Page:Notes and Queries - Series 11 - Volume 6.djvu/621

 u s. vi. D.CC. 28, i9i2.] NOTES AND QUERIES.

513

had been hauled up by a train to Capdenac I thought I was at the watershed of that region.

In his little work entitled ' The French Stonehenge ' Mr. T. Cato Worsfold accepts Mr. Miln's suggestion that Carnac in Brit- tany is named from the earn, or cairn, of Mont St. Michel, which is a tumulus not far distant. ST. S WITHIN.

This ending represents in the language of Southern France, especially west of the Rhone, the Latin or Romance at, ac. Thus :

Armagnac, Armanhac, L. Armaniacum.

Brissac, L. Brixiacum.

Cougnac, Fr. Cognac, L. Condatum.

Cavaignac, Cavanhac, L. Cavanicus (hallow).

Paulliac, Pauliac, L. PauHacum (Paul).

The origin of Carnac must, I think, be sought in Brittany ; there seems to be no sign of it in Southern France.

The final c of these place- and family- names is mute ; it is sounded in Northern French only, as in sac, Prov. sa, though generally mute, as in tabac. A Gascon writes amic, but pronounces it as the French ami. In Provencal the c or ch is latent; thus L. lactem, O.F. laid, is la, but before a word with initial vowel it becomes lack ; di (said), fa (done), become dicho, facho, in the feminine. EDWAKD NICHOLSON.

Cros de C'agnes, near Nice.

JOHN REYNOLDS. WILKES'S ATTOKNEY (11 S. i. 284, 344). When writing the above notes I was careful not to prefix any adjective to John Reynolds's name, for though I considered that he was entitled to one, I had no authority to support my idea. Now I have come across the following mention by a contemporary which supplies the word I had in mind.

In ' Memoirs of the Life of J. P. Kemble,' published in 1825 by James Boaden (b. 1762, d. 1839). at p. 304 of vol. i. he gives an account of the success of the tragedy of ' Werter.' with a note about Frederick Rey- nolds, the author of it. Boaden says that Frederick's father was the " celebrated attorney." I make a note of this when found, as it may be useful to some future biographer. RALPH THOMAS.

CURIOUS ENTRY IN REGISTER (11 S. vi. 429). I would suggest that the name " Halfepenny Ffarthing " was merely a nickname, the person's real name not being known. A case in point occurred here a few years ago. A man was found drowned in the canal. .He was a stranger who had

worked in the locality only a short time r and all inquiries failed to disclose his real name and antecedents. After the usual inquest he was buried in our cemetery under his nickname of " Sailor Jack." on 22 Dec., 1906. JOHN T. PAGE.

Long Itchington, Warwickshire.

It ig quite probable that a person namwd Halfepenny Farthing was buried at Hillesden on the date mentioned. A refer- ence to the bishop's transcript at Aylesbury could be made.

The name of Easter Christmas occurs in the Denham Marriage Register.

THOS. GURNEY. [S. D. C. also thanked for reply.]

CAPT. PITMAN (11 S. vi. 448). In the late sixties there was living at Pulteney Street, Bath, a Capt. Pitman who was an ardent sportsman, and who hunted with the Duke of Beaufort's hounds. His son is, I believe, still living, though not at Bath.

BLADUD.

MR. J. SPENCER PALMER will find a bio- graphy and portrait of Capt. Samuel Pitman (1816-86) in the album of The County Gentleman and Sporting Gazette, portrait No. XLIII. the subject cf his query.

H. A. P.

JOSEPH HART (11 S. vi. 410). The full date of his birth is apparently unknown, as in Julian's ' Dictionary of Hymnology ' he is said to have been " born in London in 1712," his early history being obscure.

G. F. R. B.

THOMAS PRETTY, VICAR OF HURSLEY (11 S. vi. 131, 175, 455). I can prove the Rev. Thomas Pretty to have been brother to the Rev. John Pretty, as MRS. SUCKLING suggests he may have been, and can also answer her appeal for further information of interest about the latter clergyman by noting a circumstance greatly to his credit.

Robert Greene (1678 ?-1730), the eccen- tric author of the " Greenian " philosophy, in an extraordinary will, which, I believe, was never proved, describes himself as " son to the mo?t prudent, devout, and religious Mr. Robert Greene, formerly a mercer in Tarn- worth, in the county of Warwick, and Mrs. Mary Pretty his wife, of Fazely, in the same county, my most dear, good, and excellent mother.' He then proceeds to profess his "most ardent and exceeding affection " for various relatives, including

" my most dear and honoured uncles, Mr. John Greene of Litehfield, the Rev. Mr. Thomas Pretty,