Fontmell Magna

Protestation Returns, 1641-2

Transcribed from ''Dorset Records, The Protestation Returns preserved in The House of Lords, 1641-2, Edited by Edward Alexander Fry'', pages 137 and 138, by Chris Bellers, with thanks to Carol Jamieson.

Background

Charles I succeeded James I in 1625 and followed his father's belief in his divine appointment. That, and his marriage to the French King's daughter, Henrietta Maria, a practising Catholic, led to confrontation with the House of Commons, which issued the 1628 Petition of Right.

In 1629, Charles I dissolved parliament and relied instead for advice on the Archbishop of Canterbury, William Laud, and Thomas Wentworth, Earl of Strafford. The latter was sent to pacify Ireland. To raise money, Charles levied 'ship money'. In 1637, Charles's efforts to impose Laud's new high-church prayer book on Scotland led to riots there. Charles declared a 'bishops' war on Scotland but his army was beaten back to Newcastle. Strafford was recalled to England in 1639 and proposed using an Irish army to help defeat the Scots. Rumours spread that this Catholic army might be used against Parliament. There was religious unrest, partly because Henrietta Maria was deeply unpopular, but also because of Laud's High Church views and suspicions that he covertly favoured Roman Catholic doctrines. Desperate for money, Charles recalled parliament in 1640. Parliament moved quickly to assert control over the King, impeach Laud and execute Strafford.

Protestation

In May 1641, Parliament enacted the Protestation. This was an oath to maintain and defend "the true Reformed Protestant Religion….His Majesty's royal person, honour, and estate….the power and privileges of Parliament" and "the lawful rights and liberties of the subject".

The oath was intended to cement loyalty to Parliament as well as to affirm the protestant religion. Having been signed by every member of the Commons and the Lords, it was distributed by the members to their counties. Anyone not signing was unfit to hold office. Later, it was decided that all males over 18 should take the Protestation Oath. In Dorset, the oath was taken early in 1642.

The following is the Protestation Return for Fontmell Magna. It is headed 'Funtmill Tything' but the number of names listed suggests that an area larger than a Tything is included.

Robt. Potter, minister Nicholas Meatyeard Phillip Beamond
  Henry Weast Robert Horder
Churchwardens: Robert Plowman Walter Horder
Wm Vincent Thomas Haskole John Turner
Thomas Rideout Henry Reade Charles Plowman
  Andrew Deane William Reade
Overseers: Eadward Wittrege Tames Plowman
William Munckton Thomas Haskole Robert Meatyeard
William Henbury Nathaniell Habbitt John Lush, se.
Phillip Skiner j Beniamen Hiscocke John Lush, ju.
  John Plowman James Burte
Richard Dibben J Richard Still William Seamor
Thomas Hext John Still Robert Burte
George Vincent John Foote Morgaine Seamor
Robert Vincent John Plowman Robert Seamor
Richard Vincent Christouer Meatyeard Nicolas Lambert
John Reade John Wairam John Bowden
John Haskole William Graye Richard Haskole
Eadward Wittrige Christouer Warram Christouer Reade
Henry Chamberline Thomas Haskole William Muncke
George Weast George Burte Henry Fealtam
Andrew Preast Richard Cqale John Crine
Roger Sweatman John Reade Henry Haskole
Franceis Doune Thomas Turner William Ridout
James Haruey Richard Vincent William Waram
Thomas Haskole John Winscumbe John Haskole
James Turner Christouer Houill Thomas Beamond
William Haskole Robert Still Henry Chamberline
John Chamberline William Coale John White
John James John Still William Stent
John Vincent Robert Tuffen William Miles
Roobert Vincent Thomas Plowman John Brookeman
John Dauey Richard Still Richard Still
Marke Sprage Eadmond Squibbe William Petty
John Weast Eadmond Michell Thomas Dauey
Christouer Sweatman John Reade John Waram
Henry Turner George Haskole William Budden
William Plowman William Munckton Ambrous Vincent
Richard Turner Mathew Russell Larrance White
Thomas Younge Eadmond Warde William Turner
Joallife Toogood William Batte John Vincent
John Munckton Richard Weast Robert Bowden
John Russell Eadmond Abbitt Robert Horder
Henry Chamberline Robert Louell Walter Sweatman
William Munckton William Fare William Bowden
Thomas Mitchell   John Hardeman, Tayler
John Beamont Overseer for the poore: John Poore, sen.
William Beamont John Yonge, sen., Steven Poore
William Collens   John Modforde
Thomas Bowden William Monke, sen. John Yonge, ju.
Robert Carde John Hardeman, ju. Robert Harvie
Morgaine Carde William Adeane Thomas Hardeman, ju.
William Weast Thomas Yonge William Oake
John Still Thomas Hardeman, sen. John Hardeman, ju.
Robert Seamer John Snooke William Monke, ju.
Christouer Meatyeard William Thorne, ju. John Nipred, ju.
John Nicholls Edward Weare Eadward Coombe, se.
George Chippe Henry Jenson Eadvvard Burges, ju.
John Coombe, ju. George Trath Nicholas Collens
Richard Coombe William Thorne, sen. Henry Coombe, se.
Thomas Monke John Nipred, sen. Robert Collens
Henry Coombe John Hardeman, sen. Richard Nicholls
Henry Younge Tymothy Weare William Yellow
William Duffitt John Weare, sen. Robert Lanning
John Lewes Isaake Weare John Hartwell
Thomas Hooper, gent. Thomas Gosney Francis Coombe
Giles Hooper, gent. James Thorne, Tayler Robert Burges
William Morgan, ju. William Boles William Nicholls
Henry Thorne Thomas Dibben  
Ambrose Morgan Richard Kibbie  

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