Page:Notes and Queries - Series 10 - Volume 7.djvu/324

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NOTES AND QUERIES, uo s. VIL APRIL 6, 1907.

Sulgrave was, as is well known, a direct .ancestor of George Washington, the first president of the United States.

Alice Mewce married Richard Ellis or Ellies, of London, whose will (quoted in Waters's ' Gleanings,' p. 383) describes him .as " citizen and haberdasher of London." The will, dated 15 Aug., 1625, proved 26 Aug., 1625 (P.C.C. Clarke, 86) names several members of the family, including " Sister Hallye " and " Brother Humfrey Hally.' ' The latter' s name is spelt ' ' Hawley ' ' in the ' Visitations.' These two, Humfrey Hally or Hawley and Katherin Mewce, his wife, were probably the paternal grand- parents of Dr. E. Halley. If so, it is easy to explain the existence of the names Edmond, Francis, and Elizabeth (and, later, Katherine) in the Halley family. Note the extract following, from the will of Humphrey Halley the elder :

" Formerly of the city of London, vintner, now

. of Alconbury, in the county of Huntingdon, Sons

William and Humphrey, aiid daughter Elizabeth

Cawthorne, widow, who is sole executrix. In a

codicil mentions son Edmond. Will gives names

. of places in London where property was situated.

Testator describes himself as ' very aged ' (Register

Eure, 1674)."

This Humphrey Halley the elder (probably i identical with the husband of Katherin Mewce) may perhaps have been a son of the William Hawley (fl. 1599) mentioned next below :

" William Hawley, salter, and Elizabeth Bye, of Robert Bye, late of same, 'pannarius'; at St. Mary Woolchurch, London." Cf. Harl. Soc. Pub., xxv. 261, ' Marriage Licences granted by the Bishop of London,' 12 April, 1599.
 * St. Stephen's, Coleman St., London, widow of

"Will of William Halley, of the city of Peter- borough. To son Francis Halley brick-built houses in Fenchurch Street. Testator mentions his 'loving wife' Ann Halley; brothers Humphrey and Edmond Halley. Will dated Jan. 30, 1673 ; proved by Ann Halley, March 6, 1675 (P.C.C. Dycer, 146)."

" Will of Humtrey Halley the younger, of London, Gent. Mentions two kinsmen, Edmund Halley and Humfrey Halley ; kinswomen Catherine Cawthorne and Ann Cawthorne; kinsman Humfrey Cawthorne. Residuary legatee, 'loving and well-beloved brother Edmond Halley, citizen and salter, of London.' Among witnesses was Thomas Mewce (P.C.C. Bence, fa 66 ; Feb. 23, 1674/5)."

"Administration of the personal goods of Hum- frey Halley [No. 3], lately deceased in the parts beyond the seas or on the high seas, was granted April 10, 1684, to the brother Edmund Halley (P.C.C. Admon. Act Book, 1684)."

The last item disproves the assertion that Dr. E. Halley was the only child of his father (cf. ' Biog. Brit.,' iv., 2494).

"Will of Francis Halley, of London, gent. To sonne Francis Halley two messuages or residences

in Mincin Lane (and) Fenchurch Street. Sister Mary Ward, wife of John Ward. Nicholas Wright of the parish of St. Giles, Cripplegate. Cousin Edmond Halley and Mary his wife and their two daughters, Margaret and Katherine. Father and mother [-in -law] Richard Pyke and Eleanor Pyke. Brothers Thomas Pyke and William Pyke and Edward Day. Sisters Jane Day and Susan Pyke. 'Cosen' Edmond Halley and Richard Pyke guar- dians of my said son Francis Halley until he attain age of twenty-one, and executors. Dated June 28, 1698;; proved Sept. 8, 1702 (P.C.C. Maryborough,

The above Richard Pyke (doubtless identical with Richard Pyke mentioned at 10 S. v. 266) may have been a son of the Richard Pyke, sen., poulterer, aged about sixty -seven in 1674 (cf. Harl. Soc. Pub., xxiv. 131).

The foregoing extracts of wills and the grant of administration were kindly sent to me by Mr. Ralph J. Beevor, M.A., of St. Albans, with some valuable notes on the family of Hawley or Halley of North- amptonshire.

EUGENE F AIRFIELD McPiKE. 1, Park Row, Chicago, U.S.

THE TAXAMETEB, CAB. The large number of taxameter cabs which in the course of a few weeks are to be put on the London streets represent a more extensive experi- ment of a facility enjoyed by Berlin and other continental cities since 1894. On 15 March, 1899 (vide Moore's ' Omnibuses and Cabs,' p. 273), six vehicles so fitted were tried in London ; but the opposition of the Cab- men's Union caused their withdrawal after a brief and turbulent existence. Some such fate must have befallen a still earlier attempt to popularize a mechanical fare-register. The Practical Mechanic's Journal of 1 June, 1853, advertises an epitomized prospectus of "The Six Days' Cab Company." The principal advantages this was to afford were

" To supply the public with first-rate horses and carriages, the latter to be provided with improved indicators by which it will be at once seen the distance travelled.

" To abolish the insults and extortions now too prevalent^ by employing men of known respect- ability of character, who will be provided with livery coats and hats, and paid a regular weekly salary.

"To afford their servants the opportunity of moral and religious instruction, by entirely abolish- ing all Sunday work, thereby constituting this, what the title imports, viz., a Six-Day Conveyance Company.

"To bring the luxury of cabriolet riding within the reach of all classes, by reducing the fares to (one-half of the present legal charge) 4rf. per mile, which are [c] clearly shown to be both possible and pron table.