Extracts from [Penney 1928] relating to those people who have West-Penwith connections. This book is, itself, a transcript of a ms. volume written by Dr. Thomas Lower, son-in-law to George Fox, and was near contemprary with the events related.

[Ed. The accents and other textual decorations in this document, which I have tried to replicate as closely as possible, may come out strange on some systems due to the limitations of the fonts available.]

1656

James Myers

p1

1656 James Myers for speakeinge to preist¹³ Liverton after his time ¹⁴of preachinge was ended¹⁴ was sent to Goale by Anthony Nicolls called Justice where [hee] was throwne into doomsdale amongst y^e felons & there continnued a prisoner for many weeks

1657

John Ellis

p3

John Ellis beeinge summoned to appeare before Peter Ceely was for nott puttinge off his hatt to P : Ceely & James Launce cal[led Justices] committed to Goale & was throwne into Doomsdale & cruelly used by y^e afores^d wicked Jaylor whose sufferings [with] most of y^e aforementioned sufferings may bee seene & reade att large in y^e afores^d booke entituled y^e West [aunsweringe to y^e] North¹² wherein they are more fully declared off :

[Peter Ceely was a fierce puritan, prominant parliamentarian, commander of the militia and Vice Admiral during the civil war. He was responsible for much of the damage to St. Ives Church. See Badcock’s Historical Sketch]

John Ellis

p5

There was taken from John Ellis one horse by an execution graunted out of y^e Court, helde in y^e hundred of Penwith att y^e suite of Thomas Quarum & one Richarde Whitforde whoe ƒfarmed^5x y^e tyth off Joseph Hull preist of Sennen

Nicholas Jose

p5

In y^e harvest time there was taken from Nicholas Jose by y^e officers or servants of Joseph Hull preist without sheweinge any warrant for there soe doeinge thirty nine sheaves of Rye for tyths

John Ellis

p7

Hadde taken from him by Degory Wallish & Ralfe Jeffry Churchwardens soe caled 3 pewter platters & one pewter Pegger worth twelve shillings for 6^s rate towards y^e repaire of y^e Steeplehouse Alsoe y^e s^d John Ellis hadd att another time taken from him by Thomas Trereeffe & Marten Williams 2 pewter platters worth six shillings ƒfor 2^s 8^d rate butt y^e saide Thomas Trereeffe returned it againe after hee had kept it about halfe yeere & saide he was much troubled in consciens when first hee tooke them away & saide moreover hee woulde not have donne it if Peter Ceely Called Justice had not threatned him if hee did it not & farther hee did confesse y^tt hee coulde not bee quiett in minde untill hee restored it againe :

John Ellis

p9

John Ellis haveinge some occasions to goe unto Jues Markett⁹¹ w^ch is about 5 miles from his house hee mett with Peter Ceely called a Justice whoe examined him & asked him howe hee did dare to goe about 5 miles from his house & laied father to y^e saide Johns Charge many false accusations & things y^tt hee knew nott off neither coulde hee prove any thinge against him : yett notwithstandinge y^e s^d Peter Ceely togeather with y^e major³² of Jues sent him to launceston goale & hee was continnued a prisoner from Sessions to Sessions & att y^e thirde sessions they haveinge nought to lay to his Charge or y^t coulde bee proved against him sett him at liberty :

1658

John Ellis

p12

The 23^d day of y^e 8^th mo : 1658 John Ellis was served with a speciall warrant at y^e suite of Pascoe Tresillian whoe farmed y^e tyth of Joseph Hull priest of Sennen & beeinge inhumanely used by Nicholas Dever & one other bailiffe whoe tooke away his cloake & spurrs intendeinge by force to sett him one y^e backe of a poore mare (w^ch y^e owner of her saide they had taken from him without his leave) & haveinge neither sadle nor any thinge else one y^e back of her they intended soe to have carried him about 40 miles to prison : butt a brother of his in y^e flesh comeinge y^e while & seeinge howe barbarously hee was used voluntarily engaged to satisfy to satisfy [sic] y^e s^d pasco Tresilian for y^e tyths whereupon they sett him att liberty

Nicholas Jose

P13

In y^e yeere aboves^d there was taken from Nicholas Jose by a servant to pasco Tresilian whoe had farmed y^e tyth of Joseph Hull preist as is afores^d thirty three sheaves of Rye without any law or warrant for soe doinge :

John Ellis

p13

Hadde a dept of nine shillings injuriously detained from him by Edmonde Nicholas whoe under y^e pretens of 5^s 4^d that hee claimed of y^e afores^d John Ellis towards y^e repaireinge of y^e steeplehouse keeps nine shillings that hee owed y^e afores^d John Ellis for pasturinge of some younge bullocks

Nicholas Jose

p14

ƒfor refuseinge to pay 6^d w^ch hee was rated towards y^e repaireinge off y^eSteeplehouse hadde taken from him by Edmonde Nicholas & John Richards one pewter platter worth 3^s 8^d

George Read

p14

ƒfor refuseinge to pay 5^s towards y^e repaireinge of Sennyn steeplehouse had taken from him by Edmonde Nicholas & John Richards Churchwardens soe caled five pweter dishes, worth 16^s :

Nicholas Jose

p16

As hee was travellinge upon y^e high way one Thomas Treave y^e elder of y^e parish of Sennyn laide violent hands upon him & [beat] him with roaps & threw stones to him & spilt his bloude whereupon hee made knowne y^e wronge hee had received to Michaell Ric[hards] & John Saundry constables butt coulde not gett them to punish y^e shedder of bloude

James Myers

p16

ƒfor speakeinge to preist Hull parson of Burrion att y^e lands end hadde beene beaten by y^e preist butt that his wiffe helde him

1659

John Ellis

p20

In y^e yeere 1659 Thomas Quarme whoe farmed y^e tyth of Sennen of Joseph Hull preist gott an execution out of y^e hundred court of Penwith against y^e body of John Ellis & one y^e 1 day of y^e 5^th mo: caused him to bee arrested by 4 baliffs whoe carried him to James Christophers house to prison heade bailiffe of y^e afores^d hundred by whome hee was putt into a roome not above eleaven foot longe & about 7 foote broade with many other prisoners by reason of w^ch as alsoe for want of a place to ease themselves in, y^e roome became very nasty & stinckeinge even to y^e diseaseinge & infectinge of them all whereof one of them was like to have dÿed : yett y^e wickednesse of y^e afores^d Keeper appeared more towards John Ellis then any of y^e rest of y^e prisoners : whoe when his wiffe was come with provision to him hee would not suffer her to come in to him, nor soe much as y^e doore to bee opned to lett in his meat ; y^t was brought unto him by his wiffe : so y^tt y^e afores^d John Ellis was forct to take in his meat by litle & litle by peices in through a small hole y^t was in y^e doore : neither coulde hee have y^e drinke y^t was brought him, butt by powreinge of it out three or 4 times into smaler vessells before hee coulde get it transveyed into prison : neither woulde hee suffer y^e s^d Johns wiffe to dresse meate for him in his house although he was profered satisfaction for it : in w^ch place hee remained untill hee was sent for by order of y^e committÿ of parlament :

1660

John Ellis

p24

Upon y^e 26^th day of y^e 2^d mo : in y^e yeare 1660 y^e s^d John Ellis was againe sued in y^e hundred Court of penwith by pasco Tresilian farmer of y^e tyth from preist Hull & as hee was passinge through pensants townde hee was arrested by y^e serjants of pensants & by one of them was violently throwne downe in y^e street in y^e mire : because y^e s^d John Ellis asked him by what law hee tooke him upp seeinge y^e serjant had noe plainte against him untill after hee had soe abused him & then y^e afores^d Serjeant searched him for arms even to his wastcoate & breeches & then had him to prison : w^ch arrest as hee understands is att y^e suite of Thomas Quaram another farmer of y^e tyth from preist Hull & is a reviveall of y^e same old suite w^th y^e afores^d Tho : Quarme had against him in y^e yeere 1659 & for w^ch hee suffered soe cruelly, whose suffringe then & y^e manner of his inlargement in y^e yeere 1659 may att large bee seene²⁵¹ & for w^ch hee is now againe committed to prison & there continnued a prisoner

[Note: Charles II was proclaimed king on 8 May 1660 ending the parliamentary commonwealth. It will be seen that this made no difference to the treatment of the Quakers.]

Nicholas Jose

p27

On y^e 1^st day of y^e 11^th mo : 1660 : Nich : Jose of Senin p̱rish beeinge passinge through y^e towne of Truroe in y^e feare of y^e Lorde to visitt his ƒfreinds was taken by a guarde of halberts & had before John Chatty Major & for refuseinge to take y^e oath of Alleg : was kept a whole weeke in theire towne prison & then sent to Launceston gaole where hee remained about 5 months :

George Read and others

p32

On y^e 29^th of y^e 11 mo^th : 1660 severall freinds beeinge mett togeather to waite upon y^e Lorde in y^e p̱rish of Just neere y^e lands end there came y^e constable of y^e p̱rish & tooke George John & Tobyas Reede & John Tonckyn of y^e p̱rish of Sennyn & brought them to Truroe before Walter Vincent & John Vivian called Justices whoe com̃itted them to y^e goale of Launceston for theire meetinge as afores^d where they remained prisoners about 7 or 8 weeks

1661

John Matthews

p35

John Matthew of y^e parish of Sennyn about y^e 8^th mo : in y^e yeere aboves^d because for consciens sake hee coulde not beare arms in y^e trained bond was sent to Launceston goale for 10 days by a mittimus^35x from William Codolphin & Will : Pendarvis

Nicholas Jose and others

p36

[an event which took place in the parish of Mabe]

George Read

p37

In y^e yeere 1661 Hugh Jones of y^e Parish of Sennyn whoe had farmed y^e tyth of Joseph Hull preist sued George Reade at law for tyth & tooke away from y^e s^d George Reade one fatt oxe worth about 4^li. & one mare worth about 5^li.

1662

Nicholas Jose and others

p42

On y^e 27^th of y^e 5^th month 1662 in y^e p̱rish of Just were diverse ƒfreinds mett togeather to waite upon y^e lorde & in y^e time of y^e meetinge one Captaine Jones with a company of souldyers came & tooke out of y^e house Nich : Jose George Reade Will : Roberts Edward Auger John Reede John Mathew Sampson Jeffery Richard Hunt Degory Vingoe John Tonckyn & five Women ƒfreinds (viz) Johan Penwarden Mary Penwarthen Jane Wilkey Anne Trereeve⁴²¹ & Blanch Bosistowe⁴²² : & carried them before Will : Codolphin called Justice, whoe sent them to Launceston goale & beeinge brought before y^e Judge att y^e Assises : 4 of them (viz) Nich : Jose George Reade Will : Roberts & Ed : Auger were Indicted & fined 40^s each of them & com̃itted till payment : & y^e rest were com̃itted till they did finde suertys for y^e good behaviour, whoe as yett remayne all prisoners & have not been called foorth since though they have beene three assises followeinge soe y^t they have beene prisoners neere two yeere ⁴³¹& then were freed without any thinge layde to theire charge except the 4 y^t were ƒfined who rem[ained] priso[ners] ƒfive yeere & halfe⁴³¹

[1664: The Conventicle Act was passed “for preventing mischiefs and dangers that may arise by certain persons called Quakers, and others refusing to take oaths.” The act declared it “altogether unlawful and contrary to the word of God” to refuse to take an oath, or to persuade another person to refuse to do so. It further made it an offense for more than five persons, “commonly called Quakers,” “to assemble in any place under pretense of joining in a religious worship not authorized by the laws of this realm.” In 1670, it was renewed with increased vigour—Thanks to Ron Clibborn-Dyer]

1670

John Wallis

p85

Taken from John Wallish by Rich : Warren & Martÿn Millarde Const^les & Nowell Roberts & Mathew Humfrÿs wardens of y^e parish off Just: whoe came y^e 6^th of y^e 4^th mo^th & yeere afores^d: & distrained by a warrant ƒfrom Hugh Jones Caled a Justice two milch Kowes two oxen & three heifers to y^e value of 20^li. for a fine of⁸⁵² though Jo: Wallish was a prisoner att y^e County goale att y^e same time:

Jane Wallis

p85

Taken ƒfrom Jane Wallish by y^e officers afores^d ƒfor her beinge at y^e meetinge afores^d one milch Kowe worth 3^li. 4^s ƒfor a fine of 5^s imposed upon her:

William Roberts

p85

The 16^th off y^e mo^th & yeere afors^d came Tho: Roberts & Tho: John Const^ls off y^e parish of Levens & tooke away by a warrant ƒfrom Hugh Jones ƒfrom William Roberts off y^e afores^d parish ƒfoure milch Kowes sixteene sheepe & two reareinge Calves ƒfor beinge att y^e meetinge afores^d for w^ch hee was ƒfined value off 16^li.

George Read

p85

Taken away ƒfrom George Reede off y^e parish off Sennen by John Mathew & Nich: Wallish Consta^ls James Terreeve & Tho: Terreeve wardens by a warrant ƒfrom Hugh Jones ƒfor his permittinge y^e meetinge afores^d to bee in his house & ƒfor beinge present att y^e same 3 milch Kowes & one horse worth 12^li.

Nicholas Jose

p86

Taken away by a warrant ƒfrom y^e afores^d Justice by y^e officers off y^e parish of Sennen one brasse pan & one Chaire worth 1^li. ƒfor a fine of 5^s Imposed on his wiffe for beinge att y^e s^d meetinge Nich: Jose beinge a prisoner att Launceston goale att y^e same time :

Thomas Richards

p86

Taken away ƒfrom Tho: Richards by y^e officers afores^d ƒfor his pretended beinge att y^e meetinge afores^d one brasse pott worth 8^s though Thos: Richards was att y^e same time a prisoner at Launceston goale

Elizabeth Reskelly

p86

Taken from Elizabeth Reskelly by y^e officers afores^d ƒfor a fine of 5^s Imposed by Hugh Jones for her beinge present att y^e afores^d meetinge one Mare worth 1^li. 4^s

John Ellis and daughters

p86

Taken from Jo: Ellis ƒfor a meetinge in his owne house y^e 1^st off y^e 6^th mo^th one Mare & Colt value 1^li. 10^s

Taken away by y^e officers of Sennen parish ƒfrom Dorothy Ellis y^e daughter of Jo: Ellis ƒfor beinge present att y^e meetinge afores^d one Colt & one Rearinge Calve value 1^li. 10^s

Taken away by y^e officers afores^d ƒfrom Elizabeth & Phillippa Ellis two other daughters off Jo: Ellis ƒfor there beinge present att y^e meetinge in their ƒfathers house two reareinge Calves worth 1^li. 8^s

John Taylor

p86

Upon y^e 12^th off y^e 5^th mo^th Came James Mellot John Okey overseers & Henery Davey warden with a warrant ƒfrom Tho: Hill Maj^r off Marazÿon Comonly Caled Markett Jew whoe upon receite off a Certificate ƒfrom Hugh Jones off John Taÿlors beinge present att y^e meetinge att Landsend graunted foorth his warrant unto y^e officers afores^d whoe tooke away ƒfrom Jo: Taylor 51 yards of Canvas worth 2^li. for a fine of 5^s Imposed upon him:

Memorandum y^t Tho: Hill maj^r off Marazÿon some time after this distresse of goods ƒfrom Jo: Taylor was visited with sicknesse whereof hee dÿed: and a litle before his death sayde y^t nothinge troubled him soe in all his life as his graunting foorth y^e warrant to take away y^e goods off John Taylor:

Memorandum y^t y^e afores^d Hugh Jones his Clarke was one of y^e Informers agst y^e meetinge afores^d & one y^t accompanÿed y^e officers & Incouraged y^m to make such outragious distresses: & as it was Credibbely reported had some off y^e spoile off y^e Quakers goods given unto him In recompense for his paines or rather for his wages due ƒfrom his master:

12 “The West answering to the North, in the fierce and Cruel Persecution of the Manifestation of the Son of God, as appears in the following short Relation of the unheard of, and inhumane Sufferings of George Fox, Edward Pyot, and William Salt, at Launceston, in the County of Cornwall …” London, 1657.

13 That is, minister or clergyman

14 … 14 Insertion above the line at a later period by the same writer

32 That is, mayor

5x [It is suggested by the entry on p105 that farmer and impropriator are synonymous.]

91 Market Jew, now Marazion. See Camb. Jnl. Supp. i.e The Short Journal and Itinerary Journals of George Fox, printed from the original mss. by the Cambridge University Press, 1925.

251 See above.

35x [Commitment.]

421 Besse : Trerowe i.e. A Collection of the Sufferings of the People called Quakers from 1650 to 1689, compiled by Joseph Besse. London, 1753

422 Besse : Bristow

431 … 431 These words were added later in a different coloured ink by the same hand.

852 Amount omitted.

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