THE TRADERS TOKENS OF DERBYSHIRE, DESCRIBED AND ILLUSTRATED. Obverse-IOHN DICKENS OF Within the inner circle an arm HIS Reverse-BACKWELL 1669 = HALFE PENNY The arm holding a covered cup, shows that Dickens was a Drysalter. The crest of the Salters (now Drysalters) Company is a cubit arm erect, holding a covered cup or salt-sprinkler. The arms of the Salters Company (which Company was incorporated in 1364 and 1530, and had the grant of arms in the latter year), is, per chevron, azure and gules, three covered cups or salt-sprinklers, shedding salt, argent. John Dickens, or Dickons, seems to have been a well-to do man in Bakewell, having held offices of churchwarden, overseer, and constable in that town. From the parish book, it appears that John Dickens and Thomas Grammar were constables of Bakewell in 1678, in which year the constables accounts were signed by them They also signed the churchwardens accounts for 1679, and those of overseers in 1680. In 1683, John Dickens was again churchwarden, the accounts being signed by him. In 1689, the signatures in the parish books are again (April 17), Thomas Gramer, John Dickons. In 1700, another of the family, Cornelius Dickons' signature appears in the books. Obverse-THOMAS GRAYMER = In the inner square the Mercers This is a square token. Tokens of this shape are not common, and but few examples occur in the Derbyshire series. Obverse-THOMAS GRAMMAR OF= ....... ... Arms (probably Mercers, but too much defaced to be re cognised). D Reverse-BACKWELL DERBYSHIRE = Within the inner circle G T M The Grammers, or Graymers, were a family of considerable importance in Bakewell at the time of issuing this token, but are now extinct, unless (as indeed is probable), the present name of Gravner is a corruption of the same. Their property in Bakewell, which was somewhat large, was sold in the beginning of the present century. Thomas Grammer, the issuer of these tokens, appears to have held parish offices for a considerable number of years, ranging indeed from 1664 to 1693, and to have been a person of consequence in parish matters, as the following notes from the Parish Registers* and Accounts will show 1664. "In this yeare Thomas Grammr & John Heathcott jnr were Churchwardens." 1677. On the 27th of April "Thomas Gramer" signed the minutes of a meeting of the inhabitants of Bakewell on parochial matters. In the same year "Tho: Gramer signed the constables accounts, and also the churchwardens accounts for 1677." 1678. John Dickens and Thos Gramer signed the constables accounts. 1679. John Dickens and Thomas Gramer sign the churchwardens accounts. 1680. The same two (the only two persons it will be noted who issued tokens in Bakewell) John Dickons and Thomas Grammer, signed the overseers April 5, 1684. accounts. Thomas Grammar and Jane Barker, of Sheldon, marryed. March 26, 1685. Mary, the wife of Thomas Grammar, buryed. June 15, 1686. Mary, daughter of John Grammar, baptized. July 29, 1687. Jane, daughter of John Grammer, baptized. 1689. April 17, the signatures to the books are again "Tho: Gramer" and "Jno Dickons." May 20, 1692. Sarah, daughter of John Grammer, baptized. 1693. The signature of "Tho: Gramer" again occurs. May 24, 1693. Aug. 26, 1693. Nov. 15, 1693. Dec. 9, 1693. Feb. 28, 1695. May 19, 1709. Sept. 18, 1709. Sarah, daughter of John Grammer, buryed. Hannah, daughter of John Grammer, baptized. John Brenthall and Anne Grammer, both of Bakewell, marryed. John, son of Mr. Robert and Mrs Mary Grammer, baptized. 1723. Mr. Robert Grammer and Mr. Humphrey Hall, Ch. Wardens. Aug. 23, 1726. Robert, son of Mr. Robert and Mrs. Mary Grammer, baptized. Aug. 2, 1732. Ann, wife of Mr. Robert Grammer, buryed. Gertrude Grammer married Sir Thomas Gresley, and other members married into other good families. Thomas Grammer was a mercer, and probably came to Bakewell from Ashborne, where some of the same name resided and intermarried with some good families. He seems to have come to Bakewell not many years before the time of issuing the token, and no entry whatever of either baptisms or deaths of the name of Grammer occurs in the register down to the commencement of the last century. On a Tablet in an obscure corner of Bakewell Church, is this memorandum-"1685. Mr. Thomas Grammer gave to ye Poor £11 10s." On another Tablet, in another obscure part of the Church, is this record, that "At the sale of the late Mrs. Grammer's estate, on 17th April, 1801, two fields situate in Bakewell, each called Corkwood Close, were sold subject to, and purchased by Gilderoy Glossop, of Over Haddon, as charged with the payment of 10s. yearly, for ever, to the poor of Bakewell, which field has since been exchanged with His Grace the Duke of Rutland, subject to the said charge." John Grammer, probably son of the issuer of the tokens, signed the churchwardens *For much of this information I am indebted to the Rev. W. R. Bell, of Bakewell, who has kindly searched the Registers, &c., for me, for the purpose of illustrating this token. It is much to be wished that the clergy generally would follow his example. They have it in their power to furnish much interesting and valuable information, and at the cost only of an hour or two's trouble. accounts in 1684, 1689, and 1690; overseers accounts in 1686, 1680, and 1696; and was constable in 1685, and signed the constables accounts in 1688. James Grammer, probably another son of the issuer of these tokens, was overseer for the poor in 1688, and constable in 1689. John Grammer, of Bakewell, I presume the one named above as son of the Thomas Grammer, issuer of these tokens, married Elizabeth Stainforth, widow of John Stainforth, of Darnall, and daughter of the Rev. Thomas Wright, Vicar of Ecclesfield, who survived him and died in 1720. In 1713, this lady (Elizabeth Grammer, of Bakewell), gave a silver flagon, value £30, to Ecclesfield church. This same lady, then a widow, gave to the same church about Christmas, 1717, £35, to be invested along with £30 left by her father's will, dated 1688, £10 left by her sister, Harriet Berkley, widow, and £5 left by her unmarried sister, Jane Wright), as might be thought fit, and the yearly profits to be distributed on Candlemas Day annually, by the vicar, churchwardens, and overseers, to the poor of the place. This same Mrs. Elizabeth Grammer, widow of John Grammer, of Bakewell, at her death, in 1720 (by her will, dated May 18, 1715), left a further sum of £10 to be divided amongst the poor of the parish. In 1719, she also gave a silver cup and salver to Attercliffe chapel. She also built almshouses at Darnall for three or four poor widows, and bequeathed £50 to be put out at interest for the use of the poor of Attercliffe. In Bakewell Church is a Brass to the memory of Ann, wife of Robert Grammer, mercer, 1732, on which are the arms of Grammer, or, semée of billets, gules, a lion rampant argent, and a chief azure; impaling the arms of Rayner, ermine, on a chief azure, two mullets of five points, argent. The inscription on the brass is as follows"HIC JACET ANNA UXOR ROBERTI GRAMMER DE BAKEWELL MERCATORIS QUE FILIA SECUNDA JOHANNIS RAYNER DE EAST DRAYTON IN AGRO NOTTINGHAM ARMIG. OBIIT 2 AUG. MDCCXXXII ÆTAT XLII." Reverse-OF. BARSLOE. 1667 = In the field, within the inner circle, a knot and flowers between the letters S. P. This token is unique, not having as yet been noticed by Boyne or any other writer. There is nothing to indicate the calling of the issuer. * Reverse-BELPER LANE ENDI C within the inner circle. * This was probably an Innkeeper's token, the Crown being the Sign of the Inn. Obverse-IAMES. IACKSON. OF The Grocers Arms in a shield, within the inner circle. *I* Reverse-BELPER. HIS. HALF. PENNYI * R within the inner circle. There is nothing to indicate the trade or calling of the issuer of this token, Humphrey Smith. It will be seen that there is a marked resemblance between this token and that of Robert Birds, of Ashford, and they were doubtless both the work of the same die sinker. No record of Humphrey Smith is to be found in the Parish Register. Reverse-OF. BVLSOVER IM within the inner circle. = *** HIS Obverse-RICHARD SOVTHWORTH == The Grocers Arms in a shield within the inner circle. HIS Reverse-IN. BOVLSOVER. 1667 = HALF within the inner circle. Reverse-OF. BONSALL. BVTCHER = The Butchers Arms in a shield within the inner circle. The Butchers Arms are, two axes in saltire between three bulls heads, two in fesse and one in base. On a chief a boar's head between two bunches of holly. Obverse-IOHN. DVDLEY = The Grocers Arms in a shield within the inner circle. |