Walter Ridiout was Bailiff of the borough of Blandford for the years 1643 and 1654. Somewhere about the year 1690 Walder Rideout gave £15, the interest of which was to buy wheat for the poor of the parish when the price should exceed 5s. a bushel, vested in the bailiff and burgesses. The dividends form part of the Christmas distribution by the bailiff, and no doubt since the Municipal Corporation Act, by the mayor. In December, 1835, there was a balance of £6 2s. 11d. in the hands of the corporation on account of this charity. (See Boswell's "Civil Division of Dorset," ed. 1833, and the "Report of the Commissioners [?] Enquiring Concerning Charities" [County of Dorset], 1815, et seq.)
The name of Ware occurs in the corporation account-book in connection with a fund called Gratis-money, said to have been given by Dr. Highmore, Mr. Ware, and others, to be lent out in small sums to poor tradesmen without interest. Some portion of the original money having been lost, it was resolved, in 1690, to put out £25 of the remainder at interest. The smallness of the sum has precluded its being applied according to the supposed intention of the donor, and the individuals are now included in the bailiff's (now mayor's) Christmas donation. (See Charity Enquiry Commissioners' Report, supra.)
[H. S. G.] In the "Heraldic Visitation of Dorset" for 1623, lately issued by the Harleian Society, occurs the name of William Woolfries, who was fourteen years old at the time of the Visitation, and was son and heir of Henry Woolfries, of Marsh, which is now a farm situated near Bloxworth, in the same hundred as Blandford St. Mary, and where is a large ancient brick house, probably built by the Woolfreys, its former owners. (Hutchins, i. 181.)
