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ON SOME OF THE RECTORS OF EYAM. Ralph de Cubley. Amongst the Haddon documents, relative to the Derbyshire estates of the Dukes of Rutland, are some which show that "Ralph de Cubbeley, (Temp. Henry III.) gave certain lands, tenements, houses and edifices, with their appurtenances....for the maintenance of a chaplain to celebrate the Mass of the Blessed Virgin Mary in the Church of Bakewell," (in the South transept). He also gave a sum of money "for the maintenance of a lamp burning continually before the altar of the blessed Mary" in the same place.
In the year 1300 Roger de Wyne, Dean of Tamworth, was given the custody of the Church and rectory of Eyam, because of the insufficiency of the rector.
Shorland Adams was educated at St. John's College, Cambridge, where he matriculated in 1620, took the degree of B.A. in 1623-4 and that of M.A. in 1627.
He became Chaplain to the Earl of Newcastle and was appointed Rector of Eyam in 1630.
He lived during the stormy times of the Civil War, when to take either side was a dire offence in the sight of the other. He was a keen Royalist, throwing his influence on the side of the King. Like so many others, he had to suffer for his loyalty and was thrown into prison by the Parliament.
He was also Rector of Treeton, Yorkshire. He was ordered to preach a "Recantation Sermon" at York Minster on March 1st, 1644. (This probably meant that he was ordered to give up his Churchmanship and his adherence to the King's side.) He refused and was deprived of both his livings.
Five years later he had to pay a heavy fine in order that he might be allowed to retain a small estate which belonged to him. So much did he have to suffer for his Churchmanship and his loyalty.
Amongst the Civil war Tracts is one published by Nicholas Ardron. It bears the following lengthy title:-
"The Ploughman's Vindication,- or a Confutation of some passages preached in divers Sermons by Shorland Adams, sometime Minister of Treeton, in the County of Yorke.
"In which Sermons he uttered much bitternesse of spirit against all those that sided with the Parliament; as also cherishing the Malignant party, and much animating them to persist in their bloody Designs.
"Herein also is showed the lawfulness of informing against all such incendiaries; and the judgements threatened in holy Scripture against such as know and do not reveal their wickednesse.
"Together with xii Quaeries whether the said Adams (or any such ceremonious Priest) be a Minister of God, Yea or no?" London 1646. (Pages viii, 47.)
Two of the accusations brought against Adams by Ardeon were "that the said Master Adams is a man who hath been given unto much trouble and many suits in Law, as is very well known at Eam in Derbyshire where he was Rector, where they tasted of his turbulent spirit to their great trouble and charge, and where they had the same Adams bound unto good behaviour." (p.36)
"I remember what you said when Master Towler of Sheffield was put out of his Living, -that he was a Foole, for before you would have lost your Living, you would have said the crow was white."
An answer to which latter charge is that two years before this tracate was written, Adams had been deprived of his own Livings on account of his principles.
The Rector appears at one time to have aided Ardron in pecuniary matters. We know the bitterness of party feeling which is often exhibited nowadays at Election times. How much intensified must the feeling have been when the land was rent asunder by Civil Strife, and it meant war even unto death. The very title of Ardron's Tract shows his bitter feeling.
At the Restoration of the Monarchy, Adams was reinstated in his Livings, but did not enjoy them long, for he died four years later on Aprill 11, 1664, and was buried in the chancel of Treeton Church.
Thomas Stanley, the Nonconformist Rector of Eyam, was born at Duckmanton, near Chesterfield, where, and at Staveley, he was educated.
He took the degree of M.A. when in his 22nd. year. He began life as a Churchman; but apparently through his sympathy with the Paliamentarians during the Civil War, he afterwards threw in his lot with the Nonconformists.
"He was not a Nonconformist before the wars,"says his biographer,"yet esteemed by the best of them."
After doing some tutorial work, he became preacher at Dore Chapel in the parish of Dronfield, and eight years later at Ashford.
In 1644, on the deprivation of Shorland Adams, he was appointed Rector of Eyam, where he continued until 1660, when Adams was reinstated.
The death of his wife was a great sorrow to him.
"He was a great encourager of week day lectures, constant both in preaching and by his presence."
He appears to have continued in Eyam as curate until St. Bartholomew's day 1662, when he "fled" for a time. But before long he was back again in Eyam, where for his earnestness, he was deservedly beloved, and where he was maintained by the contributions of his old friends. And he was most helpful to the new Rector, Rev. William Mompesson, during the time of the plague.
Some, it is true, desired his removal from the village and petitioned the Earl of Devonshire, who was Lord Lieutenant of the county, to that effect.
His reply was that "it was more reasonable that the whole country should in more than words testify their thankfulness to him, who together with his care of the town, had taken such care as no one else did, to prevent the infection of the towns adjacent."
Later his health failed him and he died on St. Bartholomew's day 1670.
His funeral sermons, preached by Rev. W. Bagshaw, "the Apostle of the Peak," from Zech. i.5, and Isaiah lvii. 1, will be found in "De Spiritualibus Pecci," pp.65-72.
William Mompesson
Eyam's great hero was descended probably from a Wiltshire family, which originally hailed from Normandy.
He was born about the year 1638, and, like the majority of the Rectors of Eyam, he was appointed to that position when quite a young man; though before coming to Eyam he had been for a few years chaplain to Sir George Saville.
About this time he married the gentle lady, who remained with him at Eyam during the plague, and who was one of the victims of that terrible malady.
As the inscription on her tomb tells, she was the daughter of Ralph Carr, Esq., of Cocken, Co. Durham.
When Mompesson became Rector of Eyam in 1664, he had two little children, George and Elizabeth. At first he appears not to have settled down happily at Eyam; and whether from the lack of society, or because he thought that in so small a place there was not sufficient scope for his energies, for some reason or other, he seems to have been discontented with his position.
Scarcely had he been in the village twelve months before the plague began. He determined, at all risks, to remain with his people during the time of their trial; and his earnest desire, as he looked back upon his past feelings of discontent, was "God grant that I may repent my sad ingratitude."
The children were sent away; but his wife remained with him, and succumbed to the ravages of the disease, August 25, 1666.
He left Eyam for Eakring, Notts, in 1670, and in 1676 he became Prebendary of Southwell and later also Prebendary of York.
The Deanery of Lincoln was offered to him, but he declined the honour on condition that it should be offered to his friend, Dr. Fuller.
Mompesson died at Eakring in 1708, after having been rector there for 38 years, in the 70th year of his life.
Henry Adams (1671-1675) was in all probability a son of Shorland Adams. He was also Vicar of Laughton, where he died and was buried.
Thomas Hawkins (1710-12, 1717) exchanged livings with Alexander Hamilton (or Hambleton). He afterwards regretted the exchange and on the death of Mr. Hamilton in October 1717 again applied to the patrons for the Rectory of Eyam, and eventually was a second time appointed Rector, though he died before he reached Eyam. (The value of the living of Eyam is partly dependent on the success of the lead mining; one penny being due to the Rector for every dish of ore and two and a quarter pence for every load of "hillock stuff." At one time the Living was worth £1600 a year, and during Mr. Seward's time it varied in value from £700 to £150).
The following extract from the Parish Register will, with the above note, explain Mr. Hawkins' desire to be reinstated in the Rectory.
"In Mr. Hambleton's time the great veins called the Edge veins were discovered, and the Rectory became to him very valuable. Mr. Hawkins, who had given it up before, in exchange for a small living, again apply'd for it to the coheiresses of Lord Halifax, then young Ladies, afterwards, Lady Burlington, Lady Thanet and Lady Bruce. Their guardian, Lord Nottingham, being angry at his not first applying to him, refused him and kept him in suspense, afterwards presented him; the losing of spirits and the journey flung him into a fever, which put an end to his life before he reached Eyam. Then the Rev. Mr. Finch, Lord Nottingham's brother, was presented, having quitted the great living of Wigan for it. He was (Canon) Residentiary of York, and there lived. He held Eyam 20 years."Alexander Hamilton (1712-1717) His character, as given on his monumental inscription in the Church, was "most watchful and kind."
The Hon. Edward Finch, D.D. (1717-38) was born in 1661, being the 5th of the ten sons of Sir Heheage Finch, Keeper of the Great Seal, and afterwards created Baron finch of Daventry, and Earl of Nottingham.
Edward was educated at Cambridge, where he became fellow of Christ's College.
He took his M.A. degree in 1679 and in February 1679 was returned M.P. for the University.
When about 35 years of age he decided to become a clergyman and in 1695 was ordained deacon in York Minster, where his younger brother, Henry, was one of the Prebendaries.
In 1704 he was himself appointed Prebendary, in place of his brother who had succeeded to the Deanery.
Whilst here, he took an active interest in musical matters. "A Te Deum," which was composed by him, and an Anthem,"Grant we beseech Thee," both written in five parts, are to be found in Dr. Tudway's "Collection of Services." (Harl. MSS. 7337-45); and "A Grammar of Thorough Bass" with examples, a MS. of 66 pages, is in the Euing Library in Glasgow.
In, or before, the year 1708, he was appointed to the important and lucrative Rectory of Wigan, where through his skill and interest in music, he soon became involved in a serious dispute with the Corporation.
The Church Organ had been pulled down during the period of the Commonwealth, and in 1680 the Mayor and Corporation had made themselves a pew in its place "in a gallery or near the arch between the nave and the chancel."
Not unnaturally the Rector wished to improve the music of the church, but without consulting the civic dignitaries, he caused the gallery to be removed in order to make room for an organ.
The Corporation commenced a suit at law to compel the restoration of their gallery.
Canon Finch offered, at his own expense, to erect them a new one. But the Puritan section of the community seems to have looked with disfavour on the introduction of an organ, and the action was prosecuted with much bitterness.
After successive appeals, a final decision was given in 1712 in favour of the rector, and the town was ordered to pay the costs and to "keep perpetual silence."
Doubtless it was in consequence of the feelings of hostility thus engendered that the rector was led to resign the living in Nov 1713; although he retained his Canonry at York, together with one at Canterbury to which he had been appointed in 1711, until his death.
He became Vicar of Eyam in 1717 and held the living for 20 years, although in all probability he resided mostly at York, where he died on Feb 14, 1737-8, and where he was buried.
He gave the Communion plate to the Church at Eyam and left money for the poor.
The Hon. Thomas Bruce, M.A., second son of the Earl of Kincardine. "1738-39, Oct. About this time died in France the Hon. Rev. Mr. Bruce, Rector." (Parish Register).
Thomas Seward, (1739-1790), travelled in early life as tutor with Lord Charles Fitzroy, third son of the Duke of Grafton.
Upon his death in 1739, Mr Seward returned to England and shortly afterwards was presented by Lord Burlington to the Rectory of Eyam.
In 1740 he married Elizabeth, daughter of Mr. Hunter, Head Master of the Grammar School at Lichfield, whose pupil the celebrated Dr. Johnson had been.
At the Rectory at Eyam two daughters were born, Anne, (or Anna), the poetess, in 1742, and Elizabeth, who died in 1749 at the age of 5 years.
In 1754 Mr. Seward was appointed to a Residentiary Canonry at Lichfield, when he removed to the Cathedral city and took up his residence in the Bishop's Palace, (the Bishop living at Eccleshall), though occasionally in the summer he visited Eyam.
He died and was buried at Lichfield in 1790.
He was the author of some number of works. His poems were published anonymously in Dodsworth's Miscellany. In conjunction with Messrs. Theobald and Sympson, he published an annotated edition of Beaumont and Fletcher's works in 1750; and in 1778, 1811 and 1812, appeared a preface by him prefixed to editions of the works of the same authors.
In 1746 he published "The Conformity between Popery and Paganism illustrated"; In 1750, an Assize Sermon entitled, "The folly, danger and wickedness of Disaffection to the Government". (Ps. cxxxiii.1)
In 1756 appeared a Fast Sermon, (St.Luke xiii. 4,5), "The late dreadful earthquakes, no proof of God's particular wrath against the Portuguese"; and in 1775, "A charge to the Clergy of the Peculiars belonging to the Dean and Chapter of Lichfield" (Bakewell).
A Sermon of his, preached at Eyam, Nov. 19, 1775, is given in the Gentleman's Magazine, LV. 418-9.
Boswell speaks of him as a "genteel, well-bred, dignified clergyman...an ingenious and literary man".
Dr. Johnson is not nearly so flattering : "Sir, his ambition is to be a fine talker; so he goes to Buxton and such places, where he may find companies to listen to him, and, sir, he is a valitudinarian, one of those always mending themselves." &c.
The Hon. Robert Eden, (1822-26), was born July 10, 1799, and was educated at Eton and at Magdalene College, Cambridge. Amongst other preferments he was Vicar of Battersea 1835-47 and Chaplain to King William IV, 1831-37, and to Queen Victoria, 1837-47.
He succeeded to the title, as 3rd Lord Auckland, in 1849.
He became Bishop of Sodor and Man in 1847, and Bishop of Bath and Wells in 1854.
He retired in 1869 and died in the following year.
John Green, (1862-1884), born 1817, died 1899 and was buried at Lower Heyford, Oxfordshire. The restoration of the Church in 1868 and again in 1882, was due to his energy.
Egbert Hacking, (1884-8), later Honorary Canon of Southwell and Archdeacon of Newark.
Francis Longsdon Shaw, (1905-18), Rural Dean of Eyam. To him is due the introduction of the annual Plague Commemoration Service on the last Sunday in August.
He built the Church Room and it is to his energy and generous help that it was made possible for the new Church at Grindleford to be built. He was later Honorary Canon of Derby and Vicar of Ashbourne.
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[Created 21 Mar 2001. Last updated 26 Oct 2008 - 10:00 by Rosemary Lockie]