Page:Notes and Queries - Series 11 - Volume 10.djvu/497

 n s. x. DEC. 19, i9i4.] NOTES AND QUERIES.

491

ROBINSON OF HINTON ABBEY, BATH.

(11 S. x. 410.)

COLLINSON, whose ' History of Somerset ' was issued at Bath in 1791, states that " against the south wall of the south aisle in Hinton Church " there is a monument with the inscription :

" ' Sacred to the memory of Walter Robinson, esq ; of Hinton- Abbey, and Mary his wife. He died Jan* 3d, 1737, aged 63 ; she died April 23d, 1742, aged 61. In the chancel are likewise deposited the remains of Stocker Robinson, esq ; son of the above Walter and Mary. He died July 21st, 1759, aged 59. And Margaret his wife died Oct. 2d, 1772, aged 58. Also Stocker Robinson, esq ; son of the above Stocker and Margaret, who died Oct. 2d, 1781, aged 45.' Arms, Sable, a chevron ermine between three gauntlets argent ; impaling Gules, three spears or." Collinson, iii. 370.

Walter Robinson was Sheriff of Somerset, appointed 20 Dec., 1722 (vide P.R.O. Lists of Sheriffs). He is previously de- scribed as "of South Stoke," which is a parish close to Hinton Charterhouse. In the seventeenth century, owing to the extravagances of Sir E. Hurg3rford of Farleigh Hungerford, a place adjoining Hinton Charterhouse, the manor (Hinton) was sold to H. Baynton of Spye, Wilts. When the Baynton estates were sold early in the eighteenth century, the site of the Priory was purchased by Walter Robinson. From Walter Robinson the manor descended to his son and to his grandson, both called Stocker Robinson. The last of these (who died 2 Oct., 1781, aged 45, see supra) had two sisters, Margaret and Ellen, who were coheiresses, and the manor descended by marriage to James Humphrys and Joseph Frowd of Frome. The next owner was Ellen Robinson Humphrys (also spelt Humphries), who married George Clarke Symonds, son of Thomas Powell Symonds of Pengethley, Hereford. They had one child, Margaret Louisa Symonds, who married Harold Kynnesman Mapletoft Brooke (he died 1867). The issue of this marriage was two daughters : Ellen Louisa Symonds, married, 1870, Rev. Stephen Prust Jose of Clifton, Bristol ; Mar- garet Selina Patton, married, 1871, Peter H. J. Lewes Rye of Kaipara, New Zealand. Margaret Louisa Brooke is entered in the ' Return of Owners of Land,' 1875, as pos- sessed of COO acres at Hinton, valued at 940Z. per annum.

It is not so easy to trace Walter Robinson's ancestors as it is to know his descendants, but I will give some likely clues. It must be remembered that the district between Frome and Bath was, in the seventeenth century, a great centre of the clothing industry, and large fortunes were made there. The will of " Thomas Robinson of Farley," proved 1597, is in J. C. Smith, ' P.C.C. Wills,' iv. 356. Now Farleigh was almost always spelt " Farley " in old docu- ments. It was so spelt by Leland, and, as I have already stated, Farleigh and Hinton Charterhouse almost adjoin. On the out- skirts of Bath, and within a pleasant after- noon's stroll of South Stoke and Hinton both places associated with the Robinsons is Twerton-on-Avon. Here I find William and Elizabeth Robynson plaintiffs in two cases (temp. Elizabeth) ; see ' P.R.O. List of Chancery Proceedings,' Series II., vol. i. pp. 342, 350. The Twerton Registers begin : Burials, 1538, and Marriages, 1587. The Births are defective. The Hinton Registers begin 1546, and should be helpful. One of the priors of Hinton in early days was William Robynson.

No notes upon Hinton Charterhouse would be complete without some reference to the distinguished family which for three or four generations has resided at Hinton Charterhouse, and has provided one High Sheriff at least for the county. This is the family of Foxcroft.

Edward Talbot Day Foxcroft, b. 29 April, 1837, first son of Thomas Jones of Westbury- on-Trym, Gloe, and of Hinton Charterhouse (d. 8 May, 1848). Balliol Coll., matric. 30 May, 1855, B.A. 1859, M.A. 1864. As- sumed the name of Foxcroft in lieu of Jones in August, 1868. Student of the Inner Temple 30 May, 1857. Called to the Bar 17 Nov., 1866. Married, 24 Aug., 1863, Wilhelmina Colquhoun, only daughter of Robert Robertson Glasgow of Montgreenan, Ayrshire. High Sheriff of Somerset, 1890. Died 1911. Mr. Foxcroft's mother was the Hon. Margaret Nugent Talbot, daughter of Lord Talbot de Malahide. She married Thomas Jones (supra) 5 Sept., 1835, and of this marriage, besides E. T. D. Foxcroft, the eldest son, there were two children : Felix Thomas Jones, Major in 3rd Buffs, b. 28 June, 1838. Margaret Anne, married 1 Oct., 1863, to William Charles Stewart Hamilton of Craiglaw, Wigtonshire, who died 6 June, 1876.

The present representative at Hinton Charterhouse is Charles Talbot Foxcroft, eldest son of E. T. D. Foxcroft, born 1868.