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Mr. URBAN,

Feb. 1.

yet, slipping them off from above IN the northern part of the County the roots, I could take the grass by

of Oxford, there is a valley of considerable extent. The river Cherwell runs through it, fertilizes, and adds considerably to its beauty. About three miles south-east of Deddington, this valley opens with peculiar charms, and is finely featured. At this point are situated the three villages of NorthAston, Middle-Aston, and Steeple Aston, which derive their common name from their situation on the eastern side of the vale. Opposite to them, and in full view of a richly luxuriant country, is Somerton. It takes its appellation from Somme (Celtic) a valley, er near or at the bottom of, and ton a hill. The situation is very favourable; being entirely excluded from the eastern winds, and enjoying a view of the beautiful church of Deddington to the north, the park-like grounds of Col: Bowles and North-Astou immediately opposite, and, in addition to the Cher well, the Oxford Canal and its numerous boats enliven the scene,

The parish extends from east to west about two miles, from north to south about a mile. The land is hilly, and, except a meadow of 100 acres, was enclosed about 60 years ago. The soil is light, of the stone brash sort, with some sand to the south-west."

Dr. Plot, in his Natural History of Oxfordshire, speaking of the flux of rivulets, mentions that here, as making a cascade about seven feet high. It was excellent for petrifactions, since "the living blades of grass, of not above half a year's growth, within that small time are all covered with stone, and hang down the bank like so many icicles; the earth itself over which it glides, as 'twere foliated over with a crust of stone like the mosco petroso of Ferante Imperato*."

This incrustation or petrifaction, he further observes, is fixt only to the superficial parts, as it were by aggregation, not entering the solid body. "The grass, being one of the fluviatilia, is covered over with a soft stone; and yet so, that broken off, the grass appeared as fresh. and green as any other not erusted, nothing of the blade being altered or impaired. Tho' some of these petrified blades of grass. hung down at least a foot in length,

* Plot, ch. 2, sect. 22. GENT, MAG. February, 1827.

the end and pull it clean out as it were from a sheath of stone, so little cohesion had the one to the other. The reason of which I guess may be, that the pores of the plant, possest with its own juice, and already furnish'd with a congenial salt, might well refuse adventitious onest."

In a subsequent part of his work, Dr. Plot recurs to this subject, and gives a representation of the grass: "Hither also must be referr'd the fresh-water Adarce, made at the Cascade at Sommerton, which, though but a meer incrustation, and formed not of itself, but ad formam alterius, viz. of the grass about which it gathers, and therefore none of the Lithophyta, yet it having some form (though but accidental), I have thought rather fit, to misplace it here, than omit to shew the reader how prettily the grass is sheathed with stone, which is accu ratèly expressed by [Plate VI.] fig. 101."

In the time of the Romans, a Portway passed through the village. It was a branch of the Akeman-street, which led from the city of Alcester to Wallingford §. The tract of the road is still distinguishable.

At the period of the Domesday Survey, Rainald Wadard held "Sumertone" of Odo Bishop of Baieux, the half-brother of the Conqueror. It contained nine hides. The arable land was nine carucates; of which two were in demesne with one serf, and seventeen villeins and nine bordars held the remaining seven. There was a mill worth 20s. yearly, and the river annually produced 400 eels. There were forty acres of meadow, and 156 of pasture. It had been worth 9l. per ann. but its value was then advanced to 127. ||

The lands of Bishop Odo having reverted to the Crown, the manor of Somerton was next conferred on the Barony of Arsic. Robert de Arsic siding with the rebellious Barons against King John, forfeited his estate to the Crown, and it was given to Sampson de Gangy, who had stood firm to the King. Again, in the following year, the King disposed of it for the support of the garrison in Oxford Castle. The

+ Plot, ch. 2, sect. 26.
Ibid. ch. 5, sect. 141.
§ Ibid. ch. 10, sect. 27.
Domesd. fo. 155 b.

Arsics, however, must have either retained or recovered part of the manor, since Walter de Grey, Archbishop of York, bought of Robert de Arsic, and at his death demised to his brother Robert, a moiety of the manor of Somerton, held by the service of keeping Dover Castle.

In the chartulary of Eynsham Abbey, Oxfordshire, it is recorded that Alice de Langetot had given to that monastery three virgates of land she had in Somerton, for the health of her soul, and for those of her sons and daughters, Hugh, William, and Robert, Hawise, Beatrice, and Isabella; and for the souls of her husband Roger de Chaisni, and her sons Ralph and Roger, and her daughters, &c. The date of this does not appear.*

that he might give the manor of Somerton, and the right of a second course of presenting to the Church, to Sibil, the widow of the said Sir Thomas Giffard, for her lifet.

Notwithstanding these several alienations, the descendants of the Arsics seem to have retained the paramount interest in the manor of Somerton, which descended from them through the families of Deincourt and Lovel, to the Greys of Rotherfield. After the battle of Bosworth, it was declared forfeited by the latter family, and bestowed on Jasper Duke of Bedford 1. At that Nobleman's death it again reverted to the Crown, and was granted to William Fermor, esq. Clerk of the Crown, who seated himself here, and, leaving no issue male, bequeathed his estate at his death to his nephew Thomas, in whose descendants (many of whose epitaphs will be subsequently given) it continued till recently, according to the subjoined pedigree: dau. and h. of Simkin Hervey, esq. widow of Henry Wenman.

In 1291 the Prior of Merton had here possessions, worth annually 24s. and 8d.

Roger, son of Sir Thomas Giffard, knt. paid a fine to the King, July 21, THOMAS Ricards, 2d. w. Emmotte, alias FERMOR.

RICHARD FERMOR, Merchant of the
Staple of Calais, first master of Will
Somers, the celebrated Jester of
Henry VIII.

Sir JOHN FERMOR, ances-
tor of the EARLS OF POM-
FRET.

Sir RICHARD FERMOR, knt. Sheriff of Oxon.

1602.

HENRY FERMOR, died Jan. 30, 1672, aged 60.

Anne, dau. of Sir
Wm.Brown, Lord
Mayor of Lon-

don.

THOMAS FERMOR, 2d
surviving son, died
Aug. 8, 1580.

WILLIAM FERMOR, to whom Somerton was given, marr. four times, but died s. p. m. Sept. 20,

1552.

BRIDGET, dau. and coh. of Sir Henry Bradshaw, of Halton, knt. Chief Baron of the Exchequer.

CORNELIA, dau. and coh. of Sir
Cornwallis, knt. and grand-dau. of
John last Lord Neville of Latimer.

URSULA, dau. of Sir Peter Middleton, knt.;
great-grand-dau. of Charles Neville, last Earl
of Westmoreland, died Sept. 8, 1669, aged 53.

RICHARD FER-FRANCES, dau. of Sir Basil Brooke, of Madeley,
MOR, died Jan. Salop, knt. grand-dau. of John Lord Mordaunt
5, 1684.

of Turvey.

Anne, died Apr. 12, 1575. Mary, named in her father's will.

Jane, eldest dau. marr.
Col. Thos. Morgan, of
Heyford, North'tonsh.

Peter, and five other
children.

HENRY FERMOR, died HELEN, dau. of Sir Geo. Browne, of Shefford, Richard, died May
Feb. 3, 1683.
Berks, K. B.; died Aug. 13, 1741.

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18, 1730.

Henrietta, died unm. Sept. 4, 1744; and six other daugh

ters.

HENRY FERMOR, died Jan.- FRANCES, daughter of Edw. Shel17, 1746-7, aged 31. don, of Weston, Warw. esq.

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James, and four other children.

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Of this family also, was Arabella Fermor, the heroine of Pope's " Rape of the Lock."

Tusmore is now the residence of this branch of the Fermors. Their ancient mansion at Somerton, which they deserted about the beginning of the last century, is now entirely dilapidated, except the window of the Hall. Over this was an apartment called the Prince's Chamber, of which some old people in the village recollect to have seen a portion. It had its name from the circumstance of James Duke of York (the misguided Abdicator of his kingdom) having honoured Somerton with a visit, and slept in that room. Tradition reports, that when he came to the throne, he gave to the village a charter for a fair, which was held in a place now called Broadpound. The Fermors retained the Lordship of Somerton many years after discontinuing to reside there; but sold it about ten years since to the present Earl of Jersey. It is worth upwards of 13001. per annum.

The village consists principally of a street, extending north and south. The following have been the returns to the several Population Acts:

Houses. Families.

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Persons.

254

314

400

The population is almost entirely employed in Agriculture. The wake follows the Sunday after St. James.

The Advowson of Somerton was given by Robert de Arsic, to the religious house of St. Thomas the Martyr of Acon, reserving the right of the house of Medley, provided it were founded by the consent of the Bishop of Lincoln, and the Abbot and Convent of Fescamp. The proctor of St. St. Thomas of Acon presented to the living in 20 Henry III. (1235.) It came to the Fermors with the manor, and remained in that family till Henry Fermor, esq. who died in 1736, sold the impropriation to Dr. Crisp, who sold it to the Rev. Barfoot Colston, Canon of Salisbury, from whom it passed to the present Rector, the Rev. Henry Wintle.

The value of the Rectory in the time of Henry the Eighth was 157. 1s. 104d.; it is now worth 150l. per annum, besides the glebe. It pays: Surrogates, 2s.; Bishops, 38. 8d.; Archdeacon, 88. 74d.; yearly tenths, 17. 10s. 24d. In

the endowment of the Chapter of Oxford a pension was to be paid out of it of 7s. 6dt.

Among the Rectors have been : William Juxon, the eminent Archbishop of Canterbury. He was presented to Somerton in 1614; and held the living for many years, whilst he was president of St. John's College, Oxford. During his incumbency he rebuilt the rectory, and reglazed the east window of the chancel, placing therein his arms, viz. Or, a cross Gules between four negroes' heads couped Sable, wreathed Or, with the date 1630. This, a beautiful specimen of stained glass, is now carefully preserved in the hall-window of the Parsonage.

Edwin Marten, of New College, Oxford, B.C.L. 1713, D.C.L. 1718, who married in 1716 the widow of Sir Robert Howard, of Ashted in Surrey, K.B. younger son of the first Earl of Berkshire.

On a recent repair of the parsonage, two antique spoons, of silver-gilt, were discovered. From the initials, R.H.M., they are presumed to have belonged to the Marten family.

The Register begins in 1627.

The Church, dedicated to St. James, is a handsome structure (engraved in Plate II). It is composed of a tower north (in which are five bells), nave, and south ailes, chancel and a south chapel. The nave is about 52 feet long, and the chancel 33. On the north side of the tower is a carving of our Saviour between the two Thieves; and in the Church is one of the Last Supper, resembling that of Da Vinci, which has been lately repaired at the expense of the Rector, and placed over the Communion-table.

The Fermor epitaphs shall now be given. The first William was buried in the chapel on the north side of the chaucel, under an altar-tomb of grey marble, whereon are brass plates of himself and last wife, and under them the following inscription :

Heare Ipeth buried Mr. William Fermour Esquire, whyche was Lord of

Willis's Cathedrals, p. 121.

He married four, and another had this epitaph at Hornchurch in Essex :

Here Ipeth Katherin the daughter of Sir William Pawlet, Kinggbt, wpf of William Fermour, Clarke of the Crown; who died May 26 the second of Henry the eighte.

this towne and patron of this church; · also Clarke of the Crowne in the King's Bench in King Henry the 7th and King Henry the 8th dayes, wbych died the 20th day of 7ber in the year of our Lord God 1552. And also heare lyeth Mestres Elizabeth Fermour bis late wyffe, which was the daughter of Br Will'm Norrasse, night, upon whose and all Christene Souls Thu have mercy.

Thomas Fermor, the nephew and successor of William, was M. P. for Chipping-Wicombe in 15 Eliz. (1572) He had, according to his will, (from which see some extracts in Brydges's Peerage, vol. IV. p. 201) an alabaster tomb erected in the same chapel, with recumbent effigies of himself and wife. It has this inscription round its verge:

Thome Farmar armigero, vira animi magnitudine contra hostes, beneficentia erga doctos admirabılı, Domino hujus territorii benignissimo, et nove Schole fundatori optimo, in perpetuam sui, sueque conjugis Britgitte, foemine lectissime, memoriam, er testamento executores sui hoc mo numentum flentes erexerunt. Obiit vero anno Domini millesimo quingentesimo octogesimo, die Augusti

octavo.

On a flat stone, from which the brass image of a child has been removed, remains this inscription.

Here Ipeth buried the body of Anne Farmor, daughter unto Thomas Far mor Esq. who deceased the twelfth day of April, Ao 1575.

The tomb of Sir Richard, son of Thomas, was erected on the south side of the Church close to the small door. His epitaph is much obliterated; and the following are the only legible words:

Quis jaceam hic quæris? jaceo hoc sub Olim Rich.... [marmore pulvis His son Henry has the following, on a flat stone in the centre of the chapel :

Hic jacet Henricus Fermor, de Tusmore in com Oxoniensi armiger, filius Richardi Fermor in eodem com" equitis aurati, et uxoris Cornelia Cornwallis, equitis aurati, conjugisq; Lucia Nevil filiæ Johannis Nevil Baronis de Latimer istius nominis ultini, filia fuit et cohæres. Ursulam Middleton, Petri Middleton equitis aurati filiam, uxorem ducens, ex eâ septem adultos suscepit liberos, quorum Richardus et Petrus fuêre seniores. Vitam omnimodè Christianam 30 J'nii conclusit anno Dom'i 1672, ætatis vero 61. Credo videre bona Domini in terrâ viventium.

On Ursula, wife of Henry :

Hic jacet Ursula Fermor, Henrici FerStockhill in com" Eboracensi equitis aurati mor armigeri conjux, Petri Middelton de et uxoris Mariæ Engleby,

migeri et Anna Nevil uxoris, tertia filia Caroli Nevil istius nominis ultimi Comitum de Westmorland. Deo devota pauperibusque misericors, piè et feliciter diem clausit supremum, Septembris 80 anno Domini 1669, ætatis vero 54.

To Richard, son of Henry and Ursula, on a flat-stone adjoining to that of his father:

Richardus Fermor de Tusmore armiger hic requiescit, Henrici Fermor de Tusmore armigeri, et uxoris Ursula Middleton filius, matrimonio junctus Franciscæ Brookes filia Basilii Brookes de Madeley in com" Salopiensi equitis aurati, et conjugis Francisca Mordant, Johannis Mordant de Turvey in comitu Bedfordiensi baronis filiæ. Ex eâ adultos septem liberos suscepit; quorum Henricus et Richardus fuêre seniores, Paris morbo correpti et extincti, in templo Benedic. monm Anglorum sepulti, Julij 30, 1679. Richardus vero Londini, Jan. 5,

1684.

There is something mysterious in the above passage which says that Richard's two sons died at Paris in 1679, since there are other memorials which state that they died, the youngest in 1730, and the eldest in 1683 (a year before his father's decease, which renders the circumstance the more extraordinary). The epitaph of Richard is:

Hic jacet Richardus Fermor, Richardi Fermor de Tusmore armigeri filius; obiit Maji 180 an. Dom. 1730.

That on Henry:

Hic jacet Henricus Fermor, de Tusmore in com Oxoniensi armiger, filius Richardi Fermor de Tusmore armigeri, et conjugis Francisca Brookes. Matrimonio sibi junxit Helenam Browne, filiam Georgii Browne de Sherford in comu Berks equitis balnei, uxorisq; Elizabethæ Inglefield, filia Francisci Inglefield de Wooton Basset in comu Wilts baronetti, et uxoris Winifreda Brinksley de Scholby in com" Lecestriensi. Ex hoc conjugio, præter filios Jacobum et Henricum, filiabus septem relictis, mortuus Feb. 3, an. Dom. 1688.

To James, son of the last :

Hic jacet Jacobus Fermor, de Tusmore in com" Oxoniensi armiger, filius Henrici Fermor de Tusmore armigeri, et conjugis Helen Browne. Matrimonio sibi junxit Mariam Throgmorton, filiam Roberti Throgmorton de Weston in com" Bucks baronetti, ex quo conjugio sex susceptis liberis, quorum seniores fuerunt Henricus et Jacobus:

mortalitatis vinculis absolutus obdormivit in Domino, Nov. 20, an. Domi 1722. On Helen, and Henrietta, his mother and sister:

Hic jacet Hellena Fermor, Henrici Fermor de Tuse arm. conjux, Georgii Browne. de Shefford in com. Berks. equitis balnei filia; obiit Aug. 13, 1741.

Hic jacet Henrietta Fermor, filia Henrici Fermor de Tusmore armigeri; obiit 4 Septembris, anno salutis millesimo septimo centesimo quadragesimo quarto, ætatis vero sue 49. R. 1. P.

The next is on Henry, son of James: Hie jacet Henricus Fermor de Tusmore in comitatu Oxoniensi armiger. Filius fuit primogenitus Jacobi Fermor de Tusmore armigeri, ex suâ conjuge Maria Thockmorton. Sibi matrimonio junxit Franciscam Sheldon, filiam Edvardi Sheldon de Weston in comitatu Warwicensi armigeri; ex quo conjugio quinque suscepit liberos, Gulielmum scilicet, Elizabetham, Henricum, Jacobum, et Franciscam. Reliquis præmaturâ morte ereptis, solos Gulielmum et Henricum post se viventes reliquit. Ob. 17 Jan. ætatis anno 82, Dom. 1746-7.

On William, son of Henry:

Sacred to the memory of William Fer

mor, esq. who died 1st July, 1806, aged

68 years.

The latest epitaph to any of the family is that of Richard Fermor, esq. who died May 6, 1817, aged 88.

The following is also on a stone in the Fermor chapel:

Hie jacet quod reliquum est eximii viri Thomæ Morgan armigeri, cujus splendidos natales generosior animus illustravit; qui Heyfordia in agro Northonensi diu privatus augustiore genio conversari non poterat. Tandem, periculorum non minus quàm gloriæ contemptor, Regia Militia uomen dedit, in quâ fortissimas Chiliarcha occubuit; reliqua mandamus famæ.

vixit, suum vivere contentus, nam cum

Here lies enterred what death has left behind

Of noble dust once join'd t' a noble mind: If you would learne who 'tis, goe aske of Fame,

For only that can sound great Morgan's

name!

Were we to follow the advice of the rhapsodical panegyrist, it is to be feared that lady Fame would now have for gotten her lesson. Her better sister History, however, informs us that, in plain terms, this Colonel Morgan was slain at Newbury in the Royal service, Sept. 20, 1643. He was son-in-law of Sir Rich. Fermor of Somerton, having married Jane the Knight's eldest daugh

ter; and was the son of Anthony Morgan of Mitchell Town in Monmouthshire, esq. by Bridget, daughter and heiress of Anthony Morgan of Heyford in Northamptonshire, esq. It is a remarkable genealogical incident that his mother's second husband was also a Morgan (Sir William of Tredegar in Monmouthshire), and thus that lady, though twice married, never lost her maiden name. See the pedigree in Baker's Northamptonsh. vol. 1. p. 184.

The site of a Parish School at Somerton was provided by the will of Thos. Fermor, esq. June 15, 1580, in which "the Castell-yerde and the Chappell therein standing (the watermill only excepted)" were given for the purpose. With the 100l. which he left to support the School, an annuity of 10l. per unn. (not land), was unfortunately purchased, and even part of this stipend is withheld from the Master, because, when the property on which it was fixed passed into other hands, it was not duly mentioned in the conveyance. The Countess of Jersey has founded a school for female children.

has escaped the injuries of the æra of In the Churchyard is a cross, which

enthusiasm. On its south side is a fine crucifix in basso relievo. H. W.

Mr. URBAN,

Feb. 1.

Tand the current habits which we HE habitual practices of society, are accustomed to acquire, seldom about to withdraw from the world, come into strict review, until we are and to retire from its daily occupations. This is a time which is a great cause for thankfulness whenever it is allowed to us at any period, but more especially before the decline of our faculties, as our last day here approaches.

In that season we shall be ready to thank Dean Stanhope for the excellent sentiment which will enable every one in retirement to examine himself truly -"the innocence of the heart is absolutely necessary to preserve the freedom of the mind." If we apply this gentle touchstone to ourselves, we shall clearly see, that any carelessness of their innocence is a proof of infidelity; for without it, who shall attain either the means or the desire to prepare his mind for the great change that approaches? without it, who does not rebel against some divine command? or reject some proffered degree of reward? who does not, without it, com

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