Half-bound in “watered” paper boards, with calf back, “The Register-book of Brooksby Church from 1771 to 1811” contains five parchment leaves, with paper flyleaf at each end, and measures 15½ inches by 10 inches.
The dates above given are not exactly precise, as the first entry is dated 1767. The last ‘Marriage entered took place in 1803, and there are in all only nine Marriages recorded in the period. These appear on the first three pages.
The Baptisms, taking up three pages more, number sixteen, and on another page, to themselves, there are four Burials set down.
The Hall, Brooksby, was for centuries the home of the Villiers family, till 1711, when the estate passed into the hands of Sir Nathan Wright, “Lord Keeper.”
Under 1780, May 20, is recorded the burial of Elizabeth, wife of Nathaniel Wright, Esq.
The earlier hooks of registers appear to have been lost for many years, but a number of interesting entries relative to the Villiers family appear in the Hoby books.
These Marriages have been copied by Mr. Matthew Pearson, by permission of the Rev. Arthur Carter, Rector of Brooksby and Vicar of Thrussington.
George Hives & Sarah Dexter 28 June 1767
Thomas Worsdale, of Thurmaston, & Ann Hives 30 Dec.1771
John Tomson & Mary Walker 23 June 1779
James Haslewood, of Asfordby, & Elizabeth Black 5 Sep. 1780
Saml. Oliver & Ann Castledine, lic. 2 Oct. 1780
William White, of Brooksby, was married 1 Aug. 1773
[This entry, having apparently been neglected for seven years, was entered by the Clerk. It was then struck out, and underneath follows, in the handwriting of Thos. Orton, who also signs it as Rector]: “William Wheat & Rebecca Hives,both of Brooksby, Aug. 1st, 1773 by me, Thos. Orton, Rector.
John Paget & Sarah Hives, lic. 28 Feb. 1786
Timothy Hives, of this p.,
& Elizabeth Marston, of Normanton, co. Nottm., lic. 14 Aug. 1799
Timothy Hives, w., of Asfordby, & Elizabeth Hives, w., lic. 14 Sep. 1803
[No further Marriages registered before the provision of the “1813” series of books.]
