MARRIAGES.

These unfortunate creatures most probably begged their way up from the country, and, while inmates here, owed their subsistence to charitable contributions, and, when cured, had to beg their way home again. There was alsothe following entry in another book, date about 1695:—

“Thomas Pirkin, a soldier under Captain John Callipfield, in Brigadier Solwin’s regiment, died in Hospital in August last past.”

Like its origin, its end is obscure: I cannot trace when, or from what causes, its useful and Christian career was terminated. It was certainly existing when Newcourt was collecting materials for his “Repertorium,” published in 1720, and that is the last allusion to it I can find.

It has always been traditionally related in Knightsbridge, that during the fatal year of the plague, 1666, the institution was for a while given up to those who had been attacked by that scourge; and it is also said that the enclosed plot on the Green was the spot where its victims, here and elsewhere in the locality, were buried.

In Butler’s “Hudibras” (III. c. ii. v. 1110), among other charges Cooper urges against the Presbyterians is, that they

“Fill’d Bedlam with predestination,And Knightsbridge with illumination.”

And the last editor of Gray’s “Hudibras”supposes that by the Presbyterian Illuminati here, Butler alluded to the unfortunate inmates of this Lazar-house![58a]

There were three other similar establishments in the suburbs of London—namely, at Southwark, Kingsland, and Mile-end. Great care was taken that those afflicted with leprosy, or other such disorder, should be immediately conveyed to one of these places. The law was strictly carried out, and where resistance was made, the sufferers were tied to horses, and dragged thither.[58b]

That the chapel attached to this hospital was of ancient foundation, we may justly infer from its being described as “very old and ruinous, and ready to fall,” as far back as 1629. In that year, for that cause, the inhabitants petitioned Laud, who then filled the see of London, for leave to rebuild it at their own cost, it being the place to which they usually resorted “to perform their religious duties and devotions.” The Bishop, by his licence, datedJuly 7th, 1629, gave them permission so to do (the consent of the vicar and churchwardens of St. Martin’s being first obtained), “therein to frequent Divine Service and sermons, which Divine offices were to be performed by a sufficient minister, lawfully licensed from time to time,” by the Bishops of London, or their Chancellors for the time being; “provided that the said inhabitants, or their families, did once every quarter of a year repair to their respective parish churches to perform their devotions, and every Easter receive the Holy Communion there, and pay all rights, duties, and profits to their respective ministers to which they did belong,” and this licence was to continue in force during the pleasure of the Bishops of London.

The Chapel was accordingly rebuilt, and “consecrated to the use of the poor of the Hospital,” who “having no maintenance but what they received of alms,” and not being “able to maintain a curate, repair the Chapel, or relieve themselves,” it was, on October 3rd, 1634, according to an arrangement made by the Master of the Hospital, the curate, and some of the principal inhabitants of Knightsbridge,ordered by Dr. Duck, then Chancellor of London, that they, or the major part of them, should let certain pews and seats in such manner as should best effect these objects; that they should keep a register of their accounts, which were to be adjusted every six months, reserving to the incumbents of St. Margaret’s and St. Martin’s their respective rights and emoluments. Dr. Duck presented one piece of the plate used in the celebration of the Communion.

In 1650 the Parliamentary Commissioners appointed to inquire into the state of ecclesiastical benefices, reported that Knightsbridge Chapel, in the parish of St. Martin-in-the-Fields, belonged to a Lazar-house there; that twenty years before the date of inquiry it was re-edified and enlarged by public contributions; and that Henry Walker, the minister, placed there on probation by order of Parliament, received £10 per annum from the inhabitants. The Commissioners afterwards allowed him £40 per annum.[60]

Among the records of the Dean and Chapteris a petition from John Glassington, surgeon, dated 1654, praying to be admitted Governor of the Hospital, which his ancestors had always rented of the church at Westminster; which petition is accompanied by a certificate of Sir John Thorowgood, one of the Commissioners for Middlesex, and an active public officer in this locality at the time of the Commonwealth; but I infer the application was unsuccessful for a time, for in the next year Henry Walker was presented to the curacy by Cornelius Holland and George Reeve,joint-governorsof the Chapel. John Glassington was, however, Governor in 1659.

In 1699, Nicholas Birkhead, who was then lessee of the Chapel, rebuilt it, and the present building is mainly his work. In 1789, it was enlarged by its front being brought in a line with the adjoining houses, a grass-plot eight feet deep having previously occupied this space. The present front, galleries, &c., were then erected. At the end of the last century Dixon Gamble, Esq., became lessee, but now it is held direct from the Dean and Chapter of Westminster, who nominate the incumbent. There is an endowment of £30 per annum payable bythem, but the income is derived chiefly from the pew rents.

The Chapel is as plain an edifice as possibly can be; there is no ornament of any kind about it. It is built of brick, and is 53 feet long, by 30 feet broad. The gallery is round three sides of the building; the organ, built by Hancock, 1770, being on the south side. The communion-table is at thenorthend. The front terminates in a pediment, over which is a small cupola containing one bell, thus inscribed—

“Mrs. Mary Birkhed gaue me, 1733.”

In the brickwork are let in three stone slabs, the centre of which is inscribed “Knightsbridge Chapel, 1789;” that on the right is inscribed, “Rebuilte by Nicho Birkhead, Gouldsmith of London, Anno Dom. 1699;” the left or western one has the following emphatic dedication cut in it,[62]“Capella sanctæ Indiuidux Trinitatis.”

The Communion Plate consists of five pieces, all of silver; they are inscribed as follows:—

The Large Chalice.—Sanctæ et Indiuidæ Trinitati—Rest to the Lord:—Mary Birkhead (about 1708.)

The Paten.—Sanctæ et Indiuidæ Trinitati.—The Guift of Arthure Duck, Docter of the Ciuell Lawe and Chancelor of London (1628 or 1629).

The Small Chalice.—Sanctæ et Indiuidæ Trinitati.—The Gift of the Right Honbl. and Right Reverent Willm. Lord Bishop of London.[63a]

The Plate.—The Gift of Elizebeth Knightly to Knights-Bridg Church, Oct. 18th, 1705.[63b]There is a coat of arms engraved on the edge of this piece, doubtless that of the donor.

The Flagonis modern, being the gift of the Rev. J. Foyster (about 1825).

Old Chapel, Knightsbridge

The list of its ministers is, as far as I have been able to trace them, as follows:—

1630. Nathaniel White, licensed May 24th.

1637. William Pope—as curate.

1640. Nehemia Dod—as curate.

— Henry Walker on probation till 1655, when he was nominated curate.

1658. Christopher Lee appears to have been minister, but various other names also appear in the registers till May 23rd.

1660. Thomas Wheatley then signs himself “Minister of Knightsbridge.”

1661 (Feb.). Henry Tilley.

1662 (April). Nathaniel Barker.

1663 (April). — Herring (whose name occasionally appears between 1658–60.)

1666. Robert Hodson, till October 20th.

1667. Francis Hall, licensed October 25th.

1669. Henry Herbert or Hubert, S.T.P., licensed April 26th. His signature, however, occasionally appears before this date.

1671. John Cull.

1683. — Sanby, who was minister from January 1st, 1683, to December 31st, 1685.

1686. Henry Watts, who quitted in May, 1695; strangers appear to have officiated till

1696. Thomas Bobar entered on his duties December 4th. He made way for in

1699. Philip Horneck, who officiated from March 9th to October 16th.

1699. Thomas Knaggs appointed curateOctober 16th; he stayed till January 10th, 1707, when Francis Jeffrey succeeded. But in February, 1708, Mr. Knaggs returned, and was minister till May 17th, 1713.

1713. Robert Hicks, to June 10th, 1719.

1719. Humphry Persehouse, who was minister forty-one years. He resigned in December, 1759, when

1760. — Bailey, chaunter of Westminster Abbey, was appointed on January 1st by the Dean and Chapter. I believe he was succeeded by the Rev. John Gamble, nominated by his father, as lessee. He died in 1811.

1811. — Harris.[65]

1822. J. G. Foyster, M.A. of Queen’s College, Cambridge. He published a volume of sermons preached here. In 1832, Lord Brougham gave him the rectory of St. Clement’s, Hastings, on which he quitted Knightsbridge. He died there May 17th, 1855.

1832. John Martin, who shortly resigned, and was succeeded by the Rev. Hibbert Binney, D.C.L., the late minister, who, since June, 1838 (when he was appointed rector of Newbury), left the chapel to the ministry of the Rev. John Wilson, now D.D., and the present incumbent. Dr. Binney died June 6th, 1857. Among assistant ministers here have been the Rev. Alexander Cleeve, author of several devotional works, who died September 23rd, 1805; the Rev. H. J. Symons, LL.D., who read the burial service over Sir John Moore at Corunna. He gained the notice of the Duke of York in this pulpit, and quitted it for the Peninsula with a regiment, to which he was chaplain.

Baptisms and marriages were formerly solemnised here, and twenty register-books, some very small, and others quarto and folio size, are still preserved. Many of them, however, are but duplicates of the others, and three are memorandum-books of the clerks, with registrations, expenses, notices, and other entries therein. Theregular register of baptismshas been missing a very long while, but duplicates of several years have been preserved; with the exception of a few leaves, all the booksof expenses are lost also.[67]I have stated before that the books of the Lazar-house are also missing, and so is the burial book, if such ever existed. I shall be glad to quit this statement, so disgraceful to some of the former officials of the Chapel, and give a few extracts from those still fortunately preserved.

Previous to the passing of Lord Hardwick’s celebrated Marriage Act, in 1753, it was not necessary to the validity of a marriage that such should be performed in a church, or solemnised by any religious ceremony. And although the law of the Church visited with censure those who neglected its canon in this respect, yet the Common Law recognised other and more private modes. Consequently around and in London, at almost all the chapels, marriages were performed, and at some in a very discreditable manner. Lord Hardwick’s bill made it necessary to the validity of a marriage that it should be solemnised in a parish church orpublic chapel where banns had been regularly published. The result was, that as at these chapels banns were not published, marriages therein solemnised were no longer legal; and among others obliged to succumb to this law, Knightsbridge Chapel was one.

It would almost appear that our Chapel had some reputation for its irregularities in this solemnity, if we are to trust some of the pointed allusions in the literature of a bygone currency. Shadwell, in his play of “The Sullen Lovers,” published in 1668, makes Lovell say:—

“Let’s rally no longer: there is a person at Knightsbridge, that yokes all stray people together; we’ll to him, he’ll despatch us presently, and send us away as lovingly as any two fools that ever yet were condemned to marriage.”

And in theGuardian(No. 14, March 27, 1713), a run-away marriage is spoken of as being celebrated “last night at Knightsbridge.” Although such references seem to illustrate what could be only known as a fact, I yet think they were but a jocular remark as regards Knightsbridge, and not indications of a reality. It is scarcely possible to think such would have been allowed in a place of worship, so much under the control of the Dean andChapter as this was; and many memoranda in the books vindicate its ministers from the charge of winking at wrong, as these allusions insinuate. Of these curious entries I give the following as specimens:—

“Mem.—Thomas Palmer and Ann Clarke: if they come to be maryed, stop them, and send for Mr. Clarke, next doore to the Mitre Tavern in Duppin’s Ally, King Street, Westminster.”“William Squire, silver-smith, living in Long Acre, who stood father to Elizabeth Goldingham, who was married to Edward Keyn ye 20th of ffebruary, 1690/1, does give this account of the said Elizabeth Goldingham, that she has lodged at his house for 2 years, that she is no heyress, but ffollows the trade of a manta-maker for her living, and further he adds that she has neither ffather or mother liveing, nor no relation who does any way look affter her, but that she is really at her own disposal.”

“Mem.—Thomas Palmer and Ann Clarke: if they come to be maryed, stop them, and send for Mr. Clarke, next doore to the Mitre Tavern in Duppin’s Ally, King Street, Westminster.”

“William Squire, silver-smith, living in Long Acre, who stood father to Elizabeth Goldingham, who was married to Edward Keyn ye 20th of ffebruary, 1690/1, does give this account of the said Elizabeth Goldingham, that she has lodged at his house for 2 years, that she is no heyress, but ffollows the trade of a manta-maker for her living, and further he adds that she has neither ffather or mother liveing, nor no relation who does any way look affter her, but that she is really at her own disposal.”

But although such entries show the rule, I must admit that at a certain period before the time to which the foregoing entries refer, are others which appear suspicious; and if anyirregularities occurred I should place them between the two extreme dates, shown in the following extracts:—

1678, April 28. Jacob Stent and Mary Crouch, secrecy for life.

1678, April 28. James Gibson and Anne Tarrant, secrecy.

1678/9, April 28. William Taylor and Elizabeth Steward, great secrecy.

1680, April 25. Edward Charlton and Alice Robinson, secret for 14 years.

1682, May 7. Andrew Barry and Mary Elton, secrecy.

With these curious notices of old systems, habits, and ideas, I proceed to give some extracts from the registers, selecting those referring to eminent persons, and which contain allusions of interest and peculiarity. The earliest entry of baptisms is the following.

1663, Aug. 28. Will, ye sone of will birke of this hamlett, by Mr. Herring.

1667, Jan. 23. Sofiah London, the daughter of Richard London and Mary his wife.

A family named London lived in this locality many years, and there are several entries of the name. Probably the celebrated gardener sonamed, who will be afterwards noticed, belonged to it.

1668. Nathaniel, son of William Ipsley, baptised, September 8th.

Most probably this name should be Hipsley. Persons of this name were clerks here many years.

1670, Nov. 3. James, son of James and Mary Rouse.

1675, Feb. 19. Dorothy, daughter of James Took, Esq., and Magdalen his wife. Westminster parish.

1675, April 11. William Lord, son of Robert and Anne Thurlow.

A family of this name lived in the St. Margaret’s part of the hamlet in the 17th century.

1675, Nov. 5. Joan, daughter of Robert and Hester Gunter, baptised.

Persons of this name may be traced from this period to the present time in our locality. It is the earliest entry of the name I have found.

1676, Jan. 8. Margerite, the daughter of Elizabeth Bedford by Mr. Philip Thomas.

1677, June 17. Tristram, the son of Tristram and Anne Huddlestone.

1677, July 20. George, son of Berkley Trye,Esq., by Mary his wife, baptised by Jo. Andrews, entered at St. Martin’s.

The Tryes are a very ancient Gloucestershire family.

1678, Jan. 3. Robert, son of Robert and Hester Gunter.

1681, April 11. Anne, the daughter of George Sams by Martha Wheatley, his servant, as ’tis told me.

1682, May 27. Thomas Dennis, 30 years of age, was baptised.

1683, March 4. Jane Rutter was baptised. A black woman.

1689, June 27. ffrances Wharton, the daughter of Jane Wharton, a child of base (birth).

1691, Dec. 21. Hannah Hipsley, daughter of Thomas and Mary Hipsley, by Mr. Watts. Born Dec. 6th.

1692, Feb. 14. Margaret Tarbet, the daughter of Margaret Perryvil; being a woman-child that fell in travail in ye street.

1702. Mary, daughter of Thomas Werd by Mary his wife, was baptised the 3rd of May by Mr. Killberk.

This is the last baptism recorded, and onlyone is entered between October 16th, 1694, and this date: the others are missing; and though I know baptisms were occasionally solemnised here even to the end of the last century, no later record has been preserved.

There are no registers of marriages here now, anterior to April 1st, 1658, but in the Bishop’s register are some earlier ones, the first of which is the following:—

16th April, 1632. Thomas Herbert, of Hammond Head, com. York, Esq., bachelor, 24; and Lucy Alexander, spinster, 20, daughter of Sir William Alexander.

The earliest in the Chapel register book is as follows:—

1658, April 1. William Eaton and Jane Hurley were married.

1661, ffeb. 10. Richard Steele and Eliza Cotterill per me Ant. Dode.

1666, July 17. William Adkins and Katherine Edwards at ye Bowling Green.

The Bowling Green was perhaps at the Spring Garden, afterwards to be noticed.

1666, Oct. 14. Thomas Clark and Elizabeth Milton.

1667, April 16. Philip Wharton and Hester Bewley.

1672, June 11. Sir Philip Harcourte and Eliz Lee married by Mr. Cull.

1672, July 13. Robert Chaloner, esq., and Dorothy Britten.

The Chaloners were one of the few old Middlesex families. They were seated at Chiswick.

1675, Feb. 16. Christopher Benson and Eliz. Hilliard, belonging to ye vice chancellor.

1675, Nov. 24. Gabriel Hipsley and Penelope ffry.

1676, May 7. Nicholas Brady and Bethia Chapman.

1676, Oct. 27. Arthur Deavereux and Anne Ireland in pompe Courte in ye midle temple, 3 payre of stayres.

1677, July 17. Hugh Middleton, esq., and Mrs. Dorothy Oglander, married by Mr. Nath. Cole, dd, his majesty’s Chaplain in ordinary.

1678, Feb. 21. William Harbord, esq., and Mrs. Katherine Russell by Mr. James Symonds.

1678, July 23. Sir James Hayes and Grace Clavering.

1678, August 3. Sir John Lenthall and ye Lady Catherine Lant, secrecy, by Mr. Joseph Stretch, minister.

Sir John Lenthall, only son of the Speaker, was Governor of Windsor, under Cromwell, and knighted by him in 1657. On May 21, 1660, he moved in the House of Commons that all who had borne arms against the king should be exempted from pardon; and for such was called to the bar, reprimanded, and degraded his knighthood. He afterwards lost his seat upon petition against his return. He died in 1681.

1678, August 15. Robert Grime and Barbara January, the king’s taylor, nexte doore to 3 tuns taverne lane.

1679, April 10. Thomas Lant, esq., and Mrs. Jane Bromfield.

1681, Feb. 20. John Stibbs and Sarah Cromwell.

For the last 250 years a family named Cromwell—and which, in the last century, branched out considerably—has been resident in this part of Middlesex. Cromwell, the minister of Henry VIII., was born at Putney, not far out of the county; and Sir Richard Cromwell(grandfather to Oliver the Protector), signed himself in letters to the “Mauler of Monasteries”his most bounden nephew. In 1691 a Robert Cromwell lived at Kensal Green, and is probably the person of the same name who sat on the jury at the trial of Daniel Axtell. For many years a brewery at Hammersmith has been conducted by persons of this name, not improbably descendants from the Putney blacksmith.

1682, January 31st. John Cull, curate of Knightsbridge, and Martha Turner, by Mr. Yearwood.

Mr. Cull was minister here twelve years. He died in 1683, and was buried at Kensington on the 21st September.

1682, Dec. 24. Sir John Hatton and Mary Hinton.

1683, July 3rd. Heale Hooke, Baronet, and Hester Underhill by Seyward of Kensington.

Sir Hele Hooke, for many years a resident in Kensington Square, died there in July, 1712, by which the title became extinct. Mr. Seward was curate there. (See Faulkner’s “History of Kensington.”)

1685, Sept. 12. David Gunter and Eliz. West.

1686, Sept. 4. Sir Francis de Geilhausen and Flora Bishop for Feb. 6, 1685.

1687, Feb. 1. Sir Samuel Morland, Knight, and Mrs. Mary Aylif, secrecy.

This entry records the unfortunate marriage of the celebrated inventor, described by himself in such terms of misery, to the diarist Pepys. In all the biographies of Morland I have referred to, and even in Burke, his wife’s name is not given, and therefore I presume it has hitherto been unknown. The wedding was, as the register tells, private; and eighteen days after it took place, he wrote to Pepys, that, “being in very great perplexities, and almost distracted for want of moneys,” a person whom he had befriended in time of need proposed to recommend him an heiress, “who had 500l.per ann. in land, and 4,000l.in ready money,” and property of other kinds. “Believing it,” he writes, “utterly impossible,” that one whom he had assisted, “should ever be guilty of so black a deed” as to betray him in his distress, “I was, about a fortnight since, led as a fool to the stocks, and married a coachman’s daughter, not worth a shilling,” and whose moral characterproved to be none of the purest. He, procuring evidence (shortly after) of adultery, took the case into the Ecclesiastical Court, which granted a divorce on that ground on May 17.[78]It was thefourthtime Sir Samuel tied the matrimonial knot, and thelast.

1687, May 3. Sir William Moet, and Antonetta Willobe.

1687, Sept. 1. John Atley and Mary Crumwell.

1689, Jan. 7. Richard Bailey and Eliz. Shakespeare.

1690, July 20. Sir Thomas Fautherly and Mrs. Frances Brown.

1690, July 31. John Lenthall and Eliz. Wildman.

1693, Jan. 8. Thomas Cromwel and Ann Smith.

1694, Aug. 12. Edward Shaxspear and Eliz. Ward.

1695, May 26. Tristram Huddleston, Gentleman of St. James’, Wmr., and Mrs. Mary Darker of the same.

1695, Nov. 16. John Baptist Renoult, Minister of the parish of St. Ann’s, Westminster, and Amery Henri, Widd.

1696, July 23. John Line of St. Martin’s Neat Houses, and Dorothy ffall, spinster of St. Margaret’s, Westminster.

1697, Jan. 30. Jasper Arnold, Gent., of St. James, Westminster, and Antonett Culmer of Kensington, spinster.

The Arnolds were a numerous and opulent family long resident in Westminster. Families of the same name, and probably connected, also resided in Knightsbridge and Kensington for above a century. One of the Westminster Arnolds was a brewer, and a juryman on the trial of the Seven Bishops. (See “Macaulay’s History.”)

1698, August 21. George Cumming, Taylor, at ye Woolstaple, near great Tom, St. Margaret’s, Westminster, and Mary Watson of the same place.

1698, Dec. 18. William ffinton, Life Guardsman in college-street, near ye Black dog: Catherine Llewyllen in Dean’s Yard, Westmr.

(Black Dog Alley still exists in College Street.)

1699, Jan. 1. Thomas Lewsie, peruke maker in ye pel-mel at ye sign of ye two pidgeons, in St. James’ Westmr, and Mary pigot, of St. Paul’s, Covent Garden, in maiden lane.

1699, Jan. 23. Richard Green, Barber, in St. Brides, at ye Barber’s pole near ffleet-bridge, ye corner house but one, and Mary Truby of ye same place.

1699, May 23. Thomas Fenwick of St. Margaret’s, Westminster, servtto Storey at ye Park Gate, and Mary Gregory of ye same.

This notice is curious: Story’s Gate, named from the person here noticed, is the entrance into St. James’s Park from Bridge Street. Story was keeper of the Aviary to Charles II., hence Birdcage Walk.

1699, August 18. Cornelius Vander Velde, Limner, of St. Giles’, living in Dyot street, over agt ye Sparrow’s Nest, and Bernada Vander Hagen, of ye same.

Cornelius Vander Velde was brother to William Vander Velde the elder, the great painter of sea pieces. He was himself a painter of nautical subjects, and in the employ of Charles II. This is an addition to Walpole’s notices.

1699, Nov. 16. Charles Goring, Gentleman of Heysdown, in the parish of Washington, and Frances Bridger of Hams in ye same county. (Sussex) by Mr. Knaggs.

Mr. Goring afterwards succeeded to the baronetcy.

1700, July 30. RobtWalpole, Esquire, of Houghton in ye County of Norfolk, and Katharine Shorter, of ye Parish of St. James, Westm. by Mr. Prevoste.

This record is that of the celebrated minister of the first two Georges. His wife was daughter of a Lord Mayor of London, and mother of the celebrated Horace.

1700, Nov. 22. Miles Pennington, Gent., living in Tuttle Street, at ye sign of ye Green Dragon, and Eliz. D’oyley of the same.

1703, March 4. John Oldmixon and Elizabeth Parrey.

1703, Dec. 25. Benjamin Houghton and Eliz. Mandeville.

1704, April 28. John Every, Esq., and ye HonbleMartha Thompson.

Mr. Every afterwards succeeded his brother in the baronetcy; his wife was daughter of John, Lord Haversham.

1705, Jan. 6. Sir William Humphrey and Eleanor Lancashire.

Sir William was Lord Mayor in the first year of George I., and entertaining the new king at Guildhall, was made a baronet. His wife was widow of a London merchant.

1705, Jan. 8. Charles Danvers and Margaret Evans.

Danvers has been a name in Chelsea these 250 years past, and is still to be found there. Sir John Danvers, of Chelsea, was one who signed the death-warrant of Charles I.

1705, May 23. Henry Graham, Esq., and Mary, Countess of Darentwater.

This lady was the youngest natural daughter of Charles II., by Mrs. Davis the actress, and known before marriage as Lady Mary Tudor. On August 18, 1687, being then only in her fourteenth year, she was married to Edward Radcliffe, afterwards second earl of Derwentwater, by whom she became mother of that ill-fated earl executed on Tower Hill for his share in the Rebellion of 1715; of Charles Radcliffe, who also perished on the scaffold thirty years after, and of two other children. Her husband, from whom she separated in 1700, died April 29,1705; and within a month, as this record shows, she married Henry Graham of Levens, Esq., who died the following year. She married thirdly James Rooke, whom she likewise survived. She died at Paris, November 5, 1726, in her fifty-fourth year.

1710, May 30. Sir Tho. Robinson, Baronet, and Mrs. Elizabeth Hare by license. Tho. Yalden, S.T.P.

Sir Thomas Robinson, grandson of Sir Thomas Robinson, killed in jumping from a window to escape from a fire in his chambers in the Temple. His wife was daughter of Sir Thomas Hare of Stow Bardolph. The officiating clergyman was doubtless the poet of that name.

1710, Dec. 13. Charles May, esq., and Mrs. Jane Middleton.

1712, Jan. 19. Mr. Martin Purcell and Mrs. Mary Glagg.

1721, June 19. Charles Vanbrugh, esq., of the parish of St. Martin in the Fields, and Anne Burt of ye same, married by Dr. Hough, rector of St. George’s.

Most probably this gentleman was brother of the celebrated architect and dramatist, Sir JohnVanbrugh. His brother Charles was baptised Feb. 27, 1680.

1721, July 22. The Hon. Josias Burchett of St. Martin in ye Feilds, esq., widower, and Margaret Aris, of St. Anne’s, Westminster, widow.

1726, June 8. Francis Bytheway of St. Clement’s Danes, Batchelor, and Ann Persehouse of St. Martin’s in ye feilds, spinster.

1730, May 7. Noel Broxholme, M.D., St. James, Bachelor, 40, and Mrs. Amy Dowdeswell, St. Ann’s Westminster, widow.

1741, May 26. The Rev. Mr. John Pettingall of St. Margaret’s, Westminster, Batch: and Susanna Long of ye same, spinster.

Mr. Pettingall was minister of Duke Street Chapel, Westminster.

1752, Dec. 2. John Fry ye younger, of Bromley in ye County of Middx, and Elizabeth Eveleigh, of ye same, spins.

This is the last entry; and the blank pages after show it to have been the last marriage solemnised here.

In Wilkinson’s “Londina” the following curious extracts from the Accounts are given:—

Monye laid out for and toward yereparation of the said Chappell as followeth:

* October 17, 1655.

To the plumer for a gutter of lead 18 of April, 1656 (Qy. 1655)

To Edward Rowles

To Robert Darwinn, for mendinge the great window nexte the pulpit

* 1656.

To John Fitzwalter and his labourers

ffor lathes, nails, and lime, and sand

ffor three hundred of tiles

To Rowles his man for mendinge the Chappell doore, and bell

* 24th October, 1657.

To Thomas Austin and his labourers

To Darwinne for mendinge the north windows

Memorandum undated, but I think 1658 is the year:—

Monnies gathered by the inhabitants of Knightsbridge for & towards the Reparations of the Chappell called Trinitie Chappell, belonginge to the Hospitale, Spittle, or Lazar House of Knightsbridge:

lb.

The Lady Stonehouse

Mr. Hall

Mr. Pate

Mr. Callaway

Mr. White

Mr. Harris

Mr. Boll

Mr. Lewis

Goodman Paldin

Mr. Hickman

Som toto

More Collected the 29th day of June at the Chappell doore at the Requeste of Mr. Anthony dod, minister of Paddington:

More Collected the 01th day of April att Chappell doore att the Request of Mr. Lee, Minister now present of Trinitie Chappell of Knightsbrige the some of fiftye eight shillings two-pence, by us 58s. 2d.

Christopher LeeTho. TurnerRichard Halloway.July, 1659.

Christopher LeeTho. TurnerRichard Halloway.

July, 1659.

Received of the Lady Langton (for her entrance into her yere) towards the repayringe of the Chappell, the some of 2

Received of Mr. Hall the same month

* The 9th of June, 1659.[86]Received of John Glassington, Governour of the Hospital of Knightsbridge the some of 10s.—which was collected for a breefe for and towards the losses by fire in the parish of Brides’, London, I say received by me,Witness, Anthony Dod.John Gray.* The 27th Day of ffebr, 1658.Then received of Mr. Glassington of the Hospitall of Knightsbridge, for the use of the Bayliffe and Burgesses of East Thetford (Retford), in the County of Nottingham, the some of ten shillings, which was gathered for the rebuilding of the church of East Thetford aforesaid.Tho. Mason.

* The 9th of June, 1659.[86]

Received of John Glassington, Governour of the Hospital of Knightsbridge the some of 10s.—which was collected for a breefe for and towards the losses by fire in the parish of Brides’, London, I say received by me,

Witness, Anthony Dod.

John Gray.

* The 27th Day of ffebr, 1658.

Then received of Mr. Glassington of the Hospitall of Knightsbridge, for the use of the Bayliffe and Burgesses of East Thetford (Retford), in the County of Nottingham, the some of ten shillings, which was gathered for the rebuilding of the church of East Thetford aforesaid.

Tho. Mason.

The following entry refers, perhaps, to the law which made conformity to the Church of England a necessary qualification for official employment:—

Mr. Gamaleon Capell and Mr. John Adams received the Communion in Trinitie Chappell at Knightsbridge the 14th day of July, 1680.

And the next is an instance of the operation of a very absurd and immoral law:—

August ye 6, 1695. Recdof Mr. Tho. Hipsley[87]ten pounds and seven shillings and six pence by order of ye Comishenors for Marridges in Knightsbridge Chappell, at to shillings and six pence per Marridg:By usJos. RadliffLaine Mease.

By us

Jos. RadliffLaine Mease.

The next extract informs us the rental received by the Birkheads as lessees; for I presume it to be a receipt for the whole year:—

Recdthe third day of Jany, 1701, of Mr. Thomas Hipsley the sum of fforty nine pounds for Rent, allowing all the King’s Taxes to Christmas day last past, it being in full for Rent to the said Christmas day. p. me,Mary Birkhead.

Mary Birkhead.

In Chelsea Register (1699) is the following entry—“Gave to the Beadle of Knightsbridge,[88]yt brought Sir Thomas Ogle’s childrens clothes, at their first coming to the parish 0 . 0 . 6.”

Regarding burials, the only entry in the books recording such is the following:—“Mrs. Smith the wife of Edward Smith of Bromtone deced the 5th day of March, and was bereed the 6th day of ye same month 1667.” If persons were interred here in any number, the interments ceased most probably before 1683, when Mr. Cull was buried at Kensington. No register of such is to be found now, although the tradition was very strong that the enclosure on the Green was consecrated for the resting place of the dead.

Before concluding this account of the Chapel I must notice the Birkhead family, with whom it was so many years connected. They appear to have held considerable property in the hamlet, but I have not been able to trace their history, other than what the following extracts from the registers inform us:—

1672 May 28th. “Nicholas Birkhead and Susan Robinson, married by Dr. Littleton.”

This, doubtless, was the “gouldsmith” who “rebuilte” the chapel: Dr. Littleton was rector of Chelsea, and celebrated for his Dictionary and other literary productions.

1678. Nicholas ye son of Nicholas Birkhead, junior, by Susanna his wife, bapt. Aprill 30th 1678: in the parish of Buttolphe’s, Aldersgate, London.

This relates evidently to the same person: the other notices are as follow:—

1688 July 1. John Clements and Eliz. Birkhead.

1689 Aug 20. Edward Nowell and Eliz. Birkhead.

1693 April 27. Thomas Rouse and Hester Birkhead.

1694 July 15. Richard Wright and Eliz. Birkhead.

1694 Aug 27. James Birkhead, Joyner, of St. Andrews, Holborn; and Anne Jinks, spinster of St. Giles’ in ye fields.

1705 Feb 10. John Birkhead and Ann Gurney.

1723 June 18. Edward Brind of Buckingham,Batch, and Elizabeth Birkhead, of St. Martin’s in ye fields, spinster.[90]

Here my account of this ancient foundation, which has afforded, bodily and spiritually, aid to thousands, before the more splendid structures which now eclipse it were erected, must close. I own I feel a deep interest in the old place, shorn as it is of its usefulness in great measure; and it is with regret I am compelled to bear witness against those superiors of the venerable Abbey, to which it was attached, for permitting its decay to go on, without one single attempt to renovate it with fresh life and vigour. I cannot find that they have for thelast 150 years aided it, or held out the parental hand in any way. They have appointed its ministers, have allowed them a miserable endowment, and this is the sum of their support. With the rentals they have drawn from Knightsbridge for so lengthened a period, Church and Hospital ought now to stand, both flourishing in useful prosperity, monuments alike to the piety of our ancestors, and to the conservative care of their descendants, who had striven to emulate their goodness by the extension of the blessings their bounty bestowed. Is it so, that in this district nothing can be done in the nineteenth to remedy the faults of the eighteenth century?

In connection with Trinity Chapel was a school, founded in 1783, chiefly by the exertions of John Read, who will be hereafter further noticed. The education afforded was substantially good, better than most schools of the same kind generally afforded, and was entirely free. Its support was derived from the contributions of the public, and collections at the Chapel. For many years the number was limited to 34 boys and 18 girls, but in 1832 it was increased to 45 boys and 25 girls, beyond which number the income of the Committeewould not allow them to extend. To Mr. Kember, its Treasurer, for many years the institution mainly owed its existence; but at length, in 1844, the subscribers at a general meeting transferred the institution, and attached it to the new church of St. Paul.

Before this school was founded it would seem one of a similar kind had previously existed, for Northvouck mentions one here, but with 6 boys and 6 girls only.

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