The Rough Notes for the Family Particulars

Collected by
Harry Wilson Sowdon
different periods
Manor House
East Hendred
Steventon
Berks.
1884 to 1909

This book for Richard Sowdon

© Paul I Marshall - 2007
"Perhaps the best cure for the fear of death is to reflect that life has a beginning as well as an end.
There was a time when we were not: this gives us no concern - Why then should it trouble us that a time will come when we shall cease to be?  I have no wish to have been alive a hundred years ago; or in the reign of Queen Anne.  Why should I regret and lay it so much to heart that I shall not be alive a hundred years hence, in the reign of I cannot tell whom".
William Hazlitt
"And our little life is rounded with a sleep".

In reference to the quotation by William Hazlitt on the other page (above) in which he says, " I have no wish to have been alive a hundred years ago or in the reign of Queen Anne" reminded me of an incident in my boyhood days.  I had a great aunt Mrs Ann Archer, the sister of my maternal Great Grandfather, she lived to the age of 93 years.  

She was born in the year 1785.  I have heard her say that she well remembers her grandfather who was a very old man when she was a child, he lived to be 96 or 7 years of age and was born in the reign of Queen Anne, therefore three shake hands take us back to that period of time, now over 200 years.  Mrs Archer’s maiden name was Hutton and she was the daughter of Henry Hutton of Colchester.
H.W.S 1910

"a little rule a little sway is all the great and mighty have
Betwixt the cradle and the grave".
Insert photograph

H. W. Sowdon, Manor House, East Hendred, Steventon 1907

Parochial History's of Devonshire

Archdeaconry of Exeter published by Rev. R. Polwhele.

Sir William Pole died 1636		History published 1791
Mr Trisham Risdon died 1640	History published 1714
Mr Thomas Westute of Raddon 1640	
The City of Exeter History by John Vowell alias Hoker 1549

Richard Tzacke Esq	Exeter	1677	
Samuel Tzacke son of above		1741	
Alexander Jenkins	History Exeter	1806	
Rev George Clever	History Exeter	1821	
Mr Martin Dunsford	Tiverton	1790	
Rev John Prince	Worthies of Devon	1701 &  1810	
Rev Ezra Cleveland	History of Courtenay Family.		

I cannot see, then, any rational or logical ground for that mighty difference in the value which mankind generally set upon the past and future, as if the one was everything and the other nothing - of no consequence whatever, on the other hand, I conceive that the past is as real and substantial a part of our being, that it is as much a bona fide, undeniable consideration in the estimate of human life as the future can possibly be.  To say that the past is of no importance, unworthy of a moments regard because it has gone by, and is no longer anything, is an argument that cannot be held to any purpose; for if the past has ceased to be and is therefore to be accounted nothing in the scale of good or evil, the future is yet to come and has never been anything".

The future on which we lay so much stress may never come to pass at all, whereas the past has certainly existed once has received the stamp of truth and left an image of itself ............joys are lodged beyond the reach of fate."

What a Blank, for instance, does the History of the World for the next six thousand years present to the mind compared with that of the last; all that strikes the imagination or excites any interest in the mighty scene is "What has Been".

Portishead Hotel
Nr Bristol
August 23rd 1863

My Dearest Tilly

	I am no doubt you are surprised at my prolonged stay but coming back on Friday I thought I would just stay over and see my old Tutor here who I have not seen for ten years.  You may fancy how astonished they all were to see me drop in so unexpectedly, and a hearty welcome I received  they will not hear of my leaving until Wednesday morning as Tuesday is the annual festival ............school children at the Rectory and Mrs B and Mr Norman the Rector says I must stay.  I sleep at the hotel as Mr Blenkinson's house is full. Yesterday I spent the day at Mr B's, today at Mr Fisher's and tomorrow Mr Wetherleys and Friday at the Rectory.  I hope the horses arrived safe, they are two splendid animals.  I hope you my dear Tilly and the children are well also Mrs Archer, with most affectionate love to you all

Believe me
My Dearest Tilly
Your ever affectionate Husband
W H Sowdon

PS Send me your Carte de Visite by return of post for Mrs Blenkinson, also one of mine.

2 St James Street
Winchester
August 28th 1864

My Dearest Boy

	Many happy returns of the day to you and may you grow wiser any better every year you grow older is my earnest hope.  Be good at school and kind to those who love you and you will grow up a good man and I shall be very proud of you, for although not with you I am always thinking of you and your sisters, give my best love to them and loads of kisses.  I send you my likeness with old Marchioness take care of it and think of me.
I have been very ill again but am now much better, and hope next month to be able to come up and see you and bring the books I promised to your sisters and yourself.  Remember me very kindly to Mr and Mrs Thurlow and say I shall have the pleasure of seeing them about September fair.  Write to me often and tell me all the news and how you are progressing with your studies. Be now my dear Harry a very good boy love your mother and sisters and also myself and when you are older there is nothing that I will not do for you.  Again with my most affectionate love to Eleanor, Catherine and yourself

Believe me
My dear boy
Your very affectionate father
W.H. Sowdon

Master H.W.Sowdon
Zinzan Street
Reading

"What though the radiance which was once so bright
Be now for ever vanish'd from my sight.
Though nothing can bring back the hour
of Glory in the grass of splendour in the flow'r."
H.W.S

Letters from my father William Henry Sowdon to his wife and also the only letter I have of his to myself.
H.W.Sowdon

The Monuments in St Giles’s Churchyard Reading.

In Christ
The Reverend Frederick Grosvenor MD
formerly Sowdon
29 years Rector of Dunkerton Somerset.
Born Sept 22nd 1822
died Oct 27 1879
Also
Charles Henry Sowdon
born Aug 25th 1823
died Sept 27th 1888
sons of Thomas Frederick Sowdon
and Caroline his first wife.
To the Memory of Caroline the beloved wife Thomas Frederick Sowdon Esq. who departed this life April 19th 1836 aged 36 years
also of
George Francis son of Thomas Frederick Sowdon Esq. who died March 1839 aged 4 years.

At St Mary's Church
on an alter tomb
Eleanor Sowdon
died Feb 13th 1792
aged 11 years

Mary Ann Sowdon
died Feb 12th 1802
aged 15 years

Arthur Sowdon
Nov 31
aged 30 years

Alfred Sowdon died Feb 27 1850
aged 45 years.

On a large altar tomb with vault under in St Mary's Church,
Sacred to the Memory of
Thomas Sowdon Senior Esq.
Died April 13th 1791
aged 73 years.

Thomas Sowdon Esq.
Senior alderman of this borough and magistrate for the county's of Berks. who died
Nov 23rd 1829
Aged 69 years
Also Eleanor relait of the above
Died April 13th 1839
aged 75 years.

On a visit to Reading and St Mary's Churchyard on March 19th, 1910 to see these tombs.  I found that at last the authorities have taken in hand the work of making the Churchyard at least decent.  It was in sad state of neglect and ruin.  The Sowdon vault and stone was almost the only one in decent repair.  I gave orders to have the rails round the Tomb painted.  Major Grosvenor had the tomb done up sometime before he died, but it must be now my care and that I hope of my successors it is a duty one owes to keep the tomb and memorials of ones ancestors in sound condition if one is able.

H.W.Sowdon.

In the Reading Cemetery
on and altar tomb
Sacred to the Memory of Anna Louisa
the beloved daughter of Harry Sowdon Esq..
and Louisa his wife who died June 8 1852
aged 18 years.
Sacred to the Memory of 
Harry Sowdon Esq. of Swiss Villa
Reading
who died August 3 1862
aged 63 years
Sacred to the Memory of Louisa the beloved
wife of Harry Sowdon, who died Sept 10th 1858
aged 58 years
on a raised Tombstone
Sacred to the Memory of Anna wife of Wilson Lomer Esq.. who died Jan 12 1847
also of Wilson Lomer Esq.. who died Feb 12 1877
aged 102 years.
Sacred to the Memory of Ann Matilda Archer
who died June 17 1877 in the 93 year of her age
safe in the arms of Jesus.

At Jersey Cemetery
Also of 
Henry Hutton
who departed this life on the 
10th may 1860
aged 77 years
Deeply regretted by all who knew him.

Henery Hutton was my mothers grandfather and was born at Colchester on the 26th of April 1783 and baptised Feb 10th 1788.

Copy of Register:

“Henery, son of Henery and Susan Hutton born 26 of April 1783 and Baptised Feb 10th 1788”.

The above I certify to be an extract from the Register of Baptisms belonging to the Parish of St Runwald. Colchester.

W. Walford Rector

Copy of my mother's writing

My dear Grandfather died May 10th Thursday 1860, half past six.  Mrs Sowdon, Mrs Donaldson, Mr Burgess, Aunt Archer, Mrs Shaprott and Robert Chaffery.

Sowdon Wills continued

1791 Thomas Sowdon
1829 Sowdon Thomas
1861 Harry Sowdon
187   Sowdon Thomas Frederick
1879 Sowdon Frederick Grosvenor
1888 Sowdon Charles
1869 Sowdon William Henry
1908 Saumarey Frederick Sowdon (Grosvenor)

Mary Sowdon who died in 1714 a spinster lived at Brampford Speke in the hundred of Wonford 4.5 miles from Exeter.
The Manor belonged in the reign of Henry II to the family of Espek or Speke and continued in these descendants.  It is now the property 1815 of Sir Stafford Henry Northcourt, Bart.

From Lysons

Whitestone or Whitestone in the hundred of Wonford and in the deanery of Dunsford, lies about 3.5 miles from Exeter.
The Manor of Whitestone was held, at the time of the Doomsday Survey, by Robert De Beaumont under Baldwin the Sheriff.  It afterwards belonged to the family of Powderham, on the attainder of John de Powderham it was granted to Humfried de Bohun, Earl of Hereford and has since passed with Powderham Castle to Lord Viscount Courtenay.  The Manor of Hallesford, or Halesford belonged in the reign of Edward 1st to the family of Novant.  It appears that in 1649 Mrs Rebecca Borough gave to St John's Hospital a tenement called Nadder then reputed to be parcel of the manor.  This manor appears to have been long ago annihilated; a portion of the parish, still called Hallesford Ward is divided into very small freeholds.

There was also a Manor Rohorn, which, in the reign of Edward 1st was in the Tovington Family and afterwards to the Bonvilles.  It escheated to the Crown on the attainder of Lord Bonville.  No such manor has been known of late years, a farm of that name, near the NE boundary of the parish belonged for two centuries in a family of the name of Townsend.

Heath Barton was successively in the Family's of Langdon, Hill Dowlish and Pollard. It is now the property of James White Esq. The Rev Charles Brown, the incumbent is the *abion of the rectory.

About the year 1747 Mr John Splatt gave by deed, an Almshouse of 5 rooms, for poor persons and lands for the endowment and for a school for teaching 18 poor children.  The present rent of the land is £33. The allowance to almsmen, under the deed is only 5 shillings each at Christmas.  There is a schoolroom under the same roof as the Almshouse, and a chamber over it for the residence of the Master or Mistress of the School.

Limpstone (spelt Lympstone) in the hundred of East Budleigh and in the deanery of Aylesbeare lies about 8 miles from Exeter, on the Exe.

The village of Sowdon (Sowton nr Exeter) is in this parish.  The manor of Little Dunsford, alias Sowton was at an early period in the family of Sowdon.

Whitestone 	Houses	Families			No of Inhabitants	
1801                91	91	               471	
1811                91	101	               515	
1821               101	113	               585	

Inscriptions on the Wall of Whitestone Church in the County of Devonshire on the wall of the North aisle a large Board still exists with extract from the will of John Splatt who died 1754 the founder of the Church House and Church Charity.

Trustees of the Above are:

James Pitman Esq..
Thos. Sowdon Gent of Whitestone
Burnell Townsend Gent of Whitestone and a number of others.
The Rector is expressly excluded for some reason unknown from the trust.  Immediately below this board on a stone tablet is the following inscription:

Anne Best widdow daughter of Thos. Sowdon gave unto such poore as are not chargeable to this parish £40, to be lent at interest by the minister and churchwardens successively for ever; who are likewise to distribute ye income every Xmas to such poore relations especially widdows as they shall think fitt.
Who died the 8th day of November 1713.

The three following inscriptions are on small boards also in the North aisle Wall:

John Sowdon of Lower Haire 
dyed on the 12th of January 1715
and gave to the Poor of Whitestone
ten pounds, the interests to be paid
at Easter yearley for ever.

Thomas Sowdon of Lower Haire
in ye parish of Whitestone
died ye ninth of December 1733
& gave upon his last Will to forty of
 ye poorest family's & house keepers 
of ye said parish three pounds to be
 paid by the minister and church wardens
yearly on Easter day for ever, after
ye rate of one shilling & sixpence to each of the said family's, out of an estate called Higher Southway
lying and being in ye parish aforesaid
and ye name of each of ye poor people
to be entered yearly on ye poor book
of ye said Minister and Churchwardens.

Thomas Sowdon Esq..
of Whitestone, who died 
November 15, 1835 left by will £25 the interest to be
 distributed yearly at Christmas
between eight poor persons of the said
parish to be selected by the Minister and Churchwardens.

The family of Sowdon intermarried with the family of Kelly, Thomas Sowdon of Whitestone House married Phillippa daughter of Col Arthur Kelly of Kelly near Tavistock.  She afterwards married Tom Yarde in Devonshire.

Kelly Hele of Fleet 1627 an ancient family and Baronet now extinct.  The Holwell branch became extinct in the early part of the last century, by the death of Roger Hele Esq. who left two daughters; Julianna married to the Duke of Leeds by whom she had no issue and afterwards to the Earl of Portmore, ancestor of the present Earl and Charity married to the Right Hon. George Treby, whose representatives are Paul Treby Esq. Treby Hele Hayes Esq. and Arthur Kelly jun. Esq.
Kelly of Kelly - This ancient family, into which one of the co heiresses of Talbot married has resided at Kelly ever since the reign of Henry II Arthur Kelly, is the present representative, 1822

Arms - Argent, a chevron between three billets, Gules
Crest: An ostrich's head Argent issuing out a ducal coronet G in the mouth a horse shoe.

Richard Kelly Esq. in 1634, gave a rent charge of £15per annum for a Charity School at Brixham.
Cheriton Bishop in the Deanery of Dunsford.
The Manor Eggbeare belonged in the reign of Edward 1st to the family of Kelly.
Cheriton Fitzpaine the manor belonged in Henry III time to the family of Stanton from which it passed by female heirs to those of Fitzpaine, Anshee and Kelly.
Dartmouth. William Lee in 1599 founded an Alms house for poor people in the South Town.  Richard Kelly in 1645 gave 20s per annum to this almshouse.
Dunkerton.  This manor is now the property of Arthur Kelly Esq. in whose family it has been for a considerable time. 1822
Saint Pancross, Exeter has long been disused.
Some memorials of the Kelly family are visible on the floor; John Kelly 1727. John Kelly Esq. 1767.
German's Week. in the hundred of Lifton.
Manor of South Week belonged in the reign of Ed 1st to a younger branch of Kelly.
Heavitree in the hundred of Wonford, the manor of Wonford was purchased in 1775 by John Barry Esq. from Arthur Kelly.
John Kelly founded an Almshouse at Heavytree in the year 1517 which was seized in Ed VI reign as having been appropriated to superstitious uses and the endowment alienated.
Kelly in the hundred of Lifton in the deanery of Tavistock. The manor & *****son of the Rectory have been in the family of Kelly at least from the time of Henry II. Kelly is now the seat of these descendants Arthur Kelly Esq. in the Church are some memorials of this ancient family.  Lydford in the parish church are monuments to the family of Kelly Arthur Kelly 1628.

Marlborough In the parish church.  The only monument of note is that of James Francis Kelly Esq.. Lieutenant RN, who was shipwrecked off this coast Sept 3rd 1802.

Inscription

He served his country with the greatest distinction during the whole of the late war in the Channel, in the East and West Indies, in the Mediterranean, in the North Sea and in Egypt. He particularly distinguished himself in the summer of 1800 in the command of the boats of his Majesty's Ship Mermaid, with whom, upon different occasions, in one of which he was severely wounded, he captured vessels of a very superior force belonging to the enemy. This stone erected as a tribute of respect to the Memory of an active, brave and intelligent officer and of a good and amiable man.

Spreyton, in the hundred of Wonford and in the deanery of Dunsford.  The Manor belonged, in the reign of Henry II to the Talbots whose heiress, in the reign of Henry VI brought it to the family of Kelly.
The Kellys have several times married into the family of Sowdon of Whitstone.  Stoodley, Stodeleigh or Studley (actually spelt Stoodleigh) 7 miles from Tiverton. This manor belonged at one time to the familys of Anstice, Kelly and Carew.

Thinking of being of service to the rising generation and especially to the one of that generation who may own this book.  I have copied a fairly exact paraphrase of the concluding lines of Juvenal's tenth satire, justly considered as one of the noblest specimens of Maral Philosophy in all the writers of Antiquity and one which will retain its value for all ages and worth more than many of the best sermons of the day.

"Are we then to desire nothing? If you will have any advice, you will leave to the deity alone to ponder out what is good for us and what is advantageous to our concerns.  For instead of what is pleasing to us the Deity will give everything that is most suitable. man is dearer to him than himself.
When we are led by the nose by our own feelings and by blind and monstrous desire we are bent on wedlock and a fruitful wife to bear us children;
But to him alone it is known what our sons will be and what sort of a wife she will make.  However should you ask for some good you should pray to have a sound mind in a sound body Ask for a brave heart which knows not fear of death which among the bounties of nature regards the closing years of life which can endure any suffering has an imperturbable temper, coverts nothing, and regards the cruel toils and labours of Hercules as preferable to lust and gluttony and the downy bed of Sardanapalus.
I am pointing out the gifts you can bestow on your own self of a surety the path of a tranquil life lies open by virtue alone.  If Prudence be yours every other grace is present; yet we make luck our goddess we make her our guiding star.
HWS.

To my son who may inherit this book.
The reason I have written down these family particulars so fully, is this every one should know all they can about the family to which they belong, it is important for many reasons, which I will not enumerate here.
My life is uncertain, information can only be gleaned from a member of the family, unfortunately ours has dwindled down until I am the only male representative, supposing I live doubles the knowledge you may learn from me but in any case now it is written down it will be an inducement for future generations to continue the history.  May they avoid the faults which have been in the past the downfall of the family, strive to emulate the virtues and again restore the family to that high position which it formerly held not only in Devonshire but in the County of Berks..

I have not made the best use of the talents entrusted to me but it has not been altogether my own fault.  On my coming of age I was deprived of the fortune to which I was entitled by the dishonesty of my trustees.  I then had a 17 years Chancery suit which took my time and the energy which I should then have put into business, during the best years of my life, also we had the most fearful agricultural depression during the '80, the rents were still high corn and sheep continued to fall in value.  In the '90 we had bad seasons and still lower prices in 1893.  I sold wheat at 14/- per qrt and the highest price was 18/.  It was a struggle to live but we got through somehow although hundreds were ruined and went to the wall.  Farms were thrown up in every direction and land went out of cultivation in many instances.  We have lived to see a partial revival of agriculture, which we hope may continue but probably came too late to benefit myself personally.  Still I do not complain for my own sake.  I only regret that the force of circumstances has been too much for me and I am unable to make the provision for my family which I should wish to do.  I must leave them dependant to a great extent on there own exertions for a living.  At the same time I have often seen those boys do the best in life and make the greatest mark.  May it be so in this case.  Do right, be just and honest.  Fear God and honour the King.  Be an Englishman protect the weak and show respect to old age and at the same time strive with all your might to improve your position by every legitimate means by Industry and perseverance make use of those talents with which you have been entrusted.

Be safer remembering that in some cases the opposite vice has been a failing in our family, and although I like to see a man enjoy himself yet he must keep measure and toe the line.  Times have altered and perhaps in this respect for the best with these few words of advice I will close these remarks trusting that the warnings may not be required.  I trust I may be spared to see my boys grow up, at least to finish there education if it please God that I should not, may they take these few words aright.  Strive to learn all they can at school so as to be armed as well as possible to fight the battle of life.

HW Sowdon.

1910. December.

Another year has almost run its course, and a troublous one it has been, not only individually but to this nation and I might almost say to the world at large.

Two General Elections in one year, and the Radical Party still in power, playing fast and loose with the Constitution of this country and generally endeavouring to destroy what our forefathers built up with such care and foresight, but we have about the worst government in power at the present time that England has ever seen. The Chancellor of the Exchequer is nothing but a petty lawyer, a rabid Socialist and a traitor to his King and country which he proved by his utterances at the time of the late African War, when he cheered to echo the enemies of this country and hissed the Brave Generals doing there duty in the field and then to fancy him in the position he now holds.  It is a disgrace to every Englishman and yet we are powerless to alter maters.  The extension of the Franchise to a lot of irresponsible people, is beginning to do its work and we may live to see worse times than even the present, may be Revolution and Anarchy.

Insert advert

(Both of the above advertisements appear in HW Sowdon' diary pertaining to property once owned by the Sowdon family.)

This preliminary announcements of the sale at Whitestone and Alphington was sent me in March 1911.  It formed part of the property once belonging to the Sowdon Family and of which West Town the old residence of the Sowdon's before Whitestone House was burnt in 1804.  It will be interesting to see who is the purchaser.
I wish I was in the position to buy the property back but my son's must if ever able.

HWS

1911

The sale of Mr Snow's property is advertised for July 7th 1911 and includes West Town the old residence of the Sowdon's, this if circumstances would have allowed, I should like to have bought back and it is a great grief to me that I am not able to do so.
I hope that some member of the family may another day be able to do so.  But we live in ticklish times and I cannot say how long these Radicals and Socialists will allow the private ownership of land to continue.  Nearly the whole of Mr Snow's property was sold on July 7th 1911 and West Town was bought by Mr C Pearson the brother of the Rector Dr Pearson of Whitestone.  He writes me that he intends to restore the house and make it fit for them to come and live in when old age turns them out of the Rectory.  One is 84 and the Dr 83 since then I heard again from Mr C Pearson that he has bought Lot 4 as well as West Town consisting of the Traveller's Rest and about 87 acres more land and this may alter his plans in regard to West Town.

1912

A terrible year, one of the worse for farming I have known since 1879, rain every day during the hay and corn harvests, floods and much corn and hay washed away. Many hundreds of farmers ruined. A year of disaster.
Dr Pearson resigned the living of Whitestone.
The war with Italy and Turkey dragged on until Sept when war breaking out between the Allied states of Bulgaria, Serbia and Turkey concluded Peace and has had more than enough to do at home for the Bulgarians have carried everything before them and are now at the gates of Constantinople.  The slaughter has been terrible on both sides and the soldiers are now being decimated by a worse enemy, Cholera, hundreds falling victim every day.
At home the Government is discredited has been fairly beaten on a Division of the Home Rule Bill by 22 votes but at present refuses to resign, what the outcome of it will be I cannot say.  Mr Asquith wishes to rule by Absolute Power.
The Insurance Bill is causing great friction all over the Country and everything and everybody in an unsettled state.  This I am writing in the month of November.
In the Village Rev Besby died, Stephen Hatto, Mr Williams of West Hendred and Canon Luck who was very much respected.  At home in the house we have had continual sickness in March Tom was taken ill with fever which the doctor pronounced Scarlet again, he had only had Scarlet fever the previous year and the house disinfected.
In June Mrs Sowdon was taken with Typhoid and very ill hardly expected to live all the summer and had barely got over it and gone to Cheshire to her sisters Mrs Steinby for a change when *** was taken ill with cold and schlic sore throat was in bed and ill 3 weeks and then poor little Harry was unwell and sent to bed and the doctor pronounced his illness typhoid, he is Dec 12th still in bed and gone to a shadow although prospering as regards the fever satisfactorily and then to make matters worse poor little Dick fell on the kitchen range and burnt the flesh off his little hands.
On the farm nothing but trouble also lost four good colts from worms caught in the ***** Meadow from drinking bad stagnant water.  Had notice to leave this Manor farm, but which I think is a good thing.  Altogether a year of trial and anxiety. It has been an extraordinary season as much wet as we had dry the previous year.  May we never see such another disastrous year.  The loss of the Titanic the most fearful shipwreck ever known. The terrible railway and dock strikes and the fearful loss of life in the War between the Allied powers and Turkey.  May 1913 prove a more prosperous year.

1913

This year has been hitherto a very wet and disastrous one, one of the wettest winters I have ever known and fearful floods.  The wet continued well on until May when the weather set in fine and we have had no rain practically since now June 13th.  The corn was put into a cold unkind seedbed and consequently looks yellow and sickly and does not grow, will not I think until we have a rain.  The mangolds are not yet up. I noticed this spring that the oak was a long way in front of the ash! The old saying is if the oak's before the ash then we shall have only a splash but if the ash before the oak we shall sure to have a soak.  We must take notice this year.  We have fair crops of grass however which we began cutting on June 12th.

This book is a private history and birth and death particulars of the family of Sowdon and families connected and should be carried on by the member of the family who possesses this book.  It should be most interesting to the family and valuable as a record.  A pedigree of the human race ought to be of more consequence than even that of a racehorse yet the latter is diligently and accurately kept while the other is almost altogether in these latter days neglected, so that many men hardly know who there grandfather was much more where he lived or occupation.  At any rate the book will point this moral that all life is uncertain and that death comes to all, let us endeavour to do our best in the little time allotted to us here so that although riches or rank may not come to us yet if we have made the best of the talents lent to us and leave a name behind us unsullied, its as much as can be expected of frail human nature and no doubt hereafter will receive its reward.

Thomas Sowdon of Reading Berkshire son of Thomas Sowdon grandson of John Sowdon of Alphington and Whitestone, Devonshire was born in Reading at Lyndon House in the year 1760 the same year that George III came to the throne.  His father was born at Alphington; Devonshire in the year 1718 and after his father’s death in the year 1748 came to Reading and started business as a Brewer and Wine Merchant.  The Brewery was in Southampton Street, Reading almost opposite the Bear Hotel and which at that time was one of the houses belonging to the Brewery, it was then the centre of all the life and trade of Reading, the principle Hotel at which most of the Coaches stopped and the Conservative post chaise.  The Radical ones went to the Crown higher up the street.  Mr Thomas Sowdon senior built Lyndon House in which he lived for some years and died there.  He was magistrate for the county of Berks. and Oxon and left a very handsome fortune to his only son, Thomas Sowdon who continued the Brewery and wine business but on his marriage in the year **** to Miss Eleanor Smith daughter of Mr Smith Esq. a master of Foxhounds and first cousin of Sir Gilbert Blaine of Foley*** pack near Windsor.  He went to live at Hartley Court in the parish of Shinfield.  He had by his wife a very good fortune she had been left a Ward in Chancery. The pictures of herself and also of Mr and Mrs Smith, her father and mother, are now in the possession of the Rev Wilson Woodhouse White at Brockdish Rectory, Scole Norfolk, whose father the Rev Joseph Henry White married Catherine Sowdon, which will be mentioned later on.

Mrs Thomas Sowdon (nee Eleanor Smith)

Thomas Sowdon took great interest in the Municipal life of the Town of Reading, he was Mayor in the year 1819 and at his death in 1829 was the senior Alderman of the Borough.  He was also a magistrate for the County’s of Berks. and Oxon and also Deputy Lieutenant.  He had the character of being a very just and impartial magistrate and a man without fear but was rather peculiar and eccentric, he was a good judge of paintings and had a very good collection amongst them was a fine picture of the actor Garrick, most of these paintings were distributed amongst his numerous family, the share of my grandfather’s consisting of paintings of Mr Richard Sowdon of Whitestone, the friend of Garrick, the picture of Mrs T Sowdon and her father and mother mentioned above another family portrait name unknown and a very fine picture of still life painted by a Dutch Artist and valued at a very considerable sum.  These pictures now belong to Mrs White, mother of the Rev. W W White at Brockdish Rectory, Scole, Norfolk.  The principal family portraits and best pictures became the property of Mr Thomas Frederick Sowdon of Castle Hill, Reading and he left them at his death in 1877 to his eldest son the Rev Frederick Grosvenor (Sowdon), Rector of Dunkerton near Bath and who died in the year 1879.  He left one son who died in 1908 and his widow who still lives at Bath and is the owner of the family pictures.  A good many pictures were sold by auction in the year 1830.

Mr Thomas Sowdon was one of the old school.  He was very fond of sport and regularly hunted with the Vine and South Berkshire hounds. He was also fond of Coursing and kept Greyhounds.  If he sold good port wine, he could also drink it for he is credited with being able to drink 3 bottles of port at a sitting.  Many tales are told of him, one of which has relation to his magisterial days:

He had been out Coursing and was coming home with his man in an old fashioned four wheeled carriage he used to drive, when near Pangbourne they came to a field of fine turnips just right for cooking.  So he said to his man "John get down and pull some of those turnips.  They belong to an old friend of mine. I have got a leg of mutton for dinner and they will go down well with it and Farmer ****** won't mind". The man did as he was told to do and no doubt Mr Sowdon enjoyed his dinner.  On the next Saturday the Farmer came to Reading and coming to Mr Sowdon's office said he had come to him to grant a summons. "What for?" said Mr S. "Well", said the farmer, "I have been much troubled by persons coming from Reading and stealing my turnips and I want to stop it". "Very well", said Mr S, " I will grant the summons and if they come before me, they may expect the utmost rigour of the Law - What's the name?" "That's what I want to know", said the farmer, “and perhaps you can tell me, for the man got out of your carriage".  "Ah, I can see", said Mr S, "it's alright.  Let's crack a bottle".  And a bottle they cracked and no doubt more than one.  He used to have the habit of saying "old Cock" and went by the Nickname of "Cock Sowdon", sometimes when on the Bench he would so far forget himself as to say "Well old Cock I must give you six weeks."  And I have heard say that occasionally the culprit was a woman.  He lived to the age of 69 years and died universally respected, he left a numerous family but only two sons survived him, namely Thomas Frederick the elder and Harry Sowdon.  He left the business to them and for some years they carried it on but never agreed.  The tempers of both were hasty and somewhat unforgiving, in fact I have heard that for several years although they sat in the same office they never spoke, but any communication they were forced to make to each other was done by writing.  Such a state of things could not exist for any length of time and although the quarrel was made up it was thought best for them to dissolve partnership.  Mr Harry Sowdon the youngest brother retired from business and the Brewery and tied houses sold.  Mr Thomas Sowdon carrying on the Wine business for a few years longer, but being a great sufferer from the gout, he in a short time sold it and also retired to live at his residence at Castle Hill, Reading.  He was confined to his room with the gout for several years before his death and died in the year 1874 and lies buried in a vault close to the tower by the road in St. Giles Churchyard, Reading.  He married first Caroline Marsack of Caversham Park, Oxon. and Burghfield Manor Berks.  The Marsacks are a very ancient Oxfordshire family and possessed at one time considerable property in that County, but from one cause or the other disposed of it and sold Caversham Park to Crawshay Esq. Soon after he bought it the old Mansion was burnt down with its contents, by a most disastrous fire.  Mr Crawshay built a new mansion something on the lines of the old one, but made the rafters and joists of iron and cement floors to make the house fireproof if possible.  Mr Thomas Sowdon had a good fortune with his wife Caroline but she died in the year 1836 leaving him with several sons only two of which lived to grow up, Frederick and Charles.  Mr Thomas afterwards married Caroline daughter of Colonel Bell of Belle Vue, Prospect Hill, Reading, who survived him but left no issue.  Frederick Sowdon, the eldest son, was educated for the Church and took holy orders.  He was for 29 years Rector of Dunkerton near Bath.  He married Martha the only daughter of Admiral Saumarez, an ancient and important Guernsey family who have given many members to serve in the Navy with distinction.  In consequence of the Will of his wife's aunt by which they derived great advantage he assumed the name Grosvenor in the year 1874 and died in the year 1879 buried in the same vault with his father in St. Giles Churchyard, Reading leaving behind him a widow, one son and several daughters and a large fortune.  His only son Saumarez Frederick Grosvenor was educated at Marlborough College, Wiltshire and went afterwards to a Military College and went into the Army and became Major of the Lancashire Regiment, he served in the Egyptian Campaign but lived rather a fast life and died in the year 1908.  From 1857, unmarried, he repaired the tombs of his ancestors, both at Whitstone and Reading.  He lived a fast life and died a comparatively young man.

The daughters of Frederick Grosvenor, I have heard say, were very good looking and 3 married, one Mary married son of Canon Venables of Lincoln, Edith married Capt. Gallachau of the Royal Navy and 7 others. 4 died young.  Thus ended the male line of the eldest son of Thomas Sowdon.
Harry Sowdon, my grandfather, married Louisa Lomer, daughter of Wilson Lomer of Southampton.  He lived first at Caversham after his marriage and two children who died infants were born there.  He afterwards bought Swiss Villa in the Kings Road, Reading and went to reside there and died at Swiss Villa in the year 1861. He is buried in a vault in the Reading Cemetery.  He was rather an austere man and very strict with his family. Louisa, his wife, on the contrary was of a most amiable disposition.  She had from her father a fortune of £30,000, which Mr Lomer gave to each of his daughters’ Mrs Caird wife of Dr Caird of Exeter and Mrs Sowdon of.  Here I might mention that Mr Wilson Lomer was a native of Southampton and member of a family long connected with that town and the county of Hampshire.  He had been left ample means which he improved by trade but retired early in life and after his daughter Louisa's marriage came to live in Reading at Wilton House in the Kings Road nearly opposite Swiss Villa in the year 1847.  His wife who was rather infirm was crossing the road on Castle Hill when a coach and four horses ran over her and she died from the injuries.  Mr Lomer her husband took the matter to heart and said, “I shall not live very long", he was then 72,” but I will give", he said to his daughters, "each of you your fortune then you will not wish for my death and I will buy an annuity".  He gave them each £30,000 which he settled on them and there children as they should by will appoint and bought an annuity of £1,200 a year in the Norwich Life Assurance Co. and a Government annuity. He lived to enjoy that from the year 1847 to the year 1877, a period of 30 years.  He was 72 when he insured and 102 when he died after the death of his daughter Mrs Sowdon.  He went to live at Bayswater in London and his other daughter Mrs Caird and her husband Dr Caird of Exeter who had just retired from business came to live with him.  He kept his health until the age of 10 and used to walk out by himself but got very deaf and almost blind.  He had however, a great objection to anyone going with him and would if he could get away by himself.  He went out one day unbeknown to his daughter and in crossing the road was knocked down by a cart and broke his thigh.  He lingered for about 6 months bedridden but the bone would not unite and he died at last from exhaustion.  He is buried in a vault with his wife in the Reading Cemetery just opposite the grave of his daughter and son-in-law, Louisa and Harry Sowdon.

He always went, after he came to London to live, to the head office of the Norwich Assurance Co. for his annuity himself, but when he was 100 years of age the Company refused to pay him alleging that he could not be 100 looking so well and healthy and that he must have given a wrong age on entering, he was very indignant and said he had never been accused of such a thing be and he should never come to the Office again to be insulted or ever ask them himself for the money and he took no further steps in the matter, but the Rev White of Weyhead then who had also insured Mr Lomer's life in the same Company took steps to get the certificate again of his Baptism and sent it to the Office.  Of course they at once paid the demands.

When Mr White some time afterwards came to London to see Mr Lomer he said I am obliged to you for getting my annuity paid.  I did not intend to trouble about it, at my age one does not want to be worried, its worry that kills, I can do without it and I had made of my mind not to be troubled with any business, but you are one of my executors and I gave directions in my will that you should see that the Norwich Life Co. paid up all arrears and 5 per cent interest, but you have seen to it before and any expense you have been put to, I shall be pleased to pay.  Showing that Mr Lomer still kept all his faculties.  When he was 100 he gave a birthday party and after dinner he returned thanks to the Company present for drinking his health saying in the course of his speech that he felt very well and hoped that he should meet them all on his 200th birthday.

He left most of his money to his surviving daughter Mrs Caird, she lived about 6 months after her father and dying without a will it came to her husband Dr Caird and he left it at his death to his 3 children, young Dr Caird, Mrs Southby of Newbury, wife of Mr Southby a partner in the Bank at Newbury and a member of a very ancient Berkshire family, spoken of in this book further on and another daughter Mrs Oliver.  Mrs Southby has now retired from the bank and the Capital and Countys have taken it, but he still lives at Newbury and has a family of several children.  Mr Lomer gave some ground rents to my father, William Henry Sowdon and his sister Catherine who married the Rev Joseph Henry White.  My father, unfortunately, disposed of his, but Mrs White has kept hers intact.  In a very short time these ground rents will fall in and the property is now, owing to the great increase in the value of land at Southampton, very valuable and will greatly benefit the White family.  It will be as well perhaps to mention here that the other half share of my grandmothers fortune she left to her son William Henry Sowdon to receive the annual income, but with no power to dispose of the principal sum or to anticipate it, until he attained the age of 40 years but he had the power of disposing by will. She appointed her husband Harry Sowdon, Mr Charles Simonds, the banker of Reading and William Henry Newman, lawyer of Southampton , trustees of this her will. Harry Sowdon died in 1861, Charles Simonds a few years after, leaving Mr Newman sole surviving trustee of the Will.

William Henry Sowdon died at Winchester in the year 1868 leaving his property, which consisted solely of this trust fund he dying at the age of 37 and not attaining the age of 40, to his children, Harry Wilson Sowdon, Eleanor Matilda Sowdon and Louisa Catherine Sowdon and appointed William Best solicitor of Winchester and S. Halladay solicitors Clerk of Southampton Trustees and Guardians of his children.  Who being sons should attain the age of 25 years or being daughters should attain that age or marry, but gave power to the trustees to advance ant moneys they might think fit to the son for his advancement in life after he attained the age of 21 years, if they thought fit, but full discretion was given to them.

William Henry Sowdon wished to put his trustee W.H. Newman in as trustee for his will, but Mr Newman persuaded him not to do so, saying " I am a very old man, I cannot live long and then my death will cause trouble and inconvenience of appointing a fresh trustee, put my head Clerk  S Halliday in as trustee in my place.  He is younger and the control of the property will still be in this office".  This was consequently done but William Best was appointed solicitor to the estate and to pay himself all legal costs from the estate.  The management of this property still remained in Newman.  Mr Best or Halladay took no steps to see that this property was securely invested but trusted, as many more did implicitly in the integrity of W. Newman.  About the year 1880 I H.W Sowdon became of age and wanting more money to start in business I communicated with my guardian and trustee.  He replied that he had never taken an active part in the management but had left it all to Mr Halladay and Newman and the best course to pursue, would be for me to come to Winchester and go with him to Southampton and have an interview with W Newman, this course I took and Mr Best and myself had an interview with Mr Newman at his office in Southampton and I put my views before them. Mr Newman, who was very venerable looking and then about 80 years of age, strongly advised me against the step of taking any capital from the trust funds, saying "I knew your father, grandfather and great grandfather I take great interest in your welfare. Farming is a precarious business, you may lose your money.  Better start in a smaller way with the capital left you by your grandfather Harry Sowdon.  Then when you attain the age of 25 years you will then have had more experience to guide you, you will then be in an independent position and can do as you please. I cannot advise your trustee to advance you any money."  This opinion I thought at the time very sensible coming from a man so venerable and so highly thought of as Mr Newman was, so I resolved to abide by it and did not go to farming on my own account for a few years after this interview.

About the year 181 I received a telegram from Mr Best saying, " Newman arrested come at once to Winchester".  This I did and went with Mr Best again to Southampton, where we found the worst had happened. Mr Newman had been arrested for misappropriation of trust funds belonging to a Mr Dawkins and Mr Ingram as trustees amounting to about the sum of £35,000.  He had also appropriated funds belonging to other clients amounting altogether to the large sum of £812,000 his estate consisted of very little, he had been gambling with other peoples money and had lost it, our claim was the next highest but Mr Best as trustee was the man answerable.

We commenced a lawsuit against Mr Best in the Chancery Court and obtained a decree in our favour and Mr Best was ordered to pay the amount but before this decree was made absolute Mr Best died and a stay of proceedings was obtained pending other lawsuits which had been brought against Mr Best’s estate. These suits were friendly suits to prevent us obtaining our money.  Mr Best’s estate was thrown into Bankruptcy, the matter was allowed to linger on for 17 years.  We made repeated applications to the Court of Chancery for a settlement through our lawyers Messrs Blundy and Blundy of Reading but it was not until Mr Best’s estate had been nearly or quite exhausted by law expenses that the matter was settled. We then got enough to pay the law costs which amounted to nearly £2,000 and my sisters had a few hundred each. I as residue Legatee not obtaining one single penny.  The whole of the 17 years I had had innumerable journeys to Reading, Winchester and Southampton besides a large correspondence and for which I received very little thanks.

Mr Scotney of Winchester partner and trustee for Mr Best was solely to blame for the manner in which Mr Best’s estate was muddled away, but he himself derived great benefit by paying himself the law costs in the several actions.  Altogether it was a sad business and for some years cast a blight over my life and has turned me from a man practically well off to have to work very hard for a living.  This in short is the history of the Sowdon Trust Fund.  Mr Newman was committed for trial but got off on some technical law quibble but was again arrested on another charge and was committed to Winchester gaol but died in prison.

William Henry Sowdon only son of Harry Sowdon and Louisa Lomer his wife, was born at Swiss Villa in the Kings Road, Reading in the year 1831 or 2.  He was the first baptised at the church of St Johns Reading and one of his godfathers was the Rev French, the then perpetual curate of St Johns'.  He was educated at Henley, Marlborough College Wilts and Portishead a Military College.  At an early age he entered the army as lieutenant in the 2nd Dragoon Guards.  He afterwards purchased a Captains Commission but living a very fast life and spending a large amount of money he was obliged to sell out. He then went to his uncles, the Rev Joseph Whites of Middleton in Suffolk to learn farming but did not stay with his uncle long.  He went to America and travelled about for over 2 years. His extravagant way of living had now about exhausted the patience and forbearance of his father who refused to again pay his bills.

Mr Lomer his grandfather had also greatly helped him but also refused.  He was then reduced to living on the interest left him by his mother about £600 per annum.  The ground rents given him by his grandfather at Southampton he had disposed of.  He had a farm at Shirley also given him by Mr Lomer. Here he went to live and farmed it himself.  About the year 1860 he went on a visit to Jersey and met his wife, Matilda Louisa Hutton granddaughter of Henry Hutton of St Heliers Jersey.  He was married to her in the year 1860 and brought her to live at Lordswood, Shirley near Southampton. I, HWS, was born in the year 1861 on Aug 27th at St Heliers, Jersey while my mother was on a visit to her grandfather Henry Hutton who died at that time leaving her a fortune of about £4,000 but which was settled upon her and her children by her marriage with W.H Sowdon and which was a very fortunate thing it was so settled.

W.H Sowdon and his wife Louisa did not get on well together, faults no doubt on both sides. She was no manager and only 19 years of age had had no experience after her grandfather’s death she asked her great aunt Ann Matilda Archer sister of her grandfather to give up her home in Jersey and come and live with her at Shirley. This the old lady was at last after a good deal of pressure persuaded to do and came to live with her niece at Shirley and took entire charge of the house and servants.  Mrs Archer was then over 70 years of age , this was about the year  1862. She was born in the year 1784 at Colchester, and married at the age of 18 Mr S Holwell, nephew of Governor Holwell of Calcutta and who was one of the few survivors of the Black Hole of Calcutta, her husband dying from a severe cold caught whilst out boating, she was left for some years a widow - but married secondly a Mr Archer  and lived in London several years  with him, but he also dying, she left London and went to keep house for her brother Henry at St Heliers Jersey and bring up his orphan granddaughter both duties she carried out in a most excellent manner, words can hardly express the admiration I feel for this good woman. Many troubles she had seen but never murmured.  She was always at work in the kitchen in the morning and in the afternoon with her needle in fact I never remember to have seen her idle the only pleasure she took was sometimes a game of Whist in the evening.  She was passionately fond of us children and we returned her affection.  She brought us up probably in an old-fashioned way.  I looked upon her as more than a mother and in all my childhood's troubles went solely to her.  She shielded me from many a thrashing and when I lost her I felt that everything I loved in the world was gone.  Now after nearly 40 years her memory is still fresh in my remembrance and so long as I live shall continue to remember her many kindnesses and live in hope of some day meeting her again.  She died on the 17th of June 1877 at Reading and is buried in a grave next to my grandfathers Harry Sowdon in the Reading Cemetery and on her Tombstone this inscription

Ann Matilda Archer (nee Hutton)
Sacred to the Memory of 
Ann Matilda Archer
who died June 17th 1877
in the 93rd year of her age
Safe in the arms of Jesus.

May her memory never be forgotten.  She died a most painful disease cancer in the bowels and practically was starved to death and lived for nearly 6 weeks with only liquid nourishment.  She did not receive the kindness from her nearest friends she was entitled to, but let that pass.  She would have been the last to wish it mentioned for an unkind word never heard proceed from her mouth and she did not know how to do a mean or unjust action, she was one of the lest and worthiest of women, utterly unselfish.

Going back to Shirley days 1862 my father remained at Shirley carrying on the farm for several years hunted and shot in the neighbourhood but still continued his racing and betting habits which soon landed him in trouble again.  So he sold the farm and the stock and removed to Reading his father had just died, and he had tried hard to be reconciled to him, but without effect his father would not see him and did not leave him anything in his will leaving everything he possessed to his daughter Catherine except £3,000 which he left to the child or children of his son William Henry.  He left Doctor Woodhouse of Reading one of his executors and Mr Charles Simonds the banker.

Catherine Sowdon was married the following year to her cousin Joseph Henry White at St Giles Church, Reading.  My father continued to live at Reading but his wife and himself did not agree and at last she obtained a divorce from him.  He having to pay her alimony and she had the custody of the children, much might be said on both sides of this question, unfortunately they were not suited for one another but I think with different treatment my poor father would have been a very different man certainly he was passionately fond of his children and I shall never forget his last interview with us before his death at Winchester.  I do not like to dwell upon this sad part of family history the least said about it the better, I remember only the greatest kindness from him.  Personally he was a fine looking man stood over 6 feet in height without his shoes had good features brown hair blue eyes and wore a slight moustache, he was always a great favourite with the ladys, which no doubt was partly his ruin, he was very fond of hunting, was a fearless rider over a country and an excellent judge of a horse.

He died at Winchester in the year 1868 and is buried in a brick grave next to his fathers vault in the Reading Cemetery with this inscription:

William Henry Sowdon son of 
Harry Sowdon
Died November 17th 1868.

Matilda Louisa Hutton wife of William Henry Sowdon was born at Plymouth in the year 18**, both her parents died in her early infancy so her grandfather Henry Hutton who lived in Jersey adopted and brought her up. She was educated in Jersey and went to school afterwards in France.  She was very clever at music and had a beautiful soprano voice, she was a very beautiful and fascinating woman, as one can see from her portraits, clever at drawing as well as music and very good company but unfortunately of a very hasty and excitable disposition and very fond of her own way, which no doubt in a great measure was the cause of the trouble with her first husband.  After his death in 1868 she married at Pangbourne Church, Berks. Thomas Caudwell, son of William Caudwell of the Manor House Drayton, Berks. who married Mary sister of *Job Lonsley of Hampstead Norris (Norreys), Berks..  The Caudwells are an old family settled in Berkshire for several generations first at Harwell and then of Appleford and Drayton.  The present representative is Leopold Caudwell of the Manor House, Drayton, Berks..  Thomas Caudwell had by his wife Matilda Louisa, 4 sons and one daughter:

1	Jessy Mary married to a man by the name of Sprigg, a journalist and has issue.
2	Thomas William. A Dentist married and has issue 1 son.
3	Frederick emigrated to Canada and lives at Brantford a draper I believe unmarried.
4	Albert died unmarried.
5	Cyril an architect living in London and unmarried.

St Georges Villa
Hamilton Road
Reading
July 2nd 1883

My dear Harry.

		I grieve to say the Capt passed away very peacefully this afternoon after a long weary time of suffering.  Your Papa was called up at four this morning as the nurse saw a great change I went up at eight as he wished to see me, he also expressed a wish to see dear baby .  He was taken to him and he kissed him he had faint hopes for life this morning and wished to see Mr Mosses. I went for him but he was gone out and he did not come until half past two.  He frequently asked for him having I think a faint hope that he could do something for him but after Mr Mosses came and said nothing more could be done all hope died within him and he sank in less than an hour after he left.  Your Papa is greatly distressed as indeed we all are it seems so hard just as he was on the point of finishing his military career but he died like a brave and noble soldier without one fear of death his last words were I want to go to my Maker he breathed his last at half past three.  Of course he has the privilege of being buried with Military Honours but his express wish that only his sword and cap should be placed on the coffin and as quick a funeral as possible.

We all send love

Your loving mother.

Matilda Louisa had excellent health until a few years before her death when she developed that fearful disease Cancer in the left breast.  She saw Sir Joseph Lister the physician in London who ordered an operation at once and this was done and probably by it her life was saved for some years but it was years of pain and suffering and after undergoing another operation which was of no use she died the next day at her own house in the Hamilton Road, Reading in the year 1897 in the 57 year of her age.  She is buried in the Reading Cemetery near to her second husbands father and mother and on the Tombstone this inscription:

Thomas Caudwell lived several years after his wife and married again a servant in his employ as housekeeper.  It was a sad business he was forced into this marriage by this designing woman but could not face the disgrace.  It is supposed that he committed suicide the day after his 2nd wedding for he was found with his brains blown out in his bedroom and his gun by his side, and no one witnessed the act.  It was an unfortunate affair for his family for his widow took a third of his estate and her child when born shared with the other children, he was supposed to have been a man of good property but in haste to get rich the last year or so of his life he had gambled heavily in the stocks and shares and had invested his money in some very rotten security's they were found to be of little value and his children, after the law expenses were paid, did not receive a large sum each.  He is buried in the Reading Cemetery with this inscription:

Henry Hutton grandfather of Matilda Louisa Sowdon was born at Colchester in the year 17**.  He lived at Colchester for some years but on account of his health he removed to the Island of Jersey where he started a piano manufacture and I have heard say brought the first piano seen in Jersey there.  He was successful in business and left behind him a fair fortune about £4,000 to his granddaughter Matilda Louisa and the residue for his grandson and an annuity to his sister Ann Matilda Archer.  He died in the year 1861 and is buried in the cemetery at St Heliers, Jersey in the 79th year of his age.  Matilda Louisa had three children by her first husband William Henry Sowdon, namely Harry Wilson spoken of in this book afterwards and Eleanor Matilda and Louisa Catherine.  Eleanor Matilda Sowdon was educated in Reading at Miss Whites Wilton House Kings Road.  She married in the year 1886 the Rev Grenville Lewis a clergyman of the Church of England.  He was by birth a Welshman they did not live happily together.  He was Chaplain of the Gaol at Shepton Mallett in Somersetshire which occurred from Guel Stories and he is buried at Shepton Mallett Cemetery a tombstone given by the inhabitants of Shepton Mallett erected over his grave. He left a widow and two children, Violet Lewis married to a Mr Bower and now living in Paraguay.

Cecil Lewis now 1910 just of age and living in Vancouver Canada.

Eleanor Matilda Lewis widow of Rev Grenville Lewis died at Maidenhead from the effects of an operation and is buried in Somersetshire not far from Shepton Mallett in the year 1908.

Louisa Catherine Sowdon 2nd daughter of William Henry Sowdon was born in Reading about the year 1866.  She suffered from birth from a curvature of the spine but if somewhat crippled in body she made up in mind, from her earliest childhood she showed marked ability for drawing and writing editing a manuscript paper at the age of 12 years.  She married first John Samson, the Editor of the South American Journal, a man of marked ability but he died in the year 1904 and she remained a widow about 3 years marrying in the year 1907 a Mr Thompson Price a widower with one child with whom she is now living at 42 Park Hill Road, Hampstead.  She has no children, has been very successful  woman in business editing several papers and writing for others and altogether leading a very busy and active life.

Catherine Sowdon, the only surviving daughter of Harry Sowdon of Swiss Villa Reading was married to her cousin Joseph Henry White at St Giles Church Reading in the year 1863.  Joseph Henry White was the son of Rev. Joseph White Rector of Middleton Suffolk who married Caroline the only daughter of Captain Scott of the 2nd Dragoon Guards.  Captain Scott married Eliza daughter of Thomas Sowdon of Reading and sister of Henry Sowdon of Swiss Villa.  He was a member of the Buccleuch family and a fine handsome man, but a great spendthrift.  She was a very fine woman and was engaged to be married to Squire Southby of Appleton, Berks., but meeting Captain Scott at a ball they fell violently in love and agreed to elope together which they did and were married at Gretna Green.  A Marriage so began was not likely to be happy and they lived a cat and dog life until death removed Captain Scott.  His widow then went to live with her daughter Mrs White at Middleton Rectory Suffolk and died and is buried at Middleton in the year 1872 aged 87 years.  Her son-in-law, Joseph White, was descended from a very ancient family long resident at Fyfield in the county of Berks. of which mention is made further in this book.  He was rector of Milwich in Staffordshire and afterwards of Middleton in Suffolk for many years and where he died and is buried. his eldest son Joseph Henry White married Catherine Sowdon at Reading as mentioned before.  Mr White was one of the best and most genial of men a good man and good churchman he never neglected any of his duty's, kept his church and churchyard in most excellent order, was a great man with his garden and excelled at all the Local shows in flowers and vegetables fruit etc. He was rector of Weybread in Suffolk for some years.  He bought the a******son and presentation but before his death sold it for a small sum he gave about £3,000 for it. He afterwards removed to Brattleby in Lincolnshire and remained there several years.  He afterwards was offered the living of Brockdish near Scole End, Norfolk which he accepted and lived there until his death in 1905 highly respected by all that knew him.  He is buried in the Churchyard at Brockdish and his eldest son Wilson Woodhouse White succeeded him as Rector of Brockdish. Catherine White widow of Joseph Henry living at the Rectory and keeping house for her son Wilson he being a widower.  Mrs White had her fair share of trouble, her family have not been strong the second son Henry Launcelot was very successful in his career gave great promise of being highly successful in his profession of a Clergyman of the Church of England became curate of Melton near Southampton but caught cold and quickly died at about the age of 25 years.  The youngest son Cecil Hugh Allen was a midshipman on board H.M. Ship Rover but caught Rheumatic fever and died after a short illness in 1888 at about the age of 20 years to the great grief of his parents. Her husband was also unsuccessful in his speculations and lost considerable sums of money.  Mrs White is however still a sick woman being tied by settlement upon her and her children failing her children it returns to the Sowdon family.

The eldest son Wilson Woodhouse White now Rector of Brockdish has also had his share of trouble, he was appointed private chaplain to the Duke of Buccleuch at Langholm and a very good appointment it was.  He married a young lady by the name of Moreton daughter of the then Rector of Tooting near London but a little over a year after marriage at the birth of the first child the poor lady died to the great grief of the husband.  After some years he became engaged to a young lady at Langholm, daughter of a manufacturer at that place but shortly before the wedding she became insane.  She to a certain extent  recovered and returned to Langholm but it would have been a most unwise step to contemplate marriage and Mr White was consequently obliged to give up his appointment and return home as curate to his father which office he performed until the death of his father.  The patron of the living then presented it to him and he accepted more on account of his mother than himself for the living is not a good one.  Most of the profits being eaten up in keeping the large gardens and greenhouses in going order.  He is an excellent preacher and does the service in Church in a manner that calls for all praise, he ought to have good preferment from his bishop.  He has only one child a son Cecil White who is now 1910 being educated at Marlborough College, Wilts.

Ernest Shirley, the 2nd surviving son of Joseph Henry and Catherine White is also a clergyman of the Church of England and has a curacy in Scotland is lately married and has one child.

Mary DeLacy, the only daughter of Joseph Henry and Catherine White is unmarried and lives with her mother and brother at Brockdish Rectory interesting herself in parish work.

Harry Wilson Sowdon only son of William Henry Sowdon was born at St Heliers Jersey on Aug 27th 1861 and christened in that island.  His parents were then living at Shirley near Southampton and on a visit to his mothers grandfather at Jersey and who died at that time.  They afterwards removed to Reading. Harry Wilson was educated first at the Reading Grammar School then standing in the Forbury and close to St Lawrence Church it has since that day been removed to the other end of the Town and greatly enlarged. The old buildings are all pulled down.  He afterwards went to Woodspeen House, Newbury Berks. to a private school founded by a Mr Corbould and carried on by that gentleman for many years. It was afterwards taken by a Mr Habershon.  The school now does not exist.  He afterwards went to Richmond House School Reading kept by a Mr John White a most worthy man, this school has also been given up killed by the comprehensive of the Public schools.  As a boy he suffered from bad health an outdoor life was recommended by the doctors he left school at he age of 14 and went to learn the farming business with a very practical farmer by the name Mr John Tovey then living at Bowenfield Farm, Bradfield and renting this farm under the late Mr Richard Benyon of Englefield House, Berks..  Mr Tovey was a very industrious man made his own wagons and carts did his own Blacksmithing work and tried hard to make farming a success, but the farm was eaten up by game and he removed from it to another farm at Buckhold in the same parish, but in spite of all his efforts, from bad times and other misfortunes he died in poor circumstances at Mortimer near Reading about the year 1907 at over 80 years of age.

Harry Wilson Sowdon stayed with him for nearly 3 years removing from Bradfield to West Ilsley also in the county of Berks. to a Mr Ernest Caudwell who then farmed the Manor Farm West Ilsley under Col. Loyd Lindsay afterwards Lord Wantage of Lockinge House, Wantage, Berks..  This was a large sheep farm and Mr Ernest Caudwell was a successful farmer, but his health failing he gave up the farm to his younger brother Leopold.  H.W.S continued to learn the farming business for some time with Mr Leopold and these days are looked upon by him as amongst the happiest and most pleasant of his life.  He had the opportunity of seeing how farming was carried on, not only at West Ilsley but also at Blewbury by the late Eli Caudwell and at Drayton by the late Mr Charles Caudwell the elder, who farmed most successfully a very large farm in that parish.  In the year 1881 he went to finish his career as a farming pupil with the late Messrs W.J and S. Franklin large farmers and estate agents at Ascott and Stadhampton in Oxfordshire; here he had the opportunity of seeing the very best and highest farming no expense being spared by the Messrs Franklin to keep the farms in there occupation in the very highest state of Cultivation. Ascott was there own property and a very pretty spot.  The land had been farmed so well for so many years that the crops were invariably laid and very difficult to cut and harvest.  Everything was fatted off and the stock in the meadows were cake fed.  No better feast came to Thame, Oxford or Wallingford Markets than those sent by the brother Franklin, they also farmed largely at Hazely and Red Pitts in Oxfordshire.  They had a very large connection as Estate agents and valuers and during the time I was with them started the auctioneers business.  They were very busy men and seldom at home HWS received the greatest kindness from both brothers and derived great benefit from the experience that he received from them. In the year 1884 HWS received the offer of Harcourt Farm, West Ilsley then tenented by Mr Edward Henry Moreland J.P of West Ilsley house and who wished to relinquish the  lease which he held of Sir Robert Loyd Lindsey.  HS took the lease of this farm over and went to reside at the Poplais West Ilsley late the residence of Miss Morland but left by her to her nephew James Paine the novelist.  The rent of this farm was £340 per annum the extent 312 acres including 15 acres of wood and nearly 100 acres of Down, the farm also extended from Chilton Down to the Park Wood which adjoins Catmore Borders.  The land was in good condition and very good crops were grown, but the price of sheep and corn continued to drop and HWS found it impossible to go on paying this rent.  An abatement was given by the landlord but not sufficient to meet the times so that in 1889 HW Sowdon gave notice to leave this farm and took over at Michaelmas 1890 Broads Farm at East Hendred belonging to John Joseph Eyston Esq. of Hendred House, Hendred, Berks.  This farm was about 450 the rent 18/- per acre.  It was in very poor condition and the times continuing to worse was a great loss. In 1893 we had one of the dryest years known and in 1894 one of the wettest, wheat went down to the most ridiculous price ever known.  The highest price made on the farm that year was 18/- per qrt and the lowest 14/-, it was impossible to carry the farm on at the rent and as Mr Eyston could not see his way to reduce the rent HWS relinquished the farm and took Mrs Robeys Frampton Farm East Hendred and went to live after the death of Mrs Robey in 1894 at Orchard House.  Here he continued to reside for nearly 2 years when in consequence of the house being sold to Mr Fred Phillips as a training establishment.  He removed to Ginge Manor House a fine old residence then belonging to the trustees of Mr John Allin of Downs House, East Hendred, Berks.  HWS was soon after appointed by the Court of Chancery receiver and manager.

The Parish of Whitstone Notes from Rev C Browns' book.

From Sir J.W.Poles Collections.  He died in 1636. Whitstone belonged unto the Redverses, Earles of Devonshire.  Richard de Redvers, Earl of Devon gave unto William Hoel land in Whitstone to be held of him by the 8th part of a Knights fee.  This land is called Nadder Trillon, of the owners thereof St John Trillon Kt of Checkerton in Oxfordshire, anno 31 of King Edw 3 granted Rowhorn and Nadder Trillon, in the parish of Whitstone, unto Hugh de Harton, with annos 32 of the same Kinge, did grant the same unto Henry Penho & Jane his wife and his heirs John Penho sonne of Henry, anno 1 of King Richard 2nd did grant the same by fyne unto Adam Scut of Exon which Adam, anno 7 of King Henry 4 granted the same land unto Jo Tbiech, and others *******, unto the use of Sir William Bonville of Chuton, anno 7 of Kinge Henry 6th land in Whitestone Benetts alias East Lockham John de Powderham held the Manor of Whitestone in Kinge Edw 2 tyme who was after attincted and it came unto Humprey De Bohun Earle of Hereford, and Essex and from Bohun unto Hugh Courtney and Marget his wife daughter of the said Humprey which gave it unto Sir Phillip Courtney Kt their younger sonne and soe descended in the house of Powderham.

Heath.
Heath within ye parish of Whitstone and Walter Langdowne held it with Westcot anno 24 of Kinge Edw 3 and anno 19 of Kinge Richard 2 tyme.  St John Hill Kt and after him Robert Hill his sonne, whose *******  Thomas Trowe of Somersetshire and John Luke of Exon did homage unto Sir Richard Champernon, Kt for the said Robert land in Heath, St Mary this land came unto Thomas Downish a younger son of the house of  Downish, whose only daughter hath brought this land unto Francis Pollard, second sonne of Sir Hugh Pollard.

The Patron of the Church of Whitstone was lately Sir William Courtney. Valued £19. 3s. 4d .

From Poems by John Robins, Exeter 1806

Lines written at Whitestone

"Delightful village! Hest abode
of Pleasures innocent as free.
Where breezes of contentment blow,
Inspiring health and social glee.
Oft as up yonder hill I stray
And taste the breeze at early day
I hate the name of Town!
Let gay ones still their hours employ
In giddy, vain, delusive, joy.
Yet happier far the clown.

From Vulgar Errors, by G Dyor 1816.

The name of a parish in Devon is Whitestone.  A hill, which gave name to this district is Wadaldon.  Wad, a hill or ridge (Gaelic) from Wad a hill or ridge, Al high, and Don, land, implies the high **** land.  Whitestone the Hill land.

Copy of a deed in the Exeter Registry.

Whereas John Yeo, alias Bawden, **** of Whitstone Parish in the County of Devon Yeoman hath two ---nions seates in Whitstone Church belonging unto two estates, called Way and Horston which seats are pretty far from the pulpit of the above parish Church and as I Nicholas Hall Doctor of Divinity and RectorIbsden have been informed by john Yeo Junr that his mother who for many years together sate in the foremost of the two seates, which doe belonge unto the two estates as customary seates, and could not hear many words that were delivered by the minister in the pulpit; as I Robert Yeo, have also likewise heard my mother say and that some of the above said parishioners  who are less ---er to the Church; a near half less they pay, and yet they have their customary seats farther forth in the Church.  And my request and desire is to have a little seate which is farther forth by a pillar of the Church, and now stands void, and I will yield up unto the Parishioners one of my customary seats, which doe now belong unto Way and Harston Estates for it.  And there request and desire being so reasonable.  We whose names are here under written do agree and consent unto the said John Yeo jun., as much as in us lyes or either of us.  We do allow that he shall have this little seate he yielding up unto us the Parishioners of the of the forsaid parish one women’s seats now belonging unto an estate called  Horsham.
And this we desire you in a lawful way to give under your hand and seale if it be needful soe to do who are our friends

from ---- August 24th
in the yeare of our Lord God 1699.

Tho Townsend )      I am content that the request of Mr John Yeo be granted.
John Yeo junr   )      John Quick
                              Barnill Townsend                                     Nick Hall
Rector.

From Polwhales History of Devon 1793.

Whitstone in Doomsday, terra Baldwine Vicecomdis.

Witestan, and in another place, terra Baldwins Vicecomitis Witestan, which our ancestors called Whitston, is a long parish, in length above 4 miles and in breath rather more than three miles.

It is very Hilly, Waddledown, in this parish, is one of the highest hills in Devonshire, it commands a vast extent of country, to the south and south West Haddon, and Lawrence tower, the long windings of the Exe, the city of Exeter itself, and Haytor rock, and to the west Dartmoor, and the hills of Somersetshire to the East from a striking part of the prospect.  It is said that  (exclusively of those in the city) 24 churches may be seen from Waddledown and 60 sail of ships have appeared at one time in the River Exe.  On the north side, where it joins Newton St Cyres Whitestone is finely clothed with coppice oak and ash indeed are scattered over the parish which on the whole is rather coarse and in many places inclinable to furze.  The orchards in the parish have been remarkable as producing excellent cyder.  The soil indeed is very favourable for the cultivation of the apple tree, and this, as well as the other parts of the district is a good *** Parish.  But the roads are almost impassable, steep rocky full of loose stones and overgrown almost everywhere by the hedges and having standing pools at the foot of every hill, they are truly formidable to the stranger.  To the S.E, is situated the Tything of Halesford: as a tything it seem to be no longer known.  The village of Halesford lies in a winding vale, overhung by coppice woods, though the cottages are almost close together yet from the curvature of the vale, one cottage can scarcely be seen from the other.  The coppice hanging from the hill immediately over the houses renders this spot most extremely picturesque, and romantic, the waste ground of Halesford is claimed by Pitman.  The Manor of Whitstone was given by William the Conqueror to William De Ou and was possibly afterwards possessed by John de Powderham, Bohan Earl of Hereford says Westcote held it under Edward 2nd as having the wardship of the heir of John de Powderham.  Cleavland thus expresses himself " Whitstone fell together with Powderham to the Earl of Hereford, who gave it with his daughter to the Earl of Devon who settled it on his son Sir Phillip Courtenay.

On the Western side of the parish lies Heath Barton contiguous to the turnpike road that leads from Exeter to Oakhampton, the land of this Barton is very course.  "Heath Barton, held says Westcote by Heath, by Langdon by Downich and by a branch of the family of Pollard by match with the heir of Dowse's now belongs to Counsellor White.

West Town  the family estate of the Sowdons lies to the S. West.  The old Mansion is at present a farm house.  The Church dedicated to St Catherine lies very high, and the tower of Whitstone, which may be seen from a great distance is a direction to such sailors as bear off the haven of Exmouth.

Westcote affirms that Whitestone derives its name from the whited tower so conveniently standing, as to be a mark for shipmen at sea.  If the name have reference to the church take Mr Halves crynology speaking of Whitestone in Cornwall, he says, it was taxed in the Doomsday Book by the name of Whietstone which as I apprehend hath mystery in it, and was not to say any common stone in the church or Parish, but of the words of our saviour to the 7 churches of Asia.

"To him that overcometh will I give a white stone and in the same stone a new name written, which no man knoweth, saving he that receiveth it.  In this Church are scaresly any ornaments except the arms of the Courtney’s over the Communion Table, and several coats of arms in the front gallery.

In the Churchyard is an Altar Tomb to the Memory of the Sowdon's
The first fruits of the Rectory are £19.3.4 yearly tenths £1.18.4

The parsonage house at a small distance from the church is a strong neat building superior to most of our parsonage houses.

Its situation is **** and healthful and for an extensive command of beautiful prospect it stands unrivalled, but placed as it is on so high a hill, its inhabitants have suffered great inconvenience from a want of water during the summer months and there the storms in winter are often tremendous.

The Barton of Heath had formerly a village and Chapel belonging to it.
The Chapel is now in ruins but inclosed and guarded from profanation.

In 1697 Lord, or rather Sir William Courtenay granted on lease a part of the Manor of Whitstone.
C.B. copies from the indenture in the parish Chest, dated 1697.  This Indenture made the 17th day of May in the ninth year of the reign of our Sovereign Lord William the 3rd between Jeffrey Palmer of Ide  husbandman of the one part and John Bawdon

Thomas Sowdon. Churchwardens.

Richard Splatt, John Chappill, overseers for the poor of Whitestone Yeomen and successors.
Whereas Sir William Courtenay - date the 7th of October one thousand six hundred fifty seven appoints into Jeff Palmer of Whitestone deceased all that little house, parcel of land appurtenance parcel of the Manor of Whitestone to have and to hold for fourscore and 19 years.

The Indenture is now (1830) much injured by damp.
Charity

Extract from the will of Thomas Sowdon Esq.. of Whitestone House dated Feb 5th 1834.
" I give unto William Browning of Alphington Esq. Burne Gurney of Exeter surgeon; and George Turner of Barton gentleman, my Exors. the sum of £25 upon trust to place the same at interest in the Devon and Exeter Savings Bank, and to pay the interest from time to time for ever to the Minister and Churchwardens for the time being of the parish of Whitestone, upon trust that they do yearly at Christmas distribute and pay the same, between eight poor people of the said Parish of Whitestone such poor to be selected by the said Minister and Churchwardens.

The Church

Copy from Whitstone Memoranda by Rev. C Brown

1835	Thomas Sowdon, 54.  The name of Sowdon appears in the earliest Registers 1594.  The direct line having failed Robert Sowdon a Tanner at Bow succeeded to West Town, East Town, Helladown and to the leaseholds on lives of Lower Hare and Baddock.  He died 15 June 1782, the day his son was christened, of apoplexy caused by intemperance.  After the curate Mr Ley , had left the dinner table Mr R Sowdon and Mr Giles Yarde drank brandy till the former fell on the floor, Mrs Sowdon sent for Mr Ley and taking him into the room, said That’s the man who has just killed my husband, that man she afterwards married.  During Thomas Sowdon's minority his guardians purchased Pound Farm and when he came of age in 1803 he bought High and Low Southaway and also West Kent, on which he built a mansion in 1804.  His first wife Susanna (Ureford) was 27 June 1807.  She had 2 children, Thomas born 25 Aug 1805, buried 26 Dec 1805 and Susan born and buried 16 June 1807.  He married secondly Phillippa, youngest daughter of Colonel Kelly Co Devon, by whom he had Juliann bapt 1 October 1814, buried 7 Oct 1814 and another still born.

Thomas Sowdon was in 1818 under restraint in his own house, on account of a mental malady and soon after commenced residence in Exeter, leaving his wife in possession of Whitstone House, he died from apoplexy at his house in St Sidwell's leaving many illegitimate children born before and after his second marriage.  To the youngest whose mother was a cottagers daughter of Newton St Cyres, he bequeathed his estates.

Note. His widow had a settlement on the estates of over £500 a year and the house for life.  The trustees threw the estate into Chancery where it remained for many years.  Mrs Sowdon married secondly Mr Tom Yarde who survived her some years.  At her death part of the Sowdon's estates were sold to pay off the heavy law costs and encumbrances and little was left.

The other portion of the estate with Whitstone House still belongs to the Yardes.  The present possessor is Dr Yarde of Exmouth.  The house is let on a 7 year lease renewable for 14 or 21 to Col. Perry and who is now 1910 residing in it.

It is a large square house of the period when it was built but had had new windows and porch added to it about 40 years ago in the front.  The rooms are a fair size and it is a very nice comfortable home and situated on a most commanding hill having views from all sides, it is difficult to get to but the view will repay the toil, it must be a very healthy spot.  The old house at West Town is now turned into a farm house and cottages, it is a long low Manor House of a very early period with a brook running at the back and a moat around the front.  It is at present in a bad state of repair and I hope to get a portrait of it, to put in to this book.  HWS

From Nimrods Sporting Tour.  Woolmer Dec 1824.  Colonel Kelly, being invited to dine at the house of a Lady of Quality and high fashion, sat some time without saying one word, and then addressed her thus, "Pray Madam", said he in the punctilious manner of the old school, "did your Ladyship ever pipetail a greyhound."  "I know not what you mean", said her Ladyship.  "Why ma-am", observed the Colonel, "its the finest diversion in Nature.  Tom Sowdon and I once pipetailed a greyhound on Tacklands steps and he jumped from thence to the Bridge.  Those who know the distance of the bridge will agree with me in thinking that the Colonel could jump a bit also".

Copy from Overseer Out of Whitstone.

in 1807	Mr Sowdon's huntsman for killing a fox 3sand 4d.

in 1811	Mr Sowdon's huntsman for killing a vixen 6. 8.

			Parochial Memoranda
1804		Mr Sowdon's House called Whitstone House built, the plantations found the following year.
1810		Kingdon gives Mr Sowdon £10 for all the manganese which he may find in Eastern Bickham and Pound, search is made but fails.
1837		Mr Sowdon's trustees sold Timber for £3,200.
1844		Mr Sowdon's trustees sold 320 oaks.  Very small.  105 Ash.  22 elms on Kent, 10 poplars.

Kelly.

The Bidlakes of Bidlake, Devon.

Henry Bidlake born 1606 or 1607 married Phillippa, daughter of William Kelly of Kelly.  Henry joined the army of King Charles and served under Colonel Sir Thomas Hele, Bart.  In 1645 he was one of the defenders of Pendennis Castle.  Bidlake House is a very interesting example of a simple mansion such as suited to small squires of Devon in the 17th Century.  It is Elizabethan and has a quaint old garden at the back.  Like so many old houses the aspect was not considered and the sun pours into the kitchen, but hardly a gleam can reach the hall and parlour.

But our ancestors had their reasons for burying their mansions at the foot of **** and having their backs against the sun.  The great enemy was the S.W Wind which they could not exclude.  Therefore by preference they planted their houses under the lee of a bank of hill that intervened between them and the South and turned their backs like horses against the driving rain.

West Town, Whitstone is built under a hill and is a very sunclear house.

Description of the Devonshire Squires of the 18th Century.

A familiar figure was the country squire, familiar the long wig, long coat, silver buttons, breeches and topbook the bluff red face the couple of greyhounds and the pointer at heel, when not hunting the fox, the popular sport of the day, he settled the disputes of the parish or prepared to the nearest ale house to get drunk.  Usually he only drunk ale or cider but on festive occasions a bowl of strong brandy punch with toast and nutmeg, on Sundays he donned his best suit, which often descended from father to son, through several generations, repaired to the parish church and entered the family pew, where he slumbered during a great part of the somewhat ****** service.  He seldom went further than his own country town for a journey to London was still full of danger and discomfort.

In a tour through Devonshire by Nimrod published in the Sporting Magazine for 1824 it says in reference to the Anecdote of Col. Kelly.  Thomas Sowdon Esq. of Whitestone near Exeter, a gentleman of considerable fortune and eccentric habits, who keeps a small pack of eleven harriers.  Mr Chas Pearson, brother of Dr Pearson, the Rector of Whitestone writes me in July 1910 in a letter in reference to the jump of the Greyhound from the London Inn to the Bridge, Tom Sowdon's family might be here still if his habits had been less eccentric.

Old Squire Goodlake of Letcombe was a curious character, the Goodlakes were related  to the Wiseman's of Sparsholt Court.  James Payn the novelist and writer told me a tale some years ago about Mr Goodlake.  James Payn's father was Clerk of the Peace for the County.  He married a  Miss Morland of West Ilsley.  He rented furnished of Squire Goodlake the Manor House at Letcombe for a short time.  The family had the privilege of sitting in the Squires pew at Church with the old gentleman.  It was very high had a red curtain all along the top a fireplace one end and a table in the middle, quite a comfortable parlour.  Mr Goodlake always went to sleep in the sermon and snored very loud, this the usual preacher took no notice of but if a fresh one came he was naturally disturbed and would stop.  This invariably woke the squire, waked by the silence and he would jump up and say "What did anyone speak put some more wood on the fire Jimmy".

Mr Wilson Lomer

Mr Lomer was born at Southampton and lived there for many **** after the marriage of his eldest daughter to Harry Sowdon he removed to Reading living first in Castle Street then at Wilton House opposite Swiss Villa.  He died in London he had gone to live with his 2nd daughter Mrs Caird after her husband retired from practice at Exeter.

Mr Wilson Lomer of Southampton taken in the year 1856 when 86 years of age.

He lived to the year 1877.  He was the father of Mrs Harry Sowdon of Swiss Villa, READING and of Mrs Caird wife of Dr Caird of Exeter.  Mrs Caird, eldest daughter married Mr Southby the banker at Newbury. She is still alive and has several children.  The Southby's are a very old Berkshire family connected with the Whites Blagroves and many others.

Mrs Little wife of John Little of South Perrott, county Dorset, mother of Flora Little who married Robert Halson Follett whose daughter Winifred married H.W. Sowdon.

This sketch is from a water colour painting and copied by the great grand daughter of Mrs Little, L.C Sowdon when 12 years old in the year 1912.  This was her first attempt at miniature painting she did a much better one at her next attempt which is in Tom's book, but I place this here to preserve it.
HWS

Copy of a letter from The Rectory, Alphington, Exeter dated 9 Oct 1909.

Dear Sir,

	Some little time ago you wrote to me about some members of your family.  On searching the Registers, I find the name of John Sowdon buried on 16th March 1693; but can come across no entry of Margaret Sowdon in 1746, or of John Sowdon 1749, or of John Sowdon in 1778 - nor do I know of any house in this parish which goes by the of "Woodhouse".  I should be glad to see you at any time and any fee you are kind enough to send will be given to Church Expenses.

Yours faithfully

Edward L.G Did***

Copy of a letter from School House, Whitestone, Nr Exeter dated 7.4.1910

Dear Mr Sowdon,

Many thanks for photo duly received.
Mr Netherway is better, but had to stay indoors for some days after you left.
I copied from the old rate book dated 1836 the properties which belonged to the Trustees of the late Thomas Sowdon.
Should I come across anything earlier at any time I will let you know, but in most of the earlier books the owners' names are not inserted.  It is very probable that the Sowdons owned other farms at some time, for there are others mixed up with those mentioned, which must, at one time, have formed part of the property belonging to one owner.

With kind regards,

I am yours faithfully

O.N. Sleigh

Thos Sowdon from Reading, Berks.

Born Reading
1760

Died Reading
1829

aged 69 yrs

The above photograph is taken from the original picture of Thos Sowdon belonging to Mrs Pownall Williams of Cheltenham, great granddaughter of Thos Sowdon.  The picture was restored in 1912 by J.T.M. Sheard of East Hendred and is now a fine picture.  A copy from it is in my possession.  A full **t of Thos Sowdon is in the larger book compiled from rough noted collected in this one.  I may have time if I am spared to make another copy, but if not this book gives a great deal of the same information although not so fine as the other one.  The address on the letter is Thos Sowdon Esq.. Merchant, Reading, Berks..

The portrait of his wife is also in Mrs Williams possession and lent to her son-in-law Mr Whittuck of Keynsham, Somerset.

___________________________________________________________________________

Copy of a letter from Mr Pearson relating to Whitstone.

Whitstone Rectory
Nr Exeter
29th May 1909

Dear Mr Sowdon,

Having breakfasted on your excellent ham for at least a week I am able to vouch for its quality and thank you very much for your kind present.  Berkshire pigs are famous and I have no doubt that yours are up to the mark.
We were much interested in that letter which you sent describing the death of your kinsman in the Battle of Algiers.
I dare say the pedigree of the Sowdon family in connection with Whitstone might be made out.
If Mr Chas' Brown's book is correct - perhaps in 1760 it is possible he never came to reside but only his son Robert who died in 1782 at the age of 37.  The wills are perhaps more likely to give a clue than the registers.  Did it occur to you when you drove round by West Town that the road was new. In the early part of the last century there were cross lanes, which now are no longer thoroughfares but the old house must have been quite off the high road when the Sowdons lived there; not that it mattered much in those days, as they say that wheeled carriages were not used in Whitstone a hundred years ago.

My brother desires his kind regards

Your very truly

C Pearson
___________________________________________________________________________

Copy of a letter from Whitstone rectory, Exeter dated 8th July 1910

Dear Mr Sowdon,
I am able now to return our grateful thanks for the excellent ham which you sent us.  We thought we would keep it till my eldest brother, Colonel Pearson, came here - he has come and gone - though 84 he is able to enjoy a good breakfast, and so am I.  Excepting milk and eggs (soup and cheese too) - the only animal food I take is a slice of ham at breakfast, so I may say that I have not tasted flesh excepting your ham for a fortnight - It was just in right condition, and is still going strong though its best days are over.  I hope you have been well since we heard of you last.  Your hay harvest I am afraid must have been trying - we have had a little parcel out for nearly a fortnight - not much the worse for showers - and tomorrow if it is fine it will be saved.  But up country the reports are less satisfactory - and on the continent.  After considerable delays we are putting in a hot water apparatus for the church.  The stove and chamber is in the NE corner, under the yew tree.  Whitstone is I think going as much as usual.  The choir excursion are going to the Aviation meeting at Bannemark.  I am not going with them - it is too much of a fatigue at my age.  The first time I have missed for 25 years.  My brother joins me in kind regards.

Yours sincerely 

C Pearson.

Copy of Letter from Whitstone Rectory, Exeter, dated 23 July 1910.

Dear Mr Sowdon,

Thanks for your letter.  I used to wonder if the "steps" were at St Mary le Steps, leading down to the old bridge - a very long jump but not a tenth part of the distance from London Inn.  Tom Sowdons' family might be here still if his habits had been less eccentric.  My brother is in France.

Yours sincerely 

C Pearson.
__________________________________________________________________________

Copy of letter from Whitstone Rectory, Exeter dated 26 Feb 1910.

Dear Mr Sowdon,

	I was very pleased to recognise once more your neat handwriting, which seems to represent the care and pains you bestow on everything that concerns you in life, your family history included.

	There is a fair inn, Traveller's Rest, about 1/3 of a mile on the Exeter side of the house at West Town, but about a quarter of a mile still nearer Exeter on the main road there is a good farm where they take summer visitors and as the farmer was here this morning I mentioned your wish to him.  He and his wife are very pleasant people; he is my churchwarden this year; and he said that if you would write to him he thought they could accommodate you at Easter.  If you do come, I hope you will dine with us on Easter Sunday.
His address is this

Mr R Netherway:
Pitt Farm (Whitstone)
Ide.
Exeter.

The farm is not in our delivery so the address is different.

	The Rev. C. Brown, curate and rector here 1807-56, wrote a M.S. book on the parish in which there is much information: and if you came to stay with Mr Netherway, I would lend it to you: though I should not like it to go out of my own reach.

	The serious illness in your house and family which you mention must have been a great drawback to your comfort in general during the last year: the health of this place is generally good: with 400 souls, I had only 3 funerals in 1909 and one was in London.  There is no doubt that drainage and water in ancient villages are troublesome, and cause much expense especially where the ground is level.

Believe to remain,
very truly yours 

John B. Pearson

Copy of letter from Whitstone Rectory dated 16 Apr 1910.

Dear Mr Sowdon,

The volume of "Whitstone Memorials" reached me this morning quite safe and it is a pleasure to me to think that it has given you so much satisfaction, as to induce you to make a transcript of it.  Your family 200 hundred years ago were certainly better established here than any other name that I have observed in the register and I am inclined to think that the real value of this land was too much for the Mr Sowdon who died about 1835: his father I think died when he was young, and he never learned how to use it.  March here was very dry, but we have had some useful rain since then, and I trust all will do well though it is still cool weather and sometimes cold.

very sincerely yours,

John B Pearson.
__________________________________________________________________________
Lisons

Alphington, in the hundred of Wonford and in the Deanery of Kenne 2 miles from Exeter, on the Road to Plymouth.  There are cattle fairs at Alphington, on the first Wednesday after June 20th and the Wednesday after Michaelmas.

Alphington was one of the principle quarters of Sir Thomas Fairfax's army when he was blockading Exeter, in the early part of the year 1646.  The Manor of Alphington, which had been ancient denizen of the Crown, belonged , in 1274 to Arianus of Eneon, Bishop of Bangor soon afterwards to the Nevills, in the reign of Richard II.  Sir Hugh Seagrave exchanged it with the Earl of Devonshire for the Manor of Newnham-Courtenay in Oxfordshire, it was afterwards settled on the Courtenays of Powderham, it is now the property of Lord Viscount Courtenay.

The Lord of this Manor had formerly the power of inflicting Capital Punishment.

Matford in this Parish, belonged to the Dinhams from whom it acquired the appellation of Matford Dinham.  At a later period it was the seat of Sir George Smith, from whom it descended to Phineas Cheeke, Esq. of Exeter, who sold it to the late John Stephens Esq..  In 1792 it belonged to Henry Hippislay Coxe Esq. and is now , 1822, by purchase the property of Sir Lawrence Vaughan Palk, Bart.

The Priory of St. James is said to have been partly in this Parish.

In the Parish Church are Memorials of the family of Northleigh.  Joseph Somaster Esq.., 1733 and a John William Ellecombe Ensign of the 40th  Regiment.  Killed in Holland 1799.

The Rev. William Rous Ellecombe is parson and incumbent of the Rectory.

There was formerly a chapel in this parish dedicated to St. James.

Risdon mentions a man of the name of Stone who lived at Alphington to the age of 120, having served Henry VIII in his chapel , Ed VI, Queen Mary and Queen Elizabeth.  His name is not to be found in the parish register which does not begin till 1663.

On the 2nd of July 1760 by the sudden inundation of the brook which runs through the village upwards of 20 dwelling houses were threown down.  The damage was computed at upwards of 1000.

John Sowdon who died in 1748 and is buried at Whitestone is stated on his tombstone to be of Woodhouse in ye parish of Alphington.

Margaret Sowdon who died in 1746 was also of Alphington and also John Sowdon who died in 1778 was also of Alphington.

I am sure if Woodhouse was the property of John Sowdon but I have reason to think it was.

The History of the Sowdon family of Whitestone, Devonshire and Reading Berkshire.  The family of Sowdon is of Saxon origin.  The Manor of Sowdon was in there possession at the time of the Domesday survey and belonged to Sir Rudulphus De Sowdon.  It remained in the family for several centuries, they then removed to Whitstone which they possessed in 1557.  The first name in the parish Register of Whitstone is Thomas Sowdon 1557.  

1.	His will was proved at Exeter in the year 1583.

2.	He was succeeded by John Sowdon who died in 1584 leaving a son.

3.	John Sowdon who died in 1615 and was succeeded by his son.

4.	Richard Sowdon of West Town, Whitstone and died and buried at Whitstone 1633.  Richard was succeeded by his grandson.

5.	John Sowdon of Woodhouse, Alphington and who died in 1748 aged 63 and is buried in an alter tomb south of the tower.  He was succeeded by:

6.	Robert Sowdon a grandson and died in 1782 and was the son of Thomas Sowdon of West Town who died in 1760 aged 46 years.  Robert was succeeded by his son:

7.	Thomas Sowdon who died in 1835 without issue.  His widow married Yarde of Trowbridge.

Robert Sowdon's brother Thomas Sowdon, second son of John Sowdon settled at Reading; was a Justice of the Peace for the countys of Berks. and Oxon and is buried in St. Mary’s Churchyard, Reading under an altar tomb in the year 1791 aged 73 years.  He was succeeded by his eldest son:

8.	Thomas Sowdon, JP and DL for Berks. and Oxon and who married Eleanor Smith a ward in Chancery and cousin of Sir Gilbert Blaine Bart., physician to the King.  Thomas Sowdon was succeeded by his eldest son:

9.	Thomas Frederick Sowdon who married Caroline Marsack of Caversham Park.  He left two sons:

The elder Frederick Sowdon was clergyman of the Church of England and for 25 years rector of Dunkerton near Bath.  He married the daughter of Admiral Saumarez and left issue one son, and several daughters, Saumarez Frederick major Lancashire Regiment born 1857 and died 1909 and left no issue.  This branch having died out.

10.	The nearest representative of the family is Harry Wilson Sowdon, born in 1861, son of William Henry Sowdon, Capt. 2nd Dragoon Guards who died in 1868, and grandson of Harry Sowdon of Swiss Villa, Reading and great grandson of Thomas Sowdon.  Harry Wilson married in the year 1899 Winifred Ann, the daughter  of Robert Follett, then living at Henley on Thames and has had issue:

Louisa Catherine Sowdon born April 29th 1900
Thomas Robert Sowdon born July 2nd 1902
Harry Wilson Sowdon born May 16th 1906
Richard Sowdon born March 20th 1908.

Wills of the Sowdon Family proved at Exeter

1583		Sowdon Thomas		Whitstone	C.T	75
1584		Sowdon John			Kenne		C.T	156
1585		Sowdon Harry			Powderham	C.T	208
1587		Sowdon John			Kenne		C.T	351
1587		Sowdon Henry		Whitstone	C.A	401
1605		Sowdon Margaret		Whitstone	W
1615		Sowdon John			Whitstone	W
1615		Sowdon Charles		Powderham	M.J
1623		Sowdon Henry		Whitstone	W
1624		Sowdon Alice			Whitstone	W
1630		Sowdon Thomas		Broadclyst	A
1631		Sowdon John			Whitstone	A
1632		Sowdon Ann			Whitstone	W
1638(3)	Sowdon Thomas		Whitstone	W
1639(3)	Sowdon Richard		Whitstone	W
1637		Sowdon Roger		Broadclyst	A
1638		Sowdon Gregorie		Whitstone	A
1639		Sowdon Edith			Whitstone	W
1643		Sowdon Elizabeth		Broadclyst	W
1646		Sowdon Joane			Whitstone	A
1649		Sowdon Daniel		Broadclyst	A.T.C
1673		Sowdon Thomas		Whitstone	W
1679		Sowdon Henry		Whitstone	W
1680		Sowdon Thomas		Whitstone	W
1681		Sowdon Samuel		St. Sidwell	W
1685		Sowdon Robert		Broadclyst	A
1694		Sowdon John			Alphington	W
1698		Sowdon Richard		Whitestone	W
1701		Sowdon William		Whitestone	W
1707		Sowdon Thomas		Whitestone	W
1714		Sowdon Mary			Brampford Speke	A
1733		Sowdon Dorothy		Exeter		W
1746		Sowdon Margaret		Alphington	A
1749		Sowdon John			Alphington	W
1749		Sowdon Margaret		Alphington	A
1749		Sowdon John			Exminster	A
1764		Sowdon Josias			Thobrook	W
1778		Sowdon John			Alphington	A.W
1774		Sowdon Harry			Whitestone	A.S
1787		Sowdon William		Exeter		W
1779		Sowdon Josias			Whitstone	W

Abbreviations C.T	Copy of Testament
		C.A	Copy of Administration
		W	Will
		A	Administration

Copy of a letter from J H White to Mr Sowdon

Brockdish Rectory
Scole
Ry. Station, Harleston
Telephone, Albus, Brockdish

21 Feb 1899

Mr Dear Mr Sowdon

			Very glad to hear *******.  The coat of arms is much the same as mine, there is a slight difference but not much and the crest is different.  So I take the  **** they belonged to was some relation of the ***** County family buy I do not know.  Many thanks for sending it.  I have just made another search and have found the Sowdon Family particulars which I could not lay my hands upon when you were here and I copy them for you on the other side.
I hope your cold

The family of Sowdon which has been for several centuries settled at Whitestone and Alphington Devonshire is descended from Sir Rudulphus de Souieton or Sowdon who held the manor of Sowton at the time of the conquest and was of Saxon origin.

Richard Sowdon of Whitestone died and was buried at Whitestone 1633, he was succeeded by his eldest son Henry who died in 1679 aged 82.  He was succeeded by his grandson John of Whitestone and Woodhouse Alphington, Devon who graduated at Balliol College Oxford, and died and was buried at Whitestone in 1748 leaving two sons Robert and Thomas.

Robert died in 1782 and was succeeded by his grandson Thomas of Whitestone House who married Phillippa daughter of Arthur Kelly of Kelly, Devon.

Thomas, the second son of John Sowdon, settled at Reading in Berkshire and became a J.P or Berks. and Oxon.  He died at Reading and is buried in St Mary's Churchyard, April 13, 1791 aged 73 years.
He was succeeded by his only son:

Thomas  who married a Miss Eleanor Smith, a ward in Chancery and cousin to Sir Gilbert Blaine, Bart.  Thomas was J.P. for Berks. and Oxon and also Deputy Lieutenant.  He died in 1829 and was buried in the same vault with his father in St.Mary's Churchyard, Reading, leaving issue:

1.	Thomas Frederick. Born Feb. 1793, married Caroline, daughter of Charles Marsack of Caversham Park, Oxon and Burghfield Manor, Berks. and has issue:

Thomas Frederick.  Late Rector of Dunkerton, Somerset and married Martha only daughter of Admiral Richard De Saumarez, by whom he has left numerous issue.

2.	Charles Henry.  Died unmarried Jan 27, 1880 aged 52 years.

3.	Maria.  Eldest daughter of Thomas Sowdon, married 15th June 1802 Captain Palmer, 7th Hussars and lived at Cuffsborough House Queen's County Ireland.  She died 1870 aged 87 leaving several children.

4.	Eliza.  Who married Captain Scott of 71st Highlanders and 2nd Dragoon Guards leaving issue, 3 children:

John.  Who died leaving no issue.

Thomas Henry.  Died a minor.

Caroline.  My mother who married Joseph White.

Eliza died Feb 10th 1872 aged 87, buried at Middleton, Suffolk.

5.	Louisa.  Daughter of Thomas Sowdon who married Richard Woodhouse M.D., of Friar Street, Reading.  Born 15th April 1797 and died leaving no issue Oct 7th 1873 aged 76.

6.	Harry.  2nd son of Thomas Sowdon who married Louisa Lomer of Southampton, daughter of Wilson Lomer of Southampton.  He died August 4th 1862, aged 62 years.  Buried in a vault in Reading Cemetery, leaving issue.

William Henry.  Captain 2nd Dragoon Guards, he married Matilda Louisa Hutton.  He died Nov 17th 1869, buried in Reading Cemetery in a grave next to his father, leaving issue:

Harry Wilson.

Eleanor Matilda.

Louisa Catherine.

7.	Arthur.  Son of Thomas Sowdon died unmarried aged 30, a doctor.

8.	Alfred.  Son of Thomas Sowdon.  Born 22 April 1806, died unmarried aged 38 in 1846, a solicitor.

9.	Richard.  Son of Thomas Sowdon.  He was killed at the siege of Algiers under Lord Exmouth on August 27th  1816 aged 21.  Born July 1st 1797.

10.	Eleanor.  Youngest daughter of Thomas Sowdon, she married Edward Richmond Nicholas of Bewdley, Worcestershire by whom she had issue:

Ellen.  Unmarried.

Richmond.  Married and has issue.

John.  Married and has issue.

Harry.  RA Captain, married but died Nov. 23rd 1875 aged 33 years without issue.

Mary.  Married Rev Augustus Gerring, a numerous family.

11.	Eleanor.  Daughter of Thomas Sowdon, died Feb 13th 1792, born 21st March 1791.

12.	A daughter.  A daughter of Thomas Sowdon born Feb 4th 1803 died same day.

Page 123 of Rev Joseph Henry White's

Joseph White.  Born April 1st 1810, ordained 1833, died Dec 9th 1873, married at Walcot Church, Bath 1839 to Caroline only daughter of Captain Scot of 2nd Dragoon Guards by whom he had issue.

1.	Joseph Henry White.  Born 21st August 1843 at Milwich Rectory, Staffordshire.  Died in 1904 at Brockdish Rectory Scole, Norfolk, of which he was Rector and is succeeded by his eldest son - Wilson Woodhouse.

2.	Francis De Lacy White.  Born 20th June 1843 at Middleton Rectory, Suffolk.

Joseph Henry was married at St Giles Church, Reading, Berkshire to Catherine Sowdon by the Rev J.V Fosbey chaplain to the Bishop of Oxford and Rev Joseph White, his father, Rector of Middleton cum Fordley.

Catherine.   Only daughter of Harry Sowdon of Swiss Villa, Reading, deceased on 5th day of Feb 1863 from which marriage sprung:

1.	Wilson Woodhouse.   Born April 28th 1864.  Now 1909 rector of Brockdish, Norfolk who married ******* Morton and has one son.  His wife died at the sons birth.

Cecil White.   Now at Marlborough College, Wilts 1909.

2.	Harry Launcelot.   Born Feb 19th  1865.

3.	Ernest Thirley.   Born Jan 21st  1868.

4.	Mary de Lacy.   Born Jan 12th 1866.

5.	Cecil Hugh Allen.   Born Dec 29th 1868.  He died dear lad of exhaustion from Rheumatic fever after a four day illness at Weybread Vicarage, Suffolk on his return from West Indies on board H.M Ship Rover on Low Sunday April 8th  1888.

The end of Joseph Henry Whites notes.

Note the pedigree on the next page was given me by Doctor Pearson, rector of Whitstone and given to him in 1900 by Major, 1903.  The notes are from the registers in the chest.

"Major Saumarez Frederick Grosvenor, late 84th York and Lancashire Regiment died at Bath on New Years day 1909, but I think he said when he was here in 1903, that his regiment was the 81st  Loyal North Lancashire Reg."  See Army List July 1900.  York and Lancaster Reg.

	Major S.F. Grosvenor, Reserve of Officers R.

J.B Pearson DD

Pedigree of Sowdon family given to the Rector of Whitstone County, Devon by Major T F Grosvenor in May 1903 and copied by the Rector into the parish Book Whitstone given to me Harry Wilson Sowdon by Rev J B Pearson DD April 16th 1909.

__________________________________________________________________________

1.	Thomas Sowdon	of West Town, Whitstone died 1583.
		|
2.	John Sowdon		died 1587.
		|
3.	John Sowdon		Whitstone died 1613
		|
4.	Richard Sowdon	Whitstone, died 1633 (numbers 1-4 are buried in an altar Tomb 			|		opposite South Window of Chancel.
5.	John Sowdon		grandson of the above Richard of Woodhouse, Alphington and 	Whitstone, died 1748, aged 63.
                           _________________________________________________
	    	  |                                                                                                  |
	Robert Sowdon				Thomas Sowdon
	a grandson of					son of John Sowdon settled
	John Sowdon					at Reading. JP for Berks. and 
	above died 1782				Oxon, died at Reading and 
	Aged 37.  He inherited				buried in St Mary’s' Churchyard
	West Town in 1760 on 			1791 aged 73.
	death of Thomas Sowdon			|
	aged 46.					|
		|					|	
	Thomas Sowdon son				Thomas Sowdon
	of Robert Sowdon				only son of the above.  JP and DL
	died 1835, no issue				for Berks. and Oxon died 1829
	& his widow married				married Eleanor cousin of Sir
	Giles Yarde of 				Gilbert Blaine, Bart. Physician
	Trowbridge, Devonshire			to the King.
|
		__________________________________|
		|					       |
	Thomas Frederick Sowdon			Harry Sowdon
	married Caroline Marsack			Second surviving son of Thomas 
	of Caversham Park.				Sowdon, died 1863 and buried in 
		|					the Reading Cemetery, he married
		|					Louisa Lomer, daughter of 
		|					Wilson Lomer of Southampton &
		|					had issue two children who
		|					survived him.	|                                          		|							|
		|_____________________________			|
	Thomas Frederick Sowdon                            |                 (see page 46).
	rector of Dunkerton, Bath                              |
	married daughter of Admiral                          |
	Saumarez, assumed name of                          |
	Grosvenor 1874, died 1879.                          |
		|				(see page 46).
	Saumarez Frederick Grosvenor
	Born 1857, died 1909 no issue.

		|
	(from page 45 Thomas Frederick Sowdon).
		|
		|__________________________________________
		|			|				|
	Mary married		Edith married			7 others, 4 died
	son of Canon		G Gallachian			in infancy all daughters.
	Venables of		RN.
	Lincoln.
		|
	(from page 45 Harry Sowdon).
		|____________________________________
		|						|
	William Henry Sowdon                                Louisa Catherine
	Capt 2nd Dragoon Guards			married Joseph Henry
	married Matilda Louisa			White & had issue.
	Hutton. He died Nov. 17
	1868 and is buried in a brick
	grave next to his fathers vault
	in the Reading Cemetery. He left
	3 children.
		|________________________________________________
		|			|					
	Harry Wilson Sowdon		Eleanor			Louisa Catherine
	Born Aug 27th 1861		married Rev. G 		married first John 
	married Winifred Ann		Lewis. Died 1908		Samson, he died 1904
	Follett, daughter of 		leaving 2 children		then Thompson Price
	Robert H Follett and has	1 boy & 1 girl.			but no issue.
	issue.
	______|________________________________________________
		|		|			|			|
	Louisa Catherine	Thomas Robert	Harry Wilson		Richard
	Born 1900

There now appears to be two pages missing from these rough notes of Harry Wilson Sowdon, so I will take up the particulars where the next page begins.  Paul I Marshall.

second marriage.  To the youngest, whose mother was a colleagues daughter of Newton St Cyres, he bequeathed his estates.

"His widow Phillippa had a settlement of £500 per year on the estates she afterwards married Mr Thomas Yarde.  The estates were thrown into Chancery and were eventually sold." HWS.  (Mr Woolmer, proprietor of a paper Exeter, I believe HWS.

From Nimrod's Sporting Tour (Woolmer) Dec 1824.  Colonel Kelly being invited to dine at the house of a lady of high fashion sat some time without saying a word; and then addressed her thus, " Pray Madam ", said he, in the punctilious manner of the old school, " did your Ladyship ever pipe-tail a greyhound".  "I know not what you mean" said her Ladyship. "Why Ma-am", observed the Colonel, "tis the finest diversion in nature.  Tom Sowdon and I once pipe-tailed a greyhound on Jack Lands steps; and he jumped from there to the Bridge".  Those who know the distance to the Bridge, will agree with me in thinking that the Colonel could jump a bit also.

Memoranda from overseers acct.
in 1818. Mr Sowdon paid for his pew £10-0-0.
1807 Mr Sowdon's huntsman for killing a fox 3s 4d
1811 Mr Sowdon's huntsman for killing a vixen 6s 8d
1830 Messrs Sowdon and Cole's expenses to Dartmouth £11-0-0.

This was an appeal to the Quarter sessions against parish of Black**** with success but the C. of the Kings Bench quashed the ***** the parish lost £240-16-8.

In the old Registers of this parish I find

1594 Anna d. of Henry Sowdon baptised.
1594 Joanna d. of John Sowdon the same.
these are the first two names in the old register.
1613 John Sowdon buried.
1633 Richard Sowdon the same.
1679 Henry Sowdon the same aged 82.
1748 John Sowdon grandson of Henry Sowdon above (slab stone now in tower).
1760 Thomas Sowdon the same no issue.
1782 Robert Sowdon son of John Sowdon, aged 37. (See below)
1807 Susanna wife of Thomas Sowdon, buried.
1835 Thomas Sowdon buried aged 54, son of (see above).
1863 Phillippa Yarde second wife of T Sowdon.

In the railed tomb at the East end of Whitstone Church are buried several members of the Sowdon family.  In the vault of the Bawdons an old family in Whitstone 1733, 1775, 1778.

Phillippa, daughter of Arthur Kelly of Kelly Devon, the second wife of Thomas Sowdon (died 1835) resided at Whitstone House and died 1860 aged 74.  She married Mr T Yarde of Trowbridge (between Oldridge and Crediton) after her husbands death.  Whitstone house and the property belonging to it afterwards belonged to his brother Dr Yarde (died 1874) whose widow died and was buried here 22 Jan 1908.

Nimrod says in his sporting tour in Devonshire speaking of a clergyman having a living in Devonshire  but went to stay at another living in Nottinghamshire his old Bailiff wrote him a letter in which he says Betty  ***** was married on Monday.  Time she was and the old sow have a farrowed nine.  "Very concise".

"When I was at Whitstone in 1910 a Mr Raddon whose father was a tenant under the Sowdon's told me that soon after Mr Yarde married the widow Sowdon she was taken very ill and a doctor was brought from Exeter.  When the doctor came downstairs T. Yarde met him and said "how is she?".  "Very bad said the doctor, I don't think she will get over it".  "That won't do, doctor", said Yarde, "you must pull the old gal through some how, for if she dies I lose £500 a year".

Insert photograph of East End of Whitstone church.

The East end of Whitstone Church showing the railed Vault of the Bawdons into which family some of the Sowdons married and are buried in the same vault.  HWS

From the Sporting Magazine Dec 1824.

A'propos de bottis, In relating the story of Colonel Kelly and Tom Sowdon should you not have written "tail pipe" instead of pipe tail and concluded this at Jack Land's door there being no steps; and he made but one jump from there to the bridge.  Most dogs in that unpleasant position would have jumped all the way but few would have cleared the distance in one jump.  The old Colonel generously clenched his stories with the words "As God's my judge".

Memorandum by C Pearson brother of the Rev. J.B. Pearson DD rector of Whitstone.

There was an Altar Tomb S.W. of the Church Tower, Whitstone under which were buried Thomas Sowdon who died 1760 aged 46 and his wife Frances who died 1758 aged 64.  The slab on this tomb is now on the floor of the tower.

This Tomb was destroyed in 1874 to make way for a new monument.  Dr Yarde then owner of Whitstone House and the property connected is buried here, and his widow 1903.

This Thomas Sowdon I believe to be the direct descendant of Henry Sowdon 1679.  I am inclined also to think that Frances Sowdon who died in 1758 was not his wife but mother or stepmother, but I cannot trace this in the registers.

John Sowdon who died in 1748 is stated in Major Grosvenor's Pedigree to be of Whitstone and Woodhouse Alphington, on the tombstone however none of this branch of the family are said to be of Whitstone except Robert Sowdon who inherited West Town at the age of 15 and died in 1782 aged 37.

Robert Sowdon who died in 1782 his widow is said to have married Giles Yarde of Trowbridge I suppose.

Extract from the Rev. C Brown's
Memoranda

The direct line having failed, Robert Sowdon a Tanner at Bow succeeded to West Town East Town Kent Heatherdown and Baddock.  He died 15 June 1782 but I think the farmer at Bow must have been father of the young man who succeeded in 1760 or he succeeded himself.

During Thomas Sowdon's minority his guardians purchased Pound Farm and when he came of age in 1803 he bought High and Low Southaway also West Kent on which he built a mansion (now usually Whitstone House).

Thomas Sowdon married first Susanna Ureford, died 1807 secondly Phillippa daughter of Col. Kelly of Kelly near Tavistock, Devon.  She lived at Whitstone house after her husbands death and married Mr Yarde of Trowbridge.  She died in 1863 aged 74.   Her brother-in-law Edward Yarde succeeded and died in 1874.  East Kent, West Kent and Pound's Farm now belong to the Yarde family.  Southaway, West Town, East Town and perhaps nearly all the rest of the Sowdon Estates to Mr Snow, the banker of Exeter.

The Sowdon's had married into the Kelly family before, the two familys having at one time lands ajoining at Heavytree.  Arthur Kelly of Kelly sold the Manor Wonford to John Baring Esq. in 1775.  Samuel Sowdon died at St Sidwell in 1681.

Altar Tombs of Sowdon family at Whitstone Church Yard.

1.	Opposite South window of Chancel.

Here Lyeth the body of
Henry Sowdon Gent.
of this parish who
died
The 13th day of July
1679
aged 82 years.

Such as thou art once was he.
Such as he is, Thou must be.

Also Here Lyeth the body of
Richard Sowdon of this parish
who died the 16th day of July 1660
and also Emma the wife of William
Woodgeats who died the 16th day of 
July 1660

The Kelly family possessed property in the parish of Heavytree from an early period.  The hundred role of 1274 describes John Kelly then holding Heavytree of John Pyrot.

2. 	An Altar Tomb south of the Tower

Here lyeth the body of Margery
the youngest daughter of Mr John Sowdon
of Woodhouse in Alphington who
died on the 18th day of October
1743
in the 15th year of her age.
Here also lyeth the body of John Sowdon gent
of Woodhouse in ye parish 
of Alphington
who departed this life the 2nd day of October
1748
aged 63.
Also of Robert Sowdon of Whitestone
in this parish, who died June ye 6th
1782
Also of Prudence Pawling who died
Feb 11 1781
aged 81.

Also of John Hazeman who died
Dec 26th 1792 aged 78.

Copy of C Pearson’s letter to Harry Wilson Sowdon of the manor House, East Hendred Berkshire.  April 15th 1909.

Whitestone Rectory
April 15th 1909

Dear Sir

	Many thanks for the photograph, you must have been one of the finest representatives of the old family a few years ago.
	I think these papers will interest you, I think I have succeeded in unravelling the pedigree notwithstanding some inaccuracies in the records.
The earlier Sowdons’ were buried in the vault south of the Cancel 1633 -1679.  Then for some reason there is a gap in the registers for several years during which the name of Sowdon does not appear.
But in 1758 and 1760 Sowdons’ in the direct line were buried in a new vault SW of the Tower.
Meanwhile John Sowdon of Woodhouse, Alphington and Whaterial kept up his connection with Whitestone and made a new vault south of the Tower in 1743 where he was buried himself in 1748 and his grandson in 1782.
The vault was opened again for burials in 1789 and 1792.
Two widow Sowdon’s married two Yardes  in 178- and 183- but otherwise the property came to them through mortgages.
Probably they considered that the Sowdon vault SW of the tower went with the property.
My brother will write to you separately.  I am very glad to have an opportunity of raking up this interesting ancient history.

Yours very truly
C Pearson

Population of Alphington	Houses		Familys	No of inhabitants
1801	98		184			845
1811	188		205			911
1821	221		221			1,070
Account of Extraordinary Fox Chase with Mr Sowdon’s hounds copied from Reading Mercury Dec 29th 1806.  This Mr Sowdon spoken of was Thomas Sowdon who died in 1835, he built Whitestone house in 1804 and the kennels still standing and kept a pack of foxhounds.

“On Saturday last Mr Sowdon’s hounds unkennelled a fox in Cotleigh Wood, in the parish of Dunsford run it close to Haldon from thence it took to Holcombe Burnell and after running through the several parishes of Whitestone, Tedbourne, Dunsford, Cheriton Bishop, Oldridge, Crediton, Colebrook, Morchard Bishop and Hennelleigh, it was killed in the parish of Sandford, making a chase of at least 60 miles in five hours without the least check.

Copy of letter sent to Mr Thomas Sowdon of Reading on the death of his son Richard at the siege of Algiers under Lord Exmouth August 27th 1816 from the surgeon on board the ship Leander.

The original letter in the possession of the Rev. W W White rector of Brockdish, Scole Norfolk.

His Majesty’s Ship
Leander
Sept 27th 1816

Sir,
	From the number of wounded on board the Leander it was impossible for me to address you before, on the very melancholy and severe loss you have sustained in your brave and most gallant son.
	The action against Algiers had continued for upwards of eight hours during which time your son had conspicuously distinguished himself and escaped from the most perilous state of danger.
	The ship was towing pout and Mr Richard Sowdon had just returned from fastening a hawser tot he Severn in order to save the Leander from going on shore, which he affected, when a most fatal cannon ball struck him on the paunch and carried everything before it, exposing the contents of the Abdomen; the wound was dreadful yet he lived and was perfectly sensible for half an hour displaying as much fortitude resignation and tranquillity, as he evinced courage and bravery.  Before he died he said in peace with all the world and he knew his death had been revenged.
	To offer you consolation Sir under such circumstances, would only be presumptuous and impertinent, you have to lament the premature death of a most deserving son, and his country has to mourn one of her most gallant enterprising and courageous young officers
	He is most deeply regretted by all here and I assure you Sir, I most truly and sincerely sympathise with you, Mr Belaise has informed me that he had written you, therefore I will not enter into the particulars of the evident presentiment he had of his untimely fall.
	Poor young man; he told me frequently that Algiers should either give him a tomb or the promotion he so ardently longed for, and that to be made a Lieutenant from his own exertions would give him tenfold more pleasure than by any other means.
	I have hi swatch in my possession and it shall be sent in his desk.  Accept Sir, of my most fervent prayers and Believe me to be with every sentiment of esteem.
Your most obedient humble servant
D Luassier MD
Surgeon Leander

NB Previous to the fall of your son Captain Chetham and all the officers had marked his ardour, enterprise and persevering endeavours.  He fastened the hawser to save us at the most imminent risk of his own life, and had he lived in the days of romance his calm resignation in such a moment would have been celebrated.

Mr White has the original letter and he lent it me, to copy some years ago.  It is very much worn, it came into his possession from his wife, who was daughter of my grandfather Harry Sowdon of Swiss Villa, Reading and only sister of my father William Henry Sowdon.
HWS

From sporting tour in Dorset and Devon in the Sporting Magazine November 1824.
Thomas Sowdon Esq.. Of Whitestone, near Exeter a gentleman of considerable fortune and eccentric habits, who keeps a small pack of 11 harriers.  This Thos. Sowdon married Phillippa Kelly daughter of Col. Kelly and the anecdote of Col. Kelly and the lady of Quality an Pipetailing a greyhound is quoted in this work the article is by Nimrod the local known sportsman.

Copy of Inscription on the Monument in St Mary’s Church, Reading, Berkshire.

Sacred to the Memory of Mr Richard Sowdon

	Of the Royal Navy son of Thomas Sowdon Esq.. of this Borough who fell at the early age of 21 years in the ever memorable battle of Algiers on board HM Ship Leander in the noble cause of releasing his fellow creatures from captivity.
His remains were consigned to the Bay of Algiers.
	This gallant act, enterprising and courageous young officer, was selected by his Commander to execute a most Important service, while the ship was in a Perilous state of Danger.
And performed it in a manner which Excited the utmost admiration.  But had scarcely returned to receive the thanks of Captain Chetham when he was mortally wounded by cannon shot and was the last Victim to the ferocious enemy.
	In his death he displayed as much Patience , Fortitude and Resignation as he evinced Courage and Bravery during the Desperate Conflict, and His Country has to mourn one whose private and public endowments would doubtless have rendered him one of its greatest ornaments.
“For I will not trust in my bow!
It is not my sword, that shall help me.
But it is Thou, that savest us 
From our enemies
Lord my Strength and My Redeemer.

14th Psalm 7th and 8th versus.

Copy from parish register of Whitestone Devon 1698.

This yeare on the 16 day of July about midnight, the house of Anne Best Widow of this parish, called Bond House, was broken open by 5 or 6 men they carrys away in gold and silver plate and rings to the value of 100.  But God be ever thanked by all the relations of that family no mans life was lost.
Anne Best widow was daughter of Thomas Sowdon.  She was a benefactor to the poor of Whitestone.  See charities.

Particulars of Sowdon family by Harry W Sowdon.

John Sowdon of Woodhouse Alphington and Whitestone was born in the year 1684.  He was the grandson of Richard Sowdon of West Town Whitestone and succeeded to the estates.  He graduated at Balliol College Oxford died and buried at Whitestone in 1748 leaving two sons, Robert and Thomas and several daughters.  He married.

Thomas Sowdon second son of the above married ……… and removed to Reading in Berkshire about the year 17**.  He became JP for the county’s of Berks.. and Oxon.  He was a brewer and wine and spirit merchant.  The brewery was next to Messrs Simmonds in Bridge St. Reading and he lived at Lyndon House which he built.  He died in 1791 aged 73.

Thomas Sowdon only son of the above was born in 1760 married Eleanor Smith a ward in Chancery and cousin of Sir Gilbert Blane Bart.  She brought him large fortune and he left a numerous family.  He became JP for Berks. and Oxon and Deputy Lieutenant for the county.  He lived first at Reading and afterwards at Hartley Court in the parish of Shinfield,  he was fond of pictures and made a fine collection which the greater part was distributed amongst his numerous family - other particulars are to be found in the old book left to my son Thomas.  He was succeeded by his eldest son.

Thomas Frederick who was married twice.  First to Caroline daughter of Charles Marsack of Caversham Park.  A very ancient Oxfordshire family and secondly the daughter of Colonel Bell of Bellevue, Reading.  By his first wife he had two sons - Thomas Frederick and Charles.  Charles lived rather fast was unfortunate and met with a serious railway accident which affected his brain.  He died at the age of 46 unmarried.  His father was in business for some years as a Brewer and wine merchant in conjunction with his younger brother Harry.  But not agreeing, the partnership was dissolved.  The Brewery sold and the younger brother retired.  Thomas carried on the wine business a few years longer but suffering very much from the gout, he retired and sold the business.  He lived in Castle Street, Reading and died of the gout in his 79 year and is buried in a vault in St. Giles Churchyard near the front entrance by the road.  The inscription on the Tombstone is as follows:

The diary does not reproduce the inscription.

Being the eldest son he inherited the most of the family portraits and plate.  He died a very sick man and left all he possessed to his son.  Thomas Frederick married Martha only daughter of Admiral Richard De Saumarez, a Guernsey family and very ancient.  He took holy orders and was for 29 years rector of Dunkerton near Bath.  He assumed the name of Grosvenor in the year 1874 in consequence of the will of an aunt by which he derived great benefit.  He died in the year 1879 and is buried in the vault with his father and mother in St. Giles’ Churchyard, Reading.  His widow, 1909, is I believe still living at Bath.  His only son Saumarez Frederick Grosvenor or Sowdon was born in the year 1859.  He entered the army  and became Major in the Lancashire Regiment.  He died 1909 leaving no issue, thus ending the  male branch of the eldest son of Thomas Sowdon of Reading.  Thomas Frederick the younger left several daughters, Mary married son of Canon Venables of Lincoln, Edith married Capt. G Gallachau of the Royal Navy and 3 other daughters that I know nothing of.  Major Grosvenor in 1904 restored the graves of his ancestors at Whitestone and also in St. Mary’s Churchyard Reading.  He lived, I understand,, a fast life and died at an early age comparatively speaking.

Harry Sowdon the 2nd surviving son of Thomas Sowdon was born in Reading and died at his own residence, Swiss Villa, in the Kings Road at the age of 62 in the year 1863.  He married Louisa Lomer daughter of Wilson Lomer of Southampton.  Mr Lomer settled on his daughter £30,000 and this she could divide amongst her children by Will.  2 fifths she left to her son William Henry and three fifths to her daughter Catherine.

Mr Wilson Lomer outlived his daughter and died at Bayswater London at the great age of 102 years and is buried in a vault with his wife opposite Harry Sowdon’s vault in the Reading Cemetery.  Harry Sowdon died in 1877.  He left one son, William Henry and one daughter, Catherine.  William Henry was educated at Henley, Portishead and Marlborough College.  He entered the army as a lieutenant in the 2nd Dragoon Guards and became Captain but afterwards sold his commission.  He married Matilda Louisa Hutton granddaughter of Henry Hutton of St. Heliers, Jersey.  He died in the year 1869 on Nov 17th  in the 37th year of his age at Winchester from diphtheria.  He is buried in the Reading Cemetery in a brick grave next to his father’s.  He left 3 children.  One son Harry Wilson and two daughters Eleanor Matilda and Louisa Catherine.  Eleanor Matilda married the Rev. G Lewis Clerk in holy orders, Chaplain of Shepton Mallet Gaol.  He died in 1897 or 8 leaving two children, a girl Violet and son Cecil.  Eleanor died at Maidenhead in the year 1908.  Louisa Catherine married first John Samson Editor of the South American Journal.  He died in 1904 and in 1907 she married Mr Thompson Price and is now living at 42 Park Hill Road, Hampstead.  No issue.

Harry Wilson was educated privately, first at Reading Grammar School and afterwards at Woodspeed House, Newbury and Richmond House ,Reading.  He went to learn farming in the year 1877 with Mr John Tovey of Bournfield Farm, Bradfield and then with Mr Ernest Caudwell of the Manor Farm, West Ilsley and with the Messrs WJ and J Franklins valuers of Ascott in Oxfordshire.  He started farming in the year 1883 at Harcourt Farm, West Ilsley succeeding Mr EH Morland and farmed at West Ilsley until the year 1890.  He then removed to Broad’s Farm, East Hendred and afterwards to the Manor Farm, East Hendred.  He married in the year 1899 Winifred Ann Follett 3rd daughter of Robert Follett of Henley on Thames from which marriage sprang:

	Louisa Catherine born 1900, Thomas Robert born July 5th 1903 at the Manor House East Hendred, Berkshire and christened at East Hendred Church by the Rev JG Gibbs then Rector had for godparents Hubert Stanley and grandfather Robert Follett.

Harry Wilson 2nd son of Harry Wilson was born 16th of May 1906 at a quarter before 6 in the morning at the Manor House, East Hendred, Berkshire.  He was christened at the parish Church, East Hendred by the Rev. J G Gibbs and had for godparents Miss Ann Brown of Mortimer Berks., his cousin Rev Wilson Woodhouse White of Brockdish Rectory, Scole, Norfolk and the Rev J F Gillmor rector of Ardington, Wantage, Berkshire.
Richard	3rd son of Harry Wilson and Winifred his wife, was born on March 20th 1908 at half past eight in the evening at the Manor House, East Hendred, Steventon, Berkshire.  He was christened at the parish Church East Hendred by the Rev C Hope Gill the rector and had for godparents Mr George Hobbs of Harefield Farm, East Hendred, Berks. and F C Townsend of Milton Berks. and his aunt M Follett.
Maria		Sowdon the eldest daughter of Thomas Sowdon was born in Reading, Berkshire in the year 1783.  She married Captain Joseph Palmer of the 7th Hussars and resided at Cuffsborough House, Queen’s County Ireland.  She was a fine horsewoman and very fond of hunting.  She died at Cuffsborough aged 87 years leaving several children.
Eliza		Sowdon.  2nd daughter of Thomas Sowdon was born at Reading, Berkshire in the year 1784.  She married Captain Scott of the 71st Highlanders and 2nd Dragoon Guards and a member of the Buccleuch Family.  She had 3 children, John who died leaving no issue.  Thomas Henry died a minor.  Caroline who married at Walcot Church, Bath in the year 1839 Joseph White, Clerk in Holy Orders and a member of an ancient family long resident at Fyfield, Berks. and descended from Sir Thomas White Lord Mayor of London in the reign of Queen Elizabeth, by which marriage sprung several children.  2 sons, Joseph Henry and Francis de Lacy.  Joseph Henry married at St. Giles Church, Reading, Catherine the daughter of Harry Sowdon of Swiss Villa, Reading, first cousin to his mother.  From which marriage sprung 5 children, 4 sons and 1 daughter; Wilson Woodhouse, Harry Launcelot, Ernest Shirley, Mary de lacy and Cecil Hugh Alen who died April 8th 1888.
		Joseph Henry died 1904 and is buried at Brockdish, Scole, Norfolk of which parish he was rector.
		Wilson Woodhouse married and has issue, one son Cecil White.
Eliza died Feb 10th 1872 aged 87and is buried at Middleton, Suffolk of which parish her son-in-law, Joseph White, was for some time Rector.

Copy of a letter from J H White 13 Oct 1891 to HWS.  Original is in HWS’s diary.

Locyhead
13 Oct 1891

Dear Mr Sowdon,

	Many thanks for your kind letter of condolence - our dear boy’s death was as unexpected as it could possibly be.
He came home in August, apparently well and strong, except that he complained of what he called a slight attack of diarrhoea but as he played cricket he thought nothing of it: he ******* *** *** on the 21 Aug and ***; he still played a match and **** in for a tennis tournament and did his ***** and *** duty **** Sep 6th, he was getting worse and at last had to send for the doctor but alas too late as it had become chronic ***** dysenteric symptoms and nothing ******* to **** the disease.  He died of exhaustion on 6th Sep just 5 days after he had come to **** - We did not imagine he was so very ill

Louisa		daughter of Thomas Sowdon, married Richard Woodhouse MD.  He lived in Friar Street, Reading and practised for some years as a doctor.  He was an eminent Freemason and served the office of Deputy Provincial Grand Master.  He died in 1879.  His wife predeceased him dying Oct 7 1873 aged 76 leaving no issue.

Copy of death particulars from Standard.

White Oct 5th.  Rev Harry Launcelot curate of Milton Hants.  The second and deeply loved son of the Reverend J H and Catherine White, Bruttleby Rectory, Lincolnshire aged 28 years.

Copy from Standard

Sowdon          On the 27th September at Uxbridge 1880.  Charles Henry Sowdon Esq.. Youngest son of the late Thomas Frederick Sowdon Esq.. Of Castle Hill, Reading in his 56th year.
Buried in St. Giles Churchyard in a vault with his father, mother and brothers.

The Whites of Fyfield which is situated in the hundred of Oke and Deanery of Abingdon.  This manor was formerly in the possession of the Golafies a family of no small Note in this county and the adjoining county of Oxford, where I find them particularly mentioned in the larger register of Einsham Abbey.  Cap 159 that one Hugh Golafie, who lived in 1181 with the consent of Tybella and his sons a heirs, Roger and Thomas gave to the Monks of Einsham his chapel Terchesdune (Tarsdon) with all its ************** as well the Tythes of Hay as the Tythes of his mill there.  About the time of the Reformation it was bought by Sir Thomas White Kt. Lord Mayor of London in 1555 and Founder of St. Johns Baptist College in Oxford, on which foundation he settled it, at first leasing it out to his brother, in whose family, in a direct line it has continued to this day 1715 and is now vested in Francis White Esq..  St. Johns College are Lords of the Manor and Patrons of the Advonson, and out of the great tithes of this Vicarage in 1711 settled 30£ per annum, on the Vicar who is at present Moses Wiles DD and fellow of that college.  Near the Church is the old Manor House belonging to Mr White.

The Chancel of this church belongs to the family Perrott of Northleigh in Oxfordshire an ancient and genteel family who are obliged to keep it in repair.

Monuments within the Church of Fyfield in Berkshire.
In the North Isle, on a Black Marble grave stone, is the following Inscription

Depositum
Roberti Saltern, A.M
Coll Di Jo Bapt
Oxoni olum Socii

In the middle of the South wall of the Chancel is a fair monument bearing the figure of a man to his middle, in a Gown, holding a Deaths head under his right hand, and at the bottom the following inscription.

In the Chancel, on a North Wall, is a very large beautiful white Marble Tablet, whereon is the following inscription M S:

Incomparablis Veri Caroli Perott L L D
Et Coll. Di Jo Bapt. Oxon, nuper soci
Qui virtute Consanguinitatis, qua 

Steventon

In the South side of the Chancel is a raised Monument whereon in a plate of brass, are cut the figures of a man in Armour and his wife lying by him drest in her usual habit.
Under the man are likewise engraved the figures of 4 sons and under the woman 4 daughters, with this inscription under both:

Here lyeth buried the bodies of
Edmund Wiseman, in the County of Berks. Esq.. a younger son to Thomas Wiseman of Thornehame in the county of Suffolk Esq.. Who was son and heir to Sir John Wiseman Kt and Anne his wife, one of the daughter and heirs of William Hawkins late of London Esq.. Which said Edmund and Anne had issue 4 sons and 4 daughters.  She deceased the 27th day of January in the 25th year of the reign of our Sovereigne Lady Queen Elizabeth MDLXXXIV the which said Edmund died the **** day of ****.

******

On the same stone is added since

Here lyeth the body of William Wiseman Esq.. Who departed this life Nov the 8th Anno Domini 
MDCCXIII aged 62 years.
In a chapel on the south side of the church lues a black marble, and on it, cut upon a white marble is the following Epitaph:
Here lyeth the body of Dulcibella wife of Edmund Wiseman Esq. second daughter of Samuel Dunce of Pusey Esq..  She had issue 4 sons and 3 daughters who deceased the Xth day of November MDCLVI aged 37.  On a Black marble is this inscription:
H S J.

********
His second wife was Sus-anna the daughter of John Clark Esq.. Of Ardington whom he left surviving  and by whom he had 3 sons an 4 daughters.

The Wiseman Family connected by marriage with the Whites of Fyfield.

West Hendred, a manor in West Hendred was formerly in the Lisles, who held it by grand sergeancy by the service of buying the Kings Ale, William Spersholt purchased it of the Lisles in the reign of Edward 1st and his descendants for many years possessed it with the Manor of Spersholt Court which was at a later period the seat of the Wisemans.  Sir Charles Wiseman who was sheriff of the county in 1612 died seized of it in 1635.  It continued in his descendants until about the year 1720 belonging afterwards to the Clerks of Ardington.
The Mansion adjoining to which was an old Chapel of ease has been pulled down.

Note by HWS	A farmhouse now stands on the site of the old house.  The back part of which is ancient.  It is now the property of the Trustees of the late Mr Townsend of Abingdon, Berks..

There are pedigrees of the Wisemans of Steventon and Spersholt Court in the heralds visitation of 1623 and 1665/66 from which it appears they were allied by marriage to the Blagraves of Sonning.
The Southbys of Carswell.
The Knolleys of Stamford in the Vale.
The Hobbs of Ardington.
The Whites of Fyfield.
The Clarkes of Ardington.
The Denches of Pusey.
The Crokes of Farringdon.

Copy of letter from Wilson W White to HWS.

Brockdish Rectory,
Scole,
Norfolk.

7th May 1910

My Dear Sowdon

	Many thanks for your letter and pedigree of the Wisemans.  Thomas de Bresworth with whom you start was no doubt of Braiseworth which is a small parish not very far from here near Sye in Suffolk.  The present Lord of the Manor is Lady Bateman, and Lord Hamilton, with Lady Batemans chief landowners.  I ***** Sir Nicholas Wyseman, Lord of Thornham which is the next parish to Braiseworth was in the **** of de la Pole Earl of Suffolk, whose tomb you saw with me in Wingfield Church.
It must be interesting to you looking into the history of past times, I shall look forward to reading the result of your ******* in course of time.
What a sudden shock to use all is the death of our honoured King.  This I am afraid will add to the difficulties of our present political muddle - we must hope for the best.
Later on Tim will be able to catch many more butterflies June is about the best month for them when the weather is propitious.  It is food for her to have a hobby.  We have had hail-stones today there is no promise at present of calmer weather coming.
Kind remembrances to you all from us all

Yours sincerely

Wilson W White

Thornham Hall which now belongs to Lord  *******, I see mentioned as the home of a branch of the Bokenham family from which it passed by marriage into the hands of the Killigrews, a Cornish family.  Charles II slept at the Hall and the ***** of the bed in which he slept are still to be seen.

In the church of Fyfield.
In the North Chantry or Chancel in Capitals is this following inscription:

Here lyeth the body of Charles White Esq.
son of Charles White Esq.
together with all his Ancestors
He died the 27 of December A Dni 1680
in the 21st year of his age.

In the same chancel near the former is this inscription:

Here Lyeth the body of Mary White
The wife of Francis White of Fyfield Esq.
the daughter of Richard Southby of Carswell in the county of Berks.
She departed this life the 22nd of Oct in the year of our Lord 1688 and in the 31st year of her age.

Since virtue can’t defend us from the grave
And all this hard, but equal fate must have;
What’s then our hope, but this, to rise with him.
Who Triumph’d over death, yet dyed for sin?
Such was the fate of her, who now we trust.
Has reached the Glorious Mansions of the first
Then Reader, spare thy Tears, prepare for to inherit 
the Everlasting rest of this departed Spirit
Whose Righteous Footsteps if thou have and so
cans’t die.
Dread not the silent tomb but fix thy
Thoughts on High.

Buckland Berks.

Upon the foreside of a raised Monument near to the Cross Aisle is this Inscription:

Here resteth the Bodies of Richard Southby of Carswell gent and Jane the eldest daughter of Edward Keate of East Lockinge in County Berks. Gent who had 3 sons viz John who married Eliza the daughter and heir of Edward Wiseman of Steventon in the county of Berks. Esq.

Thomas who married Mary the daughter of Sir William Gardener of ****** in the county of Surrey, Knight.  Robert married Anne the daughter of John Mate of Abingdon in the county of Berks. Esq  and 3 daughters viz. Anne the wife of Edward Teareburie of Trowbridge in county of Wilts Esq.  Jane the wife of William Fisher of Liddington in county Wilts Esq and Christian the wife of Charles Looker of Abingdon in the county of Berks. Doctor of the civil Lawes.

Richard deceased the 16th of June in the 1st year of King James and Jane deceased the IV of September MDCXLVIII

“The most rational cure after all for the inordinate fear of Death, is to set a just value on Life.  If we mearly wish to continue on the on the scene to indulge our headstrong humours and tormenting passions, we had better be gone at once; and if we only cherish a fondness for existence according to the good we derive from it, the pang we feel at parting with it will not be very severe!
	From William Hazlett Essay on the Fear of Death.

Stanford in the Vale Wiseman.

Upon the South wall of this church is erected a monument, with the following Epitaph on it:

Neere to this place lyeth the body of Captain Francis Knolley’s son of Richard Knolleys Esq. Brother of the late Earle of Banbury, who first married one of the daughters of Sir Charles Wiseman, of this county and after decease, Alice, sister of Sir William Beecher of Middlesex, by whome he left one daughter and two sons and was by Death taken from the Command of the Traine Band of Abingdon Division and here interred the IV of Aug MDCXL.

When Stones break silence, and Attention crave
Well may be thought, some wonder in the grave
Reader, then stay, and marvel not if I (though Stone) Relate what rare thing here doth lye.
That noble name was his then readest before
Able itself to gild the tithe o’er
That valour does but sleepe within the bed
Which never but (by Death), was captive lead
Whose lingering slow and coward like delay
Argued her feare of loosening of the day
Since when, this place, more than a Grave shall be
Where his bones are, tis an Artillery
Thus I him praise, whose merit might deny
The poor applause of Funeral Obsequies
But custom so prevailes, it is but just
To which Diamonds with there own Dust.

Letcombe Regis  Wiseman

On a raised tomb in this chancel, is this inscription:

Under, or neere this Tombe lieth the bodied of George Goodlake, gent and Anne his wife who was daughter of Sir Charles Wiseman KT.  She was buried the 29th of June 1638 and he Feb 26th 1644.
Here lyeth interred the body of Thomas Goodlake gent, the son of George Goodlake who deceased Feb 15th Anno Don 1693/4 aged 60 years.
Who married Anne the daughter of Edmond Wiseman, of Spearsholt Court in the county of Berks.

White at Fyfield Church.

In memory of Mr Thomas White son of Francis White who died Sept 4th 1720 aged 32.  A gentleman of a courteous and civil deportment and of an obliging friendly temper, a true lover of his country, of ye established church, an humble penitent before God and a charitable benefactor to men, of which his bountiful legacy to the poor of this parish will be a lasting testimony.

The family of Yarde, who now possess part of the estates of the Sowdon family at Whitestone, Devonshire by marriage with Phillippa widow of Thomas Sowdon Esq., of Whitestone House.

Northcourt, of Hayne.  Walter Northcourt left a daughter 7 heiress married to Yarde.

Buller of Lupton 1789.  Francis Buller the eminent lawyer married the heiress of Yarde of Lupton.  He was created a Baronet Nov. 28 1789.  His son Sir Francis took the name of Yarde.

Arms Quartry of nine S & A in the second fourth sixth and 8th quarter an eagle displayed of the first crest.  A Saracen’s head couped proper.

Yarde.  Originally of Yarde in Marlborough, now of Trowbridge which was acquired by purchase in 1759.  The heiresses of Bussell and Ferrars married into this family, the elder branch, in consequence of the last mentioned marriage settled at Churston Ferrars and became extinct in 1773 by the death of John Yarde Esq.  His brother Francis   Yarde of Ottery St Mary , who had married a coheiress of North Leigh, left an only daughter heiress tot he family who married the late Sir Francis Buller Bart.  Gilbert Yarde Esq., a younger son of the family settled at Bradley, and was ancestor of John Yarde of Trowbridge.  There was another branch of Treasurers Bere, in Clist Honiton, the representative of which took the name of Sainthill.

Arms G. a chevron between three measured yards 62.

After the marriage with Bussell this family generally bore the arms of Bussell.

Bussell of Bradley.	Five descents below
			46 Henry III  Heiress married

Yarde Arms.	A  a chevron G between 3 water boughs Sable.

Ferrars of Churston	extinct in the Henry VI.  Heiresses married Ashford and Yarde.
Arms Sat 3 unicorns current in pale Argent 63 on a bend S 3 horseshoe.  Mullet for difference.

Trowbridge.	The property of John Yarde in 1822.

Bradley.		The seat of the Yardes, near Newton Bushell, is an ancient mansion of the 15th Century.  It originally formed a quadrangle but two sides have been taken down.  The Chapel and hall remains and the gateway.  1822

Ashprington.		In the Hundred of Coleridge.  The manor of Sharpham was at one time in the possession of the Yarde family.  It afterwards belonged to the Bastards.

Brixton.		This manor belonged to John Bullen Yarde.  Halliday Buller Esq 1822.

Churston Ferrars	In the Hundred of Haytor.
This place takes its name from the ancient family of Ferrars to whom it belonged.  It was afterwards, for many descents the property and residence of the Yardes whose heiress married Sir Francis Buller Bart.  The old mansion at Churston exists 1822.

Clist Hydon		Yarde in this parish was the ancient property and residence of the family of that name from whom it passed by inheritance to Newhall and Coleford.  It now belongs to Mr John C****.  1822

Colebrook.		Holwell in this parish for many generations the seat of the Fryes.  Afterwards in the Bruftons and passed by successive alienation’s to the family of Tuckfield Yarde.

Trowbridge.		In Crediton was sold about 1720 to Samuel Strode Esq., whose son conveyed it to Giles Yarde Esq.  In 1822 it belonged to Miss Elizabeth Yarde.  Trowbridge House at that time was occupied by John Yarde male representative of this ancient family.  Giles Yarde of Trowbridge married the widow of Robert Sowdon of Whitestone.

Dean Pryor		In the hundred of Stanborough 5 miles from Ashburton.  In the reign of Henry II, Sir William Fitzstephen gave the manor of Dean to the priory of Plympton.  After the Reformation it was purchased by the family of Giles whose heiress brought it to Yarde.  Gilbert Yarde, the last of this branch who died in 1775 bequeathed it to a female relation who married Judge Buller.  It is now 1822 with the Manor of S .  In this parish the property of there grandson who is patron of the vicarage.

The Court House some time the seat of Giles family, is occupied by the tenant of the farm.  The Lords of Dean had formerly the power of inflicting capital punishment.  

High Wick		The Manor of Teign Wick belonged to Robert Bussell. The heiress of Bussell brought it in the reign of Richard II to the Yardes.  In 1751 it was sold by Gilbert Yarde Esq.  In the parish church are monuments of the Yardes of Bradley.

John Yarde 1670.  Gilbert Yarde his son 1671.  Thomas Yarde 1551 mentioned in Mr ……..’s notes.

Whiteway		In the parish of Kings Teignton sold to Yarde of Bradley who resided here many years.  It is now 1822 a farmhouse the property of Hugh Yarde Esq.

Oldridge		St Thomas, Exeter adjoining Crediton was granted to the Russell family.  It afterwards belonged to the family of Trowbridge by whom it was sold to Yarde.  It is now 1822 the property of John Yarde Esq but the lands were all sold off in parcels in 1791 by the executors of Giles Yarde Esq.

Thurlestone		Sir Francis Buller Yarde 1822 is patron of this Rectory.

The Bullers who married with the Yardes are descended from the Courtenays, Earls of Devon through Elizabeth, daughter of Henry II Earl of Devon, whose mother was Catherine youngest daughter of Edward IV.

Buller of Lupton	1789.  The late eminent lawyer Francis Buller Esq. a younger son of James Buller Esq. of Shillingford in Cornwall and of Downe in Devonshire and one of the justices of the Court of Kings Bench, married the heiress of Yarde of Lupton in the parish of Brixham.  He was created a Baronet Nov. 28th 1789.  His son Sir Francis who took the name Yarde has not resided in Devonshire since he inherited the title in 1820 but the estates and Lupton are still in the family.

Arms. Quarterly of Nine.  S & A in the 2nd, 4th, 6th and 8th quarter an eagle displayed of the first.

Crest. A Saracen’s head couped proper.

Coile	or Coade of Gidley Castle married the heiress of Damarell of Gidley and were represented through that of Mules, of the elder branch of family of  …..  This family removed to Morval in Cornwall having married the heiress of Glym of the place;  the heiress of the elder branch married Buller.

Arms Argent, a chevron G between 3 Cornish Choughs.

Aylesbeare	The Manor of Rockbear belongs to William Buller Esq. of Northampshire and the Rev. John Elliott.

Chumleigh	Garland in this parish was sold by John Rowcleff to the ancestor of John Buller Esq.

Coffinswell	The Barton belongs to James Buller Esq. 1822.

Crediton	Donwns the seat of James Buller Esq. was formerly the property of the Goulds whose heiress brought  in 1726 to the Bullers.  Mr Justice Buller was born here in 1746.

William Buller was Bishop of Exeter in 1796 and burried in the Choir Exeter Catherdral.  ….  Relect of Bishop Buller died 1800.

Harford sold in 1622 to Sir Richard Buller.

Sir Francis Buller	Lived at Price Hall as an occasional residence Dartmoor.  Judge Buller was educated at South Molton School.

Kings Nympton 	James Buller who died in 1756.

Stoke Damerel	in this parish Church is monument to Lieutenant William Buller of His Majesty’s Ship Impregnable who died of his wounds received on the glorious 1st of June 1794.

Cowick 	in the Parish of St Thomas Exeter.  The priory estate belongs to James Buller Esq. of Downes 1820, having been purchased of the Earl of Bedford in 1639 by his ancestor William Gould Esq.

Hayes	In this parish was a seat of the Peters.  It was sold in the reign of James 1st to William Gould who resided there when Sir William Pole made his collection.  It is now 1820 the property of his representative James Buller of Downes.
In the church of St Thomas is a monument to John Buller of Shillingford in Cornwall and Downes in Devonshire 1772.  The old chapel at Oldridge having  been pulled down by George Trowbridge Esq.  A new one was erected in 1789 at the expense of James Buller.  The late Giles Yarde gave the timber.  Giles married a widow Sowdon of Whitestone.

Whimple.	The Manor of Whimple was purchased about the year 1590 by by the Yonges who sold it to the Buller family.  It is now 1820 the property of Thomas Wentworth Esq. of Northamptonshire.
Follett Family married into Sowdon Family

Robert Halson Follett married Ann Cox of Charminster, Dorset
                                       died Dec 23 1849 
	of Cerne Abbas
	Dorset                         |
|
|
__________________________________________|____________________________
|	|		|
Cox Follett	Ed. Follett	Robert Halson   married Flora Little
	a large family	Follett of                daughter of John Little
			of Bighton	       of South Perrott
			Manor, Hants	       Dorset, married
			|	        at Closworth Church
			|	        Somerset.
			|
________________________________________________|___________________________________
|	         |		|		|		|	|	|	|	|		|          |
Robert          Mary	Grace		Winifred	William	Kate	May	John		Mabel
Halson		|	    |		     |					   |
unmarried	|	    |		     |			   |
	|	    |		     |				   |
married W Froud	   married              married                                              married H Stanley
Henley		Partridge	Harry Wilson Sowdon		        1 daughter
dau Winifred		2 dau    1 son		1 dau   3 sons

1909/10.  The clock strikes 12, another year is gone; oh melancholy reflection, we never shall see it again, one consolation, one of the wettest and worst years I remember since 79 and 94 of the last century and on of the most unpropitious for fox hunting.  Thus years roll on, like the swift waters to the ocean; and as it is the …. that kills, it will sooner of later be who - hoop with us will.

Picture of West Town.  The ancient home of the Sowdons

Farms in Whitestone formerly belonging to the Sowdon Family.
				A	R	P
East and West Town			125	0	11
Heccadown				40	0	0
High and Low Southway		141	0	35
Bondhouse				58	1	30
Lower Hare				109	0	0
Baddock				18	1	32
Pound				226	2	12
East and West Kent			48	1	4
Whitestone House
and Lands				20	2	12
				Acres   787	2	16

At one time the Sowdon’s owned other farms in Whitestone and these are mixed up with those mentioned.  They must have formed part of the same estate.

Pedigree of the Wiseman family into which the Whites of Fyfield marryed and are so connected with the Sowdon’s.

Bresworth.	Vert a Lion rampant argent crowned on langued and armed gules.

Blyant.	Paly of six argent and sable, a fesse gules.

Rokele.	Gules 3 fusils in fesse ermine between 3(aliter0 six marlets argent.  This family flourished in Suffolk in the reign of Edward I.

Wiseman.	Sable a chevron ermine between three cronels argent.

1. 	Thomas de Bresworth =
2. 	William de Bresworth =
Lord of Bresworth and Thornham in Suffolk ….  Ed III.
Agnes daughter and heir married Simon Blyant.
Mary daughter and co-heir married Richard Pooley who had with her the Manor of Grey’s Hall
Agnes, daughter and coheir married Sir Nicholas Wyseman, Lord of Thornham, jure recocis.  He was a Lancer in the retinue of John De La Pole, Earl of Suffolk at the Battle of Agincourt.

George Wyseman Esq., of Thornham = Madalen, eldest daughter and coheir of Rokele.

Simon Wyseman Esq., of Thornham, Sheriff of Norfolk and Suffolk = Isabel, eldest daughter of John Wyndham Esq., of Crownthorpe and Felbrigge, county of Norfolk, sister to Sir John Wyndham beheaded 1503.

Elizabeth married John Bemers Esq., of Finchingfield in Essex and died Jan 22, 1528.

Sir John Wyseman, of Thornham, son and heir.  Knighted by Henry VIII at the Battle of Spurs 1513, married daughter of ---------- Hobart.

Thomas Wyseman Esq., of Thornham, son and heir, married Anne daughter of John Garneys Esq., of Kenton Hall by Elizabeth daughter of Sir John Julyard.
3 children 
1st John Wyseman Esq, of Thornham died 1552.  He married Eleanor daughter of Nicholas Cutler Esq of Eye in Suffolk and had a daughter Barbara coheir who married Bokenham Esq and the manor of Bokenham long continued in this line of Bokenham’s.

2nd Son of Thomas Wyseman, Edmond Wyseman Esq of Steventon in County of Berks.  A younger son died in 1605.  He was Sheriff of the County in 1569 and a Justice of the Peace.  He married Ann daughter of coheir of William Hawkyns Esq of London and had 8 children.

1st Sir Charles Wiseman son and heir who married 1st Lee daughter of Nicholas Cooke of Linstead in Suffolk Esq first wife and had by her two children:

Mary Lee died unmarried.

Elizabeth married Francis Knolley’s nephew to the 1st Earl of Banbury and who is buried at Stanford in the Vale, Berks.

Sir Charles Wiseman married secondly Mary daughter of Anthony Blagrave Esq of Bulmershe Court County Berks near Reading and now the seat of Wheble Esq, and had by her 9 children namely:

Edmond, Charles, Anne, Judith, Jane, Lettice, Bridget, Frances and Katherine.

Sir Charles Wisemans 2nd son Charles born 1618 died young.

3rd daughter Anne born 1612

Judith Wiseman, born 1613, married Thomas White Esq of Fyfield, Berks (see pedigree of White of Fyfield).

Jane, born 1614.

Lettice born 1620

Bridget born 1621 died 1648, she married Colonel Unton Croke 2nd son of Unton Croke Esq LLD Sergeant of Law

Frances born 1615.

Katherine born 1617.

But going back to the family of Edmond Wiseman of Steventon, he had:

2 Thomas Wiseman died unmarried .

3 Edmond died 1602.

4 Elizabeth born 1576 married William Bayley Esq of Ducklington in Oxfordshire son of Dr Walter Bayley Physician to Queen Elizabeth and Professor of Physics in the University of Oxford.  She died in 1596.

5 Mary born 1577 and married Edward Clarke of Abington Esq.

6 Dorothy born 1578 died 1606

7 Anne born 1583

Edmond Wiseman Esq son and heir of Sir Charles married first Dulcibella daughter of Samuel Dunche Esq of Pusey Berks and had by her 7 children:

1st	Edward Wiseman who married Ann daughter and heir of Edward Keate Esq.  Edward Wiseman was of Steventon, Spersholt Court, West Hendred and Lockinge.  He died 1694 without surviving issue.

2nd	William Wiseman Esq brother and heir to Edmond , died 1713 aged 61.  Married Elizabeth daughter of Sir William Whitelake of Phylic Court in County Oxon.  She died in 1735 and left one daughter:

Mary who married Edward Clarke Esq of Ardington and had son:

William Wiseman Clarke.  And there ends the line of Wisemans.

3rd son Charles, born 1646, died unmarried 1672.

4	Samuel died 1673 unmarried.

5	Dulcibella married Clive Ayshcombe.

6	Katherine died unmarried.

7	Mary, born 1640 died 1721 and married Thomas White, vicar of West Hendred, Berks.

Edmond Wiseman, who died in 1689 aged 68, married secondly Susanna daughter of John Clarke of Ardington in County of Berks and had by her 3 children:

1	John.

2	Edward, died 1698

3	Susanna.

Extract from copy of letter form Rev Wilson Woodhouse White

Brockdish Rectory
Scole
Norfolk
7 May 1910

My dear Sowdon,

	Many thanks for your letter and pedigree of the Wisemans.  Thomas de Bresworth with whom you start was no doubt of Bresworth which is a small parish not very far from here near Eye in Suffolk.  The present Lord of the Manor id Lady Bateman and Lord Heniker with Lady Bateman are chief landowners.  I notice Sir Nicholas Wyseman, Lord of Thornham, which is the next parish to Bresworth, was in the retinue of de la Pole, Earl of Suffolk, whose tomb you saw with me in Wingfield Church.  Thornham Hall, which I see mentioned as the home of the Bokenhams, it passed by marriage into the hands of the Killigrews, a Cornish family.  Charles II slept at the hall and the hangings of the bed in which he slept are still to be seen.
Yours sincerely

Wilson W White

In 1554 the Manor of Spersholt Court became the property of Edmond Wiseman ( a younger son of Thomas Wiseman of Thornham Hall in Suffolk, who settled in this county apparently on marrying Anne daughter and coheir of William Hawkyns Esq., whose family had estates in the neighbourhood.  He was Sheriff in 1668, and died in 1669).  

Edmund, his eldest son, served the same office in 1687 but died without issue, whereupon the estates devolved to his brother William Wiseman Esq who died at Spersholts’ Court in 1713, leaving an only daughter and heir Mary, who in 1721 married Edward Clarke Esq of Ardington.  He died seized of the estates in 1733.

The Manor of Spersholts Court was sold by his son William Wiseman Clarke Esq to Mr William Towsey of Wantage.  It has since undergone several alienations and the lands have been sold piecemeal.

A Farm house, erected at some distance from the site of the old Mansion and about 20 acres of Meadow Land adjoining to which the Manor is attached did belong to Dearlove a farmer who purchased them by auction in 1820.  It is now the property of Mr Townsend trustees at Abingdon.  Adjoining to the house was a chapel 33 feet in length and 25 feet in breadth, Long before it was destroyed it had been desecrated, and converted into a pigeon House.  The ground where these buildings stood was ploughed up and the trees removed, so that not a vestige of any residence remains.

HWS

In Reference to Whitestone

Hugh Stafford and Royal Wilding.

Hugh Stafford Esq of Pynes born 1674 was the last of the Staffords of Pynes.  His daughter Bridget Maria carried the estate to her husband Sir Henry Northcourt Bart, from whom is descended the present Earl of Iddesleigh.  Hugh Stafford died in 1734.  He is noted as an enthusiastic apple grower and lover of cyder.

He wrote a dissertation on Cyder and Cyder-Fruit, in a letter to a friend in 1727, but this was not published till 1753, and a second edition in 1769.  The family of Stafford was originally Stowford, of Stowford, in the Parish of Dolton.  One branch married into the family of Wollocombe, of Wollocombe, but the name of Stowford or Stafford was not the most ancient designation of the family which was Kelloway, and bore as its arms four pears.  The last Stafford turned form pears to apples, to which he devoted his attention and became a connoisseur not in apples only but in the qualities of cyder as already intimated.

To a branch of this family belonged Sir John Stafford, Lord Chief Baron in the reign of Edward III, who built Pilton Bridge over the little stream of the Yeo or Yaw up which the tide flows, and over which the passage was occasionally dangerous.  The story goes that the Judge one day saw a poor market woman with her child on a mudbank in the stream crying for aid, which none could afford her, caught and drowned by the rising flood whereupon he vowed to build a bridge to prevent further accidents.  The rhyme ran:

“Let Barnstable, graced though thou be by Brackish Tar
In all thy glory see that thou forget not forget the little Yaw.

Hugh Stafford, gives an account of the finding and origin of the Royal Wilding Apple, one of the fruitest sorts of apple for the making of choice cyder.  Since you have seen the Royal Wilding Apple which is so very much celebrated and so deservedly in our county, the history of its being first taken notice of, which is fresh in everybody’s memory, may not be unacceptable to you.  The single and only tree from which the apple was first propagated is very tall, fair and stout; I believe about 20 ft high, it stands in a little quillet as we call it of gardening, adjoining to the Post road that leads from Exeter to Oakhampton, in the parish of St Thomas, but near the borders of another parish called Whitestone a walk of about a mile from Exeter will gratify anyone, who has curiosity with the sight of it.  “It appears to be properly a wilding that is a tree raised from the Kernel of an apple without having been grafted, and which seems well worth observing has, in all probability, stood there much more than 70 years, for two ancient persons of the parish of Whitestone, who died several years since, each aged upwards of the number of years before mentioned declared, that when they were boys, probably 12 or 13 years of age and first went the road, it was not only growing then, but , what is worth notice, was as tall and stout as it now appears nor do there at this time appear any marks of decay upon it that I could perceive.

“It is a very constant and plentiful bearer every other year and then usually produces apples enough to make one of our hogsheads of cyder which contains 64 gallons and this was one occasion of its first taken notice of and of its affording an history which, I believe, no other tree ever did.  For the little cot house to which it belongs together with the little quillet in which it stands, being several years since mortgaged for 10 pounds, the fruit of this tree alone in a course of some years.  Freed the house and garden and its more valuable self, from that burden.  Mr Francis Oliver, a gentleman in the neighbourhood, and if I mistake not the gentleman who had the mortgage just now mentioned, was one of the first persons about Exeter that affected rough cyder, and for that reason, purchased the fruit of this tree every bearing year.  However, I cannot learn that he ever made cyder of it alone, but mix it with other apples which added to the flavour of this cyder, in the opinion of those who had a true relish for that liquor.

“Whether this, or any other consideration, brought on the happy experiment upon this apple, The Rev Robert Wollocombe Rector of Whitestone, who used to amuse himself with a nursery, put on some heads of this wilding; and in a few weeks after of being in his nursery, about March a person came to him on some business an feeling something roll under his foot took it up and it proved one of these precious apples, which Mr Wollocombe received from him finding it perfectly sound after it had laid in the long struggle of the nursery during all the rain, frost and snow of the foregoing winter, thought it must be a fruit of more than common value, and having tasted it found the juices not only in a perfect soundness and quietness, but such likewise as seemed to promise a body, as well as the roughness and flavour that the wise cyder drinkers of Devonshire now begin to desire.  He observed the graft from which it had fallen and searching about found some more of the apples and all of the same soundness.  Upon which without hesitation he resolved to graft a greater quantity of them which he accordingly did, and waited with impatience for the experiment, which you know must be the work of some years.  They came at length, and his just reward was a barrel of the juice, which though it was small, was of great value for its excellency, and far exceeded all his expectations.  Mr Wollocombe was not a little pleased with and talked of it in all conversation, it created amusement at first, but when time produced a hogshead of it from  **** it came to seriousness and everyone form laughter fell to admiration.  In the meantime he had thought of a name for his British Wine, and as it appeared to be in the original tree not grafted it retained the name of Wilding.  As he thought it superior to all other apples he gave it the title Royal Wilding.  This was about 16 years since (i.e. about 1710) the gentlemen of our county are now busy almost everywhere in promoting it, and some of the wiser farmers.  But we have not yet enough for sale.   I have known 5 guineas refused for on hogshead of it, though the common cyder sells for 20 shillings and the South ham for 25 to 30.  I must add, that Mr Wollocombe hath reserved some of them for hoard.  I have tasted the tarts of them and they come nearer to the Quince than any other tart I ever eat of.

“Whenever it has been tried as yet, the juices are perfectly good (but better in some soils than others) and when the gentlemen of the South Hams will condescend to give it a place in their orchards, they will undoubtedly exceed in this liquor, because we must yield to them in the apple soil.  But it is happy for us that at present they are so wrapped up in their own sufficiency that they do not entertain any thought of raising apples from us and when they shall it must be another 20 years before they can do anything to the purpose, though some of their thinking gentlemen begin to get some of them transported thither.

The colour of the Royal Wilding cyder without any assistance from wit is of a bright yellow rather than a reddish beerish tincture, its other qualities are a noble body, an excellent bitter, excuse the expression a delicate roughness and a fine and **** flavour.

Copy of  a letter from Arthur Burdekin to Harry Wilson Sowdon.

Fyfield Vicarage,
Abingdon,
Berks.
17th Nov 1909

My dear Sir,
	So many thanks for your very kind letter and enclosures.  I am most interested in the information you have given me and very grateful for it, and will certainly avail myself of your kind invitation to come and see you.

	Do you know any one to whom we can entrust the old font to clean it carefully.  It would have to be someone accustomed to deal with such things.  I must search diligently for the base and supporting shaft.

	With kind regards and again my many thanks

Yours sincerely 

Arthur Burdekin

The above letter was in answer to on I sent enclosing copies of all the **** **** destroyed by the fire at Fyfield church some years ago.  I also discovered in looking round the churchyard the ancient font and pointed it out to Mr Burdekin who promised to have it restored and replaced in the Church.  Mr Burdekin however got at cross purposes with the Bursar of St Johns College in Oxford, the rev Bidder, son of the calculating *** and resigned the living.  I have not been to Fyfield since.

HWS 1912.

Insert picture

In memory of Mr John Splatt of the City of Exeter ****** Chandler who departed this life the 19th of Dec 1754 and by deed gave to trustees for the use of the poor of this parish 2 fields of land laying in the Parish of Heavytree in the County of Devon commonly called by the name of D***** around part of Poleslol Barton and also the new built house adjoining the churchyard of this parish to remain to them for ever.  Five of the rooms ****** House to be enjoyed by 5 poor people who have relief of the parish and nothing to maintain themselves but their labour and likewise 5/- to be paid to each of them out of the profit and income of the fields on Xmas yearly for ever.  And when either of such 5 persons cannot support themselves without relief of the parish, then such person is to be removed and another taken in her or his room and the remainder of the income of the 2 fields after the repairs of the house and other reasonable expenses are discharged to be paid to the schoolmaster or school mistress to be named by the trustees or the major part of them for instructing and teaching of 18 poor children yearly to read and the schoolmaster or mistress to have the school house and one chamber over for his or her own use.

The Deed excludes the Rector from the Trusteeship.

A few words to whoever in future times may possess this book which I hope will always be a member of the Sowdon family and in whatever clime he may live in, or in what troublous times, for it looks like to me as if old England has very troublous times in front of her unless the common sense of the mass of the people should prevail over the agitators and treason mongers and the grand constitution of our country of King Lords and Commons be handed down to our children’s children unimpaired.  “Love of country must tend to make men cherish a desire for its welfare and improvement.  To claim kindred with the honourable and high minded, as in some degree allied with them, must imply at least an appreciation of great and good qualities.  Whatever supplys men, therefore, with a motive in them a kindly spirit of benevolence towards fellow creatures in distress - whatever promotes an increasing spirit of Charity and forbearance toward sincere and earnest Christians of a creed differing form our own.  Whatever stimulates men to enrich there country by institutions favourable to the cultivation of science, literature, art and social economy of a Christian people and these objects are, I think all more all less fostered and encouraged under the influence of that patriotic spirit., which identifies national honour and national distinction with its own.”
The words of Dean Ramsey in his reminiscence  “Let each of us in our own time do our duty first to our king and Country and those dependant  on us.  To advance one’s family consistent with one’s duty to our neighbours and friends is very right, but to lead an honest and upright life to die respected and beloved is better than to have it said , “he cut up well” and left a large fortune behind him. Perhaps unjustly gotten for after ******* as even this family record shows it is very short.  One generation is born and dies and another succeeds.  “No young man however thinks he shall die.  He may believe that others will or assent to the doctrine that all men are mortal as an abstract proposition , but he is far enough from bringing it home to himself individually youth buoyant activity, and animal spirits, hold absolute antipathy with old age, as well as with death, nor have we in the hey day of life anymore than in the thoughtlessness of childhood, the remotest conception how.

“This sensible warm can become a kneaded clod - nor how sanguine, fluid health and vigour can become and turn to withered, weak and grey.”  But what does it matter if we live to be 100 years of age or are cut off in out prime, so long as we have done our best in the time allotted to us and made the best use of these talents entrusted to our keeping.  To have lived once is enough.  As the tree falls so let it lie.  Shut up the book and close the account once for all!

HW Sowdon

Epitaph

Farewell vain world, I’ve seen enough of thee
And now I’m careless what thou says’t of me
Thy smiles I covet not, thy frowns I do not fear
Thy days are past, my head lies quiet here
What faults you saw in me, take care and shun
Judge first at home, enough there’s to be done
My dearest Friends, grieve not for me, tis vain
In heaven I trust we all shall meet again.

“Breathes there the man with soul so dead,
Who never to himself hath said,
This is my own, my native land!
Whose heart hath ne’er within him buried,
As home his footsteps he hath turned
From wandering on a foreign stand!”

“If such there breathe, go, mark him well;
For him no minstrel raptures swell;
High though his titles, proud his name,
Boundless his wealth as wish can claim;
Despite those titles, power and *****
The wretch, concentrated all in self,
Living shall forfeit fair renown,
And doubly dying, shall go down,
To the vile dust, from whence he sprung,
Unwept, unknown and unsung.

Sir Walter Scott Bart.                  The Lay

Allied states, 13
Archer
Ann, 2
Ann Matilda, 7
Asquith, 13
Baldwin the Sheriff, 8
Beaumont
Robert De, 8
Besby
Reverend, 13
Best
Anne, 9
Blenkinson, 3, 4
Bonvilles, 8
Borough
Rebecca, 8
Brampford Speke, 8
Brown
Charles, 8, 25, 29, 33, 35, 46, 52
Buller, 59, 60
Francis, 10, 26, 41, 53, 54, 57, 58, 59, 60
Sir Francis, 59, 60
Chancellor
of the Exchequer, 12
Cheriton Bishop, 10
Cheriton Fitzpaine, 10
Church
Charity, 9
House, 9
Whitetone, 9
Colchester
St Runwald, 7
Coleridge, 59
Constantinople, 13
Courtenay, 3, 28, 36
Lord Viscount, 8
Devonshire
Parochial History's of, 3
Doomsday Survey, 8
Dunkerton, 10
Dunsford, 3, 8, 9, 10, 11, 49
Earl of Hereford
Humfried De Bohun, 8
East Budleigh, 9
Eggbeare
Manor of, 10
Elections
General, 12
Halesford, 8
Hallesford
Manor of, 8
Hazlitt
William, 2
Heath Barton, 8
Hercules, 11
Higher Southway, 9
Hill Dowlish, 8
Hutton
Henry, 7
Susan, 7
Insurance Bill, 13
Kelly
Col Arthur, 10, 11, 29, 30, 31, 39, 44, 45, 46, 47, 50
Phillippa, 10, 29, 30, 39, 44, 45, 47, 50, 59
Langdon, 8
Leeds
Duke of, 10
Lomer
Wilson, 7
Lower Haire, 9
Lympstone
Limpstone, 9
Nadder, 8, 26
Northcourt
Sir Stafford Henry, 8
Novant
family of, 8
Pearson
Charles, 13
Pitman
James, 9, 27
Pollard, 8
Polwhele, 3
Powderham, 8, 26, 28, 36, 38
Queen Anne, 2
Radical Party, 12
Rohorn
Manor, 8
Sardanapalus, 11
Saumarez, 16
Sharpham, 59
Snow, 13
Southampton Street
Reading, 14
Sowdon
Anna Louisa, 7
Catherine, 14
Harry Esq, 7
John of Lower Haire, 9
Louisa. See Lomer
Mary, 8
Thomas Esq, 6
Thomas of Lower Haire, 9
Thomas of Reading, 14
Thomas of Whitestone, 10
Thomas Senior Esq, 6
Sowton, 9, 39
Splatt
John, 8, 9, 28
Spreyton, 11
Talbots, 11
Tilly, 3, 4
Tovington, 8
Townsend, 8
Treby
Paul, 10
W.H. Sowdon, 5
War
Italy and Turkey, 13
White
Rev Joseph Henry, 14
Rev Wilson Woodhouse, 14
Winchester, 5, 17, 18, 20, 52
Yarde, 10, 29, 37, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 59, 60
Tom, 60