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Notes 143
Blackburn and Whalley: the parish of Blackburn, in the county of
Lancaster, had been a part of the parish of Whalley, but had been
separated from it. In 1761 both livings were vicarages whose patron was
the archbishop of Canterbury.
Gloster or Gloucester Ridley (1702-1774) of Trinity and New colleges,
Oxford, was graduated B.C.L. in 1729 and D.D. by diploma in 1767. A
fellow of New college from 1724 to 1734, he was presented in 1751 by
the college to the living of Romford, Essex, and appointed by Seeker
prebendary of Salisbury in 1766. His Latin work, De Syriacum Novi
Foederis Versionum, published in 1761, was dedicated to Seeker.
Mr Dell: Henry Dell, "a Dissenting Minister. Good, resides constantly
in the vicarage house" (L.RL. MS VG 2/5, p. 53). In 1720 he had been
a minister to a congregation at Canterbury.
Mr Thompson: Thomas Thompson (1708P-1773), who had been an
S.RG. missionary to New Jersey 1745-50 and to West Africa 1751-56,
and was appointed vicar of Darenth in 1758 and of Elham in 1761
(L.P.L. MS Seeker Register II, pp. 292 & 301-02). In addition to an
account of his missionary activity in Africa he was the author of The
African Trade for Negro Slaves Shewn to be consistent with . . . Humanity, 1772.
See Venn, Alumni Cantab, and D.N.B.
Nephew Seeker: for the prebendary at Canterbury see G.M., XXXI
(1761), p. 189 and B.L. Add. MS 32,921, fol. 236: Archbishop Seeker
to Newcastle, 31 March, 1761. On his appointment to All Hallows the
Great, George Seeker relinquished the living of St. Mildred's, Bread
St., and obtained a dispensation to hold All Hallows with Yardley
[G.M., XXXI (1761), pp. 431 and 605].
Ld Bute (1713-1792): John Stuart had succeeded his father in 1723 as
third earl of Bute. From 1737-41 and 1760-80 he was one of the
representative Scottish peers. His somewhat spectacular rise to political
prominence began when he was appointed lord of the bedchamber to
Frederick, Prince of Wales (who died in 1751) and became mentor and
friend to his son, next Prince of Wales and later George III. Appointed
secretary of state, northern department, on 25 March, 1761, he was the
new king's favorite and potential first minister (Valentine, British
Establishment 1760-84, II).
Mr Hearne: George Hearne, who had been curate of St. Andrew with
St. Mary's, Breadman, Canterbury [L.P.L. VG 2/5, pp. 29-30; G.M.,
XXXI (1761), p. 238].