(3

qualities; for any every addition, however small to our our knowledge on this head respect head, & the spreading of the a belief in inheritance is a public benefit.)

(The first member of the family, whose name of whom we know anything was William Darwin who had possessed a small estate at Cleatham in Lincolnshire, & who died in 1644.*

His eldest son (born 1620) married to daughter of Erasmus Earle, Serjeant at law, & hence Erasmus Darwin derived his the Christian name. of Erasmus Darwin as his oldest son

The grandson of the first born known Darwin, William Darwin of Cleatham (born 1655) married the heiress of R. Waring of Wilsford, a family of much consideration in the country, This lady afterwar became [illeg] possessed through a second marriage with G S …) of the estate Likewise inherited by an indirect course the manor of Elston, which she bequeathed to her has remained in ever since in the family has now since been in the possession of the Darwins, ; & Erasmus, the subject of the present notice, was born at Elston Hall.

(Word why)

Elston Hall, as it existed before 1754 whose Erasmus Darwin was born

Elston Hall, as it now existed —