46 KINGSBRIDGE 



A great change has taken place in the habits of people 

 • generally since the period when this book was written, 

 and we cannot be too thankful for the altered times in 

 which we live. 



In the absence of a biography, we can gather but little 

 respecting Henry Hingeston's history, but believe he was 

 a merchant of good standing and considerable importance. 



William Duncombe, who was the first master of the 

 Free Grammar School, and appointed by the founder him- 

 self, bequeathed by will, in 1691, certain lands to trustees, 

 "in order to pay fifty pounds a year to a lecturer, to be 

 chosen by the major part of the said Trustees, with the 

 consent of the inhabitants of the said town; who shall 

 every Sunday supply the place of the vicar on that part 

 of the day when his duty requires his attention at Church- 

 stow, and also to preach once a month on one of the 

 week-days which he shall judge most convenient ; that 

 the lecturer so chosen shall be neither the master of the 

 free school, the usher, nor the incumbent or pastor of the 

 place, but some other clergyman of good moral character. 

 Besides the annual stipend of fifty pounds, he ordered that 

 the lecturer should be paid an additional three pounds 

 yearly, to give away, or buy books to present to the poor 

 parishioners, as an encouragement to learn catechisms, &c. 

 He also directed that ten pounds a year (if the estate 

 would permit) should be allowed for four years, to one, 

 two, or three scholars, being poor, and educated at the 

 free school before mentioned, who should go from thence 

 to Oxford or Cambridge, with the approbation of the 

 major part of the trustees, and the master, as a help 

 towards their maintenance at the university. If any surplus 

 remained, he ordered that it should be applied in binding 



