4. THE WELLS-BRUTON GROUP. This group would seem to begin with a Thomas Balch who was living at Wells in the latter part of the sixteenth century, and was buried there in the church of Saint Cuthbert's, January 27th, 1695. The inscription on his tombstone reads as follows: "Here lieth the body of Thomas Balch, who died the 27 of Januar 1695 and also his daughter Martha died June 11th 1694." Traditions say that he or his father was born in Bridgwater. Individuals bearing the name of Balch are recorded in many places in Somerset, but without any other apparent connection with the foregoing four groups except the similarity of the name. Of such individuals there lived at West Chinnock, in the southern part of the county, in 1569, Robert Balche, and in the early part of the seventeenth century William Balch, a yeoman. In his will, dated December 7th, 1611, the latter says:-79 Bawlch "In the name of God amen the seaventh day of De- T Willm cember Anno Domini one thousand sixe hundred and eleaven I William Bawlche of West Chinnock in the countie of Somerset husbandman do make my last will and testament in mann' and forme following: First I bequeathe my Soul to God and my bodye to the Earthe. Itm I give to the parishe churche of Chesselborowe twoe shillings six pence. Item I give to the poore of West 79 Prerogative Court of Canterbury, Fenner folio 32. Chinnocke twoe shillings six pence. Item I give unto Azarias Bawlche twelve pence. Item I give unto Johane Bawlch daughter of Hughe Bawlch twelve pence. Item my will is that my sonne Peter Bawlch shall have twentie poundes And to be put to use for hym untill he come to age of one and twentie yeres. And all my houshould stuffe to remayne unto hym after my wyves decease And my wife to keepe the Boye and to bring him up to her charage as long as he will be governed by her. Item I give unto Hughe Bawlche and unto Thomas Mudford fyve shillinges a piece to the end that they shalbe overseers to see this my last will and Testament performed. The residue of all my goodes chattels and debtes not given nor bequeathed I give and bequeathe to Ellinor my wife whome I make my Executrix of this my last will and testament. Witnesses hereunto Thomas Mudford and Robert Butler. "Probatum fuit Testamentum suprascriptum apud London coram venerabili viro Dno Johanne Benet milite legum doctore Curie Prerogative Cantuarienss, Magistro Custode sive Commissario legitime constituto vicesimo septimo die Mensis Maii Anno Domini millesimo Sexcentesimo Duodecimo Juramento Elianore Bawlche Relicte dicti defuncti et Executricis in eodem testaments nominat. Cui commissa fuit Administraco bonorum Jurium et Creditorum dicti defuncti de bene et fideliter administrand &c. ad sancta Dei Evangelia vigore Commissionis in ea parte als Emanat Jurat. ex." Is the Hughe Bawlch referred to in the above will the Hugh Balche of Ilminster, (see ante page 36), who died in 1615 or 1616? In the Archdeacon's Court at Taunton, the wills of the following individuals are recorded: Robert |