THE MAYORALTY OF TRtfRO. 385 



and he died on the following 1 Jidy. He had mortgaged his 

 estates, and after his death the family sank into obscurity, and 

 soon became extinct. 



The resignation and death of Vincent seem to have upset 

 the balance of power in the corporation, and the entries in the 

 election books for the period are confusing. Zachary Williams 

 was chosen to succeed Vincent, in March 1726, and at the same 

 meeting Eichard Flint was elected mayor. Williams, however, 

 undertook the mayoral duties, and not until 12 August, 1727, was 

 Flint sworn into the office by Williams, who is described as "then 

 mayor." It would seem that Flint was actually mayor for two 

 months only, as on the following 9 October he was succeeded by 

 Henry Luke. These three mayors were officials connected with 

 the port of Truro. Williams was collector of customs at a 

 salary of £40 per year, but on 11 January, 1736-7, he was 

 "dismissed for frauds and neglects," and was succeeded by 

 Thomas Quarme, whose salary was raised to £50. Either Flint 

 or his father was a goldsmith in Truro in 1705 ; he was ajipointed 

 a tidesman in the port, 5 February, 1732-3, but was dismissed 

 15 Januar}-, 1735-6. The name of "Flint's Barn" is suggestive 

 of the association of his family with the town. Henry Luke 

 succeeded Henry Slade as a waiter and searcher 21 January, 

 1729-30— -an office which he retained until his death in July, 

 1732. 



John Hussey, sou of Rev. John Hussey, vicar of Oak- 

 hampton, settled in Truro in the earlier part of the eighteenth 

 century. He was a distinguished lawyer, and took an active part 

 in the public life of the town ; on 9 October, 1722, he was elected 

 town clerk, a position which he held for fifteen years. Twice 

 during that period, in 1728 and 1733, he united the offices of 

 town clerk and mayor ; but apparently thia arrangement led to 

 abuses, which caused the corporation to adopt the following 

 resolution : "If the present mayor doth, or any subseij^uent 

 mayor shall, at any time, presume to grant any leases or rever- 

 sions of any of the borough lands without the assistance or 

 consent of two of the aldermen of the borough, such mayor shall 

 forfeit for every such offence the sum of one hundred pounds to 

 be levyed by distress and sale of his goods and cliattells, and to 

 be applied to the use of the poor of the said borough." Before 



