St.John Rigby. 1570-1600.

[Phaelyn]

A bit of background of those historical times in England.

Recusancy, a Latin phrase meaning to refuse or make an objection, was the name given to those who refused to attend Anglican services during the history of England, Wales and Ireland. The word was used to refer to people, known as recusants, who remained loyal to the pope and did not attend or refused to attend Church of England services.

The "1558 Recusancy Acts" began during the reign of Elizabeth I, and stayed on the statute books until 1888. They imposed punishment such as fines, property confiscation, and imprisonment on those who did not participate in Anglican religious activity. In some cases those adhering to Catholicism faced capital punishment, and some English and Welsh Catholics who were executed in the 16th and 17th centuries have been canonised by the Catholic Church as martyrs of the English Reformation.

The Anglican Church originated when King Henry VIII split from the Roman Catholic Church in 1534, when the pope refused to grant the king an annulment.

So King Henry VIII made his own religion because the Roman catholic Pope refused to let the King have an annulment, a legal procedure that cancels a marriage. King Henry VIII is best known for his six wives, and several mistresses he kept on the side. The monarch’s desperate quest for political unification and a healthy male heir drove him to annul two marriages and have two wives beheaded.

So more interesting stuff.....King Henry VIII's daughter, Mary I of England (known as bloody Mary)was a Catholic and tried to get rid of the Church Of England and had over 300 religious dissenters burned at the stake. (Her father executed 81 people for heresy.) Then Queen Mary's half sister Elizabeth I, also executed scores of people for their faith.

If someone ordered me, hey go to this church an hour a day or die.... I'd go. Would not change my inner beliefs. Churches are human inventions, God is in all, no matter what religion they attend. The Christian wars were insanely brutal and bloody in those times, yet all of those churches worshipped Jesus. The problem was in the Church leadership and all the power those leaders had. Like that one Pope told the King, nope you can't get out of your marriage. I won't let you.

[Phaelyn]

The Thirty Years' War was a conflict primarily fought in Central Europe from 1618 to 1648; estimates of total military and civilian deaths range from 4.5 to 8 million, the vast majority from disease or starvation. In some areas of Germany, it has been suggested up to 60% of the population died. Until the mid-20th century, it was seen as predominantly a German civil war, driven by religious differences.

Christians killing each other over who should be the human earthy leader of their faith.

[Altair]

Yes, during the reign of Elizabeth I, the daughter of Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn.

This all reminds me of the Tudors series. Very good series, can recommend! It's set earlier in that century though, but it provides some of the religious context.

[Phaelyn]

This was the story of John Rigby according to wikipedia.

In 1600, John Rigby was working as a steward, a butler of sorts, for Sir Huddleston. Huddleston sent John Rigby to the sessions house of the Old Bailey to plead illness for the absence of Huddleston's daughter at Church Services, (Sir Huddleston's daughter had been summoned to the court on a charge of recusancy.)

A commissioner there then questioned Rigby about his own religious beliefs. Rigby told the commissioner he was Catholic so was then sent to a prison to be held. The next day he signed a confession saying that because he had been reconciled to the Roman Catholic faith by a Franciscan priest, he had not attended the required Anglican services. Twice he was given the chance to recant, but twice refused. His sentence was eventually carried out. According to Challoner, "The people, going away, complained very much of the barbarity of the execution."

Originally Posted by sky123

Yes your Gen Granny was brave to travel alone maybe the poor lady was alone and had lost Her Family to the Famine. Ireland certainly had a hard time and Roman Catholics ( Papists ) suffered even more, when Aid finally started to enter the Country it was seldom shared with Catholics. My Grt. Grandfather came here to escape the Hunger He was from Swords Dublin, do you know were your Ancestors are from ?

I started reading a book last month taken from eye witness accounts of survivors and documented for future Irish Descendents, it started off as interesting then as I got further into the middle times of the Famine I couldn't read it as the accounts made me feel physically sick, it was heartbreaking.

Let's hope your Gen Granny found much happiness in Her New Country... She deserved it.

((((do you know were your Ancestors are from ?))))

The trail had ended there for tracing back that line.
But like I was saying I did NOT enjoy the time and rabbit holes that was required
so I put it on the shelf.
I do know the clan and it is a big one. The Patterson clan.

Patterson code of arms.

[sky]

Originally Posted by ImthatIm

((((do you know were your Ancestors are from ?))))

The trail had ended there for tracing back that line.
But like I was saying I did NOT enjoy the time and rabbit holes that was required
so I put it on the shelf.
I do know the clan and it is a big one. The Patterson clan.

Patterson code of arms.

Well at least you know your Ancestors are Sons of Patrick

Originally Posted by sky123

Well at least you know your Ancestors are Sons of Patrick

Yes, I have been called a Son of a, but never a Son of a Patrick.

You probably have all sorts of real documents you can handle with bare hands.
Or at least gloved hands. I imagine. That to me sounds like a quest that could
be so fulfilling and rewarding.
I only searched the internet after picking up my Gran's research that she had done.
I found a few new things out but she had done the majority of the work.
She had that kind of patience. Bless her soul.

[sky]

Originally Posted by Phaelyn

This was the story of John Rigby according to wikipedia.

In 1600, John Rigby was working as a steward, a butler of sorts, for Sir Huddleston. Huddleston sent John Rigby to the sessions house of the Old Bailey to plead illness for the absence of Huddleston's daughter at Church Services, (Sir Huddleston's daughter had been summoned to the court on a charge of recusancy.)

A commissioner there then questioned Rigby about his own religious beliefs. Rigby told the commissioner he was Catholic so was then sent to a prison to be held. The next day he signed a confession saying that because he had been reconciled to the Roman Catholic faith by a Franciscan priest, he had not attended the required Anglican services. Twice he was given the chance to recant, but twice refused. His sentence was eventually carried out. According to Challoner, "The people, going away, complained very much of the barbarity of the execution."

Thank you for your addition from Wikipedia I had already Posted this info: in my opening Post .......

[sky]

Originally Posted by ImthatIm

Yes, I have been called a Son of a, but never a Son of a Patrick.

You probably have all sorts of real documents you can handle with bare hands.
Or at least gloved hands. I imagine. That to me sounds like a quest that could
be so fulfilling and rewarding.
I only searched the internet after picking up my Gran's research that she had done.
I found a few new things out but she had done the majority of the work.
She had that kind of patience. Bless her soul.

It has been very interesting and fulfilling especially during the Lockdown, I'm not a fan of TV so it keeps me occupied and my ' Brain ' active

You should learn from your Gran and conjure up some patience ( it's in your genes ) and see if you can follow up on what She had discovered. I love going down Rabbit Holes as I might find some fluffy bunnies

Originally Posted by sky123

It has been very interesting and fulfilling especially during the Lockdown, I'm not a fan of TV so it keeps me occupied and my ' Brain ' active

You should learn from your Gran and conjure up some patience ( it's in your genes ) and see if you can follow up on what She had discovered. I love going down Rabbit Holes as I might find some fluffy bunnies

I do have patience for nature and being in the beauty and peace and excitement of it.
Some things I have not found so much patience in.
Luckily I have lots of adoption that leads to dead ends or birth record bureaucracy.
Which I have less patience for.
My Chinese line can be traced, but I have not had the patience for that either.
I just know in that linage it is symbolized by a vessel/vase of a circle/earth inside of a
square/universe or heavens. So what is held inside the vessel is of both sky and earth.
Something like that.