Page:Notes and Queries - Series 10 - Volume 8.djvu/465

 10 s. VIIL NOV. 16, 1907.] NOTES AND QUERIES.

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settled at Leicester, seven miles from Wistow, in 1736, and ended his days there. And Dr. Johnson's wife, Elizabeth Jervis, came from Great Peatling, barely four miles from Wistow. But it is quite possible that Andrew Johnson, a freeholder at Wistow, was no relation, though Andrew Johnsons are not, I think, often met with in con- temporary records. Coincidences are dan- gerous if fascinating guides ; and I claim no significance for the curious fact that Sir Richard Halford's brother, Sir William Halford, whom he succeeded as fifth baronet in 1695, had married Judith, daughter of Thomas Boothby, of Tooley Park, Leicester- shire, and sister of Thomas Boothby, of Tooley Park, the celebrated sportsman, whose second wife, Esther, was sister to that Charles Skrymsher whom Dr. Johnson claimed as " very nearly related " to him, and niece, in all probability, to Andrew Johnson.

Of William Priest, the young Birmingham attorney, who did his best to save Andrew Johnson from the ignominy of imprison- ment for debt, as is evidenced by the corre- spondence I printed (pp. 219-20) between him and Thomas Shepperd, of Bridgnorth, I gave some particulars. Priest also acted for the Doctor's uncle, Samuel Ford, and was familiar with the affairs of the notorious " Parson " Ford. His close relations with the Doctor's kinsfolk invest his figure with some interest, and I am much obliged to Mr. W. B. Bickley, of Birmingham, who possesses an extensive knowledge of local genealogy, for the following short sketch of his career :

" William Priest of Birmingham, attorney-at-law, was the only son of William Priest, a member of the Priest family of Fillongley, co. Warwick, and Susannah his wife, daughter of Charles Shuttle- worth of Blaburs Hall, near Maxstoke, co. War- wick, who were married in 1696 (licence issued for marriage at Fillongley or ' Whitacre Inferior '). This William Priest died 20 April, 1697, so it is a question whether he ever saw his son, who was born in that year. The widow returned to her paternal home and resided with her widowed mother. From here the boy was sent to Coleshill to school, and later, in 1707, to the school of a Mr. Packwood, of Burton-on-Trent ; in 1712 he was at Coventry School. In 1713 William Priest entered the office of a Mr. Hare, an attorney in Birming- ham ; he resided at the house of his mother's sister, Margery, wife of one John Sherrard, a cutler in Moor Street.* As early as 1718 Mr. Priest was

Tobias Bellaers. Her sister Mrs. Priest, in her will in 1742 (see my book, p. 219), mentions her sister, Mrs. Margery Bellaers, and her brother-in law, Tobias Bellaers of Birmingham, ironmonger
 * After John Sherrard's death his widow married

addressed as an ' attorney-at-law ' ; and in or about November, 1719, he married. The old papersf do not disclose the lady's name ; but there is some eason for supposing she was the sister of Mrs. Scott, wife of Joseph Scott of Birmingham, linen- draper. Mr. Priest became tenant of a house in ?ark Street, Birmingham, where he carried on his msiness till late in life. On 28 Aug., 1720, a son, William Shuttleworth Priest, was born. In or about March, 1721/2, Mr. Priest lost his wife, upon which his good mother kindly came and kept house "or him, and took charge of his only child. This ady died 29 May, 1742, aged 66, and was buried at rillongley. William Priest died 19 Feb., 1771, aged '4, and was also buried at Fillongley. The son, William Shuttleworth Freest (as he called himself), practised as an attorney at Coventry for a time : he narried Mary Byker, and had three children bap- iized at Trinity Church there, but as far as can be survived him. He died 18 Aug., 1797, aged 77, and was buried at Fillongley."
 * athered from the wording of his will, none of them

Mr. Bickley tells me that among Priest's Dapers are a great many private letters iddressed to Mrs. Priest, sen., and to her mother, Mrs. Shuttleworth, at dates be- fore William had started his legal career. " Among other crops grown at Blaburs Hall," says Mr. Bickley,

"was one of roses! these were gathered before being full blown, dried, and sent to London for making perfume. Mrs. Priest's sisters and others were invited to assist with this delightful crop."

Joseph Scott it was to whom " Parson " Ford mortgaged his estate at Moseley in 1722 for 300Z., and whose receipt, dated 1724, for that amount with interest, received from the " Parson " " by the hands of my brother-in-law William Priest," I printed in my book (p. 162). He was the fourth son of William Scott, of Great Barr, by Mary his wife, daughter of Richard Scott ; accord- ing to the pedigree in Shaw's ' Stafford- shire ' (vol. ii. p. 107*) he was baptized 11 Feb., 1686, and died without issue as late as 1781, His brother, John Scott, was father of William Scott, whose son Joseph was created a baronet in 1806. This Joseph Scott, in the settlement on his marriage in 1777, is described, Mr. Bickley tells me, as " nephew " of Joseph Scott the elder, of Birmingham, linendraper, who is " very kindly settling a great estate upon him."

With regard to Thomas Shepperd's wife Eleanor, who seemed even less anxious than her husband to remain Andrew Johnson's

Mrs. Priest leaves a ring to " Dr. Higgs," who I suggested was William Higgs, first rector of St. Philip's, Birmingham ; but Mr. Bickley tells me that in 1750 William Priest transacted some busi- ness for one Joseph Higgs, of Birmingham, surgeon.

f Mr. Bickley possesses a large and interesting collection of William Priest's papers.