Vicars/Rectors in 1600's

[Lydart]

Probably no help at all, but just to back up what has been said ...

I've researched a local vicar here who in 1686 left money to establish a school in the village ... although this is Monmouthshire, he came from 'gentry' in Leicestershire; had attended Oxford; and was a rich vicar here by the age of 22 !!    So yes, gentry, and money !!

I'm a trustee of the trust which has been handed down since then, but now, with no actual school any more, it provides money for needy children or university students from the village ...

[Siamese Girl]

Patrons of a parish would usually give the living either to a family member or someone they knew well or someone who would pay them  a sum of money to secure the living. I'd think John Turner would have been related, but then again it's not an uncommon name.

I expect you'll have checked PCC wills - I could see a Bernard Turner of Layston 1696, but my Hertfordshire geography isn't good enough for me to know where it is/what is near it.

Carole

[Lady Di]

I'm a trustee of the trust which has been handed down since then, but now, with no actual school any more, it provides money for needy children or university students from the village ...

Thanks Lydart,

I often wondered what happened to the trusts set up in the 1600's where a small amount (by todays standards) was left to the needy of the village. I'm surprised to hear that these trusts are still in existence today.

I expect you'll have checked PCC wills - I could see a Bernard Turner of Layston 1696,

Well spotted Carole - Bernard Turner was John Turner's son. I do have his will but it doesn't say anything helpful about the earlier generations unfortunately.

Thanks everyone. It's good to know that maybe the Vicar Turner was related to the church patron. It would certainly make my research easier - all I have to do now is prove it 

Di

[c-side]

Just a thought - vicars/ministers are often mentioned in books relating to the history of the county.  These can usually be found in the county records office and/or libraries.

If he is connected to the 'local gentry' then I expect he'll get a bigger mention than most 

Christine

[behindthefrogs]

A search of A2A for Turner Layston shows that HALS holds the following item which may be of interest:

Lease for a year  DE/Wy/39772  16 July 1669


Contents:
By John Taylor of Shinglehall, Sawbridgewenth, gentleman, and Sir Edward Atkins, knight, one of the Barons of the Exchequer, to Bernard Turner, citizen and goldsmith of London, of the manor of Affledwick otherwise Beauchamps etc and land in Layston, Anstey, Great Hormead and Wyddial. Signatures, Seals missing

[Lady Di]

Christine that is an excellent suggestion for anyone researching the earlier years.

I have a copy of "Historical Antiquities of Hertfordshire" where many of the Clergy are mentioned in context. This book has been a fantastic bonus. Although you can't expect it to be 100% accurate without checking everything, it does provide a good basis.

These books certainly  help anyone researching a specific county but unfortunately my John Turner took over from a Minister who had been at the church for almost 50 years so he had lots written about him and no one else was mentioned  

I do know that my guy was born 1603, died 1663, went to Cambs Uni, had at least two sons, Bernard and William but that's my limit!

Why couldn't I pick an easy one to research?  
(It's the fun of the chase - isn't it!!   )

A search of A2A for Turner Layston shows that HALS holds the following item which may be of interest:

Lease for a year DE/Wy/39772 16 July 1669


Contents:
By John Taylor of Shinglehall, Sawbridgewenth, gentleman, and Sir Edward Atkins, knight, one of the Barons of the Exchequer, to Bernard Turner, citizen and goldsmith of London, of the manor of Affledwick otherwise Beauchamps etc and land in Layston, Anstey, Great Hormead and Wyddial. Signatures, Seals missing

Thanks David - yes, that's the right family. Bernard gave "Affledwick otherwise Beauchamps" to his daughter Ann when she married in 1690.

Bernard wasn't short of a £ or two but he appears to have made it all as a Goldsmith/Banker and not as an inheritance. Which brings me back to his father, John Turner, who unfortunately doesn't appear to have left a will - or any money - or if he had any family connection to the locals.

Thanks

Di

[stonechat]

I found the ordination papers of one of mine  -Rev George Boyce - had a written copy of his baptism
The ordination papers were at Swindon archives, George was in Winkfield Berks, - at that time in Salsbury Diocese.

So you need to work out the Diocese at the time, then fin out which archive their papers may be in

Bob

[behindthefrogs]

Layston along with most of a strip of east Hertfordshire was in the Archdeaconry of Middlesex in the Diocese of London.  Most of Hertfordshire was in the Diocese of London.  While the parish registers are at HALS I am not sure what this means about other diocese documentation which may be somewhere like the LMA.  This of course may also apply to any will made by John Turner.

Have you looked for a will beyond the PCC?

David

[Lady Di]

My apologies for not replying sooner - I've been away for a couple of weeks.

I found the ordination papers of one of mine  -Rev George Boyce - had a written copy of his baptism
The ordination papers were at Swindon archives, George was in Winkfield Berks, - at that time in Salsbury Diocese.

So you need to work out the Diocese at the time, then fin out which archive their papers may be in

Bob

That sounds like a fantastic bonus Bob. I wouldn't have expected to find a baptism record in with his ordination papers.

That's certainly a line worth following up.

Thanks

Layston along with most of a strip of east Hertfordshire was in the Archdeaconry of Middlesex in the Diocese of London. Most of Hertfordshire was in the Diocese of London. While the parish registers are at HALS I am not sure what this means about other diocese documentation which may be somewhere like the LMA. This of course may also apply to any will made by John Turner.

Have you looked for a will beyond the PCC?

David

I have checked Origins as well as PCC for a will David but haven't located one so far. 

I do have a copy of the LDS PR's for Layston but unfortunately they're not particularly helpful finding John's birth and with such a common name I'm rather clutching at straws with this guy.

I'll follow up on "other diocese documentation" and also see if LMA has any applicable records.

Thanks for your help and suggestions

Di