BISHOP'S NYMPTON - THE PROTESTATION RETURN |
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. Bishop's Nympton belonged to the Hundred of Witheridge
The original spelling has been preserved |
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| Giles Abbotte | William Garleforde | John Quantick |
| Edward Allen | William Gill | Robert Quick |
| Gregory Allen | Robert Gosse | Samuel Quick |
| Henry Allen | Sylvester Gosse | Andrew Quicke |
| John Allen | William Gosse | George Rackley |
| Thomas Allen | David Hall | Philip Rackley |
| William Allen | Robert Heale | William Rackley |
| John Amory sen. Gent | Robert Heale jun. | Nicholas Reed |
| John Amory jun, Gent | John Helier | Solomon Roberts |
| John Amory | George Hill | Edward Rowdon |
| Edward Baker | Philip Hill | Constantine Sage |
| Stephen Beareman | Robert Hill | Edmund Sander |
| Anthony Blackemore | Thomas Hill | George Sander |
| Hugh Blackemore | Nicholas Hooper | Hugh Sander |
| John Blackemore | John Horndell | John Sander sen. |
| John Blackemore | Robert Hunt | John Sander jun |
| Thomas Blackemore Gent | George Keene | William Sander |
| Walter Blackemore | John Kemp sen. | Henry Sanger |
| Baldwin Bowdon | John Kempe jun, | Christopher Selley |
| John Bowdon of Knowle | Anthony Kerslake | William Shapcott |
| John Bowdon in the town | Martin Kingdon | Giles Skynner |
| Michael Bowdon | Henry Loosemore | Thomas Skynner |
| Philip Bowdon | John Loosemore | John Smart |
| Stephen Bowdon | Peter Loosemore | John Smyth |
| Nathaniel Britton | Andrew Maning | John Squire |
| Philip Bowdon | Edmund Maning | Lewis Stick |
| Stephen Bowdon | John Marley | Charles Stock |
| Nathaniel Britton | Thomas Marley sen | Henry Tappe jun. |
| Philip Broadmede | Thomas Marley jun. | Hugh Tappe |
| John Brownescombe | Zachary Mildon | John Tappe sen |
| Richard Buckingham | Henry Mole | John Tappe jun |
| John Budd | Roger Moleford Esq. | Nicholas Tappe |
| Philip Bulworthy | Thomas Moore | Philip Tappe |
| William Bulworthy | William Moore | Richard Tappe |
| Ralph Burges | Andrew Morrice | William Tappe |
| Peter Chilcocke | John Morrice | John Thomas jun. |
| Alexander Chilcott | Philip Morrice sen. | Henry Thorne sen |
| William Chilcotte | Philip Morrice jun. | Henry Thorne jun |
| Anthony Churiton | Walter Morrice | John Thorne |
| Nicholas Cleapitt | Philip Mosse | Roger Thorne |
| Philip Clotworthy | Henry Murlis | Thomas Thorne |
| George Crang | Henry Myldon | Zachary Thorne |
| Henry Crang | John Myldon | John Tomme |
| Robert Davy | Thomas Mylton | Anthony Towle |
| Robert Downe | James Notte | Hugh Towle jun |
| George Eame | Richard Palmer | John Towle sen. |
| English Eames | John Pasmore | John Towle jun. |
| Christopher Eastmond | John Pearse | Caleb Uppons |
| John Eastmond sen. | John Pepper | William Venner |
| Christopher Eastmond | Richard Pester | Christopher Vicary |
| John Eastmond sen. | John Pincombe sen | Daniel Vicary |
| John Eastmond jun. | John Pincombe jun. | John Vicary sen. |
| John Eastmond | William Pincombe sen. | John Vicary jun |
| Henry Fooke | William Pincombe jun. | John Vicary |
| John Fooke | John Pollard | Joshua Vicary |
| John Fooke | Philip Pollard | Daniel Warren |
| John Fooke jun. | Henry Pyne sen | Henry Warren |
| John Fooke jun, | Henry Pyne jun | John Warren |
| John Garleforde | John Pyne | Richard Webber |
| Richard Garleforde | Richard Pyne | ---- |
John Bowden of Weeke, Edmund Sander, Hugh Towle and George Vicary, being indebited, could not take the protestation John Conyber - Minister John Sander = constable John Smyth - Constable John Tappe - Churchwarden Baldwin Bowdon - Churchwarden John Eastmond - Overseer Robert Neale - Overseer Henry Sanger - Overseer John Houndell - Overseer (All the above in the same hand) |
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* For many centuries, Devon was divided into 32 administrative districts or Hundreds for land tax purpose. |
© M.E. Brine. This page last updated
9 March, 2015
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