I have not been able to ascertain when this act was repealed, but imagine it to have been of but short continuance. Is there no mistake in the date of the affidavit quoted by Mr. Taylor? Is 1769 a lapsus for 1679? The first entry in the book provided for such purposes in this parish bears date August, 1678, and there is no entry later than 1681, which appears also to be the limit of the Act's observance in the adjacent parish of Radcliffe. There, the entries immediately follow the record of the burial itself in the registers, and not in a separate book, as with us.
Under the year 1679 occurs the following memorandum in the parish registers of Radcliffe:
"An orphan of Ralph Mather's, of Radcliffe, was buried ye 9th day of April, and sertefied to be wounde uppe in woollen onely, under the hand of Mr William Hulme."
In the churchwardens' accounts of this parish (Prestwich) for the year 1681 is found the following item of receipt:
"Received a fine of James Crompton ffor buringe his son and not bringinge in an affidavitt according to the Acte for burying in woollin, 02.10.00."
John Booker.
Prestwich, Manchester.
The act of parliament imposing a penalty upon burials, where any material but wool was made use of was 30 Car. II. stat. 1. c. 3., afterwards repealed by the 54 Geo. III. c. 108. I am able to adduce an instance of the act being enforced, in the following extract from the churchwardens' book of the parish of Eye for the year 1686-7:
"Rec. for Mis Grace Thrower beeinge buried in Linnen 02 10 00."
J. B. Colman.