John Bayley (antiquary) facts for kids

John Whitcomb Bayley FRS FSA (born May 29, 1787 – died March 25, 1869) was an English antiquary. An antiquary is someone who studies old things like ancient objects, historical records, and old customs. Bayley was also a member of important groups like the Royal Society (FRS) and the Society of Antiquaries (FSA), which are for people who are experts in science and history.

About John Bayley

John Bayley was born in 1787 in Hempsted, Gloucestershire, England. His father, John Bayley, was a farmer. From a young age, John Whitcomb Bayley started working as a junior clerk at the Tower Record Office. This office was where important historical documents were kept.

Working with Old Records

Around 1819, John Bayley became the chief clerk at the Tower Record Office. Later, he also became a sub-commissioner for the Public Record Office. This meant he helped manage and organize many of England's old government documents.

One of his big projects was editing a collection of old court records called Calendars of the Proceedings in Chancery in the Reign of Queen Elizabeth. These records were about legal cases from the time of Queen Elizabeth I. He published these in three volumes between 1827 and 1832.

Challenges and Changes

During his time working with records, there were some disagreements about the money he charged for his work and how he edited the documents. Some people, like Charles Purton Cooper, who was a secretary for the Record Commission, and Sir Nicholas Harris Nicolas, raised concerns.

Because of these issues, a special committee was set up to look into the situation. They met many times and wrote a report. Also, there were questions about the fees he charged to the city of Liverpool for finding historical information for them.

In May 1834, John Bayley's job at the Tower was declared open because he had been away for a long time. Even though he had joined the Inner Temple (a place where lawyers are trained) in 1815, he never officially became a lawyer.

Later Life

After leaving his work with the records, John Bayley lived mostly in Cheltenham, England. Later in his life, he moved to Paris, France, where he passed away on March 25, 1869. He was a respected member of both the Society of Antiquaries (joining in 1819) and the Royal Society (joining in 1823), showing his dedication to historical study and knowledge.

John Bayley's Writings

John Bayley wrote an important book called History and Antiquities of the Tower of London. This book, which explores the history and old features of the famous Tower of London, came out in two parts between 1821 and 1825. A shorter version was published in 1830.

He also planned to write a history of London, but he never finished it. He made a lot of progress on another big project: a complete history of the English Parliament. For this, he collected many summaries of records about who was elected to Parliament between 1702 and 1710.

Preserving His Work

This important handwritten work, along with a collection of old charters (official documents), letters, and other papers about local history, was later given to the British Museum. Today, these valuable documents are kept safe in the British Library, where people can still study them.

John Bayley's Family

In September 1824, John Bayley married Sophia Anne. Her father was Colonel Robert Ward, and her grandfather was Viscount Bangor. Sophia Anne passed away before John, on June 17, 1854. They had a son and a daughter.