CIPALLY, I give my soul into the hands of God who gave it me, and for my body I commend it to the earth to be buried, in Christian and decent manner, in the parish church of Funtington, in the county of Sussex. As touching my worldly estate, IMPRIMIS, I give unto my sister Grace Hunt the sum of ten pounds per annum during her natural life, to be paid unto her or her assigns every half year in equal payments, by my executor hereunder named. ITEM, I give unto my cousin Adam Bonny the sum of fifty pounds, to be paid unto him or his descendants within the space of one year after my decease. ITEM, I give unto my cousin Martha Voak the sum of twenty pounds, to be paid within one year after my decease. ITEM, I give her also the ten pounds I lent her husband Voak upon security. ITEM, I give unto my cousin Thomas son of Thomas Bonny deceased, the sum of ten pounds when he is of age to give a legal discharge. ITEM, I give unto Joan Palmer my servant-maid the sum of six pounds per annum during her natural life, to be paid her every half year in equal payments by my executor. I GIVE, devise, and bequeath unto Robert Michel, Esquire, Mr. Serjeant Miller, Lewis Buckle, Esquire, Dr. John Bettesworth, Mr. George Ailmer, clerk, Mr. John Hyland, of the burrough of Southwark, and my brother Ádam Churcher, for the uses hereunder mentioned, the sum of 5,000l. which I have in the Bank of England, whether called capital or nominal stock, with all the interest thereon which shall be due on the day of my decease, FOR THE ESTABLISHING of a colledge in the burrough of Petersfield, consisting of a master and ten or twelve boys, as the trustees shall judge most convenient, according to the annual income; the boys to be taken out of and belonging to the burrough of Petersfield, of any age from nine unto fourteen that are healthful boys, and whose parents will give security to the trustees to oblige their sons (as much as in them lieth) to be bound apprentices unto masters of ships THAT MAKE THEIR VOYAGES TO THE EAST INDIES, after they have been educated in the arts of writing, arithmetick, and the mathematicks, chiefly that part of it which relates to navigation; and after they have had their dyett, cloathing, and tutoradge at the bounty of the founder of this colledge, which shall be called by the name of" Churcher's Colledge.' And in order to purchase am edifice ready built, or to build one of new materials, capable of receiving a master and ten or twelve boys, and that the trustees may be enabled to perfect the colledge, and to give encouragement to the pupils, whilst under tutorage, or when bound apprentices, for convenient cloathing, &c., I give unto the above-named gentlemen and trustees the sum of five hundred pounds, to be paid unto them or their successors in trust by my executor, so soon after my decease as the trustees shall find it necessary to compleate the colledge. And I do hereby desire the gentlemen trustees to assist with their advice and direction in so charitable a work, which I hope will much contribute to the good of the publick. And my will is, that the underwritten articles and rules be observed (that is to say) 1st, That, upon the death of any the fore-named trustees those of them remaining or the major part of them, have full power to appoint another, and so from time to time that the number of seven trustees (for the purposes aforesaid) may be kept full. 2dly, That the trustees or major part of them have full power to appoint a person that is a LAYMAN to be the master as also to appoint the ten or twelve boys according as the annual income will best answer to either of the two numbers; also that the trustees or major part of them have power upon such misdemeanors, either in the master or any of the pupils as they judge heinous offences, to displace such and appoint others in their stead. 3dly, That the three thousand pounds Bank Stock remain in that company never to be changed for other security, but upon the greatest reason and with the consent of all the trustees, 4thly, That out of the annual income arising from this fund, forty pounds per annum be paid half yearly to the master; ten pounds per annum for each boy's board; forty shillings per annum for each boy's cloathing, (viz.) wast coat and breeches of such colour as the trustees please, but the upper garment to be a blue gown having on each a badge of mettal with THE ARMS of the East India Company on it, with the addition of shoes, stockings, shifts, and blue caps. 5thly, It is my will that my silver tankard and the picture of The Founder remain as standards in the same college for ever. 6thly, That twenty shillings per annum be allowed for entertainment once in a year, when and where in Petersfield the Trustees shall be pleased to meet, for the major part of the Trustees to direct the master in the management of such part of these charitable benevolences as he may be concerned in. LASTLY, I give unto my brother Adam Churcher, after all benefactions in this my last will excepted, and after all my debts, legacies, and funeral expences discharged, the remainder of my estate both real and personal, and also do make my brother Adam Churcher my full and sole executor of this my last will and testament. IN WITNESS hereof I have set my hand and seal this seventh of February, one thousand seven hundred twenty-two. Signed, sealed, and executed in the presence of Robert Bettesworth, Henry Smith, William Young. "RICHARD CHURCHER. (L. s.)” "Proved the 21st of October 1723, in the Prerogative Court of Canterbury, by Adam Churcher, sole executor." On the 3d July 1723, Mr. Churcher died, and was buried in the centre aisle of the parish church of Funtington. Immediately over his grave, there is inscribed on a plain and on the south side of the church-yard, there is a tomb, with the following inscriptions upon it: NORTH SIDE. "In memory of Mr. Richard Churcher, Jun. who founded a College in Petersfield, and endowed it, for instructing TWELVE boys in the MATHEMATICKS, who lies interred in this church." "In memory of Mr. Richard Churcher, Sen. of this parish, who died the 3d July, 1676. Also Ann, daughter of Mr. Richard Churcher, of this parish, who died the 5th of March, 1672." WEST END. "Also Mr. Adam Churcher, of Petersfield." EAST END. "Also Mrs. Eleanor, wife of Mr. Richard Churcher, Sen. who died June the 3d, 1710." ON THE TOP OF THE TOMB. "This tomb was erected by his two appointed heirs, From the most cursory perusal of Mr. Churcher's will, it is obvious, that his intentions were to establish a free boarding school, where ten or twelve boys of Petersfield should receive a mathematical education, preparatory to entering the naval service of the East India Company. His wishes, evidently, were to confer a benefit on a town to which he was attached, and to shew his respect for the service, in which he had realized his fortune.. His anxiety, that the education provided, should be of the kind best adapted for a naval life is shown, not, only, in his direct expressions, but in his provision, that the Master should be a LAYMAN-as, at that time, mathematical teachers of eminence belonged almost wholly to the Laity, as the Clergy were naturally addicted, particularly, to classical studies*. How well his directions in this and in all other respects, have been observed, will appear in the sequel. The persons appointed Trustees for carrying into effect the benevolent intentions of Mr. Churcher, entered, soon after his death, on the duties of their office, with integrity and zeal. They † purchased a proper site of ground, for the erection of the College, at the east entrance into the Borough of Petersfield, on the high road from London to Portsmouth; under their direction a handsome and convenient building was erected in 1729; and Mr. Charles Eades was, on the 6th of October, in that year, appointed the first Master of the College. The conduct of the Trustees, in the management of the trust funds was also exemplary; for although the sum of 300l. was taken from the dividends of the 3000l. Bank Stock, to pay the expences incurred in erecting the building, which the 500l., specifically bequeathed for the purpose, left unsatisfied; after paying all their other expences, they were *The Vice-Chancellor, probably, overlooked this view of the subject, when he observed, in reference to this direction, "One may very well doubt the discretion of that direction in the Founder's will, that there should be a lay master; because in all modern experience there is a much greater probability, that a far more proper master should be found in a clergyman." Post, p. 185. +It does not appear by any entry in the College book deposited in the Six Clerks office that the legal estate in the College has been conveyed to any of the subsequent Trustees. enabled, with the residue of the dividends of the Bank Stock, to purchase 8007. South Sea Annuities, in aid of the general funds of the College. They were, equally, attentive and impartial, in the selection of the children to be admitted into the College, and in the superintendence of their education, maintenance, and clothing. In February and March, 1780, ten boys were admitted on the foundation, and on the 29th September, 1732, two more were admitted, making the full number of twelve boys, pursuant to the will of the Founder; whose directions, for several years after the establishment of the College, were carried into complete effect; and board, lodging, and clothing, were allowed these children, and their successors, who received and enjoyed, for the period referred to, the full benefit of this excellent endowment. The course of education directed by the Founder was strictly adhered to, and the parents of the boys admitted on the foundation, were obliged to enter into the bond required to be given by them, that the children should go to sea in ships trading to the East Indies. The following is a copy of one of them : "Noverint universi per prsentes, me, Thomam Greensteed de Petersfield, in com Southton, cordwainer, teneri et firmit obligari John Bettesworth, Doctori Legum, Thome Bates de Alton, arm. Charole Cole de Lyss, arm. John Cowper de Ditcham, arm. Richardo Hassell de Petersfield, arm. Adæ Churcher de Petersfield, gent., obnibus in com Southton pld, & John Hyland de Burgo de Southwark, Guardianis Collegij vulgo voc Churcher's College in Petersfield pld, in vigint libris bene & leglis monet Magne Britan, sohrend eisdem Guardianis, eorum cuilibet, vel eorum certo Attornat, et Successoribz eorum, ad quam quidam soluconem bene et fidelit sariend obligo me, heredes, execre. et administratores, meos, firmit per prsentes sigillo meo, sigillat dat tricessimo die Septembris, anno regni Dni nri Georgij secundi, Magne Britan. Franc. & Hibine, Regis, sexto, annoqr Dni 1732." "The Condicon of this Obligacon is such, that whereas William Greensteed, son of the above-bound Thomas Greensteed, is admitted as a Schollar on the Foundation of Churcher's College, to be instructed in the Mathematicks and the art of Navigation, and to be qualified to be bound Apprentice to some Master of a Shipp, makeing his voyage to the East Indies. Now, when the said William Greensteed shall be so qualified, the said above bound Thomas Greensteed shall oblige the said William Greensteed to be bound Apprentice as aforesaid, then this obligacon to be void, or else to remain in full force and effect. (Signed) "THOMAS GREENSTEED. (L. s.)" "Sealed and delivered (being first duly stampt), in the presence of us. "WILLIAM HARROD, W. WALLIS." b In 1735, JOHN JOLLIFFE, Esq. who had recently become an inhabitant of the Borough of Petersfield, obtained the concurrence of the then Attorney-General, Mr. Willes, to file an information against the Trustees of this charity; among other reasons, for "that, as some of the Trustees had re"moved and then lived near London, at a great distance from 66 Petersfield, it was inconvenient to them to attend once a year, to give the necessary directions to the Master, in the 66 management of such part of the charitable benevolences as "he is concerned in, and also to attend the other Meetings, "which are necessary to be had by the Trustees, in order to "the carrying on of the said undertaking, and for the want "of having a sufficient number of the Trustees resident in or "near the Borough of Petersfield, to attend such meetings, " and have the care and inspection of the College and the "management thereof."-The Trustees put in their answers, which satisfactorily explained their conduct, and reflected honor on their characters and motives; and a decree, but which was strictly a matter of course, was pronounced, according to the prayer of this information, and three new Trustees were, consequently, appointed in 1787, to succeed Dr. Bettesworth, Mr. Adam Churcher, and Mr. Hassell; namely, Mr. John Jolliffe, Mr. Norton Powlett, and Mr. John Radcliffe. The descendants of Mr. John Jolliffe, however, appear to be influenced by other motives, as to the residence of the Trustees; for none of the present trustees live in or near Petersfield, and they, have studiously, avoided electing as Trustees any of the inhabitants of the town, or of its immediate vicinity! Before the retirement of Mr. John Jolliffe in 1769, he acquired that degree of influence, which gave him the entire management of this Charity, and enabled him to transmit the exclusive control of it, to The Jolliffe Family, under whose management, it has continued to the present period—as will fully appear. Mr. John Jolliffe was at the time of his appointment of Trustee, struggling to obtain the Political Ascendancy in the representation of the Borough of Petersfield. In order, therefore, to render himself popular with the inhabitants of the place, he supported their petition to the Trustees in 1743, * Post, p. 5. |