Edmonde Skinner

From http://www.the-curates-line.com/the-curates-skinner-line.php

Edmund gained a B.A. degree at Oxford (2), becoming a subdeacon on 13 Feb 1576, deacon on 26 Sep 1574 and priest on 25 Sep 1575, ordained by the Bishop of Coventry and Lichfield. On March 2nd, 1582-3, he succeeded Edmund Lytler, as Vicar of St. Sepulchre's, and four years later, 2nd March 1587-8, he became Vicar of St. Giles. There is no record of his Institution, but he was Inducted 16th March 1582-3. (Peterborough Induction Book). (3)

He appeared at the Bishop's Visitations of 1591 and 1594, as Vicar of both churches.
On June 22nd 1603, he was licenced by Thomas, Bishop of Peterborough, as a Preacher.

On 6 Aug 1594 the Bishop of Lambeth instituted him as rector of Pitsford, he resigned St. Sepulchre's on becoming Vicar of Pitsford, and quitted St. Giles' in 1596.

He married Bridgett, daughter of Humphrey Radclyffe, esq. of Warwickshire (4); she died 17 Jan and was buried 18 Jan 1629/30 at Pitsford.

Note: Some have Bridgett's parents as Sir Humphrey and Isabel Radclyffe. They had 6 children, Thomas, Edward, Mary, Frances, Elizabeth and Martha (5). But as yet I can't find a Bridget.



1. "Skinner of Strangford End.," Burke's Landed Gentry 1969, p. 562.
2. Fosters Alumni Oxonienses., vol iv, pg 1361.
3. A History of the Church of St Giles Northampton, Serjeantson. R.M. Rev. M.A., F.S.A. 1911.
W. Mark & Co., Ltd., Northampton. Pgs 40-1,87-8,283-4, 286-7.
4. http://www.archive.org/stream/afewmemorialsri00skingoog#page/n6/mode/2up
5. The Visitations of Bedfordshire, 1566,1582 and 1634. Pages 64, 65. The Harleian Society.
London 1884.





Edmund's entry in Foster's Alumni Oxonienes:-

Skinner, Edmund; B.A. supd.13 Feb 1575-6; perhaps rector Pisford, Northants 1594;
(s.Thomas of Ledbury, co. Hereford); father of Robert 1606. See Ath.iv 842; & Foster's Index Ecclesiasticus.



How Edmund came to St Giles

John Foster, who was vicar 1584-1587, does not appear to have been a credit to his cloth. A few weeks after his institution he was presented in the Archdeacon's Court (18 June,1584), "for makinge dyvers unlawful marriages at Lychbarrow while he was there."

During his four years of office at St. Giles', he entirely neglected the keeping of the parish register, which is a blank from 1584-1587. The living was sequestrated in 1587, and Edmund Skinner, Vicar of St. Sepulchre's, was put in charge of the parish. From 1587-1590, Skinner is sometimes spoken of as Vicar, and at other times as Sequestrator of St. Giles. (3, ibid)

Edmund Skinner, was also summoned before the Archdeacon in 1589, for a curious breach of the marriage laws. The churchwardens of St. Giles', presented him for marrying one Hills and his wife "uppon Mondaie beinge the xiijth of Januarie, during a forbidden season." (3, ibid)

In those days marriages were illegal from Advent Sunday till eight days after Epiphany, and Skinner celebrated the marriage in question one day too soon. He was dismissed by the Archdeacon with a caution.



Gobion's Manor. Edmund Skinner's deposition.

In 1598 an action was brought by John Carr, Vicar of St. Giles', against Thomas Craswell, the point in dispute being whether certain tithes were, or were not, payable by the tenants of Gobion's Farm.

Depositions were taken at Northampton, 15th September, 40 Elizabeth, before Valentine Knightley, Esq., Francis Harvie, and Wm. Paynter,- Gents. A number of interrogations were
put to each witness, the most important being No. 6, which ran as follows :

"Item, have you not knowne, or have heard by credible report that ye Vicars for ye time being of St. Giles', have had tithe wool, tithe lambe, and tithe milk paid unto them in kind by ye farmers or owners of all sheep and mylch beasts as have gone, Fedd, and pastured within ye lymmits of ye said parishe, or consider aeon for ye same, as ye said Vicars for ye tymebeinge, or ye owners of ye same sheepp and Beasts could agree."



" Edmonde Skynner of Pitsford, clerke, aged xliij yeres or thereabowtes, sworne and examined, saieth yt he doth knowe ye parishe and vicarege of Seinct Giles in Northampton, and hath knowne it for ye space of xvj yeres, and did receive ye fruites thereof by vertue of a sequestracon for ye space of vij yeres, and he served ye cure so longe."

He deposed further that " he knoweth ye farme called Gubbins farme and yt Mr. Britten, and Mr. Harrison have bine occupiers of ye same farme all the time of this deponents memorie.
And ye scite of Gubbins' farme is wth in Seinct giles' parishe. The landes in the feilde this deponent knoweth not of what parishe they are."

He saieth further that " this deponent received by vertue of his sequestracon in one vacacon for one yere, viz., 1583, xyjs. of the occupiers of Gibbons' farme for a rate tithe for ye whole farme due to ye Viccarradge of Seynt giles aforeseid ; and in ye other vacacon, viz., 1588 untill 1594, this deponent had and received yerelie of Mr. Britton and Mr. Harrison, occupiers of ye seid farme xvjs. viijd. (sic) for ye rate tithe of all ye farme by vertue of ye Sequestracon. The occacon
ho we he knowes of ye xvjs. to be paid he saieth was yt he had seane a booke of Mr. Litler's, viccar there immediatlie before ye seid first vacacon, wherein was menconed yt he, ye seid Litler, had received xvjs. for the tithe of the seid farme due to ye vic- car, And ye reason whie he this deponent received xvjs. viijd. was yt John Foster, the last incumbent before this seid seconde
vacacon, had so received of the occupiers of the seid farme."

' ' He knoweth not howe longe ye parishe of Seint Edmondes hath bine decaied, and he saieth yt ye Viccars of Seinct Giles for ye time being have received the fruites of Seinct Edmondes, but by what right this deponent [knoweth] not. Yet he saieth yt he received both the fruites of Seinct Edmundes and also of Seinct giles by vertue of a sequestracon thereof expresslie granted."

He further deposed that " such shepe as have depastured on the commons to Gubbins' farme and Wilkinson's farme have also usuallie gone and fedd in the feildes of Northampton wt owt the perambulacon of Seinct Giles parishe." (3 ibid)





Will of Edmund Skinner, Rector of Pitsford, dated 27 Oct 1625, proved 9 Jun 1628.

Burial in chancel of Pitsford and 10s towards buying a sanctus bell for the steeple of Pitsford. To be paid to the churchwardens when the parishioners there will agree and consent to the buying of such a bell. To son Edmund the house in which he now dwells and land purchased of T. Lovell to enter thereon at death of my wife, Bridget.
To daughter Phillip Skinner [?] £80 at marriage. To children of Mr Robert Skinner, Katherine Bett and Rachel Warren (sic) 10s each. To my grandchildren 6s 8d each. Rest to wife Bridget, executrix. Estate worth £222 14s 4d.



Abstract of the will of Bridget Skinner, mother of Phillip.
The will was made on 12 January 1630 and proved on 23 March 1630.

To her son Robert she left the furnace, kerb and all other things belonging to the chimney, and all the hovel timber. To his wife she left the best bed stead, to their son his grandfather’s books and to their daughter Mary the great chest in the little parlour.
To her son Edmund she left the best feather bed and after his death to her son John. Edmund was also to have the great brass pot and a pan.
To her three daughters [presumably the older three] she left the chest in the little chamber and all its contents to be equally divided between them.
To her sister Foster she left 20s and a pair of sheets.
To her daughter Phillip went a warming pan and a spice mortar.
The rest of the household stuff went to her son Edmund and her three daughters.
She left 20s to her son Thomas, £4 to his daughter Bridget and 20s to his daughter Elizabeth.
The poor of Pitsford received 20s, and her servants received as each(?)
She left all her clothes to the wife of her son Edmund and to her three daughters. The rest of her money she left to her son Edmund and made him her executor.