Notes on the History of Mere. 



" The Second accompt of the said James Lucas, and Moses Wilkins, Church- 

 wardens there for one whole yeare then ended the xxixth Daie of March 1630. 

 In w ch . yeare the said Churchwardens were appointed Sequestrators of the Tithes 

 and pints of the Yicaridge of Meere aforesaid by the Eight Wor 11 Edmund 

 Mason then Deane of Sarum uppon the Death of Eichard Potter, Batchelor in 

 Devinitie and late Vicar of Meere aforesaid, whoe died about the ffeast of St. 

 John Baptist 1629, and Thomas Chafin, Doctor in Devinitie was vicar in his 

 place." 



Dr. Thomas Chafyx 



was Vicar from 1630 to 1646, 1 when lie succumbed to the treatment 

 he experienced from the Parliamentarian soldiers, as before related. 

 Walker, in his " Sufferings of the Clergy,'- also states that he was 

 Prebendary of Diumford. and further says : — 



" Where this leverend person was born,- or in what university he had his 

 education I am not informed ; but bearing the name of an ancient family in the 

 neighbouring county of Dorset it seems probable that he might be related to it, 

 especially as I find he was a man of such note as to be in the Commission of 

 Peace. One Dr. Chaffin was, soon after the breaking out of the Eebellion sent 

 for by the House of Commons as a delinquent. I take him to have been the 

 same person with this Dr. Chaffin." 



The following entry in Rushworth's Collection confirms this 

 supposition : — 



" Mere. Dr. Chafyn was brought to the bar for certain words delivered at a 

 visitation sermon at Salisbury &c. Anno 1640." 



In the Mere Churchwardens book for 1636 is this entry : — 



"To the Eingers when M r Dockter Chafin went through the Towne on 

 p'cession 12 d ." 



He appears to have been an energetic man; during his incumbency 

 the Church was paved, the south aisle re-leaded, the tower loft 

 repaired, the churchyard walls restored, the Church new-pewed. 

 and various other works earned out. Also two charities which had 

 been withheld some years were appropriated to their proper use. 



1 Dr. Chafin was also Rector of Fovant, Wilts. 

 - Thomas, son of "William Chafin, of Zeals, was baptised 1595. 



