Page:Devon and Cornwall Queries Vol 9 1917.djvu/307

 Devon and Cornwall Notes and Queries. 241 198. Charles Rewallin, Virginal Maker of Exeter. — A notable addition to the musical history of Exeter has recently been made as the result of some in- quiries instituted by Mr. St. George Gray, the Curator of the Castle Museum at Taunton. In a communication concerning the removal to Taunton Castle of a small collection bequeathed by Mr. Arthur Hull, of Newhayes, to form the nucleus of a Museum at Chard, Mr. St. George Gray mentions a " rare Virginal, of a type which can be matched by a somewhat less well-preserved specimen in the Victoria and Albert Museum at South Kensington. . . . Their specimen is identical in form to ours, and is distinctly dated 1655. Ours is 1675." The specimen now at Taunton fortunately bears an inscription which has led to the identification of its maker, together with some details of his life. The inscription reads : " Charles Rewallin made it Xon : 75." A reference to the Cathedral Register of Births, Marriages and Burials, published a few years ago by the Devon and Cornwall Record Society, yielded the fol- lowing : — " Sept. 23rd, 1657, Charles Rewalling and Hester Gosticke, of Laurance (i.e., parish of St. Lawrence, Exeter), were married in the Cathedral." The date of Rewallin's birth has not yet been ascertained, but it is known that his death occurred about 1697 from the fact that in that year letters of administration of his goods were granted. To the administration is attached the following inventory of his goods, which we think is sufficiently interesting to reproduce : — Inventory, 5 July, 1697. A trew and perfect inventory of the goods of Charles Rewallin of the parish of Saint Sidwells in the County of Exon virginall maker being surveyed and appraysed by those whose names are here under written as followeth. £ s. d. Imprimis his wearing apparell - - - 15 o Item one chest in the lower fore chamber -150 It. Fyve joynt stools in the same room - - 30 It. fower chares in the same chamber - - 60 It. Three boxes and part of a tabell board - 6 3 It. on [e] jack, on spit, on pare and irons and on pare of dogs - - - -70 It. two pare of tongs, on firepan and a pot brooke i 6