THE SILK INDUSTRY IN WESSEX. 



Small pox was prevalent in Sherborne from time to time. 

 A great number of the children were ill about February, 1785, 

 and the parents were nursing them, consequently very little 

 silk could be returned to London. Inoculation was refused 

 by the parents, but Willmott endeavoured to protect his own 

 household by means of that preventive. 



The spring and summer of 1785 were unusually dry, and the 

 town had been without a whole day's rain since the previous 

 November. This drought proved the utility of the horse- 

 mill, which was working for three consecutive weeks in June 

 of that year. Hay then cost 6 the ton, and was very 

 scarce. 



Nothing worthy of special notice occurs during the next 

 two years ; then we learn that William Willmott died from 

 a fever on 2 June, 1787, leaving a widow and seven children. 



A brief reference may be made to Willmott's position in 

 Sherborne, apart from the silk industry which he so success- 

 fully developed. I am indebted to our member, Mr. W. B. 

 Wildman, for having supplied many of the following particulars. 

 William Willmott was elected a governor of Sherborne School 

 in 1769, and became a Brother (i.e., a governor) of the well- 

 known almshouses in the same year.* He was chosen as 

 warden of the school for the year 1784. His son Thomas 

 (of whom more presently) entered the school in 1779, was 

 elected a governor in 1805, and warden in 1810. Altogether, 

 seven members of the family were educated at the school. 

 William Willmott was also a guardian of the poor for many 

 years, and was associated with a philanthropic organisation 

 known as the " Green Girls Society," which still exists under 

 the name of Lord Digby's school, although the girls no longer 

 wear the dresses of distinctive colour. Among our papers is 

 a printed sheet or leaflet dated 26 October, 1786, which refutes 

 a malicious report to the prejudice of the society and sets out 

 its position and aims. The treasurer, John Toogood, informs 



*A bill for a dinner and a supper to the masters of the Almshouses 

 is dated 30 Dec., 1785, 6 6s. Id. 



