68 Devon and Cornwall Notes and Queries.
Club, and contributed many papers of high merit and interest to the Transactions and Reports of these two Societies.
There are few persons more familiar with Dartmoor, its people, its customs, its legends or its ancient monuments and crosses than Mr. Thornton was, and many of his papers and pamphlets relate to them and to their preservation. In fact, he took a prominent part in the preservation of the ancient monuments and wayside and other crosses of the county of Devon generally.
He was also a great lover and student of animals and natural history in all its branches, and was particularly devoted to horses and always kept thoroughly good ones in his stable, treating them with the greatest care and consideration. He loved beautiful scenery, especially the wild moorlands of Dartmoor and Exmoor, and always revelled in the exquisite view over Eastern Down and Lustleigh Cleave from the window of his dining room in the Rectory at North Bovey.
In his younger days Mr. Thornton was a keen and good all round sportsman, but took especial pleasure in hunting and fishing. His cheery, handsome face and kindly greetings were, at one time, well known at the meets of the Dartmoor and the old Eggesford Hounds. He had an abundance of good humour and an endless store of anecdote. A man of charming personality and air, he will be greatly missed by all who knew him.
71. Thomas Wainwright.—Mr. Thomas Wainwright, the well-known Librarian and Curator of the North Devon Athenaium, celebrated his goth birthday on April 7th of this year, and it is with much regret that we record his death, which took place at Barnstaple on April 28th. Although not
a West-country man, Mr. Wainwright has been connected with Barnstaple for over 50 years. He was born at Leeds in 1826, and was educated at the Grammar School of his native city. Prior to removing to Barnstaple, Mr. Wainwright conducted a private school at Bridport, where he was churchwarden of St. Mary's at the time of the great restoration of the church in i860. He was also a member of the Bridport Town Council, and did much valuable work in tabulating and annotating the records of this ancient town,
