Bøker utgitt av Harry Galloway Publishing

This illustrated history focuses on interactions between people, business, authority, landscape and buildings in an attempt to convey a sense of what life was really like for many people living in Watchet or Williton. So many records have been lost for so many parishes that writing a history such as this is usually impossible, but for St Decumans the situation is reversed. The results of an analysis of these records, which has taken over five years, has revealed a complicated web of relationships on all levels of society, as well as in matters of business and governance in their widest sense. At times there were incidents, families, events and individuals that dominated this story of parish life.A few examples of those myriad of interactions include god-parents with god-children, masters with their servants and apprentices, merchants with business contacts, mariners with their crew, customs officials and port overseers, farmers with markets, estate stewards with tenants, clergy with their congregation and diocesan officials, overseers with poor-rate payers, the infirm and ill, constables with militia authorities, manor bailiffs with tenants, individuals relationship with God, landowners with their staff, tenants and voters, church and chapelwardens with the church fabric, alesellers, streetkeepers and those who were involved in affrays. In addition, this investigation peels back the interlocking layers of organisation within this 17th-century parish to give a rounded understanding of just how almost every aspect of life was managed or governed in some way or another.We hope you enjoy this account of a unique part of the county of Somerset. It has been a true labour of love. The local celebrities who lived in the parish some four centuries ago have not been forgotten. Their exploits, trials and tribulations were written down and kept by generations of record keepers. They are brought to light and where possible illustrated in this brief account.

A 17th century scoundrel: the life and times of Thomas Spigurnell, attorney, clerk of Taunton Castle, confederate, father, gentleman, pettyfogger, steward and surveyor of Taunton, Wilton, Clement's Inn and Long Sutton.This study is a groundbreaking piece of research into the life of an attorney is thought to be the first of its kind. The life of Thomas Spigurnell touched upon many places and people in different walks of life. This book offers a unique look into a 17th century life of an attorney. Born in Berkshire in 1630, thanks to a distant family connection he entered the world of Dr John Palmer who became MP for Taunton in 1645. After spending time at All Souls College, Oxford where he served as surveyor of the college estate, Spigurnell entered Clement's Inn, one of the inns of Chancery in London. In the 1650s he became embroiled with the Taunton confederates who controlled the town. He obtained numerous estates that had been sequestered by Parliament. He served as surveyor of the lands given to Taunton as compensation for their losses during the civil war. Subsequently one dispute followed another during the turbulent times of the Interregnum. His financial and legal activities have been painstakingly researched and brought to life in this volume. Spigurnell married into the wealthy Godwin family of Wells who were prominent recusants. The newly weds moved into Court Farm at Long Sutton but his wife passed away. Shortly afterwards he married Elizabeth Browne of Wilton (near Taunton). But controversy followed Spigurnell wherever he went. The newly weds did not receive their marriage settlement from her brother-in-law. Subsequently Spigurnell obtained control of the valuable office of clerk of Taunton Castle. He did this by taking advantage of his aged mother-in-law, who was suffering from a palsy, while she lay incapacitated in her sick bed at Sherford House, Wilton. This and other events are documented in this volume, including firsthand accounts of ordinary people who lived in Taunton during the 1640s and 1650s. Spigurnell had three children, a fine house at Long Sutton, practised law in Taunton, but his untimely death in 1663 was a disaster for his widow and family. His debt-ridden lifestyle came to life. A lack of money in the Spigurnell household at Long Sutton drove his widow to abandon their youngest child to the mercy of a neighbouring farmer's wife. She lived off the charity of friends but never gave up her claim to the substantial marriage dowry due to her from her brother. This and many other stories can be found in this volume.