104 BUCKLAND NEWTON PARISH REGISTER. 



a justice of the peace, for registering births and burials. "William 

 Summerset was acting in this capacity at Buckland in 1655, and an 

 attempt was then made to remedy in some instances the neglect of 

 former years, and it is recorded : " Whereas And for as much as 

 divers Children borne and Baptized within this parish of Buckland 

 Newton haue been omitted to be Regestred. And now I beinge 

 truely Informed by theyre parents of the tyme of thier baptisme : 

 haue nowe heere Regestred Each mans Chyldren (heerin) Altogether, 

 And haue destinctly noted the daye And yeare of the Baptisme of 

 Each one of them : Accordinge as I haue been Informed by theyr 

 parents." This memorandum immediately follows the date, 14th 

 January, 1655-6, and the earliest of these retrospective entries 

 reaches back to the birth of Margarett, daughter of William 

 Holland, 15th January, 1643. After two pages the Register 

 resumes its usual course. Shortly afterwards another registrar was 

 appointed. " The 16 day of May 1656, William Dauis of 

 Buckland Newton was sworne Register of the said Parrishe of 

 Buckland before vs, (vpon a Certificate of the said Parrishes 

 receaued the day abouesaid.) Jo. Fitz James, Walt. Foy." 



'In those days marriages were performed by justices of peace, of 

 which the following entry gives a specimen : " The Contract and 

 purpose of marryage betweene John Watts and Edith Lane both 

 of the pish of Buckland Newton : was published in the sayd 

 parish Church three severall Lords dayes viz. 1. August ye 24th, 

 2. August 31st, 3. September the 14th, and noe exception taken 

 agaynst the sayd publication. And the sayd John and Edith were 

 marryed att Midlton by John Squibb of Whitchurch P^sq. the 

 seventh daye of October 1656." 



Yet even then, and with precautions of this kind, things did not 

 always go well, for on 29th October, 1655, John Rol>erts, of 

 Buckland Newton, practicioner of Chirurgery, and Salina Bryce 

 of Broade Sidlinge, daughter of Ela Bryce of Buckland Newton, 

 widow, were married by John Arnold Esq., J.P. in the presence of 

 t c William Summerset, Register," and the same couple afjain 

 married 5th June, 1656, by John Squibb of Whitchurch Esq., 



