[158]. “One Humfrey Naysh, a poore man hath ben remayning and dwellinge within the pish of Newton St. Lowe by the space of five years or thereabouts and now being maryed and like to haue charge of children, the pishioners Do endeuor to put the said Naishe out of their pish by setting of amcents and paynes in their Courts on such as shall give him house-roome, or suffer him to liue in their houses which he doth or offereth to rent for his money which the court conceiveth to be vnjust and not accordinge to lawe.” Overseers ordered to provide him a house for his money. (Ibid., Vol. II, p. 19, 1626.)
The petition of the “overseer of the poore of the parishe of East Quantoxhead ... that one Richard Kamplyn late of Kilve with his wife and three small children are late come as Inmates into the Parish of East Quantoxhead which may hereafter become very burdensome and chargeable to the said parish if tymley prevention bee not taken therein.” (Ibid., Vol. III, p. 9, 1646.)
“John Tankens, his wife and three children ... had lived twoe yeares in Chewstoake undisturbed and from thence came to Chew Magna and there took part of a Cottage for their habitation for one yeare ... whereof the parishe of Chew Magna taking notice found themselves aggrieved thereatt, and brought the same in question both before the next Justice of the peace of Chew Magna and att the Leete or Lawday, and yett neither the said Tankens, his wife or children, had beene actually chardgeable to the said parishe of Chew Magna. This Court in that respect thinketh not fitt to disturbe the said Tankens, his wife or children duringe the said terme, but doth leave them to thend of the same terme to bee settled accordinge by lawe they ought. And because the parishioners of Chew Magna haue been for the most parte of the tyme since the said Tankens, his wife and Children came to Chew Magna complayninge against them, This court doth declare that the beinge of them att Chew Magna aforesaid duringe the said terme shall not bee interpreted to bee a settlement there.” (Ibid., Vol. III, pp. 94-5, 1649).
“Pet. of Richard Cookesley of Ashbrettle shewing that he is married in the said parish and the said parish endeavour to haue him removed from thence although hee is no way chargeable, this court doth see noe cause but that the said Cookesley may remaine att Ashbrittle aforesaid; provided that his being there shall not be interpretted to bee a settlement of him there.” (Ibid., Vol. III., p. 248, 1654).
James Hurde a poor labourer stated that for these two years last past he had dwelt in the parish of Westernemore “In a house wch he hired for his monie” and had taken great pains to maintain himself, his wife and two children, wherewith he never yet charged the said parish nor hopeth ever to do. And yet the parishioners and churchwardens there, do “indeavour” and threaten to turn him out of the parish unless he will put in sufficient sureties not to charge the said parish which he cannot by reason he is but a poor labourer; he humbly requests that he may quietly inhabit in the said parish so long as he doth not charge the same, otherwise he and his family are like to perish. (Ibid., Vol. I, p. 94, 1612.)
[159]. Hertford Co. Rec., Vol. I., p. 321, 1681. Letter from Francis Leigh to Clerk of Peace.
[160]. Hist. MSS. Com. Var. Coll., Vol. I., p. 322. Worcestershire Q.S. Rec., 1661.
[161]. Somerset Q.S. Rec., Vol. II., p. 292, 1637-8.
[162]. Salford Portmote Records, Vol. II., p. 144, 1655.
[163]. Ibid., p. 151, 1656.