76 THE BIRTHPLACE OF MATTHEW PRIOR. 



married, but how long ho lived there I cannot find, only his wife, Mr. Prior's 

 mother, lies buried at Winiborno or by it, with whom I have heard that Mr. 

 Prior desired to be buried before Westminster Abbey was in his eye. That 

 Mr. I'rior was born at or by Wimborne I find because Christopher said he 

 remembers his cousin Matthew coming over to Godwinston when a boy and 

 lying with him. George, his father, after his wife's death, I suppose, moved 

 to London, encouraged by his brother Arthur who had succeeded in the world 

 and kept the Rummer Tavern by Charing Cross, the great resort of wits in 

 the latter end of King Charles the Second's reign, and in my remembrance ; 

 who took his nephew to wait in the tavern, from which time you know his 

 history." 



Arthur Prior, whose will (dated 1685) was proved in 1687, 

 left to his " cousin Mathew Prior, now in the University of 

 Cambridge " the sum of 100. He also left 5 to the poor 

 of Godmanston, county Dorset, " the parish where I was 

 born." His son Laurence Prior, who was his executor, 

 whose will, dated 1690 was proved in 1691, left " to my 

 cousin Mathew Prior 50 besides what I have still in my 

 hands of the legacy left by my father." (G. A. AITKEN, 

 in " Cont. Rev." May, 1890.) 



The Parish Registers at Godmanstone date back to 1650. 

 The Rector has kindly sent me the following entries of 

 Priors : 



1746. May 16, Laurence, son of Thomas Prior, buried. 



1791, January 9? John, son of Elizabeth Prior, baptized. 



1791, April 24, Elizabeth, daughter of Christopher and Elizabeth Prior, 



baptized. (Notice the continuance of the name Christopher). 

 1793, February 6, Elizabeth, daughter of Christopher and Eliza Prior, 



buried, 



1834, February 3, Christopher Prior, buried. 

 1879, October 11, Martha Prior, buried. 



Enquiries have been made in the parishes in the immediate 

 neighbourhood of Wimborne ; but without result. 



At Hampreston, where the registers date back to 1617, 

 no entry of the name of Prior has been found until the year 

 1857, when Isaac Prior was married. 



