Thomas Dunham Whitaker
Encyclopedia
Thomas Dunham Whitaker was an English clergyman and topographer.
, by his wife Lucy, daughter of Robert Dunham, and widow of Ambrose Allen. In 1760 his father moved to his ancestral house at Holme, in the township of Cliviger
, Lancashire
, and the boy was in November 1766 placed under the care of the Rev. John Shaw of Rochdale
. In November 1774, after spending a short time with the Rev. William Sheepshanks of Grassington
in Craven
, he was admitted to St John's College, Cambridge
, and went into residence in October 1775. He took the degree of LL.B. in November 1781. His intention to enter the legal profession changed on the death of his father in the following year, when he settled at Holme.
He was ordained in 1785, but remained without pastoral charge until 1797, when he was licensed to the perpetual curacy of Holme, where he had rebuilt chapel at his own cost in 1788. He completed his degree of LL.D. in 1801. In 1809 he became vicar of the extensive parish of Whalley
, Lancashire. The rectory of Heysham
, near Lancaster
, was presented to him in January 1813. He resigned it in 1819. On 7 November 1818 he became vicar of Blackburn, a benefice he retained, together with Whalley, until his death.
When settled at Holme he instituted a local literary club. He had influence with the people of his parishes, and on several occasions exerted it to quell disturbances, particularly at Blackburn in 1817. For his 'patriotic services' he was presented with a public testimonial in April 1821.
He died at Blackburn vicarage on 18 December 1821, and was interred at Holme. He married, 13 January 1783, Lucy, daughter of Thomas Thoresby of Leeds, and left several children, of whom one, Robert Nowell Whitaker, succeeded him at Whalley vicarage. A monument raised by public subscription was placed in Whalley church in 1842. His library was sold at Sotheby's in 1823, and his coins and antiquities, with the exception of his Roman altars and inscriptions, which he bequeathed to St John's College, Cambridge, were dispersed in 1824.
Whitaker re-edited Ralph Thoresby
's 'Ducatus Leodiensis' (2nd edit, with notes and additions, 1816). He also projected, but did not finish, several other works. He published ten occasional sermons and a political speech, and wrote dozens of articles in the Quarterly Review
between 1809 and 1818.
Life
Born at Rainham on 8 June 1759, he was son of William Whitaker (1730–1782), curate of Rainham, NorfolkNorfolk
Norfolk is a low-lying county in the East of England. It has borders with Lincolnshire to the west, Cambridgeshire to the west and southwest and Suffolk to the south. Its northern and eastern boundaries are the North Sea coast and to the north-west the county is bordered by The Wash. The county...
, by his wife Lucy, daughter of Robert Dunham, and widow of Ambrose Allen. In 1760 his father moved to his ancestral house at Holme, in the township of Cliviger
Cliviger
Cliviger is a civil parish within the Borough of Burnley, in Lancashire, England. It is situated to the southeast of Burnley, and northwest of Todmorden and has a population of 2,350...
, Lancashire
Lancashire
Lancashire is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in the North West of England. It takes its name from the city of Lancaster, and is sometimes known as the County of Lancaster. Although Lancaster is still considered to be the county town, Lancashire County Council is based in Preston...
, and the boy was in November 1766 placed under the care of the Rev. John Shaw of Rochdale
Rochdale
Rochdale is a large market town in Greater Manchester, England. It lies amongst the foothills of the Pennines on the River Roch, north-northwest of Oldham, and north-northeast of the city of Manchester. Rochdale is surrounded by several smaller settlements which together form the Metropolitan...
. In November 1774, after spending a short time with the Rev. William Sheepshanks of Grassington
Grassington
Grassington is a market town and civil parish in the Craven district of North Yorkshire, England.The town is situated in Wharfedale around from Bolton Abbey and is surrounded by limestone scenery...
in Craven
Craven
Craven is a local government district in North Yorkshire, England that came into being in 1974, centred on the market town of Skipton. In the changes to British local government of that year this district was formed as the merger of Skipton urban district, Settle Rural District and most of Skipton...
, he was admitted to St John's College, Cambridge
St John's College, Cambridge
St John's College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge. The college's alumni include nine Nobel Prize winners, six Prime Ministers, three archbishops, at least two princes, and three Saints....
, and went into residence in October 1775. He took the degree of LL.B. in November 1781. His intention to enter the legal profession changed on the death of his father in the following year, when he settled at Holme.
He was ordained in 1785, but remained without pastoral charge until 1797, when he was licensed to the perpetual curacy of Holme, where he had rebuilt chapel at his own cost in 1788. He completed his degree of LL.D. in 1801. In 1809 he became vicar of the extensive parish of Whalley
Whalley
Whalley is a large village in the Ribble Valley on the banks of the River Calder in Lancashire, England. It is overlooked by Whalley Nab, a large picturesque wooded hill over the river from the village....
, Lancashire. The rectory of Heysham
Heysham
Heysham is a large coastal village near Lancaster in the county of Lancashire, England. Overlooking Morecambe Bay, it is a ferry port with services to the Isle of Man and Ireland. Heysham is the site of two nuclear power stations which are landmarks visible from hills in the surrounding area...
, near Lancaster
Lancaster, Lancashire
Lancaster is the county town of Lancashire, England. It is situated on the River Lune and has a population of 45,952. Lancaster is a constituent settlement of the wider City of Lancaster, local government district which has a population of 133,914 and encompasses several outlying towns, including...
, was presented to him in January 1813. He resigned it in 1819. On 7 November 1818 he became vicar of Blackburn, a benefice he retained, together with Whalley, until his death.
When settled at Holme he instituted a local literary club. He had influence with the people of his parishes, and on several occasions exerted it to quell disturbances, particularly at Blackburn in 1817. For his 'patriotic services' he was presented with a public testimonial in April 1821.
He died at Blackburn vicarage on 18 December 1821, and was interred at Holme. He married, 13 January 1783, Lucy, daughter of Thomas Thoresby of Leeds, and left several children, of whom one, Robert Nowell Whitaker, succeeded him at Whalley vicarage. A monument raised by public subscription was placed in Whalley church in 1842. His library was sold at Sotheby's in 1823, and his coins and antiquities, with the exception of his Roman altars and inscriptions, which he bequeathed to St John's College, Cambridge, were dispersed in 1824.
Works
His works were:- 'History of the Original Parish of Whalley and Honour of Clitheroe, in the Counties of Lancaster and York,' 1801; 2nd edit. 1806, 3rd edit. 1818; 4th edit, (enlarged by John Gough Nichols and Ponsonby A. Lyons), 1872-6, 2 vols. This work used manuscripts of Thomas Lister ParkerThomas Lister Parker-Life:Born at Browsholme Hall, Yorkshire , England on 27 September 1779, he was the eldest of the eight sons of John Parker of Browsholme, by his wife Beatrix, daughter of Thomas Lister of Gisburne Park, Yorkshire. He was educated at the Clitheroe Royal Grammar School under the mastership of the Rev...
. - 'History and Antiquities of the Deanery of Craven,' 1805, 2nd edit. 1812; 3rd edit, (by Alfred William Morant) 1878.
- 'De Motu per Britanniam Civico annis 1745 et 1746,' 1809, an account in Latin based on John HomeJohn HomeJohn Home was a Scottish poet and dramatist.-Biography:He was born at Leith, near Edinburgh, where his father, Alexander Home, a distant relation of the earls of Home, was town clerk. John was educated at the Leith Grammar School, and at the University of Edinburgh, where he graduated MA, in 1742...
's 'History of the Rebellion of 1745.' - 'Life and Original Correspondence of Sir George Radcliffe, Knt., LL.D., the Friend of the Earl of Strafford,' 1810. Concerns George RadcliffeGeorge Radcliffe (politician)Sir George Radcliffe was an English politician.Born the son of Nicholas Radcliffe of Overthorpe, West Yorkshire, Radcliffe was educated at Oldham and at University College, Oxford...
. - 'The Sermons of Dr. Edwin Sandys, formerly Archbishop of York, with a Life of the Author,' 1812.
- 'Visio Will'i de Petro Plouhman ... or the Vision of William concerning Piers Plouhman,' 1813.
- 'Pierce the Ploughman's Crede, edited from the edition of 1553,' 1814.
- 'Loidis and Elmete, or an Attempt to illustrate . . . the Lower Portions of Airedale and Wharfdale,' 1816. An appendix was published in 1821.
- 'The History of Richmondshire, in the North Riding of Yorkshire,' 1823, 2 vols. It has thirty-two plates, after J. M. W. TurnerJ. M. W. TurnerJoseph Mallord William Turner RA was an English Romantic landscape painter, watercolourist and printmaker. Turner was considered a controversial figure in his day, but is now regarded as the artist who elevated landscape painting to an eminence rivalling history painting...
.
Whitaker re-edited Ralph Thoresby
Ralph Thoresby
Ralph Thoresby , born in Leeds and is widely credited with being the first historian of that city. He was besides a merchant, non-conformist, fellow of the Royal Society, diarist, author, common-councilman in the Corporation of Leeds, and museum keeper.-Upbringing:Ralph Thoresby was the son of John...
's 'Ducatus Leodiensis' (2nd edit, with notes and additions, 1816). He also projected, but did not finish, several other works. He published ten occasional sermons and a political speech, and wrote dozens of articles in the Quarterly Review
Quarterly Review
The Quarterly Review was a literary and political periodical founded in March 1809 by the well known London publishing house John Murray. It ceased publication in 1967.-Early years:...
between 1809 and 1818.