Abbotsham, Deanery of Hartland

Chanter 225B, 822-823

1. Population and dissenters: About sixty Families. No papists. One Family, a single Woman and a Sailors Wife who frequent a Meeting in Bideford, which, I think they call Independant. No Meeting-House in the Parish.

2. Public or charity schools: A Donation of thirty Pounds, the Interest of which is according to the Donor’s Will applied for the teaching eight poor Children to read English who are duely instructed in the Church Catechism and orderly attend divine Service.

3. Alms-house, hospital or charitable endowment: An Almshouse inhabited by several poor Families. An Estate of five pounds <a year> given towards the Maintenance of the poor. An Annuity of five pounds issuing out of an Estate in the parish of Colridge which is at Christmass distributed to the poor in money. In my former Years John Willett Esqr took upon <him> the Disposal of it, and since his Death Tho: Saltren Esqr. without consulting me or the proper parish Officers; and I have many times heard Complaints of Partiality in the Distribution.

4. Residence upon cure: I reside in Bideford: little more than a computed Mile from my Parish Church; about half an Hour's Walk or quarter an Hour’s Ride. The Reason is my teaching the publick Grammar School in Bideford for the benefit of my Family, which is four Children unprovided for. Leave for so doing was granted me by Your Lordship’s Predecessor, which I humbly beg Your Lordship to indulge me in for the same Reason and the Smallness of My Living.

5. Curate: I have always served my Parish myself.

6. Divine service at other churches: No.

7. Frequency of divine service: On Sundays and the usual Holydays. Two Sermons every Lord’s-day all the Summer, and a Sermon in the Morning with twice Prayers, the Winter.

8. Frequency of communion: Four times a Year: at the three great Festivals and the Lord’s-day nearest to Michaelmas.

9. Number of communicants: About sixty Communicants. Near thirty usually receive. At Easter last past near forty.

10. Number of communicants: On Sundays in the Summer Season after the second Lesson at Evening Prayer, the Children of two <or> three Families at a time are Catechised till we have gone through the Parish.

11. Chapels or chapels in ruins: No Chappel within the Parish. The very small Remains of an End Wall and Porch of a Chappel, likely to have been in Ruins <for> two Ages or more, a Mile distant from the Church.

    Abbotsham V. Richard White,. Inst {Dec} July 14. 1733
    Presb: Dec: 22. 1723. Benj: Sarum. [Explanation]