Matlock & Matlock Bath Lists Through the Centuries: The Sixteenth Century and Before

(From the article 'Derbyshire in 1327-8 ; Being a Lay Subsidy Roll' by The Rev. J. Charles Cox, in the Journal of the Derbyshire Archaeological and Natural History Society, Vol. 30, 1908, pp.42-3)

Matlock.
Wirksworth Hundred (Fourth Membrane.)

		li [£ - pounds]	s[hillings]	s[hillings]	d [pence]
Petrus de Hurst	.....	iiiij li		iiij s
Gilb fil Galf	.....		lx s	iij s
Johes fil Nich	.....		xl s	ij s
. . . fil Ric	.....		lx s	iij s
. . . Attewode	.....		xl s	ij s
. . . fil Amic'	.....		sl s	ij s
. . . fil Rog'	.....		xl s		ij d
. . . fil Walt'	.....		lx s	iij s
. . . . . .	.....		lx s	iij s
. . . de Macworth	.....		xl s	ij s
. . . Digge	.....		xl s	ij s
. . . de Rybergh	.....		xl s	ij s
Summa bonorum	.....	xxx li

Total for the Wirksworth Hundred : £40 18s 3d.

Lists Containing Five or Less Names

1. High Constables^{[1, 2]}
High Constables were appointed by the Court Leet. He was 'a man of real importance and influence in the hundred, and was often of good birth' [p.97]
1559	Ralph CHARLTON Wapentake of Wirksworth
1571	Godfrey CRONKEHOUSE Wapentake of Wirksworth
1575-80	George OLDFIELD Liberty of Workesworth
1598	Roger WIGLEY Wapentake of Wirksworth

2. Petty Constables^{[1, 3]}

They were 'bound to attend the Quarter Sessions - fines were imposed if they were absent without just excuse.'
Various responsibilities, including the execution of warrants and the summoning of jurors. The Petty Constable was originally appointed by the court leet of his township, and afterwards by the parish vestry.

In 1562, for the Wapentake of Wirksworth

Matlock .. .. Humphrey MATLEY

3. The County Forces : General Musters^[1]

'The name by which the local force was usually styled in the sixteenth century, was "General Musters". No sooner had Elizabeth succeeded to the crown than she proceeded to test the legislature of her predecessor by calling out the county forces in large numbers in the shires, and by making a general order for returns of the number and equipment of such contingents throughout the country'. This was as a result of alterations to Henry II's Assize to Arms in the reign of Queen Mary (4 and 5 Philip and Mary, c.2). The act laid down what everyone had to provide, in direct proportion to the land they held and their income. (p.129)

Musters for the County of Derby, 1558^[4]

The Certyfycate of the Musters and view of the able men and the horses geldynge armoure and weapons that evry man hath and ought to have according to such statute as have byn made in that behalf within the WAPENTAKE OF WYRKSWORTH AND HARTYNGTON SOOKE in the Countie of Derbye taken by Sr Humffrey Bradbarn, Knyght & Fraunces Curson Esquyer the xvjth day of Februarye in the fyrst yere of the raign of o Sovraygn Lady Elyzabeth by the grace of God Quene of Ingland Fraunce & Ireland Defender of the Fayth &c. ...

MATLOCKE

Itm Anthony Whole hath one plate cote two long bowes, two sheffe of arrowes, too sculles & one black bill.

Itm Henry Hopkenson hath one longe bowe one sheffe of arrowes one sculle & one black bill.

Itm the towneschip of Matlocke hath harnes in redines for one archer wt weapons for the same.

Able men wtowt harnes in the same townes.
Bill men - v.

^[1] The extracts above are taken from:
"Three Centuries of Derbyshire Annals, an Illustrated by the Records of the Quarter Sessions of the County of Derby from Queen Elizabeth to Queen Victoria", Rev. Charles J. Cox, LL.D., F.S.A Vol I. (1890) pub. London: Bemrose and Sons, 23 Old Bailey; and Derby.
^[2] pp.95 - 113
^[3] p.105
^[4] Musters for the County of Derby, 1558, p.140
Information researched and transcribed by Ann Andrews Jan 2000