As a result of a suspected religious plot, Parliament devised an oath "to live and die for the true Protestant religion, the liberties and rights of subjects, and the privilege of Parliaments" . A Bill was passed requiring all Englishmen to sign it with those refusing to sign deemed unfit to hold office in state or church.
On the 4th January 1641/2 the Protestation was printed and sent to the Sheriffs of every county to be distributed to every parish so that every man over the age of 18 should take the oath. The text was read out in the churches and lists made of everyone signing or refusing to sign.
Note : All Crombleholmes found in the records so far signed the Return with only Thomas Crombleholme [41] of Clayton le Moors refusing to sign.. For those signing, it meant that they stayed on the right side of the authorities but it may have been tokenism in some cases !
I originally obtained copies (some 40 pages !) of these records in 1983 from the House of Lords relating to some selected Lancashire Parishes. However, in 2022 Mike Murtha discovered that they had been transcribed between 2017 & 2020 by Mr Cliff Webb who has in turn very kindly allowed the Parliamentary Archives to use them on their website. Link below :
The parishes marked * are ones that I obtained copies of but do not appear in the above PA lists. The Garstang one was found in the History of Garstang as noted below - needs checking !
Aighton, Bailey & Chadgley (Chaigley) :
William Crombleholme [Cro0040] (he lived in Mitton) also
Thurston Tomlinson, John Tomlinson & Francis Tomlinson (father & brothers of Katherine (nee Tomlinson [69] wife of Richard Crombleholme [68] - he signed & is listed in Dutton (see below).
(Source : Parliamentary Archives Cat HL/PO/JO/10/1/94/7 - date 1642)
Garstang (with townships) Barnakqter *(part of parish of Garstang) :
John Cromlehoulme [Cro0553] (Source Hist of Garstang Pt 1 - Chetham Soc Vol 104 p268)
Billington :
John Cromelholme [Cro0038] (blacksmith) [Will PCC1] (see Loudmytham families)
also : Thomas Ingam, servant of John Crombleholme [38]
Richard Romselhome - this probably John [38]'s son Richard C [430]
(Source : Parliamentary Archives Cat HL/PO/JO/10/1/93/33 - date 1642)
Broughton *
Chipping :
Richard Crombleholme, [Cro0036]
Note : He is Richard C - Husbandman of Thornley [Will Y3] (see Loudmytham families)
(Source : Parliamentary Archives Cat HL/PO/JO/10/1/94/1 - date 1642)
Clayton (Clayton-le-Moors) le Woods (Leyland Hundred ?)
Thomas Crombleholme [41] has NOT taken the Protestation
(Source : Parliamentary Archives Cat HL/PO/JO/10/1/94/52 - date 1642)
Clitheroe (Borough), Worston & Mearley
Richard Crombleholme [1362] overseer of the poor (Clitheroe)
(Source : Parliamentary Archives Cat HL/PO/JO/10/1/94/15 - date 1642)
Goosnargh, Newsham & Whittingham (Amounderness Hundred)
Thomas Crombleholme [Cro0183] yeoman, Whittingham
(Source : Parliamentary Archives Cat HL/PO/JO/10/1/93/9 - date 1642) (Note this was located using Cromleholme)
Ribchester , Dilworth & Dutton
Richard Crombleholme [Cro0068] (in Dutton)
also : James Holte, servant of Richard Crombleholme [68] (Dutton)
William Molding, servant of Richard Crombleholme [68] (Dutton)
Thomas Barton, servant of Richard Crombleholme [68] (Dutton)
(Source : Parliamentary Archives Cat HL/PO/JO/10/1/94/2 - date 1642)
St Michaels on Wyre *