Richard Newcourt (historian) facts for kids

Richard Newcourt (who died in 1716) was an English notary and historian. A notary is someone who can legally witness signatures and documents. Richard Newcourt wrote an important book called Repertorium Ecclesiasticum Parochiale Londinense, which was a history of the diocese of London. A diocese is an area managed by a bishop in the church.

Richard Newcourt's Life Story

Richard Newcourt was the son of another man named Richard Newcourt, who was a cartographer (someone who draws maps) and owned land in Somerton, Somerset. Young Richard went to Wadham College at Oxford University. He started his studies there in 1653, but he didn't finish his degree.

After university, he became a notary public. He also worked as a clerk at the Court of Arches in London. This court was a very important church court for the Archbishop of Canterbury. Richard Newcourt became a main lawyer (called a Proctor-General) for this court in 1668. In 1669, he got an important job as the main registrar for the diocese of London, and he kept this job until 1696. A registrar keeps official records.

His Big Book: A History of London Churches

While working as a registrar, Richard Newcourt had access to many old records. He used these documents to write a detailed history of the diocese of London. This huge work was published in two parts, in 1708 and 1710. Its full title was Repertorium Ecclesiasticum Parochiale Londinense: An Ecclesiastical Parochial History of the Diocese of London.

What the Book Covers

His book tells the story of St Paul's Cathedral, which is a famous church in London. It also covers the history of the bishops and deans (church leaders) of London. Plus, it describes all the different church parishes (local church areas) within the diocese.

Where He Got His Information

Newcourt used many sources for his book. He looked at the London Registers, which were official church records that started way back in 1306. He also used records kept by individual bishops. To find out how much money the parishes had, he used information from a report made in 1636. He also wrote another book about the bishops of England, but it was never published.

Later Years and Legacy

Richard Newcourt spent his final years living in Greenwich, London. He was buried at the local church there in February 1716. His wife had been buried in the same church just a month before him. He left all his property to his sister, Mary Spicer.

Today, many of Richard Newcourt's old papers, including his notes and drafts for his famous book, are kept safe. They were given to the Guildhall Library in 1939 and are now part of the London Metropolitan Archives. These papers help us understand how he researched and wrote his important history book.