Harmans, the most remarkable one is that of Mrs. Eliz. Harman, aged 84.

A considerable number of the families of Uxbridge possess tombs and vaults at the mother church at Hillingdon, some of them ancient and of considerable elegance; these it does not fall within our present purpose to describe.

Hillingdon Church-yard-wall.

The towns-people appear to have been liable for several centuries past, to the repairs of a part of the Hillingdon Church-yard-wall. This part is described in a manuscript dated 1659, formerly in the possession of the Rev. Thomas Mills, Vicar of Hillingdon†, thus: “so much as standeth, or is, between the Turnpike gate against the west end of the Church, and the Stile or entrance over against the north door of the church, (being all the stone wall) is the part or portion, which ever belonged to Uxbridge to maintain and keep in good repair." This part has in consequence been repaired, when necessary, at the expense of the town.

+ The original is said to be deposited in the Tower of London. A manuscript copy is in our possession. Being an interesting document we insert it at length, in Appendix, No. 6.

SECTION 4.

CURIOUS EXTRACTS FROM THE PARISH REGISTERS,— VESTRY MINUTES,-AND ACCOUNTS OF THE CHAPELWARDENS,

Curious Extracts from Parish Registers.

PARISH Registers were first introduced in the 30th. Henry VIII. (1538.) From that period to the present time, excepting a short interval, the Births and Burials of the townspeople of Uxbridge have been registered distinctly from those of the parish of Hillingdon. Marriages were formerly celebrated at the chapel, up to the year 1694; since which time they have been confined to the mother-church.

The Register Book, No. 1. contains Baptisms and Burials from 1538 to 1648:-No. 2. from 1778 to 1811; in this book from the year 1805 to 1811, the Baptisms of Uxbridge and Hillingdon are registered together; and No. 5. contains Baptisms of Uxbridge only for 1812. Another book, No. 3. contains burials from 1681 to 1774; another No. 4. from 1775 to 1804; another No. 5. from 1805 to 1812.

No. 2.

R. Phelps Fecit, 1716.

No. 3.

The Honourable James Bertie Esq. Member of Parliament for Middlesex, Benefactor. R. P. Fecit, 1716.

No. 4.

Tho. Mears and Son, of London, Fecit 1808.

No. 5.

Lord Osulton, Earl of Ankerfield, Benefactor towards these six bells, 1716.

No. 6.

Lord Paget Earl of Uxbridge Benefactor toward these six bells R. P. Fecit 1716.

The very ancient practice of ringing the church bell at eight o'clock in the evening, has existed in England ever since the time of William the Conqueror; who enacted a law, enforced by severe penalties, that, at the ringing of the Curfew bell, all companies should immediately disperse, put out their lights, cover and rake up their fires, and go to bed. The obligation of this law was abolished by king

Henry I. but the practice of ringing the bell has continued in many places to the present day, although its history, and the reasons which induced king William to establish it, are to many persons entirely unknown.

The word Curfew is derived from two French words couvre, to cover, and feu, fire. It has been disputed by antiquaries whether or not this custom is a proof of the slavery in which William held the conquered English. M. Voltaire says (Univ. Hist. t. i. p. 240)" that the law, far from being tyrannical, was only an ancient police established in all the towns of the north, and which has been long preserved in the convents." He adds this reason for it, "that the houses were all built of wood, and the fear of fire was one of the most important objects of general police."

The curfew bell is rung here from Michaelmas to Lady-day at five o'clock in the morning, and again at eight o'clock at night.

Fire-Engine.

In 1770 a fire engine was purchased by the parish officers: the expense was defrayed by subscription. The proprietors of the Sun Fire Office gave twenty pounds. The total cost

was forty-eight pounds, with fourteen pounds for erecting an engine-house, paid out of the church rates. The only fire for many years in this town was at the Town-mill, then the property of Messrs. John and Nicholas Mercer, on the second of April one thousand seven hundred and ninety-six, when the mill was entirely destroyed.

SECTION 2.

MONUMENTS IN THE CHAPEL.

On the north side of the altar, is the monument exhibited in the annexed plate, to the memory of " Dame Leonora Bennet," who died in 1638. This monument is supported by columns of the Doric order, with the effigy of the deceased, in a recumbent posture: in front of the table-part of the monument is a very fine circular piece of sculpture, which is intended to represent the aperture of a charnel house. The following is the inscription on the tablet in the centre above the figure:

*