Identity area
Reference code
Title
Date(s)
- 1st of October 1845 (Creation)
Level of description
Item
Extent and medium
2 items, paper
Context area
Name of creator
Biographical history
Name of creator
Biographical history
Master of Jesus College, 1820-1849.
William French was the son of Thomas French, a wealthy yeoman at Eye in Suffolk. He was educated at Ipswich Grammar School. In 1807 he entered Gonville and Caius College and was second wrangler and Smith's prizeman. He graduated BA in 1811 and MA in 1814. In 1811 he was elected as a Fellow and Tutor at Pembroke College. He became a University Proctor in 1816.
In 1821 he married Elizabeth Maria, daughter of John Wythe of Eye, and was made DD by Royal Mandate, and served in the office of Vice-Chancellor. He held this position again in 1834, when he also acted as one of the syndics appointed to superintend the building of the Fitzwilliam Museum.
In 1827 he was presented by the Lord Chancellor to the living of Moor Monkton, Yorkshire. In 1832 he became a canon of Ely Cathedral.
He died in the lodge at Jesus College on 12 November 1849.
Archival history
Immediate source of acquisition or transfer
Content and structure area
Scope and content
Letter from R. Merry, of Guilden Morden, Royston, to the Master of Jesus College, regarding permission to buy a property with money from the Froby Fund. Dated October 1st 1845.
I certainly took this living with the intention of building a parsonage; but on counting this cost of building, laying out the ground, making a road, fitting up, furnishing it I find I should quite impoverish myself for life by the undertaking. I therefore proposed to my landlord Mr. Smyth Fedworth to take my present house on a lease of 7 or 14 years on condition that he could make certain alterations such as building a drawing room but on my applying to the Bishop (at Mr Smythe’s suggestion) for his sanction to this flaw, his lordship refers me to the Plurality Act of 1838 (which I before knew nothing of) he considers himself bound to refuse me to build – this notwithstanding my [?] that if only this house might be [illegible] for the Vicarage, in about 60 years or lest (as I calculated) the Froby Fund would yield 500 towards building. All that I have now to obtain is a license to live in my present residence to Dec. 31 1846 “if being intended in pursuance of the provisions of the Plurality Act that I should build a new House or make the present one fit for residence or reside therein.” Being thus it [illegible] forced to provide a Vicarage I have turned my thoughts towards the purchasing of my present house & converting it into a permanent & convenient residence by such repairs as it well admits of I think. Mr Smythe bought this house with a barn stables & an adjoining yard of 13./2 acres of the best land of this parish for £1575 (as he himself has told me). The land, he tells me, lets for £43, two cottages on it let for £7, the barn is rented by my tenant for £10, I pay £25 for the house & the malting premises in my yard let for something more, £5 I dare say. Now all this he has offered me to sell for 2000 [underlined] (which I certainly consider very little money as he paid £80, he says, for making out the title). Dr. Webb told me a short time ago that the land alone (I understand him) would have been worth 1700 to the College, from its value and favourable situation, as it adjoins the Vicarage paddock. Now I suppose you consider the Froby Fund could not be employed to uby this house. But my proposal is this, that 1670 should come and of the Froby Fund to purchase the land with the two cottages (which certainly come under the item “tenements” of the Froby act) the rental of which is £50, & that the remaining 330 to buy this house, garden, premises, & barn should come out of the living. The land is well worth the rent, indeed Dr. Webb told me he had understood some of it was worth £5 an acre. I have calculated the fee of 3 percent for the Froby money, according to what I understand from Ian [?]. The land would be most valuable to the Vicar, besides its intrinsic worth, from its situation, and if I buy the barn out of the living, the amount wanted for this living is 106 a year
Add Mr Graham’s 48
And then there will be more than enough for the [?] next Xmas at 3 percent. I confess I am extremely anxious that the purchases that he made & as seen as affordable for Mr. Smythe being a monied man know fitting more than 5 percent for his money might not he dispound [?] to sell it at another time besides that he is in a bad state of health this heir in the event of his death might choose never to part with so good a purchase.
To prevent delay, if the College would permit me to buy the land as I have prepared for 1670 at 3 percent out of the Froby Fund, when it can be done, I would borrow the 2000 of my mother (who has offered it me) & make the purchase myself at once (if you thought it proper [all underlined]) in order to secure this bargain [all underlined], on condition that the College would afterwards buy the land of me for this living.
I am very anxious for an immediate settlement of the bargain (if possible) for this reason also, that the house wants general repairs to make if comfortable for the winter who cannot be done under this uncertainty.
I trust your health is now completely restored.
I remain, my dear Master, your’s [sic] truly,
[Signed] R. Merry
An added note thanks Mr. French & Family.