PREFACE. IN N offering to the notice of their neighbours and the public the following pages, the authors feel it necessary to bespeak the candour of their readers both towards themselves and their performance. They make no pretensions to extensive or profound topographical knowledge; and their work, they are aware, is of a very miscellaneous character. Yet they indulge the hope that, to their neighbours at least, it will appear to possess some interest, and will be found subservient to some useful end. This work would not have been undertaken had not the authors felt assured, that they possessed some advantages in respect to materials, peculiar to themselves; and had they not found every account of Uxbridge, which has hitherto been published, extremely incorrect and deficient. One of these accounts, and that of no mean authority in topography, states Uxbridge to be a "MODERN TOWN." Several other writers have also proceeded upon very imperfect and superficial information. The endeavour of the authors has been to collect, from various quarters, what they knew to be true, and had the means of verifying; and to add whatever further information could be furnished from local knowledge, or original documents. The antiquary may find but little that is either wholly new, or peculiarly interesting; yet the authors flatter themselves, that their work contains some few facts, which may at least rank among minor accessions to the general stores of local history. To their neighbours and fellow-townsmen, they beg leave to say, that they have been sedulous to put them in possession of all those public documents that appeared of importance to the interests of the town of Uxbridge; and more especially to circulate complete information upon all the public charities and donations. Though, upon this subject, they have been at no inconsiderable pains, they have not, in all instances, succeeded to the extent of their wishes. They have reason to believe that several charities, anciently in the gift of this town, have been entirely lost, through negligence and inattention in preserving documents, and transmitting information. Those copies of original deeds and grants which are furnished in the course of the work, as of public interest, may, however, be fully relied on. Great inaccuracies have been detected even in parliamentary returns; and, in correcting these, the authors have observed the most scrupulous care, and have always referred to the original deeds or wills. From the various official situations which one of the authors holds in connexion with the town, it will be readily seen, that whatever information was to be gleaned from the public writings and documents, has been readily furnished. That their materials were not more ample, has been the subject of frequent regret to the authors themselves, as probably it will be to many of their readers. For this however they cannot be held accountable. They have frequently and carefully examined all the papers that are in the possession of the town, and some belonging to pri vate individuals; and such as they have been able, in the midst of the numerous and pressing engagements of their respective professions, to make this work, they now commend it to the candid attention of their readers. They are conscious of the best intentions, and are not aware of any prejudices, in the discharge of the humble duty of local historians. They have aspired at no fame; but they have been ambitious to promote the interests of the Town; to serve the cause of the poor; and to contribute to the gratification of their neighbours and friends. They take this opportunity of observing, as to the union of their names in this work, that it cannot be of importance to detail here, either the reasons or the origin of the connexion; and they are not aware that it would at all contribute to the pleasure of their readers, or the utility of their performance, were they to go beyond the general statement, that the design of the work is to be ascribed to that individual, whose official duties first led him to notice in the public documents belonging to the town, several interesting facts, which had never been made public. The authors feel it due here respectfully to acknowledge the assistance they have derived from several individuals, who have liberally contributed their aid. They wish particularly and gratefully to return thanks for the obliging and condescending attention of the Marquis of Anglesey. They may also be permitted to distinguish the following gentlemen among many others; James Gomme, Esq. F.A.S. and John Rumsey, Esq. F.A.S. Wycombe; T. Fisher, Esq. East India House; J. A. Partridge, Esq. Breakspear; T. W. Walford, Esq. Mr. John Mercer, Mr. James Trumper, Rev. T. E. Beasley, and Mr. W. Lake, Uxbridge, and an anonymous correspondent, who furnished the address of George Fox to the people of Uxbridge, from the manuscript (we presume) deposited at the Westminster Meeting. LIST OF PLATES AND CUTS. Proof Impressions of the Plates, the Fac-Simile, &c. &c. TABLE OF CONTENTS. SECTION 1. Introduction,-Antiquity,-Etymology of its name,--Evidence of having been a Borough-Town. SECTION 2. History of the Manor of Colham and Borough of Uxbridge,-Disputes relating to the Toll of the Mar- ket and Fairs,—Presentment of the Manor in 1636,— SECTION 3. Ancient Grant to the Burgesses by Gilbert Basset,-The origin of the Market, &c.-The Basset SECTION 4. Inquisitions taken relative to Uxbridge. |