By the Veil. Archdeacon Macdonald. 135 



lies, still lineally represented but no longer here — that of Nicholas. 1 

 John Nicholas was of Ryndway so early as a.d. 1300. The family 

 branched off and is found at several other places in Wilts : as at 

 Compton Charnberlayne, Cote in Bishop's Cannings, Brokenbo- 

 rough, Stert, and All-Cannings, all in 1553. At Seend, 1669; and 

 Manningford Braose, 1706 ; also at Ashton Keynes. In Ryndway 

 their original holding (under the Bishop in socage) seems to have 

 been called " Nicholas Place." They had also " Cray's " in 1504. 

 In 1598 Robert Nicholas held at his father's death, as of ancient 

 inheritance, a capital messuage, toft, and six virgates of land, here 

 and at Southbroom : also " Le Hould croft in Ryndeway" then 

 fallen to the Crown as parcel of the estates of the dissolved Priory 

 of Bradenstoke : also a small piece of ground in Ryndway, held of 

 John Sloper as of his share of the manor of Horton Quarles. (I. p.m.) 



Griffin Nicholas, Esq. was a benefactor to the poor of Devizes. 

 By will 1634, he bequeathed to the poor of St. James's parish £105. 

 To St. Mary's poor £155. To St. John's poor £52 10s. : and to 

 Calne poor £50. Total £362 10s. 



In 1659 Ryndway was under-leased to Captain Robert Chaloner, 

 whose family (of Co. Denbigh) was connected with that of Nicholas 

 b}' marriage. 2 Thomas Chaloner, Lancaster Herald 1668, appears 

 to have lived here. 3 



1 The following notices of this family are principally taken from documents 

 kindly lent by Edward Itickinond Nicholas, Esq. of Bewdley, Co. Wore. 



2 Joan Chaloner was the motherof Robert Nicholas, Esq., Recorder of Devizes. 

 The family notices say that she died at Devizes in 1732, aged 97: and that she 

 dressed singularly, alway-s wearing a black cap. 



3 Time renders so harmless the sting of personality, that we hope no living 

 person is likely to take offence if we revive out of John Aubrey's letters to An- 

 thony a Wood, tin' character which those two oddities settled for this gentleman. 

 A. Wood was trying to obtain a situation in the Herald's Office. Aubrey makes 

 some enquiry on his behalf, and then writes "There is not yet any vacancy: but 

 Mr. Dugdale supposes that one 1 know is not lit for tin- place will be contented 

 to resign for money. He is Lancaster Herald: and one that the Office (aud I 

 thinki- every body) hates, or ought to doe, if they knew him as well as 1 doe: 

 for he hath been the boutefeu (fire-brand) to set me and my dame" (his 

 intended) "at variance." To which A. Wood replies. "The person that vou 

 mentioned in your letter that is now Lancaster Herald, his name is Chaloner, 

 whose chancier | imve heard by one of hi neighbour that liveth at the Devizes 

 1 know also that In- hath been an Officer in the Army, a bustling man lor tin 



