Rev John Robert SMYTHIES [21443]

  General Notes:

John Robert. Smythies College: EMMANUEL Entered: Michs. 1797 BORN: 21 Oct 1778 Died: 24 Mar 1852 Adm. pens. at EMMANUEL, Dec. 5, 1796. Eldest s. of the Rev. John (1752). B. Oct. 21, 1778. School, Rugby. Matric. Michs. 1797; B.A. 1801. Ord. deacon (London) Dec. 20, 1801; priest, Dec. 19, 1802. V. of St Mary Magdalene, Colchester (succeeding his father), 1816-52, and Master of King James's Hospital. One of the founders of the Royal Agricultural Society. Of Lynch Court, Herefordshire and of Grey Friar's House, Colchester. Died Mar. 24, 1852; buried in St James's, Colchester. M.I. Father of John K. (1827) and Edward (1837). (Rugby Sch. Reg.; Clergy List; G. Mag., 1852, I. 528.)Ref: Cambridge University Alumni, 1261-1900

John was educated at Rugby School, B.A. 1801 Emmanuelle College Cambridge; succeeded his father as Rector of St Mary Magdalene, Colchester, and Master of King James Hospital; private chaplain to HRH the Duke of Sussex; one of the founders of the Royal Agricultural Society.
Ref: http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com~tqpeiffer/Documents/Surnames/MMPS/Smythes/SMYTHES-%20Source%20Docs/SmythesRecordsoftheSymthiesFamily.pdf

In 1831 the Attorney General filed an action against Smythies as Master of the Hospital challenging his entitlement to the profits some L239 and dividends on L4754 of the Hospital, the court found against Smythies. However on appeal to the Lord Chancellor this ruling was overturned.
John Smythies is mentioned in an auction notice by Shuttleworth and sons as being in tenancy at Grey Friars Colchester until Michaelmas (September 29) 1848.
Ref: Grey Friars - Colchesters Forgotton Corner by Gurney & Skinner 2014.

John and his family lived much of their time after about 1820 at The Lynch Eardisland HEF, a property his wife had inherited. He was a successful breeder of Herefordshire cattle and an innovator in agriculture at that time
Ref: The Longcrofts by James Phillips-Evans

John Robert Smythies, was the author of " Thoughts on the Agricultural Question," contained in a letter to the Prime Minister Lord Liverpool (London, 1820). He is also one of the figures represented in the picture, by Ansdell, of "The Country Meeting of the Royal Agricultural Society of England " meeting in Bristol 1842. engraved by S. W. Reynolds, and published by Thomas Agnew at Manchester in 1813.
The document appointing John Robert Smythies Chaplain to H.R.H. the Duke of Sussex was in possession of his son John Kinnersley Smythies in 1880.
A miniature portrait of John Robert Smythies is in possession of his great-granddaughter Miss Mary Peachey.
Ref: http://archive.org/stream/recordsofsmythie00smyt/recordsofsmythie00smyt_djvu.txt Pg47

Shooting Accident
It is our painful and melancholy duty to record a distressing accident from shooting. On Monday the Rev Mr Smythies, of Lynch Court, near Leominster, was shooting in the parish of Shell, in this county, accompanied by his son and Mr Bearcroft, of Mee-Hall; and from what we have been enabled to learn, it appears that the elder Mr Smythies had shot a bird, and whilst proceeding to pick up his game was followed in a direct line by his son, whose gun accidentally went off and lodged the whole charge between the shoulders of the unfortunate gentleman who fell instantly. The agony caused by this lamentable accident is inconceivable. Expressions were sent off for medical advice from Droitwich, and although the wound is represented as being of a very serious nature, yet the report yesterday was a favourable one.
Ref: Berrow's Worcester Journal (Worcester, England), Thursday, September 15, 1836; Issue 6981.

His will, dated 31st of March 1851 with a codicil was proved in the PCC to October 1852.

  Research Notes:

Image Courtesy of "Records of the Smythies Family" by R H Raymond Smithies 1912

  Other Records

1. Census: England, 30 Mar 1851, Grey Frairs East Hill Colchester ESS. John is recorded as head of house married aged 72 a Magistrate and Rector St Mary Magdalene born Colchester ESS

John married Elizabeth KINNERSLEY [21444] [MRIN: 7715], daughter of George KINNERSLEY of Stepney [22230] and Sarah COOPER [31072], on 11 Nov 1805 in St John Hampstead MDX. (Elizabeth KINNERSLEY [21444] was born on 8 Dec 1783, baptised on 14 Dec 1783 in St Anne Westminster LND, died on 20 Aug 1852 and was buried in St James Colchester ESS.)