By the Rev. Chr. Wordsworth. 293 



The Rector of Wishford's Book. 



This contains " Copies of Wills, Customs, Privileges, &c., &c., 

 of the Parish of Wishford Magna, in the County of 

 Wilts, copied in 1822." It is a small foolscap 4to, half- 

 bound in thin leather, with marble paper sides. The 

 documents may be thus summarized : — 

 (i.) p. 1. Extract from the will of Sir Eichard Grobham, late of Great 

 Wishford, knt., dated 16 Dec, 1628, and proved 15 July, and 

 and 28 Dec, 1629. 



To erect an almshouse on his tenement in Stowford, in South 

 Newton then in the tenure of J. Dawkins, for four poor people and 

 one housekeeper.^ 

 (ii.) p. 5. Extract from the will of Sir Richard Howe, of Wishford, 

 Bart., dated 3rd Jan., 1728; proved 11th July, 1730. 



Ten pounds per annum for the Master of a charity school, 

 lately erected by the testator, for the teaching and instructing 

 twenty poor boys of the said parish to write, read, and cast ac- 

 counts, and to learn and say the Church Catechism, and £10 to 

 the mistress, for teaching and instructing twenty poor girls of 

 the said parish to read, work, and learn and say the Church 

 Catechism.^ Also he provides four quarters of coal annually for 

 each of the schools, 

 (iii.) p. 10. It appears from the register of baptisms, &c., that the first 

 stone of the school was laid by the Hon. Sir Rich. Howe, the 

 sole founder, 18th Jan., 1722.* 

 (iv.) p. 11. Acopy ofthe will of Daniel Oland, 20th Jan., 1785. Provides 

 that the minister, churchwardens, and overseers of the poor of 

 the parish of Great Wishford apply certain rents for the binding 

 out poor boys of the parish apprentices and buying them tools. 

 These trustees, or any three of them, when the funds allow, elect and 

 choose one of the free school boys, and, with his parents' consent, 

 bind him out apprentice to some good handicraft trade out of 

 the parish for seven years at the least : to pay .£10 {? premium) 

 at executing the indenture ; and to give him £5 to buy tools at 

 the expiration of his time. 



' For this and other charities, see FurtherBeport of Charity Commissioners, 

 xxvi., 1819—37, Wilts, pp. 297—304. 



2 One of the schoolmasters at Wishford (James Goulden) ruled the school 

 for fifty-one years. Rev. E. Hill, Letter in the Salisbury Journal, April, 

 1885. 



2 The endowment of the school proceeds from the tithes of a dismembered 

 parish, Asherton, now included in the parish of Berwick St. James. 



VOL. XXXV. — NO. CVIII. U 



