The Wimpole Registers

Lists of Registers and Records

The Wimpole Parochial Records deposited with the County Records Office at Shire Hall, Cambridge.

Section A

The catalogue compiled by Angela Black in 1972 of the Wimpole Registers and Records 1560-1968 as deposited in the Diocesan Record Office, Shire Hall, Cambridge, on the 25 April 1969. Includes notes on registers, grants, gifts, mortgages, church property, church vault, parish charities, village school, church plate and other valuables.

Archive Reference P179

Wimpole Parish Records 1560-1968,
Deposited by the Rector 25 April 1969,
Catalogued by Angela Black July 1972.

Paragraph P179/1/1 [First Register]

Composite register containing:

Godparents noted in baptism entries 1560 to 1629 and 1661 to 1662. Pages of register numbered after loss of baptism entries between November 1603 and June 1617. Note at bottom of page 26, after baptism 20 November 1603, in later 17th century hand (probably that of Joseph Loveland, Rector 1641/2 to 1695) 'The leafe wanting was rent out by the Parliament soldiers'. (in fact probably a whole section is missing). Only one baptism 1651, with space left below.

Note on page 43 between the end of 1660 and beginning of 1661 'The parsonage sequestered till this year'.

Note in margin page 47 against 1695 baptism entries 'About this time, May 20th, Joseph Loveland died, having been Rector about 53 years, including the time of sequestration [1643 to 1660]. William Fownes, Fellow of St Peter's College in Cambridge, was instituted to this Rectory 20 June 1695'.

Note on page 58 beside 1741 baptisms entered untidily, crossed out and rewritten on next page 'Mr Gilbert was at this time somewhat disordered in his head; but recovered, and was preferred in Lincolnshire by the Lord Chancellor Hardwicke'. [William Gilbert, Curate at Wimpole c1741 to 1744. Perhaps Fellow of Pembroke, ordained Lincoln 1737/38, noted in Venn's Alumni Cantabrigienses Pt 1, Vol II p215]

No pages 59 and 60, but entries appear to be complete.

Baptisms and marriages entered together from 1746 (no marriages until 1747).

Note at top of page 63: 'March 25th 1748. The old Parish Church was on that day begun to be pulled down, and the outside of the new one was completely finished by the end of August. In July 1749 the inside was completed, and it was for the first time made use of for Divine Service on the 27th of August. The whole was done at the sole expense of the Right Honourable Philip Lord Hardwicke, Lord High Chancellor of Great Britain'.

[Architect, Henry Flitcroft. Detailed description in R.C.H.M. West Cambridgeshire, 1968, pp 212-214].

Pages 69-70, (after baptisms 1774) contain a list of incumbents 1591-1777, with details of their careers. Descriptions of memorial brasses and epitaphs to Thomas Worsley, priest, died 1501/2, and Edward Marshall, Rector 1591-1625 [see R.C.H.M. op.cit. p213 and Plate 112].

Burials 1626-1672 appear to have been entered together later (as suggested in notes on page 84 - see below). Gap between 4 October 1646 and 21 December 1649 with note 'Three years omitted in the time of the Civill ware'.

Burials in 1644 undated; two entries marked 'in the time of the Civill ware'. Entries 1646 include: 'Hans a duchman was buried August 28'.

Space on page 84 between burials 1646 and 1649 used for detailed notes on demography 1560-1751, probably compiled by Charles Plumptre, Rector 1745-1752. (Statistics taken from this register, P179/1/1). Observations on entries as follows:

'Though the Rectory was sequestered from Mr Loveland, from 1643 to 1660, yet all the burials registered during that time and indeed from November 1626 to February 1681/2 are in his handwriting; and at the end of the year 1659 he signs himself Rector. He must have entered these from some other accounts after his restoration; for the Christenings, 'till 1663, are in another hand.'

'It does not appear who held the Living during the sequestration unless it was William Scarlett, who stiles himself Curate in 1650, and probably continued so at least 'till March 1659. In 1662 he was Vicar of Bassingbourne'. [Venn: Alumni Cantabrigienses Pt 1, Vol. IV p29, lists a William Scarlett, admitted to Jesus College 1642, B.A. 1645/6, M.A. 1649; incorporated at Oxford 1653; perhaps Vicar of Bassingbourn 1662. The William Scarlett at Wimpole seems to have made entries in the register only in 1650, but the writing and signature are certainly the same as at Bassingbourn where William Scarlett was Vicar 1661-1700. He was buried at Bassingbourn, aged 74, on 11 April 1700: see P11/1/1].

Burials in woollen noted 1678-1743. [Two acts of Parliament were passed in the late 17th century to protect and promote the English wool trade. The first in 1660, prohibited the use of any material other than wool for burial. The second in 1678 imposed a fine of £5 for defaulters, and introduced an affidavit which had to be signed, stating that the deceased was buried in "sheeps wooll only". These acts were not repealed until 1814. Those who could afford to, sometimes made provision in their wills for the £5 to be paid, so that they would not suffer the ignominy of being buried in wool.]

Notes on p108 after burials 1750 and 1751, concerning construction of stone pathways to the churchyard 1750, and Lady Hardwicke's gifts of a crimson pulpit cushion and 'a Table Cloth, with three napkins, all of fine Damask, for the Communion Table'. (1751)

Other burial entries include those of Elizabeth Harris (27 February 1757), Charles Kelsey (25 December 1757), and Elizabeth Monk (11 June 1758), all infants from the Foundling Hospital, and of 'a vagrant somewhat disordered in her mind, and known only by the name of Pretty Betty', 27 December 1767.

Marriage entries at end of volume: gap between 3 February 1645/6 and 10 June 1650 with note 'Neglected in the time of Sequestration and civill ware'. Other gaps in entries, particularly 1699-1703, 1709-1710, 1713-1720, 1724-1730 (except two in October 1727). Two entries at bottom of page 130, one at top of page 134 deleted and rewritten on page 134. No pages 131 and 132, but entries seem complete.

Register of collections on briefs 1700-1706 on page 133 (bottom half of page cut out).

Index at front on second fly leaf.

Note on first page that Mary, daughter of Thomas Chamberlaine of Sibson hamlet in the parish of Stibbington, Hunts., was baptised on 26 February 1629/30.

Various notes on dorse of first leaf, including:

Register bound 1679, with addition of some parchment leaves.

Baptisms 1603-1618 were 'torne out of this booke by the Parliament souldiers in the time of the civill warre' (With sceptical comment below: 'Credat Judeus Apella').

Living sequestated 1643-1660. Note on Joseph Loveland, Fellow and President of Gonville & Caius College, Rector of Wimpole 1641-1695 taken from Baker's MSS, as follows: 'Mr Loveland of Wimpole, Articles against him and Mr Harpington his Curate, May 10 1644: For neglecting his Cure and putting in one Mr Harpington, a man very negligent in the ministerial office, and much given to play of cards of a night, for neglecting of fast days, for sending a horse to the King, and charging Thomas Lancaster who rid him, to ride the horse to death rather than the Earl (Manchester) should light on him; for not taking the Covenant and refusing to tender it. Whereupon by Manchester's Warrant he was ejected and sequestered'.

Communion plate, consisting of a basin, two flaggons, a cup and cover, all double gilt, given by Sir Thomas Chicheley, Master General of the Ordnance and Privy Councillor to King Charles II. (1679). [see photograph in Section B below]

[Parchment register in leather covered boards. Pages missing as follows: 59-60, 99-100, 113-116. Two pages before 130 not numbered, 131-132 missing. Fly leaves at front partly damaged by damp at bottom, all pages detached from covers]

Paragraph P179/1/2 [Second Register]

Composite register containing:

Baptisms (12 March 1778 to 20 December 1812)
Burials (26 May 1778 to 3 March 1812)

Burial entries include:

'9 June 1807. A stranger who was found drowned - supposed to be insane and to have been discharged from St Luke's Hospital. He had called himself John Littleton'.

Pasted inside front cover:

Licence for rector to make entries in register with affixing duty stamps, subject to payment of duty. (1788)

Fly leaves contain detailed notes on rectors of Wimpole, copied from list in first register P179/1/1 and continued to 1872; further continued, to 1949, in middle of register, at end of baptism entries. Also after baptism entries:

Declaration concerning the baptismal name of James Pell, entered as William in 1788. (1818)

Note on restoration of Wimpole Church: new south aisle windows, pulpit, organ, pews and pillars under gallery. (1887)

At the end of register after burials, various notes, including:

Severe storm on 10 August 1843; 'A most dreadful storm passed over this parish and caused the most serious destruction of property. It began about 4 o'clock p.m. and lasted several hours - the lightning and hail were terrific, the former like sheets of fire filled the air and ran along the ground, the latter as large as pigeon's eggs; some larger and others large angular masses of ice.... The destruction of property was dreadful! All the windows on the north side of the Mansion [i.e. Wimpole Hall] were broken, all the hothouses, and every window facing the north in many of the cottages!...  The storm entered from the north sea and passed through the land in a SW direction, spreading ruin in its progress - "the land before it was as the Garden of Eden, behind it a barren and desolate wilderness". The corn over which it passed was entirely threshed out, boughs and limbs torn off the trees, pigeons and crows killed, many sheep struck by lightning, and what the hail and lightning did not utterly destroy, the rain which fell in torrents finished. Such was the violence of the rain and its continuance that a stream rolled down Arrington Hill four or five feet deep, washed men off their feet, and carried away 30 or 40 feet of the Park wall. But amidst all this affliction God was merciful; no human lives were lost, and the destruction of property, although grievous, was partial.' (H.R.Yorke)

Visit to Earl of Hardwicke by Queen Victoria and Prince Albert. (1843)

Severe winter November 1844 - March 1845; great scarcity of coal due to river Cam's being frozen over.

Copied notes from first register concerning the rebuilding of Wimpole Church 1748-1749, and brasses in Chicheley Chapel. (See P179/1/1).

New communion table and crimson cover presented by Countess of Hardwicke. (1828)

Memorial to Mrs Yorke placed in chancel by rector's permission. (1828)

Church re-opened after enlargement and cleaning; new entrance to Chicheley Chapel, monuments moved, east window opened and filled with painted glass (some re-used from other windows in church), walls and pews painted. (1834)

Gift by Earl of Hardwicke of silver paten sold by the parishioners of Ripple [near Deal, Kent], inscribed 'The Legacy of Elizabeth, wife of Henry Yorke to Parish of Riple', 1703. (1836)

Great scarcity of food during winter 1846-47, corn laws repealed, much distress in Ireland and Scotland.

1851 census showed 452 inhabitants of Wimpole.

Notes on glebe and tithes 1783, copy of the agreement for commutation 1686, and details of new valuation and commutation 1838.

Extract from Layer's MSS describing memorial brass to Thomas Maddon, died 1557, and Margaret, his wife.

Extract from the will of Edmund Boulter, 1735, concerning endowment of six almshouses in Oxford. (One man to be sent from Wimpole - see below).

Extract from will of [blank] Beho, a coachman of Lord Radnor's, died in 1757, who made the following bequest:

"Item, I give and bequeath unto the Churchwardens and Overseers of the Poor for the time being in the parish of Wimpole in the county of Cambridge the sum of Thirty Pounds to be carefully put out by the consent of the Minister of the Parish aforesaid, and the amount of the income thereof to be laid out in Bread and given to the poor fatherless children and widows yearly on the 25th of March".

"The above sum purchased £32.9s.6d in the 3 percent Consolidated Bank Annuities, which was at the desire of the Parish vested in my name. The yearly interest is 19s 4d. (signed R Plumtre, Rector)"

Gift of Sir Thomas Chicheley: Twenty pounds annual rent charge in lieu of cottagers' common rights lost by enclosure in 17th century (used for church repairs and poor relief).

List of persons sent to Boulter's almshouses at Oxford (see above). (1781-1867)

Church closed for repairs; Chicheley Chapel re-seated, repaired and painted. (1868)

New font given by Edward Liddell. (1879)

(Parchment register with paper end sheets, all filled, in calf boards. 5 leaves, all blank, removed towards end of volume).

Paragraph P179/1/3 [Third Register]

Register of Baptisms (800): 13 February 1813 to 4 October 1863.

Memoranda 2 June 1842:

'At the Chapel of Ease at Waltham Green in the Parish of Fulham was baptised Victor Alexander Yorke, third son of the Earl and Countess of Hardwicke. Queen Victoria was his godmother, the Duke of Wellington, Lord Ashley and the Honourable and Revd. R Liddell his Godfathers. The Bishop of London officiated at his baptism.'

Last Page torn across.

Paragraph P179/1/4 [Fourth Register]

Register containing:

Banns: 17 March 1754 to 30 May 1813.
Marriages (132): 12 May 1754 to 12 October 1812.

Entries of banns only not numbered.

Paragraph P179/1/5 [Fifth Register]

Register containing:

Banns: 16 May 1813 to 15 March 1818.
Marriages (88): 2 June 1813 to 6 April 1840.

Paragraph P179/1/6 [Sixth Register]

Register containing:

Banns (278): 9 November 1823 to 8 December 1918.

[Front cover and first two pages detached, part of spine missing, sewing weak]

Paragraph P179/1/7 [Special Marriage Licence]

Archbishop's special marriage licence for Robert Cooper Lee Bevan and Lady Agneta Elizabeth Yorke (19 February 1836)

Paragraph P179/2/1 [Licences and Institutions]

Certificate of having made the declaration of assent and oath of allegiance: Edgar Lancaster upon instutution to vicarage of Arrington (1 June 1917)

Paragraph P179/3/ [Property]

Paragraph P179/5/ [Accounts]

Paragraph P179/6/ [Accounts]

Paragraph P179/7/ [Miscellaneous]

Paragraph P179/25/ [Miscellaneous]

Paragraph P179/28 [Miscellaneous]

The list of Wimpole Church Registers and Records in the custody of the Rector and Churchwardens as recorded by the Archdeacon of Ely on the occasion of his Visitation on the 12 March 1981. The following documents were deposited in the Diocesan Record Office Shire Hall, Cambridge on the 14 March 1981:

List of Church Plate and other valuables in the custody of the Rector and Churchwardens as recorded by the Archdeacon of Ely on the occasion of his visitation on the 12th March 1981:

Chalice Set presented to the Church in 1679 by Sir Thomas Chicheley

Additional Wimpole Parish Records. The following documents were deposited with the County Record Office at Shire Hall, Cambridge, on the 9 March 1995:

Received by Elizabeth Stazicker (County Archivist)