A selection of interesting cause papers from the Archdeaconry of Nottingham
The catalogue of the Archdeaconry of Nottingham archive contains over 4,500 descriptions of cause papers, dating from around 1560 to 1791.
Researchers can search the descriptions by going to the Search Catalogue page of Manuscripts and Special Collections' online catalogue and putting something (a place name, surname or keyword) into the AnyText field, and AN/LB into the DocumentRef field. Covering years can also be put into the DatesOfCreation field if it is important to narrow the results down to a particular time period.
The following are a few interesting cases which Manuscripts and Special Collections staff noticed when the material was catalogued. They give an idea of the types of problems brought to the Archdeaconry Court.
Dorothy Gilley of East Stoke, 1614
AN/LB 228/2/53. Articles against Dorothy Gilley, wife of Anthony Gilley of East Stoke, for consorting with Edward Stanhope over the past two years. The articles include good descriptions in English of all the events giving rise to suspicion, including a pair of buck horns nailed up near her father's house, indicating that her husband was a cuckold, 'and thou thie self an errant whore'; the fact that 'the said Edward hath often tymes taken thee in his armes caste thee uppon a bed kissed thee and tossed thee to and fro and up and downe'; and a list of gifts given to Dorothy and her family.
Dorothy was also accused of sexual relations with Edward's son William Stanhope. According to the articles Edward, through his jealousy, has thereby fallen out with his son 'and discharged him of his house and thrust him out at the doores'; and because of this argument over Dorothy, 'theie have binne readie to goe together by the eares and to fighte one with an other'.
There are associated papers in AN/LB 222; and related presentment bills numbered AN/PB 295/4/126 and AN/PB 295/5/13.
Dirty pews in Newark parish church, Feb. 1615/6
AN/LB 222/5/12/1-2. This was a correction cause against Simon Rainer and Richard Rainer of Newark, who swept the pews belonging to Sir Francis Leeke, knight, but were presented for defiling them: the pews which were usually sat in by Lady Leeke, by the Alderman's wife, and by Mr Disney, were found to be defiled with excrement.
Henry Hall of Thoroton, 1626
AN/LB 225/1/22/2. Articles against Henry Hall of Thoroton for attempting the chastity of Alice Challand. The articles are full of colourful language describing his 'beastliness', and claiming that he was prompted 'by the instigation of the devell'.
John Fullilove of Styrrup, 1636
AN/LB 227/1/10. Depositions relating to a cause brought against John Fullilove of Styrrup in the parish of Blyth for 'attempting the chastity' of Elizabeth Fletcher. The depositions reveal that Fletcher was forced 'for the safeguard of herself and her child', to kneel on the ground with her clothes underneath her so that they were not lifted up; whereupon she 'tooke up a sticke that laye by her and strucke the said John Fullilove with it about the heade'.
Arguments among the churchwardens of Thoroton, 1638
AN/LB 227/3/89-90. These papers refer to the churchwardens of Thoroton, who failed to provide enough wine at Easter for all the communicants; and cursed and argued with each other in church over who was to blame.
Suspension of the Archdeaconry court, 1642-1660
The Act Books record that the last new cause before the Archdeaconry Court was abolished was brought before the court on 1 February 1641/42. Eight Instance causes and one promoted Office cause remained on the court's books when court procedures were abandoned in November 1642. The Court was revived after the Restoration of King Charles II in 1660.
Robert Thoroton of Car Colston, 1668
AN/LB 229/1/19. This is a deposition signed by Robert Thoroton of Car Colston - the famous Nottinghamshire antiquary who wrote 'A History of Nottinghamshire'.
Marriage of Edward Bee and Sarah Moore, 1664
AN/LB 229/1/53-54. The papers in this matrimonial cause include a libel listing a schedule and valuation of gifts given by Edward Bee to Sarah Moore, such as gloves, a gold ring, money, and a dozen trenchers. The listing of the gifts was an attempt to prove their marriage or contract to marry.
Separation of Mary Milnes from her abusive husband, 1731
AN/LB 237/1/20. These depositions are part of a cause for divorce on the grounds of violence or cruelty. Anne Oxspring claimed that she had often seen Robert Milnes strike his wife Mary 'over the face with his fist and has given her a black eye and has likewise very often seen him kick or punch her over the thighs and other places of her body and has knowne him to lock her up in the Roome with himselfe and has heard him at the same time baul and give her very ill words and has heard her cry out at the same time'. Mary Bate said he threw forks at her, beat her with his fists, kicked and punch her, and bolted her in the parlour. His own father says that Robert had been bound over to keep the peace towards Mary; that he was a frequenter of alehouses and kept bad company; and that she could only guard against his cruelty through a separation from bed and board. Anne Ward gave a verbatim account of the horrible threats to her life and that of her children made by Robert in her presence.
Mary was granted separation from bed and board from her abusive husband, which was as close as ordinary people could get to a divorce in the eighteenth century. However, she was still regarded as married to Robert. A bond (AN/LB 237/1/42) gives Mary Milnes's promise to live chastely and not contract matrimony with anyone else during Robert Milnes' life.
Swindler Robert Boyle alias Handleby, 1734
AN/LB 237/4/10. This deposition refers to a Robert Boyle alias Handleby, who was accused of going around the country marrying young women for their fortunes, then leaving them. It contains a good physical description of him: a middle sized plump man, broad over his breast and shoulders, black eyes, on one of his arms a crucifix and the letters R.H. ‘marked or stained in or on the skin’ and also another sign stained on the other arm, but the witness could not remember the details. He was often seen and heard to beat a drum. He was well dressed, and sometimes wore a black suit of cloth, a gold brocade, a cloth of gold waistcoat, black silk stockings with large silver clocks, a grey coat trimmed with black, a light Tye wig, a sword, a gold headed cane, a gold watch, or two rings, the one a rose diamond, the other enamelled. He was also accused of taking from the deponent (Margaret Boyle of Deardsend, Hertfordshire, on behalf of Susannah Topott otherwise Boyle) about £60 in money.
Mary Elson and Robert Barker of Epperstone, 1734
AN/LB 237/4/3, AN/LB 237/4/12 and AN/LB 237/4/15-21. These papers describe the case against Mary and Robert, presented for 'fornication or adultery' together. Some of the revealing details include the constable discovering them in a disused house and with bed much 'tumbled and dirty', and that the couple were seen together in various fields, and at the Thistle and Crown and White Hart inns in Nottingham.
Scandalous behaviour of George Horne, curate of Sutton-in-Ashfield, 1735
AN/LB 237/5/1-4. A petition by a number of parishioners describes how their curate George Horne was drunk in an alehouse, and also how he climbed out of a window, broke into the house of Robert Bower and approached the bed of Bower’s daughter. It was alleged that he would have forced himself on her, had it not been for Robert Bower beating him off. Another allegation was that he had got his maidservant pregnant. The parishioners complained that no-one would attend church any more because of his behaviour.
Richard Arkwright of Cromford, Derbyshire, October 1776
AN/LB 243/1/4-5. Elizabeth Lockett of Nottingham, spinster, brought a case of defamation or slander against Margaret Sadler, a married woman of Nottingham. Margaret had made allegations that Elizabeth had committed fornication with Richard Arkwright of Cromford, gentleman. This man was probably Richard Arkwright (1755-1843), son of Sir Richard Arkwright (1732–1792), cotton manufacturer and inventor of cotton-spinning machinery. The Act Book AN/A 81 reveals that the case was dismissed following an agreement between the two parties.