Excommunication in the 1660s

[ElizabethHerts]

In the parish of Scotter in Lincolnshire there were several excommunications in 1666. They are entered on the last page of the parish register.

I have been researching the Shadforth/Shadford family from Scotter and have been unable to find the baptism for my ancestor Thomas Shadford, who married in 1701.

I believe the excommunications hold the key. There appear very few Shadford/Shadforth entries from 1650 onwards, despite the family being present in the village.

Does anyone else have any experience of excommunications?
There seem to have been a high number of excommunications at this time.

[kiterunner]

I haven't come across it, Elizabeth, but there is some info in this book:

Google Books

(bother, just noticed the next page is not available in the preview!)

[ElizabethHerts]

Thanks for trying with the link, Kate.
By googling I get some hits, but when I click on the link it says the page is unavailable.
However, before clicking I see this:

Read the ebook English church furniture, ornaments and ...
http://www.ebooksread.com/.../page-2...iture-ornament...
"Excomrinicated in the parish of Scotter,_on Sunday, Mali 6, 1666, Georo-e. Shadlord, Mary ..... tence of Excommunication on the 9th day of march in the between ...


There seems to have been a church dignitary by the name of Edward Lake who went round instigating these excommunications.

Book of Suspensions and Excommunications of Edward Lake, Vicar-general and Official-principal and Official of the Archdeaconry of Lincoln

Reference Name DIOC/Cij/17
Beginning at the other end of the book - Assignations, 1670-1672.
Physical Description: 42 folios.
Date: 1662-1672
Repository: Lincolnshire Archives [057]


This is the link to the Scotter parish records:
http://www.lincstothepast.com/Record...776&iid=350009

http://www.lincstothepast.com/Record...776&iid=350012

[Mary from Italy]

Here's the original page, but there's not much information, unfortunately:

http://archive.org/stream/englishchu...earch/shadlord

[ElizabethHerts]

Mary, thanks for posting that. It is basically repeating what is written in the church register.

Interesting that you could access this in Italy.

[Shona]

The excommunications may be associated with the growth of non-conformism in Lincolnshire. An Act of Parliament was passed in 1670 to deal with the dissenters. Here's a link:

http://www.british-history.ac.uk/rep...x?compid=47409

I'm sure that I've read elsewhere that, in addition to the fines, etc, people found guilty could be excommunicated.

[ElizabethHerts]

Thanks, Shona. They were certainly turbulent times to live through.

I read this with interest:
“Excommunicated Jan. 25, 1677, these following:- Mary Hornby, Ann Taylor, Eliz. Robinson, Fran. Drury, Mary Drury, sen., Mary Drur, jun., Thomas Hornby, Wm. Robinson, jun., Sarah Lealand, Ann Tenant, Robert Hoole, jun., Ann Storr, Robert Hering, John Brumby, Rebecca Brumby, Robert Fowler, Helen Fowler, Robert Pye, Mary Pye, John Robinson, sen., Willm. Stocks and his wife, Joanna Brookhouse, William Soulby, George Shadforth, Sarah Shadforth, James Herring, Alice Herring, Robert Fowler, sen., Xtobell Folwer, Ruth Herring; all these were presented by Mr. Smith when he was church-warden, att that visitation when every parish were enjoyned to give in the number of conformists and non-conformists”

Not only does it mention the couple who I hope are my ancestors, but it also indicates the religious fervour which led to excommunication.