James Heywood Markland facts for kids

James Heywood Markland (1788–1864) was an English lawyer and someone who loved studying old things, known as an antiquary. He was interested in history, old buildings, and ancient objects.

His Life Story

James Heywood Markland was born in Ardwick Green, Manchester, on December 7, 1788. He was the youngest of four sons. His father, Robert Markland, made textiles. When James was 11, he went to live with the headmaster of Chester school for his education.

Markland trained to be a lawyer in Manchester. In 1808, he moved to London and started his law practice there. By 1814, he was working for sugar plantation owners in the West Indies. He also began studying law at the Inner Temple. He stayed in London, leading his own law firm, Markland & Wright, until 1839. After that, he retired and moved to Malvern. In 1841, he moved to Bath, Somerset and lived there for the rest of his life.

Joining Important Groups

Markland was very involved in groups that studied history and old things.

• In 1809, he became a member of the Society of Antiquaries of London. He even served as its director from 1827 to 1829.
• He joined the Roxburghe Club in 1813, a group that printed rare old books.
• In 1816, he became a member of the Royal Society, which is a famous group for scientists.
• The University of Oxford gave him an honorary degree (D.C.L.) in 1849.

His Connection to Slavery

James Markland owned parts of four sugar plantations in Jamaica and Barbados with his partners, John and Thomas Hibbert. These plantations used enslaved people to grow sugar. When the British government ended slavery in the 1830s, Markland and his partners received money from the government. They received over £25,000 each for the freedom of more than 400 enslaved people they had owned.

Helping Others

Markland also supported church groups and charities. He helped set up special sermons in Cambridge and Oxford. While he lived in Bath, three sisters, the Misses Mitford, chose him to help give away £14,000 for good causes in England and other countries.

Markland passed away at his home in Bath on December 28, 1864. He was buried in the new Walcot cemetery. A stained-glass window in Bath Abbey was put in to remember him. His large collection of books was sold after his death.

His Writings

Markland wrote several books and articles, often about churches and history:

• A Few Plain Reasons for Adhering to the Church (published without his name), 1807.
• A Letter to Lord Aberdeen, President of the Society of Antiquaries, on the expediency of Establishing a Museum of Antiquities, 1828. This was about creating a museum for old artifacts.
• A Few Words on the Sin of Lying (published without his name), 1834.
• Sketch of the Life and Character of George Hibbert (published without his name), 1837.
• Remarks on Sepulchral Memorials, with Suggestions for Improving the Condition of our Churches, 1840. This book was about graves and how to make churches better. Later, it was expanded and called Remarks on English Churches and on the expediency of rendering Sepulchral Memorials subservient to Pious and Christian Uses, 1842.
• On the Reverence due to Holy Places, 1845. This book was about respecting holy places.
• Prayers for Persons coming to the Baths of Bath. By Bishop Ken. With a Life of the Author, 1848. This included prayers and a short life story of Bishop Ken.
• Diligence and Sloth. By a Layman, 1858. This was about being hardworking versus being lazy.
• The Offertory the best way of Contributing Money for Christian Purposes; 2nd edit. 1862. This discussed how to give money for Christian causes.

Markland also helped with other projects:

• He edited a book for the Roxburghe Club in 1818 called Chester Mysteries.
• He helped George Ormerod with his History of Cheshire.
• He assisted John Britton with his Beauties of England.
• He wrote articles for magazines like Censura Literaria and Notes and Queries.

His help was also recognized in other books, like John Nichols's Literary Anecdotes. He wrote about Abraham Markland and Jeremiah Markland for that book. He also gave information about Jeremiah Markland's life to Alexander Chalmers. Markland also wrote for Archæological Journal and Archæologia.

His Family

On September 24, 1821, James Markland married Charlotte Freeling at Marylebone Church. Charlotte was the oldest daughter of Sir Francis Freeling. She passed away on October 9, 1867. They had one daughter, Elizabeth Jane. In 1853, Elizabeth Jane married Charles Ranken Conybeare, who was a vicar (a type of church leader) in Itchen Stoke, Hampshire.