THE FOUNDERS OF CHARLES CHURCH. 
239 
"Exdono Thomas (evidently altered from Thomse) Bedford;" and 
a chalice with the legend, "Exdono Thomse Bedford quondam 
Proelectoris Plimothiensis." 
The piece of land alluded to in the will it is impossible to 
localize. The descendants of Thomas Bedford are traced in the 
History of Cornwall, 1 by C. S. Gilbert, written 1820, and are 
Western men. John, his eldest son, mentioned in the will, became 
Rector of St. Gerrans in 1645, and was father of five sons — all 
clergymen in Devon and Cornwall; and John his son was from 
1674 to 1738 Head Master of the Plymouth Grammar School, 
where he lived to the age of ninety, and where his talents and 
respectability of character caused him to be long remembered. In 
the lives of several scholars his name is recorded as their preceptor, 
with high respect for his learning and instructive skill. John 
Bedford, m.a., probably his son, and therefore the great grandson 
of our friend Thomas Bedford, was also Vicar of Charles from 
1758 to 20th April, 1784, when he died, and was succeeded by 
Dr. Hawker. Several members of the family likewise entered the 
Royal Navy, and served their country with distinction, and their 
name is not unknown as Bedford and Fanshawe to this day. The 
female branches married into the families of Elford, Putt, Stephens, 
Willesford, and Woollcombe, names known in the West as syno- 
nyms for integrity and honour. 
I have done little more in this paper than piece together scraps 
of information given me by valued friends, among whom I must 
place first the Rev. J. Ingle Dredge. To Col. Vivian and Mr. 
E. H. W. Dunkiu I am deeply indebted; and last, not least, I 
have to return my thanks to the Rev. J. Bathurst Deane, the 
venerable rector of St. Helen, Bishopgate Street cum St. 
Martin's Outwich, Threadneedle Street ; and to the Merchant 
Tailors' Company for permitting me to have access to their records. 
1 Vol. ii. p. 13. 
