SEAT LEASE 1654

“The fower and twenteth day of June 1654 att a vestry or meeting of the parishoners of the parish of Abinger:

It is ordered and agreed upon by the said parish that Thomas Hussey of Sheire Esquire and Peter Hussey of Linkhorne Inn (Lincoln’s Inn) Esquire his sonn shall have a lease granted them for one thousand years of the Peece or parcell of ground or Seate roome in this Church of Abinger aforesaid on the south side therefore adjoyning to the Pulpitt the reading place and the Clerkes seat contayninge in length North and South seaven foote and in breadth East and West five foote and a half beinge for the putting two Pews And libertie to build a new pew on the said ground and to repaire alter and amend the same and free ingresse egresse and regresse thereunto.

And that Mr Stephen Gerie our now minister and Henry Spooner yeoman and Abell Vargis husbandman Churchwardens shall grant a lease of the premisses to the said Thomas and Peter Hussey their executors administrators and assignes for one thousand yeares from this day at the yearley Rent of one pepper corne the said Thomas and Peter Hussey paying five pounds in consideracon of the said lease for the use of the said parish.

(Signed) Stephen Geree minister Fra: Pellat
Henry Spooner } Churchwardens the mark of Thomas Penecod
Abell Vargis } Richard Waslyn
John Amy his mark
John Lee } Overseers for the mark of John Elliott
John Lipscomb junior } the poore William Deene
the mark of William Mersh
John Worsfold Philip Mihell his mark
Henry Goddard
Thomas Webb Regist (Registrar)

Memorand: that this lease was sealed the nine and twenteth day of November 1654 by Stephen Geree Henry Spooner and Abel Vargis unto Thomas Hussie the elder and Peter Hussie according to the order above said in the presence of Lawrence Coles, John Geere, Daniel Dible and Philip Soper”.