Page:Notes and Queries - Series 11 - Volume 9.djvu/372

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NOTES AND QUERIES. [ii s. ix. MAY 9, im

TREE LORE OF THE NIGERIANS. Mr. P. Amaury Talbot, District Commissioner of Nigeria, recently read a paper before the Horticultural Club on the ' Flora of Nigeria,' in which he gave an account of many curious native beliefs with regard to trees. He said that it was held that great trees could always give signs to those who believed in them, and many had the power of speaking through the mouths of their priests. One of these .stood near the town of Oduko, a few miles to the south of Oyubia, on the Oron Eket main road. The people did not often mention it to strangers, but the following tale was told to Mr. Talbot by Obuoho, son of the head chief. A mighty chief, who was dying, gave directions that he should not be buried, but laid in his richest robes at the door of the compound. While all his subjects waited in awed silence, flocks of birds suddenly swept down and settled on the trees. The hum- ming-birds separated themselves from the Test, and flew down to settle on the body of the dead chief. Then came a sound of wings, and the birds rose, bearing with them the body. No trace of the chief was ever seen .again, but from the place where his body had lain a little green shoot pushed forth. In time this grew to be a tree, now revered by the whole country-side.

Another sacred tree fell one market day, .and crushed hundreds beneath it. For a whole month no one went to market, but, .according to the custom of the country, sacrifice after sacrifice was offered that the mighty spirit which had entered into the tree might be satisfied with his hideous holocaust leave the rest of the people unharmed.

RENIRA.

WE must request correspondents desiring in- formation on family matters of only private interest tc affix their names and addresses to their queries,
 * n order that answers may be sent to them direct.

DAME MARY FLEMING.

Is anything known of Mary, wife of Sir Thomas Fleming of North Stoneham, near Southampton, where the latter died in 1613 ? The early Fleming pedigree in ' The Visita- tion of Hampshire ' and in Burke is very unsatisfactory, but Woodward in, his ' His- tory of Hampshire '* notices the Flemings as holding land at North Stoneham in the fourteenth century. Possibly John de fflem- jng, who was witness to a deed in 1291


 * Vol. ii. p. 109.

regarding the vicarage of the adjoining parish of Hursley, was one of the Stoneham family. Sir Thomas Fleming (Lord Chief Justice) certainly showed eagerness to purchase that manor in 1602, selling the manor of North Baddesley to accomplish that end. He was a grandson of John Fleming of Newport in the Isle of Wight (d. 1531), and son of John of the same place, whose will was proved at Winchester in 1572. The latter married Dorothy Harris in 1543, and their son Thomas was born in April, 1544. Thomas was called to the Bar 1574, made Recorder of London in 1594, Chancellor of the Exchequer 1604, and Lord Chief Justice in 1607. He was buried on 7 Aug., 1613, in North Stoneham .Church, where a fine monument, still extant, repre- sents him in his judge's robes, with his wife beside him in ruff and widow's veil. The pedigree gives him only one son, Thomas, but from Dame Mary's will there appear to have been four sons and several daughters. Sir Thomas was succeeded in 1613 by his son Thomas, knighted on 27 Feb., 1608, who died 24 June, 1623, leaving by his wife Dorothy, daughter of Sir Henry Cromwell of Hinchinbrook, a son and heir, Thomas Fleming (buried at Stoneham in 1638), and a daughter Mary, who married Thomas Leigh of Testwood. Anne, daughter of Chief Jus- tice Fleming, married Sir John Mill of Eling ( Southampton ).

The question is, Who was Dame Mary ? For her interesting original will at Win- chester reveals many new genealogical facts regarding her husband's family, and refers to her own " father." Her will was dated on 11 Feb., 1614, as " widow of Sir Thomas Fleming, Kt., of Stoneham," when; she desired to be buried

" as near to my dearly beloved husband as may

be

" I bequeath to my grandson Thomas ffleming all my dining-chamber furniture as it was when the inventory was taken onlie the needlework chairs, and in lieu of that I give him the new velvet chair and two stools with fringe that are now readie to be made upp. I give him also my great bason and yeure double gilt, two great bowls of 48 onzes apiece, and six large cups and bowls, all weighing 123 onzes. I give unto my daughter Mary ffleming my morter and pistoll of silver, and four little ladells, and a colindar. I give unto rny little daughter Dorothie ffleming my fine needle- work carpet, and my ....[?] cloth, and my wedding ring, which is the best Jewell her grand- mother hath, and I pray God bless her. I give unto my daughter Mills my pair of silver candle- sticks. I give unto Lady Mill my great [illegible] with the cgle. I give my little daughter Francke the two gilt tankards, and to my daughter Mill the great ring with the Death's head. To John ffleming my son in monie 250Z. and the gilt