136 Bishop's Cannings. 



In 1663 among the names of the rate-payers in Ryndway occurs 

 that of Sir Edward Nicholas, the celebrated Secretary of State to 

 King Charles II., an old and faithful servant of the Crown, who 

 was dismissed through the intrigues of Lady Castlemaine, the 

 Royal mistress. 



Robert Nicholas, counsel on Colonel Penruddocke's trial, and 

 afterwards Baron of the Exchequer, died owner of Ryndway in 

 1670. He left no son surviving. One of his daughters married 

 Thomas Hulbert of Corsham: and their daughter Elizabeth marry- 

 ing Brereton Boucher, Esq, of Barnesly, Co. Gloucester, carried 

 the estate into that family. But in 1705 it was re-purchased by 

 Robert Nicholas, Esq., Recorder of Devizes, descended from a 

 younger brother of Robert the Baron of the Exchequer above 

 mentioned. 



John Nicholas, the Baron's nephew, was Fellow of All Souls 

 College Oxford in 1674. 



In 1706 Edward Nicholas of Manningford Braoseheld the manor 

 of Potterne under the See. 



Robert Nicholas, Esq., the first Recorder of Devizes under 

 Charles I.'s charter, was born at Ryndway 2nd March 1661 : was en- 

 tered of Balliol College Oxford, and then of the Inner Temple. 

 He married Jane only daughter of Mr. John Child, M.P. for De- 

 vizes, brother to Sir Francis Child the first banker. The Recorder 

 died 7th January 1725, aged 64. 



The name of Edward Richmond Nicholas his grandson is found 

 among the juvenile authors of the Musce Etonenses. 1 He left Eton 

 as Captain of the Commoners, and took a degree in Civil Law and 

 Physic at Queen's College, Oxford. He died 1770. His son Robert 

 Nicholas, Esq., M.P. for Cricklade (by petition) in 1784, was of 

 Ashton Keynes, (where his grandfather Edward had married the 

 daughter of Oliffe Richmond). He sold the Roundway estate about 

 1790 to Mr. Willy, M.P. for Devizes, from whom it passed to his 

 relative Mr. Sutton : and from him by the female line to the late 



world, of great acquaintance with the gentry, and one that understandeth his 

 trade well. He will not stick to ask enough." 



1 Edit. 1755, pages 43,45, 50, 53, 56, 60. 



