462
NOTES AND QUERIES. tn s. vi. DEC. u, 1912.
The will of Thomas Gray was published
by Mason and others, and is easily accessible
in Dr. Bradshaw's edition of the ' Poetical
Works,' 1891, p. 285. There is not the
slightest doubt that these two ladies, Mary
Antrobus, who was postmistress at Cam-
bridge, and her sister Dorothy, who had
married a tradesman of that town called
Comyns, were styled " second cousins "
in the will. Assuming that at that period
the term " second cousin " was equivalent
to " first cousin once removed," it follows
that the father of the ladies, William Antro-
bus, must have been a first cousin of Gray,
and not his uncle. There is, however, no
evidence that Gray's uncle William had a
son of the same name.
Being interested in Gray and his work, I thought some additional evidence might be available, and had a search instituted for Antrobus wills in Somerset House be- tween the years 1670 and 1750. I found that twenty-five wills and administrations were calendared between those years in the Prerogative Court of Canterbury. Of these I selected those of Gray's uncle, Robert Antrobus, and of his aunt, Mary Antrobus, for abstracts, and the results are given below. The wills have been abstracted by Miss E. Salisbury, a lady upon whose accuracy absolute reliance may be placed. P.C.C. Auber 26.
Will of Robert Antrobus, Master of Arts and Fellow of Peterhouse in the University of Cam- bridge, now of Eaton in the County of Bucks. Dated 26 Nov., 1728.
He wills 321. which he owes to James Smith of Eaton to be paid. He bequeaths to his brother William Antrobus his study of books, with pictures, curiosities, and other furniture contained in his chambers at Eaton, desiring him at the same time to gi-*e his nephew Thomas Gray all such books as relate to " the practice of physick," provided he be educated to that profession. To the Master and Fellows of Peterhouse in the Uni- versity of Cambridge 100Z. To his brother-in- law Jonathan Rogers [here occurs mark of omis- sion, and written in the margin : To his brother- in-law William Ollyffe, to his brother-in-law Philip Gray, 20Z. apiece. To Mrs. Elizabeth Davell 101. for mourning. Also to his sister Anne Rogers] the lease of Goldwins house and grounds at Cants Hill near Burnham, with the furniture, &c., thereunto belonging. To his sisters Anne Rogers, Jane Ollyffe, Mary Antrobus, Dorothy Gray, and to his brother "William An- trobus, their heirs, &c., he bequeaths the rest and residue of his estate of whatsoever nature, &c., to be equally divided among them.
He constitutes his brother-in-law Jonathan Rogers, attorney-at-law, his sole executor, to whom he bequeaths 501. for his trouble. 4 Feb., 1729/30.
On which day personally appeared Alexander Staples of Windsor, Berks, gent., and John
Redman of the same, grocer, and being sworn
deposed That they well knew Robert Antrobus,
late of Eaton in the County of Bucks, but at
West Burnham, Bucks, deceased, and are well
acquainted with his handwriting. They declare
the above will to be totally written and sub-
scribed by him the said Robert Antrobus.
Proved 4 Feb., 1729/30, by Jonathan Rogers, executor.
P.C.C. Greenly 1.
Will of Mary Antrobus of the parish of St. Michael, Cornhill, London, spinster. Dated 20- Nov., 1742.
She bequeaths to her sister Anne Rogers 2001. To her sister Jane Ollyffe 200L To her nephew Thomas Gray 100Z. To her sister Dorothy Gray 20QI. stock in trust for her nephew Robert Antrobus and her nieces Elizabeth, Dorothy, and Mary Antrobus, equally to be divided among them. The residue of her personal estate to Dorothy Gray her sister for her own use and benefit. She constitutes the said Dorothy Gray sole executrix.
Witnesses : Tho. Prime, James Willder.
[Marginal Note.] On 26 Jan., 1754, administra- tion of the goods, &c., of Mary Antrobus, late of Stoke Poges, Bucks, spinster, dec'd, left un- administered by Dorothy Gray, widow, dec'd, was granted to Thomas Gray, Esq 1 ^, the son and administrator of the said Dorothy Gray, deceased .
30 Dec., 1749.
Dorothy Gray of Stoke Poges, Bucks, widow, named in the Will of Mary Antrobus, late of Stoke Poges aforesaid, made oath and said, The said Mary Antrobus died 5 Nov., 1749. Also says there are two erasures in the said Will. The word " two " in the fourteenth line of the first sheet being written on an erasure, and the name " William " erased in the eighteenth line of the same sheet, and " Robert " written over. The deponent declares that the said Mary An- trobus at the time of her death had no nephew named William Antrobus.
Affidavit sworn before Ja: Smith, Vic r of Hurley, Berks.
Will proved 3 Jan., 1749/50, by Dorothy Gray, widow.
I think it seems clear from these docu- ments that Robert Antrobus had one brother, William, who became Vicar of Everdon, and that the Robert, Dorothy, and Mary Antrobus who are described as her nephew and nieces by Mary Antrobus, the sister of William, were the latter's children, and were therefore first cousins of Thomas Gray. Why they should have been de- scribed in his will as second cousins is difficult to say, but as in an earlier part of the will he mentions two second cousins by the father's side, George Williamson and Anna Lady Goring, who undoubtedly stood in that relation to him, it is possible the same words crept in by inadvertence. It will be seen from the will of Mary Antrobus that errors, necessitating erasures, occasionally occurred in these documents. W. F. PBIDEAUX.
