In the Abingdon series of tokens we ahve five halfpennies and six farthings. The name of the town is spelt by the issuers as follows:
5 times ABINGTON 4 times ABINGDON 1 time ABBINGTON 1 time ABINDON
Mr. A. E. Preston, of Abingdon, informs me that all the names of the issuers are recorded in MSS. connected with the history of the borough, although few descendants are, he things, now to be found in the neighbourhood.
None of the Abingdon tokens, with the exception, perhaps, of those issued by Richard Ely and William Stevenson, are commonly met with.
Richard Ely, probably son of the above, was master of Christ's Hospital 1701, 1706, 1715, 1724, 1726, and 1729.
Also mayor of Abingdon in 1707.
He was builder of a fountain called the "Castle Well," still existing in Oct Street.
These tokens are more frequently met with than others in the Abingdon series.
W7: Berkshire, Abingdon (Farthing): (1657)
O
1657
HENRY MEALES IN 1657
R
H M
ABINGTON BAKER H M
Image not available
W9: Berkshire, Abingdon (Farthing): (1658)
O
T M S
THOMAS SMITH 58 T M S
R
A ship and a crescent
ABINGTON GROCER
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Mr. H. S. Gill, of Tiverton, Devon, informs me that "This token has been assigned, by the Rev. W. G. Searle, Vicar of Hockington, near Cambridge, to the village of ABINGTON, Cambridgeshire, where he states it has been found."
