2.8.1808 letter from Vincent, Newbury
Maybe Osman Vincent linen draper and banker of Newbury, his will PCC 1815, who lived at Donnington, just north west of Newbury. In his diary Godwin dined at Newbury with the coach to and from Bath in 1798, then visited in a chaise with his new wife in 1802 and called on some locals. A month after the letter from Vincent, Godwin visited Newbury for the last time, meeting a number of locals but not Vincent, nor any of those he saw in 1802. On arriving in Newbury 5.9.1808 he called on Townsend & Roe, then dined and slept at the Globe Inn, and then walked to Speen, a couple of miles from Donnington, and perhaps stayed the night there (where he had breakfasted in 1802) or perhaps walked back to the Globe.
Townsend was probably either Thomas Townsend solicitor & town clerk (his will PCC 1825), or his father Richard Townsend solicitor (will PCC 1817), both of Bartholomew-st. Roe was the Rev James Roe, rector, North Brook-st. There was also a John Townsend, keeper of the Town Arms Inn, Market-pl (will PCC 1812). Not sure which Townsend would have been the Serjeant.
On 6.9.1808 Godwin called on Davis, Green, Wright, Nias, Townsend serjt, Croft, Roe, Bull & Toomer, with whom he took tea. He then wrote to his wife and the next day walked to Reading
Davis could have been William Davis, gunsmith, Bartholomew-st or William Davis cabinet-maker, upholsterer &c, North Brook-st (his will PCC 1835 wife Susan). Green may have been William Green, linen & woollen draper, North Brook-st. Wright could have been S Wright, china & glass warehouse, Market-st or Charles Wright, cabinet-maker & upholsterer. Nias could have been Thomas Nias, ironmonger or Miss Ann Nias, (1770-1836) boarding-school, Bartholomew-st (will PCC 1811 of their father Joseph Somerset Nias ironmonger). Croft could have been William Crofts, appraiser & auctioneer, Bartholomew-st. Bull could have been Charles Bull, boarding-school, North Brook-st (his will PCC 1831, wife Hannah, his school taken over by Mark Willis). Toomer could have been Toomer & son, ironmongers, Market-pl or Toomer, Bunny & Slocock, bankers, Bartholomew-st (will PCC 1818 of Samuel Toomer banker).
In 1802 Godwin had called on Rev John Winter, and Rev David James, independent ministers, and on Cotton & Combe (Coombs) probably members of their congregations, but only Nias and Toomer (and possibly Bull) seem to have been dissenters in his 1808 calls