Reverend William Denman

• Reference: Find A Grave Memorial - SmartCopy: Nov 7 2016, 3:46:40 UTC

William Denman, son of Anne Hercy and Nicholas Denman, was the parson of All Hallows Church in Ordsall. He along with several other Denmans are buried in the churchyard there.

Notes on the History of the parish of Ordsall (1940) by Rev. R. F. Wilkinson, M.A.

THE RECTORS

• THOMAS DE ORDSALL. (1364- ).

The Rector was instituted on 10th May, 1364, and remained a short time. There is a reference to him in the will of Sir John de Bolingbroke, King's Escheator for the County, dated May, 1351, at Headon. He desired to be buried at Ordsall, and left £10 for the poor, £20 for Masses for the souls of himself, and his father and mother, and 10s. to the Chaplain, Thomes de Ordsall. So presumably he was acting as Chaplain at Headon or Ordsall at that time. He was also a Prebendary and resigned.

• WILLIAM DENMAN. (1550-1588)

One of the most famous of the Rectors. He was instituted on 2nd June, 1550, and deprived by order of Queen Mary for three years 1556-9.

He was the son of Nicholas Denman [Esq.]. His mother was Anne, one of the eight sisters of Sir John Hercy of Grove. He matriculated as a pensioner from St. John's College, Cambridge in March, 1544, and became B.A. in 1548, and M. A. 1551. In 1549 he was made a Fellow of his college, and was ordained soon afterwards.

His brother was Francis, who lived in Grove Street, Retford and had two daughters Anne and Barbara; destined to become famous characters. The second brother was Nicholas, who had two sons. Alexander and Robert, both of whom were buried in East Retford Church.

The Reverend William Denman was married and this was given as the reason of his deprivation under Queen Mary in 1556. Robert Blunston was given the Rectory in his place and he held it for three years.

After the accession of Elizabeth a Visitation of the Northern Province was held, and the Deaneries of Retford and Laneham were summoned to appear at Blyth Church on August 26th and 28th, 1559. The Rector was then restored to his living and Robert Blunston removed.

He remained for nearly 30 years after this stirring adventure and was buried at Ordsall on 14th November, 1587. He had a son William, baptised 29th January, 1569, but the child was buried on 1st May, 1571.

Another child Nicholas was baptised on 8th June, 1572 and a third, William, was baptised on 23rd March 1575. The Marriage and Burial Registers begin in the year of the Rector's return in 1559.

There was formerly a monument to his memory in the Church, but this disappeared sometime in the 18th Century. Thoroton in his History of Notts, records the Latin inscription, of which we give a translation:

I was a Squire's son, my mother was heiress of a knight, My name is Denman, I was a Master of Arts. Rector of Ordsall in Mary's reign removed, Queen Elizabeth restored me to my flock; And I thereupon worked that Retford should reap the fruits of my labours.

If any are zealous to make progress in Religion, Ordsall knows I built houses for the poor. Beneath this pile, I now am lying dead. Ah! no, not dead, I live beyond in bliss, Earth holds my corpse, in heaven my spirit dwells."

It is a pity this interesting monument is lost. Other members of the family desired to be buried in Ordsall Church, according to the list in the Torre MSS. at York:

• 30 October, 1557 - Richard Denman
• 6 July, 1576 - Ralph Denman of Thrumpton, near his uncle Richard
• 3 December, 1583 - Philippa Denman, widow, in the North Aisle near her husband
• 12 May, 1582 - Thomas Denman in the Lady Quire, (or Chapel where the organ now stands)

The will of Thomas Denman was made on 12th August, 1546, and has been printed by the Surtees Society in vol. 106. The following extract is of some interest:

"To be buried in the Lady Choir, there to remain until the general Resurrection. To the Common Cheste Ordsall 10/- also to E. Retford, W. Retford, Moorgate, Babworth, Morton, Elkesley, Gamston, Eaton, Grove.

"To upholding of Long' Bridges in Ordsall, and to mending of highways there 6/8.

"To niece Nicholas Denman's wife a Red Mantle. To cousin Ralf Denman, my best gowne. To nephew Richard Denman, my gowne furred with lamb, and jerkin of Chamlet. To Johann Burley, daughter of Elizabeth Burley a flecked cow. To Gregory Dunston, my doublet of Say. To Thomas Burley, when 21, my Kendall Jacket, doublet, shirt, pare of hose.

"To my God Children 4d. each. To Elizabeth Witson my servant £3/6/8, a mattress, pair of hemp sheets, 2 yellow coverlets, one new, one old.

To my Lady Hercy a gold ringr.

"To William Denman son of Nicholas Denman and his heirs: All lands in W. Retford on condition in Even of All Saints' there shall be given unto the Curate of Ordsall 3/4 each year for the poor, the distributor to be the Curate and four of the most honest men of the said parish. In the presence of Sir Edmund Webster, Priest.

"Thomas Eyre, Nicholas Johnson, Roger Tonge, John Backhouse, Richard Chreye and others. Proved 15th May, 15[8]2."