Page:Notes and Queries - Series 11 - Volume 2.djvu/49

ii s. vm. JULY 19, 1913.] NOTES AND QUERIES. 1806, is at the British Museum (Addit. MSS. 37906, f. 235). It was written in the interest of Windham for Norfolk, and of himself for Thetford, and refers to the appointment of his successor at Bridgwater. Windham records in his Diary, p. 478 (14 Aug., 1808), that Mingay called upon him at Thetford—"conversation upon the whole not unpleasant."

A few years before 1794 Mingay had " a very severe indisposition." which disabled him from practice for a considerable time. In the summer of 1802 he retired into private life, and " after a long and painful illness," he died at Ashfield Lodge, Great Ashfield, Suffolk, on 9 July, 1812, and was buried in the family vault in St. Mary's Church, Thetford, on 17 July, being de- scribed somewhat quaintly as " James Mingay, married-man aged 62." His wife was Eliza Corrall of Maidstone. They had no issue. She died at Maidstone College, 1 Feb., 1817. He had given to St. Mary's ( 'hurch. on 1 Jan., 1786, a set of communion plate of silver, with his name and arms engraven on each vessel, and in 1791 he gave to St. Peter's Church a brass chandelier and the iron palisading which surrounds the churchyard (George Burrell, ' Thetford Charities,' 1809, p. 77 ; Norfolk and Nor- wich Archseol. Soc.. ' Miscellaneous Tracts,' xvi. 38 [1907], by Rev. E. C. Hopper).

The wealth and vanity of Mingay are shown in his holograph will, dated 20 March, and the codicil of 18 May, 1812. His executors were his wife's brother, Philip Corrall of Maidstone, and two other gentle- men, to each of whom he gave 50Z. He desired

" to be buried (after some operation has been pel-formed on my body to prove that I am dead) in my vault in St. Mary's Church, Thetford, near my mother, and a marble monument to be civcted near by over the South door that shall state that I was a K.C., a fellow of the Society of Antiquaries [1785] many years an acting Magis- < r.ito for Norfolk and Suffolk, and by special com- mission for the borough of Thetford, and that I v.-i* returned to represent the said borough (my n-ttive place) in parliament, and my coat of arms of the families of Mingay, Fuller and Parker of I> ihvshire shall be painted thereon."

The will then proceeded to lay down that a

" no-it marble monument, with the arms of .MiMir.-iy <.nly. shall be placed in the Chancel of All Saints church at Shottesham, Norfolk, the ni'Muoi-iex of my grandfather, William Mingay, ami his wife Kli/nbolh [he d. 1761, aged 80 ; his wife. Eliznbeth Beaumont, d. 1753], and all su<-h of their children and gr.-mdehililren as are buried there, and mention to bo nvulc that their
 * in<-ient burying place of the family, to the

youngest son, my father James Mingay, and' Dorothy his second wife, and their children are- buried in my vault at Thetford."

The father had two daughters one of whom died in 1747, and the other in 1754 by his first wife, and ten children by the- second.

He confirmed his wife's settlement, and left her for life the dividends on 4,OOOZ. four per cents, and an annuity of 200?. a year during the life of her mother, Hannah Corrall. He also left her the picture of herself by Romney and " the drawing of myself in crayons by Russell," and all her diamonds and pearls,

" hoping she will bequeath them to some of my female relatives and with the same hope alt my books and pamphlets ; also 4007. worth of my; furniture, glass, china, &c.,"

but after her death these were to be divided among his three nephews and a great - nephew (Parker Fuller Mingay, son of W. J. Mingay).

Mingay left annuities to his five sisters,, and the above-mentioned sum of 4,0007. was, on his wife's death, to be divided between them and the same great-nephew. His estate at Shottesham went to his nephew,. William James Mingay, an officer in H.M. navy (eldest son of W. R. Mingay ; he died (an admiral) on 30 Nov., 1865, and was- buried in Gravesend Cemetery), with re- mainder in default of male issue to George Mingay, " a student at Caius College, Cam- bridge" (d. 1879 [Venn, 'Biog. Hist, of Gonville and Caius,' ii. 149]). His "capital mansion and lands in St. Peter, Thetford, formerly in the tenure of his late brother William Robert Mingay, M.D.," were to be- sold. This nephew, William James Mingay r was to receive 1,OOOZ.,

" all family pictures and prints not otherwise bequeathed, my family bibles, seals ; my silver tankard, and pewter dishes and plates that were my uncle's."

Another nephew, John James Garnham,. captain in the West Suffolk Militia, received " the messuage in Great Ashfield, in the tenure of Mary Orams widow, with 27 acres of land there, all which I bought of Thomas Sturgeon of that place, and 200Z. [This nephew d., Granard, Ireland, 18 Dec., 1813, aged 32. A. Page, ' Suppl. to Suffolk Traveller,' 1844, p. 758.]

There were many other bequests to relatives, friends, and servants. The Rev. Harry Charles Manning of Thetford had 200Z. To James Purr, " one of the com- monalty of Thetford," were bequeathed " 100Z. a year for life, my favourite mare, my dog Charles by Marshall, 10 doz. liquors from my cellar."