James EMERY - builder of brick walls

[Old Bristolian]

I was thrilled when I found an ancestor of mine (James Emery 1738-1806) was the parish clerk at Ashwick, Somerset from about 1782 until his death. By viewing the Parish Register I will be able to see his handwriting & signature as a witness to many marriages.
Checking further back in the PR transcripts, it seems that his father (another James Emery c1709-1789) held the same post from an unspecified date until about 1761. My joy was tempered however when I read the comments of the minister, entered into the Register in 1732:

By ye excessive negligence of James Emery ye Clerk, notwithstanding frequent admonition to ye contrary in seversl months before & after this, I believe several Christnings are omitted wh ought to have been registered & that yt are registered are much confused.

Three years later a similar comment is entered:

The same complaint which I have made already concerning James Emery, Clerk of Ashwick, I must here again repeat, tho' this will be but poor satisfaction to those yt may suffer by ys deficiency of ye Register from March 1733 to the date underwritten. I shall for ye future take ye names of those I bury and baptize myself, and if any fault happens, I shall give ye Parishoners leave to charge it on their Vicar. Tho. Jenkins 28 September 1735.

I feel I must apologise on behalf of my ancestor to anyone researching this Parish in this period - how many brick walls must James have built!
It seems the clerk who came between them was no improvement - his spelling of common Christian names is poor, and as for surnames! The younger James when he started as Clerk, carefully entered all his own children's baptisms at the end of the Register

Steve

[heywood]

On dear 

As someone who is hopeless at keeping records and puts things off thinking 'I'll catch up later', I empathise with James.
However, if it was my dear ancestors, then I think I may be rather cross.
I hope that anyone who has been sorely afflicted by this deficiency    will accept your apology Steve.   
Poor Mr Jenkins - all that extra work. Just shows sometimes you can never get the staff 

[48ers]

Steve, I just happened to google Emery Ashwick and found your entry and had a little giggle.  You have given me an insight into the character of my 4 and 5 times great grandfathers. .

Unfortunately I have not had privy to these original registers having relied on the use of Freereg and the IGI so I have missed this tidbit of information.  Love to make contact - (*)

Kay Sturgeon, Gol Gol NSW Australia

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[Old Bristolian]

Hi Kay

Super to hear from you. I will reply to your PM in due course. I will give you a little more information on the Emerys when I reply, but the Ashwick register is very barren for the early 18th century ( not wholly due to James!)

Kind regards

Steve