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STOKE GABRIEL - 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.

Stoke Gabriel belonged to the Hundred of Haytor

The original spelling has been preserved

William Adam
Nicholas Downing sen
John Pike
Ambrose Adams
William Downing
Walter Pooling
Daniel Adams
Alexander Dymitt
Nicholas Preter
Josias Adams
John Eford
Nicholas Preter jun.
Richard Adams
Robert Emott
William Preter
Richard Adams
John Estabrooke
Thomas Reach
William Adams jun.
Philip Evens
William Rumbelow
Gabriel Apter
John Ford
John Rule
Adrian Ash jun.
John Full
John Rumbelow
George Baker
John Full
William Screech
John Baker
Josias Full
Nicholas Shepherd
John Batser
Lewis Full
Henry Skinner
John Bedford
William Full
Gilbert Slad
Richard Berry
George Gregory
George Slee
Richard Bonhay
John Haskind jun.
William Slee
John Bound
Richard Hawke
William Slee jun.
Richard Bound
William Hayward
Christopher Soffett
Richard Bound
Robert Hempson
Richard Spencer
Nicholas Brim
Thomas Hingstone
Stephen Spenser
Gilbert Butland
Christopher Hollamore
Richard Squire
William Butland
Elias Irish
Michael Stephins
William Butland
Gabriel Jackson sen.
John Symons
Cornelius Cashasey
Gabriel Jackson
John Tarring sen.
Edward Champernowne
George Jacksonne
John Tarring jun
William Chaning
John Jans
John Tarring jun.
Andrew Churchward
Edward Kellago
Nicholas Tarring
Christopher Churchward
Thomas King
Richard Tarring
Gabriel Churchward
Robert Kinge
Thomas Tarring
John Churchward (the miller)
David Land
Walter Tolcher
John Churchward
Thomas Land
William Tooker
Mathew Churchward
William Land
Arthur Torny
Richard Churchward
Anthony Lane
Christopher Torrin
William Churchward(the carpenter)
George Lane
Peter Treman
William Churchward
Henry Lane jun.
Thomas Trewman
Humfrey Cleife
John Lane
Valentine Venning
Walter Cole
Samuel Lane
Christopher Vunharvy
Thomas Cooming sen.
Samuel Lane
Arthur Watts
Thomas Cooming jun.
Thomas Lane jun.
Valentine Waymouth
Nicholas Cooning jun.
Vincent Langman
Gilbert Wilkins
Thomas Coxworthy
Arthur Lee
Nicholas Willes
Andrew Cratey
Clement Mathew
Richard Wolcombe
Andrew Craty
Humphrey Miller
Zachary Yard
Robert Dewhay
George Moore
Edward Yeabslee
Francis Downing
Alexander Norricot
William Yeabslee
John Downing sen
Thomas Osborne
----
John Downing jun.
John Peter sen.
----

Daniel Getsius - Vicar

William Adam - Constable

Christopher Full - Constable

James Churchward - Churchwarden

John Downing of Waton - Overseer

Richard Penny - Overseer

 

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

 

 

 

 
 
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