| Description | Contains the papers of Reverend James Stillingfleet and his son the Reverend Edward Stillingfleet, both of Hotham. Includes a diary and account book from 1777, correspondence mainly with family, ordination documents 1764-5, admission documents to Hotham Rectory 1771, deed of appointment as chaplain to Frances, Lady Montague 1792, memorial copy of William Paret of Hotham's will and the marriage settlement between Rev Stillingfleet and Elizabeth Taylor. Also includes an incomplete edition of the bible, missing early parts of the Old Testament, a Greek/Latin edition of 'Epicteti Enchiridion et Cebetis Tabula' and a copy of a sermon preached by Stillingfleet at the University of Oxford 1760 |
| AdminHistory | The Reverend James Stillingfleet was born in 1741, the second son of the Rev Edward Stillingfleet, prebendary of Worcester cathedral and Rector of Hartlebury in Worcestershire. He was the great grandson of the renowned preacher, theologian and Bishop of Worcester, Dr Edward Stillingfleet (1635 -1699). James attended Oxford University and became a Master of Arts and fellow of Merton College. He was ordained as a deacon in 1764 and as a priest in 1766, both by the Bishop of Worcester. He became rector of Hotham in 1771, where he remained until his death. On 6 October 1774 he married Elizabeth Taylor, daughter of Wiliam Taylor of Great Hadham in Hertfordshire at Finningley, Nottinghamshire. She was the sister and co-heiress of William Taylor How of Stonden Place in Essex. Their eldest daughter Elizabeth Dorothy was born 10 June 1779 but she died aged 4 weeks. Their next child Edward William was born 19 December 1781 and baptised in January of the following year. The parish register indicates that he was James' second son although the memorial to James and Elizabeth in Hotham Church states that it was erected by 'their only son', so it is probable that James had been married before and had a first son. A Henry Anthony Stillingfleet was baptised in Worcester Cathedral in 1770, the child of James and Katherine (nee Mackworth) Stillingfleet, and his son the Rev. Henry J W Stillingfleet, (1826-1887) rector of Hampton Bishop in Herefordshire, later inherited the Stillingfleet's property in Hotham, so it is probable that he was James' grandson by his first marriage. Two further daughters were born to James and Elizabeth, these were Ann in 1786 and Charlotte in 1789. Both were baptised in Worcester Cathedral.
The Reverend James Stillingfleet was a noted evangelical and, during his tenure at Hotham, Wesley visited and preached twice (1788 and 1790). On both occasions he stayed at the rectory. One of James' closest friends was the Rev. Joseph Milner headmaster of Hull Grammar School and a prominent evangelical and historian. He wrote much of his most celebrated work 'The History of the Church of Christ' whilst staying with Rev Stilingfleet in the late eighteenth century. When James Stillingfleet originally moved to Hotham the existing parsonage house was a small cottage. He built himself a house east of the church in 1775 that was known as Hotham Villa and used as the Rectory. After Rev Edward Stillingfleet's death it was bought by the church in 1870 to serve as the Rectory for Hotham until it was sold in the 1950s. The Reverend James Stillingfleet died on 19 December 1826 aged 85, after nearly 56 years as the rector of Hotham, and was buried in Hotham Church on 27 December. His widow Elizabeth died on 12 March 1832, aged 91, and was buried with James on March 17th.
The Rev Edward William Stillingfleet BD was born in 1782. He was a fellow of Lincoln College Oxford and became a Deacon in 1805 and a priest one year later. On 1 October 1822 he married Dorothy Cordelia Ewbank at Londesbrough in the East Riding. Her father was the Reverend Andrew Ewbank, Rector of Londesborough. They had married relatively late in life - Edward was 40 and Dorothy was 39 at the time of their marriage, and they did not have any children. Dorothy died 25 November 1837 at the age of 54. Edward served as curate to his father at Hotham for 30 years, and was Vicar of South Cave for 10 years. He died 3 May 1866, aged 84, and was buried near his parents and wife in Hotham churchyard on May 9th. |