[67] Doubtless, when they were in private hands, they were kept by the clerk’s daughter, in 1819 (see Wilkinson’s Londina Illustrata); the account of the chapel in this work is very erroneous, but most of the papers therein published are missing. Dr. Wilson has the remainder in his custody, and they having lately been repaired by the author of this work, are likely to last many years.
[78] See Correspondence at the end of Pepys’ “Diary,” vol. iv., pp. 235, 241, and 242.
[86] The entries to which is affixed an asterisk are not at the Chapel Books now; they have been made away with since 1819, when they were copied for Wilkinson’s “Londina.”
[87] Thomas Halley was clerk from 1664 to 1669, when William Hipsley was appointed: in Kensington register his burial is entered December 2nd, 1689, when Thomas Hipsley succeeded him. He appears to have been the builder and carpenter of the place, took great interest in the Revolution, and in the Wars against Louis XIV., as appears by some of his memoranda. He was clerk for many years.
[88] The last beadle died in 1835, since when the office has been vacant.
[90] Many names still in the locality, or that have died out within the last half century, are to be found in these Registers; it may be serviceable to note a few:—Aley, Arnold, Baber, Beadle, Briscoe, Britten, Burton, Coppin, Cowell, Cromwell, Danvers, Dexter, Faulkner, Gunter, Gwin, Hipsley, Lilly, London, Merriman, Morland, Perrin, Pope, Rouse, Thorowgood, Timberlake, Whitehead, Wise, Woolley. From their imperfect condition it is useless to attempt a statistical analysis of the baptisms, but of the marriages I have made a few notes, as follow:—In 1659 there were 36 marriages; in 1661, 81; in the half-year ending December 31st, 1665, they had increased to the large number of 335. For about twelve years they continue very numerous, but in 1696 there were 394 marriages, two years after the number fell to 155; in 1704 they decreased to 45, and such decrease continued till, in 1747, only five entries are made, in 1751 only one, and in 1752 but two.
[92] When the foundation stone was laid they amounted to about £12,000; among the contributors were Earl Fitzwilliam, £500; the Earls of Bradford, Brownlow, Burlington and Winchelsea, Geo. A. Haldimand, J. A. Smith, and E. J. Shirley, Esqs., each £200; Duke of Montrose, Marquis Camden, Earl Sefton, Earl Carlisle, Sir J. Mordaunt, Sir J. Heathcote, T. Cubitt, T. Cundy, Esqs., each £100; and Geo. Drummond, Esq., £200.
[104] This inscription, through various means, I have traced back nearly a century: another century makes us contemporary. Would all recollection of such momentous times die away in that time? The writer of this spoke to an old man in 1845, who remembered the bells ringing for the capture of Quebec by Wolfe in 1759.
[106] See the Appendix.
[109] See for further notices of Sterling, Carlyle’s “Life of John Sterling;” and “The Fourth Estate,” by F. K. Hunt.