Arthur Blomfield (1826 - 1896)

Born 21 Dec 1826 in Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, England, United Kingdom

Ancestors

Husband of Sophia St Mart (Wilson) Blomfield — married 10 Aug 1854 in Orsett, Essex, England, United Kingdom

Descendants

Died 12 Sep 1896 at age 69 in Beverston, Gloucestershire, England, United Kingdom

Problems/Questions Profile managers: Shirley Blomfield [send private message], Gail James [send private message], and K Anonymous [send private message]

Biography

Arthur Blomfield was born in Suffolk, England.

Reverend Arthur Blomfield was born on 21 Dec 1826 in Bury St Edmund's, Suffolk, England to James Blomfield and Anna Maria (Smith) Blomfield and was christened on 31 Dec 1826 also at Saint James Church in Bury St Edmund's.^[1]

Occupation

Church of England Reverend over his lifetime career.

1841 Census

In 1841 Arthur Blomfield (age 14) lived in Launton, Oxfordshire with his father Reverend James (47-51), mother Anna Maria (48-52), and five siblings: George John (18-22), Charles Robert (15-19), Maria Francis (13), Anne Elizebeth (11), and Harriett Jane (9), as well as a number of unrelated people (likely servants).^[2]

Early Schooling

Arthur Blomfield, fifth son of James, of Bury-St. Edmund's, matriculated at Exeter College, Oxford on 4 June 1846, aged 19 years. He completed a B.A. in 1850, and an M.A. in 1864.^[3]

Marriage

The Rev. Curate of Lacock, Wiltshire Arthur Blomfield married Sophia St Mart Wilson, eldest daughter of Colonel CB Wilson, on 10 Aug 1854. The marriage was registered in Orsett, Essex in the third quarter of the year.^[4] A marriage notice was published in the Norfolk Chronicle on 19 Aug 1854.^[5]

His wife Sophia St Mart Blomfield (born Willson or Wilson) was born on 5 Apr 1829, to Colonel CB (George Davis) Wilson (Willson) and Eliza Frances Wilson .(Willson)^[6]

Children of the Marriage

Arthur and Sophia had thirteen children:

1. Arthur George Blomfield (1855-1898),
2. Charles Edward Blomfield (1856-1916),
3. Marian Blomfield (1858-1952),
4. Amy Blomfield (1859-),
5. Clara (Blomfield) MacDonald (1860-1940),
6. Sophie St.Mart Blomfield (1861-1886),
7. Helen Blomfield (1862-1943),
8. Cyril Blomfield (1864-1941),
9. Alice Blomfield (1866-1938),
10. Constance Blomfield (1867-1939),
11. Grace Gladstone Blomfield (1868-1868),
12. Mabel Blomfield (1870-1874),
13. Florence Blomfield (1871-1871).

1861 Census In 1861 Arthur Blomfield (age 34, Curate of Lacock) lived at West Street in Lacock, Wiltshire with his wife Sophia St Mart (32) and five children: Arthur G (5), Charles E (4), Marian (3), Anny (1), and Clara (0), as well as two servants: Emma Selmon (17, Cook) and Sarah Alexander (13, Nurse Girl).^[7]

1871 Census

In 1871 Rev Arthur Blomfield (age 44, Rector) lived in Barton, Bedfordshire with his wife Sophia St Mart (42) and seven daughters: Marian (13, Scholar), Amy (11, Scholar), Clara (10, Scholar), Alice (5, Scholar), Constance (3, Scholar), Mabel (1), and Florence (0), as well as two servants: Ellen Sophia Maize (23, Cook) and Mary Elizath Woodcraft (18, Nursemaid).^[8] Arthur's three sons - Arthur G (15), Chas Edwd (14), and Cyril (6) - were at school in Tetbury, Gloucestershire; his other two daughters - Sophie St Mart (9) and Helen (8) - were living with Arthur's father in Orsett.

In the 1871 census Sophia (age 42), Rector's Wife, was the wife of Arthur Blomfield in Barton-le-Clay, Bedfordshire, England.^[9]

1881 Census

In 1881 Arthur Bloomfield (age 54, Rector of Barton Le Clay) lived in Barton in the Clay, Bedfordshire with his wife Sophia St Mark (52) and seven daughters: Marian (23), Amy (21), Clara (20), Sophia St M (19), Helen (18), Alice (15), and Constance (13), as well as visitor William Af Harrison (17, Scholar of Rtgc) and servant Anne Willson (16).^[10] Arthur's youngest son Cyril (15) was at school in Tetbury, and his older sons were employed elsewhere - Arthur George (25, House Surgeon MRCS) in Exeter, Devon, and Charles E (24, Bankers Clerk) in St George Hanover Square, London.

In the 1881 census Sophia (age 52), Rectors Wife, was the wife of Arthur Bloomfield in Barton In The Clay, Bedfordshire, England.^[11]

1891 Census

In 1891 Arthur Blomfield (age 64, Clerk in Holy Orders Rector of Beverstone) lived in Beverstone, Gloucestershire with his wife Sophie St Mart (62), daughter Amy (31), and two servants: Anna Willson (26, Cook) and Alice Walker (18, House Maid).^[12]

In the 1891 census Sophie (age 62) was the wife of Arthur Blomfield in Beverston, Gloucestershire, England.^[13]

Arthur's wife Sophia St Mart Blomfield passed away in 1895. Arthur Blomfield passed away on 12 Sep 1896, aged 69 years.

Death of Arthur

His death was registered in Tetbury in the third quarter of the year.^[14]

"BLOMFIELD the Reverend Arthur of Beverston Rectory Gloucestershire clerk died 12 September 1896 Administration London 29 October to Arthur George Blomfield M.D. Effects £2415 16s. 2d."^[15]

Sophia's death (age 66) was registered in the Jul-Aug-Sep quarter of 1895 in the Tetbury district.^[16]

Sofia died on 11 August 1895 at the age of 66 years of age and was buried in 1895 in Beverston, Cotswold District, Gloucestershire, England.^[17]

Arthur and his wife Sophia are interred at St Mary the Virgin Churchyard, Beverston, Cotswold District, Gloucestershire, England. The Church he was Rector of at the time of his death. ^[18]

Obituary, Probate and Will^[19]

Rev Arthur Blomfield was born c.1829, graduated from Exeter College, Oxford in 1850 and was ordained as a priest in 1851. He married Sophia St Mart Willson, eldest daughter of Colonel Willson CB, 4th Regiment Foot, in 1854. He was curate at Tidenham, 1851-54, Laycock, Wiltshire, 1854-64 and Tetbury, 1864-65. He became Rector of Barton-le-Cley, Bedfordshire in 1865 where he stayed until 1884 when he came to Beverstone as Rector; he died there in 1896. Mrs Blomfield died in August 1895. There were several children of the marriage including Cyril, (see note below), Marion (c.1858-1950) of Hitchin, Hertfordshire, who never married and another daughter, one-time Matron of Queen Charlotte's Maternity Hospital, London.

Provenance: Letters, Documents and Journals were given to Mr Ian Nicholson at Gloucestershire Archives by his aunt Marion née Hawkins, who had been married to Cyril Blomfield, the youngest son of Rev Blomfield. Cyril died c.1945 pre-deceasing his wife. This branch of the family settled in Australia.

HIstory of St Mary the Virgin Church, Beverston^[20]

From the website of the St Mary the Virgin Church where Arthur had his last role to place as Rector before his death, it is noted that he kicked of renovations and recitification work to the Church. This beautiful Norman Church has been added to and altered from time to time and consists of a Western Tower with a Nave and South Aisle, said to have been built by Maurice de Gaunt in 1225 when he rebuilt the Castle.

The Transeptal Chapel and the Chancel were built by Thomas Lord Berkeley in 1361 when he refortified the Castle.

By the beginning of the nineteenth century the Church had fallen into a state of disrepair and it was not until 1842, when Mr R S Holford of Westonbirt purchased the estate, that repairs were set in hand. It is probable that he used his architect Lewis Vulliamy who designed the mansion at Westonbirt and Dorchester House in Park Lane. Unfortunately much of the restoration work was carried out in poor taste - the Rood Screen was removed and the Church was seated with high and narrow pews. The walls were newly plastered and some curious old frescoes on the north side destroyed, and the old carvings which ornamented the ancient font were cut away.

It was not until 1884, when the Rev. Arthur Blomfield became rector, that improvements were started and these were carried on over the next twenty-five years by the Rev. E W Evans and the Rev. J N Bromehead. During this period the rood screen was rescued from the Rector's garden where it had been acting as a pergola. Restoration was inevitably neglected between the war years and large sums of money have had to be spent over the past 20 years.

The Parish Registers date back to 1565 and contain many interesting entries - chief amongst them being those which relate to the families of Shakespeare and Hathaway. Shakespeare undoubtedly knew Beverston and this part of the Cotswolds well, as he describes this district in Richard II.

Research Notes

Diaries, Family Geneology and notes on Family HIstory can be found at these links:

^[21] Includes comments on the weather and a very brief day to day account of his activities The journal starts on 12 June 1892, with no explanation [which suggests it may be a regular habit and that other volumes have not survived]. It ends on 15 August 1895 with a note about his wife's funeral Also includes genealogical notes concerning his wife's family [loose leaf] and printed obituaries of his wife [pasted to inside of back cover] [See also P43 IN 4/1, "The Rector's Register", 1873-1898, partly compiled by Blomfield]

^[22] The contents of this notebook Archive are:

D8379/1 Personal journal of Rev Arthur Blomfield, Rector of Beverstone 1892-1895 D8379/2 Photographs of Revd Arthur Blomfield, 1891; Cyril Blomfield at Navendena, [? Australia], and "Cyril and his dogs, Patch, Nell Rose", (c.1927) 1891-c.1927 D8379/3 Letters received by Mrs Blomfield 1880s D8379/4 Cuttings from Barton[-le-Cley] Church Magazine concerning the visit of Cyril Blomfield to the parish, November 1920, and 'Luton News', looking back at Rev Blomfield's time as Rector at Barton, April 1956 1920, 1956

^[23]

Sources

1. ↑ "England Births and Christenings, 1538-1975," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:N5BR-FVC : 11 February 2018, Arthur Blomfield, 21 Dec 1826); citing , index based upon data collected by the Genealogical Society of Utah, Salt Lake City; FHL microfilm 989,541.
2. ↑ "England and Wales Census, 1841," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M7QX-YWF : 13 December 2017), Arthur Blomfield in household of Rd James Blomfield, Launton, Oxfordshire, England; from "1841 England, Scotland and Wales census," database and images, findmypast (http://www.findmypast.com : n.d.); citing PRO HO 107, The National Archives, Kew, Surrey.
3. ↑ "Alumni Oxonienses: The Members of the University of Oxford, 1715-1886: Their Parentage, Birthplace, and Year of Birth, With a Record of Their Degrees." Being the Matriculation Register of the University, Alphabetically Arranged, Revised, and Annotated by Joseph Foster, Hon. M.A., Oxon. Volume I-Later Series. Oxford, 1891. Entry for Arthur Blomfield, Page 125 (https://archive.org/details/alumnioxoniense03oxfogoog/page/n156)
4. ↑ "England and Wales Marriage Registration Index, 1837-2005," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:2DS2-RHQ : 13 December 2014), Arthur Blomfield, 1854; from “England & Wales Marriages, 1837-2005,” database, findmypast (http://www.findmypast.com : 2012); citing 1854, quarter 3, vol. 4A, p. 104, Orsett, Essex, England, General Register Office, Southport, England.
5. ↑ "British Newspaper Archive, Family Notices," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QPCV-QDD2 : 17 July 2018), Rev, Curate of Lacock, Wiltshire Arthur Blomfield and Eldest Daughter Sophia St Mart Wilson, Norwich, Norfolk, England, United Kingdom; records extracted FamilySearch and images digitized by FindMyPast; citing Norwich, Norfolk, England, United Kingdom, 19 Aug 1854, The British Newspaper Archive, Ireland; FHL microfilm .
6. ↑ "England and Wales Marriage Registration Index, 1837-2005," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:2DS2-RHQ :
7. ↑ "England and Wales Census, 1861," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M7JT-52S : 12 December 2017), Arthur Blomfield, Lacock, Wiltshire, England; from "1861 England, Scotland and Wales census," database and images, findmypast (http://www.findmypast.com : n.d.); citing PRO RG 9, The National Archives, Kew, Surrey.
8. ↑ "England and Wales Census, 1871", database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VFFC-W1V : 11 December 2017), Arthur Blomfield, 1871.
9. ↑ 1871 Census: "England and Wales Census, 1871"
   citing The National Archives of the UK
   FamilySearch Record: VFFC-W1K (accessed 17 December 2022)
   FindMyPast Image
   Sophia St Mart Blomfield (42), wife, Rector's Wife, in household of Arthur Blomfield (44) in Barton-le-Clay, Bedfordshire, England, United Kingdom. Born in Bath, Somerset.
10. ↑ "England and Wales Census, 1881," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q27C-JKPR : 11 December 2017), Arthur Bloomfield, Barton In The Clay, Bedfordshire, England; from "1881 England, Scotland and Wales Census," database and images, findmypast (http://www.findmypast.com : n.d.); citing p. 9, Piece/Folio 1653/65, The National Archives, Kew, Surrey; FHL microfilm 101,774,497.
11. ↑ 1881 Census: "England and Wales Census, 1881"
    citing p. 9, Piece/Folio 1653/65, The National Archives, Kew, Surrey; FHL microfilm 101,774,497.
    FamilySearch Record: Q27C-JK5W (accessed 17 December 2022)
    FindMyPast Image
    Sophia St Mark Bloomfield (52), wife, Rectors Wife, in household of Arthur Bloomfield (54) in Barton In The Clay in Luton registration district in Bedfordshire, England. Born in Bath, Somerset, England.
12. ↑ "England and Wales Census, 1891," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:W1XH-KW2 : 11 December 2017), Arthur Blomfield, Beverstone, Gloucestershire, England; from "1891 England, Scotland and Wales census," database and images, findmypast (http://www.findmypast.com : n.d.); citing PRO RG 12, Gloucestershire county, subdistrict, The National Archives of the UK, Kew, Surrey.
13. ↑ 1891 Census: "England and Wales Census, 1891"
    citing PRO RG 12, Gloucestershire county, subdistrict, The National Archives of the UK, Kew, Surrey.
    FamilySearch Record: W1XH-1ZM (accessed 17 December 2022)
    FindMyPast Image
    Sophie St Mart Blomfield (62), wife, in household of Arthur Blomfield (64) in Beverston in Tetbury registration district in Gloucestershire, England. Born in Somersetshire, England.
14. ↑ "England and Wales Death Registration Index 1837-2007," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:2J16-L55 : 31 December 2014), Arthur Blomfield, 1896; from "England & Wales Deaths, 1837-2006," database, findmypast (http://www.findmypast.com : 2012); citing Death, Tetbury, Gloucestershire, England, General Register Office, Southport, England.
15. ↑ "UK Wills & Probate, 1858-1996" (https://probatesearch.service.gov.uk/#wills) Blomfield, 1896.
16. ↑ Death Registration: "England and Wales Death Registration Index 1837-2007"
    citing Death, Tetbury, Gloucestershire, England, General Register Office, Southport, England.
    FamilySearch Record: 2JG1-N55 (accessed 17 December 2022)
    Sophia St Mart Blomfield death registered Jul-Aug-Sep 1895 in Tetbury (age 66).
17. ↑ Burial: "Find A Grave Index"
    citing record ID , Find a Grave, http://www.findagrave.com.
    FamilySearch Record: QVGJ-XQPZ (accessed 17 December 2022)
    Find A Grave: Memorial #128106085
    Sofia St Mart Willson Blomfield burial (died on 11 Aug 1895) in 1895 in Beverston, Cotswold District, Gloucestershire, England.
18. ↑ https://www.beverstonparishcouncil.org.uk/st-marys-church
19. ↑ "Gloucestershire Archives"; Accessed 17 Dec 2022[1]
20. ↑ [2];Accessed 17 Dec 2022
21. ↑ "Personal journal of Rev Arthur Blomfield, Rector of Beverstone, 1892-1895"; [3]: Accessed 17 Dec 2022
22. ↑ "Notebook kept by Rev Arthur Blomfield, rector, 1892-1895; photographs 1891, c.1927; correspondence 1880s; newscuttings 1920, 1956"; [4]:Accessed 17 Dec 2022
23. ↑ "Photograph of Arthur Rural Dean of Dursley, by Villiers and Luich of 42 Park Street, Bristol";[5]:Accessed 17 Dec 2022