Somerset.

"dividing certain numbers, or writing by an instrument, the rationale GEORGE II. "of both which they are totally ignorant of." He died at his apartments Heralds. in the College of Arms, his usual residence, May 11, 1759, aged seventyeight, and was buried on the 17th in the south aisle of St. Bennet's Church, Paul's Wharf. A peculiar circumstance attended his funeral. Having a great abhorrence to the idea of worms crawling upon him when dead, he ordered that his body should be inclosed in two coffins, one of lead, the other oak: the first he directed should be filled with green broom, hather, or ling. In compliance with his desire a quantity, brought from Epping Forest, was stuffed extremely close round his body. This fermenting, burst the coffin, and retarded the funeral, until part of it was taken out. There is a mezzotinto portrait of him by Miller, from a painting of Vandergutcht, inscribed, John Warburton, Esq. Somerset “herald at arms, Fellow of the Royal Society, and of the Antiquarian Society of London, 1746," with a long account of his being the author of various maps. He published maps by actual survey of the counties of Middlesex, Essex, Herts, York, and Northumberland, giving the arms of many hundred families. He also published "London and Middlesex "illustrated," London, 1749, 8vo. justifying the arms annexed to the map of Middlesex. "Vallum Romanorum," London, 1753, 4to. with cuts. These, with some prints, were the whole of what he published. His MS. collections were very great. In the sketch of the materials for a history of Cheshire by a F. A. S., in a letter to Thomas Falconer, Esq. of the city of Chester, speaking of him, says, "whose indefatigable labors "have so greatly contributed to the ornament and illustration of almost every county in the kingdom. His method was, perhaps, singularly "sensible-to glean up every thing, either in print or manuscript, which "had the most distant relation to that particular county he had intended "to elucidate. These scattered fragments, like the Sibyls' leaves, he bound up into volumes, suitable to the size of the papers he had collected, "either folio, quarto, or octavo. His Essex gleanings are now in my possession, through the communicative kindness of John Leake, Esq. "Chester herald, and though I have not the Cheshire collections, yet "the Essex papers give me a sufficient insight into the nature of those materials, of which I have the absolute and obliging promise." For Cheshire only he had five volumes. The manuscripts are particuralized

66

as

GEORGE II.

as comprizing "A Calendar of the Manors in Cheshire, with the several Heralds, fees the lords of the said manors paid to the Earl of Chester, and the

Somerset.

names and proprietors to the year 1710, 4to. An account of the principal Families in Cheshire, with the lands they held in the said 66 county, from 33 Edw. III. to 24 Henry VII, folio. A Register of "the Black Prince, and Homage due to the Earl of Chester, with the "Names of the principal Families, Lords of Manors, Lordships, &c. from "3 Edw. III. to 29 Eliz. fol. A variety of Maps, Plans, and Prospects, "with MS. Notes, by Plot, Warburton, and others, and whatsoever is "curious in the repositories of the Heralds' Office, the Harleian Library, "and the Office of Records, relative to the County Palatine of Chester." If such was his research for the history of one county only, what must have been his collections? Surely he is deserving credit as an indefatigable antiquary at least. Grose, Richmond, says, that he was not able to write what he published, but employed others. It appears from Mr. Brooke, Somerset's notes, that Toms, who owed his rise to him, told that gentleman, that he had great natural abilities but no education. Grose observes, that " "his life was one continued scene of "squabbles and disputes with his brethren, by whom he was despised and "detested." Toms remarks, that " though his conduct was faulty, yet

he was extremely ill used, especially by the younger Anstis, who "was of a violent tyrannical disposition." The reason, he says, why he did not rise higher in the College was singular. He was so like the late King in person, that he was persuaded to present a petition to that Sovereign, soliciting the office of a provincial king, then vacant, which was so highly resented by the Earl Marshal, that, with some other things, made him lose, rather than gain ground in the College, especially as his Majesty would not interpose. Warburton was vindictive and scurrilous is undoubted. Having in his map of London and Middlesex given 500 engraved arms in the borders, the Earl Marshal supposing them fictitious, by his warrant commanded him not to take in any subscriptions for arms, nor advertise or dispose of any maps, till the right of such person respectively to such arms were first proved, to the satisfaction of one of the kings of arms. In his book of London and Middlesex illustrated, after observing the above injunction of the Earl Marshal, he subjoins," which ❝ partiality

"

Heralds.
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partiality being well known to this author, he thought it best to have GEORGE 11. "another arbitrator joined with him, and therefore made choice of the impartial public, rather than submit his performance wholly to the "determination of a person so notoriously remarkable for knowing nothing at all of the matter." After properly reprobating the idea, that trade and gentility are incompatible, as a doctrine fitted only for a despotic government, and judiciously remarking the moral impossibility there would soon be of proving descents and arms for want of visitations, he returns to attack the heads of the College, by saying, that such proofs are obstructed by the exorbitant and unjustifiable fees of three heralds, called kings at arms, who receive each £30 for every new grant. "At present," says he, "no less than two signers and sealers will serve their turn, though "hitherto one was sufficient, and his fee only £5. and some times less; "whilst poor heralds that do the work, must tamely submit to an

eleemosynary benevolence. These things done, the College of Arms "will again flourish, and the underlings will eat-viands as well as their majesties." If he thus treated the king at arms, what were the heralds and pursuivants to expect? It is only necessary to add, that in this small book he gave the names, residencies, genealogy, and coat armor of the nobility, principal merchants, and other eminent families, emblazoned in their proper colors, with references to authorities. That he was often in distress for money, and at such times had very little delicacy in relieving himself from his embarrassments, I fear is too true. Mr. Grose gives the following scandalous circumstance, as a proof of " his readiness to "catch at any opportunity that offered to impose on the unwary. Walking "one day through the streets of London, he passed by the house of "Mr. Stainbank, a rich merchant, over whose door he saw an achieve"ment, or hatchment, on which were painted three castles, somewhat "like those borne in the arms of Portugal. He went immediately home, " and wrote a short note, begging to see Mr. Stainbank on very particular "business. The gentleman came, when Mr. Warburton, with a great "deal of seeming concern, told him, the Portuguese Ambassador had "been with him, and directed him to commence a prosecution against "him, for assuming the royal arms of Portugal, and besides meant to

"exhibit

Heralds.
Somerset.

66

GEORGE II." exhibit a complaint against him in the House of Lords for a breach of privilege. Mr. Stainbank, terrified at the impending danger, begged "his advice and assistance, for which he promised to reward him handsomely. Warburton, after some consideration, said, he had hit on a "method to bring him out of a very ugly scrape, which was, that he "should purchase a coat of arms,, which he would devise for him, as like "as possible to that on the achievement, and that he would shew it to "the Ambassador, and confirm its being his legal coat of arms, and say "that the similitude complained of, was owing to the blunder of the painter. The arms were granted in due form, and paid for; when "Warburton, over and above his share of the £40, asked and obtained a particular reward for appeasing the representative of his Portugueze Majesty." Mr. Grose subjoins to this scandalous, yet laughable story, that, notwithstanding this, and many like dirty tricks, he clearly proved "the truth of that proverb, which says, Honesty is the best policy-by dying a beggar." Impartiality has compelled me to give what I found relative to a character which I admire for his love for science, and despise for his dishonesty and querelous scurrility. He married twice: one of his wives was a widow with children; for he married her son, when a minor, to one of his daughters. Amelia, another, married October 23, 1750, to captain John Elphinston, afterwards vice-admiral and commander in chief of the Russian fleet, who died very greatly respected by the late Empress, Catherine II, who created him Knight of the Order of St. George: he was deservedly honored and beloved by all who knew him. This gallant officer died in November 1789, at Cronstat, after a short illness, only thirty-one years of age; at which time he was captain of the Prince Gustaaf, and a lieutenant in his British Majesty's service. By his last wife, Somerset herald had John Warburton, Esq. who resided many years in Dublin, and was pursuivant to the Court of Exchequer in Ireland he married, in 1756, Ann-Catherine, daughter of the Rev. Edward-Rowe Mores, rector of Tunstal in Kent, and sister of EdwardRowe Mores, Esq. M. A. and F. R. and A. S., so well known for his skill in antiquity, and the large collections of choice MSS. and books he left at his death,

2

Heralds. Somerset.

death, which were sold by Mr. Paterson in 1779.* This Mr. Warburton, GEORGE II. leaving Dublin, became one of the exons belonging to his Majesty's yeomen of the guard at St. James'. Going into France since the troubles in that kingdom, he was one of the few English who fell victims to the sanguinary temper of the usurpers, being guillotined for a pretended sedition, by order of the National Convention Committee at Lyons, in December 1793. 1769.-RALPH BIGLAND, Esq.-See next reign.

RICHMOND.

Geo. 1.-CHARLES WHINYATES, Esq.
Mr. Lane resigned his tabard to his successor.

June, 1755-FRANCIS GROSE, Esq.-See next reign.

Richmond

LANCASTER.

Ann.-JOHN HESKETH, Esq.

Chiefly resided at Exeter, where he had practised as an attorney. This office was purchased for him upon his marriage with Penelope, daughter of Sir Arthur Northcote, of Pynes in Devonshire, Bart. by his second wife Elizabeth, eldest daughter of the Honorable Sir Francis Godolphin, K. B.; but he disposed of it again, in 1727, to his successor. He had a grant of arms, Ermine on a Bend, Sable, three Garbs, Or; on a sinister Chief a Rose, Gules: for a Crest, on a Wreath a Garb, Or, charged with a Rose, Gules, the Stalk and Leaves twisting round the Garb. A gentleman gave an half length portrait of him to the College, now hanging

Eee

*Mr. Warburton introduced Mr. E. R. Mores into the College of Arms," where he "resided seven years, intending at that time to have become a member of that Society, for "which he was extremely well qualified, by his great knowledge and skill in heraldic matters; "but altering his design, he retired, about 1760, to Low-Layton in Essex, where he had built ត a house upon an extensive, but singular plan."

Lancaster.