Person:Francis Blomefield (1)

Rector of Fersfield, the Norfolk Historian. Died 16 Jan. 1752. M.I. Fersfield. (Arms: Blomefield impaling Womack.) (Campling)

1724 - Caius College, Cambridge. (Norfolk Archaeology Vol 38, p62)

1727 - Ordained deacon at St Giles in the Fields, London, on 16 March 1727, and appointed as Curate to Mr BALDWIN, rector of Quidenham. (NRS Vol XXII - Notes on Blomefield MSS)

1727, 24 March - Preached first sermon at St Jame's Chapel Stetham (Isle of Ely), in the morning, and at Thetford Chapel (belonging to Stetham) in the afternoon. (NRS Vol XXII - Notes on Blomefield MSS)

1729 - Ordained priest on 27 July 1729 at the Palace Chapel, Norwich. Instituted to the Rectory of Hargham on 29 July, presented by Thomas HARE, Lord of the Manor. (NRS Vol XXII - Notes on Blomefield MSS + photocopy memorandum in register)

1729 - Instituted to the Rectory of Fersfield on 13 September 1729, presented by Henry BLOMEFIELD, gent. (NRS Vol XXII - Notes on Blomefield MSS)

1729-30 - Resigned the living at Hargham on 27 January 1729/30. During the six months he was there, he transcribed the parish register from 1681 from a paper book into a parchment book. He was succeeded at Hargham by John HARE, probably the son of the Lord of the Manor, certainly a relative. (NRS Vol XXII - Notes on Blomefield MSS + photocopy memorandum found in Parish register)

1731-32 - Archdeacon's transcripts for the parish of Fersfield were signed by Rev. Francis BLOMEFIELD.

1739-40 - Instituted to the Rectory of Brockdish (also known as Broadish) on 18 January 1739/40 (in addition to Fersfield). (NRS Vol XXII - Notes on Blomefield MSS)

1740-42 - Signed as Rector the Archdeacon's Transcripts for the parish of Brockdish.

1741 - Curate of Poringland. (NRS Vol XXII - Notes on Blomefield MSS)

1740s (late) - Cotton-Cremer finds evidence of BLOMEFIELD officiating in the parish of St George Tombland in Norwich. He seems to have had a house in the parish of St Giles (Norwich) in the final months of his life and took over the tiny parish of St Mary Coslany. (R S Cotton-Cremer "The Rector of Fersfield")

1751 - Died of smallpox, it being said that he always refused to be innoculated, thinking it wrong to attempt to avoid the evils sent by his Creator. Some records state that he died at Brockdish (where he was Rector in addition to Fersfield) but Rev. C L S Linnell asserts that the "more commonly held opionion" (also in the DNB) is that his death took place in London having gone there to examine deeds in the Rolls Chapel. (NRS Vol XXII - Notes on Blomefield MSS)

Biographical note about Francis BLOMEFIELD states that he died at Brockdish Rectory ".. and was buried on the Saturday evening following, on the south side of the altar in the Chancel of the Church of Fersfield, where no memorial tells us where he lies." (Norfolk Archaeology Vol xv p243)

Burial entry in ATs simply reads "Francis BLOMEFIELD Clerk Jan 18th 1751" (i.e. 1751/2).

Francis died in debt, almost certainly on account of the cost of compiling and printing his History of Norfolk which was incomplete at his death. However, Cotton-Cremer in his biographical account of "The Rector of Fersfield" refutes suggestions elsewhere that Francis BLOMEFIELD neglected his parish during his latter years. The fact that he still kept meticulous registers and accounts is cited as evidence for this.

NOTE: further biographical info in the "Rector of Fersfield" article.

Websites with some information about Francis BLOMEFIELD and his writings:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Francis_Blomefield

http://www.1911encyclopedia.org/Francis_Blomefield

http://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Page:Dictionary_of_National_Biography_volume_05.djvu/234

http://www.british-history.ac.uk/catalogue.aspx?gid=139

http://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Author:Francis_Blomefield