John Wither Awdry
Encyclopedia
Sir John Wither Awdry DL
(21 October 1795 – 31 May 1878) was an English-born Indian judge.
Born at Swindon, he was the second and oldest surviving son of John Awdry and his wife Jane, the second daughter of Lovelace Bigg. Awdry was educated at Westminster School
and then at Christ Church College, Oxford. He was first in classics in 1816 and graduated with a Master of Arts ten years later. In 1844, Awdry received a Doctorate of Civil Law by the University of Oxford
.
Awdry was called to the bar by the Middle Temple
in 1822 and became a bencher in 1830, on whose occasion he was created a Knight Bachelor
. He was puisne judge and commissioner of the Insolvent Debtor's Court in Bombay. In 1839, he was appointed chief justice of the Supreme Court of Judicature at Bombay, resigning from this post after three years. After his return to England, Awdry served as chairman of the Quarter Sessions
in Wiltshire
and represented the county as Deputy Lieutenant
from 1852.
On 29 June 1830, he married firstly Sarah Maria, eldest daughter of Jonathan Awdry, and had by her two sons and a daughter. After her death, he married Frances Ellen, second daughter of Thomas Carr
on 24 July 1839. By his second wife, he had eight sons and four daughters. Awdry died at his home at Notton House. His fourth son William
was an Anglican bishop.
Deputy Lieutenant
In the United Kingdom, a Deputy Lieutenant is one of several deputies to the Lord Lieutenant of a lieutenancy area; an English ceremonial county, Welsh preserved county, Scottish lieutenancy area, or Northern Irish county borough or county....
(21 October 1795 – 31 May 1878) was an English-born Indian judge.
Born at Swindon, he was the second and oldest surviving son of John Awdry and his wife Jane, the second daughter of Lovelace Bigg. Awdry was educated at Westminster School
Westminster School
The Royal College of St. Peter in Westminster, almost always known as Westminster School, is one of Britain's leading independent schools, with the highest Oxford and Cambridge acceptance rate of any secondary school or college in Britain...
and then at Christ Church College, Oxford. He was first in classics in 1816 and graduated with a Master of Arts ten years later. In 1844, Awdry received a Doctorate of Civil Law by the University of Oxford
University of Oxford
The University of Oxford is a university located in Oxford, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest surviving university in the world and the oldest in the English-speaking world. Although its exact date of foundation is unclear, there is evidence of teaching as far back as 1096...
.
Awdry was called to the bar by the Middle Temple
Middle Temple
The Honourable Society of the Middle Temple, commonly known as Middle Temple, is one of the four Inns of Court exclusively entitled to call their members to the English Bar as barristers; the others being the Inner Temple, Gray's Inn and Lincoln's Inn...
in 1822 and became a bencher in 1830, on whose occasion he was created a Knight Bachelor
Knight Bachelor
The rank of Knight Bachelor is a part of the British honours system. It is the most basic rank of a man who has been knighted by the monarch but not as a member of one of the organised Orders of Chivalry...
. He was puisne judge and commissioner of the Insolvent Debtor's Court in Bombay. In 1839, he was appointed chief justice of the Supreme Court of Judicature at Bombay, resigning from this post after three years. After his return to England, Awdry served as chairman of the Quarter Sessions
Quarter Sessions
The Courts of Quarter Sessions or Quarter Sessions were local courts traditionally held at four set times each year in the United Kingdom and other countries in the former British Empire...
in Wiltshire
Wiltshire
Wiltshire is a ceremonial county in South West England. It is landlocked and borders the counties of Dorset, Somerset, Hampshire, Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire. It contains the unitary authority of Swindon and covers...
and represented the county as Deputy Lieutenant
Deputy Lieutenant
In the United Kingdom, a Deputy Lieutenant is one of several deputies to the Lord Lieutenant of a lieutenancy area; an English ceremonial county, Welsh preserved county, Scottish lieutenancy area, or Northern Irish county borough or county....
from 1852.
On 29 June 1830, he married firstly Sarah Maria, eldest daughter of Jonathan Awdry, and had by her two sons and a daughter. After her death, he married Frances Ellen, second daughter of Thomas Carr
Thomas Carr (bishop)
Thomas Carr was the inaugural Bishop of Bombay between 1836 and 1851. In retirement he gave key evidence in a famous court case, that of Archdeacon Denison.. He died at Bath, Somerset in 1859. His grandson William Awdry was also a bishop.-References:...
on 24 July 1839. By his second wife, he had eight sons and four daughters. Awdry died at his home at Notton House. His fourth son William
William Awdry
William Awdry was the inaugural Bishop of Southampton and Osaka who subsequently served South Tokyo.He was the fourth son of Sir John Wither Awdry and his second wife Frances Ellen Carr, second daughter of Thomas Carr Awdry was educated at Winchester College and Balliol College, Oxford...
was an Anglican bishop.