Rev Vincent Knottesford FORTESCUE [14683]

  General Notes:

A BABY ARRIVES
Nov. 13th, at Alveston Manor House, Bridgtown, Stratford-on-Avon, the wife of the Rev. E.B.K. Fortescue, vicar of Wilmcote, of a son.
Worcestershire Chronicle, 21st November, 1849, page 5,

Fortescue, Vincent Knottesford, 5s. Edward Bowles, of Stratford-on-Avon, co. Warwick, cler. Exeter Coll., matric. 15 Oct., 1869, aged 20; of Emanuel Coll., Cambridge, B.A. 1874, M.A. 1878. See Fosters Peerage, B. Clermont.
Oxford University Alumni, 1500-1886

DEATH OF CANON FORTESCUE
RECTOR OF CORLEY SINCE 1906
SENIOR PRIEST CANON OF COVENTRY CATHEDRAL
The death occurred at Corley Rectory, on Friday last week, of Canon Fortescue, who had been Rector of Corley since 1906. Although he had been more or less of an invalid for some time past, he only took to his bed on the Monday prior to his death.
Canon Vincent Knottesford Fortescue, who was born on November 15, 1849, was the fifth son of the Very Rev. Edward Bowles Knottesford Fortescue, of Alveston Manor, Stratford-on-Avon, who married in 1838, as his first wife, Miss Frances Anne Spooner, fourth daughter of the Rev. William Spooner, Rector of Sheldon¹ and for many years Archdeacon of Coventry.
Canon Fortescue studied at a private school prior to proceeding to Emmanuel College, Cambridge, whence he took a B.A. degree in 1873. It was not until 1877, however, that the late Bishop Edward Harold Browne, of Winchester, ordained him deacon, licensing him to a curacy at Andover. The following year he came into Warwickshire as curate of All Saints, Leamington, where he served under the Hon. and Rev. James Wentworth Leigh (uncle of the present Lord Leigh, Lord Lieutenant of Warwickshire), who later in life became Dean of Hereford. In 1880, Mr. Fortescue left Leamington in order to undertake curate's duties at Stratford-on-Avon, under the Rev. George Arbuthnot, who was afterwards Archdeacon of Coventry. Sherbourne, near Warwick, was his next and final curacy, as in 1884 the late Bishop Henry Philpott, of Worcester, conferred upon him the Rectory of Bubbenhall.
FORMER RECTOR OF BUBBENHALL
Canon Fortescue spent a very busy life at Bubbenhall. He was elected to represent the parish on the Warwick Board of Guardians on the passing of the Local Government Act of 1894, and for some years held the position of vice-chairman. In 1902 he was appointed a Church of England representative on the Warwickshire County Education Committee and became one of the most zealous workers in connection with county education. From 1891 to 1903 he did excellent work as an Assistant Inspector of Schools for Worcester Diocese. His manifold activities at Bubbenhall came to a termination in 1906, when the living of Corley becoming vacant through the resignation of the late Rev. C. C. Hamilton, he was offered the benefice by the late Major F. Hood-Gregory, of Stjvichall Hall, and accepted it. He was the senior priest Canon of Coventry Cathedral, and for about 20 years he had been a Governor of the Rev. Nicholas Chamberlaine Foundation at Bedworth.
On August 2^nd, 1881, Canon Fortescue married Miss Elizabeth Anne Roberts-West, only daughter of the late Mr. James Roberts-West, of Alscot Park, near Stratford-on-Avon, High Sheriff of Warwickshire in 1845. Mrs. Fortescue's mother was a daughter of the late Mr. Joseph Moore Boultbee, of Springfield, Knowle, her grandmother being, before her marriage, Lady Elizabeth Townshend, third daughter of the Marquess Townshend. In August last, Canon and Mrs. Fortescue celebrated their Golden Wedding.
MEMORIAL SERVICE
On Sunday evening the Rev. Dr. J. N. Frankland (Headmaster of Bablake School, Coventry) conducted a memorial service in Corley Church, at which Mrs. Fortescue was present. Dr Frankland, in a tribute to the late Rector, said that he had known Canon Fortescue for thirteen years. and during that time he had found him good-hearted, loyal, generous, and very self-sacrificing.
During the. service the coffin rested in the church, where it remained throughout the night. In the morning it was conveyed to the grounds of the Rectory, where it was met by a guard of honour composed of children of Corley Church School and their headmistress, Miss U. Sutton.
1. Correction Rev Spooner was a Rector of Elmdon
The Coventry Herald, February 12^th, 1932, page 3, column 1

DEATH OF REV. V. KNOTTESFORD FORTESCUE
CANON OF COVENTRY
Canon Fortescue, the senior priest canon of Coventry Cathedral, died at his residence, Corley Rectory, on Friday last week.
Canon Vincent Knottesford Fortescue, who was in his eighty-third year, was appointed rector of Bubbenhall, near Coventry, in 1884. There he remained for twenty-two years. He represented his parish on the Warwick Board of Guardians and was for some years vice-chairman of that body. His interest in educational matters led to his appointment, in 1902, as Church of England representative on the Warwickshire Education Committee.
In 1906 he moved to Corley, and four years later was made a canon of Coventry Cathedral, becoming senior priest canon.
Canon Fortescue married in 1881 Elizabeth Anne Roberts-West, the only daughter of Mr James Roberts-West, of Alscot Park, Stratford-on-Avon, and last year they celebrated their golden wedding.
The funeral took place at Preston-on-Stour, near Stratford, on Monday. The Bishop of Coventry, Canon Melville, the Rev. J.M. Fortescue, of Wilmcote, and Dr J.N. Frankland, head master of Bablake School, officiated.
The Coventry Herald, 13^th February, 1932, page 6

FUNERAL AT PRESTON-ON-STOUR
BISHOP OF COVENTRY PRESENT
The funeral took place at Preston-on-Stour, near Stratford-on-Avon, on Monday morning. The Bishop of Coventry (Dr Mervyn Haigh) was present, and the Rev. Dr Frankland conducted the burial service. Other clergy present were . . . and the Rev. Knottesford Fortescue (Vicar of Wilmcote, Stratford-on-Avon). There then follows a list of those who attended, and after that a list of the floral tributes. These included: the Widow: Clare and Adrian: Olive, Bill, Gilly and Mike: Reggie and Baba . . . .

The coffin, which was plain Warwickshire oak, had a wooden cross that extended the whole length of the lid and bore the inscription: "Vincent Knottesford Fortescue, February 5^th, 1932".

Ref: Dr Stanley Lapidge - 2018

Fortescue the Rev Canon Vincent Knottesford otherwise Vincent of the Rectory Corley near Coventry clerk died 5 Feb 1932 Probate London 23 Mar 1932 to Elizabeth Anne Fortescue widow Effects £436 11s 1d
National Probate Calendar

  Other Records

1. Census: Scotland, 1871, 60 Athole St Perth PER. Vincent is recorded as a son aged 21 a student born England

2. Census: England, 5 Apr 1891, Bubbenhall Warwickshire. Vincent is recorded as head of house married age 41 a Clerk in Holy Orders the Rector of Bubbenhall born Alveston WAR

3. Census: England, 2 Apr 1911, Corley Warwickshire. Vincent is recorded as head of house married age 61 a Clerk in Holy Orders the Rector of Corley born Alveston WAR

4. Vincent K Fortescue: Letter to Edward H T Liveing, 27 Feb 1925, Gorley Rectory.
Liveing Archive 272 a-b

Gorley Rectory
Coventry
27 February 1925

My Dear Cousin
Your brother Henry told me some time ago that you had a collection of things in connection with the "Downing" family. My father & eldest brother (Edward) had I liken a good number of books which had belonged to that family, but unfortunately some years ago (1886) under somewhat painful circumstances this library had to be sold \endash at my father's death, my brother gave me some of the books out of the library amongst which was a Greek Testament . . . . . which had formerly belonged to George Downing \endash this was I presume a GD who was Prebendary of Ely and Rector of Ovington and in the family my grandmother Maria Downing and your great great-grandfather. This . . . . . the only books which I have on Downing family.
I am sending it to you by the post and it will be more at home amongst your relics of the family van in my bookshelf stop I can't say I have ever read this particular copy as I always used another [?].
My sister in law my brother Edward's widow . . . . . with me this week [?] . . . . . we shall be delighted to see you during . . . . here (Alveston Manor near Stratford on Avon) & would take her over to see my (D. . . . . ) Portraits that mother (his son) has at Wilmcote (he a vicar of Wilmcote) and would put him up if possible
she seemed as to have only one Downing picture at the Manor House \endash a fair lady at the . . . . but the portrait which would interest you . . . . . . Alveston Manor is exactly opposite one end of the bridge at Stratford . . . .
Yr afft cousin
Vincent Fortescue
Vincent's writing is more like shorthand the transcriber has done his best, what do you think?

Vincent married Elizabeth Anne ROBERTS WEST [14693] [MRIN: 5215], daughter of James ROBERTS WEST [29254] and Elizabeth BOULTBEE [29255], on 2 Aug 1881 in St Mary Preston on Stour GLS. (Elizabeth Anne ROBERTS WEST [14693] was born in Apr 1847 in Preston-on-Stour GLS and died on 11 Jun 1836 in Coventry ENG.)