EPONYMOUS FAMILIES OF DORSET. 125 



their choice ? So the storms of State served to strengthen the 

 hold of this ancient stem upon the land it occupied, while its 

 proprietorial roots spread and re-appeared in many distant spots. 



It is interesting to note that, had the quiescent traditions of 

 the family been adhered to, the name might now rank among 

 the foremost in this county, but the next time that civil war 

 raged through Dorset very few of the county families escaped 

 the contagion, and King and Parliament faced each other in the 

 vales of Stour and Frome with almost equal forces. The 

 Anketells threw in their lot on the side of the King, taking up 

 the cause with an energy that showed that the family was far 

 from effete. One may believe that it was owing to the sacrifices 

 which the King's cause imposed upon the Royalists that it 

 became necessary for this family to sell their ancestral home. 

 Certain it is that Christopher Anketell, in concert with his son of 

 the same name, parted with this ancient estate about this time, 

 and, while one son was thus consenting to surrender his proud 

 position in the county, another was a colonel in the Royal forces, 

 and, though in Priest's Orders and a Doctor of Divinity, was 

 holding the appointment of Military Governor of Corfe Castle. 



Some compensation was made to the family by the grant of 

 lands in co. Monaghan, in Ireland, to the grandson of the 

 younger Christopher Anketell, and there they founded a family 

 that has since divided into several branches, while the original 

 grant remains in their possession under the name of " Anketell's 

 Grove." 



A junior branch retained possession of the Stour Provost 

 estate until 1733, when Francis Anketell, the last of this line, 

 died at Taunton, leaving his lands to his wife and sisters, and 

 thus came to an end, as regards this county, a notable and most 

 worthy family after being connected with it for 500 years.* 



ANTIOCH OF TARENT ANTIOCH. 



The name of Antioch is crowded with so many diverse 

 associations that it stands alone in its strange suggestiveness. 



* Arms of Anketell Argent a saltire raguly vert. 



