28b' 



Notes on the History of Merc. 



Thomas Staples 



succeeded the Rev, Caleb Perfect in 1744. He was the son of the 

 Rev. G-. Staples, of Salisbury, where the family had been settled at 

 least three hundred years. The vicarage house at Mere was burnt 

 either shortly before or immediately after his death, and his widow 

 was compelled to re-build it. The date of the old vicarage house 

 is thus fixed. He died 1774/5, but as there is no entry of his 

 burial in the register probably he was interred at Salisbury, the 

 family burying-place. His father was buried at St. Edmund's in 

 that city, and his widow died there also. Mr. Edmund Staples, 

 the chemist, at Wilton (1891), is a member of this family. 



Charles Wager Allix 



was Vicar from 1775 to 1795. He was killed by a fall from his 

 horse, tradition says near Norwood. He was buried in the church- 

 yard under the south wall of the Church, where is an altar-tomb to 

 his memory. It became dilapidated in 1883, when it was put in 

 its present form. The inscription on it was then removed. It ran 

 thus : — 



" In memory of Rev. Charles Wager Allix, 20 years vicar of this place, who 

 died the 30th of November, 1795, aged 47." 



The following is copied from the Salisbury and Winchester Journal, 

 7th December, 1795 : — 



" Monday se'nnight died the Rev. Mr. Allix, Vicar of Mere, Wilts, whose 

 loss will be severely felt by the poor of this parish, son of the late Charles 

 Allix, Esq., of Swaffham, and a descendant of the famous Dr. Peter Allix, 

 who was banished by the old persecuting Church of France in the last century. 

 The death of the above gentleman was attended with the following extra- 

 ordinary circumstances. He had been out coursing on the Wednesday pre- 

 ceding, and on approaching home enquired the hour of his servant ; on being 

 informed, he remarked that there was time for a short ride before dinner, 

 turned his horse about, took a circuit, and again arrived within about a mile 

 of his own house, when the servant observed him to be gradually falling from 

 his horse, pointing at the same time to the ground. The servant rode up in 

 time to catch his master in his arms, and laying him on the ground, where 

 he had pointed, turned his horse loose, in hopes he would alarm the family 

 and bring him assistance. The horse ran home, but no one knew what road 

 to take, the servant was at length compelled to leave Mr. Allix senseless and 

 speechless on the ground, and ride home for assistance ; having run into the 



