Page:Notes and Queries - Series 12 - Volume 2.djvu/430

 424

NOTES AND QUERIES.

n. NOV. 35, igie.

shows, to my mind, that the botanist's descendant was unaware at that time of the existence of this MS. genealogical entry, or he would surely have supplied the missing names amongst the children, as well as, ona would have thought, the dates of their birth. For this reason, then, and because it forms a very valuable adjunct to that pedigree, I would like to reproduce it here :

Edwardus Uvedale, natus Enfelde in comit : Middlx Kalendas Julij Anno Dm 1679. Obiit Idus Octobris 1679.

Kobertus Uvedale, natus [4 to ?] Kalendas Septein- bris hora nona vespertina 1680.

Jacobus Uvedale, natus 15 to Kalend : August! hora sexta matutina 1682.

Maria Uvedale, nata 8 Idus Maij hoia 5 ta Pome- rid : 1684. Obiit 4< Idus Feb : 1691.

Joanna Uvedale, nata 5 to Idus Aprilis paulo ante hora 5 ta Post meridie : 1686.

Johannes Uvedale, natus 9" Calendas Martii inter horas 8 va et 9 im vespertina anno 1687.

Margaritta Uvedale, nata 6 to Calend : Martii hora uudecinia nocturna 1689.

Anna Uvedale, nata 7 timo Idus Novembris hora octava matutina 1691.

Maria Uvedale, nata Prid : Non : Octob : inter horas 2 da et 3 tia Post meridie. [No year men- tioned. ? 169').]

Elizabetha Uvedale, nata 6 to Idus Decembris hora

octava vespertina Anno 1695.


 * Samuel Uvedale, natus 5 (?) . . Junij anno 1699

paulo post octava vespertina.

The history of this little book is very interesting. An inscription inside it states that it formerly belonged to Dr. Uvedale, and was found amongst a collection of old pamphlets, &c.,on a bookstall in Farringdon Street, London, in the summer of 1900, and was restored by the purchaser to the library of the school of which Uvedale was at one time master. It is fortunate that it found such a discerning purchaser. But I am tempted to ask, Was it handed back to the right school ? At the date of those entries Uvedale had in all probability severed his connexion with the Grammar School, though it must be remembered that when the book was discovered the Grammar School was probably the only school that represented Dr. Uvedale. May it not then be that from that time we may date the resuscitation of the Uvedale tradition in the school ? Any- how, it has now found a fitting resting-place.

I made a very careful examination of the old Bible, which was printed at Amsterdam in 1661, and found the signature "Rob: Uvedale " at the bottom of the page in a clear copperplate handwriting. But I also noticed at the top of the same page what, apparently, had not been observed before the remains, almost erased, of what looks like the signature " R. U. .11 " in a more

crabbed handwriting, and not unlike that of some of the earlier entries presumably made by the botanist himself, and somewhat resembling the undoubted signature of his in the 1667 receipt for salary before men- tioned. Since I have had the opportunity of comparing these signatures with those in the original letters in the ' Richardson Correspondence,' I am strongly inclined to think that Dr. Uvedale was the author of both these signatures, and that he himself may have made all the entries in the Bible ; the bottom signature being added when the upper one was partially erased and he had made up his mind to call himself " Uvedale." To this Mr. Ford has added, in 1902, a MS. pedigree, which is bound in with the frag- ment, supplying the omissions in Hut chins to which I have called attention. But, inas- much as he has followed the same lines in showing the botanist's descent from the Dorset Uvedales, it must, of course, be subject to the same comment that I have already made as to that connection.

Immediately adjoining the still existing older part of the Grammar School buildings is a small old-fashioned house or cottage of red brick, now occupied by the caretaker of the school, on the entrance pillars of which is painted " UVE. . . .HOUSE," one word on each pillar. The cottage itself is covered with old-time creepers, with numerous old-fashioned shrubs and flowers filling up the small garden in front ; whilst a long narrow one at the back is full of herbaceous plants and bushes, together with a few old fruit trees, evidently indicating a cultivation of some antiquity, and one much unlike that ordinarily apparent in any modern suburban garden.

It would be interesting if any connection could be traced between this old garden now evidently much reduced in size and the gardens at the old Palace, rendered so famous by the lavish care and attention of the old botanist. And why should this cottage have been called " Uvedale House " unless Uve- dale had himself lived there ?

By the kindness of the school caretaker I went all through both cottage and garden, and it needed no great effort of my imagina- tion to picture the old Doctor retiring here to end his days in peace amidst surroundings which he loved so well, after he had given up active work both at his own school and at the Grammar School.

The connection of the family with Trinity College, Cambridge, was kept up for several generations ; his eldest surviving son, Robert, being also a Fellow of Trinity, Cambridge,