Obs. [app. from name of St. Chad, patron saint of Lichfield] (See quot.)
c. 1588. Comm-pl. bk. R. Columbell, Darley Hall, Derbysh. [Diocese of Lichfield], in Rel. Ant., I. 255. A dewtye belonging of oulde tyme to the churches. Every house payd at Easter … j farthynge called a waxfarthinge, and another called a chaddfarthinge,… the chaddfarthinge to hallow the fonte for christining of children and for oyle and creame to anoyle sicke folkeswyth.
1806. Harwood, Hist. Lichfield, 109. Called Whitsun-farthings or Pentecostals, because it was usually given on Midlent or Whitsunday; and at Lichfield it was called Chad-pennies or Chad-farthings, in allusion to the founder of the cathedral.
