ChurchWardens Accounts Of Kilmington Devon 1555-1608

Unlock the Secrets of Elizabethan Devon: The Churchwardens' Accounts of Kilmington, 1555-1608

Step back in time to the heart of the Tudor and Elizabethan era. Forget dry history books; this is the raw, unfiltered voice of a rural Devon community speaking across the centuries. These are not just names and dates—they are the stories of survival, faith, and daily life in a world on the cusp of modernity.

Spanning the reigns of Mary I, Elizabeth I, and James I, the Churchwardens' Accounts of Kilmington, 1555-1608 offer an unparalleled window into a pivotal period of English history. From the aftermath of the Reformation to the threat of the Spanish Armada, these pages document how a small Devon parish navigated religious change, economic hardship, and moments of national triumph.

What Will You Discover Inside?

This meticulously transcribed and annotated volume is a treasure trove for any family historian or local enthusiast. Within these records, you will find:

The Names of Your Ancestors: Go beyond the parish registers. Discover the names of ordinary villagers—carpenters, masons, ale-tasters, and field workers—who served the church and were paid for their labour.
Details of Daily Life: Learn what a loaf of bread cost, the wages for a day's work, and the price of repairing the church roof after a great storm.

Insights into the Local Economy: See how the parish managed its finances, collected rates, and distributed alms to the poor, revealing the social fabric of the community.

The Fabric of the Church: Follow the entries for the purchase of new bells, the maintenance of the rood screen (or its removal), and the payment of the parish clerk and sexton.
Glimpses of Major Events: Discover how the parish reacted to national events. Were funds raised for the defence against the Armada? Was a special thanksgiving service held?

A Parish of Influence: The Honyng Family of Kilmington Manor
During this period, Kilmington was no isolated backwater. It was the seat of the influential Honyng family. The accounts you hold were created under the shadow of Kilmington Manor, home to Sir John Honyng (c. 1508-1569), a distinguished courtier who served as Vice-Chamberlain to Henry VIII and Edward VI.

While Sir John's life straddled the earlier part of this period, his family and estates continued to shape the parish throughout the Elizabethan era. As you read these accounts, you are walking in the footsteps of history:

Did your ancestor work as a stonemason on the Honyng family estate?
Did they receive alms distributed at the manor's behest?
Were they one of the tenants who paid their dues to the Honyng family, the lords of the manor?

The presence of this gentry family adds a rich layer of context. The accounts may even reference payments for "my Lady's chamber" or repairs to "the Lord's gate," directly connecting the humble parishioner to the high politics of the Tudor court.

Who Is This Book For?

Genealogists with ancestors from Kilmington or the surrounding Devon parishes.
Local Historians seeking to understand the social and economic life of Elizabethan Devon.
Academic Researchers and students of Tudor and Stuart England.
Anyone with a passion for authentic history and the stories of ordinary people.