The principal inn still bears the name of “The Hop-pole”—all that remains to tell of the vanished industry, but the ancient forest still surrounds the village, and the quiet stream flows gently on as in the time long past.
Between the years 1633 and 1636 Oliver and Elizabeth Hooton appear to have migrated to Skegby, a village about four miles west of Mansfield. The Parish Registers there show that in 1636 “Thomas [?] yᵉ sonne of Olive Hooton and Elizabeth” was baptized, and in the years 1639 and 1641 the names of John and Josiah appear. There is no entry of the births of her two children, Oliver and Elizabeth, so possibly they were born at Ollerton between the years 1633 and 1636, when no entries appear in those Registers.
The owners of the village of Skegby in 1612 were stated by Thoroton to be “William Lyndley Gent: Lord of the Mannor, Roger Swinstone, Clark, Richard Tomlinson, William Butler, Francis Swinstone, Will. Osborne, James Cowper of Tibshelf, Thomas Jackson of Askham,” and as the name of Hooton does not appear on the Manor Rolls it is evident Oliver Hooton did not own the property on which he settled. In 1650 Thomas Lyndley of Skegby was appointed a Commissioner to assess the fines of confiscated Royalist estates. Thomas Lyndley applied for and received a licence for the holding of Divine service in part of his house. This particular building still remains (1914) and is now used as a laundry for Skegby Hall.
Francis Chapman, in his return made in accordance with the order issued by the Archbishop of Canterbury, July 1669, “to enquire after all Conventicles, or unlawful meetings under pretence of religion and the worship of God, by such as separate from the unitie and conformitie of the Church as by law established,”[4] says:
In reply to your worshipful Archdeacon’s letter, I know nothing but this: that in Mansfield Woodhouse we have no conventicle but one of Quakers, at the house of Robert Bingham (excommunicated for not comynge to church) but who they are who frequent it I cannot say. At Skegby, alsoe, there is a conventicle of Quakers at the house of Elizabeth Hatton [Hutton] widow; but I cannot learn who they are who frequent them, they being all of other towns. In the same town of Skegby, alsoe, there is another conventicle, reputed Anabaptists and fifth monarchy men, held at Mr. [Mrs.] Lyndley’s (excommunicate also) but I know neither their speakers or hearers.
Possibly it was with these last-named people Elizabeth Hooton associated before her meeting with George Fox, for it is evident from the following[5] that she had dissociated herself from the Church before that time and joined a Baptist community:
Oliver Hutton Saith
And my Mother Joyned with yᵉ Baptists but after some time finding them yᵗ they were not upright hearted to yᵉ Lord but did his work negligently and she haveing testifyed agᵗ their deceit Left yᵐ who in those parts soon after were scatered & gone: about the year 1647 George ffox Came amongst them in Nottinghamshire & then after he went into Lestershire where yᵉ mighty power of yᵉ Lord was manifest that startled their former separate meeting & some Came noe more but most yᵗ were Convinced of yᵉ truth stood of wᶜʰ my mother was one and Jmbraced itt:
Oliver Hutton writes in his hystry pag: 46:
Soe here you may see yᵗ they were Called Baptists and Separates not Children of yᵉ Light till after G: ff: had preached yᵉ Light of yᵉ Gospell to them & they Received itt.