c1300 St. Thomas Becket (Laud) l. 575 in C. Horstmann (1887) 123 Ȝif bi-twene tweie lewede men were ani striuingue..for Avouweson [c1300 Harl. avoweisoun] of churche, ȝweþur scholde þe churche ȝiue, Þe king wolde þat In his court þat plai scholde beon i-driue.
a1325 Statutes of Realm in f. 65v (MED) Writ of riȝt of avouwison of churche.
1411 in F. J. Furnivall (1882) 20 (MED) Y wille þat William myn son haue þe maner of Chale..with a-vowson of þe Chyrche in þe Ile of Wyght, to him & to hys heirs.
1451 in R. Arnold (c1503) f. lxx/1 All Such landis tenentis Rentys aduousons or other poscessions.
1474 in C. L. Kingsford (1919) I. 142 As for the advowsons that long to the maneres above seyde I wulle that William Stonore have the nomynacion of the chapileyn and he to be presentyd by the ffeffees... Also I wulle that my ffeffees..make astate to Edmond Stonore..of the seid Maneres..with the afowson of the churche there to hym and to hys heyres.
1513–14 c. 11 §2 The said Erle..[shall] have and enjoye all and singler Advousons and Patronages of Churches.
a1556 T. Cranmer Let. 21 Apr. in (1846) 239 Mine old suit for the receipt of Mr. Benet's advowson of the Benefice of Barnabe.
1595 T. Errington in W. Greenwell (1860) II. 253 The avoson of the rectorie of Elton.
1622 H. Peacham iv. 31 To be set off in hope of the next aduouson, (which perhaps was sold before the young man was borne..).
1652 M. Nedham tr. J. Selden 342 Our Lord the King was seised of the aforesaid Advousen in time of Peace.
1663 S. Butler i. i. 18 As if Hypocrisie and non-sence Had got th' Advouson of his Conscience.
1713 R. Steele No. 6. 37 He has lately named me for a Living, of which he had the Advowson.
1741 N. Sturges Let. 15 Aug. in A. P. Jenkins (1991) 63 The Advowson of that [sc. the Living of Sarsden]..was vested by the Judge in Trustees.
1836 H. Smith I. 18 Advowson—the purchaseable right (purchaseable even by a Jew, Pagan, or Mahometan) of controlling the souls of a whole parish.
1865 9 Sept. 279/2 The traffic in advowsons has never been actually prevented in any country.
1960 J. Barth i. x. 92 We had the advowsons of churches.
1990 70 75 Richard..shared the advowson of the living of Escrick, just south of York.