Chippenham <1>
17 July Augt 1836
Dear Sir,
I send you on the other side a Copy of Mr Coombs' observations on the Abstract of your Title to the Advowson of Fisherton.<2> -
I collect from your Letters that the Revd Mr Matthews<3> presented himself about 1758. & held it till 1785 - that Mrs Davenport then presented her Nephew the Revd E. Davenport <4> - Was Dr Nicholas <5> the next succeeding Incumbent? and when was he presented? I presume Mr King <6> can furnish Certificates of the different Burials, Marriages &c mentioned by Mr Coombs - shall I apply to him on the subject? Instead of applying to Lady Elizth Fielding <7> [sic] or her Trustees to release the Advowson from her Jointure I wod propose that you should covenant with Mr Finch <8> to indemnify him against any such claim.
If not inconvenient to you, you will perhaps oblige me by a reply to these enquiries by the Bearer.
I am Dear Sir Yours faithfully & obliged
West Awdry.
[enclosed copy]
(Copy)
Official Extracts from the Bishops Registry of the presentations to the Living during the period of the Abstract must be produced And where a Vacancy has occurred by promotion to a Bishoprick the fact must be stated - If it shall appear that three full incumbencies have passed during the period of the Abstract, otherwise than by promotion to a See the Commencement of Title in the Abstract is sufficient if not the Title must be further deduced so as to commence 100 years ago 3d & 4th Willm 4th C 27 ss 30.31 [&?] 33
Certificates of the Burials of Martha Davenport William Davenport Talbot, Catherine Selfe and John Davenport of the Marriage of Mr D. Talbot and Lady Elizth Strangways and of the Baptism of the Vendor with written Declarations in support of identity and Pedigree must be produced And the date and particulars of the Licence or other authority under which Mr Davenport assumed the Surname of Talbot must be furnished
I presume the Testator did not leave a Widow [illegible] Discharges for the portions under Mr Talbot's Will must be produced or it must be shewn by reference to the times when they became payable (which are not stated) that presumption of payment may be presumed from time. -
If Lady Elizabeth Talbot is living she should release the Advowson from her Rent Charge or Covenant not to enforce it against the Advowson - And the Trustees of the Term of 1000d years therein (which appears to be still subsisting for securing the Rent Charge) should surrender the same by her direction - Are any Crown debts or Judgments against the Vendor? -
Subject to the above I approve of the Title -
Hen: Coombs
Salisbury 13 Augt 1836.
Notes:
1. Chippenham, Wiltshire: largest town near Lacock, 3 miles N.
2. Fisherton Anger, Salisbury, Wiltshire. WHFT had inherited the advowson (the right to present a new Rector to St Clement's Church) from his father, Davenport Talbot, and held it until 1849. The new Rector would enjoy the income and assets of the living, including the Rector's house. St Clement's was demolished in 1852 and parts of it were incorporated into the new St Paul's Church.
3. Rev Richard Matthews; his patron was probably Elizabeth Matthews, a widow of Stanmore, Middlesex, who presented this in 1758.
4. Rev Edward Davenport, instituted Rector in 1786. The patron was his aunt, Martha Davenport, née Talbot (d. 1790). Her son was William Davenport Talbot (d. 1800), the father of WHFT.
5. The Rev Dr J Nicholas (1764 - 7 October 1836), Rector of Fisherton Anger from 1796-1836. He had been employing a curate and lived away from Fisherton Anger for a number of years.
6. Of William Read King & Son, solicitors, London.
7. Lady Elisabeth Theresa Feilding, née Fox Strangways, first m Talbot (1773-1846); WHFT's mother.
8. Possibly Charles Finch, who ran a lunatic asylum in a large house at Fisherton Anger; the Finches were an old established family in the area.