THE OLDER CHARITIES OF PLYMOUTH. 
47 
Trevill, and Christopher Ceely ; and Hughes attended her on her 
death bed, March 10th, 1651 (1652), when he added a codicil by 
way of nuncupative will. 
Mrs. Bennett was sister of Nicholas and William Hele; and 
Nicholas Bennett was her last husband. Her sisters were Agnes 
Evens and Elizabeth Parker, and Andrew and Stephen Trevill 
were her cousins. That Mrs. Bennett was a Puritan her will 
proves; but while a Puritan she was no ascetic. Her bequests 
include two diamond rings, other rings, pearl and coral bracelets, a 
broad Spanish piece of plate, two beare bowls, and all the effects 
of a well-plenished house, while her husband had a " beaten gold " 
hatband. 
Christopher Ceely eventually handed over the will and deeds of 
the properties to Andrew Trevill, the last surviving executor ; and 
Trevill's son-in-law, Dr. Burthogg, on his death, to the Corporation, 
who held them in 1676. 
There is no trace to be found of the moneys bequeathed by 
Joan Bennett to be lent on loan, nor of the bequest for the endow- 
ment of the sermon in Plymouth. The Maker Trust continues ; 
but had long ceased to be, if it ever was, under the management 
of the Mayor and Commonalty of Plymouth, at the date of the 
Charity enquiry of 1820 ; and the only interest these matters have 
to us therefore is the proof they afford that the testatrix was a 
Presbyterian, and that her endowment was not intended for the 
education of Episcopalian clergymen, to which it has been at times 
applied. It is possible, as the Charity Commissioners suggest, 
that the payment of £6 for the sermon may have lapsed in conse- 
quence of the lands on which it was charged not being freehold ; 
but that will not account for the disappearance of the £80 stock 
for loan ; nor does the way in which what remains was treated 
inspire much confidence in the trusteeship of the Mayor and 
Commonalty. 
According to their own showing to the Charity Commissioners 
of 1820, from 1678 to 1795 the Corporation had received in rents 
£2174 18s. 7d., against which they had only paid exhibitions to 
the amount of £732. In that year the house was burnt ; and they 
allowed £500 to the tenant toward rebuilding (it is always easy 
to be liberal with other people's money). £500, or over £4 a year, 
was also claimed by them as deduction for rates, taxes, repairs, and 
expenses of receiving the rents, while they allowed nothing on the 
