Blackmore: St Laurence Church in the 1960s (5)

Lady Chapel Altar.  The Lady Chapel was removed
from the church in 1988 during reordering

Imperial War Museum's library and services under threat

ESAH160: High Country History Group: Imperial War Museum's ...: High Country History Group members finds out that Imperial War Museum's Library and services are under threat.  £4m annual deficit because of government funding.  Online petition to save closure of unique library, cut in important education services, loss of 60+ jobs. closure of popular 'Explore History' facility in London. Threat of sell off of library contents.

Blackmore: St Laurence Church in the 1960s (4)

West Door leading from bell tower to nave

Blackmore: St Laurence Church in the 1960s (3)

Interior of Church looking west - photograph from the 1960s

The Great War Remembered

Part 1

Many thousands of people have been to the Tower of London to view the growing number of poppies in the dry moat.  Between 4 August and 11 November 2014 a total of 888,246 hand-made ceramic poppies were planted.  “Each one represents a British military death during the First World War”.  It was called ‘Blood Swept Lands and Seas of Red’.  The very many people there walked quietly along the path above the moat taking photographs.  Described erroneously by someone on television as “pretty” it was a thought provoking piece of art.  The poppies were offered for sale at £25 a time.  All have sold.  (See also http://poppies.hrp.org.uk/ and https://poppies.hrp.org.uk/buy-a-poppy/ ).

These photographs were taken on 1 November 2014.

Part 2

Sir Tony Robinson came to the Essex Record Office in September to speak at an event jointly organised by Ancestry, the family history website.  The Lecture Theatre was full.  In an entertaining and informative talk he spoke on the subject of researching the Great War.  

The Internet has given unparalleled access to archives. “It is now a million times easier to research [family] history”, Tony said.  (He does not like being called Sir Tony.)  His grandfather fought in the Great War but never spoke of the hardships endured and sights witnessed.  “There are whole stories we thought might be lost, but we are starting to re-find them”.  So we can now celebrate “the rediscovery of these stories”.

Sir Tony Robinson gave four reasons why we should remember the Great War. 

“Firstly, there is the ‘never again argument’.  We should observe history and not repeat past mistakes. 

“Secondly, ‘war is a massive engine of social change’”.  The First World War saw the movement of people on a scale not seen before and inventions of weapons of mass destruction.  It was a mechanical and industrial war bogged down in the trenches of the Western Front. It was a different type of war with junior officers leading the charge and senior officers doing their best to organise in the face of mayhem. 

“Thirdly: ‘the impact of a major war stays and stays’”.  The breakup of the Ottoman Empire and the Sykes-Picot agreement of 1916 devised by the major powers which arbitrarily redrew boundaries to create Syria, Iran and Iraq, but ignored cultural ethnicity. 

“Fourthly: ‘to honour our dead’.  We know that our ancestors had the same characteristics, same humour, same DNA as ourselves”. They are remembered in the 120 war grave cemeteries, the 20 million WW1 records on Ancestry (with more photos added as they are being discovered) as well as our War Memorials.

Blackmore: St Laurence Church in the 1960s (2)

Interior of Church looking east, before the removal of the rood cross

Mountnessing: The Will of Endymion Canning, 1681

To celebrate the publication of the collection of Wills online held by Essex Ancestors, the subscription arm of the Record Office, up to 1720 we present the Will of Endymion Canning, who has connections with Mountnessing.  For more see http://blackmorehistory.blogspot.co.uk/search?q=canning

THE WILL OF ENDYMION CANNYNGE   

made 24^th May 1681, codicil added 2^nd April 1683 & he died 7^th Dec 1863

In the name of God Amen, I Endymion Cannynge of
Brooke in the county of Rutland Genl. (probably General) being in perfect health and of good and perfect
memory for which I give most humble thanks to Almighty God  I do make and
ordain this my last will and testament in manner and form following that is to say
first and before all things I commend my soul into the hands of Almighty God
the maker of me and all mankind my frail and mortal body I commit
to the earth there to be buried in the Church or Churchyard of Brooke or some other
convenient burying place near where I shall happen to die in hopes of joyful
resurrection through the merits and mediation of Jesus Christ my blessed Saviour
and Redeemer And for those few worldly goods I have to dispose of as hereafter is
declared to my dear sister Mrs Jane Wilson I give the sum of One hundred
pounds and to her son Thomas Wilson my nephew the sum of fifty pounds
and also to all my cousins  Jermans  I command that shall be living at the time of my decease I
give and bequeath to every one of them Tenne pounds  apiece besides a gold ring
worth about Twenty shillings with this Motto (Fin sequeris)  Also the same legacy
of a ring but not money I bequeath to my  Cousin Cannyng  of  Foxcot and his wife
to my sister Clutterbuck and her two sons William and Thomas Cannynge my
nephews also to my two good friends Mr William ?Willes and Mr Andrew Burton
also to my friend Mr Jeffery Wilcox and my friend Mr James Watts of Ridlington
to every of these my friends I give a ring as before is expressed  Also to my brother
in law the Bishop of Gloucester I give Ten pounds to buy him a ring and to my
good friend Mrs Frances  Halford I give five pounds to buy her a ring  Also to my
Cousin Baptist Hicks the son of one of my  Executors hereafter named I give the
sum of Twenty pounds  Also I give and bequeath to all and every of the child or
children of my Cousin William Bartholomew that shall be living at the time of
my decease Twenty pounds apiece to be disposed of by the discretion of my Executors for their use and their father not to meddle with it all these legacies before mentioned I desire
may be paid within six months next after my decease or sooner if my money  can
be got in  Also to every of my godchildren that shall be living at the time of my decease
I give five pounds apiece and to my servant Cristean Carrington if she shall live with me at the
time of my death I give Ten pounds and also to William Forman my servant if he be my
servant at the time of my death I give five pounds and to Edmund Ongden my servant
if he live with me at the time of my death I give five pounds to be paid within Six
months after my decease if my money can be called in   Also to my old friends
Doctor Denham and Doctor Earshaw to either of them I give a ring  Also to Thomas
Wilmer of Brooke and Edward Hubbard of the same I give forty shillings apiece to the
Widow Hubbard the widow of Francis Hubbard I give twenty shillings to ?Robin
Hubbards family I give also twenty shillings Also to the widow  Wilmer I give
twenty shillings Also to goody Cugh and her family I give twenty shillings Also
to Thomas Rawle his family I give twenty shillings also to the widow ?Su... Crampe
I give twenty shillings also to Edward Dixon of Brooke I give forty shillings
Now my will and desire is that all the legacies given to my neighbours at Brooke
be paid the day of my burial if money may conveniently be had or as soon  after
as may be, also to the poor of the town of Chipping Campden and  Berrington
in the County of Gloucestershire I give Two hundred pounds and my will and desire is
that the interest of one of the said hundred pounds be given to the poor every
Sunday or Lord’s Day in bread according to the custom there at two shillings every
Sunday in the year and that to continue forever the other Hundred pounds I desire
should be added to the Town stock and disposed of according to the discretion of the
trustees already appointed for that purpose and their successors forever also I
give to the poor of the parish Moneyesend alias Moneyesging  (most likely to be Mountnessing )
in the county of Essex  where I was born and baptised the sum of fifty pounds to be made a
stock  for the poor of the said parish forever at the discretion of my Cousin
Mr Alexander  Prescott or whom he shall appoint also I give and bequeath
to the poor of the parish of Tarbeck alias Towerdebig (Tardebigge) in the county of Worcester
where I was sometime an inhabitant the sum of fifty pounds to be a stock
for the said poor according to the discretion of the right Honourable Thomas
Lord Windsor and whom he shall appoint forever also to the Town of Oakham
in the county of Rutland I give to the poor there fifty pounds to be added to the
town stock for the use of the said poor forever and also to the town of Uppingham
in the said County of Rutland I give and bequeath to the poor there the sum
of fifty pounds but my will and desire is that in regards Uppingham and Oakham
are market towns and so by consequence their poor numerous ?    I desire my
Executors that it may be so ordered that both the said market towns may receive
out of the before named  fifty pounds  twelve pence in bread every Sunday to be distributed
to the poor at the church as the custom is at Campden    Also to the poor of Brooke
I give and bequeath the sum of twenty pounds to be paid within Six months inst
after  my decease provided I do not in my life time give the said twenty pounds
or more to them   Also to the poor of Ilmington in the County of Warwick I give and bequeath the sum of twenty pounds to be disposed of for their use and benefit as
my cousin Cannynge of Foxcott and others the best of the parish shall think be fit
Item  I give to the poor of Alston Subege in the county of Gloucestershire the sum of twenty pounds according as the Vicar of Campden and the best of the parish shall
think  fit to dispose of it for their use   Also to the poor of the parish of Bretforten
in the county of Worcester I give and bequeath the sum of twenty pounds to be
disposed of according to the discretion of the Owner of the farm there late my uncle
Cannyngs the vicar of the Town and the best of the best of the parish shall see most
convenient also to the Eldest son of my cousin Robert Halford of Armscott in the
parish of Tredington in the county of Worcester I give the sum of twenty pounds
to be paid to him within six months next after my decease or else to give
him interest for the same after that time   Also to my friend Mr James Watts
minister of  Ridlington I give the sum of five pounds to buy him a ring to be
paid him within six months after my decease   Also to my brother in law Mr
Thomas Wilson parson of Arrow and to my cousin Mr Henry Hicks vicar
of Campden whom I constitute and appoint Executors of this my last will and
testament I give the sum of twenty pounds apiece    Also my will and desire
is that all the legacies herein bequeathed be paid within six months next after
my decease or as soon as my money can be called in   Also to my brother in law Mr
?.....    ?Rives I give the sum of Ten pounds to buy him a ring  Also my friend
 Mr Edward Seaman and to James Groocock to either of them I give a ring as before
is ordered of twenty shillings price   Also to Thomas Hubbard of Langham I give the sum
of twenty shillings   Also I give and bequeath to Richard Hack of Coldoverton the
sum of forty shillings to set up his trade provided I do not pay it to him in my
lifetime    Also I give to my Ms (master) The Right Honourable  Edward Lord Noel
one hundred guineas which I have now by me but with this proviso that if I
have not gold at the time of my death then one hundred pounds in silver  Also my
will and desire is that all the legacies  herein  bequeathed be paid within six
months next after my decease   Also my will is that if it should so fall out that
if I do not have in goods  bonds debts or ready money so much as will discharge
all the legacies herein  bequeathed then I charge both my Leases at Campden for
two years towards the payment of the same   Also my meaning is that if it should
please God that the lives in my farm there should die before there can  be so much
money raised  as shall satisfy all the legacies herein bequested then my will is not to
bring any debts or encumbrances  upon my Executors but that they pay them so far
as my money will go at their own discretion  in whose fidelities I repose  great
confidence in the performance of these my desires   Also my will and meaning is that all
the legacies that I have herein bequeathed whatsoever be paid before my Executors and
 after my Executors are paid their twenty pounds apiece then my will is that my
nephew William Cannynge shall have and enjoy my leases  at Campden  in as
full and ample manner as I myself did in my lifetime  Also my will is that
so soon as he shall be actually possessed of the said Leases he shall pay to
his younger brother Thomas Cannynge tenne pounds. In witness whereunto I have
sett my hand and seal this twenty fourth day of May Anno Domini one Thousand
Six hundred and eighty one ENDYMION CANNYNGE in the presence of James Watts
Edward Phillipps William Forman

APRIL the second one thousand six hundred and eighty three This memorandum that I
Endymion Cannynge of Brooke in the county of Rutland being in perfect memory
do make and annex this codicil to my last Will and Testament in manner and
 form following first of all I give to the Town of Castle Bytham in the county of
Lincolnshire Six pounds to buy them a Clock for the use of the Town provided there
be not ?clock belonging to that Church at the time of my decease  Also I give to the
poor of the said Town of Bytham ten pounds to be disposed amongst them for
their use and benefit according to the discretion and approbation of the Lord of the
Manor and the Overseers of the poor there   Also to the poor of the Town of
 Exton in the county of Rutland I give the sum of five pounds to be disposed of at the
discretion of the Earl of Gainsborough and the chief of the Townsmen there   Also
to the Town of Whitwell to the poor there I give five pounds to be disposed of at
the discretion of Sir Andrew Noel and the parson of that town for the time being
Also to the poor of the town of North Luffenham I give the sum of five
pounds to be disposed of as the Honourable Baptist Noel and the overseers
 of the poor there shall see fit   Also to the poor of the town of Ridlington
I give the sun of five pounds to be disposed of for their use as the Lord of the
Manor the parson of the town for the time being and the overseers of the poor shall
think be fit Also to the poor of the town of Belton I give the sum of five pounds
to be disposed of at the discretion of Mr Verney and the principle persons of the
town shall think fit  Also to the poor of the Town of Braunston I give the
sum of five pounds to be disposed of according as the parson of the Town the
overseers of the poor and the best of the town shall think fit   Also to the poor
of the Town of Langham I give the sum of five pounds to be disposed of
according as the Lord of the Manor the Overseers of the poor and the best of the
town shall think be fit   Also to the poor of the town of Halstead in the
county of Leicester I give the sum of five pounds to be disposed of at the
discretion of the Honourable John Noel  the overseers of the poor  there and
the best of the Town  In witness  hereunto I have sett my hand and seal the day
and year first above written ENDYMION CANNYNGE   Witnessed hereunto Jeoff(rey)
Wilcocks
James Holmes William Forman

A Grimmer June 2012

Blackmore: St Laurence Church in the 1960s (1)

Interior of Church looking east - photo late 1960s