Henry Wyche

Henry Wyche, born Oct. 7, 1604, Son of Richard (and Elizabeth) of London.

From the Register of St Nicholas Church

"Sutton. Henry Wyche, being a non Regent Maister of Arts in the University of Cambridge, was inducted by Thomas Pope into the Rectorie of Sutton, 10 Jun An. Dom. 1636 , after a Resignation made of the same Rectorie by Jose Glover, who was much beloved of the most (if not of All), & his departure much lamented of the most, if not of All. "

In 1637 Nathanaell Nicholas was appointed his curate.

From the register

Henry Wich Rector of Sutton & Ellen Quinnell (Bennett?) of Mordon Widdow were married 15 Oct 1644.

Ellen Quinnell may have been the widow of Robert Quinell the Vicar of Ashtead. Robert Quinell was sequestered 20 September 1643 but had died four days earlier.

Source: Malden, Henry Elliot. 'Rectors and vicars of Surrey parishes (supplementing and correcting the lists in "Manning & Bray's History of Surrey").' Surrey Archaeological Collections, 27 (1914).

The following baptisms are recorded in the Sutton Parish register

18 Nov 1645 Helena Wyche daughter. Henry Wyche, Rector of Sutton, born 04 Nov 1645 between 11 Nov 1645 & 12 Nov 1645 at night & bap.
04 Feb 1648 Henry Wyche son. Henry Wyche, Rector of Sutton, borne 27 Jan 1648 , bap.
19 May 1651 James Wyche son. Henry Wyche, Rector de Sutton, borne 06 May 1651 , bap.
22 Mar 1652 Susan Wyche daughter. Henry Wyche, Rector de Sutton, bap.
18 Aug 1655 Elizabeth Wyche d. Henery Wyche, Rectr of Sutton, borne.
18 Aug 1657 William Wyche son. Henr Wyche, borne.
17 Aug 1661 Anne Wyche daughter. Henr Wyche, borne.
06 May 1663 Rebecca Wyche daughter. Henr Wyche, borne.

29 Jun 1671 Cutbert Dale & Susan Wyche, daughter. Henry Wyche, Rector of Sutton, married.

A notable Baptism took place on Easter day 15th April 1677, described in the Parish Register as that of John Sango, a Moor

Note: England at this time was still using the Julian Calendar and had not yet switched to using the Gregorian calendar that was used by the Catholic nations of Europe.

On 15 Sep 1678 Mr Henery Wych, Rector of Sutton was buried. His tomb is in the church.

Last Will and Testament of Henry Wyche
Source: http://members.cox.net/htpiii/lwt.htm

Dated, April 17th 1677

In the name of God, Amen. I Henry Wyche Rector of Sutton in Surry County being in perfect health and memory praised be God Doe make and ordain this my last Will and Testament [?] first I bequeth my soul to God my Maker hopeing through the meritorious death and passion of my only Saviour Jesus Christ to receive the free pardon and forgiveness of all my sins and to enjoy everlasting life with my Saviour And as for my body to be buryed in a Christian buryall at the discretion of my wife [?] I bequeth and give all my personall goods and [??] to Ellen my wife to be disposed as she pleases among my children And I make her my sole executrix Lastly I give unto the poore of Sutton forty shillings This I make my last Will and Testament revoking all other Wills and Testaments whatsoever In witness hereunto I sett my hand and seal the day and date above Henry Wyche. Signed and sealed in the presence of John [name] [?]

In later years the name Wyche seems to have changed into Wick, Wicks or Woughs. There are families of those names well represented in the parish registers of Sutton and Beddington. This indicates that the original pronounciation of the name is "Wick" and not "Witch".

His son, also called Henry who was born Jan. 27, 1648, emigrated to America in the late 1670s settling in Surrey County, VA on the Nottaway River. Wife's name is unknown. He died prior to March 18, 1714 when his Will was proven. Henry was the father of four sons: George, Henry, William, James.


Sources:

Sutton Parish Registers
http://www.familysearch.org/
"Wyche Family", The William and Mary Quarterly, Vol. 13, No. 4 (Apr., 1905)

William Stephens

William Stephens, was instituted as Rector of Sutton in Surrey on 26 July 1690. His patron was Lady Ann Mason, either Anna Margaretta, the widow of Sir Richard Mason MP, or their daughter, who was then the wife of Charles Gerard, Lord Brandon, radical whig and future earl of Macclesfield.

He appears to have been a diligent Rector. According to the parish register:

"Memorandum yt this Register of Sutton was carried away into Lincoln-shyre by Mrs Wych, ye Widdow of Mr Henery Wych, Rector of this p'sh ["who was buried 15 Sep 1678 " crossed out.-Ed.], & was restored to this p'sh by Mr William Wych, son to ye sd Henery, at ye Int'mission of Mr William Stephens, now Rector of ye p'sh Church at Sutton.

But in ye meane time William Stewart, an honest man, who was Clark of this p'sh from Mr Wych's time til now, kept an account of ye Baptisms, Marriages, & Burialls, wh I am now goeing to transcribe over ye leafe. "

He distinguished himself as a political writer in opposition to the court. He preached before the Lord Mayor on the 30th of January 1694, and before the House of Commons upon the same occasion in 1700. This was the anniversary of the execution of Charles I. In preaching before the House of Commons he omitted the prayer for the King and Royal Family, and took the liberty of suggesting the impropriety of continuing the observance of the day, which was considered as such an insult to the House, that a vote of censure was passed upon him.

In the year 1707 he published a pamphlet, called "A Letter to the Author of the Memorial of the Church of England," containing many severe reflections upon Secretary Harley and the Duke of Marlborough. He was indicted in the Court of Queen's Bench for writing this pamphlet, and was sentenced to pay a fine of 100 marks, to stand twice in the pillory, once at Charing-cross, and once at the Royal Exchange, and to find sureties for his good behaviour for twelve months.

The ignominious part of his sentence was at length remitted, but not till he had been taken to a public-house at Charing-cross, whence he saw the pillory erected, and the multitudes of people who were assembled to be witnesses of his disgrace.

Mr. Stephens published also "A Sermon without Doors, to the Protestants of Ireland now residing in London; preached at their Anniversary Meeting, Oct. 23, 1712; in commemoration of their Deliverance from the barbarous Massacre committed by the Irish Papists in the year 1641. London, 1713. 4to."

He made his will in April 1712, making his wife, Susanna, who survived him, sole executor; his will referred to three children, and also to another daughter, Sarah Burridge, to whom he left only a shilling.

The following are baptisms recorded in the Sutton Parish register

29 Sep 1690 William s. William Stephens, Rector of Sutton.
17 Nov 1691 Elizab. d. William Stephens, Rector.
06 Jan 1692 Mary d. Will. Stephens, Rector.
31 Jan 1694 Samuell s. Will. Stephens, Rector.
09 Jan 1709 Catherine Daughter of William Stevens
31 Jan 1711 Charls s. William Stephens, Rector.

Burials

28 Oct 1700 Susanna d. Will. Stephens.
26 Feb 1708 William s. William Stephens, Rector.

William Stephens, Rector was buried on the 31 Jan 1717

The Stephens or Stevens family continued in the area until the 19th century. Sarah Burridge the daughter who only got a shilling was buried in Sutton, 30 Jul 1728.

There is an interesting marriage recorded in the register dated 25 Feb 1722 between a James Ramsay & Mary Stephens. James Ramsey was the name of the Rector who followed William Stephens in 1717.

Source:
Sutton Parish Registers
The Environs of London: volume 1, 1792, Pages:492-496
Stuart Handley, ‘Stephens, William (1649/50-1718)’, Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, Sept 2004;