The strange case of Rev Joseph Arrowsmith BA. Vicar of Fishlake.
The Rev Joseph Arrowsmith was officially the vicar of Fishlake from 1822 until his death in 1846. However he does not appear to have been an acting vicar until 1833 and further more he never lived in the village. An example of an absent clergy man? Looking at other parish clergy during the early nineteenth century it appears there are numerous examples of clergy not attending to their parish duties rather they left it wholly or partly to a curate. Hence the phenomena of the absentee vicar.
Born in 1787. Joseph married in 04 December 1810 at Long Newton County Durham, to Anne the only daughter of William Robson of Burdon near Darlington. He is described as a graduate of St Johns College, Cambridge.
He was ordained Deacon 15 th July 1810 and Priest on 19th September 1813.
On 06 January 1816 his name is mentioned in connection with the Sedgefield Association for the prosecuting Felons etc.
Then on 20 th July 1822 he was presented by the Dean and Chapter of Durham to Vicarage of Fishlake. Bearing in mind at that time he was curate of Sedgefield. (and remained curate of Sedgefield until 1833).
Notes from Fishlake parishes records. Joseph Arrowsmith to be vicar of Fishlake 2 April 1822.
From the Fishlake Parish Register. Joseph Arrowsmith was inducted by the Archbishop of York on 2 nd August 1822 and read himself in on the following Sunday. Having been presented for the appointment 28th July 1822.
However, it is evident that he did not taken up his post as vicar of Fishlake until 1833? In his absence William Holbrey is recorded as being the acting minister.
The 1828 Pigots Directory lists Joseph as the Perpetual Curate Sedgefield. So why was he not at Fishlake?
In early 1833 Joseph was formally presented with ‘a plate, an elegant silver chased salver, according to the York Herald of Saturday 16 th February 1833, as a gift by his parishioners of Stockton-upon-Tees on his departure. On the same day as the presentation, a farewell dinner was given by principal gentlemen and merchants of the town at the Black Lion Hotel. The Mayor was in the chair. Clearly Joseph was highly regarded by the towns parishioners of Sedgefield.
It has just occurred to me that he would in all likelihood being in receipt of two salaries.
In the 1838 Election Poll Book he is recorded at Fishlake but living in Thorne.
A possible reason for this was the absence of suitable accommodation in Fishlake. Parish visitation returns hints that the parsonage house was in a poor state of repair. The glebe house was certified in 1818 to be unfit for residence, ‘being a thatched cottage’, and is still unfit. From Collection Ecclesiastical Affairs 1842. Perhaps Joseph Arrowsmith was unwilling to live there with his family. Indeed at his death in 1846 plans were drawn up and money found to rebuild the vicarage.
I note that in 1838 White’s trade directory records Rev Arthur Fullerton as curate, presumably he replace William Holbery.
William Holbery ordained as Deacon 3rd August 1817. Appointed on the same date as curate at Fishlake, but not ordained as a priest until 20th December 1818.
1841 Census and Poll Book gives him living with his family at South Parade, Thorne.
Finally he died on 5 th March 1846 aged 59.
Buried at Fishlake on 12 th March 1846 aged 59 from the burial register.
His Church memorial inscription is as follows….Beneath / are interred the mortal / remains of Joseph ARROWSMITH / graduate of / St Johns Coll. Cambridge / and many years / vicar of this church he died / in the 59th year of his age / on the 5th of March / in the year of Nativity / 1846. Can be seen on the South Chancel wall.