Page:Notes and Queries - Series 11 - Volume 2.djvu/188

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NOTES AND QUERIES, [n s. VIIL SEPT. 6, 1913.

copyhold lands in Hermandsworth, co- Middlesex." Perhaps the title-deeds of these estates would yield some information ; but do they exist, and where ?

We now come to a few disconnected links in the chain which may possibly lead up to a clue.

In the ' Records of the Borough of Reading,' by the Rev. J. M. Guilding, pub- lished half a century or so ago, I unexpec- tedly came upon the following entries :

1432. Robert Zevere, burgess of Reading. Berks.

Vol. i. p. 2.

1448. Robert Sever ditto P. 30.

1456. Robert Sever ditto P. 46.

1497. John Sever ditto (wfirmvs absens)

P. 94.

Nomina cessatorum Johannes Sever, 1498

(London Ward & Oldward) P. 96.

Nomina Burgencium a ui fines non feceruntad

hunc diem \i.e.. 24 June, 1509] Johannes

Severe electi sunt ad cessandum fines

istorum subscriptorum Burgencium, hii persone subscript! videlicit (1) (2) (3) Johannes Sevar (5) P. 110.

It would seem, then, that in the fifteenth century, and afterwards, a family named Sever lived in Reading, and it seems likely that Henry Sever was of this family. The scene of his life's labours would then be not far from his native cqunty ; and, moreover, the facts that he makes a bequest to a relation, John Sever, and that a man of the same name was a burgess in Reading at about the same time, are significant.

In 1578 another John Sever, of the parish of St. Giles, Reading, made his will. I have examined the Burial Registers, and find the entry : " 1578, 25th Aprill, John Sever, buried." His will was made on the 21st. But it contains nothing about his family, except his mother (unnamed) and his " wieffe Alice," to whom he makes bequests. Still later I find another " John Sever, of Berkshire," matriculated at St. John's, Oxford, in 1616, which makes it very probable that he had previously been educated at Reading Grammar School, which was closely connected with St. John's. I found this in ' Alumni Oxonienses.' And lastly, as late as 5 Dec., 1709 (as I find from the borough Marriage Licence Registers), Ann Sever of Reading married Jacob Shirvell.

There are none of the name in Berkshire now, as far as I know. But possibly these notes may prove of interest to some of your Berkshire readers, who may even be able to do something towards piecing them together so as to give to Dr. Henry Sever a branch on his own family tree.

The following deeds are of a much earlier date, and show that the family was an old- established one in Berkshire :

1. 1278. Oxon.

Abstract of a Deed at the Record Office.

Demise by Richard le Frankeleyii to

William Severe, of Denesden.

Monday before 7 June, 6 Edward I.

2. 1374. Berks. Abstract of a Deed, P.R.O.

Grant by William Jones the elder, of Westhake- bourne, to Joan, wife of William Seuere, of Stan- mere, and Robert Severe* her son,oi four messuage* and land in Westhakebourne.

26 Feb., 48 Edward III.

3. 1497. Berks. Abstract of a Deed, P.R.O.

Grant by John Williams. Esquire, to Thomas Ca(r)pynter, mercer, of Reading, of a tenement

in High Street, Reading

Witnesses (1) (2) (3) John Sevar\ (5). Reading, 21 May, 12 Henry VII.

I have searched all the Heralds' Visita- tions for Berkshire, both in the Bodleian and Queen's Coll. Libraries ; also Ashmole's ' Collection of Arms, &c., in Churches in Berkshire,' 1666; also ' Escaeta in com. Berks, 1-27 Hen. III.'; also a ' Catalogue of the Principal Gentry in Berks, 1665'; but these all yield nothing. It is just possible that one of your readers may be able to suggest some bypath out of the beaten track which has escaped the ordinary genealogist's notice ; and it is with this hope that I submit these notes to their kindly perusal. GEORGE SEAVEB.

SEVEN DIALS.

IN the references to this locality in London topography mention is regularly made of the fact that when the column, which formerly stood in the centre of the area where " to seven streets seven dials count the day,' 7 was taken down, the capital upon which the dials were cut showed only six faces. A plan in the High Holborn Public Library probably supplies the explanation of the discrepancy.

The plan is on a sheet of parchment of irregular outline, roughly measuring 26 in, by 31 in., and is undated, but it evidently represents somebody's ideas and intentions for the development of the site which

became burgess?
 * Query Is this the Robert Sever who afterwards

f Undoubtedly the John Sever who was burgess ; but is he the John Sever of Henry Sever's will?