Churchwardens Accounts Of Ashburton Devon 1479-1580

Unlock the Lives of Your Devon Ancestors in a Century of Revolution

Step off the modern high street and onto the cobblestones of Tudor Ashburton. For over a century, from the age of the Plantagenets through the tumultuous reigns of the Tudor monarchs, the churchwardens of St. Andrew’s Church meticulously recorded the life, death, and daily dealings of this vibrant Devon stannary town. Now, this priceless primary source is available, offering you an unparalleled, intimate glimpse into the world your ancestors knew.

This isn't just a list of names; it is the story of a community. Spanning the English Reformation, these accounts capture a society in profound transition. You will read of payments for maintaining the rood lofts one year, and then the costs of whitewashing over them the next. You'll see the price of communion wine, the wages of the bell-ringer, and the alms given to the poor of the parish. These are the details that breathe life into your family tree.

What You Will Discover Within These Pages:

The Names of Your Ancestors: Find your forebears listed as churchwardens, collectors for the poor rate, tenants of church lands, or craftsmen paid for their work on the fabric of the church.

A Sense of Place & Community: Understand the parish as a living, breathing entity. Discover who your ancestors' neighbours were, who held local influence, and how the community worked together.
The Impact of National Events: Witness the seismic shifts of the Reformation at a local level. See how Henry VIII's break with Rome and the religious swings of his children's reigns affected the very building and finances of the parish church.

Details of Daily Life: Gain insight into the local economy, from the tithes paid on wool and tin to the costs of maintaining the churchyard and repairing the church roof. These entries are a window into the costs, concerns, and priorities of 16th-century life.

Clues to Social Standing: Was your ancestor a respected churchwarden entrusted with the parish funds? Or a labourer paid a few shillings for a day's work? The accounts provide powerful clues to their status and role within
Ashburton society.

Walk in the Footsteps of Famous Residents
While researching your own family, you will be walking in the footsteps of one of Tudor England's most significant legal minds. During this period, Ashburton was home to Sir John Southcote (c. 1510–1555).

A distinguished judge, Member of Parliament, and landowner, Southcote's life intertwined with the great events of the age. He served as a judge at the trial of the Lord Admiral Thomas Seymour and was a key figure in the legal and political landscape of Edward VI's reign. Your ancestors may have known him by name, paid taxes on his land, or heard news of his career from London as they went about their business in the town. These accounts provide the very context of the world he inhabited.

A Genealogist's Goldmine

Parish registers tell you when your ancestors were born, married, and died. The Churchwardens' Accounts tell you how they lived. They provide the rich, colourful, and essential background that transforms a collection of names into a living family history. This is a treasure trove for anyone with roots in Ashburton or Devon, and an indispensable resource for local and social historians.