252 Notes on the History of Mere. 
resident in the mansion house of Woodlands. In 1705 he 
purchased Woodlands. He died 1711, and was buried in Mere 
Church. His coffin, with inscription on it, was found in the Still’s 
vault a few years since, together with that of Dame Ann Andrews, 
his wife, who died 1701. 
There are no memorials to the Dodington family in the Church, 
although many deaths are recorded in the registers. 
Sir Matthew Andrews was succeeded by his son, Henry, who 
sold the estate in 1753 to Richard Wotton, apothecary of St. 
George, Hanover Square, and William Kay, of the same place, 
gent., and in 1756 it was purchased by Thomas Pitt, Harl of 
Londonderry, from whom it descended to his son, who bequeathed 
it to his sister, Lady Lucy,! who married Pierce Meyrick. Lady 
Moreton, 97; Henry Cornish, 82. 1714, Henry Andrews was defeated ; Ed. 
Nicholas polled 140; Samuel Rush, 134; William Benson, 130; Henry Andrews, 
100. On petition Benson was declared duly elected, but none of the others, and 
a new writ was ordered for one member. 
1The following is from a newspaper published about thirty years since, 
headed “ A Romance of the last Century’ :— 
“When Lady Essex Cholmondeley’s sister, Lady Londonderry, died, Lady 
Essex had under her care Lady Londonderry’s only daughter, Lady Lucy Pitt. 
Miss Cholmondeley and her cousin were educated together with great strictness 
and exactness, almost amounting to severity. When the family were at Vale 
Royal the young ladies were only allowed to walk up and down for some hours, 
Lady Essex Cholmondeley placing herself at the window to watch them. They 
were to walk perfectly erect and never to speak. Lady Essex Cholmondeley had 
a house in London, near the parks. One day the two girls stayed out rather 
late, and as they passed by Lady Lucy’s uncle he said “ What will Lady Essex 
say to your being out so late?” The poor frightened girls at that moment met 
two Westminster boys whom they were acquainted with, the Mr. Meyricks, 
brothers, of Bodorgan, in the Island of Anglesea, the eldest heir to an immense 
estate and a beautiful place. The boys proposed that they should set off im- 
mediately for the Fleet and be married, and take the maidservant, who was then 
walking witk the young ladies, and then all sail over to France. They agreed 
to go, but Lady Lucy Pitt said she could not possibly go without a little figure 
of a dog, a toy that when it was pressed down the dog barked; and Miss 
Cholmondeley said that she must take with her a beautiful bird which opened 
the door of the cage, hopped out, and sang. So childish were the girls that they 
returned home solely to get these things. On their arrival at the Fleet they did 
not delay a moment, but sent for a clergyman, and they all went to Church, 
Lady Lucy Pitt not quite fourteen years old and Miss Cholmondeley thirteen. 
The clergyman demurred about marrying Lady Lucy, she was so very little, and in 
