Philip Yorke
Encyclopedia
Philip Yorke was an antiquary who developed a great interest in Welsh history
and genealogy
relatively late in his life. He is the author of The Royal Tribes of Wales (1799).
, not far from Wrexham
(Denbighshire, Wales). He was related to Philip Yorke, first earl of Hardwicke
, who was uncle to Simon's father Simon Yorke. His mother, Dorothy, was a daughter of Matthew Hutton
of Newnham, Hertfordshire.
After receiving his basic education in Wanstead
and Hackney
, he went to Eton College
and subsequently in 1762 to Benet College, Cambridge
, where he was awarded an MA degree in 1765. He proceeded to Lincoln’s Inn in 1762 and was ‘called to the bar’ in 1767. He took great delight in classical literature and became a fellow of the Society of Antiquaries
in 1768.
, and he had 2 daughters and 5 sons with her. Through his wife's aid he became a member of parliament and served in this capacity for the borough of Helston
, Cornwall
, until 1781. Elizabeth died two years previously (1779).
In 1782, Philip married his second wife, the Welsh widow Diana (d. 1805), who was a daughter of Piers Wynne of Dyffryn Aled. They had 2 daughters and 4 sons. Yorke later obtained a seat in parliament for Grantham
but after a year relinquished it to his eldest son Simon (1792-3).
The marriage sparked in him a growing interest for Welsh history and genealogy, a subject for which he formerly cared very little. He began to take a keen interest in the ancestors of his wife, a descendant of Marchudd ap Cynan, lord of Uwch Dulas and said that he had come to "think the race of Cadwallon more glorious than the breed of Gimcrack", as he wrote in his Tracts of Powys. This was his first book on Welsh history and genealogy, which was published in 1795. He is known above all for writing a considerably longer work, The Royal Tribes of Wales, published in 1799 (see below).
Yorke died in 1804, followed by his wife Diana in 1805. His public performances in high-level politics are said to have been rather restrained and according to C. J. Apperley
, he was "one of the worst-dressed men in the country" as well as an incompetent horseman. He was nevertheless a noted conversationalist and storyteller and achieved a measure of fame for his performances as an amateur actor at the Wynnstay Theatre.
In memory
of PHILIP YORKE of Erthig, Efqre.
whofe integrity of heart,
fuavity of manners,
and intellectual endowments,
whilft they endeared him to fociety,
were to his own breaft a perpetual fource
of peace, complacency, and fatisfaction.
He died on the 19th of February, 1804,
in the 61st year of his age.
Go gentle Spirit, and from Heav'n receive
That high reward which Heav'n alone can give!
With confciousnefs of years well-Spent depart,
Waiting His mercy ... can Search the heart.
, offers a stern critique against Polydore Virgil’s negative appraisal of the early Britons and devotes some space to the crown lordships of Powys. The appendix includes letters by Goronwy Owen
and Lewis Morris
.
The Tracts of Powys formed the basis for a considerably larger and much better known work, his The Royal Tribes of Wales, which was published in 1799. It was written with some help from Walter Davies and set out to give an account of the so-called 'Five Royal Tribes of Wales' and the noble pedigrees which sprang from them. Yorke was initially sympathetic to the origin myth of the Welsh people, including the traditions which traced its descent from Trojan forebears, but later rejected such theories.
Yorke also worked on a history of 'the Fifteen Common Tribes of Wales', but never lived to complete it.
History of Wales
The history of Wales begins with the arrival of human beings in the region thousands of years ago. Neanderthals lived in what is now Wales, or Cymru in Welsh, at least 230,000 years ago, while Homo sapiens arrived by about 29,000 years ago...
and genealogy
Genealogy
Genealogy is the study of families and the tracing of their lineages and history. Genealogists use oral traditions, historical records, genetic analysis, and other records to obtain information about a family and to demonstrate kinship and pedigrees of its members...
relatively late in his life. He is the author of The Royal Tribes of Wales (1799).
Background
The son of Simon Yorke (1696–1767) and Dorothy Hutton (1717–1787), he was born at ErddigErddig
Erddig Hall is a National Trust property on the outskirts of Wrexham, Wales. Located south of Wrexham town centre, it was built in 1684–1687 for Joshua Edisbury, the high sheriff of Denbighshire and was designed by Thomas Webb....
, not far from Wrexham
Wrexham
Wrexham is a town in Wales. It is the administrative centre of the wider Wrexham County Borough, and the largest town in North Wales, located in the east of the region. It is situated between the Welsh mountains and the lower Dee Valley close to the border with Cheshire, England...
(Denbighshire, Wales). He was related to Philip Yorke, first earl of Hardwicke
Philip Yorke, 1st Earl of Hardwicke
Philip Yorke, 1st Earl of Hardwicke PC was an English lawyer and politician who served as Lord Chancellor. He was a close confidant of the Duke of Newcastle, Prime Minister between 1754 and 1756 and 1757 until 1762....
, who was uncle to Simon's father Simon Yorke. His mother, Dorothy, was a daughter of Matthew Hutton
Matthew Hutton
Matthew Hutton may refer to:*Matthew Hutton, Archbishop of York, 17th century Archbishop of York*Matthew Hutton, Archbishop of Canterbury, 18th century Archbishop of both York and later Canterbury...
of Newnham, Hertfordshire.
After receiving his basic education in Wanstead
Wanstead
Wanstead is a suburban area in the London Borough of Redbridge, North-East London. The main road going through Wanstead is the A12. The name is from the Anglo-Saxon words wænn and stede, meaning "settlement on a small hill"....
and Hackney
London Borough of Hackney
The London Borough of Hackney is a London borough of North/North East London, and forms part of inner London. The local authority is Hackney London Borough Council....
, he went to Eton College
Eton College
Eton College, often referred to simply as Eton, is a British independent school for boys aged 13 to 18. It was founded in 1440 by King Henry VI as "The King's College of Our Lady of Eton besides Wyndsor"....
and subsequently in 1762 to Benet College, Cambridge
Corpus Christi College, Cambridge
Corpus Christi College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge. It is notable as the only college founded by Cambridge townspeople: it was established in 1352 by the Guilds of Corpus Christi and the Blessed Virgin Mary...
, where he was awarded an MA degree in 1765. He proceeded to Lincoln’s Inn in 1762 and was ‘called to the bar’ in 1767. He took great delight in classical literature and became a fellow of the Society of Antiquaries
Society of Antiquaries of London
The Society of Antiquaries of London is a learned society "charged by its Royal Charter of 1751 with 'the encouragement, advancement and furtherance of the study and knowledge of the antiquities and history of this and other countries'." It is based at Burlington House, Piccadilly, London , and is...
in 1768.
Marriages and career
In 1770, Philip married his first wife Elizabeth, daughter of Sir John CustSir John Cust, 3rd Baronet
Sir John Cust, 3rd Baronet PC was a British politician. He served as Speaker of the House of Commons from 1761 to 1770....
, and he had 2 daughters and 5 sons with her. Through his wife's aid he became a member of parliament and served in this capacity for the borough of Helston
Helston (UK Parliament constituency)
Helston, sometimes known as Helleston, was a parliamentary borough centred on the small town of Helston in Cornwall.Using the bloc vote system of election, it returned two Members of Parliament to the House of Commons of England until 1707, then to House of Commons of Great Britain until 1800, and...
, Cornwall
Cornwall
Cornwall is a unitary authority and ceremonial county of England, within the United Kingdom. It is bordered to the north and west by the Celtic Sea, to the south by the English Channel, and to the east by the county of Devon, over the River Tamar. Cornwall has a population of , and covers an area of...
, until 1781. Elizabeth died two years previously (1779).
In 1782, Philip married his second wife, the Welsh widow Diana (d. 1805), who was a daughter of Piers Wynne of Dyffryn Aled. They had 2 daughters and 4 sons. Yorke later obtained a seat in parliament for Grantham
Grantham (UK Parliament constituency)
Grantham was a Parliamentary constituency in Lincolnshire, England.The constituency was created in 1468 as a parliamentary borough which elected two Members of Parliament to the House of Commons of the Parliament of England until the union with Scotland, and then to the Parliament of Great Britain...
but after a year relinquished it to his eldest son Simon (1792-3).
The marriage sparked in him a growing interest for Welsh history and genealogy, a subject for which he formerly cared very little. He began to take a keen interest in the ancestors of his wife, a descendant of Marchudd ap Cynan, lord of Uwch Dulas and said that he had come to "think the race of Cadwallon more glorious than the breed of Gimcrack", as he wrote in his Tracts of Powys. This was his first book on Welsh history and genealogy, which was published in 1795. He is known above all for writing a considerably longer work, The Royal Tribes of Wales, published in 1799 (see below).
Yorke died in 1804, followed by his wife Diana in 1805. His public performances in high-level politics are said to have been rather restrained and according to C. J. Apperley
Charles James Apperley
Charles James Apperley , English sportsman and sporting writer, better known as Nimrod, the pseudonym under which he published his works on the chase and on the turf, was born at Plasgronow, near Wrexham, in Denbighshire, North Wales in 1777.- Youth :Charles James Apperley was the second son of...
, he was "one of the worst-dressed men in the country" as well as an incompetent horseman. He was nevertheless a noted conversationalist and storyteller and achieved a measure of fame for his performances as an amateur actor at the Wynnstay Theatre.
Death and burial
A memorial inscription to him in the Church of St. Deiniol and St. Marcella in Marchwiel, Denbighshire, Wales, states:In memory
of PHILIP YORKE of Erthig, Efqre.
whofe integrity of heart,
fuavity of manners,
and intellectual endowments,
whilft they endeared him to fociety,
were to his own breaft a perpetual fource
of peace, complacency, and fatisfaction.
He died on the 19th of February, 1804,
in the 61st year of his age.
Go gentle Spirit, and from Heav'n receive
That high reward which Heav'n alone can give!
With confciousnefs of years well-Spent depart,
Waiting His mercy ... can Search the heart.
Works
His first genealogical book, the Tracts of Powys, was published in 1795, with 70 copies in print. Dedicated to Thomas Pennant of Downing, it was based on a limited range of printed sources as well as on correspondences with scholars such as Walter Davies. The work details the history of the descendants of Bleddyn ap CynfynBleddyn ap Cynfyn
Bleddyn ap Cynfyn was a Prince of the Welsh Kingdoms of Gwynedd and of Powys.- Lineage :Bleddyn was the son of Princess Angharad ferch Maredudd with her second husband Cynfyn ap Gwerstan, a Powys Lord, about whom little is now known...
, offers a stern critique against Polydore Virgil’s negative appraisal of the early Britons and devotes some space to the crown lordships of Powys. The appendix includes letters by Goronwy Owen
Goronwy Owen
Goronwy Owen was a Welsh Liberal politician and businessman.-Education, war & business:Owen was born at Penllwyn, Aberystwyth. He was educated at Ardwyn Grammar School and the University College of Wales, Aberystwyth where he gained an MA degree...
and Lewis Morris
Lewis Morris
Lewis Morris was an American landowner and developer from Morrisania, New York. He signed the U.S. Declaration of Independence as a delegate to the Continental Congress for New York....
.
The Tracts of Powys formed the basis for a considerably larger and much better known work, his The Royal Tribes of Wales, which was published in 1799. It was written with some help from Walter Davies and set out to give an account of the so-called 'Five Royal Tribes of Wales' and the noble pedigrees which sprang from them. Yorke was initially sympathetic to the origin myth of the Welsh people, including the traditions which traced its descent from Trojan forebears, but later rejected such theories.
Yorke also worked on a history of 'the Fifteen Common Tribes of Wales', but never lived to complete it.