Curiosities of Puritan Nomenclature

“1611, June 16. Baptized Hope-still, d. to Edward Peedle.

“1697, Dec. 30. Buried Hope-still Faxon, a olde mayde.”

Whether or no her matrimonial expectations were still high to the end, we are not told.

One of the earliest Pilgrim Fathers was Hope-still Foster (Hotten, p. 68). He went out to New England about 1620. His name became a common one out there. Two bearers of the name at home lived so long that it reached the Georges:

“Near this place is interred the body of John Warden, of Butler’s Green in this parish, Esq., who died April 30, 1730, aged 79 years; and also of Hope-still, his wife, who died July 22, 1749, aged 92.” – Cuckfield Church, Sussex.

“Dec. 1, 1714. Administration of goods of Michael Watkins, granted to Hope-still Watkins, his widow.” – C. S. P.

In the list of incumbents of Lydney, Gloucestershire, will be found the name of Help-on-high Foxe, who was presented to the living by the Dean and Chapter of Hereford in 1660. For some reason or other, possibly to curtail the length, he styled himself in general as Hope-well, and this was retained on his tomb:

“Hic in Cristo quiescit Hope-wel Foxe, in artibus magister, hujus ecclesiæ vicarius vigilantissimus qui obiit 2 die Aprilis, 1662.” – Bigland’s “Monuments of Gloucester.”

How quickly such names were caught up by parishioners from their clergy may again be seen in the case of Hope-well Voicings, of Tetbury, who left a rentcharge of £1 for the charity schools at Cirencester in 1720. Probably he was christened by the vicar himself at Lydney.

We have already mentioned Rejoice Lord, of Salehurst. The name had a tremendous run:

“1647, June 22. Buried Rejoice, daughter of John Harvey.

“1679, Oct. 18. Baptized Rejoice, daughter of Nicholas Wratten.” – Warbleton.

Rejoice reached the eighteenth century:

“1713, Sep. 29. Married John Pimm, of St. Dunstan’s, Cant., to Rejoice Epps, of the precincts of this church.” – Cant. Cath.

Magnify and Give-thanks frequently occur in Warbleton register:

“1595, Dec. 7. Buried Gyve-thanks Bentham, a child.

“1593, Mch. 11. Baptized Give-thanks, the dather of Thomas Elliard.

“1591, Feb. 6. Baptized Magnyfy, sonne of William Freeland.

“1587, Sep. 17. Baptized Magnyfye, sonne of Thomas Beard.

“1587, April 2. Baptized Give-thankes, sonne of Thomas Cunsted.”

It is from the same register we obtain examples of an exhortatory name known to have existed at this time, viz. “Be-thankful.” A dozen cases might be cited:

“1586, Feb. 6. Baptized Be-thankfull, the dather of Abell Tyerston.

“1601, Nov. 8. Baptized Be-thankfull, d. of James Gyles.

“1617, Nov. 27. Married Thomas Flatt and Be-thankefull Baker.

“1662, May 9. Buried Be-thankeful Giles.”

Thus Miss Giles bore her full name for over sixty years: and, I dare say, was very proud of it.48

Besides Be-thankful, there was “Be-strong:”

“1592, Nov. 26. Baptized Be-strong Philpott.” – Cranbrook.

Many of the exhortatory names related to the fallen nature of man. One great favourite at Warbleton was “Sin-deny.” It was coined first by Heley, the Puritan rector, in 1588, for one of his own daughters. Afterwards the entries are numerous. Two occur in one week:

“1592, April 23. Baptized Sin-denye, d. of Richard Tebb.

“ " 29. Baptized Sin-denye, d. of William Durant.

“1594, March 9. Baptized Sin-denye, d. of Edward Outtered.”

This name seems to have been monopolized by the girls. One instance only to the contrary can I find:

“1588, Feb. 9. Baptized Sin-dynye, sonne of Andrew Champneye.”

Still keeping to the same register, we find of this class:

“1669, Jan. 21. Buried Refrayne Benny, a widdow.

“1586, May 15. Baptized Refrayne, dather of John Celeb.

“1586, April 24. Baptized Repent, sonne of William Durant.

“1587, July 16. Baptized Returne, sonne of Rychard Farret.

“1587, Aug. 6. Baptized Obey, sonne of Rychard Larkford.

“1587, Dec. 24. Baptized Depend, sonne of Edward Outtered.

“1588, Ap. 7. Baptized Feare-God, sonne of John Couper.

“1608, Aug. 14. Baptized Repent Champney, a basterd.

“1595. Maye 18. Baptized Refrayne, d. of John Wykes.”

Many registers contain “Repent.” Cranbrook has an early one:

“1586, Jan. 1. Baptized Repent Boorman.”

Abuse-not is quaint:

“1592, Sep. 17. Baptized Abuse-not, d. of Rychard Ellis.

“1592, Dec. 3. Baptized Abus-not, d. of John Collier.” – Warbleton.

The last retained her name:

“1603, Maye 20. Buried Abuse-not Collyer.”

Here, again, are two curious entries:

“1636, March 19. Baptized Be-steadfast, sonne of Thomas Elliard.

“1589, Nov. 9. Baptized Learn-wysdome, d. of Rychard Ellis.”

These also are extracts from the Warbleton registers. None of them, however, can be more strongly exhortatory than this:

“1660, April 15. Baptized Hate-evill, d. of Antony Greenhill.” – Banbury.

Doubtless she was related to William Greenhill, born 1581, the great Puritan commentator on Ezekiel. This cannot be the earliest instance of the name, for one Hate-evill Nutter was a settler in New England twenty years before her baptism (Bowditch). I suspect its origin can be traced to the following: —

“1580, June 25. Baptized Hatill (Hate-ill), sonne of Willm. Wood.

“1608, Nov. 17. Baptized Hatill, sonne to Antony Robinson.” – Middleton-Cheney.

As Middleton-Cheney is a mere outlying parish from Banbury, I think we may see whence Hate-evil Greenhill’s name was derived.

Returning once more to Warbleton, Lament is so common there, as in other places, that it would be absurd to suppose the mother had died in childbirth in every instance. A glance at the register of deaths disproves the idea. The fact is Lament was used, like Repent, as a serious call to godly sorrow for sin:

“1594, July 22. Baptized Lament, d. of Antony Foxe.

“1598, May 14. Baptized Lament, d. of John Fauterell.

“1600, Mch 29. Baptized Lament, d. of Anne Willard.”

But we must not linger too much at Warbleton.

Live-well commanded much attention. Neither sex could claim the monopoly of it, as my examples prove. At the beginning of Charles II.’s reign, a warrant was abroad for the capture of one Live-well Chapman, a seditious printer. In such a charge it is possible he fulfilled the pious injunction of his god-parent:

“1662-3, March 9. Warrant to apprehend Live-well Chapman,49 with all his printing instruments and materials.” – C. S. P.

He is mentioned again:

“1663, Nov. 24. Warrant to Sir Edward Broughton to receive Live-well Chapman, and keep him close prisoner for seditious practices.” – C. S. P.

This is no unique case. Live-well Sherwood, an alderman of Norwich, was put on a commission for sequestering papists in 1643 (Scobell’s “Orders of Parl.,” p. 38).

Again the name occurs:

“1702, Oct. 15. Thomas Halsey, of Shadwell, widower, to Live-well Prisienden, of Stepney.” – St. Dionis Backchurch.

Love-God is found twice, at least, for letters of administration in the case of one Love-God Gregory were granted in 1654. Also is found:

“1596, March 6. Baptized Love-God, daughter of Hugh Walker, vicar.” – Berwick, Sussex.

Do-good is exhortatory enough, but it rather smacks of works; hence, possibly, the reason why I have only seen it once. A list of the trained bands under Lord Zouch, Lord Warden of Hastings, 1619, includes —

“Musketts, James Knight, Doo-good Fuller, Thomas Pilcher.” – “Arch. Soc. Coll.” (Sussex), xiv. 102.

Fare-well seems a shade more worldly than Live-well, but was common enough:

“1589, July 16, Baptized Fare-well, son of Thomas Hamlen, gent.” – St. Dunstan-in-the-West, London.

“1723, Sep. 5. Buried Mr. Fare-well Perry, rector of St. Peter’s.” – Marlborough.

A writer in Notes and Queries, September 9, 1865 (Mr. Lloyd of Thurstonville), says —

“A man named Sykes, resident in this locality, had four sons whom he named respectively Love-well, Do-well, Die-well, and Fare-well. Sad to say, Fare-well Sykes met an untimely end by drowning, and was buried this week (eleventh Sunday after Trinity) in Lockwood churchyard. The brothers Live-well, Do-well, and Die-well were the chief mourners on the occasion.”

It seems almost impossible that the father should have restored three of the Puritan names accidentally. Probably he had seen or heard of these names in some Yorkshire church register. One of these names, Farewell, is still used in the county, as the directories show. I see Fare-well Wardley, in Sheffield, in the West Riding Directory for 1867.

This closes the exhortatory class. It is both numerous and interesting, and some of its instances grew very familiar, and looked as if they might find a permanent place in our registers. The eighteenth century saw them all succumb, however.

(d.) Accidents of Birth

Evidently it was a Puritan notion that a quiverful of children was a matter for thanksgiving. There is a pleasant ring in some of the names selected by religious gossips at this time, or witnesses, as I should rather term them. Free-gift was one such, and was on the point of becoming an accepted English name, when the Restoration stepped in, and it had to follow the way of the others. It began with the Presbyterian clergy, judging by the date of its rise:50

“1616, – . Buried Mary, wiffe of Free-gift Mabbe.” – Chiddingly, Sussex.

“1621, – . Baptized John, son of Free-gift Bishopp.” – Ditto.

“1591, Jan. 14. Baptized Fre-gift, sonne of Abraham Bayley.” – Warbleton.

The will of Free-gift Stacey was proved in 1656 in London; while a subsidy obtained by an unpopular tax on fires, hearths, and stoves in 1670, rates a resident in Chichester thus:

“Free-gift Collins, two hearths.” – “Suss. Arch. Coll.,” xxiv. 81.

The last instance I have seen is:

“Dec. 4, 1700. The petition of Free-gift Pilkington, wife of Richard Pilkington, late port-master of Ipswich, county Suffolk.” – C. S. P.

Good-gift was rarer:

“1618, March 28. Bapt. John, sonne of Goodgift Gynninges.” – Warbleton.

One of the earliest Puritan eccentricities was From-above, mentioned by Camden as existing in 1614:

“1582, March 10. Baptized From-above Hendley.” – Cranbrook.

A subsidy collected within the rape of Lewes in 1621 records:

“From-above Hendle, gent, in landes, 30 4 0.” – “Suss. Arch. Coll.,” lx. 71.

Many of these names suggest thanksgiving for an “addition to the family.” More-fruit is one such:

“1587, June 6. Baptized More-fruite Stone, of Steven.” – Berwick, Sussex.

“1592, Oct. 1. Baptized More-fruite Starre.”51– Cranbrook.

“1599, Nov. 4. Baptized More-fruite, d. of Richard Barnet.” – Warbleton.

“1608, Aug. 28. Baptized More-frute, d. of Rychard Curtes.” – Ditto.

We have already referred to More-fruit Fenner, christened about the same time.

The great command to Adam and Eve was, “Multiply, and replenish the earth.” Some successor of Thomas Heley thought it no harm to emphasize this at the font:

“1677, May 14. Buried Replenish, ye wife of Robert French.”

But “Increase” or “Increased” was the representative of this class of thanksgiving names, in palpable allusion to Psa. cxv. 14:

“The Lord shall increase you more and more, you and your children.”

I could easily furnish the reader with half a hundred instances. It is probable Thomas Heley was the inventor of it. The earliest example I can find is that of his own child:

“1587, March 26. Baptized Increased, dather of Thomas Helley, minister.

“1637, Sep. 15. Buried Increase, wife of Robard Barden.

“1589, Apr. 13. Baptized Increased, d. of John Gynninges.” – Warbleton.

One or two instances from other quarters may be noted:

“1660, June. Petition of Increased Collins, for restoration to the keepership of Mote’s Bulwark, Dover.” – C. S. P.

Dr. Increase Mather, of the Liverpool family of that name, will be a familiar figure to every student of Puritan history. In 1685 he returned from America to thank King James for the Toleration Act. Through him it became a popular name in New England, although Increase Nowell, who obtained a charter of appropriation of Massachusetts Bay, March 4, 1628, and emigrated from London, may have helped in the matter (Neal’s “New England,” p. 124).

The perils of childbirth are marked in the thanksgiving name of Deliverance. So early as 1627 the will of Deliverance Wilton was proved in London. Camden, too, writing in 1614, says “Delivery” was known to him; while Adams, whose Puritan proclivities I have previously hinted at, preaching in London in 1626, asserts that Safe-deliverance existed to his knowledge (“Meditations upon the Creed”). Deliverance crossed the Atlantic with the Pilgrim Fathers (Bowditch), and I see one instance, at least, in Hotten’s “Emigrants:”

“1670, Feb. 18. Buried Deliverance Addison.” – Christ Church, Barbados.

“Deliverance Hobbs and Deliverance Dane were both examined in the great trial for witchcraft at Salem, June 2, 1692.” – Neal, “New England,” pp. 533, 506.

The last instance, probably, at home is —

“1757, Jan. 7. Buried Deliverance Branan.” – Donnybrook, Dublin (Notes and Queries).

This “Deliverance” must have been especially common. One more instance: in the will of Anne Allport, sen., of Cannock, Stafford, dated March 25, 1637, mention is made of “my son-in-law Deliverance Fennyhouse” (vide Notes and Queries, Dec. 8, 1860, W. A. Leighton).

Much-mercy is characteristic:

“1598, May 22. Baptized Much-mercie Harmer, a child.” – Warbleton.

This is but one more proof of Heley’s influence, for he had baptized one of his own sons “Much-mercy”” in 1585.

Perhaps a sense of undeserved mercies caused the following:

“1589, Sep. 28. Baptized No-merit, dather of Stephen Vynall.” – Warbleton.

That babes are cherubs, if not seraphs, every mother knows; but it is not often the fact is recorded in our church registers. Peculiar thankfulness must have been felt here:

“On Dec. 11, 1865, aged seventy-eight years, died Cherubin Diball.” —Notes and Queries, 4th Series, ii. 130.

And two hundred years previously, i. e. 1678, Seraphim Marketman is referred to in the last testament of John Kirk. But was it gratitude, after all? We have all heard of the wretched father who would persist in having the twins his wife presented to him christened by the names of Cherubin and Seraphim, on the ground that “they continually do cry.” Perhaps Cherubin Diball and Seraphim Marketman made noise enough for two!

But if the father of the twins was not as thankful for his privilege as he ought to have been, others were. Thanks and Thankful were not unknown to our forefathers. One of the earliest instances I can find is the marriage lines of Thankful Hepden:

“1646, July 16. Thankfull Hepden and Fraunces Bruer.” – St. Dionis Backchurch.

In Peck’s “Desiderata Curiosa” (p. 537) we read:

“Dec. M.D.CLVI. Mr. Thankful Frewen’s corps carried through London, to be interred in Sussex.”

Thankful’s father was John Frewen, Rector of Northiam, the eminent Puritan already referred to. Accepted, the elder son’s name, belongs to this same class. Thankful seems to have become a favourite in that part of the country, and to have lingered for a considerable time. In the “History of the Town and Port of Rye” we find (p. 466):

“Christmas, 1723. Assessment for repairs of highways: Mr. Thankful Bishop paid 7s 6d.”

Again, so late as 1749 we find the death of another Thankful Frewen recorded, who had been Rector of Northiam for sixteen years, christened, no doubt, in memory of his predecessor of a century gone by.52 Thankful Owen was brother to Gracious Owen, president of St. John’s, Oxford, 1650-1660.

One more instance will suffice. The will of Thanks Tilden was proved in 1698. No wonder the name was sufficiently familiar to be embodied in one of the political skits of the Commonwealth period:

“‘O, very well said,’ quoth Con;‘And so will I do,’ says Frank;And Mercy cries ‘Aye,’ and Mat, ‘Really,’‘And I’m o’ that mind,’ quoth Thank.”

Possibly the sentence “unfeignedly thankful” suggested the other word also; any way, it existed:

“1586, April 1. Baptized Unfeigned, sonne of Roger Elliard.” – Warbleton.

The estate of Unfeigned Panckhurst was administered upon in 1656.

From every side we see traces of the popularity of Thankful. During the restoration of Hawkhurst Church, a small tombstone was discovered below the floor, with an inscription to the “memory of Elizabeth, daughter of Thankful Bishop, of Hawkhurst, gent., who died January 2, 1680” (“Arch. Cant.,” iv. 108). In the churchwarden’s book of the same place occurs this curious item:

“1675. Received by Thankfull Thorpe, churchwarden in the year 1675, of Richard Sharpe of Bennenden, the summe of one pound for shouting of a hare.” – “Arch. Cant.,” v. 75.

Several names seem to breathe assurance and trust in imminent peril. Perhaps both mother and child were in danger. Preserved is distinctly of this class:

“Here lieth the body of Preserved, the daughter of Thomas Preserved Emms, who departed this life in the 18th year of her age, on the 17th of November, MDCCXII.” – St. Nicholas, Yarmouth.

“1588, Aug. 1. Baptized Preserved, sonne of Thomas Holman.

“1594, Nov. 17. Baptized Preserved, sonne of Roger Caffe.” – Warbleton.

Preserved Fish, whose name appeared for many years in the New York Directory, did not get his name this way. A friend of his informs me that, about eighty-five years ago, a vessel was wrecked on the New Jersey coast, and when washed ashore, a little child was discovered secured in one of the berths, the only living thing left. The finder named the boy “Preserved Fish,” and he bore it through a long and honoured life to the grave, having made for himself a good position in society.

Beloved would naturally suggest itself to grateful parents:

“1672, July 10. Buried Anne, wife of Beeloved King.” – Warbleton.

This name is also found in St. Matthew, Friday Street, London.

Joy-in-Sorrow is the story of Rachel and Benoni over again:

“1595. On the last daye of August the daughter of Edward Godman was baptized and named Joye-in-Sorrow.” – Isfield, Sussex.

Lamentation tells its own tale, unless taken from the title of one of the Old Testament books:

“Plaintiff, Lamentation Chapman: Bill to stay proceedings on a bond relating to a tenement and lands in the parish of Borden, Kent.” – “Proc. in Chancery, Eliz.,” i. 149.

We have already mentioned Safe-on-high Hopkinson, christened at Salehurst in 1591, and Help-on-high Foxe, incumbent of Lydney, Gloucester, in 1661. The former died a few days after baptism, and the event seems to have been anticipated in the name selected.

The termination on-high was popular. Stand-fast-on-high Stringer dwelt at Crowhurst, in Sussex, about the year 1635, as will be proved shortly, and Aid-on-high is twice met with:

“1646, June 6. Letters of administration taken out in the estate of Margery Maddock, of Ross, Hereford, by Aid-on-high Maddock, her husband.”

“1596, July 19. Stephen Vynall had a sonne baptized, and was named Aid-on-hye.” – Isfield, Sussex.53

The three following are precatory, and we may infer that the life of either mother or child was endangered:

“1618, – . Married Restore Weekes to Constant Semar.” – Chiddingly.

“1613, – . Baptized Have-mercie, d. of Thomas Stone.” – Berwick, Sussex.

A monument at Cobham, Surrey, commemorates the third:

“Hereunder lies interred the body of Aminadab Cooper, citizen and merchaunt taylor of London, who left behind him God-helpe, their only sonne. Hee departed this life the 23d June, 1618.”

Still less hopeful of augury was the following:

“1697, July 6. Weakly Ekins, citizen and grocer, London.” – “Inquisit. of Lunacy,” Rec. Office MSS.

What about him? His friends brought him forward as a case for the Commissioners of Lunacy to take in hand, on the ground that he was weak of intellect, and unfit to manage his business. It might be asked whether such a name was not likely to drive him to the state specified in the petition.

While on the subject of birth, we may notice that the Presbyterian clergy were determined to visit the sins of the parents on the children in cases of illegitimacy. A few instances must suffice:

“1589, Aug. 3. Baptized Helpless Henley, a bastard.” – Berwick, Sussex.

“1608, Aug. 14. Baptized Repent Champney, a bastard.” – Warbleton.

“1599, May 13. Baptized Repentance, d. of Martha Henley, a bastard.” – Warbleton.

“1600, Mch. 26. Baptized Lament, d. of Anne Willard, a bastard.” – Ditto.

“1600, April 13. Baptized Repentance Gilbert, a bastard.” – Cranbrook.

“1598, Jan. 27. Baptized Forsaken, filius meretricis Agnetis Walton.” – Sedgefield.

“1609, Dec. 17. Baptized Flie-fornication, the bace son of Catren Andrewes.” – Waldron.

This is more kindly, but an exceptional case:

“1609, Nov. 25. Baptized Fortune, daughter of Dennis Judie, and in sin begoten.” – Middleton-Cheney.

(e.) General

There is a batch of names which was especially common, and which hardly appears to be of Puritan origin; I mean names presaging good fortune. Doubtless, however, they were at first used, in a purely spiritual sense, of the soul’s prosperity; and afterwards, by more worldly minds, were referred to the good things of this life.

Fortune became a great favourite:

“1607, Oct. 4. Baptized Fortune Gardyner.” – St. Giles, Camberwell.

“1642, – . Baptized Fortune, daughter of Thomas Patchett.” – Ludlow, Shropshire.

“1652-3, Mch. 10. Married Mr. John Barrington and Mrs. Fortune Smith.” – St. Dionis Backchurch.

“1723, April 8. Buried Fortune Symons, aged 111 years.” – Hammersmith.

If Fortune meant fulness of years, it was attained in this last example.

Wealthy is equally curious:

“1665 [no date]. Petition of Wealthy, lawful wife of Henry Halley, and one of the Duke of York’s guards.” – C. S. P.

“1714, April 25. Buried Wealthy Whathing.” – Donnybrook, Dublin.54

“1704, Aug. 18, died Riches Browne, gent., aged 62.” – Scarning, Norfolk.

The father of this Riches was also Riches, and was married to the daughter of John Nabs! (vide Blomefield, vi. 5).

Several names may be set in higgledy-piggledy fashion, for they belong to no class, and are sui generis.

Pleasant55 is found several times:

“1681, Nov. 8. Christened Pleasant, daughter of Robert Tarlton.” – St. Dionis Backchurch.

“1725, Dec. 18. William Whiteing, of Chislett, to Pleasant Burt, of Reculver.” – Cant. Cath.

“1728, Nov. 3. Buried Pleasant Smith, late wife of Mr. John Smith.” – St. Dionis Backchurch.

The following, no doubt, had a political as well as spiritual allusion. It occurs several times in the New York Directory of the present year:

“1689, March 4. Petition of Freeman Howes, controller of Chichester port.” – “C. S. P. Treasury.”

“1691, Sep. 21. Petition of Freeman Collins.” – Ditto.

“1661. Petition of Freeman Sonds.” – “C. S. P. Domestic.”56

What a freak of fancy is commemorated in the following:

“1698, June 23. Examination of Isaac Cooper, Thomas Abraham, and Centurian Lucas.” – C. S. P.

“1660, June. Petition of Handmaid, wife of Aaron Johnson.” – C. S. P.

“1661, August 29. Baptized Miracle, son of George Lessa.” – New Buckenham.

“1728. Married John Foster to Beulah Digby.” – Somerset House Chapel.

The Trinity in Unity were not held in proper reverence; for Trinity Langley fought in the army of Cromwell, while Unity Thornton (St. James, Piccadilly, 1680) and Unity Awdley (“Top. et. Gen.,” viii. 201) appear a little later:

“1694, Jan. 8. James Commelin to Mrs. Unitie Awdrey.” – Market Lavington.

“1668, Feb. 15. Baptized Unity, son of John Brooks.” – Banbury.

Providence Hillershand died August 14, 1749, aged 72 (Bicknor, Gloucester). Providence was a he.

“1752, Nov. 5. Buried Selah, d. of Ric. and Diana Collins.” – Dyrham, Gloucestershire.

“1586, April 10. Baptized My-sake Hallam.” – Cranbrook.