SOURCES AND CREDITS:
The history of the Earls Colne, Essex project, which goes back some years, is found on its introduction page which also credits the work of organisations and individuals: - http://www-earlscolne.socanth.cam.ac.uk/intro-project.html Briefly, the introduction states this huge project was initiated in 1971, the database developed between 1976-1983, and data transferred to the Web between 1994 -2000. The work has been the result of extensive and long-term collaboration between the Essex Record Office, King's College Research Centre and other organisations, and teams of skilled researchers and ITC developers.
The records (broadly late 1500’s-1700’s) from which this piece is drawn, include Earls Colne church records, Manor Court Rolls, Fine Books and “Star Chamber”, Archdeaconry Act Books, Quarter Sessions Rolls, Manorial Account Books, and the diaries of cleric, Ralph Josselin.
Albon (or Alban or Aubrey) Sillito, the son of William Sillito, lived in Earls Colne between 1564 to around 1656. The first record is his Christening, 10 December 1564. His time in Earls Colne was certainly eventful, as he was often in trouble with both the manor and the church.
He made an early start to his career. In April 1591, the Archdeaconry Act Book records that in the previous month, Albon Sillito was “detected for giving of blows in the churchyard”. He “appeared and admitted and was suspended according to the form of the statute”. He was further cited, with others (Jn Woodwod sen, Jn Woodwad jun. and Wm Bridge) for “playing football upon the sabbath day in the churchyard of Earls Colne when Sillito and Pye did fight”. He did not keep good company, as Jn Woodwod was “noted for profaning the sabbath day”. In March 1599, he was involved in an altercation with one “Wm Bieston, gent”, who “drew blood of Albon Sillito and also of one Jn Smythe within the precinct of this leet”. Mr Bieston was fined 6s 8d by the Manor Court. By June 1591, Albon had admitted his guilt and was “restored and ordered to acknowledge his guilt in the parish church as in the schedule fees owed 2s”. He may have delayed paying the fee, because by September 1591, Albon Sillito “stands excommunicate”. He was again cited for “brawling and quarrelling in the churchyard” in November 1594. He appeared and “on his oath was ordered to undergo further process”.
Albon was a butcher by trade. In March 1586, a document proclaimed “ that if anyone wished to retain in their service Albon Selyto of Earls Colne butcher who are not retained in anyone's service but are free to serve anyone let him come and demand etc”. There are several references to purchases and sales made in the Accounts Book of the Lord of the Manor, Richard Harlakenden. For example: December 1603, “received of ...Alban Sillito for two cows 4li 8s”, and February 1604, “sold to Alban Sillito a calf 9s”, and 1610, “sold unto Alban Sillito fifteen lambs for 6s a piece and a wether price 12s to be paid 3li upon sunday next and the rest the sunday after and I to have the forequarter in for the cow”.
Albon married about 1595 to an unknown spouse and had at least 9 children: Richard (abt 1597- 1615); Ann (abt 1599, married Jul 1628); Thomasin (1600- 1672); Judeth (1603- 1657); John (1610-1624); Robert (1611-1644, married 1633); Albon (1613-Jul 1613); Calvin (1615-1672); and Thomas (1619-1624).
Getting into trouble was a family trait. In 1596, Albon’s brother John, a Braintree butcher, with others, pleaded guilty to “stealing 6yd of bayes worth 3s belonging to Rose Spooner wid and 10y of bayes worth 5s belonging to Geo Spooner at Braintree. By November 1593, John had done “his penance, was absolved from excommunication and to pay fees”. In the Archdeaconry Act Book of 1634, son Robert and wife were “detected by the wardens for living incontinently together before marriage”. This Robert admitted, saying “that he had done so for three weeks before the marriage”. He was ordered to “admit his guilt before the minister and churchwardens in the time of divine service”. In 1638, son Calvin was cited for being “absent from church on Easter day last and for playing football in that time he was cited”.
By August 1601, Albon was in trouble again. He and another butcher, Richard Allen, were required “to keep the peace towards Wm Goodwyn of Wethersfield, tinker”. There are records of fines being charged: 1604, “3d” and 1606, “2d”, though in other records there is no fine listed “in mercy”. In February 1608, he was before the Quarter Sessions with Jn Hatche “bound not to sell meat during lent”. In April of the same year the Manor Court required that “Alban Sillito should take away his dung hill which he put on the king's highway outside his house before the feast of the nativity of st jn bapt upon penalty of forfeiting to the lord 3s 4d”. In February 1610, the churchwardens of Earls Colne found “their churchyard fence is in decay and that Alban the same being his part and not presented it cited to the next”.
It is not clear when Albon died, but there is a record of a burial of the “wife of old Albon Sillito” April 1646, suggesting that Albon could have lasted a few years beyond this date, to around 90 years.
Lesley Jones
lesley.a.jones@btinternet.com.
See Also Sillitoe of Suffolk