Page:Notes and Queries - Series 12 - Volume 9.djvu/475

12 s. ix. NOV. 12, i92i.] NOTES AND QUERIES. 389 —John Lane, a benefactor to this parish, who died 1729, left half an acre of land and stipulated that the rent thereof should be used to keep the gravestones of his family in good repair, renewing them, when necessary, and 2s. a year to the sexton "to keep our grave, my wife and ancestors' graves, well turfed and bryered."

Can anyone explain the meaning of "bryered"? Has it to do with briars, and if so why should they be planted on a grave? Or has it to do with bryology, the science of mosses?

was admitted to Westminster School in 1715, aged 14. Information respecting his parentage and career is desired.

, son of Joseph Lycett of London, left Westminster School in 1764, aged 15. I should be glad of any information about him.

ALEXANDER LAFARELLE was admitted to Westminster School in 1723, aged 13. Any particulars of his parentage and career would be useful. G. F. R. B. JOHN THOMAS, ORIENTALIST. This character had a passion for studying and mastering Asiatic tongues. Overstrain of some kind must have brought on dementia in his case, and his wife stood in danger of being murdered in a fit of irresponsibility. He is considered to have undoubted claims to prominence. Gleanings of knowledge as to range of linguistic attainments and personalia will be esteemed, and date when he died. ANEURIN WILLIAMS. Menai View, North Road, Carnarvon. CAPT. G. JONES'S ' BATTLE OF WATER- LOO.' Interest centres in a work replete with maps and plates, a 4to volume issued in 1817 narrating the progress of the famous battle as depicted by a " New Observer," whose impressions were published by authority. Biographical ana of this eye- witnessing chronicler would greatly oblige. ANEURIN WILLIAMS. Menai View, North Road, Carnarvon. SIMSON FAMILY. Mr. Matthew Simson, born 1699 (fourth son of John Simson, by his wife Agnes Simson, of Kirktonhall, Ayrshire, and a merchant in Glasgow), a merchant in Glasgow, married, in 1724, i Marion Prentise (born 1700, died 1760), and j had issue, so far as I have been able to 1. Marion, who was married to Michael i Erskine, a merchant in Glasgow, and died ! in November, 1825. 2. William, a mariner, who went to the West Indies, in 1770. 3. John, a merchant in St. Vincent, West Indies. It is surmised that Matthew Simson had mentioned in my note on the Dickson j family at ante, p. 103, was a son of this I Matthew Simson. I should be grateful if
 * ascertain :
 * other children and that the James Simpson
 * any of your correspondents could give me

i any information on this point, and also j state whether William and John married, ! and if any of their descendants are living. James Simpson (whose name is fre- ! quently spelt in documents without the " p ") married, first, at Cramond, about 1774, Nell Forrestor, and, secondly, at Ravelston, Nov. 26, 1790, Isabella Dickson. JAMES SETON-ANDERSON. 39, Carlisle Road, Hove, Sussex. THE UNITED SERVICE CLUB. Writing in The Sunday Times, Mr. T. P. O'Connor, M.P., quotes a correspondent to the effect that two of the windows on the first floor of the United Service Club, Pall Mall, on the side of the club-house facing Waterloo Place, are really dummies, having been closed up as a memorial to the great Duke of Wellington, whose habit had been to sit at these windows. If these statements are correct, was any public notification made of this action of the Club Committee ? J. LANDFEAR LUCAS. 101, Piccadilly. " A BUTTON." What does this mean in " her adversary defamed her for swearing and unswearing ; and it was not amiss to have a button in the room " ? Roger North, ' Life of Lord Guilford,' p. 48, edition of 1742 (about Lady Dacres). ' N.E.D.' does not, I think, help. H. C N. COL. CHESTER'S EXTRACTS FROM PARISH REGISTERS. A correspondent signing him- self GENEALOGIST wrote from Adelaide, S.A., at 11 S. vi. 90, to inquire as to the wh^re- abouts of the duplicate set of 87 volumes of extracts left by Col. Chester in 1882, of which one series is in the College of Arms. I cannot trace the existence of any reply to the query, and should be glad to renew it. WM. McMuRBAY.