17th Century Tokens : Newbury-02 in Berkshire

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Click Images to View Coin Details W56: Berkshire, Newbury (Farthing): (Date Unknown) O  A beast somewhat like a lion, antlered, rampant THOMAS COWSLADE R  T C C GROCER IN NEWBERY T C C Image not available This token is convex on the obverse, and concave on the reverse. Thomas Cowslade was mayor of Newbury in 1665 and 1669. He was a man of much local influence, first living in the town of Newbury, where he carried on his business of grocer, but afterwards of Donnington Priory. Richard Cowslade, a member of this family, was founder of the Cowslade Charity School, and was a considerable benefactor to the church. The family of Cowslade has, as regards direct descent, been many years extinct, but there is still a collateral branch living at Reading. There is a monument in Newbury Church to Richard Cowslade, gent., setting forth his benfactions. He was a member of the Newbury Corporation. He died 31st January, 1718, in his 77th year. W57: Berkshire, Newbury (Farthing): (1657) O  The Grocers' Arms WILLIAM HARRISON R  W S H OF NEWBERY 1657 W S H Image not available W58: Berkshire, Newbury (Farthing): (Date Unknown) O  A skull IOHN HILL R  I S H OF NEWBVRY I S H Image not available W59: Berkshire, Newbury (Farthing): (1652) O  The Grocers' Arms IOHN NAISH IN R  I S N NEWBERY GROCER 1652 I S N Image not available John Naish was churchwarden of Newbury in 1659. W60: Berkshire, Newbury (Farthing): (Date Unknown) O  The Grocers' Arms IONAS NORAWAY IVNIOR R  I S N GROCER IN NEWBERRY I S N Image not available Jonas Noraway was churchwarden of Newbury in 1670. His name is spelt "Jonas Narraway" in the churchwardens' books. W61: Berkshire, Newbury (Farthing): (Date Unknown) O  A castle IOSEPH SAYER RECTOR R  A Bible OF NEWBERY Image not available Joseph Sayer was rector of Newbury from 1663 to 1675. Vide also token issued by Sare of Hungerford. Respecting this token, Mr. H. S. Gill, of Tiverton, remarks: "I think the device ought to be called a clasped book, and not a Bible; it may have been a Prayer Book." Mr. Walter Money, F.S.A., writes: "The token struck for Joseph Sayer, the rector of Newbury, is rare. I think it very probable that his predecessor, Benjamin Woodbridge, also had tokens struck, for I find this entry in the churchwardens' book of 1658: 'Pd. James Foster for 300 tokens for Mr. Woodbridge.' See Hist. of Newbury, p. iii. The compilers of this work have made a most comic mistake over this entry, thinking they were 'tokens' of respect. I have never heard of any bearing the name Woodbridge, but it does not follow they were not struck." W62: Berkshire, Newbury (Farthing): (Date Unknown) O  The Grocers' Arms IOHN SPENCER R  I S IN NEWBERY I S Image not available W63: Berkshire, Newbury (Farthing): (Date Unknown) O  The Mercers' Arms THOMAS YOVNGE R  HIS FARTHINGE IVNIER IN NEWBVRYE HIS FARTHINGE Image not available I have inserted this token as it is given in the former edition of Boyne. Mr. H. S. Gill, of Tiverton, Devon, has, however, pointed out to me that the description is almost identical with that given by Boyne for a token of Newport in Shropshire, No. 42 of the Shropshire series; moreover, in the British Museum supplementary list, published by C. F. Keary and Warwick Wroth, probably the same token is again ascribed to Newport, in Shropshire, as No. 372 of that list. I have met with no specimen of this token found at Newbury, Berkshire, and am inclined to think, therefore, that it belongs either to Newport, in Shropshire, or possibly to Newport in Essex. Mr. H. S. Gill writes: "Tokens by Thomas Runham, No. 41, Shropshire, of the late edition of Boyne, and 371 of the above-mentioned British Museum list, undoubtedly belong to Newport, county Essex, three having been found in that small village. A friend of mine living near has a specimen. I have seen one, and the word 'penny' on rev. PENY, another misprint of Boyne's first edition." The token, therefore, may belong to Newport, Shropshire, ore Newport, Essex, but probably does not belong to Newbury, Berkshire.

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