By the Rev. F. H. Manley. 309 
Of the earlier Rectors we know little. John Chelsey died Canon 
of Wells and Rector of Somerford Magna. In his will, dated St. 
Thomas’ Day, 1400, he directs that his body shall be buried in a 
tomb “intra claustrum ecclesiz cathedralis Wallei,” leaves small 
donations to those attending the funeral ceremonies, 40s. to 
Bradenstoke Priory, 20s. to Hentone Priory and 13s. 4d. to be 
_ divided among sixteen of the poor of Somerford. The John Mason, 
_who held the living from 1511 for three years, may have been the 
Chaplain of Magdalen College, Oxford, instructor of the choristers, 
and in 1508 said to be “now much in esteem for his profession ”— 
(Fasti i.) afterwards Canon of Hereford and Treasurer of the Cathe- 
dral. Henry Unwin, whose institution is not recorded, was appointed 
Vicar of Cheryngton in 1554, but was Rector of Somerford Magna 
| certainly in 10 Eliz., as he witnesses in the parish a will of that date. 
_ Richard Attwood, Rector from 1578 to 1605, is said by Aubrey to 
_ have been drowned in the river. The transcript of the register for 
1605 tells us that Richard Attwood, Clerke, and Margaret Pen 
were married at Great Somerford on 29th April; also that on the 
17th day of the following January he was buried. As he died 
intestate, it seems that his death was unexpected, and may well 
have happened as Aubrey says. Samuel Kinaston, appointed 
Rector in 1637, was a native of Shropshire, and at one time Rector 
of Blackmanston, in Kent. He married Mary, one of the daughters 
of John Mayo, of Broad Somerford, and died 1667. Nathaniel 
_ Aske, his successor, was, apparently, well-to-do. He spent some 
money on the rectory buildings, and’also bought property in the 
village. In his will he says: “I give and bequeath all my lands 
and tenements, viz., my estate at Burton Hill, and in Somerford to 
my son, Richard Aske, when he comes to the years of twenty and 
one, provided that he betake himself to some calling, trade, or way 
of livelihood; otherwise, if he be idle and follow evil courses, then 
TI will the aforesaid estate to be kept by his mother, Anne Aske.” 
Further on in the will, he mentions—* moneys due to him from 
‘the Mannor of Linacre,” which he bequeaths to his wife, and £2 to 
e given to the “ Poore of the parish of Somerford.” Apparently 
the son Richard died young, and all the property came to his wife, 
