Protestation Oath Returns

[chinakay]

I haven't been able to find out much on this topic. I take it that they are a list of all males over 18 who have sworn to uphold the "true" religion (in this case, Protestant), done in 1642.

One of my possibles is in the Mirfield, WRY list. But he is not in any of the PRs, nor is his (presumed) son until his marriage in 1682. The son is my 6xG grandfather so I'm very interested in his parentage!

So, what may I infer from this, besides the fact that he is apparently a male Protestant living in Mirfield?

Cheers,
China

[stanmapstone]

I haven't been able to find out much on this topic. I take it that they are a list of all males over 18 who have sworn to uphold the "true" religion (in this case, Protestant), done in 1642.
China

The Oath was taken to protest their loyalty to the Church of England, the King and "the Powers and Privileges of Parliament"
Instructions were sent out in the first week in January 1642, to the County Sheriffs to see  that all Englishmen aged 18 or over signed the protestation oath. This generally took place in the last week in February and the first week in March.

Stan

[chinakay]

This happened every year?

C

[stanmapstone]

No, it only happend once. I should have said
This generally took place in the last week in February and the first week in March of the same year.

The importance of the returns to the genealogist is that they should be a list of all male (and in some cases female) inhabitants of each parish aged 18 or over.
Stan

[toni*]

where can we find this then?
i have managed to get back to circa 1650 and maybe this would help me further 



added - please 

[stanmapstone]

Transcripts of the whole of the existing returns for some counties have been printed mostly by local record societies. In addition to these published transcripts I understand that other surviving returns are held at the House of Lords.

I have fiche of the transcribed Somerset returns which were published in 1975.

Stan

[toni*]

thanks Stan it was Sussex and Cornwall i was after.

[stanmapstone]

The existing returns for Cornwall and Sussex have been printed.
A printed collation of work by R.M. Glencross & H.L. Douch, edited by T.L. Stoate in 1974 entitled "Cornwall Protestation Returns" is available at the Cornwall Record Office.

Stan

[toni*]

thanks Stan wil google it and then add it to my christmas present list which contains several certificates !