Page:Devon and Cornwall Queries Vol 9 1917.djvu/251

 Devon and Cornwall Notes and Queries. 193 162. Mr. C. L. Hart-Smith, who died at Launceston on April 17th, was the second son of the late Rev. W. Hart-Smith, formerly Vicar of St. Minver and Bedford. He was born at St. Minver in 1859, and received his education at the Bedford Grammar School. Adopting the legal pro- fession, he was admitted a solicitor in 1884, and practised for some years at Stratton. While at Stratton he found time to indulge in his hobby of historical research and gathered much knowledge pertaining to the Blanchminster Charities. Subsequently, residing at Launceston, he was appointed Borough Librarian in 1901, and became a Fellow of the Library Association. At Launceston he acquired considerable and deserved repute as a local historian, and was a prolific contributor to the Press on the history of the borough. In 1914 he published an interesting volume entitled The Borough of Dunhevet, Cornwall: Its Campanile or Bell Tower. 5<J< ^«<(//. P. f/- 'H. It was always his contention that the tower of St. Mary Magdalene Church was not erected as such, and for ages was not treated as such, but was built and kept for civil purposes, and as the result of diligent research he collated a mass of facts in support of his arguments. He was, in fact, never happier than when poring through local records, and he rendered useful public service by indexing the Cor- poration's ancient documents. Mr. Hart-Smith was also an assiduous collector of old deeds, and at one time had in his possession many of great interest, some of which belonged to his grandfather, but realizing that the most fitting repository for such documents is a public institution where they would be permanently preserved and be available for the use of students, he distributed them among various towns, viz., Exeter, Bodmin, Redruth, Lostwithiel, and Launceston. Those presented to Exeter are, with one exception, which is in the Guildhall, in the City Library. They date from 1263, ^^^ refer to several parts of Devon. Many of them have interesting seals attached, and several of them bear notes in the handwriting of that well-known antiquary Dr. George Oliver. Pride in the traditions of his county, his family and his town were Mr. Hart-Smith's chief traits, and regret is generally felt at the passing away of one whose zeal for the causes he took up was never found wanting. We are indebted to the Editor of the Lamiceston o