purification of St Mary the Virgin and the Feast of St John the Baptist by Equal Proportions.

 

Surplus fees are…

For a Marriage without licence one shilling

For a Marriage with licence six shillings and eight pence.

For a churching nine pence, For a burial eight pence in the church one shilling and four pence in the Quire six shillings and four pence.

A Chapel of ease in the said parish six pounds a year.

John Lisle September 28 the 1716.

John Goodridge, Robert Laverack Church wardens.

1726 From the parochial returned and order books.

Books: We have Great Bible, two Common Prayer Books, Register of Parchment and table of Marriages, Book of Homily’s. Vestments. We have a surplice, Carpet for the Communion Table, Linen Cloth to cover the Elements and Cushion for the Pulpit.

Vessels: We have a Flaggon, Chalice, Paten and Bason for the Offertory.

Attested by John L’Isle vicar and Thomas Gamble Churchwarden.

Added note.

Poor: Benefactions to the Poor are in Danger of Being lost for want of Recoding.

 

On 15 September 1727 a letter from John L’Isle to Rev Thomas Mangey LLD and DD and Prebendary of Durham, Durham. With details of Glebe Land belonging to Fishlake Church.

In Little Ing, called Little Martyn’s Ing 4 acres and 1 rood adjoining the Parsonage House. Parson Croft 2 closes reputed betwixt 5 & 6 acres with large oak wood about them. Patu Nostu balk 1 1 rood in the Miln field always polled. Parson Gowers 2 acres in the East field always plowed. parson Gowers 2 acres in the West field all wheat land ever plowed.

 

1727 almost identical, but the surplus fees have risen.

A little more detail about the two Garden Place, a walk through the midst. Each Garden Place being twelve yards in length and seven yards ands a half in Breadth. John Lisle vicar of Fishlake.

There are more witnesses. 

David Cass Church warden

Thomas Gamble Church warden

Richard Doughty

Edward Foster

John Waite

William Leetham

William Trimingham

Daniel + his mark Goodridge

William Cooper.

 

1743 Very similar to the above. Witness John L’isle Vicar.

William Dickinson, Noah Wood Church wardens.

John Stork

Richard France 

Francis Simpson

John Simpson.

 

1748 As above. John L’isle vicar

John Wait, John Cass Church wardens.

William Bailey

Francis Simpson, John Simpson, Richard France and John Stork.

 

May 7 th 1764.

The Clark and Saxton (through the offices are now enjoy by one person) are appointed by the minister and maintained by the Parishioners Bryan ? annual payment of 3d cottage house and 4d a message. The dues at burial are 1s 10d also a marriage without licence 1s 6d with a licence 2s 6d. [the suppliers are then given as before].

We have six bells, one great Bible, one Common Prayer Book, one Book of Homilies, Two Surplices, one Pewter Flagon, one Pewter Salver for Bread, one Silver Chalice of wine, weighting near six ounces marked Ann Do 1671, one Brass Bason for the receiving of Alms.

Attested by John Gibson vicar.

Thomas Turner and John Bachus  churchwardens.

Principal inhabitants.. Richard France, Richard Wharam, R Wharam jun., James Pickman, Richard White.

 

July 2nd 1770. As above.

Chapel of ease between thirteen and fourteen pounds a year.

John Gibson vicar.

Principal inhabitants.: William Hall. Thomas Steemson. Richard Wilson. John Ayre. James Pearson 

church wardens:  John Broxworth, R Wharam

 

June 16th 1777.

(Note in this one we have the first mention of a church clock.)

 

A house in good and sufficient Repair But Old. Fifteen yards n an half in length a d six yards in Breath thatched the chambers being three in Number Floors Plastered.

A barn six yards and three Quarters in length and four yards and Three Quarters in breath thatched. A Garden with a walk through the midst near Eight yards in length and ten yards in Breath. A Garth in which the house stands reputed an Acre. We have six good Bells, one great Bible, one Common Prayer Book, one Book of Homilies. Two Surplices, one silver cup for the Sacrament Weighting near Six ounce, one Pewter Salver for the Bread, one Brass Bason for the Receiving of Alms, one clock [first mention of a clock]. The church yard Fence is Repaired at the expense of the whole parish. The Clerk is appointed by the vicar and his wages paid by custom.

 

 20 th June 1781. Much the same as above. Attested by:

John Gibson vicar, Richard Pearson.

Richard Wharam, Thomas Shillito, Chris Heigham, Thomas Turner, Thomas Steeman, Robert Heward, John Stork.

 

June 19th 1786. Much the same, Attested by: John Metcalfe vicar.

R Hardy, Nathan Cook, William Hunt, John Bladworth, John Waite, Richard Wharam, John Stork, Chris Heigham, Richard Amery, Samuel Cook, Richard Marsden, Matthew Amery.

 

June 19th 1809. Attested by: John Metcalfe vicar. 

Churchwardens George Hopwood, Wheatley Wood, Chris Heigham.

Others, John Stork, John Charlesworth, William Hunt, Richard Amery jun, John Waite, William Newborn, Thomas Trimingham.

 

June 9th 1820.

A house in good sufficient repair, but old….etc.

Attested by: John Metcalfe vicar. Churchwarden John Pearson.

Edward Newsome, Thomas Wilkinson, John Thompson, William Downing, William Booker, James Froggatt.

 

 

 

1825.

A house in good and sufficient repair, but old, built with brick and covered with thatch, containing three low rooms, floored with bricks and three upper rooms floored with plaster.

Attested by: William Holbrey minister. Churchwarden Thomas Wilkinson.

John Hunt, George Ward, William Briggs, Richard Dale, Joseph Birks, John Hodson.

Also an augmentation of one thousand pounds in 1813 by the Governor’s of Queen Anne’s Bounty.

 

 

1853 Attested by: George Ornsby minister. Churchwardens James Froggatt, John Waite.

 

May 13th 1857.

The fee’s customarily paid to the vicar of Fishlake viz for Churching one shilling, for Publication of Banns one shilling, for a wedding (by banns) one shilling and sixpence, for a licence  wedding seven shillings and sixpence, for a funeral one shilling. For copying the Register ten shillings and sixpence, for erecting an upright Gravestone ten shillings, for laying down a flat Gravestone one pound.

 

April 17th 1861.

For copying the Register (Bishops transcripts) in each year for transmission for the Archbishops Registry ten shillings and sixpence. For making out and copying the terrier when required five shillings.

Signed George Ornsby vicar of Fishlake. Churchwarden Jno Bladworth, James Frogatt. Also George Downing, John Farrow.

 

1865 signed George Ornsby vicar, Churchwarden James Frogatt

 

The most recent terrier completed by Rev George Ornsby undated but before 1886 but not long before.

 

A vicarage house and offices attached her thereto with garden and grounds surrounding it, amounting to 1 a 1 r 11 p.

A close of Glebe land called the tithe Ing adjoining the vicarage 4 a 1 r 6 p.

Two fields called Parson Croft annexed to the vicarage of Fishlake by the Dean and Chapter of Durham in the year 1857 situated in the West Field in the Parish of Fishlake (subject to the payment there out of an annuity or pension of ten pounds per annum to the incumbent of Sykehouse) 13 a 1 r 1 p.

An allotment on Fishlake Nab 1 a 2 r 17 p.

A close of land nearly adjoining the vicarage, and a small close belonging thereto (bought out of money belonging to the vicarage in Queen Ann’s Bounty hand of the late George Hunt) 3 a 2 r 25 p.

A close of land called Shuttle Bridge 4 a 2 r 25 p.

A close of land called Town Ings 2 a 2 r 4 p.

A close of land called Pinfold Close 2 a 2 r 20 p.

A close of land called Pig Hill 2 a 2 r 18 p.

A close of land called the West Field 3 a 2 r 23 p.

A close of land called Butler Garth and a small Croft adjoining thereto  5 a 2 r 23 p.  carried over acres 44 a 0 r 5 p.

 

Land on North Common being part of an Estate late belonging to the Dean and chapter of Durham, and annexed by that Body (with consent of the Ecclesiastical Commissioners) to the vicarage of Fishlake, in the year 1865. 192 a 3 r 4 p.

 

Two Closes of land in the parish of Bramwith called Bridge Foot Close, bought out of money paid by the North Eastern Railway Company for six acres and thirty three perches of land on North Common. 13 a 0 r 0 p. Acres 249 a 3 r 9 p.

money invested in the Reduced £3 per cent by the Governors of Queen Ann’s Bounty for the vicarage of Fishlake. £408 9s 11d.

Money pains into Court by the North Eastern Railway Company being the balance of the sum paid by them for land on North Common, and with a portion of which the Bridge Foot Closes were punched as aftersaid £ 50 14s 7d. £ 459 4 s 6 d.

 

Fees payable to the vicar.

for Publication of Banns 1s.

for a wedding by Banns 1s 6d.

For ditto.              licence 7s 6s.

For a churching 1s.

For a funeral 1s.

For a  ditto (if from another Parish) 2s.

For Erection of an upright Grave Stone 10s.

For laying Down a flat Grave Stone £1.

 

Signed George Ornsby vicar.