John was a churchwarden in the Parish Church of Scalby.  In the Book, village Tales, the Story of Scalby and it's Residences, 942.74/S69 H2W on page 44 it states, Churchwarden's John Sedman and William Hodgson distributed bread on every Sunday from a Charitable Endowment left by John Knowsley and his eife Sarah of 3 lbs per year.  The practice kept up till about 1905.