Moonrakers Towns & Villages

Sir Walter's eighth son, Simon, by his second wife, Elizabeth ap Harry of Poston, and his grandson was Thomas Baskerville of Richardston in the County of Wiltshire. Thomas was succeeded by his son Francis, who married Margaret, (daughter of Sir John Ganvill of Broadhinton in Wiltshire. Margaret's grandson, George Baskerville, of Winterbourne Basset, had a daughter who married her cousin, Thomas Baskerville of Richardston. Another grandson was Richard Baskerville, who married Jane, daughter of Sir Richard Gore of Baron’s Court, in the County of Somerset. It was his daughter Meliora who married her cousin Thomas Baskerville of Aberedw court and left an heiress Philippa Baskerville who, as we have already seen above, married the Rev. John Powell and whose daughter Meliora Powell became the wife of Peter Rickards Mynors of Treago).
Meliora Powell, married in 1787, had a brother, Thomas Powell of Richardston, who married his cousin Jane Baskerville of Winterbourne Basset. They had an only son Thomas, who though twice married left no children, so his estates were devolved upon Thomas the second son of Meliora and Peter Rickards Mynors in 1818. This Thomas assumed the name Thomas Mynors Baskerville in 1818. Meliora's first son Peter inherited the Treago estates.
Thomas Mynors Baskerville succeeded to the Clyro Court property through his mother Meliora Powell. Thomas married twice. His first wife Anne, the daughter and heiress of John Hancock of Marlborough, by whom he had no issue. His second wife Elizabeth, the daughter of the Rev. P. C. Quise, had six children.
The eldest Son of Thomas and Elizabeth was Walter Mynors Baskerville who succeeded to Clyro Court. He married Bertha Maria, third daughter and heiress of John Hopton of Canon-Ffrome Court and Kemerton Court in Gloucestershire. Walter's son Ralph Hopton Baskerville, born 1884, was not twenty-one when his father died in 1905. [1990 P.B.R. There is something wrong with Madeline Hopton’s Mathematics here.
 

APPENDIX 'A'
The Rev.John Webb's book, 'Memorials of the Civil War between King and Parliament' Vol.11. Written in 1870 gives an account of how Eardisley Castle came to be burnt down and the activities of Ja (James?) Baskerville at the fall of Hereford in Dec. l645.
In November there were many skirmishes between Parliamentary troops and the King's army in Herefordshire. This resulted in the local population arming themselves with anything available to protect their property from deserters and the criminal elements of society who find war a good time for looting and plunder. These locals banded together from time to time armed with clubs to demand their rights and are referred to in some documents as 'Clubmen'. However in Chapter 15, the Rev. Webb writes, and I quote,"Sir Barnabas Scudmore, the Governor and High Sheriff of Hereford (Kings army) kept his own men in action, but about this tine 'roysters from Hereford' as Mercurious Civicus calls them, (probably Clubmen), burnt down Sir Robert Welch's house)(?), Eardisley Castle, and other houses in the neighborhood, but laid aside a similar design against Monington. The market days at Ross brought scenes of plunder."
We know from other documents that Webb's (?) was well merited because Eardisley belonged to a Thomas Baskerville who died 17.2.1682 [Married Frances Pember who died 22.5.1683]
Webb also reproduces an account of how Hereford City fell in Dec.1645. I quote. "In December 1645, a Colonel Birch (one time merchant of Bristol) after the failure of a plan to capture Hereford town due to a heavy snow fall. Being a man of fertile mind in military matters devised a new scheme for seizing one of the gates of the city by stealth. Colonel Birch rode to the garrison at Cannon Frome, where he chose six boorish foresters, one of who was Ja Baskerville, and Lieutenant named Berrow to impersonate a local constable. Who was equipped with a false warrant to enter the city of Hereford on the pretext that the six workmen accompanying him were forced labour entering to clear the snow from the city's defenses. When Colonel Birch arrived at Hereford, on an extremely cold night, he informed his seven men of his plan to get the men near enough to seize Hereford's Bishop Gate prior to a general assault in the morning. The Original account, sent to Parliamentary troops Headquarters reads as follows "The false Constable being heavy with cold, which made him and his men go as if starved (very cold), and also by reason of their broad hats, great breeches, spades. Pickaxes and bundles of bread and cheese, they might well deceive a wise and vigilant guard commander. As the morning was extremely cold it had driven most of the guard to huddle round their fire". The rouse was successful and after the gateway was taken the general assault took place and the city fell. The following is a copy of the false warrant' - Whereas we have received from the Honorable Governor of Hereford, for the bringing into the Garrison six able workmen, with tools as are fit for your said purpose, we have with obedience by our neighbor Hugh Morris sent a return of the names of the said parties, viz.-John Bailey. , Wil. Edwards. Rich. Deems, Phil. Mason. , Ja. Baskerville. , Wil.King., (P.B.R.1989 Can we assure Ja. is short for James?)
Signed, "The mark of S.J. Jo. Searle,
Roger Hill, Constable."
Dated 17th Dec. l645.
 
N.B. P.B.R.1989. There are other accounts of this action which includes one from Scudmore which claims the gate was opened by treachery. If this is so why have we got the report from the Parliamentary army? Being an old soldier myself I am well aware of what officers, like Scudmore, will say at a later date when called upon to account for the loss of their command. I feel the above account rings very true for the simple reason the whole affair was one which would appeal to any soldier's sense of humor when faced with the chance of putting one over the enemy.
 

APPENDIX 'B'
Part One. John Baskerville 1706 to 1775 [Printer, inventor of Baskerville Type)
A letter from Mr.John Cockcroft, Curator of City of Nottingham Wollaton Park Museum dated 3rd Nov. 1989. Says; We have three carriages with Baskerville connections. They came to Nottingham castle in the 1920's from Fuller's Coachbuilders Bath, where they had been displayed for some time. Previously they had bean stored at Manton in Wiltshire. Two carriages have connections with John Baskerville of Birmingham. The third is of a later date. All have Baskerville Arms on their bodywork. John Baskerville of Birmingham had no known links with the titled Baskervilles. How he acquired the carriages and how they came to be at Manton in Wiltshire is a mystery. A date of 1698 is associated with them in connection with one of the titled Baskervilles who was High Sheriff of Wiltshire at the time. I have seen no documentary proof of this but it has always been claimed. The coach bodies are certainly of a later date, though the chassis with no springs, merely leather suspension straps, could be earlier. One vehicle is a dress landau, the Phaeton. It is said that John Baskerville liked gold and green colors, which are the basic colors of all the vehicles. I have seen no documentary proof of the link with the vehicles and John Baskerville, though the heraldic devices are completely spurious - except for the Baskerville element, and this supports the "imposter" argument. The elaborate decoration was said to have been applied by Baskerville's japanning workers, who worked with lacquer decoration on paper-mache boxes and trays. He had a number of business interests and was a prosperous man. His interest in letter design was more of a hobby than an occupation. Read 'John Baskerville of Birmingham, letter Founder and Printer' by F.E.Pardoe published by Fredrick Muller Ltd., London 1975,Isbn 0584 103549."
Part Two
Records found in Worcester Record Office Dec.1989. by P.B.Rance.
Parcel of papers called; "Foley Scrap Book" Ref 140.3762/8 for May 1821. This scrapbook was probably made up from Birmingham newspapers, perhaps the Birmingham Post or its ancestor.
This copy of a newspaper cutting dated May 1827.
" Disinterment - On Friday the remains of the celebrated John Baskerville, were disinterred in Birmingham. This gentleman, well known for the improvement he made in letter founding; was buried by an express direction contained in his will, in his own ground, in a Mausoleum erected for the purpose previous to his death. After his death the ground passed into the hands of Samual Ryland, Esq., who demised it to Mr. Gibson, who has since cut a canal through it. Soon after Mr.Ryland became possessor of this property, the Mausoleum erected for the purpose, which was a small conical building, was taken down and it was rumored at the tine, that the body had been removed. This proves to be ill founded, for it appears that a short tine before Christmas last, some workmen who were employed in getting gravel, discovered the leaden coffin. It was however immediately covered up, and remained untouched until Friday last, when the coffin was disinterred. The body was in a singular state of preservation, considering that it had been underground for about 46 years. It was wrapped in a linen shroud, which was very perfect and white, and on the breast lay a branch of laurel, faded but entire, and firm in texture. There were also leaves and sprigs of bay and laurel in other parts of the coffin and on the body. The skin on the face was dry but perfect. The eyes were gone, but eye brows, the eye lashes, lips and teeth remained. The skin on the abdomen and body generally was in the same state with the face. An exceedingly offensive and oppressive effluvia strongly resembling decayed cheese, arose from the body, and rendered it necessary to close the coffin in a short tine, and it was reentered. The putrefactive process must have been arrested by the leaden coffin having been sealed hermetically, and thus access of the air prevented. Mr. Baskerville was born at Wolverly, in this county, in 1706 and inherited a small paternal estate. He was Possessed of a natural elegance of taste, which distinguished every thing which came from his hands. His house, planned by himself, was more decorated with architectural ornament than any in Birmingham. The panels of his carriage were elegant pictures, and a pair of beautiful cream horses drew him. He loved fine clothes, and indeed seems in all respects to have been fond of show, united with something of singularity." [Hand written on this document is;- 'May 1821']
 
Details from a handwritten document dated circa 1900.
"John Baskerville a native of Worcestershire and printer is entitled to notice only for the beautiful type which he employed in the printing of several works which are distinguished by the name Baskerville editions. The same John Baskerville a celebrated letter founder and printer in the forms of the types and various print processes of printing. He raised the art to a higher state than it had reached before, but his labors appear to have been but faintly appreciated. It has been remarked that his books are more elegantly than correctly printed. Gainsborough painted John Baskerville’s portrait. He was buried, by his own desire, in a tomb in his own garden. He was born at Wolverley in Worcestershire in 1706 and died 1775."
 
Important Note. John Baskerville
Refer to; - Page VI. Baskervilles of Eardisley Branch, [My 1990 Baskerville family tree]
Many historians say that the Eardisley branch of the family died out after the Civil War when the castle was burnt down and the surviving members of the family were much reduced in wealth. During the course of my research documents showed that certain historians traced this branch down to Mary b.1640, John 1642 Benhaile 1642, Thomas 1642, Francis 1643, Humphrey Circa 1644, Herbert 1645, Frances 16??, Ann 1647. Who were the children of Thomas Baskerville and Frances Pember who lived until 1682 and 1683 respectively. Through the good offices of Mr. John Harden I have traced this branch for another four generations, see revised list for this branch on Page [I of this booklet. In 1678 a John Baskerville was born on the 26th March [Eardisley Registers 1660 to 1740] Although, as yet, I cannot prove it, I believe this John was the father of John Baskerville [The Printer] who was born at Wolverley [Nr.Kiddenninster) in 1706 and who died in Birmingham in 1775. Again this leads to controversy, as some historians believe John Baskerville [The Printer] was a social upstart. They have described his 'Baskerville cresting' of his coaches, now in the Nottingham Museum, as something to which he had no right, as he was in no way connected to the main Eardisley branch of the Baskervilles. Since I discovered the account of his exhumation/disinternment in May 1827 [Foley Scrap book in the Worcester Record Office] I believe previous historians are completely wrong as this account distinctly says 'He [John Baskerville] inherited a small paternal estate'.
If One of John's parent's wills can be found we may well resolve this riddle quite easily but if we carefully consider the dates of birth which we already have, their sequence shows that, John [Senior] was baptized on 26th March 1678 and John [The Printer] in 1706. This would have made John [senior] 28 years old at the time of John's [The Printer] birth in 1706.
To me, this very tidy run of dates. Plus the Baskerville custom of giving their children, their own christen names, makes me almost certain that my suggested connection to the main family is correct. Although I agree John Baskerville's [The Printer] claim to a Baskerville crest on his coaches may be a little tenuous. But there again they are not exact copies of the true Baskerville crest, so he may have altered them enough to prevent any legal backlash from those of his relations entitled to the original Baskerville crest. After all it is generally acknowledged by all his historians that he was a smooth operator commercially and what better than an ancient family crest to attract customers in the eighteenth century? It is also very interesting to note that Woverley, nr. Kidderminister is approximately 18 miles from Sapey Common, near what is now called Woodbury Hill [old name Wolveshill?] which was the home of Sir Thomas Baskerville who married Eleanor Habingdon of Brookhampton Circa 1600. If John Baskerville [printer] was related to the main branch of the Baskervilles this may he another source to the estate he inherited, as Thomas Baskerville only had one daughter, who was the mother of the 10th Earl of Shrewsbury.
 
Part Three.
Lieutenant Peter Baskerville 1785
A Lieutenant Peter Baskerville was at the Siege of Louisbourgh, U.S.A., in 1785. From which branch of the family he came is not known.(P.B.R.1989)
 
Part Four. Peter Baskerville Rance - Born 1923.
It is very well known that Sir Arthur Conan Doyle Wrote a Book, 'The Hound of the Baskervilles' but he also wrote another book, 'A study in Scarlet' in which a John Rance is a main character. (N.B.P.B.R.Perhaps, having combined these two names, is my only claim to fame!)
 

APPENDIX ‘C’ An account from the Independent Newspaper of 25th August 1989;-Part One
 
A mysterious animal is running amok near the village from which Sir Arthur Conan Doyle got his inspiration for his story 'The Hound of the Baskervilles', writes David Thomas. Dozens of sheep have had their throats ripped out on farmland a few miles from Powys village Clyro. Armed farmers are making nightly searches alongside thick forest and across remote moorland around Hay on Wye in Herefordshire and Welsh border villages to track down the killer, which strikes at night. Conan Doyle wrote the 'Hound of the Baskervilles', which he set in Dartmoor, after hearing the tale of 'The Black Dog of Hergest' while staying twelve miles from Clyro. Pamela Harnsworth (41) Landlady of the 'Baskerville Arms Inn,' Clyro said, "At least two people have seen it. It's bigger than a fox and dark in color. Many think it’s a large dog" Traces of the animal, such as a foot print, have not been found. One farmer has 'so far, lost sheep worth £300. A Dyfed-Powys Police spokesman said, "As unlikely as it seems something appears to be going on out there."
 
Part Two
In 1938, while staying at their house ‘Homefells’ in Malvern, the following event took place. My Baskerville aunts, Florence, Clara and Eleanor were walking on the Malvern hills when the fog came down and they claim they were followed by a large black animal for most of the way to their house 'Homefells', which was very high up the Malvern hills, at Malvern Wyche. The family was worried for sometime afterwards as they thought it might signify a coming death in the family. I am pleased to relate this did not happen!

 
APPENDIX 'D' Extract from a letter from Mrs.N.A.D.Walker (Betty) dated 6th Nov.1989.
 
Weobley in Herefordshire has records of the following; -Church Wardens List shows Thomas Baskerville in l7l8,l732,1742,l748,~ John Baskerville, as Parish Clerk, in 1757 and 1777 and a Parish Clerk called Richard Baskerville in 1890. There are three at least three monuments to Baskervilles dated 1834, ~38, 1841, 1844, 1875,1886 and 1892. In Weobley church graveyard. I had John Baskerville's tomb cleared of ivy in 1990, arid this revealed the following inscription; - This tablet records the death of Mr.John Baskerville who departed this life the 2Oth November 1834. Aged 64 years. Born 1770. "All the relative duties of his conduct was extemporary, kind, affectionate to his wife and children and benevolent to all his fellow creatures. He has left a name which will he long cherished with the fondest recollections by his disconsolate widow and wide circle of friends" Also on the opposite side, Elizabeth, wife of John Baskerville, who died 21st March 1838, Aged 67 years. "Let the dead rest from their labour and the living profit by the tine yet spared to them"
 

APPENDIX ‘E’ Baskerville letters found among my Aunt Nell’s papers 1957.
Letter dated 1815 from Tavistock (Baskerville) to Mrs. Francis Hill, 107 Swallow Street, opposite Little Argile St.London.
Chymsworthy Nov 15th 1815.
Mrs. F-.Hill,
I received a letter form you the 6th day of November instant saying on your letter that you wanted the remainder part of the rent so I have send you Twenty Pounds which is all that I have got for the present. I am greatly obliged to you for forbearing me so long time -I hope you will please to forebear me for the remainder part the rent for one month or six weeks for it is very bad time to rise money for present. I hope you will be so kind as other landlords are that is to fall the rent very considerable indeed for it is impossible to rise the rents that have been given if times are not better.
s d
Paid for one years property tax 7 0 0
 
Paid for firs and planting safe 3 0 0
Paid for Eding in coppis 3 3 0
Ten seems of plants 15 0
For thorns and beans and coting 6 0
One day's work for the Mason by the Cortgate 2 6
For one man day binding round the trees 2 0
£14 8 6
Remains due to you £9 11 6
but I hope you please consider me sum thing for the times are so bad
I am very sorry to hear you have been so unwell
From your most obedient and humble servant. W. Baskerville
P.S. I have also deducted 1/6p for the stamp of the bill I have sent you, which the Barkers have charged me so that the draft is £19 18 6
 
Editors Note. This was probably William Baskerville bapt. 14.3.1773. How and why did these letters come to be among Aunt Nell’s papers? P.B.R.1990.