In Ross's Guide to. Hastings, 1st Ed., 1835, p,37, he says : "Sir Cloudesley Shovell said to be a native of Hastings, was born in 1650. The house pointed out as his residence is No. 117, All Saints' Street," and makes no mention of his mother. These contradictory statements leave us in much doubt as to which story Ross based his tradition upon. Ross's account has been copied by all the writers of later Guide Books since 1835, while in his article published in the Suss." Arch. Coll. vol. 14, written in 1862, he drops the tradition as to Sir Cloudesley himself living here, by changing it to that of his mother, and gives no reason for doing so. --Author.
In closing this article on the hero whose name has by tradition been so frequently quoted by writers of local guide books as connected with "Hastings of Bygone Days," and the claim that his mother's former residence remains to us, I am permitted to give an extract of a letter from the late Hon. R. Marsham-Townshend in my returning proofs of this article. " . . I enclose your proof sheets (with suggested alterations), and hope you will make as much or as little use of them as you please. I also enclose the two numbers of 'Notes and Queries,' containing my articles of 1884 and 1895, on Sir Cloudesley Shovell. They give the pith of all I know of his family history, and I have discovered nothing since."
I think it may be fairly said that any persistent tradition is likely to have had some foundation, even when, as in the present case, there is no actual evidence, and the facts of there having been Cloudesley's resident in Hastings, and of a piece of land having been known as "Shovell's Field," are clearly in favour of the tradition.
If any really authentic documentary evidence should ever turn up, I should, of course, be very glad to hear of it, but, so far, I look upon Crockatt as our only absolutely safe guide with regard to the early days of Sir Cloudesley.
On the previous page is reproduced copy of the original curious document bearing the autograph of Admiral Sir Cloudesley Shovell, lent by the late Hon. R. Marsham-Townshend, especially for this work. Another of a similar nature has recently been found in Norwich Museum, by Mr. A. G. Fidler, of Enfield, who has sent the following memorandum : " Document dated 4th September, 1700, signed by Sir Cloudesley Shovell, one of the four Tellers of His Majesty's Exchequer, acknowledging the final advance of £28 on loan of £400 during the life of Elizabeth Shovell, towards the expenses of the war with France." Elizabeth was the daughter of Sir Cloudesley, afterwards Lady Marsham.
The following was received from the late Hon. Robert MarshamTownshend after the Article on Sir Cloudesley Shovell was made up for the press :-
"December 12th, 1911 - In going carefully through all my Shovell notes, I have come across the enclosed which I had totally -
