Merris of Salisbury, Wiltshire

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All details here MUST be checked against original documents.

No idea if these Merris and Morris and various other derivations are the same family

1456 John Marris, chaplain 1456–1509, was apparently summoned to testify during the canonization process of St. Osmund.
A History of the County of Wiltshire: Volume 15: Amesbury hundred, Branch and Dole hundred

1530 Wylliam Meris baptism/christening date: 12 Oct 1530
Saint Thomas, Salisbury, Wiltshire, England father's name: Thomas Meris

1562 08-Jun Hugh Mawris == Mercy Harrison at St Martin, Salisbury

1616 28th November Osmond Merriss === Lucie Maunsicke at Saint Thomas, Salisbury, Wiltshire

1672 John son of Joseph Merris. Baptism: 27th Apr 1672 - at Calne, Wiltshire

1698 John Morrice == Elisabeth Painter. Marriage: 17th Jun 1714 at Swindon, Wiltshire

1707 John Morris == ? Mathew 22nd December 1707 at Bemerton, Wiltshire

1723 John Morrice == Rebekka Potinger 6th October 1723 at Urchfont, Wiltshire

1730 William Merris == Mary Silvester 15th October 1730 at Devizes, Wiltshire

1743 Name: John Morris == Jean Grifen May 1743 at Fisherton Anger, Wiltshire

1743 Name: John Morris == Margret Hind 16th Oct 1743 at Bemerton, Wiltshire

1756 John Morris son of Walter and Rebecca Morris at Bemerton, Salisbury, Wiltshire

1769 Anne Merris == John Taylor 29th January 1769 at St Martin, Salisbury, Wiltshire

1790 John Merris == Elizabeth Paine 1790 at Alderbury, Wiltshire

1831 Page 13 1831 - - - Thomas Merris Shergold. jun. of New Sarum, shoemaker. ... Thomas
Merris Shergold the elder, gentleman, and Stephen Mills, of Elstone, ...
Stephen Merris Mills of Elstone House, Orcheston St. George, Wiltshire was a first cousin through
the Merris family) In 1841 with an estate of tithes in Chirton, to Stephen Mills,(Uncle by marriage of
Thomas Merris Shergold) who in that year held 1,117 a. in Orcheston St. Mary. (fn. 63) Mills (d. 1857)
was succeeded by his sister Martha Mills (fn. 64)(d. 1903), who sold 676 a. to the War Department
in 1897 and devised the remainder to her cousin Frederick Mills (fn. 65) (d. 1914). In 1911 Mills
sold a further 487 a. to the War Department.He devised Rookery farm, 112 a., to his brother Stephen,
who in 1916 sold it toGeorge Williams (d. 1926). Williams's daughter Alice, wife of E. W. Grant, bought
the farm from his executors in 1927(fn. 66) and sold most of it to the War Department in 1934. (fn. 67)
Nearly all of what had been Orcheston St. Mary manor belonged to the Ministry of Defence in 1991. (fn. 68)

1 JOHN MERRIS of Milford, Wiltshire Will dated 8th February 1755. He owned property at Milford, Wiltshire and Mottistone, Isle of Wight.
... + MARGARET
.. 2 THOMAS MERRIS
....... + ELIZABETH SHERGOLD
....... 3 ELIZABETH MERRIS b: Of Salisbury d: Aft. 1814
............ +THOMAS SHERGOLD b: Of Salisbury m: 19 Sep 1777 St Thomas, Salisbury, Wiltshire. d: Abt. 1814 Salisbury, Wiltshire
............ 4 THOMAS MERRIS SHERGOLD b: 18 Aug 1782 Salt Lane Presbytarian, Salisbury, Wiltshire d: Abt. Mar 1840 Salisbury, Wiltshire
................. +HESTER FOX b: (possibly) 30 Mar 1785 Saint Thomas', Salisbury m: 26 Aug 1805 Taunton, Somerset d: Abt. 1852 Salisbury,
................ 5 THOMAS MERRIS SHERGOLD b: Abt. 1808 Salisbury, Wiltshire d: Mar 1876 Temple Parish, Bristol ?
...................... +ELIZA WEAR b: 26 Feb 1808 Salisbury, Wiltshire? m: 23 Feb 1832 Fisherton Anger, Wiltshire d: Aft. 1871 Bristol? (3 x gt grandparents)
................ 5 John Shergold b: Nov 1809 St Edmund's, Salisbury, Wiltshire.
................ 5 William Shergold b: 19 Sep 1810 Salisbury, Wiltshire
...................... +Elizabeth
................ 5 Eliza Shergold b: 14 Dec 1823 Brown Street, Salisbury d: Abt. 1914 Salisbury,Wiltshire

1719 Wiltshire Archaeological and Natural History Society, Records Branch: Volume 17 1968

To John Merris, woolcomber, of Salisbury: 19 Feb. 1719/2o: IC : £11.11.o (24 Feb. 1719/2o: 46/8o). 1753. Oldis, John, S. of
John, yeoman, of Kingston Deverill : to William Moore, clothier, of Wincanton (co. Somerset):. ...

1755

This is the last will and testament of me John Merris of the city of New Sarum in the county of Wiltshire, Gentleman made and published this 8th day of february in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and fifty five as follows to wit, First I give and bequeath the sum of two hundred pounds and all my household goods and furnishings whatsover unto my beloved wife Margaret Merris. Also I give and bequeath unto my said wife the interest to come (?) after the rate of four pounds cont? annum yearly and every year during the term of her natural life to be paid her in half yearly proportions by my excecutor herinafter named and from and after her decease I give and bequeath the said principal sum of one thousand pounds unto and amongst all and every the children of my son Thomas Merris now born or hereafter to be born by his present wife Elizabeth Merris who shall respectively attain to the age of twenty one years and to the survivors or survivor of them as soon as and when he she or they shall repectively attain to that age in case he she or they shall have not attained thereunto at the time of my said wife's decease to be divided amongst them share and share alike if more than one shall live to be entitled thereto and if one only shall live to be entitled thereunto the whole to that one child. But it is my will that if my wife dyes before the said legacy or anyshare thereof shall become payable my said son shall apply the interest thereof to his own use from the time of the decease of my said wife until the same shall become payable Also I give bequeath and confirm the leasehold premesis wherein I now dwell and which are now occupied by Mr John Ware (or possibly Pare) junior and also my leasehold living at Mottistone in the Isle of Wight unto my said wife for and during the term of her natural life and after her descease to the uses of the settlement thereof made on the marriage of my said son And lastly I do give and bequeath all the rest and residue of my personal estate of what nature or kind so ever and wheresoever unto my said son Thomas Merris whom I do hereby constitute and appoint sole excecutor of this my will hereby revoking all former wills in witness whereof I the said John Merris have hereunto set my hand and seal the day and year above written

Signed sealed published and declared by the said testator as and for his last will and testament in the presence of us who subsribed our names and in the presence and at the request of the said testator and in the presence also of eachother as witnesses thereto
Joseph Elderton
William Sheridge jun

[no title] 212B/5989 1776 June 29

Contents:
(1) Dyke, John, clothier
Feake, John, gent.
Merris, Thomas, clothier
Dyke, Daniel, clothier
Carpenter, Joseph, gent.
(2) Gibbs, Thomas, gent.
Harris, Thomas, comb-maker
Wansey, Henry, clothier
Elliotts, Henry, clothier
(2) Hodding, John, gent.
Sutton, Richard, clothier
General Trust Deed concerning same property as in Lease and Release of 1702, Nov. 12, 13; and a new built messuage, erected on the court; and of same property as in Release of 1731, Apr. 17.

Chronological Table of the Private and Personal Acts

Part 13 (1755-1759)

Acts of the Parliaments of Great Britain

John Meres Fagge's estate: conveying of lands in Sussex, upon marriage of his daughter Elizabeth to Sir John Peachy, to Sir William Peere Williams and for settling lands in Kent. John Meres Fagge was the son of Elizabeth widow of John Meres of Glynely, Westham, Sussex by her second husband

St Mary, Westham, East Sussex

"Here lyeth the body of Thomas Fagge who dyed 1700 aged 13 months; also of Mary Fagge who dyed 1706 aged 20 months; also of Allice Fagge who dyed 1708 aged one day. Here lyeth interred the body of Mrs Margaret daughter of Sir Robert Fagge Bart: late of Wiston in this county who died August ? aged 31 years. Also here lyeth ye Body of Elizabeth daughter of Sir Thomas Fagge Esq of glinley who died July ye 22, 1717 aged 21 years Likewise of Thomas son of John Meres Fagge Esq and Allice his wife of glinley who departed this life June 6 1749 aged 18 years

Here lyeth the body of John Meeres, Gent, who depart’d this life the one & twentieth Day of January 1621 aged 81

Beneath is interred the body of Anne, widow of John Beaton of Wiston, who piously departed this life Jan 17, 1709 in the 71st year of her age

Sacred to the memory of John Merres Fagge, of this Parish, Esquire who having fulfilled the duties of a Christian, as husband, parent, friend and guardian and in every other relation of life, as far as frail mortality permits, assigned his soul to his Blessed Redeemer on March 25th 1769 aged 41 and is buried near this pillar.

In the same vault is like wise laid the body of Allice Fagge, his wife, who by an equal discharge of every duty enjoys the eternal reward of piety and virtue. She was daughter of Thomas Woodyer Esqre. And died Oct. 2 nd 1753. aged 55

Here also lies the body of John Meres Fagge, their eldest son, of the Middle Temple Esq and fellow of Trinity Hall Cambridge who, having lived to adorn human nature by his exemplary manners, was unkindly snatched away on 18th May 1750, aged 24.

With these are laid the remains of Tho: Fagge their youngest son who died June the 6th 1749 aged 17 and of Allice Fagge their youngest daughter who die in her infancy

In grateful remembrance of the virtues of her family, this monument is erected by their only surviving child. Dame Elizabeth Peachey. Relict of Sir John Peachey. Bart "

Salisbury and Winchester Journal
Monday, Dec.27, 1819.

On Christmas Eve, John Merris, Esq., of Milford near this city, distributed a very liberal supply of fine mutton amongst
60 poor families in his neighbourhood; a donation which he has been accustomed to make to them for several years past.
On Friday last, bread and beef were distributed to all the poor and labouring families of Bishopston, Wilts, and of Bighton,
Hants, and to some few poor families of Southampton.One hundred loaves of bread, and a considerable quantity of wearing'
apparel, were distributed! amongst the poor of the parish of St.John's, in Devizes, on Tuesday last; the annual gift of the corporation
.- A similar quantity of bread, &c. was at the same time given to the poor of the parish of St.Mary's.
A liberal subscription has been commenced by the landowners and inhabitants of Melksham, towards alleviating the sufferings
of the labouring poor of that populous parish. A subscription to supply the poor of Sturminster with blankets, was a few days since
set on foot by two young ladies of that town.

London Gazette 1824

MILLS v. MILLS.

JOHN MERRIS, by his Will dated the 10th of
April 1819, after giving a Legacy of lOl. and an Annuity 1835: 23d July. miL Construction.

of50/. to Hannah Steven, gave all his Freehold and Residuary Gift. Leasehold Messuages, Tenements, Farms, Lands and Testator gave Hereditaments, and all his ready Money, securities for aH his Free hold and Lease

hold Messuages, Lands and Hereditaments, ready Money, Securities for Money, Stock in the Public Funds, Goods, Chattels and Effects, and all other his Real and Personal Estate and Effects, to Trustees, in Trust to pay the Rents of his Freehold and Leasehold Estates, and the Dividends, Interest and Proceeds of his Money in the Funds and other his said Personal Estate, to his Daughter for life, and, after her death, to stand possessed of his said Freehold and Leasehold Estates, Money in the Funds, and all other his said Real and Personal Estate, for the Children of his Daughter; and, in default of such Children, in Trust to pay the Rents of his said Freehold and Leasehold Estates, and the Dividends, Interest and Proceeds of his said Stock in the Funds and other his said Personal Estate, to his Nephews, fur their lives, and, after their deaths, in Trust to stand possessed of his said Freehold and Leasehold Estates, Money in the Funds and other his said Personal Estate, for their Children ; and, in default of such Children, he gave his said Freehold and Leasehold Estates, Stock in the Public Funds and all other his said Real and Personal Estate, to the Corporation of S., in Trust, as soon as conveniently might be after they should come into Possession thereof, to sell his said Freehold and Leasehold Estates, and also to sell, call in and convert into Money his s.aul Stocks in the Public Funds and all other his said Personal Estate, and to lend the same to certain Persons upon the Terms therein mentioned. The Testator, at the date of his Will and at his death, was possessed of Leasehold Estates, Turnpike Securities, Bank Stock, and other Personal Estate. Held that the Bequest to the Trustees was a general Residuary Bequest, and that the Leaseholds and Bank Stock ought to be sold, and the Proceeds invested in Three per Cents. ; and an Inquiry was diiected, whether the Turnpike Securities were Real and Permanent Securities. Mills

0. Mills.

Money, Stocks in the Public Funds, Goods, Chattels and Effects, and all other his Real and Personal Estate and Effects, whatsoever and wheresoever, to J. Tmner, since deceased, and the Defendants Budd and Blackmare, absolutely, in Trust to pay the Rents, Issues and Profits of his Freehold and Leasehold Estates, and the Dividends, Interest and Proceeds of his Money in the Funds and other his said Personal Estate, unto his Daughter, the Plaintiff, Eliza Mills, for her separate Use, for her Life, and, after her decease, in Trust, out of the Rents and Profits of his said Freehold and Leasehold Estates and the Dividends, Interest and Proceeds of his said Money in the Funds and all other his said Real and Personal Estate and Effects thereinbefore given and devised as aforesaid, to pay unto any Husband of his Daughter that should be living at her decease, an Annuity of 500 /., for bis Life, and, subject thereto, m Trust to stand possessed of his said Freehold and Least- hold Estates, Money in the Funds and all other his said Seal and Personal Estate, for all the Children of his Daughter who should be living; at her decease, and who, being Sons, should attain 21, or, being Daughters, should attain that age or marry: provided that, if any of his Daughter's Children should marry in her Lifetime and die under 21 leaving a Child or Children, then such Grandchild or Grandchildren of his Daughter should receive the Share or Shares of his said Estate and Effects on attaining 21 being a Son or Sons, or, being a Daughter or Daughters, on attaining that age or marrying, which his, her or their Parent or Parents would, if living, have been entitled to: and the Testator empowered his Trustees, after his Daughter's death, to apply the Rente and Profits, Interest, Dividend sand yearly Proceed! of the Shares of the Infant Children or Grandchildren, of his Daughter, of and in his said Estates and Effects, for their Maintenance and Education, or to apply their 1835. Shares of and in his said Estates and Effects, for their . v advancement: and, in case no Child or Grandchild of Mills his Daughter should live to have a vested Interest in M v. his said Freehold and Leasehold Estates, and his said ready Money and other his said Personal Estate, then upon Trust to stand possessed of 5,000 /., part of his said Stock in the Funds, and other his said Personal Estate and Effects, in Trust for such Persons as his Daughter should, by her Will, appoint, and, in default of appointment, the Testator directed that the 5,0001. should be considered part of his Residuary Personal Estate thereinafter bequeathed. And he directed that his Trustees should stand possessed of 500 /., further part of his said Money in the Funds and other his said Personal Estate and Effects, in Trust for Martha Lewisi and of 2,000 /., further part of his said Stock in the Funds and other his said Personal Estate and Effects, in Trust to pay the Dividends, Interest and Proceeds thereof to the two Daughters of Martha Lewis for their Lives, and, after their deaths, to pay the Principal to their Children, at the usual times ; and in case no Child should live to have a vested Interest therein, then that the Principal should sink into the Residuum of his said Estate and Effects thereinafter bequeathed. And, in case of Failure of Issue of his Daughter Eliza Mills as aforesaid, he directed that the Trustees should pay the Rents, Issues and Profits of his said Freehold and Leasehold Estates and the Dividends, Interest and Proceeds of his said Stock in the Funds and all other the Residue of his said Personal Estate, to his Nephews therein named, for their Lives, and to the Survivor of them, for his Life; and that, after the death of the Survivor, the Trustees should stand possessed of his said Freehold and Leasehold Estates, Money in the Funds and all other the

1835-

Mills

p. Mills.

Residue and Remainder of his said Real and Personal Estate, in Trust for the Children of his Nephews who should be living at the decease of such Survivor, as Tenants in Common absolutely; and if, there should be no such Child, then that his Trustees should stand possessed of 3,000 /., Part of the Residue and Remainder of his said Estate and Effects, for their own Use, and of l.OOO/. further Part thereof, in Trust to pay the same to the Treasurer of the Salisbury Infirmary : and, subject to the above Payments, and in the event of there being no Child of either of his Nephews, who should be living at the death of the Survivor of them, he gave all the Residue and Remainder of his said Freehold and Leasehold Estates, Stock in the Public Funds, and all other his said Real and Personal Estate, to the Corporation of Salisbury, in Trust, as soon as conveniently might be after they should come into Possession thereof, to sell and dispose of his said Freehold and Leasehold Estates, and convert the same, also to sell, call in and convert into Money, his said Stocks in the Public Funds and all other his said Personal Estate, and to lend the same to the Persons, in the Sums, and upon the Term?, therein mentioned.

The Testator died in March 1824.

The Bill was filed by the Infant Children of Mr. and Mrs. Mills, against their Father and Mother and the Trustees, who were also the Executors of the Will, praying that the Residue of the Testator's Estate might be ascertained and secured for the Benefit of the Parties interested therein, and that the Leasehold Estates, Bank Stock and Turnpike Securities, of which the Testator died possessed, might be sold, and the Proceeds invested in the Three per Cents.

It appeared, by the Master's Report made in pursuance of the Decree on the hearing of the Cause, that the Stock of which the Testator was possessed at the date of his Will, consisted of the Reversion of 3,648 /. Consols, expectant on the decease of one Shergold, and of 13,0007. Bank Stock; and that, at his death, the Reversion had fallen into Possession, and his Bank Stock amounted to 14,800/. The Testator's Leasehold Estates, Turnpike Securities, Consols and Bank Stock, remained unsold, and Mrs. Mills had received the Income thereof from the Testator's death.

The Cause now came on for further Directions: the question was, whether the Leaseholds and Bank Stock were specifically bequeathed to the Trustees upon the Trusts of the Will.

Mr. Jacob and Mr. James Russell, for the Plaintiffs, contended that the Bequest to the Trustees, was a general Residuary Bequest, containing an enumeration of some of the particulars of which the Residue consisted : that Bank Stock was nothing more than a Share in the Stock of a Trading Company, and passed, to the Trustees, under the words : " Goods, Chattels and Effects," and not as, " Stock in the Public Funds:" that the Trustees ought to have sold the Bank Stock and the Leaseholds, and invested the Proceeds in the Three per Cents.; and that, as the Rents and Dividends which had been received by Mrs. Mills, exceeded, in amount, the Dividends of the Stock in which the Proceeds ought to have been invested, the Excess ought to be refunded by her. Stirling v. Lydiard (a), Gibson v. Bott (b), Howe v. Earl Dartmouth (c).

(a) 3 Atk. 199. (6) 7 Ves. 89.

(c) Ibid. 137. See also Bridges v. Bridges, 8 Vin, Ab.Tit.

1835-

Mills

v. Mills. Mills

t. Mills.

Sir C. Wetherell, Mr. Becunes and Mr. O. Andcr- don, for the Defendants, Mills and Wife.

The words used by the Testator, in speaking of his Stock, are not, " Stock in the Government Funds," but " Stock in the Public Funds:" these latter words will pass the Bank Stock, which was the bulk of the Testator's Property. He had a Sum in the Three per Cents.; but it was, comparatively, of small Amount; and, at the date of his Will, his Interest in it was Reversionary only.

It is clear, from the Language of the Will, that the Testator intended that his Property should be enjoyed by his Daughter, as it existed at the date of his Will. There is no direction to sell any part of it during the continuance of the Trusts. When the Bequest to the Corporation of Salisbury takes effect, then and not before, the Property is to be converted into Money. When the Testator directs the Trustees to stand possessed of the 5,000 /., he adds, " Part of my said Stock in the Funds ;" and, throughout his Will, he uses the expressions " my said Stock," or, " my said Money in tbe Public Funds;" and, after giving the Legacies, he gives the Residue of his said Stock in the Funds to the Corporation. It is clear, therefore, that he intended bis Bank Stock to remain in specie, so long as the Trust* continued.

The Vice-chancellor :

When the Testator provides for the raising of tbe 5,000 /., in the event of his Daughter having no Child who should attain a vested Interest, he does not say,

Devise, p. 295, pi. 13; Chalmers v. Storil, 2 V. & B. 821; and Taylor v. Taylor, ante, Vol. VI. p. 246.

merely: " Part of my said Stock in the Funds," but adds, " and other my said Personal Estate and Effects."

The Cases cited differ essentially from the present. In Stirling v. Lydiard, the question was whether the Bequest of the Leasehold Estate was revoked by the renewal of the Lease. In Gibson v. Bott, the Bequest was of all the rest, residue and remainder of the Testator's Goods, Chattels, &c. to the Executors, upon Trust, as soon as conveniently might be after the Testator's death, to sell and convert into Money all such parts thereof as should not consist of Money. In Howe v. Lord Dartmouth, the Testator bequeathed all his Personal Estate whatsoever; and, consequently, there was no ground for contending that anything was specifically given.

Mr. Wray appeared for the Trustees of the Will.

The Vice-chancellor:

The Testator has first given, to his Trustees, all and every his Freehold and Leasehold Messuages, Tenements, Farms, Lands and Hereditaments whatsoever and wheresoever situated, and all and singular his ready Money and Securities for Money, Stocks in the Public Funds, Goods, Chattels and Effects, and all other his Real and Personal Estate and Effects whatsoever and wheresoever situate, lying and being, to hold unto and to the Use of the Trustees, their Heirs, Executors, Administrators and Assigns, according to the nature of his Estate and Interest therein, in Trust to pay the Rents, Issues and Profits of his said Freehold and Leasehold Estates, and the Dividends, Interest, and Proceeds of his Money in the Funds and other his said Vol. VII. M M

1835-

Mills

v. Mills.

Mills

t. Mills.

Personal Estate, unto his Daughter Eliza, for and during the term of her natural life. It is plain that he- has, in this Clause, merely made a partial enumeration of the particulars of bis general Residuary Estate ; and there is no intention apparent in any other part of the Will, to give any Portion of his Personal Estate specifically. The words: " Stocks in the Public Funds," would not have passed the Bank Stock; and, but for the general words, it would not have passed at all.

When the Testator comes to speak of Children of his Daughter dying under 21 leaving Children, he sajs that such Grandchildren of his Daughter shall receive a Share of " his said Estate and Effects;" and, he uses this phrase several times afterwards. Where he speaks of no Child or Grandchild of his Daughter living to attain a vested Interest, he uses the expression, " my said ready Money and other my said Personal Estate." Is it not obvious that, when he uses these expressions, he is speaking of one and the same thing ? And it does not appear that you can infer any intention that there should not be a Sale and Conversion into Three per Cents, according to the Rule of the Court, merely because, when he speaks of the period when, of necessity, there must be a Conversion into Money for the purpose of making the Loans, he declares that the Corporation, when it comes into possession of the residue of his Freehold and Leasehold Estates, Stock in the Public Funds, and all other his said Real and Personal Estate, shall sell and convert the same.

My Opinion is that you must, from looking at all the Phrases, conclude that he meant that there should be an Enjoyment of the Proceeds of his Personal Estate generally. And, unless the Bequest is construed as s general Bequest, the consequence would be that, if he had surrendered the Leaseholds and taken Renewals, they would not have passed ; and, in like manner, if he had sold his Bank Stock and purchased other Batik Stock, it would not have passed.

The Leaseholds must be sold, and the Bank Stock also; and that, not because it is not a Permanent Fund, but because it depends on the will of the Directors of the Bank, whether the casual Profits (which are full as valuable as the ordinary Profits) shall go to Tenants for Life, or shall form part of the Capital of the Stock ; and this Court will not allow the Interests of Tenants for Life and of Remainder-men to depend on the directions that the Bank may think proper to give respecting Bonuses.

The Tenant for Life must refund what she has received more than she would have received, if the Leaseholds and Bank Stock had been sold and the Proceeds invested in the Three per Cents.: and there must be an Inquiry whether the Turnpike Securities are Real and Permanent Securities, that is, whether they permanently yield the Interest that is payable on them.

1835-

Mills v.

Mills. l-- . ..".,....-. . . ft.

Britford wt 1757dsq14 From a database supplied by Rev M.P Wall, compiled mostly from records transcribed from the collection at Trowbridge CRO John the elder Shergold of Dogdean Farm, Britford, Wilts.:Gent. Will date: 1756 June 17 Proved: 1757 Jun 15 Where held: Dean & Chapter Sarum Ref. Q 14 Details: (his son) John,s. owes me œ700,int.,+ sev.other sums. (his daughter) Mary Joyce, (his daughter) Martha Paine, (his daughter) Elizabeth Merris . (Grandchildren of John the elder) G/ch.:Thomas Shergold, Richard Shergold, Edward Shergold, sons of John Elizabeth Shergold, Mary Martin, daus of John G/ch.:Mary Merris, Elizabeth Merris, Richard Paine, Mary Paine, Elizabeth Paine. Thomas to be apprentice to - Thomas Merris,s-i-l, clothier, ex. (Source)

How are the above Merris and Shergolds connected?

Some possibly connnected Merris details

1717 Henry Hoare, son of Sir Richard Hoare, founder of Hoare's Bank, purchased the manor of Stourton from John Meres in 1717. He quickly demolished the house and started to build a new mansion house on the site. He died before completing it, in 1725, but his son, another Henry (knicknamed 'The Magnificent') completed it.

VISIT TO THE FARMS OF MR. STEPHEN MILLS, AT ELSTON.
The farmer's magazine - Page 167 Business & Economics - 1857 STEPHEN MILLS, AT ELSTON. To afford some of the strangers who have been staying ... the enormous area comprising the Elston, Orcheston, and Tilshead farms. ...Google Books

To afford some of the strangers who have been staying in the city and neighbourhood daring the Royal Agricultural Society's meeting in opportunity of leeing the general management of the li^ht land of Salisbury Plain and its results, Mr. Mills, of Elstou, issued, through the medium of the R«yil Agricultural Society's advertisement, a general invitation to the council and members of the society, as well as to »ny other gentleman who might be dispoied, to viiit and inspect his farm on Friday. The recognised reputation of Mr. Hills as one of the best, as he ii one of the largest, firmers of England, would, we had supposed, have attracted s large party to accept his most hospitable and valuable invitation.

The party comprised some of the leading agriculturists and gentlemen of distant and adjoining counties, amongst whom we noticed Major Heathcote, Messrs. Leyland, Wood (Snisei), Green (Marlow Lodge, I.udlow), J. Smythics (Shropshire), Fry

(Somerset), Pearce (Devon), Ellnun (Glynde), Spencer, Danger, Fouracres (Bridgwater), Galpin, Cull, Moore (Dorset). Marriott (Northampton), Croft (Warwickshire),Farrant (Somerset), Rev. Prebendary Lowther, Revds. J. H. Penrnddocke, Wardlaw, Vowles (Somerset), W. Hyrle, &c. St. J George Ixwther, Nicholli, Wanibrough, Hilder (Kent), R. M. Wilson, Win. Humphries, James Rawleuce, Ed. Squsrry, &c., &c.

From Mr. Mills' house the party proceeded to inspect the rams and ram-lambs of the Southdown breed. It may well be supposed that from his immense flock Mr. Mills is readily enabled to select some most perfect animals, and acting upon the high and honest principle that he will only reserve his beat animals as rams, he was enabled to show his visitors about 100 Iambi and sheep of a quality which elicited marked admiration from all, whether breeder«_o( Southdowns, Hampshire downs, Leicester), or Cotswolds.

The company neit proceeded to view the arable farming, extending in su unbroken area over 4,000 acres—Wheat fields with their level and now golden surfsce of 120 to 130 acres, bendiug with unusually heavy crops—Barley-fields of a growth wonderfully even, bountiful, and uniform, and extending in one piece to nearly 200 acres —Turnips, in their long, straight, and regular lines, which however they might rejoice in the genial rain which has been so long expected, yet through the liberal supply of artificial manure vouchsafed them by Mr. Mills look vigorous and strong. Clover, sainfoin, indeed every crop, bore testimony to the wonderful adaptation, whether on the largest scale or iu the minutest detail, of the practical and scientific knowledge of him who overlooks and governs the enormous area comprising the Elston, Orcheston, and Tilshead farms.

The party, en route, saw the wether lambs (about 700), bred on one portiou of the farm, which bore strong evidence of the quality, evenness, and general excellence of Mr. Mills' flock. They were also favoured with a sight of the draught ewes, whose beauty and perfect adaptation to the requirements of the connty in which they are kept were fully appreciated. Several flocks equal to the stock of most ordinary farms were unvisited, from the long period occupied in seeing what we have vaguely mentioned, and when, in passing, the company casually inspected the substantial and elegant mansion which Mr. Mills is now erecting on the Elston estate, they universally ex- preised a wish and hope that he might long live to enjoy it.

On the return of the visitors to Mr. Mills's residence, a cold collation, comprising everything which hospitality could furnish, attracted their full attention. The charming ride over the breezy downs afforded an excellent excuse for the full justice which this entertainment received.

After dinner, a few speeches on the practical agricultural questions of the day, from some gentlemen whose opinions were deserving of deep attention, were delivered. The toast of the day, however, was that of the worthy host, whose courtesy and lucid explanation of his agricultural management gave occasion to his guests to observe that they had passed, through his hospitable invitation, one of the most delightful and instructive days of the Royal Agricultural Society's visit to Salisbury.

We will only add, in conclusion, that Mr. Mills's efforts to entertain and instruct his visitors were ably seconded by his son. It was through the judicious arrangement of his own and Mr. Mills's stnd, that so large a party was comfortably deposited on the broad acres of this fine estate.

Hampshire, Lincolnshire.

Of this last was the family of Meeres of Meers, and of
Kirton, in Holland Lincolnshire, where they flourished
from the nth to the i8th centuries.

Here they acquired lands, built their manor houses of
the Meers and Kirton, and filled the great offices of High
Sheriff and King's Bailiff, Knight of the Shire or Member
of Parliament, and entered into alliance by marriage with
many noble families of the Kingdom.

— 282 —

Nor while following the )iiilitar\- profession, did they neg-
lect to tread the paths of literature and law, for more than
one adorned the Judge's Bench, and one, himself an
author, was a friend of the greatest of English poets.

RICARDI DE MERI. Battle Abbey. Temp.
Conquest, 1066, one of the Knights who came over with
William and who received lands in Lincolnshire held by
kni^'ht's service.

1080, ROGER DE MERE, (Rage Meri) held lands in
Lincolnshire and had sons and daughters.

1 1 ig, WALTER, son of (Rage Meri) Roger de
Mere, of I^incolnshire, holds lands. Survey H. I.

1201, Sir OLIVER DE MEERES. of Kirton, Line, married
Petroniila, daughter of Wido de Croun, who accompanied
Richard I. to the Holy Land. She inherited the vast es-
tates of her father, which were held of the Earls of Brit-
tany, upon the Honor or Manor of liichmond.

1301, GUILLIELMUSde MERE, of Lincolnshire, sum-
moned to join King Edward I. at Berwick on Tweed, with
men, horses and arms, to aid in the war against the Scots.

ALLAN DE MEERES, Lord of Meers, who mar-
ried the daughter of Sir John de Laline of Gosberkirk,
Knight, and had issue,

GODFREY MEERES, who married Anne, daugh-
ter of Thomas Clement, and left two sons,

John, and Richard who married the daughter of Sir
John Kirton.

Sir JOHN MEERES. the eldest son, married first,
daughter of Sir John Luttrell and had no children. Sec-
ond, daughter of Adam Welby, and had issue
Anthony, Roger, Joane.
Joane married Adam Welby, her cousin. Sir Anthony
Meeres, Knight, married Ursula, daughter of Sir John
Pinchbeck, Kt., and had issue

—283-

Jane, wife to Thomas llollaiul, of S\\ iiifstcati.
fiollaiul was the tainily name of llie ICails Lincoln.

Sir ROGER MEERES. Knif^lit, Lord of Kirtoii and
Aldf)oro\v, marricil daughter to Gilbert Brightnian, and had
issue,

Margaret, wife to Walter Aincourt, and a son named

ROGER MERES, of Kirton, Justice Common
Pleas, marrietl Elizabeth, daughter to Sir Thomas Bassett,
Knight, anil liad issue, John de Meres de Kirkton, of whom
hereafter.

B)- this marriage the familj- derives, through Matilda
Ridel, wife of F<ichard Bassett, Baron Welden, Lord Jus-
ticiary of all England (d. 1154) from the Earls of Angou-
leme of the ancient Royal family of France, and also from
the half sister of William the Conqueror.

Roger de Meres, Justice, King's Sergeant 40 Edw. IIL,
raised to bench of Common Pleas Nov. 27, 1371. Sup-
posed to be the same with Roger de Kirketon and that he
used both names indifferently. We know he had property
in Kirketon and it was quite a common practice for a man
to call himself after his estate.

As de Kirketon his arguments as advocate extend from
28 to 45 Edward IIL, in the Year Books as Sergeant.

Dugdale introduces him among the Justices of Common
Pleas in 39 Edw. IIL, but he was not raised to the Bench
till the early part of 1372, 46 Edw. IIL, when he was for
the first time acknowledged as a regular judge. The fines
acknowledged before him commence in February of that
year.

Roger de Meres appears as a trier of petitions in the
parliament of 1372, but in the next and following parlia-
ments Roger de Kirketon is named instead of him, without
giving date of his appointment.

He continued on the Bench during the remainder of that
reign, and was appointed at the commencement of the
following. His name does not occur after July, 1380,

—284—

4 Rich. II., but he lived till the yth of that reign. His death
is recorded as Roger de Kirketon in g Rich. II., 1385, in
the Inquisitions post mortem.

1391. In 15 Rich. II. John de Meres, apparently his
son, appears in the Inquisitions, and at his death he has the
addition "de Kirketon" to his name; thus, John de Meres de
Kirketon, while on a subsequent page we find Robert de
Meres de Soterton, affording positive proof that the name
"de Kirketon" was sometimes used to distinguish between
the two families of Meres who flourished in Lincolnshire.
fudges of England by Edward Foss, F. S. A., t8jo.

JOHN DE MERES de Kirkton, son of the fore-
going, married the daughter and heir of Whittlebury.

He died 1391, 15 Rich. II. (Inq. post mort.), leaving a son,

JOHN MERES of Kirton, who married daugh-
ter and heir to Darcy of Haberton, and had issue, Jane,
wife to Waterton, Margaret, wife to Thomas Welby, and
John.

By this marriage the family of Meres acquired the right
to quarter the arms of D'arcy.

Argent three Cinquefoils gules.

JOHN MERES, married daughter to Thomas
Sturley, and had two children, Ann, wife of Robert Little-
bury of Moulton, and Nicholas.

NICHOLAS MEERES married daughter to
Wilmesby and had issue three children,

Thomas, Christopher, John.

Of these the last named, John is very likely identified with
the John who married Alman Parnell. The second son,
Christopher, was of Great Carleton and married twice.
First, Catherine Yarborough, by whom he had a son Vin-
cent. Second, Jane Iloetoft, by whom he left

Nicholas, Thomas, Elizabeth, Parnell, Frances and Mar-
garet,

'^J'H M\V V-rpr,

Ruins of the Meers, Kirton Meers.

-285-

THOMAS, the eldest son, married tlie daugh-
ter of Mr- Shellic and left six children,

John, ni)' son and niyne heire, Roger, Richard, Philipp,
Herry, and daughter Ann, who marrietl Geoffrey Paynell.

Thomas Meres made his will i6th March, 1493, see P. C.
C. 20 Vox. He calls himself "esquier, and marchaunt of
the Staple of Calls." Hert shalbe buried in the Stapill
Chapell ther, my body to be conveyed into Inglond and to
be buried in the chapell of St. Peter and Poule within the
parissh chirch of Kyrton in Holand."

He left a large estate, "suche as I have purchasid as that
I am borne to," discretly Disposid to the profit and behofe
of my ch.ildern.

Sir Anthony Brown, Knight, overseer.

Proved at Lambeth 8 May, 1495.

In 1324 the Sheriff of Lincolnshire made a return of the
Knights in the division of Holland. The list comprises
the names of twelve families, of which it is said so far as
is known there is not a descendant of any one of them
now residing in the division.

Some of their ancient manor houses are, it is true, re-
maining, but in a ver^' mean and dilapidated condition.

It is stated that of sixty Lincolnshire Knights whose
names and arms are recorded in Henry HI., 1 216-1272,
there are only six or eight families who represent them at
the present day. We have fortunately been able to obtain
a photograph of the ruins of a portion of the old manor
house or castle of the family of Meres. What remains of
the building is supposed to have been the entrance to the
courtyard. It is now used as a cattle house.

"The Knightly family of Meers supplied Sheriffs and
Members for the County for some centuries; an old build-
ing, situated in the Willington Road, is supposed to have
been the entrance to their fine seat The name of ' Kirton
Meer,' and their crest of the Peacock on the Inn of that
name, alone testify to the remembrance of the family in

-286—

Kirton, all the fine monuments and painted glass in the
church, memorials of these ancient families having been de-
^"'°y<'^-" White's Lincolnshire.

The following inscriptions which were in the "old
church," Kirton, are copied from GouglCs '< Camden."

" Under the great upper window of the North aisle, on a
raised altar tomb, is a stone figure with a dog at its' feet,
and around the verge the inscription,

" 'Orate pro aia Johannis de Meris."

"and on an oak pew door on the north side are these
arms carved : " A fess ermine between three water bougets;
wdiich belonged to the family of Meeres, originally of Mea-
ros, but for many ages seated at this place, quartering three
cmquefoils Darcey; and impaling a fleur de lis, Digby."

"Crest, on a torse a peacock's tail expanded."

JOHN MERES, of Kirton, Esq., born circa
1460, died in 1537, was the eldest son of Thomas. He
married twice and became the progenitor of a numerous
descent. By his first wife, Jane Tempest he had issue Anne
who became wife to John Tamworth of Leake, Robert
who died sine prole, and Thomas, of whom see later. Sir
John was knighted by King Henry VHI. He married
secondly, Jane, daughter of William Blisby, of Blisby, Co.'
Line, Esq., and had five children, viz:

Anthony, Elizabeth, Catherine,

J^"'5' Lawrence.

Of Jane and Catherine there is no further, record Eliz-
abeth married one John Lynne, a yeoman. Lawrence mar-
ried the daughter of Sir William Tyrwhitt, Knight and
had ,ssue, Margaret, wife to Rich. Disney, and Elizabeth,
wife to Wm. Mussenden.

Anthony, the second surviving son, but lieir by convey-
ance, inherited the estates of Kirton.

His brother Thomas, the eldest son bv the first wife, was
practically disinherited by his father, Sir John, who' left

—287—

the famil)' estates to hisj'ounger son Anthony, who at his
father's death was an infant, and became ward to the King

1537-

Sir John died 28 Henry VIII., succeeded by

Anthony Meers, of Kirton, Esq., also of Anburn, Co.
Line, born 1513, married Katharine, daughter to Sir Ever-
ard Digby, Knight, wlio was grandfather of the gunpowder
conspirator of the same name, and b}- her had eight chil-
dren,

John, heir, Kenelm, Joseph, Gertrude, Jane, Maria, Katli-
erine, Anne.

Anthony married secondly, Elizabeth, daughter of Sir
John Copledyke, but they had no issue.

Maister Anthony Meers was evidently a good Protestant,
as appears from a curious old document still existing as a
mutilated manuscript, preserved in the Episcopal Regis-
tr\' at Lincoln, and entitled "Inventarium Monumentorum
Superstitionis, " consisting of returns made in the 8
yere of queue Elizabeth to certain royal Commissioners, of
such articles of church furniture in 150 parishes of the
county of Lincoln, which had been used in the preceding
reign, but which were in 1566 considered superstitious and
unnecessary.

" .Viibor (.\n1)orn Church) Line. Robert h^-ndemarshe and thomas
Lansdeale, Church wardens 27 Apl. 1566.

" Imprimis the Rood Meary and John — broken and defaced in the
fyrst yeare of qiiene Ehzabethe Reaygne by Master mearse (this was
Anthony Meres).

" Item IJ. vestmentcs one albe, one stole, one altarclothe, one masse
booke, one p'sessioner, one portis, IIJ. bannerck)tlies, one crose
clothe — broken and defaced in the fyrst yeare of qnene Elizabethe by
Mr. mearse.

"Item j. handbell, one sacring bell, one crosse, one pax broken
and defaced in the fjTst yeare of qnene Elizabethe by Mr. mearse.
exaiat et jurat."

Peacock's Church Furui/iiic, 1866.

—288—

Anthony died in 1589 and lies buried in Auburn Church.

The following inscription beneath a kneeling figure, now
somewhat mutilated, cominemorates him and records his
issue. The preservation of this monument is due to the
present Vicar of Auburne, who found it lying buried in
heaps of rubbish in the belfry.

IN MEMORIAM,

ANTONII MERES ARMIGERI

BELLI DUCIS PRESTANTISSIMI MEDICIS OPTIMI,

THFCOLOCIQ' CELEBERRIMI, ALUMNUS EIVS PRONEPOSQ' MATERNUS

HENRICUS STERRELPOSUIT. FILIOS HABUIT JOHANNEM KENELINUM

ET josephum et fill\s gartrudam janam Maria' katherina'

ET ANNAM.

OBIIT UNIJECI.MO DIE MARTII ANNO d'nI. 1 589,

.tTATIS SU.« 76.

This monument, much dilapidated \>v time, now stands
in the chancel wall of the church.

His son John Meres of Aldborough or Algarkirk and
Auburn, Co. Line, was High Sheriff of the county in 1596.
He was knighted by King James I. at the Royal Garden at
Whitehall on the 23d July, 1603. At the same time were
also knighted some other gentlemen, one of whom was Sir
Francis, afterwards the celebrated Lord Bacon.

Sir John married first Barbara, daughter of William
Dallison, Justice of the Upper Bench temp. Philip and
Mary, by his wife Elizabeth, daughter of Robert Deighton
of Sturton Parva, and had issue

Elizabeth, wife to Sir Francis Soutli, died i June, 1604 ;
Katherine, second wife to Thomas Harrington of Boothby
Pagnall, died 5 May, 1625. Buried at Boothby Pagnall.

Barbara, wife to Sir Peter Evers of Belton, afterwards
wife to Sir William Saltmarsh of Strubby.

Sir John married secondly Barbara, daughter of John
Neville of Grove, Co. Notts, and had issue,
Roger and Mary.

—289—

Roger Meres of Houghton, Line, living in 1621, married
Mary, daughter Sir John Payton, of Isham, Co. Camb., Kt.
and Baronet, and had issue,

William, Thomas, Edward, Barbara, Mary, Alice.

Mary sister to Roger, married Sir Thomas Edolphe of
St. Radagundes, Co. Kent, and had issue,

Symon, born 1615, Margaret, Barbara, Jane, all living
1619.

Sir John Meres died 1630, and is buried at Washingboro.

Algarkirk, Line, seven miles south of Boston, so called
from Algar, Earl Mercia, who flourished 870, and whose
castle was here. It is situated in the Wapentake of Kir-
ton, Holland. The present manor house is called Hiptoft
Hall. In what is called "Hill-six-acres," nearly south of
the present manor house, there are evident marks of the
foundations of several large buildings, which must once
have been of considerable importance. It is known that
this was the residence of Sir John Meres and several of his
ancestors.

It is the opinion of ever}' antiquary who has e.xamined
the foundations, that this was once the residence or fortress
of Earl Algar, and the great extent of the buildings justifies
this belief. On the south side are the fovindations of the
drawbridge, and nearby in the middle of the pasture is the
fishpond. On the north side there was a large building,
most probably the watch tower. The whole is surrounded
with- a deep moat and contains about ten acres of land.

Outside the castle are the foundations of a semi-circular
alcove or summer house. The gardens were situated here
and can be traced by the founilations of the wall that en-
closed them.

The brave Earl Algar died gloriously in a fierce but un-
successful battle in defense of his country against the
Danes A.D. 870. His name and memory still live in the
annals of his county.

W

w

w
w

D
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II

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be

wca

s

o

w

W
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13 .
3 O

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— Elizaliet
Brudone:
sister of
Sir Robe
Chief Ju

E

w bo
-I tX'C

Sc;|;

5-e

"2 "S

— 291 —

\Vc now return to the main line of the family.

THOMAS MERES, eldest son of Sir John
Meres by his first wife, Jane Tempest, though naturally the
heir, was in great part disinherited by his father, the estates
of Kirton being left to the younger son, Anthony. Thomas
married Joane, daughter of Sir Miles Bussy, Knight, of
Hagham, Co. Lincoln, and aunt and heir to Agnes Bussy,
married to Sir Edward Brudenell, son of Sir Thomas Bru-
denell, Knight, of Deane, Co. Northampton.

He had two sons, Thomas, who died before his father,
and Francis.

Bussy, often Busby, certainly one of the most distin-
guished knightly families of Lincolnshire, whose pedigree
is proved by record evidence almost to the era of the Nor-
man Conquest. {Pcafoc/is C/iiiri/i Furniture.) They had
great estates and Hougham was their chief seat. Sir John
Bussy, the unfortunate favorite of Rich. II., was executed
at Bristol in 1399. The grandeur of the family decaj-ed
after this catastrophe, but they still were a leading county
family down to the i6th century, when Hougham passed
away to the Meeres by marriage.

The Thomas Meres before mentioned, who died in the
life time of his father, may be the same as Thomas of Kir-
ton, who was the father of Frances Meres, the author, and
the friend of Shakespeare. The repetition of the names
Thomas and Francis indicates relationship, but whether
this Thomas be the father of the author or not, it is quite
certain that Francis, the friend of the poet, was of this
blood and family. So celebrated a man must not be omitted
from these pages.

He must not be confused with Francis, son of Thomas
Meres and Joan Bussy, of whom see later.

Francis Miches, M.A., of Pembroke Hall, Cambridge,
born 1565, became B.A. 1587, M.A. 1591, and July loth,
1593' 1^*^ '^'^'^^ instituted M.A. of O.xford. In one of his
books he styles himself '-Maister of Arts of both Univer-

— 29^2 —

sities." In 1602 he was rector of Wing in Rutland, and
died there in 1646 in the eight3'-first year of his age.

Francis Meres was a man of some parts. He early de-
veloped strong interest in English literature, and became
well known. He was a cotemporary and friend of Shakes-
peare, and his reference to him in '-Witts Treasurie " are
among the earliest, if not the earliest authentic notices of
the great poet. So complete is the evidence that it has been
held by the most competent critics to be impossible to
overcome, but stands an unimpeachable testinion\' to the
personalit}' and work of the great dramatist.

This book, "Wits Treasurie," brought its author some
renown, and became a famous te.\t book in the Colleges
and schools.

Besides this volume, which is the second part of the
Wits Commonwealth, Meres produced three or four other
works, which have come down to us, a list of which, as
noted in the Dictionary of Authors, by AUibone, is here
given with the remarks appended to them.

1. God's Arithmetique, London, 1597, a sermon on Ec-
cles. 4:9. 8 vo.

2. Palladis Tamia, Wits Treasurie, being the second
part of Wits Commonwealth, 1597, 4 to; 1598, 12 mo.
This is a comparative discourse of our English Poets, with
the Greeke, Latine and Italian Poets.

3. Trans, of F. Lewis of Grenada's Work entitled The
Sinner's Guide. 1598, 4 to. Second book 1614, 4 to.

4. Witts Academy, a treasurie of Golden Sentences,
Similies and Examples. 1634-35-36.

Meres' references to Shakespeare in "Witts Treasurie "
are well known.

"Meres was personally acquainted with the poet (Shakes-
peare) and so very intimately that the latter read over to
him his sonnets before they were published. I cannot con-

—293—

ceive that all the critical skepticism in the world would
ever be able to get over such testimony."

Si/i/rxr/'s Drum,!/, f.it., L,\/i/rr A'A'/'A, /S^^, iinoted by
Allibone.

Meres' writings in this connection are constantly- iiiioted.
Malone, the great critic, does so freely, as do all the
Shakesperean writers. His works are to be found in the
Library of the Brit. Museum, the Astor Library, and
many others. Some reprints have also been made, notably
one included in -'Hazel wood's ancient critical Essays upon
English Poets,"' published in 1811.

Francis Meres addressed his "Epistle nuncupatorie " to
the right worshipful John Meres, Esquire, High Sheriff of
Lincolnshire. He speaks of being entertained at the Sher-
iff's house at "Auborne," and the assistance he had received
in a certain successlesse suit to Maister Laurence Meres of
York, sometime of her Majestie's councell established for
the North.

He dates from his "chamber in Sainte Marie, Buttolph
Lane, nere London stone, this loth day October, 1597."

For further notices of him see Anth Wood Fasti O.xon
ed. Bliss, vol. 2, col. 262.

His wife Maria died 2 May, 1631, aged fifty-four, leaving
an only son, Francis, born 1607.

Francis Meres, rector of Misterton and Lutterworth,
installed Archdeacon of Leicester Nov. 3, 1679, died Aug.
27th, 1683, aged seventy-seven. Buried at Misterton with
an inscription.

EXUVIA VENERAl'.lLIS VIVI DOMINI FRANCISCI MEERES NECNON
LEICESTRIjE ARCHIUIACONUS (JUI ex HAC vita EXCESSIT AUG.

27TH, 1683, jBtatis su/E 77.

"Lutterworth, a small market town, near which is a
spring of water so very cold that in a little time it converts
straws into stone (this, of course, is a petrifying spring).

"Rector of this church heretofore was the famous John
Wicklif, a man of close subtil wit and very well versed in
the Scriptures, who having drawn his pen against the Pope's

—294—

authority and the Church of Konie, was not onl}' grievously
persecuted in liis Hfe time, but one and forty years after his
death, by comniantl of the Council of Sienna, his body
was in a barbarous manner taken out of the grave and
l)iirnt." Camdeii s Britaiiuia.

•?The church is lately (1722) beautified with costly pave-
ment of chequered stone, new pews and everything else
new but the pulpit, made of thick oak plank six square
with a seam of carved work in the joints, which is preserv-
ed, and continued in memory of Wicklif, whose pulpit it
was, if constant tratlition ma^' be credited."

It is pleasant to know that one of our race and blood
ofificiated in this same pulpit.

Edwaki) MiiRES, son of the foregoing, entered at St. John's College, Cambridge, and graduated B.A. 1679, M.A.
1683. He became rector of Wing 1688-1690. FRANCIS MERES, of Kirton, the surviving son of Thomas Meres (disinherited) and JoaneBussy, was left a ward of the King at his father's death, as appears by

" An office found 28 H. 8th, 1537, in Co. Lincoln, after the death of John Meares, it was found that Thomas Meares dyed in the life of his father Thomas, and that Francis Meares, son of the body of Joane, daughter of Sir Miles Bussy, was the son and heir."

Francis married Dorothy Anne, (daughter of Thomas Conn)'-) who was executrix to her brother Antliony Conny,
of Kirton, in Co. Lincoln, and had issue, Godrid, Anthony, Sarah.

His mother Jane became heiress to Hougham through the death of her niece, Agnes Lady Brudenell, who died
sine prole. His will was probated 20 July, 1557, "To be buried in Kirton Churcli so nere as may be the place where
my child was buried." To my son Anthony x. li. when he is 18. Legacy to Francis Cony, to my wife "Anne" 5
acres of land in Algarkirk and 2 acres in Sutterton for her life and makes her Executrix.

THE NEW yrSK

\

vt

—295—

Kirton, or Kirktown, is a large villaj^e and parish of the division of Holland, distant from Boston four miles, from
Spalding twelve, and from London one hundred and eleven, has been a place of considerable size and importance, but
from having lost its weeklj- market and its annual fair, and being out of the great public road and divested of manu-
factures, is now reduced to the rank of a village. Kirton has long been famous for its large and beautiful
church, w'hich was formerly collegiate, and according to some writers was built b}' Alexander, Bishop of Lincoln,
in the time of King Henry L Tliis admirable structure stands on the north side of the
road from Boston to London. The entire dimensions from east to west, including chancel, are 175 feet : breadth, 54;
north and south transepts, loi ; breadth, 51.

Body consists of three aisles, roofs very lofty, windows pointed and style the latter part of the 13th century, but
the west entrance has the appearance of a mucli earlier period, and indicates that the present edifice was erected
on the site of a former building which has a claim to great antiquity. Rffs' Cyclopedia.

"The windows were beautiful!}' painted with scripture histories, the arms of England, Earls of Lincoln, Orme,
Meeres, Littlebury, Burton, Digby, Johnson, Cerne, Bohun, Clifford, Beauchamp. In the east windows in 1710 were
gules, a fess between three bougets, ermine, and on an oak pew, a water bouget, Meeres. All the historical paint-
ings and many arms were gone, and the west window in part bricked up in 1745, and not a single fragment of
painted glass now remains in the windows of this beautiful
cliurch." Gongh's Camden.

Being much injured by neglect and larger than necessary for the population of the parish, the Chancel tower and
Transepts were taken down in 1806. A new tower was, however, erected at the west end of the church with the original materials.

Beauties of England, i8og.

— 2g6 —

Commenting on tlie above, a gentleman living in Kirton writes, "the so-called restoration, or rather destruction, of
the old church, appears little short of an act of vandal-
ism."

A recent letter from Col. C. T. J. Moore, C. B. F. S. A.,
Frampton Hall, Boston, England, says: "I am restoring
to the windows of Kirton Church the arms originally
therein (24 I have got), hut unless others interested in re-
placing the records of their ancestors assist I must stop.
Meres, Copuldyke, Kirton and Littlebury are of course
among the 24 coats to be put in, and I hope you will be as
pleased as I am to see our ancestors reinstated, for all rec-
ord of everyone had been lost.

"It may interest yourself, or someone after us, if you
note the arms now restoring to Kirton Church, with the
tiates and names attached to each coat. The dates are
those when the family is first found in the Parish.

1066.

Dej'ncourt.

1350-

Meres.

1066.

Bozon.

1350-

De la Launde.

1067.

Bussye.

1390.

Belers.

1 140.

Tdney.

1400.

Orme.

1240.

Copledyke.

1400.

Burton.

1250.

Kirton.

1450.

Locton.

1250.

Champneys.

1500.

Pury.

1270.

Claymond.

1550-

Tempest.

1280.

Littlebury.

1550-

Brown.

1300.

Rocs.

1624.

Middlecott.

1300.

Tonnard.

1642.

Benale."

1330.

Coney.

ANTHONY MERES, Esquire, second son of
Frances, was under eighteen years of age in 1557. Ac-
quired great wealth as a merchant at Lincoln, he died at
St. Swithin's, Lincoln, in 1616. He married Katherine,
daughter of James Crewes, of Fotheringay, Co. Northamp-
ton, and left seven children,

\

—297—

Thomas, the eldest son, MariiKKlukc, Anthony, Koiikkt,
Edward, Mary, Katherine.

His will is dated 4 Sept., 161 5.

His son, Thomas Meers, of Nassington, Co. Northamp-
ton, was living 1634, but died without issue.

Anthony Meers, of Bonby, Co. Line, was returned
among the list of gentry in 1642.

He was a "cavalier" and subscribed "horses" for the
" maintenance and defense of his Majestie's just preroga-
tives." He married Hannah, daughter of Sir William
Wrey of Glentworth, Co. Lincoln, Kt. and Bart., and had
a son Anthony, who died sine prole.

He seems to have spent the latter part of his life at the
city of Lincoln. He died 1653 4 without leaving issue,
and lies buried in "Bishop Longland's Chapell." He left
his fortune to his nephew, Sir Thomas Meres, who in his
will calls him "my kind uncle." His younger brother,

ROBERT MERES, of Kirton, Line, born 1596,
is returned among the list of Cavalier Gentry in 1642 who
subscribed to aid and defend King Charles I. He took
holy orders, became D.D. and Chancellor of the diocese of
Lincoln, was Vicar of Tempsford, Co. Herts, and Rector of
Houghton cum Marston. He married twice, and died in
his rectory house of Houghton 7th Nov., 1652, aged fifty-
six years. A small brass affixed in the south wall of the
chancel of the church at Houghton commemorates his
memory thus :

IN VICINO PULVERE REQUIESCUNT OSSA REVERENDI VIRl RO-
liERTI MERES SS THEOLOGIAE PROFESSORIS QUI VIXIT ALIQUAN-
DO ECCLESI/E CATHEDRALIS LINCOLNIE CANCELLARIUS ET NOT-
INGAMIE ARCHIDIACONUS OBIIT RECTOR HOUGHAMIE c' MERSTON
VII DIE NOVEMBRIS ANNO DOMINI MDCLII. ANNO ilTATIS SUE LVI.

His first wife was Elizabeth, daughter of Hugh Williams
of Cochwillan,Ca.'rnarvon, and niece of John Williams, Lord

—298—

Chancellor of England and l^ord Keeper of the Great Seal,
Bishop of London, and in 1641 Archbishop of York.

She was the widow of Wni. Dolbyn, D.D., a Prebendary
of Lincoln, who died 1631, by whom she had a son, John
Dolbyn, born 1624, afterwards Archbishop of Yorli, who
married Catherine, danghter of Ralph, eldest brother of
Archbishop Sheldon.

Besides this John, she had by her first husband two
other sons and two daughters.

The issue of her marriage with Robert Meres was
Robert, Anthony, Thomas, Hannah, Catherine.

Anthony, Hannah and Catherine lie buried with their
mother in the Cathedral of Lincoln.

Chancellor Meers married, secondly, Faith, daughter of
Sir John Hatcher, Knight, of Careby, Co. Lincoln, who
died sine prole.

Robert Meres, Esq., eldest son of the Chancellor, was
born circa 1637. He was living in 1698 and was named
overseer, with his nephew, Gilbert Dolben, to the will of
of his own brother, Sir Thomas Meres.

Sir THOMAS MERES, Knight, of Kirton,Co. Line,
third son of the Chancellor, born 1625, Knighted by Charles
H. on II June, 1660, at Whitehall, was a Member of Par-
liament for the city of Lincoln for nearly fifty years, and
was appointed Commissioner of the Admiralty 1679.

He married, 1658, Anne, daughter and heir of Sir Erasmus
de la Fountaine of Kirby Bellars, Co. Leicester, Knight,
by whom he had issue six children, as follows :

Thomas,

John,

William,

Mary,

Francis Katherine,
Elizabeth.

—299—

Sir Thomas became a prominent figure in the disturbed
politics of the Restoration, and was intimately associated
with all the historic men of that perfod.

His half brother was the Archbishop (Dolbyn) of York,
and his wife was the cousin of Lord Viscount Camden.
While his mother. Lady Dolbyn, was living, he seems to
have made his principal home in the city of Lincoln, where
he resided in Lincoln Close. Later, and probably after his
appointment as a Commissioner of the Admiralty, he re-
sided in the City of London, where he had a house in
Bloomsbury Square.

His wife. Lady Anne, died 4 August, 1698, in London,
and was deposited at the Church of St Giles, Middlesex,
to be carried to Kirby Bellars, where she now lies with her
husband.

Through his wife. Sir Thomas inherited the estates and
Manor of Kirby Bellars, Leicestershire, which at his de-
cease in 1715 descended to his eldest surviving son, John.

Sir Thomas was associated in the Admiralty Commission
with Samuel Pepys (who was Secretary of the Navy at
that time), and with John Evelyn, Esq., the authors of the
now famous diaries which bear their names. He was also
acquainted with Bishop Burnett, Bishop Cartwright, Sir
John Bramston, and other eminent men, ail of whom men-
tion him in their journals.

He was prominent as a leader in the Parliaments of his
day. Macauley ranks him among the Trimmers.

He was nominated for the high office of Speaker of the
House of Commons twice, an honor which at least testifies
to his ability and prominence. Unfortunately he was de-
feated both times, but in each case by intrigue. He was the
candidate of the Court party in 1679, and of the opposition
in 1685.

It is recorded of him by a gossip of those days, "old
Mr. Hobbs, 1667," that he was "well monied," and that he
inherited the fortune of his uncle, Mr. Anthony Meers of
Bonby.

— 300—

Ho died full of }ears July cjtli, 171 5, aged ninety years,
and was buried at Kirby Bellars, Leic, in the vault be-
neath the chancel of the Church of St. Peter. For notices
of liini see "Notes of Sir Thomas Meres."

Sir Thomas by his will left liouses at London, Norman-
ton and Lincoln, and lands in the Lordship of Stonesby,
Co. Leicester, also lands and tenements lying in Kirton and
Alderchurch in Co. Lincoln. He was Commissioner of the
Admiralty from 1679 to 1684, and Member of Parliament
for Lincoln from 1658 to 1708, with the single exception of
one year, 1701.

Letter from Ann de la Fountaine to her lover, Thomas
Meres :

"These for

My Hon'd friend

Thomas Meres Esq're.
" Sr I thinke my Father's desire of having another Publi-
cation made in the Parish Church of St. Dunstan's is requi-
site in order to our marriage, as allsoe our intention tomor-
row to receive the hoi}' Sacrament. If you please to come
hither in the Morning about eight o'clock I shall be ready
to goe with you upon that serious employment, that am,

your friend,

An: Fontaine.
"Jan. 2d, 1657 -8."

Liiiiolnsliirc Nolcs and Queries, Vol. 2, p. iSf.

Note to Nichols' History of Leicester: "Sir Thomas Me-
res, Knighted June nth, 1660, a remarkably gay gentle-
man, and a great favorite with the ladies, died aged 90,
July 9th, 1715."

— ^ot —

Note from Playfair''s Pccrai^i- of F.iii^/aini: Edward I2tli,
Lord Stoiirton (of Wilts) sold to Sir Thomas Meres,
Knight, tlie Manor of Stourton, Co. Wilts, for ^19,400.

THOMAS MERES, his eldest son, born circa
1660, was entirely cut off by his father's will from any
share in the inheritance. He went to Paris antl died there
before'1715. He married a lady whose name is unknown
and left a son, John Meres, born circa i6g8, and according
to a pedigree in the possession of Nathaniel Miers, Esq.,
of Ynyspwillwch, Wales, another son, James, who left
two sons, William and Nathaniel, both successful trades-
men and merchants of London, (also see Burke's Landed
Gentry).

Jolin, first mentioned, was apprenticed by his father in
the city of London to William Stephens to learn the busi-
ness of a printer, g Feb'y, 1712, as appears by the records
of the Stationers' Company of London.

Why Thomas was cut off from the inheritance is not
known. Certain, however, it is, that when his fatlier drew
up his will, wliich from the names mentioned and the con-
tents, must have been about i6go, and not later than 1698,
Thomas was then living, yet beyond the fact that he states
he was then living liis father leaves him absolutely nothing.

In the final disposition of his estate Sir Thomas devised
his property to three of his children. Sir John, Francis-
Katherine, and Elizabeth, thus practicallj' disinheriting his
sons Thomas and William. When Sir John died un-
married his sisters inherited most of the property. Con-
cerning this matter a member of the Society of Antiquaries
writes :

" I do not think the fact of some coheiresses succeeding
to the estates as conclusive against there being no other
heirs, if a younger Meres had never put in his claim ; for
in those days it was a great chance if the information ever
reached one who might be supposed lost or dead, and per-
sons of influence would do all they could to obtain the
property' for their own friends."

— 302—

However, it appears probable that John Meres the
nephew rt'/(/ receive recognition in the distribution of his
uncle's estate, which was administered by Lady Elizabeth,
sister to Sir John Meres.

Sir John Meres, second son of Sir Thomas Meres, was
born circa 1662, was knighted 26 Dec, 1700, by King Wil-
liam III., at Kensington Palace. He was one of the six
clerks of the Court of Chancer}'.

On the death of his father in 1715, he inherited the es-
tates in accordance with the will, and resided at Kirby Bel-
lars, Liec. The same year he was made High Sheriff of
the County, but soon retired from public life, " preferring
the quiet of the student."

In 1720 he published a small political pamphlet or tract
entitled "The Equity of Parliaments, or Public Faith Vin-
dicated, an answer to the Crisis of Property, and addressed
to the Annuitants."

Sir John was a Fellow of the Royal Society, and never
married. He died February, 1736.

" The Gentleman's Magazine " for that month, noticing
his death, says he was worth ;;/^4,ooo per annum.

He was engaged in various commercial enterprises not
unsuitable to his position, of which the following notices
give a hint :

" Indenture made the four and twentietli day of September, Anno
Domini 1705, and in the fourth j'ear of the Reign of our Sovereign
Lad\- Anne, by the grace of God of England, Scotland, France and
Ireland, Queen, Defender of the faith; Between dame Anne Stapleton
of Richmond, in the county of Surry, widow. Relict and Executrix of
the last will and testament of Sir William Stapleton, late of Nevis, in
the West Indies, Baronet, deceased of the first part. The Govcrnour
and Company for making hollow sword blades in England* of the

?The Sword Bhide Co. acted as hankers for the South Sea Company, but failed
through the depletion of their treasury by that gigantic speculation.

-V . V

f^ ,,^'^

1 yv v-iTw Yrw j

A^TQil, LENOX
llLlcl FOUNDATION

—303—

second jiart, am! Sir Jdliii Mcrc-s of llic I'arisli of St. C.ilcs in the
Fields, ill tlie county of Middlesex, Knii,'lil, S:c.. of tlic third i)Mrt."

Sept. 17th, 1723.

" Chronological Uiary. Historical Kejjister. The York Buildings
Company unanimously elected Sir John Mercs f<)r their (iovcrnour in
the room of Thomas Fane, Earl of Westmoreland."

He had in his possession at his manor house in Kirby
Bellars a notable portrait of John Milton which has been
engraved, and which is mentioned by the Rev. Francis
Peck in the second vohime of his " New Memoirs of the
Life and Poetical Works of Mr. John Milton, with E.xplan-
atory and Critical Notes on divers passages of Shakes-
peare."

In the preface Mr. Peck says "this picture was a half
length drawn when Milton was about 5 and 20, a good
print of the head was prefixed to the work, which was pub-
lished 1740, dedicated to Arthur Onslow, Esquire, Speaker
of the House of Commons." A long description of the
above portrait is given in detail in this volume.

Sir John resided in London at Great Russell Street,
Bloomsbury. He died Feb'y 19th, 1735-6, and was buried
in tlie vault beneath the chancel of the Church of St. Peter,
Kirby Bellars, Co. Leic. His sister. Lady Elizabeth Pet-
tus, was appointed Administratri.x. Most of his landed
estates descended, by agreement, to his nephew Thomas
Whichcot, Esq., of Harpswell, eldest son of George
Whichcot and Francis Katherine Meres, and the personal
estate was sold by auction and the proceeds divided among
the Whichcot, Maddison and Pettus families. It would
seem that John Meres, son of Thomas, received recogni-
tion in this division, for reasons given later.

Long afterwards, in 1773, an Act of Parliament was
passed for the sale of part of Thomas Whichcote's estates,
" late the estate of Sir John Meres, Kt., viz : The Manors of
Lordships of Hiptofthall in the Parish of Alderchurch,
(Algarkirk) and all the manors, messuages, landes in Kirton,
Kirton le Meres, Boston Skirbeck, Sibsey, Fosdyke.
Frampton Sutterton and Algarkirk."

—304—

These were sold to clear off a debt of ^10,000 on the
Harpswell estate.

Advertisement from The London Daily Post and General
Advertiser. No. 486. Saturday, May 22, 1736.

To be sold by Auction. — This Day, the 22d Inst., and the
following Days. The entire and large Collection of Orig-
inal Pictures, Household furniture, a very fine Musical
Clock with several Astronomical Motions, &c., of Sir John
Meres, Knt., lately deceas'd, which for Convenience of
Sale is moved from his late Dwelling House in Great Rus-
sell Street, Bloomsbury, to the Rooms lately Mrs. Gum-
ley's, the New Exchange in the Strand. The Pictures,
Goods, China, &c., may be viewed at the place of sale this
Day, 22d, and every day after (Sundays excepted) till the
hour of sale, which will begin each day at eleven in the
Forenoon precisely. Catalogues will be delivered gratis
this Day the 22d, at the Place of Sale and at Mr. Cocks' in
the Great Piazzas, Covent Garden.

Advertisement. The London Daily Post and General
Advertiser Saturda}', May 22, 1736.

To be sold by Auction, on Tuesday, the ist of June, and
the following Days at Mr. Cock's, in the Great Piazzas,
Covent Garden. The Jewels, useful Plate and other valu-
able effects of the late Sir John Meres deceased, consisting
of Brilliants, Rose Rubies, Emeralds, Saphires, &c., in
Necklaces, Solitaires, EarRings, Rings, Gold Repeaters in
Bloodstone Cases set with Brilliants, Greek and Roman
Coins, a curious cabinet of Oriental Moco's Agates and
other precious Stones in Vases, Cups and Saucers, several
Exquisite fine Basso Relievos of most excellent workman-
ship in Silver, a complete Collection of Mathematical In-
struments, some curious old china, a great variety of valu-
able curiosities, as also five exceeding fine Original pictures.
Catalogue will be delivered gratis on Thursday next, the
26th, at the Place of Sale and at Chadwell's Coffee House
behind the Royal Exchange.

— 305—

The other cliildren of Sir Thomas Meres were Mary,
married to William Hale)', D.D., Dean of Chichester, died
1706.

Francis Kathcrina, married Cieorf^e Whichcot, Esq,, of
Harpsweli, Co. Lincoln, MT^. for the county, born iGySand
had issue,

Thomas Whichcot, Esq., who had a daughter Jane, who
married her relative. Sir Christopher Whiclicot, 4th Baro-
net, leaving numerous issue whose descendants survive to
the present day.

Elizabeth, the (youngest) daughter, born Oct. 17th,
1672, baptised privately atWestminster Abbey as appears by
the "Register of the Collegeate Church or Abbey of St.
Peter, Westminster. Baptism Oct. agth, 1672, Elizabeth,
daughter of Sir Thomas Meres, Knight, of Lincoln, by
Anne, daughter of Sir Erasmus de la Fountaine, Kt., of
Kirby Bellars, Co. Leicester."

Recorded also at St. Margaret's, Westminster, where it
is stated she was born 17th October, 1672.

She married i May, 1701, Sir Horatio Pettus, 4th Bar-
onet of Rackheath, Co. Norfolk; she survived her husband
and died in 1746 at the advanced age of 73 years, leaving
issue — her Will dated 22 Sept., 1744. was proved August,
1746. She administered upon the Estate of her brother,
Sir John Meres, Kt. Administration granted i April, 1736,
P. C. C.

In the church of Rackneath, Norfolk, in the South Aisle,
is a Tablet, erected for Sir Horatio Pettus, Bart., who died
March gth, 1730, aged 58. The Arms are as follows :

Fettits, Gules, a fesse between 3 Annulets or, Impaling.

Meres, I and 4 Gules, a fesse between 3 Water Bougets
Erm.

Dc la Fountaine, 2 and 3 Gules, a bond or, in sinister
chief a Cinquefoil arg.

Wil.i.iAM, third son of Sir Thomas Meres, seems to have
incurred the displeasure of his family, like his elder brother

— 3o6 —

Thomas, for some reason that does not appear, possibly
from an unsatisfactory marriage.

At any rate in the will, his father leaves to William the
sum of ^50 per annum only, disposing of all the rest of
his estate to his son John and his three daughters.

This sum of fifty pounds per annum was to be paid in
half yearly installments, out of the lands, tenements and
hereditaments "which I bought of Mr. John Gelston Ij'ing
in Kirton or Alderchurch in Holland Lincolnshire," and its
continuance was conditional that the said William shall
never sell. Mortgage or Alien the same, which if he does,
this annuity shall cease at once and absolutely."

Sir Thomas also recommends that his other children "be
kind to William."

Hugh Meere, undoubtedly descended from a junior
branch of the family, was established in business in the
Black Fryers in 1710. He was a man of property, a Direc-
tor of the Sun Fire Insurance Company and a printer. He
printed the British Mercury for the Sun Fire Co. until it
ceased, and projected and carried on the publication of the
Historical Rcf^ister, a quarterly octavo, likewise the Daily
Post, newspaper, which lived for fifty years.

In 1722 he removed to the Old Baily, to the house which
had previously been occupied by the celebrated and unfor-
tunate Algern an Sidney.

He died April 19th, 1723, and the business was con-
tinued, first by his widow for three years, afterwards by his
son-in-law, Richard Nutt, until 1737, when it was taken up
by John Meres.

Extracted from the Principal Registry of the Probate,
Divorce and Admiralty Division of the High Court of Jus-
tice. In the Prerogative Court of Canterbury, May, 1723.
Hugo Meere. Decimo Quarto die em't comissio Cassan-
dra; Meere viduae Relce Hugonis Meere nup poe Sci Mar-
tini Ludgate London defti hentis &c., ad Adstrandum bona
jura et credita dci defti De bene &'c., jurat.
Ad'o de bo: non em't Apr 1726.

THE

Historical.Register,

Containing

An Impartial Relation of all

. Transactions, Foreign and Domeflick :
vv I T H A

Chronological Dia|;y

OP AtL

ft

The Remarkable Occurrences,?;/;^. Birth ,

Marriages, Deaths, Remav.ils, Vwmotiffns, &c. that
happeiKd in this Year : Together with the Cha-
raSers'znd Parentage of Perfons deceafed, of emi-
nent Rank.

^ikqu'td agunt hom'mis —— — Juv, Sat. i.

Volume XXIL
For the ^ear 1737.

LONDON:
Printed by J, Mg res in the 01 J Ba'dy, near Ludgate {

aad Sold hy T. C OO^ E R »t the Globe in Pater-nsJler-Rn'w, where com-
plau Sets, ton the Begiiinii» of the Reign of King GeokgE I. and Cjigfe
^ nRt,-SB>jHM l»d. SoJd »Im by the BooWellen in Town and Counoy,

*^' . *f i« Oae Shilling.

— 307—

Extracted from tin; Principal Registry of the Probate,
Divorce and 7\dmiralty IJivision of the High Court of Jus-
tice. In the Prerogative Court of Canterbury. Aprilis,
1726.

Hugo Meere Vicesimo secundo die emt Com'o Eliza-
betlice Nutt (uxori Richardi Nutt) filia' nrali et Itime Hu-
gonis Meere nuper parochie St. Martini Luilgate London
defuncti hentis, &c., ad administrandum bona jura et cred-
ita dicti defti per Cassandram Meere viduam et relictam
ejusdem defti inathnistrata de bene, &c. Jurat.

Prior Adm co. emt. May, 1723.

Hugh Meere married Cassandra, daughter of Thomas
Grover, a celebrated Letter Fotinder of the last century.

Their daughter Elizabeth married Richard Nutt, a noted
printer and publisher of the Savo}', London, who died in
1780, aged eighty. For a further notice of Hugh Meere
and his connection with the Sun Fire Company see "Rel-
ton's Fire Insurance Companies, 1893, London." For fur-
ther notes of Richard Nutt see "Deacon's Family of Meres
and Early English Newspapers, i8gi. Bridgeport, Conn."

JOHN MERES, of the Old Bailej', London,
born circa i6g8, son of Thomas Meres, eldest and disinher-
ited son of Sir Thomas Meres, apprenticed g Feb'y, 1712, to
William Stephens, married June 2d, 1732, at St. Botolph's,
Bishopsgate, to Sarah Robinson, by whom there were
several children. Succeeded to the business of Hugh
Meere and Richard Nutt Augt. ist, 1737. He printed the
Historical Register, the Daily Post, and the Loiuhni Ei'cning
Post.

In the battle for a free and untrammelled Press he took
a foremost part, and came into frequent collision with the
government, suffering both in purse and person for the
cause of Liberty. His most noted paper, the London Fawii-
Z//^" /'t'.f/, was the first to attempt a report of the proceed-
ings and speeches of Parliament.

John Meres died in 1761, leaving three chiklren, viz:

— 3o8—

John Meres, who succeeded to his business, a daughter
married to Mr. Allison, and a daughter married to Mr. Lee,
whose daughter or niece, Sarah Lee, married her cousin,
Lieut. James Meres, of the Ro\'al Navy.

JOHN MERES, son of the preceding, born circa
1735, married Marthaiina Young. She was the only child
by the first wife of Mr. Young, of a Yorkshire family, in
which county she was born in 1736, and was heiress to a
large estate there.

Her father's most intimate friend was John Meres, Sen-
ior, and the intimacy of the two families resulted in the
marriage of the children, which took place 1759.

Mr. Young married again a Miss Lockwood, a very beau-
tiful young lady. They had another daughter who is said
to have been very beautiful, like her mother, but to have
had a very bad temper. This lady was cotemporary with
Mr. Benjamin Deacon's children, and was by them called
"Cross Aunt Young."

John Meres and Marthana Young had three sons and

two daughters, as follows ;

John Sands, born Nov. 26, 1760.

Tames, I , • 1 a ^ .-cr

J,, -twins, born Aug. 17, 1766.

Thomas, \ a / 1

Sarah, born June 6, 1762.

Susanna, born Feb'y 9, 1764.

Mrs. Meres died in 1809, aged seventy-three. (A mourn-
ing ring inscriljed with her name, date of death, 27 July,
1809, and age, is in the possession of Peter Deacon, Esq.,
of Cardiff.

John Sands Meres, the eldest surviving son, was born
Nov. 26th, 1760, and baptized at the church of St. Martin's,
Ludgate. He chose the sea for his occupation, and en-
tered the Rojal Navy in the man of war "Greyhound." in
1775, when fifteen years of age. In six months he was
promoted to be Master's Mate, and in another half year to
clerk, evincing a good education and a bright youth. After

— 3og —

six )'cars' service he was Midsliipiiian. being just twenty,
one 3 ears of age, in which rank he remained two years.
Oil the 2oth F"eb'y, 1783, he was transferred to the man of
war "Hebe," a frigate of twenty-eight guns, commanded by
Captain ThomHn, and on board of which came Prince Wil-
liam Henry, afterwards King WiUiam IV., to be taught
navigation, and who was afterwards gazetted 3d Lieutenant
in 1785. Prior to this j'oung Meres was appointed School-
master or Tutor, 5 July, 1784, which is testimony to his
proficiency and worth.

In March, 1786, both Meres and Prince William were
transferred to the twenty-eight gun frigate " Pegasus," and
the latter was gazetted ist Lieutenant, and afterwards Cap-
tain.

Meres continued with Prince W'illiam on board this ves-
sel until December, 1786, when he was again transferred
to the " Hebe," their old ship. Here he remained till 21
October, 1789.

In the meantime, on 4th March, 1789, Meres passed his
examination favorably and awaited his seniority for ap-
pointment as Lieutenant, which would have come in due
time, but for something which had occurred.

All the data for the foregoing statements is found in the
Admiralty Records and may be relied on.

Now comes a strange story from two separate members
of the family, one of whom has placed it in writing as fol-
lows :

" John Sands Meres went out with Prince William to
teach him navigation, but they quarrelled, and each said
they would report the other's conduct. On arriving at
Cape Coast Castle, Meres was found murdered, but not
robbed."

What dark tragedy lies behind these lines which convey
a clear insinuation that there was an object other than mer-
cenary in the removal of the young man, I cannot pretend
to fathom.

— 3IO —

The Admiralty- records show that tlie difRcuhy liad arisen on board the "Pegasus" lying off Antigua, W. I., before
Dec, 1786, and that Meres was transferred 12 Oct., 1787, to the Hebe (per warrant) where he remained two years, in
the nieantinie passing his examination for seniority for Lieutenant, receiving his certificate, thus proving conclu-
sively he was in full possession of his faculties. He was then transferred 22 Oct., 1789, "per Warrant," (under ar-
rest) to the "Adventure ; " after four months he was, 14th Feb'y, 1790, removed to the "Fairy" as a "Supy prisoner
for disposal," on the 30tli May sent back again to the "Adventure."

On the i2th June, 1790, he was "tried by court martial and declared to be insane," and the next day transferred to
the " Impregnable," from thence on the 28th June to the " Royal William," called after his pupil, and on the 3d
July, 1790, he was discharged from the service by order of Admiral Roddam.

There are two or three things in the above record that look suspicious. It does not generally take a " court mar-
tial " to investigate a man's sanity, that is a matter for the doctors, and besides Meres had been under arrest nine
months before he was tried. No one who knows anything of the state of feeling and subserviency that existed with
regard to Royalty at this period, not to mention the abso- lute autocracy which exists on board a man of war at sea,
would doubt for a moment that it might well be considered "insanity" for a poor midshipman or brevet Lieutenant
to quarrel with his Captain, and especially a son of Royalty and at this time Duke of Clarence.

It would be an easy matter to leave a record that would suit the circumstances and avoid scandal, supposing that
the greater man was in the wrong, and not a very difficult matter to get the objectionable young man out of the way
quietly.

—311 —

G. H. No. 17707. Adniiralt)', Ixindoii,

1 2 July, iSgo.

Sir : In reply to your letter of the 211th May last, I for- ward herewith a statement relating to John Sands Meres
extracted from the Admiralty Records, and it will be seen that it was he who attended Prince William in his earlier
voyages. The Records afford no further information on the subject of your enquiries.
I am,

Sir,
Your obedient servant,
G. T. Lambert,
Director of Greenwich Hospital.

To Edward Deacon, Esq.,

Bridgeport, Conn.,
U. S. A.

ADMIRALTY RKCORDS.

G. H. No. 17707. 1 2th July, i8go.

John Sands Meres of London.

Horn Nov. 26th, 1760.

ist Entry "Greyhound," 27 Dec, 1775.

Passing Certificate 4 March, 1789.

D. from Service 3 July, 1790.

Midshipman "Dublin" 31 January, 1781.

Midshipman "Hebe" 20 February, 1783, H.R.H. Prince
William 3d Lieutenant. Tutor " Hebe," 5 July, 1784.

Tutor "Pegasus" 22 March, 1786. H.R.H. Prince
William, Captain.

Court Martial decl. insane 12 June, 1790.

From service, 3- July, 1790, per order Admiral Roddam.

Poor John Sands, who died thirty years of age, under
these unhappy circumstances, was engaged to a Miss Lock-
wood, his second cousin. He never returned to marry his
love, but found a sailor's grave in old ocean.

—312—

This story receives a curious confirmation in the follow-
ing paragraph taken from the biography of Isaac Schom-
berg, 1753-1^13, Captain in the Navy, Nat. Die. British
Biography, Vol. 50, page 433.

On loth April, 1786, the Pegasus, frigate, was Commis-
sioned by Prince William (William IV.), and Schomberg
was appointed first lieutenant. Schomberg understood
that, as an old and e.xperienced officer, he was to act as the
Prince's "dry nurse." The Prince, however, had a strong
idea of being his own captain, and a difference of opinion
led to disagreement.

When the ship arrived in the West Indies, the Prince
gave orders as to the discipline of the ship, which Schom-
berg conceived himself authorized to waive, and when the
Prince reprimanded him for what he termed disobedience
and neglect of duty, Schomberg applied for a court martial
23 January, 1787.

Nelson, to whom as senior officer on the station his letter
was addressed, replied b}' placing him under arrest, and
acquainting him that a court martial should be ordered as
soon as possible. But no court martial could be assembled,
and in May Nelson sent the Pegasus to Jamaica with a pri-
vate note to Commodore Gardner explaining the business.
Gardner judged it best to supersede Schomberg 10 June,
1787, and to send him to England, where he arrived on 22
July, He was there put on half pay.

Schomberg was allied to many influential families. If he
was treated so badly for maintaining his independence with
tliis incompetent scion of royalty, is it any wonder that one
who had neither rank nor fortune at his back should have
been crushed to death in the fight for manhood against
caste.

James Meres and his brother Thomas, born twins on the
17th August, 1766, christened at St. Martin's Ludgate, city
of London, August 19th.

Following the example of his brother John, James went
to sea. He entered the Royal Navy and was assigned to

—313—

the man of war "Apollo" S July, 1781. After eighteen
months training he was appointed midshipman and trans-
ferred to the "Scipio." Here he remained some three
j'ears when he was again transferred, to the "Amphion "
and the "Hannibal." Serving altogether nine years,
during which time he was appointed "schoolmaster" on
each ship.

In 1791 he was transferred to the "Nemesis" and made
master's mate. On the 2d August, 1794, on board the
"Canada," he was gazetted 5th lieutenant, having previ-
ously passed his examination 25th June, 1792.

On each succeeding year after this he was transferred to
another ship, receiving a higher grade at every step.
Omitting the 3rd degree, he became successively 4th, 2d
and ist lieutenant, the latter on the "Diana" ist July, 1797.

On the 29th August, 1805, after twenty-four years of
active service on board ship, he was gazetted "Agent for
Transports " at Rio de la Plata, Great Britain being at that
time at war with South America. While here, he was
present and took part in the capture of Monte Video Feb-
ruary, 1807.

In 1809 he came home, but soon appeared in active ser-
vice again. From James' Naval History the following is
extracted :

In the month of June, 1810, Captain William Hoste hav-
ing under orders the thirty-eight gun frigate "Active," and
the eighteen pounder thirty-two gun frigate " Cerebus,"
cruised off the gulf of Trieste. On the 29th they landed
in the harbor of Groa, and about i r a. m. attacked the
French (who had live regiments of infantry).

The British forces consisted of a division of seamen and
marines under Lieutenants Slaughter and Mun, and Lieu-
tenant James Meres of the Active, whose boats had just
landed. The same intrepidit}' that had ensured success on
previous occasions produced it on this, and the French
troops with their officers laid down their arms and surren-
dered,

—314—

Subsequently Lieutenant Meres became Agent for Trans-
ports at the Cape of Good Hope, and continued there until
28 September, 1816, when he was retired on half pay, hav-
ing seen thirtj'-five years of active service and attained fifty
years of age.

Seven years afterwards, on loth October, 1822, he was
appointed to Greenwich Hospital to be one of the Govern-
ing Lieutenants, or officers. Shortly after receiving this
appointment he married his cousin, Miss Sarah Lee, with
whom he lived fourteen years. He died on 7th March,
1836, leaving no children.
>

ADMIRALTY RECORDS, EXTRACT.

G. H. 17707, sth May, i8go.

Lieutenant James Meres of London, born Aug. 17, 1766.
First Entry 8 July, 1781, Apollo.
Passing Certificate 25 June, 1792.
Senority, 2 Augt., 1794.
Dead 7 March, 1836.
Mid'n 6 Dec, 1782, "Apollo."
Master's mate 15 March, 1791, " Nemesis."
Extra mid'n 14 Augt., 1792, "Nemesis."
5th lieutenant 2 Augt., 1794, "Canada."
4th lieutenant 8 June, 1795, "Prince."
2d lieutenant, 11 June, 1796, "La Revolutionaire."
ist lieutenant i July, 1797, "Diana."

At river Platte 29 Aug., 1805. Present at capture Monte
Video, 1807.

At Cape Good Hope i July, 1809.

Half pay 29 Sept., 1816.

To Greenwich Hospital 10 October, 1822.

Lieut. James Meres was personally known to King Wil-
liam IV., who presented him with a seal worn pendant to
the old fashioned watch ribbon or "fob." This seal was a
white carnelian set in gold, and the writer's father received
it after his uncle's death, He often spoke of the fraternal,

—315—

offhand wa)', usual wilh sailors, in which William wouUl
greet Meres at a levee. Possibly Kiug William may not
have forgotten the brother who taught him navigation in
his youth.

Notice of Mr. Meres' death appears in the Gentleman's
Magazine obituary, April, 1836.

Thomas, the other twin, born 17 August, 1766, never
married. There is no record of his life, but he is said to
have been "a kind, jolly man."

SARAH MERES, born June 6th, 1762, chris-
tened June 13th at St. Martin's, Ludgate, married January
14th, 1787, BENJAMIN DEACON, of the city of London, and
left issue for which see "Deacon." She died April 19th,
1835, aged seventy-three years.

Susannah Meres, born Feb'y gth, 1764, christened ten
days later at St. Martin's, Ludgate. She married Samuel
Osmond, who was never well, and who left her a widow
shortly after their marriage.

Jttctes.

1066, Ricardi tie Meri, Battle Abbey, temp. Conqiiesto.
loSo. Rdger de Mere ^

I

1 1 n>, Walter de Mere holds lands in I-inc.

1201. Sir Oliver <le Mteres ^ IVtronilla, dau. Widn de Croun.

1301. William de Mere vi J.incolnsliire.

Allan de Metres ^^ d;iu. Sir Jobn tie Laline of Gosherkirk.

I

Godfrey Meeres — Anne, dau. Sir Thomas Clement.

\

I _ I

dau. Sirjohn — Sir John Meeres — dau. of Adam Richard ::^i: dau. to Sir John

I,uttr'ell. I Welby. Kirton".

I I _ I

Sir Anthony Meres Sir Roger Meres - — dau, of Gilbert Joane = Adam

Ursula, dau.
Sirjohn Pinchbeck.

Lord of Kirton
aod Oldborow.

Brightman.

I I

Jiine — Thos. Holland Roger Meres Margaret ^ Walter

of Swinestead. Justice Com. Pleas, ob. i.^Si;. Deyncourt.

^ Elizabeth, dau. Sir Thos.
I Bassett.

John de Meres de Kirketon 1= dau. and heir Whittlebury.
ob. 1 391. I

John Meres ^ dau. and heir Darcy
of Kirton. I of Haberton.

1 _ I I

John Meres — dau. Thos. Sturley Margaret ^=. Thos. Welby Jane ^ Walterton.

Ann — Sir Robt. Littlebury. Nicholas Meres z= dau. Wilmesby.

of Moulton, Kt, I

Thomas Meres
ob. 1401;.
Will P. C. C.

dau. Shellie.

I

Christopher

of Great Carleton.

Married twice.

q. V.

I

Sir John Meres,

Knight.

Married twice.

ob. 1S37.

Roger. Richard.

John,
supposed to have
married
Ann Alman Parnell.
q. V.

Henry. Ann —

Geoffrey Paynell.

KichoLis ^ieres

of Kirton.

2nd.

Ciitlierine

(]au. of

Charles

Varboroug-li.

Christopher

Meres of

Great

Carleton.
ob. 1539.

Catherine -

ilaii. of
Win. Disney

Jane, (Jan. and heir

of Thus Hoetoft

of Holland, Line.

ob. 1550.

widow of

Nicholas Purley.

Vincent
Meres.

Nicholas Elfzabeth. Frances ^^^ Richard

Meres. [ [ Meres. Pepper of

Thomas. Parnell. Thoresbv,

Ann -

= William

dau. of

Meres

John

of Theddlethorpe

Angevine

Gent.

of

ob. 1562.

Theddle

thorpe.

I

Anthony.

Frances

Bark worth.

George Meres.

John Almaii
of Pevensey.

1 Iiuinus
A I man
ob. 1577.
issue, three sons
who died sine prole

James
Parnell.

>Iicliol;is Meres — ^ thiu. Wilmesliv.
of Kirlon, Line.

I 2nd.

Ann Alinan ^^^=

heir to her
trother Thomas

on deatli of
liis three sons.

Jolin Meres
of Lincolnshire.

Thomas,
heir.

Cliristoplier,

Francis Almond
of Frindshury,
Kent.

Ancestors

of John Ahnon,

the printer of

London.

Thomas

Meres,

ob. 1597,

Westham,

Co. Sussex.

Alice, sister of
John Doward.

dau. of Stephen
French of

St rem e.
Co. Sussex.

Mary — John Meres.

buried at
Westham,
May 13, 1645.

Ahnan

Meres

B. Sept.. 1602.

D. June, 1642.

Westham.

rii

imas

John

Wiliiam. Ann.

Meres

Meres.

ob. Oct.,

r~r

B. Oct., 1611.

1614.

D.Jan.. 1691.

Westham. =

— I'*.?? Joane, dau
John Achison
of Pevensey.

Marv. Barbara. Klizabeth

John Meres
of Glynhy, Co. Sussex.
B. May, i't4^.
D. Mar., 1694
at Westham, s. p.

= Elizabeth, dau.

Wm. I lay of

Ilnrsted Parva.

ob. July, 172].

William Meres,

B. Dec. 20th,

1642.

2nd.

=^ Thomas Fagg-

Glenby, Co. Sussex,

Jure uxoris.

ob. Sept., 1705.

Jolin Meres.

B. Dec. 2nd,

.638.

HIi/.abeth
B. 16th Aug.
i')40.

John Meres Fagg,
Esquire, J. P.

Sirjohn Meeres
oh. 1537.

Jane, (J;iu. td

Win. Blesby,

2cl wife.

J:ine. Anthony Eli/.;it)elh.

Meeres ux

3r(l son .and to John Lynne

heir by a yeoman.

conveyance.
B. 1513.
= D. 15S9. =
Katherine, Elizabeth,

dau. to Sir dau. to Sir

Everard John

Dig by. Copledyke,

2nd wife.

I^awrence

Meeres.

Gray's Inn

1540.

dau. to Sir

Win.

Tyrwhitt, Kt.

Arnrfiart-t,

wife in

Rich'd

Disney.

Rli/.alu-th.

wife to

Wni.

Miissenden.

Joseph.

Gertrude.

Jane.

Miiria.

Katherine.

Sir Richard

Pell

of Demhleby,

Co. Line.

Barbara, dau. o
William
Dal ti son.
Justice K. B

Sirjohn Meres
of Oldbnro, Kt.

Sheriff 1596.

Knight 1603.
Died 1630.

^^ Barbara,

dau. of

John Nevill

of Grove,

Co. Notts.

2nd.

Hlizabeth,

nx Sir

Francis South,

died

1 June, 1604.

Katherine.

2nd ux

Thomas

Harrington of

Booth by

Pagnall.

d. May 5,

162 c.

Barbara.

ux Sir

Peter Evers

of Belton,

and afterwards

ux to Sir

William

Saltmarsh

of Strubby.

Roger
of Houghton,
Line,
living i62t.

Thomas.

= Mary,

dau. of Sir

John Peyton,

of Ishain,

Co. Cumb.,

Kt. and Bart.

Sir Thomas

Edolphe
of St. Radegundes,
Co. Kent.

Symon,
B. 1615.

Margaret. Barbara.

All living 1619.

Jane.

Jane Tempest
1st wife.

Sir John Meeres.
obit i5.?7.

Anne,

wife to

Jolin

Tacnworlh

of Leake.

Thomas Meeres
disinherited,
nh. before 15XJ.

- Joane,
dau. to
Sir Miles
Bussey, Kt.

Kobert.
d. s. J).

Thomas Meres,
died in lifetime
of his father.

Frances Meres
of Kirton,
a ward 1^.17-
ob. 1557.

Dorothy Ann,

dau. to

Tho. Cony

of Kirton.

i
God rid.

1 1
Anthony Meres — Katherine, Sarah.

underage 1557.

dau. to

ob. 1617.

James Crewe.

1

Thomas

1

Anthon

y

1
Faith, = Robert =

= Klizabeth

1
Marie,

Meeres

Meeres

dan. to Meres

Williams,

married

of

nf Boiihj

^

Sir John of Kirton,

1st wife.

Robt. Pabner,

Nassingt

on.

died 165-

Hatcher. D.D.

1617.

(i. s. p.

2nd wife. B. 1 ^g6.
d. s. p. l>. 1652.

Slie was liorn
151A

r

1

1 l<>5^.

1

1

Robert.

Anthoin

Sir Thomas ^ Anne, dan.

Hannah.

Catherine.

B. iM5

Meeres.

to Sir

living 1698.

Kt., M. P.

Erasmus de 1

I

B. 1625.

Fountaine,

D. 1716.

Kt.

1

~ Thomas

SirJ

1 1

ohn William Marv

1

Francis

1

Elizabeth.

Meres,

Meres, Meres, D. lyof

Katherine.

B. 1672.

died

in Paris.

Kni

ght. living 1716.

B. 1078.

D. .740.

Disinherited.

Kl.

1700.

D.

I73''-

s.

P-

Jo

in Meres. ^

Sarah Robinson.

B.

169.S.

D.

1761.

Joh

n

Meres

— Marthanna Young.

B.

?73.!-

B. 1736.

D.

1776.

D. 1S09.

I

Thomas
Meres.
B. 1766.

Sarah
Meres.

B. 1762.

D. iS,j5.

= lienjaniin
I Deacon
I of London.

Y

John Sands

Meres.

Lieut. K. N.

I J. i7fto.

D. 1790.

James
Meres,

Lieut. R. N.
B. 1766.
D. 1S36.

Susannah.
B. 1764.

CHAPTER XVII.

N OTES

of the

FAMILY

of

MERES.

1300 Willielmus de Mere returned from the county of
Lincoln as holding lands or rents either in capite or other-
wise to the amount of ^40 yearly value and upwards, and
as such summoned under general Parliamentary writ to per-
form military service against the Scots.

Muster at Carlisle on the Nativity of St. John the Baptist,
24 June, with one hundred and twenty-nine Lords and
Knights 28 Edward I.

1 301 Willielimus de Mere summoned from county of
Lincoln, to perform military service in person against the
Scots.

Muster at Berwick on Tweed 29 Edward I., with forty
other Knights, Earls and Lords.

1343. Jolin Meeres was Rector of Levretune (Leverton)
six miles northeast from Boston.

The Sea Banks raised by the Romans had been kept in
good repair during their stay, but under the Saxons great
dilapidations had occurred. Commissions were aiipointed
in later years to oversee the work.

1352, in 25 yeare Edward III., Saier de Rocheford and
Roger de Meres were appointed to view the Sea Banks and
ditches or dykes of Skirbeck and Kirketon.

1355, in 28 yeare Edward III., Roger de Meres and two
others were appointed to view the Sea Banks and dykes on
the south side of Wytham from the town of Skirbeck to a
place called Shuft.

1370 a dispute had existed between the Bishop of Lin-
coln and the Abbott of Croyland, about the bounds and
limits of the parish of Holbech. A deed was made by
council held and consent of both parties. In this docu-
ment the arable land, the meadows and the stream of Rog-
er Atte Meres, is repeatedly mentioned in describing the
bounds.

This deed is dated 4th August, 1370.

1385, 9 Rich. II., John Littlebury, Knight, released to
John de Marchford and others, all his right in all his lands
in Holbech, Lincolnshire, which he had of the gift of John
de Meres. Close Rolls.

1404. An old deed dated 14 July, 1404, 5 Henry IV.,
recites that a piece of land on the west side of the water
called "Little Fen," was that day devised by John de
Rocheford, Kt., of Boston, and John de Meers de Kirton
et al. to John Stevenson of Boston, Merchant.

1405 John de Meeres, son of Roger, Justice of Common
Pleas, 27 Augt., feoffees of Sir Somers Roos of Gedenej-,
licensed with John de la laund, Robert Roos and Johan his
wife et al. to celebrate divine offices in the chapel within
tlie manor.

1408 John de Meres de Kyrketon in Holland, Executor
with others to will of Sir John Copuldyk, Kt., proved at
Sleford 3 May, 1408.

-323-

1445 Thomas Mers feoffees with |ijhn, Diikeof Somerset,
William, Bishop of Lincoln, Robert Wylloghby, Knight,
William de la Zoiiciie, Knight, et al., of Elizabeth, widow
of Richard Lord Graye of Codnore, 7 April, 23 Henry VL

1489, rental of the farms, lands, etc., of the Guild of Cor-
pus Christi, made at Boston i Dec, 1489, 5 Henry VIL,
* * "also for farm 5 stong of pasture in Kyrkton, be-
side the Mylnehyll of Thomas Meres, Esq., by yere s. 5.

Thomas Meers of Kirton in Holland, Line, was third
husband of Margaret, widow of Sir Wm. Ayrmyn of Os-
godsby, Kt., and of Geffr\' Peynall of Bothby Peynall,
Line.

"See a book of the Pedigree of Boothby in a book called
Gaunt, made 1699, in the hands of my Lord Chancellor by
my gift to him." Note by Lc Neve.

This gentleman was elected to represent the county in
the Parliament of 1428, and again in 1434 and 1441. He
was High Sheriff in 1437, and again in 1447.

Between the years of 1440 and 1450 he was elected a
member of the Guild of Corpus Cliristi of Boston, and his
wife, Dame Margaret Ermine, liecame a member between
1451-g. By a former wife he left a son, Thomas Meers of
Osgodsby and Kirton, who was admitted a member of the
Guild in 1461, and who filled the office of High Sheriff of
the county in 1468, and again in 1485. He married Isabel,
widow of Sir William Armine of Osgodby, (in 1450) son
of the Knight before mentioned. She was his second
cousin by marriage, furthermore he was her second hus-
band, and the step-son of her first husband's mother.

1488, 23 Dec, writ to Thomas Meres, Viscount Welles
and the Sheriff of Lincolnshire, to summon all Earls,
Barons, Knights and other Nobles to examine how many
archers each is bound to furnish the King for the e.xpedi-
tion for the relief of Brittanj'.

Inquisition post mortem, Co. Lincoln, taken at Parteney
last day of October, 2 Henry VII., 1495. John Copiddyk,
deceased. Jurj' found the aforesaid was seized in fee of

—324—

the manors of, &c., &c., &c., and of forty acres of land in
Algerkyrke, &c., &c., and that the said forty acres of land in
Algerkyrke are held of John, son and heir of Thomas
Meres, Esq., deceased.

Chatuenv Inq., lO Henry VII., No. yd.

(Said John Copuldyke died the 15th March, A.D.
1490-1.)

1523. A grant was made in 1523, 4 Henry VHf., of a
yearl3' subsidy for four years. Eighteen persons only were
ta.xed in Boston, and one of them was Roger Meres, J^i
yearly.

Mr. Meers, who in the early part of 1646 was despatched
from Leicester to Ashb)'-de-la-zouch, where he rescued
"divers country men prisoners there," and who carried off
large quantities of stores, was a cadet of this family.

The Guild of Corpus Christi of Boston, founded 1335,
was one of those mercantile, political and protective Asso-
ciations which flourished during the middle ages and which
fostered liberty, nourished commerce, and stood as barriers
to the power of Kings and Barons, in the interest of the
common people. They were much patronized by the great
who found it advantageous to keep the good will of these
powerful corporations.

The family of Meeres were patrons of this Guild for
many centuries. The following are among the earlier
names mentioned in the f^egister of Brethren :

1343. John Meeres of Levertune.

1343. Roger Meeres.

1357- John Meres of Boston.

1407. Roger Meeres.

1440-50. Thomas Meeres of Kirton,

1451-9. Dame Margaret Erm\n, wife of Thomas
Meeres.

1461. Thomas Meres, Esq.

1530. John Merys, Esq.

1531. John Merys, Esq., of Rirton.
1540. Thomas Meres of Boston.

—325—

Aiuon^ thu Migli Sheriffs of County Lincoln :
1437. Henr^- VI., Thomas Meres of Ivirton.
1447. Henry \T., Thomas Meres of Kirton.
146S. Edward I\'., Thomas Meres of Kirton.
1485. Richard HI., Thomas Mercs of Kirton.
1596. EHzabeth. John Meres of Kirton.

Knights of the Count}', /. c, Members of Parhament.
1428. Henry \T., Thomas Meres, Walterus Talboys.
1434. Henry VL, Thomas Meres, Hamond Sutton.
1441. Henry VI., Thomas Meres, Robertus Sheffield.

The name "Meeres" has, of course, reference to the
water. There is an old Saxon word, "gemaere" or " maere,"
which frequently occurs in Saxon charters, and which sig-
nifies the narrow bank or baulk in the open fields that di-
vided the lands, and which was also used to designate the
boundary between two estates or towns.

This "gemaere" is called the mear or meer bank. The
bank was constructed by digging a trench or ditch, which
filling with water by rains or streams, was called the meer,
and the bank "the meer bank."

The armorial bearings of the several branches of the
family all refer to the water, being either a ship, a galley,
or the bouget, which were the leathern pouches used by
soldiers to carry water.

In the county of Lincoln, bordering on the North Sea or
German Ocean, are lands (much of which are lower than
the sea level, protected by sea walls, and subject to fre-
quent inundations) called "the Meers." Here was settled
a family designated as "de Meers," or " Atte Meers," whose
branches as they multiplied spread into adjoining counties.
They were well known in the 12th century, and with the
advance of civilization progressed in possessions and influ-
ence.

This continued until the great commercial impulse of the
i6th century and the trend of commerce to seek the west-
ern shores of England. At this period emigration, and the

—326—

consequent declension of the population began, which was
continued by the growth of manufactures in the western
counties during the succeeding century, that found no
footing on the level sands of Lincolnshire.

"The ecclesiastical architecture of Lincolnshire has long
been justly celebrated for its magnificence, and its numer-
ous churches have been the subject of admiration."

" It is remarkable that the most splendid edifices which
adorn this district were erected chiefl)' in the lowest and
most fenny situations, where all communication must for-
merly have been, and even to this day, is extremely diffi-
cult.

"The ecclesiastical edifices in the deanery of Lindsey, ex- cepting the Cathedral of Lincoln, are in general inferior to
those of Kesteven and Holland, * * * but it is prin- cipally in the division of Holland that Lincolnshire boasts
of superior excellence in ecclesiastical architecture, and it is really surprising that so many fine monastic buildings
and sacred edifices should have been erected in a county so inconvenient for travelling, so unpleasant to the eye, and
so uncongenial with the common comforts of life, yet in this fenny and swampy district are the churches of Boston,
Gosberton, Pinchbeck, Spalding, Kirton, Holbeach, Croy- land, and many others which have a just claim to universal
admiration.

"The character and plan of the churches in this division vary in different parts. Some are cruciform, many have
spires, while embattled towers at the west end form the principal feature of the remainder. The stone employed
in the erection of these edifices is universally found to be of an excellent and durable species, still retaining at the
distance of many centuries its original face and firmness."

^ee's Cyclopedia,

Some Notes

of

Sir Thomas Meres, Knt., M. P.,
and his Son.

"Meers — Sir. Thos. in Lincoln Close, a good family at
Kirton neare Boston, anciently had a succession by
Buchey; ;^3oo in land, well moneyed, inheritor to his
Uncle Mr. Anth. Meers, niarryed dau. to Sir Erasmus dela
Fountaine."

The above entry is endorsed "from old Mr. Hobbs,
1667." Lincolnshire Families, temp. Charles II., from the
Note Book of Sir Joseph Williamson, a manuscript now
in the State Paper Office.

Members of P.^rliament for the City of Lincoln.

1658-g Robert Marshall.
Thomas Meres.

1660 John Monson.
Thomas Meres.

1661 Sir Robert Bowles,
Thomas Meres.

1678 John Monson.
Thomas Meres.

1679 John Monson.
Thomas Meres.

1681 Sir Thomas Hussej'.
Thomas Meres.

1685 Henry Monson.

Sir Thomas Meres.
1700 Sir John Bolles.

Sir Thomas Meres.
1702 Sir Thomas Meres.

Sir Edw. Hussey.
1705 Sir Thomas Meres.

Thomas Lister.
1708 Sir Thomas Meres.

Thomas Lister.

—328—

Political History of England by A. H. Dyke Acklaml, 1882.

"Monday, July 23d, 1660. This day some of the Clergy
of the Co. of Lincoln in the name of the rest being brought
into the Royal Presence by the Earl of Manchester pre-
sented (a loyal address) to the King's most excellent Maj-
esty by the hands of the Rev. and most learned Doctor
Saunderson, accompanied by that worthy gentleman,
Sir Thomas Meres, and several of the orthodox and loyal
Clergy.

Tuesday, January 14th, 1661. A message was brought
from the House of Commons by Sir Thomas Meres, Kt.,
and others, reminding their Lordships of a bill for restoring
Impropriations and advowsons to such persons who had
served the Kmg in the late troubles.

"Tuesday, March 6th, 1662. A message from the House
of Commons by Sir Thomas Meres, Kt., and others to the
Lords to give dispatch to the bill for uniformity, as believ-
ing it to be of great consequence, and the rather because
they believe they shall not sit long."

Pepys Diary.

"January 2d, 1666-7. Up to the Painted Chamber and
there heard a conference between the House of Lords and
Commons about the Wine Patent, which I was exceeding
glad to be at, because of my hearing exceeding good dis-
courses, but especially from the Commons. Among others,
Mr. Swinfen and a young man, Sir Thomas Meres, and do
out-do the Lords infinitely.

"Also July 17, 1667. The Duke of Buckingham is, it
seems, set at liberty, without any further charges against
him. * * Sir Thomas Meres and others did attend at
the Council Chamber when he was examined."

Note to tin- Life of Sam. Pepys, Vol. I., page 18.

" Information being given to the House (of Commons)
that a person of quality had seen an altar with a crucifix
upon it in the house of Mr. Pepys, Sir Thomas Meres was
appointed by the House January, 1673, with Sir William
Coventry and Mr. Garraway a Committee to attend Lord

— UCl -

3-29

Shakslniry aiul receive what iiiforinatiou liis lordship can
give oil this matter. Tlie groniuls upon which the Com-
mittee decided do not ajipear, but tlie proceedings of the
House on the subject are entered in the Journals (Vol. IX.,
page 306). Without the House coming to any vote on the
the subject, Pepys was permitted to retain his scat."

Ihs/i(>/< liiinu/'s Jlislory of Ins oivii times.

"1675 the King sent for Sir Thomas Meres and told him
he heard they intended to impeach Lord Danby, which he
said would be very prejudicial to his affairs. Sir Thomas
said, the only expedient he knew was to impeach somebody
else, which would spend their fury and waste their time.
Tiie King said that was right, but who should it be? Sir
Thomas said Duke Lauderdale was very odious, would
there be any harm falling upon him. The King answered,
that will do, upon which, as he told me, he impeached him
with great applause."

Note uy Lokd D-\k iMotTfl. — Sir TIioiikis was one of tliti Icacicrs of the opposition
to the Court.

Evflyn Diary.

"August 15th, 1676. Came to dine with me my lord
Halifax and Sir Thomas Meres, one of the Commissioners
of the Admiralty. * * * Also June 25th, 1679, the
new Commissioners of the Admiralty came to visit me,
viz : Sir Henry Capel, brother to Earl of Essex, Mr. Finch,
Sir Thomas Meres, Mr. Hales with some of the Commis-
sioners of the Navy. 1 went with them to London."

Burnet, History of his own times.

^•i6-jq, Charles II. Meres was the candidate of the Court,
but the Commons nominated Seymour. The King refused
to confirm him, and after a constitutional battle they com-
promised by making Sergeant Gregory, Speaker. At the
opening of the Parliament in March, 1679, Seymour had in
the last session struck in with the heat against popery, that
he was become popular upon it, so he managed the matter
in this new parliainent, that though the Court named Me-
res, yet he was chosen Speaker. * * * When Seymour

— 330—

was next day presented as tlie Speaker, the King refused to
confirm the election.

"Upon their return to their House the Chancellor of the
Exchequer, Sir John Earl^', proposed Sir Thomas Meres
as a proper person for Speaker, but after a very warm de-
bate the original choice (Se3'niour) was adhered to, and
final])' the Parliament was prorogued for a few days. When
it met again, the Commons and the King both j'lelded by
adopting Mr. Sergeant Gregory as Speaker. Refers to
Gray's Debates, Chandler's Debates, Ferguson's Growth
of Popery."

Macaiilax' s History of Eii^^loiid, I'ol. I., cJiaplcr 4.

May ig. 1685. The first business of the Commons was
to elect a Speaker. Who should be the man? was a ques-
tion which had been much debated in the Cabinet. Guild-
ford had recommended Sir Thomas Meres, who like himself,
ranked among the Trimmers. Jeffreys, who missed no op-
portunity of crossing the Lord Keeper, had pressed the
claims of Sir John Trevor. The minion of Jeffreys was,
as might have been expected, preferred by James, was pro-
posed by Middleton, and was chosen witliout opposition."

See Roger North's Life of Guildford.

Autobiography of Sir Jolin Bramston, K. B.

"May ig, 1685. Sir Francis North, Baron of Guilford,
Lord Keeper, having on his knee received command from
the King, told the Commons that it was his Majesties pleas-
ure they should goe togeather and make choice of a Speak-
er, and present him at 4 o'clock that afternoon for his
Majesties approbation. * * * Indeed, there used to be
more tyme between chooseinge and presentment, and that
might have been some tollerable excuse, if he liad not
known he should be named and approved too. It beinge
generally knowne that the Lord Keeper had recommended
Sir Thomas Meres, and the Lord Chief Justice Jeffries,
Trevor, and the King had fixed upon Trevor.

"Meres took an important part in the debate which fol-
lowed, upon granting supplies."

Sir John Trevor, Speaker of the H. C, was expelled the
chair 1695 for taking a bribe of 1,000 guineas from the City
of London,

-331 —

Diary of Bishop Caii7i'riglit.

"May 17, 16S7, I was at tlie King's levee, promised my
Lord Preston to snp with him to-morrow night. I visited
Sir Thomas Meres and his lady, Madam Dolhen and Mr.
Sheldon, the Bishop of Ely, &c.

June 24, 1687. Went with my wife to visit the Lady
W'arbiirton, Meeres and Dr. Constable.

•?Jnly 6, 1687. I went to meet the King at Whitehall,
to visit the Bishop of Lincoln. Sir Thomas Strickland,
Sir Richard Wiseman, Sir Thomas Meeres and Mr. Dean
of Carlisle snpped with me."

The Lord High Admiral is the ninth great officer of
state. Mis ofTice was anciently deemed of so much im-
portance that it was either retained by the King himself or
conferred upon one of his younger sons. He has the man-
agement of all maritime affairs, the government of the
Royal Navy, and Judicial power in all maritime cases.
This office has for a long series of years been usually in
Commission, whose functions are now performed by a
Board whose members are designated as "the Lords Com-
missioners of the Admiralty." Following are the names
of the Commissioners appointed by King Charles H. for
the "Admiralty," 1679:

Sir Henry Capel, Kt., Hon. Daniel Finch, Sir Thomas
Lee, Bt., Sir Humphrey Winch, I\t., Sir Thomas Meres,
Kt., Edward Vaughan, Edward Hales.

Several clianges were made in this Commission in the
succeeding 3'ears, but Sir Thomas Meres was regularly
Commissioned Feb'y 19th, 1680, Jan'y 20th, 1682, Aug.
28th, 1683, and April 17th, 1684, when the members were:

Daniel Earl Nottingham, Sir Humphrey Winch, Bt., Sir
Thomas Meeres, Kt., Sir Edward Hales, Bt., Henry Saville,
Sir John Chicheley, Kt., John Lord Vaughan.

This commission was revoked May 22, 1684, and his
Majesty, King Charles H., became Lord High Admiral of
England.

de la fountaine.

Kll<l;^ Bki.i.ars.

Arms of
1)k I, a F(3un[aine.

Gules, a bend or, on the sinister base a cinquefoil ar-
Rent.

Crest, on a njouiit vert a griffin sejant or, holding in
dexter foot an eastern crown, argent.

—3ii—

Sir Erasmus dk i.a Founiaini', of Kirb}- Bellars, Leic,
married Mary, eldest daughter of Sir Edward Noel, Bart.,
Baron Ridlington and Viscount Camden, by Julien, daugh-
ter of Sir Baptist Ilix of London, Knight, and had issue,
Ann, married Sir Thomas Meres, 1658.
Penelope, married Sir Philip Tyrwhit.
Susanna, married Thomas Horde, 1673.
Hester, married Henry Clarke, 1672.

Sir Erasmus was Knighted at Greenwich 15 June, 1623,
and was High Sheriff of the count}' 1628, as appears by a
"Dispensation to reside out of the county of Leicester,
being a bachelor and not recovered from his sickness, nev-
ertheless to be personally attendant at both assizes if his
health permit.

"To Sir Erasmus De La Fountaine, High Sheriff of the
Co. Leicester."

Privy Seal, 4 Cltailrs /., 24tli Deccmlu-r, 1628.

He died 16 March, 1672, at his "lodgings" in Holborn,
buried 6 April at Kirby Bellars. His will, dated October
5, 1 67 1, was proved March 28, 1672.

"There is a curious story told of Sir Erasmus de la
Fountaine in 1636, that he pulled down a great many cot-
tages on the estate and was fined for it, but somehow the
fine was remitted.

"He took tlie King's side in the Civil War and his house
was attacked by the Parliamentary army and set on fire,
whether accidentally or intentionally was disputed."

Contribiilcd by iJie Rei'. Jo/iii Cartmell, Rcctoi- of St.
Peters, Kirl>y Bellars.

Kirkby Bellars, otherwise Kirkby super Wrethek, Leices-
tershire, lies on the west side of Leicester forest. The
church is of very ancient fountlation, as appears that John
Kirkby resigned this church in 1276, and was succeeded by
Roger de Holt.

Roger or Rogerus Bellers, ten hundred de Framland,
who died 8th Henry V., was killed at Leicester 1326. He
had in fee farm the hundred of Framland by grant from

—334—

the Crown, rent ^12,18.5. His widow, in 1359, with con-
sent of her son and heir, translated the Chantry of Secular
priests founded by her husband in his life time at Kirkby
to the use of the Canons regular of St. Augustine. Thus
the collegiate chapel of St. Peter was converted into a
Conventual Church 12 April, 1359, Roger de Cotes first
prior.

Upon the failure of issue of Roger Belar, the founder,
the patronage came into the hands of the Bishop of Lin-
coln. How long this continued does not appear, but at
the period of the dissolution of the monasteries, the pat-
ronage of the Church of St. Peter remained with the lords
of the manor.

In 1672 Sir Erasmus de la Fountaine was lord of the
Manor of Kirby Bellars. His daughter and heir, Anne,
married Sir Thomas Meres, and they both lived and died
and are buried here.

The manorial rights passed at their death to Sir John
Meres, but after his death the I^ectory does not seem to
have been filled. At least it is stated by Nichols in his
Antiquities of Leicestershire, published 1790, that the sti-
pend was ^12.0.0, the living was not in charge, and the
patronage remained in the heirs of Sir John Meres.

With regard to the present Manor House at Kirby Bel-
lars, the date on the oldest part is 1732, which would be
three years before Sir John Meres died. A part was pulled
down and rebuilt about fifty years ago, which was, no
doubt, much older. It is now in fairly good order, and has
been occupied by Mr. John Henry Fo.\, a well to do far-
mer, for the past twenty-five years. It is owned by Mr.
Seddon, who received it by descent from his grandmother
(Mrs. Manners), related to the Duke of Rutland.

Some people who live near here have an old oak chair
and bedstead which are said to have belonged to the Meres
family. Both are beautifully carved. The bedstead is
dated 1671.

CHAPTER XVIII.

Extracts from Deacon's
The Family of

MERES

and some Early

English Newspapers.

Sir Thomas Meres, born 1635, was the son of Robert
Meres, D.D., Ciiancellor of the Diocese of Lincoln, who
married Elizabeth, niece of John Williams, Lord Keeper of
the Great Seal, Bishop of Lincoln and Archbishop of York.

Elizabeth Williams was the widow of William Dolben.
D.D., who died 1631 ; her eldest son by this marriage be-
came Archbishop of York, so that this lady was both niece
and mother of an Archbishop. After the death of her first
hnsband she did not long remain single, bnt married Chan-
cellor Meres, and brought him several children, of whom
Thomas before named was a younger son.

Sir Thomas married Anne, daughter of Sir Erasmus de la Fountaine, by whom he had several children, three sons
and three daughters. He made his will in 1698, before the death of his wife, and left the bulk of his estate to his sec-
ond son, John, afterwards Sir John. To his third son, William, he left an annuity of fifty pounds per annum, up-
on certain conditions, which if not complied with, the legacy

—336—

was to be forfeited. His eldest son was named Tliomas, but bej'ond mentioning the fact that he was then living,
Sir Thomas entirely ignored him in his will, and left him nothing. This was doubtless the result of the son having
contracted a marriage offensive to his father.

The copy of the will in my possession indicates that these motives actuated Sir Thomas, for he specially enjoins
should any of his three daughters marry without the con- sent of his executors, they should forfeit their share of the
inheritance.

Hugh Meere, or Meres, of a junior branch of the family, a man of property and good social position, was living in
the Black Frj'ars in the early years of the iSth century. In addition to other business he carried on that of a printer,
and was well established before 1710.

Thomas Meeres, the disinherited son, lived in London at this time ; he had a son named John, born in 1698, who at
the usual age of fourteen was apprenticed by his father, the gth of Febrnar}', 1712, to William Stephens, to learn the
business of a printer, as appears by the records of "The Ancient and WorshipfuU Company of Stationers of the
City of London."

It is probable that Thomas Meres was an adherent of King James, for we shall see that his son was strongly im-
bued with these proclivities. Thomas subsequently removed to Paris, the hot-bed of the Stuart party, and dying before
I 715, was buried there.

The "Sun Fire Office," the oldest insurance company in the world, was established in London in 1706 as "The Ex-
ciiange House Fire Office." In 1709-10 it was transferred and changed its name to "The Company of London Insur-
ers," but from its seal or sign commonly called the "Sun Fire Office Company."

Hugh Meere was a Director of the Sun Fire Company, and when tliat Company determined in 1709 to add one
more to the list of periodicals, by the publication of the '•British Mercury" it is not surprising to find that he was
the printer of it.

-337—

The " Brilisli Mcniirv," bct^iiiiiinf; at No. .S4 and ending witli No. 495, is to be found in tlie liritish Miisenni. It
begins again as the Brilisli Weekly Mercury and ceased in 1716 with No. 566. The copy now in the British Muscnni
was, from internal evidence, witiiont doubt the one belong- ing to Hugh Mecre, for therein are corrections in manu-
script evidently made as instructions for the next number, and the handwriting is very similar to that of Afr. Meere's.

Hugh Meere was one of the acting members or Direc- tors of the Sun Fire Office from November, 171 2, to Aug-
ust, 1720, when he transferred his interest. lie held the ofTice of Secretary to the Board from 1718 to 1720. He pub-
lished in the Mercury from 1712 to 1715 a "History of the World," which appeared subsequently in three volumes.
It was decided by the Acting Members or Directors that Mr. Meere was entitled to the sole beneht of printing and
publisliing this "Histor\'."

Several notices of Hugh Meere are given by Nichols in his "Literary Anecdotes of the i8th Century."

In 1 71 6 the " His/orica/ Rci^is/er" succeeded to the
^•British Mercury." This was an octavo quarterly volume
purporting to give some account of political events at
home and abroad, and containing a Chronological Diary of
Births, Marriages and Deaths, and also other notable inci-
dents. It was pidilished at first at the expense of the Sun
Fire OfTice, but contained no other reference to the Com-
pany's business. It was printed and sold by Hugh Meere
in Black Fryars as per the imprint, and appears to have
been a successful publication. It is recognized as the pre-
cursor of the " Geut/eniiui's Magazine " which followed and
improved upon its lines.

As we have seen, Hugh Meere severed his connection
with the Sun Fire Office in 1720, and we find the volume
for that year the last one which liears the legend, " Printed
at the expense of the Sun Fire Ofiicc." Thereafter it was
continued as a private enterprise by Mr. Meere.

But Meere had had other work on hand. Oct. 4, 1719,

-338-

he cotnmenced the issuance of a new daily paper called
the Daily Post, which maintained its existence until 1771.

The '?^British Ji'tirnal" another of his publications, com-
menced Sept. 22, 1722. The liberty of the Press was not
established then as it is now, and though the censorship
had been removed, the printers and publishers were sub-
jected to constant suits and prosecutions under tlie law of
libel, on the part of the Crown or other parties who con-
sidered themselves aggrieved, and the law was construed
at that time most rigidly and severely.

For an article in the British Journal deprecating charity
schools and perhaps not complimentary to the clerg}', the
Grand Jury of Middlesex presented for prosecution the
authors, publishers and printers of the said libel, and Meere
suffered the usual penalty therefor.

The British /otir?ial \s famous for the publication of the
letters of "Cato," (a pseudonym second only to that of
"Junius,") which blazed upon the town in the interest of
justice against the wicked promoters of the South Sea
scheme. "Cato's" letters, attributed to Lord Bolingbroke,
have since been collected into volumes and passed through
several editions.

In March, 1722, Mr. Meere removed his household and
establishment from Black Fryars to the Old Bailey, a nar-
row street running between Ludgate Hill and Newgate
street. This street takes its name from the Court House,
or Old Bailey, situated upon it.

Algernon Sidney, the unfortunate and famous younger
son of Robert, Earl of Leicester, whose writings and re-
publicanism made him obnoxious to the Government, and
who was brought to the scaffold and beheaded in 16S3 with
Lord William Russell, for alleged complicity in the Rye-
house plot, had a house in this street. It was afterwards
known as No. 6, and was situated near Ludgate. This
house was now purchased by Hugh Meere, and the first
imprint on his publications from this locality is dated

-339—

March ujtii, 1722. This property remained in the faniilj-
for many years.

Hugh Meere died April 19th, 1723. His wife, Cassandra,
was appointed achiiinistratrix of his estate, and continued
the business of lier husband under the name of C. Meere,
until February, 1726.

In 1724 a curious manuscript was compiled byoneSam'l
Negus. This paper exhibits "a complete list of all the
printing houses in and about the cities of London and
Westminster, together with the printers' names, what news-
papers they print and where they are to be found."

In the lapse of time this has become a very interesting
and valuable document. The compiler was rewarded with
a place in the Post Office. He divided the names under
three headings, according to the known or supposed politi-
cal affiliations of their owners. Namely:

1st. Known to be well affected to King George.

2nd. Said to be High Flyers.

3rd. Roman Catholics.

.'\mong the High FIj'ers we find " C. Meere, of the Old
Bailej-, printer of the Daily I'ust and British Joiinml.'' The
High Flyers were evidently "independents," and not at-
tached to the Court part^'. The}- sided with the Stuarts and
were opposed to the Revolution of 1688 and William HI.

Cassandra Meere did not long survive her husband.
Without doubt she had been assisted, if indeed the busi-
ness had not been managed, by her son-in-law, Richard
Nutt, and when she died in February, 1726, her daughter
Elizabeth. Mrs. Nutt, was appointetl administratrix of both
her father's and mother's estates, as per the records in
Doctors Commons, and Richard Nutt succeeded to the
business.

This gentleman was born in 1694, and lived to the great
age of eighty-six years. He was at this time, therefore,
thirty-two jears old. and at once prosecuted the business
with ardour and success. He continued the publication of
the Historical Register, the Daily Post and the British Jour-

— 340—

)hxl, and added the following 3'ear one of the most import-
ant papers that graced the i8th century, viz.: the ''London
Evening Post.''

This paper made its appearace Dec. 12th, 1727, and con-
tinnetl for upwards of fifty years to e.xert a decided influ-
ence on the politics and opinions of the day, and to stead-
ily fight and suffer in the cause of a free and untrammelled
press.

After the business liad been conducted thus for about ten
years, until 1737, John Meres, the son of Thomas and
grandson of Sir Thomas Meres, who liad been apprenticed
by his father in 171 2, now appears to liave bought out and
superseded his relative Nutt in the management.

Sir John, the second son of Sir Thomas, had succeeded
under the will to his father's estates. He died in 1735, a
bachelor.

His sister. Lady Pettus, was made executrix. The bulk
of the landed property descended to Thomas Whichcote,
Es(j., the son of another sister. The personal estate was
sokl at auction and the proceeds divided among surviving
relatives.

It is extremely probable, although I have no proof of tlie fact, that John Meres, the nephew, obtained a portion
or recognition in this division of his ancle's estate, for im- mediately thereafter, on July 31st, 1737, he took possession
of the premises in the Old Bailey and conducted tlie busi- ness in his own name.

He had previously married, June 2ml, 1732, Sarah Rob- inson, a London lad}', at the Church of St. Botolph, Bish-
opsgate, and there were now several little ones climbing his knees.

It appears that Meres edited the various publications and conducted their sale and circulation, living in the house
in Old I^aile)' and having the papers printed for him by Richard Nutt, the imprint reading, "printed for John
Meres," etc., other circumstances also leading to the same conclusion.

— 341 —

John Mercs at once made qiiile a change in the appear- ance of ihe I/is/oricii/ Rcgistt-r, he added more matter, al-
tered the contents materially, and printed the page witli a different face to that of the preceding twenty-three volumes.
He published the y^(X"V(7- for two years, 1737 and 1738; hwi ihti Giiit/cman's Magazine which commenced in 1731,
had followed and improved upon the Jicgishr and became very successful, hence Meres dropped the Negis/cr which
was thereafter discontinued, and devoted his energies to the conduct of the Dai/y Fast and the London Evening Post.

Quoting from the article "Newspapers," Encyclopedia Britannica, we read, "The history of newspapers during
the long reign of George III., is a history of criminal pros- ecutions, in which individual writers and editors were re-
peatedly defeated and severely punished, whilst the press itself derived new strength from the protracted conflict,
and turned ignominious penalties into signal triumphs."

We need not then be surprised to find that the subject of our sketch came into frequent collision with the ruling
powers. The reign of George III. had not yet been reached, but we have seen no reason to anticipate an easier fate for
those who antedate that period, consequently we read as follows under date December 2nd, 1739: Complaint made
in the House of Commons against John Meres, printer of the '?^ Daily Post," for publishing some remarks on the
"Embargo on Provisions of Victual." This was considered a breach of privilege, as criticising the action of Parlia-
ment, (not to be tolerated in a newspaper). Meres attended at the bar of the House and expressed contrition, but the
House was in ill humor and ordered him into custody of the Serjeant at Arms ; and a motion was made that the
King be petitioned by the House to prosecute Meres. Af- ter ten days' confinement Meres petitioned the House to be
discharged, on account of his wife and his family of young children, and acknowledged his offence, but after three
days the House refused to discharge him and moved that the Serjeant at Arms do carry him before the Lord Chief

—342 —

Justice of the King's Bencli, to answer the charge to be brought against him. Nearl}' two months more elapsed
when, on February loth, 1740, Meres again petitioned the House for his release, "bewailing" his offense, declaring
himself "miserably reduced in health antl body by his con- finement, and beseeching his discharge on behalf of his
wife and children, who are like to become objects of charity by being deprived of their natural supporter."

Finally the House relented and Mr. Meres was ordered to be ib'scharged, on giving bail for his good behavior and
pajing the costs and fees.

We have already' seen that the Meres family were classed among the "High Flyers" or disaffected towards the Ro3al
cause. It does not surprise us, therefore, to find the f.oii- don Evening Post favoring the Stuarts, so far as could be
dared, during the exciting days of the Young Pretender's invasion in 1745-46. Fielding, the novelist, with the en-
couragement of the Government, after a vigorous onslauglit in the "True Patriot," brought out "with the object of dis-
crediting the shattered rcumant of an unsuccessful party," the "Ji(cobitc Journal,'' which was commenced in 1747, pur-
porting in sarcasm to be produced by "John Trottplaid, Esq.," and "bore the representation of Mr. and Mrs.
Trottplaid, the former wearing a plaid waistcoat and tlie latter a plaid petticoat, and both lustily liuzzaing, whilst a
Jesuit is assiduously calling their attention to a copy of the 'London Evening Post.' "

This brings us naturally to what now follows. In 1754 a letter to the editor signed "True Blue" was published in
tile London Evening Post, reflecting on the Government and the Revolution. This aroused the Government, who at
once arrested Richard Nutt, the Printer, who, as we have said, printed the paper for Meres, and on the loth of July,
1755, he was brought to trial in the Court of King's Bench for a libel on the Government.

The Hon. Hume Campbell opened the cause and the Attorney General enlarged on the heinousness of the of-
fense.

—343—

Tlic witiiessL's sul)pa,'necl hy tlie Crown iimiiln.-ii.il above one liiuidrcil, but ten only were cxaminutl. Mr. I'crrot and
Mr. Morcton, who were counsel (or the defoiulaiit, did not at all (jntcr into the defence of the paper, but only insisted
on the insufficiency of the evidence as to Mr. Niitt's being the printer of it. Between four and five the jury withdrew.
Ten of them were unanimous, but the different opinions of the other two obliged the judge about eight o'clock to lock
them up and dismiss the court. About ten o'clock his Lordship received a message that they were agreed on the verdict, and he immetliately re-
turned with the Solicitor General, when Mr. Ntitt was found guilty.

Judgment was ileferred until Nov. 28, 1755, when he was brought to the liar of the l\ing's Bench and received the
following sentence: To stand in the pillorj' on the 5tli of December for one hour at Charing Cross, between the
lionrs of 12 noon and 2 p. m., to be imprisoned in the King's Bench prison two years, to pay a fine of ^500
($2,5ooj, and find securities for good behaviour for five years, himself for ^1,000 ($5,000), and two sureties ^500
(§2,500) each.

The Gefi//f///(ni's A/(ixii:i'i'S^ys: Friday, Dec. 5th, 1755,
Mr. Nutt stood in the pillory pursuant to his sentence.

It is somewhat remarkable that I^ichard Nutt should have been singled out for this punishment when the London
Ez'fning Post for all the years of its issue, (which have been carefully examined in the British Museum), bears the im-
print, "Printed for John Meres, Old Bailey." How much of tlie fine and surety was borne by Meres in settling ac-
counts with his printer and relative I have been unable to discover. There is a tradition however, in tlie family,
which I have received from three independent sources, that John Meres was fined so heavily by the Government, as to
nearl)' ruin him, for publishing an expression of sympathy with the Kevolntion of the Pretender.

It is therefore certain that he was a sufferer with Nutt in the payment of the heavy fine and costs imposed by the
Conrt.

Mr. Richard Nutt survived his sentence and lived to a good old age. He retired from business some years before
his death, which took place in 1780. But this list of troubles is not yet over. liy the law of that day it was a breach of privilege of the House of
Lords for a printer to mention any nobleman by name, in the reports of the parliamentary proceedings, and the fine
for this offense was ^100 ($500). "One Lord Marchmont seems to have had a morbid passion for collecting these
penalties. No matter that the nobleman's name was men- tioned with favour ; no matter that the nobleman himself did not care a rush about it. Lord Marchmont must have his pound of flesh. He was in the habit, we are told, of examining the newspapers every day with the ardour that
a hawk prowls for prey. Whenever he found my fiord's name printed in any paper, he immediately made a motion
in the House of Lord's against the printer for breach of privilege."

In 1764 John Meres, the printer and publisher of the London ETcnini; Post, was brought to the bar of the House
of Lords and fined ;^ioo ($500) and costs, ^^40 ($200), for mentioning the name of Lord Hereford in his paper.

John Almon, the bookseller and friend of Wilkes, was the author of the paragraph that brought the law down
upon Meres. Almon was at this time and continued to be a very strong asserter of the public right to know how
public affairs were conducted in Parliament.

Thus was the war carried on between the King, Lords and Commons, against the Public Press, the fourth estate;
and the latter were the martyrs and sufferers, through whose valliant fight and patient endurance we rejoice to-
day in one of the greatest of National blessings — the Lib- erty of the Press — for the echo of this strife was not lim-
ited to the narrow sliores of England. The London Evening Post is one of the three daily papers

—345—

which at tliis uarly period (1764) endeavored to give a re-
port, scanty it is true, but nevertheless somewhat approach-
ing to a report, of the speeches and proceedings of Parlia-
ment. This was from notes gathered in the lobbies of the
Houses and in coffee houses, from buttonholed members,
taken by John Almon for the Post and by one Wade for
the other two papers, but while the editors were maturing
plans for a better system of reporting, a thunderbolt fell
among them. Parliament again declared war against the
liberty of the Press. This was the last struggle and Par-
liament was defeated.

John Meres died in 1761, and left his business to his son
John, born 1733.

John Meres, second, continued the business of his father
at the same place, No. 6 Old Bailey, in the house that was
once the residence of Algernon Sidney, a significant base
from which to fight the battle for liberty of thought.

As usual we find in the forefront of this battle the Lon-
don Evening Post, and it was well generalled, for among
other noted writers for this paper were the three Burkes,
Edmund, the illustrious statesman and orator ; William,
and Richard, who wrote over the pseudonym of "Valens."

The practice of dragging news printers to the bars of the
two Houses to make a hollow submission and an abject
apology for doing yesterday what they intended to do again
to-morrow, was now indeed falling into discredit. But in
Feby., 1771, the House of Commons, smarting under the
provocation of seeing its speeches reported daily, passed a
resolution that upon the discovery of the authors, printers
or publishers, of any such printed newspapers, this House
will proceed against them with the utmost severity.

Accordingly in March following, warrants were issued for
the arrest of the printers of six papers, including the Lon-
(ion Evening Post. Of these the Post alone was singled out
for prosecution.

But at this point the name of Meres, which has for
thirty-five years appeared daily in the iiniirint of this now
celebrated newspaper, disappears.

—346—

Desiring to avoid another conflict with the Government,
Mr. Meres sold ont his business and the Daily Post ceased
to exist.

Nevertheless its brother paper, the London Evening Post,
which for so many j'ears had fought for liberty, was
continued under new management, and maintained its
old and well earned laurels under the change. What fol-
lowed is a matter of history. After some delay the mes-
senger of the Commons attempted to arrest the new printer
of the London Evening Post in the City of London. The
city claimed that its ancient chartered privileges were be-
ing invaded, arrested the messenger, and defied the House.
A pitched battle ensued between the City of London and
the House of Commons, resulting in the defeat of the
House, which thereupon desisted from further attempts to
control the presses of the Metropolis. Thus was liberty at
last and finally won for the Press of England, through the
newspaper established and maintained so long by the fam-
ily of Meres.

John Meres, second, died before Richard Nutt, and none
of his family maintained any further connection with the
press.

Richard Nutt, the widower of Elizabeth Meere, died
March nth, 1780. He was much respected and had been
elected to represent the ward of Farringdon-without, in the
Common Council of the City of London ; with him died
the London Evening Post.

Though Mr. Nutt had not printed the paper for many
years, he had obtained the controlling interest after the
death of John Meres second, but unfortunately Mr. Nutt
had no sons to continue his business.

New papers, new men, new methods were coming to the
front, and the London Evening Post, after an existence of
fifty-four years, closed its eventful career; its record ha.';
now become almost forgotten history.

CHAPTER MX.

TABLES OF DESCENT.

It has become the fashion for American genealogists to
trace the descent of their families from some noted ances-
tor who immigrated during the seventeenth century, and
not a few have attempted to carry their line beyond that
period to well-known or ennobled English houses supposed
to belong to their race and lineage.

The following tables showing the descent of the ancient
families of Reynes and Meres, will not, therefore, be con-
sidered unusual nor vain ; they are given not because there
is any glory supposed to attach to such tabular statements,
but for the reason that the alliances and names shown to
be connected with the family are notable, historic and inter-
esting.

So far as the author knows, every statement given in
these tables is accepted by the latest and best authorities,
and they are believed to be authentic.

The descent is through the first, or left hand column of
names.

REYNES DECONS.

Ta,Tole 1.

GREY AND LUCY DESCENT.

Prince David of Scotland, descended from the Kings of Scot-
land, Kings of England, Kings of France, Dukes of Normandy,
Grand Dukes of Russia, Emperors of Constantinople and
Counts of Vermandois, married Maud of Chester, descended
from the Counts of Flanders, William the Conqueror and
Lady Godiva.

Prince David of Scotland=Maud, de Kevilioc, dan, Hugh Earl

Chester.
Margaret, eldest daii.^Alan, Earl of Galloway.

Helen of Galloway=Roger de Quincy, 2d Earl Winchester,
Margaret de Ouincey= William Ferrars, 7th Earl of Derby.
Wni. Ferrars, 2d son, of Grob3'=Joan, dtui. Hugh le desjienser.
Ann Ferrars, 1st wife=John, 2d Lord Grey de Wilton.
Henry de Grey, 3d Lord Wilton=Anne, dau. Ralph Rockle}-.
Reginald Grey, -ith Lord Wilton=Maud, dau. John Botetourt.

Katherine Grey=:Sir Geoifry de Lucj' of Chelmescote.
Katherine Lucy=John Tj'ringham of Tyringham.
John Tyringham=Eleanor, dau. Sir Lawrence Pabenham
John Tyringhani= Alice, dau. Sir John Olney.
John Tyringham=EUzabeth, dau. Sir Edmd. Brudenell.
.-^gnes TYringhaui=Sir John Re3'nes of Clifton-Reynes.
Elizabeth Revnes=Richard Decons of Marston.

Ta"ble 2.

ROOS DESCENT.

Malcolm Canmore, KiugofScotland=Margaret, dau. Edward the Exile.

gr. dau. Edmund Ironsides.
David L, King of Scotland. =Maud, dau. of Earl Waltheof,
Prince Henry of Scotland=Acla de Warenne.
William the Lion, King Scots father of

Isabel his daughter=Robert de Roos of Hanilake.
William de Roos=Lucy Fitz Piers.
Robert de Roos—Isabel de Albini (Belvoir).
Isabel de Roos=Walter Lord Fauconberg.
[See Table j.]

— 351 —

REYNES DECONS.

Ta-ble 3.

ENGAINE. BERNAK DESCENT.

Henry I., King ot France— Anne ot Russia.

Hugh Magnus— Adela de Vermandois.
Is;\l)e1 (le Vcrmand<)i,s=Winiam de Warrcnnc.
Cundred de Warrenne^William de Lancaster.
William de Laneaster=Helvvysc de Stntville.
Helwyse de Lancaster^Gilbert Fitz KeinlVid.
HelwyseFitz Reinfrid— Peter de Brus ot'Skelton.
Agnes de Bruce=\Valter Lord Faueonbrige.
Waller Fauconberg (Table 2)=Isabel de Roos.

Walter Fauconherg=Anastacia de Nevil.
Amicia Fauconberg=Nicholas Engaine.
John Engaine=Joane Peverell.
Maria Eiigaine^Sir William Bernack.
John Bernack=Anne Noone.
Mary Bcrnaek=Robert Stonhani.
Robert Stonham=Kathcrine Burgett.
Elizabeth Stonham— John Bronghton.
Joan Brovighton=Thomas Reynes.

John Reynes=Agnes Tyringhani.
Elizabeth Reynes=Richard Decons.

TaTole -i.

BARDOLPH, PEYVRE DESCENT.

Isabel de Vermandois=Robert de Beaumont.
Elizabeth de Beaumont=Gilbert de Clare, Earl Pembroke.
Uichard de Clare " Strongbow "=Eva, dau. Dermod MacMurrough,

King of Leinster, Ireland.
Isabel de Clare= William Marshall, Earl of P'embrokc.
Sybil Marshall=W'illiam Ferrars, Earl of Derby.
Joane Ferrars, 4th daughter=Robert de Aguillar.

Isabel de Agnillar=Hugh (Lord Bardolf).
Elizabeth Bardolf=Paulin Peyvre.
Nicholas Peyvre=Margaret, dau. Sir Thos. Arden, Kt.
Thomas Peyvre=Margaret, dau. Sir Nigel Loryng.

Mary Peyvre=John Broughton.
John Broughton=Elizabeth Stonham.
Joan Broughton^Thomas Reynes.
Sir John Reynes^.Vgnes Tyringhani.
Elizabeth Revnes=Kieliard Decons.

-352-

REYNES DECONS.

TaTole 5.

MONTFORT, MONTACUTE DESCENT.

Isabel de Vermandois^Robert de Beaumont, Earl Leicester

2d husband.
Adaliza de Beaumont— Hugh de Montfort, 4th Baron.
Thurston de Montfort de Beldesert father of

Henry de Montfort father of

Thurston de Montfort father of

Peter de Montfort=Aliee. dau. Henrj- de Aldithley

Killed :lt Kvesham.

Peter de Montfort father of

Klizal)etli de Moiitfort=\Villiam, son and heir Simon, Lord
Montaeute.
Alice Montacute^Ralph Uaubenev.

[T:iWes hand 7.]

Ta,-ble S.

MAINWARING DESCENT.

Henry L, King of England father of

Robert, Earl of Gloucester^Mabel Fitz Hanion.

Matilda of Gloucester=Ranulf de (Vernon, Earl of Chester.
Hugh de Kevihoe=lst wife, name unknown.
-?Vmicia of Chester— Ralph Mainwaring.
Henry de Audley=Bertrade de Mainwaring.
Alice de Aldithlej- or Audley=Peter de Montfort.
Peter de Montfort father of

Elizabeth de Montfort^Williani, 2d Lord Montaeute.

Alice Montaeute— Ralph Daubeney.

[Tilble 7. J '

-353-

REYNES DECONS.

Ta-Tole T .

DAUBENEY, PABENHAM DESCENT.

K(illi) tlic Dane, Duke of Xonnaiidy^Poppa, dan. Count of Baycau.\.
Win. Longsword, " " =Adela, dan. Count dc St. Liz.

Kicliard I., the Fearless " =Gunnora, dan. Herbastus.

Uieliard II., the (lood " father of

Kohcrt the Devil=HarIotta of Falaise.

Adeliza=Count Lambert de Lens in .\rtois.
Judith, Lady of Daventry=Earl Waltheof.

Maud=lst, SiinondeSt. Liz, Earl Huntingdon
Maud de St. Liz=Williani d' Alhini Brito.
Ralph Daubene3'=Sibella dc Valoynes.
Ralph Daubeney=Isabel.
Elias Daubeney=Ha\vise.
Ralph Daubeney (Tables ; and 6)=Alice, dau. William, Lord Montacute.
Ciiles Daubeney=Alianor, dau. Sir Henry W3lhnf3;ton.
Joane Daubeney=Sir Lawrence Pabenham.
Eleanor Pabcnham=John Tyringham.

John Tyringham=Alice,dau. Sir John Olney.
John T}'ringham=Elizabcth, dau. Edmund Brudenell.
Agnes Tyringham=Sir John Rcynes of Clifton Reynes.
F5lizabeth Revnes— Richard Decons.

= Rob
d'Ag

-5 tjfl

II —

W

II-
?- £
^1

ine, dan. -
Kerrars,

rl Derby,

ybil, da'u.
Marshal),

=*einbroke.

c >?

E i

J^ B >

—355-

MERES OF KIRTON TABLE A.

HARINGTON DESCENT.

Malcolm Caiimorc, Kitigof Scotlaiid=Margaret, gr. dau, Edmund Ironsides
David I., King of Scotland^Maud, widow of St. Liz. and dau. of

Earl Waltlieof.
Henry, Prince of Scotland=Ada, dau. Earl de Warenne.
David, Earl of Huntingdon=Maud, dau. Hugh de Kevilioc, Earl of

Chester.
Is;iliella of .Scotland=Kobert Bruce, Lord of Annandale,
great grandfather of the great
Bruce,
Kobcrt de Brns or Bruce=Isabella, dau. Oilbert de Clare, "jth

Earl Hertford and 'M\ Earl (tIouccs-
ter, by Isabel, dau. Wni. Marshall,
Earl Pembroke, and thcgranddau.
of Strongbow by his wife Eva,
dau. Dermod, King of Leinster.
Bernard de Bruce of Conuington=Constantia de Morton,
and K^xton, Co. Kutl'd

Bernard de Bruce (ob. 29 Ed. II.)=.\gatha.
Sir Bernard de Bruce (ob.4Pid. III.)^Agneta.
Sir John de Bruce (ob. 2-t Ed. III)=Margaretta.

Joanna Bruce=Sir Nicholas Green, Kt.
Jane Green=Thomas Colepepper, Esq.
Sir Thomas Colepepper^Juliana,dau. Sir Ralph Cromwell, Kt.
Catherine Colepepper=John Haringtonof Fleet Holland. Line
Robert Harington=Maud, dau. Sir John Present.
Sir John Harington=.\lice, dau. Henry Southill.
Sir John Harington=Elizabeth, dau. Robt. Morton.
Sir James Harington=Lucy, dau. Sir Wm. Sidney.

Mabilia Harington=Sir ,\ndrew Noel, Kt.
Sir Ivdward Noel, Kt=Julian,dau. Sir Baptist Hicks,
Viscount Campden.
Mary Hicks=Sir Erasmus de la Fountainc of Kirbv
Bellars.
.\nne de l.i l"ountaine=Sir Thomas Mercs, Kt.

— 356—
MERES OF KIRTON TABLE B.

SIDNEY DESCENT.
William the Conqueror=Matik]a of Flanders.
Henrv I., King of England=Matilcla, dau. Malcolm, King of

Scotland.
Princess Matilda=GeQffrey Plantagenet, Count of Anjon
Hcnrv II., King of England^^Eleanor of Acquitaine.

John, King of England=Isabel of Angouleme.
Henry III., King of England=Hleanor of Provence.
Edward I., King of England=Eleanor of Castille.

Princess Elizabeth (nuiie C)=Humphrey Bohun, Earl of Hereford
William Bohmi, Earl of Northam'tn=Elizabeth Badelsmere.

Elizabeth Bohun cnihle D)=Kichard, Earl of Arundel.
Elizabeth Fitz .\lan=Sir Robert Goushill.

Ehzabeth Goushill=Sir Robert Wingfield.
Elizabeth Wingfield=Sir William Brandon.

Anne Brandon=Sir Nicholas Sidney.
Sir William Sidney=Anne Pagenham.
Lucy Sidney (T.ible A)=Sir James Harington.
Mabilia Harington=Sir Andrew Noel.
Sir Edward Noel=Julian Hicks.

Mary Hicks=Sir Erasmus de la Fountaine.
Anne Fountaine=Sir Thomas Meres.

MERES TABLE C.

CHARLEMAGNE, STRONGBOW DESCENT.
Henry I., King of France=.\nne of Russia.

Hugh Magnus=.\dela de Vermandois.
Isabel de Vermandois=Robert de Beaumont.
Elizabeth de Beaumont— Gilbert de Clare, Earl Pembroke.
Richard de Clare " Strongbow "=E;va, dau. Dermot MacMurrough,

King of Leinster, Ireland.
Isabel de Clare=William Marshall, Earl of Pembroke.
Eva, dau. WilHam Marshall=William de Braose.

Eleanor de Braose=Humphrey de Bohun.
Humphrey de Bohun=Maud, dau. Ingram de Fines.
Humi)hrey de Bohun (Table B)=EHzabeth, dau. King Edw. I.

TABLE D.

Henry III., King of F;ngland=Elcanor of Provence.
Edmund Crouchback=Blanche of Navarre.
Henry, Earl of Lancaster=Maud, dau. Patrick Chaworth.
Eleanor Plantagenet=Richard, Earl of Arundel.
Richard, Earl of Arundel ( lahl,- li)=ElizaI)cth Bohun.

357

STODDARD DEACON.

Sir James Ware, Kt., M.I'., oli. lt;;^2— Mary, sislcr Id Sir .Vmhrosc Hry-

den, Kt.

Anne Ware, = EuimaiiucI Dovvninge, born ir>!sr>.
sister of Sir James Ware, Kt., Married lid I.iiey, sister to Gov.

M. P. ir>'J4— 1666. John Wiiithroii. '

Mary I)o\vnin<);,=Anthony Stoddard, came to New ling-
sister to Sir George Downing, land 163S, merchant of Boston,
Bart. Mass. oh. 10,s7.

Rev. Solomon Stoddard of North- =Mrs. Esther Mather, rice Warham, of
ampton, Mass., KUS— 1729. Windsor, Conn. ,ot>. 1736 aged '.l6.

Rev. Anthony Stoddard of Wood- =Prudenee, great grandd.uigliter of
bury, Conn., uncle to Rev. Jona- Governor Thomas Wellesof Conn,

than Edwards.

(Sidcon Stoddard of Woodbiirv: Olive, dan. lolui Curtis, died 1776.
Conn.. 1714—1780. Captain
and Deacon.

Captain Nathan Stoddard, Revolu- —Eunice Sanford, died at Woodl)ury
tionarv armv. Killed at Fort Oct., 1794-, aged 4-8.

Mifflin, Del., Nov. 1777.

Nathan Ashbel Stoddard of Pawlet=Ruth ludson, 1775—1838.
Vt., died at Pulaski, N. Y.,1S48.

Capt. Rodman vStoddard, ]. P., died-Marv Mattison. 18011— 1893.
at Detroit, Mich. 179"7— 1853.

Eliza Stoddard— Edward Deacon, Bridgeport, Conn.

-358-

BULKELEY, WAKEMAN, BATES,
of Fairfield, Conn.

Bulkeley, Bulkley, from whom sprang the Lords of Bulkeley,
Co. Chester, the Viscounts Bulkeley of f reland, and the Barons
Bulkeley of Beaumaris, likewise the Bulkeley families of Haugh-
ton, Cheadle, Burgate, Wore, Odell and New England.

i Burke*s Extinct Peerage.

Visitation BeiUordshire, liarleian Society, Vol. lo.
! New Entr. Gen. tt Hist. Register, v. 23, p. 299.
AUTUUKITIES : -, Die. Nat. Brit. Bios;rapliy.
! Schenck's Hist, of Fairfield.
[ Probate and County Records, ^'airfield, Ct.

35'»
LINEAGE.

Koljcrt liiilkclcv, Lord ol the Mniioror HulUclcv, Co. CliLStir, Itiiiii. K. jcihii.
Williiini Hiilkeicy, Lord of Biilkelcy=

Robert Bulkclcy of I5ulkcIcy=Jaiie, dau. Sir Win. Hiitlcr of

\Varriii);t()n.
William lUilkclcv of Biilkclcv— Maud, ilaii. Sir [olni I)aviii|iorl.
livinj; 1302.
Robert Biilkclcv of Eaton, =Agncs.
Ancestor of the Visconnts Bnlkc-
ley of Cashel and the Barons
Bulkeley of Beanmaris.

Peter Bulkeley of Haughton=Nicola, d. and h. Tlumias Bird of

Aljirahani.
John Bulkeley of Haughton=Arderne. dau. John Fitley of Woore.
Hugh Bulkeley of \Vore=Helen, dau. Thomas Wilbraham of

W'oodhey.
Humphrey Bulkeley of Wore=Griscll, d. and h, John Xfolton.
William Bulkeley of Wore in Co.=Beatrice, d. and h. of Wm. Hill of
Salop. Buntingstall.

Thomas Bulkeley of Wore=Elizabeth, d. Randall (Irosvenor of

Bcllcapree.
Rev. Edward Bulklev, D.D.. Reetor=01yff Irby of Irby, Co. Lincoln, of the
of Odell, Co. Bedford, Prebend " famil'v of the Lords Boston. Uic.
of Litchfield. Xnt. Hiog.. Vol. VII., p. 235.

Rev. Peter Bulkeley of Odell, b. 1583=lst wife Jane, dau. Thomas Allen of
d. 105'.), sold his estate and came Goldington, Co. Bedford. She

to New England about 1635. died at Odell 1626.

Founded Concord, Mass.
Thomas Bulkeley, B. 1017, d. 1658. =Sarah, dau. Rev. John Jones, first
removed from Concord to Fair- minister of Fairfield, Conn., she

field. Ct., 164-4, with the Rev. niar'd 2d, Anthony Wilson, and

John Jones. died 1080.

John Bulklcy, died 1707=Sarah Whelpley, dau. Joseph.
•RecDnL-i Fairfield.
Esther Bulklev, mar'd Jan.27, 1729=Iohn Hill, died before 1770.
Rec. Fairfield, Ct.

Sarah Hill, b. April 28, 174-2= ?George Wakeman, niar'd 1 7l'i2.
Records Fairfield. See Wakemnn Genealofiy.

Hill Wakeman. b. 1700. d. 184-5=Dorcas Saunders, b. 177<>. d. 1858.
m. 1790, settled at Bainbridge,
Chenango Co., N. V.
Pamelia Wakeman, b. 1805, d. 1872=Stepheii Bates, b. 17'.)8, d. 184-0.

m. 1822.
Dorcas Dorothv Bates, b. lS39,=James A. Tiller of Detroit, Mich,
d. 1864-. " I

Carrie D. Tiller, b. Sept. 13, 1858,
adopted daughter of Edward Deacon of Bridgeport, Ct.

•Great yrandsoii of llev. S:uiiuel \Vakcin;iii. minister of Fairlield. Ct.

APPENDIX

Notes, Etc.

Page 2S.

John Deacon of Cadington, in the Co. of Hertford and
in the diocese of Lincohi. Will dated 12 April, 1612 ;
Proved in the Archdeaconry Court of Bedford, 23 Septem-
ber, 1617.

Caddington, which is not to be confounded with Card-
ington in Beds., is partly in Herts and partly in Beds. It
would seem that when he made his will the testator was
living in the Herts, portion and at his death was residing
in the Beds portion.

John Stopesley of Clophill, in the county of Bedford,
yeoman, December 11, 1616. "I give and bequeath to my
nephew, John Deacon of Clophill aforesaid, and his hcires
for ever, all my copie holde with all and singular the ap-
purtenances within the parishe of Clophill wch I have sur-
rendered to the use of the saide John Deacon and his
heires as may appeare, to be in force after my decease up-
pon this condition, that he the saide John Deacon, his
heires, executors, administrators or assignes, doe well and
truly pay the some of three score poundes of goode and
iawfull money of England in manner and fourme as fol-
lowethe, that is to sai, tirste I will that he, the saide John
Deacon, his heires, executors, administrators or assignes
shall paie onto Willyam Deacon of Kinges Wallden, in

—362—

Hartfordshire, XX s. within one whole yearu after my de-
cease." Mention is then made of Grace, the wife of Ed-
ward Lilborne of Clophill, and the four sons of the said
Grace, which she had by her first husband, Henry Deacon,
deceased, whose names were Stopsley Deacon, Willyam
Deacon, Richard Deacon and Henry Deacon. Mentions
also Agnes Deacon of Clophill, Daughter of Richard Dea-
con, deceased, and Joane Bell, mother of the said Agnes,
Thomas Deacon of Clophill, my nephew, Elizabeth, the
daughter of Thomas Deacon and Agnes her sister, and
Agnes the daughter of John Deacon. Residue to John
Deacon of Clophill, who is executor. Proved 18 Novem-
ber, 1617.

iyAn-hihaconry Court of Bciford, Lib. .x.wiii fo. 14 />.)

The family of the testator of 1616, undoubtedly took its
name from the parish of Stopsley in Bedfordshire.

Pages ^2 and 5J. Value of Money.

Augustus Jcssopp, D.D., says .• "L express my very strong
conviction that a charge of ;^i,6oo in 1598 would at least
be equivalent to ^20,000 in our own days." (The italics
are his.) The disparity must have been greater the earlier
the date.

One generation of a Norfolk house, page Ji6, ed. iSjg.

WILL OF RICHARD DECONS, 1521.
Page 53- P. C. C. 11, Maimvaring.

In Dei nomine Amen, forasmoch as this world is tran-
sitory and no man lyving in the same hathe any certayntie
of his lif. Therefor I, Richard Dicons, Esquier, beyng in
hoole mynde, lauded be god, make my testament and last
will in fourme follouyng:

ffirst I bequethe my soule to almyghty god and to our
Lady saint mary and to all the holy Company of Heven,
my body to be buryed in the Chapell of saint (blank) wtiij

-363-

the Church of Miirstoii if I (oitimc tu dcccas within xxx
Miles of the same. And if 1 fortune to deceas in London,
or witliin xij Miles of Barkyng, tlien I will my body to be
buried within the said monastery there. And incontenently
after my deceas I will that myne Executours doo cause a
thousand masses to be said for me and a preste contenually
to syng for me duryug the space of xx yeres. Also I be-
quethe to thabbesse of Barkyng a gold Ryng with a Saphur
and xiij s. iiij d. in money. And to every Lady kepyng
household vj s. viij d. And to every Lady kepyng no hous-
hold iij s. iiij d. Also to the prioresse of the Menoresse in
London vj s. viij d., and to every Lady there iij s. iiij d.,
they to kepe a solempne dirige & masse of Requiem. Also
to the ffrieris of Bedford xx s. for ij. trentalle. Also to the
ffrieris of Dunstable xx s. for ij tryntalle. Also to the
priores and Ladies of the priory besydes saint Albones
XX s., and to the ij ancressis there eyther of theym iij s.
iiij d. Also to the gray ffrieris in London xx s. for ij. tryn-
talle. Item. I bequeth to my doughter Kateryn for hir
mariage cc.li. Also to Margaret Lynche for hir mariage
C marc. And to Henry Lynch xxvj li xiij s. iiij d.

MEMORAND' that the (blank) daye of Octob'r in the
xijth yere of the Reigne of Kyng Henry the VHIth, Rich-
ard Dicons, Esquier, beyng in goode and pfite remembrance
said and declared that he had made a w^ill of his londez,
and also had begonne his testament and will of his moue-
ables, whereof he had wryten part and certeine bequeste
with his owne hande which he wold shuld stande and be
pformed, howbeit he had not made ne named his Executours,
wherfor there and thun the said Richard named constitute
and made his wif, William Bulstred, Esquier, and Walter
Luke, gentelman, his Executours. and furtherly over
and above the contente in his said will and testament, he
than declared and willed that if it fortuned hym to deceas
his sonnes beyng then within the age of xxj yeris, then
that Jane his wif, the said William Bulstrid and Walter
Luke his Executours, shuld receive and take all the Rente

—364—

issues and profitte of all hismanours, landez and tenemente
Excepte his wife Joynter til his said sonnes come to the
said age of xxj j'cris towardis the payment of his dette,
ffynding of hischildern, and the performyng of his legacies
and bequests. And all the Residue of the said Rente and
profitte of his landes duryng the said Nonage taken and
Receyued should be disposed by his said Executours
in dedis of Charitie for the welth of his soule. And
when Thomas liis second Sonne come to his full age of xxj
yearis then he willed that he should have the Maner of
Marston with thappurtenance after the maner, forme and
effecte conteyned in the said will of his landes. And in
lykewise he wold that when his sonne Richard come to his
full age that he shuld have all such maners, landes & tent's
as he had assigned hym in his said will. And after Ivke
maner, fourme and effecte as was conteyned in his said
will. And also he declared that when ffraunces his sonne
come to lyke age that then he shuld have such landes and
tenemente as he had assigned hym in his said will and un-
der lyke maner and forme as it was and is conteyned in his
said will of and upon the disposicion of his landez and
tenements, ffurtherly he said and declared that where he
had bequethed to his doughter Kateryn to liir mariage cc li
in his foresaid testament, that if it fortuned the said
Kateryn his doughter to dye before full age or mariage,
tliat then the said cc li to hir so bequethed shuld be by his
said Executours egally devided bitwene his sonnes.

Ultima voluntas Ricl Dicons.

THIS IS THE LAST WYLL of me, Richard Dicons,
Esquier, towchyng the disposicion of all my maners, landez
and tenemente that I or any other to myne use have wtin
the Realme of England, ffirst I will that Thomas Decons,
my Second sonne, shal have aft'r my deceas the maner of
Marston Morteyn with thappurtenances in the Countie of
Bedd, to hym and to his heires males of his bodye lawfully
begoten. And for defaulte of such issue male of his bodye

—365-

lawfiilly begoten I will the said maner with thappurte-
nances Remayne to ffrauncez Dicons, brother of the said
Thomas, to have to hym and to his heires males of his
body lawfully begotten. And for defaulte of such issue I
will the said maner wt the appurtenances remayne to Kat-
eryn my doughter, Sister to the said Thomas and ffraunces,
and to the heires male of hir body lawfully begotten.
And for defaulte of such issue to the heires of the bodye
of the said Thomas lawfully begoten. And for defaulte of
such issue the Remaynder thereof to the said ffraunces and
to the heires of his body lawfully begoten. And for de-
faulte of such issue the said manner with thappurtenances
to Remayne to the right heires of Thomas Raynes, ffather
of John Raynes, esquier, deceased ffather of Elizabethe,
late wif of the said Richard Dicons.- Also I will that the
foresaid Thomas Dicons shall have after my deceas the
manor of Lytlington, Called the Halle late Goldyngtons to
hym and to his heires males of his body lawfully begoten.
And for defaulte of such issue the said maner to Remayne
to Richard Dicons, my eldest sonne, to have to hym and to
his heires males of his body lawfully begoten. And for
default of such issue I will the said maner with th' appur-
tenances to Remayne to ffraunces Dicons, my yongest
sonne, to have to hym and to his heires males of his body
lawfully begoten. And for defaulte of such issue the Re-
maynder thereof to Thomas Dicons my brother, and the
heirs males of his body lawfully begoten. And for defaulte
of such issue the Remaynder thereof to John Dicons my
yongest brother and to the heires males of his body lawful-
ly begoten. And for defaulte of such issue the Remaynder
thereof to the Right heirs of me the said Richard forever.
Also I will that Richard Dicons, my oldest Sonne, shall
have after my deceas all such landez and tenemente lying
in the Townes of Rydyng, Southampton, Salisbury, Alcon-
ynge and Strete to hym and to his heires of his body law-
fully begoten. Also I will that after the deceas of Jane my
wif the said Richard to have all the landez and tenemente

-366-

and quite rents lying in Whitwaltham, Lawrencewaltham,
Shottesbroke, Bynfield and Okyngham, and also the maner
called Barnes, wt appurtenances in Stewcley in the Coun-
tie of Buk. And also all the landes and tenemente in Sud-
bury, and also all the landes and tente wt appurtenances
in Abbotte Langley and in the Towne of saint Albons to
have to hym and to his heires males of his bodye lawfully
begoten. And for defaulte of such issue I will the said
maners with all the landes and tenemente and quite rente
aforesaid wt thappurtenancez to Remayne to ffraunces Di-
cons his brother to have to hym and to his heires males of
his body lawfully begoten. And for default of such issue
the said Maners, londez and tenemente witli thappurte-
nances to Remayne to Thomas Dicons, brother to the said
ffraunces, to have to hym and to his heires males of his
body lawfully begoten. And for defaulte of such issue the
Remaynder thereof to Thomas Dicons my brother, & to
the heires males of his body lawfully begoten. And for
defaulte of such issue the Remaynder thereof to John Di-
cons my brother, and to the heirs males of his body law-
fully begotten. And for defaulte of such issue the Re-
maynder thereof to the right lieires of me, the said Rich-
ard forever. Also I will that ffraunces Decons, my young-
est Sonne, shall have after my deceas the annuytie of iiij li
and X s. goyng oute of the maner of Clifton Raynes, and also
the Reu'cion of the Moytie of the same maner with the
avouson of the Churche after the deceas of m}' Cosj'n,
Maister Thomas Raynes, prest. And also all my landes
and tenemente with thappurtenances lying in Edworth
and other villages there next adjoyning. And also a ten-
ement called the George in lytill Birckhall with thappurte-
nances. And also all my landes and tenemente lying in
Layghton Inissard, and also the maner wt all other my londis
and tenemente in Stanbrygge to have to h^'m and to hys
heires males of his body lawfully begoten. and for de-
fault of such issue to Richard Dicons his brother and to
the heires males of his body lawfully begoten. And for de-

—367—

faulte of siiche Issue to Thomas Dicons, brother to the
said Richard, and to the heires males of his body lawfully
begotcn. And for defaulte of such Issue, the Remaynder
thereof to Thomas Dicons my Brother and to the heires
males of his body lawfully begoten. And for defaulte of
suche Issue the remaynder thereof to John Decons, my
Brother, and to the heires males of his body lawful
begoten. And for defaulte of suche Issue the Remaynder
thereof to the right heirs of me, the said Richard, foreuer.
PROBATUM fuit supra scriptum testamentum coram
dno apud Lamhith vicesimo primo die mensis Junii Anno
dni Miltimo quingentesimo vicesimo primo Jurament Jo-
hanne Relicte et Executricis in hmoi testamento noiat.

Escheat ors Inquisitions Post Mortem 12-13 Hen., VI If.,
Series 2, File 16.

Richard Decons. Bucks.

Inquisition taken at Stony Stratford, 2 October, 13 Hen.
VIII., (1521) before William Tanfield, Esq., Escheator,
after the death of Richard Decons, Esq., by the oath of
John Richardson, John Smith, etc., jurors, who say that
Richard Decons was not seized alone solely of any manors,
etc., when he died, but that long before his death he was
seized of the manor of Stukeley in the said county, and of
three messuages, two hundred acres of land and one hundred
acres of pasture in Sulbury, and so seized he enfeoffed
thereof Richard Broke, Knight, Serjeant-at-Law, Hugh
Ashheton, Clerk, Nicholas Couper, Clerk, John Mundy,
citizen & Alderman of London, William Jenkys of Lon-
don, grocer, William Lynch of Cranbroke, Clothier, &c.,
&c.: to hold to them and their heirs to the use of Joan De-
cons, widow, late the wife of the said Richard Decons, for
the term of her life, and after her decease to the use of the
said Ric. Decons & his heirs and to fulfil his last will.
The said Joan still survives. Afterwards the said Richard
Decons declared his last will, whereby he declared that the

—368—

said feoffees should after the decease of the said Joan be
seized of the said premises to the use of Richard Decons
his son and heir, and his heirs male; and for default of
such issue then to the use of Francis Decons, younger
brother of the said Richard Decons (the son) & his heirs
male ; and for default then to the use of Thomas Decons,
elder brother of the said Francis, & his heirs male; and for
default, then to the use of Thomas Decons, brother of the
said Richard Decons (the father) and his heirs male; and
for default, then to the use of John Decons, younger
brother of the said Richard Decons (the father) and his
heirs male, and for default, then to the use of the right
heirs of the said Richard Decons (the father) forever. The
said Richard Decons long before his death was seised of a
certain messuage in "Lytyll Brykhyll" in the said county
and so seised he enfeoffed thereof Richard Verney, junior,
Knt., John Verney, Esq., &c., to hold to them and their heirs
to the use of the said Richard Decons & his heirs forever.
By his said will the said Richard Decons willed that if he
should happen to die during the minority of his son Fran-
cis, that then the said Joan Decons, William Bulstrode &
& Walter Luke his executors should receive the profits
of the said Messuage until the said Francis should attain
his full age of 21, to pay his (testator's) debts and legacies,
and afterwards to the use of said Francis and his heirs
male, with remainder successively in tail male to Richard
Decons, brother of the said Francis, Thomas Decons jun-
ior, Thomas Decons senior, John Decons and the right
heirs of the said Richard Decons (the father) forever.

The said manor of Stukeley is held of Nicholas Vaux,
Knight, but by what service the jurors know not, and is
worth per an., clear, ^4. The lands and tenements in Sul-
bury are held of Richard Lovett, gent., by what services
the jurors know not, and are worth per an., clear, ^3. The
messuage in "Lytyll Brykkyll" is held of Anna Spencer,
widow, and is worth per ann., clear, 40 s.

—369—

Richard Decons died the last day of May last past (1521);
Richard Decons junior is his son & heir and is aged 15
years and more.

(The hKj. itself is in Latin.)

Esc/ii-ii/i>rs Iiujiiisitioiis post mortem ij 14 Hoi. \'III.,
Series 2, File I J.

Richard Decons, Esq., Bedford.

Inquisition taken at Bedford 20 Oct., 14 lien. VIII.
(1522) before John Fitz Jeffrey, Esq., Escheator, after the
death of Richard Decons, Esq., by the oath of John Ward,
&€., &c., jurors, who say that Robert Brudenell, Chief Jus-
tice of the Common Bench, John Saint John, Knt., Henry
Gray, Knt., &c., &c., were seized of the manor of Marston
Morteyn, together with the advowson of the Church there
to the use of the said Richard Decons and Elizabeth his
wife and their heirs ; and for default to the use of the said
Elizabeth and her heirs, and for default then to the use of
the right heirs of Thomas Raynes, Esq., deceased, forever.
Afterwards the said Elizabeth died, and the said Richard
died on the 6th June, 13 Henry VIII. (1521). After his
death the use of the said manor descended to Thomas De-
cons as son & heir of the said Richard & Elizabeth : he is
aged 12 years and more.

The said manor is held of Richard, Earl of Kent, as of
his Barony of Caynhoo by the service of one knight's fee
and a half, and is worth per ann. ^50.

Thomas Reynes, Clerk, John Cheyne, Esq., and others
were seized of the manor of Lythington, late Goldjngton's
Manor, to the use of the said Richard & Eliz. & their
heirs. After their decease the use of the said manor de-
scended to the said Thomas Decons. The said manor is
held of the Abbess of Berkyng by the yearly service of
20 s. and by suit at the Court of the said manor, and is

— 370—

worth per ann. 20 marks. William Blount, Knt., Robert
Cheyny & Wm. Bolstrode were seised of the manor of Nor-
wode lately purchased of Richard, Earl of Kent, to the
use of the said Richard Decons & his heirs. After the
death of the said Richard the use of the said manor de-
scended to Richard Decons his son & heir, who is aged 17
years and more. The said manor is held of the King.

The said Wm. Blount, Kobt. Cheyny & Wm. Rudhale
were seized of 30 a. of meadow and 800 a. of pasture in
Rygemond, called Brokborowe pasture & park, to the use
of the said Ric. Decons & his heirs, after whose death
the use of the said premises descended to the said Richard
Decons junior : they are worth per ann. 20 marks. Wil-
liam Botryof London, mercer, took the issues and profits
of the said manor of Norwode & of Brokborowe pasture
& park from the death of the said Ric. Decons senior up
to the present time.

The said Ric. Decons senior died seized of two messu-
ages, 200 a. of land and 40 a. of meadow in Stanbrigge
which are held of Sybilla Chamberlayn, widow, as of her
manor of Tyllesworth, and are worth per ann. 4 marks.

Walter Luke, Henry Joy cS: others were seised of 2 mes-
suages & 40 a. of land & pasture in Edworth to the use
of the said Ric. Decon & his heirs, which the said Ric.
by his will bequeathed to his said son Francis & his heirs
male. The said premises are worth per ann. ^'5 and are
held of the Prior of Newenham by fealty and the yearly
rent of 9 s. g d.

(The original document is very much faded and can only
be read with great difficulty.

Pt!,l[f 6/.

Thomas Decons, of Marston, Will 12 Augt., 1549: ob. 7
Sept. ult. Inq. post mort. Ampthill 14 Jan., 3 Edw. VI.,
Bedford. Thomas, son and heir, ai^t. ii, 24 Oct. last.

—371—

Piiihiitr Cciirt, Xi>)-lliainptoii, rS43-
RiciiAKD Dkcons.

Page &6.

In dei noie Amen the xxiij day of May in the yere of our
Lord god Mcccccxliij and the xxxv yere of the Reigne of
our sofering Lord King Henry the eight by the grace of
god of yngland, ffrance and yrland King, defender of the
fayth and in erth sup'nie hede of the church of yngland
and yrland, I Richard Decons of Maston Morton in the
coun. of bed. gent., being hole and pfyte in mynde do con-
stitute, orden and make this my laste will and Testament
in man' and forme followeing. ffurst I bequethe my soull
to almightie god and to our blessed Lady sanct Mary the
vargen and all the copeny of heven, mj' bod}' to be beried
wthin the churche of Marstan aforesayd. Itm, I will and
bequethe to the high autor there iij s. iiij. d. Itm, I be-
quethe to the mother churche of Lincoln viij d. Itm, I
bequethe to my brother Thomas Decons and my brother
flrances Decons one hundred markes wiche is in Right
dewe to me by the executors of my Lady norton laytly de-
ceased by Reson of the bequest of my father's laste will,
whose soull god pdon, and also I will that my said brother
ffraunces, after the Recou'ry or haveing of the said hundred
markes shall thereoff have the sole admiistration to the
intent to Retene the one halfe thereoff to his owen use, the
other halfe to give and delyv' to my said brother Thomas,
his executors, admiistrators or assignes to his or there owen
use. Itm, I will that aftur my decese that Ezabell my
wyffe shall have all my landes and tentes with the appur-
tenances in Reding in the coun. of barkeshyre dureing her
natural lyffe, and after hir decese I will the said landes and
tentes Remane to Thomas my son no and to his eyres
of his body lawfully begotten, and for lacke of suche
ysseu the Remainder thereoffee to the eyres of the said
Rich, lawfull}- begotten. Also I will aftur ni)' decese that

—372—

ezabell m)- wj'ffe shall have the Reu'tion of Stoke brewerne
wt the ptenance in the coun. of Wylshjre, the man' of
nevelles wt the ptenances within the pysch of Abbottes
Langley in the coun. of Harteford durieng hir lyffe natural
and aftur hir decese I will the said man'is, landes & tentes,
wt there appurtenances Remane to Thomas Decons my
sonne, and to the eyres of his body lawfully begotten,
and for defawte of suche yssewe the Remander to the
eyres of me, the forsayd Ric. Decons lawfully begotten.
Also I geve to ezabell my wyffe the Residew of all my
goodes moveables and unmoueble unbequethed. And for
the accomplesenient of this my laste will I orden and make
Elizabeth my wyffe and ffrances Decons my brother my ex-
ecutors for the mistration of this my said will and Testa-
ment, and Thomas Decons my brother supvysor of the
same. Also I bequeth to my brother ffrances for his
paynnes taking in the p'misses vj s. viij d. Also I will that
my fun'allas at the day of my beryall to be orderyd & done
by the discresion of my executors before named. In wyt-
ness hereof I, the said Richard Decons, have declared this
to be my last will and Testament, and in prove thereoff I
have subscribed my name in the p'sens of Mr. William
Marshall, preste, dni Wiltmi becket, curat, ibm. Thomas
Ricerd.

per me, Ric. Decons.
Proved 13 July, 1543.

fagc gi.

In latter half of Elizabeth's reign, the fashion of building
large houses in the country parishes prevailed to a surpris-
ing extent, and this, with other causes, hastened the ruin
of many an old county family which had held its own for
generations. Jessopp's One Gowraiion, p- 25.

—373—

Page g2.

Jcssopp's one !;fncratit»i of a Norfolk house says: "A gen-
tleman could in his )oung days live on ^lo a year— temp.
1388— and many instances might be adduced of an annuity
of this amount being left to younger sons by men of large
means." Page 314, note, and quotes Harrison that "in
Queen Elizabeth's time this was a sufficient maintenance
for a gentleman."

Early Mention ok the Name of Deacon.
Page 130.

Walter the Deacon was at Domesday Survey found a
tenant in chief of the King, in the counties of Gloucester
and Essex. He left two sons and a daughter.

"Notes on the Domesday Book."

Walter the Deacon was an Ancestor of the Noble family
of De Hastings. Walter had two sons named
Walter Mascherell, and
Alexander, and a daughter,
Editha.

IVright's Essex, Vol. I., p. 67.

Bishop-Stortford. When William the Conqueror had se-
cured himself of the fear of his enemies and established
his dominion, he of his princely bounty gave to Maurice,
the Venerable, Bishop of London, and his successors, the
town and castle of Bishop-Stortford, and whatever William
his predecessor had of his gifts, with all the lands which
William Diacon and Ralph his brother held of him, that
they might possess it forever. (Called Stort from the river
Stort and Bishop from this gift. )

Sir Henry Chaiineey's History of Hertfordshire.

It will be at once noticed that the above refer to an
"office" and not to a "name," the son of Walter did not
retain the surname.

—374—

GiRTON, Co. C.AiMUKIDGE, A.D. I 239-4O.

Inquisitio facta apud Gretthonam tempore fratris Thomse
de Sausynthonea Camerarii Anno Regni Regis Ilenrici
vicessimo quarto.

Cecilia Diacone tenet unam croftam eodeni mode pro
duo decim denariis ad quatuor predictos terminos, et unam
gallinam ad natale et obolum ad auxiliuni vicecomitis ad
duos terminos et facit fenem sicut alii, et tres precarias in
autumno ad cibuin domini.

Carliilai iuin Monastciii dc Kajiicsia.

Assize of mort dancestor arraigned by Stephen de Wyt-
lesford against the prioress of Ichton and John de Akeny
touching a messuage and land in the vill of Whittlesford,
Cambridge. dihiular of Jhitcnt RolU, 5 Edw. I., I2JY-

The foregoing e.xhibit two forms of the name in the same
county at a very early period.

MOR-IEVNE.

PiV^cs 22J, 224. Gfiicral Plantai:;i-nct Harrison' s Indox
to i/io Coram Rci^c Rolls.

Bedford. Fine at Westminster 20 Edw. III. (1346) be-
tween John, son of John Morteyn, Chivaler, father of the
said John that now is, and Katherine his wife, pits., and
Master Edmund Morteyn, deft, of half the manor of Tilles-
worth : To hold to them and their heirs.

Sir John Morteyn, Chivaler.

^1

I
John Morteyne= Katherine.

I

I
John Morteyne who claims.

Coram Rcgc Roll Trin. 40 Ediv. III. m. 2J d.
This pedigree was compiled by Gen. Harrison and does
not appear in this form in the fine itself.

—375—

Gcih-a/ogis/, Nnv Scriis, Vol. XL, p. gs^ artulv Plra Rolls.

Edmund de Morteyn, 39 Edw, III., (1367) '"? 152 sued
Walter de Manny.

Manor of Oneston. Pleads his title and gives pedigree
as follows :

Constance de Morteyn, temp. Ed. I.

John de Morteyn.

I
John de Morteyn.

I

r

Edmund de Morteyn, plaintiff.

Calfiular of Palait Rolls, 4 Ric. II., p. I., numb. jH d.
1380. July 12, Westminster.
Appointment of Thomas Peyure and John Malyns to
enquire whether John Morteyn, Knight, enfeoffed Thomas
de Reynes, knt., William, parson of the church of Merston
and others (named) of the manors of Merston and Tilles-
worth, CO. Bedford, and whether they demised the said
manors to Elizabeth, late the wife of the said John, for her
life, how long she was seized thereof, and by what service,
and to whom the reversion thereof belongs, and into all
circumstances connected therewith, and to return tlieir in-
quisition into Chancery.

Note b\ Miss E. M. Walford of London.

(Unfortunately I cannot anywhere find the inquisition
mentioned above : if it were only extant it would give ex-
actly the information wanted.)

(The Commission to Giles Daubeny, Patent Roll, 4 Ric.
II., p. I, m. 5th, unfortunately gives no further information.
I have examined the original Roll.) See ante page 224.

(I have searched Palmer's Indexes, Vols. I., II., III.,
47, 87, 94. Also Escheators Inq., Inq. ad quod damnum,
Exchequer Inq., Patent Rolls, etc.)

-376-

Genealogist^ New Series, Vol. 14. /iiffy, /^
1396. De Banquo Rolls, Mich. 19 Ric 11. , m. 409, Bed-
ford. The King versus Elizabeth Morteyne. For the next
presentation to the church of Marston near Bedford, as
guardian of John de Morteyn, who was under age and in
ward to the King.

Edmund de Morteyn.
d. s. p.

John de Morteyn.

John de Morteyn
oh. 47 Edw. III.

Elizabeth.

John de Morteyn,

under a^e

and in ward to

the Kinj;.

Joan.

Richard

Thomas

Chamberlain,

Gifford,

Kt.

Kt.

De Banco Roll, Mich, ig Ric. II., inemb. 40g.

Elizabeth Morteyn and Roger Balle, Chaplain, were sum-
moned to answer to the King of a plea that they permit
the King to present a fit parson to the Church of Merston
next Bedeford. Edmund Morteyn was seized of the manor
of Merston, to which belongs the advowson of the said
Church, and presented William Marshall. The said Ed-
mund held the said manor of Roger Dageney as of his
manor of Caynho, and the said Roger field the said manor
of Caynho of tiie King.

Tlie said Edmund died without heirs of his body, and
after his death the said manor of Merston descended to
John Afortevn his kinsman and heir, to wit, son of John,
brother of the said Edmund ; after the deatli of the said
John, the said manor descended to John his son and lieir,
who was under age, by reason whereof tlie King seized the
said into his hands, together with the advowson of the said
Church. The Church is now vacant by the death of the
said William Marshall, and the presentation belongs to tlie
King.

The said Elizabeth says the said Edmund held the said

—377—

manor of Almaricus de St. Amando as of his barony of
Caynho, and not of the said Roger.

The said John Morteyn, kinsman of the said Eihnund,
long before Tuesday next before the feast of St. Peter ad
Vincula 47 Edvv. III. (1373), granted the said manor to
Tliomas Reynes, Chevalier, William Marshall, parson of
the said Church of Merston, and others : to hold to them
and their heirs forever. They granted to the said Almari-
cus the ne.xt presentation to the said Church, and he pre-
sented William Stoke. Afterwards they granted the said
manor to the said Eliz. for her life, so that after her death
it should remain to John, son of John Morteyn, and his
heirs ; for default then to remain to Richard, son of Thomas
Reynes, and his heirs male; for default then to John
Reynes, brother of the said Richard, and his heirs male ;
for default then to John Morteyn of Dunnesby and his
heirs male; for default, to the right heirs of the said John
Morteyn, Knt.

Recites an Inq'n in which it is set forth that John Mor-
teyn, Knt., held the said manor of Merston, and died there-
of seized on Tuesday next before the feast of St. Peter, ad
Vincula 47 Edw. III., antl that Ric. Chamberleyn, Knt., son
of Joan sister of John, father of the said John Morteyn,
and Thomas Giffard, Knt., son of Lucy, sister of the said
John the father, being of full age, were his kinsmen and
heirs.

The said Elizabeth says the said John did not die seized
thereof, as he had granted the said manor to Thomas
Reynes and others.

When this case was tried it was ordered that the King's
hands should be removed from the said manor and that the
same should be delivered to the said Elizabeth, who then
presented Roger Balle to the said Church.

It is now considered that the King shall recover the said
presentation against the said Elizabeth and Roger, who are
fined.

/

-378-

The foregoing, which has been abstracted for this work
directly from the original Roll, modifies the statements on
pages ig.S, 223 and 224, and also the pedigree charts of
Morteyne. It shows that Edmund left no heirs, but the
mystery of Richard Reynes' inheritance of Marston is not
cleared up. It would seem there must have been a mar-
riage between the families of Reynes and Morteyne which
does not yet appear, which gave the feoffees of John
Morteyne, 1373, the right to grant the manor of Marston
to Richard Reynes, hi^heirs, and in default to his brother
Sir John Reynes and his heirs, before reverting to the more
distant relatives, viz., the Morteyns of Dunnesby.

It further appears that this manor was originally a part
of the possessions of the DeAkeney family (for Roger
Dageney named in the Roll is Roger DeAkene}' of Cainho,
Co. Bedford) see ante, pages 4, 7 and it, so that in coming
through the Rej'nes family' to Richard Decons, it was
merely reverting to its original owners.

There are 225 Wills and Administrations of the family of
Deacon between the fourteenth and nineteenth centuries,
among the Records of the Prerogative Court of Canterbury
now on file in Somerset House, London, as follows: 5 in
the 15th century. 27 in the i6th century, 89 in the 17th cen-
tury and 104 in the i8th century. The writer has complete
copies of all these wills, with many others of the same
family name from other Probate Registries. It is his in-
tention to deposit these copies, which are bound in two
volumes,, in the library of one of the Historical Societies in
this country.

The earliest will is that of John Dekene of Ipswich, 1448.

About one-third of the earliest wills belong to the famil}'
domiciled in the southwest of England, who have no con-
nection with the stock herein treated of. Coming down to

—379—

later dates other counties are represented, especially Hert-
ford, Leicester and Berkshire.

Wills of London, and Surrey (which stands for South-
vvark, or London across the Thames) are numerous.
There was also a yeoman family of Kent, which sent many
scions to the Metropolis.

There is one Will that will interest Americans, that of
Thomas Deacon of St. Saviour's, Southwark, Co. Surrey,
yeoman, proved 14 October, 1652, who mentions cousin
Magdalen Causon of Enfield, cousin Alice Crew of Lon-
don, cousin William Graves, chandler, of London, cousin
Thomas Deacon, planter, in Virginia. Wife Margaret,
Executrix.

The only Deacons named in New England records bore
the name John. There were three of this name, one of
Plymouth, died 1636. The others may have been father
and son, and were both of Lynn.

There was a Thomas Deacon, aged ig, who came in July,
1635, in the "Assurance," and of whom nothing more is
recorded, who is supposed by some to have been twin
brother to Avis Deacon, aged 19, who came the same
month and year in the "Alice." Sff HoilciCs Immigrants.
This Avis Deacon probably belonged to the Berkshire
family of Shinfield, descended from Avis Deacon, who
died, 1587, and her husband, Simonde Deacon, of Shinfield,
"husbandman," whose sons were Symond, Francis, Rich-
ard, John, William and Raphe. Probate Registry.

This Ralfe (as he signs himself) died 1624, leaving Richard, Edward, Alice, Ann, Johan, and Avis. But this Avis could not have been the woman who emigrated, for she is specially named in the will of her grandmother, 1587, (as Avis, dau. of my son Raphe) which would make her nearly
fifty years of age in 1635. In view, however, of the rarity of the name, and its persistence in this family, there can be little doubt but that the emigrant girl belonged to this branch. The onlv woman who came to America at this period bearing this somewhat unusual name was Avis Deacon, who came in the "Alice," and she is said to have married William Reade, who came over in the "Assurance" in 1635 along with young Thomas Deacon, before mentioned, and who became one of the most prominent men in the early history of Weymouth, Mass., a Representative to the Gen. Ct. 1636 and 1638. They had a family of eight children, whose descendants are now numerous and prominent.

See Reid Geiieal.

George Deacon of Southwark Surrey' came over in 1677 and settled in New Jersey. He was a Quaker Minister and died in Burlington, N. J., 1726, where his descendants flourish at the present day. MunseH's Am. Ancestry. Pa,i;es 201 and 202.

John Reynes (afterwards knighted) son of Thomas Reynes and Joan Broughton, was named as feofee of the manor of Todyngton et al., by John Broughton. his maternal grandfather. See Inq. p. m. 4 Hy. VII., 148^. AV. J77
Calendar of Inq.. l^nl. I.

The manors of Stanbrygge, Tyllesworth, Pettyshoe and Ekeney were held by Richard Chamberleyn, Esq., who died 1497, Inq. p. m., 12 Henry VII., being the great-grand- son of his ancestor Richard, who married Jane Reynes ; named on page 223 herein.

INDEX.

Deakeney, Deacon

A N" I)

VARIATIONS.
Pa<;k 3S2 TO 384.

Sir R. C. Hoare, in his " Hundred of Mere," page 46, in a footnote has : " This Edward Lord Stourton disposed of the greater part of the manors and estates he succeeded to on the death of his father ; amongst which, those of Stourton, CO. Wilts, and Stourton Caundle, co. Dorset, with the advowsons, were sold, anno 1 714, to Sir Thomas Meeres, Knight, as trustee for Richard Hoare, Esq., &c. &c. &c." This is not strictly accurate. The property was mortgaged in June, 1686, for ^"4,000, and in the following December for a further ^2,000, and in 1690 for ,^4,000
niore. In 1695 it was still further encumbered to the extent of ;/^3,500. This sum appears to have been reduced, but in 1703 the estates were still charged with ^9,900. In 1707 Sir 'Ihomas Meres purchased the then existing mortgage and advanced a further sum of ^2,645 is. od., the sum then fixed as the amount of the redemption money being ^17,700. In 1707 the estates were conveyed to Sir Horatio Pettus and Robert Meres upon trust for sale. An Act of Parliament was obtained to enable the estates to be conveyed in fee simple, and on the 5th and 6th of October, 1714, the estate was finally sold to Sir Thomas Meres, the amount of the purchase money being ^19,400, of which ^18,624 os. 3d. was applied to the discharge of the mortgages, and ^775 19s. 9d. was handed to Lord Stourton. Sir Thomas Meres then became the absolute owner of the Manors, Lands, and Advowsons of Stourton and Stourton Caundle. It dues not seem, either, that he held the property as a trustee. Sir Thomas Meres died, his will being proved May the 14th, 1716. His son. Sir John Meres, succeeded, and by deeds dated February 26th, 17 17, and in considera- tion of the payment of ^14,000 for Stourton and ;^9,ooo for Stourton Caundle, he conveyed the property to Vigerus Edwards, of the Inner Temple, London, Gentleman, and John Miller, of the Middle Temple, London, Esquire, one of the Masters of the High Court of Chancery. By a deed dated the 7th of July, 1720, Messrs. Edwards and Miller released the estates to Mr. Henry Hoare, in whose family they have since remained. Preserved with the Stourton estate deeds is the " abstract of title" of Sir John Meres, evidently prepared in anticipation of his sale of the property. As it recites the dealings with the estates from the reign of Queen Elizabeth until they finally passed from the Stourton family, it will probably be of interest if inserted herein in full. It is as follows : Sir John Meres' s Title to the Manors of Stourton in IVi/ts and of Stourton Caundle in Dorset* 5th November 22 Eliz : Anno Dn 1580

Could this Sara Maris of Romsey be a connection?

Will - 5 OCT 1659;

To the poor of Orcheston, St. Mary, 20s. To his wife Parnell Noyes, £500. If she die before the money is paid she may dispose of £400 as she
pleases, but the other £100 shall be divided as follows: £50 to his kinswoman Parnell Griffith(daughter of Judith Griffith of Bath, co. Somerset, widow, and the other £50 to John Noyes the younger, son of his brother John Noyes of Newton, co. Wilts., yeoman. To his wife, his plate, jewels, etc. and one half of all pewter, linen, etc. to be divided between her and his executor. In case his cousin John Noyes and Parnell Griffith intermarry, he gives them further £100 after the said marriage. To John Tice of Orcheston St. George, co. Wilts., clerk, and John Thornton of [Sarum], gentleman, £20 in trust for the use of "my loving sister" Sarah Maris of Romsey, co. Southampton, wife of John Maris, gentleman. To his cousins Mary Cooper, late wife of John Cooper, deceased, and Elizabeth Pile, wife of John Pile of Portsmouth and to Abigail Soane of the
same £5 each. To his kinsman Richard Noyes of Choldrington, son of Richard Noyes, deceased, £5. Executor: brother John Noyes. Overseers: Mr. John Tice, John Thornton. Witnesses: Richard Webb, Judith Davies, Jo. Thorneton.
(P.C.C., 139 Nabbs).

Event Will (proved) - 24 JUL 1660;

Source