Letters to the Editor, Winter 2008/9
Dear Editor
I wonder if I might through the pages of the Newsletter enquire about the whereabouts of a transcript concerning the Ledger or Ledger book of Faversham Abbey, so-called by Thomas Southouse in his Monasticon Favershamiense and referred to by several subsequent writers on the history of Faversham. This is a most interesting and valuable common place book of Faversham Abbey in which has been copied grants, charters, rolls, rentals and purchases and forms a very valuable collection of facts connected with the history of this once-noted abbey. The volume amongst the Watson-Rokebyham collection at Northampton Record Office contains annotations both by Thomas Southouse and his son Filmer Southouse. The volume was lent to the Kent Archaeological Society on the 25th May 1928 and copied in the Library at Lambeth Palace Library for the Society by Joan Wake, who returned it to Rockingham in February 1934.
Whilst we are preparing a translation and transcript of the document anew we would dearly like to find the Wake transcript which appears to be neither in the KAS Library, at Northampton nor amongst the Wake papers at Lambeth Palace Library. Can you help?
Please contact Duncan Harrington, L.H.G., F.S.A., F.S.G., Ashton Lodge, Church Road, Lympne, Kent CT18 8JA. Website: http://www.historyresearch.co.uk
Duncan Harrington
Dear Editor
Clay tobacco pipes are a common find in literature, in paintings and, especially, on archaeological digs. But, who made them in Kent? When, where and why?
I am beginning to research the answers to these questions. The first task is to create a directory of all the pipe-makers who worked in Kent between the late sixteenth and the early twentieth centuries. This is no small objective as the written records, often incomplete, are widely dispersed, while collections of pipes are often difficult to find. I should be delighted to hear from anyone with knowledge to share about clay tobacco pipe-makers in Kent...names, locations, dates when active etc.
If you have any information, please contact me by email at: iwm40@dsl.pipex.com. Many thanks.
Brian Boyden
Dear Editor
BRYAN FAUSSET, F.S.A (1720-1776)
The Kentish antiquary and genealogist is perhaps not as well known as he should be. I am writing a biography and would be pleased to hear from anyone with material relating to him or his circle, or indeed from any direct or collateral descendants. The main gaps on the extensive family tree are from two granddaughters, the children of the younger Bryan Faussett (1773-1836): 1) Anna Maria Faussett (1785-1851) who married James Hesketh. Jnr. (1786-1826) whose only child Anna Maria Hesketh (1813-1877) married William Henry Hesketh Brand (c.1803-1883), a solicitor of Bedford; and 2) Catherine Helena Faussett (1782-1858) who married Francis William Philbin (c.1784-1831), a surgeon of Bedford, and produced Catherine Helena (b.1816) who married Edward John Parker (1813-1855), Frances Isabella Philbin (1821-1885) who married Thomas Sumnerhill Hilton Younger (1823-1898).
Information should be sent to Dr David Wright, 71 Island Wall, Whitstable, Kent CT5 1EQ or telephone 01227 275931 or email david.wright2@aol.com.
David Wright