17th Century Tokens : Bungay-Burgh in Suffolk

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Click Images to View Coin Details W31: Suffolk, Bungay (Farthing): (1664) O  T T 1664, in a shield FOR CHANGE NOT FRAVDE T T 1664 R  Arms; a castle IN BONGAY BIGGOTTS Image not available The initials T T are most likely intended for "Town Token," or may, as suggested in the Gentleman's Magazine for May, 1810, stand for "Town Trust." This token was doubtless issued by authority of the feoffees and Town Reeve for circulation. It has always been so received and acknowledged for the last two hundred years. The town books, however, which would probably have given some account of this issue, are lost; they were most likely destroyed in the great fire of 1688, which consumed the principal part of the town. The castle and fortress, built and held by successive members of the Bigods(?) gave rise to the bold defiance given by Hugh Bigod in Stephen's reign: "Were I in my castle at Bongay, Upon the river Waveney, I would ne care for the King of Cockney." W32: Suffolk, Bungay (Farthing): (1670) O  The Grocers' Arms HENRY BLOMFIELD R  H I B OF BVNGAY 1670 H I B Image not available Accounts of the family of Henry Blomfield exist in the parish books; the birth of a daughter in 1658, and of a son in 1663, are noted, and a death is thus recorded, "Henry Blomfield was buried 7ber ye 24th, 1703." W33: Suffolk, Bungay (Farthing): (1660) O  The Brewers' Arms THOMAS NOWELL R  T N IN BVNGAY 1660 T N Image not available The name "Thomas Nowell" occurs on several deeds of this period, but the family name have been extinct for at least a century in this town. W34: Suffolk, Bungay (Farthing): (1660) O  T W and two small fleurs-de-lys THOMAS WALCOTT T W R  T W and two small fleurs-de-lys OF BVNGEY 1660 T W Image not available This name is frequently mentioned in the Church records about this period; he was a man of repute, and lived in one of the best houses of the town. W35: Suffolk, Bungay (Farthing): (1667) O  The Drapers' Arms HENRY WEBSTER IN R  H I W BVNGAY DRAPER 67 H I W Image not available Henry Webster, the issuer of this token, was a silk-mercer and draper; and in the Church of St Mary, in Bungay, is an altar-tomb to his memory, stating he died in 1715, at the goold old age of eighty-three, and that "he was much lamented by the poor." By his will, dated 1712, he gave an acre of land in Parnow Meadow, in Ditchingham, on the Norfolk side of the river, and twenty pounds, for teaching the poor children of Bungay to read and write. The families of Webster appear to have resided here and in the immediate neighbourhood since 1631, down to 1830, and are described in the registers as "gentlemen." Various monuments to their memory still exist in Bungay Church. The tokens of Bungay, Nos 31, 33, 34, and 35, are engraved in the Gentleman's Magazine, May, 1810, p. 425. W36: Suffolk, Burgh (Uncertain): (1666) O  A fleur-de-lys THOMAS CRACROFT R  A large cross pattée MERCER IN BVRGH 66 Image not available

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