Burying in Woollen Acts
- This article was researched by Barbara Lloyd
Between1666-80 the Burial
in Woollen Acts required the dead to be buried in pure English
woollen shrouds to the exclusion of any foreign textiles. This
aimed to assist the nation’s economy. The requirement excluded
plague victims and the destitute.
It was a requirement that an affidavit be sworn in front of a
Justice of the Peace (usually by a relative of the deceased),
confirming burial in wool, with the punishment of a £5 fee
for noncompliance. Burial entries in parish registers were marked
with the word "affidavit" or its equivalent to confirm
that affidavit had been sworn; it would be marked "naked"
for those too poor to afford the woollen shroud.
Extract From "The Registers
of Glasbury Breconshire"
“The last of September there was an affidavit made
and returned to me to be registred before Henry Probert, Esq®,
by Elizabeth Myle of this parish. Wittnessed by John Sargent and
Elizabeth Davies 1678.
Anne Watkins, wid., of Cumbach interred October
y® 24th, an affidavit for burying in Woolen made the 28th
before Henry Probert, Esq'', by Anne Madocks of this parish. Wittnessed
by John Sargent and Phelip Watkins 1678.
William David of this Parish buried at Llyswen October the . .
. An oath made 8ber 28th before Walter Vaughan, Esq., by Margerett
David of Llyswen, Wittnessed by Margarett W™ and Da Jones
1678.
Mary the wife of Wm Andrew interrd at Llyswen
October y® 24th. An oath made y® 28th before Walter Vaughan,
Esq., by Margerett David of Llyswen. Wittnessed by Margarett Wm
and Da : Jones 1678.
These are the first Certificates I received and filed for burying
in wollen.”
Source : - "The registers
of Glasbury, Breconshire : 1660-1836 ; Transcribed by Thomas Wood"
Click
anywhere on this line for the full Thomas Wood Text of the Glasbury
Registers - some 400 pages +