By T. R. Baker. 



315 



poor children, and Mr. Try on Still, as his father's heir, claimed the 

 right of selecting the master or mistress and of paying the £10 

 yearly to any master or mistress in Mere for instructing as many 

 children as he thought fit. For many years the number was ten, 

 always hoys, who were sent to any master or mistress keeping school 

 who would undertake to instruct them for the money. Their age 

 when sent was from 8 to 13, and they remained about three years. 

 The schoolmaster for many years was Charles Glover, who had from 

 twenty to thirty other scholars. After the National School was 

 established the £10 was paid annually up to 1861, to the funds of 

 that institution by the Still family, as the representatives of Dr. 

 Tatum, since which date payment has been refused, and the £200 

 never having been invested the charity is lost. 



Michal Harding's Gift. 



Michal Harding, spinster, by her will, dated 24th March, 1736-7, 

 desired that £30 might be settled and the interest paid to six old 

 maids of Mere, a crown each. The capital sum was never settled, 

 but her sister, Ann Kitcatt, paid £1 10*. yearly out of a close of 

 ground situate at a place called the Sands, in Warminster, and her 

 successors, by an indenture, dated 21st December, 1788, conveyed 

 to Henry Hindley and Stephen Butt, of Mere, the said land, with 

 this condition, that the 30s. was to be paid for ever on the 25th of 

 December, yearly to six old maids of Mere. Mr. Hindley received 

 - the annuity up to the end of 1807, and distributed it accordingly. 

 The lands were then sold, and the purchaser — Harriet Reeves — 

 refused to pay the rent-charge because the deed creating it was not 

 enrolled and therefore it could not be enforced. 



Sir Matthew Andrews' Charity. 



Sir Matthew Andrews' Knt., who died 1711, left by will an 

 estate at Wolverton, in the parish of Mere, then valued at £50 per 

 annum, for the endowment of a free school, but his son, Mr. Henry 

 Andrews, availed himself of the Act of Mortmain and refused to 

 carry out his father's wish. Sir Matthew Andrews erected :i school- 

 house in the town of More, and Mr. John Hill was appointed 



