Glass. 
 Book 
 
 i i /^ 
 
(5 
 
 COLLECTION 
 
 
 OLD ENGLISH CUSTOMS, 
 
 <£uriou0 &equm» ana ©f>atttms, 
 
 EXTRACTED FROM THE 
 
 REPORTS MADE BY THE COMMISSIONERS FOR 
 
 ENQUIRING INTO CHARITIES IN 
 
 ENGLAND AND WALES. 
 
 By H. EDWARDS. 
 
 LONDON: 
 
 JOHN BOWYER NICHOLS AND SON, 
 
 25, PARLIAMENT STREET. 
 
 1842. 
 

 • 
 
 LONDON : 
 J. B. NICHOLS AND SON, PRINTERS, 25, PARLIAMENT SET. 
 
ADVERTISEMENT. 
 
 The Compiler of this little Volume natters 
 himself that his Collection of Remarkable 
 Charities will be found to combine instruction 
 with amusement : — the sources whence it is de- 
 rived are of the most authentic kind^ the Reports 
 on Charities published by authority of Parliament ; 
 and he begs to offer it as a specimen of the in- 
 formation to be derived from that voluminous 
 and highly valuable collection of public documents. 
 
 HOXTON. 
 
 Nov. I, 1842. 
 
CONTENTS. 
 
 The Bacon Custom at Dunmow ... 1 
 
 Bequests of Beef, Bread, Coals, Strong Beer, Ale, 
 
 Tobacco, Snuff, Plums, Mince Pies, and for Bell 
 
 Ringing, in aid of Christmas festivities . . 2 — 6 
 of Herrings, Bread, Wheat, Gloves, Blankets, 
 
 Peas, Faggots, for the poor in Lent . . 7 — 14 
 of Veal or Apple Pies, Bread, Ale, Wheat, 
 
 Meat, Broth, Faggots, at Easter time . . 14 — 19 
 of Bread, Beef, and Broth, accompanied with 
 
 a perpetuation of Loyalty — of Cheese, Plum Pudding, 
 and Ale — Plum Pudding Money, for feasting the 
 poor — for Ringing Bells on the feast day — for prayers 
 before dinner — of Beef and Barley — of Cakes and 
 Ale — of Barley Cobbs — Plum Cakes and Ale — Figs 
 and Ale — Pork for Bell Ringers — Fish and Peas — 
 Bread and Cheese — Wheat — Barley, Rye, Oatmeal, 
 Malt— Money lent to Clothiers— Beer . . 20—38 
 of Wine to cheer the Heart — for a Drinking — 
 
 Barley to promote Education — Petticoats — Flannel 
 and Cloth to 100 places — to Lying-in Women — 
 Physic and Surgery for industrious distressed ob- 
 jects ...... 30—48 
 
 in aid of a Hospital for Widows — for an Asylum 
 
 for Maiden Gentlewomen — to the oldest Widow — 
 the Gratitude of a Member of Parliament— Coals — 
 Gift to poor Widows of Weavers, Cat and Dog 
 Money — Penny Charity — Parson's Horse Money, 
 Christmas Dinner Money .... 49 — 57 
 
 Lottery Luck — Stone Picking Money — Feasting Cus- 
 tom on St. Martin's Day — Turkies for Love Feasts — 
 the Biddenden Maids' Charity — Charity of Beans 
 
VI CONTENTS. 
 
 and Barley to get free of a Chancery Suit — Flesh to page 
 
 be pickled or dried against a Stormy Day . . 58 — 63 
 
 Bull Baiting and Bull Charity — Beer for Whitsuntide — 
 Parish Bull — Custom of the Bull and Boar — Cow 
 Charity — Cow Common Custom — Alms Cows — 
 Cows lent on hire — Milk .... 64 — 74 
 
 For Maimed and Old Soldiers — Seamen — very exten- 
 sive Bamborough Castle Charities — Shipwrecks — 
 Widows of Drowned Men — Almshouse as a Travel- 
 ler's Rest — Charitable Lights for such as walk in 
 Darkness— Night Bell for Guidance of Travellers . 75—100 
 
 For Old Maids — Old Bachelors — to the most Misera- 
 ble — Pomposity of a Donor exhibited at little cost — 
 Hospital for Bastards — Growing but whimsical and 
 useful Charity — Curious Dress to be worn by men 
 in Strode's Almshouses — Whimsical Partiality of 
 Donor for the Number Nine — Mr. Green's par- 
 tiality for Green — Mr. Gray's for Grey — Formality 
 without Substance — Charitable Memory — Legacy 
 for Schools — Family Ostentation — Money to be 
 distributed by a Troutbeck— Bell Rope Lands — 
 Ale for Labourers ..... 101 — 116 
 
 Stimulants to Learning and good Behaviour — Money 
 distributed by the Handful — Apprenticeship — 
 Benevolence encouraged — Singing — Boundary Cus- 
 tom — Bread and Cheese and Ale Customs — Money 
 on St. Stephen's Day for Bread, Cheese, and Ale — 
 Gang Monday Land — for Cakes and Beer, now 
 Coals — Singular Condition annexed to a Bequest — 
 Land acquired from a Rich Beggar — Payment by the 
 Judges of the Court of Common Pleas — for the Poor 
 called Walk Money — Hanging Money — Head Sil- 
 ver — Funeral Charity — Exhortation to Condemned 
 Prisoners 117—129 
 
 For redeeming Christian Slaves from African Captivi- 
 ty — Betton's munificent Gift for the Redemption of 
 British Slaves in Turkey and Barbary, and for 
 Charity Schools — Football Land — Archery and 
 Recreations ..... 130 — 136 
 
CONTENTS. Vll 
 
 For the Encouragement of Servants and Apprentices — page 
 
 Rewards for religious Good Conduct — Virtue and 
 Morality — Lucky Maidens — Archbishop Laud's and 
 other Bequests for Maid Servants . . . 137 — 157 
 
 For upholding Loyalty and Patriotism — for Prayer 
 and Thankfulness — Sermons to commemorate 
 National Mercies — Sermons and Psalm Singing at 
 the Assizes — Music — Musical Remembrance of a 
 particular Anthem — to commemorate Deliverances 
 from the Great Fire of London, 1666, and the Fire 
 on London Bridge — Sermons of Thankfulness in 
 Commemoration of John Bunyan and Stephen 
 Duck the Poet — of Lord Nelson's Victory off Cape 
 Trafalgar — of Capt. Cook, — of George the 
 Fourth — Gratitude for being preserved in Battle — 
 the Wellington Charity, founded in Commemoration 
 ofthe Peace, 1814 — to commemorate the Coronation 
 of George IV. — the Passing of the Reform A.ct — 
 Mr. Jarvis's very extensive, but ill directed, Chari- 
 ty — Matrimony encouraged— to pay Marriage 
 Fees — Sir W. Harpur's very extensive Bedford 
 Charities — Marriage Portions — Apprentices — Mr. 
 Nicholson's Love of his Family Name — to encourage 
 Matrimony, or Horse Racing — to encourage Matri- 
 mony and provident Habits . . . 158 — 197 
 
 The Rev. W. Hanbury's extensive and prospective 
 Bequests for Schools, Museum, Library, Picture 
 Gallery, Printing Office, Hospital, a Church, Temple 
 of Religion and Virtue, &c. — a Task — for Education 
 and a Sermon — Learning, and Early Rising en- 
 couraged — Thoughts of Death and Resurrection en- 
 joined — Propagation of Religious Knowledge — a 
 Peace Offering — Clock Lands— Religious Tasks — 
 Encouragement to learnthe Catechism— Paternoster 
 Penny — to keep Church and Churchyard clean— Gift 
 to Whitgift's Hospital as an Atonement — to provide 
 Sacramental Bread and Wine — Strewing Churches 
 with Rushes — with Straw and New Hay — to awaken 
 Sleepers in Church — to whip Dogs out of Church — to 
 
Vlll CONTENTS. 
 
 keep Boys quiet in Church — CurfewBells — dressing pa ge 
 
 Graves with Flowers — Rose Trees in Churchyards — 
 Tolerance ..... 199—230 
 
 Christian duties, &c. 
 
 Education of Youth, Good Example, Baptism, Re- 
 demption, on the Wisdom of God in the Creation — 
 Affectionate Memorial of a Daughter's Love for her 
 Mother — bountifulEncouragementto learn theLord's 
 Prayer, &c. — Penitential Charity — Sunday Evening 
 Prayers — Unkindness, Ignorance, Injustice, and 
 Idolatry, reproved, God to be praised — Gratitude — 
 Justice, Mercy, and Goodness, encouraged — Peace 
 and Goodwill promoted by a Farthing Charity — Peace 
 and Good Neighbourhood — Good Will and Brotherly 
 Love enjoined — Bequestfor glorifying God — Thank- 
 fulness, Bequests to inculcate a Knowledge of God, 
 and our Duties to Man — to attend Divine Service, 
 and live in the Fear of God . . . 231—255 
 
 Charities for the Benefit of Poor Printers . . 256 
 
 ERRATUM. 
 Page 79, line 13, for " sleep," read " sweep." 
 
A COLLECTION 
 
 REMARKABLE CHARITIES 
 
 THE FLITCH OF BACON TO MARRIED COUPLES. 
 
 Little Dunmow, Essex, 
 
 The Commissioners, in alluding to this custom, 
 observe, iC we think that if any such practice as 
 the one referred to in the local histories, could be 
 maintained as a good custom in law, (which we 
 are not disposed to admit,) there can be no doubt 
 that it is a manorial one, and, if void as such a 
 custom, could not be established as a charitable 
 endowment. We were informed, however, that 
 no claim had been allowed by the Lord of the 
 Manor since the year 1763" — Report on Cha- 
 rities, vol. XXIX. p. 186.* 
 
 * The references at the end of each article denote 
 the volume and page of the Report from which the 
 extract is made. 
 
2 REMARKABLE CHARITIES. 
 
 CHRISTMAS FESTIVITIES. 
 
 Bexley, Kent. 
 Mrs. Mary Mason, by will, 24th October 1811, 
 bequeathed the residue of her property to be 
 invested in the names of her executors, and the 
 interest to be applied as follows : — one third 
 thereof, in giving to the poor of this parish a 
 comfortable dinner of beef and bread on Christmas 
 eve ; another third to be distributed at the same 
 time in coals, to such poor families as should 
 stand in need thereof ; and the remaining third to 
 be divided on Midsummer day, among such poor 
 and deserving persons, resident and settled or 
 born in the said parish, as should have brought 
 up the greatest number of children without . 
 parochial relief ; the appointment and distribution 
 to be under the direction of Isaac Espinasse, esq. 
 of Hextable House, and his heirs. 
 
 The property belonging to this charity consists 
 of £1,100, part of a sum of £2,000 consols, and 
 the dividends are received and expended by 
 James Espinasse, esq. one of the executors of the 
 above-named Isaac Espinasse, who was the 
 survivor.— XXX. p. 443. 
 
 Bridgnorth Almshouses, Shropshire. 
 
 William Taylor, by will, 6th February 1735, 
 directed that Elizabeth Leigh, then owner, and 
 the persons who subsequently should be owners 
 
CHRISTMAS FESTIVITIES. 5 
 
 of his two freehold houses, &c. situate in High 
 Street, in the parish of St. Leonard, should yearly, 
 for ever, on the 26th December, give and provide 
 a good and wholesome dinner for the poor persons, 
 almshouse women, inhabiting the almshouse 
 belonging to the parish of St. Leonard, in such 
 manner as of late years had been provided for 
 them on that day by the testator and his late 
 brother ; and they to be so entertained in the 
 most convenient part of the house that fronted 
 the street ; and upon every default, his will was, 
 and he ordered, the sum of £10 to be paid to, 
 and equally divided amongst, such poor persons, 
 and the same to be chargeable upon the said 
 houses, &c. 
 
 The premises subject to this annual charge 
 were in 1822 the property of Mr. Francis Walker, 
 who then paid annually at Christmas 13 \d. to each 
 of the poor women, as a commutation for their 
 dinner. To this sum appears to have been 
 formerly added two quarts of strong beer for each, 
 but the beer was discontinued about twenty years 
 ago, and nothing but the money has been since 
 given, with which the poor women declare them- 
 selves satisfied. The Commissioners, however, 
 doubted whether so small a sum could be then 
 considered as a fair compliance with the directions 
 of the testator, who, from the season that he had 
 selected, and the large penalty that he had ap- 
 
 b 2 
 
4 REMARKABLE CHARITIES. 
 
 pointed, seemed to have intended a festive enter- 
 tainment of a more costly kind. — IV. p. 236. 
 
 JSurnham, Buckinghamshire. 
 
 By the will of John Popple, dated 12th March 
 1830, £4 yearly is to be paid unto the vicar, 
 churchwardens and overseers of the poor of this 
 parish, to provide for the poor people of Burnham, 
 who should be residing in the poor-house thereof* 
 a dinner, with a proper quantity of good ale, and 
 likewise with tobacco and snuff, on Christmas day 
 in every year for ever. — XXV. p. 47. 
 
 Exeter, St. Mary Major. 
 
 It appears, from a statement of charities in an 
 old book, that John Martyn, by will, 28th No- 
 vember 1729, gave to the churchwardens and 
 overseers of the poor of this parish twenty 
 pounds, to be put out at interest, and the profits 
 thereof to be laid out every Christmas eve in 
 twenty pieces of beef, to be distributed to twenty 
 poor people of the parish, such as had no relief, 
 on that day for ever. — VIII. p. 155. 
 
 PLUM PUDDING FOR CHRISTMAS. 
 
 Forebridge, Staffordshire. 
 There is an ancient payment made by the 
 chamberlain of the corporation of Stafford, of an 
 annual sum of money, generally six shillings, at 
 
CHRISTMAS FESTIVITIES. 5 
 
 Christmas, for the purchasing of plums to be 
 distributed among the inhabitants of certain old 
 houses in the liberty of Forebridge. 
 
 The Commissioners could not satisfactorily 
 learn what was the origin of this payment, but it 
 is ascribed by general reputation to the bounty 
 of some individual, who heard from some poor 
 children a complaint on Christmas day, that they 
 had no plums for a pudding ; and it is reported, 
 that he counted the houses then in the place, and 
 made provision for the supply of a pound of 
 plums for each house. The money received is 
 laid out in plums, which are divided into equal 
 quantities, and made up into parcels, one for each 
 of the houses, fifteen or sixteen in number, 
 entitled by the established usage to receive a 
 portion, without reference to the circumstances of 
 the inhabitants. 
 
 It appears that several years ago the payment 
 was discontinued, but, on application from the 
 late Mr. Clarke of Forebridge, it was resumed by 
 an order of the Corporation, and from that time 
 the money has been paid to Mr. Clarke during his 
 life, and since to his son, to whom the occupiers 
 of the privileged houses apply on Christmas day, 
 and receive their plums. — XI. p. 521. 
 
6 REMARKABLE CHARITIES. 
 
 MINCE PIE AT CHRISTMAS. 
 
 Piddle Hinton, Dorsetshire. 
 Tli ere is an ancient custom for the rector to 
 give away, on old Christmas day, annually, a 
 pound of bread, a pint of ale, and a mince pie, to 
 every poor person in the parish. This distri- 
 bution is regularly made by the rector, to up- 
 wards of three hundred persons. — XXIX. p. 108. 
 
 WELCOMING CHRISTMAS. 
 
 Huardean, Gloucestershire. 
 
 It appears by the benefaction table in- the 
 church, that " the Reverend Mr. Anthony Sterry, 
 vicar of Lidney, gave by deed, in the 40th year 
 of Queen Elizabeth, 5s. per annum, payable out 
 of an estate called the Glasp, in this parish, for 
 ringing a peal on Christmas eve, about midnight 
 for two hours, in commemoration of the Nativity." 
 
 The Commissioners report, that the 5s. is 
 received out of the estate charged, and applied as 
 directed.— -XIX. p. 105. 
 
 FISH FOR THE POOR IN LENT. 
 
 Clavering, Essex. 
 John Thake, by will, dated 13th June, 1537, 
 gave to Robert Cockerell and his heirs, his house 
 and lands called Valence, upon condition that 
 
FISH FOR LENT. 7 
 
 they should for ever, yearly, on Friday, the first 
 week in Lent, give to poor people of Clavering, 
 one barrel of white herrings and a cade of red 
 herrings, (a cade is about half a barrel), always 
 to be given by the oversight of the church- 
 wardens and the tenants and occupiers of the 
 lordship and parsonage of Clavering. 
 
 The owner of the farm called Valence, regularly 
 sends to the house of the parish clerk, in Lent, 
 a barrel of red herrings and a barrel of white, 
 which are distributed in the church by the parish 
 clerk and sexton, four to each married couple, 
 two to each widow and widower, and one to each 
 child.— XXXII. part I. p. 822. 
 
 Dronjield, Derbyshire. 
 
 It is stated on a tablet in Dronfield church, 
 that Richard Stevenson, in 15 77> left half a 
 hundred of • herrings, and as much bread as could 
 be made of one strike of good wheat, to be dis- 
 tributed to the poor of the parish on every Friday 
 in Lent for ever, and thirty pence to be given to 
 thirty of the most needy poor in the said parish 
 on Good Friday for ever. 
 
 The tenant of the Mill Farm, in Unstone 
 Quarter, provides and sends to the vestry at 
 Dronfield fifty herrings, and as much bread as 
 can be made of one strike of wheat (for the 
 making of which he pays), on each of the seven 
 
8 REMARKABLE CHARITIES. 
 
 Fridays in Lent ; and the same are disposed of 
 in rotation, among the poor of the several 
 divisions of the parish, as are also the thirty 
 pence.— XVIII. p. 204. 
 
 Duxfords, Cambridgeshire. 
 
 James Bedell, by will, dated 3rd January 1574, 
 charged two copyhold tenements with the pay- 
 ment of a barrel of white herrings, and two cades 
 of red herrings, to be distributed yearly unto the 
 poverty of both the Duxfords, by the oversight 
 of the churchwardens, on different days in Lent. 
 £3. are now received in respect of this gift, of 
 which 155. are paid by the occupier of a farm, 
 lately the property of the Reverend James Hitch, 
 305. from an estate belonging to the late Lord 
 Farnborough, and the remaining 155. from a 
 copyhold in the occupation of John Knott, 
 senior. 
 
 These payments are made to William Thurnell, 
 esq. a principal inhabitant of the parish, and are ex- 
 pended by him in the purchase of red herrings, 
 which are annually distributed in November 
 amongst the poor of the parish indiscriminately. 
 —XXXI. p. 200. 
 
FISH FOR LENT. 9 
 
 BREAD AND HERRINGS FOR THE POOR IN LENT, AND 
 KID GLOVES TO THE MINISTER. 
 
 Farnham Royal, Buckinghamshire. 
 
 In 1 664, David Salter gave 1 Js. per annum for 
 ever, to be laid out in the relief of the parish 
 clerk, one other poor man, and four poor women, 
 of Farnham, viz. for the buying six loaves of 
 bread of the value of two pence each, and twelve 
 pennyworth of white watered herrings, to be 
 brought into the parish church of Farnham 
 Royal, on every Sunday morning in Lent ; and on 
 every Easter day morning yearly, a sixpenny loaf 
 a-piece ; those to be equally divided between 
 the poor aforesaid; and two shillings to be laid 
 out for the buying of a pair of kid gloves, to 
 be given yearly, on the first Sunday in Lent, to 
 the parson of the parish for the time being. 
 
 A farm at Thredding Green is subject to this 
 payment. — XXV. p. 63. 
 
 RED AND WHITE HERRINGS IN LENT. 
 
 Felsted, Essex. 
 
 The churchwardens distribute, as the gift of 
 Lord Rich, seven barrels of white herrings and 
 three barrels and a half of red, on Ash Wednes- 
 day, and the six following Sundays, to ninety-two 
 poor householders of the parish, selected by the 
 
 b3 
 
10 REMARKABLE CHARITIES. 
 
 churchwardens, in shares of eight white herrings 
 and four red a-piece. A list is kept of the persons 
 receiving this donation, and they continue to 
 receive it during their lives, unless they mis- 
 conduct themselves, or enter the workhouse. — 
 XXXII. part I. p. 623. 
 
 CUTTINGS OF FISH. 
 
 London, Fishmongers Company. 
 
 Robert Harding, by will, 20th November 1568, 
 gave to the Company of Fishmongers, an annuity 
 of £3 6s. 8c?., issuing out of his lands and tene- 
 ments in Pudding Lane ; and Simon Harding, his 
 son, by deed, 7th September 1576, confirmed the 
 same; to hold the said annuity to the wardens and 
 commonalty and their successors, to the intent 
 that they should pay in the Lent season £3, that 
 is, in New Fish Street 30s. and in Old Fish Street 
 30s. to the use of the poor inhabiters and artificers, 
 ; compelled by necessity to repair thither, to buy 
 the cuttings of fish and refuse of fish ; the residue 
 to remain to the wardens for their labours in this 
 behalf. 
 
 There being no poor persons of the description 
 mentioned in the deed, the annuity has been 
 added to the fund distributed to the half-yearly 
 poor at Christmas. — XII. p. 109. 
 
HERRINGS, BREAD, AND BLANKETS. 11 
 
 BREAD, HERRINGS AND BLANKETS. 
 
 Margate, Kent. 
 
 The great tithes of Salm stone Grange, in the 
 parish of St. John, Margate, have been demised 
 from time to time for a very long period, subject 
 to certain charitable payments. 
 
 The property is now held under a lease granted 
 to Messrs. Finnis and Smithet by the Earl of 
 Guildford, who is lessee under the Archbishop of 
 Canterbury, and the lease contains a covenant to 
 the following effect : viz. That the lessee should 
 yearly, in the first week in Lent, distribute 
 to each of twenty-four of the poor inhabitants 
 of the Isle of Thanet, viz. six of each of the 
 parishes of Minster, Margate, St. Laurence, and 
 Sto Peter, nine loaves of bread and eighteen 
 herrings, and the like in the middle of Lent, as 
 it had been theretofore accustomed ; and should 
 yearly deliver to twelve poor inhabitants, viz. 
 three of each of the aforesaid parishes, two ells 
 of blanket; and should yearly, every Monday 
 and Friday in every week, from the Invention of 
 the Holy Cross (3rd May New Style), to the feast 
 of St. John the Baptist (24th June New Style), 
 give to every poor man and every poor woman 
 coming to Salmstone aforesaid, '( one dish of 
 peas.? * 
 
 The lessees of Salmstone Grange have pro- 
 
12 REMARKABLE CHARITIES. 
 
 vided annually fifty-six pounds weight of dough, 
 which are made into thirty-six loaves, nine of 
 which are given to six poor inhabitants of each 
 of the several parishes above named, in the first 
 week in Lent, and the like quantity of bread at 
 Mid-lent, and to each person at each distribution, 
 6d. in money instead of the herrings. 
 
 They have also given annually, to each of 
 twelve persons of the four parishes, two ells of 
 blanketing. It does not appear that the peas 
 have been distributed for many years, which is 
 thus accounted for ; the term u dish " being in- 
 definite, so small a pittance was formerly given, 
 that the poor did not think it worth their while 
 to make application for them. — XXX. p. 554. 
 
 HERRINGS AND FAGGOTS. 
 
 Newmarket, St. Marys in Suffolk, and All Saints 
 in Cambridgeshire. 
 
 It is stated in the benefaction table in St. Mary's 
 parish, that John Archer gave to the poor of that 
 parish a cade of red herrings the first Sunday in 
 Lent, and sixty-two band faggots the first working 
 day after Christmas, payable out of the Maiden- 
 head Inn. 
 
 In satisfaction of this donation, the proprietor 
 of the inn, now called the Greyhound, provides 
 
FISH FOB LENT. 13 
 
 305. worth of bread, which is distributed at the 
 house on Plough Monday by the Churchwardens 
 and Overseers. — XXII. p. 175. 
 
 FISH FOR THE POOR IN LENT. 
 
 Tottenham, Middlesex, 
 
 It is stated in Lord Coleraine's history of this 
 parish, that William Dalby, Fishmonger of Lon- 
 don, who died in 1594, gave certain barrels of her- 
 rings to be distributed in the beginning of Lent 
 to the poorer sort of Tottenham ; that this gift 
 was valued at £\0. per annum, as he (Lord C.) had 
 seen in an old tablet hung up in the vestry, but 
 that it was afterwards settled by the parish at 50s. 
 per annum, when Sir Edward Barkham, who had 
 most of Dalby^s land in Tottenham, had also some 
 tenements near Cheapside, which were Dalby^s, 
 and engaged to pay this legacy of 505. a year. 
 
 These houses were burnt down in the fire of 
 London, and an abatement was directed to be 
 made in consequence thereof by the direction of 
 the Judges of the Court of Judicature, out of the 
 rent charge of 505. and it was thereby reduced to 
 345. 8d. The sum of £2. 2s. is now received by 
 the churchwardens in respect of this gift from a 
 Mr. John Smith of No. 151, Cheapside.— XIV. 
 p. 1G8. 
 
14 REMARKABLE CHARITIES. 
 
 VEAL PIES OR APPLE PIES. 
 
 Ducklington, Oxfordshire. 
 
 The Rector of this parish for the time being, 
 as long as can be remembered, has paid £10 per 
 annum. This was formerly given away in Duck- 
 lington Church on Easter day amongst the 
 parishioners, in veal pies or apple pies. Of late 
 years it has been given in bread. All the parish- 
 ioners of Ducklington and Hardwick who apply, 
 whether rich or poor, without any distinction, 
 partake of it, according to the size of their families. 
 Many of the farmers take the bread, as they say, 
 for the sake of keeping up their right. It is 
 stated that there is no document or record 
 relating to this payment, nor any tradition re- 
 specting the origin of it. — X. p. 359. 
 
 BEQUEST OF BREAD AND ALE FOR CHILDREN. 
 
 Burgh St. Margaret, Norfolk. 
 
 A piece of land, described in the terrier of 1827 
 as two roods, called Plow Light Half Acre, given 
 for providing loaves and beer for poor children, 
 is let to Christopher Hall, as yearly tenant, at £l. 
 per annum. 
 
 This rent is distributed by trustees and other 
 inhabitants amongst poor children in halfpenny 
 loaves and ale. This has been the custom for 
 a great many years. — XXVI. p. 26?. 
 
BREAD AND MEAT CHARITIES. 15 
 
 HALFPENNY BREAD CHARITY. 
 
 Godmanchester, Huntingdonshire. 
 
 Robert Grainger, by his will dated 10th Octo- 
 ber, 1578, gave and appointed as much bread as 
 could be made of a coomb of wheat, to be made 
 into halfpenny loaves, and to be distributed among 
 the poor of Godmanchester by the churchwardens, 
 to be charged on his mansion house in Godman- 
 chester. 
 
 The present owner of the house pays the value 
 of four bushels of wheat, according to the average 
 price of wheat, at Huntingdon Market, on the 
 Saturday before Good Friday, to a baker, for sup- 
 plying bread, which is distributed on Good Friday. 
 —XXIV. p. 100. 
 
 BREAD AND MEAT CHARITY. 
 
 Godstone, Surrey. 
 
 Amongst other bequests by James Evelyn, Esq. 
 to this parish, is one described as the Bread and 
 Meat Charity. By a codicil to his will, dated 3rd 
 July, 1793, he recommended that four stone of 
 beef should be provided and made into broth, and 
 distributed as theretofore during his lifetime, from 
 the first Thursday in November to the last Thurs- 
 day in April, both days inclusive ; and that a round 
 of beef, not weighing less than four stone two pounds 
 and not exceeding four stone four pounds, should 
 
16 REMARKABLE CHARITIES. 
 
 be provided every Sunday in the year as thereto- 
 fore during his lifetime ; and that the schoolmis- 
 tress should be allowed after the rate of Id. ahead 
 for beer, and Id, a head for bread, for those who 
 should partake of it, the number to be asked not 
 to be less than twelve, nor to exceed fourteen ; 
 and the testator desired that Elizabeth Rivers, of 
 Felbridge, spinster, might be a partaker thereof 
 during her lifetime ; and that 200 faggots should 
 be provided yearly for the schoolmistress to dress 
 the meat with, and that she should be allowed 6d. 
 a week, from the first Thursday in November to 
 the last Thursday in April, for her trouble in pre- 
 paring the broth. 
 
 To meet the above expenditure, the dividends 
 of £3,500 bank three per cent, annuities are annu- 
 ally applied, and the charge amounts to about 
 £78. per annum.— XIII. p. 539. 
 
 INDISCRIMINATE CHARITY ON A SMALL SCALE. 
 
 Hampstead, Middlesex. 
 
 There is an indorsement on one of the inden 
 tures of gift to this parish, stating that £40. had 
 been given by a maid deceased, to the intent that 
 the churchwardens of Hampstead for the time 
 being should provide and give to every one,(rich 
 and poor, great and small, young and old per- 
 
BREAD AND CHEESE FIELD FEAST. 17 
 
 sons, inhabiting the parish, upon every Good 
 Friday yearly for ever, one halfpenny loaf of 
 wheaten bread. — XII. p. 147. 
 
 THE CANONS BOUNTIFUL DOLE. 
 
 City of Hereford. 
 
 From the funds of the Cathedral in this city, 
 an extensive dole, consisting of 4,360 loaves of 
 bread, is annually distributed from the Canons' 
 bakehouse amongst the poor of 33 parishes and 
 inmates of prisons. — XXXII. pt. ii. p. 14. 
 
 BREAD AND CHEESE FIELD FEAST. 
 
 Westbere, Kent. 
 
 It is generally understood that the rents of a 
 field, containing 1 acre, 3 roods, and known by the 
 above name, are applicable to the purpose of find- 
 ing bread and cheese for e^ery person who slept 
 in the parish three nights previous to the first Sa- 
 turday after Old Midsummer Day. The rent is 
 entered in the churchwarden^ accounts for 1 764, 
 and amongst the disbursements is a charge annu- 
 ally for bread, cheese., tobacco, and beer, for the 
 feast, which is held on the first Saturday after Mid 
 summer. 
 
 The land is let to several poor persons as gar- 
 
18 REMARKABLE CHARITIES. 
 
 dens, at rents amounting to about £2., which is 
 applied towards the expenses of an annual feast, 
 of which the poor have the whole benefit.— XXX . 
 p. 315. 
 
 BREAD FOR ALL. 
 
 JEdlesborough, Buckinghamshire. 
 
 In the Parliamentary Returns of 1786 a donor 
 of the name of Randell is stated to have given by- 
 deed in 1597 five quarters of wheat and money 
 to the poor. 
 
 Forty-nine bushels of wheat are yearly sent by 
 Lady Bridgewater to the mill to be ground in re- 
 spect of this charity. They are ground, and the 
 flour baked at her expense : the bread is made up 
 in four pound loaves, which are given away by the 
 parish officers on Easter Monday to all the poor 
 of the parish, in shares varying according to the 
 size of their families, a loaf being given to each in- 
 dividual.— XXVII. p. 84. 
 
 Swerford, Oxfordshire. 
 
 The Rector supplies a small loaf for every house 
 in the parish on Easter Sunday, which is given 
 after Evening Service. 
 
 It is understood that this is given on account 
 of a bushel of wheat, which is payable out of a 
 
BREAD AND CHEESE LANDS. 19 
 
 field called Mill Close, part of the glebe. Each 
 house, whether inhabited by rich or poor, receives 
 a loaf.— XII. p. 281. 
 
 BREAD AND CHEESE LANDS. 
 
 Paddington, Middlesex. 
 
 The lands thus denominated are said to have 
 been given by two maiden gentlewomen, for the 
 purpose of supplying the poor with a donation of 
 bread and cheese on the Sunday before Christ- 
 mas. Neither the names of the donors nor the 
 date of the gift are known, but it is a very ancient 
 one. 
 
 The land is about 5a. \r. 31p. in extent, and 
 let at £40. 18,9. per annum, which appeared to the 
 Commissioners to be adequate to the value of 
 the respective premises. 
 
 With the rents of this land it was formerly the 
 custom to purchase bread and cheese, which, on 
 the Sunday before Christmas, were thrown down 
 from the church among the poor assembled in the 
 churchyard. 
 
 Latterly a less objectionable mode of distribu- 
 tion has been adopted. Bread and coals are 
 now given by the minister and parish officers to 
 poor families inhabiting the parish, of whom a list 
 is made out annually by the churchwardens, stat- 
 
20 REMARKABLE CHARITIES. 
 
 ing their residence and occupation, and the num- 
 ber of children under 10 years of age, and the 
 Commissioners were assured that much care was 
 taken in selecting those to receive this gift who 
 were most deserving. 
 
 No distinction was made between parishioners 
 and unsettled resident poor, nor between such as 
 do or do not receive parochial relief. — XIV. p. 18 1 . 
 
 BREA D. 
 
 Horley, Oxfordshire. 
 
 An inscription on a tombstone in Horley church- 
 yard states that Thomas Saul, who died 6th March, 
 1671, gave to the poor of Horley six dozen of 
 bread yearly for ever, to be given at Yellow Well 
 on St. Thomas's day. 
 
 Yellow Well is the name of a close about a quar- 
 ter of a mile from Horley, belonging to Samuel 
 Borton, by whom the sum of 6s. per annum is paid : 
 this is laid out in bread, which is given away at 
 Yellow Well to poor widows and boys on the day 
 above mentioned, the arrears for two or three 
 years being sometimes given away together. — XII. 
 p. 215. 
 
BREAD, BEER, BEEF, AND BROTH. 21 
 
 BREAD, BEER, BEEF, AND BROTH, ACCOMPANIED WITH 
 A PERPETUATION OF LOYALTY, 
 
 St. Giles's, Norwich. 
 
 John Balliston, by will, 1 7th October, 1584, de- 
 vised three tenements in St. Gileses next the Gates 
 to certain persons, upon condition that they should 
 make distribution to the poor in manner following, 
 viz., that in the week before Christmas, the week 
 before Michaelmas, and the week after Easter, in 
 the church of St. Giles, the minister should request 
 the poor people, all that should receive or have 
 need of alms, to come to church, and request them 
 to pray for the preservation of the Prince, &c. ; 
 that the poor should place themselves four and 
 / four together, all that should be above the age of 
 \ eleven years, and that every four of them should 
 ; have set before them a twopenny wheat loaf, a 
 gallon of best beer, and four pounds of beef and 
 broth; that the minister should have fourpence for 
 his pains on each of the three days. 
 
 The rent of £2. a year is paid to the parish for 
 the premises, which, with other charities, is laid 
 out in the purchase of coals. — XXVII. p. 659. 
 
22 REMARKABLE CHARITIES. 
 
 AUXILIARY CHARITY. 
 
 St. Bartholomew by the Royal Exchange, London. 
 Several benefactors having given bread to the 
 poor of this parish, Richard Crowshaw, Goldsmith, 
 by will, 26 April, 1531, directed that £100. should 
 be paid to provide 25. weekly for ever, to be laid 
 out in good cheese, to be delivered to the poor 
 parishioners of this parish, according as they 
 received the bread which then was and had been 
 long given to them. 
 
 This sum of £100. was received by the parish 
 and 25. weekly are paid to a cheesemonger, who 
 distributes monthly butter or cheese of the same 
 value to eight poor women who are the oldest 
 out-pensioners of the parish. — VIII. p. 253. 
 
 BEQUEST OF BEEF, PLUM PUDDING, AND ALE TO BOYS 
 AND GIRLS. 
 
 Hornchurch, Essex. 
 
 William Higgs, of Hornchurch, by will, dated 
 30th October, 1809, gave £50. stock in the 4 per 
 cent, bank annuities to the treasurer for the time 
 being of the charity school of Hornchurch, Romford, 
 and Havering, upon trust to receive the dividends 
 thereof, and lay out the same in the purchase of 
 a round of beef and plum puddings, and half a 
 pint of ale, to each boy and girl, and which it was 
 
FEASTING THE POOR. 23 
 
 his desire might be provided and dressed hot for 
 dinner for the charity children belonging to the 
 said charity school, on the day on which the cha- 
 rity sermon was preached for the benefit of the 
 said school for ever. — XXXII. p. i. p. 729. 
 
 PLUM PUDDING MONEY. 
 
 Yardley, Worcestershire. 
 
 Such of the poor of this parish as are excluded 
 from partaking of certain doles on account of 
 receiving regular weekly relief, are allowed Is. 
 each out of a general charity fund at Christmas, 
 under the name of plum pudding money, to 
 the extent of about £4.— XXVI. p. 620. 
 
 FEASTING THE POOR. 
 
 Wetheringsett, Suffolk. 
 
 The Rev. John Shepherd, by will 28th Novem- 
 ber, 1*J07, gave 40s. a year (which is charged on 
 land called the Church Pightle, in Wetheringsett) 
 to be expended as follows, viz. 20s. to buy meat and 
 drink for a dinner for 20 poor persons of Wether- 
 ingsett and Brockford on Lady Day, 5s. for mak- 
 ing ready the dinner, 2s. 6d. to the parson for 
 reading prayers before dinner, 2s. 6d. for ringing 
 a peal after dinner, and 105. to be distributed 
 
24 REMARKABLE CHARITIES. 
 
 among the 20 poor persons : and he further gave 
 505. a year (charged on an estate at Kelshall) to 
 the parson to buy six twopenny loaves weekly for 
 six poor persons of Wetheringsett, to be named 
 by him. 
 
 These annuities are paid and applied according 
 to the donors intention. — XX. p. 61 7. 
 
 BEEF AND BARLEY. 
 
 Nevern, Pembrokeshire. 
 
 William Rogers^ by will, June, 1806, gave to the 
 minister and churchwardens of Nevern and their 
 successors, £800. three per cent, consols, to be 
 transferred by his executors within six months 
 after his decease ; and it was his will that the di- 
 vidends should be laid out annually, one moiety 
 thereof in good beef, the other moiety in good bar- 
 ley, the same to be distributed on every St. Tho- 
 mas' day in every year, by the minister and church- 
 wardenSj to and among the poor of the said parish 
 of Nevern. 
 
 After the payment of £l. to a solicitor in Lon- 
 don, and a small amount for a stamp and postage, 
 the dividends (£24.) are expended in the purchase 
 of beef and barley, which is distributed by the 
 churchwarden on 2 1 st December to all the poor 
 of the parish, in shares of between two and three 
 
BARLEY COBBS. 25 
 
 gallons of barley, and between two and three 
 pounds of beef.— XXVIII. p. 692. 
 
 CAKE AND ALE CUSTOM. 
 
 Upton St. Leonard^ Gloucestershire. 
 A lady of the name of George, living at the 
 Parsonage, which she holds together with lands 
 under the bishop, (it being a rectory impropriate,) 
 has been in the habit of distributing annually cake 
 and ale to poor housekeepers of this parish, and it 
 is alleged to have been done by the owner of that 
 property from time immemorial ; but the origin 
 of the custom is now no longer traceable. The 
 quantity of ale given is what can be made with 
 three bushels of malt, and the bread distributed 
 is five dozen of penny and three dozen of two- 
 penny loaves. — XVI. p. 60. 
 
 BARLEY COBBS. 
 
 Tainton, Oxfordshire. 
 
 A quarter of barley meal is provided annually 
 at the expense of Lord Dynevor, the lord of the 
 manor, and made into loaves called Cobbs. 
 
 These used to be given away in Tainton church 
 to such of the poor children of Burford as attend- 
 ed. A sermon is preached on Saint Thomas's day 
 
 c 
 
26 REMARKABLE CHARITIES. 
 
 according to directions supposed to be contained 
 in the will of Edmund Harman, 6s. 8d. being also 
 paid out of Lord Dynover's estate to the preacher. 
 The children used to make so much riot and dis- 
 turbance in the church, that about 14 or 15 years 
 ago (1809) it was thought better to distribute the 
 Cobbs in a stable belonging to one of the church- 
 wardens, and this course has been pursued ever 
 since.-— XII. p. 284. 
 
 PLUM CAKE LAND. 
 
 Swaffham BulbecJc, Cambridgeshire. 
 Before the inclosure, the tenant of the Abbey 
 Farm in this parish, during those years in which 
 the open field land was under tillage, used to give 
 a slice of cake and a glass of ale to all parishioners 
 who applied for it. Every third year the land was 
 depastured, and the gift consequently interrupted. 
 An acre in the open field was known by the name 
 of Plum Cake Acre.— XXXI. p. 147. 
 
 FIGS AND ALE. 
 
 Giggleswick, Yorkshire. 
 
 Amongst other directions in the will of William 
 Clapham, bearing date the 5 th July 1603, is, that 
 the sum of four shillings and four pence should be 
 
LAND FOR BELLRINGERS* PORK. 27 
 
 yearly bestowed towards a potation amongst the 
 / poor scholars of the Freeschool in Giggleswick, 
 on St. Gregory's day. 
 
 The Commissioners report, that they found 
 a custom formerly prevailed of giving figs, bread 
 and ale, among the scholars on that day ; and 
 that at present there is a distribution amongst 
 them on the same day of bread and figs, to an 
 amount considerably exceeding the sum of four 
 shillings and four pence per annum. — XIII. p. 651. 
 
 LAND FOR BELLRINGERs' PORK. 
 
 Harlington, Middlesex, 
 
 It is stated in the register, under the date of 
 1683, that half an acre of land was given by some 
 person, whose name was forgotten. 
 
 It has always been understood, that this piece 
 of land was given for the benefit of the bell- 
 ringers of the parish, to provide them with a leg 
 jrfjx>rk, for ringing on the 5th of November. It 
 is called the Pork Acre. The ground is let by 
 the parish officers at 50s. a year, which is paid 
 by them to the bellringers. — IX. p. 226. 
 
 C 2 
 
28 REMARKABLE CHARITIES. 
 
 FISH AND PEAS, BREAD AND CHEESE. 
 
 Bushey, Hertfordshire. 
 
 In an old parish register, it is stated, that 
 " Mr. Gale gave a Haberdine fish, (barrelled cod, 
 so called from Aberdeen, which was formerly 
 famous for curing this kind of fish,) and half a 
 peck of blue peas, to twenty widows and widowers, 
 once a year. Half a peck loaf and two pounds of 
 cheese to each person are given instead." 
 
 Mr. Clutterbuck, the owner of a field, consist- 
 ing of about five acres, lying in the parish of 
 Bushey, distributes annually, some time in Lent, 
 forty quartern loaves, and forty pounds of cheese, 
 among twenty widows and twenty widowers of 
 the parish, selected by the Rector. — XXV. p. 
 330. 
 
 BEQUEST OF WHEAT. 
 
 Rotherjield, Sussex. 
 
 Sir Henry Fermor, by will, dated in J 732, 
 charged his lands, &c. in Hadlow, and Great 
 Peckham, in Kent, with the payment of three 
 loads of the best wheat bread corn, one of such 
 loads to be delivered by the owners of such lands 
 &c. on the 10th October in every year, to the 
 churchwardens of the parish of Rotherfield, to 
 be disposed of to forty industrious poor men and 
 women, who should not receive alms of the 
 
MONTHLY DONATION OF WHEAT. 29 
 
 parish ; such poor people to be chosen, and such 
 distribution to be made, by the freeholders of the 
 parish at their vestry. 
 
 The Commissioners report, that the wheat is 
 not now delivered by the owner and occupier of 
 the estate which pays this charge, and which 
 is called Goose Green Farm ; but it is purchased 
 by the churchwarden at his request, he receiving 
 the purchase-money from him. 
 
 It is distributed in accordance with the di- 
 rections of the donor. — XXX. p. 7^7- 
 
 MONTHLY DONATION OF WHEAT. 
 
 St. Giles in the Wood, Devonshire. 
 
 A bushel of wheat is provided every lunar 
 month by Lord Rolle, ground into flour, and 
 made into bread at Stevenstone House, and is 
 given there amongst twenty-six labouring poor 
 people of the parish of St. Giles, according to 
 a list, in which vacancies as they occur are filled 
 up by Lord Rolle. The bread used formerly to 
 be given at the church every fourth Sunday after 
 divine service. 
 
 It is not known from whose donation this 
 charity is derived, or at what period it commenced. 
 The Returns to Parliament of 1786, state it to be 
 the gift from one of the Rolle family. — XL p. 80. 
 
30 REMARKABLE CHARITIES. 
 
 DONATIONS OF WHEAT. 
 
 Assington, Suffolk. 
 John Winterflood, by will, dated 2d April 
 1593, gave to the poor of Assington four bushels 
 of meslin, payable out of the manor of Aveley 
 Hall, to be distributed in bread at Christmas ; 
 and four bushels of meslin out of the rectory or 
 priory of Assington, to be distributed in bread 
 at Easter ; and under this donation four bushels 
 of wheat are brought to Assington Church, and 
 distributed among the poor at Christmas ; and the 
 like quantity of wheat at Easter, by or on behalf 
 of John Gurdon, esq., as owner of the manor 
 and farm of Aveley Hall, and the rectorial tithes 
 of Assington. — XX. p. 551. 
 
 WHEAT AND BARLEY CUSTOM. 
 
 Great Staughton, Huntingdonshire. 
 The rectory estate in this parish, which is now 
 the property of General Onslow, is subject to a 
 customary payment of four bushels of wheat, and 
 ten bushels of barley, for the poor of Great 
 Staughton ; and the value thereof, according to 
 the market price immediately before Good 
 Friday, is paid by General Onslow to the church- 
 wardens, and laid out by them in bread, which is 
 distributed, on the last mentioned day, amongst 
 poor persons at the church. — XXIV. p. 114. 
 
GIFT OF WHEAT; BARLEY AND RYE. 31 
 GIFT OF WHEAT, BARLEY AND RYE, FOR ALMS. 
 
 Godmanchester, Huntingdonshire. 
 
 By a deed; dated 27th January 1443, it was 
 provided and agreed that the procters of the 
 priory of Morton, to which the rectory of God- 
 manchester then belonged, should yearly, in the 
 first week in Lent, cause to be delivered, on 
 behalf of the said priory, out of the profits of the 
 rectory and church, to the vicar and bailiffs of 
 Godmanchester, in alms, three quarters of wheat, 
 three quarters of rye, and one quarter of barley, 
 to be distributed among the poor parishioners at 
 the discretion of the vicar and bailiffs ; such 
 render to be made in lieu of certain quantities of 
 wheat, rye, and peas, which, by ancient custom, 
 the priory had been used to distribute every 
 Wednesday and Friday weekly. 
 
 In respect of this charity, the tenant of the 
 rectory farm at Godmanchester, belonging to the 
 Dean and Chapter of Westminster, renders every 
 year four quarters of wheat, and three quarters 
 of barley, to the minister and bailiffs, who dis- 
 tribute the same on the rectory farm on Good 
 Friday, among poor persons of the parish. — 
 XXIV. p. 99. 
 
32 REMARKABLE CHARITIES. 
 
 BEQUEST OF WHEAT AND PEAS. 
 
 Wilmington, Kent. 
 
 In a terrier, exhibited 14th August 1774, at 
 the archdeacon* s visitation, a copy whereof is 
 entered in the parish register, it is stated, that 
 from the establishment of the Dean and Chapter 
 of Rochester, in the time of Henry VIII. in 
 their leases of the parsonages of Sutton and 
 Wilmington, their lessees had covenanted to 
 deliver to the parishioners of Sutton and Wil- 
 mington a certain quantity of wheat and grain 
 at Easter yearly, to be distributed by the church- 
 wardens of these parishes to the needy persons 
 within the same; and that in their lease of the 
 said rectories, granted 25th November 1772, the 
 lessee covenanted to deliver twenty bushels of 
 peas to be distributed amongst the most needy 
 persons in Sutton, and twelve bushels of peas 
 amongst the like persons in Wilmington; and 
 also to deliver three bushels, of wheat, to be 
 distributed amongst the poor of Sutton and 
 Wilmington ; and it is added that the usage had 
 been for the poor of Wilmington to receive only 
 one out of the three bushels of wheat. 
 
 At Christmas 1835, the corn and grain was 
 received from Mr. East of Clerkenwell, and was 
 distributed amongst about forty poor persons of 
 the parish according to the number in family. — 
 XXX. p. 399. 
 
ALLOWANCE OF WHEAT, &C. 33 
 
 CHARITABLE ALLOWANCE OUT OF GREAT TITHES. 
 
 Eaton Bray, Bedfordshire. 
 
 This consists of a yearly contribution of one 
 quarter of wheat, one quarter of barley, and one 
 quarter of beans, by the proprietor of the great 
 tithes of this parish, to be distributed amongst 
 the poor of the parish on Good Friday. 
 
 This charity has existed for a great many 
 years, and is ascribed to the bounty of a family 
 named Bray, who formerly resided in the parish, 
 and owned the great tithes ; but there are no 
 writings relative to it now to be found in the 
 parish, and the Commissioners had not been able 
 to ascertain any further particulars concerning 
 its origin. 
 
 The great tithes of Eaton Bray are vested in 
 the master and fellows of Trinity College, Cam- 
 bridge, by whose lessee the quantity of grain 
 above specified is regularly supplied ; the whole 
 of which is distributed on Good Friday by the 
 churchwardens and overseers, among poor persons 
 selected by them, in proportions suitable to their 
 several wants and necessities. — VI. p. 36. 
 
 c 3 
 
34 REMARKABLE CHARITIES. 
 
 INDISCRIMINATE GIFT OF PEAS IN LENT. 
 
 Great WitcJiingham, Norfolk. 
 
 P. Le Neve Foster, esq., who in 1835 held the 
 rectorial tithes of this parish, under a lease from 
 the warden and fellows of New College, Oxford, 
 was bound, by a covenant contained therein, to 
 provide and distribute to and amongst the poor 
 inhabitants and parishioners of Witchingham St. 
 Mary, as before time it had been accustomed, two 
 seams of peas, containing in all sixteen bushels. 
 
 The practice has been to give to every person 
 who happens to be in the parish on Ash 
 Wednesday, whether rich or poor, inhabitants 
 or strangers, one quart of peas each ; and in this 
 manner, Mr. Foster has given away annually 
 upwards of eighteen bushels of peas. — XXIX. 
 p. 622. 
 
 BEQUEST OF WHITE PEAS. 
 
 Sawston, Cambridgeshire. 
 
 John Huntingdon, by will, dated 4th August 
 1554, devised lands and tenements to Joice his 
 wife, and his heirs, upon condition that his heirs 
 should yearly for ever sow two acres of land, 
 lying together in Linton field, with white peas, 
 one combe to be yearly bestowed upon each acre, 
 for the relief of the people of Sawston. 
 
 Two acres, the property of Richard Huddle- 
 
BEQUEST OF RYE. 35 
 
 stone, esq. the lord of the several manors in the 
 parish, are annually sowed with white peas, as 
 directed by the will, which are gathered green 
 on a day fixed by Mr. Cooper, the occupier of the 
 land, by all the poor indiscriminately, when a 
 complete scene of scramble and confusion ensues; 
 attended with occasional conflicts. — XXXI. p. 
 205. 
 
 BEQUEST OF RYE FOR THE POOR. 
 
 Exning, Suffolk. 
 
 There is a customary payment made for the 
 poor by the owner of the impropriate rectory of 
 Exning, of ten coombs of rye, or the value 
 thereof. 
 
 Mr. Bryant, of Newmarket, the owner, pays 
 the value of ten coombs, determined according 
 to the average price of rye for the year, which is 
 distributed to the poor in proportion to the size 
 of their families.— XXII. p. 163. 
 
 BEQUEST OF RYE. 
 
 Alrewas, Staffordshire. 
 
 On a table in the church, entitled, " Benefac- 
 tions left to the poor of Alrewas, to be distributed 
 yearly for ever," there is the following in- 
 scription : — 
 
36 REMARKABLE CHARITIES. 
 
 "Sixteen bushels of rye, one half on St. 
 Thomas's day, the other half on Good Friday, 
 to be paid from those that hold the great tithe 
 of this parish." 
 
 It is not known with whom this benefaction 
 originated, but it has existed beyond the memory 
 of any one now living in the parish. The rye 
 is apportioned, in proportion to the assessment 
 to the rates, between the townships of Alrewas, 
 Fradley, and Orgreave, into which the parish is 
 divided. In Alrewas, the distribution is made 
 by the churchwarden, who gives it to those 
 whom he thinks most in need, principally to 
 widows, apportioning it according to the size of 
 their families. In Fradley and Orgreave, the 
 benefaction has been divided, upon a similar 
 principle, into one, two, or three quarters* to a 
 family. The rye is paid for by Lord Anson, the 
 present owner of the great tithe. — VII. p. 290. 
 
 LIBERAL BEQUEST OF OATMEAL. 
 
 Ince, Lancashire. 
 
 Under the name of Richardson's Charity, a 
 distribution takes place annually on the feast of 
 the Ascension, of Jive loads of oatmeal, each load 
 weighing two hundred and forty pounds. Three 
 
 * So in original, but qu. quarts. 
 
TOWN MALT. 37 
 
 loads are given to the poor of the township of 
 Ince, one to the poor of Abram, and the other 
 to the poor of Hindley. 
 
 The meal is provided by Mr. Cowley of Widnes, 
 the owner of an estate in Ince, formerly the 
 property of Edward Richardson, who, the Com- 
 missioners were informed, directed by his will 
 that this distribution should be made for fifty 
 years from the time of his death. The year 1 784 
 was given as the date of this benefaction in the 
 Returns made to Parliament in 1786. Mr. Cowley 
 has himself had the disposal of the charity. — 
 XXI. p. 308. 
 
 TOWN MALT. 
 
 Whittlesford, Cambridgeshire. 
 
 A quarter of malt is annually received from 
 the occupier of a field called Askams, the property 
 of Richard Huddlestone, esq. It is stated to 
 be given in lieu of the after-feed of this piece of 
 land, which formerly belonged to the parish. It 
 is brewed into beer, which is given away on the 
 day when the bounds of the parish used to be 
 beaten before the inclosure. — XXXI. p. 214. 
 
38 REMARKABLE CHARITIES. 
 
 WINE TO CHEER THE HEART. 
 
 Gloucester. 
 
 Gregory Wiltshire, by will, dated 8th Sept. 
 1585, gave to the chamber of the city of Glouces- 
 ter for ever £100, to the intent, that, within one 
 month after the receipt of the same, it should be 
 delivered, by the appointment of the mayor and 
 aldermen, with the consent of the overseers of 
 his will, unto five clothiers of the same city ; that 
 is to say, unto every of them £20 a-piece for 
 ten years together, putting in good assurance for 
 the same, giving nothing for the use thereof, but 
 only yearly every one of them a gallon of wine du- 
 ring the whole ten years, at the new mayor's ban- 
 quet on the day of his election, of which three gal- 
 lons should be presented to the mayor, and two 
 gallons to the four stewards, then elected; 
 provided always, that after the end of ten years, 
 it should be delivered to five other clothiers of 
 the same city, by the consents and conditions 
 aforesaid, and so be employed for ever. 
 
 It appeared by the city accounts, under the 
 head of charity money, and from inferences 
 arising thereon, that all had been lost except 
 £20 lent to one Evans; but, as low down as 
 1793, this charity was thus commemorated : — 
 
 " Mr. Wiltshire's gift of £100, to be lent to five 
 
DRINKING. 39 
 
 tradesmen for five years, they paying a gallon 
 of wine yearly, now in hand." 
 
 It was urged by the corporation, that the 
 phrase ec now in hand " was meant to be applied 
 only to the £20 lent to Evans, and repaid by 
 him; and it certainly seems as if the statement 
 last adverted to was copied from former lists 
 into the book by the city accountant. — XIV. p. 
 32. 
 
 DRINKING. 
 
 Slinfold, Sussex. 
 
 Edward Cooper, by his will, dated 10th 
 February 1621, gave 20s. a-year out of lands 
 called Whitbers in Slinfold, 15s. thereof to be 
 bestowed by the churchwardens and overseers 
 upon a drinking, for the use of the poor of the 
 parish yearty, at the feast day of the Purification 
 of the Virgin, in as good sort as they could, and 
 the other 5s. to drink withal themselves, for 
 their labour and pains therein. 
 
 The land is now called South Whitbreads and 
 the property of Edward Bruce Bunney, esq., who 
 regularly pays the sum of £l yearly, which is 
 distributed amongst the poor at Christmas, by 
 the churchwardens and overseers. — XXX. p. 638. 
 
40 REMARKABLE CHARITIES. 
 
 A SINGULAR BENEFACTION OF BARLEY, TO PROMOTE 
 EDUCATION. 
 
 Great Coxwell, Berks. 
 
 It appears, from a tablet without date in the 
 church, that the Reverend David Collier charged 
 certain lands in the hamlet of Little Coxwell 
 with the payment of eight bushels of barley 
 yearly, on the 29th of September, for teaching 
 two poor children of this parish to read, write, 
 and cast accounts, for three years, when they 
 were to be succeeded by two others, to be taught 
 for the same term, and so on successively for 
 ever ; and he empowered the vicar and church- 
 wardens, or the major part of them, (the vicar 
 being always one,) to nominate the children. 
 
 The land charged with this annual payment 
 was in 1819 the property of Robert Baldwin. 
 The payment has been regularly made, some- 
 times in kind, but latterly in money, estimated 
 at the price of barley at the Farringdon Market 
 the nearest to the day when the annual payment 
 becomes due; according to this estimate, the 
 last amounted to £3. 10s. The payment is 
 made, under the direction of the churchwardens, 
 to a schoolmistress, for teaching three children 
 to read, and, if girls, to work also. The number 
 of children was formerly two only, who were 
 further taught to write and cast accounts, but 
 
PETTICOAT LAND CUSTOM. 41 
 
 this part of their education was discontinued 
 many years ago, in consequence of the inadequacy 
 of the fund, and, instead thereof, an additional 
 child was sent to be instructed with the others, 
 on the more limited scale, which is at present 
 observed. The children are duly appointed by 
 the vicar and churchwardens, and continue at 
 school for three years. — I. p. 27. 
 
 PETTICOAT LAND CUSTOM. 
 
 Stockton-in-the-Forest, Yorkshire. 
 
 A small piece of ground, being a rood or there- 
 abouts, in this parish, called Petticoat Hole, 
 the property of Mrs. Ware, of York, is held 
 subject to an ancient custom of providing a 
 petticoat yearly for a poor woman of Stockton, 
 selected by the owner of the land. The piece 
 of ground was formerly separated from the con- 
 tiguous land, but is now thrown into one field, 
 with a fourteen-acre close adjoining, belonging 
 to Mrs. Ware, and let therewith. 
 
 Mrs. Ware supplies a blue serge gown in lieu 
 of a petticoat every winter, to a poor woman of 
 Stockton.— VIII. p. 720. 
 
42 REMARKABLE CHARITIES. 
 
 BEQUEST OF FLANNEL AND CLOTH TO ONE 
 HUNDRED PLACES. 
 
 Ashbome, Derbyshire. 
 
 This is one of the parishes entitled to partake 
 of a noble charity, the foundation of which is 
 thus recorded : — 
 
 By indenture, bearing date 6th December 
 18 17> between the Reverend Francis Gisborne, of 
 Staveley, in the county of Derby, of the one part, 
 and the honourable Philip Pleydell Bouverie and 
 three clergymen of the other part, reciting that 
 the said Francis Gisborne, wishing to establish 
 a fund for providing flannel and coarse woollen 
 cloth for the poor of the several rectories, &c. 
 mentioned in the schedule to such indenture 
 annexed, being one hundred in number, had in- 
 vested £13,500 in the purchase of £16,167. 135. 4d. 
 three per cent, consolidated bank annuities, in 
 the names of the said parties of &he second part, 
 to the intent that they might stand possessed 
 thereof upon the trusts thereinafter declared; 
 it was witnessed, that, for declaring the trusts of 
 the said stock, it was agreed that the said parties 
 of the second part, their executors, &c. should 
 stand possessed thereof on trust that they should 
 yearly receive the dividends, and, after retaining 
 sufficient to satisfy the expenses incurred in the 
 execution of the trust, should pay the residue 
 
BEQUEST OF FLANNEL AND CLOTH. 43 
 
 yearly, amongst the rectors, vicars, curates or 
 ministers, or, in case of their absence, the church- 
 wardens of the several rectories, &c. in such 
 shares as the said parties of the second part, or 
 the trustees for the time being, should think 
 proper, but so that no rector, &c. should have 
 more than £5. 10s. in any one year; and the 
 donor directed that each rector, &c. should apply 
 the dividends yearly paid to him in the purchase 
 of flannel and coarse Yorkshire woollen cloth, 
 and should in his discretion, at Christmas yearly, 
 distribute the same among such of the poor 
 residing within the parish in which his rectory, 
 &c. should be situate, whether they should or 
 should not have received the benefit of parochial 
 relief, and whether they should have obtained a 
 legal settlement therein or not, in such shares as 
 to the said rector, &c. should seem expedient. 
 And he also directed that, as often as by the 
 death or removaf or refusal to act of any trustee, 
 the number should be reduced to two, the sur- 
 vivors should nominate other persons to be 
 trustees, the Archdeacon of Derby for the time 
 being to be one, notwithstanding there should 
 be three other acting trustees, unless he should 
 refuse to act ; and that transfers of the said stock 
 should be made accordingly. 
 
 The said Francis Gisborne, by his will, dated 
 7th May 1818, after making various bequests, 
 
44 REMARKABLE CHARITIES. 
 
 directed that all the residue of his personal 
 estate should be divided into three equal parts, 
 one part whereof he gave to the infirmary at 
 Sheffield, another to the infirmary at Derby, and 
 the remaining third part to the said Philip 
 Pleydell Bouverie, and the other trustees before 
 mentioned, upon the same trusts as were de- 
 clared concerning the before-mentioned sum of 
 £16,167. 135. 4d., and he appointed Edmund 
 Antrobus, esq. executor of his will. 
 
 In July 1821 Mr. Gisborne died, and his 
 executor divided the residue of the personal 
 estate according to the directions of the will ; in 
 respect of the third part appropriated to this 
 charity, he transferred £4083 three per cent, 
 consolidated annuities, and £2643 three per cent, 
 reduced annuities, into the names of Mr. Bouverie 
 and the Reverend Mr. Field, and also paid to 
 them £116. 14s. 5d. in money, their two co-trustees 
 being then dead. 
 
 The total amount of the stock given by the 
 said deed and will is £22,893. 13s. 4d. producing 
 £686. 16s. Sd. per annum. 
 
 After taking credit for all the payments due 
 from the charity to Christmas 1825, there then 
 remained in the hands of Messrs. Bouverie and 
 Co. a balance of £329. 9s. 5d. The trustees had 
 presented a petition to the Court of Chancery, 
 praying for a reference to one of the masters of 
 
BEQUEST OF FLANNEL AND CLOTH. 
 
 45 
 
 the court, to approve of a scheme for the disposal 
 of the surplus income, beyond the amount limited 
 by the donor for each place. 
 
 The Schedule referred to in the indenture 
 contains the names of the following places, to 
 partake of Mr. Gisborne's charity. 
 
 Ashborne. 
 
 Brampton. 
 
 Ashover. 
 
 Castleton. 
 
 Alfreton. 
 
 Carsington. 
 
 Ashford. 
 
 Chesterfield. 
 
 Atlow. 
 
 Chapel-en-le- Frith 
 
 Bonsall. 
 
 Clowne. 
 
 Bakewell. 
 
 Crich. 
 
 Buxton. 
 
 Chelmorton. 
 
 Bradley. 
 
 Derwent. 
 
 Bradborne. 
 
 Darley. 
 
 Barlbrough. 
 
 Dethick. 
 
 Barlow. 
 
 Denby. 
 
 Beighton. 
 
 Dronfield. 
 
 Bentley. 
 
 Dore. 
 
 Blackwell. 
 
 Duffield. 
 
 Brassington. 
 
 Edale. 
 
 Bolsover. 
 
 Eckington. 
 
 Belper. 
 
 Elmton. 
 
 Baslow. 
 
 Eyam. 
 
 Beeley. 
 
 Elton. 
 
 Ballidon. 
 
 Edensor. 
 
 Brimington. 
 
 Fairfield. 
 
46 
 
 REMARKABLE CHARITIES. 
 
 Glossop. 
 
 Hartington. 
 
 Hathersage. 
 
 Hartshorn. 
 
 Heage. 
 
 Hope. 
 
 Hault Hucknall. 
 
 Heath. 
 
 Heanor. 
 
 Hayfield. 
 
 Horsley. 
 
 Hognaston. 
 
 Holmesfield. 
 
 Ilkeston. 
 
 Kirk Ireton. 
 
 Kniveton. 
 
 Kirk Hallam. 
 
 Killaraarsh. 
 
 Longstone. 
 
 Matlock. 
 
 Mellor. 
 
 Morton. 
 
 Mugginton. 
 
 Monyash. 
 
 Middleton Stoney. 
 
 Mickleover. 
 
 North Wingfield. 
 
 Norton. 
 
 Normanton Temple. 
 
 Ockbrook. 
 
 Peak forest. 
 
 Pleasley. 
 
 Pinxton. 
 
 Pentrich. 
 
 Parwich. 
 
 Shirland. 
 
 South Normanton. 
 
 Spondon. 
 
 Sterndale. 
 
 ScarclifTe. 
 
 South Wingfield. 
 
 Sutton cum Duck- 
 
 manton. 
 Sheldon. 
 Smalley. 
 Tideswell. 
 Tibshelf. 
 Taddington. 
 Turnditch. 
 West Hallam. 
 Wirksworth. 
 Whittington. 
 Whitwell. 
 Wormhill. 
 Winster. 
 Winger worth. 
 Youlgreave. 
 
 XVII. p. 72. 
 
MEDICINAL CHARITIES. 4j 
 
 A MOST BENEFICIAL CHARITY. 
 
 St. Andrew, Holborn, London. 
 In the year 1821 a sum of one hundred pounds 
 was given by a lady, who desired that her name 
 should not be made public, the interest whereof 
 she directed to be annually given by the minister 
 and churchwardens to six poor lying-in women, 
 the wives of Irishmen residing in the Saffron Hill 
 Liberty of the parish of St. Andrew, Holborn. 
 This was invested in the 4 per cents., and the di- 
 vidend is placed in the hands of the collector and 
 agent for a lying-in charity in the parish, who ap- 
 plies it according to the directions of the donor, 
 and gives an account of the application to the rec- 
 tor and churchwardens. — XIV. p. 122. 
 
 MEDICINAL CHARITY. 
 
 Whitsbury, Wilts. 
 
 A tablet outside the tower of Whitsbury Church 
 records that Charles Delafaye, esq., of Whitsbury, 
 bequeathed £200 South Sea annuities for the bene- 
 fit of the poor of that parish, the interest of which was 
 to be laid out annually in physic or surgery for the 
 recovery of industrious distressed objects, who 
 were disabled from work by sickness or accident. 
 If but few should need this relief, and the annual 
 produce should not be expended in any one year, 
 the surplus should be applied in the putting out 
 
48 REMARKABLE CHARITIES. 
 
 a poor boy apprentice. This benefaction was not 
 intended to free the parish from giving all neces- 
 sary assistance to the distressed or disabled poor, 
 and was not to be continued to any object for 
 more than three months. 
 
 From 1827 to 1832 the parish was so healthy 
 that no medical assistance was required amongst 
 that portion of the industrious poor as needed not 
 parochial relief, and to which class the gift seems 
 to have been confined. 
 
 In 1832, £30 was paid as a premium with an 
 apprentice. The vicar keeps an account of the 
 charity.— XXVI. p. 519. 
 
 poor men's land. 
 Winterslow, Wilts. 
 
 There is some land in this parish called the Poor 
 Folks' Grounds, the rent of which is annually ap- 
 plied for their benefit. How it was acquired is 
 not certain, nor are there any writings relating to 
 it. It is supposed to have been given to the poor 
 as a compensation for their surrender of a right 
 of commonage in other parts of the parish many 
 years previous to the inclosure of Winterslow 
 [common]*, which took place about 1767* 
 
 * This appears necessary to complete the meaning : 
 no doubt but the word was accidentally omitted in 
 compiling the original report. 
 
BEQUEST OF BARLEY. 49 
 
 The Commissioners could not obtain an exact 
 account of the precise bounds of the ground, but 
 it is well known, and measures about 15 acres. 
 One part of it was let to Thomas Bell at £7 a year 
 rent, and another part to J. N. Curtis at a rent of 
 £16. lis. 
 
 All the poor in the parish meet together and 
 settle this business. They derive from the land 
 above half a crown a-piece. It is managed for 
 them by a person appointed by themselves, to 
 whom they give 2s. a year for collecting the rents, 
 which are honestly divided. 
 
 Curtis's land was let by auction, and the rent 
 of £16. lis. is the utmost value.— XXVI. p. 459. 
 
 widows' hospital. 
 Hunmanby, Yorkshire. 
 The origin of this charity is wholly unknown, 
 and there are no documents in existence by which 
 the particulars of it can now be traced. The 
 chief feature of interest in connexion with it is, 
 that each widow receives from Humphrey Osbal- 
 deston, esq. a customary allowance of one peck 
 of barley a month. The number of widows, from 
 the indifference of the accommodation, seldom ex- 
 ceeds four. — X. p. 654. 
 
50 REMARKABLE CHARITIES. 
 
 BEQUEST TO PROVIDE AN ASYLUM FOR MAIDEN 
 GENTLEWOMEN IN THEIR OLD AGE. 
 
 York, Masons' Hospital. 
 
 Mary Wandesford of the city of York, spinster, 
 by will, 4 Nov. 1725, gave all her lands, &c. to 
 the Archbishop of York and others, in trust for 
 the use and benefit of ten poor gentlewomen, 
 who were never married, and should be of the 
 religion practised in the Church of England, who 
 should retire from the noise and hurry of the 
 w T orld into a religious house ; a protestant retire- 
 ment to be provided for them where they should 
 be obliged to continue for life ; and she directed 
 that if any person elected into that society by 
 the trustees, (whom she constituted and appointed 
 perpetual electors,) should withdraw herself from 
 the house, or should marry or behave herself 
 unsuitably to the design and rules of the found- 
 ation, the trustees should remove her, and fill her 
 place with another gentlewoman. 
 
 And she directed her trustees to purchase a 
 convenient habitation for the said poor gentle- 
 women, where they might all live together under 
 one roof, and make a small congregation, once 
 at least every day at prayers, such as her trustees 
 should think proper for their ease and circum- 
 stances, and she appointed £10 per annum to be 
 paid to a reader, who should be appointed by 
 her trustees. 
 
BEQUEST TO THE OLDEST WIDOW. 51 
 
 The maiden gentlewomen admitted, are ap- 
 pointed by the trustees on petition, stating the 
 age, place of abode, and means of the petitioner ; 
 that she has lived in the communion of the 
 Church of England, is of sober life and con- 
 versation, and of respectable character. Proof 
 is required, that she is above the age of fifty 
 years.— IV. p. 378. 
 
 BEQUEST TO THE OLDEST WIDOW IN THE PARISH. 
 
 Albury, Hertfordshire. 
 
 There was formerly a house upon Up wick 
 Green, now in ruins, to which a quarter of an 
 acre of land belonged, the occupier whereof pays 
 an annual rent of Ss. to the oldest widow in the 
 parish. 
 
 The vicar and parish officers have no document 
 to shew the manner in which this land came to 
 the parish, but the commissioners were assured 
 that they would attend to the letting of the 
 property, and exercise a due vigilance over it. — 
 XXIX. p. 337. 
 
 d 2 
 
52 REMARKABLE CHARITIES. 
 
 SIR JOHN POPHAM'S ALMS HOUSES. 
 
 Wellington, Somerset, 
 
 This institution owes its origin to Sir John 
 Popham, formerly Lord Chief Justice of England, 
 who caused it to be erected for the maintenance 
 of twelve poor and impotent or aged people, such 
 as had been of honest fame and of a good report, 
 especially true working or labouring people, 
 whereof six to be men, and the most discreet of 
 them to be the president of the men, and six 
 other to be women, and the most modest and 
 discreet of them to be the matron of the women, 
 and for the education of two poor men's children 
 fatherless and motherless, not being base born, 
 until such time as they should be nine years old 
 or bound apprentice. — After directing provision 
 for the inmates, Sir John further ordered, " that 
 f one piece of timber should be set up over-against 
 the said hospital, in or near the footpath of the 
 highway there, with an iron box upon it, to be 
 close locked, with a notch in the top, to receive into 
 the same box the charity of such people as did 
 pass, either on horseback or on foot, which every 
 night should be taken out by the president and 
 matron, and each of them should have a key 
 thereof, or in their default, by one other man or 
 woman of the hospital, and to be punctually told 
 and to be put into some strong chest to be 
 
A PARLIAMENT MAN. 53 
 
 provided for that purpose, the keys whereof to 
 be always kept by some one of the governors 
 to be opened but once every quarter, and then 
 the amount should be bestowed or employed for 
 the use of the hospital, and of the persons in it. 
 
 The Commissioners' Report is silent as to the 
 amount received by this highway poorbox. — 
 XV. p. 398. 
 
 THE GRATITUDE OF A REPRESENTATIVE IN 
 PARLIAMENT. 
 
 Warwick, 
 
 Henry Archer, esq. late of Hale in the county 
 of Southampton, by will, dated the 5th November 
 1764, gave the sum of £500 to the poor of the 
 borough of Warwick, in grateful remembrance 
 of the very great honour conferred on him by the 
 said borough (which he represented in Parlia- 
 ment) for thirty years and upwards, to be 
 disposed of, and managed to the best advantage 
 of the said poor by his brother Lord Archer, the 
 Earl of Warwick, and Matthew Wise, esq., and 
 by the respective vicars, churchwardens and 
 overseers of the poor of the parishes of St. Mary 
 and St. Nicholas in the said borough for the time 
 being. 
 
 The interest is employed in purchasing coals 
 
54 REMARKABLE CHARITIES. 
 
 in the summer, and selling them to the poor at a 
 reduced price in winter. — XVII. p. 538. 
 
 CAT AND DOG MONEY. 
 
 Christchurch, Spitalfields, Middlesex, 
 A benefaction table in the church states that, 
 by a decree of Chancery 23rd November 1797, 
 in a cause between the Attorney General and 
 Friend, and a subsequent order of 8th August 
 1806, the annual sum of £16. 95. 2d., being the 
 dividends on £548. 1 2s. lid. three per cent. Bank 
 annuities, is payable to the churchwardens of this 
 parish, and of the parish of St. Matthew, Bethnal 
 Green, pursuant to the will and codicil of John 
 George Fabry, such interest (after deducting 
 £2. 2s. half yearly, as directed by the codicil,) to 
 be divided amongst six poor widows of weavers 
 of the names of Fabry or Ovington.* 
 
 The tradition in the parish is, that the money 
 was given in the first instance for the support of 
 cats and dogs ; and it is called the Cat and Dog 
 Money. No information can be obtained of the 
 date of the will by which this charity is bequeathed. 
 The money is always distributed at a public ves- 
 try.— XXXIL part ii. p. 548. 
 
 * Of the/age of 50 years or upwards, and the pre- 
 ference to be given to those of good character. 
 
PENNY CUSTOM OR DOLE. 55 
 
 PENNY CHARITY CUSTOM OR DOLE. 
 
 Walsall, Staffordshire. 
 
 There is an annual payment called Moseley's 
 Dole, which the corporation, are accustomed to make 
 of a penny a-piece to all the inhabitants of the 
 parish of Walsall, and of the adjoining parish of 
 Rushall, which is supposed to have anciently 
 formed part of that of Walsall. 
 
 Three persons are employed to make the dis- 
 tribution, who begin on New Year's Day, and go 
 through the parishes, giving a penny to every 
 inmate of every house, whether permanently or 
 accidentally abiding there. 
 
 It is said in Plot's History of Staffordshire that 
 the earliest mention of this dole is in the 36th 
 Henry VIII., when £J. 10s. 9d. discharged it. 
 
 The first trace of it that is found in the docu- 
 ments of the Corporation is in 1632, when its 
 amount was £14. 95. 4d. The amount increased 
 gradually till 1 ?99, when it was £60., and it has 
 continued within a few shillings of that sum ever 
 since. 
 
 There are different traditions respecting the 
 origin of this dole, which it is not necessary to 
 notice, but they concur in attributing it to one 
 Thomas Moseley, from whom an estate at Bascott 
 in Warwickshire was derived, which is now poss- 
 essed by the Corporation. From this, among other 
 causes, has arisen a suspicion that the whole of 
 
56 REMARKABLE CHARITIES. 
 
 that estate under the various grants thereof was 
 given and is now held by the Corporation in trust 
 for charitable uses ; but the Commissioners, after 
 noticing various grants and deeds from 1447 to 
 1 820, observe as follows : — " It does not appear to 
 us that these documents afford any satisfactory 
 inference that this property was granted by Queen 
 Elizabeth to charitable uses : no such purpose 
 is expressed in the grant itself f (alluding to a be- 
 lief entertained to that effect by a Jury in a com- 
 mission for charitable uses, 1 726;) "the Corporation 
 appear always to have exercised the management 
 of the property, and the administration of its re- 
 venue. The dole, which was paid from it before 
 the grant from the Crown, and which the Cor- 
 poration have continued since, seems to have 
 originated in a voluntary appropriation of a part of 
 the income, and not in any condition of either of 
 the original grants by which the property was ac- 
 quired," &c. " With respect to the dole itself, it ap- 
 pears to us to be at the present day a very useless 
 mode of employing a large sum of money, which 
 in other ways might be made productive of conside- 
 rable benefit. 
 
 " Believing it, therefore, to be, though a very 
 ancient yet a voluntary, and therefore a revocable, 
 payment, we think it is strongly to be recom- 
 mended to the Corporation to substitute for it some 
 other mode of application, which might render 
 the fund really beneficial."— IX. p. 573—577- . 
 
CUSTOM MONEY. 57 
 
 parson's horse money. 
 Yapham-cum-Meltonby, Yorkshire. 
 There is an ancient payment of 35. 4d. as the 
 value of a pound of pepper, made out of the cha- 
 pel lands, as due to the occupier of a certain farm 
 in Yapham, for taking care of the parson's horse, 
 which he is bound to do whenever the parson goes 
 there to do duty. — XI. p. 741. 
 
 CHRISTMAS DINNER MONEY. 
 
 Great JBarr, Staffordshire. 
 
 In Shaw's History of Staffordshire is mentioned 
 a custom formerly prevalent in this parish, for the 
 rector on every Christmas Day to give to every 
 person, great and small, of his parish, that would 
 then come to his house, as much bread, beef, mus- 
 tard and vinegar as they could eat, but which had 
 of late years been commuted for a money pay- 
 ment. 
 
 The Commissioners were informed by an old 
 parishioner that he had often heard his father 
 speak of this dinner as having been usually given 
 in his time. It has for many years been discon- 
 tinued, and, instead thereof, the rector of Aldridge 
 now gives to every housekeeper who demands it 
 in Aldridge 6d. and in Barr 8^., which is called 
 Custom Money. The origin of the custom is un- 
 known.— XII. p. 542. 
 
 \ d 3 
 
58 REMARKABLE CHARITIES. 
 
 LOTTERY LUCK. 
 
 Woodstock, Oxfordshire. 
 
 By indenture, dated December, 1738, between 
 Sarah Cocks, daughter and executrix of Sir Ro- 
 bert Cocks, baronet, deceased, and Sir Robert 
 Cocks, baronet, son and heir of the baronet de- 
 ceased, reciting that the said deceased baronet had 
 about 1/19 purchased several tickets in the then 
 state lottery, and before the drawing thereof had 
 publicly declared that if any or either of them 
 should come up a prize, he would apply the money 
 arising therefrom to the use of the poor of the 
 borough of New Woodstock; also reciting that 
 one of the said* tickets was drawn a prize of £1000, 
 which said prize had been sold for the sum of £800; 
 that Sir Robert had constantly applied the interest 
 to the use of the borough up to the time of his 
 death ; that, as he had not left any direction in his 
 will concerning it, and the said Sarah Cocks being 
 charitably inclined, and desirous to execute the 
 design of her father, had purchased an estate in the 
 parish of Arncott of the yearly value of £36. ; it was 
 witnessed that she granted the same to her brother 
 the said Sir Robert Cocks and his heirs in trust, 
 to apply the rents and profits for certain uses in 
 such indenture more particularly expressed, for 
 the benefit of the inhabitants of the said borough 
 of New Woodstock. The lands consist of 75 acres, 
 
FEASTING CUSTOM. 59 
 
 and the profits are applied chiefly in educating and 
 apprenticing poor children. — XII. p. 323. 
 
 STONE PICKING MONEY. 
 
 Williamscot, Oxfordshire. 
 The sum of one pound is paid annually, by 
 Mr. Brewerton of North Aston, as being charged 
 upon a farm called Fearn Hill in Williamscot : 
 it is called stone picking money, and is given at 
 the rate of Ad. a head to all the women and 
 children as far as it will go. — XII. p. 191. 
 
 FEASTING CUSTOM. 
 
 Fenny Stratford, Buckinghamshire. 
 There is a house in this hamlet, called St. 
 MarthVs house, in the wall of which is a stone, 
 bearing the following inscription : — 
 
 " This house was settled on the parish officers 
 of this town, for the annual observance of St. 
 Martin's day/' — " Anno Domini, 1752/" 
 
 The house is let at £5. As. per annum, and 
 the rent, after defraying the expense of repairs, 
 is laid out in giving an entertainment to the 
 inhabitants of the town. — XXVII. p. 188. 
 
60 REMARKABLE CHARITIES. 
 
 LOVE FEASTS. 
 
 London, Weavers' Company, 
 By indenture, bearing date 11th April, 1691, 
 John Hall granted a messuage in the parish of 
 St. Martin Orgar, to Francis Kenton and another, 
 in trust to pay out of the rents thereof, amongst 
 other sums, 105. a year to the churchwardens of 
 the parish of St. Clement Eastcheap, London, 
 on the Thursday next before Easter, to provide 
 two turkies for the parishioners, to be eaten at 
 their annual feast, called the reconciling or love 
 feast, usually made on that day. 
 
 The house is in the possession of the Weavers' 
 Company, who make the payment for the 
 turkies annually. — VIII. p. 391. 
 
 THE BIDDENDEN MAIDS' CHARITY. 
 
 Biddenden, Kent. 
 
 An inscription in the church states, that 
 twenty acres of land, consisting of five pieces, 
 bounded east by the glebe land and by the king's 
 highway south, and another piece bounded by 
 the king's highway north, were let at the yearly 
 rent of £31. 10s. which was distributed by 
 the churchwardens yearly, with the consent of 
 the parishioners, for the relief of the poor. 
 
 This land is supposed to have been given by 
 
THE BIDDENDEN MAIDS CHARITY. 61 
 
 Eliza and Mary Chulkhurst, commonly called 
 the Biddenden Maids, and the annual rent is, 
 together with Taylor's and Hoopers charity, given 
 in part to poor widows belonging to the parish : 
 those who do not receive parochial relief, have 
 the choice of £\. 4s. in money, or 4s. and one 
 hundred fagots; those who are in receipt of 
 parish relief, receive 2s. each. The residue, after 
 the before mentioned distribution has been 
 effected, is expended in the purchase of flour, 
 which is made into loaves and rolls, and a 
 quantity of cheese. The rolls are very small, 
 and are given as a remembrance of the donors, 
 each of them having the figure of the two sisters 
 impressed on it.* 
 
 Every Easter Sunday, after evening service, a 
 quartern loaf with nearly a pound of cheese is 
 given to such poor persons as apply, and a 
 similar distribution takes place on the Tuesday 
 following. Every poor family in the parish 
 
 * See one of these cakes, engraved in Ducarel's 
 Repertory of the Dioceses of Canterbury and Rochester, 
 1782, p. 137 ; and another pattern in Hone's Every-Day 
 Book, vol. ii. 443. From their figures on the cakes, the 
 maids have been supposed twins united at the hips and 
 shoulders, born in 1 100, and to have lived in that state 
 for 34 years ; but Hasted regards this as a vulgar tradi- 
 tion, and says the real name of the donors of the gift 
 was Preston. 
 
62 REMARKABLE CHARITIES. 
 
 receives on each of these days one loaf of bread 
 with the cheese above mentioned and one of the 
 rolls, and if there be any surplus remaining, it 
 is given to those who appear to be most in 
 need. The sum distributed in 1835 amounted to 
 £75. 7s. 6d.—XXX. p. 514. 
 
 BEQUEST OF BEANS AND BARLEY, TO GET FREE OF 
 A CHANCERY SUIT. 
 
 Thorpe St. Peter s, Lincolnshire. 
 
 By indenture, dated February, 1663, Ann 
 Watts, in consideration that a suit in Chancery 
 against her should cease, and be withdrawn, did 
 covenant and grant that she should pay to the 
 churchwardens and overseers of the town of 
 Thorpe yearly, on Good Friday, one seam_of 
 beans, and one seam of barley, of good and 
 merchantable corn, at the church porch, to be 
 distributed amongst the poor of the same town, 
 at the discretion of the churchwardens and 
 overseers, with power of distress on the im- 
 propriate parsonage of Thorpe or the lands 
 thereof, in default. 
 
 The Commissioners report that for a number 
 of years past no beans or barley have been 
 furnished to the poor, the charity having been 
 distributed in money. — XXXII. part iv. p. 546. 
 
BULL BAITING. 63 
 
 PROVIDING FOR A WET DAY. 
 
 Castlerigg, Cumberland. 
 
 Thomas Williamson, by will, dated 14th Dec. 
 1674, gave the sum of £20 to be laid out in land 
 to be bestowed upon poor people, born within 
 St. John's Chapelry or Castlerigg, in mutton or 
 veal, at Martinmas yearly, when flesh might be 
 thought cheapest, to be by them pickled or hung 
 up and dried, that they might have something 
 to keep them within doors upon stormy days. 
 
 The money now belonging to this charity is 
 £40.— V. p. 82. 
 
 BULL BAITING. 
 
 Wokingham, Berks. 
 
 George Staverton, by will, in May, 1661, gave 
 out of his Staines house a yearly sum of £6. to 
 buy a bull, which bull he gave to the poor of Wo- 
 kingham town and parish, being baited, and the 
 gift money, hide, and offal to be sold and bestowed 
 upon the poor children in stockings of the Welsh, 
 and shoes. 
 
 Until 1823 the baiting of the animal took place 
 yearly on the 21st December, in the Market place 
 of Wokingham. In that year the Corporation 
 determined upon discontinuing such a proceeding, 
 which has since accordingly been omitted. In 
 
64 REMARKABLE CHARITIES. 
 
 Christmas 1835, the mob broke open in the night 
 the place where one of the animals was kept, and 
 baited it, in spite of the magistrates to prevent 
 them ; and similar attempts have been made on 
 other occasions. — XXXII. pt. i. p. 220 (corrected 
 from private information.) 
 
 BOTELERS BULL CHARITY. 
 
 Biddenham, Bedfordshire. 
 
 This is an ancient annual payment of £5. out 
 of an estate at Biddenham, formerly belonging to 
 the family of Boteler, and now the property of 
 Lord Viscount Hampden, which is due and regu- 
 larly paid on St. Thomas's Day to the overseers of 
 the poor, and is applicable by the terms of the ori- 
 ginal gift (of which no written memorial is to be 
 found) or by long established usage, to the pur- 
 chase of a bull, which is killed, and the flesh there- 
 of given among the poor persons of the parish. 
 
 For many years past the annual fund being in- 
 sufficient to purchase a bull, the deficiency has 
 been made good out of other charities belonging 
 to the parish. It was proposed some years ago by 
 the vicar that the £5 . a year should be laid out in 
 buying meat, but the poor insisted on the custom- 
 ary purchase of a bull being continued, and the 
 usage is accordingly kept up. 
 
PARISH BULL. 65 
 
 The price of the bull has varied of late years 
 from £9. to £14. The churchwardens, overseers, 
 and principal inhabitants assist at the distribu- 
 tion of the meat. — VI. p. 32. 
 
 WHITSUNTIDE BEER. 
 
 There is an ancient customary donation of a 
 quantity of malt, made annually at Whitsuntide 
 by the proprietor of Kempston Mill, near this pa- 
 rish. The malt is always delivered to the over- 
 seers of the poor for the time being, and brewed by 
 them into ale, which is distributed among all the 
 poor inhabitants of Biddenham on Whit Tuesday. 
 
 (The Report is silent as to the quantity of malt 
 given, or ale dispensed.) — VI. p. 33. 
 
 PARISH BULL. 
 
 Twickenham, Middlesex. 
 
 From a copy of court roll of the manor of 
 Isleworth Syon, dated 29th December, 1675, it 
 appears that Thomas Cole surrendered 4a. Ir. of 
 customary land lying in several places in the fields 
 of Twickenham, called the Parish Land, anciently 
 belonging to the inhabitants of Twickenham, for 
 keeping a bull for the common use of the inhabi- 
 tants, in trust for the use of the said inhabitants, 
 
66 
 
 REMARKABLE CHARITIES. 
 
 for keeping and maintaining a sufficient bull for 
 the use aforesaid. 
 
 An entry in an old churchwardens' ledger of 
 the 6th October, 1622, states an agreement be- 
 tween the vestry and Mr. Robert Bartlett, that 
 he should hold the three acres and a half of the 
 Parish Land with the Bull Mead, paying the same 
 rent to the parish as he formerly did, with the con- 
 dition that he, receiving a bull from the church- 
 wardens for the common use of the parishioners, 
 should keep the same at his own charge ; and if the 
 bull should die, should provide another. — VIII. 
 p. 401. 
 
 THE CUSTOM OF THE BULL AND BOAR. 
 
 Princes JRisborough, Buckinghamshire. 
 
 Up to about 1813 a bull and a boar, a sack of 
 wheat, and a sack of malt, were given away to the 
 poor by the lord of the manor of Prince's Risbo- 
 rough about six o'clock every Christmas morning. 
 This practice was then discontinued, and for about 
 five or six years after the discontinuance, beef 
 and mutton were distributed to the poor about 
 Christmas, in lieu of the above articles. 
 
 Mr. Grubb, of the parsonage house, the lord of 
 the manor, whose father first discontinued the above 
 customary distribution, produced to the Commis- 
 sioners a case, which his father laid before Mr. 
 
THE BULL AND BOAR. 6? 
 
 Justice Littledale when at the bar, relative to this 
 custom, with the view of obtaining the opinion of 
 counsel as to whether it could be sustained as a 
 custom at common law, and whether he should be 
 subject to legal process if he omitted to make the 
 distribution. It appears from that document that 
 the custom had then prevailed for a considerable 
 number of years, that it was mentioned in the 
 local histories, but that its origin was lost in ob- 
 scurity. The practice, whilst it lasted, seemed to 
 ihave been productive of much intoxication and 
 riot : the poor are said to have paraded the town 
 I during the whole night preceding the distribution 
 1 with an incessant clamour, effectually banishing 
 all repose; on the following morning, they marched 
 in crowds to Mr. Grubb's house ; and these assem- 
 blies often comprised many strangers from a dis- 
 tance, as well as parishioners. 
 ^J On the doors being opened, they rushed to the 
 feast prepared for them with so little decorum and 
 forbearance, that often in their zeal for priority 
 they inflicted wounds on one another with their 
 knives. The whole of the remaining portion of 
 Christmas day is also stated to have been spent 
 by many of them in public houses. 
 
 Mr. Littledale was of opinion that this custom 
 was not sustainable as a common-law right ; and 
 the Commissioners reported that they had received 
 no sufficient evidence that the custom could be 
 
68 REMARKABLE CHARITIES. 
 
 considered as a charitable donation, the continu- 
 ance of which could be enforced. — XXVI. p. 107. 
 
 COW CHARITY. 
 
 JSebington, Cheshire. 
 
 William Hulme, of Poulton, A. D. 1620, gave 
 three cows to be disposed of by the minister and 
 churchwardens to the poorest and godliest parish- 
 ioners at eight groats a year, and this hire to be 
 employed for the increase of parish cows. Chris- 
 topher Smallshall gave three cows for the same 
 purpose A. D. 1625, and John Briscow, of Poul- 
 ton, gave £2. 1 05. for the buying of a parish cow, 
 A. D. 1661. 
 
 These extracts from the table of benefactions 
 in the parish church are the only record of the 
 foundation of a charity, which has been of much 
 service to the industrious poor. An account book 
 produced by the rector, and extending back as far 
 as 1692, contains regular entries of the names of 
 persons who have received the benefit of the cha- 
 rity. At that time their number was 29 ; in 1744, 
 31 ; in 1760, 22 ; in 1780, 16 ; in 1800, 10 ; and 
 in 1830 it was reduced to 5; in 1835 it had 
 risen to 8. 
 
 Each individual contributes 5s. a year for the 
 use of his cow, and these contributions, with oc~ 
 
COW CHARITY. 69 
 
 casional additions from small fines imposed by 
 the magistrates, are the only sources of income to 
 the charity. 
 
 On the 25th April in every year, the cows are 
 exhibited for the inspection of the rector and 
 churchwardens, and every person is required to 
 find security for proper care and attention being 
 paid to the cow with which he is entrusted. Each 
 cow is branded on one horn with the initial letter 
 of the parish, and on the other with those of the 
 rector.— XXXI. p. 466. 
 
 COW CHARITY. 
 
 West Kirby, Cheshire, 
 
 The origin of this charity is unknown. It is 
 traditionally said to have commenced during the 
 rebellion in the seizure of some Irish cattle, 
 which were given to the poor : and it has 
 certainly existed during the greater part of the 
 last two centuries. There is no income except 
 the annual sum paid by the holders of the cows, 
 as interest of money advanced to them by the 
 trustees. 
 
 The sum of money so advanced, is generally 
 from £3. to £4, and the amount of interest 
 5 per cent. The charity is managed by the 
 trustees of the poor, and the cows are produced 
 
70 REMARKABLE CHARITIES. 
 
 for their inspection on the first Monday in June 
 every year. There are at present twenty-four 
 cows, and the income derived from them is be- 
 tween £4. and £5, which is found about sufficient 
 to keep up the number of cows. — XXXI. p. 475. 
 
 COW COMMON CUSTOM. 
 
 Marston, Oxfoi^dshire. 
 
 There is in this parish a piece of bushy land, 
 containing about twenty-six acres, on which 
 twelve of the poor have a right of common for a 
 cow. 
 
 The Commissioners could not discover the 
 origin of this right. These twelve cow commons 
 are however always enjoyed by twelve poor 
 persons, of whom the parish clerk is one. If a 
 man having a cow common dies, his widow 
 continues to enjoy it for her life, but it does not 
 descend to the children ; and whenever a vacancy 
 occurs, such poor person, whether a householder 
 or not, who obtains the votes of the greatest 
 number of landowners, is appointed by the 
 vestry to the common right. 
 
 The poor are at liberty either to stock the 
 common or to let their right : the latter course is 
 always pursued, and they individually make the 
 best bargain they can. Each common right lets 
 for from 25s. to £2 a year.— XII. p. 240. 
 
COW CHARITY. Jl 
 
 COW CHARITY. 
 
 Minehead, Somerset. 
 
 This charity had its origin in a singular manner, 
 arising out of the operation of an Act passed in 
 the 18th year of Charles II., "against importing 
 cattle from Ireland and other parts beyond the 
 seas/' wherein it was enacted, that the im- 
 portation of cattle from the 2nd day of February, 
 1660, should be a common and public nuisance; 
 and that if any great cattle should, from and after 
 the day above mentioned, be imported or brought 
 from beyond seas into the kingdom of England, 
 it should be lawful for any constable, &c. to seize 
 the same, and that the same should be forfeited, 
 one half to the use of the poor of the parish 
 where they should be seized, and the other half 
 to the persons seizing; and by another Act, 
 20 Charles II., every vessel importing cattle 
 should be liable to the like seizure, and that the 
 monies arising from the sale thereof should be 
 applied as aforesaid. 
 
 After the passing of these Acts, and about the 
 year 1669, it appears that a number of great 
 cattle were unlawfully imported from Ireland 
 into the port of Minehead ; and that the same, 
 together with the vessel importing them, were 
 seized and sold pursuant to the powers contained 
 in the two Acts before referred to, and that a 
 
72 REMARKABLE CHARITIES. 
 
 moiety of the sum produced from the sale there- 
 of was, by the direction of the churchwardens 
 and overseers of the said parish of Minehead, 
 invested in the purchase of a freehold estate in 
 the parish of Ottery St. Mary in Devonshire, 
 which was conveyed to certain persons as trustees 
 for the parish of Minehead, and that a book 
 was kept in the said parish called the cow money 
 book, in which entries were made of the rents 
 and profits received from the said charity estate, 
 and of the distribution thereof. 
 
 In consequence of some proceedings in Chan- 
 cery in 1821, it appeared that the charity property 
 acquired by the operation of these strange Acts 
 of Parliament consisted of a farm of twenty 
 acres of land with the necessary buildings, and 
 stock to the amount of £1090. 15s. in the 
 3 per cent, consolidated bank annuities, subse- 
 quently increased to £1197. 5s. *]d.\ the profit 
 and dividends of which are annually distributed 
 to the poor of Minehead, in coats, cloaks, 
 blankets and money. 
 
 The whole property is vested in trustees, who 
 meet to consider the proper persons to be re- 
 lieved under this charity about three weeks 
 before the time of distribution, and the names 
 of the objects thus ascertained are set down 
 upon a list, and the funds apportioned accord- 
 ingly.— XV. p. 379. 
 
ALMS COW. 73 
 
 ALMS COW. 
 
 Waddesdon, Buckinghamshire. 
 
 In the Parliamentary Returns, there is a state- 
 ment that the benefit of two cows was then dis- 
 tributed yearly amongst tw r enty-two people of 
 this parish by the Duke of Marlborough. 
 
 The milk of one cow kept for that purpose by 
 Mr. William Woodman, a tenant of the Duke, 
 occupying Lodge Hill Farm, was in 1833 received 
 daily by tw r enty-two parishioners of the parish 
 of Waddesdon in rotation, one person receiving 
 it in the morning and another in the evening. 
 The distribution of the milk of the second cow 
 was discontinued in the year 1825, the then 
 tenant of the farm refusing at that time to keep 
 two cow r s for the poor, as the allowance mentioned 
 below had become insufficient to defray the 
 expense. The cow is called " the Alms Cow," 
 and when she dies or grows barren, another is 
 provided by the tenant. The Commissioners 
 were informed that the receiver of the Duke's 
 estates had allowed £10 for the keep of one cow, 
 and his predecessors had done so before him.-^» 
 XXVII. p. 33. 
 
74 REMARKABLE CHARITIES. 
 
 COW CHARITY. 
 
 Woodchurch, Cheshire. 
 
 James Goodaker of Barnston in this parish, 
 in 1525, left twenty marks to buy twenty yoke of 
 bullocks, which were subsequently replaced by 
 cows, and given to the poor of Woodchurch : 
 every parishioner that had a cow or cows paying 
 yearly for each to the overseers the sum of 
 2s. Sd. every Friday before Whitsunday, which 
 hire was to be a stock for the benefit of the poor 
 for ever. 
 
 The parish of Woodchurch includes ten town- 
 ships, from each of which a trustee of the cow 
 property is elected, whose duty it is to see that 
 the animals are properly taken care of, and 
 these persons are termed governors of the cows. 
 There is an annual meeting, on which occasion 
 the cows are produced and examined. 
 
 In 1835, the number of cows out at hire 
 amounted to thirty-nine, producing a rent of 
 £7. 155. per annum, and the charge upon the 
 fund in the same year was £2. 8s. lOd. which 
 included 5s. to the schoolmaster, for keeping the 
 accounts. 
 
 The charity is a decided benefit to the poor, 
 encouraging industry and frugality, and contri- 
 buting to their comfort and general welfare. — 
 XXXI. p. 484. 
 
CHARITY TO MAIMED SOLDIERS. 75 
 
 BEQUEST OF MILK. 
 
 Aires ford, Essex. 
 
 Edmund Porter, by will, dated 27 May, 1558, 
 directed that John Porter should have a house 
 called Knapps, with the appurtenances, church 
 fences and caprons, (which comprised thirty- one 
 acres of land,) to him and his heirs, upon con- 
 dition that they should give, for ever, the morn- 
 ing milk of two able milk beasts to the poor 
 people of this parish every Sunday yearly, from 
 Whitsunday to Michaelmas, 3s. Ad. on Good 
 Friday, and a like sum on Christina's day. 
 
 This milk tribute has subsequently been 
 commuted for a money payment, which is dis- 
 tributed in bread amongst the poor. — XXXII. 
 part i. p. 653. 
 
 CHARITY TO POOR MAIMED SOLDIERS. 
 
 Goldsmiths' Company, London. 
 
 Philip Strelley, by will 6th September, 1603, 
 gave certain lands in Ulkerthorpe, in the county 
 of Derby, to the Company of Goldsmiths, in trust 
 (amongst other matters) to pay £\0. per annum 
 for ever towards the relief of poor maimed soldiers, 
 which sum is paid generally to ten pensioners of 
 Chelsea Hospital.— VIII. p. 333. 
 
 E 2 
 
76 REMARKABLE CHARITIES. 
 
 BEQUEST TO POOR DISTRESSED SOLDIERS AND SEAMEN. 
 
 London. 
 
 Sir John Langham, of Cotfesbrooke, in the 
 county of Northampton, baronet, by his last will, 
 dated 3 1st August, 1764, among other things, 
 gave and bequeathed as follows : — 
 
 " Lastly, I give in trust to the Lord Mayor and 
 Aldermen of the City of London £6,000 out of 
 my stock in New South Sea annuities, towards 
 raising a fund for the relief of poor distressed sol- 
 diers and seamen and their families. " 
 
 In respect of this charity, the sum of £7*000 
 stands in the 3 per cent, reduced annuities, in the 
 names of the chamberlain, the town clerk, and the 
 comptroller of the chamber, for the purposes of 
 the trust as directed by the will. 
 
 The dividends of this stock, amounting to £210 
 per annum, are applied, at the discretion of the 
 Lord Mayor, Aldermen, and the representative 
 of the Langham family, in sums of £4 each to 27 
 poor soldiers and 27 seamen annually. — X. p. 182. 
 
 HOSPITAL FOR OLD SOLDIERS. 
 
 Hereford. 
 Founded about 1617 by Sir Thomas Conings- 
 by, in thankfulness to God for his defence and 
 protection, as well in travels by sea and land, as 
 
HOSPITAL FOR OLD SOLDIERS. 77 
 
 also against malice and practice at home, for a 
 chaplain and 11 poor old soldiers, mariners, or 
 serving-men of three years* service at least in the 
 wars ; one of them, being a soldier, to be the head 
 and governor, and called the Corporal of Conings- 
 by's Company of Old Servitors. 
 
 He appointed that, when the place of corporal 
 should be vacant, it should be filled by any old 
 soldier being a Coningsby, of whatever county, be- 
 fore any other ; and if there were none such, then 
 by some other, being a gentleman, who should 
 write himself and be called Corporal Coningsby ; 
 and the corporal and company in all their speeches 
 and writings, should call him Commander of the 
 Hospital, in memory of those worthy governors 
 that formerly ruled a military society there. And, 
 touching the apparel of the corporal and company, 
 Sir Thomas ordered that each should have, at his 
 first admittance, a fustian suit of ginger colour, of 
 a soldier-like fashion, seemly laced, a hat with a 
 band of white, a soldier-like jerkin with half sleeves, 
 and a square shirt, down half the thigh, with a 
 moncado or Spanish cap, a soldier-like sword, with 
 a belt, to wear as he goeth abroad, a cloak of red 
 cloth, lined with red baize, and reaching to the 
 knee, and a seemly gown of red cloth, reaching 
 down to the ancle, lined likewise with red baize, 
 to be worn in the Hospital and city of Hereford, 
 the cloak to be worn in further walks or journeys. 
 
78 REMARKABLE CHARITIES. 
 
 That whensoever the Company should go to 
 the cathedral church, or to any other public place 
 in the city of Hereford, the chaplain and corporal 
 should go together before the rest of the com- 
 pany, the chaplain with his bible, and the rest by 
 two and two, the corporal and company wearing 
 their swords, if the law would permit. — XXXII. 
 pt. ii. p. 53. 
 
 seamen's friend. 
 Wandsworth, Surrey, 
 Francis Millington, by will in 1692, ordered 
 that his executor should, within one year after his 
 decease, lay out the sum of £500 in the purchase 
 of freehold lands, &c. within 100 miles of London, 
 and settle the same on the Governors of Christ's 
 Hospital, upon trust, to dispose of the profits yearly 
 for the relief and maintenance of poor seamen or 
 watermen of the age of 50 years or upwards, born 
 and dwelling in the town or parish of Wands- 
 worth, as should have lost their limb or limbs at 
 sea, or should have been so wounded at sea that 
 they should be disabled to get a livelihood, and in 
 buying and making blue cloth alms coats for the 
 same poor men, to be given to them yearly on Mi- 
 chaelmas day; and if there should be a want of sea- 
 men or watermen qualified as aforesaid to take up 
 all the said rents and profits, then other seamen or 
 
CHARITY FOR SHIPWRECKED SEAMEN. 79 
 
 watermen or other poor men of the age of 50 years 
 or upwards, dwelling in the town or parish of 
 Wandsworth, or under that age, seamen or water- 
 men being to have preference, might be admitted 
 to receive his said gift. — XVI. p. 394. 
 
 CHARITY FOR SHIPWRECKED SEAMEN AND OTHER 
 GOOD WORKS. 
 
 Bamborough Castle, Northumberland. 
 Ye holy towers that shade the wave-worn steep, 
 
 Long may ye rear your aged brows sublime, 
 
 Though, hurrying silent by, relentless Time 
 Assail you, and the winter whirlwinds sleep ! 
 For far from blazing Grandeur's crowded halls, 
 
 Here Charity hath fix'd her chosen seat ; 
 
 Oft list'ning tearful when the wild winds beat 
 With hollow bodings round your ancient walls ! 
 And Pity, at the dark and stormy hour 
 
 Of midnight, when the moon is hid on high, 
 Keeps her lone watch upon the topmost tower, 
 
 And turns her ear to each expiring cry ! 
 Blest if her aid some fainting wretch might save, 
 And snatch him, cold and speechless, from the wave. 
 
 Bowles. 
 
 Bamborough, or Bamburgh Castle is about 
 five miles to the east of Belford, and three 
 hundred and fifty-nine north from London: it 
 stands upon a basalt rock of triangular shape, 
 high, rugged, and abrupt on the land side, flanked 
 
80 REMARKABLE CHARITIES. 
 
 by the German ocean, and strong natural rampires 
 of sand, matted together with sea rushes, on the 
 east, and only accessible to an enemy on the 
 south-east, which is guarded by a deep dry 
 ditch, and a series of towers in the wall on 
 each side of the gateway. Nature has mantled 
 the rock with lichens of various rich tints, and 
 its beetling brow is one hundred and fifty feet 
 above the level of the sea. Its crown is girt with 
 walls and towers, which on the land side have 
 been nearly all repaired. The outer gateway 
 stands between two fine old towers, with time- 
 worn heads ; twelve paces within it is a second 
 gate, which is machicolated, and has a portcullis, 
 and within this, on the left hand, on a lofty point 
 of rock, is a very ancient round tower of great 
 strength, commanding a pass subject to every 
 annoyance from the besieged ; and the castle was 
 formerly the place of refuge for the kings, earls, 
 and governors of Northumberland in troublesome 
 times. 
 
 On the decease of Nathaniel Lord Crewe, 
 Bishop of Durham, the manor and castle of 
 Bambrough and Blanchland, in Northumberland 
 and Durham, and also the advowsons of the 
 churches of Bambrough and Shotley, and all 
 other manors, advowsons, fishings, tithes, lands, 
 &c. in Bambrough, Blanchland, Thornton, Sun- 
 derland, Shorston, Fleatham, Beadnell, Berwick, 
 
CHARITY FOR SHIPWRECKED SEAMEN. 81 
 
 Burton, Newham, Bradford, Fryers Lucker, 
 Waringford, Mousin, Warringtorij Tuggle, Bugle, 
 Sheldon, Haddery, Burn, Shotley, Westhaugh- 
 head, Westhaugh-foot, Easthaugh-head, East- 
 haugh-foot, Thornton, Edmunds-hill, Hunston- 
 worth, Holy Island, and Norham, all theretofore 
 the property of his lordship, and which he had 
 lately purchased, and which were then of the 
 yearly value of £1312. 13s. 5d. became vested in 
 trustees, in pursuance of his lordship's will, dated 
 24th June, 1720, wherein he declared that he 
 had devised the manors and premises before- 
 mentioned, on trust, that the said trustees should, 
 as occasion should require, present such persons 
 to the churches of Bambrough and Shotley as 
 they should think fit ; and that they should pay, 
 out of the rents and profits of the said manors, 
 lands, &c. the sum of £20 yearly to each of 
 twelve exhibitioners of Lincoln College, Oxford, 
 who should be under-graduate commoners in 
 Lincoln College, and natives of the diocese of 
 Durham, and, for want of such natives, of North- 
 allertonshire, Howdenshire, in the county of 
 York, or of Leicestershire, and particularly of 
 the parish of Newbold Verdon, or of the diocese 
 of Oxford, whereof he was formerly bishop, or 
 of the county of Northampton, in which he was 
 born ; and he directed that such exhibitioners 
 should be elected by the rector and fellows of 
 
 Lincoln College, and enjoy the said exhibitions 
 
 e 3 
 
82 REMARKABLE CHARITIES. 
 
 for eight years, if they should so long continue 
 resident in college, and no longer, unless they 
 should have leave from the rector to be absent. 
 
 To pay to the minister of Bambrough Church 
 and his successors, £40 yearly. To the minister 
 of St. Andrew Auckland and his successors, £30 
 yearly. For the augmentation of certain poor 
 rectories, vicarages, small livings or curacies, in 
 the diocese of Durham, the yearly sum of £10 
 each. Tothe ministers, lecturers, or curates, of 
 the parishes of All Saints and St. Michael in 
 Oxford, Twyford in Bucks, and Combe in Oxford- 
 shire, and to their successors, £10 yearly to 
 each, for catechizing youth within the same 
 parishes. To the poor scholars" of Trap and 
 Marshall in Lincoln College, being eight in number, 
 such annual sums as would make up their re- 
 spective scholarships to the yearly sum of £10 
 a-piece, including what they already received on 
 account of their respective scholarships, to the 
 intent that they might all be alike in their yearly 
 values. 
 
 To the Bible clerk of Lincoln College, such 
 annual sum as would make up his salary to £10. 
 To the rector of the said college £20 a-year ; and 
 to each of the fellows of the said college £10 
 yearly. To each of the alms people in the 
 hospitals at Durham and Bishop Auckland, of 
 the foundation of Bishop Cosin ; to each of the 
 
CHARITY FOR SHIPWRECKED SEAMEN. 83 
 
 six almswomen in the hospital at Brackley, in 
 the county of Northampton, founded by his 
 grandfather Sir Thomas Crewe; and to each of 
 the two almswomen in the hospital at Hinton, 
 of the foundation of Elisha Heale, esq. the several 
 yearly sums of 40s. To the schoolmaster of 
 Newbold Verdon, £20 a-year. To the trustees 
 of the hundred of Sparkenhoe, in Leicestershire, 
 for the relief of the widows, orphans, and children 
 of poor clergymen deceased, and their successors, 
 the yearly sum of £10. To the minister and 
 churchwardens of Daventry, £6 yearly, for the 
 support of a charity-school. All such payments 
 to be made quarterly to the almsmen and alms- 
 women ; the others to be half-yearly. 
 
 The sum of £200 yearly to the chancellor of 
 the University of Oxford, to be applied to the 
 public uses of such University. £100 a-year to 
 the Mayor and Aldermen of Durham, to place 
 out poor children apprentices. £20 a-year to a 
 schoolmaster of Bishop Auckland, to teach thirty 
 poor boys to read and write ; and the further sum 
 of £30 yearly for the clothing of such thirty poor 
 boys. And he directed that all the residue of the 
 surplus rents should be disposed of by his 
 trutees for such charitable uses as he should by 
 writing under his hand and seal appoint, and, for 
 want of such appointment, to and for such 
 charitable uses as the said trustees should from 
 
 
84 REMARKABLE CHARITIES. 
 
 time to time direct ; forbidding them to apply any 
 part thereof whatsoever for the augmentation 
 of any of the benefactions before given by him 
 to the University of Oxford, to Lincoln College, 
 the City of Durham, or for any other uses or 
 charities for the University of Oxford, Lincoln 
 College, and the City of Durham, or suburbs 
 thereof. And he ordered that whenever any one, 
 or two at most, of the trustees for the time being 
 should happen to die, the survivors should, within 
 three months, elect one or more clergyman or 
 clergymen, and no other persons, to be trustee 
 or trustees in the place of him or them so 
 dying, so as such trustees should never exceed 
 five in number, and that the rector of Lincoln 
 College for the time being should always be 
 one ; and that the survivors should, within three 
 months after such election, convey the said trust 
 estates to the use of themselves and the new 
 trustees on the trusts aforesaid. And he further 
 directed, that the trustees for the time being 
 should be paid for all the charges that they 
 should be put to in the execution of the trusts 
 of his will, and that none of them should be 
 answerable for the acts or defaults of the other. 
 
 It appears, from an enumeration of the estates 
 held in trust for this charity, that the quantity of 
 land amounts to near thirteen thousand acres, 
 and the annual income, including dividends on 
 
CHARITY FOR SHIPWRECKED SEAMEN. 85 
 
 stock, rent of fishery, &c. to £8126. 8*. Sd. Out 
 of this income, the payments made, as specifically 
 required by Lord Crewe's will, appear to have 
 been (with a few slight variations) about 
 £1119. 6s. Sd. per annum, leaving an available 
 balance of £7000 yearly, at the disposal of his 
 trustees. 
 
 The commissioners report that the residue is 
 applied for such charitable purposes as the 
 trustees for the time being think most beneficial, 
 but more particularly for such as occur within 
 the diocese of Durham ; such, at least, has been 
 the practice from the year 1825. The principal 
 branches of expenditure are, the augmentation 
 of small benefices, contributions towards the 
 building or enlarging churches and chapels, and 
 towards the foundation and support of schools, 
 exhibitions to young men going to either of the 
 universities, the binding out apprentices, annuities 
 and casual donations to distressed individuals, 
 and subscriptions to different charitable institu- 
 tions ; great exertions are also made for relieving 
 the wants of the poor in Bamburgh, and the 
 immediate neighbourhood, and on the other 
 estates belonging to the charity. 
 
 As to Shipwrecks. 
 
 The situation of Bamburgh Castle upon an 
 exposed and dangerous coast, has also induced 
 
86 REMARKABLE CHARITIES. 
 
 the trustees to adopt every expedient in their 
 power for preventing shipwrecks, and for saving 
 the lives and property of persons who are cast 
 upon those shores. 
 
 The manor of Bamburgh, and a considerable 
 part of the trust estate, is situated on the coast 
 of a bay formed by Holy Island and North Sun- 
 derland Point, which are distant from each other 
 about eight miles. This bay is fully exposed 
 to the north-east wind, which is frequently very 
 tempestuous, and the danger to the navigation 
 is much increased by the numerous islands, which 
 extend several miles, the nearest being about two 
 miles from the shore. The accidents which often 
 occurred on this inclement coast attracted the 
 notice of the trustees, and principally induced 
 them to make Bamburgh Castle a place of oc- 
 casional residence. And to further facilitate their 
 good intentions, Dr. John Sharp, one of the 
 trustees, by indenture of bargain and sale, bear- 
 ing date, 18th November, 1778, granted certain 
 premises, of the annual value of £40. 17 s. and 
 by will, dated 1 7th April, 1792, bequeathed stock, 
 producing £69 per annum, (all of which he vested 
 in the trustees of Lord Crewels charity,) for and 
 towards the reparations, amendment and support 
 of the great tower of Bamburgh Castle, and in 
 such part or parts thereof," and in such order and 
 form, as "he directed, more particularly to keep in 
 
CHARITY FOR SHIPWRECKED SEAMEN. 87 
 
 repair the conductor, from the gold point above 
 the said tower to the bottom of the well, and 
 the chain which hung down into the said well, 
 the roof and chimnies of the great tower, the 
 windows of the tower, the fire-proof work in the 
 ceilings of such tower, the great clock in the 
 south turret, the well machine, bath, pumps, 
 troughs, cisterns, water-pipes and drains, and to 
 uphold the said tower and furniture, in such 
 manner as the said trustees should direct, for 
 ever. 
 
 The sunken rocks and shifting sands of this 
 coast had long been a terror to the mariners 5 
 and the thought of this induced Dr. Sharp to 
 fit up the great tower for the reception of suffer- 
 ing seamen, and property, which might be rescued 
 from the fury of the ocean. 
 
 The trustees have ready in the castle such 
 implements as are required to give assistance to 
 stranded vessels 5 a nine pounder is placed at 
 the bottom of the great tower, which gives signals 
 to ships in distress, and, in case of wreck, an- 
 nounces the same to the custom-house officers, 
 and their servants, who hasten to prevent the 
 wreck being plundered. A constant watch is 
 kept at the top of the great tower, whence signals 
 are also made to the fishermen of Holy Island, as 
 soon as any vessel is discovered to be in distress, 
 when the fishermen immediately put off to its 
 
88 REMARKABLE CHARITIES. 
 
 assistance, and the signals are so regulated as to 
 point out the particular direction in which the 
 vessel lies ; and this is partly indicated by flags by 
 day, and rockets at night. Owing to the size 
 and fury of the breakers, it is generally im- 
 possible for boats to put off from the mainland 
 in a severe storm, but such difficulty occurs but 
 rarely in putting off from Holy Island. 
 
 In addition to these arrangements for mariners 
 in distress, men on horseback constantly patrole 
 the coast, a distance of eight miles, from sun set 
 to sun rise, every stormy night. Whenever a 
 case of shipwreck occurs, it is their duty to for- 
 ward intelligence to the castle without delay, and, 
 as a further inducement to this, premiums are 
 often given for the earliest notice of such distress. 
 During the continuance of fogs, which are 
 frequent and sudden, a gun is fired at short in- 
 tervals. By these means, many lives are saved, 
 and an asylum is offered to shipwrecked persons 
 in the castle. The trustees also covenant with 
 the tenants of the estate, that they shall furnish 
 carts, horses and men, in proportion to their 
 respective farms, to protect and bring away what- 
 ever can be saved from the wrecks. There are 
 likewise the necessary tackle and instruments 
 kept for raising vessels which have sunk, and 
 whatever goods may be saved are deposited in 
 the castle. The bodies of those who are lost, 
 
CHARITY TO SHIPWRECKED SEAMEN. 89 
 
 are decently interred at the expense of this 
 charity, — in fact, to sailors on that perilous coast 
 Bamburgh Castle is what the convent of St. 
 Bernard is to travellers in the Alps. 
 
 Schools. 
 
 In the castle, two rooms are appropriated, the 
 one for a boys 5 school, and the other for a school 
 for girls. The master of the boys has apart- 
 ments in the castle, and receives a salary of £60 
 per annum for teaching the boys, and £15 for 
 attending the girls' school two hours every day, 
 and teaching them writing and accounts. 
 
 The mistress of the girls 5 school, has also 
 apartments in the castle, and a salary of £30 
 per annum. To these schools, all children of 
 poor persons of Bamburgh are admitted, and 
 taught, on the national system, without any 
 charge, and are supplied with books and sta- 
 tionery. At the time of the commissioners' 
 inquiry, in October 1829, there were upwards of 
 one hundred and seventy scholars, and in the 
 winter the number is considerably larger. The 
 annual expense of these schools, including books 
 and rewards to the scholars, may be stated at 
 about £150 or £160. 
 
 Thirty girls are provided with board, lodging, 
 washing, and clothing : they are admitted between 
 the ages of seven and nine, and allowed to remain 
 till they are sixteen, or fit to go out to service. 
 
90 REMARKABLE CHARITIES. 
 
 Two schools are likewise supported in Blanch- 
 land ; that for boys kept by a master who is 
 allowed £50 per annum, and the use of a house 
 belonging to the charity estate rent-free ; and a 
 school for girls, kept by a mistress, who receives 
 a salary of £20, and has the use of a house 
 and garden. In these schools all the poor 
 children of Blanchland are admitted, and in- 
 structed without charge. The scholars are also 
 supplied with books and stationery gratis. 
 
 There is also a library in the castle, and the 
 books are kept in a room which is opened to the 
 public under certain regulations, and lent to per- 
 sons residing in the neighbourhood. 
 
 Apprentices. 
 
 By a regulation of the trustees, it is ordered that 
 £100 per annum should be applied in appren- 
 ticing 10 children of either sex from the schools of 
 Newcastle, Gateshead, Sunderland, Bishop Wear- 
 mouth, and South Shields ; such children not to 
 be less than 14 years of age, and bound to mem- 
 bers of the Church of England; also, that £J 5 
 should be allowed to the sons and daughters of 
 clergymen within the diocese of Durham, in addi- 
 tion to the fee given by the corporation of the 
 sons of the clergy. 
 
 Annuities and casual donations. 
 
 Applications are frequently made to the trus- 
 tees on behalf of persons in distress, and a sum 
 
CHARITY FOR SHIPWRECKED SEAMEN. 91 
 
 of moneys or an annuity, is granted, as circumstances 
 seem to require ; but no such grant is made except 
 upon petition, nor until the truth of the facts ex- 
 pressed therein is ascertained. 
 Exhibitions. 
 
 On application being made to the trustees on 
 behalf of any person going to either of the uni- 
 versities, if the party appears a fit object, the 
 yearly sum of £20 is allowed him, and occa- 
 sionally a donation is made in addition. 
 
 Belief of the poor at Bamburgh, fyc. 
 
 The trustees have adopted the following modes 
 of assisting the poor in Bamburgh and the neigh- 
 bourhood. 
 
 In 1 797 a shop was established for the sale of 
 meal and flour, for which purpose a quantity of 
 barley, oats, and peas are purchased of the tenants 
 of the charity estates at the market price, each te- 
 nant being obliged to furnish a proportional quan- 
 tity. 
 
 The grain is ground at a windmill, erected close 
 to the castle walls, and the meal is sold, to such 
 of the poor as are recommended by any respect- 
 able neighbour, at little more than the prime cost 
 of the grain before it was ground. 
 
 Proper regulations are made for preventing 
 persons from purchasing for sale, by limiting them 
 to the quantity required for their respective fami- 
 lies. 
 
92 REMARKABLE CHARITIES. 
 
 The trustees have also established a shop for 
 cheese, grocery, and articles of that nature, from 
 which the poor are supplied in the same manner 
 as at the meal shop. 
 
 There is also a dispensary and surgery in the 
 castle, and a surgeon is appointed with a salary 
 for attending twice a week, and giving advice and 
 surgical assistance and dispensing medicine to the 
 poor, who apply under a recommendation from any 
 respectable inhabitant in the neighbourhood. 
 
 A midwife is engaged to attend poor lying-in 
 women in the neighbourhood, and there is a sup- 
 ply of child-bed linen at the castle, which is lent 
 out to such persons as are fit objects of the cha- 
 rity, each of whom receives at the same time 
 2s. 6d. 
 
 There is also distributed to the poor of Bam- 
 burgh milk from the trustees' farm nearly through- 
 out the year ; and every Christmas, beef to the 
 amount of about £20 is given to them ; coal is 
 delivered yearly to the poor of Bamburgh, North 
 Sunderland, and Blanchland. 
 
 About £160 per annum are also distributed to 
 the poor of Bamburgh and other places where the 
 estates are situate, in weekly or quarterly pay- 
 ments. 
 
 Sea Coast. 
 
 A small harbour belonging to the charity es- 
 tate at North Sunderland is the only one on this 
 
CHARITY FOR SHIPWRECKED SEAMEN. 93 
 
 coast between Shields and the Frith-of-Forth in 
 which vessels can obtain shelter from the north- 
 east wind. It has been the object of the trustees 
 to maintain and improve this harbour, as well for 
 the security of vessels engaged in the coasting 
 trade, as for the benefit of the adjoining country, 
 and the increase of the revenues of the charity, 
 by facilitating the export of lime and corn from 
 thence, and for the encouragement of the herring 
 fishery, which is now an increasing source of pro- 
 fit to the poorer inhabitants. 
 
 The harbour has consequently been gradually 
 improved at a considerable expense by lengthen- 
 ing the pier, and a breakwater is being construct- 
 ed as a shelter from the south-east ; and the trus- 
 tees have been solicited by a large portion of mas- 
 ters of vessels navigating this coast to proceed 
 with these improvements. They have accordingly 
 had a plan and estimate made for a still further 
 enlargement of the harbour, the expense of which 
 will probably not fall short of £5000 ; and they are 
 anxious to have these plans executed, consider- 
 ing that, under all those circumstances, of which 
 by their local knowledge they seem competent to 
 form a correct judgment, the application of the 
 funds of the charity to this purpose, even to the 
 extent above mentioned, would in every respect 
 accord with the spirit of the trust reposed in them. 
 
94 
 
 REMARKABLE CHARITIES. 
 
 The sum laid out in the harbour in the last 
 three years, including £663. 105. lie?, expended 
 in building houses on the quay side, is £1631. 7*» 
 10c?., in addition to the cost of the ordinary re- 
 pairs, and a salary of £20 paid to the Harbour 
 Master, amounting to between £60 and £70 per 
 annum. 
 
 The following is a summary of the average ex- 
 penditure during the last three years, viz : — 
 
 £. s. d. 
 Specific payments under Lord 
 
 Crewe's will 
 Augmentation of small livings 
 Building churches, &c. 
 Payments to schools 
 Schools at Bamburgh 
 Expenses of boarders at ditto 
 Blanchland school . 
 Building schools 
 Exhibitions 
 Apprentices 
 Annuities and donations 
 Subscriptions and donations to cha- 
 ritable institutions 
 Expense of meal shop 
 Ditto surgery, midwife, &c. . 
 To the poor of Bamburgh, Blanch- 
 
 land,&c. in meat, coals, and money 200 
 
 . 1119 
 
 G 
 
 s 
 
 293 
 
 6 
 
 8 
 
 . 295 
 
 
 
 
 
 . 263 
 
 5 
 
 
 
 . 160 
 
 
 
 
 
 . 257 
 
 8 
 
 3 
 
 . 100 
 
 
 
 
 
 . 116 
 
 
 
 
 
 . 60 
 
 
 
 
 
 . 75 
 
 
 
 
 
 . 517 
 
 14 
 
 8 
 
 . 450 
 
 18 
 
 
 
 . 85 
 
 
 
 
 
 . 180 
 
 
 
 
 
FOR WIDOWS OF DROWNED MEN. 95 
 
 £ 
 
 s. 
 
 d. 
 
 Assistance in cases of wreck . .21 
 
 
 
 
 
 Ordinary expenses of Sunderland har- 
 
 
 
 bour . 65 
 
 
 
 
 
 Establishment at Bamburgh Castle . 570 
 
 
 
 
 
 Allowance to trustees . . 66 
 
 
 
 
 
 Incidental expenses . . .568 
 
 
 
 
 
 £5,462 
 
 19 
 
 3 
 
 So extensive a charity to flow from a private 
 bounty is singular ; men in former ages were ca- 
 nonized for trifling acts of benevolence compared 
 to this. But, although the resources were given 
 by Lord Crewe, yet the disposition was not of his 
 arrangement. To the benevolent heart of the 
 Rev. Dr. Sharp, the chief part of the blessings de- 
 rived from his lordship's will is to be attributed. 
 —Mostly from XXIII. p. J 30— 148. 
 
 CHARITY FOR WIDOWS OF DROWNED MEN. 
 
 St. Mary, Dover. 
 Thomas Pattenden, by will, dated 27th Febru- 
 ary, 1817; and proved in the Prerogative Court, 
 gave to the minister and churchwardens of the pa- 
 rish of St. Mary £850 three per cent.reduced, to be 
 transferred into their names, free from legacy duty, 
 upon trust out of the dividends to repair the head 
 stones about his family grave in the churchyard of 
 
96 REMARKABLE CHARITIES. 
 
 St. Mary, with the inscriptions, and fence round 
 the same ; and to apply the remainder every half 
 year equally amongst six poor widows whose hus- 
 bands had been drowned, always distributing and 
 continuing it to those who should have the most 
 lately lost their husbands by such misfortune ; the 
 said minister and churchwardens first satisfying 
 themselves that the said widows were not posses- 
 sed of £100 in property, over and above their 
 household furniture and wearing apparel 5 but no 
 widow to be excluded from the benefit of this cha- 
 rity by occasion of others becoming entitled to it, 
 until she had received at the least the amount of 
 one year's benefaction ; and he desired that the 
 said minister and churchwardens should, every 
 half year, take to themselves out of the said divi- 
 dends the sum of 55. each, as a compensation for 
 their trouble in attending to the repair and dis- 
 tribution before mentioned ; and that this clause of 
 his will should be hung up in a conspicuous part 
 of the vestry-room of St. Mary's church, to per- 
 petuate the remembrance of his bequest. — XXX. 
 p. 545. 
 
 SHIPWRECKS. 
 
 Queenborough, Kent. 
 _^/It is stated on the table of benefactions, and in 
 the charity book kept by the corporation of Queen- 
 borough, that two gentlemen, names unknown, 
 
REST. 97 
 
 who got ashore at this place after shipwreck, gave 
 £40 to the corporation, the interest to be applied 
 for an annual sermon, and for behoof of the poor. 
 The corporation pay £2 a year as the interest 
 of it, out of which £l. Is. is paid to the officiating 
 minister for preaching a sermon, and the residue 
 is distributed to poor widows.— XXX. p. 476. 
 
 TRAVELLERS REST. 
 
 Coleshill, Warwickshire. 
 
 George Butler, by will, Sept. 2d, 1591, gave 
 his house at the lower end of the town of Coles- 
 hill, called the almshouse, also a house and lands 
 in Gilson, to the uses following, viz. that the rents 
 thereof should be employed to keep the said alms- 
 house in repair, and buy furniture when wanting ; 
 that the feoffees, or constables, with their consent, 
 might lodge any poor travellers that should desire 
 it in the said almshouse ; that none should be suf- 
 fered to lodge there more than one night, except 
 great cause shewn ; that care be taken women and 
 men lodge not near together ; that some persons 
 be permitted to dwell there rent-free, to wash the 
 house and furniture, and to take care of the poor 
 lodgers ; that the overplus of the rent be em- 
 ployed to some charitable use, 
 
98 REMARKABLE CHARITIES. 
 
 The house has lately been rebuilt, and in the 
 course of one year 1300 travellers have received 
 the benefit of the charity by one night's lodging. 
 —XXIX. p. 1030. 
 
 CHARITABLE LIGHT 
 FOR SUCH AS WALK IN DARKNESS. 
 
 London. 
 
 John Wardall, by will, dated 29th August, 1656', 
 gave to the Grocers* Company a tenement called 
 the White Bear in Walbrook, to the intent that 
 they should yearly, within thirty days after Mi- 
 chaelmas, pay to the churchwardens of St. Bo- 
 tolph, Billingsgate, £4, to provide a good and suf- 
 ficient iron and glass lantern, with a candle, for the 
 direction of passengers to go with more security 
 to and from the water-side, all night long, to be 
 fixed at the north-east corner of the parish church 
 of St. Botolph, from the feast day of St. Bartho- 
 lomew to Lady Day ; out of which sum £l was 
 to be paid to the sexton for taking care of the 
 lantern — VI. p. 276. 
 
 This annuity is now applied to the support of 
 a lamp in the place prescribed, which is lighted 
 with gas.— XXIII. p. 194. 
 
BELL RINGING FOR TRAVELLERS. 99 
 
 A LIGHT FOR NIGHT TRAVELLERS. 
 
 St. Michael, Crooked Lane, London. 
 John Cooke, by will; dated 12 September, 1662, 
 gave to the churchwardens and vestrymen of this 
 parish £76, to be laid out to the most profit and 
 advantage., for various uses., and, amongst them, 
 
 To the parish clerk, on condition that he should 
 weekly on a Saturday sweep and make clean the 
 aisle of the church called Fishmongers' Aisle^ 
 6s. 8d. 
 
 For the maintenance of a lantern and candle, 
 I to be of eight in the pound at the least, to be kept 
 and hanged out at the corner of St. Michael's Lane, 
 next Thames Street, from Michaelmas to Lady 
 Day, between the hours of nine and ten o'clock at 
 night, until the hours of four or five in the morn- 
 ing, for affording light to passengers going through 
 Thames Street, or St. Michael's Lane, £l. — 
 XXXII. pt. ii. p. 343. 
 
 BELL RINGING AT NIGHT, FOR THE GUIDE AND 
 DIRECTION OF TRAVELLERS. 
 
 Woodstock, Oxfordshire. 
 
 Amongst the bequests of John Carey to this 
 
 borough, is one to the mayor and commonalty, 
 
 to pay 105. on Lady Day yearly, to the clerk or 
 
 sexton of the town, or such other person as 
 
 f 2 
 
100 REMARKABLE CHARITIES. 
 
 should be appointed to ring the eight o'clock 
 bell at night, for the guide and direction of 
 travellers ; and in case they should refuse to 
 ring the bell in manner aforesaid, then the said 
 10s. should cease to be paid until some person 
 should be appointed to ring the said bell, who 
 should duly ring it. 
 
 The corporation pay J Os. to the clerk, for ring- 
 ing the eight o'clock bell, together with an addition 
 from their own funds. — XII. p. 328. 
 
 WASHING MOLLY GRIME. 
 
 Glentham, Lincolnshire. 
 There is a yearly rent-charge of Js. issuing 
 out of an estate at Glentham, late the property 
 of Mr. William Thorpe, who paid the same until 
 about 1832, when he became bankrupt, and the 
 property was sold without any reservation of this 
 rent -charge. 
 
 A It is commonly reputed to have been left to 
 seven old maids of Glentham, on condition of 
 their washing a tomb in Glentham church, called 
 
 Molly Grime, with water brought from Newell 
 
 Well. 
 
 These conditions were complied with, until 
 
 the rent-charge ceased to be paid, the figure being 
 
 regularly washed on every Good Friday, and the 
 
101 
 
 old maids receiving Is. each, for performing this 
 service. — XXXII. pt. iv. p. 410. 
 
 BEQUEST TO MOST INDIGENT, POOREST, AGED, 
 DECREPIT, MISERABLEST PAUPERS. 
 
 ffallaton, Leicestershire. 
 Valentine Goodman, by will, dated in 1684, 
 bequeathed £800 to be laid out in land, and the 
 profits thereof given to the "most indigent, 
 poorest, aged, decrepit, miserablest paupers/' viz. 
 six from Easton, four from Medbourn, four from 
 Hallaton, and two from Blaston ; and if any part 
 of the money (was) employed for easing town 
 levies, or not according to the intent of the 
 testator, then he declared that the gift should 
 cease, and the money be employed for the re- 
 demption of Turkish captives. 
 
 The produce of the land in 1822, 1823, and 
 1824, is reported at £100 each year. 
 
 The names of the recipients are regularly entered 
 1 n a book, with the amount paid to each. — 
 XXXII. pt. v. p. 235. 
 
 BACHELORS MONEY. 
 
 Bowes. Yorkshire. 
 
 Poor, poor old bachelors. — Comic Song. 
 The sum of £60, given by some person un- 
 known, the interest thereof to be paid to two 
 
102 REMARKABLE CHARITIES. 
 
 or one of the oldest bachelors in the township of 
 Bowes, was from time to time placed out in 
 different sums at interest, but has all been lost 
 through insolvency, except £15 now in the hands 
 of Mr. John Bailey, of Brough, in Westmoreland. 
 — -VII. p. 616. 
 
 POMPOSITY. 
 
 Braugh ing, Hertfordsh ire. 
 
 Matthew Wall, by will, in 1595, charged all 
 his lands and tenements in the parish of Braugh- 
 ing, with the yearly payment of twenty shillings, 
 to be distributed by the minister and church- 
 wardens on St. Matthew's day, in the following 
 manner : — 
 
 To the sexton, to make up his grave yearly, 
 and to ring the bell, Is. lOd. To twenty boys, 
 between the age of six and sixteen, twenty groats. 
 To ten aged and impotent people of the parish, 
 ten three-pen ces. To sweep the path from his 
 house to the church gate every year, Is. To the 
 crier of Stortford, to make proclamation yearly, 
 on Ascension and Michaelmas day, that he left 
 his estate to a Matthew, or William Wall, as long 
 as the world should endure, 8d. To the parish 
 clerk at Hallingbury for the same, Sd. and to the 
 minister and churchwardens, to see his will 
 performed, 5s. 
 
FUND TO BUILD A BRIDGE, ETC. 103 
 
 The tenant of the estate, charged with this 
 annuity, (which is situate at Green End,) regu- 
 larly pays the 205. to the schoolmaster, by whom 
 it is distributed, according to the directions of the 
 will.— XXIX. p. 277. 
 
 FUND TO BUILD A BRIDGE, OR FOUND AN HOSPITAL 
 FOR BASTARD CHILDREN. 
 
 Bristol. 
 
 By will, dated 1st December, 1753, Mr. William 
 Vick, merchant of Bristol, gave the sum of £ 1 000, 
 to be secured to the society of merchant adven- 
 turers of that city, upon the trusts thereinafter 
 mentioned, (that was to say,) whereas, he was 
 of opinion, that the erecting a stone bridge over 
 
 \ the river Avon, from Clifton Down, in Gloucester- 
 shire, to the opposite side of Leigh Down, in the 
 
 ) county of Somerset, for carriages, as well as 
 horse and foot passengers, toll free, would be 
 of great public utility ;* and he had heard and 
 believed, that the building of such bridge was 
 practicable, and might be completed for less 
 than £10,000 ; for the advancing and effecting of 
 so useful a work, and for the encouragement of 
 
 * An iron suspension bridge is now in the course of 
 erection, under the direction of I. Brunei, jun. esq. 
 
104 REMARKABLE CHARITIES. 
 
 contributions thereto, he directed that the said 
 sum of £1000 should be placed out at interest 
 by the society, until the same should accumu- 
 late or increase to the said sum of £10,000, 
 which, when effected, the society was to expend 
 so much thereof as should be necessary in 
 erecting such stone bridge, and in defraying the 
 needful expences thereabout, either for obtain- 
 ing an Act of Parliament to be enabled to 
 carry on and complete such work, or for making 
 satisfaction to the proprietors of Rownham Ferry, 
 or for purchasing such ferry, if either should be 
 necessary, or otherwise ; and the surplus, if any, 
 after the building and completing of such bridge, 
 he directed to be applied by the said society to 
 such charitable use as they should think proper. 
 And his will further was, that the society should 
 be at liberty to lay out the said trust money at 
 any time, in case other monies should be given, 
 which, together with the amount of the then 
 trust estate, should be deemed sufficient for such 
 undertaking. 
 
 Provided also, and his will expressly was, 
 that in case the said society should decline or 
 refuse to lay out the trust money for the uses 
 aforesaid, when such accumulation was effected, 
 or that the erecting such bridge was impracti- 
 cable, unuseful, or improper, then he gave such 
 trust money to the mayor, burgesses, and com- 
 
FUND TO BUILD A BRIDGE, ETC. 105 
 
 monalty of the city of Bristol, £4000 whereof 
 (to be lent, free of interest, to young, honest, and 
 industrious clothworkers, residents of the parish 
 of Minchinhampton, in the county of Gloucester, 
 and of Bristol, and the other £6000 to be applied 
 towards the founding, erecting, and maintaining 
 an hospital for illegitimate children, and to be 
 added to any subscription for that much wanted 
 charity, under and subject to such regulations 
 as the said chamber of Bristol should think 
 proper, &c. 
 
 The total amount of accumulated principal and 
 interest on the 14th October, 1821, was reported 
 to be £4139. 9s. 8d., and it was estimated, that, 
 supposing the interest on this sum to continue 
 to be accumulated in a compound interest ratio, 
 that it will amount to £10,076. lOd. on the 14th 
 October, 1851. 
 
 The commissioners were subsequently informed, 
 that, in consequence of suggestions which had 
 emanated from them, a higher rate of interest 
 had been computed on by the society, which was 
 carried back in the calculations to 1782, and 
 that thereby the accumulated principal and 
 interest, (which appeared to be in the company*s 
 hands,) on 2nd October, 1821, was £6074. 17*. 5d. 
 —VIII. p. 636. 
 
 f 3 
 
106 REMARKABLE CHARITIES. 
 
 GROWING BUT WHIMSICAL, YET USEFUL CHARITY. 
 
 Brixton, Devonshire. 
 On the estate called the Parish Park, there is 
 a considerable quantity of fine elm timber, stand- 
 ing on ground in extent about half an acre, which 
 for many years was a playing-place for children, 
 in which ground a stone is preserved with the 
 following inscription : — 
 
 " This colony of elms, regularly disposed into 
 walks, was planted in November, 1677* by Edward 
 Fortescue, of Spridleston, esq. churchwarden, 
 with the approbation and contribution of the 
 majority of estated parishioners, to the intent 
 that (when perfect in growth and sold) lands 
 may be purchased with the money, for relief 
 of the poor of this parish ; and that posterity, 
 reaping the advantage of our benefaction, may 
 be encouraged to provide for more successions, 
 by substituting others in the room of these. " 
 Cyrus ad Lysand. 
 Multse etiam istarum arborum mea manu sunt satae, 
 Nemo sibi solum natus, nilque libero dignius. 
 May Mithridates* spirit still affright 
 Such as our living galleries despite ; 
 Cleomenes' and Agamemnon's fate 
 Seize such as think not sacred what is sate, 
 find enemies deem'd to poor, to church, and state. 
 
 It appears that the following sums have been 
 received from this estate. In 1810, £9, 8s., in 
 
EDWARD STRODE'S ALMSHOUSES. 107 
 
 1811, £15, in 1914, £9. 10s. } in 1819, £82. 2s. 
 — -V. p. 208. 
 
 CURIOUS DRESS ORDERED TO BE WORN BY THE 
 MEN IN EDWARD STRODE's ALMSHOUSES. 
 
 Shepton Mallet, Somerset. 
 
 In this establishment, for four poor old men, 
 Protestants, of the parish of Shepton Mallet, 
 founded in 1699, Mr. Strode orders that each 
 such poor old man should, at his and their first 
 being placed in any of the four houses, have 
 
 A new grey hat, edged about with red narrow 
 silk galloon lace : the hat, so laced, to cost 
 5s. and no more. 
 
 One plain neckcloth and dowlas shirt, both 
 to cost 5s. 
 
 A loose-bodied coat, with the letter E cut 
 large in blue cloth, and well sewed on the 
 right sleeve, and the letter S on the left 
 sleeve, plain to be seen. And a pair of 
 large breeches made of red cloth, at 6s. the 
 yard. 
 
 A large waistcoat made of white cloth, or 
 linsey woolsey, of Is. 4d. a yard. 
 
 A pair of blue, strong, yarn stockings, of 
 Is. 6d. a pair. 
 
108 REMARKABLE CHARITIES. 
 
 A strong pair of tusset leather shoes, at 
 3 s. 6d. a pair, with a pair of blue leather 
 points to tie the shoes. 
 Each old man to be new habited accordingly once 
 in every two years against Easter. 
 
 The Commissioners report that this order is 
 complied with, at a cost of about £13. — III. p. 
 404. 
 
 WHIMSICAL PARTIALITY FOR NINE. 
 
 Danby, Yorkshire. 
 
 Samuel Rabanke, by indenture of bargain and 
 sale, enrolled, dated 24th February, 1631, con- 
 veyed to Thomas Reeve and Samuel Pruddom, 
 and the heirs of Pruddom, certain premises, upon 
 trust that they and the heirs and assigns of the 
 said Samuel Pruddom, out of the rents and 
 profits of such premises, upon the 9th day of 
 June, or the 9th day of December, from the day 
 of his death, and upon every 9th day of every 
 month for ever thereafter, cause to be paid to 
 nine poor people, to be nominated and elected 
 as thereinafter mentioned, 9d. a week, or 3s. a 
 month ; and should also, upon every 9th day of 
 December, pay the sum of 10s. to some godly and 
 able preacher, who should on that day yearly 
 preach the Word of God in the parish church of 
 Danby ; and that the said Samuel Pruddom, his 
 
PARTIALITY FOR NINE. 109 
 
 heirs and assigns, should, after the sermon, give 
 and deliver one peck of rye to every such of the 
 said nine poor people, as well to those who were 
 present during the service, as also to such others 
 as should be absent by reason of sickness or 
 otherwise ; and as to the choice of the poor 
 persons, he directed that, on the 9th December, 
 the curates, churchwardens, and overseers of the 
 poor of Danby, should nominate eighteen poor 
 persons, men or women, of Danby, six by the 
 curate, six by the churchwardens, and six by the 
 overseers, of whom nine should be immediately 
 elected by Pruddom, or his heirs or assigns, but, 
 if they were absent, then such nine persons 
 should be chosen on the next Sabbath day, by 
 the curate and overseers, or any three of them, 
 whereof the curate should be one ; and that, if 
 there were not so many poor persons of the 
 poorest sort and best report in the parish of 
 Danby, the number should be supplied out of 
 Glaisdale ; so, however, as such number should not 
 exceed three. 
 
 The sum of £18. 105. a year is paid on account 
 of this charity, out of lands called Howe Farm, 
 Castleton and Bottom or Dale Head, in this 
 parish. £{?. lis. of the money is distributed in 
 monthly payments of 3s. each month, to nine 
 poor persons of Danby, IQs. are paid to the 
 minister for a sermon which is preached on the 
 
110 REMARKABLE CHARITIES. 
 
 20th December, the day on which the rent-charge 
 is paid ; and, in lieu of a peck of rye, it has been 
 customary, for many years past, to give a shilling 
 to each of the poor persons, which makes up the 
 present amount of the payment. — VII. p. 715. 
 
 FORMALITY WITHOUT SUBSTANCE. 
 
 All Saints, Leicester. 
 By indenture, dated 1st February, 1611, William 
 Norrice, in consideration of the love which he 
 bore to the parish of All Saints, wherein he was 
 born, and had lived by the mercy of God for 
 fourscore and nine years, and for the charitable 
 devotion which he had to the poor people of the 
 said parish, granted a yearly rent of 155. issuing 
 out of certain garden-ground in or near Soar 
 Lane, upon the conditions that the minister and 
 churchwardens should yearly, upon the Sunday 
 next before the feast of St. Bartholomew the 
 Apostle, in the afternoon, meet and elect forty- 
 one of the poorest people inhabiting in the parish 
 of All Saints, and deliver a list of their names in 
 writing to the clerk of the parish, and cause him 
 to give notice that all persons whose names were 
 contained in that note should personally attend 
 evening prayer on St. Bartholomew^ day, and 
 that the minister should on the said feast day, 
 after the second lesson at evening prayer, exhort 
 
PREDILECTION FOR COLOURS. Ill 
 
 the people to praise God for his mercy in pro- 
 viding for the poor, and should make choice of 
 some fit psalm for that purpose, desiring the 
 people to sing that psalm with him ; and after 
 evening prayer the minister and churchwardens 
 should cause the clerk to call the said forty- 
 one people into some convenient place in the 
 churchy calling each by his name, and in a loud 
 voice, and to give each Ad. and the minister and 
 churchwardens and clerk were to have Ad. each ; 
 all which being satisfied, the said poor should 
 depart, glorifying God : and in default of all this 
 formality, the annuity should cease. It has not 
 been received for many years. — XXXII. pt. v. 
 p. 103. 
 
 WHIMSICAL PREDILECTION FOR COLOURS. 
 
 Melbourne, Derbyshire. 
 
 GREEN. 
 
 Henry Greene, by will, dated 22nd December., 
 1679, gave to his sister Catharine Greene, during 
 her life, all his lands in Melbourne and Newton, 
 and after her decease to others, in trust, upon 
 condition that the said Catharine Greene should 
 give four green waistcoats to four poor women 
 every year, such four green waistcoats to be lined 
 with green galloon lace, and to be delivered to 
 the said poor women on or before the 21st 
 
112 REMARKABLE CHARITIES. 
 
 December yearly, that they might be worn on 
 Christmas day. 
 
 GRAY. 
 
 Thomas Gray, by his will, bearing date the 
 25 th April, 1691, directed his executrix, Mary 
 Gray, and others, to lay out £200 in the purchase 
 of lands; and out of the profits of such land 
 to lay out six nobles yearly to buy six waistcoats 
 of grey cloth, edged with blue galloon lace, and 
 40s. to buy three coats of grey cloth, to be faced 
 with baize ; and that four of the said waistcoats 
 should be given yearly to four poor widows or 
 other poor women living in Castle Donnington, 
 who were to be of good behaviour and endeavour 
 to live honestly ; and the other two waistcoats to 
 two poor widows or women of like behaviour, of 
 the parish of Melbourne : and two of the coats to 
 be given yearly to two poor men of Castle Don- 
 nington, and the other to a poor man of Mel- 
 bourne. And he also directed that copies of his 
 will should be entered in the Town books of 
 Castle Donnington and Melbourne, arid also hung 
 up in the respective churches, and that the same 
 should be read yearly on St. Thomas's day, or the 
 following Sunday, after prayers, for the per- 
 formance of which he directed that the ministers 
 of the said parish should have five shillings a 
 piece ; and he further directed that fifteen dozen 
 
CHARITABLE MEMORY. 113 
 
 of bread should be given to the poor of Castle 
 Donnington, and ten dozen to the poor of Mel- 
 bourne, yearly, on St. Andrew's day; and if any 
 residue of the rents and profits of the said land 
 should arise, the same should be laid out for the 
 benefit of the poor children of Castle Donnington 
 and Melbourne, in the proportion of two-thirds 
 for the former, and one-third for the latter place, 
 towards putting them out as apprentices. — 
 XVII. p. 296. 
 
 CHARITABLE MEMORY. 
 
 South Pool, Devonshire. 
 
 Leonard Dare, by will, 28th Nov. 1611, gave a 
 rent-charge of twenty shillings per annum, payable 
 out of Molescombe Quarries, in the parish of 
 Stokenham, for a term of 2900 years, to be paid 
 quarterly to the poor of South Pool ; and he di- 
 rected that the wardens of the parish of South 
 Pool should on Christmas day, Lady day, St. 
 John's day, and Michaelmas day, buy, bring, 
 and lay on his tomb-stone three-score penny 
 loaves of good and wholesome bread made of 
 wheat, and should then and there^ distribute the 
 same to the poor of that parish ; and in default or 
 neglect on any of the feasts aforesaid, the testator 
 gave the twenty shillings yearly to the mayor and 
 burgesses of Totness. — V. p. 188. 
 
114 REMARKABLE CHARITIES. 
 
 CHARITABLE MEMORY. 
 
 Bolton, Westmorland. 
 
 There is a school-house at Bolton, which it is 
 understood was built by subscription; and by 
 entries in the school-book, and inscriptions in the 
 chapel, it appears that the first endowment to 
 the school was a legacy of £40 left by James 
 Hanson, by will, 1st July, 1721, for the teaching 
 four or more of the poorest children of Bolton. 
 This and another benefaction by the same person, 
 and the gift of £10 by his wife Elizabeth, for the 
 same purpose, is thus recorded on the Chapel wall : 
 
 " In memory of James Hanson, late Clerk of Bolton, 
 interred July 29th, 
 Who to this Town poor out of his store 
 
 His last will makes relation ; 
 Ten pounds he gave, and Fourty more, 
 For children's education. 
 
 * % * * 
 
 Aged 79, Annoq. Dom. 1721." 
 
 " Elizabeth, his relict, she adds 10Z. to the school 
 
 charity." 
 
 VII. p. 593. 
 
 CHARITABLE MEMORY FAMILY OSTENTATION. 
 
 Dacre, Cumberland. 
 John Troutbeck, by will, 27th October, 1J87 : 
 gave to the poor of Dacre, the place of his nati- 
 
BELLROPE LAND. 115 
 
 vity, £200, the interest thereof to be distributed 
 every Easter Sunday on the family tombstone in 
 Dacre churchyard, provided the day should be 
 fine, by the hands and at the discretion of a 
 Troutbeck of Blencowe, if there should be any 
 living, those next in descent having prior right of 
 distribution ; and if none should be living that 
 would distribute the same, then by a Troutbeck, 
 as long as one could be found that would take the 
 trouble of it; otherwise by the minister and 
 churchwardens of the parish for the time being ; 
 that not less than five shillings should be given to 
 any individual, and that none should be consi- 
 dered entitled to it that received alms, or any 
 support from the parish. — V. p. 132. 
 
 BELLROPE LAND. 
 
 Thruoctori) Herefordshire. 
 
 It appears, from an entry in an old book of the 
 parish, that an acre of land called the Bell Acre, 
 situate in a field called Windmill, was heretofore 
 given towards the bu) T ing of bell ropes annually. 
 
 This land is inclosed with the glebe, and let to 
 the Rector, at a yearly rent of 5s. — XXXII. pt. 
 ii. p. 309. 
 
116 REMARKABLE CHARITIES. 
 
 UNKNOWN DONOR. 
 
 Husborne Crawley, Bedfordshire. 
 In this parish there is an estate consisting of a 
 house, buildings, yard, and 53 acres of land, of 
 the annual value of 84/. the original settlement or 
 acquisition of which is unknown. The rent is 
 applied under the direction of the minister, church- 
 wardens, and overseers of the poor, for the repair 
 of the parish church, steeple, bells, and church 
 clock, and a part of the churchyard fences, in 
 allowing 51. yearly to the surveyors of the high- 
 ways, to provide one pint of ale per day to each 
 of the labourers performing statute duty ; £4 once 
 in seven years, on Rogation day, to defray the 
 expence of perambulating and keeping up the 
 boundaries of the parish; and the remainder is 
 distributed in July and December yearly, among 
 all the poor, according to the size of their 
 families, who are not assisted out of the rates, 
 except in cases of extreme distress, and in ap- 
 prenticing poor children. — X. p. 10. 
 
 STIMULANT TO LEARNING. 
 
 Little Ouseburn, Yorkshire. 
 
 The sum of two shillings and sixpence yearly is 
 paid from Dorothy Sutton's legacy, for a reward 
 to the child who is found to repeat the Catechism 
 the best on examination in the church at Easter, 
 
 
ENCOURAGING GOOD BEHAVIOUR IN BOYS. 117 
 
 in pursuance of Mrs. Sutton's will, and which 
 direction is duly complied with. — IV. p. 429. 
 
 ENCOURAGING GOOD BEHAVIOUR IN BOYS. 
 
 St. James, Westminster. 
 Ann Newton, by a testamentary paper bearing 
 various dates between 1806 and 1811, afterwards 
 proved as her will, gave to the parish school of 
 boys attending the chapel called St. James's 
 Chapel, £1000 to be placed in the 5 per cents.; 
 and she desired that the interest might be given 
 yearly to bind that boy apprentice who by the 
 universal voice of all the boys and master, should 
 have conducted himself the best, by his religious 
 : conduct, mild deportment and industry, to some 
 beneficial trade ; and she directed her will to be 
 written in golden letters on a board, and placed in 
 the school. 
 
 The sum of 429/. 19s. 3d. only came into the 
 hands of the parish authorities, and a notice had 
 been given that the trustees intended on the 7th 
 May, 1836, and on that day in each succeeding 
 year, to apply the interest as an apprentice-fee 
 with one of the boys in the school, and recom- 
 mending every boy to endeavour by his conduct 
 to entitle himself to the above reward. — XXX. 
 p. 823. 
 
118 REMARKABLE CHARITIES. 
 
 SINGULAR MODE OF DISTRIBUTING CHARITY. 
 
 JBulkeley, Cheshire. 
 
 The sum of nineteen shillings and twopence 
 was the proportion of certain consolidated cha- 
 rities to which this township was entitled. The 
 mode of distributing it appears not a little sin- 
 gular. The overseer had the money changed into 
 pence and half pence, and placed in a peck mea- 
 sure, inviting all the poor to take a handful, 
 which was done. Those who came last of course 
 got none.— XXXI. p. 587. 
 
 BENEVOLENCE ENCOURAGED. 
 
 Cirencester, Gloucestershire. 
 
 Mr. Richard Mathews, who, by will, about 1 727, 
 gave 150/. to be laid out in the purchase of free- 
 hold lands, and directed the profits thereof to be 
 applied yearly for putting out one poor boy of 
 that town to be an apprentice in the city of Lon- 
 don. Ordered, that each of the poor boys so put 
 forth, should subscribe the following indorsement 
 upon their several indentures ; viz. 
 
 " I do hereby solemnly promise, in the presence 
 of Almighty God, to the Trustees of Mr. Richard 
 Mathews, deceased, that if it shall please the 
 Lord in mercy to raise me to any competent or 
 considerable estate in the world, that I will re- 
 
DOMINE, QUIS HABITABIT? 119 
 
 member to give monies for binding forth other 
 I poor boy or boys, as the said Mr. Richard 
 J Mathews hath done for me." 
 
 The application of the principal sum of 150/. 
 has been so well conducted, that it now produces 
 2^1. per annum, arising out of lands purchased 
 therewith at South Cerney, in Gloucestershire. — 
 XX. p. 71. 
 
 DOMINE, QUIS HABITABIT? 
 
 CliffePypard, Wilts. 
 
 In the last will and testament of Thomas 
 Spackman, is as follows : 
 
 u June 5th, 1675. I do charge my lands with 
 twenty-one shillings by the year, and to continue 
 for ever ; viz. one shilling to the minister of the 
 parish, to mind him of his duty in catechizing the 
 children; twenty shillings to the poor of the 
 parish yearly, to be given them at the church, 
 viz. five shillings on St. Thomas's day, five shil- 
 lings on the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin 
 Mary, five shillings on St. John the Baptist's, and 
 five shillings on St. Matthew's Day ; my will is, 
 that twenty poor people do receive three pence a 
 piece, and that they be at the church at the be- 
 ginning of prayers, or else to have no share ; if 
 the number be not twenty, then the remains to 
 be given to those that are best deserving ; and if 
 
120 REMARKABLE CHARITIES. 
 
 they can, let them sing the 15th Psalm; now if 
 the minister be a good man, he will be careful to 
 see this my will performed, for the honour of the 
 church, that at this day is almost destitute." 
 
 The land charged with this payment is in the 
 tithing of Broad Town, and the property of Wil- 
 liam Ruddle Brown, a farmer. The sum has 
 been for many years distributed in bread. — XXIX. 
 p. 1296. 
 
 BOUNDARY CUSTOM. 
 
 Clifton Reynes, Buckinghamshire. 
 
 It is stated in the Parliamentary Returns in 
 1786, that some land, then let at 12/. per annum, 
 was given by Sir Hugh Kite for the poor of this 
 parish. And it appears, from a book in the custody 
 of the minister, dated 1821, compiled by an anti- 
 quary for a history of the county, that the rector 
 holds a close of pasture-ground called Kites, 
 which had been formerly given to support a lamp 
 burning in the church of Clifton Reynes, but 
 which was subject to a charge of finding one small 
 loaf, a piece of cheese, and a pint of ale, to every 
 married person, and half a pint for every un- 
 married person, resident in Clifton, on the feast of 
 St. Stephen, when they walked the parish boun- 
 daries in Rogation week. The close was an- 
 nexed to the rectory in the 1 2th Elizabeth. 
 
STEPHEN1NG MONEY. 121 
 
 In the month of January a distribution is 
 made by the Rector to all parishioners of the 
 parish. Each person receives a twopenny loaf, a 
 piece of cheese, and a pint of ale, if married, and 
 half a pint if single.— XXVII. p. 133, 
 
 STEPHENING MONEY. 
 
 Drayton JBeauchamp, Buckinghamshire. 
 
 There was formerly an usage in the parish 
 called Stephening. All the inhabitants used to 
 go on St. Stephen's day to the Rectory, and eat as 
 much bread and cheese, and drink as much ale as 
 they chose, at the expense of the Rector. 
 
 The usage gave rise to so much rioting that the 
 late Rector discontinued it, and distributed an 
 annual sum instead, in proportion to the number 
 of claimants; but the number of inhabitants in- 
 creased so considerably, that about the year 1827 
 he was induced to withhold the annual payments. 
 The people have sometimes since come up to the 
 rectory to ask for the Stephening money, but 
 have always been refused. 
 
 Nothing is known concerning the origin or 
 duration of this usage, nor was any evidence pro- 
 duced to the Commissioners, showing any legal 
 obligation on the part of the Rector to continue 
 the above practice. — XXVII. p. 83. 
 
122 REMARKABLE CHARITIES. 
 
 GANG MONDAY LAND. 
 
 Edgcott, Buckinghamshire. 
 
 There is about an acre of land so called, in 
 respect of which Robert Marcham, Esq. pays the 
 overseers about Si. yearly. 
 
 This used formerly to be distributed intakes 
 and beer to the tenants, two cakes each, and as 
 much beer as they chose to drink at the time ; 
 the residue was distributed to all poor persons 
 who came for it, whether parishioners or not. 
 Since the inclosure of the parish, this sum has 
 been distributed about Christmas, in coals, to all 
 poor householders, parishioners, who come for it, 
 in equal shares. — XXVII. p. 7l« 
 
 SINGULAR CONDITION ANNEXED TO A BEQUEST. 
 
 Great Gonerby, Lincolnshire. 
 William Minta, who died 8th June, 1724, gave 
 5/. to the poor of Gonerby, to be distributed in 
 bread to sixteen aged people, on Good Friday, 
 yearly, a " three-penny dole a piece," and the 
 Clerk was " to toll the bell at three o'clock, and 
 to read the Epistle and Gospel, and sing the La- 
 mentation of a Sinner," and to have one shilling 
 reward.— XXXII. part iv. p. 263. 
 
THE JUDGES CHARITY. 123 
 
 SINGULAR ACQUISITION OF PROPERTY. 
 
 Upper Holker, Lancashire. 
 
 This parish possesses five acres of land, which 
 were bought by the inhabitants with the sum of 
 185 J guineas, which were found in the pocket of 
 a travelling beggar who died in 1799, in a lodging 
 house in Upper Holker. — III. p. 194. 
 
 PAYMENT BY THE JUDGES OF THE COURT OF COMMON 
 PLEAS. 
 
 London, St. JDunsian, Fleet Street. 
 
 It is stated in an old parish book, that " The 
 reverend and learned Judges of the Court of 
 Common Pleas have time out of mind allowed 
 towards the relief of the poor of the parish of St. 
 Dunstan's 53s. 4d. yearly, which is duly paid at 
 the end of every term by the younger Judge of 
 the said Court. 5 ' 
 
 This annual sum is still received by the Church- 
 wardens from the Clerk of the Junior Judge of 
 the Court of Common Pleas at Serjeants' Inn. 
 Nothing more is known of the origin of this gift. 
 —VIII. p. 291. 
 
 G 2 
 
124 REMARKABLE CHARITIES. 
 
 WALK MONEY. 
 
 Oxburgh, Norfolk. 
 
 On a table of benefactions in the Churchy it is 
 stated that Sir Henry Bedingfield paid at Lady 
 day annually 21. for lands belonging to the town- 
 ship of Oxburgh, that this was called \Walk 
 Money,, and was given to the poor. 
 
 The Commissioners could not find any other 
 evidence relating to this payment, but 21. a year 
 is paid by Sir Henry Bedingfield to the Rector, 
 and disposed of as above-mentioned. — XXIX. p. 
 698. 
 
 ELLEN MABBOTT'S GIFT. 
 
 Shaugh, Devonshire. 
 On a tablet in the chancel of the parish church 
 is the following inscription : 
 
 c< Here lies that pious loving wife and mother, 
 With her three sons, you '11 scarce find such 
 
 another ; 
 Her course to Heaven full well she knew to 
 
 steer, 
 Leaving the poor about forty pounds a year, 
 Her flesh it will, her memory ne'er can rot, 
 And if you'd know her name — 'twas Ellen 
 
 Mabbott. 
 « Died November 13, I7ll,aged 24 years." 
 The Commissioners could not learn that any 
 
HANGING MONEY. 125 
 
 sum had ever been distributed in respect of the 
 above bequest, and they could not discover any 
 evidence to confirm the statement on the tablet. — 
 V. p. 221. 
 
 HANGING MONEY. 
 
 Shustock, Warwickshire. 
 
 This is known in the hamlet of Bentley by its 
 appellation "hanging money, 5 ' from a tradition 
 that £7. was given by a former resident in the 
 parish, who received a reward to that amount for 
 prosecuting a felon to conviction. 
 
 There is a sum of <£/. now producing Js. per 
 annum, secured on the tolls of the turnpike road, 
 leading from Atherstone to Coleshill, the treasurer 
 
 of which pays annually 7$. to Power, of 
 
 Bentley, the holder of the security, who distributes 
 it amongst the poor at his discretion. — XXIX. p. 
 1000. 
 
 BEQUEST OF HEAD SILVER. CHARITY IN AID OF 
 
 FUNERALS. 
 
 Slapton, Buckinghamshire. 
 In the Parliamentary Returns of 1786, Thomas 
 Knyghton is stated to have devised, by will, dated 
 1629, some land for the repairing town houses in 
 
126 REMARKABLE CHARITIES. 
 
 this parish, and to be distributed according to the 
 inclination of the trust, and to pay head silver for 
 the parish. 
 
 The property of this charity consists of about 
 48 acres of land in the open fields, in the hamlet 
 of Billington, with rights of common let to Tho- 
 mas Procter at £83. 10s. a year, subject to £4. 
 12 s. land tax, and £l. l*s. 9\d. quit rent. 
 
 The rent is expended in the repair of four te- 
 nements under one roof, called the Town Houses, 
 belonging to the parish in which paupers reside ; 
 in paying yearly sixteen shillings and one penny, 
 called head silver, to the lady of the manor of 
 kSlapton ; and in paying the expenses of all the fune- 
 rals of labourers and their wives and children that 
 die during the current year between Christmas 
 and Christmas, including an allowance of a half 
 peck loaf, one pound of cheese, and four quarts of 
 beer for the attendants at the funeral of each 
 adult. 
 
 The residue is distributed on the Monday be- 
 fore Old Christmas Day, amongst all the married 
 poor of the parish according to the size of their 
 families.— XXVII. p. 94. 
 
EXHORTATION TO CONDEMNED PRISONERS. 127 
 EXHORTATION TO CONDEMNED PRISONERS. 
 
 St. Sepulchre, London. 
 
 Robert Dowe, in his life time, on the 8th of 
 May 1705, gave £50 to the end that the Vicar and 
 Churchwardens of this parish should, for ever, 
 previously to every execution at Newgate, cause a 
 bell to be tolled, and certain words to be delivered 
 to the prisoners ordered for execution in the form 
 and manner specified in the terms of his gift, as 
 set forth in the old will book. 
 
 An annual sum of £l. 6s. 8d. in respect of this 
 gift is charged upon the parish estate in West 
 Smithfield ; it is paid to the sexton, who employs 
 a person to go to Newgate on the night previous 
 to every execution, where he offers to perform the 
 prescribed duty, which is always declined, as all 
 needful services of that kind are performed within 
 the prison. — XIV. p. 150. 
 
 Noorthouck, in his History of London, gives 
 the words of the exhortation. He states that the 
 sexton " comes at midnight, and after tolling his 
 bell calls aloud, 
 
 ' You prisoners that are within 
 Who for wickedness and sin, 
 
 after many mercies shewn you, are now ap- 
 pointed to die to-morrow in the forenoon, give ear 
 and understand, that to-morrow morning the 
 I greatest bell of St. Sepulchre's shall toll for you 
 
128 REMARKABLE CHARITIES. 
 
 in form of and manner of a passing bell, as used 
 to be tolled for those that are at the point of 
 death ; to the end that all godly people hearing that 
 bell, and knowing it is for your going to your 
 deaths, may be stirred up heartily to pray to God 
 to bestow his grace and mercy upon you whilst 
 you live. I beseech you for Jesus Christ's sake to 
 keep this night in watching and prayer, to the sal- 
 vation of your own souls, while there is yet time 
 and place for mercy ; as knowing to-morrow you 
 must appear before the judgement seat of your 
 Creator, there to give an account of things done 
 in this life, and to suffer eternal torments for your 
 sins committed against Him, unless upon you r 
 hearty and unfeigned repentance you find mercy 
 through the merits, death, and passion, of your 
 only mediator and advocate Jesus Christ, who now 
 sits at the right hand of God to make intercession 
 for as many of you as penitently return to him/ 
 
 " On the mcjning of execution, as the con- 
 demned criminals pass by St. Sepulchre's church- 
 yard to Tyburn, he tolls his bell again, and, the 
 cart stopping, he adds, i All good people pray 
 heartily unto God for these poor sinners, who are 
 now going to their death, for whom this great bell 
 doth toll. You that are condemned to die, repent 
 with lamentable tears ; ask mercy of the Lord for 
 the salvation of your own souls, through the merits, 
 death, and passion of Jesus Christ, who now sits 
 
CHARITY DERIVED FROM A BEGGAR. 129 
 
 at the right hand of God, to make intercession for 
 as many of you as penitently return unto him. 
 
 Lord have mercy upon you ! 
 
 Christ have mercy upon you ! 
 
 Lord have mercy upon you ! 
 
 Christ have mercy upon you !" ' 
 
 Page6l7. 
 
 CHARITY. DERIVED FROM A BEGGAR. 
 
 Slindon, Sussex, 
 A sum of £15 was placed in the Arundel Sav- 
 ings' Bank in the year 1824, the interest of which 
 is distributed on St. Thomas's Day. It is said 
 that this money was found many years since on 
 the person of a beggar, who died by the road side, 
 and the interest of it has always been appropriated 
 by the parish officers for the use of the poor. — 
 XXX. p. 669. 
 
 CHARITY FOR REDEEMING ENGLISH CHRISTIAN 
 SLAVES FROM CAPTIVITY. 
 
 JBidford, Warwickshire. 
 By deed poll, dated 24th July 1655, Alicia 
 Duchess Dudley appointed £100 yearly of the 
 rents and profits of lands named in such deed and 
 situate in the parish of Bidford, to be paid for and 
 towards redeeming poor English Christian Slaves 
 
130 REMARKABLE CHARITIES. 
 
 or Captives,, professing the faith of our Lord and 
 Saviour Jesus Christ, from the Turkish Slavery, 
 and that such £100 should be paid to the East 
 India Company or to any other Company for the 
 redemption of English Christian Slaves from the 
 Turks. And it was provided that if the said lands 
 and the profits thereof should at any time fall 
 short, and not be sufficient to pay such yearly sum 
 of £100 (and other charities named in the same 
 deed poll), there should be a proportionable abate- 
 ment; and, in case the profits should exceed, that 
 the overplus should be proportioned amongst the 
 said other charities and the captives. 
 
 By another deed poll, dated 24th April 1657, 
 the said Duchess Dudley declared, that, in case it 
 should happen at any time after her decease that 
 the £100 per annum could not be paid for the re- 
 demption of poor Christian Slaves or Captives 
 from Turkish Slavery, either in respect there 
 should happen none to be redeemed, or such other 
 obstruction that the money so intended could not 
 be employed and converted to that use, so that 
 the use for the time being should fail, cease, and 
 could not be performed, she did thereby order and 
 appoint that the said yearly sum of £100 should 
 be paid as follow, viz. : 
 
 £15 per annum to the minister of the parish of 
 Bidford. 
 
131 
 
 £15 per annum to the minister of the parish of 
 Blakesley, in the county of Northampton. 
 
 And £70 per annum to the other charities be- 
 fore referred to. 
 
 Which said sums should be no longer paid, but 
 only and during such time as the said £100 per 
 annum could not be paid and disposed for re- 
 demption of Christian Captives as aforesaid. 
 
 Various proceedings have been taken in the 
 Court of Chancery for the regulation of this 
 charity. 
 
 The estates held in trust for its support consist 
 of three farms of 356 acres 1 rood 11 perches in 
 extent, producing a rent of £422 per annum. 
 
 There is also an accumulated fund amounting 
 to £l/,000 stock for want of claims. The subse- 
 quent proceedings in Chancery have so arranged 
 the management and application of the proceeds 
 as to provide annually for the redemption of slaves 
 in case such should be necessary, and, failing in 
 claimants therein, the amount is to be appropriated 
 to other uses in accordance with the donor's 
 wishes,— XVIII. p. 405. 
 
 BETTON S CHARITY FOR THE REDEMPTION OF 
 BRITISH SLAVES IN TURKEY AND BARBARY. 
 
 Shoreditch, Middlesex 
 Thomas Betton, of Hoxton square, by will, 
 
132 REMARKABLE CHARITIES. 
 
 dated 15 February 1723, after giving 4s. to his 
 brother Timothy and his three children, and or- 
 dering the payment of some trifling annuities, 
 bequeathed the residue of his property to the 
 Company of Ironmongers, London, upon trust, 
 to place out his estate at interest on good securities, 
 and not diminish the capital, that they should not 
 apply the interest to any other use whatever than 
 as follows, viz. 
 
 One full half -part of such interest of the whole 
 estate to be paid yearly for ever to the redemption 
 of British Slaves in Turkey or Barbary. 
 
 One full fourth-part yearly for ever unto cha- 
 rity schools in the city and suburbs of London, 
 where the education is according to the Church of 
 England. 
 
 The other fourth-part to the Ironmongers' Com- 
 pany for certain other purposes in consideration 
 of their care and pains in the execution of his will. 
 
 The clear personal estate left by Mr. Betton 
 (who died in 1725) was estimated in 1730 as 
 amounting to about £22,000. 
 
 In November 1829 an information was filed by 
 the Attorney General against the Ironmongers' 
 Company, setting forth that the said Company 
 had, out of the rents and profits of the estate, paid 
 yearly to various charity schools in the city and 
 suburbs of London, nearly one full fourth-part 
 thereof, and applied one other full fourth-part to 
 
133 
 
 their use, according to the directions of the said 
 will; that for many years past they had not ap- 
 plied any part of the remaining money in the re- 
 demption of British Slaves in Turkey and Bar- 
 bary, but had invested the monies arising there- 
 from in the purchase of stock, of which they kept 
 separate and particular accounts ; that by certain 
 treaties entered into between this Country and 
 Turkey, and the States of Barbary, all dealings in 
 slaves were prohibited, and therefore, according to 
 the laws of this country, the said moiety could not 
 be applied according to the directions of the testa- 
 tor, and the information prayed that one moiety of 
 the charity estates should be applied to the pur- 
 poses of charity as near to the intention of the 
 donor as the circumstances of the case would admit. 
 From the answer of the defendants it was eli- 
 cited, that their clear income was £1700 a-year, 
 after deducting the outgoings ; and that between 
 1734 and 1826 they had expended the sum of 
 £21,088 8s. 2\d. in carrying out the benevolent 
 wishes of the donor for the redemption of British 
 captives. They stated that they had been in- 
 formed there were certain treaties between this 
 country and Turkey and the states of Barbary, by 
 which all dealings in slaves were prohibited ; but 
 that the said treaties were not all of modern date ; 
 the treaty to that effect with the state of Algiers, 
 for instance, being as old as 1602 ; that the exist- 
 
134 REMARKABLE CHARITIES. 
 
 ence of the treaty did not altogether supersede the 
 utility of Mr. Betton^s bequest for the redemption 
 of British slaves, for that many parts of the coast 
 of Barbary were in a very unsettled state, and the 
 inhabitants very little under the control of the 
 nominal government ; and that when British sub- 
 jects were shipwrecked on those parts of the 
 coast they were in part detained as slaves, and 
 their liberty could often only be procured by the 
 ~i payment of money by way of presents : and when 
 they were redeemed by the Government in conse- 
 quence of the interference of the British Consuls, 
 and set free, they were often obliged to wait many 
 months before they could obtain a passage home, 
 and were destitute of the means either of support- 
 ing themselves there, or of obtaining a passage 
 home but for the assistance of this charity fund* 
 and that consequently the charity fund could in 
 some degree be still applied according to the 
 directions of the testator; and that, as lately as the 
 year 1825, the sum of £320. 6s. 9d. was paid for 
 the support and passage home of the crew of a 
 vessel wrecked to the north of Cape Canton, and 
 afterwards redeemed by the Emperor of Morocco. 
 The defendants admitted that the income of 
 the charity funds applicable for the redemption of 
 British slaves was much more than sufficient to 
 meet the demands upon it for the direct purposes 
 of that particular charity, and expressed their 
 
betton's charity. 135 
 
 readiness to act in the execution of the trusts of 
 will, as the Court might direct, on being indem- 
 nified. 
 
 The stock standing in the name of the Ac- 
 countant General in this charity amounted to 
 £119,180. 135. 9d.; and the proceedings were 
 going on at the date of the Commissioners' re- 
 port in June 1837.*— XXXII. Part II. p. 451. 
 
 FOOTBALL LAND. 
 
 JBoxted, Essex. 
 In the Parliamentary Returns of 1786, it is 
 stated, that an unknown donor gave a piece of land 
 for the parishioners to exercise themselves in at 
 football. This land is now called Camping Close, 
 and consists of 2 acres, 3 roods, 13 perches. Part 
 
 * On 23rd January, 1841, the Lord Chancellor, on 
 giving judgment, directed that (as the primary object of 
 the testator could not be carried into effect) the interest 
 of this immense sum should be applied to the purposes 
 of promoting education in schools, according to the 
 principles and tenets of the established church, through- 
 out England and Wales, not giving at any one time 
 more than £20 to any one school. 
 
 Malcolm makes this statement respecting Betton's 
 Charity to poor slaves :— " In the year 1734 about 135 
 captive Britons, nine of whom were commanders of vessels, 
 arrived in England from states of Barbary, and were pre- 
 sented to the King and the Lords of the Admiralty, and 
 they afterwards dined together at the company's hall." 
 
136 REMARKABLE CHARITIES. 
 
 of the field is used as a gravel pit, and there are 
 some elm trees upon it. It is let at a yearly- 
 rent of £2. 10s., which is carried to the account 
 of the poor's rate.— XXXII. Part I. p. 628. 
 
 ENCOURAGEMENT OF ARCHERY, PASTIME, AND 
 HEALTHFUL RECREATIONS. 
 
 Andover, Hampshire. 
 
 The church tablet states that, in the year 1570, 
 Catharine Hanson gave the Common Acre for the 
 recreation of the inhabitants of the town, and 
 that the corporation built four tenements upon it. 
 
 It appears from the Corporation Minute Book, 
 that in the reign of Queen Elizabeth a lease of 
 the Common Acre was granted for twenty-one 
 years to William Gold, at the rent of four shil- 
 lings, on condition that he should keep a pair of 
 butts for men to shoot at, and permit all persons to 
 take their pastime there. This ground is now 
 used as a place of recreation for the inhabitants of 
 the town. No profit is derived from it. — XIV. 
 p. 357. 
 
ENCOURAGING MAID-SERVANTS. 137 
 
 ENCOURAGING MAID-SERVANTS. 
 
 JBurfbrd, Oxfordshire. 
 
 The Rev. James Frethern, of Kencot, by will, 
 18th October 1663, gave forty shillings yearly 
 to a maid- servant dwelling in a service wherein 
 she had continued six years, not as an apprentice 
 but as a hired yearly servant, without interrup- 
 tion : and if the first or second master or mistress 
 should die, and the survivor marry again, and she 
 continue in the service, that should not be ac- 
 counted any interruption, the maid-serVant living 
 in good and commendable manners and unspotted 
 fame, and being of the age of twenty-one years. 
 And the testator directed that, if any year there 
 should not be such a maid-servant, then that the 
 forty shillings should be bestowed to help towards 
 the placing out a poor boy or girl born in the 
 town of Burford to service. 
 
 This payment issues out of land which was 
 the property of Mr. Edward Bradshaw, lately de- 
 ceased. In 1811 the bailifTs of Burford received 
 seven years' arrearages, which were disposed of to 
 seven women of their selection. In 1822 they re- 
 ceived eleven other years' arrears, which were 
 disposed of to eleven women. The Commission- 
 ers recommend the distribution to be made yearly, 
 agreeable to the donor's will. — VIII. 484. 
 
138 REMARKABLE CHARITIES. 
 
 ENCOURAGEMENT FOR MAID-SERVANTS. 
 
 Canterbury. 
 John Cogan, by his will bearing date 27th July 
 1657, reciting that he had lately purchased lands 
 and tenements in the parishes of St. Mildred and 
 St. Mary Castle, Canterbury, and in Thanington 
 in Kent, of the yearly value of £35, which he 
 hoped in ten years would improve in yearly value 
 by £10, and which he intended to dispose of for 
 the encouragement of maid servants, to continue 
 in service for six or seven years together ; he there- 
 fore willed and devised the sum of five pounds 
 a piece to any such three maid servants as should, 
 without compulsion, dwell with any master or 
 mistress, not being their own kindred, within the 
 city of Canterbury, for six or seven years together, 
 without shifting their service; and he directed 
 that such master or mistress should give a certi- 
 ficate of such service, and that the wages had not 
 exceeded fifty shillings a-year, to the mayor, 
 recorder, and three or more of the aldermen of 
 the said city for the time being ; and he further 
 directed that the overplus, after keeping the said 
 tenements in good repair, should be employed by 
 the said mayor, recorder, and three of the said 
 ancient aldermen for the time being, in clothing 
 six fatherless maiden children, from the age of 
 six to twelve years, each to have a petticoat and 
 
ENCOURAGEMENT FOR MAID-SERVANTS. 139 
 
 waistcoat of coloured kersey, one pair of shoes, 
 and one pair of stockings, on Christmas day ; and 
 that they should go through the city of Canter- 
 bury from parish to parish as the said overplus 
 would extend. 
 
 In 1835 the trustees disbursed an account of 
 this Charity : — 
 
 Repairs - 
 
 Clothing seventy-five girls 
 
 Ten maid-servants 
 
 Stamps - . 
 
 The premises are let at £101 per annum, 
 
 XXX. p. 277. 
 
 - £5 
 
 
 
 59 14 
 
 1 
 
 - 50 
 
 
 
 - 4 
 
 
 
 £114 18 
 
 1 
 
 ENCOURAGEMENT OF GOOD BEHAVIOUR AND 
 MATRIMONY. 
 
 All Hallows, Exeter. 
 
 Richard Bevis, by deed 16th June 1602, 
 granted to two citizens of Exeter and their heirs, 
 three tenements in the parish of St. Mary-the- 
 More, in Exeter ; with a barn, tenement, garden, 
 and two acres of land in St, Sidwell, in trust to 
 levy and take out of such premises an annuity of 
 £4, and to pay the same to the churchwardens of 
 the respective parishes of St. Mary Arches, St. 
 
140 REMARKABLE CHARITTES. 
 
 Olave, St. John Bow, and All Hallows-on-the- 
 Walls, by equal payments of twenty shillings to 
 the churchwardens of each parish; and it was 
 thereby directed that the churchwardens should 
 pay the same sum of twenty shillings yearly, for 
 ever, unto two such poor maidens as should 
 happen to be married in their respective parishes, 
 being such as should have served within the 
 same parish where every one should so be mar- 
 ried, by the space of two years next before the 
 time of the same marriage : and if one such 
 maiden only should happen to be married in any 
 parish, in any one year, that the whole sum of 
 twenty shillings should be paid to her. And if it 
 should happen that there should not be any such 
 poor maiden married in any one year, in any one of 
 the several parishes, that the whole sum of twenty 
 shillings should be safely kept in that parish where 
 no such marriage should happen to be, until the 
 next year wherein such marriage or marriages 
 should happen, and that then the arrearage, with 
 the annuity of twenty shillings due for that year 
 should be paid to such one or two poor maidens 
 in one year, in that parish, namely, to one wholly 
 if but one such marriage should happen to be ; 
 but if two such marriages should happen to be, 
 then to them both equally. 
 
 The annuity is paid by Mr. Pearse, the owner 
 of the premises charged, and the sum accumu- 
 
ENCOURAGEMENT FOR MAID-SERVANTS. 141 
 
 lates in the hands of the churchwardens until ap- 
 plication is made for it by a maiden of the parish, 
 qualified according to the donor's direction ; and 
 when that event happens, the whole sum accumu- 
 lated is paid to her. The Commissioners were 
 informed that the last payment took place in 
 1818, when the applicant received £9. 
 
 The claim is made at a parish meeting, and it is 
 refused unless the bride bears a good character, 
 and has served within the parish for the space of 
 two years next before the marriage. — VIII. p. 122. 
 
 ENCOURAGEMENT FOR MAID-SERVANTS. 
 
 Guildford, Surrey. 
 
 John How, by will, dated 27th January, 1674, 
 devised certain freehold and copyhold premises 
 to Elizabeth Tea and her heirs, with intent that 
 she should pay to his overseers within six months 
 after his decease, the sum of £400, to purchase 
 therewith freehold lands, &c. or a yearly rent 
 charge within 20 miles of Guildford, to pay the 
 rents and profits thereof yearly into the hands of 
 the Mayor of the town of Guildford for the time 
 being, who, with the magistrates of that town, 
 should choose two such poor servant-maids within 
 the said town of good report, who should have 
 served masters or mistresses there two years to- 
 
142 REMARKABLE CHARITIES. 
 
 gether: which said two servant maids should throw 
 two dice, or cast lots, and should pay one year's 
 clear profit of the said premises to such maid as 
 should throw the highest number, or to whom the 
 lot should fall; and he directed that the other 
 maid should the next year, if she should inhabit 
 the said town and not be married, throw dice, or 
 cast lots with another maid ; but that, if any one 
 maid should lose by the dice or lots four times, 
 she should not be afterwards admitted to throw 
 or cast again. And the testator declared it to be 
 his intent and meaning, that no servant maid or 
 maids of any the mayor or magistrates aforesaid, 
 should be admitted to throw or cast lots, or to 
 receive the profits of the premises above once in 
 seven years ; and that no maid should be chosen 
 that should live in any inn or alehouse, although 
 she should have served two years or more toge- 
 ther, until she should have served for two years 
 together elsewhere afterwards within the town. 
 
 And the testator further gave to the Mayor of 
 Guildford, a yearly annuity of 155. and to the 
 Town Clerk an annuity of 5s. issuing out of lands 
 in Shalford, to be paid yearly at Michaelmas, to 
 the intent that they should keep a book and enter 
 the names of the maids, and other proceedings in 
 the charity, and as a compensation for the receipt 
 and payment of the monies as aforesaid. 
 
 By an order in Chancery, dated 29th June, 
 
ENCOURAGEMENT FOR MAID-SERVANTS. 143 
 
 1728. it appears that the sum of £400 was in- 
 vested in the purchase of Bank Annuities, which 
 were paid off at Lady Day 1728; and that, in 
 pursuance of an order of Court, dated 26th June 
 preceding, the produce was laid out in the pur- 
 chase of £398 South Sea Annuities : it was or- 
 dered, that, of the interest then in hand, so much 
 should be applied as would be sufficient to make 
 up the complete sum of £400 South Sea Annui- 
 ties, which was to remain in the name of the ac- 
 countant-general ; and that he should pay the 
 dividends until the same should be laid out in the 
 purchase of lands to the Mayor of Guildford, to 
 apply the same according to the will of the said 
 John How. 
 
 This order was duly executed, and the sum of 
 £400 South Sea Annuities still remains vested in 
 the Mayor, to the use of the charity. 
 
 The dividends, amounting to £12 annually, are 
 reduced by an annual charge of 2 8s. for a power of 
 attorney and affidavit to the sum of £10. 12s., 
 which is duly paid over to a maid servant, the 
 choice of whom is determined by the cast of dice 
 between two, as directed by the will. 
 
 The directions of the will appear also, in all 
 other respects, to be duly attended to. 
 
 The land charged with the annuities of 15s. to 
 the Mayor, and 5s. to the Town Clerk, is the pro- 
 perty of Henry Edmund Austen, esq. by whom 
 the payments are duly made. — X. p. 641. 
 
144 REMARKABLE CHARITIES. 
 
 ENCOURAGEMENT FOR APPRENTICES, GOOD CONDUCT 
 REWARDED. 
 
 Guildford, Surrey. 
 
 John Parsons, by will, dated 3d July 1702, be- 
 queathed to the Corporation of Guildford £600 
 owing to him from the city of Chichester on mort- 
 gage, at five per cent, the yearly profits thereof to 
 be disposed of by the mayor and magistrates of 
 Guildford for the time being, in manner following, 
 viz. to pay the same to a poor young man who 
 should have served an apprenticeship of seven 
 years in the said town or liberties thereof, and 
 should have become a freeman thereof (such 
 young man first taking his oath before a lawful 
 magistrate that he is not at that time directly or 
 indirectly worth twenty pounds), that he may be 
 the better enabled to set up his trade in the said 
 town or liberties ; and so to another young man 
 so qualified, so that no man may have it twice ; 
 and in case it should happen that there should be 
 no young man in the town qualified as aforesaid, 
 he directed the mayor and magistrates to dispose 
 thereof to a servant maid, who should have lived 
 in good repute three years in one service in a pri- 
 vate family in the said town, not in an inn, tavern, 
 or alehouse ; and he directed that this his gift 
 should be constantly paid to the young men or 
 maids within one month after they should have 
 received the profits of the foregoing year : and he 
 
ENCOURAGEMENT FOR APPRENTICES. 145 
 
 directed that his executor should deliver to the 
 said mayor and magistrates all writings concern- 
 ing the premises ; and in case the corporation of 
 Chichester should be willing to pay the said £600, 
 that they should pay the same to the said mayor 
 and magistrates, in trust, however, to be em- 
 ployed to purchase lands therewith, and to apply 
 the yearly rents in manner aforesaid ; and in case 
 the said mayor and magistrates should neglect or 
 refuse to apply either the principal or interest to 
 any other use than was therein expressed, he di- 
 rected that the same should be forfeited to the 
 corporation of Chichester ; and in case they 
 should so neglect or refuse, then that the same 
 should return to the corporation of Guildford. 
 
 In 1796 the sum of £532. Os. 5d. was purchased 
 in the four per cent, consols, and invested in the 
 name of the mayor and approved men of the town 
 of Guildford, which produced an annual dividend 
 of £21. 5s. 6d. 
 
 This income is for the most part given to young- 
 men who have served apprenticeships of seven 
 years in the town, and have become freemen, and 
 appear in other respects to answer the requisites 
 of the will, an oath being first duly taken by the 
 candidate that he is not worth £20. 
 
 In two recent instances, no young man being 
 found properly qualified, the dividends were paid 
 to servant maids who had each lived three years 
 
 H 
 
146 REMARKABLE CHARITIES. 
 
 in good repute in a private family in the town. — 
 X. p. 641. 
 
 BEQUEST TO ENCOURAGE AND REWARD RELIGIOUS 
 GOOD CONDUCT, VIRTUE, AND MORALITY, IN FE- 
 MALE SERVANTS. 
 
 Maidenhead, Berks. 
 
 Dame Ann Pocock, by will dated 21st July 
 1816, bequeathed for the benefit of ten single 
 women servants, not under the age of twenty- 
 five years, who should have lived seven years 
 in one service in the town of Maidenhead or 
 its vicinity, and be therein at the time of ap- 
 plying for this bequest, £10 each, to be given for 
 the first time within one year after her decease, 
 for the encouragement of religious good conduct, 
 virtue, and morality, and to be afterwards given 
 at the end of every two years, after the distribu- 
 tion, as above directed, and for ever. No woman 
 to have the bequest more than once. 
 
 The distribution takes place on 6th July, every 
 alternate year, and public notice is previously 
 given in the churches. — XXXII. pt. i. p. 82. 
 
 ENCOURAGEMENT FOR FEMALE SERVANTS. 
 
 Oxford. 
 
 Robert Whorwood, about the year 1687, gave 
 by will £100 to the mayor, bailiffs, and com- 
 
ENCOURAGEMENT FOB FEMALE SERVANTS. 147 
 
 monalty of Oxford, the interest to be disposed of 
 by them in paying £5 per annum to a maid ser- 
 vant, as they should think fit, in such manner as 
 the hundred pounds given to them in his lifetime 
 was disposed of, to be secured for that purpose 
 under the city seal. 
 
 Ten pounds, as the interest of these two bene- 
 factions, are disposed of on St. Thomas's day to 
 two maid servants, each of them having lived 
 seven years in one service. The persons are 
 elected by the mayor, recorder, aldermen, assist- 
 ants, bailiffs, and town clerk. The daughters of 
 freemen are preferred, according to regulations 
 drawn up for the management of this Charity. 
 The income is provided for by £333. 6s. 8d. three 
 per cent, consols, which is set apart expressly for 
 this purpose. — VI. p. 389. 
 
 BOUNTIFUL ENCOURAGEMENT FOR FEMALE 
 SERVANTS. 
 
 Beading, Berks. 
 
 John Kendricke, in 1624, amongst other gifts to 
 this town, gave £100 to poor maids of Reading, 
 at their several marriages, by forty shillings 
 a-piece, to be given only to such as should have 
 lived seven years in any one place. 
 
 John Blagrave, by will, dated 30th June, 1611, 
 devised to Joseph Blagrave and his heirs, a man- 
 
 H 2 
 
148 REMARKABLE CHARITIES. 
 
 sion house in Swallowfield, and all his lands and 
 messuages in Swallowlield, Eversley, and Read- 
 ings on condition that they should yearly, for ever, 
 upon Good Friday, between the hours of six and 
 nine in the morning, pay £10 in a new purse of 
 leather, to the mayor and burgesses, to the in- 
 tent that they should provide that the same 
 should be yearly bestowed in the forenoon of the 
 same day in manner following, viz. twenty nobles 
 to one poor maiden servant who should have 
 served, dwelt, and continued in any one service 
 within any of the three parishes of Reading, in 
 good name and fame five years at the least, for 
 her preferment in marriage; and, to avoid par- 
 tiality in the choice, he ordered that there should 
 be every Good Friday, three such maidens in 
 election, to cast and try by lot whose the fortune 
 should be, and that of those three one should be 
 taken out of each parish, if it could be ; and that 
 every fifth year, one of the three should be chosen 
 from Southcote, if any there should have lived so 
 long ; and that there should be special choice of 
 such maids as had served longest in any one 
 place, and whose friends were of least ability to 
 help them. That ten shillings should be given 
 on the same day to the preacher of St. Lawrence 5 s, 
 for a sermon ; and that, after sermon, there should 
 be twenty shillings given to threescore of the 
 poorest householders of the same parish, who 
 
ENCOURAGEMENT FOR FEMALE SERVANTS. 149 
 
 should accompany the maiden to whom the lot 
 had fallen, home to her dwelling place, and there 
 leave her with her purse of twenty nobles. That 
 the ringers should have three shillings and four- 
 pence to ring a peal till the said maiden reached 
 home. That twenty shillings, part of the £10, 
 be sent to threescore poor people of the parish of 
 St. Mary, and six shillings to twenty-four poor 
 people of St. Giles's parish, threepence apiece; 
 and that the clerk of St. Lawrence^s and the 
 youngest churchwarden should have three shil- 
 lings and fourpence each. 
 
 Three girls are selected by the mayor and alder- 
 men on Good Friday morning, one from each 
 of the three parishes in Reading. The applicants 
 produce a certificate of a continued service in one 
 family for five years at the least. They each 
 throw three dice, and the one who gains the high- 
 est number is announced as the " lucky maiden," 
 and receives a purse containing the 20 nobles 
 (£6. 13s. 4d.) The person gaining this prize is 
 not considered eligible to be elected to stand for 
 either of the other charities of the same descrip- 
 tion. 
 
 The girl who throws the second highest num- 
 ber receives £4, and the third £3, from Mr, An- 
 nesley^s charity hereinafter mentioned. 
 
150 REMARKABLE CHARITIES. 
 
 ARCHBISHOP LAUD'S CHARITY, 1640. 
 
 In every third year twelve girls receive portions of 
 £25 each. Such girls are selected by the visitors, 
 and each produces a certificate of character and 
 three years' service. Orphans are preferred, and 
 those who are understood to be about to be mar- 
 ried, and in general they are upwards of 20 years 
 of age. 
 
 THE CHARITY OF BOUDRY AND RICHARDS. 
 
 By indenture, dated 10th April 1755, between 
 the Rev. William Boudry and John Richards of 
 the one part, and the corporation of Reading of 
 the other part, reciting that there were already 
 two good benefactions given to the maid servants 
 of Reading, to encourage them to be industrious 
 and to continue in their services, and that they 
 the parties of the first part having seen the good 
 effect of those two charities, an$l being desirous 
 to give further encouragement to servants to be 
 industrious and continue in their places, had 
 purchased two plots of garden ground, which 
 they had resolved to convey to the mayor, alder- 
 men, and burgesses, upon the trusts thereinafter 
 mentioned ; which said plots were accordingly 
 conveyed to the said mayor, aldermen, and bur- 
 gesses, upon trust, to meet yearly at the Guildhall 
 
ENCOURAGEMENT FOR FEMALE SERVANTS. 151 
 
 on the last Monday in August, about nine in the 
 morning, and then, out of the rents and profits of 
 the said land, pay 4s. to the town clerk for writ- 
 ing down the maidens' names that should offer 
 themselves candidates, and for entering the names 
 of those maidens who should be elected to try for 
 this charity; always distinguishing the " lucky 
 maid," who should receive this charity from the 
 other two, and that they should pay to the day 
 bellman Is. in case he should attend such lucky 
 maid home. And upon further trust, that they 
 should yearly, on the day beforementioned, elect 
 three maid servants of the Established Church, 
 who should have respectively served in any one 
 service within the three parishes of Reading, in 
 good name and fame, five years at the least, one 
 out of each parish, if it so might be, excepting, 
 that as the parish of St. Lawrence was larger and 
 likely to produce more candidates than St. Giles's, 
 that every fifth year no maid should be elected 
 out of St. Giles's, but two from St. Lawrence and 
 one from St. Mary's, and if it should happen that 
 no maid should offer herself duly qualified in any 
 one of the three parishes, the deficiency might be 
 supplied out of either of the other two, and the 
 better to avoid partiality, that such three maid 
 servants, when elected, should cast and try with 
 three dice, and such maid who should throw the 
 highest, should receive the residue of the rents of 
 
152 REMARKABLE CHARITIES. 
 
 the premises, all reasonable expenses being de- 
 ducted ; and it was provided that, as this charity 
 was intended as an aid to Mr. Blagrave's, and as 
 it was reasonable to suppose that the mayor and 
 aldermen would give a preference to their own 
 maid servants, it was expressly declared that no 
 maid servant should be qualified to be elected to 
 try for this charity by serving any mayor, alder- 
 man, or burgess of this borough, if there should 
 be others duly qualified ; and if there should not 
 appear a sufficient number so qualified, then they 
 might choose the maid servant of any alderman, 
 duly qualified in other respects, to make up the 
 deficiency, this charity being chiefly intended for 
 the servants of those who were not aldermen or 
 burgesses ; and it was provided that no maid ser- 
 vant should be elected to throw for this charity 
 twice, if there should be any maid servant in the 
 same parish duly qualified who should offer her- 
 self, that had not been before elected to throw ; 
 and that no maid servant that had received either 
 of the charities given by Archbishop Laud and 
 John Blagrave, should be capable of being elected 
 to throw for this charity, and that no deduction 
 or fee, save as aforesaid, should be made out of 
 the rents of the premises. 
 
 The Corporation meet on the last Monday in 
 August at the council chamber, when the candi- 
 dates attend, and their names are taken down by 
 
ENCOURAGEMENT FOR FEMALE SERVANTS. 153 
 
 the town clerk. The certificates and testimonials 
 are examined, and the Corporation select one 
 maid servant from each parish, who has lived five 
 years at least in one continued service. There 
 are generally ten or twelve from each of the larger 
 parishes, and about four or five from St. Gileses. 
 When the three persons are selected the public 
 are admitted, and the three girls throw three dice 
 at once, and the girl who throws the highest 
 number obtains the prize. In August 1 835 u the 
 Lucky Maid," as she is called, received £28. 
 
 The town clerk and bellman receive their fees 
 of four shillings and one shilling each, and a 
 purse is given to the girl, with the money con- 
 tained in it. The average age of the girls re- 
 ceiving this charity is from 23 to 24 years of age. 
 
 ANNESLEY's CHARITY. 
 
 Martin Annesley, Esq. a very old member of 
 the Corporation, 18th August 1809, addressed a 
 letter to the mayor and aldermen, wherein, in 
 allusion to the preceding charities, he stated that 
 from motives of kindness for the unsuccessful 
 candidates on Good Friday, he had about 20 
 years before, been induced to make a small do- 
 nation to alleviate their disappointment, and 
 that it was his wish to make the same more se- 
 cure and permanent than it then was * * * * 
 
154 REMARKABLE CHARITIES. 
 
 and, he added, that it was his particular wish 
 that the Corporation would accept the trust of 
 this small benefaction, and permit him to transfer 
 into their names the sum of £350 stock, to be 
 disposed of in the same proportions as his mite 
 was on Good Friday. 
 
 In another letter, dated 10th August 1820, 
 Mr. Annesley, after stating that Mr. Boudry and 
 Mr. Richards, by their deed, 10 April 1755, had 
 directed that as the parish of St. Laurence was 
 much larger, and likely to produce a greater num- 
 ber of candidates than the parish of St. Giles, 
 therefore, every fifth year no maid should b e 
 elected out of the parish of St. Giles, but two 
 of the said three should be taken out of the 
 parish of St. Laurence and one from St. Mary, 
 expressed his opinion, that by alterations in the 
 population, the inhabitants of St. Giles, and con- 
 sequently the servants, had become as numerous 
 as the parish of St. Laurence, for which reason 
 he wished in every such fifth year wherein, by 
 the above directions, the parish of St. Giles would 
 be excluded, that three maids should be elected 
 out of the parish of St. Giles only, to throw for 
 his addition, and he particularly wished that no 
 servant who should obtain or even throw for his 
 donation, should be precluded from the benefit 
 they might be entitled to at any future election. 
 
 Mr. Annesley died in 1822, having added to 
 
ENCOURAGEMENT FOR FEMALE SERVANTS. 155 
 
 the amount of stock at first given ; and there is 
 now, in respect of this charity, the sum of £500 
 three per cent, consols, standing in the names of 
 the mayor, aldermen, and burgesses of Reading, 
 and producing an annual dividend of £15, which 
 is disposed of according to the directions of the 
 donor. 
 
 On Good Friday the sum of £4 is paid to the 
 second lucky maid, who throws for Blagrave^s 
 charity, and £3 to the third. And on the last 
 Monday in August the same sums are paid in the 
 same way to the second and third candidates for 
 the gift of Boudry and Richards, and the sum of 
 six shillings is paid annually for four" purses to 
 contain the money given to the candidates. — 
 XXXII. pt. i. pp. 31—48. 
 
 Mrs. Rachel Veasey, by will dated 11 Nov. 
 1790, bequeathed £805 New South Sea Stock, to 
 the vicar and churchwardens of the parish of St. 
 Laurence in trust, amongst other things, to pay, on 
 St. Thomases day, £4. 4s. a-year to two servant 
 girls of the borough of Reading, who should have 
 lived two years in one place, and could have a 
 good character from such place. — XXXII. pt. i. 
 p. 139. 
 
156 REMARKABLE CHARITIES. 
 
 ENCOURAGEMENT FOR THE GOOD AND WELL 
 DISPOSED. 
 
 Wargrave, Berks. 
 
 Mrs. Sarah Hill in 1822 gave £400 three per 
 cent, consols, producing £12 per annum, to the 
 vicar and churchwardens of Wargrave, the in- 
 terest to be applied as follows : 
 
 To two labourers of the parish of Wargrave, 
 whose characters should stand the highest for 
 honesty, sobriety, and industry, the sum of £l 
 each, yearly, at Easter. To six widows of War- 
 grave, or any old unmarried woman of the same 
 place, whose characters were unimpeachable, the 
 sum of ten shillings each at Easter. £3 a-year 
 to be set apart and applied every four years, to a 
 female servant who had lived the greatest num- 
 ber of years in one place in Wargrave parish, not 
 less than four years, and whose character for 
 honesty, sobriety, and good conduct was un- 
 doubted. £3 a year to the National School, and 
 £l a-year at Easter to be given, in new crown 
 pieces as honorary medals, to two boys and two 
 girls of the National School aforesaid. No boy 
 to receive the reward who was undutiful to his 
 parents, or was ever heard to swear, to tell 
 untruths, or known to steal, or break windows, or 
 do any kind of mischief; and no girl was to re- 
 ceive the reward who was not in every respect 
 
ENCOURAGEMENT FOR SERVANTS. 157 
 
 modest, attentive to business, and well behaved. 
 And Mrs. Hill sincerely hoped that these dona- 
 tions, however small, might, in some degree 
 answer the intended purpose of encouraging the 
 good and well disposed. The constant attend- 
 ance at the parish church to be also a requisite re- 
 commendation. — XXXII. pt. i. p. 130. 
 
 ENCOURAGEMENT FOR SERVANTS. 
 
 War grave, Berks. 
 
 The Rev. Walter Sellon, by will dated 1793, 
 gave the sum of £400 to the parish of Wargrave, 
 the interest to be applied as follows ; namely £10 
 a-year to a servant man, native of Wargrave, who 
 should have lived three years in one place ; and 
 to a maid servant £10 another year, and so alter- 
 nately, no person to receive the benefaction twice; 
 30s. a-year to the poor of the parish, and 10s. 
 a-year to the vicar or curate to preach a sermon 
 on Michaelmas Day, setting forth the reciprocal 
 duties of master and servant. 
 
 The £400 is in the three per cent, consols. — 
 XXXII. pt. i. p. 129. 
 
158 REMARKABLE CHARITIES. 
 
 PRAYER AND LOYALTY. 
 
 Hilderstone. 
 
 Sir Thomas Hunt, by will dated 28th April 
 1625, gave to the vicar and churchwardens of 
 Hilderstone, where his house stood, to the use of 
 the poor there for ever, 53s. 4d. a-year for six 
 poor men and women, by 2d. a-piece every sab- 
 bath day in bread ; to the sexton or clerk, for 
 setting the bread on the table, the odd \6d. ; to 
 the churchwardens, to buy them a pair of gloves, 
 for distributing the same bread to the poor ; and 
 these poor, after service, if they should be well 
 and have no convenient let, should come every 
 sabbath day to the stone where his father lays, 
 kneeling, should say the Lord^s prayer, and pray / 
 to God for the King and Queen then reigning \J 
 over them, and for no other use; he would have 
 the people chosen by the vicar and church- 
 wardens to be of honest and good conversation, 
 and so they should enjoy it during their lives. — 
 XVI. p. 333. 
 
 ^U 
 
LOYALTY AND PATRIOTISM. 159 
 
 LOYALTY AND PATRIOTISM. 
 
 Alcester, Warwickshire. 
 
 Robert Wilcox, by will, dated 24th December 
 1627, gave a house and close to the town of Al- 
 cester, for the maintenance of three sermons in 
 the year, viz. : — 
 
 u One upon the 5 th of November, in remembrance 
 of our happy deliverance, with our King, Nobles, 
 and States, from the pestilent design of the Papists 
 in the Powder Plot ; one on the 1 7th November, in 
 remembrance of that good Queen Elizabeth her 
 entrance unto the Crown ; and the third upon the 
 last day of July, in remembrance of the Lord' 's gra- 
 cious deliverance from the Spanish Armada in 88." 
 
 And whereas the rent was 20s. by the year then, 
 and the goodwife Lilly having her life in it, after 
 her decease no doubt the house and close would 
 be worth 305. by the year : then his will was that 
 the said overplus should be given to the poor 
 every year, as the rent should come in, for ever. 
 
 The rent in 1826 amounted to 61. per annum, 
 and there was an accumulation of 18/. 13s. 2c?. in 
 hand.— XV. p. 515. 
 
160 RFMARKABLE CHARITIES. 
 
 PATRIOTISM AND THANKFULNESS. 
 
 Leicester, 
 
 Thomas Hayne,, by will, in 1640, gave 20s. yearly 
 for a preacher in Leicester for a sermon to be 
 preached in some church near the midst of Leices- 
 ter, by the appointment of the mayor, near the 
 time of the year in which the Spanish Armada was 
 defeated in 1588, for a thanksgiving to God for 
 that great mercy to this land. 
 
 This sum of 205. is paid to the vicar ef St. 
 Martin's.— XXXII. pt. v. p. 33. 
 
 CHARITY FOR SERMONS, &C. TO COMMEMORATE 
 NATIONAL MERCIES. 
 
 St. Nicholas, Nottingham. 
 
 Luke Jackson, citizen and girdler, of London, 
 by will dated 26th January 1630, reciting that he 
 was seised in fee of certain tithes at or near Horse- 
 pool in the county of Leicester, being about the 
 value of 20/. per annum, devised the same to 
 certain persons on trust, yearly to pay the clear 
 rents and profits thereof in manner following; 
 that is to say, two equal third parts as followeth : 
 40s. thereof yearly to be given for two sermons to 
 be preached in St. Peter's church, in the town of 
 Nottingham, on 28th July and 5th November, 
 acknowledging God's mercy, and giving thanks for 
 the deliverance of this land and people at two seve- 
 
BEQUEST FOR A SERMON AND PSALM. 161 
 
 ral times from the Invincible Armada (as it was 
 termed) in 1588,, and from the Gunpowder Plot in 
 1605 .- and the residue of the said two thirds to be 
 distributed amongst the poor people in the parish 
 of St. Peter, at the discretion of his five feoffees ; 
 and the other third part of the clear profits of the 
 said tithes as followeth, viz. 40s. for two sermons 
 to be preached in the church of Thornton near 
 Horsepool on the tivo above mentioned days ; and 
 the residue to be distributed amongst the poor 
 people in the parish of Thornton, at the discretion 
 of his feoffees. 
 
 In 1827 the annual income, in respect of this 
 charity, amounted to 83/. 18s. 5c?. — XX. p. 480, 
 
 BEQUEST FOR A SERMON, AND FOR SINGING A PSALM 
 AT THE ASSIZES. 
 
 St. Michael, Gloucester. 
 
 It appears by the benefaction table, that Giles 
 Marden, by will, dated 14th March 1727; gave to 
 the churchwardens of this parish for the time 
 being, 1 1/. 10s., to be placed out at interest, the 
 amount arising on 10/. thereof to be paid for ever, 
 for the preaching a sermon in the afternoon in 
 the church on every assizes Sunday that should 
 happen after Trinity Term for ever; and the inte- 
 rest of the remaining 30s. to be paid for ever to 
 
162 REMARKABLE CHARITIES. 
 
 the clerk of the said parish for ringing the bell, 
 and singing a psalm at such sermon yearly. 
 
 The commissioners report that this sum of 
 11/. 105. was in the hands of the late rector at 
 his decease (with other sums to the amount of 
 71/. 10s. secured by his bond, and yielding 5 per 
 cent, per annum). — XIV. p. 47. 
 
 MUSIC 
 
 Richard Lane, otherwise Tomson, by his will, 
 dated 24 th July 1619, gave to one of the deacons 
 of the cathedral church of Hereford 405. yearly 
 for ever to prick fairly into books, songs and 
 church service, for the use of the same church ; 
 and upon his coming every half year for his wages, 
 he should bring with him the sub-chanter of the 
 choir, who should show to him who had the pay- 
 ment of the money, what he had done in that 
 business the half year last past ; and if he should 
 be found negligent therein, then the payment for 
 that time should be given to twelve poor men the 
 Saturday next following. — XXXII. pt. ii.p. 12. u 
 
MUSICAL REMEMBRANCE. 163 
 
 MUSICAL REMEMBRANCE. 
 
 Westbury, Wilts. 
 
 Elizabeth Townsend, widow, by her will, dated 
 11th June 1820, gave unto the churchwardens and 
 overseers of the parish of Westbury as much 
 money as should be sufficient, when invested in 
 the stocks, to yield the yearly sum of 31. clear of 
 all deductions, upon trust to pay the dividends 
 thereof unto the vicar, organist, parish clerk, and 
 choir of the parish church of Westbury for the 
 time being, upon special condition that the said 
 choir should for ever thereafter, in the morning 
 and afternoon service at the parish church on the 
 Sunday preceding the 24th of June in each year, 
 sing the anthem composed by her late husband's 
 grandfather, Roger Town send, from the 150th 
 Psalm, and also the 112th Psalm, for which the 
 vicar was to have 45., the organist 10$. the clerk 
 5s., and 4s. a-piece to the choir singers, viz. two 
 counter, two tenor, three treble, and three bass 
 singers, and in default of their singing, then to 
 divide such 31. amongst the poor at Christmas. — 
 XXVII. p. 781. 
 
 The same person made a similar bequest to the 
 choir of the parish church of Warminster, Wilts, 
 —XXVII. p. 782. 
 
164 REMARKABLE CHARITIES. 
 
 BEQUEST TO COMMEMORATE A HAPPY AND WON- 
 DERFUL DELIVERANCE FROM FIRE. 
 
 St. Michael, Gloucester. 
 
 It appears by a reference to the benefaction 
 table^ that Mr. John Blanch, late of Barton 
 Street^ by will, gave £50 to the churchwardens 
 and overseers of this parish, upon trust, to equally 
 divide the interest thereof among ten poor house- 
 keepers of either hamlet that do not receive alms, 
 and are persons of sober lives and strict observers 
 of the sabbath; and also the sum of £22, the 
 interest thereof to be given to the minister for 
 preaching a sermon on the 29th day of October, 
 yearly, in St. Michael's church, in commemora- 
 tion of a happy and wonderful deliverance he that 
 day experienced from fire. — XIV. p. 49. 
 
 SERMONS OF THANKFULNESS FOR PRESERVATION IN 
 THE GREAT FIRE IN 1666. 
 
 St. Andrew Undershaft, London. 
 
 Thomas Rich, by will dated 31st July, 1672, 
 devised to Sir William Thompson and thirteen 
 others, and their heirs and assigns, a messuage 
 and premises situate in Lime Street, in this 
 parish, on trust, to permit the minister and 
 churchwardens to let the same, and receive the 
 rents thereof, to be by them, and the overseers of 
 
FOR PRESERVATION FROM FIRE. 165 
 
 the parish, distributed as follows ; viz. 40s. yearly 
 to the minister of this parish, who should yearly 
 preach two sermons in the said parish, one on 
 New Year's day, and the other on the third Tues- 
 day in September, in thankfulness to God for 
 the preservation of the said parish from the 
 dreadful fire in 1666 ; viz. 20s. for each sermon, 
 and to the clerk and sexton Ss. Ad. each; and 
 £3 yearly to the parish of St. Catharine Cree- 
 church, London ; and the remainder to be distri- 
 buted on St. Thomas's day to honest and most 
 wanting housekeepers of the said parish of St. 
 Andrew Undershaft, charged with children, who 
 should be of a godly life, and of a good report, 
 not inmates, nor scandalized with any notorious 
 vice, to every one of them, men or women, in 
 that description of poverty, 20s. or more, to 
 make even the said residue of the said rents and 
 profits. 
 
 In 1795 (this house and premises then pro- 
 ducing £14 per annum) the East India Company 
 contracted with the parish for the purchase 
 thereof, engaging to invest such a sum of money 
 as would produce to the parish £20 a year in the 
 three per cent, consols, as a consideration for 
 the said house and premises, which agreement was 
 subsequently carried into effect; and £666. 13s. 4d. 
 was transferred, the interest to be paid to the 
 rector and churchwardens, to be by them applied 
 
166 REMARKABLE CHARITIES. 
 
 to the purposes of Mr. Rich's will. — XXIII. p. 
 185. 
 
 FIRE OF LONDON, 1666. 
 
 St. Andrew, Holborn, London. 
 
 Mr. Thomas Tuck, who died in the year 16*70, 
 gave by will 40s. per annum, for ever, to this 
 parish ; viz. 20s. for a sermon on the 4th day of 
 September in every year, to deplore the calamity 
 of the dreadful fire in London in 1666, and 20s. 
 to be distributed in bread among the poor of the 
 same parish, on that day after sermon. But it is 
 not known that this gift ever was paid. — XIV. p. 
 122. 
 
 TO COMMEMORATE THE PRESERVATION OF THE 
 CHURCH FROM FIRE. 
 
 St. Magnus, London. 
 Susanna Chambers, by will dated 28th Decem- 
 ber, 1640, gave the sum of 20s. a year to the 
 parson of the parish church of St. Magnus, on 
 London bridge, or such other preacher of God's 
 word as should be appointed, for a sermon to be 
 preached on the 12th day of February in every 
 year, within the said parish church of St. Magnus, 
 or in any other church near thereunto, in com- 
 
PRESERVATION OF CHURCH FROM FIRE. 167 
 
 memoration of God's merciful preservation of the 
 said Church of St. Magnus from ruin in that late 
 and terrible fire on London Bridge ; and also the 
 yearly sum of lfs. 6c?. to the poor of the said 
 parish of St. Magnus, to be distributed amongst 
 them every year on the said 12th day of Fe- 
 bruary ; and also the sum of 2s. 6d. yearly unto 
 the clerk and sexton of the Church where such 
 sermon should be preached, equally betwixt 
 them, for their pains and service on the said day. 
 The premises charged with the above payment 
 are situate in Hornsey Lane, and occupied by 
 William Abud, by whom the annual sum of 
 17$. 6d. is paid to the churchwardens, and carried 
 to their general account. No sermon had been 
 preached on 12th February for many years prior 
 to the commissioners' report in 1830, nor had 
 the annuity of 20s. been paid to the rector, nor 
 that of 2s. 6d. to the clerk and sexton. — XXIII. 
 p. 237. 
 
 CHARITY IN COMMEMORATION OF JOHN BUNYAN. 
 
 Bedford. 
 Samuel Whitbread, esq. by will dated the 13th 
 July, 1795, gave to the trustees of the Old Meet- 
 ing, out of respect to the memory of John 
 Bunyan, and for the relief of the poor of the con- 
 
168 REMARKABLE CHARITIES. 
 
 gregation, five hundred pounds, to be laid out by 
 his executors in the three per cent, consols, and 
 the dividends to be annually applied in giving 
 bread to the poor in quartern loaves every sab- 
 bath morning, from October to May. 
 
 After the death of Mr. Whitbread, the sum of 
 £500, instead of being laid out in stock, was, at 
 the request of his son the late Samuel Whitbread, 
 Esq. allowed to remain in his hands on the secu- 
 rity of his bond, conditioned for the investment 
 of £980 three per cent, consols, being so much 
 stock as the £500 would then purchase. 
 
 A bond, subject to the same condition, was 
 executed about 1819 by William Henry Whit- 
 bread, Esq. eldest son of the late Samuel Whit- 
 bread, in lieu of the former bond. 
 
 The interest payable on the bond amounts to 
 £29. 8s. per annum, which is received regularly 
 by the trustees of the Old Meeting, and is laid 
 out by them in the purchase of quartern loaves, 
 which are distributed at the meeting house every 
 Sabbath day, from May to October, among such 
 poor persons of the congregation as the trustees 
 select.— VI. p. 29. 
 
CHARITY TO THRASHERS. 169 
 
 CHARITY TO THRASHERS. 
 
 Charlton, Wilts. 
 
 The Parliamentary Return of 1J86 gives the 
 following account of this charity : 
 
 a Lord Viscount Palmerston, in ] 734, by deed, 
 gave for thrashers, land producing £l. Is. per 
 annum, in whom vested not known." 
 
 The commissioners were informed that it was 
 understood that Lord Palmerston, about 80 years 
 since, gave about an acre of land in Rushall Field, 
 the rent whereof was to be applied annually to 
 give a dinner to the thrashers of this parish to 
 commemorate Stephen Duck the poet, who was 
 originally a thrasher of Charlton. The parish of 
 Rushall was inclosed, and by the award dated 
 12th January 1804, a piece of arable land, mea- 
 suring one acre and fifteen poles, was awarded in a 
 different part of Rushall Field. The land is now 
 called Duck's Acre, and let to Farmer Daniel, of 
 Rushall, at £2. 9s. 9d. as a yearly tenant. The 
 land tax, amounting to 3s. per annum was re- 
 deemed by a subscription raised in the parish. 
 
 The rent is paid for a dinner, which is annually 
 given on the 1st June to the thrashers of this pa- 
 rish.- XXVIII. p. 380. 
 
170 REMARKABLE CHARITIES. 
 
 BEQUEST TO COMMEMORATE THE VICTORY OFF 
 TRAFALGAR, 
 
 Bristol, St. Nicholas. 
 
 Richard Aldridge gave the interest of £200 
 three per cent, consols on trust, that the divi- 
 dends should for ever be disposed of as follows : 
 
 £l. Is. to the vicar of the parish of St. Nicho- 
 las, for performing morning service annually in 
 the parish church, on the 21st October, and 
 preaching a sermon in commemoration of the glo- 
 rious victory obtained by Lord Nelson over the 
 combined fleets of France and Spain, off Cape 
 Trafalgar, on the 21st October 1805; 105. 6d. 
 equally between the clerk and sexton for their 
 attendance at such service and sermon. 
 
 The residue of the dividends to be applied in 
 keeping a monument of his friend in good con- 
 dition, and the surplus after such repair to be 
 given to the poor on 6th December every year in 
 coals and garments. — X. p. 443. 
 
 BEQUEST TO COMMEMORATE LORD NELSON'S 
 VICTORY OFF TRAFALGAR. 1805. 
 
 Stroud, Gloucestershire. 
 In the year 1814 £100 three per cent, consols 
 was given by Richard Aldridge, esquire, to Messrs. 
 Scudamore and Holbrow for the express purpose 
 
LORD NELSON'S VICTORY. 17 1 
 
 as follows : to pay one guinea to the officiating 
 minister of Stroud, in the county and diocese of 
 Gloucester, for preaching a sermon commemorative 
 of National Mercies on the 2\st day of October an- 
 nually, being the day on which the victory was ob- 
 tained by Lord Nelson off Trafalgar over the French 
 fleet in the year 1805. Also to pay to the clerk of 
 the parish of Stroud 5s., to the sexton 2s. 6d., and 
 to the organist 5s. for their respective attendance 
 on such days, and not otherwise ; moreover, to 
 pay for a number of twopenny loaves, and to dis- 
 tribute the same among as many of the children of 
 the charity or free schools held at Stroud Hill, 
 Whites Hill, and the Thrup, as do attend on the 
 said 21st day of October, as far as the money in 
 hand will allow of, and should there be any surplus 
 the same is to be given away in rewards to the 
 children of the sunday school at White's Hill, at 
 the discretion of the officiating minister for the 
 time being. — XIV. p. 78. 
 
 MONUMENT AND CHARITY IN COMMEMORATION OF 
 CAPTAIN COOK, THE CELEBRATED NAVIGATOR. 
 
 Cambridge, Parish of St. Andrew. 
 
 f Mrs. Elizabeth Cook, of Clapham, Surrey, widow 
 of Captain Cook, by her will, dated 8th April,1833, 
 gave to the minister, churchwardens, and over- 
 
 i 2 
 
172 REMARKABLE CHARITIES. 
 
 seers, of St. Andrew the Great, and their succes- 
 sors, £1000 three per cent, consols, upon trust, 
 to apply the dividends and interest in and towards 
 the keeping clean and in repair the monument and 
 inscription put up by her in the church to the me- 
 mory of her husband Captain Cook and family, as 
 also a stone in the middle of the said church, with 
 her name and the names of her sons inscribed, 
 and to be inscribed thereon ; and after payment of 
 the charges incident thereto, and of £2 annually to 
 the minister for the trouble he might have in th e 
 trust, the residue of the interest and dividends to 
 be distributed yearly on 21st December equally, 
 between five poor aged women of good character, 
 resident within and belonging to the parish, and 
 not receiving parochial relief, to be named by 
 the minister, churchwardens, and overseers, for 
 the time being, or a majority. 
 
 After payment of the legacy duty the residue 
 was invested in the three per cent, consols, in the 
 names of trustees, and produces £2*J a year. — 
 XXXI. p. 45. 
 
 GRATITUDE FOR BEING PRESERVED IN A BATTLE. 
 
 Bristol, St. James. 
 
 Ezekiel Nash, for a memorial of his thankfulness 
 to Almighty God for his wonderful preservation 
 in an engagement with a French frigate March the 
 
GRATITUDE FOR PRESERVATION IN BATTLE. 173 
 
 8th, 1 762, gave by will, 27th March, 1800, the sum 
 of £100, to the churchwardens and overseers for 
 the time being of such parish as he should be bu- 
 ried in, upon trust, to invest the same and apply 
 the interest annually in manner following, viz. to 
 the minister of the same parish, for preaching a 
 a sermon yearly on the 8th of March, for ever, one 
 guinea : to the clerk and sexton for their attend- 
 ance 5s. each : the residue in the purchase of bread 
 to be distributed on the 8th March and the six 
 Sundays next following, among such poor persons 
 of the parish whom the minister, churchwardens, 
 and overseers, should think fit objects to receive 
 the same, not receiving alms or other charity. 
 
 It appears by the churchwardens' book that £93. 
 16s. Sd. was received on account of this legacy, al- 
 lowing for legacy duty and postage. 
 
 It was invested in the year 1804 in the pur- 
 chase of £100 navy five per cents, in the names 
 of Samuel Fripp and others. — IX. p. 439. 
 
 Uenbury, Gloucestershire. 
 
 The Wellington Charity Fund is recorded in 
 the Church in the following terms : 
 
 The undermentioned inhabitants of this parish 
 having on the 24th day of July 1814, subscribed 
 the sum of £136. I'Js. 9d. in commemoration of 
 the late glorious peace with France, after a war of 
 
174 REMARKABLE CHARITIES. 
 
 twenty years and upwards, it was agreed that the 
 same should be invested in government security, 
 and the same now stands invested in the purchase 
 of £200 three per cent, reduced bank annui- 
 ties, in the names of the Rev. Walter Trevelyan, 
 clerk, Edward Sampson, and George Baber, as 
 churchwardens, and Thomas Daniel, esq. to be 
 called, " The Wellington Charity Fund," upon 
 trust, to distribute the dividends thereof in bread 
 or otherwise, to the poor of the said parish, either 
 in the month of January or February, yearly, for 
 ever, at the discretion of the minister and church- 
 wardens for the time being." The subscribers 5 
 names then follow in the same table. The income 
 £6 a year, is distributed in bread in January and 
 February.— XVIII. p. 304. 
 
 LOYALTY. 
 
 Bristol, St. John Baptist. 
 
 Mr. John Farr's gift to record his loyalty is 
 thus noticed in the Parish Ledger : 
 "July 19, 1821. 
 
 " Mr. John Farr presented to the Reverend 
 William Mirehouse, curate, and the vestry of this 
 parish, a silver goblet in commemoration of the 
 coronation of his majesty King George the 
 Fourth, which took place this day ; also 25 gui- 
 
LOYALTY. 175 
 
 neas, the interest thereof to be given as follows, 
 viz. 
 
 rJ* Five shillings for wine at the election of church- 
 wardens every year, to be drank out of the afore- 
 said goblet, and 205. a year, to be given to the 
 women residing in St. John's almshouse on the 
 11th day of December, except there should be a 
 coronation in that year, then the women are to 
 receive the 20s. on that day instead of the 11th of 
 December/'— X. p. 461. 
 
 BELL RINGING TO COMMEMORATE THE ACCESSION 
 OF KING GEORGE THE FOURTH. 
 
 Margate, St. Johns Parish. 
 
 It is recorded on a tablet in the committee room 
 of the workhouse of this parish, that John Jarvis, 
 M.D. on the 29th January 1825, gave £50, the 
 interest whereof being 50s. yearly, in trust, to the 
 guardians and churchwardens, to pay the same to 
 St. John^s (Than et), Youths Societyof Change Ring- 
 ers on the 30th of January, in every year, provided 
 they should ring one peal of grandsire triples, or 
 not less than six hours 5 change ringing on the bells 
 in the parish steeple on the 29th of January, the 
 anniversary of the accession of King George IV. 
 and whenever they should neglect so to do, the 
 interest thenceforth to be equally divided between 
 
176 REMARKABLE CHARITIES. 
 
 five the oldest men, and five the oldest women in 
 the parish house. 
 
 This donation was forfeited by the ringers not 
 performing the conditions attached to it, since 
 which time the interest has been divided amongst 
 five of the oldest men and five of the oldest wo- 
 men in the workhouse, as ordered by the donor. 
 —XXX. p. 558. 
 
 BEQUEST TO COMMEMORATE THE PASSING OF THE 
 REFORM ACT. 
 
 Lugwardine, Herefordshire. 
 
 Moses Edwards bequeathed to the poor a rent 
 charge of £5 per annum, for coals, to be distri- 
 buted among them on the anniversary of the pass- 
 ing the Reform Act.— XXXII. pt. ii. 135. 
 
 CHARITY ILL-DIRECTED. 
 
 Stanton upon Wye, Herefordshire, fyc. 
 
 George Jarvis, Esq. gave, by will, in 1790, 
 £30,000, to be invested in government securities, 
 in trust, to apply the yearly produce thereof in 
 money, provision, physic, or clothes, to the poor 
 of this parish, of Bredwardine and Litten. 
 
TO ENCOURAGE MARRIAGES. 1 77 
 
 The funds applicable to the objects of the do- 
 nor's will in these parishes in 1822 had increased 
 from £30,000 to £92,496. 17s. 9d. bank three 
 per cent, consols. 
 
 The commissioners observed, " that the popu- 
 lation of the three parishes was only 1180, and 
 the income arising from the charity, nearly £3000 
 per annum, it must be obvious that even under 
 the most judicious system of management such a 
 charity would be likely to be productive of consi- 
 derable evils, and accordingly it appeared at the 
 time of the inquiry, that it had encouraged a spirit 
 of discontent and a disposition to idleness and 
 improvidence, and had attracted to the parishes 
 numerous persons from other districts, with a view 
 of entitling themselves to a participation in the 
 charity/'— XXXII. pt. ii. p. 175. 
 
 CHARITY TO ENCOURAGE MARRIAGES. 
 
 Harrow, Middlesex. 
 
 Amongst the orders, statutes, and rules, made 
 and set forth by John Lyon, founder of the free 
 grammar school in Harrow upon the Hill, there is 
 a clause whereby, after specifying various pay- 
 ments to be made out of the charity estates, it is 
 directed, that if there should be any overplus the 
 
1?8 REMARKABLE CHARITIES. 
 
 same should be " safely kept in stock towards ne- 
 cessary charge, and part thereof, to be given and 
 bestowed for the help and relief of poor marriages, 
 and other such good and charitable purposes 
 within the said parish of Harrow, at the discre- 
 tion of the keepers and governors of the lands, te- 
 nements, goods, and possessions of the said gram- 
 mar school." 
 
 The commissioners report that for the (then) 
 last five years, owing to expenses which had been 
 incurred, especially in a law suit in which the go- 
 vernors had been engaged, there had been in fact 
 no surplus. Notwithstanding that, however, se- 
 veral sums had been annually applied in marriage 
 portions of £3 to such as have been thought de- 
 serving. It was expected that the debt incurred 
 on account of the school would be discharged in 
 the year 1823, and that then it was the intention 
 of the governors to apply a larger portion of the 
 surplus to such charitable purposes as were di- 
 rected by the donor. — IX. p. 261. 
 
 BEQUEST TO PAY MARRIAGE FEES. 
 
 Winkfield, Berks. 
 Mr. Thomas Hatch, by will dated 3d December 
 1778, gave to the churchwardens of Winkfield 
 £200 to be laid out in the public funds, the in- 
 terest to be applied to the payment of the fees 
 
BEDFORD — MARRIAGE PORTIONS. l?9 
 
 for such poor persons as are willing to marry, but 
 cannot pay the expense. 
 
 After the payment of the marriage fees of such 
 couples as claim it, the residue is distributed by 
 the churchwardens in small sums of money and 
 articles of clothing to such poor persons as they 
 may think deserving. 
 
 The capital sum was invested in the purchase 
 of £289. 2s. three per cent, consols, and now 
 stands in the name of the Accountant General, in 
 trust, in the cause Attorney General against 
 Hatch.— XXXII. pt. i. p. 205. 
 
 THE BEDFORD CHARITY, FOUNDED PURSUANT TO 
 LETTERS PATENT SIXTH EDWARD VI. AND THE 
 ACT THIRTY-THIRD GEORGE III. 
 
 Town of Bedford. 
 
 Marriage portion for poor maids, fyc. out of estates 
 in Holbom, given by Sir William Harpur. 
 
 By the eleventh rule or section of the Schedule 
 annexed to the Act, it was provided and directed : 
 
 " That there should be applied and distributed 
 every year, out of the rents and profits of the 
 charity estate, the sum of £800 for the marriage 
 portions of forty poor maids of the town of Bed- 
 ford, of good fame and reputation, in equal 
 shares, at the times and in the manner therein- 
 
180 REMARKABLE CHARITIES. 
 
 after directed ; and for that purpose the trustees 
 should, four times in every year, give three weeks' 
 public notice in the town of Bedford, that they 
 propose and intend to meet in the Town Hall to 
 consider of poor maidens to whom portions should 
 be given on their respective marriages, and all 
 poor maidens resident in the town of Bedford, of 
 the age of sixteen years or upwards, and under 
 the age of fifty years, desirous of being candidates 
 for such portions (whose fathers not being certifi- 
 cated persons from parishes out of the town of 
 Bedford, should either have been occupiers of one 
 or more house or houses in the said town, for the 
 space of ten years next preceding their becoming 
 candidates for such portions, or should have been 
 born in the town, or should have been occupiers 
 of one or more house or houses therein for the 
 space of three years next preceding their becom- 
 ing candidates) should be at liberty to send to the 
 mayor of the town, or to the churchwardens of 
 the parish wherein they should then respectively 
 reside, an account in writing of their Christian 
 and surnames, their ages, the places of their 
 births, and the names of their parents, and that 
 all such poor maidens, not being of bad fame and 
 reputation, who should have given in such ac- 
 count as aforesaid one week at the least before 
 the several times aftermentioned, should be per- 
 mitted to draw lots on the Monday next after 
 
BEDFORD MARRIAGE PORTIONS. 181 
 
 Easter Day, on the second Monday after Mid- 
 summer Day, on the second Monday after Mi- 
 chaelmas Day, and on the Monday next after 
 Christmas Day in every year, for ten sums of 
 £20 on every of the same days, and that each 
 of the ten poor maidens, qualified as aforesaid, 
 who should draw the ten beneficial lots on each 
 of the said several days, should be entitled to re- 
 ceive, upon the day of her marriage, the sum of 
 £20 for her portion, provided she should marry 
 within the space of two calendar months from 
 the time of drawing such beneficial lot, and pro- 
 vided she should not marry a vagrant, or other 
 person of bad fame or reputation, but not other- 
 
 Rule or section twelve. " That the poor maid- 
 ens of the age mentioned in the preceding order, 
 and being daughters of persons of the descrip- 
 tion mentioned in the same order, who should 
 have gone apprentices or to service out of the 
 town of Bedford, and thereby gained settlements 
 in their own rights, should be at liberty to become 
 candidates for such marriage portions as aforesaid, 
 in the same manner as if they had been resident 
 in the same town, and that all such poor maidens 
 as should not draw beneficial lots at one time 
 should, if not married in the interim, be admitted 
 to draw lots again at any future time." 
 
182 REMARKABLE CHARITIES* 
 
 Rule or section thirteen. u That the several 
 maidens who should have been admitted to draw- 
 lots for marriage portions as aforesaid, and 
 should not have drawn beneficial lots, should, at 
 the next meeting of the trustees for the purpose 
 of giving portions to poor maidens, be entitled, if 
 then married, to the like sums of £20 each for 
 their respective portions in preference to any- 
 other poor maidens who should then be candi- 
 dates for such portions, provided they should not 
 have married vagrants or other persons of bad 
 fame or reputation/' 
 
 Rule or section fourteen. " That if any part 
 of the said yearly sum of £800 for the marriage 
 of poor maidens should, upon the second Monday 
 after Michaelmas Day 1793, or on the second 
 Monday after Michaelmas Day 1794, remain un- 
 applied, such residue should be distributed 
 amongst such poor maid servants, and in such 
 manner as therein mentioned." 
 
 Town of Bedford. 
 Charity by Sir William Harpur for apprenticing 
 
 poor Children. 
 By the sixteenth rule or section of the Sche- 
 dule of the Act 33d Geo. III. before referred to, 
 it is ordered, 
 
 " That the sum of £700, farther part of the 
 
BEDFORD— APPRENTICING CHILDREN. 
 
 rents and profits of the charity estate, should 
 yearly, by two half-yearly sums of £350, be ap- 
 plied in placing out twenty poor children appren- 
 tices every half year : viz. fifteen boys, not under 
 the age of thirteen, nor above the age of fifteen 
 years, and five girls not under the age of twelve, 
 nor above the age of fifteen years, whose respec- 
 tive fathers, not being certificated persons from 
 parishes out of the town of Bedford, should either 
 have actually been occupiers of one or more 
 house or houses in the town of Bedford, for the 
 space of ten years next preceding their children 
 being so apprenticed, or have been born in the 
 said town and been occupiers of one or more 
 house or houses therein for the space of three 
 years then next preceding ; and that all such poor 
 boys and girls, qualified as aforesaid, whose 
 names should have been given in, either to the 
 mayor of the town of Bedford or to the church- 
 wardens for the time being of the parish in which 
 their fathers should respectively reside, one calen- 
 dar month before the respective times of draw- 
 ing lots aftermentioned, should be permitted to 
 draw lots on the second Tuesday after Michaelmas 
 Day and the second Tuesday after Lady Day in 
 every year, and that the sum of £20 should be 
 paid as the apprentice fee with each of the fifteen 
 boys, and £10 as the apprentice fee with each of 
 the five girls who should, on the several days 
 
184 REMARKABLE CHARITIES. 
 
 aforesaid draw the beneficial lots, upon their 
 being respectively put out apprentices within the 
 space of two calendar months after they should 
 have drawn such beneficial lots, to masters and 
 mistresses of good character and responsibility, 
 to be approved of by the trustees assembled at a 
 general meeting, or the major part of them, 
 and that the boys should be bound for seven 
 years, and the girls for five years, and that the 
 girls should be apprenticed to such trades or oc- 
 cupations only as women follow (lace-making ex- 
 cepted) ; and if upon any of the aforesaid days for 
 drawing lots, the full number of fifteen boys, qua- 
 lified as aforesaid, should not become candidates, 
 then an additional number of beneficial lots 
 should be drawn for by the girls who should offer 
 themselves as candidates, so that twenty benefi- 
 cial lots might be drawn for every half year; and 
 that the several indentures by which such chil- 
 dren as aforesaid should be bound apprentices, 
 should be freed from the stamp duty, in the same 
 manner as all indentures of apprenticeship where 
 apprentices are put out by charity/* 
 
 Rule or section seventeen. "That in case any 
 of the poor children who should draw beneficial 
 lots as aforesaid, should die or be otherwise dis- 
 posed of, or not be put out apprentice within the 
 space of six calendar months from the time of his 
 
BEDFORD APPRENTICING CHILDREN. 185 
 
 her or their drawing such beneficial lots respec- 
 tively (unless the same should happen by default 
 of the trustees, or be prevented by some inevitable 
 accident), the money intended for such child or 
 children respectively, should be drawn for again 
 at some of the subsequent days appointed for 
 drawing lots, and be applied for the benefit of 
 such child or children as should become entitled 
 thereto by drawing a beneficial lot/' 
 
 Rule or section eighteen. ei That such of the 
 poor boys qualified as aforesaid, who should upon 
 any of the said days mentioned in the sixteenth 
 order, have drawn the unsuccessful lots, should 
 have the preference at the next succeeding day or 
 days appointed for drawing lots for the appren- 
 ticing money, and should be entitled to the sum 
 of £20, to be paid upon their being respectively 
 put out apprentice, in preference to those boys 
 who should afterwards apply/ 5 
 
 Rule or section nineteen. "That every boy 
 and girl put out apprentice as aforesaid, who 
 should actually serve the full term of his or her 
 apprenticeship, and in all respects comply with 
 the tenor of his or her respective indentures of 
 apprenticeship, should, on producing to the trus- 
 tees assembled at a general meeting, within three 
 calendar months after the expiration of their re- 
 
180 REMARKABLE CHARITIES. 
 
 spective apprenticeships, a certificate signed by 
 their respective masters or mistresses, and by the 
 minister and churchwardens of the parish where 
 they should have respectively served their ap- 
 prenticeship, testifying such actual service and 
 compliance with the tenor of their indentures, as 
 well as their good morals and behaviour respec- 
 tively, or on producing such other proof thereof 
 as the trustees so assembled, or the major part of 
 them, should require, but not otherwise, be en- 
 titled to receive such sum of money, not exceed- 
 ing £20 nor less than £10 each, as the trustees 
 so assembled, or the major part of them, should 
 judge proper and expedient." 
 
 With regard to the observance of the directions 
 set forth in the Schedule quoted, the commission- 
 ers' report that the sum of £800 is applied in pay- 
 ing marriage portions for poor maidens, under the 
 authority of the eleventh rule. That the trustees 
 adhere to the mode of proceeding prescribed by 
 the rule. They make inquiry, as far as they can, 
 into the character and situation in life of the per- 
 sons to whom the maidens are to be married, be- 
 fore they agree to advance the portions ; and the 
 portions are refused where the characters of the 
 parties are not satisfactory. 
 
 That the sum of £700 a-year is applied as di- 
 rected by the sixteenth rule, in apprenticing chil- 
 
BEDFORD — MARRIAGE PORTIONS. 187 
 
 dren, selected in the manner appointed by the 
 sixteenth, seventeenth, and eighteenth rules, but 
 with a preference to the children in the hospital 
 of the charity. 
 
 It is found very difficult to obtain proper mas- 
 ters or mistresses for the girls at so small a pre- 
 mium as £10. Half of the premium only is paid 
 at first with each apprentice, and the remainder 
 after half of the term of the apprenticeship has 
 been served. 
 
 The fund annually applied as benefactions to 
 children at the expiration of the term of their ap- 
 prenticeship, under the nineteenth rule, usually 
 amounts to about £200. The sum of £10 only 
 is generally allowed to each young person, and 
 before the money is advanced, the trustees require 
 the certificate mentioned in the nineteenth rule* 
 and also make inquiry of the masters or mistresses 
 of the apprentices respecting their conduct and 
 behaviour. 
 
 With reference to the gifts to poor girls on 
 going to service, it appears that the sum of £100 
 is appropriated to making donations of £3. to 
 each of twenty poor girls in service ; and of £2 
 each to the same girls on completing one year of 
 such service, and producing certificates of good 
 conduct, according to the thirty-second rule. The 
 girls receiving such donations are those who have 
 not drawn the beneficial lots for apprentice fees, 
 
188 REMARKABLE CHARITES. 
 
 or having drawn such, cannot for any reason be 
 apprenticed. The trustees, to guard against the 
 donations being received by girls not going out to 
 service, do not advance the money until the girls 
 have been six months in place. 
 
 It appeared that the revenue of this Charity, 
 in 1819, amounted to £6815.— VI. p. 11—668. 
 
 A PARTICULAR INSTANCE OF ATTACHMENT TO 
 A FAMILY NAME. 
 
 London, 
 
 John Nicholson, of London, stationer, by will 
 28th April 1717? after bequeathing several specific 
 legacies, gave all the residue of his estate in cha- 
 rity, towards the support and maintenance of 
 such poor persons of the kingdom of England as 
 should appear to be of the name of Nicholson, 
 being Protestants. And he directed that it should 
 be disposed of in the following manner, namely : 
 
 One hundred pounds a-year to two such poor 
 persons, men or women, of the name of Nicholson, 
 towards their advancement in marriage ; to each 
 of them £50; always observing that no more 
 than £50 be given to any one couple so marrying. 
 
 One hundred pounds per annum towards 
 putting apprentice such poor boys and girls of the 
 name of Nicholson, or towards setting them up, as 
 his trustees should think fit. 
 
ATTACHMENT TO A FAMILY NAME. 189 
 
 And £100 per annum towards the support and 
 maintenance of such poor men and women of the 
 name of Nicholson, as his trustees should direct ; 
 always observing that not more than £10 a-year, 
 and not less than £5 a-year, should be given to 
 any one person; the said sums to be paid to 
 them at their own habitations. 
 s~ He appointed William Nicolson, Lord Bishop 
 of Carlisle ; Mr. Nicolson, the bishop's son ; and 
 three other persons of the name of Nicholson, two 
 of whom were resident in London, trustees ; and 
 left to them the entire management of this Cha- 
 rity, and appointed them his executors. 
 
 The commissioners reported that in 1822, the 
 property then belonging to this Charity consisted 
 of £9273 5s. 3d. stock, producing a dividend of 
 £278 4s. 
 
 With respect to the application of the Charity, 
 each of the five trustees has the distribution of a 
 fifth part of the income in his turn. 
 
 One hundred pounds is disposed of yearly to 
 twenty pensioners of £5 a-year each, which is paid 
 half yearly, each trustee having a list of four pen- 
 sioners, which he fills up as vacancies occur. The 
 further sum of £100 is disposed of in apprentice 
 fees, each trustee having the appointment annually 
 of two of £10 each, or one of £20. The further 
 sum of £50 is given annually as a marriage por- 
 
190 REMARKABLE CHARITIES. 
 
 tion. And all these benefactions are confined to 
 the name of Nicholson. 
 
 In 1822 the trustees were Mr. Rowland Nichol- 
 son, of Penrith ; Mr. James Robison, St. Mary 
 Axe, London ; Mr. Isaac Nicholson, Lorton, near 
 Cockermouth; Mr. Thomas Nicholson, White- 
 haven; Mr. William Nicholson, Carlisle. — VII. 
 p. 781. 
 
 BEQUEST TO ENCOURAGE MATRIMONY AND 
 HORSE RACING. 
 
 Newmarket, All Saints. 
 
 By a deed poll, dated 12th August 1801, exe- 
 cuted in pursuance of a decree in Chancery, rela- 
 tive to the will of John Perram, dated 30th May 
 1772, the trustees of a sum of £410. 6s. 2d. three 
 per cent, consols, and £21 bank long annuities, 
 being the original sum given by the will, together 
 with such accumulations thereon which had ac- 
 crued during the proceedings in Chancery, were 
 declared ; to hold them upon trust, six weeks at 
 least before Easter, to cause notice to be given as 
 therein directed, that a marriage portion of £21 
 would be given to a parishioner of the said parish, 
 who should, on Thursday in the Easter week, be 
 married at the church to a woman belonging to it ; 
 neither party to be under twenty, nor to exceed 
 
MARRIAGE PORTION. 191 
 
 twenty-five years of age, nor be worth £20 ; the 
 trustees to attend in the vestry to receive claims, 
 and pay the bequest to such couple as should be 
 qualified to receive it. In case of two claims the 
 determination to be by ballot who should receive 
 it. In case of no claimants then the money, for 
 that year only, to be paid by the trustees to the 
 winner of the next town plate. 
 
 Notice is annually given in sufficient time to 
 allow the publication of banns before Easter week. 
 
 The money had not been claimed above twenty 
 times in the last thirty years up to 1837. When 
 claimed the whole dividend is paid to the parties 
 entitled; when unclaimed it is carried to the 
 racing fund.— XXXI. p. 98. 
 
 MARRIAGE PORTION FOR A POOR MAIDEN. 
 
 Northampton. 
 
 Thomas Craswell, in 1 606, bequeathed £50, the 
 interest thereof to be given yearly towards the pre- 
 ferment of a poor maid of Northampton in mar- 
 riage. 
 
 It is supposed that the legacy was paid to the 
 corporation, £3 a- year being annually allowed out 
 of their revenues to the mayor for the time being, 
 for the benefit of a poor maid of the town. The 
 mayor pays the money to some poor servant 
 
192 REMARKABLE CHARITIES. 
 
 maid;, chosen by himself; but it is not required 
 that she should be under contract of marriage.— 
 XIV. p. 262. 
 
 BEQUEST TO ENCOURAGE MATRIMONY AND PROVI- 
 DENT HABITS. 
 
 Ottery St. Mary, Devonshire. 
 
 Thomas Axe, of Orchard, in the county of So- 
 merset, by will, dated 20th July 1691, gave to 
 trustees and their heirs, all his houses in South- 
 ward or elsewhere, after certain devises to the 
 governors of Ottery St. Mary, upon trust, yearly, 
 about St. Thomases Day, to distribute the same 
 as follows, viz. 
 
 One part to such person of skill in surgery and 
 physic, either man or woman, of exemplary life (at 
 least to supply a present necessity until better 
 advice can be had), to buy drugs and plasters. 
 One part to the vicar, one part to the minister, 
 one part to the grammar schoolmaster, one part 
 to the parish clerk of Ottery St. Mary; and as a 
 fund to encourage steadiness, sobriety, and indus- 
 try, three of those parts were to be as a stock, 
 out of which should be paid the sum of £S upon 
 the marriage-day of any young man or woman 
 that should not marry till after the age of twenty- 
 one years; and that should have lived in one 
 service in the said parish of Ottery St. Mary, for 
 
MARRIAGE PORTIONS. 193 
 
 seven years ; and should not have had any alms 
 of the parish within five years next before such 
 marriage ; and after that there should be paid to 
 such couple, or the survivor of them, twenty shil- 
 lings by the year for three years, if they could 
 prove that in each of the said years they had, 
 bond fide, increased their stock in the past year 
 £3. And at the end of five years next after such 
 marriage, upon their making it appear that they 
 had really gotten, and should have then of 
 clear stock £15, and had not been charge- 
 able to the parish since their marriage, there 
 should be paid to such a couple, or the survivor of 
 them, £5 more ; two parts were to be yearly dis- 
 tributed about St. Thomas's day, among elderly 
 and sober housekeepers, that had lived well, and 
 had received no alms of the parish within five 
 years, none to have less than twenty shillings 
 ( <e the less they need it the better they would be 
 able to give an alms to such as are in want") ; 
 and the other two parts to be as a fund to lend 
 to such poor men to supply their stocks as had 
 not had alms of the parish for five years, but were 
 industrious and sober. In the choice of objects 
 for any of these three last sort of charities, 
 the next of kin of the testator were to have a 
 voice ; and if any of them should desire it, he 
 directed that they should be, in the first place, pre- 
 ferred, if qualified as they ought ; in the next 
 
194 REMARKABLE CHARITIES. 
 
 place, such as should have been born in the pa- 
 rish of Ottery St. Mary; next, such whose em- 
 ployment should be husbandry; next, such as 
 should be employed in the linen or woollen manu- 
 facture; next, artificers and handicraftsmen; and, 
 lastly, shopkeepers. 
 
 The property of the charity consists of houses 
 in Southwark and stock, the income arising from 
 which in 1818, amounted to the sum of £100 185. 
 4d. (after allowing deduction for insurance, &c), 
 which was divided into twelve parts, viz. 
 One-twelfth part to the vicar . . ; 
 One-twelfth to the vicar's wife, to buy 
 
 drugs, &c. for the poor . 
 One-twelfth to the chaplain-priest 
 One-twelfth to the schoolmaster 
 One-twelfth to the parish clerk 
 Three-twelfths to the fund for mar- 
 riage portions to servants entitled 25 4 7 
 And the remaining four- twelfths dis- 
 tributed to the poor of Ottery by 
 the governors . . . . 33 12 9| 
 
 cflOO 18 4 
 
 8 
 
 8 
 
 n 
 
 8 
 
 8 
 
 2i 
 
 8 
 
 8 
 
 2i 
 
 8 
 
 8 
 
 H 
 
 8 
 
 8 
 
 2J 
 
 The vicar's wife disposes of the share she re- 
 ceives in providing wine and cordials for thejiick 
 and aged persons of the parish ; which mode she 
 considers as more beneficial to them than laying it 
 out in medicines for their use, there being a medi- 
 
MARRIAGE PORTIONS. 195 
 
 cal person employed by the parish, who receives 
 an annual salary for attending the poor. 
 
 The sum of £S is given to each person who 
 shall have been married after twenty-one, having 
 lived seven years in one service in the parish, and 
 not having received any alms within five years of 
 the marriage ; the money is paid as soon as these 
 qualifications are made to appear to the trustees ; 
 and twenty shillings a-year are paid to the mar- 
 ried couple, or the survivor of them, for three 
 years, if they can prove, that in each of those 
 years they have improved their stock to the 
 amount of £3, of which the trustees are satisfied 
 on their showing that they have been careful and 
 provident in their circumstances to that amount. 
 
 It is stated that many claims have been made 
 and granted for the gift of £5, after a lapse of five 
 years from their marriage, by persons who have 
 received the former gifts ; the trustees having first 
 ascertained, as well as they were able, that the 
 claimants were qualified. 
 
 It has long ceased to be the practice to lend any 
 portion of the fund to poor men ; and the Com- 
 missioners were told, that such loans were for- 
 merly made, but seldom repaid. — III. p. 107. 
 
 The same donor also beqeathed property at 
 Blandford, Dorset, producing an annual rent of 
 £55 2s., of which he directed nine-twelfths to be 
 paid to the parish clerk of Ottery St. Mary for the 
 
 K 2 
 
196 REMARKABLE CHARITIES. 
 
 time being, so long as he should perform his duty 
 in the church as he ought to do, and should be an 
 example of good life to the parishioners, and 
 should not sell ale, &c for a livelihood, nor fre- 
 quent alehouses. The other three parts to some 
 man or woman of exemplary life, and indifferent 
 skill in physic and surgery, that should industri- 
 ously endeavour to help all the poor of the parish 
 of Ottery St. Mary, gratis, &c — III. p. 108. 
 
 MARRIAGE ENCOURAGED. 
 
 St. Margaret^ Westminster, 
 
 Edward Dickenson, Esq. by will, dated 8th 
 May, 1781, directed his executors to invest so 
 much money, part of his personal estate, in Bank 
 three per cent, consolidated annuities, as would 
 purchase 5000Z. capital stock, in the names of the 
 rectors or vicars incumbent of the parishes of St. 
 Margaret, Westminster ; Acton, Middlesex ; and 
 St. John the Evangelist, Westminster \ in trust, 
 to divide within one month next after Easter day, 
 yearly, one year's interest or dividends of the 
 said stock (after deducting thereout so much, not 
 exceeding one tenth part thereof, as should be 
 necessary for defraying the expenses of the trust), 
 into three equal parts, and pay one-third thereof 
 amongst such three couples who should within 
 the past year have been married in the parish 
 
MARRIAGE PORTIONS. 197 
 
 church of St. Margaret, Westminster, (at the dis- 
 cretion of the trustees,) to labouring, industrious, 
 honest, and sober persons, thought worthy to 
 receive the same, towards providing them with 
 necessaries ; and to dispose of the other two third 
 parts respectively in like manner to three couples 
 who should have been married in each of the 
 parishes of Acton and St. John the Evangelist, 
 Westminster ; such distribution to be made with 
 the approbation of the Bishop of London for the 
 time being. 
 
 Petitions for this charity are taken into consi- 
 deration by the trustees on the Wednesday in 
 Easter week, and they decide upon the nine 
 couples who shall receive the bounty, and a check 
 on the banker for 15/. is given to each husband. 
 — X. p. 303. 
 
 MARRIAGE PORTIONS FOR YOUNG WOMEN. 
 
 Wilton with Ditchampton, Wilts. 
 
 Richard Sumption, of the parish of St. Clement 
 Danes, London, Esq. by his will, dated 4th Feb- 
 ruary, 1775, amongst other bequests to the town 
 of Wilton, gave 1000/. three per cent, consols, on 
 trust to be paid, by the trustees of the school at 
 Wilton, or their steward, as marriage portions to 
 such poor young women, natives of and resident 
 in the town of Wilton, as the governors of the 
 
198 REMARKABLE CHARITIES. 
 
 school, or the majority of them, should think 
 deserving, not exceeding the sum of 10/. to each, 
 to be paid on or as soon after their marriages as 
 might be. 
 
 30/. a-year has been regularly applied for the 
 above purpose, in sums never exceeding 10/., and 
 seldom less than 61. to each. Before the selection, 
 notice is published in the church, and a list is 
 kept of all the young women who have been por- 
 tioned.— XXVI. p. 499. 
 
 EXTENSIVE AND PROSPECTIVE BEQUEST. 
 
 Langton, Leicestershire. 
 The Rev. William Hanbury, rector of Church 
 Langton, by indenture, dated 14th March, 1767* 
 laid the foundation of some extensive and unusual 
 charities, for the benefit and improvement of this 
 parish. As, however, the whole concern is to 
 undergo the review of the Court of Chancery, 
 it will suffice in this place to notice the outline 
 only, of the Rev. founder's views. 
 
 To establish schools for ever. 
 
 The founding &c. an organ for ever. 
 
 Provide beef for Church Langton poor. 
 
 Beef for ever. 
 
 Provide for a public library. 
 
 Provide for a picture gallery. 
 
 Provide a printing office. 
 
EXTENSIVE AND PROSPECTIVE BEQUEST. 199 
 
 Provide an hospital at Church Langton. 
 Establish professorships of Grammar, 
 Music, Botany, Mathematics, Antiquity, 
 and of Poetry. 
 
 In the final or explanatory deed, it was wit- 
 nessed that the trustees named by the founder, 
 were to defer building of lodgings, &c. for the 
 respective professors, &c. when the income was 
 sufficient for their salaries, but to keep it accumu- 
 lating until it should bring in £10,000 a year, at 
 the rate of 4 per cent. 
 
 At a certain period, a grand and stately church 
 should be built at Church Langton, with proper 
 stalls for the trustees, professors, &c. as grand an 
 organ as could be made, a peal of 12 bells at 
 the least, with chimes, chandeliers, ornaments, 
 painted windows, table and altar piece of the 
 finest marble, paintings by the best master then 
 living, &c. The church was to be gothic, built 
 as much like a Cathedral as possible. No less 
 than three steeples, the tallest of which should 
 be not less than one hundred yards high, and 
 every becoming dignity and ornament added. 
 
 £100,000 were to be expended on this fabric ; 
 and, that completed, another should be built, 
 which should be named the Temple of Religion 
 and Virtue. A noble museum was to be erected. 
 These being effected, proper lodgings, &c. for 
 the professors, schools, hospital, printing office, &c. 
 
200 REMARKABLE CHARITIES. 
 
 were to be finished, and the founder was desirous 
 if it could be contrived to make the whole of 
 these buildings form a square of two hundred 
 yards on each side, &c. 
 
 The details of Mr. Hanbury's various endow- 
 ments must be exceedingly long, as the mere 
 abridgment of them occupies twenty-seven folio 
 pages of the Commissioners' report, to which the 
 curious reader is referred for further informa- 
 tion.*— XXXII. pt. V. pp. 246, 273. 
 
 A TASK. 
 
 Shere, Surrey. 
 Thomas Gatton, by will, 2nd May 1758, gave 
 £400 to be secured to the parish of Shere, the 
 interest thereof to be for the teaching such a 
 number of poor children, as the rector and 
 churchwardens should think proper, to read and 
 write, the rector or curate to have one guinea per 
 year, to catechise them, and to make a sermon 
 once a year, the text to be taken out of one of 
 the chapters they were to learn by heart. The 
 chapters were, 1st of Proverbs, the 11th and 12th 
 of Ecclesiastes, the 15th Psalm, the 13th of the 
 
 * Reference also should be had to Mr. Hanbury's 
 own account of his intended Charities, as given in " The 
 History of the Rise and Progress of the Charitable 
 Foundations at Church Langton, 1767," 8vo. ; a full 
 abridgment of which work is given in Nichols's History 
 of Leicestershire, II. 685. 
 
BEQUEST TO ENCOURAGE LEARNING. 201 
 
 1st of Corinthians, and the 6th chapter of the 
 Ephesians. 
 
 Thirty poor children appointed by the rector 
 and churchwardens, are taught to read by three 
 schoolmistresses, who receive 10s. per annum, 
 for each child. -XIII. p. 463. 
 
 BEQUEST OF A BIBLE TO ENCOURAGE LEARNING. 
 
 Rothley, Leicestershire, 
 
 The table of benefactions records, that John 
 Willowes gave 5s. yearly, to buy a Bible, to be 
 given on Whit-sunday, to any boy who can read 
 the first chapter of Saint John's Gospel, the most 
 distinctly. 
 
 The 5s. has always been considered a charge on 
 certain estates in the parish, in the possession 
 of Thomas Babington, Esq., who supports a 
 Sunday school at his sole expence, and who 
 annually gives amongst the children attending 
 it, five or six bibles. In that number, the bible 
 bequeathed by Mr. Willowes is supposed to be 
 included.— XXXII. pt. V. p. 413. 
 
 EARLY RISING. 
 
 Huntingdon St. Johns, and All Saints. 
 A tenement, and two closes of land, in Little 
 
 Stukeley, containing 3a. 3r. 14p., it is understood 
 
 k 3 
 
202 REMARKABLE CHARITIES* 
 
 were given to provide for the tolling All Saints' 
 church bell, every morning at four o'clock. The 
 practice has of late years been discontinued. 
 The rent, £10 a year, is applied in payment of 
 two guineas a year to the sexton, and towards 
 defraying the expenses incidental to the office of 
 churchwarden. — XXIV. p. 26. 
 
 EARLY RISING, THOUGHTS OF DEATH AND RESUR- 
 RECTION, ENJOINED BY THE RINGING A MORNING 
 AND EVENING BELL. 
 
 Wokingham, Berks. 
 
 Richard Palmer, by indenture, dated April 
 1 664, gave lands in trust to pay and employ all 
 the rents and profits of the same as and for a 
 salary to the sexton of the parish church of 
 Wokingham, to ring out the greatest bell belong- 
 ing to the parish church there half an hour every 
 evening at eight o'clock, and every morning at 
 four o'clock, or as near to those hours as might 
 be, from the 10th of September to the 11th of 
 March in every year, for ever, which mode of 
 ringing of such bell the said Richard Palmer had 
 propounded to himself to cause to be done not 
 only that as many as might live within the sound 
 might be thereby induced to a timely going to 
 rest in the evening, and early arising in the morn- 
 
EARLY RISING, &C. 203 
 
 ing to the labours and duties of their several 
 callings (things ordinarily attended and rewarded 
 with thrift and proficiency), and that strangers 
 and others who should happen in winter nights, 
 within hearing of the ringing of the said bell, to 
 lose their way in the country, might be informed 
 of the time of night, and receive some guidance 
 into their right way ; and for which rational ends 
 he conceived his said work could not but be well 
 liked by any discreet person, the same being done 
 and well approved of in most of the cities and 
 market towns, and many other places in the king- 
 dom ; but also to the better end aimed at by him, 
 that all those whose care of being mindful of their 
 latter end should incline them thereunto, might 
 thereby take occasion, at the ringing of the even- 
 ing bell, to think of their own passing bell and 
 day of death ; and at the ringing of the said morn- 
 ing bell, might also think of their resurrection, 
 and call to their last judgment ; which things do- 
 ing he believed no man, unless very much har- 
 dened, could at the same time wilfully and reso- 
 lutely propound to himself the leading of a wicked 
 life, but rather be deterred and taken from it ; 
 and upon further trust, that if it should happen 
 that the ringing of the said bell should be hin- 
 dered or wilfully neglected, the rents and profits 
 of the said land should be paid to his heirs during 
 the time of any such hinderance or neglect. 
 
204 REMARKABLE CHARITIES. 
 
 The sum of £2 a year is paid to the sexton by 
 the Palmer family, and the bell is regularly rung 
 every evening at eighty and every morning at four, 
 from 10th September to 10th March yearly. — 
 XXXII. pt. i. p. 224. 
 
 PROPAGATION OF RELIGIOUS KNOWLEDGE. 
 
 Wharton's Charity. 
 
 Philip Lord Wharton, by indenture, 1 2th July 
 1692, conveyed premises in the city of York to 
 Sir Edward Harley and others upon trust, that 
 the rents and profits should be employed for the 
 buying of English Bibles and Catechisms to be 
 distributed yearly to and amongst poor children 
 who can read. And by further instructions in 
 writing, dated 24th April 1693, he ordered that 
 1050 Bibles, with the Singing Psalms bound up 
 therewith, should be yearly provided, of the Eng- 
 lish translation, published by authority, in a large 
 duodecimo ; each Bible not exceeding 2s. 6d. in 
 price, or as near thereabouts as could be bought. 
 That the like number of Catechisms should be 
 yearly provided. That an inscription by a stamp 
 should be on the outside cover of each book, 
 with these words : 
 
 « By the will of Philip Lord Wharton." 
 That there should be a printed paper pasted in- 
 
PROPAGATION OF RELIGIOUS KNOWLEDGE. 205 
 
 side the Bibles, to this effect : " These reading 
 Psalms in the English translation in the Bible, 
 are to be learnt without book by the child to 
 whom this book is given, namely, 1st, 15th, 25th, 
 37th, 101st, 113th, 145th/' 
 
 He also ordered that sermons should be 
 preached at York, and twenty-six other places, 
 allowing 10s. for each, the purport, design, and 
 scope of every sermon to be to discover and 
 prove to the people the truth, usefulness, suffi- 
 ciency, and excellency of the Holy Scriptures, and 
 the people's right to have them fully in their own 
 language, and also their duty to read, study, and 
 search the Scriptures, and take them for their 
 only unerring rule of faith, worship, and manners ; 
 and no mention to be made of the donor, either 
 in the sermon or prayers. 
 
 In the year 1819, the expenditure amounted to 
 £616. 175. 2d.— IV. p. 467. 
 
 A RELIGIOUS TASK. 
 
 Newark, Nottinghamshire. 
 
 Dr. Thomas White, Bishop of Peterborough, 
 by his will, bearing date in 1690, gave to the poor 
 of the parish of Newark £240, to be laid out in 
 land, £10 of which rent he allotted to the poor 
 yearly for ever, and the surplusage, whatever it 
 should be, to the rector, as a reward for his pains 
 
206 REMARKABLE CHARITIES. 
 
 and fidelity in the distribution of the said £10 to 
 the poor ; and he directed that the distribution 
 should be made yearly by the rector in the church 
 porch in the presence of the churchwardens or 
 overseers, in the following manner, viz. that it 
 should be distributed the 14th December to 
 twenty poor families, or persons of forty years 
 old each, by equal shares, reckoning husband and 
 wife for one person, who should, before the receipt 
 thereof, exactly and distinctly repeat the Lord's 
 Prayer, the Apostles' Creed, and the Ten Com- 
 mandments, without missing or changing one word 
 therein. And if any man and wife should appear 
 for a share in the said charity, it should not be a 
 sufficient qualification for them that one of them 
 made the exact rehearsal, but they should both 
 make it, or else have no share at all in it. He 
 also directed that no one should receive his cha- 
 rity twice, till all the poor of the parish should 
 have received it once who should make the repe- 
 tition aforesaid, that the advantage might spread 
 as far as possible.* And he further directed, that 
 this part of his will should be transcribed and 
 
 * Bishop White left the like bequest to the parish of 
 Bottesford in Leicestershire, with the same directions. 
 Land was purchased, which is now let at 39/. a-year ; 
 and after paying 10/. to the churchwarden, who dis- 
 tributes it according to the directions of the will, the 
 Rector retains the surplus himself. — XXXII. pt. V, 
 p. 433. 
 
PEACE OFFERING. 207 
 
 locked up in the parish chest; and yearly, on 
 the last Sunday in November, after morning ser- 
 vice, the rector should read this part of it to the 
 poor and the inhabitants, in the parish church. 
 
 This sum was invested in the purchase of 
 lands now held by the corporation. The rent is 
 received by the chamberlain, and carried to the 
 general account, out of which there is annually 
 paid to the vicar, in respect of Bishop White's 
 charity, the sum of £12. ; two pounds whereof he 
 retains to his own use, and the remaining £10 he 
 divides between twenty poor families, agreeable 
 to the directions of the will. These persons are 
 selected by the vicar, who previously ascertains 
 that they are able to repeat the apostles' Creed, 
 the Lord's prayer, and the ten Commandments. — 
 XXI. p. 366. 
 
 PEACE OFFERING. 
 
 Hentland, Herefordshire. 
 
 It is recorded on a tablet in the church, that a 
 peace gift of five shillings per annum was issuable 
 out of Baysham Court Farm, in the parish of 
 Sellack, to be distributed on Palm Sunday, for 
 ever. 
 
 This farm is the property of Mr. Edward Jones, 
 who regularly pays the rent charge. The money 
 is laid out in the purchase of plain bread cakes, 
 
208 REMARKABLE CHARITIES. 
 
 which are distributed by the churchwardens at 
 the church on Palm Sunday, amongst all the con- 
 gregation indiscriminately. 
 
 The origin of this charity could not be ascer- 
 tained by the Commissioners. — XXXII. pt. ii. 
 p. 320. 
 
 CLOCK LAND. 
 
 Haslingfield, Cam bridgeshire. 
 The rents of a small piece of land containing 
 1a. Or. 20 p. called the Clock Holt, have been 
 applied from time immemorial for the winding up 
 and repairs of the church clock. It is let at 
 £l. 12s. Qd. per annum. The donor is wholly 
 unknown, and no documents whatever were pro- 
 duced to the Commissioners relating to it. — 
 XXXI. p. 195. 
 
 ENCOURAGEMENT TO LEARN THE CATECHISM. 
 
 Haslingfield, Cambridgeshire. 
 Robert Barber, by will, dated 21st June 1818, 
 gave unto the minister of Haslingfield and the 
 tenant of the farm, in which Mr. Wallace then 
 lived, £20 in trust, to be placed out at interest, 
 upon good security, and the interest thereof to be 
 by them given every year after his decease unto 
 that child under the age of thirteen years, who 
 I should most perfectly repeat the Catechism on 
 Christmas day. He died about the year 1825. — 
 XXXI. p. 195. 
 
PATERNOSTER PENNY. 209 
 
 RELIGIOUS TASK. 
 
 Farnsfield, Nottinghamshire. 
 
 Samuel Higgs, by his will, bearing date 1 1th 
 May 1820 (as appears from the church tablet) 
 gave £50 to the vicar and churchwardens of this 
 parish, and directed that the interest should be 
 given every year on 21st December, in equal pro- 
 portions, to ten poor men and women who could 
 repeat the Lord's prayer, the creed, and the ten 
 commandments, before the vicar or such other 
 person as he should appoint to hear them. 
 
 The interest is applied according to the donor's 
 orders, and the poor persons appointed to partake 
 of the charity continue to receive it during their 
 lives.— XX. p. 532. 
 
 PATERNOSTER PENNY. 
 
 Coleshill. 
 Ann Digby, by deed, dated 30 November 1520, 
 granted to certain persons lands and premises in 
 trust ; out of the rents of the said premises they 
 should every day in the year pay within the pa- 
 rish church of Coleshill, immediately after the 
 saying of the high mass there, to a boy or girl 
 dwelling within the said parish, and under the 
 age of nine years, that could and would kneel at 
 the altar, and say five paternosters, five aves, and 
 
210 REMARKABLE CHARITIES. 
 
 a credo for the souls of her husband, of herself, 
 and of their children, and of all Christian souls, a 
 penny of silver sterling to the child for the time 
 doing the said prayers, and which daily penny she 
 desired to be distributed among the children in- 
 habiting the parish in manner following : that the 
 said daily penny should not be given to any but 
 the children of householders and inhabitants in 
 the said parish, and not dwelling out of the same. 
 To exclude division among the said householders, 
 she directed that the persons in trust should be- 
 gin the distribution in the house next adjoining 
 the church, and afterwards in the house next to 
 the church after it, and so on successively for 
 ever. 
 
 By an inquisition, taken 18th March 1613, 
 under a commission of charitable uses, it was 
 found that certain premises in Coleshill, then of 
 the clear yearly value of £10, were theretofore 
 given by some of the ancestors of Sir Robert 
 Digby of Coleshill, knt. to the intent that one 
 penny of money, every day for ever, should be 
 given of the rents thereof unto young children of 
 Coleshill, under the age of nine years, for the 
 saying of the Lord's prayer in the church of Coles- 
 hill, as it had been theretofore used. 
 
 The commissioners report, that a payment of 
 j£3 has been for many years made out of the pro- 
 perty, in respect of Alice Digby's gift, or the pa- 
 
PARTIALITY FOR FAMILY NAME. 211 
 
 ternoster dole, which is paid to the vicar for dis- 
 tribution, and is applied by him in rewards of 
 small sums to the children of the Sunday School 
 who are the best proficients in saying the Church 
 Catechism, and also in similar rewards to the 
 children of other schools in the town, who can 
 say the Catechism.— XXIX. p. 1029. 
 
 PARTIALITY FOR FAMILY NAME. 
 
 London, Drapers Company, 
 
 Henry Dixon, by will, bearing date, 9th No- 
 vember, 1693, gave all his lands, &c. to the 
 Drapers 5 Company, in trust, amongst other things, 
 to apply the rents in and towards placing ap- 
 prentices to handicraft trades ; in the first place, 
 such poor boys, wheresoever born, as should 
 bear his christian and surname, and should be of 
 the age of fifteen years or more, £5 for each boy, 
 and for the payment of the like sum of £5 to 
 every boy so placed out, that should duly serve 
 his apprenticeship within a month after he should 
 be made free of the City of London, for the better 
 enabling him to set up his trade ; and in the next 
 place, for placing out in like manner, such poor 
 boys wheresoever born, as should bear his 
 surname only, and should be of the age of fifteen 
 years, paying for each boy £4, and for payment 
 
212 REMARKABLE CHARITIES. 
 
 of the like sum of £4 to every such boy that 
 should duly serve his apprenticeship, within a 
 month after his being made free of the said city 
 for the like purpose. — XXXII. pt. ii. p. 428. 
 
 BEQUEST FOR KEEPING THE CHURCH AND CHURCH- 
 YARD, IN CLEAN AND DECENT CONDITION. 
 
 Cowley, Middlesex. 
 
 By indenture, enrolled in Chancery, dated 3d 
 January, 1761, reciting, that the parish of Cowley 
 was very small, and consisted of few inhabitants, 
 whereby the salary, fees, and perquisites of the 
 parish clerk were very small, and not sufficient 
 to satisfy him for the trouble he must, or ought 
 necessarily be at, in keeping clean the church 
 and churchyard; and reciting that Barnard 
 Dagnall, of Cowley, was desirous that the said 
 parish church of Cowley, might for ever thereafter 
 be kept clean and decent, and that the church- 
 yard might also be kept neat and free from weeds, 
 filth, dirt, and other annoyances, and was there- 
 fore minded to settle and assure the rents, issues 
 and profits, of the four acres of land and premises 
 thereafter mentioned, in trust for the benefit of 
 the parish clerks of the parish church of Cowley 
 aforesaid for the time being, the better to en- 
 courage, oblige, and enable them for ever there- 
 
CLEANSING CHURCH AND CHURCHYARD. 213 
 
 after, to perform and do their duty, and keep the 
 said church and churchyard clean and free from 
 all annoyances, it is witnessed that the said 
 Barnard Dagnall sold to Thomas Dagnall, his 
 heirs and assigns, four acres of land in the Middle 
 Shott, in the common field of Cowley, upon trust 
 to pay the rents and profits thereof, to the parish 
 clerks of Cowley, so long as they should continue 
 doing and performing their duty as parish clerks 
 of the said church, in duly attending the service 
 of the said church, and keeping the church clean 
 from dust and other annoyances, and likewise 
 keeping the churchyard of the church, neat and 
 free from weeds, filth, dirt, and other annoyances, 
 to the content and satisfaction of him, the said 
 Thomas Dagnall, his heirs and assigns ; and in 
 case the parish clerk, for the time being, should 
 not discharge his duty, as regards such required 
 cleanliness, &c. it should be lawful for the said 
 Thomas Dagnall, his heirs and assigns, to apply 
 such rents for the paying any other person who 
 should be employed to do the duty or service so 
 neglected. 
 
 The land is let at £8. 5s. per annum, and the 
 rent is paid to the clerk ; who on account thereof 
 tonsiders himself liable to keep the churchyard 
 in clean and decent order. — IX. p. 215. 
 
214 REMARKABLE CHARITIES. 
 
 ATONEMENT. 
 
 Croydon, Surrey. 
 
 By deed, dated 1st January, 1600, reciting that 
 William Tracy, one of the ancestors of Susan 
 Barker, had, by way of pleasing his King, rashly 
 libelled the life of Thomas Cranmer, Archbishop 
 of Canterbury, the said Susan Barker, knowing 
 the kindness and truly episcopal life of John 
 Whitgift, then archbishop, and desiring that it 
 should openly appear that her family were never 
 ill-disposed to the pontifical dignity, as certain 
 evil-disposed persons had published, granted to 
 the warden and poor of the hospital of the Holy 
 Trinity * and their successors, a yearly rent of 
 £6. 13s. 4c?., issuing out of her mansion house, 
 called Lancaster College, in St. PauFs Church- 
 yard, London, for 1000 years from the day of the 
 date thereof, which grant her husband confirmed, 
 on condition that the said warden and poor 
 should neither sell nor alienate the same ; and 
 they gave seizin and possession of the said 
 annuity, by the delivery of a golden coin of the 
 value of 10s., which coin is still affixed to the said 
 deed.— XXXI. p. 875. 
 
 * Founded by Archbishop Whitgift. 
 
BEQUEST FOR THE SACRAMENT. 215 
 
 BEQUEST OF LAND, TO PROVIDE SACRAMENTAL BREAD 
 AND WINE. 
 
 Stanley, Derbyshire. 
 An entry in a book belonging to this parish 
 without date, but which appears to have been 
 written more than 50 years ago, states that three 
 roods of land, in Samuel Richardson's Little 
 Buttery, abutting toward Clarke's croft, were left 
 to buy bread and wine for the Holy Sacrament 
 for ever. 
 
 The field called the Little Buttery has under- 
 gone some alteration, a great part having been 
 taken from it, and an addition made to it. The 
 field is now called Samuel's Buttery, and the resi- 
 due of it, except the above mentioned three roods, 
 is the property of Richard Bateman, Esq. 
 
 From the description given of the three roods 
 of land in the parish book, the north-east part of 
 Samuel's Buttery is pointed out as the situation 
 of them, and it is supposed that they may be worth 
 about £] per annum. 
 
 Mr. Bateman's tenant purchases the bread and 
 wine, for the Sacrament at Stanley chapel, which 
 are estimated to cost annually as much as the fair 
 rent of this small plot of land. — XVII. p. 15 L. 
 
216 REMARKABLE CHARITIES. 
 
 BEQUEST OF SACRAMENTAL WINE. 
 
 Aber Daron, Caernarvonshire. 
 
 In the returns made to Parliament in 1786, it 
 is stated, that a donor unknown gave £l 5s, per 
 annum to the poor, supposed to issue from the 
 rectory of Aber Daron. 
 
 Twelve bottles of port wine are annually re- 
 ceived by the churchwardens from the steward of 
 Charles Griffith Wynne, Esq. of Cefn Amlwch, 
 proprietor of a moiety of the great tithes of the 
 parish of Aber Daron, which it is supposed are 
 given in respect of this donation. 
 
 The wine is used for the Sacrament. — XX VI I L 
 p. 446. 
 
 STREWING THE CHURCH WITH RUSHES. 
 
 St. Mary Redcliffe, Bristol. 
 
 It appears by the charitable donation book, page 
 142, that William Spencer, by deed, dated 29th 
 November, 1494, devised to feoffees certain pre- 
 mises situate on the back of Bristol, then of the 
 yearly rent of £4, that they should for ever provide 
 three priests to preach the Word of God in the 
 parish church of St. Mary Redcliffe, Bristol, or in 
 the churchyard of the said church, before the 
 mayor and commonalty of the said town, and 
 other devout people thither repairing, at the feast 
 of Pentecost, and to pay every of the said priests 
 
STREWING THE CHURCH WITH RUSHES. 217 
 
 there for preaching 6s. 8d., to the mayor of Bristol, 
 for the said preachers' dinner at his table, 3s. Ad 
 , each day, to the clerk and sexton for ringing the 
 bell, and placing the forms for the mayor and 
 common council, \2d. per day; the residue of the 
 rent to remain towards the payment of quit rents, 
 the reparation of the said premises, and to the 
 common profit of the said town. 
 
 These several sums, amounting to £l 13s. Ad. 
 are annually applied according to the gift. 
 
 The corporation, on whom the charge has de- 
 volved, pay, at Whitsuntide, for preaching three ser- 
 mons £l 10s. to the clergyman of Redcliffe parish, 
 and for ringing and strewing rushes in the church 
 3s. Ad. The mayor, and a part of the corporation, 
 go to Redcliffe church on Whitsunday, when the 
 church is strewed with rushes. 
 
 These payments appear to have been constantly 
 and regularly made; but the corporation books 
 afford no information as to the property charged, 
 or the manner in which the obligation to perform 
 the charity has devolved upon that body. — VIII. 
 p. 607. 
 
 STREWING THE CHURCH WITH RUSHES. 
 
 Clee, Lincolnshire. 
 The parish possesses a right of cutting rushes 
 from a piece of land, the property of Richard Tho- 
 rold, Esq. called "Bescars," for the purpose of 
 
 L 
 
218 REMARKABLE CHARITIES. 
 
 strewing the floor of the church every Trinity 
 Sunday. 
 
 A small quantity of grass is annually cut to 
 preserve this right. — XXXII. pt. iv. p. 422. 
 
 RUSHES AND STRAW FOR THE CHURCH. 
 
 Deptford, Kent. 
 
 The table of benefactions states, that a person 
 unknown gave half a quarter of wheat, to be 
 given in bread every Good Friday, and half a load 
 of rushes at Whitsuntide, and a load of pea straw 
 at Christmas yearly, for the use of the church. 
 
 By a decree of commissioners for charitable 
 uses, dated 4th March, 6th James I. it was decreed, 
 that the owners of three parts of land, whereof 
 one was called Lady Crofts, should from thence- 
 forth for ever deliver and distribute, every Good 
 Friday, amongst the poor people of Deptford, all 
 the bread which might be made and baked of half 
 a quarter of good wheat ; and should likewise yearly 
 deliver, at Whitsuntide, half a load of good green 
 rushes, and at Christmas one good load of new 
 grass straw, in the pews of the church at Deptford. 
 
 The land charged is Brookley farm. 
 
 By an order of vestry, 17 April, 1721, it appears 
 that William Wilkinson offered 21s. per annum 
 for the time to come, in lieu of pea straw and 
 rushes, which offer was accepted, and since the 
 
RUSHES AND STRAW FOR THE CHURCH. 219 
 
 year 1744, 105. has been received in lieu of the 
 half quarter of wheat. The two sums of 21 s. and 
 10s. are regularly paid and distributed in bread. 
 —XXX. p. 618. 
 
 STREWING THE CHURCH WITH RUSHES. 
 
 Wingrave, Buckinghamshire. 
 
 There is a piece of land, of about three roods 
 of meadow, left for the purpose of furnishing 
 rushes for the church, on the feast Sunday. 
 
 It is let to Mr. Thomas Cook, at a rent of £l . 
 Is. a-year, which is received by the parish clerk, 
 who provides grass to strew the church, on the 
 village feast day, which is the first Sunday after 
 St. Peter's day.— XXVII. p. 108. 
 
 STREWING THE CHURCH WITH NEW HAY. 
 
 Glen/ield, Leicestershire. 
 
 A close, called the Church Acre, was set out, on 
 the inclosure of Glenfield, in lieu of lands in the 
 open fields, the rent of which has always been 
 paid to the clerk of the parish, as a part of his 
 salary. The land is situated near the village, and 
 is let to Joseph Ellis, for 305. a-year. 
 
 In respect of this land, the clerk is obliged to 
 strew the j church with new hay on the first Sun- 
 day after the 5th of July, and for this purpose, he 
 
 l2 
 
220 REMARKABLE CHARITIES. 
 
 is allowed to take a cut of hay from off the land. 
 This practice is understood to be in compliance 
 with the will of the donor of the land. — XXXII. 
 pt. v. p. 158. 
 
 STREWING THE CHURCH WITH NEW HAY. 
 
 Old Weston, Huntingdonshire. 
 
 A piece of green sward, of about a rood, in the 
 open field, belongs by custom to the parish clerk 
 for the time being, subject to the condition of the 
 land being mown immediately before Weston 
 feast, which occurs in July, and the cutting thereof 
 being strewed on the church floor, previously to 
 divine service on the feast Sunday, and continuing 
 there during divine service. — XXIV. p. 57. 
 
 BEQUEST TO AWAKEN SLEEPERS, AND WHIP DOGS 
 OUT OF CHURCH. 
 
 Claverley, Shropshire. 
 Amongst other directions mentioned in the 
 deed of feoffment, 23rd August, 1659, whereby 
 Richard Dovey, of Farmcote, granted certain pre- 
 mises to John Sanders, and others, viz. cottages 
 or buildings, over and adjoining the churchyard and 
 churchyard gates of the parish church of Claverley, 
 is to place in some room of the said cottages, and 
 to pay yearly the sum of 8s. to a poor man of that 
 
AWAKENING SLEEPERS IN CHURCH. 221 
 
 parish who should undertake to awaken sleepers, 
 and to whip out dogs from the church of Claver- 
 ley during divine service. 
 
 It appears by the evidence adduced before the 
 Commissioners, that the sum of 10s. 6d. per annum 
 had been paid for the above purpose for upwards 
 of 20 years prior to their inquiry. — IV. p. 24 9. 504. 
 
 " AWAKE, THOU THAT SLEEPEST ! " 
 
 Trysully Staffordshire. 
 
 John Rudge, amongst other charities to this 
 parish, gave by will, dated 17th April, 1725., 
 20s. a-year, payable at 5s. a quarter, to a poor 
 man, to go about the parish church of Trysull, 
 during; sermon, to keep people awake, and to keep 
 dogs out of the church. 
 
 This sum is paid by Cornelius Cartwright, Esq. 
 — V. p. 634. 
 
 CHARITY TO KEEP BOYS QUIET IN CHURCH. 
 
 Wolverhampton, Staffordshire. 
 It appears from the benefaction table, that 
 Richard Brooke gave 10s. yearly, to be distributed 
 to the poor on the day of his death, and 5s. a-year 
 to one, to keep boys quiet in the church and church 
 yard, in the time of prayer and sermon, to be 
 paid out of a piece of land called Mill Hayes, in 
 
222 REMARKABLE CHARITIES. 
 
 or near Coven, in the parish of Brewood. The 
 Commissioners ascertained that the dole had been 
 in arrear from 1812, that Mr. Shenstone, of Stand- 
 ford Mills, was in possession of the land called 
 Mill Hayes, and that he was ready to pay the 
 arrears due, whenever an account should be made 
 out by the churchwarden ; and they had since been 
 informed^ that he had done so. The origin of 
 the rent-charge the Commissioners could not 
 discover. — IV. p. 363. 
 
 DOG WHIPPER S LANDS. 
 
 Chislet, Kent. 
 
 Ten shillings a year is paid by the tenant of 
 Sir John Bridges, as a charge on lands called 
 Dogwhipper's Marsh, containing about two acres, 
 to a person for keeping order in the church 
 during divine service. — XXX. p. 297. 
 
 BEQUEST FOR KEEPING DOGS OUT OF CHURCH. 
 
 Peterchurch, Herefordshire. 
 
 From time immemorial an acre of land in this 
 parish has been appropriated to the use of a 
 person for keeping dogs out of the church, such 
 person being appointed by the minister and 
 churchwardens. 
 
GRATITUDE FOR BENEFIT OF CURFEW BELL. 223 
 
 An exchange has lately been effected of this 
 land for another acre near to it, which is consi- 
 dered of a superior quality and more valuable 
 than that given in exchange by the parish. — 
 XXXILpt. ii. p 30?. 
 
 GRATITUDE FOR BENEFIT OF CURFEW BELL. 
 
 Barton, Lincolnshire. 
 
 Upon the inclosure of this parish, a claim was 
 made to the Commissioners by the clerk of the 
 parish of St. Peter's, for 13 a. 3 r. open land; 
 and in the award there was allotted to the parish 
 clerk of Barton, and his successors, 7 a. 2r. 16 p. 
 in East Field, in lieu of certain land in the open 
 field, &c. 
 
 The common tradition in the parish is, that a 
 worthy old lady in ancient times, being accidentally 
 benighted on the Wolds, was directed in her 
 course by the sound of the evening bell of St. 
 Peter's Church, where, after much alarm she 
 found herself in safety, and out of gratitude she 
 gave this land to the parish clerk, on condition 
 that he should ring one of the church bells from 
 seven to eight o'clock every evening, except Sun- 
 days, commencing on the day of the carrying the 
 I first load of barley in every year till Shrove 
 Tuesday next ensuing inclusive. 
 
224 REMARKABLE CHARITIES* 
 
 This duty from time out of mind has been and 
 still continues to be performed by the clerk. — 
 XXXII. pt. iv. p. 511. 
 
 CURFEW BELL AND CLOCK LAND. 
 
 Cropredy , Oxfordshire. 
 
 By indenture 26th August, 4th Henry VIII. 
 (1513), Roger Lupton, vicar of Cropredy, deli- 
 vered to the churchwardens of Cropredy and 
 Bourton £6. 1 Ss. 4d. for which they covenanted 
 for themselves and their successors, to find at 
 their own costs some person to keep duly_the 
 clock of Cropredy, and to ring daily, both winter 
 and summer, the curfew and day bell. 
 
 The property belonging to this charity consists 
 of a close in Wardington called the Bell Land, 
 containing 14 acres, let at £32 a-year, out of 
 which £4. 105. is paid to a person for ringing the 
 bell and winding up the clock at Cropredy, in 
 equal proportions by each place; the residue is 
 applied in each parish in aid of a church rate. — 
 XII. p. 187. 
 
CURFEW BELL. 225 
 
 CURFEW BELL. 
 
 St. Margaret's, Kent. 
 
 On a plat of rising ground 
 Hear the far-off curfew sound, 
 Over some wide-water'd shore, 
 Swinging slow with sullen roar. 
 
 Milton. 
 
 It is stated in an old register, that the parish of 
 St. Margaret passed an order in the year 1696, 
 to ensure the proper application of the proceeds 
 of five roods of pasture land, which had been 
 given by a shepherd who fell over the Cliff, for 
 ringing a curfew bell at 8 o^clock every night for 
 the winter half-year, and which ringing had fallen 
 greatly into neglect. 
 
 This land, supposed to be of the annual value 
 of about 20s., is occupied by the clerk of the 
 parish, who rings the curfew bell at eight o'clock 
 every evening during the winter months. — XXX. 
 p. 565. 
 
 CURFEW AND DAY BELL. 
 
 Presteign, Radnorshire. 
 
 John Beddoes, by indenture dated 20th April, 
 
 1565, conveyed premises to feoffees in trust, that 
 
 they should (amongst other matters), out of the 
 
 rents, keep and find an able person to ring a bell 
 
226 REMARKABLE CHARITIES. 
 
 in the parish church of Presteign, every morning 
 for ever, between the feasts of All Saints and the 
 Purification of Our Lady, by the space of one 
 half hour, which should be called the day bell ; 
 and also should nightly for ever ring one other 
 peal with the same bell at eight o^clock in the 
 afternoon, as well in summer as winter time, by 
 the space of one half hour, which should be called 
 Curfew ; and that, if the ringing of the said bell 
 should be discontinued for one year (unless the 
 plague was in the said town of Presteign, or other 
 reasonable cause), then the said premises to revert 
 to his heirs.— XXXII. pt. iii. p. 461. 
 
 CURFEW BELL. 
 
 Ringwould, Kent. 
 
 There is in this parish half an acre of land 
 called " Curfew Land," which has been always 
 held by the parish clerk as a remuneration for 
 ringing the Curfew bell every evening, from the 
 2d of November to 2d February. — XXX. p. 560. 
 
 DING DONG, OR CURFEW BELL LAND. 
 
 West Rasen, Lincolnshire. 
 At the inclosure of this parish, the Commis- 
 sioners awarded a small allotment, containing 
 
CURFEW BELL LAND. 227 
 
 1 A. 2 r. to the rector and churchwardens, " upon 
 trusty to pay the clear rents and profits thereof to 
 some poor parishioner of West Rasen, for ringing 
 a bell in the said parish church at a certain hour 
 during some part of each and every year for ever." 
 This allotment was in lieu of a piece of land 
 called "Ding Dong/' which had been in the pos- 
 session of the parish from time immemorial ; it is 
 believed that it was originally given for the 
 purpose of having a bell tolled at night during 
 the winter months, but the custom has long been 
 discontinued. The land is not let, but is oc- 
 cupied by some poor and deserving person ap- 
 pointed by the rector and churchwardens. 
 
 The annual value may be about 50s. — XXXII. 
 pt. iv. p. 489. 
 
 CUTFEW BELL LAND. 
 
 St. Giles, Norwich. 
 
 In 1474 Walter Geffry gave land in Heigham's 
 Fields, upon trust, that the churchwardens of St. 
 Giles, Norwich, should every night in the year 
 ring a bell of the parish church for a quarter of an 
 hour at eight in winter and nine in summer ; and 
 in 1816 the same land was conveyed to Cole and 
 others, upon trust, with the rents to find a person 
 to ring the curfew bell.— XXVII. p. 659. 
 
228 REMARKABLE CHARITIES. 
 
 DRESSING A GRAVE WITH FLOWERS. 
 
 Grateley, Hampshire. 
 
 William Benson Earle, Esq. who died in 17^6, 
 gave three hundred guineas to the rector, church- 
 warden s> and overseers of Grateley, in trust, to 
 vest the same in their joint names, and expend 
 half the interest thereof at Christmas, and the 
 other half at Easter, in the purchase of the best 
 ox-beef and cheese, together with potatoes or peas, 
 or both, to be distributed in just proportions, at 
 their discretion, among the poorest families in that 
 parish, but no where else. And he requested that 
 one guinea of the annual interest should be given 
 yearly to the clerk of the parish, so long as he 
 should cleanse and repair with flovjers in the dif- 
 ferent seasons, as had before been done, the bed over 
 the remains of Dame Joanna Elton, in the church- 
 yard of Grateley. The dividends are paid and ap- 
 plied according to the donor's order. — XIV. p. 368. 
 
 ROSE TREES IN CHURCH YARD. 
 
 Barnes, Surrey. 
 By indentures of lease and release, dated 7th and 
 8th of March, 1 790, reciting that Edward Rose by 
 will, dated 18th December 1652, directed his body 
 to be buried in the church yard of Barnes, and 
 bequeathed £5 for making a frame or partition of 
 
ROSE TREES IN CHURCH YARD. 229 
 
 wood in the churchyard, where he had appointed 
 his burying place, and ordered three rose trees or 
 more to be set or planted about the place where 
 he should be so interred ; and also bequeathed to 
 the minister, churchwardens, and overseers of the 
 poor of Barnes, for the use of the poor of that pa- 
 rish, .£20, to be laid out within three years, in the 
 purchase of an acre of land for the use of the poor, 
 but willed and directed that out of the rents and 
 profits of such land, the minister, churchwardens, 
 and overseers for the time being, should cause the 
 said frame and partition of wood to be kept in re- 
 pair, and the rose trees preserved, or others 
 planted in their places, from time to time, as they 
 should decay ; and further recited, that an acre of 
 land, in the Town Long Croft, had been surrendered 
 to trustees, in trust, for the poor of the parish of 
 Barnes, pursuant to the will of the said Edward 
 Rose and that such piece of land had been ex- 
 changed for two acres of land in the common 
 close, upon the trusts and for the uses mentioned 
 in the will of the said Edward Rose, &c. &c. 
 
 The land taken in exchange was let by the 
 churchwardens to Henry Hugh Hoare, Esq. (late 
 of Stourhead, Bart.) as yearly tenant, at £8. 10s. 
 per annum, the full annual value. 
 
 The rents are laid out in purchasing bread, 
 which is distributed to the poor at the church on 
 Sundays, Christmas Day, and Good Friday. — X. 
 p. 589. 
 
230 REMARKABLE CHARITIES. 
 
 TOLERANCE. 
 
 Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire. 
 
 William Wilson, by his will, dated 15th April, 
 1726, gave the sum of £100 South Sea Stock to 
 the Chamber of the Corporation of Tewkesbury, 
 upon trust, to permit the high bailiff for the time 
 being to receive the dividends thereon, and dis- 
 pose of the same, at his discretion, to poor per- 
 sons of Tewkesbury, especially to such as should 
 be visited with sickness or other calamitous acci- 
 dents, without any regard to differences of political 
 and religious opinions, the bailiff to account to the 
 chamber for the disposal of the same, and to retain 
 105. for his trouble. 
 
 The amount of stock now standing under this 
 will, in the names of the Bailiff, Burgesses, and 
 Commonalty of Tewkesbury, is £112. 6s. 3d., the 
 annual dividend of which is £3. *Js. Ad. which is 
 received by the chamberlain, who pays it to the 
 general fund in the hands of the Corporation, for 
 the benefit of the poor. — XXI. p. 198. 
 
 
 EDUCATION, GOOD EXAMPLE, &C. 
 
 Yarm, Yorkshire. 
 William Chaloner, Esq. a native of this parish, 
 by wiU, dated June 18th, 1799, left £400 Three 
 per Cent. Consolidated Bank Annuities, the inte- 
 rest thereof to be paid to the master of the free 
 grammar-school at Yarm, for the education of 
 eight poor children between the ages of six and 
 
EDUCATION, GOOD EXAMPLE, &C. 231 
 
 fourteen years, to be elected by the minister and 
 churchwardens for the time being ; and he also be- 
 queathed £100 Four per Cent. Bank Annuities, 
 the interest thereof to be paid to the minister of 
 Yarm for the time being, for a Sunday Evening 
 Lecture, to be preached quarterly on the first Sun- 
 day after the Epiphany, Lady Day, Midsummer 
 Day, and Michaelmas Day, in every year, on the 
 following subjects, viz. 
 
 I. On the Education of Youth, and the preva- 
 lence of good example. 
 
 II. On Baptism. 
 
 III. On Redemption. 
 
 IV. On the Wisdom of God in the Creation. 
 The directions of the will are annually complied 
 
 with.— VIII. p. 752. 
 
 AFFECTIONATE MEMORIAL OF A DAUGHTERS LOVE 
 FOR HER MOTHER. 
 
 Brougham, Westmorland. 
 
 In this parish is a payment of £4 a-year out of 
 an estate at Yanwath, in the parish of Barton, 
 given by Anne Countess dowager of Pembroke in 
 1656. There is no deed or document in the pa- 
 rish relating to it, but there is a stone pillar in the 
 parish of Brougham, on the road between Penrith 
 and Appleby, with an inscription recording the 
 benefaction in the following terms : 
 
232 REMARKABLE CHARITIES. 
 
 " Cftte pillar &ag tvetttft au B. 1656, b% 
 tfyt Htgftt fjonourafcle flinne Counter 
 SJotoager of Ponftrofc?, ant* aole fjnr of tp 
 Migtjt ftonouraMe George harlot <ftumfc*r= 
 lanfc, for a memorial of §tv laat parting in 
 tf)t0 plar* tDitt) f)^r gootr an& piou* motfjir, 
 tlj£ Migftt tjonourafcie Margaret <£ount*0$ 
 IBotoager of <£um&*riantr, fyt 2tr &prtl 1 616. 
 In memory tofjmof $fje also left an an= 
 nuit» of £4 to toe trtetrtfmtrtr to tfte poor 
 tentfnn tfji^ parte!) of ^rougfjam tbevp 2& 
 Iraj) of &pril, for tbtx f upon tyt atone 
 ijtxttv* Hau0 Hm"* 
 
 This rent-charge is paid by John Nicholson, of 
 Yanwath, the owner of the estate, which is now 
 charged with the payment thereof, and is distri- 
 buted about the 2d April, by the ministers and 
 churchwardens, amongst two, three, or four fami- 
 lies not receiving weekly pay, under the name of 
 Pillar Money.— VII. p. 575. 
 
 * The author of " The Pleasures of Memory " thus 
 feelingly alludes to this memorial : 
 
 Hast thou through Eden's wild wood vales pursued 
 Each mountain scene majestically rude ; 
 Nor there awhile with lifted eye revered 
 That modest stone which pious Pembroke rear'd ; 
 Which still records beyond the pencil's power, 
 The silent sorrows of a parting hour ; 
 Still to the musing pilgrim points the place 
 Her sainted spirit most delights to trace ? 
 
 Rogers. 
 
TO LEARN THE LORD'S PRAYER. 233 
 
 BOUNTIFUL ENGOURAGEMENT TO LEARN THE 
 lord's PRAYER, &C. &C. 
 Wootton, Surrey. 
 William Glanville, by will, dated December 
 31st, 1717^ directed that the trustees to be ap- 
 pointed in pursuance of his will, should, amongst 
 other things, on the anniversary of his death, pay 
 I to five poor boys of the parish of Wootton, who 
 should not exceed the age of sixteen years, the 
 sum of forty shillings each, upon condition that 
 such five boys should, with their hands laid upon 
 his gravestone, repeat by heart, in a plain and 
 audible voice, the Lord^s Prayer, the Apostles' 
 Creed, and Ten Commandments, and should also 
 read the 15th chapter of the First Epistle of St. 
 Paul to the Corinthians, and write, in a legible 
 hand, two verses of the said chapter ; and, in case 
 a sufficient number of poor boys could not be 
 found in the parish of Wootton qualified to take 
 the benefit of his charity, he empowered the 
 trustees to choose other boys, not exceeding the 
 number aforesaid, nor of more adult years than 
 was before mentioned, out of the several parishes 
 of Westcot, Abinger, Shere, Ashstead, Epsom, 
 and Cheam. 
 
 The annuities of forty shillings have been regu- 
 larly paid on the 2d of February, supposed to be 
 the anniversary of the testator's death, to five poor 
 boys, upon their compliance with the conditions 
 
234 REMARKABLE CHARITIES. 
 
 mentioned in the testator's will, which have been 
 strictly observed. — XIII. p. 601. 
 
 PENITENTIAL CHARITY. 
 
 Bridford, Devonshire. 
 
 Edward Hall, who died 1 6th July, 1706, gave, 
 by his will, thirteen shillings per annum, to be 
 paid out of the tenement of Thorne, in Bridford, 
 viz. ten shillings to the rector or curate of Brid- 
 ford, for preaching a penitential sermon in the 
 church of that parish, on Thursday in the week 
 before Easter in every year, as a preparation for , 
 the sacrament; two shillings to be bestowed in 
 bread, at the discretion of the minister and church- 
 wardens, to eight poor people who should be then 
 present in the church ; and one shilling to the 
 parish clerk for collecting the money, paying the 
 minister, and bringing the bread to the church. 
 
 He also gave three shillings and fourpence per 
 annum, to be paid out of Thorne aforesaid, to the 
 minister and churchwardens of Bridford, to be 
 by them bestowed yearly at Easter, to buy butts 
 or other conveniences for the people to kneel 
 upon at their prayers in church. 
 
 This charity is continued as required by the 
 donor, except that the sermon is preached on 
 Good Friday instead of the Thursday preceding. 
 —IX. p. 169. 
 
PRAYERS ON SUNDAY EVENING. 235 
 
 THE DONATION OF A PERSON UNKNOWN, FOR ESTA- 
 BLISHING PRAYERS ON SUNDAY EVENING. MATT. 
 
 VI. 3, 4. 
 
 St. Michael's, Gloucester. 
 By indenture, dated 28th July, 17^4, between 
 William Rogers, of Gloucester, apothecary, of 
 the one part ; and William Lord Bishop of Glou- 
 cester, the Rev. Josiah Tucker, D. D. Dean of 
 Gloucester, and the Rev. Richard Rogers, of the 
 said city, clerk, of the other part ; — reciting, that 
 a gentlewoman, who desired that her name might 
 be concealed, had paid to the said William Rogers 
 £281, to be placed out at interest upon govern- 
 ment or other security, at the discretion of the 
 said Bishop and his successors, the Dean of Glou- 
 cester for the time being, and the said William 
 Rogers and Richard Rogers, and that the interest 
 thereof should be applied for the purposes there- 
 inafter mentioned ; and that the said William 
 Rogers, with the approbation of the Bishop and 
 Dean and Richard Rogers, had invested the said 
 sum in the purchase of £300 in the Four per Cent. 
 Annuities, in his own name; — it was declared that 
 the dividends and interest should be paid and 
 applied as follows, viz. £8 to the rector or minis- 
 ter of the parish of St. Michael, on condition 
 that, by himself or curate, prayers should be read 
 and divine service performed in the said parish 
 church, at six o'clock in the evening of every Sun- 
 
236 REMARKABLE CHARITIES. 
 
 day throughout the year ; twenty shillings to the 
 clerk of the said parish for his attendance on such 
 service; ten shillings to the sexton ; and two pounds 
 ten shillings, the residue of the interest, to be laid 
 out in the purchase of candles and lights to be made 
 use of at such service during the winter ; but if the 
 minister of St. MichaePs parish should, for four 
 Sundays together, neglect to read prayers and 
 perform divine service in the said parish church, 
 at the hour and manner therein mentioned, the 
 Bishop, Dean, and their successors, jointly with 
 the said William and Richard Rogers, or the sur- 
 vivor of them, might appoint some other parish 
 church in the said city for the purpose aforesaid, 
 and pay the said interest to the minister, clerk, 
 and sexton of the parish church so to be nomi- 
 nated by them. The stock has since been con- 
 verted into £360. Js. Three per Cent. Consols, 
 producing £10. 16s. 2d. a-year, which is thus ap- 
 propriated:- — £. s. d. 
 
 To the rector . . .728 
 
 To the clerk 
 
 To the sexton 
 
 For candles 
 
 XIV. p. 51, 
 
 . 
 
 . 
 
 . 1 
 
 
 
 
 
 . 
 
 . 
 
 . 
 
 10 
 
 
 
 • 
 
 • 
 
 . 2 
 
 3 
 
 6 
 
 
 £10 
 
 16 
 
 2 
 
 
 
 
 
IGNORANCE AND IDOLATRY REPROVED. 237 
 
 UNKINDNESS, IGNORANCE, INJUSTICE, AND IDOLA- 
 TRY REPROVED. GOD TO BE PRAISED. 
 
 Huntley, Gloucestershire. 
 
 Samuel Hawkins,* by will, dated 8th November, 
 1804, gave £200, the interest thereof should be 
 paid by trustees as follows : — 
 
 To the rector, vicar, or curate, £2. 2s. provided 
 one of them should preach a sermon, the text 
 being the sixth chapter of Micah, in the parish 
 church of Huntley, of a morning annually on New 
 Year's Day for ever ; and pay to the clerk of the 
 said parish church (provided the hundredth Psalm 
 of the old version be then sung) 1 Os. 6d. ; and if 
 any set of singers should be assembled in the said 
 church on that day, to pay to them £l. Is. for sing- 
 ing; and to the sexton of the said parish 10s. 6d.; 
 provided such respective persons did respectively 
 perform their duty, but not otherwise; £l. Is. to 
 be laid out in sixpenny loaves, and given to the 
 poor who should attend divine service on that day; 
 and the remainder of such interest to be given to 
 James Belson, and after his decease to any of 
 his kindred ; and, failing therein, for want of such 
 kindred, then to two poor housekeepers of Hunt- 
 ley, at the discretion of the trustees ; such trustees 
 to be the rector or vicar and the churchwardens of 
 the parish for the time being. All which trusts 
 are reported as being fulfilled annually, in accord- 
 ance with the donor's will. — XVIII. p. 324. 
 
 * Vide p. 240, for a similar bequest by the same person. 
 
238 REMARKABLE CHARITIES. 
 
 GRATITUDE FOR PRESERVATION IN IMMINENT 
 DANGER. 
 
 Llan Gybi, Caernarvonshire. 
 Charles Jones, Esq. of Lincoln's Inn, by will, 
 dated 1 7th January, 1640, directed that an hospital 
 should be built near Pullhelly for 12 poor men, 
 and that his father first, his uncle next, and so 
 their heirs, should fairly and justly manage and 
 govern such hospital, which he had long resolved 
 and with the desire of his deceased wife, who was 
 with his father, and their mother, his brother 
 Griffith, his sister, his wife, himself, and other 
 servants, mercifully preserved, and brought to 
 land in Pullhelly, from imminent and present dan- 
 ger of the seas by God's unspeakable love and 
 favour ; and whereas likewise he in his younger 
 years was miraculously, by God's own hand, 
 drawn and led from the house in Port thyn 
 Llayn, that was instantly cast and thrown down by 
 the moultringe of an hill near thereunto, and therein 
 nine persons and Christians were killed by rea- 
 son thereof; himself, a child of three or four years 
 of age at the most, having newly entered the 
 house, and in a moment returned, not thirty yards 
 from the house, but it fell all to dust and rub- 
 bish ; for these and many other of God's great 
 mercies and loving kindness unto him, he and his 
 deceased wife had determined of this poor hos- 
 pital ; for the maintenance of which hospital to 
 
GRATITUDE FOR PRESERVATION IN DANGER. 239 
 
 be erected^ he devised for ever certain lands, of 
 £50 per annum, and ordained his brother Robert 
 Jones his executor. 
 
 It appears by a Latin inscription in front of 
 the almshouses, that the benevolent intentions of 
 the founder were entirely frustrated during the 
 troubles of the civil war, and that the present 
 edifice was erected by his heir William Price, 
 Esq. of Rhiwlas, in the year 1760.— XXVIII. 
 p. 516. 
 
 GRATITUDE FOR DIVINE PROTECTION. 
 
 Eton, Buckinghamshire. 
 
 Joseph Pote, by will, 12th November, 1781, 
 gave £50 to be put to interest, and the profit to 
 be distributed by equal portions in bread twice 
 a year, viz. on the first Sunday after the 29th 
 March and the 7th November yearly (or on those 
 days if they should be on a Sunday), a quartern 
 loaf to each poor parishioner who should attend 
 divine service, if not disabled therefrom by dis- 
 tress, age, or other incident, the same to be dis- 
 tributed by the bridgemasters for the time being, 
 or by the two senior feoffees, or one of them. 
 And he directed that on each of those days the 
 Hundredth Psalm, with the Gloria Patri, should 
 be sung by the congregation and poor attending, 
 as a thankful acknowledgment of peculiar instances 
 
240 REMARKABLE CHARITIES. 
 
 of Divine protection at those periods and other 
 parts of his life.— XXV. p. 82. 
 
 CHARITY FOR THE ENCOURAGEMENT OF JUSTICE, 
 MERCY, AND GOODNESS. 
 
 Newnham, Gloucestershire, 
 
 Samuel Hawkins, who died 29th December, 
 1805, by his will, gave to his executors therein 
 named the sum of £200 in trust, to invest the 
 same in the names of the rector or vicar and 
 churchwardens of the parish of Newnham, and 
 their successors, in Government good securities^ 
 and directed that the trustees should, out of the 
 interest thereof, pay to the rector, or vicar, or 
 curate of the said parish £2, 2s. provided one of 
 them should preach in the parish church a ser- 
 mon, taking for his text the sixth chapter of 
 Micah, 8th verse, ie He hath shewed thee, O man, 
 what is good; and what doth the Lord require 
 of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and 
 to walk humbly with thy God?" on the morning of 
 every New Year's Day, and to pay the clerk of the 
 said parish, provided the hundredth Psalm were 
 then sung, old version, 10s. 6d. ; and if any set of 
 singers should be assembled in the church on that 
 day, to pay them £l. Is. for singing; and the 
 sexton of the said parish 10s. 6d. } provided such 
 persons should respectively perform their duty on 
 
FARTHING CHARITY. 241 
 
 that day, and not otherwise ; and that they 
 should lay out £l. Is. in buying of six-penny 
 loaves to be distributed to such poor persons as 
 should attend divine service there on that day. 
 And he directed that his trustees should dispose 
 of the remainder of the interest or dividends for 
 the use and benefit of such person or persons 
 who had lived servants with Elizabeth Wood, 
 Elizabeth Hawkins, Sarah Hawkins, and Sarah 
 Hopley, formerly inhabitants of the said parish, 
 and their descendants ; and for want of such 
 claimants to such other poor persons of the said 
 parish, on every New Year's Day for ever, as the 
 trustees for the time being should, in their dis- 
 cretion, think proper. 
 
 The £200 was laid out in the purchase of 
 £281. 16s. stock, Three per Cents Reduced, pro- 
 ducing £7* 125. 2d. per annum, which is applied 
 according to the donor's will. — XIX. p. 107. 
 
 FARTHING CHARITY. PEACE AND GOOD WILL 
 
 PROMOTED. 
 
 Kidderminster, Worcestershire. 
 In an old book, containing extracts of wills, &c. 
 relating to charities in this town, it is stated that 
 one Whiting gave ten farthing loaves, called 
 Whiting's Alms, to ten poor folks, by the High 
 Bailiff, weekly for ever ; and in the first page of 
 
 M 
 
242 REMARKABLE CHARITIES. 
 
 a book containing the accounts of Brecknell's 
 Charity, is the following entry : 
 
 6i Tradition informs us that a maiden woman 
 left to the inhabitants of the Church Street, in 
 Kidderminster, the sum of 405. to be put out 
 at interest, and that the person in whose hands 
 the said sum was entrusted, should engage to 
 provide as many farthing loaves as the interest 
 would pay for, in order to give one to every child 
 that was either born or lived in Church Street ; 
 and should also engage to invite to his house, 
 upon Midsummer Eve, every male inhabitant 
 of the said Street, to see to the faithful distribu- 
 tion of the said loaves/' 
 
 This sum it is said was lost many years ago, by 
 being lent to a person inhabiting a house up an 
 entry in Church Street ; but that the original sum 
 was again made up by some well-disposed people; 
 and it was then agreed, that no person who did 
 not inhabit a house to the front of the said 
 Street, should ever have the money, nor any 
 person but such as the majority of the inha- 
 bitants assembled should approve of, and who 
 should provide two sureties for the repayment 
 with interest ; and it was further stated, that it 
 appeared to be the principal intention of the do- 
 nor, that the male inhabitants of the said street 
 should be assembled once a-year, in order to 
 maintain a friendly intercourse amongst them 
 
FARTHING CHARITY. 243 
 
 and particularly to inquire if any differences 
 subsisted between them, and if so, to use their 
 friendly offices to reconcile and compose them ; 
 and that, accordingly, this friendly meeting on 
 Midsummer Eve in every year, had subsisted be- 
 yond the memory of any man, to the time of 
 making the entry, which is dated 23d June 1778- 
 
 John Brecknell, living in the Church Street, 
 Kidderminster, by his will, dated 4th December, 
 177^, reciting that there had for time immemorial 
 existed in the Church Street, a society for the 
 promotion of friendly intercourse among the in- 
 habitants of Church Street, bequeathed £150 
 in trust, to provide out of the interest thereof, 
 and give to every child or unmarried person born 
 in or an inhabitant of the Church Street, one 
 twopenny plum-cake, upon the eve of every 
 Midsummer Day ; and, further, to provide pipes 
 and tobacco and ale, &c. for the entertainment of 
 the male inhabitants, which should then assemble; 
 and he directed that the remaining part of the 
 interest arising from the above £150 should be 
 given to such poor persons as the company then 
 assembled, or the majority of them, should think 
 the fittest objects ; and he directed that no more 
 than five shillings, nor less than two shillings, 
 should be given to any one, and that preference 
 should be always given to such poor persons as 
 should be inhabitants of the said street, but never 
 
 M 2 
 
244 REMARKABLE CHARITIES. 
 
 to be given to any one person who should be pre- 
 sent at that meeting. 
 
 Trustees have from time to time been ap- 
 pointed, and the dividend being £10. 8s. is dis- 
 posed of on Midsummer Eve yearly, when a meet- 
 ing takes place in the house of some person in 
 Church Street who is willing to receive his neigh- 
 bours. The house is open to all the inhabitants 
 of the street. At this time the twopenny cakes 
 are given away to all the persons born or living in 
 the street, the cost of which is from £3 to £4. 
 Pipes, ale, and tobacco are also supplied, . which 
 generally cost between £l and £2 ; and the re- 
 mainder is given away to poor persons living in 
 the Church Street, and the entries leading from 
 it, in sums generally of two shillings to each person. 
 
 The sum of 40s. before mentioned is handed 
 over every year to some inhabitant of the street, 
 who pays two shillings at the time of the Mid- 
 summer Eve meeting as the interest ; and this 
 forms part of the distribution, farthing loaves be- 
 ing always made for the purpose, and given away 
 with the twopenny cakes. — XXV. p. 538, 540. 
 
 PEACE AND GOOD WILL PROMOTED. 
 
 Market Lavington, Wilts. 
 Dr. Thomas Tanner, late Bishop of St. Asaph, 
 by will, dated 22d November, 1733, gave to the 
 
PEACE AND GOOD WILL PROMOTED. 245 
 
 Rev, John Sainwell and five others, all of Market 
 Lavington, his native place, and to the vicar or 
 his resident curate there for the time being, the 
 sum of £200; with interest, and upon trusty that 
 they should purchase therewith some rent-charge 
 or estate in land, the rents of which should be ap- 
 plied every year in the manner and form follow- 
 ing : first, to the vicar or his curate, for a sermon 
 to be preached in the afternoon of the feast day 
 of the Conversion of St. Paul, in the parish church 
 of Lavington aforesaid, on repentance, faith, obe- 
 dience, good works, humility, meekness, sobriety, 
 contempt of the world, resignation to Providence, 
 God's mercy to mankind, men's duty in showing 
 mercy to others, or some other practical subject, 
 13«. 4d. ; to the clerk and sexton between them, 
 for attending and ringing the bell, 3s.; to the 
 ringers, for two short peals upon the six bells, 
 one at break of day, and the other after sermon, 
 in the afternoon, 6s. ; 20s. to be spent at a friendly 
 meeting of his trustees therein named, and such 
 of the better sort of the parishioners as they 
 should think fit to invite in the evening of St. 
 Paul's Day, to promote peace and good neighbour- 
 hood, and preserve some little regard to the 
 memory of his honoured parents; 20s. to be 
 yearly disposed of, towards the teaching of some 
 poor children to write and read, whose friends 
 were not able to pay for their schooling; 20s. to 
 
246 REMARKABLE CHARITIES. 
 
 buy four Bibles with Common Prayer, to be 
 given also yearly on St. Paul's Day, to such four 
 poor persons in the said parish, as in the opinion 
 of the vicar, or his curate, were most likely to 
 make the best use of the same, and were least 
 able to buy such ; and the remainder of the clear 
 produce of the said legacy to be given away yearly, 
 .after prayers and sermon, on the said St. Paul's 
 Day, in the said church, among so many poor 
 people of the said parish, to be nominated by the 
 vicar, or, in his absence, his curate, as it would 
 reach to at twelve pence each. 
 
 In 1742, the £200 was laid out in the purchase 
 of a small estate at Patney, Wilts, which in 1834 
 was let at £8 per annum, subject to a payment 
 of 2s. Gd. yearly to the chief lord of the fee. The 
 residue of the rent is applied according to the 
 directions contained in Bp. Tanner's will. — 
 XXVIII. p. 383. 
 
 BEQUEST TO PROMOTE BROTHERLY LOVE, PEACE, 
 AND GOOD WILL. 
 
 London, St. Clement's Eastcheap. 
 
 Robert Halliday, by his will, dated 6th May, 
 1491, gave estates in the parish of St. Leonard, 
 Eastcheap, the rents to be applied to various 
 purposes, and, amongst others, 5s. to the church- 
 
CHARITY FOR GLORIFYING GOD. 247 
 
 wardens yearly, either to make an entertainment 
 among such persons of the said parish of St. Cle- 
 ment, who should be at variance with each other, 
 in the week preceding Easter, to induce such 
 persons to better neighbourhood, and to beget 
 brotherly love amongst them ; or if none should 
 be found in the said parish, then to make an en- 
 tertainment with the said 5s. at the tavern 
 amongst the honest parishioners of the said pa- 
 rish on the day of our Lord's Supper, commonly 
 called Shere Thursday, that they might pray more 
 fervently for the souls of certain persons named 
 in his will.— XXIII. p. 202. 
 
 CHARITY FOR GLORIFYING GOD. 
 
 Newnkam, Gloucestershire. 
 
 In the last will of James Jocham, of Bristol, 
 dated 21st December, 17*>4, the following bequest 
 appears : 
 
 " I give to my said son James Jocham, the in- 
 terest of £1000, which is now out on the bridge 
 security, for his life, he paying yearly thereout to 
 the ministers, clerks, and sextons of the parishes 
 of St. Augustine, in the said city of Bristol, and 
 Newnham aforesaid, the sum of three guineas, 
 (that is to say,) one guinea to the minister of each 
 parish, and half a guinea to the clerks and sextons 
 
248 REMARKABLE CHARITIES. 
 
 of each parish, to be* divided amongst them equally, 
 for preaching a sermon on the 14th of May yearly 
 for ever, the text to be taken out of the Common 
 Prayer Book, on these words, " O all ye works of 
 the Lord, bless ye the Lord, praise Him, and 
 magnify Him for ever." Item, I give to the parish 
 of Newnham aforesaid, after the decease of my 
 said son James, the interest of the said sum of 
 £1000, towards clothing fifteen poor boys of the 
 said parish yearly for ever, and the remainder (if 
 any) to poor lying-in women of the same parish, 
 not receiving alms, as the minister, churchwar- 
 dens, and gentlemen of the same parish shall 
 think the greatest objects of charity; and after 
 the said sum of £1000 shall be paid in from the 
 Bridge, I desire my executors and trustees to lay 
 it out in the purchase of some lands, or else to 
 put it out on Government or other good security, 
 for the uses above mentioned." 
 
 The sum of £1000 was laid out in the purchase 
 of £1,126. 17$. I0d. South Sea Annuities, pro- 
 ducing an annual dividend of £33. 16s. 
 
 It appears that the dividends have been applied 
 annually, according to the donor's wish, and the 
 account of the distribution regularly kept. — XIX. 
 p. 106. 
 
CHARITY AND THANKFULNESS. 249 
 
 CHARITY OF THANKFULNESS. 
 
 St. Giles's, Oxford. 
 
 William Handy, by will, dated 10th March, 
 1622, bequeathed to the parish of St. Giles £40, 
 upon conditions, that upon the 10th day of March 
 for ever, in the morning, about five or sixo^clock, 
 they should ring one peal with all the bells, and 
 about eight or nine o'clock should go to service, 
 and read all the service, with the Litany and the 
 Communion, as it is commanded to be read in the 
 Cathedral Church, and after that to have a ser- 
 mon, and in it to give God thanks for his great 
 blessings in delivering and bringing the giver from 
 Papistry and Idolatry to the light and truth of His 
 blessed Gospel ; and he desired that the preacher 
 might have 10s. for his sermon, and the minister 
 5s. for reading service, and the poor to have given 
 them in bread or money 10s. 
 
 This sum, with other monies, was laid out in 
 1633, in purchasing a tenement, garden, and one 
 acre of pasture-ground, situate in Corn Street, 
 Witney, to the uses of the donor's will. Of the 
 rent fifteen shillings a-year is paid to the minister 
 for reading prayers and preaching a sermon on the 
 10th of March; five shillings to the clerk; five 
 shillings to the ringers ; and fifteen shillings is 
 distributed at the church, with other money, in 
 small sums to the poor. 
 
 M 5 
 
250 REMARKABLE CHARITIES. 
 
 The same mode of distribution has prevailed for 
 a great number of years. — VI. p. 453. 
 
 There was a similar gift by the same donor to 
 the parish of St. Mary Magdalen, Oxford ; but 
 the Commissioners report, that since 1800 nothing 
 has been paid in respect of this Charity ; and the 
 name of William Handy has been erased from the 
 Table of Benefactions ! I— VI. p. 434. 
 
 ENCOURAGEMENT TO ATTEND DIVINE SERVICE, AND 
 LIVE IN THE FEAR OF GOD. 
 
 St. James's, Bristol, 
 
 Thomas Walker, of this parish, by his will, 
 dated 25th April, 1666, ordered as follows : 
 
 " Item, I give and bequeath to that poor parish 
 of St. James the sum of £200, to purchase for 
 ever the sum of £10. 8s. a year for eight poor 
 housekeepers^ that are known to live in the fear 
 of God, and to come unto the church every Lorfs 
 Day, a sixpenny loaf of bread every Sabbath Day, 
 after morning prayer, unto these eight poor house- 
 keepers for ever; but, for God's sake, let them be 
 no drunkards nor common swearers ; no, nor that 
 do beg in the streets from door to door ; but let 
 them be quiet people, that do desire to live in the 
 fear of God. Pray let their bread be wheaten bread, 
 and weight as it ought to be/' 
 
 The sum of £200 not being sufficient to pur- 
 
TO INCULCATE A KNOWLEDGE OF GOD. 25 1 
 
 chase an annuity of £10. 8s. clear of taxes, the 
 trustees (under the will) added £8, and purchased 
 a rent-charge of £10. 8s. per annum, issuing out 
 of lands called the Six Closes or Chequer Ground, 
 in the parish of St. James. And care is taken (it 
 is said) to appoint persons of good character to 
 participate of the gift. — IX. p. 412. 
 
 BEQUEST TO INCULCATE A KNOWLEDGE OF GOD 
 AND OUR DUTIES TO MAN. 
 
 Prescot, Lancashire. 
 
 Amongst the papers relating to the Charities of 
 this place, there is an extract from the will of 
 John Wyke (but without date), whereby he gave 
 to his executors £100, to be by them paid to the 
 Trustees of the Prescot Charities, to place such 
 sum out on such securities as they and the Jury of 
 Prescot Court should think proper, the interest 
 to be applied at the discretion and appointment 
 of the said Trustees and Jury, with the vicar and 
 churchwardens of the same parish for the time 
 being, in causing poor children, living in any part 
 of the parish of Prescot, to be instructed in the 
 English tongue, writing, arithmetic, mathematics, 
 and particularly mechanics, and also in purchasing 
 of godly books demonstrating the infinite perfections 
 of the one only supreme God, and teaching the 
 duties we naturally owe to Him as such, and to 
 
 
252 REMARKABLE CHARITIES. 
 
 each other as equally the work of His hands;*" 
 which books he desired to be fixed in the parish 
 church of Prescot for public use, or be distri- 
 buted amongst poor families in the said parish, 
 and in purchasing of bread to be distributed in the 
 said church to the poor attending divine worship 
 there. 
 
 The Commissioners were informed that this 
 legacy was received on 14th February, 1793, and 
 laid out upon a new weighing machine upon the 
 premises called the Rose and Crown, and that for 
 several years subsequently to 1795, £4. 10s. per 
 annum was paid to the schoolmaster of the Gram- 
 mar School in Prescot, as the interest of this 
 legacy ; and four boys were appointed to be 
 taught free, on account thereof; and the same in- 
 terest is now considered as forming part of the 
 salary paid to the master out of the general ac- 
 count of the Charities of the place, more particu- 
 larly referred to and detailed in the Commissioners 5 
 Report.— XXI. p. 222. 
 
 * Father of Light and Life ! thou Good Supreme ! 
 O teach me what is good ! teach me Thyself ! 
 Save me from folly, vanity, and vice, 
 From every low pursuit ! and feed my soul 
 With knowledge, conscious peace, and virtue pure ; 
 Sacred, substantial, never-fading bliss ! 
 
 Thomson. 
 
CHARITY FOR PRINTERS. 253 
 
 We close this account of Remarkable Charities 
 with the benefaction of one whose name ranks 
 high amongst the professors of that noble art by- 
 means of which the knowledge of the good deeds 
 of our forefathers are communicated to posterity. 
 
 A CHARITY FOR THE BENEFIT OF PRINTERS. 
 
 London. 
 
 William Bowyer, esquire, by his will, dated 30th 
 July, 1777? gave to the Company of Stationers, 
 London, such a sum of money as would purchase 
 £2000 three per cent, reduced annuities, upon 
 trust, to pay the dividends equally, amongst three 
 printers, compositors or pressmen, to be elected, 
 from time to time, by the Master, Wardens, and 
 Assistants of the said Company, and who at the 
 time of such election should be 63 years old or up- 
 wards, for their respective lives, to be paid half 
 yearly, hoping that such as should be most deserv- 
 ing would be preferred; and after reciting that 
 he had, by his will, given to his son the sum of 
 £3000 four per cent, consolidated annuities, in 
 case he married with the consent of his (the testa- 
 tor's) executors, he thereby gave and bequeathed 
 the dividends and interest of that sum till such 
 marriage should take place, to the said Company 
 of Stationers, to be divided equally between six 
 other printers, compositors or pressmen as afore- 
 
254 REMARKABLE CHARITIES. 
 
 said; in manner as aforesaid ; and if his son should 
 die unmarried, or married without such consent as 
 aforesaid, then he gave and bequeathed the said 
 capital sum of £3000 to the said Company of Sta- 
 tioners, the dividends and yearly produce thereof 
 to be divided, for ever, amongst six other such old 
 printers, compositors or pressmen, for their re- 
 spective lives, to be qualified, chosen, and paid, in 
 manner as aforesaid. 
 
 The testator then proceeds in the following 
 words : 
 
 5 It has long been to me matter of concern, 
 that such numbers are put apprentices as compo- 
 sitors without any share of school learning, who 
 ought to have the greatest. In hopes of remedying 
 this, I give and bequeath to the said Company of 
 Stationers, such a sum of money as will purchase 
 £1000 three per Cent. Reduced Bank Annuities, 
 for the use of one journeyman compositor, such 
 as shall hereafter be described; with this special 
 trust, that the Master, Wardens, and Assistants, 
 shall pay the dividends and produce thereof, half 
 yearly, to such compositor. The said Master, 
 Wardens, and Assistants of the said Company, 
 shall nominate for this purpose a Compositor 
 who is a man of good life and conversation, who 
 shall usually frequent some place of public worship 
 every Sunday, unless prevented by sickness, and 
 shall not have worked on a newspaper or maga- 
 
CHARITY FOR PRINTERS. 255 
 
 zine for four years at least before such nomina. 
 tion, nor shall ever afterwards whilst he holds 
 this annuity , which may be for life if he continues 
 a journeyman. 
 
 " He shall be able to read and construe Latin, 
 and at least to read Greek fluently, with accents ; 
 of which he shall bring a testimonial from the 
 Rector of Saint Martin's Ludgate for the time 
 being. I could wish that he shall have been 
 brought up piously and virtuously, if it be pos- 
 sible at Merchant Taylors 5 , or some other public 
 school, from seven years of age till he is full 
 seventeen, and then to serve seven years faith- 
 fully as a compositor, and work seven years more 
 as a journeyman, as I would not have this an- 
 nuity bestowed on any one under 31 years of age. 
 If after he is chosen he should behave ill, let him 
 be turned out, and another chosen in his stead. 
 And whereas it may be many years before a 
 compositor may be found that shall exactly answer 
 the above description, and it may at some times 
 happen that such a one cannot be found, I would 
 have the dividends in the mean time applied to 
 such person as the Master, Wardens, and As- 
 sistants, shall think approaches nearest to what I 
 have described." 
 
 And he gave to the Company, in case they 
 should think proper to accept the trust, £250. 
 
 The several sums above mentioned were trans- 
 
256 REMARKABLE CHARITIES. 
 
 ferred to the Company by Mr. Bowyer's execu- 
 tors. The 4 per cent, consols have since been 
 reduced to 3 per cent., and there is now the sum 
 of £6000 3 per cent, reduced annuities standing 
 in the name of the Company, applicable to these 
 charities. 
 
 The dividends amount to £180 a-year, £60 
 whereof is disposed of in half-yearly pensions to 
 three printers, compositors or pressmen, £20 per 
 annum to each. 
 
 The sum of £90 is disposed of in like manner 
 to six other persons of the same description, £15 
 per annum to each ; and £30 is paid to a pen- 
 sioner appointed under the last clause of the tes- 
 tator's will. These persons are all elected by the 
 Court of Assistants, to whom petitions are pre- 
 sented, stating the qualifications of the candidates, 
 according to the terms prescribed, and the circum- 
 stances that are thought to render them fit objects 
 of the charity. Mr. Henry Leslie, the pensioner 
 receiving £30 yearly, was appointed in 1839, 
 when, as appears by an entry in the Court-book, 
 he and all the candidates produced a certificate 
 from the rector of St. Martin, Ludgate, as re- 
 quired by the will.— XXII. p. 83. 
 
 The example set by Mr. Bowyer has been fol- 
 lowed by several other liberal benefactors for 
 the benefit of poor Printers. 
 
 William Strahan, esq. left by will, in 1784, 
 £1000. 
 
CHARITY FOR PRCNTERS. 257 
 
 Andrew Strahan, esq. gave in his lifetime, in 
 1815, £1225, 4 per cent, annuities; and in 18 J 8, 
 gave a second benefaction of £1000 4 per cent. 
 
 John Nichols, esq. gave in his lifetime in 1817? 
 £500 4 per cent, annuities. 
 
 Luke Hansard, esq. in July 1818, gave £1000 
 4 per cents.; and in September 1818, gave a 
 second benefaction of £1500 3 per cents. 
 
 Beale Blackwell, esq. gave by will in 1817* 
 £100 a-year. 
 
 Charles Whittingham, esq. gave by will in 
 1840, £2000 3 per cent. Consols. 
 
 The interest of all these several sums are dis- 
 tributed to poor Printers by the Court of As- 
 sistants of the Company of Stationers. 
 
259 
 
 I. INDEX OF PLACES. 
 
 Aber Daron, 216. 
 Albury, 51. 
 Alcester, 159. 
 Alresford, 75. 
 Alrewas, 35. 
 Andover, 136". 
 Ashborne, 42. 
 Assington, 30. 
 Babington, 68. 
 Bamborough Castle, 79. 
 Barnes, 228. 
 Barr, Great, 57. 
 Barton, 223. 
 Bebington, 68. 
 Bedford, 167, 179, 182. 
 Bexley, 2. 
 Biddenden, 60. 
 Biddenham, 64. 
 Bidford, 129. 
 Bolton, 114. 
 Bowes, 101. 
 Boxted, 135. 
 Braughing, 102. 
 Bridford, 234. 
 Bridgnorth, 2. 
 Bristol, 103, 170. 
 
 St. James's, 172, 250. 
 
 St. John, 174. 
 
 Brixton, 106. 
 Brougham, 231. 
 Bulkeley, 118. 
 Burford, 137. 
 
 Burgh St. Margaret, 14. 
 
 Burnham, 4. 
 
 Bushey, 28. 
 
 Cambridge, St. Andrew, 171. 
 
 Canterbury, 138. 
 
 Castle Donnington, 112. 
 
 Castlerigg, 63. 
 
 Charlton, 169. 
 
 Chislet, 222. 
 
 Cirencester, 118. 
 
 Clavering, 6. 
 
 Claverley, 220. 
 
 Clee, 217. 
 
 Cliffe Pypard, 119. 
 Clifton Reynes, 120. 
 Coleshill, 97, 209. 
 Cowley, 212. 
 Coxwell, Great, 40. 
 Cropredy, 224. 
 Croydon, 214. 
 Dacre, 114. 
 Danby, 108. 
 Deptford, 218. 
 Ditchampton, 197. 
 Dover, St. Mary, 95. 
 Drayton Beauchamp, 121. 
 Dronfield, 7. 
 Ducklington, 14. 
 Dunmow, Little, 1. 
 Duxfords, 8. 
 Eaton Bray, 33. 
 Edgcott, 122. 
 Edlesborough, 18. 
 Eton, 239. 
 Exeter, 4, 139. 
 Exning, 35. 
 Farnsfield, 209. 
 Farnham Royal, 9. 
 Felsted, 9. 
 Fenny Stratford, 59. 
 Forebridge, 2. 
 Giggleswick, 26. 
 Glenfield, 219. 
 Glentham, 100. 
 Gloucester, 38. 
 
 St. Michael's, 161, 
 
 164, 235. 
 Godmanchester, 15, 31. 
 Godstone, 15. 
 Gonerby, Great, 122. 
 Grateley, 228. 
 Guilford, 141, 144. 
 Hallaton, 101. 
 Hampstead, 16. 
 Harlington, 27. 
 Harrow, 177. 
 Haslingfield, 208. 
 Henbury, 173. 
 
260 
 
 INDEX OF PLACES. 
 
 Hentland, 207. 
 Hereford, 17,76, 162. 
 Hilderstone, 158. 
 Holker, Upper, 123. 
 Horley, 20. 
 Hornchurch, 22. 
 Hunmanby, 49. 
 Huntingdon, 201. 
 Huntley, 237. 
 Husborne Crawley, 116. 
 Ince, 36. 
 
 Kidderminster, 241. 
 Kirby, West, 69. 
 Langton, 198. 
 Leicester, 160. 
 
 All Saints, 110. 
 
 LlanGybi, 238. 
 London, 76. 188. 253. 
 
 Drapers' Company, 211. 
 
 ■ Fishmongers' Company, 
 
 10. 
 — — — — Goldsmiths' Company, 
 
 40. 
 
 • "Weavers' Company, 60. 
 
 — ■■ St. Andrew, Holborn, 
 
 47. 166. 
 
 St. Andrew, Undershaft, 
 
 164. 
 
 St. Bartholomew by the 
 
 Royal Exchange, 22. 
 
 V St. Botolph, 98. 
 
 Christchurch, Spital- 
 
 fields, 54. 
 St. Clement's, East- 
 cheap, 246. 
 
 St. Dunstan in the West, 
 
 123. 
 
 — St. James, Westminster, 
 
 117. 
 
 St. Magnus, 166. 
 
 St. Margaret, Westmin- 
 ster, 196. 
 
 St. Michael, Crooked 
 
 Lane, 99. 
 
 St. Sepulchre, 127. 
 
 Shoreditch, 131. 
 
 Lugwardine, 176. 
 
 Maidenhead, 146. 
 
 Margate, 11, 175. 
 
 Market Lavington, 244. 
 
 Marston, 70. 
 Melbourne, 111. 
 Meltonby, 57. 
 Minehead, 71. 
 Nevern, 24. 
 Newark, 205. 
 Newmarket, 12, 190. 
 Newnham, 240, 247. 
 Nicholas, St. Nottingham, 160. 
 Northampton, 191. 
 Norwich, St. Giles, 21, 227. 
 Ottery St. Mary, 192. 
 Ouseburn, Little, 116. 
 Oxburgh, 124. 
 Oxford, 146. 
 
 St. Giles, 249. 
 
 Paddington, 19. 
 
 Peterchurch, 222. 
 
 Piddle Hinton, 2. 
 
 Prescot, 251. 
 
 Presteign, 225. 
 
 Prince's Risborough, 66. 
 
 Queenborough, 96. 
 
 Rasen, West, 226. 
 
 Reading, 147, 150, 153, 155. 
 
 Redcliffe, St. Mary, 216. 
 
 Ringwould, 226. 
 
 Rotherfield, Sussex, 28. 
 
 Rothley, 201. 
 
 Ruardean, 6. 
 
 St. Giles in the Wood, Devon* 
 
 shire, 29. 
 St. Margaret's, Kent, 225. 
 Sawston, 34. 
 Shaugh, 124. 
 Shepton Mallet, 107. 
 Shere, 200. 
 Shustock, 125. 
 Slapton, 125. 
 Slindon, 129. 
 Slinfold, 39. 
 South Pool, 113. 
 Stanley, 215. 
 Staughton, Great, 30. 
 Stanton-upon-Wye, 176. 
 Stockton-in-the-Forest, 41. 
 Stroud, 170. 
 Swaffham-Bulbeck, 26. 
 Swerrord, 18. 
 Tainton, 25. 
 
INDEX OF PLACES. 
 
 261 
 
 Tewkesbury, 230. 
 Thorpe St. Peter's, 62. 
 Thruxton, 115. 
 Tottenham, 13. 
 Trysull, 221. 
 Twickenham, 65. 
 Upton St. Leonard, 25. 
 Waddesdon, 73. 
 Walsall, 55. ■ 
 Wandsworth, 78. 
 Wargrave, 156, 157. 
 Warwick, 53. 
 Wellington, 52. 
 Westbere, 17. 
 Westbury, 163. 
 Weston, Old, 220. 
 Wetheringsett, 23. 
 Whitsbury, 47. 
 
 Whittlesford, 37. 
 Williamscot, 59. 
 Wilmington, 32. 
 Wilton with Ditchampton, 19' 
 Wingrave, 219. 
 Wiokfield, 178. 
 Winterslow, 48. 
 Witchingham, Great, 34. 
 Wokingham, 63, 202. 
 Wolverhampton, 221. 
 Woodchurch, 74. 
 Woodstock, 58, 99. 
 Wootton, 23-3. 
 Yapham cum Meltonby, 57. 
 Yardley, 23. 
 Yarm, 230. 
 York, 50, 204. 
 
262 
 
 II. INDEX OF DONORS. 
 
 Aldridge, Richard, 170. 
 Annesley, Martin, 153. 
 Archer, Henry, 53. 
 Archer, John, 12. 
 Axe, Thomas, 192. 
 Balliston, John, 21. 
 Barber, Robert, 208. 
 Barker, Susan, 214. 
 Beddoes, John, 225. 
 Bedell, James, 8. 
 Betton, Thomas, 131. 
 Bevis, Richard, 139. 
 Blackwell, Beale, 257. 
 Blanch, John, 164. 
 Bowyer, W. 253. 
 Brecknell, John, 243. 
 Brooke, Richard, 221. 
 Butler, George, 97- 
 Chalkhurst, Eliza and Mary, 61. 
 Chaloner, W. 230. 
 Chambers, Susanna, 166. 
 Clapham, W. 26. 
 Cocks, Sir R. and Sarah, 58. 
 Cogan, John, 138. 
 Cole, Thomas, 65. 
 Collier, David, 40. 
 Coningsby, Sir T. 76. 
 Cooke, John, 99. 
 Cook, Elizabeth, 171. 
 Cooper, Edward, 39. 
 Craswell, Thomas, 191. 
 Crewe. Lord, 79. 
 Crowsham, Richard, 22. 
 Dagnall, Barnard, 212. 
 Dalby, W. 13. 
 Dare, Leonard, 113. 
 Delafaye, Charles, 47. 
 Dickenson, Edward, 196. 
 Digby, Ann, 209. 
 Dixon, Henry, 211. 
 Dovey, Richard, 220. 
 Dowe, Robert, 127. 
 Dudley, Duchess Alicia, 129. 
 Dynevor, Lord, 25. 
 Edwards, Moses, 176. 
 
 Evelyn, James, 15. 
 Farr, John, 174. 
 Fermor, Sir H. 28. 
 Fortescue, Edward, 106. 
 Frethern, James, 137. 
 Gale, Mr. 28. 
 Gatton, Thomas, 200. 
 Geffry, Walter, 227. 
 George, Mrs. 25. 
 Gisborne, Francis, 42. 
 Glanville, W. 233. 
 Goodaker, James, 74. 
 Goodman, Valentine, 101. 
 Grainger, Robert, 15. 
 Gray, Thomas, 112. 
 Greene, Henry, 111. 
 Hall, Edward, 234. 
 
 John, 60. 
 
 Halliday, Robert, 246. 
 H anbury, William, 198. 
 Handy, W. 249. 
 Hanson, Catharine, 136. 
 
 James, 114. 
 
 Harding, Robert, 10. 
 Harpur, Sir W. 179. 182. 
 Hansard, Luke, 257. 
 Hatch, Thomas, 178. 
 Hawkins, Samuel, 237. 240. 
 Hayne, Thomas, 160. 
 Higgs, W. 22. 
 
 — Samuel, 209. 
 
 Hill, Sarah, 157. 
 How, John, 141. 
 Hulme, W. 68. 
 Hunt, Sir Thomas, 158. 
 Huntingdon, John, 34. 
 Jackson, Luke, 160. 
 Jarvis, George, 176. 
 
 John, 175. 
 
 Jocham, James, 247. 
 Jones, Charles, 238. 
 Kendricke, John, 147. 
 Kite, Sir Hugh, 120. 
 Knyghton, Thomas, 125. 
 
INDEX OF DONORS. 
 
 263 
 
 Lane, Richard, otherwise Tom- 
 
 son, 162. 
 Langham, Sir John, 76. 
 Laud, Archbishop, 150. 
 Lupton, Roger, 224. 
 Lyon, John, 177. 
 Marden, Giles, 161. 
 Martyn, John, 4. 
 Mason, Mary, 2. 
 Mathews, Richard, 118. 
 Millington, Frances, 78. 
 Minta, W. 122. 
 Nash, Ezekiel, 172. 
 Newton, Ann, 117. 
 Nichols, John, 257. 
 Nicholson, John, 188. 
 Norrice, W. 110. 
 Palmer, Richard, 202. 
 Palmerston, Lord, 169. 
 Parsons, John, 144. 
 Pattenden, Thomas, 95. 
 Perram, John, 190. 
 Pocock, Ann, 146. 
 Popham, Sir John, 52. 
 Popple, John, 4. 
 Porter, Edmund, 75. 
 Pote, Joseph, 239. 
 Rabanke, Samuel, 108. 
 
 Randell, , 18. 
 
 Rich, Lord, 9. 
 
 Richardson, , 36. 
 
 Rogers, W. 24. 
 Rolie, Lord, 29. 
 Rose, Edward, 228. 
 Rudge, John, 221. 
 Salter, David, 9. 
 Saul, Thomas, 20. 
 Sellon, Walter, 157. 
 Shepherd, John, 23. 
 
 Spackman, Thomas, 119. 
 Spencer, W. 216. 
 Staverton, George, 63. 
 Sterry, Anthony, 6. 
 Stevenson, Richard, 7. 
 Strahan, W. 256. 
 
 Andrew, 257. 
 
 Strelley, Philip, 75. 
 Strode, Mr. 107. 
 Sumption, Richard, 197. 
 Sutton, Dorothy, 116. 
 Tanner, Bishop Thomas, 244 a 
 Taylor, W. 2. 
 Thake, John, 6. 
 Townsend, Elizabeth, 163. 
 Tracy, W. and Susan Barker, 
 
 214. 
 Troutbeck, John, 114. 
 Tuck, Thomas, 166. 
 Veasey, Rachel, 155. 
 Vick, W. 103. 
 Walker, Thomas, 250. 
 Wall, Matthew, 102. 
 Wandesford, Mary, 50. 
 Wardall, John, 98. 
 Watts, Ann, 62. 
 Wharton, Philip Lord, 204. 
 
 Whiteing, , 241. 
 
 Whittingham, Charles, 257„ 
 Whorwood, Robert, 146. 
 Whitbread, Samuel, 167. 
 White, Bishop Thomas, 205, 
 Wilcox, Robert, 159. 
 Williamson, Thomas, 63. 
 Willowes, John, 201. 
 Wilson, W. £30. 
 Wiltshire, Gregory, 38. 
 Winterflood, John, 30. 
 Wyke, John, 251. 
 
264 
 
 III. INDEX OF SUBJECTS. 
 
 Ale, 4, 6, 26, 65, 120,121, 122, 
 126. 
 
 Ale and bread for children, 14. 
 
 Alms cow, 73. 
 
 Apple pies, 14, 144. 
 
 Apprentices, 59, 90, 182, 188. 
 
 Archery, encouragement of, 136. 
 
 Atonement, 214. 
 
 Auxiliary Charity, 22. 
 
 Bachelors' money, 101. 
 
 Bacon, Flitch of, 1. 
 
 Barley Cobbs, 25. 
 
 Benefaction of, to pro- 
 mote education, 40. 
 
 Bastard children, 103. 
 
 Battles commemorated, 159, 160, 
 161, 170,172. 
 
 Beans and Barley, 33, 62. 
 
 Beef, 2,16, 21,24, 37, 57. 
 
 Beef and Barley, 24. 
 
 Beef, plum-pudding, and ale, 22. 
 
 Beer, 14, 17, 21,65, 122. 
 
 Beggar's charity, 123, 129. 
 
 Bell-ringing, 6, 23, 27, 99, 175, 
 203,226, 249. 
 
 Bell-rope land, 115. 
 
 Beneficial Charity, 47. 
 
 Benevolence encouraged, 118. 
 
 Bequest, singular condition an- 
 nexed to a, 122. 
 
 Bible given to encourage learn- 
 ing, 201. 
 
 Biddenden's Maid's Charity, 60. 
 
 Blankets, 11. 
 
 Boteler's Bull Charity, 64. 
 
 Boundary custom, 116, 120. 
 
 Boys to keep quiet in church, 
 221. 
 
 Bread, 2, 6, 7,9, 12, 13, 14, 15, 
 17, 19,20, 24,25,57,61,113, 
 171,173,228. 
 
 Bread and ale for children, 14. 
 
 Bread and cheese lands, 17, 19, 22. 
 
 Bread and herrings for the poor 
 in Lent, 9. (See Herrings.) 
 
 Bread, beer, beef, and broth, 21. 
 
 Bread for all, 18. 
 
 Bread, herrings, and blankets, 
 11. 
 
 Bridge building, 103. 
 
 British slaves, redemption of, 
 129, 131. 
 
 Brookes' bequest to keep boys 
 quiet in church, 221. 
 
 Broth, 15, 21. 
 
 Brotherly love, 246. 
 
 Bull-baiting, 63. 
 
 Bull and boar, 66. 
 
 Bunyan, John, gift in commemo- 
 ration of, 167. 
 
 Cake and ale, 25, 122. 
 
 Cat and dog money, 54. 
 
 Catechism, acquirement of it en- 
 couraged. 208. 
 
 Charitable Memory, 113, 114. 
 
 Charity, singular mode of distri- 
 buting, 118. 
 
 auxiliary, 22. 
 
 beneficial, 47. 
 
 ill-directed, 176. 
 
 indiscriminate, 16, 17, 
 
 19,34,35, 55. 
 
 medicinal, 47. 
 
 Cheese, 22, 28, 61. 
 
 Christmas beef, 4. 
 
 Christmas dinner money, 57. 
 
 Christmas festivities, 2, 3, 4, 5. 
 
 mince pie at, 6. 
 
 plum-pudding for, 4. 
 
 welcoming, 6. 
 
 Clock land, 208, 2^4. 
 
 Cloth, 42. 
 
INDEX OF SUBJECTS. 
 
 265 
 
 Coals, 2, 19, 53. 
 
 Cook, Captain, commemoration 
 
 of, 171. 
 Cow charity, 68, 69, 71, 74. 
 
 common, 70. 
 
 Cowley church and churchyard, 
 
 212. 
 Curfew bell, 223, 224, 225, 226, 
 
 227. 
 Custom money, 57. 
 Day bell, 224, 225. 
 Death and Resurrection, 203. 
 Ding dong land, 226. 
 Dinners, 2, 3, 23, 57. 
 Dixon's partiality for family 
 
 name, 211. 
 Dog and cat money, 54. 
 Dog whippers, 220, 221, 222, 
 
 273. 
 Dole for all, 55. 
 Dole, bountiful, 17, 56. 
 Domine, quis habitabit ? 119. 
 Donor, unknown, 116. 
 Dress, curious, 107. 
 Drinking, 39. 
 
 Drowned men, widow of, 95, 96. 
 Drunkards to be rejected, 250, 
 
 308. 
 Duck, Stephen, the poet, 169. 
 Dunmow custom, 1. 
 Early rising, 201, 202. 
 Elizabeth, Queen, 159. 
 Elm timber growing, 106. 
 English Christian slaves, 129. 
 Example, good, 230. 
 Faggots, 12, 16, 61. 
 Farthing charity, 241. 
 Fear of God, 250. 
 Feast, bread and cheese, 17. 
 Feast for all, 59. 
 Feast for the poor, 18, 23. 
 Figs, 26. 
 Fire, deliverance from, 164, 165, 
 
 166, 167. 
 Fish in Lent, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 
 
 12, 13, 28-. 
 Fish, 28. 
 Fish cuttings, 10. 
 Flannel, 42. 
 Flour, 61. 
 
 Flowers on grave, 228. 
 Football land, 135. 
 Formality, 110. 
 
 Funerals, bequest in aid of, 125 
 Gang Monday land, 122. 
 George IV. King, memory of, 
 
 175. 
 Gloves, kid, bequest of, 9. 
 Gon to be glorified, 237, 238, 
 
 239, 247, 248, 249, 250. 
 God to be feared, 250. 
 God, his infinite perfections to 
 
 be demonstrated, 251. 
 God to be praised, 237. 
 God, wisdom of, in the creation, 
 
 231. 
 God's mercy, 245. 
 Gift, Ellen Mabbott's, 124. 
 Gisborne, the Rev. Francis, a 
 
 benefactor to 100 places, 42. 
 Gratitude, 53, 164, 166, 172, 
 
 223, 238, 239. 
 Green colours, 111. 
 Grime, Molly, washing, 100. 
 Growing charity, 106. 
 Good behaviour in boys, 117. 
 Halfpenny bread, 15. 
 Hanbury's bequests, 198. 
 Handful, money distributed by 
 
 the, 118. 
 Hanging money, 125. 
 Hay for church, 219, 22. 
 Head silver, 125. 
 Herrings, bequests of, 6, 7, 8, 
 
 9, 10, 11, 12, 13. 
 Horse racing, 190. 
 Humility enjoined, 246. 
 Idolatry reproved, 237. 
 Irishwomen, 47. 
 Indiscriminate charity 16, 17, 19, 
 
 34, 35, 55. 
 Judges of the Common Pleas, 
 
 123. 
 Justice, mercy, and goodness to 
 
 be enjoined, 240. 
 Lamentation of a sinner, 122. 
 Learning, stimulant to, 116. 
 Light for such as walk in dark- 
 ness, 98. 
 Light for night travellers, 98, 99. 
 N 
 
266 
 
 INDEX OF SUBJECTS. 
 
 Lord's Prayer to be correctly re- 
 peated, 206, 209, 233. 
 
 Lot casting, 142, 143, 148, 149, 
 151, 153, 155. 
 
 Lottery luck, 58. 
 
 Love feasts, 60. 
 
 Loyalty, 21, 158, 159*, 174. 
 
 Lying-in women, 47. 
 
 Maids, old, 50, 100. 
 
 Malt, 37, 65, 66. 
 
 Matrimony, 139, 196, 197. 
 
 Marriage portions, 177 to 194. 
 
 Medical aid, 47. 
 
 Memorial, parting, 231. 
 
 Mercy, 240. 
 
 Meslin, 30. 
 
 Milk, 75. 
 
 Mince pies, 6. 
 
 Miserable, most, 101. 
 
 Molly Grime, 100. 
 
 Moserley's dole, 551. 
 
 Music 162, 199. 
 
 Musical remembrance, 163. 
 
 Mustard and vinegar, 57. 
 
 Mutton, 63. 
 
 Nelson, Lord, 170, 171. 
 
 Nicholson's love of family name, 
 188. 
 
 Nine, partiality for, 108. 
 
 Oatmeal, 36. 
 
 Ostentation, family, 114. 
 
 Parish bull, 65. 
 
 Parliament, act of, strange, 71. 
 
 Parliament, Member of, his gra- 
 titude, 53. 
 
 Parson's horse money, 47. 
 
 Paternoster penny, 209. 
 
 Patriotism, 159, 160. 
 
 Paupers, various, 101. 
 
 Peace gift, 207. 
 
 Peace & good will, 241, 244,246. 
 
 Peas, 11, 32,34. 
 
 Pepper money, 57. 
 
 Penitence, 234. 
 
 Penny charity to all, 55. 
 
 Petticoat land, 41. 
 
 Picture gallery, 198. 
 
 Pies, mince, custom, 6. 
 
 Plum cakes, 26. 
 
 Plums for puddings, 5. 
 
 Plum pudding, 23. 
 
 Pomposity, 102. 
 
 Popham's, Sir J. almshouses, 52. 
 
 Poor men's land, 48. 
 
 Pork, 27. 
 
 Prayers, 23, 158, 235. 
 
 Property, singular acquisition of, 
 123. 
 
 Provident habits encouraged, 192. 
 
 Prisoners condemned, 127. 
 
 Printers encouraged, 253. 
 
 Powder plot, 159, 161. 
 
 Propagation of religious know- 
 ledge, 204. 
 
 Queen Elizabeth, 159. 
 
 Reconciling feast, 60. 
 
 Reform Act, bequest to comme- 
 morate, 176. 
 
 Religious knowledge, 204. 
 
 Resurrection, thoughts of, 203. 
 
 Roses in church-yards, 228. 
 
 Rushes in churches, 216, 217, 
 218, 219. 
 
 Rye, 31, 35. 
 
 Sacramental wine, 215, 216. 
 
 Schools, 135. 
 
 Seamen, distressed, 76, 79. 
 
 Seamen, shipwrecked, 79. 
 
 Seamen's friend, 78. 
 
 Sermons, 159, 160,161, 164, 165, 
 166, 167, 170, 171, 173, 200, 
 216, 230, 234, 235, 237, 240, 
 245, 248, 249. 
 
 Servants, men, rewards to, 157. 
 
 Servants, maid, rewards to, 137 to 
 155. 
 
 Shoes and stockings, 63. 
 
 Shipwrecks, 79, 85,96. 
 
 Slavery, redemption from, 129, 
 131, 132, 133, 134. 
 
 Sleepers in church, 220, 221. 
 
 Snuff and tobacco, 4. 
 
 Soldiers, 75, 76. 
 
 Spanish Armada, 159, 161. 
 
 St. Martin's Day, 59. 
 
 Straw for church, 218. 
 
 Stephening money, 121. 
 
 Stockings and shoes, 63. 
 
 Stone-picking money, 59. 
 
 Task, a, 200. 
 
INDEX OF SUBJECTS. 
 
 267 
 
 Task, religious, 205, 209. 
 
 Thankfulness, 160, 165, 249. 
 
 Thrashers, 169. 
 
 Tithes, 33. 
 
 Tobacco and snuff, 4, 17. 
 
 Tolerance, 230. 
 
 Trafalgar, battle of, 170, 171. 
 
 Travellers' guide, 99, 203, 223. 
 
 Travellers' rest, 97. 
 
 Trees, a growing charity, 106. 
 
 Turkies, 60. 
 
 Veal, 62. 
 
 Veal pies, 14. 
 
 Vinegar, 57. 
 
 Unkindness reproved, 237. 
 Walk money, 124. 
 Wellington charity fund, 173. 
 Wet day, provision for, 63. 
 Wharton, Ld. gift of Bibles, 204. 
 Wheat, 15, 18, 28,29,30,31, 
 
 32, 33, 66. 
 Wheat and barley, 30, 31 . 
 Whitsuntide beer, 65. 
 Wine for Sacrament, 215, 216. 
 Wine, 38, 215, 216. 
 Widows' hospital, 49. 
 Widow, oldest, bequest to, 51. 
 Widows of drowned men, 95. 
 
 THE END. 
 
LONDON : 
 J. B. NICHOLS AND SON, PRINTERS, 25, PARLIAMENT STREET. 
 
 
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