Bratton Clovelly Protestation Return of 1641/42

BRATTON CLOVELLY - THE PROTESTATION RETURN OF 1641

By the end of 1640, King Charles I had become very unpopular. Parliament forced him to make changes in the Constitution which gave them a bigger say in how the country was governed. From then on, Parliament was split into two factions - Royalists (Cavaliers) who supported the King and Parliamentarians (Roundheads) who wanted political and religious reform.

On 3 May 1641, every Member of the House of Commons was ordered to make a declaration of loyalty to the crown. This was ratified next day by the House of Lords. They called it their Protestation against " an arbitrarie and tyrannical government" and another order was made that every Rector, Churchwarden and Overseer of the Poor had to appear in person before the JPs in their Hundred to make this Protestation Oath in person. It was to be a declaration of their belief in the" Protestant religion, allegiance to the King and support for the rights and privileges of Parliament".

They then had to go back home to their own parish where any two of them were to require the same oath of allegiance from all males over the age of 18. The names of all who refused to make the oath were to be noted and assumed to be Catholics.

We have, in the Devon Protestation Returns, a set of amazing documents - something akin to a census even though no women or children are named. A transcription is available in the West Country Studies Library in Exeter.

The Protestation Returns are arranged by parish. which are grouped in Hundreds* The parish of Bratton Clovelly belonged to the Hundred of Lifton
Oliver Ascott	Stephen Halle	Henry Pengelly
Thomas Bayle	Wlater Halle	John Pengelly
Arthur Bickle	William Halle	John Pengelly
Christopher Bickle	Andrew Hockaday	Roger Pengelly
John Bickle	Thomas Hutchins	Roger Pengelly
Roger Bickle	Timothy Jordan	William Pengelly
Roger Blagdon	John Lange	William Pengelly
Richard Blithe	Andrew Langford	William Pengelly
Alexander Breyly	Thomas Langford	John Pommery
Tristram Brooke	Edmund Lavers	Thomas Prynn
Geoffrey Burnard	William Lavers	Armisettle Reed
Richard Burnbye, gent.	Edward Lee	Richard Rowe
Philip Caddie	William Leonard	Thomas Rowe
Edward Chastie	John Luxmoore	John Saunders
Henry Chastie	John Martin	Henry Skelly
Richard Chastie	Richard Mason	Thomas Skelly
Thomas Cockram	Christopher Maye	Robert Soale
George Collier	Christopher Maye	Henry Soper
John Coombe	Geoffrey Maye	John Soper
Henry Coryndon, gent.	John Maye	Laurence Soper
John Coryndon	John Maye	Nicholas Soper
John Coryndon	Moses Maye	John Southwoode
Thomas Coryndon, gent.	Roger Maye	Henry Stamburie
John Cripson	Thomas Maye	John Stambury
Thomas Cripson	David Metter	Samuel Stambury
John Crosse	John Metter	John Stukie
Richard Delve	William Metter	Thomas Tapson, Esq.
Daniel Downe	William Metter	Robert Tapson
John Downe	Arthur Norris	John Tickle
William Downe	John Norris	Roger Toll
Isaac Drake	John Norris	Moses Tom
John Eastabrooke	Richard Norris	Nathaniel Trobble
Roger Ellis	Timothy Norris	George Turner
Arthur Escott	William Norris	Richard Vawden
William Escott	Thomas Northcott	Richard Vawden
Henry Estcott	John Peirse	William Vawden
Henry Estcott	John Peirse	John Walter
George Forsselett	Roger Peirse	Tobias White
John Gaye	Andrew Pengelly	William White
John Haine	David Pengelly	John Yeoldon
Signed by Richard Mervine - Parson John Ellacott - Clerk William Smalecombe - Churchwarden Moses Langford, gent - Overseer John Ascott - Overseer John Chastie - Overseer John Amodes - Overseer David Vawden - Constable Arthur Doidge - Constable

* For many centuries, Devon was divided into 32 administrative districts or Hundreds for land tax purpose.

Taken from the transcription by A. J. Howard published in 1973 which is available in the West Country Studies Library, Exeter. Courtesy: Devon County Council