Chelsea, in the Olden & Present Times

by George Bryan

Marriages.

1559.	W. Harris and Eliz. Buger. (This is the first marriage registered.)
1560.	In this year there were four marriages, and a very few afterwards until 1600.
1582.	T. Mansell, esquier, son and heir to Sir Edward Mansell, and Mary Mordant, daughter of Lord Mordant, July 30.
1589	Johannes Stanhope, armiger, et Margaritta Mackwilliams, alias Cheecke, 6 die Maii. (He was created a Baron in 1606.)
1607.	Richard Warde, Parson, and Elizabeth Fisher, Jan. 29.
1648.	Sir John Danvers and Mrs. Grace Hewet, Jan. 6. No entry of marriages from 1648 to 1652, when there were three.
1675.	W. Cheyne, Esq., only son of Charles Cheyne, Lord of this Manor, and Mrs. Elizabeth Thomas, both of this parish, Dec. 16.
1703.	Lord Windsor and Lady Dowager Jeffreys, relict of Judge Jeffreys.
1711.	The Hon. Algernon Grevile and the Hon. Mary Somerset, grand-daughter to the Duchess Dowager of Beaufort, Dec. 24.
1713.	The Duke of Grafton and Lady Somerset, April 10.

Burials.

1565.	None were buried—not a single person died in the parish, during this year.
1593.	Thomas Larrance de civitate, London, goldsmith.—John Edwards and Thomas Evans, servants, buried both together, died of the plague. Three more died of the plague about the same time.
1594.	Alice Griffin, a poore washwoman, buried 2nd Feb.—Ann, a poore woman, buried from a stable.
1594.	Gregorie Fynes, Lord Dacre of the South, 25th Sept., whose funeralls and burial were kepte the 5th Novemb. at Chelsey.—The Lady Anne, wife of Lord Dacre, was buried 15th of May, whose funeralls were solemnized at Chelsey, the 19th June, 1595.
1603.	Catharyne, the Countess of Nottingham, was buried at Chelsey the 28th of Feb., and her funeralls were honourably kepte at Chelsey, the 28th March.—George, a poore boye, was buried 2nd March; he died in the Lordship’s Yarde.
1604.	Thomas Younge, a Yeoman of the Guards, Sept. 29, who hath given to the parishes of Chelsey, Willsden, and Kensington, xxs. apiece yearly for ever to the use of the poore there.
1605.	Catherine, wife of Richard Warde, Parson of Chelsey.
1606.	Richard Munden, the Clerk, buried of the plague; also his son, Thomas, of the plague. [147]
1608.	Thomas Forrest, a godly preacher, Feb. 7.—Richard Eryth, our poore Schoolmaster, March 26.
1609.	William Gulley was buried out of the Erle of Lincolne’s stable, 14 Augusti—One William Morgan, a poore man died in a straw house, and buried Oct. 1.
1610.	There were six buried of the plague this year.
1613.	Jana, a poore woman, out of the barn, Dec. 25.—A poore woman found dead at the Earl of Lincoln’s, and another in the Lordship’s barn, buried the same day.
1615.	The Lord of Effingham buried.—Richard Ward, Parson, Sept. 2.
1620.	Katharin, Countesse of Huntingdon, Aug. 14. She was daughter of John, Duke of Northumberland.
1625.	Sir Arthur Gorges, Oct. 10.—Twenty-two persons died of the plague.
1627.	Magdalen Danvers, wife of Sir John Danvers, June 8.
1632.	Sir Robert Stanley, buried Jan. 23.
1636.	Eight died of the plague this year.
1638.	Sir John Lawrence, Knt., Nov. 14.
1643.	Lady Elizabeth Gorges, buried July 29th.—Six died of the plague in the parish this year.
1668.	Arthur Gorges, Esq., April 8.
1669.	Lady Jane Cheyne, Nov. 1.
1688.	Sir Joseph Alston, Knight, May 31.
1692.	Thomas Shadwell, Esq., Poet Laureat, Nov. 24.
1694.	Dr. Adam Littleton, rector, July 3.
1698.	Charles, Viscount Cheyne, Lord of the Manor, July 13.
1703.	Dr. Edward Chamberlayne, May 27.
1714.	Sir Thomas Lawrence, Bart., April 25.—Countess Dowager of Radnor, sen., July 15.
1731.	Mrs. Mary Astell, May 14; she published an Essay in Defence of the Fair Sex, &c., and resided in Chelsea the greatest part of her life.
1753.	Sir Hans Sloane, Jan. 18.
1775.	Henry Mossop, January 1st; he made his appearance at Drury Lane Theatre in 1752, and was one of the first actors of his time; he died in great distress in this parish, but, after his death, his brethren paid him every respect; his remains were followed by all the theatrical corps at that time in London, at the head of whom was Garrick, to Chelsea Church.
1799.	Dr. William Kenwick, June 13, the author of several dramatic and poetical works.
1780.	Sir John Fielding, September 13; he was half-brother to the celebrated Henry Fielding, author of “Tom Jones,” and succeeded him to the presidency at Bow Street, which, although nearly blind from his youth, he filled with great sagacity for many years.
1785.	John Baptist Cipriani, December 21.
1804.	Catherine Ruini Galli, December 30. This lady died at her lodgings in Chelsea, in the 81st year of her age. She was the last surviving scholar of Handel, who composed some of his airs for her. Galli had a mezzo soprano voice, and first appeared at the Opera House.
1805.	Dr. Bisset, May 21; he kept an academy in Sloane Street, and published several works.
1805.	Henry Sampson Woodfall, Esq., Dec. 11.

(It would occupy a volume to give even a selection of the Baptisms, Marriages, and Burials that have since taken place.)

THE OLD PARISH BOOKS.

The original books, previous to the year 1696, are all lost; and the parishioners are indebted to the industry of Lord Cheyne for the preservation of many of these historical fragments. The following few extracts from the early dates, taken from amongst many others, are singular:—

1595.	Of Richard Munden, wch he gained to the Church by the Wheel of Fortune, xxixs. viiid.
1697.	Gave a poore man by the College, having just buried his wife and left with 3 small children, and in great agony and dispair, fearing he would with himself make away, 1s. Payd for a truss of straw to put in the Cage, for a poore woman to lye on, and gave her two pence, 8d. Payd Mr. Tuley for cureing Charles Matthews’s toes of a mortification, £2 5s. Gave Stacey, for shaving a child’s head, 6d.
1707.	Ordered, in Vestry, that the weekly pensioners shall wear badges, according to the Act of Parliament, or else be excluded from the said weekly pension.
1782.	Resolved to employ a number of labourers to cut off all the little twigs, in order to destroy certain insects which appear everywhere in our trees and hedges; and from which the most dreadful consequences are apprehended if they are suffered to remain.
1795.	Resolved, that a bounty of twenty guineas be offered and paid to eight men, agreeably to Act of Parliament, for the service of his Majesty’s navy; and, if not sufficient, the churchwardens to have power to augment the same.
1796.	Resolved to make a rate of 4d. in the pound to defray the necessary expenses of raising eleven men for the service of his Majesty’s navy.

As the population increased the records of the parish naturally became more voluminous, and for many years past the proceedings of the vestrymen, and also of the Board of Guardians, are kept in the most admirable manner. This, it is true, is the effect of the improved state of society, the passing of the Metropolis Local Management Act, 1855, and the introduction of better Laws for the relief and maintenance of the poor.

THE PAROCHIAL SCHOOLS.

These schools are situated at the east side of the Cemetery. The pointed style was adopted on account of the contiguity of the building to the Parish Church. It consists of a centre, with low wings. The wings are occupied by the schools, and the centre as residences intended for the master and mistress; a large pointed arch connects the two divisions. The first stone was laid on the 18th of June, 1824, by the Hon. and Rev. Dr. Wellesley, rector, with the customary formalities, at which there were present the late Rev. Henry Blunt, and several other clergymen, besides a vast number of the parishioners, including many ladies. In 1826 the entire building was finished, and the children were admitted.