during the Great Rebellion. 311 



tizatorum, nuptorum, et defunetorum,) reveals some facts of interest in 

 connection with the events of the Great Rebellion. It commences 

 1578. Baptisms are regularly registered till 1642. In that year 

 appear six entries of baptism ; then three quarters of a page are 

 blank, and one more entry is made on Nov. 13th. In 1643, 

 nearly fifty baptisms are entered irregularly, and the christian 

 name is often omitted : in this year are two entries of births. In 

 1644, there is no entry at all. In 1645, five entries of birth, four 

 of the children as born about such a day ; four of baptisms about 

 such a day; but the christian and surnames, either in fear or 

 malice, are blotted out. In 1646, is one entry of birth. Further 

 on in the book appears a long list of names with this superscrip- 

 tion : — " Names of such as were baptized in the years 46 — 47 — 48 

 — 49 — 50: all which were registered by the then parish clerk, John 

 Bond, in a small paper book." " Ita testor. Jonathan Geare, Vicar, 

 ibid." John Bond's last entry is Sep. 15th, 1650. Then follows 

 this note in the hand of Jonathan Geare, viz., " From this year 

 till Sep. 29, 1653, the Register Book by reason of the discord in 

 Church and State was neglected ; in that year it began to be in 

 use again." 



On August 24th, 1653, an act of Commonwealth passed, touching 

 marriages and the registering thereof, also touching births and 

 burials, by which it was decreed that a registrar be chosen in every 

 district, and a good book of vellum or parchment be provided : 

 accordingly on September 21st, Edward Berry, scrivener, was chosen 

 registrar for Chippenham, and the good book provided at a cost of 

 £2. From 1653 to 1656, there is a regular entry of births, though 

 few in some months, and not in Berry's hand — only two entries in 

 1657 —the rest of 1657 and 1658 omitted, but blanks are left. In 

 1658, a page is headed in large distinct characters, Baptisms of 

 Infants — two entries of baptism that year are made in the Vicar's 

 hand ; in 1659, a regular monthly registration begins, each page 

 signed— " Ita testor. J. G."— till he died in 1680. 



The gaps in the register of burials are very wide through the 

 years of the troubles. In 1642 there are none from May to 

 November ; in 1643 some in Fr. Dewy's, the Vicar's hand; he 



