{595}
MR. HUGHES is quite right, both in his facts, so far as they go, and in the
inference he draws from them in confirmation of the now well ascertained
identity of Milton's widow with the daughter of Randle Mynshull of
Wistaston. His observations derive additional force from the fact, that two
generations of Minshull of Wistaston married ladies of the name of
Goldsmith. Thomas Minshull, the great-grandfather of Milton's widow,
married ---- Goldsmith of Nantwich, as his son Richard informed Randal
Holmes, in a letter among the Harl. MSS., noticed by MR. HUNTER, and as
pointed out by MR. HUGHES; but the writer of that letter also married a
lady of the same name, Elizabeth, daughter of Nicholas Goldsmith, of
Bosworth, in the county of Leicester. The fact is worth noticing, though no
very accurate estimate can be formed of the precise degree of relationship
to be inferred from the title of "cousin" a couple of centuries ago. My
authority is the Cheshire visitation of 1663-4. Several other MS. pedigrees
are in existence; in some of which the lady's name is stated as Ellen,
instead of Elizabeth, and her father's as Richard instead of Nicholas.
Thomas Minshull of Manchester, the uncle of Milton's widow, deserves
perhaps a passing word of notice, as having embalmed the mortal remains of
Humphrey Chetham.