lands of Colwick, in Staffordshire, in right of her mother, daughter and heiress of Edward Colwick, 3sq., of Colwick), and had issue, William Massy, Esq., of Sale. George, both died young. Ralph, his successor. Elizabeth died in infancy. Katharine married, first, to William Tatton, Esq., of Withenshaw, Cheshire; and, secondly, to Dr. Nichols, parson of Chedle. Mary married in 1611, to James Alice in rried to John BradBradshaw, Esq., of Bradshaw. The following appointment appears, from an old deed dated 15th May, 1586:-"Robert, Earl of Leycester, Baron of Denbigh, her Majesty's lieutenant and captain-general of all her army and forces in these parts, and governorgeneral of all the provinces and cities united, and their ussociates in the low countries, for the good opinion we have of the fidelity of this gentleman, George Leycester, our servant, we have appointed him captain of 150 foot-men, and Hugh Starkey his lieutenant." Sir George was knighted about the 44th of Elizabeth, and was made sheriff of Cheshire by patent, dated 29th December, 45th of Elizabeth, but the queen dying in March following, he had another patent for the same durante beneplacito. He departed this life, with the repu. tation of having been a person most serviceable to his country, in 1612, and was succeeded by his only surviving son, Ralph Leycester, Esq., of Toft, who married Mary, daughter of Anthony Woodull, Esq., of Mollington, in the county of Oxford, and had issue four sons and two daughters. Ralph Leycester disposed of his part of the lands of Colwick, and dying in 1640, was succeeded by his eldest son, George Leycester, Esq., of Toft, who married Dorothy, daughter of John Clayton, Esq., and siver and co-heir of Richard Clayton, Esq., of Crooke. in Lancashire, and had several children, by the el.est of whom, Ralph Leycester, Esq., of Toft, he was succeeded at his decease, in 1671. This gentleman espoused Eleanor, daughter of Sir Peter Leycester, bart., of Tabley, the well-known historian of Cheshire, and had issue three sons and seven daughters. He died in March, 1685, and was succeeded by his eldest son, George Leycester, Esq., of Toft, who married Jane, daughter of Oswald Moseley, Esq., of Ancoats, in the county of Lancaster, and of Rolleston, in the county of Stafford, by whom he had (with several daughters, who all died unmarried) three sons. eldest son and successor, The Ralph Leycester, Esq., of Toft, born in 1699, es poused Katherine, daughter and co-heiress of Edward Norris, Esq., of Speke, in the county of Lancaster, by Annie, daughter and heiress of Peter Gerrard, Esq.; of Crewood, and by her (who died in 1799, at the advanced age of 90) he had isane, George, his successor. Ralph, heir to his brother. Edward died unmarried in 1756. Hugh, born in 1748; king's counsel and one of the judges of North Wales. Oswald, born in 1752; in holy orders, M.A. rector of Stoke-upon-Tern, who married, first, Mary, daughter of P. Johnson, Esq., of Semperley; and, secondly, Eliza, daughter of Charles White, Esq., of Manchester. Anne, married to the Rev. Dr. Norbury. Katherine, Mary, Jane, died unmarried. Susannah-Norris, died young. Theodosia, married to the Rev. Egerton Leigh, archdeacon of Salop, and rector of Lymme. Susannah, married the Hon. John Grey, third son of the Earl of Stamford. Mr Leycester died in 1777, and was succeeded by his eldest son, George Leycester, Esq., of Toft, at whose decease, unmarrie 1, in 1809, the family estites devolved upon his brother, Ralph Leycester, Esq., of Toft, who married in 1762, Charlotte, third daughter of the Rev. Dr Lushington, of Eastbourne, Sussex, and had issue, Ralph. Henry, a captain in the navy, died at Pisa. George, fellow of King's College, Cambridge. William, married in the East Indies, -, daughter of Friel, Esq., and has issue. Charlotte, married to Charles Dumbleton, Esq., of Bath. Harriet, married to the Rev. Robert Cox, vicar of Bridgenorth. Susanna. Mr Leycester was succeeded at his decease by his eldest son, Ralph Leycester, Esq. Arms-Az. between two fleurs-de-lis or, a fesse of the second fretty gu. Crest-A roebuck party per pale or and gu attired of the second, holding in his mouth an acorn branch, ppr. Estates-Toft, Cheshire, possessed from time immemorial. In the female until the reign of Richard II. when a Leycester of Tabley, married the heiress of Toft, from which period it has come down to the present proprietor in hereditary male descent. Seat-Toft Hall, Knutsford, Cheshire. This mansion stands about one mile south of Knutsford, at the end of a venerabie and spacious avenue formed by triple rows of ancient elms. The ground slopes gradually behind the house to the Great Vale of Cheshire, over which there is a rich and extensive prospect. The principal front of the hall, which closes up the avenue, is brick-built, and of two stories, excepting the projecting wings, which are of three, and terminate in gables, and a square tower of four stories, which rises from the centre. HISTORY OF LINDOW (in continuation). [475-] One inhabitant sustained himself on a particularly economical scale, having bought two loads of coal in 12 years, and having some remaining at the end of that time, his turf got rather mouldy from a similar cause, his plan in winter was to visit his neighbours' fire at night, to warm himself and then return and go to bed. In the early part of the summer of 1852, which was an excessively dry one, a fire of a considerable extent broke out on Lindow Common, all the bog being cleared of everything above the surface. A mau named Burnett had his house burned down, a cow suffering at the same time, he was only able with some difficulty to save his furniture from the flames. In the same year a row of houses was built in Brook Lane, which increased the number of inhabitants considerably, one end of these houses, chiefly through the energy of Mr Foden, was made into a chapel for the Baptists, and was opened in 1856. The services were opened by the preaching of Messrs Alcorn, Atkinson, and Hart; a Sunday school was afterwards built, in connection with and near to the same place. Food was now getting cheaper, for owing to the Russian war, flour had been as high as three shillings per dozen, currants one shilling per pound, and sugar and candles eight pence per pound, with scarcity of work, which induced some Lindow youths to enlist in the army. In 1857 a new school room was built by Mr J. Heugh, who also allowed it to be used in connection with Chorley Church under the Rev. J. W. Consterdine, who afterwards placed Mr Webster as curate and Mr Beswick as churchkeeper. Prayer-meetings were previously held in the Louse of Mr Isaac Birchnall, on Lindow, in connection with the same. In 1858 Lindow was visited by a sect of Quakers, who held one of their meetings under the Row of Trees; also about the same time a man who wore no hat, came and preached to various young men who lounged about the Trees, a favourite practice of young men in by-gone days. In 1860, a new row of houses were partly built in Brook Lane, and completed in 1861-2, which further increased the population, comprising then a great many aged persons exceeding 60 years of age. In 1866, the cattle plague raged around Lindow, a large quantity dying of this dreadful scourge, which spread destruction wherever it appeared. A very sincere man who was then the church clergyman, met with several farmers and praved that Lindow might be spared; and it is worthy of note that not one cow perished within its borders. There continued in the same year a failing amongst children, which commence at the end of 1865, from which time up to April 20th, 19 children out of the small population died. In May, a large fire commenced on the Common, and burned for several weeks with great fury, many persons having to use all their energy to stop its progress on cultivated parts. In the same year penny readings were introduced in Lindow, readings being delivered by various gentlemen from Alderley Edge and neighbourhood, and have always since been known as the best for miles around. In the same year it was agitated to build a new church for the neighbourhood, which was not, however, at that time carried out. In 1867, Lindow was alarmed by news from Manchester of the Fenian attack upon a police van, and it was also reported that they held meetings in a house in Warford, but in time the excitement ceased, and left it as quiet as ever. In 1868, Lindow school became possessed of a bell and library, the latter containing upwards of 400 volumes. In the winter of the same year a nightschool was commenced for young men, above a certain age, who wished to attend. At first it answered very well through the energy of those who conducted it, and was a great boon to the neighbourhood, but after several seasons it was closed for want of assistance. In 1889, an evening class was commenced for mothers and daughters, to sew and read, &c., but was afterwards closed owing to the deficiency in numbers. In 1869, a plan was proposed by Mr Green, of Fulshaw, for improvements in cottage gardening and the cottager's time: which, however, was not taken up to any extent, although several gardeners who approved of the scheme offered their aid and subseriptions. Another idea was proposed in the same year by Mr Philip Norbury, for the erection of a large clock at Lindow School, he offering the first subscription for that object if carried out, but which, however, also failed. (To be continued.) OPENING OF THE PLAY GROUND AT THE STOCKPORT FREE GRAMMAR SCHOOL. 1476.] The following appeared in the "Stockport Monthly Magazine" for May, 1840:-" The boys of the Grammar School have caught the spirit of the age. Having been put in possession of a spacious playground arangements were made for a commemoration of that event by a splendid procession of the school, enlivened by the waving of elegant banrers and the charming music of the military band, which took place on Tuesday, the 21st of April, in the following order-the Beadle of the Manor, the band of the 20th Regiment of Foot, Police Officers, Mr Beales, the second master; the old school banner, 150 pupils-three abreast, the new school bauner, brought up by the Rev. T. Middleton, the rector; and gentlemen of the town, scarcely had the office (Grapes steps) been reached before the following lines came to hand:— Ya little men of consequence, who march so full of pride. But oh! what may be each your fate, in this sad world of ours, And worldly cares may close around those youthful hearts of yours, And many a deep and painful wonad embue your passin; hours MARLING THE LAND IN CHESHIRE. [477.] This is a maritime county, being bounded on the north-west by the Irish Sea. If Mr Holland is correct, there are 620,000 acres in Cheshire under cultivation. This includes gentlemen's parks and ornamental plantations. The commons, woods, and waste lands are estimated at 28,000 acres, and the sea sands between the Dee and the Mersey at 10,000 acres. In the year 1763, 1,400 acres were recovered from the sea; 661 acres in 1769, and in 1795, 348 How, then, can we wonder that the best method of cultivating the soil should engage the attention of the dwellers in this ancient palatine? Since the above date, reclamation of commons, heath, and moors has been going on, and the area of the wastes has been greatly reduced. The soil, generally speaking, is composed of clay and sand; the former is said to prevail in the hundreds of Broxton, Wirral, and Macclesfield, and the other, sandy soils, in the hundreds of Eddisbury, Northwich, Nantwich, and Bucklow. Large tracts of peat, moss, and black moorland exhibit themselves in that part which lies upon the confines of Yorkshire and Derbyshire, Some centuries ago, Cheshire was celebrated for the great extent of its forests and heath lands, well supplied with timber. Delamere Forest was of great extent, for at one time 50 townships were within its boundary, and within the last two centuries it con. tained upwards of 11,000 acres, the soil consisting chiefly of gravel and white sand. In 1812. 2,000 acres were enclosed, pursuant to Act of Parliament, and the land now consists of plantations and cultivated fields. The using of marl as a peculiar natural manure was known in Cheshire at the time of Edward the First, certain leases then granted having been found to contain clauses by which the tenants were compelled to make use of it. Mr Alam Martindale published a collection of letters on this subject, reference to which is made in the Chetham Society's series of books. The work referred to was published in 1815. Other agricultural processes are also described, which do not come within the range o this paper. His first letter on marling was published May 18th, 1682, and in it he mentions the following verses, which are bald and unpoetic: He that marls sand may buy land, He was a But there are exceptions to this rule. We are the boys to fey a pit, And thus in doggrel rhythm the various processes are described, the last verse being When shut the pit, the labour o'er, Chorus Who whoop, who whoop, who 0, 0, 0, 0. Colonel Legh read this to an old tenant on the estate, who had been a marler, and he said, "It's all reet; but I wonder au never heard of that song before." If there are any others I should be glad to hear of them in "Notes and Queries." E. H. SHERIFFS OF CHESTER. [478.] In a manuscript written by Daniel Ritson, in the year 1795, some extracts occur from an ancient MS., and two of them relate to the city of Chester :In 1507 there was so great a plenty of wheat in the City of Chester that it sold in the Market Place at ten pence in the bushel. In the year 1569 the two sheriffs of Chester quarrelled on account of a public election, and fought with their white staves, for which they were respectively fined ten pounds." Another entry, not referring to any particular locality, says that in 1550 "all maidens were put out of taverns, and men servants put in their places." From an ancient chronology, written in 1787, I glean the following:-" 1285-King Edward I. and his Queen visited Chester, having conquered Wales. (Aldersey's MS.). 1294-This monarch again visited Chester. 1300-E ward, Prince of Wales, honoured this city with a visit, and received the homage of the freeholders in Wales, 1322-The Water Tower. Erected by John Help ton a mason, for which the city paid him the vast sum of £100. 1349-Bertram Northen. Esq., mayor, was slain by Richard Ditton, who was pardoned on paying 150 marks. The title of Esquire was this year given to the Mayor. 1379-A bushel of wheat sold for sixpence, a gallon of white wine for sixpence, a gallon of claret for fourpence, a fat goose for twopence, and a fat pig for a penny. A Mayor's feast, containing all the dainties of the season, cost exactly eleven shilin gs and tenpence. (Aldersey's MS.) (To be continued.) COCK FIGHTING. E. H. Manchester [479.] An advertisement in the Mercury, May 16th, 1752, informs us of this sport in the following words:-"A main of cocks at Manchester, between the gentlemen of Lancashire and the gentlemen of Cheshire, showing forty-one on each side;" and the paper published on May 26, gives the following account thereof :-" Yesterday began to be fought, at the Riding School, in Salford, the great cock match between Lancashire and Cheshire, when Lancashire won nine battles in the main and two bye battles, and Cheshire won three battles in the main and two bye battles." In the paper for June 2nd the matter is again mentioned"On Wednesday last ended the great cock match, at the Riding School, in Salford, between the gentlemen of Lancashire and Cheshire, when the former won by several battles." E. H. man. Replies. "GRINNING LIKE A CHESHIRE CAT." (Query 472. August 13.) 1480.]-To "grin like a Cheshire cat," or, more truly, "like a Cheshire pole-cat." The extinct, or nearly extinct, wild animals, such as the badger and wild cat, lingered on the well-wooded peninsula of Cheshire, between the Mersey and the Dee, commonly called Wirral, longer than in other parts, and some years since a veritable specimen of the latter was shot on Peckforton Moss by a friend of the writer's. It was much heavier than any domestic cat, and some naturalists say that the wild cat was of a different species. The face and mouth were very wide, and so ferocious did they look when dis turbed that it was easy to see why "to grin like a Cheshire cat" is yet a common proverb in the north of England. In the book from which the above is extracted-viz., Mr Alfred Rimmer's excellent and entertaining work, "Our Old Country Towns," I find in a later chapter the following additional rotes on this subject-Reference has been made to a Cheshire cat, and the origin of the expression, "grinning like a Cheshire cat " was discussed, but I have since met with a book on Cheshire proverbs and sayings by Mr Egerton Leigh. He took great pains with the subject, and was a thorough Cheshire He gives two probable versions of the saying, though he does not consider either of them satisfactory. He says that at one time Cheshire cheeses were fashioned in the form of a cat, and sold in Bath, with wiskers, &c.; and this may have suggested to the habitues of that watering place the application of the term to some old lady who was not quite in the prime of youth and beauty. Of course, it wou'd easily become spread through England if it originated in Bath. Another supposition is that the crest of a lion was common to some Cheshire families, such as the Egerton of Tatton, and indeed his own family. The signs of the roadside inns in the neighbourhood generally had the heraldic device of the landowner, and the artistic efforts of the sign painter resulted in a grin that amused the passer-by, and gave the cue te the term. Bat against this derivation, which Mr Leigh is by no means satisfied with, must be put the circumstances that other counties than Cheshire are equally well supplied with lions for family devices, and these are quite as liberally distributed over the inn doors. The derivation given previously would seem to gain strength by a circumstance that a tradition actually exists in some parts of the forest to thateffect; and although wild-cats may have indes d lingered in remote parts like the Peak, in Derbyshire, they would not be noticed to the same extent as their relatives in Cheshire, where those who hunted them were among the leading families in Eagland, and their colloquial phrases would be copiel. Of course domestic cats become wild and lose much of their sleek appearance, and will often do more damage to a game-cover than half-a-dozen foxes, for the latter can be guarded against, which the other poachers cannot be. Still these will never become like the real Cheshire wild-cats now, possibly, extinct. Sandbach. W. R. D. OLD SCHOOL AT CHEADLE HULME. [431.] Mr Jonathan Robinson, of Cheadle Hulme gave, in 1785, three acres of land, Cheshire measure the yearly profits to pay a schoolmaster for instructing eight poor children. These are selected by gentlemen of the township, who act as trustees of the charity. A subscription was raised, and the schoo built upon the land given by Mr Robinson, which consists of one meadow and one pasture field in rear of the school. A school-house adjoins the building, in which the master lives, and the land is rented by a farmer in the neighbourhood. A stone over the door has the inscription :-" This school was built by subscription, and endowed by Mr Jonathan Robinson, 1785." On the new school being built adjoining the church, the old school was retained, in 1872, as an infant school; and in April, 1875, was turned into a reading-room for the use of the villagers, on paying a small subscription. Not meeting with much support, it was, in 1877, again occupied as an infant school. The Robinsons were a respectable family living in the neighbourhood, and entries relating to them will be found in the Cheadle registers. [184] SANJAM FAIR.-The Altrincham fair held the first week in August goes by the name of " Sanjam fair." What is its meaning? M. V. [485] PRESIDENT BRADSHAW. Is there any truth in the statement that one of the Regicide's sisters married a Mr Holland, of Mobberley, and had issue? If so, when and where was she baptised, married, and buried? The Cheshire Hollands have of recent years produced Sir Henry Holland, the eminent physician, and Mrs Giskell, the novelist. The recent German excavations at Olympia had for one of their results a discovery second only in interest to the impossible recovery of the colossal gold and ivory statue of Jupiter, the masterpiece of Phideas, which adorned the great temple of the god in the plain of ancient Elis. I allude to the group of Hermes nursing the infant Dionysius, the unchallenged work of Praxiteles, a cast of which was described upon its arrival at the British Museum. The thanks of the cultivated world were freely given to the German Government for its splendid services to art and archæology, which were rendered so freely as to leave all originals as the property of their natural Hellenic inheritors. Teutonic disinterestedness has, however, been called into question lately by the attitude understood to have been taken in the recent crisis of Greek affairs by some subordinate members of German diplomacy, who under threat of the political antagonism of Germany sought to exact original sculptures wherever these should be found in duplicate. The difficulty which followed has happily not stopped the work of excavating. This is now being carried on by the Archæological Society of Athens, largely subsidised by the Greek Government, and patriotically supported by the Greeks of London, Manchester, and Liverpool. |