17th Century Tokens : Bridport-01 in Dorsetshire

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Click Images to View Coin Details W30: Dorsetshire, Bridport (Farthing): (1657) O  R B between two stars of five points RICHD BAGG MERCER R B R  A stocking between two stars of five points OF BRIDPORT 1657 Image not available W31: Dorsetshire, Bridport (Farthing): (1657) O  R B between two squares of four dots RICHD BAGG MERCER R B R  A stocking between two stars of five points OF BRIDPORT 1657 Image not available The name of Bagg ocurs in the parish registers (which begin in 1600) amongst the earliest entries, for in 1601 we find the baptism of "Richard, son of John Bag." The name still exists in the town. W32: Dorsetshire, Bridport (Farthing): (Date Unknown) O  Legend in three lines across the field THOMAS BAGG T B R  The Grocers' Arms OF BRIDPORT Image not available This is the only token in Dorset that gives the inscription in such an unusual way as appears on the obverse. Thomas Bagg was one of the two bailiffs of the borough of Bridport for the first, fourth, and eleventh years of Charles I., as appears from the list of bailiffs of the borough given in Hutchins (ii. 9), collected from an ancient volume now in the corporation archives, called the Dome-book, dating from the time of Richard II. From the Dome-book we find that Thomas Bagg was also constable in 1617 and 1618, and cofferer (i.e., treasurer to the borough) in 1623, 1624, and 1627. In the year 1604 the baptism of "Thomas, son of Thomas Bag," occurs in the register, and in 1632 "Thomas, son of Richard Bag." The following extract, relating in all probability to the issuers of these tokens, from "A declaration of the sufferings of the people of God, who are now in prison, called Quakers, and delivered to Thomas Bamfield, then Speaker of the Parliament on the 6th day of the 2nd month, 1659, " is of considerable interest: "In Dorchester Goale. Lore Bag, the wife of Richard Bag, and her son, Thomas Bag, and three of her daughters, Sarah, Mary, and Abigall Bag, all of one town, living in Brideport, and of one family, were, by Nicholas Sampson and Robert Prince, Bayleffs, far coming from a meeting about a bow-shot from the place were they dwelled, committed to prison, pretending they commited them as being wanderers, and because they would not give them 2s. 6d. a-piece [? 'fined 2s. 6d. each and costs'], and after were called to sessions, where Thomas Bag was fined by the Recorder 13s. 4d. because he wore his hat in the Court; and because for conscience sake, knowing they had broke no law, could not give them 2s. 6d. a-piece far coming from the meeding, and 13s. 4d. for Thomas Bagg wearing of his hat, were all sent back to prison again, where they have been for sixteen weeks, and still remain prisoners, Lore Bag being above three score years old, and her husband, Richard Bag, a mercer, driving a trade; so his whole family is taken from him to their great loss and hindrance." W33: Dorsetshire, Bridport (Farthing): (Date Unknown) O  The Apothecaries' Arms ROB BISHOPP R  R B OF BRIDPORT R B Image not available Robert Bishop was one of the bailiffs of the borough for the years 1668, 1671, 1678, and 1683, and cofferer in 1667. The name occurs in the register on 10th October, 1654, when "Nathaniell, the sonn of Robert Bishopp, was buried." W34: Dorsetshire, Bridport (Farthing): (Date Unknown) O  A bull's head WILLIAM BVLL R  W B IN BRIDPORT W B Image not available W35: Dorsetshire, Bridport (Farthing): (Date Unknown) O  A bull's head WILL BVLL R  W E B IN BRIDPORT W E B Image not available From the Dome-book we find that William Bull was bailiff in the years 1677, 1682, 1696, 1700, 1705, and 1712, and cofferer in the years 1679, and 1681. It is very probable that the office in these later years was filled by his son, as we find in the register the names of several children of William Bull, one entry, on 20th February, 1660, giving the baptism of "William, the son of William Bull." On 2nd March, 1682, the name of William Bull appears in the register as one of the two bailiffs, with two overseers, in a list of six men and two women, which latter were no doubt the recipients of the eight coats which were the subject of the Pitfield Charity, and were distributed every 2nd March. (For full details of this charity see the Charity Enquiry Commissioners' Report, supra.) W36: Dorsetshire, Bridport (Farthing): (1660) O  A columbine; part of the Cooks' Arms WILLIAM BVRTE R  W S B IN BRIDPORTE 1660 W S B Image not available [B. M.] In Boyne's work this had been spelt BVRTT, but as I have never bet with or heard of the token so spelt of this date, and there is in the British Museum one spelt as I have here given it, I am inclined to believe that Boyne was mistaken, notwithstanding that it is engraved in Hutchins's plate as BVRTT, and that the authorities of the British Museum treat the one given above as a variety in their newly-compiled list (1885) of "Seventeenth Century Tokens in the British Museum not Described in Boyne" (No. 89). W37: Dorsetshire, Bridport (Farthing): (1669) O  A columbine; part of the Cooks' Arms WILLIAM BVRTE R  W S B IN BRIDPORTE 1669 W S B Image not available W38: Dorsetshire, Bridport (Farthing): (1669) O  A columbine; part of the Cooks' Arms WILLIAM BVRTT R  W S B IN BRIDPORTE 1669 W S B Image not available There is, I am informed, in the Warrington Museum, this variety spelled BVRTT, and dated 1669. The names of several children of William Burt appear in the register from the years 1658 to 1679, and on 8th April, 1680, "Mr. William Burt was buried." His name also occurs as one of the bailiffs of the borough for the years 1669 and 1675. On 2nd March, 1681, the name of William Burte appears in the register as one of two overseers, with the signatures of two bailiffs, to the signatures of six men and two women, doubtless the recipients of the Pitfield Charity. (See note to No. 35.) This could hardly have been, however, the issuer of the token, but more probably the William Burte who, on 23rd January, 1671, married Joane Warren, and was bailiff in the years 1692, 1704, 1707, and 1710.

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