KIRBY-WISK, a parish comprising the joint township
of Newsham with Breckenbrough in the wapentake
of BIRDFORTH, and the townships of Kirby-Wisk, Maunby,
and Newby-Wisk, in the eastern division
of the wapentake of GILLING, North riding of the
county of YORK; and containing 841 inhabitants, of
which number, 197 are in the township of Kirby-Wisk,
4 miles (W. by N.) from Thirsk. The living is a rectory,
in the archdeaconry of Richmond, and diocese of
Chester, rated in the king's books at £27. 16. 5. The
Duke of Northumberland was patron in 1808. The
church is dedicated to St, John the Baptist. In this parish
were born Roger Ascham, the learned and accomplished
tutor of Queen Elizabeth, Dr. George Hickes,
author of the Thesaurus Linguarum Septemptrionalium;
and Dr. John Palliser, Archbishop of Tuam.