72 NOTES ON THE RECTORS OF STAVELEY. 
widow of Francis Woodrove, and daughter of Arthur Key (Kay, 
or Kaye), of Almonbury, Yorks. Edward Key held the rectory 
for an extraordinary long period, as his name is found ina com- 
plete list of Derbyshire beneficed clergy for the year 1605, which 
I have recently found among the Chapter Muniments at Lichfield. 
There are several entries in the Staveley register pertaining to 
the family of Key between the years 1654 and 1660.” 
XIX. The Rev. Edward Birkbeck, B.D., was a divine of the 
Puritan school ; he was chaplain to John, Lord Darcy of Aston, a 
very religious nobleman of that time. In the old register book at 
Staveley Church, there were several memorials of his family, from 
which it appeared that he marrried (14 July, 1609) Ann Key, 
widow (perhaps of the former rector). The baptisms of his chil- 
dren follow in order, viz.: Judith, 14 October, 1609-10 ; Thomas, 
20 November, 1611; Edward, 1 June, 1613; and Peter, 11 
February, 1614. My transcript of the next entry is somewhat 
doubtful as to its accuracy—and if accurate it seems inexplicable 
—viz.: “Isabell, daughter of Edward Birkbeck and Barbara, his 
wife, 3 August, 1614,” whereas it appeared by the same record 
that Ann, his wife, was not buried till 2 August, 1616. Edward 
Birkbeck and Thomas Birkbeck both occur amongst the witnesses 
to the will of Sir Peter Frecheville, dated 16 March, 1632, who 
thereby gives to ‘‘ Mast. Edward Birkbeck, clerk, parson of 
Staveley, £5, and to his godson, Peter Birkbeck, £5.” Thomas 
Birkbeck, son of this rector, was chosen assistant minister of the 
Parish Church of Sheffield in 1635, and appointed vicar of the 
same church in 1644 by the Parliamentarians. He was afterwards 
resident at the pleasant and valuable rectory of Ackworth, in 
Yorkshire. And now I must leave him in the hands of the two 
great biographers of that time. Dr. Calamy (Vonconformists’ 
Memorial, 2nd Ed., 1713, p. 789) says: ‘‘He had been minister 
there many years when he was silenc’d in 1662 [probably 1660]. 
He afterwards dwelt in his own house at Sheffield; preach’d 
frequently, and did much good. He was a very worthy divine, 
and a solid substantial preacher, one of a cheerful spirit, but much 
afflicted with the stone.” 
