The following Devon items have come to light, viz:
1066 |
Clyst St. Mary |
Wigod, priest, held 3 virgates (about 90 acres) of land (Domesday Book |
1544 |
Exeter |
Thomas Wyggewood, Holy Trinity parish, paid the lay subsidy (an early tax). |
1574 |
Newton Ferrers (Exeter diocese) |
Thomas Wigwood, alias Martin, ordained deacon (later became curate at Langford Budville, Somerset). |
In spite of the similarity of name of the two Thomases, the possibility that the 'soft centre' could make Wyggewood an early version of the modern Wedgewood cannot be ruled out, particularly as children were born in the same parish to a Thomas Wadgewood in 1564/8.
There is no trace of Wigwood, or similar, births or marriages in the earliest available registers for the parishes of Newton Ferrers (1600/1836) or adjoining Wembury (1611/1837), where a John Wigford/Wygford paid the lay subsidies of 1524 to 1527.
A check of published early records by Devon Record Office staff produced no other relevant information .
In a similar check by Dorset Record Office staff the only 'find' was in the record of protestations of adult males of allegiance to the Crown and the Protestant religion; the result is included below, with items found previously.
1354 |
Westminster |
Thomas Wygod, rector of the church of Wootton Fitzpaine, Dorset (from 1348) involved in a Fines (fictitious legal) action resulting in the transfer to Robert Fitz Payn and Ela, his wife, of the manors of Staple Fitzpaine, Cheddon Fitzpaine and Charlton Mackrell, all in Somerset and advowsons of the churches of those manors; also of the manor of Cary Fitzpaine, Somerset and lands in Dorset. (The Fitz Payns were a family of distinction, possessing large estates in the Western Counties). |
|
1557 |
Portland |
Robert Wyggeat, farmer, will. |
Somerset & Dorset Notes & Queries (SDNQ), vols.18, 19,7. |
1625 |
" |
Robert Wiggott, mariner, aged 23 years. |
" |
1634 |
" |
Willus Wiggott, alehouse keeper |
" |
1641/2 |
|
William Weagood |
Protestation Rolls |
" |
|
Emanuel Wegood |
Protestation Rolls |
The index of Dorset clergy held in the Record Office dates from 1542 only, the 1348 date was obtained by correspondence from the present incumbent - the date of appointment of Thomas's successor does not appear on the list of rectors.
Somerset searches revealed the following, viz:
1066 |
Butleigh (or Budley) |
Winegod, priest, held from the Abbot of Glastonbury 3 virgates of land (Domesday Book). |
1170(circa) |
Stogursey |
Ralph, son of Ralph Wigod, witness signatory to charter conveying land to Priory there (Somerset Record Society (SRS) Vol.61) . |
1243 |
Coker (Yeovil) |
Robert Wygod and co-defendants at Assizes on assault charges, prosecutor did not appear, all acquitted (SRS, Vol.11) |
1311/3 |
Crewkerne |
Richard Wygod, parson at Eastham Chapel (Somerset Incumbents (SI), Weaver (1889))- Appointment disputed (SRS, Vol.1), office forfeited on failure to procure priest's orders within a year. |
1349/62 |
East Coker |
John Wygot, sub-deacon, admitted by Bishop Ralph to the chantry in the perish church, March 1349 (SI, SRS Vol.10). Two East Coker rectors died in 1349, almost certainly from plague, and John was not really qualified for the office of rector, but the church auras allowing large derogations from the usual ecclesiastical practice and the Bishop had proclaimed to 'all who are sick of the present malady, or shall happen to be taken ill in articulo mortis, if they are not able to obtain any priest, they should make confession of their sins (according to the teaching of the Apostle) even to a layman, and if a man is not at hand, then to a woman.' (Annals of West Coker, Sir Matthew Nathan). The Annals also show that John was in East Coker in 1334, and relate that John in the Herne, clergyman, settled land in East Coker on his daughter Joan, John Wygot's wife |
1401 |
Yeovil |
Thomas Wygot living at South Street (SDNQ Vol.15). |
1475/7 |
Preston Plucknett |
Richard Wyget renting cottage at four shillings per annum (Early History of parts of South Somerset, John Batten, 18945 |
1540/1 |
? |
Thomas Wigwood/Wygwood born. Ordained deacon 1574, Newton Ferrers, Devon; at Langford Budville, Somerset, from around 1585, curate there 1598 to 1641, and at adjoining Thorne St. Margaret from 1605 to 1641. |
1560/1609 |
Crewkerne |
Registers Show the following, viz: Baptisms: 1574 Clare Wigood, 1586 Margery Wygwood, both daughters of Richard. Marriages 1560 George Waggot & Katherine, 1599 Clara Whygood & William Tyler, 1603 Joane Whygood & Thomas Smith, 1608 Margery Whegood & Henry Jeffery. Burials 1580 Agnes Waggate daughter of George, 1584 Martin Wigood, 1599 Richard Whygood, 1608 Alice Weygood, 1609 Julian Wygood, widower. |
1568/75. |
Drayton |
Baptisms: 1568 Alice Wygood and 1575 Thomas Wygoode, parents not named; Marriage: 1564 Wyllyam Wayford and Christian Claye. - |
1566/77 |
Curry Rivel |
John Wygwood/Wigoode parson (SI). |
1575/77 |
Limington |
John Wigwood/Wygwood rector (SI), died 1577 (Thomas Wolsey, later Cardinal, was rector here 1500/1). |
1607 |
Curry Rivel |
Edith Weagood, daughter of Jane, baptised (Bishop's transcript). |
1612 |
" |
Jane Weagood, spinster (no doubt Jane above), stole a cleaning board and three pecks of malt from her employer, Mr. Hackermans - dealt with at Quarter Sessions, sentence not on record. |
1646 |
Ilchester |
John Wigwood, former Royalist soldier, paid canvasser in parliamentary election of dubious legality, and in new election ordered (Somerset Archaeological Proceedings, Vol.110). |
1656 |
South Petherton |
Elizabeth Weygood (marital status unknown) witness in a case of grave robbery, Somerset Quarter Sessions |
1661 |
Langford Budville |
John Wigwood clerk (i.e. clergyman), apparent son of Thomas, 1540/1, buried. |
1675 |
" |
Charles and Mary Weagood, probably husband and wife, buried. |