"Sara Lay had one Bastard before & was big with this child when said to be married. Her Husband never Bedded her after this pretended Marriage. W. Lock. overseers bought a ring which the fellow refused to put on [nor would lay his hand upon] it [when] was put on by Her father. They went first to Wantage to be married. But behav'd so impudently, Mr Birch, tho their Minister, refused to join them. Then they went to Ardington, And she being Heavy & behinde, Asked some neighbours how far Old Whistling William (so she call'd him she was going to marry) was before. He likewise behav'd most impudently in Ardington Church, so I looking on this not as True Matrimony, But a prophanation of ye Holy Ordinance, registered the child in her name only. When I promised the Grandfather, a very good poor man, to baptize the child, I told Him I would not church his Daughter"
Surprised the end of that note didn't end with "So There!" Methinks this vicar was up in peoples' business a bit too much.
Did he have an 18th century version of CCTV surveillance in the villages? Otherwise known as "biddies gossiping round the clothesline".
This vicar scores points for creatively using the word "prophanation" in his notes.