Page:Notes and Queries - Series 9 - Volume 7.djvu/321

 9*s. vii. APRIL a), i9oi.] NOTES AND QUERIES.

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port in South America, in 1741. The entrance into the harbour was termed Boca Chica (i. e., little mouth), and was defended by several forts, the whole of which were taken by the British forces. The seamen having returned home, in recounting their exploits at the siege, so frequently used the words Boca Chica, that one of their companions jocularly gave the name to the place of their resi- dence. The new name took with the public, who at once adopted it, and to this day Boca Chica has continued to be the name of the Northern portion of the High Pans."

R. OLIVER HESLOP. Newcastle-upon-Tyne.

ROBERT JOHNSON, SHERIFF OF LONDON, 1617 (9 th S. vii. 228). Being interested in the bio- graphy and genealogy of the Lord Mayors and Sheriffs of London from the earliest period down to at least the Revolution of 1688, and having made collections on the subject, chiefly from original sources, I was enabled with particular pleasure to render some assistance (con amore) to my esteemed friend Mr. G. E. Cokayne in compiling that masterly piece of t sound and solid work to which your correspondent alludes. Con- sidering the elaborate nature of the details, its author could hardly have failed to meet with difficulties therein and sometimes where least expected on points which seemed to defy even the most exhaustive research in elucidation. This was the case with Robert Johnson as above (among others) in certain respects. On referring, however, to my copy of the book (presented by the author), the margins of every page of which are covered with my numerous manuscript notes since placed at Mr. Cokayne's disposal for a second extended edition I find that I have added most of the information required by E. C., to the following effect, viz. : This sheriff was son (apparently the eldest) of John Johnson, of Goldington, co. Bedford, by Jone, dau. of Thomas Hand, of London ; and was probably born and baptized at Golding- ton in 1563, but this remains to be verified by an inspection of that parish register, for which the rector, who is himself quite un- acquainted with the early handwriting, has kindly given me permission. As to the wife, I extract the following, written in 1633, from an original MS. in folio the Funeral Work- book and Genealogical Collections of John Taylor, Herald Painter, of Fleet Street, London, which in the early part of the eigh- teenth centurj^ belonged to Peter Le Neve (Norroy), being then known as "Taylor Vol. II.," and was recently in my possession : " Alderman Johnsons wife was a Compton of the same howse " [i.e., as " Saray d : of William Compton of london Grocer," who married

George Glapthorne of Witlesey in the Isle of Eley in the Co. Camb:]. Her Christian name was Jone, and she was married to Robert Johnson in or about 1595. I find also that

she was daughter of Compton of Stagden,

co. Bedford. Possibly she died in childbed of her only daughter, Martha, who was born circa 1596, and married 6 September, 1614, to Timothy Middleton, of Stansted Mount- fitchet, co. Essex. I am inclined to think that Johnson resided in the parish of St. Mary, Stratford-le-Bow, co. Middlesex, rather than at St. Mary-le-Bow, in the City of London. His administration of 17 October, 1626, in P.C.C. describes him in Latin as of the parish of "the Blessed Mary Bowe," with- out giving either " London " or " Middlesex." According to a letter to the Rev. Joseph Mead, dated London, 6 October, 1626, " Alderman Johnson died suddenly on Mon- day [2 October, 1626], having eaten grapes at Bow, as he was stepping into his coach." His arms were Azure, a chevron between three eagles volant or (Harl. MS. 1049) ; but those claimed by his brother's second son, Robert Johnson of London (Vintry Ward), grocer, at Visit. Lond., 1634, and not allowed, viz., Sa., on a bend arg. three pheons, are entirely different, although somewhat similar to (and the crest the same as) Harvey of East Ham, co. Essex (see Visit, of that co., 1634). This younger Robert Johnson, however, entered and signed his pedigree at such first-named Visitation. Burke ('General Armory ') gives the arms of Johnson of Goldington, co. Bedford, as Az., a chev. or ; in chief two eagles volant, in base a sun of the second. W. I. R. V.

BRECKENRIDGE (9 th S. vii. 247). If MR. JAMES M. BRECKENRIDGE will look at the Ordnance Survey for Scotland, he will find East and West Brackenridge (not Brecken- ridge) about two miles due west of Strath- avon in Lanarkshire, and some five miles from the historic Covenanting field of Drum- clog and the north-east Ayrshire boundary. [n all probability his family came from there, and he should consult the registers and records of the parish of Strathavon (pro- nounced Straven).

SIR ANTHONY BRABASON (9 th S. vii. 228). Anthony Brabazon (not Brabason), of New D ark, co. Mayo, was created a baronet or Ireland 10 November, 1797, and died 3 July, 1803. The title became extinct on the death of his son Sir William John Brabazon 24 October, 1840. That gentleman left two sisters, viz., (1) Alice Mary, who married Hercules Sharpe, and had a sou and heir,