| Description | In 1788 William Chaytor, claiming to be the most substantial landowner in the parish, proposed to add £200 or more to the endowments of the living of Coverham on condition that he should be granted the right of patronage in accordance with the provisions of the act of 1 George I. The case he put forward in support of this proposal makes it clear that he was aware of at least some of the troubled history of this living and it is unlikely that he failed to appreciate the risks of pressing the claims he put forward. To some extent he acted a legal "speculator" who had discovered a situation in which historic rights were so ill-defined that, he believed, confident and resolute action would gain for him a valuable privilege. In spite of the efforts of that channel of so much government patronage, his friend and relation John Robinson, however, he was unable to persuade the Crown's officers to obtain the king's sign manual without rigorous legal investigation. This revealed a century of quarrels.
Includes
Papers relating to disputes, late 17th century - 1739
Papers relating to case of Arthington & Hardcastle v. Bishop of Chester & Jackson 1788-1793 |