(451) Bathurst of Finchcocks

Bathurst of Finchcocks 

The Bathursts of Finchcocks were descended from Paul Bathurst (c.1542-1626) of Horsmonden (Kent) and Northiam (Sussex), with whom the genealogy below begins. He was a younger son of Robert Bathurst (d. 1576) of Horsmonden, whose eldest son, John Bathurst (fl. 1606), was the ancestor of the Bathursts of Lechlade. Robert was also the uncle of Launcelot Bathurst (1529-96), the ancestor of the Bathursts of Franks, Hothorpe and Cirencester. 

Paul Bathurst married Elizabeth (d. 1594), the daughter of Edward Horden, who was a member of the Board of Green Cloth - the body which audited the accounts of the Royal Household - under Edward VI, Mary I and Elizabeth I. Horden left his property to his daughters as co-heirs, and they and their husbands agreed a division of the estates, as a result of which the Bathursts received the Finchcocks estate at Goudhurst. In addition to Finchcocks, the Bathursts seem to have inherited from Horden the tradition of royal service. One of Paul's younger sons, Richard Bathurst (1575-1629) was in charge of the royal stables (as king's avener), and Paul's grandson and heir Edward Bathurst (1599-1651), was 'Gentleman Harbinger' to Charles I, a post at Court which involved responsibility for arranging accommodation for the king and his retinue as it moved around the country. Edward was a Royalist in the Civil War, but apparently not a very active one, and there seems to be no record of his being fined for delinquency. He was succeeded by his eldest son, Edward Bathurst (1639-90), who did not come of age until 1660, the year in which the monarchy was restored. The younger Edward was called to the bar in 1665 and perhaps lived chiefly in London. In 1678 he felled timber in the park at Finchcocks for the use of the Navy. He was married but had no children, and so at his death the Finchcocks estate passed to his younger and unmarried brother, Thomas Bathurst (1642-1718). Hasted, in his history of Kent, says Thomas was also a barrister, but there seems to be no trace of him in the records of the inns of court, so it is perhaps more likely that he was a solicitor or even a merchant in London. On coming into his inheritance, he is said to have quickly withdrawn from business to live 'a retired, country life'. When he died in 1718 he left Finchcocks to his nephew, Edward Bathurst (1681-1772), another London barrister, who in 1727 also inherited the Barnend estate at Wilmington (Kent) from his father.

Edward Bathurst (1681-1772) married twice. His first wife died in 1715, leaving him three sons and one daughter, and within a few years he had found a new partner in Mary Gyles, the daughter of a surgeon from Lamberhurst. Rather curiously, their marriage cannot be traced, and there is a tradition that she was his 'common law' wife, but given his occupation and her social status this seems improbable. She certainly describes herself as a widow in her will, and it may be that the marriage took place in Jamaica, where Bathurst had a plantation, and where some of their children were probably also born. One reason for the trip to Jamaica may have been that at just this time, Finchcocks was being rebuilt: the rainwater heads on the new house are dated 1725. Although it seems strange to a modern way of thinking to absent oneself from a major building project, it was quite commonly done (sometimes with disastrous results), especially if there was a steward or equivalent senior servant who could be trusted to supervise the works. Edward may anyway have been a rather restless soul. By 1731, he was back in England and living at Finchcocks, but he didn't remain there for very long. In 1743 he built another new house, called Common House, on the estate at Wilmington which he had inherited from his father, and moved there. A few years later, he sold that property to Thomas Motley (from whom it descended to Francis Motley Austen) and returned to Finchcocks. Finally, he sold Finchcocks to the eldest son of his second marriage, Charles Bathurst (c.1723-67), and apparently retired to chambers in London, where he died aged 91.

Charles Bathurst was, like his father, a barrister at law, but he was unmarried and had no children to inherit Finchcocks. When he died unexpectedly a couple of years after buying Finchcocks, he left it to his younger brother, the Rev. Richard Bathurst (c.1727-1803). Richard was ordained in 1753 but the early years of his career seem completely obscure. In 1773 he was appointed rector of Llangeler (Carmarthenshire) but he probably paid a curate to perform his duties there and lived in Kent. In 1784 he became a minor canon of Rochester Cathedral and in the 1790s he accumulated a number of benefices around that city which must usefully have augmented his income. He appears to have let Finchcocks, but in 1796 or 1797 he sold it to Robert Springett, reputedly in order to pay off the debts his eldest son, Edward Bathurst (1774-1829), had incurred gambling (at least partly on snail racing) with the Prince of Wales. In his will, Richard left all his other children £1,000 each, but carefully deducted from the legacies to his younger sons the expenses he had incurred in establishing them in a profession: understandably, Edward received nothing further.

Finchcocks, Goudhurst, Kent

The estate of Great Finchcocks belonged in the 16th century to Edward Horden, a member of the Board of Green Cloth under successive monachs from Edward VI to Elizabeth, and at his death passed to his daughter Elizabeth, the wife of Paul Bathurst (c.1542-1626?). Almost nothing is known about the house which existed at this time, but it was probably a semi-timbered Wealden hall house. A will of 1651 refers to a 'new parlour' in the house, so there were evidently mid 17th century alterations, but nothing of this house survives today.

Finchcocks: the east front of the house built for Edward Bathurst in 1725. Image: Finchcocks.com.

In 1718 the estate descended to Edward Bathurst (1681-1772), a London barrister whose first wife died in 1715, leaving him a widower with four young children. In the early 1720s he built a grand new house at Finchcocks, in the fashionable Baroque style, which was then just entering the repertoire of the provincial mason-architects, one of whom must have been employed here. Christopher Hussey - who himself lived only a mile or so away at Scotney Castle - has pointed out the similarities to a number of other houses in the locality, particularly Matfield House, Brenchley, which must surely be from the same unidentified hand. Finchcocks is said to have cost £30,000, but this seems excessive. The house, which is dated 1725 on the rainwater heads, is relatively modest in scale but is made to appear grand by the panache with which the Baroque manner is handled. It is built of red brick, with brighter red dressings and darker red chimneys and parapets, enlivened with little touches of white stone for the capitals and pediment. The entrance front faces east, and consists of a three storey, seven bay main block with a three-bay breakfront, linked by convex quadrants to projecting two-storey wings which step down at the outer ends to terminate in curved walls. The top storey of the main block sits above a cornice, and the pediment over the slightly projecting three bay centre is set against this attic and filled with carvings of martial trophies; the space to either side being filled with two round windows. The main chimneystacks continue the vertical lines of the edges of the breakfront, materially contributing to the drama of the composition. On the lower floors, the middle three bays have round-headed windows and, on the ground floor, a plain Doric doorcase with unfluted half-columns carrying an entablature. Above this is a rubbed brick niche, which was not intended to be occupied but which now holds a 17th century statue of Queen Anne from the Royal Exchange. At the angles of the main block are Doric pilasters with brick shafts that are continued in the attic as pilaster strips supporting the deeply modelled brick parapet. The pilasters, cornice and pilaster strips are repeated on the projecting wings but on a smaller scale, so that the parapet of the wings reaches only to the entablature of the main block. For all the grandeur of this long facade, the central block is only three bays deep, with arched chimneystacks on the end elevations. The west front is built of chequered brick, and is a quieter but more severe echo of the east front, lacking the pediment and pilasters, but with a more deeply modelled parapet.

Finchcocks: the west front in 1946. Image: Country Life.

Finchcocks: the hall in 1946, with the Bathurst family group portrait by Maubert in position over the chimneypiece. Image: Country Life.

Inside, the hall runs the depth of the house, and has an unusually wide fireplace, presumably designed to accommodate the overmantel painting of Bathurst, his first wife and their four children by James Maubert in mind which hung here until the late 20th century. The staircase, with three turned balusters per tread, runs up from the north-west corner of the hall and leads to a spacious upper landing with a fireplace. 

Finchcocks: the drawing room in 2015, when the house was a museum of keyboard instruments. Image: Savills/BNPS

In the south-east corner is a drawing room fully panelled in oak, from which opens a large room in the south wing converted into a picture gallery by F.D. Lycett Green, who also formed a library in the upper part of the north wing after 1935. After wartime use for military purposes and a period of institutional use in the 1960s, the house was acquired in 1971 by Richard and Katrina Burnett, who restored it and in 1976 opened it as both a museum housing their collection of historic keyboard instruments and a centre for concerts and other musical events.  When they decided to retire and downsize in 2015, much of the important collection was dispersed at auction, but Finchcocks itself was sold to another musical couple, Neil and Harriet Nichols, who run courses for pianists at the house, as well as making it their home.

Descent: Edward Horde

n; to daughter, Elizabeth (d. 1594), wife of Paul Bathurst (c.1542-1626?); to grandson, Edward Bathurst (1599-1651); to son, Edward Bathurst (1639-90); to brother, Thomas Bathurst (1642-1718); to nephew, Edward Bathurst (1681-1772); sold 1765 to son, Charles Bathurst (c.1723-67); to brother, Rev. Richard Bathurst (c.1727-1803), who sold 1796 to Robert Springett (1753-1826)... sold 1863 to Edward Hussey of Scotney Castle; sold 1918 to Capt. A.W.J. Cecil; sold 1935 to Mr. Francis Lycett Green; requisitioned by the army in Second World War; sold 1950 to David & Antonia St. Clair-Erskine; sold 1960 to Legat Ballet School; sold 1970 to Mr & Mrs Martin Page; sold 1971 to Richard & Katrina Burnett; sold 2016 to Neil & Harriet Nichols. The house was leased in the late 19th century to Sir James Stirling.

Bathurst of Finchcocks

Bathurst, Paul (c.1542-1626?). Third son of Robert Bathurst (d. 1576) of Horsmonden (Kent) and his first wife [forename unknown], daughter of William Saunders, born about 1542. Educated at Queens' College, Cambridge (matriculated 1555). He married, 19 July 1568, Elizabeth (d. 1594), daughter and co-heir of Edward Horden of Horden and Finchcocks (Kent), a member of the Board of Green Cloth under Edward VI, Mary and Elizabeth, and had issue:

(1) Mary Bathurst (b. 1569), baptised at Horsmonden, 24 February 1568/9; probably married, 20 September 1591 at Goudhurst, Christopher Tylman (b. 1570) of Selling (Kent), and had issue;

(2) Elizabeth Bathurst (1571-1612?), baptised at Horsmonden, 11 February 1570/71; probably married, 12 November 1592 at Chillenden (Kent), Rev. Anthony Field (d. 1626), vicar of Chillenden; probably the woman of this name buried at Nonington (Kent), 12 September 1612;

(3) Edward Bathurst (1573-1619) (q.v.);

(4) Joan Bathurst (1574-80), baptised at Horsmonden, 4 August 1574; died young and was buried at Horsmonden, 23 June 1580;

(5) Richard Bathurst (1575-1629) of Bromley (Kent), baptised at Horsmonden, 25 September 1575; king's avener (chief officer of the royal stables, under the Master of the Horse); married Elizabeth (who m2, 13 July 1629 at St Mary le Strand, London, Sir Robert Vernon, kt. of Camberwell (Surrey), avener), daughter of Rev. Richard Hicks of Chichester, prebendary of York Minster, and had issue two sons and three daughters; will proved 10 June 1629;

(6) Robert Bathurst (1578-c.1616), baptised at Horsmonden,15 March 1578; married, 2 July 1611 at Rodmersham (Kent), Elizabeth (fl. 1616), widow of Arthur Self; apparently living in 1615 but dead by 1616;

(7) Alexander Bathurst (b. 1582), baptised at Horsmonden, 29 July 1582; probably died young;

(8) Patience Bathurst (b. 1585), baptised at Horsmonden, 8 August 1585; married, 24 January 1608/9 at Chillenden, Rev. Ralph Partridge of Sutton by Dover (Kent), and had issue two sons and two daughters;

(9) William Bathurst (b. 1586), baptised at Horsmonden, 11 December 1586; living in 1625;

(10) Thomas Bathurst; mentioned in 1619 visitation and still living in 1625.

He lived at Horsmonden and Northiam (Sussex) and later inherited Finchcocks in right of his wife.

He was probably the man of this name buried at Sutton Valence (Kent), 10 March 1625/6. His wife was buried at Goudhurst, 31 May 1594.

Bathurst, Edward (1573-1619). Elder son of Paul Bathurst (c.1542-1626?) and his wife Elizabeth, daughter and co-heir of Edward Horden of Horden and Finchcocks (Kent), baptised at Horsmonden, 1 April 1573. He married, 28 December 1597 at Boxley (Kent), Nazaretha (d. 1634), sister of Sir John Levison, kt., and had issue:

(1) Thomas Bathurst (1598-1638), baptised at Goudhurst, 10 January 1598/9; educated at Inner Temple (admitted 1617; called 1626); barrister-at-law; married, 4 March 1632 at Cranbrook, Elizabeth (fl. 1658) (who m2, 24 July 1645 at Birchington (Kent), Robert Darell or Dorrell of Minster-in-Thanet (Kent)), daughter of John Hooper of Stockbury (Kent); buried at Goudhurst, 18 August 1638;

(2) Edward Bathurst (1599-1651) (q.v.);

(3) William Bathurst (1600-58), of Eltham (Kent), baptised at Goudhurst, 28 December 1600; merchant and alderman of London; married, 1635/6 (licence 29 December), Elizabeth Mauditt of London, and had issue two sons [from whom descended the Bathursts of Edmonton (Middx)] and six daughters; died 8 July 1658; will proved 10 March 1658/9;

(4) Richard Bathurst (1602-33), baptised at Goudhurst, 28 February 1601/2; married, 26 September 1631 at St Dunstan-in-the-West, London, Elizabeth Conden (c.1605-79), and had issue one daughter; buried at Goudhurst, 18 January 1632/3;

(5) Elizabeth Bathurst (1605-39), baptised at Goudhurst, 27 January 1604/5; married, 30 November 1623 at Goudhurst, Edward Maplesden (1596-1668), son of Edward Maplesden of Marden (Kent), and had issue one son and three daughters; buried at Marden, 2 September 1639;

(6) Anna Bathurst (1606-c.1652), baptised at Goudhurst, 14 December 1606; married, 21 May 1628 at Farnborough (Kent), George Maplesden (d. 1654), son of Edward Maplesden of Marden (Kent), and had issue three sons and three daughters; died between 1651 and 1653.

He died in the lifetime of his father and was buried at Goudhurst, 10 July 1619. His widow was buried at Goudhurst, 3 March 1634.

Bathurst, Edward (1599-1651). Second son of Edward Bathurst (1573-1619) and his wife Nazaretha, sister of Sir John Levison, kt, baptised at Goudhurst, 6 January 1599. Gentleman Harbinger (an officer responsible for reserving accommodation for the court when it was on progress) to King Charles I. He married, 17 May 1635 at Horsmonden (Kent), Martha (1611-75), daughter of John Hooper of Stockbury (Kent), and had issue*:

(1) Elizabeth Bathurst (1637-1711), baptised at Bromley (Kent), 20 February 1636/7; died unmarried, 12 February 1710/11;

(2) Frances Bathurst (1638-65), baptised at Bromley (Kent), 22 February 1637/8; died unmarried and was buried at Goudhurst, 18 November 1665;

(3) Edward Bathurst (1639-90) (q.v.);

(4) John Bathurst (1640-1726), baptised at Goudhurst, 29 April 1640; died unmarried, 24 September 1726;

(5) Thomas Bathurst (1642-1718) (q.v.);

(6) Martha Bathurst (b. 1645), baptised at Goudhurst, 8 June 1645; predeceased her mother and probably died in infancy;

(7) William Bathurst (1646-1727) (q.v.);

(8) Richard Bathurst (c.1649-1707); sought a position in HM Customs, 1680; mentioned in the will of his brother Edward; died 7 April 1707 and was buried at St Nicholas, Great Yarmouth (Norfk), where he was commemorated by a floor slab with a memorial inscription;

(9) Charles Bathurst (b. c.1651; fl. 1675), probably the child his mother was carrying when her husband wrote his will; mentioned in the will of his mother; married, perhaps 24 October 1669 at Petersham (Surrey), Anna Coney[?], but was separated from his wife by 1675.

He inherited Finchcocks from his grandfather in 1626. After his death it passed in turn to his sons Edward and Thomas.

He died 20 August, and was buried 23 April 1651 at Goudhurst, where he is commemorated by a monument; his will was proved 23 October 1651. His widow was buried at Goudhurst, 10 December 1675; her will was proved 28 January 1675/6.

* According to his monument at Goudhurst he had eight sons and six daughters, but I have not found any documentary evidence for further children. The others were perhaps stillborn or died without being baptised.

Bathurst, Edward (1639-90). Eldest son of Edward Bathurst (1599-1651) and his wife Martha, daughter of John Hooper of Stockbury (Kent), baptised at Goudhurst, 26 April 1639. Educated at Inner Temple (admitted 1656; called 1665). Barrister-at-law. He married, 17 June 1680 at Tonbridge (Kent), Judith (1634-90), daughter of Robert Oliver of Leybourne (Kent), but had no issue.

He inherited Finchcocks from his father in 1651 and came of age in 1660.

He died 9 June, and was buried at Goudhurst, 17 June 1690; his will was proved in the PCC, 14 June 1690. His widow died a few days later and was buried at Goudhurst, 27 June 1690.

Bathurst, Thomas (1642-1718). Third son of Edward Bathurst (1599-1651) and his wife Martha, daughter of John Hooper of Stockbury (Kent), baptised at Goudhurst, 8 August 1642. Said to have been a barrister-at-law, but there seems to be no record of his training in the Inns of Court. He gradually withdrew from business after he inherited the Finchcocks estate from his brother to live a retired country life.

He inherited Finchcocks from his elder brother in 1690, but later let it to Alice Oades, the widow of a friend who had died in poverty. 

He died unmarried, 29 September 1718; his will was proved in the PCC, 8 October 1718.

Bathurst, William (c.1646-1727). Youngest son of Edward Bathurst (1599-1651) and his wife Martha, daughter of John Hooper of Stockbury (Kent), baptised at Goudhurst, 2 August 1646. A merchant in London. He married, 23 February 1679 at Savoy Chapel, London, Anne (c.1650-1708), daughter of Richard Gamon and widow of Lancelot Bathurst (1610-77) of Franks Hall, and had issue:

(1) Edward Bathurst (1681-1772) (q.v.).

He inherited the manor of Pullens from his elder brother, and the Barnend estate at Wilmington in right of his wife.

He was buried at Wilmington (Kent), 4 July 1727; his will was proved in the PCC, 24 February 1727/8. His wife was buried at Wilmington, 16 July 1708.

Bathurst, Edward (1681-1772). Son of William Bathurst (c.1646-1727) and his wife Anna, born 18 July and baptised at Wilmington (Kent), 2 August 1681. Educated at the Middle Temple (admitted 1686; called 1704; bencher, 1722; reader, 1731; treasurer, 1743) and Trinity College, Oxford (matriculated 1696). Barrister-at-law. He may have spent part of the 1720s in Jamaica. He married 1st, 9 July 1708 at Goudhurst (Kent), Elizabeth (1684-1715), daughter of Stephen Stringer of Triggs, Goudhurst, and 2nd*, Mary (d. 1776), daughter of Charles Gyles of Lamberhurst (Kent), surgeon, and had issue:

(1.1) Edward Bathurst (1709-51), baptised at Goudhurst, 18 July 1709; educated at Middle Temple (admitted 1725; called 1731) and Trinity College, Oxford (matriculated 1726; BA 1729); Fellow of All Souls College, Oxford (MA 1733); Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries of London; said to have lived in Jamaica to manage the family estate there; married, 24 June 1742 at Alveley (Shrops.), Dorothy (c.1716-94), daughter of Lancelot Lee of Coton (Shrops.), and had issue one son and one daughter (Dorothy Bathurst (1743-1837), died unmarried); he died in Jamaica, 1751;

(1.2) John Bathurst (c.1711-27); apprenticed to Anthony Kingsley of London, grocer, 29 March 1726/7, but died young and was buried at Goudhurst, 2 December 1727;

(1.3) Elizabeth Bathurst (1713-32), baptised at Goudhurst, 10 September 1713; died unmarried and was buried at Goudhurst, 17 March 1731/2;

(1.4) Rev. Thomas Bathurst (1714-97), baptised at Goudhurst, 17 November 1714; educated at the Middle Temple (admitted 1729) and Trinity College, Oxford (matriculated 1731); Fellow of All Souls College, Oxford (BA 1735; MA 1740); ordained deacon, 1737 and priest, 1739; rector of Elmley (Kent) to 1765 and of Welwyn (Herts), 1785-97; inherited that part of the manor of Bokinfold in Goudhurst from his father in 1772 and lived at Brickwall, Goudhurst; buried at Welwyn, 24 April 1797; will proved at Hitchin (Herts), 1797;

(2.1) Charles Bathurst (c.1723-67) (q.v.);

(2.2) Lancelot Bathurst (b. c.1725?), perhaps born in Jamaica c.1725; died young;

(2.3) Rev. Richard Bathurst (c.1727-1803) (q.v.);

(2.4) Mary Bathurst (1731-88), baptised at St Clement Danes, London, 9 September 1731; eloped with and married, 6 November 1749 at Pembury (Kent), John Hodgskin (c.1721-95) of Goudhurst, said to have been 'an architect engaged on work at Finchcocks' and had issue seven sons and seven daughters; died 25 September 1788 and was buried at Goudhurst.

He inherited the Finchcocks (in 1718) and Wilmington (in 1727) estates from his uncle Thomas and his father respectively. He built a new house at Finchcocks in 1725 and a new house, Common House (later Wilmington Hall) at Wilmington in 1743. He also had estates in Jamaica. He sold Finchcocks to his son by his second wife, Charles Bathurst. He later sold Common House to Thomas Motley of Beckenham (Kent). He probably lived in the Middle Temple in his later years.

He died 1 August and was buried at Goudhurst, 6 August 1772. His first wife died 3 June and was buried at Goudhurst, 6 June 1715. His widow was buried at Goudhurst, 12 April 1776; her will was proved in the PCC, 24 April 1776.

* Some sources state that this was a 'common law marriage'; others that they were married in Jamaica 'about 1725'. Mary described herself as a widow in her will.

Bathurst, Charles (c.1723-67). Son of Edward Bathurst (1681-1772) and his second wife Mary Gyles of Lamberhurst (Kent), born, perhaps in Jamaica, about 1723. Educated at Middle Temple (admitted 1744). Barrister-at-law. He was unmarried and without issue.

He purchased Finchcocks from his father in about 1765, and at his death left it to his younger brother. At the time of his death he also owned property, including slaves, in Jamaica.

He was buried at Goudhurst, 9 February 1767; his will was proved in the PCC, 25 February 1767.

Bathurst, Rev. Richard (c.1727-1803). Son of Edward Bathurst (1681-1772) and his second wife Mary Gyles of Lamberhurst (Kent), born, perhaps in Jamaica, about 1727.* Educated at St Edmund Hall and Brasenose College, Oxford (matriculated 1744; BA 1748). Ordained deacon, 1750 and priest, 1753. Rector of Llangeler (Carmarthens), 1773-1803 and vicar of a number of parishes in and around Rochester in the 1790s; canon of Rochester Cathedral, 1784-1803. He married, 8 October 1767 at Northfleet (Kent), Elizabeth Boulter Booker (c.1744-1816), and had issue:

(1) Elizabeth Bathurst (b. & d. 1769), baptised at Goudhurst, 14 August 1769; died in infancy and was buried at Goudhurst, 15 September 1769;

(2) Frances Bathurst (1770-1849), baptised at Goudhurst, 1 October 1770; married, 23 June 1800 at St Margaret, Rochester, Rev. Thomas Fothergill (1759-1821) of Twerton (Som.) and had issue one son and two daughters; buried at St Margaret, Rochester, 30 March 1849; will proved 10 April 1849;

(3) Sophia Bathurst (b. & d. 1771), baptised at Goudhurst, 28 November 1771; died in infancy and was buried at Goudhurst, 18 December 1771;

(4) Harriet Bathurst (1773-74), baptised at Goudhurst, 4 April 1773; died in infancy and was buried at Goudhurst, 29 August 1774;

(5) Edward Bathurst (1774-1829), baptised at Goudhurst, 25 July 1774; articled to John Williams of Dartford, solicitor, 1790, and later to John Simmonds of Dartford, solicitor, 1792; incurred large debts through gambling, reputedly on snail racing with the Prince of Wales (!); married 1st, 13 September 1793 at St Alphege, Greenwich (Kent), Sarah McPherson, and had issue five sons and one daughter; married 2nd, 8 January 1812 at St Martin-in-the-Fields, Mary Ann Denyer (d. 1871), and had further issue four sons and one daughter; buried at St George, Camberwell (Surrey), 5 March 1829;

(6) Henrietta Bathurst (1776-1828), baptised at Goudhurst, 4 April 1776; died unmarried, 26 November 1828 and was buried in Rochester Cathedral; will proved in the PCC, 11 December 1828;

(7) Richard Bathurst (1778-1833), baptised at Goudhurst, 5 April 1778; articled to John Simmonds of Dartford, solicitor, 1794, and became a solicitor at Sittingbourne (Kent); married, 29 December 1803 at St Nicholas, Rochester (Kent), Mary (1775-1845), daughter of Thomas Harwood, and had issue five sons and five daughters; died 10 July and was buried at St Michael, Sittingbourne, 17 July 1833;

(8) Thomas Bathurst (1779-c.1800), baptised at Goudhurst, 20 May 1779; died unmarried about 1800;

(9) Charles Bathurst (1780-1833), baptised at Goudhurst, 16 August 1780; apprenticed to a surgeon; practised as a surgeon at Strood (Kent); married, 15 December 1808 at St Andrew, Holborn (Middx), Ann Biggar (c.1790-1838), and had issue three sons and three daughters; died 10 July 1833; will proved in the PCC, 4 June 1834;

(10) Lancelot Bathurst (1782-1858), baptised at Goudhurst, 25 July 1782; lived in Hammersmith (Middx) and was a JP for Middlesex; married, 1831 (licence 19 October) at St Margaret, Westminster (Middx), Mary Ann Smith (b. c.1790) and had issue one son and two daughters; died 25 November 1858; will proved 20 December 1858 (effects under £14,000);

(11) William Bathurst (1783-1828), baptised at Goudhurst, 6 December 1783; articled to John Simmonds of Dartford, solicitor, 1799 and later practised at Rochford (Essex); married, 22 November 1808 at St Martin-in-the-Fields, Westminster (Middx), Mary Anne (b. 1779), daughter of George Blakeway of London, and had issue three sons and four daughters; died 11 June 1828.

He inherited Finchcocks from his elder brother in 1767, but sold it c.1796-97 to Robert Springett (1753-1826). It is said that he was obliged to sell Finchcocks to pay his eldest son's gambling debts. 

He died 16 January and was buried in Rochester Cathedral, 22 January 1803, where he is commemorated by a monument; his will was proved in the PCC, 1 March 1803; by this unusual document he gave all his younger sons and daughters £1000, but deducted from his sons' portions the expenses he had incurred in establishing them in a profession. His widow died 14 February 1816; her will was proved 6 March 1816.

* Some internet sources give his date of birth as 5 January 1728, but cite no authority for this.

Principal sources

Burke's Extinct and Dormant Baronetcies, 2nd edn., 1841, pp. 45-47; C. Hussey, 'Finchcocks, Goudhurst, Kent', Country Life, 12-19 April 1946;

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Finchcocks; https://crosseyedpianist.com/tag/finchcocks/; https://www.greatbritishlife.co.uk/musical-legacy-will-continue-at-finchcocks-goudhurst-7232432; https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1318935.

Location of archives

No significant accumulation is known to survive.

Coat of arms

Bathurst of Finchcocks: Sable, two bars ermine, in chief three crosses pattée or.

Can you help?

• I should be most grateful if anyone can provide photographs or portraits of people whose names appear in bold above, and who are not already illustrated. 
• Any additions or corrections to the text above will be gratefully received and incorporated. I am always particularly pleased to hear from descendants of the family who can supply information from their own research for inclusion.

Revision and acknowledgements

This post was first published 6 April 2021.