Chapter 14

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Footnotes:

[1]This is easily proved. In the wardrobe accounts for Edward IV., 1480, occur the following items:—

“John Poyntmaker, for pointing of xl. dozen points of silk pointed with agelettes of laton.“John Carter, for cariage away of a grete loode of robeux that was left in the strete.“To a laborer called Rychard Gardyner working in the gardyne.“To Alice Shapster for making and washing of xxiiii. sherts, and xxiiii. stomachers.”

“John Poyntmaker, for pointing of xl. dozen points of silk pointed with agelettes of laton.

“John Carter, for cariage away of a grete loode of robeux that was left in the strete.

“To a laborer called Rychard Gardyner working in the gardyne.

“To Alice Shapster for making and washing of xxiiii. sherts, and xxiiii. stomachers.”

Shapster is a feminine form of Shapper or Shaper—one who shaped or cut out cloths for garments. All these several individuals, having no particular surname, took or received one from the occupation they temporarily followed.—“Privy Purse Expenses, Eliz. of York,” p. 122.

[2]Any number of such instances might be recorded. Mr. W. C. Leighton, inNotes and Queries, February 23, 1861, notices a deed dated 1347, wherein two John de Leightons, brothers, occur. Mr. Waters, in his interesting pamphlet, “Parish Registers” (p. 30), says that Protector Somerset had three sons christened Edward, born respectively 1529, 1539, and 1548. All werelivingat the same time. He adds that John Leland, the antiquary, had a brother John, and that John White, Bishop of Winchester 1556-1560, was brother to Sir John White, Knight, Lord Mayor in 1563.

[3]“I also give to the said Robert ... that land which Hobbekin de Bothum held of me.”—Ext. deed of Sir Robert de Stokeport, Knight, 1189-1199: Earwaker’s “East Cheshire,” p. 334.

[4]I have seen Stepkin as a surname but once. Lieutenant Charles Stepkin served under the Duke of Northumberland, in 1640.—Peacock’s “Army List of Roundheads and Cavaliers,” p. 78.

[5]Adekynwas the simple and only title of the harper to Prince Edward in 1306, who attended thecour plenièreheld by King Edward at the feast of Whitsuntide at Westminster.—Chappell, “Popular Music of ye Olden Time,” p. 29.

[6]Sill was the nick form of Sybil and Silas till the seventeenth century, when the Puritan Silence seized it. I have only seen one instance of the surname, “John Silkin” being set down as dwelling in Tattenhall, Cheshire, in 1531 (Earwaker’s “East Cheshire,” p. 56).

[7]Nevertheless the surname did exist in Yorkshire in Richard II.’s reign:

“Willelmus Malkynson, and Dionisia uxor ejus, iiiid.”—W. D. S.

[8]I need not quote, in proof of the popularity ofkin, our surnames of Simpkinson, Hopkins, Dickens, Dickenson, Watkins, Hawkins, Jenkinson, Atkinson, and the rest. I merely mention that the patronymics ending inkinsgot abbreviated intokiss, andkes, andks. Hence the origin of our Perkes, Purkiss, Hawkes, and Hawks, Dawks, Jenks, Juckes, and Jukes (Judkins).

[9]In this class we must assuredly place Figgins. In the Hundred Rolls appears “Ralph, son of Fulchon.” Here, of course, is the diminutive of the once common Fulke. Fick and Figg were the nick forms:

“1 Henry VIII. To Fygge the taborer, 6d.”—Churchwarden’s Books of Kingston-on-Thames, Brand’s “Pop. Ant.,” i. 147.

The London Directory has all the forms and corruptions as surnames, including Fick, Ficken, Figg, Figgs, Figgess, and Figgins.

[10]Guion was not half so popular in England as Guiot. There are fifty-five Wyatts to three Wyons in the London Directory (1870). If Spenser had written of Guyon two centuries earlier, this might have been altered. Guy Fawkes ruined Guy. He can never be so popular again.

[11]Cornwall would naturally be last to be touched by the Reformation. Hence these old forms were still used to the close of Elizabeth’s reign, as for instance:

“1576, March 24. Baptized Ibbett, d. of Kateryne Collys, bastard.“1576, July 30. Baptized Isott, d. of Richard Moyle.”—St. Columb Major.

“1576, March 24. Baptized Ibbett, d. of Kateryne Collys, bastard.

“1576, July 30. Baptized Isott, d. of Richard Moyle.”—St. Columb Major.

[12]This connection of Scripture name with present circumstance ran out its full period. In the diary of Samuel Jeake, a well-known Puritan of Rye, occurs this reference to his son, born August 13, 1688: “At 49 minutes past 11 p.m. exactly (allowing 10′ that the sun sets at Rye before he comes to the level of the horizon, for the watch was set by the sun-setting), my wife was safely delivered of a son, whom I named Manasseh, hoping that God had now made meforgetall my toils.”—“History of Town and Port of Rye,” p. 576. Manasseh = forgetfulness.

A bishop may be instanced. Aylmer, who succeeded Sandys in the see of London, was for many years a favourer of Puritanism, and had been one of the exiles. His sixth son wasTobel(i.e.God is good), of Writtle, in Essex. Archbishop Whitgift was his godfather, and the reason for his singular appellation was his mother’s being overturned in a coach without injury when she was pregnant (Cooper’s “Ath. Cant.” ii. 172).

Again: “At Dr. Whitaker’s death, his wife is described as being ‘partui vicina,’ and a week afterwards her child was christened by the name ofJabez, doubtless for the scriptural reason ‘because, she said, I bare him with sorrow.’”—Cooper’s “Ath. Cant.” ii. 197.

[13]Esther’s other name of Hadassah had a share of favour. So late as William and Mary’s reign we find the name in use:

“1691, May 24. Christened Hadasa, daughter of Arthur Richardson.“1693, Sep. 4. Christened John, son of Nicholas and Hadassah Davis.”—St. Dionis Backchurch.

“1691, May 24. Christened Hadasa, daughter of Arthur Richardson.

“1693, Sep. 4. Christened John, son of Nicholas and Hadassah Davis.”—St. Dionis Backchurch.

[14]In the Lancashire “Church Surveys,” 1649-1655, being the first volume of the Lancashire and Cheshire Record Society’s publications, edited by Colonel Fishwick, occur Thurston Brown, Thurston Brere, Thurston Brich, on one single page of the index.

[15]To tell a lie is to tell aleein Lancashire.

[16]Several names seem to have been taken directly from the Hebrew tongue. “Amalasioutha” occurs as a baptismal name in the will of a man named Corbye, 1594 (Rochester Wills); Barijirehah in that of J. Allen, 1651, and Michalaliel among the Pilgrim Fathers (Hotten).

[17]Colonel Cunningham, in his annotations of the “Alchemist,” says, speaking of the New Englanders bearing the Puritan prejudices with them: “So deeply was it rooted, that in the rebellion of the colonies a member of that State seriously proposed to Congress the putting down of the English language by law, and decreeing the universal adoption of the Hebrew in its stead.”—Vol. ii. p. 33, Jonson’s Works.

[18]The following entry is a curiosity:

“1756, May 24. Buried Love Venus Rivers.”—St. Peter, Cornhill.

[19]Even Nathaniel may have been a pre-Reformation name, for Grumio says, “Call forth Nathaniel, Joseph, Nicholas, Philip, Walter, Sugarsop, and the rest; let their heads be sleekly combed” (“Taming of the Shrew,” Act iv. sc. 1.), where he is manifestly using the old names.

[20]Zachary was the then form of Zachariah, as Jeremy of Jeremiah. Neither is a nickname.

[21]The story of Cain and Abel would be popularized in the “mysteries.” Abelot was a favourite early pet form (vide“English Surnames,” index; also p. 82).

[22]“Jan, 1537. Item: payed to Blaze for brawdering a payre of sleves for my lady’s grace, xxs.”—“Privy Purse Expenses, Princess Mary.”

[23]Philip is found just as frequently for girls as boys:

“1588, March 15. Baptized Phillip, daughter of John Younge.“1587, Feb. 7. Baptized Phillip, daughter of James Laurence.”—St. Columb Major.

“1588, March 15. Baptized Phillip, daughter of John Younge.

“1587, Feb. 7. Baptized Phillip, daughter of James Laurence.”—St. Columb Major.

[24]In the Oxford edition, 1859, is a foot-note: “Appoline was the usual name in England, as Appoline in France, for Apollonia, a martyr at Alexandria, who, among other tortures, had all her teeth beaten out.”

[25]Mr. Beesley, in his “History of Banbury” (p. 456), curiously enough speaks of thisEpiphanyas a Puritan example. I need not say that a Banbury zealot would have as soon gone to the block as impose such a title on his child.

[26]Gawain, Gawen, or Gavin lingered till last century in Cumberland and the Furrness district. The surname of Gunson in the same parts shows that “Gun” was a popular form. Hence, in the Hundred Rolls, Matilda fil. Gunne or Eustace Gunnson. The London Directory forms are Gowan, Gowen, and Gowing:

“1593, Nov. 7. Buried Sarra Bone, wife of Gawen Bone.”—St. Dionis Backchurch.

[27]A good instance of the position in society of Jane and Joan is seen in Rowley’s “A Woman never Vexed,” where, in thedramatis personæ,Janeis daughter to the London Alderman, andJoanservant-wench to the Widow. The play was written about 1630.

[28]There seems to have been some difficulty in forming the feminines of Charles, all of which are modern. Charlotte was known in England before the queen of George III. made it popular, through the brave Charlet la Trémouille, Lady Derby; but it was rarely used:

“1670, Oct. 26. Sir Saml. Morland to Carola Harsnet.”—Westminster Abbey.“1703. Charlotte Eliza, d. of Mr. John Harmand, a French minister.”—Hammersmith.“9 Will. III. June 29. Caroletta Hasting, defendant.”—Decree Rolls, MSS. Record Office.

“1670, Oct. 26. Sir Saml. Morland to Carola Harsnet.”—Westminster Abbey.

“1703. Charlotte Eliza, d. of Mr. John Harmand, a French minister.”—Hammersmith.

“9 Will. III. June 29. Caroletta Hasting, defendant.”—Decree Rolls, MSS. Record Office.

Carolina, Englished into Caroline, became for a while the favourite, but Charlotte ran away with the honours after the beloved princess of that name died.

[29]Bethia still lingers in certain families, but its origin has manifestly been forgotten. InNotes and Queries, February 23, 1861, Mr. W. A. Leighton deems the name an incorrect version of the scriptural Bithiah (1 Chron. iv. 18); while “G.,” writing March 9, 1861, evidently agrees with this conclusion, for after saying that his aunt, a sister, and two cousins bear it, he adds, “They spell it Bethia and Bathia, instead of Bithiah, which is the accurate form”! Miss Yonge also is at fault: “The old name of Bethia, to be found in various English families, probably came from an ancestral Beth on either Welsh, Scots, or Irish sides.” She makes it Keltic.

The latest instance of Bethia I have seen is the following, on a mural tablet in Kirkthorpe Church, York:—

“Bethia Atkins, ob. Ap. 16th, 1851, aged 74.”

[30]“But the ridicule which falls on this mode of naming children belongs not to these times only, for the practice was in use long before.”—Harris, “Life of Oliver Cromwell,” p. 342.

[31]This child was buried a few days later. From the name given the father seems to have expected the event.

[32]From 1585 to 1600, that is, in fifteen years, Warbleton register records more than a hundred examples of eccentric Puritanism.

[33]This name crept into Yorkshire after Accepted Frewen became archbishop. “Thornton Church is a little episcopal chapel-of-ease, rich in Nonconformist monuments, as of Accepted Lister, and his friend Dr. Hale.”—Mrs. Gaskell’s “Charlotte Brontë,” p. 37.

[34]Faith-my-joy was buried June 12, 1602. While the name was Puritan in the sense that it would never have been given but for the zealots, it was merely a translation of the Purefoy motto, “Pure Foi ma Joi.” Antony turned it into a spiritual allusion.

[35]“On Jan. 28, 17 James I., William Foster ... together with Sir Henry Burton, Susan Mowne, and James Bynde, and Sanctia or Sence his wife, joined in conveying to Robert Raunce and Edward Thurland ... a house and land in Carshalton on trust to sell.”—“Bray’s Surrey,” ii. 513.

[36]Erasmus became a popular baptismal name, and still exists:

“1541, Jan. 3. Baptized Erasmus, sonne of John Lynsey.”—St. Peter, Cornhill.“1593, Sep. 16. Baptized Erasmus, sonne of John Record, merchaunt tailor.”—Ditto.“1611, July 18. Buried Erasmus Finche, captaine, of Dover Castle.”—Cant. Cath.

“1541, Jan. 3. Baptized Erasmus, sonne of John Lynsey.”—St. Peter, Cornhill.

“1593, Sep. 16. Baptized Erasmus, sonne of John Record, merchaunt tailor.”—Ditto.

“1611, July 18. Buried Erasmus Finche, captaine, of Dover Castle.”—Cant. Cath.

[37]“April 6, 1879, at St. Peter’s Thanet, entered into rest, Mary Given Clarke, aged 71 years.”—Church Times, April 10, 1879.

[38]The following is curious, although it does not properly belong to this class:

“1629, July 11. Baptized Subpena, a man childe found at the Subpena office in Chancery Lane.”—St. Dunstan.

[39]Meliorwas a favourite:—

“1675, April 15. Baptized Melior, d. of Thomas and Melior Richardson.”—Westminster Abbey.“1664-5, Feb. 22. William Skutt seeks renewal of a wine licence, which he holds in behalf of his mother-in-law, Melior Allen, of Sarum, at £10 a year.”—“C. S. P. Dom.”“1552, July 11. Baptized Mellior, d. of John James.”—St. Columb Major.

“1675, April 15. Baptized Melior, d. of Thomas and Melior Richardson.”—Westminster Abbey.

“1664-5, Feb. 22. William Skutt seeks renewal of a wine licence, which he holds in behalf of his mother-in-law, Melior Allen, of Sarum, at £10 a year.”—“C. S. P. Dom.”

“1552, July 11. Baptized Mellior, d. of John James.”—St. Columb Major.

[40]“1661, Sep. 6. Baptized Faith Dionis, Charity Dionis, Grace Dionis, three foundlings.”—St. Dionis, Backchurch.

TheManchester Evening Mail, March 22, 1878, says, “At Stanton, near Ipswich, three girls, having been born at one birth, were baptized Faith, Hope, and Charity.”

[41]Constance had been an old English favourite, its nick and pet forms being Cust, or Custance, or Cussot (vide“English Surnames,” p. 67, 2nd edition). The Puritan dropped these, but adopted “Constant” and “Constancy.” The more worldly, in the mean time, curtailed it to “Con.”

[42]Sophia did not come into England for a century after this. But, while speaking of Greek names, the most popular was Philadelphia:

“1639, May 3. Buried the Lady Philadelphia Carr.”—Hillingdon, Middlesex.“1720, Aug. 6. Married William Adams and Philadelphia Saffery.”—Cant. Cath.“1776, Jan. 5. Buried Philadelphia, wife of John Read.”—Blockley, Glouc.

“1639, May 3. Buried the Lady Philadelphia Carr.”—Hillingdon, Middlesex.

“1720, Aug. 6. Married William Adams and Philadelphia Saffery.”—Cant. Cath.

“1776, Jan. 5. Buried Philadelphia, wife of John Read.”—Blockley, Glouc.

Whether Penn styled the city he founded after the Church mentioned in the Apocalypse, or after a friend or kinswoman, or because, interpreted, it was a Quaker sentiment, I cannot say. But Philadelphia, in James I.’s reign, had become such a favourite that I have before me over a hundred instances, after no very careful research. None was needed; it appears in every register, and lingered on into the present century.

[43]“1658. Mr. Charles Beswicke, minister of the parish ch. of Stockport, and Sylance Symonds, d. of Mr. Robert Symonds, of Daubever, co. Derby, published March 28, April 4 and 11, 1658.”—Banns, Parish Church, Stockport.

This Silence was either mother or grandmother to Silence Thyer, but I am not sure which is the relationship. If grandmother, then there must have been three generations of “Silences.”

[44]“I myself have known some persons in London, and other parts of this kingdom, who have been christened by the names of Faith, Hope, Charity, Mercy, Grace, Obedience, Endure, Rejoice, etc.”—Brome’s “Travels in England,” p. 279.

[45]Repentance lingered longer than I thought. In the churchyard of Mappowder, Dorset, is a tombstone to the memory of “Repentance, wife of,” etc. She died within the last twenty years. There is no doubt that these names found their latest home in Devon and Dorset. The names in Mr. Blackmore’s novels corroborate this.

[46]This is another case of a Puritan name that got into high society. Accepted Frewen died an archbishop; Humble Ward became first Baron Ward. His daughter Theodosia married Sir Thomas Brereton, Bart.

[47]“Faithful Teate was minister at Sudbury, Suffolk, at the time Richard Sibbes, who was born close by, was growing up.”—Sibbes’ Works, 1. xxvi. Nichol, 1862.

[48]Antony à Wood says Robert Abbott, minister at Cranbrook, Kent, published a quarto sermon in 1626, entitled “Be-thankful London and her Sisters.” When we remember that Warbleton in 1626 had at least a dozen Be-Thankfuls among its inhabitants, and that Cranbrook was within walking distance, we see where the title of this discourse was got.

[49]Live-well Chapman was a Fifth Monarchy man. There is still extant a pamphlet headed “A Declaration of several of the Churches of Christ, and Godly People, in and about the City of London, concerning the Kingly Interest of Christ, and the Present Sufferings of His Cause, and Saints in England. Printed for Live-well Chapman, 1654.”

[50]These two were twins:

“1589, Oct. 12. Baptized Fre-gyft and Fear-not, ye children of John Lulham.”—Warbleton.

[51]This, no doubt, will be a relative of the well-known Puritan, Comfort Starr, born in the adjacent hamlet of Ashford.

[52]A tablet in Northiam Church says—

“In memory of Thankfull Frewen, Esq., patron of, and a generous benefactor to, this Church: who was many years purse-bearer and afterwards secretary to Lord Keeper Coventry, in the reign of Charles the First.”

A flat stone in the chancel commemorates the second Thankful:

“Hic situs est vir reverendus Thankfull Frewen hujus ecclesiæ per quinquaginta sex annos rector sanctissimus & doctissimus ... obiit 2doSeptembris, 1749, anno ætatis 81mo.”

[53]We have already seen that Stephen Vynall had a daughter baptized No-merit at Warbleton, September 28, 1589. Heley’s influence followed him to Isfield, as this entry proves.

[54]“1723.—Welthiana Bryan.”—Nicholl’s “Coll. Top. et Gen.,” iii. 250.

[55]Pleasant lasted for some time:

“1757, Jan. 11. Married Thomas Dunn and Pleasant Dadd.”—Cant. Cath.

[56]A dozen Freemans may be seen within the limits of half that number of pages in the Finchley registers. Here is one:

“1603, Feb. 26. Baptized Freeman, filius Freeman Page.”

[57]That is, he held him crosswise in his arms.

[58]“And here was ‘Bartholomew Fayre’ acted to-day, which had not been these forty years, it being so satyricall against Puritanism, they durst not till now.”—Pepys, Sept. 7, 1661.

[59]That some changed their names for titles of more godly import need not be doubted. William Jenkin says, “I deny not, but in some cases it may be lawfull to change our names, or forbear to mention them, either by tongue or pen: but then we should not be put upon such straits by the badnesse of our actions (as the most are) which we are ashamed to own,but by the consideration of God’s glory, orthe Churches good, or our own necessary preservation in time of persecution.”—“Exposition of Jude,” 1652, p. 7.

[60]A child was baptized, January 10, 1880, in the parish church of Stone, near Dartford, by the name of Sou’wester. He was named after an uncle who was born at sea in a south-westerly gale, who received the same name (Notes and Queries, February 7, 1880).

[61]We have already recorded Hate-evil as existing in the Banbury Church register.

[62]The practice of hyphening names, as a condition of accepting property, etc., is of recent origin. By this means not a double baptismal, but a double patronymic, name is formed. But though manifestly increasing, the number of such double surnames is not yet a large one.

[63]“At Faversham a tradesman in 1847 had a son baptized Church-reform, and wished for another, to style him No-tithes, but wished in vain.”—P. S. inNotes and Queries, February 3, 1866.

[64]Sometimes, however, one was deemed enough, as, for instance, “Charitye, daughter of the Lord knows who!” This is from Youlgreave, Derbyshire, but the correspondent ofNotes and Queriesdoes not give the date.

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