41. Tracy and Brewer. — Can any one inform me if these families are connected, and if so, how ? Did one of the Brewers marry a co-heiress of Tracy ? My reason for asking is that both families seem connected in the foundation of Polsloe Priory and Tor Abbey.
Polsloe Priory was founded in the reign of Henry II., Henry being himself a benefactor to it, and Dr. Tanner states that Sir William Tracy, one of the assassins of Thomas a Becket, who died in 1174, was the principal benefactor. Dr. Oliver questions this statement (Mon. p. 163), but King John's charter printed by Dr. Brushfield (Devon Association Trans.^ xxii., 314), proves that Dr. Tanner was right. Sir William Tracy gave to the Convent Wipledeton («.f., Whipton in Heavitree), and Henry de Pomeroy gave the adjoining land. These gifts, with the small estate of Polesleuia, form the great manor of Polsloe, worth £^^ at the dissolution, the chief estate of the Priory. It looks as though Sir William Tracy was the founder. But about 1200 William Brewer was the patron. How came this about unless Brewer took by heirship from Tracy?
A stronger reason is to be found in King John's Charter confirming the various grants of land to Tor Abbey (Oliver Mon. p. 173). I refer to the words : ** and by the gift of the aforenamed William Brewer and William de Traci and Drogo de Mungirun the township of Northschillyngforde with appurtenances." Of course this William de Traci joining in a grant of land in 11 96 cannot be the same person as Sir William Tracy who died in 11 74; but both Whipton and North Shillingford were held in Domesday by the same tenant, William Capra, brother of Ralph de Pomeroy. Both were held by Sir William Tracy in 11 70, when he gave one to Polsloe. In 11 96 William Brewer had succeeded to the patronage of that one, and was a joint donor with another William Tracy and a Drogo de Mungirun of the other one to Tor. Can any genealogist explain the connection ? Oswald J. Reichel.
42. Monmouth Rebellion Broadside. — The Bloody Assize commenced at Winchester, and the Assize at Dorchester was opened 3rd September, 1685. The disgraceful proceedings there were not equalled in any other place visited
