The John Wood diary
John Wood made a record of
village events which is still kept in the village archive.
An
extract terrier of the Rectory of Normanby June 25 1764
by John Wood
The
Parsonage House from North to South is about twenty yards long is built of
stone and covered with thatch, the rooms it contains are as follows; a
Kitchen, Parlour, Back Kitchen and Milk Pantry with chambers over them.
The Parlour has a boarded floor plaistered
(Sic) walls and no ceiling. The
Kitchen, Back Kitchen and Pantry floors are laid with stone. The Chambers
over the Parlour has Plaistered walls and plaistered ceiling. That over
the Kitchen has plaistered walls and a plaistered ceiling. That over the
back Kitchen and Pantry has a plaistered walls but no ceiling.
Before the East side of the house there is a barn about fifteen yards long
built of stone and part of Laths and Daubing and a little Room for fewel
(Sic) adjoining the barn all covered with thatch. Before the house is a small
garden fenced about with quick wood and behind the house is a little
orchard and a close containing about two acres which, except the Church
Yard is all the Glebe belonging to the Rectory. The close is bounded on
the East side by the high Road on the West James Sparling on the North by
William Hind and on the South by James Sparling. There is no timbers
growing upon the Glebe nor any other trees except a few small Sycamore
trees that grow on the Church Yard.
The
whole Lordship is enclosed and tyth
(Sic) in kind Easter Offerings and all other
Ecclesiastical Dues are due from every farm in the Parish except Rookbargh
(Sic)
which pays a modus of four pounds a year by two equal payments namely two
pounds at Lady Day and two pounds at St Michaels.
The
furniture of the Church is as follows; a Cushion for the the Pulpit, but
there is no cloth for it or the Altar table, two Bells no Clock a pewter
Flagon and Plate for the communion Service, a small silver cup without any
inscription which weighs about fourteen ounces.
There
has not been any books left for the use of the Parish. There is no money
in stock for repairs of the Church.
The
Church and Church yard are repaired by the Parish and the Chancel by the
Rector. The Clerks wage is paid by custom of the Parishioners and he is
chose by the Rector.
Witness our hands this Twenty Fifth day of June One Thousand Seven Hundred
and Sixty Four.
James Sparling
William Gray
Thomas Huddlestone
William Jackson
Inhabitants
Richard Browne Rector
Thos Hawson his Mark X Churchwarden
In 1983 a short
history of St. Andrew's Church was produced in memory of John from this
research by Bishop George Holderness.
John’s
handwritten record in a school exercise books, meticulous written in long hand
with a nib pen and ink (no fountain or biro pens in those days).
More than likely by candle light the record consists over fifty pages with
only very minor alterations, a credit to John and Normanby School.
Sample of John's history
(In 2005 Margaret Wood confirmed that the handwriting in the
diary was that of her late brother John).
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