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Some Papers of A ‘Riding Priest’, Thomas Roydon (1662–1741)
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 16 September 2015
Extract
A search for information concerning Dodding Green, the historic chapel in Cumbria, has lately brought to light some papers of a ‘riding’ priest. The CRS has published numerous registers of the eighteenth century but not, I think, one kept by a priest who served what was termed a ‘Circuit’. One such priest was Thomas Roydon who travelled for some twenty years between house-chapels in Westmorland and less frequently into north Lancashire and to Brough in Yorkshire. The papers of his which have been recovered consist of a composite register of deaths, baptisms, marriages and ‘reconciliations’. Together with this were found two catalogues of deaths and baptisms which are based on the register but extend beyond it and make additions to it. Two notebooks of his were also found. One of these was kept by the priest, as he writes: ‘during the time when the Gentry were dispersed or in prison’. The other notebook contains his accounts of the administration of funds for a priest who was an uncle of his. Finally, a few long letters of Roydon's were found which are mainly concerned with fees due to Douai college and also the fund on which he was maintained as a travelling priest.
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References
Notes
A The Register, Catalogues, Notebooks and Letters of Thomas Roydon here mentioned are now in the Lancashire Record Office listed RCLa accession 6361/—. They were found in Lancaster in 1982.
B The Dodding Green Letterbooks. 1-3, are in the presbytery there. They were copied by Robert Hogarth, an incumbent there in the middle of the 19th century, for presentation to the Charity Commission. They consist of deeds, letters and other papers of Robert Stephenson, the founder of the mission.
C The original letters to and from Stephenson, including numbers from Vicars Apostolic, are in St. Joseph's presbytery, Lancaster.
1 Anstruther, O. P. Seminary Priests, 1, pp. 192–3;Google Scholar also CRS, vol. 28, pp. 9-10 adped.
2 Kirk, Biographies of English Catholics 1700–1800, (London, 1909), pp. 196–7.Google Scholar
3 Robert Hogarth, Note in D. G. Letterbook. 1, p. 134.
4 Robert Stephenson, Deed of 13 Nov. 1706. D. G. Letterbook 1, p. 48: ‘…all Church and sacred robes so bought shall be marked with a red cross, and these letters W. C., standing for Westmorland Circuit.’
5 RCLa acc. 6361/4(ii). See, too, Rob. Stephenson, Deed of 13 Jan. 1702 D. G. letterbook p. 33; ‘… that the sum given be wholly and unchangeably annext to the sole use benefit and necessity of the secular clergy desireing and intending that in case the Pension of Dr George Leyburne should chance to fail for Skelsmergh, and that place or neighbourhood be not otherwise sufficiently supplied … this my free gift … may be applied … ’.
6 Rob. Hogarth to J. V. Harting, D. G. Letterbook 3, p. 9.
7 Rob. Stephenson, Deed 13 Nov. 1706, D. G. Letterbook, 1, p. 37. These early donations were augmented from time to time; for instance, 14 May 1714 attached is a ‘declaration’ to his will: ’ … I the said Rob. Stephenson … give the sum of five hundred forty-seven pounds to Thomas Roydon and Edward Gilpin … ’ (D. G. Letterbook 1, p. 115).
8 J. Kirk, p. 197.
9 RCLa acc. 6361/3b.
10 An Act to Prevent the Further Growth of Popery, 11 & 12 William III, c. 4.
11 Payne, J. O. Records of English Catholics of 1715, (London 1901) p. 128.Google Scholar
12 Rob. Stephenson, Trust Deed 13 November 1706, D. G. Letterbook 1, p. 37 and other deeds stressing residence as a pre-requisite to the priest beneficiary.
13 Rob. Hogarth, Note in D. G. Letterbook 1, p. 352. After stating that the list of obligations for Dodding Green gives Stephenson's anniversary as 20 April 1723 he writes: ‘At what period the Rev. Thomas Roydon Senior was inducted does not appear, probaby the same year in which Mr Stephensondied’.
14 Rob. Stephenson, ‘Deed of Uses’ 1 Nov. 1721, given in full in Statement for the Charity Commissioners, Appendix of Documents, 1860, p. 3.
15 Thomas Roydon's Letters, D. G. Letterbook 2, pp. 134-8, 163-4, 175-6.
16 J. Kirk, p. 197.
17 RCla acc. 6361/1.
18 RCLa acc. 6361/2b.
19 RCLa acc. 6361/2a.
20 RCLa acc. 6361/3b.
21 RCLa acc. 6361/3a. For Thomas Roydon, alias Faceby, see G. Anstruther, O.P. 2, p. 273.
22 RCLa acc. 6361/4 (i).
23 RCLa acc. 6361/4 (ii). For Dr. George and Bishop John Leyburn see DNB. Concerning John Leyburn, called of ‘Cunswick and Nateby’, it is recorded that after 1715: ‘The Cunswick estate became forfeit … and was purchased of the crown by Thomas Crowle’ (Jos. Nicolson & Rich. Burns, The History of the Counties of Westmorland and Cumberland, vol. 1, p. 144). Of his estateat Nateby it is related … after he had joined the rebels and was with them at Preston in 1715, being as a consequence attainted of high treason, his estates were forfeited to the crown, which being sold at public auction, were re-purchased for the family by Croft Corles, to whom the commissioners conveyed Nateby in 1722’ (Chetham Society, vol. CV, part 1, p. 251). Thomas Roydon was able to resume his visits at Nateby for Mass and continued them until he died in 1741. The Witherslack house escaped confiscation and also remained open for Mass. Skelsmergh Hall, however, was lost to the family after the rising (Sister Agnes, The Story of Skelsmergh, Kendal, 1949, based on a contemporary diary of Rob. Stephenson now lost)
24 RCFe 3/13. In Lancashire Record Office.
25 Ushaw MSS 3/51. I have to thank Fr. M. Sharratt for this information.
26 Ushaw MSS, 1/36.
27 Ushaw MSS, 2/30.
28 Ushaw MSS, 2/25.
29 Duffy, E. Challoner and his Church, (London 1981), p. 43,Google Scholar ad ped citing Humberside R. O.,Beverley, DDCC (Markham papers) 20.
30 Banister/Rutter letters and papers, archives of Archdiocese of Liverpool, Upholland Library.