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By F. J. POPE, F.R.HistS. 



JTSHE services of Sir George Somers on and over 

 the seas form part of the sea-story of the 

 nation, and the present aim is, without repeat- 

 ing more than may be necessary of what is to 

 be found in the usual works of reference, to put 

 together a short account of the Somers family 

 in their native county. The notes used here 

 have been taken at various times and with 

 various purposes from manuscripts in the Probate Courts and 

 among the Feet of Fines and Chancery Proceedings, with a few 

 elsewhere, and it is hoped, with the aid of these, to throw 

 some light on the parentage, circumstances, and aims of the 

 famous Dorset seaman, and incidentally to furnish, perhaps, 

 some small contribution to the social history of his period. 



First, an endeavour may be made to find to what extent, 

 if any, Sir George's success in life was due to advantages of 

 birth or social influence. It may be supposed that the 

 statements in " The History of Dorset," that the knight was 

 born at Lyme Regis in 1554, and that his father's name was 

 John, were not made without good authority ; but a search for 



