Page:Notes and Queries - Series 12 - Volume 5.djvu/47

 12 S. V. FEB., 1910.]

NOTIvS AND QIJKRIKS.

Charles Blades of Caldberg, Coverham, died in 1742, and was buried at Coverham. The registers of Coverham Church contain several entries of marriages of members of this branch, and one entry describes the residence as Canonicii House ; and as there was an Abbey of Coverham, this house may have formerly been a priests' dwelling. Baptismal and burial entries also occur.

The local families of Bywell of Aggies thorpe Hall, Hammond of Coverdale and Wensleydale, Terry of Aysgarth, and Tuns- tall of the same parish, were allied to the family of Blades of Caldberg. It also appears that this family intermarried with some French refugees (Huguenots), one of whom bore the name of Marque&a, and was a lady of some standing. She married a Blades of Caldberg, and is said to have been buried at Coverham. Does anybody know anything about this lady, and whether the Blades branch of Caldberg resided at this place prior to 1710 ?

I am anxious to ascertain where Charles Blades, who died in 1742, belonged whether his father dwelt at Caldberg, or went there from Colsterdale o.r Wensleydale. The Dirisdales and the Carters were allied to the Caldberg branch, and were near relatives of Lady Storey and her brother, the late Alderman Charles Blades, J.P., of Parkfield, Lancaster, and three times Mayor of Lancaster. Major Walter W. Blades, D.S.O., of Rutland Lodge, Ruspor, Sussex, who has been on active service with the British Expeditionary Force in France, says that his family were settled at Spalding, co. Lincoln, but that he had heard his father, Col. Joel Blades, R.A., speak of Yorkshire connexions in one of the afore -mentioned dales. R. E. KELLET RIQBYE.

Trevelyan, Maryport, Cumberland.

RAIN AND MOWING. (See 12 S. iv. 329.) In the query on St. Cuthman at the above reference I observe that there is a tradition to the effect that when a certain meadow (Penfold field) at Steyning is mown "rain follows immediately after." I am interested in this because there is a field here, known as Garrett's Close, to which the same tradition is attached. Every hay-harvest one is sure to hear the saying bruited about, and some wiseacre will opine : " Ah, it's sure to be rain : Garrett's Close is down." The strange thing is that the prognostication is more often true than not. I shall be glad to know of any similar tradition in other localities. JOHN T. PAGE.

Long Itchington, Warwickshire.

PEWTER PATEN. I have an antique French pewter paten marked with a crowned hammer, above which is almost illegible lettering, which may be BOUVIET or ROUVIET (presumably the maker), whilst below is a word ending .... MECY, the first part obliterated possibly the town where the paten was made. (It is not "Annecy.") Can any reader kindly enlighten me as to the name of the maker of this paten ?

ROLAND J. A. SHELLEY.

Denbie House, Formby, Lanes.

THE AINSLIE BOND. I should feel obliged if any reader could give me information regarding the following : (1) When, and how, was the Sir James Balfour copy of the " Ainslie Bond " (the bond of the Scottish nobles for the marriage of Mary Stuart and Bothwell) discovered ? (2) Does the bond now exist ? (3) If so, where is it ?

SCOTTISH STUDENT.

SIR SANDERS DTJNCOMBE'S POWDER. John Evelyn, when referring to the death of his mother in 1635, says that when nearly all hopes of her recovery were given up " Sir Sanders Duncombe tried his cele- brated and famous powder." As it appar- ently had achieved a great reputation, one is curious to know of what it was com- pounded. R. B.

NEWTON. I should be glad to obtain any information about the following Newtons, who were educated at West- minster School :

(1) Hugh, admitted March 28, 1769.

(2) James, admitted in January, 1743/4, aged 15.

(3) John, admitted in June, 1732, aged 14.

(4) William, admitted in November, 1731, aged 10. G. F. R. B.

ROBERT BLAKE, scholar at Westminster in or about 1744, was buried in the Cloisters of Westminster Abbey in 1754. What more is known of him ? Is there any monument or inscription to him in the Abbey ?

J. W. F.

PARLIAMENTARY BLUE BOOKS, WHITE PAPERS, &c. J. W. F.'s inquiry (12 S. iv. 272), respecting charitable institutions exempted from Land Tax under 46 Geo. III. c. 133, and the provision therein that a return giving particulars of such exemption was to be made to Parliament, raises a still larger question. It is this. In modern practice all such "Returns," &c., are purchasable by the public as soon as issued,