O S B O R N E M.S.S. Additional M.S.S. British Museum Library, Nos. 19368 ; 19370 and 19371. -A.1ST .A.OO OTJISTT SOCIETY OF UNION SCHOLARS, ESTABLISHED, A.D. 1713. With the Members' Names, Rules, and Peal Book, from the original M.S.S., AND AN APPENDIX BT JASPER W. SNOWDON and EOBEET TUKE, OF THE YORKSHIRE ASSOCIATION OF CHANGE RINGERS, : JOHN DALE AND CO., PRINTERS, BIUDGE STREET A^D LEEDS ROAD, BRADFORD. 1877 O S B O R N E M.S.S. Additional M.S.S. British Museum Library, Nos. 19368 ; 19370 and 19371. -A.JXT .A.OG OTJISrT <)K THE SOCIETY OF UNION SCHOLARS, ESTABLISHED, A.D. 1713. With the Members' Names, Rules, and Peal Book, from the original M.S.S., AND AN APPENDIX BY JASPEK W. SNOWDON and ROBEKT TUKE, OF THE YORKSHIRE ASSOCIATION OF CHANGE RINGERS, JOHN DALE AM) CO., PRINTERS, BRIDGE STREET AND LF.EDS HOAD, BRADFORD. 1877. BRITISH MUSEUM LIBRARY. ADDITIONAL MANUSCRIPTS, Vol. 19,370. "ACCOUNT OF THE RINGING SOCIETIES IN LONDON, BY E. J. OSBORN E. THE UNION SCHOLAKS, ESTABLISHED, 1713, This antique Society was established in the 13th year of the reign of Queen Anne, on the 1st of May, 1713. In the 3rd article by which the Society was regulated, it was ordered that the meetings should be held " within the City of London," what part of the city does not appear, but from the circumstance of the first peal being rung at St. Dunstan's in the East, the probability is, the meetings were held contiguous to that church. As nothing now remains (excepting the record book) to shew the exact origin of the Union Scholars' Society, it cannot now be more accurately known than by the following observations ; but those who are fond of tracing marks of antiquity relating to the ringing exercise, must, I feel assured, regret the loss of knowing the true original particulars of this Company. This neglect, perhaps, may be accounted for by remarking that the ancients in this exercise were generally very dilatory and neglectful in recording the exploits of their day. 11G6296 It appears that the beautiful Tower of St. Duustau's in the East was erected in the year 1690, and the present peal of bells was cast and put up in 170*2, which is evidenced by the following singular notice copied from an old newspaper, to be seen in the British Museum, called the Post Boy, and dated July 25th, 1702, which states that : ' Whereas, Mr. Abraham Rudhall, of the city of Gloucester, bell founder, was lately employed to cast 8 bells for the Parish Church of St. Dunstan's, in London. This is to give notice that he has performed his contract to the universal satisfaction of the gentlemen of the said Parish, and in the opinion of the ablest judges has made them the best peal of bells in all England.' The probability is that soon after these bells were put up the Union Scholars began to hold meetings and practised ringing of some kind at St. Dunstan's prior to their establishing a society. I am of opinion, as this was a city society, and from the fact of their first peal being rung there, the first known peal upon the bells the Union Scholars were the original parochial ringers of St. Dunstan's. The Union Scholars had one book in which are recorded their Articles, Names and Peals. The Articles, seven in number, proclaim that every candidate must be a strictly moral character to become eligible for admission, and if approved, should pay Is. the entrance fee, and thereby become a member. There are 181 names of members, written in bold German text, with dates. &c., shewing accurately the times of their admission and the times of appointments to the offices of Master and Stewards. A Master and two Stewards were chosen annually, and the Annual Festival was ordered to be held on the 1st of May, at some convenient place in the City of London. The book also contains an account of 36 peals (mostly plain ringing), the first of which is dated 1718, and the last 1757. There is one circumstance connected with the three first entries which calls forth some remarks and sur- prise, i e., the first and second peals were rung in September and December, 1718, and the space of 18 years passed over before the next peal was rung. This can possibly be accounted for in the following manner, i e., by reason of the peal in December being the very first peal of Treble Bob that ever was rung in the kingdom which was at the time and many years after called " Union Bob," so named in honour of the Union Scholars ringing the first peal in that method, after ringing this peal, those members who rang it appear to have left the company, as their names (afterwards) do not appear as Union Scholars, or in fact as anything else in that way ; the presumption is therefore that they joined the London Scholars, who were a most respectable ringing society and of great renown, but whether anything of consequence was ever done by these people conjointly, in the way of peals, is now unknown, and will, I expect, be for ever so, in consequence of the total loss of the London Scholars' record books. The first peal (before-mentioned) rung by the Union Scholars is called a peal of " Hick's Tripples," * so named possibly after the person of that name who invented the method. There is no note or name of bob caller to either peal. The writings representing these two peals in 1718, are the oldest ringing records upon paper in the kingdom, and are in good condition, considering the number of years they have been written ! At and after this supposed loss of members above-mentioned, the Society continued to receive new members, and went on in the usual way, yet, the fact is they appear to have been so far leduced as not to be able to ring a peal until 1 8 years afterwards. How- ever, after the expiration of this period, they again began to ring peals, as frequently as other societies, to the year 1754. In the year 1745, Mr. John Holt (the renowned author of the celebrated peal of Grandsire Triples), was admitted a member * Mr. Osborne is not quite correct in this, it is entered as " Hick Tripples" and the "Garthornes Hie Tripples" to be found in Annable's Note Book, frhew that it was in reality Grandsire with fifth place bobs, and there is every reason to suppose that the peal was identical with Garthon's peal which had been performed by the Norwich Scholars on August 26th. 1718. of the Union Scholars, and in 1749 served the office of Master. During the time of his Mastership with this Company, he successfully accomplished his much celebrated long course peal of Grandsire Triples, which was for the first time rung at St. Margaret's, Westminster, on Sunday, July 7th, 1751, himself seated upon a chair in the steeple and conducting the same ; he afterwards composed the same peal in parts, for the convenience of the caller, which peal, after being divided into parts, was (I believe) rung the first time by the Cumberlands, at Shoreditch, on the 12th October, 1754, and conducted by Mr. George Gross. In the year 1752, it appears Mr. Holt left the Union Scholars and joined the Ancient Society of College Youths, and rang two peals with that company, with whom, it is supposed, he continued so long as he remained a practical ringer ; it, how- ever, may be remarked that Mr. Holt's name does not appear in any peal or performance of any kind with any society whatever after ringing the two peals above-mentioned with the Ancient Society of College Youths. The Society appears (by the book) to have been in a prosperous state till about the year 1754, but in 1757 their last peal was rung, at which time the Society became extinct (or thereabouts) as most of the members' names about this latter date are to be found in the books of other societies. In the year 1754, Mr. Albion, an active member of this Company, and a celebrated writer of peals, appears to have left London to fulfil an appointment as master of a large school at Bath, where he continued to the year of his death, 1805, and when the Union Scholars became extinct, he, being the writer of the peals, the Peal Book was sent to him at Bath, as a present, with a request to keep it, which he did to the time of his decease, when the same was afterwards presented to one John Bush (a Bath ringer), for the Bath Abbey Company, which he kept, as his own, till his decease, in 1821. It was after- wards in the hands of others in Bath many years, in fact to the time I happened to visit Bath (while on a tour through the West of England), when it by chance was shewn to me, and to my astonishment I was asked " the meaning " of such a book ! I soon discovered what it was and, after perusing it, made an offer and purchased it for 10s. ; this was on the 2nd clay of September, 1846. Upon calculation I discovered this book had been in Bath nearly 90 years, and was always supposed, by the London people, to have been for many years entirely lost or destroyed. Prior to Mr. Albion's leaving London for Bath, as before-mentioned, he wrote members' names and peals in the books of nearly every society in London, down to the time of his departure for Bath, viz. : all the names and peals in the Ancient Society of College Youths' book from 17 to 1754 ; a few peals in the Eastern Scholars' book in 1752-3 ; all the peals from 1741 to 1754, and the whole of the names in the Union Scholars' book, and the members' names from 1747 to 1753 in the Cumberland's book. This fact is perceptible to anyone possessing a small portion of genuine discernment of ornamental writing. Thus Mr. Albion left London in 1754, and his name appears in a peal of Union Triples with the Bath Company on the 9th of December in that year, which peal he recorded in his usual ornamental style upon paper with his name signed as the writer thereof, which record was presented to me in December, 1846, by Mr. Albion, his only son (then 80 years of age), as a lover of ringing antiquities, the possession of which 1 retain to this day." ADDITIONAL MANUSCRIPTS, Vol. 13968, page 23. Mr. Osborne also gives this account of the finding of thi? book: " The following history relates to the singular discovery of the Ancient Society of Union Scholars' Peal Book, which was supposed to have been lost or destroyed very many years since, but was perchance found and purchased by rne, while on a visit to Bath, in December, 1846. Whereas, Mr. James Albion, a native of Hackney, Middlesex. born in or about the year 1797, by profession a mercantile clerk and professional writer, resided in London till the year 1753, when he went to live at Bath, and there opened a school, which he carried on with great reputation to the year 1805, the year of his death. During his time in London, he wrote all the last peals in the Union Scholars' Book, and when that Society became extinct (about the year 1757), this book was sent to him as a present, being the writer thereof which he kept till his decease, when the same was presented to the Bath Abbey Ringers Society, by his only surviving son, James Albion who made this statement to me in 1846, above-mentioned, and was then residing at No. 1 , Chapel Court, in the City of Bath, in the 80th year of his age. This book was entrusted to the care of one John Bush, a Bath ringer to hand to his society instead of which he kept it for himself to the time of his death, which event occurred in 1821, Afterwards it remained in the hands of different members of that society, as private property, till it was purchased by me on the 2nd day of December, 1846: At this period the book was in a very dilapidated state from age and illusage. 1 brought it to London in its original state, and after- wards took it to pieces, cleaned the whole of the leaves, mounted them upon new paper, and made all defects good about the writing, &c. with a title page to the peals there being no original added some antique views of churches, with several other interesting and ancient performances, which do not appear elsewhere on paper, all of which have been collected and written by E. J. OSBORNE. Upon perusal of the original leaves it will be perceived that Mr. Albion was (besides the writer) a ringing member of the Society of Union Scholars, and rang in nearly all the peals to the time of his leaving London for Bath. It will be also, after- wards, seen that he joined the Bath Einging Company, and rang a peal of Union Tripples with that Company, which he recorded upon paper, and the same was presented to me by Mr. Albion (his son) in 1846, which I have placed for perusal at the end of these leaves, which originally formed the Society of Union Scholars Book the subject of this address. E J. OSBORNE." 10 Additional Manuscripts Vol. 19371. " THE NAMES OF THE MEMBERS OF THE SOCIETY OF UNION SCHOLARS, Commencing from the 1st of May in the year 1713 : Stewards. 1713. Masters. Stewards. 1717. Masters. 1714 Wm: Hodges 1713 1720 Chas. Marsh 1713 Wm. Balding 1715 1721 Edw. Archer 1713 Wm. Freeborn 1714 And. Williams 1721 1714 Robt. French Robt. Bawlwin 1718. John Medley 1722 Danl. Steward 1715 Thos. Goodridge AmbroseTaylorl7^2 1715 Thos. Wright 1719. 1714. 1723 Robt. Stretch 1716 Wm. Coster 1717 1723 Saml. How 1724 1716 Rd. Walker 1723 1724 Rd. Steel 1725 1717 Thos. Richards 1720 1717 Alex. White 1719 1720. TWTC 1724 Wm. Smithson 1722 *7o Ed. Franks 1716 Jas. Field 1718 Jno. Stiles 1721. 1718 Rd. Willson 1743 W. Scarsbrook 1746 1716. 1725 Jno. Stanton 1721 Thos. Perrin 1725 Wm.'Smith 1726 1719 Saml. Moss 1718 1719 Jno. Russell 1722. 1720 Thos. Wheeler 1727 Hy. Macfarland Rd. Oswald 1726 Jas. Mason 1720 Wm. Strange 1726 Wm. Howard 1727 11 Stewards. i723- Masters. Stewards. 1732. Masters. 1727 Thos. Burnett 1728 1742 Jos. Fielding 1728 Geo. Hawdon 1734 Wm. Young 1743 Wm. Gill 1729 1728 Richd. Quick 1733- 1737 Philip Barringer 1724. 1741 Thos. Fletcher Jno. Salter 1731 Thos. Fisher I734- 1731 Thos. Mead 1736 Jos. Brown Danl. Bigsby 1730 1729 Wm. Ayres 1731 Jno. Flanders 1730 1735 Saml. Walton 1737 Geo. Lawrence 1729 Aron Dove '735- 1726. 1735-39 Capt. R. Hill 1736 1730 Wm. Killings- worth 1732 Jno. Adams 1736 Jno. Denmead 1738 Thos. Palmer 1737-46 Ed. Underwood 1740 Fras. Popham, Esq. 1727. Saml. Vaughan Adam Children 1732 1743 Jno. Hodges 1733 Saml. Slaughter 1736. Saml. Randall H 38-39 Chas Spurt 1728. 1738-39 Chas. Bride Chas. Kettleby 1738-39 Jno. Hopkins 1732 Jno. Jennings 1738 Hobt. Beard 1729. 1737- Jas. Newcomb 1740 Jno. Barker Wm. Fenner 1744 Jas. Bohun 1739 1730. 1742 Jos. Matthews 1745 1733 Andrew Stevens 1733 Jno. Rawlins 1738- Jno. Braly 1731- Jos. Dickinson 1734 Thos. Barrett 1735 Jno. Herrin 1737 John Dobvns 1734 Jno Sharp 1737 Thos. Wetherly Philemon Main- Jas. Newby waring Stewards. 1739- Masters. Stewards. 1747- Masters. Jas Edwards Fras. Busshell Wm. Simms Thos. Vandyke Jno. Blake Jno. Lloyd Jno. Dagley Jas. Albion 1740. 1748. Jos. Ashton Thos. Jackson Wm. Lovell Edw. Powell* Jno. Jas. Short* 1741. Jas. Marshall 17-10 Jas. Rodgers 1741 17-11 Wm. Mason 1742 1749. Edw. Davis 1742. Thos. Thomas Thos. Davis Edw. Thomas* Thos. James Jos. Jones Jas. Davis 1743- Jno. Lokes 1744 Wm. Mattson Robt James Jno. Scollough 1 744 1750. Thos Fulford IT. Cowley.Twickenham 1744- Robt. Fenn 1745 Wm. Meddus Jno. Meredith 1745-46 Jacob Hall 1747 Phillip Thacker Jno. Roames 1745- P. Cowley, Twickenham John Holt* 1749 Rd. Cadman Hy. Young Saml. Vains 174.6 Wm. Sharpe J./4.U* Thos. Jones Geo. Ware 1 747 Hy. Savory, Putney 1 748 Hy. Vestell fj'as. Tichborne Jas. Yickers Hy. Penn 1747 Jno. Brown Hy. Cashbrook 1747- Jno, Curtiss, Oxford 1748 Thos. Ward Mat. Ashley j Hilling- 1 748 Jas. Fawkes Win. Smith L don. Isaac Hannum ' Jno. Line j Middlesex * Extra illuminated, f Crossed out and X written in margin. ti Ste\var STN. PICKHAVKR 6 RT. MORTIMER GEO. WARE Tenor The bobti at the course ends of the first 1680. 16423578 15264378 13652478 12453678 16524378 The bobs of this 13265478 peal were call'd 14632578 by Jno. Holt. 12534678 16325478 14263578 15642378 The treble leads 12357486 13728564 17836245 18674352 16485723 16452837 16423578 of the first course. See Appendix. 24 *No. 15 ST. MARGARET'S, WESTMINSTER. On the 9th of July, 1749, was rang by this Society a com pleat peal of 6000 BOB MAJOR, in 4 hrs. and 8 mins. the same was performed, JOHN HOLT Treble , EDWARD POWELL 5 THOS. WABD 2 Iv. T^_* ROBERT MORTIMER 6 JACOB HALL 3 the Performers JoH> . LLOYD r JAMES NEWBY 3 STEP. PICKHAVER Tenor 12357486 14352678 : 12378564 12453678 18645872 15324678 18657423 This peal was never 14523678 16723845 rang before and is 13425678 18267584 exactly 6000. 12584678 18273645 Compos'd and call'd 13254678 12345867 by John Holt. 15432678 12356478 13542678 12367584 12345678 14562837 The bobs of These are the the 1st 25 leads. 560 ends. * See Appendix. J The course ends followed by a are written in red. 25 *No. 16. ST. MARTIN'S-IN-THE-FIELDS. The Society on the 8th of Angust, 1749 rang a compleat peal of 5040 PLAIN BOB TREBLES on the eight smallest bells, and the same was performed in 3 hours and 30 mins. by EOBT. JAMES Jxo. HOLT JNO. LLOYD GEO. MEAKINS Treble 2 3 4 JACOB HALL RT. MORTIMER EDW. POWELL JNO. JAMES 5 6 7 Tenor Call'd by John Holt. The first Treble lead. The Bobs of 2143657 1235746 2416375 1645273 4261735 1642357 4627153 1526473 6472513 1652473 6745231 1543762 7654321 1354762 7563412 1643527 5736142 1645732 5371624 1235674 3517264 1236457 3152746 1562374 1325476 1256374 1352746 1534726 At a bob 4ths place. , 1453726 the first 840. See Appendix. 36 *No. 17. CHRIST CHURCH, SURREY, October the loth, 1749. A compleat peal of 5040 BOB MAJOR was by the Society rang, and in 3 hours and 15 rains., the same was perform'd by the following persons, viz : OLIVER ELLIXGSWORTH Treble JACOB HALL 2 SAML. GREEN 8 RT. MORTIMER 4 STEP. PECKHAVKU 5 JNO. HOLT 6 JNO. LLOYD 7 THOS. PRIOR Tenor 16423857 15236478 12643857 15267384 16357284 14365827 15637284 16435827 ' 12356478 These are the bobs of 13645827 12367584 the first 1680. 16527384 14562837 Call d by John Holt. 12657384 16452837 13526478 15642837 13567284 16237584 14263857 13627584 14235678 See Appendix. 27 -No. 18. ST. SEPULCHRE'S, LONDON. On the 5th of December, 1749, was rung by the Society on the eight largest bells, a compleat peal of 5040 BOB MAJOR, and in 3 hours and 45 mins, it was performed by JAS. ALBION Treble GEO. HELLIWELL 5 JACOB HALL 2 THOS. WARD 6 JAS. NEWBY 3 JNO. LLOYD 7 ' JNO. HOLT 4 THOS. PRIOR Tenor These are the bobs of the 1st 560. 12357486 12534678 16452837 13425678 16423578 13254678 10437285 13542678 15236847 N.B. This is the 14235678 15264378 first peal of Bob 14352678 15247683 Major ever rang 14523678 13645827 on the New 12845678 13652478 Bells. 13627584 Call 'd by John Holt. 14523867 15867482 12465837 12453678 (The 560 ends of the Peal.) * See Appendix. J The course ends followed by a are written in red. *No. 19. ST. BRIDGET'S alias ST. BRIDE'S, LONDON-. The Society on the 16th of March 1749/1750, rang on the eight smallest bells in this steeple a compleat peal of 5056 BOB MAJOR. and in 2 hrs. and 67 mins. it was performed by the persons following : JAS. ALBION Treble SAML. GREEN 5 WALTER HARVEY 2 JACOB HALL 6 JAS. NEWBY 3 JNO LOKES T JNO. HOLT 4 THOS- WARD Tenor 17864523 12654837 13657482 12567483 2356478 6437285 4536278 3462857 2367584 3647285 4567382 6342857 6237584 2436578 2364857 4632857 3627534 2467385 6234857 6257483 5236478 5362847 3624857 5627483 5267384 5324678 These are the bob 6457382 4256378 4365827 6253847 changes of the 5647382 426758 s 4352678 5623847 peal. 3456278 3564827 6543827 6347582 3467582 3542678 4653827 4637582 Call'd by 2563847 6435827 6327485 5346278 John Holt. 2534678- 3645827 2637485 5367482 6325847 6527384 4326578 2465837 2635847 2657384 4367285 6245837 6547283 3526478 5264837 4625837 4657283 3567284 16524837 16537482 12546378 14263857 * See Appendix. 29 *No. 20. ST. MARGARET'S, WESTMINSTER, July Sih, 1750, was rang by the Society a compleat peal of 5040 DOUBLE BOB MAJOR, otherwise DOUBLE EIGHT IN. and in 3 hours 28 mins., it was perform'd by JAS. ALBION Treble JNO. HOLT 2 RT. BUTTERSWORTH 3 JNO. LLOYD 4 21436587 24163857 42618375 Call'dby 46281735 Jno. Holt. 64827153 {Course ends of 68472513 the 1st 1680. 86745231 68472531 86745213 87654123 78561432 75816342 57183624 51738264 15372846 15738264 THOS. WARD JAS, TlCHBORNE RT. MORTIMER EDW. THOMAS 43652 65324 56234 35426 23564 45623 62534 26354 52436 35264 42635 63254 36524 42356 52364 5 6 7 Tenor See Appendix. * The course ends marked with a are written in red. 30 *No. 21. ST. GEORGE'S, SOUTHWARD The 9th of September, 1750. The Society rang in 3 hours and 15 mins., a compleat peal of 5040 PLAIN BOB TREBLES. The performers were as follows : OLIVER ELLINGSWORTH, Treble JOHN HOLT 2 THOMAS WARD 3 THOMAS JACKSON 4 JAMES ALBION- EDWARD THOMAS JOHN LLOYD JAMES DAVIS 5 6 7 Tenor The first lead. The Bobs. 2143657 1235746 2416375 645273 4261735 642357 4627153 526473 6472513 652473 6745231 543762 7654321 Call'd by John Holt. 354762 7563412 643527 5736142 645734 5371624 235674 3517264 23645T 3152746 562374 1325476 256374 1352746 534726 453726 of the first 840. See Appendix. 31 *No. 32. ST. GEORGE'S, SOUTHWARD The Society on Sunday, January the 20th, 1750, rang a compleat peal of 5040 BOB MAJOR. and in 3 hrs. 24 mins. it was performed by the persons following ? 46325 64352 32654 23645 65243 56234 24536 42563 53462 35426 46532 64523 53624 35642 62345 James Davis Treble John Holt 2 Jacob Hall 3 James Vickers 4 James Newby 5 Oliver Ellingworth 6 Thomas Ward 7 Jas. Tichborne Tenor. 26354 34256 43265 25463 52436 46253 64235 25634 52643 63542 36524 54326 45362 32465 34256 The above Changes are the course ends of the 1st 1680. The Bobs of this peal were call'd by THOMAS WARD. See Appendix. 3 *No. 23. ST. SEPULCHRE'S, LONDON, January %8th, 1750. The Society in 3 hours and 42 mins. rang a compleat peal of 5094 GRANDSIRE GATORS, being the first ever performed in that method on these bells The performers were : JAMES NEWBY 6 JAMES VICKEES 7 OLIVER ELLINGSWORTH 8 EDWARD WERDEN 9 JAMES DAVIS Tenor MATTHEW BLACKMORE, Treble THOMAS WARD 2 JOHN HOLT 3 THOMAS JACKSON 4 JOHN LLOYD 5 213547698 At the end of the last course 231456789 instead of once, 8.9 tis' 324165879 once the 7th with the 8th. 342618597 75293846 436281957 46738295 463829175 These are extraordinary 648392715 65347289 684937251 32567489 869473521 54237689 896745312 35492867 987654132 Course ends. 978561423 78369254 795816243 39785642 759182634 75394826 571928364 89765234 517293846 26849375 1 52739486 These are extraordinary 125374968 Bobs that were called to bring the bells round. Call'd by John Holt. This is the 1st Treble lead of the peal, which peal is divided into 4 courses and the Bobs of each course is called as follows : Once the 7th behind without the 8th, twice 7.8 twice 8.9 twice 7.8 twice 8.9 twice 7.8 once 8.9. * See Appendix. *No. 24. ST. MARTIN'S-IN-THE-FIELDS Tuesday, February }Qth, 1750. The company rang on the ten largest bells a compleat peal of 5112 GRANDSIRE CATERS, and in 3 hours 47 mins. t'was performed by the following persons : DANIEL BIGSBY JACOB HALL JOHN HOLT JOSEPH DICKENSON THOMAS WARD 95384726 78965234 JAMES TICHBORNE 6 JAMES NEWBY 7 OLIVER ELLINGSWORTH 8 JOHN LLOYD 9 JAMES DAVIS 10 89765234 26849375 This peal was call'd as the former, except the above changes , which are bobs that were called to bring the bells round. Call'd by John Hall. *No. 25. ST. MARGARET'S, WESTMINSTER. March Uth, 1750. The Society rang compleatly 5120 UNION BOB, in 3 hours and 37 mins, it was performed by BOB CHANGES 7864523 James Albion 7842635 Jacob Hall James Newby John Holt 7823456 7835264 OF THE FIRST COURSE. Oliver Ellingsworth 5 4237685 Thomas Ward 6 8427685 John Lloyd 7 6234578 Joseph Dickenson 8 8624578 The bobs call'd by John Holt. These are the 6532478 5463278 course ends of the peal. 4256378 2345678 For the calling of this peal see Appendix, 34 jfNo. 26. ST. MARY'S, HILLINGDON, MIDDLESEX. The Company on Tuesday, the Sth of April, 1751, rang a corapleat peal of 5040 BOB MAJOR, which peal was performed in 3 hours and 30 mins., by the persons whose names are particularly underwritten : JAMES DAVIS 1 THOMAS JACKSON 2 JOHN HOLT 3 JAMES ALBION 4 JAMES VICKERS 5 JAMES NEWBY 6 THOMAS WARD 7 JOSEPH DICKENSON 8 The bobs call'd by John Holt. 23564 35264 42563 25463 34562 45362 52364 42356 54263 34256 53462 23456 These are the bob changes at the course end. [This peal was completed immediately after ringing 5300 DOUBLE BOB MAJOR, the whole time being 7 hours 30 mins.jf No. 28. ST. MARY'S, HILLI>-GDON MIDDLESEX. On Monday, August if 26/t, 1751, The Society rang in 3 hours and 25 mins., the first true and cornpleatj peal of 5040 DOUBLE BOB MAJOR, (with the sixth at home, and in the.tittum course twelve times each, which was performed by the following persons : JOHN HOLT 1 JACOB HALL 2 THOMAS JACKSON 3 JAMES NEWBY 4 Compos'd and ca JAMES ALBION JAMES VICKERS JAMES TICHBOURNE JOHN LLOYD I'd by John Holt. 5 6 'I 8 See Appendix. f There is nothing to certify that this peal of Double Bob Major was rung by the same company, but it seems most probable, as the time shews that it must have been rung without a stand. It was evidently, although such scanty particulars are given, reckoned by the Society as a performance, because the next peal is numbered 28, leaving Nos. 20 and 27 for these two performances. J As the previous performance embraced a peal of Double Bob Major, it will be seen that it is not here claimed that this was the ' fi>st true and compleat peal " ever ran?, but that it was the first of 5040 with the sixth twelve times each way. Unfortunately, some of these old records are very indefinitely worded, and when claiming to have rung the first peal in a certain method on the bells, if taken literally, the claim would be for the first per- formance in the method. 85 *No. 29. ST. BRIDGET'S, otherwise ST. BRIDE'S. The Society on the 2Qth of October, 1751, rang a compleat peal of 5104 GRANDSIRE CINQUES, and in 3 hours and 40 mins. it was performed by the following persons : JAMES DAVIS 1 WM. UNDERWOOD 2 JOHN LLOYD 3 JAMES NEWBY 4 JACOB HALL 5 THOMAS JACKSON 6 JAMES ALBION 7 JAMES VICKERS 8 JAMES TICHBORNE 9 JOHN HOLT 10 ROBERT JAMES 11 GEORGE FLEUUY 12 Compos'd and call'd by John Holt. No. 80. ALL-HALLOW'S CHIPPING WYCOMB, in the County of Bucks. The Company on Saturday, December %8th, 1751, rang completely in 3 hours and 29 mins. a complete peal of 5O4O PLAIN BOB TREBLES. being the first hitherto ever rang on those bells. The performers were : JOHN HOLT 1 THOMAS JACKSON 2 JAMES ALBION 3 OLIVER ELLINGSWOKTH 4 JAMES NEWBY 5 JAMES VICKERS 6 JOHN LLOYD 7 GEORGE FLEURY AND I JAMES DAVIS Call'd bv John Holt. * This record is surmounted with a drawing of a bell, a scroll, on which is pricked the first lead of bob singles, and a pile of books, on the back of one of these is written " 's Art of Ringing" unfortunately, by design, some pne has cut out the name of the author. 86 No. 3 1 . ST. MARGARET'S, WESTMINSTER, February 16th, 1752. The Society rang completely in 3 hours and 35 mins., a true and complete peal of 5040 COURT BOB, being the first that was ever rang on those bells. The performers were JAMES DAVIS 1 WM. UNDERWOOD 2 JOHN HOLT 3 JAMES ALBION 4 OLIVER ELLINGSWORTH 5 JAMES VICKERS 6 JAMES NEWBT 7 JOHN LLOYD 8 Call'd by John Holt. No. 32. ST. GILES'S-IN-THE-FIELDS. New style. September the Mth, 1752. The Society rang completely a peal of 5040 PLAIN BOB TREBLES. in 3 hours 10 mins. It was performed by the following persons, viz : 5 a 7 JAMES DAVIS JAMES VICKERS JAMES NEWSY Jonx HOLT I I ROBERT JAMES WM. SMITH JAMES TICHBOURNE GEORGE FI.FURY Call'd by John Holt. 37 No. 33. ST. ALPHANES, EAST GREENWICH, in the County of Kent. The Company on Sunday, March ISth, 1753, rang a complete peal of 5166 GRANDSIRE CATERS. and in 3 hours and 40 mins., it was performed by the following persons, viz : GEORGE FLEURY 1 I JAMES TICHBORNE ISAAC HANNUM 2 JAMES NEWBY JAMES ALBION 3 RICHARD ROYCE 4 JOHN CLARK 5 HENRY YOUNG 8 SAMUEL MUGGERIDGE 9 JAMES DAVIS 10 The bobs of this peal were call'd by James Newby. No. 34. ALL SAINT'S, FULLHAM. The Company rang on Tuesday, March ].'2th, 1754, a complete peal of 5040 BOB MAJOR, and in 3 hours 15 mins. it was performed by the following, viz: DANIEL BIGSBY 1 | THOMAS JONES 5 RICHARD OSWALD 2 I ROBERT JAMES 6 WALT HARVEY 3 | JAMES TICHBORNK 7 Call'd Bobs. JOHN CLARK 4 JAMES DAVIS 8 38 No. 35. ST. MARY'S, HILLINGDOX, IN MIDDLESEX. The Society on Monday, April ]5th, 1754,i'ung completely a fine peal of 5040 BOB MAJOR, and in 3 hours and 33 mins., it was performed by the following persons : JAMES VICKERS 1 JOHN FRAZIEK 2 EGBERT JAMES 3 JAMES DAVIS 4 RICHARD MILLSON 5 RICHARD ROYCE 6 JOHN JENNETT 7 SAMUEL DANIEL 8 James Vickers caird the bobs. No. 36. AT ST. GILES'S IN THE FIELDS. On Sunday, December ISth, 1757, This Society rang compleatly, in 3 hours 1 6 mins. a true peal of 5040 GRANDS1RE TREBLES, with singles, one at the end of each half, and each half divided into five courses, as it was compos'd by John Holt. The performers were : BARXABY STANTON 1 WM. NASH Q WALTER HARVEY 3 THOMAS JACKSON- THOMAS DALMER 4 WM. ROBIKSOX Call'd bv Thomas Jackson." WM. RICHARDSON 5 THOMAS NASH 6 30 Between the leaves of the peal book on which are recorded the peals Nos. ''-y and 26 Mr. Osborne has inserted a copy of the [tablet in St. Margaret's, Westminster, which commemorates the ringing of Holt's one part -peal. This copy and Mi-. Osborne's remarks thereon are here given ; ' Sunday, July 7th, 1751. The Society of Union Scholars rang in this steeple with two singles, the first true and complete peal of 5040 GRANDSIRE TRIPPLES. which peal was performed in 3 hours and 15 minutes by the following persons : JAMES DAVIS Treble JAMES ALBION 2 JACOB HALT, 3 THOMAS JACKSON 4 JAMES VICKERS 5 J*AMES NEWBY 6 JOHN LLOYD 7 GEO. FLEURY& ED. DAVIS tenor The peal was composed and call'd by John Holt. M w and Mr. \\ilham Goff, " The above is a copy and account of Mr. Holt's original one course peal of grandsire tripples which was rang by the Union Scholars as above described, vide Clavis Campanalogia, p.p. 56 and 57. This peal was not inserted in that Society's book with their other peals by reason as (T supposed it was considered irregular for the conductor to call and not ring at the same time in the usual way, therefore I have copied the tablet representing that achievement and have placed it here for perusal as being one of the principal performances rung by that Society. E. J. 0." 40 At the end of the book is the leaf whereon Mr. Albion recorded the peal which he performed with the Bath ringers, and which Mr. Osborne alludes to when relating the events that led to the discovery of this book. The drawing is surmounted by a bell on which is written " Campana Sonans canore." The following is the record : "ST. JAMES, BATH. The following changes are the back stroke leads of a true and complete peal of 5040 UNION TRI PPLES. as 'twas rang by the Bath Society, on Monday, December 9th, 1754, and in 3 hours it was performed by the persons underwritten: JAMES ALBION 1 THOS. TAYLOR RICHD- SAXSDOWN '4 ISAAC SIMS 4 MARTIN DIBBLE 5 JNO. LUCAS (call'd bobs) 6 ANTHONY MORLEY 7 JNO. JMITH 8 James Albion, Scrip, et delt., 1760." (Then follows a peal of union tripples by the treble leads.) APPENDIX. Mr. Osborne having at length described the doings of this Society, we purpose therefore only to make mention of such points of interest as may suggest themselves in connection with the different ringing performances of the Union Scholars. No, 1, In the note book of Benjamin Annable, now in the possession of one of the writers, there is a method called " Gawthorne's Hie Triples," which is Grandsire with third and fifth place bobs, the " Hie " being used to denote the latter call. "We therefore consider that there can be little doubt that this was a Grandsire peal of this description ; whether however it was Garthon's original peal there is no means of ascertaining, still we think the evidence points to this conclusion. In Annable's book the ordinary method of Union Triples is given under the heading of " Baldwin's Union Triples," this gives strong con- firmation to the Hick Triples being Grandsire with fifth place bobs, as in all probability the author of " Union Triples " was the same Kobert Baldwin who rang the seventh in this and the following peal, and from his presumed abilities and his station at the seventh we may not be considered rash if we point to the probability of his having conducted both peals. 42 No. 2. Although the calling of this peal is not given in the peal book, it 5120 B. W. H. has been handed down to us and so far back as 1788, it is stated in the Clavis 35264 - that the annexed peal is the one here 5b'342 - recorded. Perhaps however the most curi- 64523 - ous fact js the statement of the authors of 36245 - 2-2 the Clams that it Was not until fifty Fonr times repeated. years after the time when this peal was rung that the discovery was made of the necessity of further proof than the truth of the treble leads in this method, which it is perhaps hardly necessary to state is that now known as Oxford Treble Bob Major. No. 3. As the first peal of Bob Royal was the one rung by the College Youths at St. Bride's, on November 22nd, 1725, it is probable that the real meaning of this very decided claim to the first peal is only to be taken to signify that this was the first on the bells or by the Society. All these ancient records are very indefinite in such matters. No. 4. This is one of the unexplained mysteries connected with the statement so tenaciously adhered to by some persons that the first peal of Grandsire Triples was not performed until 1751. No. 6. This is another example of the very indefinite manner in which these peals are recorded. No. 7. Mr. Osborne, in an M.S. copy of this peal, calls them " Hack Trebles " still, although we have every reason to read it " Hick," we consider " Ham" nearer the mark, though the style of illumination adopted in this word renders the correct reading decidedly obscure. 43 Nos. 12 to 14. No. 12 is the first peal in which John Holt (who joined the Society in 1745) took part. No. 13 is Annable's well known peal, and No. 14 is a musical example on the five course plan with the fewest omits possible. The calling of these Bob Major peals by the usual course end plan is annexed. No. 12. No. 13. No. 14. 5040 M.W.H. 5040 W.M.H. 5040 W. M. H. 64335 - - - 43652 64235 . 26543 - - 64235 - - 52643 - - - 52364 - - 26543 36524 - - 43526 - 52364 - - 53462 - - 65432 - - - 35426 24536 - . i 46253 - - 24365 45623 65243 - - 53246 - - 64352 - . 32654 - - 25634 - - 36245 - - 46325 - - - 62453 - - 23564 34562 - 34625 52436 25346 - - 56342 - - 23564 - - - 42635 63254 - - 45236 - 64523 - - 42635 34256 - 56342 56423 - 35264 45362 42356 - - - 34256 - Twice repeated. Twice repeated. Twice repeated. J. HOLT. B. ANNABLE. J. HOLT. No. 15. This composition is not very easy to understand by the course ends, &c., given in the record, as there are several ways by which the same 560 ends can be brought up. Mr. H. Hubbard has kindly elucidated the matter by shewing that as the wrong and middle are called in every course, the following peal is very easily perceived to be the correct one. W. M. H. (continued) W. M. H. These are 45623 - - 23645 - the bob 64352 - 62534 changes of 36245 " - 56423 - the first 25 52364 - - - 34562 - leads: 43526 - - - 25346 - 2357486 9378564 8645372 8657423 6723845 8267534 8273645 2345867 2356478 2367584 4562837 This gives the course end 52436, after which the peal runs in five course parts, thus : 54632 65243 26354 43265 24536 52643 65324 36452 24365 53246 25634 62453 46325 53462 45236 24653 62345 36524 45362 34256 32654 63425 46532 54263 32546 53634 65432 46253 32465 54826 35642 63254 26435 42563 35426 43652 64235 26543 35264 23456 45 Is an interesting peal of Bob Triples in like halves, ds No. 16. with a single at the half peal ends as given below on the left. The curious feature of this peal is that it is the foundation of the peal of Holt's without a single, as after the course end 23645, he subsequently interpolated the following part, which then ran on from the course end 63542 as this peal and became a peal with- out a single in three parts. This peal is given in the Clavis. 23456 M. W. H. 23645 M. W. H. 64235 24536 54632 35642 64352 23645 63542 53246 45236 34256 Five times repeated with the addition singles at the half peal end?. J. HOLT. No. 17. This is a 5040 of Bob Major the given part of which is to be twice repeated. No. 18. Is called in the same way as No. 14. Out 35246 43256 24635 64532 54236 Fourths 42536 52634 35624 23654 62435 In 63542 [ By introducing this part into the foregoing peal it runs the extent without singles in three parts. No. 17. 23456 W. M. H. 43652 63254 56234 23564 52436 42635 62534 36524 52364 35426 45623 65324 26354 35264 42356 No. 19, 5056 Bob Major. An interesting production which runs by the course ends thus : W. M. H. (continue di W. M. H. (continued) W. M. H. .23564 62534 36524 52364 43626 53624 63425 26435 43265 24536 54684 64235 36245 24365 53246 23645 63542 46532 53462 45236 25634 65432 36452 45362 34256 24653 64352 56342 34562 25346 35642 65243 46253 25463 43356 32654 62453 56423 42563 35426 45623 65324 26354 35264 23456 There is a Bob before in the first course. J. HOLT. Nos. 20, 21, and 22. Nos. 20 and 22 are both Bob Major peals of 5040 changes, the first being in the Double, and the latter in the Single method, with regard to this peal it may be remarked that it is the only one in which John Holt rang that he did not also conduct, and also that it can hardly be called an original peal as it is simply Annable's peal with a bob at each course end where Annable has an omit. No. 21 is the peal of Bob Triples, the calling of which is given under No. 16. 4.1 No. 20. M. W. H. No. 22. W. M. H. 43652 - 56234 - - 23564 62534 52436 42635 * -- 36524 52364 65324 35426 45623 - 26354 35264 63254 42356 iUJ >-r* v No. 23. 5094 Grandsire Caters. 64352 23645 56234 42563 35426 parts to be 35642 26354 43265 J. HOLT. 52486 64235 52643 36524 45362 34256 75293846 46738295 52493867 24695837 46392857 63594827 43526 78 65243 32465 54632 35426 78 52643 24365 46532 45623 89 62345 34562 56234 65324 89 32546 54263 26435 53624 78 25346 42563 64235 36524 78 53246 25463 42635 56423 89 23645 45362 62534 46325 89 63542 35264 52436 63425 78 35642 52364 24536 34625 78 56342 23564 45236 65347289 32567489 54237689 35492867 78369254 39785642 J. HOLT. 75394826 89765234 26849375 48 Ho, 24. Is 5112 of Grandsire Caters, called exactly in the same manner as the preceding peal, only from 35492867 the bob change 35492867, the following bobs are called to bring it round, and the peal is 95384726 improved as there are fewer changes after the 78965234 tittum position. 89765234 26849375 Ho, 25. The calling of this peal is given with our remarks under peal No. 2. Ho, 26, This peal is the same as No. 17. The above peal is the last of which the calling is given, and curiously the next peal rung by the Society was Holt's one-part peal, as recorded at the end of the book by Mr. Osborne. During the few last years one of the writers has brought to light certain matters connected with the early peals of Grandsire Triples, which have pi'omoted some discussion upon the subject and persons interested in this matter will not fail to observe the fact that even Mr. Holt's own Society, of which he was evidently the moving spirit, having taken part in every peal rung by the Society since his first connection with it, even this company cannot but we think have been prejudiced against it in some way, as they would not even insert its performance in their peal book. Whether this was, as Mr. Osborne surmises, because they considered it irregular for the conductor not to ring in the peal, or whether from some objection to the composition itself, is doubtful, but the fact nevertheless is strong evidence in favour of the theory that the 49 restrictions then placed on Grandsire compositions, precluded the use of any other calls than ordinary bobs. It will also be noticed that Mr. Holt did not at once sever his connection with the Society, but that he rang five peals with them after this occurrence, it cannot therefore be taken for granted that it was owing to this incident that he went over to the College Youths. Many points for consideration in connection with this and other matters will present themselves to the careful reader, who we hope will not fail to be interested in, these curious records of the early days of change ringing. JASPER W. SNOWDON. ROBERT TUKE. ILKLEY, APKIL, 1877. 000