APPENDIX.
Extracts of Letters from Rev. Thomas Farmer, Rector of Aspley-Guise, in Bedfordshire, England, to John Farmer of Concord, N. H. Dated July, 1822.
Dear Sir,—Having lately been to visit my relations at Leicester, my native place, I saw for the first time a letter from you, desiring an account of your Genealogy; and, being satisfied of our consanguinity, you will allow me to hope that you may cross the Atlantic, and visit this village, of which I am the Rector, and which is situated but little more than 40 miles from London, and near the Duke of Bedford's magnificent Park and Palace.
I am possessed of the papers which formerly belonged to my uncle, Dr. Richard Farmer, who certainly was a most ingenious and classical scholar, and perhaps the best annotator on England's immortal bard. You may know that he was Master of Emmanuel College in the University of Cambridge. There I was educated, and there I saw him die, after a very long protracted illness, on the 8th of September, 1797. The loose papers, from which I shall send you extracts, are in Dr. Farmer's hand-writing.
My father, Thomas Farmer, is now at Leicester, and is the only male issue of his generation. He was born on the 10th of May, 1744. I was born on the 21st of August, 1771, and am the only issue left, and I am in possession of land in the vicinity of Nuneaton, sharing it equally with Mr. Arnold of Ashley, no great distance from Daventry, in the County of Northampton.
Of the present owner of Ancely, or Astly, I know nothing; but in the old papers, I find John Farmer of Ancely, in the County of Warwick, passes a time, Sept. 1st, 1604, and that a John Farmer, in 1663, [1633?] contracts marriage with Isabel Barbage of Great Packington, in the County of Warwick, and that Isabel, in after marriage articles, is stiled "now of New England;" that John Farmer of Nuneaton married Sarah Daws of Tamworth, and settles the estate at Ancely upon her. Richard F., son of John and Sarah, was baptized at Nuneaton, Sept. 15, 1698, and married Hannah Knibb of Brinklow, in the County of Warwick, Jan. 4, 1732-3. Their eldest son, Richard, born May 4, 1735, was the person whom you have rightly named of such extensive literary fame and acquirements.
I shall seal this with the seal[22] which Dr. Farmer wore and used, and the Arms I read, "He beareth Sable, Chevron between three Lamps Argent, with Fire Proper, by the name of Farmer." This coat was assigned to George Farmer, Esq., 1663, second son of Bartholomew Farmer, Gent.[23] of Radcliffe, near Atherstone, Warwickshire. The patent was to alter the Chevron of the family, though it mentions not what anciently were the Arms of the family.
From the same to the same, dated Aspley-Guise, Dec. 1, 1823.