THE STORY OF THE BETTISCOMBE SKULL. 185 



Hutchins (3rd Ed., Vol. II., p. 276 s.v. " Bettescombe ") 

 states as follows : 



'' A farm here of about 150 per annum was leased to the 

 Pinneys. Azariah Penney, Esq., built a handsome house here, 

 and on his death was succeeded by his cousin, John Frederick 

 Pinney, Esq., M.P. for Bridport. He died 1762, without issue, 

 and his estate descended to his nephew, John Pretor, who 

 assumed the name of Pinney and was Sheriff of this county, 

 1764." 



Further, a brass plate on the wall of Bettiscombe church 

 gives (amongst others) the name of " Azariah Pynney of 

 Nevis, Esq. (youngest son of John Pynney, of Bettiscombe, 

 Clerk, sometime Vicar of Broad Windsor), Ob. 1719, age 58, 

 buried in London." 



But how did Azariah Pinney come to be described as 

 of Nevis ? It is true that the result of the troubles which ensued 

 between King and Parliament, and later, when religious 

 factions became so intolerant and bitter, was that many estates 

 in these new Colonies were granted out to English settlers, 

 and that many emigrants came out to commence life anew 

 in what was then a new world. But there was still another 

 way. Before the great negro expatriation began, so as to 

 afford labour for the American and West Indian plantations, 

 we hear of numbers of convicts being sent out from England 

 to cultivate those plantations, the victims of harsh laws and 

 harsher judges, the common respite from or alternative to 

 execution. The Puritan name " Azariah " might almost 

 have prepared one for the sequel, for no doubt could be felt 

 upon which side he would be found in any conflict of creeds. 



Accordingly one is not surprised to find the name of 

 " Azarias Pinney, of Axminster," occurring amongst those 

 251 persons who were convicted of high treason at Dorchester 

 on September 16th, 1685, at the conclusion of the Monmouth 

 rebellion, and who was sentenced by Judge Jeffreys to be 

 executed at Bridport with twelve others, " the sheriff to see 

 execution done according to his orders." It is interesting to 

 note that amongst those who were sentenced as above, but 



