17th Century Tokens : Kilkhampton-Launceston in Cornwall

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Click Images to View Coin Details W21: Cornwall, Kilkhampton (Farthing): (1667) O  I C conjoined IOHN COVRTIS 1667 I C R  IN CORNWALL OF KILKHAMPTON IN CORNWALL Image not available John Courtis, mercer, of Kilkhampton, died in 1705, at the age of 65, and is commemorated by a stately monument in Kilkhampton Church. He was probably the issuer. W22: Cornwall, Launceston (Farthing): (Date Unknown) O  The Mercers' Arms DEGORY BEWES OF SANT R  D B STEPHENS LANCESTON D B Image not available W23: Cornwall, Launceston (Farthing): (1659) O  Three Castles THOMAS BEWES R  T B IN LANCESTON 59 T B Image not available The issuers of the two preceding tokens were members of the family Bewes, now represented by the Rev. T. A. Bewes, of Plymouth. Thomas Bewes is described as "gent." on the monument of his daughter, Chesten, wife of William Stokes. He was Mayor of Launceston in 1663, and again in 1673, 1680, 1687, and 1694; while John Bewes, who also held the office several times, was first elected in 1682. St. Stephens, though now part of Launceston Parliamentary Borough, until 1832 comprised the independent borough of Newport, for which see post. The castles are not the arms of the Bewes, but are probably intended for those of Launceston. W24: Cornwall, Launceston (Farthing): (Date Unknown) O  The Chandlers' Arms OSSOLD KINGDON R  O K OF LAUNCESTON O K Image not available W25: Cornwall, Launceston (Farthing): (Date Unknown) O  The Haberdashers' Arms RICH KINGDOME R  R K OF LANCESTON R K Image not available Though the name is spelt differently, the issuers of these two tokens belonged to the same family--the Kingdons of Trehunsey, in Quethiock, and Trenowth, in St. Cleer. Oswald Kingdon was a gentleman of large fortune, who owned a great part of the land within the borough. He was three times mayor--1661, 1670, 1677--an office which his father, Oswald, had held before him. His son, Richard Kingdon, carried on business in Launceston and Boscastle, where he owned many ships. He was also three times mayor. A daughter of Richard Kingdon married Langford Frost, from whom descends the family of Frost now living in Launceston and Saltash. There is an entry in the Launceston borough records in 1643-4 of a claim of William Noble, "2 li. of shott to make tookens, and for stamping them, 1s. 6d." Whatever these tokens may have been, none of them seem to be preserved.

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