families

OCCURENCE REPORTS ON SUNDRY RECUSANT FAMILIES

Some of the reports which follow vary in length according to the amount of study which has gone into them. The reason for inclusion is quite obvjously that of recusancy, yet there are other similarly named families, and co-lateral with them, who have conformed early in the struggle. These do not form part of the reports. Mention is made, however, of the earliest names in a family, perhaps before their presentment as recusants. As by far the greater number of families were very poor they seldom merited more than a list entry, but this does not mean that they escaped the weekly fine of twelve pence which was levied by the church-wardens for parish relief. On the other hand,the yeomen and the gentry met the full force of the £260 a year fine till death or submission, alternatively facing the seizure of two-thirds of their lands and goods and chattels.

Of the yeomen, Hodgson, Readman and Harrison none apparently maintained their state for any considerable time. Of the gentry, the Radcliffes are impoverished and disappear from the district, the Salvins do the same, whilst the Smiths survive until the middle of the nineteenth century, all appearing in the Recusant Rolls of the Exchequer. Whitby reports, with minor exceptions, are not included.

As Harrison occurences feature prominently in the author's background, its saga is the longest. It is with the progeny of Henry and Dorothy that this is chiefly concerned as they occupy places in all the following lists for the next hundred years, moreover among them are the forebears of the writer's wife and in all probability, of the writer himself. Before embarking upon the task of unravelling them it m{missing print}ll to note that Richard Smith, most likely of the gentry family above men{missing print} witness to the will of an Egton Harrison named Edward in February 16{mising print} wife was Martha, his sons Edward, Leonard, John, James Richard and his {missing print} Ann, Ellison and Elizabeth.

Potted family histories