Archdeacon Philip Stubbs, A.D. 1665-1738

1411'/91)/d1 h / . / - • Z - Q ) a e V 4 : ( A l • g _ • lig,NVINIM• 1 . • • • • • • • • • ,) • ( 235 ) ARCHDEACON PHILIP STUBBS. BY CANON SCOTT ROBERTSON. Oign of the first Chaplains appointed to the Royal Hospital for Seamen at Greenwich,* was a scion of the Kentish family of Stubbs. His grandfather, Richard Stubbs of Chislehurst, bad been attached to the Household o f Queen Henrietta Maria, as "Clerk of the Cheque " • and his ancestors had resided i n Chislehurst o r i n Eltham f o r centuries. H i s father, Philip Stubbs, was sent to London at an early age, and entered as an apprentice for nine years at the Vintners' Company, when about ten years of age, 6 December 1646. H e rose to be Master of the Vintners' Company between 1660 and 1665, when he was a young man aged. about twenty-four, and some say he was Master of that Company during five years. In the last of those years his son Philip was born. • Philip Stubbs, the future Archdeacon, relates in his Diary the following incidents of his early youth :— "1665 Oct. 2. I was born, within the Parish of St Andrew Unclershaft, London ; in which Parish 14 died of the Plague that week; in the City 68,596 that year; Lord! what respect Oast thou to me and my Father's House P That many should fall •in that great sickness on the right band and on the left, but no evil happen'd unto me, nor did the Plague approach o'r dwelling. L e t me thro' ye whole course of my Life make Thee my refuge even the most High, my Habitation." "My Father was Mr Philip Stubs, Vintner (son of Richard Stubs, Gent.) of Chiselhurst i n Kent, Clerk o f the Cheque to Henrietta Maria Royal Consort of K. Charles I.). M y Mother was Mr8Elizabeth. Hiller (Daughter of Mr John (sic) Hillert Upholsterer * There were two chaplains to Greenwich Hospital, although the chapel was left unfinished until the middle of the eighteenth century. There were 100 i disabled. seamen in the Hospital in December 1705, and 350 n July 1708; 450 in 1728 ; and 900 in 1731. A temporary ohapel was used until about 1750. Some of the chaplains were men of mark. Archdeacon Stubbs held office from 1/19 until 1738, when he was succeeded by the Rev. Nicholas Tindal, the translator of Rapiu's History of Ygland. Thomas Hiller's will, made on the 30th of January 16744, was proved by his widow Rebecca, on the 1st of April 1675. To his wife he left R100, and all his goods and plate. H i s "son ".[in-law] Stubbs was appointed overseer of his will, with a legacy of 410 and a gratuity as overseer of twenty shillings, both to be deferred until the death or re-marriage of Mrs. Rebecca Hiller, testator's widow. To his daughters, Mary and Sarah, he left 0 0 each; and each legacy was to be doubled if the legatee was "dutiful, obedient, and carried herself civilly." To his sons, Matthew and John Hiller, tC10 each, conditionally. 236 ARCHDEACON P H I L I P STUBBS ( 1 6 6 5 - 1 7 3 8 ) . of London and M " Rebecca Knowles of West Chester) who tho' the fruitfull Parent of nine children lived reputably with him for 17 years thro' his faithfull discharge of almost all Dutys & offices in his Parish, Ward, & Company; and died. happily in ye Faith and Practise of ye Church of England, notwithstanding the tincture that might have been given or rec'd from my Grandfather's Principles, on my Father's* side, who weakly suffr'd himself to be reconciled to v° corrupt church of Rome, or from my Grandmother's, on my Mother's side, who thro' ye iniquity of yo Times became as easy a Proselyte to a most Pernicious Separation.' " Lord ! my Progenitors have of ym made to themselves crooked Paths in which whosoever goeth shall not easily find peace." " But Thou bast shewed me the Path of Life: 0 hold Thou up my goiu.gs in those paths, that my footsteps slip not." "1677 Apr. 28. A f ter I had laid a Foundation for ye Latin Tongue at Mr Speed's Freeschool in St Mary Axe, and for ye Greek at Mr Snell's Boarding Schole in Hillingdon, 1V1idsx., where in a literal sense I became wiser yn my Teacher (an honest, good man, but no Clerk), I was transplanted to 1VIerch ant Taylors' for further in2provemt in Learning, as well as advancemt in ye Vniversity by a Fellowship of St Johns, for web- this Schole was designed as a Seminary by ye Founder of ym both, Sr Thomas White Lord Mayor of London in Q. Mary's Reign: I continued here 3 years under the Instruction of the Rev'd Mr Goad (who tho' a long while a Friend to ye Greek church, and at length in K, James's days a profess'd Romanist is sa to his Honor, to have bred up not one Scholar either Papist or Dissenter) and 2 under Mr Hastcliffe ; Iv" of a sudden upon the unhappy second mge of my Father (a Widower wth children to Mrs Marcy 'Serjeant a widow wth 3) at a juncture NO I had probably been elected to a Scholarship of St John's on the first of St Barnabas next following, I was hurried away to Oxon, and entered Comm'r at Wadham Apri1168-g- under the tuition of the Rev'd Mr Thornton, Fellow of yt House and Chaplain to the Right Rev'd Dr Sprat Lord Bishop of Rochester. 'There are many devices in a man's heart; nevertheless the Counsel of ye Lord, that shall stand.'— Prov. xix. 21." "1684r. I was elected Scholar of Wadham, with 4 more, out of 22, in, this order :—Wm Ruddle, W'n Hodges, Philip Stubs, Robert Wynne' Richard Willis (Dr Gilbert Ironsyd.e, being Warden)." At Oxford he matriculated, from Wadham College on the 23 March 1683 (New Style), being seventeen years of age. H i s * Philip Stubbs (vintner), the father of Archdeacon Stubbs, is spoken of by Anthony Wood (.ultena Oxonienses, p. 282) as a descendant of the author of The Anatomy of Abuses (London, 1583, 8v0; 1595, 4t0), and of The Theatre of the Pope's Monarchy (London, 1584), who was also named Philip Stubbs, whom A. Wood calls a rigid Calvinist. This author lived in Oheapside, London, in 1593, and had near relations named Justinian Stubbs, M.A., of Gloucester Hall, Oxon; and John Stubbs of Lincoln's Inn, gent. I t is not known, however, in what way the Archdeacon's father could have been connected with Philip Stubbs, the Elizabethan author. Certainly the Vintner was not a descendant of the Author. Katharine Stubbs, the wife of the Author, died at Burton-on-Trent on the 14th of December, 1590. 4.11,011DBACON P H I l I P STUBBS ( 1 6 6 5 - 1 7 3 8 ) . 2 3 7 abilities enabled him, as he has told -us, above, to win a Scholarship in 1681, and he took his B.A. degree on October the 20th, 1686. H e proceeded to the degree of Master of Arts on the 15th of June 1689, and obtained a Fellowship at Wadham College in 1691. I n the same year, says Wood (Athence Oxonienses, p. 1106), "he was appointed the Repetitioner of the four Baster Sermons, which he performed to the applause of all." For a time, he was curate to Mr. Henry Halsted, i n London, at St, Benet's Gracechurch with St. Leonard's, Eastcheap, W h i l e he was curate there, the Bishop (Compton) of London held a Confirmation in St. Benet's Church, on the 14th of March 1692-3, at which function the sermon was preached by Mr. Stubbs, from Heb. vi. 2. T h i s sermon was published immediately after. H e had previously preached at Guildhall Chapel, before the Lord Mayor (Sir Sohn Fleet) and the Court a Aldermen, on Sunday, Nov. 20th, 1692, a sermon On Public Baptism, which was also published. The rector of Philip Stubbs' native parish, St. Andrew Undershaft, from 1670 until 1691, was Dr. Robert Grove, who i n 1691 became Bishop of Chichester. This prelate selected Mr. Stubbs to be one of his chaplains, but his early death, in 1696, prevented his doing anything for his chaplain. The Bishop of Rochester collated Mr. Stubbs to the rectory- of Woolwich on the 16th of May 1694, but he retained that benefice only five years and a few months; nevertheless throughout his life he retained a keen interest in seamen and their welfare. W h i l e he was rector of Woolwich, Mr. Stubbs married (in 1696, when thirtyone years of age) Mary Willis, daughter of the Rev. John Willis, who had been rector of West Hormion in Essex for forty years (1656-96), and who was succeeded in that benefice by his second son Edward (brother of Mrs. Stubbs). H e r father died* at Brentwood Weald in the year in which she was married, probably before her wedding took place. This lady, who was thirty-two years of age when she married, bore him two sons, William and Charles, and. a daughter, Philippa Maria. She survived the Archdeacon for twenty-one years, during twenty of which she resided a t the Bromley College for Clergymen's Wi doSws.h e died there in 1759, at the advanced age of ninety-five, and was buried in: Bromley. Churchyard on the 5th of February 1759. H e r will was made m 1747, on the 22nd of May, and contained nothing more than the direction that her daughter Philippa Maria should inherit whatever she possessed, and be her sole executrix. When Mr. Stubbs left Woolwich he was presented by the Hon. * In his will (proved Oct. 13, 1696) Mr. Willis left his eldest son John (of King's College, Cambridge) the wedding ring of his wife (who lies buried in West Horndorr Chancel), some books, and £10 for mourning. To his daughter Mary £10 per annum for twenty years, £10 for mourning, two diamond rings that had been her mother's, and one-third part of all, his moveable goods. To his son Edward (his sole executor) certain books. To his son Benjamin am a year t i l l he was Master of Arts, then £5 more, and when he should become Bachelor of Divinity £5 more. To Ras Morgan of Kingsthorpe twenty shillings to buy one glass to his coach door. 238 ARCEIDEACON P H I L I P STUBBS ( 1 6 6 5 - 1 7 3 8 ) . Dr. Henry Compton, Bishop of London, to the rectory of St. Alphage, London Wall, to which he was instituted on the 10th of September 1699. A few months after he had become rector of St. Alphage, he caused a book-plate to be engraved with the arms, crest, and motto, described by Samuel Kent in 1716 in his book called The Grammar o f Heraldry, as borne by Mr. Stubbs.* Beneath were these words, " Philippus Stubs, A.M., Sti Alfegi, Rector. apud. Loud. 1700." H i s grandson Charles had the same arms engraved, upon his book-plate, by W. Dorling of Great Newport Street, about A.D. 1765. The Rev. Philip Stubbs, while rector of St. Alphage, was Lecturer at St. James's Church, Garlickhithe, and on the death of Dr. Forbes, rector of that parish, the Bishop of London collated Mr. Stubbs to that benefice also, on the 10th of August 1705. I n both these parishes (St. Alphage and St. James) he was instrumental in founding day schools for the children of his flock. He was active in the development of the Christian Knowledge Society in 1698-1701, and of the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts. H e was elected a member of the S. P. G. Sept. 15, 1702; and he wrote its first Report, on the last page of which (issued in 1704) was printed the following Resolution: " A t a Court held at St. Martin's Library, Feb. 4, 1703-4. Resolved that the thanks of this Society be given the Rev. Mr Stubs for the great care and pains he hath taken in preparing the New Account of the Proceedings of the Society. Resolved that this Order be printed at the foot of the said Account." The Rev. James Charles Blomfield, rector o f Launton, has supplied many of the following particulars respecting Archdeacon Stubbs, one of his predecessors in that benefice. An article "On Reading the Church Service," written by Steele, in The Spectator, No. 147, dated Saturday, Aug. 18, 1711, refers to Mr. Stubbs, and is an interesting testimony to his great credit. His 'portrait was painted by T. Murray in 1713, and i t was engraved. by John Faber in 1722. O n the engraving, the motto * "The Rev. Mr. Philip Stubs, MA., Archdeacon of St. Albans, bears: Sable, on a bend or, between three pheons argent, as many fermaulx gales. "OnEsT : A demi-eagle displaid or, holding in his bill an oak branch fructed proper. "Morro: 'Dominus Exaltatio Mew.' "—The Grammar of Heraldry. These arms are also given i n Robson's Britislt Heraldry, 1830, Berry's Encyclopedia of Heraldry, and 33urke's General Armory. When the Archdeacon's great-grandson's grandson, Mr. Henry Stubbs, S.P., applied, to the Heralds' College, in 1880, for a confirmation of these arms, the Heralds said the coat had been granted to the Stubbses of Ely; and, as he could not trace any tonnection between himself and that family, the College would grant to him a coat similar to that used by the Archdeacon (without authority, the Heralds suppose), but differenced as follows :— Grant of Arms, 29 March 1880. " Awns : Sable, on a bend between three pheons or, as many round buckles gags ; on. a chief, of the second, three stumps of trees eradicated proper. " CREST : A stump of a tree eradicated proper; thereon a demi-eagle dis-. played or, collared sable, holding in the beak an oak branch also proper." The engraved book-plate of Mr. Henry Stubbs shows these arms, as seen in our illustration. oz; - (20,Z (.9e2d4 g e " 1 7 , "tenc.ouaro:' a y . . . a c t xomoto ARCHDEACON P H I L I P STUBBS (1665-1738). 2 3 9 over the portrait is " I n minim° Hells " ; and underneath his name is." Archidiaconorum mini m us." There are some MS. letters of Mr. Stubbs in the Bodleian Library at Oxford. W e may here mention the purport of Eve of them : - 1. Dated "Sion College, Aug. 30, 1707, was addressed to Mr. Hearne, the famous antiquary, respecting a small gift of books from him to the Bodleian Library. 2. Dated " Tittin-Hangar, Herts, July 3, 1707," was addressed to Mr. Walker, the author of "The Sufferings of the Clergy," and speaks of his absence from London on a visit, and of some little help he had rendered to Mr. Walker. 3. "Mr Stubbs' Bond to the Right Bova Father in God John, Lord Bishop of London," dated 20 March 1713-4, "in behalf of John Stubb, Clerk, that the said John S. at or before the expiration of 3 months, shall depart from this kingdom, and. sail for the province of Pensilvauia, and being there arrived shall live and serve as Her Majesty's Chaplain a t Radnor i n the aforementioned province. Signed by Ph. Stubbs in the presence of Philippa Maria Stubbs and William Lane." W e cannot trace any connection between this John Stubbs and Mr. Philip Stubbs. 4. A letter to the same Dr. John Robinson, Bishop of London, dated "Royal Hospital, Greenwich, Nov. 27, 1714,' asks " f o r a Chaplaincy to the King or Prince, from which I was kept back in the late reign by a Prime Minister," etc. 5. A letter to the same Bishop, dated "R. H. G., Sept. 13, 1715," offers to go into residence i n his London living, and to leave Greenwich, in consequence of the Bishop's late charge to his clergy about non-residence. Soon after, this correspondence with the Bishop, the latter preferred him to the Archdeaconry of St. Albans, on Oct. 6, 1715, and four years later the Bishop collated him to the rectory of Lauuton in Oxfordshire. In 1719 our Rev. Philip Stubbs (rector of Garlick Hithe, London) was named in. the will of Dr. Wolfran Stubbe (Vice- Master of Trinity College, Cambridge) for the reversion of his three manors in Norfolk, in case of• failure of his own heirs, viz., after Edmund Stubbe (nephew of testator) and his heirs male, and after the Rev. John. Paris of Trinity College, Cambridge, and his heirs male, Philip would inherit. What connection, i f any, there was between Archdeacon Stubbs and Dr. Wolfran Stubbe, his descendants cannot discover. The Archdeacon went to Launton to reside, and his first entry in the parish registers is dated Dec. 20, 1719. Two traces of him exist there—(1) the careful way in which be kept the registers; and (2) a large pewter basin, intended probably to hold water in the font, on which an inscription is scratched in rude letters by some country. workman: "The gift of the ReVa Archdeacon Stubbs, Rector of this parish, April 1719." This basin was probably a thankoffering on his induction to the living. • H e resided at Launton for nineteen years, and was only absent when he made the yearly Visitation of-his Archdeaconv, and when his duties as Chaplain called him to Greenwich. 240 ARCHDEACON P H fLIP STURM ( 1 6 6 5 - 1 7 3 8 ) . In 1735 his handwriting, as seen in the parish registers, began to fail; and a letter of his to Dr. Rawlinson. (preserved in the Bodleian Library), dated " R . H. G., Sept. 19, 1737," shews that he was then absent from. his usual home at Launton, and that some dark cloud was overshadowing the setting of his days.. The letter runs thus "3'. This owns the receipt of yours of the 17th and apprizes you that I am so embarass'd, at present, with the unhappy aifairs of an unfortunate son,* that I can attend to no other business but the extricating him out of difficulties, in y° midst of which I am involved at present; in. about a fortnight's time I ' l l prepare those sheets, if possible, which you mention, and am " Y ' friend & Servt " F . S . 7 7 In November 1737 he was at home again, at Launton. H i s last entry in the Registers is dated July 29, 1738. I n the following September he was at Greenwich, -where he died on Sept. 13, aged 73. The tombstone over his grave is still preserved i n the mausoleum at Greenwich, and is inscribed: "Here lyes till the last day What was mortal Of the Revd- Mr Philip Stubbs, B.D., Archdeacon of St Albans, Chaplain to Greenwich Hospital, and Rector of Launton, Oxfordshire. What he truly was, that day will discover." A stained-glass window has recently been erected to his memory, in Launton Church. Mr. Henry- Stubbs informs me that Watts, in his Biblioth,eca Britannica, gives the names and dates of publication of nineteen sermons, and. four addresses to the clergy, which were published by Archdeacon Philip Stubbs during his life. I n 1704 he published also an octavo volume of "Sermons." M r. Henry Stubbs also discovered, in the History o f Harts, by Clutterbuck, a statement that "The pavement under the nave [of St. Albans Abbey] is said to have been laid under the direction of the Rev. Philip Stubbs, some time Archdeacon of St. Albans, and paid for out of the produce of a legacy bequeathed. to him by a lady now unknown." * Probably this was the younger son, Charles Stubbs, who, having been admitted to the Freedom of the City of London, as a member of the Fishmongers' Company, May, 8, 1730, seems through reverses to have gone into the Navy, and was described (at death) as belonging to H.M.S. eltickester. When he died, in 1741, the value of his estate was sworn to be under £50. We learn this from an entry in the Register of the Archdeaconry of Middlesex, which states that administration was granted to Rebecca Stubbs, his relict, on the 25th of February 1742. The Archdeacon's elder son, William, was a flourishing Proctor of Doctors' Commons, and Registrar of the Archdeaconries of St. Albans and Rochester.