Otterton, deanery of Ailesbeare.

Chanter 225A, 70-71

  1. Population and dissenters: There are about one Hundred and thirty six Families in my Parish. About eighteen of these Familes are Presbyterians. There is no licenced or other Meeting House in it.

  2. Public or charity schools: There is no publick or charity School in my Parish. But there is a private Grammar School kept by myself, for which I am licensed: and a private School for Reading, writing, and Arithmetick, but whether, or without a Licence, I do not know.

  3. Alms-house, hospital or charitable endowment: There is a Parish-House for the Poor in my Parish. Ten shillings a year is paid to the Poor of this Parish, by the overseers of Crediton. Also there is the sum of one Hundred Pounds given by Mr Henry Austin, the Interest of which, by his will, is to be distributed to the poor of the Parish of Otterton, in Bread, every Month Sunday, --- and one Hundred Pounds more <is> given by several People the interest of which is given to the poor of the said parish, every good Friday. All which Charities, as far as I know, or have heard, are duly distributed.

  4. Residence upon cure: I do reside personally upon my Cure, and in the Parsonage House.

  5. Curate: There is no Curate in my Parish.

  6. Divine service at other churches: No.

  7. Frequency of divine service: Twice every Lord’s Day, with a sermon both in the Morning and afternoon: and also every Saints Day, every Day in the Passion Week; and all Fasting, and Thanksgiving Days, appointed by Act of Parliament or otherwise.

  8. Frequency of communion: Four Times in the year; viz at Easter, Whitsunday, Michaelmas, and Christmas.

  9. Number of communicants: There are about four hundred and fifty, of a sufficient Age to receive the holy Communion. About one hundred and fifty do sometimes communicate. About Sixty did communicate at Easter last past.

  10. Catechising of children: The Children are chatechiz’d in my Church, about twelve Sundays every Summer, immediately after the second Lesson; and most of the Parishioners, who are not Dissenters, send their Children and Servants to be chatechiz’d.

  11. Chapels or chapels in ruins: There is no Chappel within my Parish.

    Otterton V... William Simons, A.B. Coll. June 9. 1721 Presb. June 4 1721. Edmund Lincoln. [signed] William Simons. [Explanation]