1666 is a long time ago, 357 years in fact, but an ancient Dorset Charity is still supporting around 100 youngsters each year and fulfilling the legacy of its benefactor Sir Samuel Mico after all those years.
The trustees of the Sir Samuel Mico Charities will gather on Friday 31 March at 11am in St Marys Church, Weymouth, for the annual commemoration as written by Sir Samuel in his will 358 years ago in September 1665.
Sir Samuel Mico was a 17th Century London Merchant who owned many ships which used the port of Weymouth. As he came often to view his ships he decided he needed a place to stay, so he bought the George Inn on Custom House Quay, which he left to the trust in his will.
The Will of 25th September 1665 set up a trust to fund apprenticeships of children of widowed mothers in Weymouth & Melcombe Regis. Another trust was set up to provide a monthly pension for six people that had sailed before the mast.
The Mico trust continues as part of 13 original charities which are now amalgamated under the titles of the Sir Samuel Mico & Sir Henry Edwards Charities, known as Weymouth Town Charities. One of the Charities dates back as far as 1st March 1595.
Mico’s will stated that 3 apprentices should be supported each year but due to wise management by trustees over the centuries, today Mico’s legacy supports around 100 local youngsters with scholarships, tools for apprentices, grants for those undertaking further educational studies at college and university and other projects to develop the areas young people follow.
Mico’s will set out that the trustee and beneficiaries should attend a service on the Friday before Palm Sunday to hear a sermon by a “good divine” and afterwards should enjoy refreshment and trustees should receive reports from the beneficiaries on their progress.
This year trustees will be joined by HM Lord Lieutenant of Dorset Angus Campbell Esq and local mayors from Weymouth, Portland and Chickerell as well as the Freeman and Alderman of Weymouth & Portland.
After the service the mace bearers of Weymouth will lead the trustees, VIPs and beneficiaries down St Mary Street and on to the quay ending at The George Inn for refreshments. All will be in their official colourful regalia and will be a traditional spectacle seen only once a year in Weymouth. The ceremonial maces that will be used in the parade come from Mico’s times engraved with “Freedom of England By God’s Blessing Restored 1660”. This is the date of the restoration of Charles the Monarchy, and it appears it over stamped the original date!
Gary Hepburn, Chairman of the Trust said:
“It is great to once again be able to mark Sir Samuel Mico’s bequest to the young people of Weymouth and Portland. The trustees continue to support local youngsters with university and college studies, apprenticeships, involvement in sport at a national level, studying to be lawyers and doctors, attending scout jamborees and all sorts of other studies and things to develop them in other ways. Supporting young people as they gain skills and experiences that will set them up for the future is a fantastic thing to be involved in, and it is great to hear from former beneficiaries years later on what they have achieved and the part the support of Sir Samuel Mico’s charities has played.”
