Page:Notes and Queries - Series 10 - Volume 12.djvu/241

 10 s. XIL SEPT. 4, 1909.] NOTES AND QUERIES.

197

meaning " at the well," like Attewell and Wells. I think Bardsley is in error in ascribing to the same class the name Welstod, Wellstod, or Wellstood, which he says is more like the Anglo-Saxon term for an inter- preter. JAS. PLATT, Jun.
 * at the well-stead," but which looks to me

I have noted a number of curious surnames that I have come across in different parts of the country, and on looking at my list I find both Twelves and Twelvetrees. Six- smith is also on my list.

R. F. GARDINER.

Glasgow.

FIRST ELEPHANT EXHIBITED (10 S. xi. 467). MR. R. H. THORNTON deals only with the first elephant exhibited in America, and that in 1796 ; but the earliest one in England must have been very long before One example and perhaps that is relatively late is to be found thus advertised in The Flying Post for 29 Nov.-2 Dec., 1701 :

" This is to give notice, That there is lately arrived a large Elephant, the biggest that ever was in Europe, and performs varieties of Exercise for Diversion and Laughter, viz., Exercises the Musket flourishes the Colours, very nimble and swift in several Postures ; he also bears two Persons upon his Trunck, two upon his Ears, and ten upon his Back ; with several Varieties. Is to be seen at th White-Horse Inn. in Fleetstreet, from 10 in th Morning till 6 at Night."

ALFRED F. BOBBINS.

EPWORTH PARSONAGE GHOST (10 S. xii 129). Some years since, when a wing was added to the rectory house at Epworth the builder showed me some charred timber which were said to have formed part of the former house, in which John Wesley wa born. This old house was so far " de stroyed " by the fire that it had to be entirely pulled down, and the new one was built on & different plan, and not exactly on th< same site.

" Jeffrey " is locally said to have been th name of an old servant of the family, afte whom the " ghost " was named.

C. C. B.

LONDON REMAINS : THEIR UTILIZATION (10 S. viii. 226, 271, 337, 392, 476; ix. 14 196) This is always an interesting subjec to lovers of London, and it is well to know what becomes of our relics, be they grea or small. The Daily Graphic of Saturday 31 July, gives an illustration (from a photo graph) of a ' Churchyard Gate made from a Newgate Prison Window,' which is to b seen at the present time at St. Cedd'

hurchyard at Canning Town, East London, 'he short account furnished says that many people wonder at the size of the ate, but when they hear its curious history, ind the use to which it was put in years _one by, they understand the reason of its massive dimensions." It would be inter- sting to hear from what part of the old prison it came.

W. E. HARLAND-OXLEY. Westminster.

SAMARITAN SOCIETY, LONDON (10 S. xii. 148). ' Low's Handbook to the Charities of London ' for 1891 says : -

" London Samaritan Society (1874), 98, High Street, Hornerton, E. Promotes a knowledge of Christianity, and in various ways and without dis- tinction of creed assists the unemployed, the sick and destitute poor. In connexion with the Society are several Convalescent Homes num- ber benefited about 63,000. Treasurer, John James Jones, Esq."

The same work for 1905 does not mention this particular charity, but gives, generally, Samaritan Societies as adjuncts of the London Hospital, National Hospital for Paralyzed and Epileptic, and St. Thomas's Hospital. CECIL CLARKE.

There is a Samaritan Society in connexion with the London Hospital, Whitechapel. It was founded in 1791. Its object is to provide patients who have been operated upon in the hospital with any expensive surgical appliance they may require, such as artificial limbs ; also to send convalescents to the country. S. D. C.

[MR. A. S. LEWIS and MR. HOLDEN MACMICHAEL also thanked for replies.]

THOMAS PAINE' s REMAINS (10 S. xii. 44, 118). -Much interesting information upon the subject appears in a pamphlet, printed for private circulation only, entitled ' Thomas Paine's Bones and their Owners/ by an Old Daylighter. The publishers are Ed- ward Burgess & Sons of Norwich. The pamphlet is a reprint of an article which appeared in Daylight (a weekly Norwich newspaper) in its issues of 5 and 12 Dec., 1908. The chief authority for the state- ments made in the article is Mr. George Reynolds, who was formerly a Baptist minister at Stepney. I submit the following extracts from this publication :

" Mr. Reynolds says he became possessed of a col- lection of interesting manuscripts, once belonging to William Cobbett, through a family named Ginn, who during his pastorate attended his chapel. This was in 1878. Among these relics was Paine's brain, or a portion of it. These manuscripts belonged to a Mr. Benjamin Tilly, who had been a close friend of,