“Near this place is interred the body of John Warden, of Butler’s Green in this parish, Esq., who died April 30, 1730, aged 79 years; and also of Hope-still, his wife, who died July 22, 1749, aged 92.”—Cuckfield Church, Sussex.
“Dec. 1, 1714. Administration of goods of Michael Watkins, granted to Hope-still Watkins, his widow.”—C. S. P.
In the list of incumbents of Lydney, Gloucestershire, will be found the name of Help-on-high Foxe, who was presented to the living by the Dean and Chapter of Hereford in 1660. For some reason or other, possibly to curtail the length, he styled himself in general as Hope-well, and this was retained on his tomb:
“Hic in Cristo quiescit Hope-wel Foxe, in artibus magister, hujus ecclesiæ vicarius vigilantissimus qui obiit 2 die Aprilis, 1662.”—Bigland’s “Monuments of Gloucester.”
How quickly such names were caught up by parishioners from their clergy may again be seen in the case of Hope-well Voicings, of Tetbury, who left a rentcharge of £1 for the charity schools at Cirencester in 1720. Probably he was christened by the vicar himself at Lydney.
We have already mentioned Rejoice Lord, of Salehurst. The name had a tremendous run:
“1647, June 22. Buried Rejoice, daughter of John Harvey.
“1679, Oct. 18. Baptized Rejoice, daughter of Nicholas Wratten.”—Warbleton.
Rejoice reached the eighteenth century:
“1713, Sep. 29. Married John Pimm, of St. Dunstan’s, Cant., to Rejoice Epps, of the precincts of this church.”—Cant. Cath.