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That on Saturday the 6th Day of September 1785, Joseph ROLLES, Parish Clerk of Hasilbury-Brian, in the County of Dorset, with John ROLLES his son, and John UPSHALL the younger, labourer, did, under the direction of Mrs Elizabeth HILL, Widow of the same place take up the pavement of the church and dig a grave without the leave and consent of the Rector first asked and obtained, in order for the burial of Mr William WOODROW Gent of the parish of Buckland, four miles off, who died there and is supposed to have died worth £20,000 and on account of this burial the Rector was prevented from attending the Archdeacons Visitation. The Rector made no immediate demand for breaking the ground and burying the corpse, supposing that the executors or administrators of so opulent a person would have made him an handsome present without any demand; but on the 12th day of December last make a demand on Mrs Elizabeth HILL administratrix of Five Guineas, for breaking of the ground and burial of the corpse. Query, whether the Rector may not make a discretionary demand upon a person who did not die in his parish, nor ever live there? and if Five Guineas is too exorbitant a demand, what is not so? Hasilbury, February 7th 1786
No Person, whether Parishioner or not, may be buried in any Part of the Church without the consent of the Incumbant, who may consequently demand what sum he thinks fit for giving his consent. But if no agreement was made and engagement entered into for payment of a certain sum by the relations or representatives of the deceased before the grave was made and the corpse buried in it, I do not know how such demand can now be enforced by the Rector. William WYNNE Doctor Commons May 17th 1786 Genealogical Notes:- (1) The parish register for Hazelbury Bryan simply records the name of William WOODROW and his burial on the 6th September 1785. (2) The only Letter of Administration I can locate is in 1780 When William WOODROW of Buckland Newton Gentleman (as the principal creditor) took out a Letter of Administration for the estate of John DAVIDGE the Elder late of Hilton who died Intestate. (3) Information about the Doctors Commons can be accessed via this link (4) William WYNNE the son of John WYNNE the Bishop of Bath & Wells was educated at Trinity Hall Cambridge and rose to become the advocate for the Court of Arches in 1757; and Kings Advocate General in1778. He was Knighted in 1778 and Dean of Arches Court 1788-1809 before his death in 1815. (5) The Rector of Hazelbury Bryan from 26th January 1748 until his death in 1797 was Rev William ROTHERY |