Standing Shock Still

The English 'super-tramp' poet, W. H. Davies wrote:

'What is this life if, full of care,

We have no time to stand and stare.'

Chippenhall

Chepenhall Manor House

I like to escape into history and to find through my own genealogical records some length and breadth and perspective for the living of my days. My faith is based in historical realities, I believe, and in eternal certainties. But my human existence is rooted in a family that goes back to Adam and Eve. I can only get so far back in thinking of earthly fore-bearers. I am of the earth, earthly. My true humanity or humaness will only come about through my union with Christ, the Second Adam, in whose likeness and by whose Spirit I am being daily renewed.

Chippenhall, Chipenhale, Chevenhall - are all names from various times in history of a place, a manor house (and with Chippenhall Green) where the Barber family has lived in the parish of Fressingfield, in north east Suffolk, England. My more immediate ancestors came to the Guelph area of Ontario in 1836 but for centuries before (I'm back directly in my research to 1434), Barbers lived in and around Fressingfield. Other neighbouring towns, like Cratfield, Wingfield, Stradbroke, Metfield and the Saints (the Southelmham parishes -7 saints around All Saints), all knew the sounds of Barber voices and the unique walk, and noses and ears of these my ancestors.

Barbers were in Fressingfield in the 14th Century at least and beyond, as also evidenced in the following --

item: Feoffment - ref. HD 1538/230/5 - date: 25Sept 1323_ [from Scope and
Content] For a certain sum of money, (1) to (2),piece of pasture in Fresingfeld
between free pasture of Fresingfeld churchon S.and land of Prior and convent of
Eye on N., 1 head abutting E. onpasture ofRoger Dreye, other head abutting W. on
free pasture of saidchurch and (1)'smessuage; to hold of chief lords of fee for
accustomedservices. Warrantyclause. Witnesses: Alexander de Chebenhale,
RichardEdward, John le Barbour,Henry le Sumptr', Alan Scherpe and others. Given
atFresingfeld, Sunday afterfeast of St Matthew, 17 Edw.II.item: Feoffment- ref.
HD 1538/230/26 - date:13 Dec 1431_ [from Scope and Content] (1) to(2), piece of
land (3a.) lying inFresyngfeld between Wynnesgrene on S. andclose of J.B. on N.,
abutting E. ontenement of J.B. and W. on tenementcalled Wynnes; which (1) lately
had byfeoffment of John Haneworth of Pulham[Nf.]; to hold of chief lord of fee
foraccustomed services. Warrantyclause. Witnesses: Thomas Breuse, esq.,
WilliamDalengeo, Henry Palmere,Richard Scheep, John Barbour and others. Given
atFresyngfeld, Thursday thefeast of St Lucy, 10 Hen. VI.item: Feoffment -ref. HD
1538/230/35 -date: 2 Sept 1458_ [from Scope and Content] (1) to (2),all lands
andtenements which he lately had together with John Bowen and JohnDate
aliasRussheye both now deceased, as well by gift and feoffment of RobertGode
ofWylbey [Wilby] as by that of John Bale, son of John Bale of
FresyngfeldandThomas Keenge of Wytyngham [Whittingham in Fressingfield], as well as ofJohn Barbour, son of Roger Barbour of Fresyngfeld, William Cook of
Lynstedemagna [Linstead Magna] and Richard Schep of Fresyngfeld, and also of
RichardSchep, Robert Banyard of Fresyngfeld, John Sherwynd, clerk, John Swan,
clerkandHenry Bateman of Mendham, husbandman, in Fresyngfeld, Mendham,
Weybrede[Weybread] and Wetheresdale [Withersdale], by 6 separate charters dated atFresyngfeld on feast of St Maurus 6 Hen. VI, Sunday before Nativity of
StJohnthe Baptist 7 Hen. VI, feast of St Lucy 10 Hen. VI, at Mendham onThursday
afterTranslation of St Thomas the Martyr, 12 Hen. VI, atFresyngfeld on Sunday
afterSt Barnabas, 15 Hen. VI, and at Mendham on 5Mar. 17 Hen. VI; to hold of
chieflords of fees for accustomed services.Warranty clause. Witnesses: John
Calwere,Robert Godbald, Thomas Godbald,Richard Bohun, John Barbour, John
Wolnawe,Robert Skynnere, Thomas Date,John Sandecroft and others. Given at
Fressyngfeld,2 Sept. 37 Hen.VI.

Nicholas Barber, born about 1524, lived at Chippenhall. He was the son of James and Alice and he married Agnes (last name unknown) who was born abouut 1522, also at Fressingfield. Nicholas died in 1598 (buried 28 June, 1598, Fressingfield) and left a Will which is full of interesting facts and tidbits - and that speaks of a life totally foreign, different and 'other' than my own. These too (I trust) died in faith in the saving merits of the Christ who is, also, my Saviour and Lord.

Chippenhall manor house is now an upscale B & B