Worcestershire Quarter Sessions: 1630s

The inhabitants of the parish of the Holy Cross in Pershore. Ref.110 BA1/1/58/64 (1633)

To the right worshipfull Sir Robert Barkeley knight
one of his majesties justices of his highnes cort of
Kinges Bench.

The humble peticion of the inhabitantes
of the parishe of the Holy Cross in
Parshore in the county of Worcester

Humbly sheweth that whereas about xii yeeres past one
George Clarke of Saint Peters of Saint Michaells in Bedwardine or Saint Peters late keeper [his?] majesties gole in the said county
sent a woman from the said gaole to Parshore aforsaid greate
with childe by the said Clarke as may appeare by the schedule
hereunto annexed the contentes wherof wilbe testified by the
witnesses whose names are thereunto subscribe [whereupon?]
she was here delivered of a bastard sonne who prooveth
impotent, and shortly after the said Clarke brought
a bond and delivered it to the oversee minister of the said parishe
wherin one Tubbs (who as the said Clarke affirmed was an
able man) was bound for savegard of the said parishe harmles touching
the said bastard, but it since appears that the said Tubbs was
then a prisoner in the custody of the said Clarke and or
since [illegible] convicted of felony, soe that by this [...k?]
of the said Clarke the inhabitantes of the said parish [illegible]
[illegible] be charged with the said impotent person [illegible]
[illegible] taken to the contrary

[illegible] please you [illegible]
[illegible] sayd [p...?] [illegible]
[illegible] therefor [illegible]
[illegible] witnesses [illegible]
[illegible]

The inhabitants of the manor of Holt. Ref.110 BA1/1/58/66 (1633)

Wigorn sessions

The humble peticion of the inhabitances
of the mannor of Holt

First the said inhabitance shewe to your good lordshipp
and worshipes that there is one Phillipp Cooke whoe
hathe halfe a yard laund lyeinge in Holt aforesaied in
possession, worthe aboute twentie markes by yeare
which hee hath lett to his ealder brother Edward Cooke
dwelling in Grymley and is gonn with Captaine
Leighton into the lowe [countries?], and hathe lefte a
base woman child born [illegible] the saied mannor of Holt
to bee meanteyned by the inhabitance there, whoe pay
to one Goodwyfe Sort twelve pence a weeke to
keepe the same.

Nowe the saied inhabitance most humblie pray your Lordshipp
and worships that there may bee some order made, that
the said base child may have maintenance out of hir fathers
halfe yard laund, as lykewyse that the saied Goodwyfe
Sort may have twelfe pence a weeke allowed to hir
out of the saied laund, for soe longe tyme as she hath
keipte the saied child; and they according to ther
duties will daylie pray to God, longe to contynewe
your lordshipp and worships in all good health and prosperitie

The humble peticion of
the inhabitances of the
mannor of Holt

Thomas Cocks of Crowle. Ref.110 BA1/1/58/71 (1633)

Worthy Sir,

I beseeche you gyve me leave amongst your many
well wishers (though unworthy to be [raulete?] in the number of your
meanest fryndes) to pray as hartely as any thatt
you may happely injoy your risinge fortunes.
I heare you intend a session att Worcester this day
about the mendinge of highe wayes which is a very
charitable and good worke and so is ytt also (if you
thinke good) before your goinge out of the country
to take some course concerninge the puttinge downe
of the superfluity of alehowses and common typlinge howses
of which kynd wee have no lesse then three in Crowle
and thatt is twoe too many for one lyttle village, as
I fynd by experience to my losse of servantes and they very
often to the losse of theyre mony and wyttes. The [newest?]
of these ale sellers is James Careles, and therefore the
worst. The next in propinquity of neighbourhood is Richard
Brinton a servant to Master Symons of Aston and upheld by
hym in that faculty. Careles petitioned my lorde
bushoppe for a licence to sell ale, because he was a
surgeon and had many patientes came to hym for helpe
and found ytt a greate inconveniance for them to goe to
remote places for theire diett and drinke, and in that respect
obteyned a lycence (as I understand) with a lymitation
to sell ale to none butt his patientes butt nowe (of
late especially) he farre exceedes his boundes, and
intertaynes all commers as well by night as by day
high and lowe, rich and [poor?] beggers and all, none excepted
for example, a poore wandringe fellow came (nott
longe since) to my doore [counterfeyting?] hymself to be blind
[lame?] and taken most [illegible] with a shakinge palsy, which
parte of [illegible] man [illegible] [severall?] particulers he performed
so artificially thatt [h...?] [illegible] to take greate compas=
sion of hym, for [illegible] she gave hym
mony and a [p...e?] of bacon? [illegible] had butt [he?]
went away with a snayles pace haltinge downe right [illegible]
shakinge and gropinge with his staffe tyll he thought he
was out of sight, and then he was an upright man on
the soddeyne, and without any lamenes blindnes quaking
or quiveringe could fynd the way to Careles his howse
presently where he called for a pott of ale a pipe of
tobacco and a pennyworth of egges to fry with his bacon, and
Careles rise uppe from other company and sate downe by hym
[afore?] my twoe wyttnesses lefte them who heard and
sawe all this passage and after told ytt to me and my wiffe
an other poore fellowe who professed hymself an
extraordynary carder and spynner of wollen or lynnen was
[of?] late sett a worke by my wiffe to carde and spynne course
woll for blankettes and when he had gotten some mony for
his worke to Careles he goes and there with an other of
my men, spent the greatest parte of the night tyll ytt
was [illegible] 3 a clocke in the morninge or thereabowt
and then they parted, butt the spynner made his way
throughe the church yeard where fyndinge twoe begger
women in the churche porche gave a grote to the younger to
ly with her, where there was such a [s...e?] betwene them
thatt there was shakte owt of his pockett about sixteene
shillinges, which hee presently missed by feelinge in his pockett
for his mony. and made [illegible] so greate a noyse in chidinge
and brawlinge one with an other abowt ytt, yt beinge neere my
chamber I wakte and rise and called uppe all my men [to?]
go into the churchyeard and see whatt the matter was
and by searchinge with a lanterne and a candle there
[illegible] found abowt a crowne of ytt which he had agayne
[illegible] rest was loste. In the meane tyme while this
search was made I sent for the cunstable to putt the
spynninge man and the [illegible] younger woman in the stockes
and so was rydde of a knave. And this disorder [illegible]
many more (which is too much to sett downe in a letter) [Careles?]
his ale distrybuted to all commers procureth, and beinge
inoughe and too much to shew [what?] a well governed [illegible]
alehowse itt is I [illegible] nowe most humbly take my
leave and crave pardon for beinge soe tedious
[illegible] rest [illegible]

Crowle
[illegible] o September
[1633?]

[illegible] poore [neighbour?]
[illegible] servant to command

• Thomas Cockes

To the [right worshipfull?] Sir
Robert Barkeley knight
one of his majesties justices
of the Kinges bench.

John Chaundler and William Hay of Kineton. Ref.110 BA1/1/58/77 (1633)

To the right honourable the Lord Barkeley and to the
worshipfull the justices of the peace

The humble peticion of John Chaundler and William Hay of the parish of Kineton
whoe being fined in the some of ten shillings by the complaynt of
Peter Noxen, doth intreat that the sayed Peter Noxen may be
questioned whether he hath made true performance of his office
for he giving warning to the neyghbours as at a time appointed to be
helpfull to the repayring of the highe wayes, the weather did prove
soe unreasonable wett that we wer enforced to leave of at that time
which was the last of the six dayes wheron we wer to performe our due
service by his appointment we both have performed seaven dayes work a peece
att which time in the evening George Poole being supervisor with Peter
Noxen camme unto him to know of him when another dayes imployment
should be appointed by reason that they wer prevented by the wettnes
and raynie weather, his answer was that he had done for this
yere and he would meddle noe further

Then about the space of a weeke or a fortnight after this time [Peter?]
Noxen went unto the worshipfull Sir John Rowse not acquaintinge
his fellow George Poole therwithall and made presentment of those
whome he pleased and sparing other some which wer alltogether in
as mutch defaulte as those whome he presented

And being moved by George Poole afterwards for the rapayring of some
other place which was faulty his answer was that he would meddle
noe more for he must goe about his owne busines, yet neverthelesse
at the appointment of George Poole all the neyghbours did performe
theyr service to carry and lay theyr carriage wher he did direct
him as it was most needfull

[...er?] more when as formerly the neyghbours did come with theyr
[illegible] theyr cattle at the appointment of Peter Noxen the sayed
[illegible] would withdrawe them from theyr service by the time that
[illegible] beene at worke the space of twoe or three howers and gett
[illegible] [...nto?] his house he being a vitaler and ther they should spend the rest
[illegible] disorderly manner untill five or six of the clock in the [illegible]

Roger Perke of Whistones. Ref.110 BA1/1/58/92 (1633)

To the right worshipfull Sir Robert Barkeley
knight one of the Kinges majesties justices of his
highenes pleas att Westminster and one
of his hignes justices of peace for the
countie of Wigorn

The humble peticion of Roger Perke of
Whistance in the said county of Wigorn

Humbly sheweth that the peticioner dwelling att the signe
of the Fish in Whistance which hath benne an ancyent inne
for above threescore yeares, to entertayne travaylers
and people comeinge to markett, yet hath ben bound by
recognizance, as an aleseller, and soe hath all the
victuallinge howses there from tyme to tyme, nowe one
Henry Meeke that dwelleth in a howse there, and haveinge
a signe of a Bell doth pretend himself to bee the
inholder, and the reason is for that he was supprest
by the justice of assize, before whom hee was indicted
and arraigned, as accessary to felony in receaveinge
goodes stolen, and is accompted a receaver and harborer
of lewd people, as theeves and such like and doth
dayley receave cheators that cosen men att tables
as namely one Richard Caterens whoe the last
weeke did there play with one Thomas Gibbons Thomson whoe
affirmed that Caterens did cosen him of his money
att table and sayed that x shillings was pickt out of his
pockett in the howse

The peticioners humble desyre unto your good
worshipp is that the said Meeke bee not admitted
to be the onely inkeeper there and your
peticioner disallowed from victualling,
hee keepeinge noe ill rule or disorder in
[his?] howse and this etc.

Thomas Wagstaffe of Abberton, yeoman. Ref.110 BA1/1/58/96 (1633)

To the right honourable Sir Robert Barkeley knight
knight one of the Kinges majesties justices of his court
of Kinges Bench.

The humble peticion of Thomas Wagstaffe
of Abberton in the county of Worcester yeoman

Humbly sheweth that the peticioner is a tenant unto a mesuage and landes
in Abberton aforesaid and in respect thereof for non repayre of a common
highe way within Abberton is fyned in twenty poundes wherefore and for
that the same highe waye (for the whole memory of man) hath benn repayred
att the coste of the whole parish. And that the same fyne was imposed
by the oath of Tomas Solley whoe is a great enymy unto the peticioner
and for that the peticioner refused to carry for him (gratis) a load of woad
which Solley then threatned the peticioner to bee even with him for such his refusall

It would please your good worship to take the peticioners cause into your
grave consideracion and this etc

Anthonie Hill and Richard Baker, overseers of the highways of Saint Martins. Ref.110 BA1/1/58/99 (1633)

To the right honourable Sir Robert Barkley
knight one of his majesties justices of the peace for
for the countie of Worcester.

The humble peticion of Anthonie Hill and Richard Baker
overseers of the high wayes for the parish of Saint Martines in the
said countie of Worcester.

Sheweth unto your good lordshippe that John Collins of the cittie of
Worcester brewer haveinge divers landes lyeinge in the said parishe of Saint
Martines in the county of Worcester adjoyneinge to the high wayes hath for a longe tyme neglected to
scoure and clense his ditches and moundes to the said high wayes adjoyninge
although hee hath often tymes byn desired by your peticioners and by their
predecessors to scoure and clense them. And the ditches and moundes for
want of clensinge are growne full of earth and yeoven with the high wayes.
By reason whereof the watercourses are stopped and cannott have passage
alonge the said ditches where they shoulde runne, but doe runne alonge
the high wayes, and by that meanes the high wayes have byn much
decayed.

That John Blurton of the said cittie of Worcester inhoulder havinge
certaine fieldes lyeinge in the parishe of Saint Martines aforesaid in the said
countie of Worcester adjoyneinge to the high wayes (called Blurtons fieldes)
hath removed a stile adjoyneinge to the high way from the place where
hee hadd for a longe tyme stood. And alsoe hath broken upp and destroyed
a cawseway leadinge from the said style overthwarte the lane by reason
whereof the high wayes in that place have byn much decayed and the ta
removeinge of the said style and the destroyinge of the said cawsway hath
byn the cause whie the parishoners of Saint Martines have byn indicted.

That John Frogmer of the said cittie and gentleman haveinge a parcell of land lyinge
in the said parishe of Saint Martines in the said countie of Worcester called Little
Sparrow Crofte adjoyneinge to the high wayes hee and his undertenants
have longe neglected to scoure and clense the ditches and moundes to
the said crofte adjoyneinge by reason whereof the high waies there have
byn much decayed.

Your peticioners most humblie beseecheth your good lordshippe that you will be
pleased to order, that the said John Collins and John Frogmer or
their tenants or occupiers of their landes may foorthwith scoure
and clense their ditches and moundes accordinge as they ought to
be donne. And that the said John Blurton may remove his said
stile into the place where hee formerly stood, and may new
make the said cawseway [illegible] make a cawsway over the lane where the stile now is.

And your peticioners will pray for your lordshipps health and prosperitie.

The peticioners within named doe further beseiche your good lordshippe
that you will be pleased to speake to Master Mayor that hee
will cause the chamberlaynes to cause the towne ditches
leadinge from Losemore by the Fryers to be foorthwith clensed
for those ditches beinge not clensed the water cannott passe
away from Losemore: by meanes whereof the high wayes
are much decayed.

The grand jury. Ref.110 BA1/1/24/104 (1634)

To the right worshipfull Master Justice
Barckley and the rest of
his majesties justices of the peace
for this county of Wigorn.

The humble peticion of the grand jury

First with humble thankfulnes wee acknowledge the extraornery
extraordinary favoure care and paynes which it hath pleased
Master Justice Barckley and Master Wilde to bestowe for the
recovery of the countys right in the goale and doe humbly
intreat that seing the goaler is [illegible] eased of so great a rent
as was heretofore paid by the former goalers he may
for the time to come maynteine the said goale
in reparacions at his owne cost and charges

And whereas wee conceive that by the paynes
of the minister bestowed this last yeare in the
for the instruccion of the poore prisoners in the
goale there hath come not [only?] [illegible] [grea...?] [illegible]
for to their soules but allsoe a [great?] [illegible]
in lessening the number [illegible]

And whereas [all...?] it is [illegible]
will now [encre...?] [illegible]
the howse of [illegible]
must now be [illegible]
he must set to [...rke?] the prisoners [illegible]
well as those in the howse of [correction?] [illegible]

Wee humbly intreat that out of that [illegible]
with this court shalbe pleased to allow unto [illegible]
your said master of the house of correction [illegible]
and above his former pencion of [illegible] twentie [pence?] [illegible]
this court would be pleased to enjoyne him to
pay twenty pounds per annum to the said minister
that shall bestowe his paynes with the prisoners in
the goale and house of correction as aforesaid

And wee are the rather encouraged to make this
peticion concerning the said minister because the
grand jury at Easter sessions last desired it, and
this court ordered it

• Richard Sommers
• Leuonard Solley
• John Whyte
• John Callow
• Arnell Green
• Arnell Howshippe
• Richard [Cosnit?]
• William Trobble
• Robert [...bley?]
• William Penn
• John Jeston
• Humfery Chamberlaine
• John [Pailler?]
• James Heye
• Thomas Harboane