William Betham (antiquary)
Encyclopedia
William Betham was an English clergyman and antiquary, known for his work on the baronetage.
, near Morland, Westmoreland, on 17 May 1749. He was educated at the public school of Bampton
, was ordained in 1773, apparently without graduating at a university, and became chaplain to the Earl of Ancaster. From 1784 to 1833 he was head master of the endowed school at Stonham Aspel, Suffolk; he resigned the post in 1833, on being presented to the rectory of Stoke Lacy
, in the diocese of Hereford
. He died six years later, aged 90.
Betham announced a work on the baronetage of England; the first volume appeared in 1801, when it was published at Ipswich with the following title: The Baronetage of England, or the History of the English Baronets, and such Baronets of Scotland as are of English Families, with Genealogical Tables and Engravings of their Armorial Bearings. The first volume was dedicated to James Cecil, 1st Marquess of Salisbury
. The second volume, dedicated to Charles Cornwallis, 1st Marquess Cornwallis
, was published at London in 1802. The third, fourth, and fifth volumes appeared in 1803, 1804, and 1805.
, and by her he had fifteen children. His eldest surviving son was Sir William Betham, and Mary Matilda Betham
was his daughter.
Life
He was born at Little StricklandLittle Strickland
Little Strickland is a small village and civil parish in the Eden District of Cumbria, England. It is about from Penrith and from the small town of Appleby-in-Westmorland...
, near Morland, Westmoreland, on 17 May 1749. He was educated at the public school of Bampton
Bampton
- England :* Bampton, Cumbria* Bampton, Devon** Bampton railway station**Bampton * Bampton, Oxfordshire- Other :*Bampton Island, former name of Parama Island, Papua New Guinea*Bampton Reefs, Chesterfield Islands, New Caledonia- People :...
, was ordained in 1773, apparently without graduating at a university, and became chaplain to the Earl of Ancaster. From 1784 to 1833 he was head master of the endowed school at Stonham Aspel, Suffolk; he resigned the post in 1833, on being presented to the rectory of Stoke Lacy
Stoke Lacy
Stoke Lacy is a small village and civil parish in the English county of Herefordshire.Stoke Lacy lies on the main A465 road that connects Hereford and Bromyard and is from the former and from the latter.-History:...
, in the diocese of Hereford
Hereford
Hereford is a cathedral city, civil parish and county town of Herefordshire, England. It lies on the River Wye, approximately east of the border with Wales, southwest of Worcester, and northwest of Gloucester...
. He died six years later, aged 90.
Works
Betham was the author of two antiquarian works. In 1795 he published by subscription, in London, Genealogical Tables of the Sovereigns of the World, from the earliest to the present period, giving pedigrees of royal families, beginning with the ‘Antediluvian Patriarchs,’ and concluding with the ‘House of Cromwell.’ It was dedicated to George III.Betham announced a work on the baronetage of England; the first volume appeared in 1801, when it was published at Ipswich with the following title: The Baronetage of England, or the History of the English Baronets, and such Baronets of Scotland as are of English Families, with Genealogical Tables and Engravings of their Armorial Bearings. The first volume was dedicated to James Cecil, 1st Marquess of Salisbury
James Cecil, 1st Marquess of Salisbury
James Cecil, 1st Marquess of Salisbury, KG, PC , styled Viscount Cranborne until 1780 and known as 7th Earl of Salisbury between 1780 and 1789, was a British politician.-Background:...
. The second volume, dedicated to Charles Cornwallis, 1st Marquess Cornwallis
Charles Cornwallis, 1st Marquess Cornwallis
Charles Cornwallis, 1st Marquess Cornwallis KG , styled Viscount Brome between 1753 and 1762 and known as The Earl Cornwallis between 1762 and 1792, was a British Army officer and colonial administrator...
, was published at London in 1802. The third, fourth, and fifth volumes appeared in 1803, 1804, and 1805.
Family
In 1774 he married Mary, daughter of William Damont, of Eye, SuffolkEye, Suffolk
Eye is a small market town in the county of Suffolk, East Anglia, England, south of Diss, and on the River Dove.Eye is twinned with the town of Pouzauges in the Vendée Departement of France.-History:An island...
, and by her he had fifteen children. His eldest surviving son was Sir William Betham, and Mary Matilda Betham
Mary Matilda Betham
Mary Matilda Betham was an English poet, woman of letters, and miniature painter.She was the daughter of William Betham. In London, Betham gave public Shakespeare readings and exhibited her portraits at the Royal Academy. She published A Biographical Dictionary of the Celebrated Women of Every Age...
was his daughter.