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house" at Drypool. The number of families in the parish was 23, six of whom were Presbyterians and Independents. They must have gone into Hull for meetings, as there was" no Licensed or other meeting house of any Sort." Nor was there any "Charity School or Alms-house." No land had been" left for the repair of our Church, or to any other pious use." There was, however, a" charitable endowment of a farm £15 15s. Od. per annum," which was administered by the Vicar, Churchwardens and Overseers, "no frauds and abuses that" he knew of.
As at Scu1coates, service was held only once a month, "as by Law required, and I do not find that it was performed oftner." Religious life, however, was by no means dead. The Sacrament was administered four times a year, there being about 45 communicants, a good number for 23 families. When Robinson died in 1758, he was succeeded by William Huntington, who had been at Ferriby and Kirk Ella since 1735.
There is rather more of interest in Register IV. A Terrier of 1786 shows the meagre furnishings of the church. There was" a Surplice, a pulpit Cushion, a Pewter Flaggon, a silver Cup, a Silver Plate, one Bell," none of which seem to have survived. The screen had disappeared after Archdeacon Oering's visit in 1720, and the chief object of interest would be the three-decker pulpit, furnished with its red cushion. Since the church was small, this was probably placed at one side of the nave. The living was endowed by glebe in Withernwick (Mickle Hill Close), and Beeford, both of which had been purchased by Queen Anne's Bounty to increase the endowment. In addition, Charles Poole, the Lay Improprietor, paid £10 yearly, and James Young of Southcoates had left £20 to endow a sermon on Christmas Day. The Incumbent was also due at Easter to "a Composition of one shilling paid for each house." The Clerk had a similar composition of sixpence. These have never been abolished.
The Stamp Act of 1783 granted a duty of 3d. on every entry in the Church Register, and this remained in force
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until 1794. Both events are recorded: "Tax begun act. 2, 1783 " and" Duty taken off Oct. I, 1794." This register records the birth and baptisms of triplets in 1792, "all born this Day," and the burial three years later of another set of triplets, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, who with their mother were" all buried in one coffin." The same register also records the burial in 1790 of a centenarian, " Elizabeth Gibson, Widow aged 101, Pauper." Drypool was the Garrison Church, so there are many entries referring to the soldiery. The following is connected with an incident recorded in Sheahan's" History of Hull," when the Press-Gang tried to capture a number of sailors returning from the Greenland Fishery. A fight ensued during which two of the gang received injuries from which they died. "John Burnick-mariner of His Majesty's Ship Nonsuch killed with a whale Lance by a man belonging the Blenheim Greenland Ship." His companion was buried six days later, on 9th August 1798.
THE ENCLOSURE OF THE COMMON FIELDS
During the eighteenth century there were two events which completely changed the face of the parish. From time to time there had been a number of small enclosures, but not until the Enclosure of Summergangs in 1748 followed by that of Southcoates in 1764 were mediaeval farming methods finally abandoned. The old Open Fields with their bundles of strips disappeared, and were replaced by farmsteads surrounded by neat, trim hedgerows. The prime mover in both enclosures was Charles Poole, the Lay Proprietor of the Tithes.
HOLDERNESS HOUSE
Soon after the Summergangs Enclosure, land allotted to Mr. William Constable on the north side of Holderness
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