According to common experience, Stapleford has lost its earliest Register. The existing first Volume consists of 15 parchment leaves 12¼ by 5¼ inches, 2 others of poor parchment about 11¼ by 5¼ inches are loosely attached at the end, also a fragment of another, blank. It is strongly bound in leather with coarse canvas strings. The book contains Baptisms 1648-83, Burials 1653-83 and Marriages 1655-83; but besides these are registered one Burial in 1624 on (the present) second leaf, while on the last leaf proper of the volume appears one Baptism, “William the son of Matthew Stele was Baptized November the 21st, 1608.”
On the present first page the first entry is :—“William the eldest sonne of Philip Sherarde Esq. and Margaret his wife was Baptized July 8th, 1648.”
Apparently one or more leaves has or have been cut out at the beginning of the book; one, which it seems should be the first, is now sewn in again as leaf 2 and bears the heading “Stapleford Registr. Comit[atul Lescest[rensis].” The second page of this is blank. Entries on the first three leaves disregard datal order and range from the one burial in 1624 to 1680.
Leaf 3 bears the heading “An extract of Births, maridges and Burialls since the 17 day of Januarie 1653 “and begins regular entries from that year. Down to 1659 these appear to be a transcript from an older book. The writing varies much, but is generally good and legible, some entries have faded. After leaf 10 several leaves have been cut out but no hiatus appears in the entries here. About 1¼ inches has been cut off the bottom of leaf 11, but whether it carried any entries or not is uncertain.
Leaf 15 p. 2 records a brief for “his Majestyes distressed subjects lately taken by the Turkish Pyrates” in 1670, with contributors’ names and their contributions from a penny to 2s. 6d., total £2 l0s. Below is the one Baptism in 1608.
The two attached leaves at end carry all classes of entries 1680-83. The lower three inches of both are seriously damaged, cockled by heat or damp, and portions of several entries obliterated. The book’s condition is generally good.
Volume II., 29 stout parchment leaves 13 by about 7½ inches, bound in double parchment lined with paper, with strings, in very good condition but for being partly loose in its cover. It records Baptisms and Burials 1683-1761, and Marriages 1687-1758. At the end of the book, inverted and dated 1733, is an Inventory of Utensils belonging to Stapleford Church.
Next follows [p. 2) a long recital of the Will of The Rt. Hon. Bennet, Earl of Harborough, dated 27th May, 1732, as to a bequest of an Annuity of £48 to six poor men, £8 each, chosen by the Person enjoying Stapleford [estate] inhabitants of “some of his Towns” [named] with divers provisions attached. These were called “Hospital Men” and were to inhabit “The Dog Kennel.” Then follow seven pages of appointments of recipients of the charity.
Volume III., Marriages 1754-1812. Printed forms. The first seven Marriages registered here are also recorded in Volume II, see in loco. The pages containing the entries are loose in binding, but the Vicar promises to have this repaired forthwith.
Volume IV., Marriages 1813-37, printed forms.
Volume V., Baptisms 1813, present time.
Volume VI., Burials 1813, present time.
Here is an instance where the Bishops’ Transcripts, preserved in the Archdeacon’s Registry, 29, Friar Lane, Leicester or (marked *) at Lincoln, are of singular importance; they exist for the following years: — 1577-8-9-80, 1604*, 1606*-9*, 1612-13-17-18*-21-22-25 to 29, 32 to 34, 36 to 39, 60 to 62 1664 to 67, 72 to 85, 87-88-93 to 1700.
These abstracts have been made by Mr. E. K. Elliott, of Leicester, and are printed by permission of the Rev. P. F. Gorst, the Vicar.
Volume I.
Nicholas Lord Knowles viscount Wallingford, Barron of Grays, & Earle Banburie & the Honorable Lady Ann Sherrard [out of order] 4 Oct. 1655
Robert Thurlbey & Jane Haris 22 July 1654
Thomas Palmer & Ann Dansey 22 July 1654
Wm. Gunbey & Isabell Baker 26 Jan. 1656
Sherard Haris & Eliz. Bickerstaffe 4 Apr. 1657
Robert Mereshaw & Jaine Wattson 29 Sep. 1657
[None in 1658-9.]
Robert Kellam & Eliz. Franklin, at Wiverby 8 Nov. 1660
Wm. Robinson & Mary Baker, att Litle Dalby 26 Nov. 1660
John Clerke & Joyce Worsdalle, att Leicester 5 Sept. 1662
Wm. Harvey & Ann Pine 16 Nov. 1662
Tho: Wattkin Cooke & Ann Carnall 24 Mar. 1662
Robert Nelson & Ann Thurlby 14 Sept. 1663
Thomas Robinson & Ann Cole [out of order] 14 Sept. 1666
Robert Baker & Alice Robinson [out of order] 27 July 1667
Thomas Thurlby & Ann Taylor 25 Nov. 1664
John Pine & Mary Thurlby 3 Sept. 1664
Thomas Brice & Isabel Wrig[h]t, alias Wittall 28 Mar. 1665
John Jackson & Ann Kellam [out of order] 13 Feb. 1665
Thomas Stele & Eliz. Kellam 27 Feb. 1665
Wm. Lonington & Alice Leeson 31 Dec. 1668
Edward Healy & Widow Gunby 17 Dec. 1669
George Howett & Mary Nellson 8 Sept. 1670
Thomas Worsdale & Mary Healy 17 Nov. 1670
Anthony Baker & Alice D[?]orman 1 May 1671
Richard Killingly & Mary Jackson 7 Aug. 1671
John Warriner & Eliz. Hallowday 16 Sept. 1671
John Smart & Katherine Fisher 16 Nov. 1671
Huntington Colebick & Eliz. Baker 20 Apr. 1672
John Simpson & Ann Rose [out of order] 8 Feb. 1672
Andrew Allen & Alice Chrystian, & Samuel Growcock & Ellen Barnsly 15 May 1673
Kellam King & Ann Merrit 17 July 1673
[None in 1674-5.]
Mr. John Langton & Mrs. Hester Wright 16 Jan. 1676
Mr. Benjamin Bowdon & Mrs. Eliz. Goodhand 10 June 1677
Roger Peniston & Katherine Coleman 4 Aug. 1678
John Whetston & Mary Love 8 July 1678
Thomas Foucks & Isabel Healy, w. 26 May 1679
Thomas Parr & Eliz. Skirth 29 Jan. 1679
John Ellson & Jane Nixon 8 Feb. 1679
John Flower & Mary Dickens 10 Feb. 1679
Joseph Dickins & Eliz. Hutchin 13 May 1680
John Peirs & Sarah Syne 30 Jan. 1680
John Key & Mary Clay 25 Apr. 1681
John Henneage & Alice Raven 21 June 1681
Mr. Wm. North & Mrs. Eleanor Trubshaw 24 Nov. 1681
John Healy, “the town sheaperd,” & Mrs. Jane Wright, w. 3 July 1683
[None in 1684-6.]
Volume II.
John Killingly & Jane Dixon 28 Mar. 1687
Thomas Brace & Ann Nixon 2 Dec. 1688
Mr. Tho: Tash & Mrs. Faith Paxton 7 June 1689
Thomas Richardson & Susama [sic] Leeson 9 Sept. 1689
Robert Leeson & Mary Harrison 16 Feb. 1689
[None in 1690-3.]
Wm. Cramp & Eliz. North 15 Apr. 1694
Wm. Scott, of Mowsley, & Eliz. Rodgeley, of S. 4 Feb. 1696
John Barke, of Stathern, & Mary Harris, of S. 8 Sept. 1697
Martin Killingly & Katherine Baker, both of S. 26 June 1698
Peter Wright & Eliz. Crapwell 8 Sept. 1699
Guy Wilbourn, of Ashwell, co. Rut., & Mary Taylor, of S. 9 Apr. 1700
Robert Shield, of Manton, co. Rut., & Ellen Gamble, of S. 5 May 1700
John Freeman & Ann Bowden 30 Sept. 1700
Peircy Madder, of S., & Alice Barks, of Saxby 14 Oct. 1700
Simon Levis, of Owston, & Mary Worsdale 15 June 1701
Wm. Minnion, of Breedon, & Margaret Dalby, of S. 7 Sept 1701
George Howit & Sarah Hunter 19 Apr. 1702
John Hacket, of Melton Mowbray, & Eliz. Peniston, of S. 4 Sept. 1702
John Hinman & Mary Parks 31 Mar. 1703
Joseph Castledine, of S., & Jane Snell, of Hoby 24 Feb. 1703
Bennet Worsdale & Mary Caunt 5 June 1704
Thomas Hanser & Jane Moor 30 Nov. 1704
Richard Philpott, of Oakham, & Eliz. Mason 13 Feb. 1704
James Cook, of Eaton, co. Leic., & Eliz. Moore, of Saxby 15 Apr. 1708
Mr. John Perkins & Barbara Baker 30 May 1708
Robert Walker, of Asserby [?Asfordby], & Mary Hubbard, of Burton Lazars, but [sic] in this p. 27 Nov. 1709
[None in 1710-11.]
Richard Willson, of Sewstern, & Elinor Wright, of S. 6 Nov. 1712
George Brooks, of Osbaston, co. Leic., & Eliz. Loe, of S. 1 Jan. 1714
[None in 1715-17.]
The Rev. Mr. John Spriggs, of Branston, co. Rut., & Mrs, Margaret Goodhand, of S. 6 June 1718
The Rev. Mr. Edward Fane, of Fulbeck, co. Linc., & Mrs. Catherine Storer, of Buckminster, mar. here 13 June 1719
Benjamin Allsopp & Anne Hodgkin, of Saxby 22 May 1721
Edward Lorington & Mary Hall, of Wymondham 22 Feb. 1721
Thomas Burnett, of Great Dalby, & Abigale Baker, of S. 11 Aug. 1723
Wm. Gibson, of Wycomb, & Ann Douse 8 Dec. 1724
John Capandale & Sarah Howit 16 Jan. 1726
Thomas Wortley, of Saxby, & Mary Howit, of S. 16 Apr. 1727
Philip Freeman, of Buxton, of this p. [sic]
& Eliz. Berage, of Barrow, co. Rut 11 May 1727
Robert Boyfield, of Saxby, of this p. [sic],
& Eliz. Rouge, of Saxby 27 Nov. 1727
Martin Killingly, junr., & Sarah Butteris, of Melton [Mowbray] 29 July 1728
[None in 1729-30.]
Francis Leak, of Wymeswold, & Mary Philpot, of Burton, of this p. [sic] 2 Jan. 1731
Francis King & Jane Harres 30 July 1731
Thomas Franks, of S., & Edy Wyer, of Saxby 1 Nov. 1733
Henry Harpur, esq., & The Rt. Hon. The Lady Caroline Manners 3 Oct. 1734
John Christian & Eliz. Smith 6 Oct. 1734
Hugh Harriss & Mary Hinman, w. 1 Feb. 1735
John Elsey, of Nether Broughton, & Dorothy Coy, of S. 15 Nov. 1736
Thomas Lorrington & Alice Castledine, both of S. 20 Apr. 1737
Robert Crosland, of Wymondham, & Mary Robertson, of S. 3 July 1738
Thomas Preston & Catherine Philpot, of Burton, & both of this p. 29 Dec. 1738
Peter Wright, of S., & Eliz. Spencer, of Hoby 29 Dec. 1738
Mr. Wm. Reeve, of Melton [Mowbray], & Mrs. Jane Key, of Grantham [out of order] 28 Sept. 1738
Matthew Steel & Eliz. Barrow, both of S. 7 Feb. 1739
Richard Sharpe & Mary Lewin, both of S. 6 Nov. 1740
James Preston, of Burton, & Eliz. Gill, of S. 14 Nov. 1740
Henry Henfery & Ann Gamble, both of S. 14 Sept. 1741
Wm. Trentam & Mary Buss, both of S. 25 Nov. 1741
Matthias Wolf, of Birstall, & Jane Glen, of S. 7 June 1742
Wm. Langham, of Attenby, & Ann Bell, of S. 16 Sept. 1742
[None in 1743-5]
Matthew Steel & Catharine Briggs 26 June 1746
[None in 1747-8.]
Thomas Wite & Judith Allin 18 Apr. 1749
Volume III.
[The 7 next Marriages are also registered in Vol. II.]
Wm. Burbidge & Mary Alsop 25 Dec. 1754
Nicholas Rose & Eliz. Christian, w., lic. 5 Jan. 1755
John Kitchin, of S., & Mary Hickling [Hicklin in Vol. II], of Garthorpe, lic. 11 Feb. 1755
Peter Taylor & Amey [signs so] Line, lic. 11 Jan. 1756
John Carpendale, of S., & Ann Mash, of Saxby, lic. 15 July 1756
John Ward, of S., & Mary Marshall, of Ashby Folville 18 Dec. 1758
Robert Makernise [Mackernisse in Vol. II] & Eliz. Wing 17 Jan. 1760
[None in 1761-2.]
John Killingly & Mary Sharp 19 Sept. 1763
Wm. Hawley & Alice Whawley 30 Oct. 1763
Giles Broom, labourer, & Eleanor Fowler 23 Nov. 1763
[None in 1764-6.]
Richard Dobney, labourer, p. Coston, & Mary Christian 22 June 1767
Thomas Snoden & Anne Roberts 22 Sept. 1768
John Rimington, p. Bescaby, butcher, & Tryphena Hawley 4 Apr. 1769
Thomas Dawson, grazier, & Ellice Hawley, w., lic. 9 July 1770
Robert Flower, p. S. Mary, Leicester, miller, & Keziah Whittle, lic. 5 Aug. 1770
Wm, Tongue, gardener, & Ruth Hawley, lic. 10 Oct. 1770
[None in 1771-3.]
Francis Ward, of Wymondham, & Ann Lymer, lic. 3 Mar. 1774
Henry Stone & Eliz. Powell 21 Mar. 1774
John Fall, p. Thorney, in the Isle of Ely, co. Camb., & Jane Woodward 12 June 1774
John Smith & Ann Woodcock 6 July 1776
Thomas Coy, of Gunby, co. Linc., & Eliz. Carpendale 16 Dec. 1776
George Snodden, p. Whissendine, co. Rut., & Lucy Hawley, lic. 21 July 1777
James Hotter & Ann Picker 27 Oct. 1777
Edward Lorrenton & Bridget Adcock 12 Nov. 1777
William Elliot & Sarah Sharp 16 June 1778
Joseph Marsh & Mary Woodcock 28 Sept. 1778
Nicholas Stennett, p. Little Dalby, & Frances Moore 7 Nov. 1778
James Newton, p. S. Ann, Westminster, & Eliz. Kitchin, lic. 17 May 1779
Amos Higgins, p. Edenham, co. Linc., & Sarah Platts 25 May 1779
Wm. Senescal, p. Upton, co. Linc., & Sarah Mason, lic. 13 Jan. 1780
John Loseby [signs Loasby] & Mary Trentham 23 Oct. 1780
Charles White, p. Whissendine, co. Rut., & Eliz. Musson 19 Sept. 1781
John Ecob & Mary Pacey, lic. 18 Aug. 1782
George Henton, p. Thorpe Satchville, & Mary Wright, lic. 15 Jan. 1784
Edward Steel & Eliz. Smith 23 June 1785
Francis Chambers, p. South Witham, & Mary Crofts 24 Aug. 1786
Wm. Steel, w., & Eliz. Burbage 10 Oct. 1786
John Castledine & Mary Riley 5 Dec. 1786
John Topper & Ann Owns 5 Mar. 1787
John Taylor & Mary Row [signs Rowe] 10 Oct. 1788
Thomas Wiles, w., & Ann Kirk 23 Nov. 1789
Sir Thomas Cave, of Stamford Hall, co. Leic., baronet, & The Rt. Hon. Lucy Sherard, lic. 2 June 1791
Richard Tooty & Wilfred [signs Win[I]fread] Illston, lic. 29 Aug. 1793
John Dobney & Mary Castledine 14 Apr. 1795
Wm. Skinner & Eliz. Dobney 11 May 1795
Daniel Tipling, p. Bottesford, w., & Ann Snow, lic. 19 Oct. 1795
David Lawrance, p. Etton, co. Huntingdon, & Mary Savage, lic. 22 Sept. 1796
John Birtchnall [signs Birtchnel], p. Whissendine, co. Rut., w., & Eleanor Wright 22 Sept. 1796
[At Thurcaston this name is spelt Burchnall]
Thomas Martin, of Stanley, Co. Derby, & Mary Johnson, lic. 29 Nov. 1796
John Mayfleld, p. Little Dalby, & Susannah Carpendale, lic. 13 Nov. 1797
Wm. Loseby, w., & Jane Ashwell 28 Mar. 1799
John Burrows & Ann Kitchen, lic. 7 May 1799
Wm. Veasey & Mary Loddington 3 Feb. 1800
John Briggs & Mary Broom 4 Feb. 1800
Richard Farmer & Mary Worrall, lic. 26 Mar. 1800
[None in 1801-2.]
Samuel Spur & Alice Loddington 24 Nov. 1803
Wm. Wright & Sarah Loddington 11 Oct. 1804
Wm, Bissill, clerk, & Catherine Batty, p. Grantham, lic. 27 Dec. 1804
Wm. East, p. Thistleton, co. Rut., & Ann Rimington 15 Jan. 1805
Thomas Creakwell & Mary Killingley 24 Jan. 1805
Hugh Killingley & Mary Marriot 29 Apr. 1805
Thomas Veasey & Hannah Killingley 6 May 1805
John Moncur & Eliz. Burrard [signs Burdett], lic. 10 June 1805
John Brown, p. Ga[r]thorp & Eliz. Killingley 14 Nov. 1805
Joseph Hickman, of S., & Jane Hinton, p. Saxby, lic. 5 Jan. 1806
John Topper, w., & Lucy Barrott [signs Barott] 9 Dec. 1806
John Carpendale, w., & Eliz. Biddle 18 Nov. 1807
Stephen Laxton & Eliz. Chamberlaine 29 Sept. 1808
Wm. Dobney & Eliz. Moysey 15 May 1809
Thomas Snowdin, p. Whissendine, co. Rut., & Eleanor Corby 8 June 1809
John Fabling & Eliz. Simpson, lic. 28 Nov. 1810
James Welch, p. Tilsworth, Co. Bedford, & Eliz. Toon, lic. 4 Apr. 1811
Martin Killingley & Anne Berridge 15 Apr. 1811
Robert. Hawley, of Ab-Kettleby, p. Melton Mowbray, & Ann Hickman, lic. 31 Oct 1811
Wm. Loddington & Eliz. Losbey 25 Nov. 1811
Thomas Chambers, p. Tilton[-on-Hill] & Catherine Mackley 27 Nov. 1811
John Blaunt, w., p. South End of Thurmaston, & Hannah Whitwell 3 Feb. 1812
Samuel Spurr, of Saxby, & EIiz. Steel 30 Apr. 1812
Volume IV.
Martin Killingly, w. & Deborah Watts consent of parents & friends 7 April 1813
Robert Sanson [?Sansome], p. S. Mary, Nottm., & Mary Bray, consent of parents & friends 23 Nov. 1813
[None in 1814-15.]
John Hayes, p. Whissendine, & Eliz. Snodin 8 Jan. 1816
Edward Goodson, of Garthorpe, & Mary Brutnell 22 Jan. 1816
Wm. Henderson, of Wymondham, & Eleanor Birtchnell, lic. 8 Feb. 1816
Wm. Barnes, of Saxby, & Eliz. Dobney 22 Apr. 1816
George Snodin & Alice Bonner 7 Aug. 1817
Joseph Smith & Jane Loseby 7 Aug. 1817
Wm. Richardson & Ellen Harris 16 Mar. 1818
John Medbree, of Oakham, & Jane Moysey, lic. 1 Sept. 1818
Robert Pateman, of Tugby, & Dorothy Ingleton 26 Nov. 1818
Wm. Spreckley, of Freeby, & Mary Rippin, w., lic. 31 Mar. 1819
Thomas Tory, p. Gunby, co. Linc., & Mary Thompson 30 Sept. 1819
John Bird, of Oakham, & Martha Tash Simpson, lic. 26 Sept. 1821
John Harrington, of Melton Mowbray, & Ann Steel 16 Jan. 1822
Benjamin Fitton & Mary Tooty 11 Apr. 1822
George Hawley & Mary Harby 28 Nov. 1822
Wright Henton, p. Ragdale, & Jane Henton 7 Jan. 1823
Wm. Stretton & Esther Davis 7 Apr. 1824
Thomas Crow, of Lenton, co. Nottm., & Mary Stanger 6 Dec. 1824
Thomas Carpendale & Mary Moncur 28 Aug. 1826
Joseph Veasy & Eliz. Lupton 18 Sept. 1826
Thomas Chamberlain & Ruth Wright 24 Sept. 1828
Wm. Clay & Eliz. Spurr, w. 14 Jan. 1829
Joseph Dawson & Mary Robertson 23 Mar. 1829
John Lindsey, of Oakham, & Eliz. Grooby 5 July 1830
Benjamin Hickman, of Wymondham, & Jane Elliott 28 Sept. 1830
Martain Veasy & Sarah Wright 30 Nov. 1831
Wm. Wright, w., & Mary Willbourn 22 Dec. 1831
Wm. Laxton, of S., & Ann Woodcock, of Whissendine, co. Rut 28 Nov. 1833
John Kemm, of Oakham, & Eliz. Brown 31 Dec. 1834
Ralph Oldacres of Clipston, co. Northampton & Eliz. Fabling, lic. 13 Oct. 1836
Thomas Healy, of Little Dalby, & Margaret Moncur, lic. 20 Feb. 1837
[Next Marriage in July, 1838.]
