Page:Devon and Cornwall Queries Vol 9 1917.djvu/265

Devon and Cornwall Notes and Queries. 207 letter book of Martin Dunsford, the author of the History of Tiverton, lately acquired by the Exeter City Library, will assist in fixing the date of Abraham and Simon Thorne. In a letter to his sister, Mrs. French, dated 14 February, 1759, Dunsford says, "Abraham, son of Simon Thorne, Clockmaker at the lower end of our street, ridded house last Sunday night and is gone off, having taken in a number of watches to righting, many of which it is like have been privately sold. And Mr. Smale the Landlord has found means to come at some. Mr. Stone next to Mr. Terry and my Cousin Martin who are two of y® sufferers can neither of 'em tell y* time of y^ day and tell me has asked severall others without information and laugh at one another whilst others are more gravely condoling on the like occasion." "><:x p.'! SI- H, Tapley-Soper. 173. The Revd. Thos. Bedford, B.D., and his Descendants (IX., p. 172, par. 137.) — I do not wish to anticipate replies to the above, but I should like to say that, by the courtesy of the Vicar of St. Andrew's parish, Plymouth, I have been enabled to search the register and found the following entry : — August, 1633. — Baptism — " 13th, William, son of Mr. Thomas Bedford, Preacher." I have also been privileged to obtain a copy of the minute of the Kelway Trust in 1759, showing that the John Bedford who succeeded to the Headmastership of Plymouth Grammar School on the death, in 1738, of the John Bedford, the previous master, was the same who after- wards became Vicar of Charles, Plymouth. (Extract.) — " John Bedford (the Headmaster of the Grammar School) being elected Vicar of Charles parish, in the room of the said W"- Brent . . . and the said John Bedford having since his election resigned his office of Headmaster of the Grammar School, &c." I wonder where this Vicar of Charles was before he became Headmaster of the Grammar School? W. S. B.H. A William Bedford, B.A., was instituted Vicar of Whit- church, near Tavistock, 15th Sep., 1769, and resigned in 1785, and according to a list in the church porch at Mary Tavy, a William Bedford was instituted there in 1775. — Eds.