sociations of the Dabneys of Mr. Burton's toll-gate tower.
From a manuscript still in existence in the British Museum, the family of Jennens or Jennings were of very ancient origin. They seem to have settled in England before the Norman Conquest, and to have been of Danish extraction. The first who settled in the Kingdom was a Danish Captain, brought to England by Canute, King of Denmark and having been baptised into the Christian faith had certain manors lying on the sea coast near Harwich, given him by Canute as a reward for his former services rendered to Canute's father, Sweyne, King of Denmark. Little more is known of the family until the reign of Heny VIII, when one Robert Jennens is found employed in the Royal Household, where he became a favourite of the King, who in or about 1545, promoted him and after presenting him with a sword and belt, sent him to Shottle, in the parish of Duffield, in the county of Derby to act as chief warden, deer-stalker and ranger. Robert Jennens married one Ellen Beard, and had a son named John, who became a great ironmaster at Birmingham. This John was twice married, the first time to his cousin, Mary Jennens, and the second time to Joyce Wearman, the daughter of a wealthy solicitor at Birmingham. As regards the claimants of the property, the chief point in dispute was the paternity of William Jennens, who died intestate in 1798. The persons, however, who, lawfully or unlawfully obtained possession of the estates in more than seven counties were Lord Howe, Earl Beauchamp and representatives of the deceased Lady Andover.
Turning from William Dabney and the claim of his descendants to the Jennings estate to the new road out of St. Leonards by Mr. Burton, it should be explained that the tolls for such road were first taken at a gate just "above the North Lodge", where was a small cottage in which William Golden as toll-taker resided. The last toll taken at this place was on the 22nd of July, 1837,. The entrances to North Lodge, east and west, were originally from beneath the arch, traces of which may still be seen.
In his latter days William Dabney was employed to keep the road in order, and it is in that capacity that the appearance in the accompanying sketch.
I must not close the year's record of events without a reference to the -
