Report by the Rev. Cox of Holdenby, c. 1896 to Blisworth Parish Council

Dear Sir,

Here is a rough report from me as to the nature and contents of the various documents in the Church Chest.

The documents relative to the Town Lands are particularly interesting.  From these is it evident that the Lands were originally left in pre-Reformation days for sustaining lights in the Church and for providing it with ornaments.  These lights not being for the purposes of utility, but lamps on tapers kept burning before altars and statues for devotional purposes were considered to come within the "superstitiousness" [sic] of legislation of Edward VI, and so the Lands were forfeited to the Crown.  Sufficient influence however was brought to bear to get them out of private hands upon whom they had been conferred, and to procure their restoration to the parish.  The rental of these Lands was then declared to be used for the repair of the Church, for the sustenance of the poor and for other laudable purposes and placed in the hands of trustees.  When these trustees fell to sick, there being originally twelve, the surviving trustees and heirs were to meet and fill up the vacancies.  There were a variety of indentures, .....ning in 1618 (most of them late copies of the originals), appointing fresh trustees and reciting the particular plots of ground in the open fields of Blisworth.

All these documents, pertaining to an ecclesiastical charity, undoubtedly belong to the Rector and churchwardens.  They are interesting but of no legal value whatever, for the Inclosure Award is a positive readjustment behind which no one can go.  Even if, as often was the case, public or parish rights were not duly considered or a fair equivalent given, no argument for anything better than a grumble at possible selfish class legislation of the past can be based upon it.

Other documents relate to a dispute in Edward VI time, 1552, as to rights of cutting thorns on "Blisworth Plain", a big common of some 700 acres.  The eviden... in abstract is given of several aged w..... of Roade and Blisworth.  These are exceptionally interesting from a local historical point of view and belong to the Parish Council.

Two other documents, time of Queen Elizabeth, refer to a cottage on the waste evidently procured by the parish for... Poor Law purposes.  These belong to the Parish Council.

I was very sorry to learn that the particular document of 1696 was not forthcoming.  If the Parish Authorities find it and care to send it I will make an abstract of it and give any explanation within my power [NRO 35pe/192].  They need not be afraid of trusting me.  At the present moment I have .... definitely more valuable documents than theirs belonging to the Dean and Chapter of Peterborough, and of Lichfield and the Count of Derby.

I am of your service .....etc.  I should make no charge to any village Council.

Faithfully Yours    J. Charles Cox.

[The documents were reviewed by George Freeston and Eileen Rose in the 1960s and a copy of her transcription has been reformed in html format and made available on this website.  The above was transcribed by T Marsh   January 2006 - a row of dots, thus ..... means word(s) or part word missing]