son Thomas, to every of them one spur Riall of gold apiece. To Samuel Reade my grandchild forty pounds and every of the residue of my daughter Reed's children unmarried, ten pounds apiece, to be paid within one year after my decease unto them or their father for them. To every of the children of Thomas Cook, my son, twenty pounds apiece. The residue &c. to Thomas Cooke, the younger, my son, whom I make sole executor. If he refuse then I make Edmunde Reade my son in law sole executor. I give to Martha Reade, now wife of Epps of London, my grandchild, ten pounds, in one month after my decease. To Johane Gilott, my late servant, twenty shillings. To Maryon Edwards, Clement Chaundler and Elizabeth Hayward five shillings apiece, and to William Scott George Smith and Samuel Medcalf three shillings four pence apiece, and to Thomas Maninge, Thomas French and Richard Goodwyn two shillings six pence apiece. Wit: George Coo, Robert Willis and Thomas Smithe.

Dale, 94.

[This will, which I communicated very briefly to the Mass. Historical Society in January, 1890, was a welcome find as confirming my supposition that Elizabeth, wife of Edmund Reade of Wickford, was daughter of Thomas Cooke of Pebmarsh. (See Ancestry of Priscilla Baker, p. 105.) Her descendants in this country are many. The Cooke pedigree may be seen in Visitation of Essex, Harleian Society, vol. xiii., p. 383.-WILLIAM S. APPLETON.]

THOMAS COKE of Pebmersh, Essex, Esquire, January 1679, proved 24 November 1682. My desire is that my body may be decently buried without pomp or ceremonies in the churchyard of Pebmersh, between the graves of my dearly beloved and entirely loving wives, Elizabeth and Judith; and, being so buried, my will is, and I do hereby require mine executors to cause three graves (together with my son John's on the North side of his mother's) to be raised with good brick, and a large stone to be laid upon them. I do give and bequeath (as an addition to the provision for the aged poor people of the parish of Pebmersh) ten pounds, to be paid when the house and croft in Little Henny shall be sold, and the money thereof arising shall be laid out on a purchase of some house or houses near the Church, or some piece of land in or near the parish, to be employed for the more comfortable relief of the aged poor according to the intention of the first donors, at which time and for the effecting whereof I do appoint mine executors to pay the said ten pounds. And I do also give five pounds more to be distributed among the poorer sort of well disposed people of the said parish. I do give to John Scot and Abigail his wife three pounds apiece, to Edward Abraham three pounds and to Mary his wife six pounds, and to my servants which shall be with me at my death ten shillings apiece. To every of my brothers' and sisters' children twenty pounds apiece, Thomas Bennett taking reasonably for the mare my son had of him or else I do give unto him but ten pounds. To Mr. Brinley Mr. Ely and Mr. Crow three pounds apiece, and eleven pounds more to be distributed among such other poor ministers as are turned out of their living because they conform not, such as known to my nephew Grandorge. I do give unto Joseph Coke my brother seven pounds and all my wearing clothes, which are fit for his condition, and to his wife three pounds. To Mrs. Arrowsmith, Mrs. Parsons and Mrs. Horton all such linen as was Mr. Percivall's, their father, in his life time and are now remaining. To my daughter Elizabeth her mother's bible, that she may improve it as she did, and also all things in my best parlor chamber. To Joseph Coke, my brother, fifteen hundred pounds, to be paid out of my whole estate, for the redeeming of Huntshall &c, upon this condition, that if my son and daughter Parsons and their

trustees shall release unto him and his heirs all the right, title and interest which they have in my said farm called Huntshall in Pebmershe &c., then this bequest of fifteen hundred pounds to be void and of none effect. And I do then give Huntshall &c. unto my said brother Joseph for life, and after his decease to his son Thomas and his heirs for ever, paying unto his sisters here in England twenty pounds apiece and to his brother and sister in New England also twenty pounds apiece, to be paid unto them within one year after he shall be twenty and one years old. And if my son Parsons or my daughter, or their trustees, shall refuse to release unto them the said Huntshall then my will and meaning is, and I do hereby give and bequeath unto my said brother and his son and heirs the houses and lands bought of Turner and Wistow and other freehold which I purchased, together with all my leasehold lands and copyhold lands to him and his heirs for ever, hoping they will not endeavor to cross what I know was my dear father's desire and is here accordingly declared to be my will. To Mr. Trussell thirty shillings and to his son Thomas ten shillings. For the payment of my debts and legacies and my son's just debts I do give to be sold by mine executors all my pieces of meadow in Lumer Road Meadow, my farm in Gestingthorpe, called Goddards, and the farm wherein George Radleigh now dwelleth, in Pebmersh, both free and copyhold, with all my stock, goods and chattels without the house &c. And, my debts and legacies being all so paid and Huntshall well and surely settled upon my brother Joseph and his son Thomas and his heirs as above is provided, I do give and bequeath all the residue of my real and personal estate unto Elizabeth my daughter during the term of her natural life, and after her decease the goods and personal estate to her children as she shall please, and all the land and real estate &c. to her son John Parsons, my grandchild, his mother allowing him good maintenance for his liberal education, and he (when he shall enjoy the lands) paying to his sister Anthonia three hundred pounds and to the rest of his mother's children which she may hereafter have one hundred pounds apiece. To Anthony Parsons my son (if he will accept of it) my best fur coat and what book he pleases. My other fur coat I do give unto Joseph my brother, if living at my decease; if not, then to John Scott. I do give my Polyglott Bible to my nephew Grandrige, and my watch and half a dozen of my books to my cousin Samuel Read, and my law books unto my nephew John Bennett.

Lastly, I do hereby ordain, make, constitute and appoint my well beloved daughter Elizabeth Parsons, my cousin Samuel Read, my nephew John Bennett and my nephew Isaac Grandridge to be executors &c., requiring them to pay all my debts and legacies and also all my son's just debts, that a blessing may be upon what I shall give and leave unto them. The will was proved by John Bennett, of the other executors Samuel Read and Isaac Grandorge renouncing and Elizabeth Parsons being dead. Cottle, 128.

THOMAS THATCHER of Beckington, Somerset, 8 January 1610, proved 13 June 1611. To certain poor persons in the parish of Beckington whom I particularly named to my executrix twenty shillings, to be divided to the said poor persons by the discretion of my overseers. For the better relieving of my uncle John Thatcher my executrix shall deliver into the hands of my brother Clement Thatcher a cow which now is in the custody of my brother in law Robert Keenell that, by the discretion of my brother Clement, she may be employed to the use of my said uncle during his natural

life, and after his decease the said cow to remain to the use of his children. My executrix shall, in like manner, deliver into the hands of my brother Clement one other cow, color black, for the better relieving of my aunt Elizabeth Thatcher, the use of it to her for life, and then to remain to the use of my said uncle John's children. To William Hillman twenty shillings. To Thomas Griffin ten shillings. To Thomas Bembury ten shillings. To my maidservant Mary Wattes twenty shillings. To Hester Thatcher, my brother William's daughter, one flock bed and one bolster, and one sheep. To Ezra Thatcher, my brother William's son, one sheep. A conditional bequest to John Gallington son of brother in law John Gallington. Item, my will is that if my brother Anthony Thatcher (who now is in the "seperation") do join in the profession of true religion with any true church, that then my executrix within one whole year after he shall so have joined himself, either with the reformed Dutch church, in which country he now liveth, or shall return into England and join with us, shall pay unto my said brother five pounds, which in token of brotherly affection, I give unto him. The rest of my goods I give to Anne my wife whom I make executrix, and make my friend Toby Walk wood and brother Clement Thatcher overseers. Wood, 60.

CLEMENT THATCHER of Merston Bigot, Somerset, yeoman, 13 January 1629, proved 4 May 1639. I give to the Church of Froome and Merston six shillings eight pence, to be eqally divided, and to the poor of Froome five shillings and to the poor of Merston five shillings. To my son Clement forty pounds, to be in the custody of Bridget my wife until he comes of the age, of one and twenty, she, the said Bridget continuing in my name, and not otherwise, it then to be ordered and disposed by my overseers. I give unto Thomas my son twenty pounds and to Hannah my daughter twenty pounds and to Mary and Joane my daughters twenty pounds apiece. To William Thatcher my kinsman five pounds and to his sisters Alice and Jane forty shillings apiece. To Thomas Thatcher my kinsman Hatton twenty shillings. To all my God children an ewe and a lamb, or six shillings eight pence in money, at the discretion of my executor. To my brother Gallington's children an ewe and a lamb apiece and to my brother William Thatcher's children an ewe and a lamb apiece, and to my brother Anthony, which is beyond sea, forty shillings, and to his two children ten shillings apiece. To Thomas my son my chattel lease of the house in the field and five acres of ground thereunto belonging. Two other chattel leases in Filton and Mr Cable's land, that which was lately in the tenure of Elizabeth Hipstonn, shall remain to Clement my son &c. Wife Bridget to be executrix and brother William Thatcher and brother John Gallington overHarvey, 92.

seers.

PETER THATCHER of the City of New Sarum, Wilts, clerk, 1 February 1640, proved 5 August 1641. I give and bequeath to Peter Thatcher and Thomas Thatcher, two of my sons, the sum of thirty five pounds in money, which was sent over to New England to buy goats, and is in the hands of my brother Anthony Thatcher. Also I give and bequeath to my said two sons twenty pounds which is due to me from my said brother for keeping his child. Also I give to my said two sons the several sums of thirty and one pounds and fourteen pounds, being in the hands of my brother in law Christopher Batt. All which said several sums of money to be equally divided between my said two sons. And my will is that my said son

Thomas shall have his legacy paid as conveniently as may be after my decease, and my said son Peter to have his legacy paid when he shall have served out his apprenticeship, and not before. And in the meantime to be managed by my overseers. To my son Peter my great brass pot and Mr. Henry Aynsworthe's works and Mr. Rogers his seven Treatises. To Anne Thatcher, my daughter, fifty pounds and all her mother's childbed linen. To Martha and Elizabeth Thatcher, my daughters, to each of them fifty pounds. The said legacies given to my said three daughters shall be paid unto them when they shall respectively attain to their several ages of twenty and one years or be married, which of them shall first happen. To John Thatcher, my son, fifty pounds, to be paid to him when he shall have served out his apprenticethip or shall have attained to his age of twenty and three years. All these four last mentioned legacies of fifty pounds shall be paid out of the moneys specified in a writing now in the hands of Mr. Francis Dove. I give to my last nominated four children, Anne, Martha, Elizabeth and John, ten pounds each, to be paid at the times limited for the payment of their other legacies; and if my said daughters, or either of them, shall marry before they shall respectively attain to their several ages of twenty and one years without the consent of my overseers, or one of them, then such of them as shall so marry shall have only this last legacy of ten pounds, and their other legacies of fifty pounds to be divided among the survivors of them, at the discretion of my overseers. I give and bequeath to Samuel, Paul and Barnabas Thatcher, my three youngest sons, to each of them fifty pounds, to be paid to them when they shall respectively attain to their several ages of twenty and three years. And it is my will that the benefit and commodity to be made of all the said legacies given to my said children shall be bestowed and employed by my overseers for and towards the education and maintenance of my said children until their legacies shall respectively grow due and payable in such sort as my said overseers shall think best and fittest for them. (Provision made in case of the death of any child.) I give to my two brothers John and Anthony, to my wife's four sisters, Elizabeth, Margery, Mary and Dorothy, and to my sister Anne Batt, to each of them five shillings, to make them rings, as a remembrance of my love to them. To my servant Edith Davis forty shillings, to be paid within one month after my decease. All the rest of my goods, debts, chattels, plate, implements of household, household stuff and books (except such of my books as I shall give and dispose of by a note or schedule hereof to be annexed to this my will, and reserving to my children the plate which was severally given to them at their births or since). I give and bequeath to Alice Thatcher, my loving wife, whom I also ordain and make sole executrix &c, and I desire my very loving friend, the said Francis Dove, and my loving brother in law Richard Alwood to be the overseers of this my last will and testament, to whom I give five shillings apiece in token of my love.

Wit: Nathaniel Conduit, John Ivie jun'.

Then follows a long list of books (chiefly theological) "Giuen to my sonn Thomas Thatcher theis books following." Evelyn, 112.

[In the collections of Licenses to pass beyond the sea, Eliz. to Car I. in the Public Record office, I have found the following entry:

"Primo die Octobris 1631. Anthony Thatcher of age 65 years dwelling in Leyden, et uxor Clarey Thatcher, 38."

A pen has been drawn through this entry, but on the margin is written, "Wm Cooke dwelling in Bermondsey street test" against it; and there is also written against it in the margin the word "Stet."-H. F. WATERS.

A word as to the record spelling of Peter Thacher's surname. There can be no doubt that the signature of the original will was spelled as he invariably spelled it, so far as is known, without the middle "t." The writer has in his possession photographs of original signatures of his, so spelled, and the records of his parish are full of his signatures, so spelled. He was settled in 1616 over the Parish Church of Milton, Clevedon, Somersetshire, and an inscription upon a stone in the wall of that church to the memory of his deceased child, John, contains the name THACHER. Why, then, it may be asked, did the scrivener who wrote the will, or the clerk who recorded it, spell it otherwise. Unquestionably from carelessness in one or both. A distinguished historian and antiquary, in Winsor's" Memorial History of Boston," has spelled the name both ways, in the same article, on the same page. Anthony, brother of Peter, always spelled his name, also, with one "t."

The leaders of St. Edmunds Parish in Salisbury were Puritans, and a disagreement having arisen, in consequence, with their minister, Hugh Williams, he resigned in 1621 or 1622. These leaders having fixed upon Mr. Thacher as Mr. Williams's successor, he was invited to that parish by repeated, urgent votes of the vestry. He finally resigned the vicarage of Milton Clevedon, and Feb. 23, 1622--3, he was instituted rector of St. Edmunds, Salisbury, by the then Bishop of Sarum, JOHN DAVENANT, who favored the Puritans. He continued rector, to the great acceptance of his parishioners, until his death, Feb. 19, 1640-1. He was harassed, more or less, during this period, by Archbishop Laud, because of his Puritanism.

It has been generally supposed that the Anthony named in the wills of Thomas and Clement as their brother, and as being out of the realm, was the same Anthony, brother of Rev. Peter, who is mentioned in his will. The writer, however, for various reasons, doubts the correctness of this hypothesis, notwithstanding a pedigree of the Thacher family, furnished many years since by officials of the College at Arms in London, to the late Hon. J. S. B. Thacher of Natchez, Miss., assumes Thomas, Clement, Peter, and the Anthony of Peter's will, to have been brothers. The extract from the Public Record Office in London, which Mr. Waters appends to his abstracts of the three wills, places the matter, it seems, beyond controversy. We there find, Oct. 31, 1631, an Anthony Thacher, 65 years of age, dwelling at Leyden, with his wife Clarey. Now Anthony Thacher, brother of Rev. Peter, so celebrated for his graphic and pathetic description of the awful shipwreck on Thacher's Island, Aug. 15, 1635, when he and his wife were the sole survivors of the vessel's crew and passengers, numbering twenty-three, and who was afterwards one of the three founders of Yarmouth, Mass., never had a wife "Clarey." His first wife, Mary, died at Salisbury, July 26, 1634, while he was serving his brother Peter as curate at St. Edmunds, which office he held several years. (In the record of his wife's death, in the parish register, he has the title of "Clerk" or clergyman.) Elizabeth Jones became his second wife only six weeks before she embarked for New England, on or about April 6, 1635, with her husband and four of his children, one (Benjamin) having been left behind in the care of his brother Peter, because of his tender age. They were accompanied by Thomas, then 15 years of age, son of Peter, afterwards first pastor of the Old South Church of Boston, and who preferred a tramp through the woods from Ipswich, the place of embarkation, to the water trip, having, says Cotton Mather, "such a strong and sad impression upon his mind about the issue of the voyage, that he, with another, would needs go the journey by land." (See 1 Mag. 442. Hartford ed. of 1820.) Anthony died Aug. 22, 1667, aged about 80 (see Freeman's History of Cape Cod), which would require his birth to have occurred in 1587. He could hardly have attained that age, however, as Peter, for good reasons, believed to have been the elder, was born in 1588. If we assume that Anthony was eighty in 1667, he would have been forty-four in 1631, when the Anthony of the Public Record Office was sixty-five. Anthony, the brother of Peter, had received a good education, wrote a very handsome hand, and expressed himself with ease, correctly, with force and perspicuity, and sometimes, eloquently. Yet the most persevering researches have failed to discover the place of his education. It has been surmised that he may have received his education from his brother Peter.

It will be observed that in neither of the wills of Thomas and Clement is there any reference to a brother Peter, or a sister Anne, which can hardly be accounted for if the two latter, indeed, bore such relation to the two former. The John Thacher, son of Peter, named in his will, being the second son of