Early Wigods &c in the SW 1993

Early Wigods &c. in the South-West (1993).

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 similarity of name of the two Thomases, the possibility that the 'soft centre' could make Wyggewood an early Version of the modern Wedg(e)wood 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 &c. births or marriages in the registers of Newton Ferrers (1600-1836) or adjoining Wembury (1611-1837), where a John Wigford/Wygford paid the lay subsidies of 1524 and 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 independently, viz:

1332	Portland	Johanne Wygod paid the lay subsidy.
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 the advowsons of the churches Or those manors; also of the manor of Cary Fitzpaine, Somerset, end lands in Dorset. (The Fitz Payns were a family of distinction, possessing large estates in the Western counties).
1557	Portland	Robert Wyggeatt, farmer, will
1625	Portland	Robert Wiggott mariner; aged 23 years - Queries (SDNQ), vols 18,19,7
1634	Portland	Willus Wiggott, alehouse keeper.
1641/2	Dewlish	William Weagood Protestation Rolls.
1641/2	Maiden Newton	Emanuel Wegood Protestation Rolls.

The index of Dorset clergy in the Record Office dates from 1542, the 1348 date was obtained from the present incumbent, date of appointment of Thomas's successor does not appear on the roll.

Other searches revealed the following (locations Somerset unless otherwise stated), viz:

1066	Butleigh or Budley	(Winegod, priest, held from the Abbot of Glastonbury 3 virgates of land) (Domesday Book).
C1170	Stogursey	Radulphus (Ralph), son of Radulphus Wigod, witness signatory to charter conveying land to Priory there (Somerset Record Society (SRS) Vol. 61),
1243	Coker	Robert Wygod and co-defendants at Asaizes 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 parish 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 was 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, 1894).
1540/1	?	Thomas Wigwood/Wygood born. Ordained deacon 1574, Newton Ferrers, Devon; at Langford Budville from around 1585, curate there 1598 to 1641, and at adjoining Thorne St. Margaret from 1605 to 164t,
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.
1566/1620	Barwick	Registers record (in names Wiggot (t) or Wygott unless otherwise shown): Baptisms - 1566 Alce daughter of Aymos, 1571 Margaret and 1577 Elizabeth daughters of George, 1607 Margerie Wygate daughter of John. Marriages - 1566 George & Margaret his wife, 1594 Elizabeth and Richard Tucke, 1596 Alice and Isaake Mychaell, 1607 Joane and Gyles Sharlock, 1620 Margaret and John How. Burials - 1590 Alice, 1592 Alice, 1605 George, 1612 Margaret, widow, 1619 John (with whom the male line appears to have ended).
1568/75	Drayton	Baptisms 1568 Alice Wygood and 1575 Thomas Wygoode, parents not named; marriage 1564 Wyllyam Wayford & Christian Claye (probably not connected).
1566/77	Curry Rivel	John Wygwood/Wigoode - parson (SI).
1575/77	Limington	John Wigwood/Wygwood rector (SI), died 1577, (Thomas volleys later Cardinal, rector here 1500/1),
1605/27	Salisbury, Wilts.	Andrew Wigwood and family in residence, for details see Addendum to Section 1 of family tree.
1607/8	Curry Rivel	Edith Weagood, daughter of Jane/Jone, c 1607, bu 1608
1612	Curry Rivel	Jane Weagood, spinster (no doubt Jane/Jone immediately above), stole a cleaning board and three pecks of malt from her employer, Mr. Hackermans – dealt with at Quarter Sessions sentence not on record.
1620/1702	North Wootton Dorset	A family of Waggat(t)s/Waggets/Waggot(t)s/Wagits were here, a few miles from the Somerset boundary, details as follows (baptisms and marriages North Wootton, burials Sherborne 1625/32, and Folke 1659/68), viz: Baptisms - 1620 Alice, 1623 John, 1625 Thomas, 1628 Anne, 1630 William, all children of Robert; 1663 Jone, daughter of Thomas; 1692 Jone, daughter of Thomas. Marriages - 1646 Alice & Richard Greene; 1702 Jane & Robert Watts. Burials - 1625 Elnor, 1629 Anne, 1632 William, children of Robert; 1659 Robert and John his son; 1664 Joane, daughter of Thomas; 1668 widow Waggot of North Wootton, Tho. (sic). Thomas, father of Jone c 1692, died at North Wootton 13.6.1700, seemingly a comparatively rich man, and last of the North Wootton male line; his widow, Jane, administered his £480.5s.6d estate, including "bonde and mortgages £419”.
1640	Dewlish, Dorset	John Wegood on list of tenants of the Strangways family, Dewlish manor.
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 stat w unknown) witness in a case of grave robbery, Somerset Quarter Sessions.
1661	Langford Budville	John Wigwood clerk (i.e. clergyman), grandson of Thomas 1540/1, buried
1675	Langford Budville	Charles and Mary Weagood, probably husband and wife, buried.