THE BLACKMORE FAMILY HISTORY

This is how the site is structured:

1 - Home Page.  CLICK HERE

2 - Introduction.  CLICK HERE

3 - The Search for our Roots.  CLICK HERE

4 - The early Devon Blackmores, Part 1 - brief details of the very early family members.  CLICK HERE

5 - The early Devon Blackmores, Part 2 - later Devon Blackmores, in some detail,  CLICK HERE

6 - "An interesting Sideline".  CLICK HERE

7 - Newspaper Items, Gravestones and Memorials - i.e. this page - including a bit on Blackmore clocks

8 - INFO EXCHANGE messages seeking or giving further information about Blackmore relations.  CLICK HERE

NEWSPAPER ITEMS ABOUT THE DEVON BLACKMORES

So what else did the early Devon Blackmores get up to? Quite a bit, it seems. We are lucky to have featured a fair amount, over the years, in such local papers as still exist, but whether the Blackmores mentioned are in any way related to us is sometimes difficult to establish. Here are some of the entries:-

SMUGGLING

"2 July 1857. Smuggling. William Mutter and Charles Blackmore were committed to the Devon County Gaol on Monday for safe custody on a charge of illegally landing 45 tubs of brandy under the cliffs between Exmouth and Budleigh Salterton. They will be brought up at Exmouth on Saturday."

"?9 July 1857. Smuggling. We stated last week that two men named William Mutters and Charles Blackmore had been apprehended on a charge of smuggling. They were brought up before W.Cole Esq., and Rev.T.Boles, magistrates, at Exmouth last Saturday....The evidence was to the effect that at about 2 o'clock on Monday morning week Richard Jago, Coast Guardsman belonging to Exmouth, was on his beat at Straight Point and observed a boat a little distance from the shore. A Coast Guardsman from Budleigh Salterton, named William Wagg, soon joined him, and both descended to the beach. The two men, Mutters and Blackmore, hid themselves from the Preventive men, but the latter made a search and, having found them, immediately fired an alarm for assistance from Budleigh Salterton, when Mr Prawle and his men came over. They found 41 tubs and 4 flagons and other articles. The Bench found the Prisoners guilty and fined them �700 or six months imprisonment. They were committed to gaol."

I later found that the Mutters family were professiona smugglers, and in a big way, for several generations. Charles seems to have got himself into bad company.

ACCIDENT WITH GUNPOWDER

"4 December 1834. Exeter, Dec.3. Early on Friday morning last [28 Nov] Mr Blackmore, ironmonger, Exmouth, being engaged in striking a light, in order to expedite the matter he opened a canister of powder, in putting a few grains from which into the tinder box, he wasted also a small quantity in a train like form on the table, among which a spark of fire falling, the whole exploded, and not only were the shop windows forced out but such goods as were near carried with them. Mr Blackmore was also burnt to such a degree that he lost his sight for the present. Beyond this, injury did not extend itself and most fortunate must this be considered as it appears there was a barrel of gunpowder in the house at the time, the communication of fire to which would have led to consequences most serious to the whole town."
[This cannot have referred to John Blackmore, (Henry's father) as he had died, and his death had been reported, only the week before. It seems clear that it referred to James, the son of James and Mary (n�e Shears) Blackmore - i.e. the father of Henry ll]

PUBLIC DINNER

In December 1856 there was a large public dinner (with two bands playing alternately) followed by singing by a glee party from Exeter, fireworks and a ball in honour of the Hon Mark Rolle, heir to the substantial estates of the late Lord Rolle (a local benefactor) to celebrate his majority. The dinner was attended by "Blackmore and son" amongst many others. The next day the first sod was cut for the new Exeter and Exmouth Railway.
Unfortunately the directors failed to ensure that young Mark Rolle and his mother knew where the ceremony was to be, so the Chairman had to cut the first sod and, in doing so, broke the ceremonial spade.

There were enormous street parties at Littleham and Withycombe to celebrate the end of the Crimea War in 1856.

VOLUNTEERS

The family tradition of public service obviously goes back a long way. An entry in Trewman's Exmouth Flying Post for 24 November 1796 records the burial of "George Blackmore, whitesmith aged 21, being one of Capt. Coleridge's Company of Exmouth Volunteers, nearly the whole of which Company attended the funeral, where a most excellent sermon was delivered, after which the Corps was interred with military honours." [This must have been William Jnr's son - i.e. John Blackmore's brother - see above.]

On 16 April 1801 this Declaration appeared, to which James Blackmore, fifer, [probably Henry ll's father] added his signature:-

"We, the Officers, Non-Commissioned Officers and Privates of the 2nd Exmouth Company of Volunteers, do publicly declare our determined resolution to supporting the Civil Power in suppressing Riots and Tumults and standing forward in defense of the laws of our Country agreeably to the Oath we have taken".

In 1859 Edwin Blackmore, sergeant, was one of the signatories to an advertisement for the Exmouth District of the Exeter and South Devon Volunteer Rifle Corps. [1] In 1860 he won the local shooting competition and the �1 prize-money. However on 17 April 1861 it was reported,
"Exmouth Volunteer Corps. A regimental Order has been issued by which Col. Sir E.Prideaux dismissed Colour Sergeant Blackmore for insubordination, the result of a Court Martial which was held on Monday March 25th."
Maybe the awkward temperament that we all suffer from is not anything new! [This could well have been the Edwin Blackmore, son of Samuel (Henry's older brother) and Sarah. His grave is in the Littleham churchyard. It says "In memory of Edwin Blackmore who died July 7th 1878 aged 57 years. Erected by his Uncle George as a token of affection and gratitude. Also Mary, relict of the above who entered into rest February 25th 1888 aged 63 years".]

FIRE

In August 1860 "a fire was discovered in the premises of Mr Crouch, baker, in Fore Street. The thatch soon became ignited, when the flames spread with great rapidity to the adjoining houses...and in less than two hours the houses were perfectly gutted. Two engines arrived from Exeter but their services were not required, the fire being quite extinguished. Mr Edwin Blackmore had the direction of the Exmouth engine, which was quickly brought to play".

[Fire was a terrible problem, with so much thatch about; serious fires were frequently happening.]

WAY WARDEN

White's History and Gazetteer for 1850 gives Edwin Blackmore, of Staples Buildings, as Town Crier. Under black and whitesmiths it lists Samuel Blackmore & Sons of Staples Buildings, James Blackmore of Chapel Street and James Blackmore Junior of Bond Street, and lists the first two also under "painters and decorators". In 1857 it gives James and William Blackmore and James Blackmore Junior as blacksmiths and plumbers, and there is a John Blackmore, plumber, of High Street, Sidmouth.

In 1849 Samuel Blackmore (a "way warden", who had given evidence at a public enquiry into an allegedly faulty sewage system built by the Board of Health - possibly Henry ll's older brother) also gave evidence in a case "Samuel Blackmore v Francis England. The defendant, a labourer, was charged with keeping a pig and causing a nuisance in Withycombe Raleigh. He admitted the offence and promised to remove the pig, only he wished to fatten it first, but he was ordered to remove it immediately."

INGENIOUS APPARATUS FOR SERVING TEA

"23rd April 1862. Monday afternoon, a bazaar was held in the large school room....in aid of the chapel fund. A tea was also provided at sixpence each, of which upwards of 300 people partook. The novelty of the evening was the apparatus for supplying the tea by means of an iron pipe 30 ft long attached to a large can containing the exhilarating fluid. Neat brass taps were affixed at convenient distances from each other, when the company helped themselves without the usual aid of urns, tea pots or trays. It was a very successful affair...the ingenious apparatus was furnished by Messrs. Samuel Blackmore & Son, Exmouth."

[If the invention did not catch on it may be due to the Englishman's dislike of cold tea, but Blackmores remain inventive to this day!]

DEATHS - ONE OF OLD AGE, ONE IN AGONY

"August 16th, 1863. Death at Exmouth, after a long illness, Mr Samuel Blackmore, aged 68, universally respected."

2 February 1815, p176 "On Saturday evening last, 28th Jan a child of 4 years belonging to James Blackmore, Blacksmith, Exmouth, attempting to drink out of a tea kettle when it was on the fire boiling, the steam of which went down the child's throat. Medical assistance was procured but the child died in a few hours in great agonies." [This was Catherine Blackmore, daughter of James and Mary Shears Blackmore who was baptised at Littleham in 1811. Her oldest brother, James, was Henry ll's father, so she would have been his aunt, had she survived.]

INSOLVENCY

18 June 1829 "The Court for the Relief of Insolvent Debtors. William Blackmore, formerly of High Street, Putney, Surrey and late of Exmouth...tailor". [This must be "our" Henry's older brother, Ronald Blackmore's great-great-grandfather.]

9 August 1838. "Insolvent Debtors. James Blackmore the younger, late of Fore Street Exmouth, Devon, journeyman ironmonger and blacksmith, had been discharged out of custody." [as any reader of Dickens knows, debtors were held in a debtor's prison until they paid all their debts in full, which encouraged their families to rally round!]

CLOCKS

"Devon Clocks and Clockmakers" by Clive N Ponsford says that James Blackmore of Sidmouth was paid �1.1s on 13 May 1783 for repairing the church clock at East Budleigh and undertaking to keep it in repair for a year, and then to maintain it at 5s. a year for seven years thereafter. He died on 2 April 1828, being described in his will as a plumber, leaving an estate of �600, which was then a large sum.
His son, also James, was a clock and watchmaker and stamp distributor at Fore Street, Sidmouth from 1798-1844. According to the local press on 23 April 1795 his shop was broken into and seven watches were stolen. On 21 March 1818 he advertised in the Exeter Gazette,
"To be sold for ten guineas, an excellent secondhand church clock, warranted to keep good time. Apply to Mr James Blackmore, Jun, Sidmouth".
The only known examples of his workmanship surviving are a repeating bracket clock with silvered dial, moon's phases and calendar and a silver dialled longcase clock. Page 37 of the same book says that the church clock at East Budleigh was rebuilt in 1828 by James Blackmore of Sidmouth, but it is now auto-wound. [The older one may have been William Jnr's brother.]

There was also a John Blackmore, watchmaker, in Exeter (son of another John, an apothecary) admitted a freeman in 1698-69. He took on an apprentice, but it was reported at the Exeter Assizes that he "hath deserted his dwelling house and left his said apprentice wholly destitute of maintenance and made no provision for the instructing of his said apprentice". (His crime, of course, was to throw his apprentice onto the parish - i.e. to make him a charge on the parish rates under the old Poor Law.)

Since this was written, I have been sent pictures of another clock by James Blackmore of Sidmouth. Here they are [left, above right and below]. The clock was purchased in 1987 from:-
SEFTON ANTIQUES
FITZALAN HOUSE
OLD FORE STREET
SIDMOUTH

DISCRIPTION OF CLOCK:- 30 HOUR PAINTED DIAL LONGCASE CLOCK IN OAK CASE, by JAMES BLACKMORE of SIDMOUTH, CIRCA 1795.

If you know of any other Blackmore clocks, do please send me details.

OPEN PENANCE

One of the last acts of 'Open Penance' took place at Littleham in 1805. John Blackmore, as Parish Clerk, would have been present. A girl was condemned by the spiritual court (no doubt for some such sin as fornication) to walk barefooted, wrapped in a white sheet, with her hair hanging down, from the church gate into the church. There she had to stand throughout the service, after which she was excommunicated.

GEORGE BLACKMORE HAS AN EMBARASSING PROBLEM - AND IN PUBLIC!

It was reported on 2 July 1857 that the monthly Petty Sessions were held at the Globe Hotel, Exmouth, the previous Thursday, the magistrates being W H Peters, Esq. (chair), Gustavus Smith, and Rev. J Boles. The report continues,

"William Laskey, charged....with unlawfully driving a one-horse cart without reins. Fined 5s. and 11s. expenses. [A bit steep! The average wage for a farm worker was only �8 or �10 a year; the fine and costs would have been a whole month's wages].

During the hearing a respectable man named Blin came into court in a very excited state and said he had just heard "the most awful screams of murder" from a neighbour's house and, as he apprehended something serious, he begged the magistrates to send the police there. Their worships at once requested two or three officers to accompany Mr Blin, and in about � hour afterwards P.C.Hampton returned, having in custody a highly-respectable man of Exmouth named George Blackmore. His wife, a good-looking woman of about 30 years of age, followed, and a large band of the inhabitants crowded into the court to hear the case.

P.C.Hampton said in consequence of the information received from Mr Blin, he went to Mr Blackmore's house. Just as he came there he saw Mr Blackmore standing outside the door. Witness asked him if he was the gentleman who was accused of assaulting his wife, and he said "Yes", and asked him into his house. Seeing a woman there, he asked her if that was his wife. Mr Blackmore answered in the affirmative. Witness then asked Mr Blackmore if it was she who had cried "murder", and he said it was, upon which he told Mr Blackmore he was his prisoner, and that he must go with him. He did not hear the screams.

Mr David Blin stated that he was an officer of the Inland Revenue and lived 3 doors from Mr Blackmore. About dinner time a person came to his home and informed him that he had heard screams of murder, and on going out he (witness) heard awful screeches.

The chairman asked Mrs Blackmore if she had any complaint to make. Mrs Blackmore said she had been much alarmed by her husband's conduct. He took her violently by the wrists and crushed her very much. She screamed, and then he said he would spit in her face.

The Chairman: Do you make any complaint?

Mrs Blackmore: Well sir, I am constantly treated so. He came home yesterday morning, threw me on the floor and knelt on me.

The Chairman: Is it your desire that your husband be bound over to keep the peace?

Mrs Blackmore: I have done everything to make him comfortable. (Witness here became much excited, sobbed aloud, and showed much indication of going off into hysterics. She speedily recovered, and evinced remarkable coolness and self-possession throughout the remainder of the case).

The Chairman asked the defendant if he had any statement to make. Mr Blackmore bowed politely to the Bench and said: "In my humble way of speaking, gentlemen, I will endeavour to make my defence. I unfortunately married Miss Carter, of Aylesbeare, on 25th August, 1855. I am a native of Exmouth, and trust I am not better known than respected. Everything that a kind husband can do I have done. There is my house visible for everyone to see it, and I have testimonials to my character of many years' standing in this place, which cannot be paralleled. I do not really think they can. During the time I have been married I have been treated with great contempt by my wife and her friends, and I have had ample grounds for bringing Mrs Blackmore here if I had pleased. I have heard that if you love a woman too well you are blind to her faults. Alas, gentleman, if my poor mother had lived a few years longer it would not have been. I have always been well and kindly disposed toward my wife".

The Chairman: Will you mention the principal points relating to this case?

Mr Blackmore: I will. I deny my wife's statement. When she struck me a blow and was going to repeat it - to prevent her I took her by the wrists, threw her down upon her back, and she screamed murder. That was yesterday. When I went home to dinner to-day she was about to strike me a blow, I took her by the two hands and sat her down in a chair - and it is as resectable a chair, gentleman, as can be. (Laughter). Would to God you could give me some redress. I am willing to allow her �25 or even �30 a year. Sometimes she sleeps on the floor, sometimes in one room, sometimes in another.

The Chairman reminded witness that he was going far away from the proceedings that day.

Mr Blackmore: Well, sir, I went home to dinner, and there was a dinner fit for a king, and if I have any comfort in my wife it is in her dinner. (Laughter). I have offered her �25 a year to go away from me, and if she will do so she will never want a �5 note to make herself comfortable. I am the treasurer to the Board of Health, and my house is now wide open and unprotected. My brothers and sisters used to come and see me, but now they cannot. (Here witness evinced considerable emotion). After drinking some water he said: I shall recover myself again, gentlemen, directly. If I go home perhaps her family's there. Now to give you an idea of my week's experience, her mother or, as she calls her "Mamma", and the family have never used me well - no poor fellow was ever served so bad.

The chairman thought this had nothing to do with the present case. Mr Smith said there were two points which Mrs Blackmore must establish before the magistrates could entertain the case - first, whether such violence had been used toward her that she had reason to be in dread of her husband for the future; and, secondly, whether she made this charge having no malice or ill will toward him. It was, however, a great pity that some friends did not interfere between the parties.

Mr Blackmore said Mr Adams [2] had the matter in hand, but could do nothing. Mr Marriott, a gentleman on intimate terms with Mr Blackmore, was requested by the bench to state what he knew about the parties. He said, as far as he himself had seen, he never knew a worse conducted woman in his life than Mrs Blackmore. he had been living near them for 2 years, and he believed that a more respectable man than Mr Blackmore could not be found. He had treated his wife with every respect and kindness, but her conduct was most inconsistent, especially with her profession as a Christian. Witness had been to Billingsgate, but he never heard worse expressions from the lips of Mrs Blackmore. He had come there from a sense of duty and, as he had said, he did not believe there was a kinder or better man living than Mr Blackmore.

The chairman asked Mrs Blackmore if she wanted to have her husband bound over to keep the peace. Mrs Blackmore said she was afraid of him and she had always noticed that when he had been with Mr Marriott he had always come home in an ill humour.

Mr Blackmore: My wife, gentlemen, took up a carving knife the other day and, pointing it at me said: "Murder me; murder me; why don't you murder me?"

The chairman said they had heard both sides, but although they had no opinion as to who was the worst of the two, they felt that they could do no other than at present dismiss the case. They hoped, however, that such proceedings would not occur again, for if they did it would be very serious for both parties.

Mr Blackmore said he would gladly leave the matter in the hands of Mr Coleridge, the magistrates' clerk, with a view to some arrangement being come to. It was understood that Mrs Blackmore was willing that this should be done, and the parties then left the court."

THE EXETER NEWS

This has been included for no better reason than that I came across it while looking for articles about the Blackmore family in the Newspaper Library at Collindale.

SATURDAY EVENING, January 6, 1827

EXECUTION

On Thursday [3] the sentence of the law was executed upon Thomas Charles White, aged 23, for arson, and Amelia Roberts, aged 30, convicted of robbing Mr Austin, her master, of property of the value of 400L and upwards....

At an early hour in the morning a crowd was collected in front of Newgate, and a number of respectable persons were seated at the windows in view of the platform, for which accommodation a considerable sum was paid several days ago. As a great crowd was anticipated, the Lord Mayor properly ordered additional barriers to be put up....and extra constables were sworn in, to keep order and prevent robbery and accidents. A little after six o'clock the Rev. Mr Cotton and Mr Baker arrived at Newgate, and visited the several apartments where the two malefactors were confined. The unfortunate persons received their spiritual advisers with gladness, and readily listened to the consolations they had to offer. About seven o'clock the female prisoner was taken from her own room to that occupied by Mr. White, in order to join him in the participation of the sacrament.

About a quarter before eight the Sheriffs and under Sheriffs proceeded to the lower condemned room, into which White was conducted by his Reverend attendant. After a short conversation with the Sheriffs, the officers commenced tying his wrists, during which time, Mr. Cotton and Mr. Wontner the Governor exhorted him to withdraw his thoughts from worldly objects, and direct them to the Throne of Grace for mercy. White replied, that he trusted in the mercy of God. Mr. Wontner asked him how had he spent the night? He said, "Bless God, I slept three hours". At the prisoner's request, his arms were bound with two silk handkerchiefs, instead of a cord. During the time this operation was performing, a bystander observed Mr. White bulge himself out as much as possible, so that after the handkerchiefs were tied his arms might have more play; and it was observed that he was not securely bound. The sequel proved the truth of this conjecture. The ill-fated man was then conducted towards the front of the prison. On his way, he was joined by his female fellow-suffer, who had previously withdrawn for the officers of the Sheriffs to pinion her arms, &c. The prison-bell then began to toll, and the Ordinary read a portion from the burial service. When they reached the debtors'-door, White ascended the scaffold with a firm step, and looked earnestly upon the dense crowd by whom he was surrounded. He stood as if listening attentively to the clergy-man while the executioners performed their solemn duty; but no sooner had they left him, than by a violent effort, the want of tightness in the handkerchiefs caused him to regain the use of his arms, and he instantly pulled off his cap and threw it down. The bandage having fallen to his elbows, the officers were forced to bind him again, during which time the populace uttered the most discordant yells, as if directed to the executioners; but we have learned that not the least blame attached to them in this instance. During this time the female continued in the lobby with Mr. Baker, where she engaged in constant prayer. When called to the scaffold she rose obediently, and considering her sex, and the dreadful death she was about to die, displayed uncommon firmness. Just as the noise intimated to White that the platform was about to fall, he made another violent effort, and leapt forward and gained foothold on the stationary plank; his arms were again at liberty, and he instantly clang with both hands to the rope above his head, and thus he remained in an oblique position, until he was pulled down by force. Before this was effected, Roberts appeared to have ceased to struggle. White having resolutely refused to have the cap replaced on his head, exhibited an appalling spectacle during his convulsive struggle, but fortunately the noose fixed in its proper place, so that it did not appear that his perverse obstinacy caused the culprit's agony to be protracted.

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Also found in Besley's Exeter News and Devon County Chronicle for Saturday 20 January 1827, in a paragraph headed "miscellaneous", exactly as printed, and equally irrelevant:-

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GRAVESTONES AND MEMORIALS AT LITTLEHAM

At far end of old part of graveyard, to the east-south-east of the church, nearly up against the car-park wall, reading from right to left:-

1 In memory of Thomas, son of the Rev Edward Southcote, late vicar of this Parish, died December 24th 1786 aged 48. Sarah his wife died February 14th 1826 aged (?) 86 years. Eliza, daughter of Samuel and Sarah Blackmore died April 8th 1836 aged 13 years. Clarissa Blackmore died April 20th 1844 aged 66 years.

2 In memory of William Blackmore Parish Clerk of this Parish for 25 years. He died March 22nd 1797 aged 55. Also Sarah his wife who died May 1st 1828 aged 84. Also Louisa, daughter of James and Elizabeth Blackmore and grand-daughter of the above, she died February 4th 1834 aged 5 years.

3 In memory of John Blackmore, Parish Clerk of this parish. He died November 17th 1834 aged 62. Also Sarah his beloved wife who died February 8th 1856 aged 83 years. She was grand-daughter of the late Rev Edward Southcote B.A., 26 years vicar of this parish. He died A.D. 1748.

There are two more in front of them, in the next row nearer the church:-

4 In memory of Edwin Blackmore died July 7th 1878 aged 57 years. Erected by his Uncle George as a token of affection and gratitude. Also Mary, relict of the above who entered into rest February 25th 1888 aged 63 years.

5 In Memory of William John, son of Samuel and Sarah Blackmore who died July 31st 1853 (?) aged 2(?) years. Also the above Sarah, wife of Samuel Blackmore who died -(?)- 1855 aged 60 years. Also the above Samuel Blackmore who died August 16th 1863 aged (?) 68 years. [NB. This gravestone is in a very bad condition.]

Other gravestones are dotted about the old part of the graveyard to the south east of, and nearer to, the church, including this one:-

6 To the south of the altar, in a direct line between the two yew trees, is the memorial to "George Blackmore, 50 years Parish Clerk, died 20th January 1881 aged 74, also Elizabeth Blackmore, his beloved sister, born December 5th 1811, died October 11th 1891."

7 Almost at the very far corner of the graveyard, directly opposite the village store, is another gravestone which is, now, almost unreadable. But it seems to mark the grave of "John Blackmore, beloved son of [?Joe or Joel] and Jane Blackmore, who died 26th December 1872. Also William Blackmore died March 22nd 1797 aged 52, also John his son died November 17th 1834 aged 63. Also Sarah the widow of John Blackmore died February 8th 1858 aged 83 and of George son of John and Sarah Blackmore 50 years Parish Clerk to this Parish died January 20th 1881 aged 74."

8 Under the yew tree in line with the door to the south aisle of the church is this; "In memory of Mary Shears Blackmore who died 25th October 1867 aged 81, also James Blackmore husband of the above who died 16th February ? 1869 aged 83 years"

9 Inside the church, in the south aisle, up above the arch-way, is a marble memorial plaque to Edward Southcote, vicar, William Blackmore, John his son, Sarah "relict of John Blackmore and granddaughter of the above Reverend Edward Southcote...." and George, son of John and Sarah Blackmore. It would be interesting to know who put this plaque up, and when.

10 In the Exmouth Parish Church, Holy Trinity, there are not one but two "William H Blackmore" names on the 1914-18 war memorial, but I have no idea if they are in any way related to us.

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The family must have been extremely proud of their connection with the former vicar, Edward Southcote, and understandably so in those days. They took every possible opportunity of mentioning it on their family memorials, even those to people who were born long after the good vicar was dead. As some people seem to have more than one memorial, there is no certainty (in the absence of a full and detailed study of the burial records, which are still available and say who is in which grave) as to where they were, in fact, buried.

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FOOTNOTES

1.  They were probably attached to the Devonshire Regiment (now the Devon and Dorsets) who, as the 'Bloody Eleventh' (because of their heroism during the Battle of Salamanca in 1812) took part under the Duke of Wellington in the Peinsular War in 1808-14 and had been raised in 1685 to help put down the Monmouth rebellion.
It is interesting to note that my father, both my sons and I myself were all good shots - HB and I both ended up in our school shooting VIIIs at Bisley, handy with a .303 rifle. BACK TO TEXT

2. George's solicitor, who handled his will for him.BACK TO TEXT

3.  Executions were always timed so that those condemned could have the benefit of attending Sunday service in the prison chapel shortly before going to meet their maker. At Newgate, where nearly all London executions were by then carried out (Tyburn having been abandoned at the end of the previous century) it was the custom for the coming week's candidates for the drop to sit in the front pew beside a black coffin, to concentrate their minds on their fate! BACK TO TEXT