Updated: 12 th August 2010, 2.45 p.m.
In tracing the Hoskins Pedigree there are two choices - that in the
Heralds' Visitations, or that on the memorial stone in the church's chapel of John [IV] Hoskyns who died 1714. This author has inclined to the latter, though including details derived from the former.
Coker's Survey of 1623/4 said that 'Beminster [Beaminster] with the Hamlets . . . in these Times the Horskins, Gentlemen that dwell not farre from the Towne, have enjoyed the Fee Farme of it for some Descents.' The arms were given as 'Per pale Sable and Gules a chevron between 3 lions rampant or' - see illustration.
The Hoskins of Dorset are said to have been descended from Roger Hoskins of Herefordshire, who settled in Broadwindsor, near Beaminster, and was ancestor of the Long Bredy and Beaminster families. From Roger Hoskins came John [I] later of 'Beminster', who married Elizabeth Bale. They in turn had a son Henry [I] gent., of Langdon in Beaminster, who married Alice (or Anne), daughter of James Hodges, gent., of Somerton, Somerset. They in turn had had children: John [II]; Henry [II] of Langdon, who at Rampisham, Dorset, on 30th April 1618, married Mary, daughter of William Glisson of Rampisham, and they had sons - John [III], B.A. at Trinity College, Oxford in 1635, and barrister 1649 at Lincoln's Inn, London, and Henry [III]; James; Peter [I]; William; Eleanor who married Peter Coward of Baltonsborough, Somerset; Elizabeth who married -- Hardie; and possibly Roger.
John Hoskyns [II] of Purse Caundle married Ursula, daughter of William Lacy of Hartrow, Somerset, and they apparently were to have no surviving children. He bought Purse Caundle manor house from Cromwell's Commissioners in 1648, thought because he had been a soldier in Cromwell's army.
On 24th February 1650 there was a Deposition: 'Hoskins v Lawrence. The plaintiff John Hoskins esq.of Caundle Purse had by bond dated 1639, lent money to George Lawrence gent., of Winterbourne Steepleton, who had owned lands in Winterbourne Steepleton and in the Isle of Purbeck of the value of £120 a year. George Lawrence had died one and a half years since and the defendant was his son and heir Richard Lawrence gent. of Winterbourne Steepleton.
John Hoskins [II] was to die in April 1651, with a now flaking memorial stone on the church chapel floor, with the inscription:
'Here lyeth the body of JOHN HOSKINS, esq: who dyed April the 10, An: Do: 1651.' - see illustration:
His will had been made on 19th November 1650, when described as "gentleman". He asked for his body to be buried in the aisle of Purse Caundle church, "if I happen to die in or near the parish. To servant William Knight, reversions in a burgage in South Street, Bridport, where William Hounsell now lives, and another in Stake Lane, Bridport, where once one Adams lived and which was once in possession of John Waddon, for a term of 99 years if William Knight, his wife and first child live that long. To Purse Caundle church 40s [c.£180 at 2007 values]. To the poor of Purse Caundle 40s. To Beaminster parish church 40s. To fifty of the poorest people in Beaminster £5 [c.£440] to be distributed at the discretion of my overseers. To servants: Thomas Hollens 5 marks, to William Draper 20s, to Angel Ganny 10s. To my menservants and maidservants in Purse Caundle 5s each. To my brother Peter Hoskins [I] all my lands and tenements in Bridport, he paying £100 [c.£8,800] to my godson John Hardie, son of my sister Elizabeth Hardie, one month after he reaches 21, on condition that Peter Hoskins confirms all leases which I or my ancestors have made, or any made in my will, concerning my property in Bridport. To my brother Henry Hoskins [II], my leases of the manor of Beaminster Prima and of the manor of Beaminster Secunda. The remaining terms of my lease in closes called Broade Whitefeildes and Little Whitefeildes and Wadhams Bush in the parish of Hardington Maundefeild, Somerset, to be sold by my overseers for the best price, and the money distributed as follows: To godson John Coward £300 [c.£26,400], which my brother Peter Hoskins shall hold for his benefit until my brother feels he has judgement, sobriety and discretion to manage it himself; to my nephews Humphrey and William Coward, and my niece Ann Coward [wife of -- Slade], children of my sister Eleanor Coward, £100 each. All the timber on the said Whitefeild closes [except 80 of the smallest oaks] which I enjoy by sale from George Powlett deceased, to be sold and the money used towards paying my debts. Any money left over from the sale of the land and timber I give to my brothers Henry and Peter Hoskins. To my brother James Hoskins a share of that money left over. Overseers of will: brothers Peter and Henry Hoskins. To niece Ursula Langdon, tenement and lands in Crewkwerne, Somerset, if my executrix agrees, to be sold for Ursula's benefit, or to be enjoyed by her and her heirs for ever after my executrix's death. To my wife Ursula Hoskins all the residue of my estate. Executrix: wife Ursula."
Memorandum, 28 March 1651, of codicil: "My servant William Knight, to whom I bequeathed two burgages in Bridport, may choose to have instead my house in Bridport, opposite William Marie's house. To my servant Thomas Hollens, my great house and burgage in Bridport, which heretofor has been a brewhouse, for his life and two other lives that he may name. My servant William Draper's legacy shall be 40s. To Andrew Cox £5. To Angel Ganny 40s. To John Kennell 40s. To my servant Pheverell 20s. To Jellion 40s. To rest of my menservants at Purse Caundle 20s each. The woods and trees growing on my lands in Hardington shall be sold by my overseers and the money be used to benefit my sister Coward during her life and that her husband shall have no meddling therewith. When she dies £300 shall go to my nephew John Coward, the rest to be shared out amongst my sister's three other sons. I hereby revoke my decision to ask my overseers to sell my lands in Hardington, but that my executrix may have the land to do as she wishes with it. I also write off all rents and arrears of rent owed to be by my tenants in Bridport up to the Feast of the Annunciation last past. I have published this postscript or codicil as parcel of my last will and testament the last day of March 1651 . . . ' This codicil was written upon the last day of March 1651 by James Daniell, servant to Mr Thomas Gallopp according to the instructions received by the said Mr Gallop of John Hoskins the testator and after the same was wrote it was sent to the testator by the said Mr Thomas Gallop by Robert Shaw servant to the said Mr Gallopp which Robert Shaw, as he saith, delivered the same to Ursula Hoskins, wife of the said deceased [signed] Thomas Gallopp." The will was proved by Ursula Hoskins on 21st April 1651 (confirmed by 'sentence' dated 29 May 1651). In the probate act which follows the will, Thomas Gallop is named as executor, and not Ursula the testator's wife, as stated in the will. Since the will and codicil seem a little confusing, there may have been some sort of testamentary dispute. The note in the margin on the first page of the will of a 'sentence' would suggest this - with a 'sentence' being the verdict in a testamnetary suit. The marginal note on the last page of the will seems to suggest that as late as 5 July 1664 some sort of statement was made by Peter Hoskins, brother and legatee of the testator. A couple of people mentioned in this will had obvious critical remarks made about them, i.e. godson John Coward and brother-in-law Peter Coward. He had seemingly left the Purse Caundle manor house to his nephew John Hoskins [IV] (see below), son of his brother Peter [I] Esq. of [Caundle] Marsh.
The name of 'Mrs Ursula Hoskins' now appears in a Purse Caundle subsidy roll. There is a now worn memorial stone on the church's chapel floor:
'Here lieth ye body of Ursula, the wife of John Hoskins, of this parish esq, second daughter of Wm LACY of Hart Row in the county of Somerset esq: by Margaret his wife, aged 86 years nine monthes and foure dayes, who died the 20 day of April 1686' - see illustration:
Ursula Hoskins had made her will on 9th May 1685, being "widdow the Relict of John Hoskins late of Purse Caundle . . . aged and weake in body." She directed that she be buried "in myne owne Isle" in Purse Caundle church alongside her husband "and in the afternoone before Sunsetting". She desired her cousins George Stile gent, William Lacy esq, John St Lowe esq, William Weston esq and her old cousin Weston to have timely notice to attend her funeral, with each to have a mourning ring. All her "loving neighbours" also to have such timely notice. To Mr Richard Highmore, minister of Purse Caundle, one guinea [c.£140]. To the poorest people of Purse Caundle £3 [c.£402], to be divided among them at discretion of her executor. To Elizabeth Champe of Beaminster £6, and of her clothes, gowns, petticoats and a smock. To the poor of Beaminster £4, and the poor of Milborne Port £3. To niece Ursula Barton, relict of John Barton, sejeant at law, her silver salt, her wedding ring and a mourning ring. To niece Mrs Sarah Lacy, her silver drinking cup. To eldest daughter of her nephew William Lacy esq that shall be living at her death, her velvet gown and satin petticoat. All the rest of her silk gowns and petticoats to kinswoman Hannah Lacy, and £20, and the bed and bedding she usually lay on, and all the furniture that belonged thereto, and four smocks, and the moiety or half part of her [Living]. To goddaughter Ursula St Lowe, one of her best cows. To godson Mr John St Lowe 20 shillings. To godson Charles Draper 20 shillings. To godson William Lacy £20. All the rest of the children of nephew William Lacy esq 20 shillings each. To godson Humphrey Coward £10. To kinswoman Ursula [Wilkes?] forty shillings, and one of her cloth gowns. To all her menservants living with her at time of death 5 shillings each. And to maidservants 5 shillings each. "To those that shall stretch mee forth after my decease" [presumably her 'laying-out'] 5 shillings each, and a petticoat and smock each, with her linen cloths about her equally divided between them. To Robert [Custors?] of Purse Caundle a dust bed and dust bolster, with some bedclothes. All rest of goods, credits, monies etc. to nephew William Lacy Esq., her sole executor. Signed: Ursula Hoskins. Witnesses: Richard Highmore, Richard Shepard, William Horlocke Notary Publique. The will was proved on 21st May 1686.
Peter Hoskyns [I], brother of John [II], was born c.1602, and died 1682. He married Elizabeth, daughter of William Rawles of Fyfeyhed [Fivehead] Nevill, Dorset. They had two daughters, Mary and Elizabeth. Mary was married firstly at Ibberton, Dorset, to Humphrey Hull in 1660, and secondly to --- Sollaway, with a now worn memorial stone on the church's chapel floor: 'Here lieth the body of my dear sister, Mrs SOLLAWAY, daughter of Peter Hoskyns, gent, by Elizabeth his wife, who departed this life Sept. 26, 1709, aged 69 years' - see illustration:
The second daughter Elizabeth married Edward Thornhill at Ibberton in 1680.
Once under the arch containing the Long & Hoskyns tombs, but now on the west wall of the church's chapel, is an inscribed heart-shaped brass plate within a wooden frame, with the following text inclosed within the heart - see illustration:
Anno Christi Domini nostri
1682
Hic jacet corpus
PETRI HOSKYNS
Quis est qui condemnet?
Christus est qui mortuus est:
Imo vero qui etiam suscitatus est,
qui etiam est ad dextram Dei.
Mors mea charitate Dei quae
est in Christo Jesu domino meo
non superabit;
Spe praemissorum sustentatur
Spiritus in manus
Domini evasit.
Epistola ad Romanos cap. octavo,
ad Hebraeos cap. sexto.'
which being translated as:
In the year of Our Lord Christ
1682
Here lies the body of
PETER HOSKYNS
Who is he that shall condemn?
It is Christ who died;
Nay rather who is risen again,
And who is furthermore at the right hand of God.
By the love of God which
is in Christ Jesus My Lord
My death shall not overcome;
It is sustained by the hope of those who have gone before.
My spirit rises up into the hands of God.
Letter to the Romans, chapter 8,
to the Hebrews, chapter 6.'
From the
Calendar of the Committee for Compounding, 1643-60, vol. ii, there are entries for a Henry Hoskins [II] of Beaminster, and his brother John Hoskins [II] of Langdon:
1645, 4th December. Compound for delinquency. Henry was in arms on the King's side, but not within the last year and a half. John was never in arms, but acted as a commissioner for raising contributions for the king. Henry could not compound sooner because his horse was taken from him for the public service. His brother John was too ill to travel.
1646, 4th September. Fines £60 [c.£7,790] and £5 [c.£648] respectively.
30th October. Assessed at £500 [c.£64,875].
1649, 18th June. John Hoskins begs to compound on his own discovery for the lease of Langdon Farm, inserted in his former particular as only his for one year, but in which he finds he has an interest for 9 years.
1651, 27th May. The County Commissioners report that John Hoskins is dead, but has left a large estate, 'real and personal.' (This confirms it being John [II])
From the
Calendar for the Advancement of Money, 1642-56, part ii, reference is made to John Hoskins of Langdon: 30th October. Assessed at £500 [c.£64,875].
1647, 22nd January. Allowed 14 days to bring a certificate of what he has paid in the country. January? Certificate of the county commissioners that his payments far exceed his 1/5th and 1/20th and that he is an ancient and sickly man, and unable to travel. Particulars of his payments to and losses in Parliament service: Total £2,165 [c.£240,000], besides losses by fire.
10th February, his assessment respited till special order, he having contributed £200 in co. Dorset.
1664 John Hoskins [III], son of Henry [II] was assessed for 13 hearths in his house at Purse Caundle.
On the north wall of the church's chapel is a large inscribed memorial stone to John Hoskins [IV] - see below. Above this stone is a diamond-shaped hatchment, with an all black background, dated 1694, but not known to whom it relates - see illustration:
'
Per pale sable and gules a chevron or between three lions rampant or, a martlet on the chevron for difference [Hoskyns],
impaling, Or two wings conjoined gules, on a chief gules three martlets argent [Seymer].
Crest:
A lion's head ducally crowned or, breathing fire proper.
Mantle:
Gules and argent.
Motto:
In utrumque paratus.
In the dexter base a mailed arm issuing from clouds holding a sword proper. In the sinister base an arm holding a branch proper.'
John Hoskyns Esq [IV], son of Peter [I], was born c.1640/1, matriculated at Wadham College, Oxford, in 1660; B.A. at St. Alban College in 1663; barrister G.I. in 1673. On 16th September 1680, at Hanford, Dorset, he married Mary, daughter of Robert Seymer of Hanford. He apparently bought the Hannams' farm at Purse Caundle. He became county Sheriff in 1691. He died 18th June 1714, apparently without any surviving issue, and was buried in Purse Caundle church's chapel.
There was subsequently published:
'A Funeral Sermon Preached upon the Death Of that Worthy Gentleman, John Hoskyns, of Purse-Candle, in the County of Dorset, Esq; Who Deceased the 18th of June, 1714. To which are added some Things that were Provided, but not Delivered. By John Sprint. London: Printed for Daniel Jackson, at the Bible and Three Crowns, in the Poultry. 1714. Octavo. Pp48.' Inside there was a dedication: "To the Bright Pattern of Conjugal Love and Loyalty, Mrs. Mary Hoskyns, Widow of John Hoskyns, Of Purse-Candle, in the County of Dorset, Esq; This Sermon is with Humility and Gratitude dedicated by her most obliged and faithful Servant, J.S." The sermon was headed by the text: 'HEBREWS XIII. 14. For here we have no continuing City, but we seek one to come.'
"'Tis a very melancholy Scene the Providence of God hath opened to us at this Time by the Death of that Honourable Gentleman,
John Hoskyns, Esq: who for many years a generous Supporter, and bright Ornament of that Society of Christians which useth to assemble here for Worship and Service of God. The Fall of this great and good Man hath caused so sad a Lamentation in our
Israel: And tho' perhaps some of you may have seen more Pomp and Pageantry at a Funeral; yet few, or none of you ever follow'd an Herse that was attended with more sad Hearts, and sorrowful Looks than his was. His Death caused an universal Groan, and his Funeral was solemnised in so mournful a manner, that those who saw it were ready to say, as once the
Canaanites did when they beheld the Funeral Solemnity of that Holy Patriarch
Jacob. This is a grievous Mourning. Nor is it at all strange, that a Gentleman as generally belov'd as known while he liv'd, should be so universally lamented when dead. . .
"As for you who belong to this Society, the most of you knew so much of his Worth whilst he liv'd, as made you to Honour and Esteem him: And if there are any among you that did not, the woful want of him now he is dead may in a little time cure them of their Ignorance, and effectively convince them that the Loss which this poor Congregation hath sustrained by his Death, is sufficient to cause a grievous Mourning among us. . . .
"For ever since he was pleased to attend on my Ministerial Performances, he hath been to me in Love and Affection, not so much a Patron as a Father. . . I shall therefore chide down the raging Surges of my Passion, and say unto them, Peace be still, that I may be the better able to discourse of the Text I have now read to you, and which Mr.
Hoskyns before his Death chose for the Subject on which his Funeral Sermon should be preach'd. . .
"Can we forget what Lectures of Mortality were read to us, even in the Life time of our dear Friend, that Worthy Gentleman, Mr.
Hoskyns, lately deceased? Did not the wearying Pains that continually attended him for some Years before his Death, tell us that his earthly Tabernacle was tottering, and that he could not long continue here? It was but this Day three Weeks when you of this Congregation cheerfully offered up your joynt Praises to God, for enabling him, once more, to come to the House of God in Company, after he had been much weakened by Sickness; and now you are assembled to celebrate his Funeral; and this that was so lately a House of Rejoicing for his Recovery, is now a House of Mourning for his Death. This so sad and sudden a Change which the Providence of God hath made here, teacheth us,
That in the midst of Life we are in Death; and that we are Men,
We have no continuing City here. . .
"I proceed to apply what hath been said by way of Consolation,
"To the sorrowful Relict of that worthy Gentleman, deceased.
"Madam;
"Tho' you have lost the sweet Companion of your Life, and the dear Partner of all your Joys and Sorrows, and thereby taught that you have no continuing Felicity here, yet in the midst of your parting Grief, you have those Comforts to support you which thousands in the World that are in your Condition, are destitute of; you have not only the Testimony of a good Conscience; but that part of the World that was acquainted with you, will witness for you, that you have faithfully discharged the Duty of a Wife to your dear deceased Husband; you had the Happiness indeed of being yok'd with one that had an entire Love for you; and I verily believe there was no Love lost between you. For above 20 Years I have had the Honour of being acquainted with your Family, and to my Knowledge, I never saw more Expressions of mutual Affection, and reciprocal Love, than I saw there; if one was sick, the other was not well; if one was in Pain, the other was not easy; if one was sad, the other was sorrowful. Never did I observe any Provocation given, unless it were to Love and to good Works; both liv'd together as Heirs of the Grace of Life; so that your Prayers one with, and one for another, were not hindered. The Matrimonial Contract was puntually observ'd in Sickness and in Health, even till Death did you part. Now certainly so faithful a Discharge of your Duty must needs be delightful to you; when you reflect upon it, you are freed from those Upbraidings of Conscience which some Women must needs have when they part with their Husbands, whom they never lov'd, nor honour'd, nor obey'd; who, tho' they may not have great Sorrow for their Loss, yet will have so weighty a Load of Guilt, for their Neglect of their bounden Duty laying upon their Consciences, as will, without a timely Repentance, sink them into the dismal Abyss, where there is nothing but Weeping and Wailing, and Knashing of Teeth, for ever. Again, be pleased to consider, how long God hath blessed you with the delightful Society of so loving and endearing a Companion, after he had lived with you eight and twenty Years, he came to his Grave in a full Age, like a Shock of Corn in his season; and therefore when you remember that he had no continuing City here, you have more Reason, with a thankful Heart, to adore the Goodness of God, in continuing so great a Blessing so long to you, than to abandon your self to an excessive Sorrow, that he is taken away so soon.
"Once more consider, Madam, that while he lived you kept pace with him, when he wept you wept, when he rejoiced you rejoiced; but now he hath gotten the start of you, he is now enter'd into that continuing City you are seeking after; and while you are dressed in your sable Weeds, he is there cloathed with shining Robes of Light; while you are mourning for his Departure to the Grave, he is rejoicing for his Entrance into Glory; while you are repeating your humble Hosannahs in the Church Militant on Earth. he is chanting forth his glad Hallelujahs in the Church triumphant in Heaven; while you and we are terrified with the Apprehensions of a dreadful Storm approaching, he is gotten safe into the Chamber of Refuge; whilst you and we are compassed about with the [
undecipherable] of Violence, he is gotten into the delightful Society of the Sons of Peace, who will never reproach him with Schism and Faction, for serving and praising his God and Redeemer; whilst therefore you are bemoaning your great Loss, forget not to be thankful to God for his great Gain. Entertain your Thoughts with these things and then, I hope, the Grace of God that hath enabled you to perform your Duty so punctually to your Husband, when living, will enable you, now he is dead, to carry it with that Resignation and Submission to the sovereign Will of God, as may become your holy Profession.
"I believe you all expect that I should now give some Character of the Honourable and worthy Gentleman deceased, which is a Task I should gladly have undertaken, but before he died, he laid his Hand upon my Mouth, and declared more than once, he would have no Character given of him when his Funeral Sermon was preached; but tho' my Mouth is stopp'd, yet I see the Sadness of many of your Countenances doth speak the Excellency of his Worth, and the Greatness of our Loss, and indeed when his Works so loudly praise him in the Gates, there is no Need of an Orator to do it in the Pulpit, especially of so mean an one as my self."
John Sprint was the Presbyterian minister at Milborne Port (also serving Templecombe), where he was said to have opened a grammar school. He wrote and had published many sermons and educational essays. He possibly married c.1680, and was to die in 1717/8.
In John Hoskyns' will, made out on 1st September 1711, when he was "in an indifferent state of bodily health, but of sound and perfect mind and memory", he wished for his body to be buried "in my Isle in the Parish Church of Purs Candle". His goods, chattels, etc. to go to payment of his debts, with mention of lands, tenements and hereditaments at North Mapperton, Beaminster, and Uploders including four acres of meadow in Sturthill Mead alias Barwith Mead, and at Netherbury, all in Dorset, by his Indenture of Release dated 17th September 1701 between himself John Hoskyns and Mary Hoskyns his wife of the one part, and William Philipps Esq. of Preston Plucknett, Somerset and Richard Nutcombe Esq. of Nutcombe, Devon of the other part. To his Executrix (his wife) and her heirs all the Manors or reputed Manors of Olds and Winton, plus lands, etc. in Ringwood, Verwood, Milton and Evilton in Hampshire, to be sold by her for the more speedy payment of his debts. Witnesses to the will were Joseph Raymond, Joseph Wilkins, James Ca--ett(?), which was proved 16th July 1714. The Purse Caundle manor house apparently passed to his nephew John Hoskyns [V], son of his brother Peter [II].
It was in 1714 that purportedly the two effigies were removed from the Long family tomb in the church chapel, to make way for the Hoskyns tomb (with arms on its side) to be placed on top - see CHAPTER C2.
Also once on the flat top of the new Hoskyns tomb, but now on the north wall of the church's chapel is a large memorial stone to John Hoskyns [IV] with the arms of Hoskyns:
Party per pale azure and gules, a chevron, between three lions rampant or, (Hoskyns); impaling:
Or, two wings conjoined gules, on a chief of the second three martlets azure, (Seymer of Hanford). The crest:
Upon a wreath, a demi-lion rampant ducally crowned or. Beneath these arms is the following text:
'Here lies the body of John Hoskyns, of
Purse Caundle, in the county of Dorset, esq.
who married Mary, one of the daughters of
Robert Seymer, of Hanford, in the
county aforesaid, esq. September 16, 1686.
He exchanged this life for a better June 18, 1714.
Once knit in sacred bonds were wee,
Of two made one by God's decree;
Death is unable to divide
These hearts which by true love are tyed.
As I expected, I did find
A faithful heart, and constant mind.
Honour and love are still his due,
Who until death remain'd so true
To me, and may all those with shame
Be cloth'd, who vilifie his name.
His actions, that were always just,
Smell sweet, and blossom in the dust.
M.H. moerens posuit.' - see illustrations:
On the death of John [IV]'s widow Mary (nee Seymer), who survived him many years it is believed the Purse Caundle manor house descended to the daughteras and co-heirs of Peter Hoskins [I]. It seems as if Mary Hoskins re-married, and her mother Bridgett Seymer came to live with her. Bridgett was of 'Purscandle' when she made her will on 17th May 1720, being widow and relict of Robert Seymer, late of Handford, and being of indifferent health. She left to her grandsons John and Edward Seymer and granddaughter Rebeccah Nutcombe ten pieces of gold each. Also to Rebeccah her mother Reeve's wedding and mourning rings, together with her own wedding ring. To grandson Henry Seymer a mourning ring of a guinea value. To the poor of Stoke [Vale], Dorset, £5; to the poor of Shiliston [Shillingstone, Dorset] £5, to be distributed at discretion of executor. To such man servant as shall be living with her at time of death half a year's wages. All the rest of her personal estate, goods, plte, money, "jewells", ornaments, chattels real and personal to her daughter Mary Young as sole executrix. Witnesses to the will were John Cooke and Janet(?) Hooper, which was proved 23rd May 1721.
Peter Hoskyns [II], brother of John Hoskyns [IV], was born c.1651. He married Bridget -- who was born c.1665. They had a daughter Mary, born c.1697, who married -- Oliver, who has a now worn partially covered memorial stone on the church's chapel floor - see illustration:
'+ Sacred to the memory of Mrs. MARY OLIVER, of Marsh, in the parish of Ibberton, in this county: she was niece to the above-named Mary Sollaway and daughter of Peter Hoskins, esq. Obit. Oct 21, 1782; aged 85.'
There was also a son John [V] - see below. Peter [II] died in 1726 with a now worn joint-memorial stone on the floor of the church chapel - see illustration:
'+ Here lieth the body of PETER HOSKYNS, esq, the son of Peter Hoskyns and Elizabeth his wife, who died May 29, 1726, aged 75.
Underneath this stone are deposited the remains of BRIDGET HOSKINS, wife of the above-named Peter Hoskins, who departed this life in March, 1748-49, aged 84.'
A memorial to John Hoskyns [V], son of Peter and Bridget Hoskyns, whose details are not known, and who seemingly was buried at Purse Caundle but does not appear in the
Parish Register, has a now worn memorial stone which is against the west wall of the chapel, with a whimsical Latin inscription beneath the Hoskins arms of
Party per pale azure and gules, a chevron between three lions rampant or; with Crest:
Upon a wreath, a demi-lion rampant ducally crowned or - see illustration:
'In utrumque paratus
Perquisitor hujus fundi hic jacet
JOHANNES HOSKYNS, Armiger,
Filius Petri, Filius Johannis,
Filius Henrici, Filius Johannis,
Filius Rogeri Herefordiensis
Primus ejusdem Nominis et
Familiae comitatu Dorsetiae Incola,
Nosco meum in Christo corpus consurgere, quid me
Despeare jubes? Veniam, quibus ille revenit
Calcatu de morte viis, quod credimus hoc est,
Et totus veniam, nec enim minor aut alius quam
Nunc sum restituar, vultus, vigor, & color idem,
Qui modo vivit erit, nec me, vel dente, vel ungue
Fraudatum removet patefacti fossa Sepulchri.
Linquo Coax Ranis, Ra corvis, vanaque vanis;
Mundus res habeat, Spiritus astra petit.
Hic mortuus requiescit semel
Qui vivus requievit nunquam.'
A translation reads:
'Seeker out of this ground, here lies
John Hoskyns, Esquire,
the son of Peter, the son of John,
The son of Henry, the son of John,
The son of Roger of Hereford,
The first of that name.
A native of the family in the county of Dorset,
I know that my body shall rise again in Christ,
Why do you bid me despair? I shall come back, by those paths, on which
He returned from death at Golgotha, which we believe is so,
And I shall come back entire, for I shall be restored
Neither less nor other than I now am, the same in face, strength and complexion.
He who lives now, shall be again, nor shall the depths of
The thrown-open tomb return me bereft in tooth or nail.
I shall leave behind the Croak of the Frog, the Cawing of the raven, and all emptiness
Let the world have substance, the spirit seek the stars.
Here the dead man rests, for once
Who while living never rested.'
The literary allusions in the latter lines were discussed by Canon C. H. Mayo in
SDNQ XVII, 1921/3, pages 64/65.
John [V] apparently left Purse Caundle manor house to Timothy Lucas of Marlborough, a descendant, who was to die in 1774.
