Rev. Joshua Churchill (1627-1693/4). Joshua was baptised at Holy Trinity Church in Dorchester on 20th May 1627. He was the 3rd child but the only one to survive infancy from the marriage of John CHURCHILL to Joane EDWARDS at Holy Trinity Church in Dorchester on 19-Jun 1622. Educated initially at the 'Free School' in Dorchester he entered Queens College Cambridge on 18 Aug 1644 progressing to Emmanuel College on 29 Jan 1647/8 but did not graduate taking holy orders instead. He was made Vicar of Over Compton in Dorset in 1650; Rector of Winterborne Came & Farringdon 1655; and then Vicar of Fordington in 1656. There he remained until he was presented to the Assizes in 1660 for not using the Anglican Liturgy and ejected from Fordington in 1662. He is said to have been imprisoned at Dorchester 1663/4.

He retained a lot of support in the town, for example when John RASKER a Maltster of Fordington wrote his will on 9th December 1661 he asked him to preach at his funeral from Psalm 73 paragraphs 25 & 26. Joshua was also left twenty shillings in the Wills of Christian Lauerens of Fordington dated 20th Nov 1663 and Elinor Hackham of Fordington dated 15th Nov 1664. He went to Compton Valence to live (by 1665) and then assisted the Rev. William Benn in preaching to a dissenting congregation of about 200 at Fordington, and succeeded him in his pastoral office publishing some of Benn's sermons. Episcopal returns for 1669 report him as one of the preachers to "100 or 200 of ordinary ranke most foreigners at Mr Thomas Graves and his sonnes house in Donhead St Andrew Wiltshire. On 13th Feb 1669/70 he was one of the witnesses to the Will of Sarah Bushrod of Dorchester the wife of Habadasher John BUSHROD (1612-1683/4). He was licenced 17 April 1672 as a "Congregational teacher in his house in Dorchester and that of Benjamin Devenishe in Fordington. He signed the address of thanks from Dorset Ministers 10th May 1672 and was left £5, & a debt of £5, waived in the Will of Phillip STANSBIE (d.1686).

He marrried an Elizabeth probably at Fordington where all the pariah registers are missing (1640 to 1663 inc) which embraces the entire period of his tenure as vicar there. For the same reason we have no record of children from the marriage except that after his ejection in 1662 he returned with William Benn to establish the Congregational Church and we know he had a house in Dorchester. The Chapel only had a very small burial ground with most burials of its members taking place in Holy Trinity parish. Here Elizabeth the wife of Mr Joshua Churchill was buried on 12th October 1691. She was quickly followed by their daughter Mary on 3rd Nov 1691 and their daughter Elizabeth on 26th Jan 1691/2. Joshua joined them on 8th Jan 1693/4. He died intestate with Letters of Administration for his estate being taken out by his surviving daughter Joane .

Sources (PL) Listed as a Vicar no date: (Hutchins) CAM: MRD: FFH: Edmund Calamy An Act of Ministers, lecturers, masters & Fellows of colleges and schoolmasters who were ejected or silenced after the restoration of 1660 by the act of Uniformity Pub 1713 (Note Not listed on PL) Freedom after Ejection A Review (1690-1692) of Presbyterian & Congregational Non conformity in England and Wales by Alexander Gordon MA published Manchester 1907. Episcopal Returns: Wills Dorset Archdeaconry AD/DT/1693 Event Record 20

Rev. John THORNBURGH MA (1618-1702) He was the son of a Gentleman, Edward Thornburgh of Salisbury Wiltshire who became Archdeacon of Worcester in 1629 and had been rector of Owermoigne in 1614. John matriculated at Christs College Oxford on 23th March 1634-5 aged 16 where he was awarded a B.A. degree on 30th Oct 1638 and an M.A. on 25th June 1641. He joined the church being instituted as Vicar of Lavington in Wiltshire on 22nd April 1645, a position he held until he was appointed rector of Owermoigne on 19th Sep 1661. Around 1660 when records are poor he met and married a Susannah (surname unknown) and they started a family. He appears to have had at least a daughter Hannah who later married Rev Henry Robinson (see below). A son Giles Thornburgh was baptised at Owermoigne on 23rd Aug 1663. He signed the Act of Uniformity on 20th June 1662. His wife Susannah however died and was buried in the parish on 10th Jan 1665-6. John was appointed Perpetual vicar of Fordington on 18th July 1665 where he remained until he resigned on 14th Aug 1683.

John THORNBURGH, along with the Vicar of All Saints Church in Dorchester The Revd Richard WINE, were appointed by the General Sessions held at Sherborne on 17th Apr 1666 as joint treasurers for a charity fund they set up after an appeal was made throughout the divisions of Dorchester, Bridport and Sherborne to help 4 families living in Fordington who lost everything in a disastrous Fire on 1st March 1666. He retired to his living at Owermoigne and was buried there in accordance with the statues for burying in woollen on the 30th of April 1702. The affidavit was made the same day before William Innes Vicar of Fordington and the rector of Owermoigne Robert Bartholomew .

Source (PL) Listed as a Vicar 1665: ( Hutchins) states 'John Thornburgh, inst. 18 July,1665'.: (OXA) (CCEd) (PR) Signed Fordington for years 1665 to 1667 inc + 1669 + 1675; Burial PR Owermoigne

Rev William [Willhelmus] INNS BA (1670 - 1707) The son of William INNS of Oxford, paup, he matriculated at Magdalen College Oxford on 17th Dec 1686 at the age of 16. A Chorister 1684-1691 he was awarded his BA in 1691. He was ordained as a deacon in Magdalen College Chapel on 20th December that year and served as curate of All Cannings Chapelry at Etchilhampton from 21st Oct 1698. His ordination as a priest came at the Bishops Palace Chapel at Salisbury on 12th Oct 1701 in preparation for his appointment as perpetual Vicar of Fordington on 28th November that year. His univercity record states that he was also made Rector of Winterborne Gemayne in 1704. He married a Susannah and had a daughter Elizabeth who was buried at Fordington on 7th Jan 1705. They also had a son William INNS bap at Fordington on 28 Jan 1705/6 but the Rev William INNS then died on 7th Aug 1707 being buried in St Georges churchyard on the 11th. Their son William also died aged 3 being buried there on 19th April 1709.

Sources:- (PL) Listed as a Vicar 1701: (Hutchins) states 'William Innes, on the cession of Robinson, inst 28 Nov. 1701'; OXA Sources quoted= Boxam 1 120; Fosters Index Eccl; Parish Registers for Fordington.

Rev Latimer CROSSE MA LLD (1668 - 1739) The son of Joshua Crosse of the City of Oxford and scholar of Wadham College he matriculated at Trinity College Oxford 27th March 1685 at the age of 17; awarded his BA in 1688 and MA in 1692. He was ordained a deacon & priest in Magdalen college Chapel on 8th May 1692 and made curate of East Kennett 21st Oct 1698; and vicar of Rowde in Wiltshire on 21st may 1701 until 25 May 1708. On the death of William INNES above he was appointed perpetual vicar of Fordington on 27th Jan 1707/8 taking up office the following April. He left to become Vicar of Corsham in Wiltshire on 17th Oct 1713 where he was in office until 12 Nov 1719. Amongst the church plate at Corsham is a silver paten dated 1719 given to the church by Latimer Crosse. A docuent also exists at the National Archives also dated 1719 which is a testimonial from the Vicar of Milksham and neighbouring clergy. Church records show that he was instituted as Perpetual Vicar of Kentbury St Mary in Berkshire where he died aged 74 on 5th Aug 1739.

Sources:- (PL) Listed as a Vicar 1707: (Hutchins) states 'Latimer Cross, on the death of Innes, instit. 27 Jan. 1707'; CL: OXA; ; Parish Register memoranda; National Archives D/1/14/1/6a/52 1719;

Rev. John [Johannes] JACOB (1690 - 1759) BCL Generally thought to have been the son of Thomas JACOB of Enford in Wiltshire he was educated at Merton College in Oxford where he matriculated on 30 May 1706 at the age of 16. He was awarded a Bachelor of Canon Law [BCL] on 27th February 1712/13. On the 21st Sep 1712 he took holy orders being ordained a deacon in Salisbury Cathedral and he was ordained a priest at the Bishops Chapel in Salisbury on 18th January 1713/4 before being granted the living at Fordington on 19th January 1714 (on the death of the existing vicar Thomas WYATT) where he remained until his own death in 1759.

Hutchins refers to his being appointed as master of the Free School on 1st Nov 1721 when the existing Master Rev William THORNTON surrendered his Mastership. I cannot however trace him being licenced as a schoolmaster. Church records do show that he took on the additional role as Rector of All Saints Church in Dorchester on 18 Sep 1734 after the existing vicar Richard Hutchins died. He was very active for example when the Rev William Leigh the Rector of Holy Trinity and St Peters Died on 4th January 1752 he took on his role at the regular Vestry Meetings and he and his son of the same name were even Overseers of the Poor for Holy Trinity Church throughout 1752/3.

Rev. John JACOB married on 22nd April 1716/7 at St Mary's church in the parish of Bruton in Somerset to Grace ELLING. Children from the marriage are shown below. Grace died and was buried at Fordington on 26th July 1727.

(1) Elizabeth Jacob (1718-1719/20) was baptised at St Georges church on 25th Feb 1718/19 and buried there on 26th January 1719/20. She was presumably left some money or property invested in her name at birth as her father had to arrange for a Letter of Administration to be issued on 1st Feb 1719/20.

(2) John Jacob Junior (1721- ?) bap St Georges Church 16th Aug 1721. He matriculated at Balliol college Oxford on 2 Feb 1740/1 at the age of 19 but his university record does not say whether he obtained a degree.

(3) Thomas Jacob (1720-1724) bap at St Georges Church on 29 Apr 1720. On the 6th July 1720 his aunt Ann Churchill wrote her will and left a bequest to " Thomas son of neice Grace JACOB £200". He was buried at FStG church on 25th June 1724.

Christopher TWINIHOE (TWYNIHOE or TWYNEHOO) Junior (1722 -1767 ) MA

He was descended from the ancient family of Twynho which is covered in 3 Visitation records. It starts with William Twyniho of Kayford in the Visitation of Somerset in 1575 (page132) showing descent to a George Twyniho of Kayford who married the daughter of Thomas Audley and left a son Christopher Twinyho (d1582) of Turnworth in Dorset who married Edith the daughter and co-heir of William Bamfield of Turnworth. This Christopher Twynihoe died in 1582 and his pedigree is continued in the 1623 Visitation to Dorset (page 95). Christopher & Edith's son and heir George Twynihoe of Turnworth married Ursula the daughter of John Basket of the Isle of Wight - he was still alive in 1623. His son and Heir Christopher Twiniho (1599 - 1643) of Turnworth has his pedigree continued in the 1677 Visitation of Dorset (page 70) showing that he married Elizabeth the daughter of Edward Seeley of Bridgewater. They had Christopher Twyniho (died 1676) of Turnworth who married Jane the daughter of Richard Bingham of Quarlston in Winterborne Stickland in 1657. They had Christopher Twyniho (1658-1696) of Turnworth who married Sarah the daughter of John Brodrep. Christopher & Sarah had Christopher Twyniho (1689/90-1773) of Turnworth The Rector of Steeple with Tyneham who was the father of Christopher Twyniho (1722-1767) of Turnworth the vicar of St Georges in Fordington who pre-deceased his father. I have set out this pedigree at length as with 5 Christopher Twiniho's of Turnworth its not suprising that there is some confusion over who died when.

His father had been appointed Rector of Steeple on 12 Jan 1738 and took on Poxwell in addition on 2nd March 1739 before he resigned his position on 22 April 1742. He was then made rector of Turnworth but church records do no appear to have survived reflecting this appointment which is confirmed by probate when he died. Christopher TWYIHOE (1722-1767) Junior was educated at Oxford where he matriculated at Wadham college on 26 March 1740 aged 18. He was awarded a BA degree at Wadham in 1743 before moving to Merton College Oxford where he gained his MA in 1746. He was ordained deacon at Christchurch on 10th June 1750 and a priest a year later. I have not managed to locate where he served his curacy but he was instituted as Perpetual Vicar of St Georges Church Fordington on the death of John Jacob on 20th April 1759 taking up office according to the parish registers on 29th. His burial was recorded at Turnworth in the parish register as taking place on 24 April 1767 so he predeceased his father. When his father died on 22 Sep 1773 the ancient name of TWYNIHOE became extinct.

Rev. Sidney BOULTER MA (1851- 1932) The son of Daniel Boulter he was a graduate of Keble Colledge Oxford being awarded his BA (2nd cl Theoligical Scholar) in 1873 and his MA in 1876. He was ordained a Dean 1874 when he became an assistant master and Chaplain at St Marks School Windsor until 1877. He was ordained as a Priest in 1878 and appointed curate of Taynton and Great Barrington near Burford Oxon to 1881. Then Vice Principal at St Boniface. Missionary College Warminster 1881-1884 and Sub Warden 1884-1886. Curate of Warminster 1882-1886 and Broadwinsor 1886-1888. On 17th January 1888 he married Mary Elizabeth Alcock at Warminster and was appointed as vicar of St Georges Church in Fordington the same year, a position he held until 1906. A son they named John Sidney Boulter (1890-1969) was born in the parish on 16th Aug 1890. His gross income was £325 with residence and a population of over 2,300. In 1906 he moved to become the Rector of Poulshot in Devises. He died there at the age of 81 and on the south wall over the Priest's Door is a memorial to the Rev. Sidney Boulter who died in January 1932 after an incumbency of twenty seven years.

Sources: (PL) Listed as a Vicar 1888: Clergy List 1897; Crockfords Clerical Directory 1898 & 1932 ; Kelleys Dir 1895; PL The Bristol Mercury and Daily Post (Bristol, England), Monday, January 2, 1888; Issue 12367 Also: Liverpool Mercury etc (Liverpool, England), Thursday, February 2, 1888; Issue 12500 - Also The Bristol Mercury and Daily Post (Bristol, England), Friday, February 3, 1888; Issue 12395; A Historical sketch of Poulshot church by Stanley harper; GRO Devises 5a/133

Rev. Richard Grosvenor BARTELOT MA. FSA. (1868-1947)     Link to an account of his life Vicar of St Georges Church Fordington 1906-1936 Local historian, author and genealogist

See separate account of the Life of Rev William STRONG (d.1654) Curate of St Georges Church Fordington 1634-1639

Charles PITFIELD (1666-1743) [ Link to his place in The Pitfield Family of Fordington ]

Sources: Poor Law Records Bastardy Maintenance Bond dated 12th July 1723 for William Churchill of Fordington in the county of Dorset Husbandman of the one part, Thomas TIRRELL and Charles PITFIELD Yeomen Churchwardens of the parish church of the parish of Fordington etc : Also as a member of the church vestry signed the Accounts for 1724 to 1727: Also assessed for a poor rate of 2s each year from 1726 to 1728 inc and Overseer of the Poor in 1728.

Vestry 19 Oct 1727 + Vestry 3 Oct 1728 & rendered the Extraordinary Account; St Georges Baptism & Burial registers

Esau THOMAS (1826-1900) was baptised at St Mary's Church Frome St Quintin Dorset on 7th May 1826 the son of Stephen Thomas (1794-1873) and Jane nee Lake (1805-1879). As an agricultural labourer he married there to Harriet Watts a native of Cheddington at Frome St Quintin on 9th Jan 1850. They had 3 children at Cattistock before moving to live in Fordington in 1855 where Elizabeth Jane was baptised on 31st Aug 1856; Sarah on 25th July 1858; Charles 29th July 1860; Jane 27th July 1862; Mary Ann 30th June 1867; Henry 29th May 1870 and Eliza 29th Sep 1872.

Source: See Parish Burial and Marriage Registers ; He is referred to on a number of burials as the Sexton at FStG Church for the years 1882-1886 and recorded again as the Sexton and the father of Fanny Thomas aged 23 when she married Frederick Henry Legg at FStG Church on 20th Sep 1888 ; also his son Henry Thomas aged 21 when he married at FStG Church to Flora Legg on 19th April 1891 and his daughter Jane when she married Thomas Watts on 5th Feb 1894.