100 Coffin Plates recently discovered at East Coulston, Wilts. 
(a) This no doubt is the Ruth whose name appears in the Lambe Pedigree 
page 104, as an unmarried daughter of Sir John Lambe, in the year 1623. 
(b) See Coffin Plate, No. 1. The common Pedigrees of Godolphin omit the 
first wife of Francis Godolphin, and erroneously give the issue as from the 
second, 
(c) Elizabeth Godolphin survived her husband Charles Godolphin, and died 
in 1726. He, with their two children, is buried in the Cloisters of Westminster 
Abbey, where, it is presumed, she also is interred. Her Hatchment, and that 
of her husband, (hers as a widow,) were, till within a few years, in the church 
at Coulston. She carried out the intentions of her grandfather, Sir William 
Godolphin, in founding the Godolphin Charity in this county. By her will, 
dated 1724, she gave £200 to be laid out in beautifying the chancel of Coulston, 
in such manner as her nephew, William Godolphin, and her Executrix, should 
think fit: also to William Godolphin £80, to purchase an annuity of £4, to be 
paid yearly, to such poor women of Coulston or Edington, as her nephew 
might appoint for keeping the said chancel clean, In 1731, Francis Greene, 
Rector of Coulston, acknowledges ‘‘ to have received from Mrs. Hall, Executrix 
of the late Mrs. Godolphin, of Coulston, a velvet Carpet for the Communion 
Table;” and in 1732, ‘‘a piece of Plate with Mrs. Godolphin’s Arms upon it, 
for the use of the Communion Table:” the Arms, Godolphin impaling Godolphin 
on a Lozenge. 
In the Visitation of Middlesex, (1623), there is a Pedigree of 
Gayer. The Arms as there given are, ermine, a fleur-de-lis, and a 
chief sable. Sir John Gayer, (spelt Gayre), of the Fishmongers’ 
Company, was Lord Mayor in 1647, 23 Charles I.; son of John 
Gayre of Plymouth, Co. Devon, son of 
Gayre of ; an 
Cornwall. He was committed to the Tower with Adams, Langham, 
and Bunce, Aldermen, September 25th, 1647. He and his brother 
Robert Gayer, were benefactors to the Fishmongers’ Company 
Charities. There is a portrait of Sir John Gayer, by Sir Peter Lely, 
at Stockton House, Wilts, the seat of Harry Biggs, Esq., having 
the same arms as described above, with a mullet for difference: 
also one of Sir William Godolphin; and the annexed Pedigree of 
Godolphin, will shew the descent of Mrs. Biggs from Elizabeth, 
eldest sister and co-heir of William Godolphin, of Coulston, who 
died in 1781, and so from Elizabeth, daughter of Sir John Gayer. 
A curious story has appeared in print, relative to this Sir John 
Gayer, which may be introduced as a relief to dry genealogical 
details, but I am not aware of the source whence it was first ob- 
tained. 
