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ward, Esq., deceased, and as appears by the promissory notes now produced by his son, as well as by the public a/cs. of the Corporation, audited on the 15th of March, 1813 - Now it be known that at this assembly, the said son, E. Milward Esq., requested the Corporation's acceptance of the said sum of £492 3s. 10.d, as a mark of his esteem and respect for the Corporation; and the said E. Milward delivered up the promissory notes to be cancelled, and the same are cancelled accordingly.

After Mr. Hannay's resignation of the mastership of Saunder's school, the scholars which he then had continued with him as upon Parker's foundation, but in 1816, he also resigned that office and was succeded by Mr. Slade who had the reputation of being a good educationalist. On the 5th of October, 1817, (after several years suspension of Saunder's school in consequence of the funds being absorbed by the costs of the Chancery suit), the Corporation appointed Mr. W. H. Prior as schoolmaster, who, not being able to afford, as required, or even to obtain a school room in the town, had to put up with the loan of a loft over Breeds's Warehouse at the White Rock end of the Rope Walk. Also in the same year, Mr. Jas. Thorpe was engaged as master of Parker's school, using an inconvenient building near The Croft, this attended by "The Postman"

From Eighteen-fifteen until Thirty three
It was his right or privilege here to be
He bought the house, adjoining store as well
The last for school, the first wherein to dwell.
This Mr. Thorpe for fifteen years or more
At Cobourg Place, schoolmaster was before
In Eighteen-sev'nteen, Mr. Thorpe became
Of School the master Parker's school by name

On the 7th of December, 1818, an official enquiry was held by the Charity Commissioners, in which evidence was given by E. Milward, Esq. (Mayor), J. G. Shorter, Esq., Mr. Tompsett (Town Clerk), Mr. Edwards (chamberlain) and Mr. Prior (schoolmaster). The facts elicited as pertaining to Saunder's Charity were that the costs of the Chancery suit had to be paid out of the charity estate, and the costs of the defence to be paid out of the Corporation funds; that the property consisted of two houses, a barn and buildings, with about 75 acres of land at Wittersham, in the Isle of Oxney, let in 1812 for 14 years to David Dunk at a rent of £233 10s. Also 17 acres of so-called drowned lands, then only at times covered with water, but the boundary undetermined, for which £4 11s. 8d. was paid as rent. Also an undivided moiety of lands called Starvenden, let to Mr. Goble at £22; that for about six years past there had been no schoolmaster; that the two schoolmistresses had been paid a part of the time; that no apprentices had been put out since 1810; that the re-opened school was now filled; that a permanent schoolroom was much needed, but difficult to get; that the master was obliged to find a room out of his salary, and not being able to get a proper place was thankful to Mr. Breeds for the loan of his warehouse; that the chamberlain, as advised by the solicitors on both sides, received from Mr. Dunk only a rent of £212 10s. instead of £233 10s. until 17 acres of drowned land were recovered and enjoyed by the tenant; that Dunk complained he could not live on the farm at so high a rent; that more than £1000 had been paid into Chancery; and that there was a balance of £54 8s. 1d. in the bank due to the trustees.

The Drowned Charity Lands

Of Parker's Charity, the property taken under the will dated Nov. 15th 1619 consisted of 113 acres and 22 poles in the parish of Ore, which in 1780 was let for 21 years to Mr. Milward at a varied rent of