Transcript

of

Captain Henry Bathurst [Obituary]

Trans. Devon. Assoc., 1887, Vol XIX, p.39.

Prepared by Michael Steer

The obituary was read at the Association’s July 1887 Plympton meeting. The Bathursts were considered county gentry with strong links to aristocracy. Captain Bathursts son, Henry Villebois Bathurst of Marham House, Downham Market, Norfolk, was connected by marriage to Viscount Glentworth, and Lord of the Manor of Old Hall and Westacre. The article, from a copy of a rare and much sought-after journal can be downloaded from the Internet Archive. Google has sponsored the digitisation of books from several libraries. These books, on which copyright has expired, are available for free educational and research use, both as individual books and as full collections to aid researchers.

Captain Henry Bathurst was born at 83, Gloucester Place, Portman Square, London, on the 1st July, 1832, and was the only child of Lieut-Colonel Bathurst, Scots Fusilier Guards, and his wife, Emily Villebois, daughter of Henry Villebois, Esq., Marham, Norfolk. Captain Bathurst was educated at Sandhurst, and gazetted second lieutenant in the 23rd Royal Welsh Fusiliers on the 15th June, 1850; was promoted first lieutenant 21st November, 1851, and captain, December, 1854. He served in the Crimea, and was severely wounded in the right arm at the battle of the Alma. For this he received the Crimean medal and clasp (Alma), also the Turkish medal.  In 1858 he was appointed A.D.G. to the present Marquis of Normanby, in Canada, and served in that capacity until 1860. From 1861 to 1871 he served in the auxiliary forces, when he retired from active service.

Captain Bathurst married Amy, fifth daughter of the late Bernard Granville, Esq., of Wellesbourne Hall, Warwick, by whom he had eight children; viz., four sons and four daughters. For some time he resided at Northcote, Teignmouth, and while there, in 1882, he became a member of the Association. In 1884 he took up his residence at Springhill, Frome, Somerset, and from that time to the beginning of his fatal illness be largely interested himself in the public life of the town. He was formerly a Poor Law Guardian, a member of the Local Board, and for some time a churchwarden of St. John's Church. During his residence at Frome he won the esteem of all classes; his sterling personal qualities endeared him to all with whom he came in contact, and he was deservedly beloved for his charitable disposition.

He died, after a protracted illness, on Sunday, the 5th September, 1886, at the age of 54 years.