Notes from the Register Books of the Parish of Preshute. 101 



The following note by the then Vicar, the Eev. John Hitchcock, 



at the commencement of Volume I. shows that an older register 



book was unfortunately destroyed by fire : — 



" The other [book] wch I made for many yeares before remaining in my house 

 was consumed by ye fire with ye rest of my goodes." 



The average number of baptisms is 12.98 per annum, the highest 

 point, 33, being reached in 1655. 



The average number of burials is 9.34 per annum, the highest 

 point, 26, being reached in 1638. 



The average number of marriages is 6.95 per annum, the highest 

 point, 48, being reached in 1642. 



The number of entries, however, rises and falls very irregularly. 



Owing no doubt to the disturbances caused by the Civil War, 

 and its results, the entries under all three heads are very irregular 

 during the years 1643 to 1653 inclusive, and in some of the years 

 there are no entries at all. For instance, in the years 1644, 1651, 

 and 1652, there are no entries of any sort. In the year 1643 there 

 are 1 baptism 2 burials, and 6 marriages. In 1645 and 1646 

 there is 1 baptism in each year, but no burial or marriage. In 

 1647 there are no baptisms or burials but 13 marriages. In 1648 

 there are 1 baptism, 1 burial, and 17 marriages. In 1649 there 

 are 4 baptisms, no burial, and 23 marriages. In 1650 there are 1 

 baptism, no burial, and 2 marriages. In 1653 there are 13 

 baptisms, and 4 burials, but no marriage. 



It may be noted that in 1642, the year of the commencement of 

 the Civil War, the number of marriages was 48, or nearly eight 

 times the average. 



From 1653 to 1666 the date of birth as well as baptism is given 

 regularly, but afterwards only occasionally. 



The parish being in its nature almost entirely agricultural, as 

 distinguished from residential, there are but few entries having 

 any but a local interest. 



The following entries relate to the Seymour family, the owners 

 of the mansion built upon the site of Marlborough Castle. This 

 mansion afterwards became the Castle Inn, well known in coaching 

 days as a stopping-place on the road from London to Bath. On 



G 2 



