48 KINGSBRIDGE 



success, and died in 1788, at the age of seventy-one. He 

 was a member of the Society of Friends. Hawkins describes 

 him as "a good classical scholar, beloved and respected 

 through life by all his pupils and neighbours, for sound 

 learning, virtuous worth, and unassuming manners." 



It was probably in John Morris's time that a certain 

 Dr. Phillips, by will, left some property in trust to the 

 Society of Friends, for charitable purposes, more especially 

 for the endowment of a free school in Kingsbridge. It 

 appears, however, that the will was disputed by the heir, 

 and a proposal was made to him that he should "give 

 the sum of £1,500, in case William Cookworthy would 

 re-convey the Barton of Malston and the mills, in lieu of 

 the charity intended to be charged thereon. That a thousand 

 pounds capital stock should be purchased therewith, as an 

 endowment of a free school," &c. The arrangement was 

 agreed to; and the sum received just covered the law 

 expenses ! so that the Friends lost the Barton of Malston, 

 the mills, and the free school. 



Lands in several parishes have been given, and vested 

 in feoffees in trust, for keeping the church in repair, and 

 for the relief of the poor. The oldest deed concerning 

 the feoffee property dates 1309. 



There is an old Seal belonging to the feoffees of these 

 parish lands, as they are termed, on which is engraved 

 the town arms, viz., a bridge of three arches, with a 

 crown over it, and in a legend around are these words, 



Sigillvm Regis Pontis* 



* The representation of the Seal, which appears on the cover of this 

 book, was copied from Lewis's "Topographical Dictionary"; but it differs 

 somewhat from the carving over the church porch, although both are 

 intended to portray the same subject.' 



