Cristopher Nash, of South Embankment, Dartmouth, writes:

Recently I invited readers to see whether they may be living on lands – even in buildings – owned in 1548 by Alexander Awdyan.

This was made possible by the fact that modern deeds for these particular Dartmouth properties commonly reveal their previous owners had contributed to the charity called Awdyan's Gift, or they mention past owners whom we know to have contributed to it in 1822 and whose names I listed.

My thanks to all who have responded so positively – and whom I could reassure that there was no unexpected 'charity tax' to descend on them should they have 'Awdyan lands'!

Now I can happily name individuals who more recently owned the Awdyan properties, and who could even have been grandparents of people living in Dartmouth today.

In 1877, these were Capt Thomas H Sheen; Frederick Charles Andrews; Henry Blondett; Mrs Hannah Burgoine; and the Rev Frederick Morton Walter, curate of St Petrox – where a wall plaque still describes Awdyan's Gift.

In 1906, Rev J H Jones had replaced Rev Walter. JS Burgoine had Mrs Burgoine's house and a Mrs Walls had taken over the two houses and gardens of Henry Blondett.

About how this works: many having seen a large black and gilt signboard in the market will recognise the name there of Henry Blondett who – possibly stirred by his part in Awdyan's Gift – in his will of 1885 created 'Blondett's Christmas Gift'.

A retired publican of both the Admiral Nelson and the Trafalgar Inn, he left an annuity with dividends to be provided every Christmas to 100 of Dartmouth's poor. One or each of these pubs could have descended from an Awdyan building of Tudor times. It's the kind of thing we have the chance to find out.

As before, whether here or via [email protected]">[email protected], Dartmothians recognising Awdyan's Gift or any of these names in their family memory or their household papers can lend invaluable help as we reconstruct the town's and its homes' fascinating history.