Rev John Staples HAND [360]

  General Notes:

John Staples Hand entered Kings College Cambridge, Michs 1775, aged 19, a scholar from Eton, Aug 11 1774. S. of the Rev John (Christ College Oxford). Bap 9 Aug 1756, at New Windsor Berks. Matric Michs 1775; Browne medalist (Greek Ode) 1777; BA 1779; MA 1782. Fellow 1777-99. Private tutor at Eton College c.1781-88. R. of Dunton-Waylett, Essex, 1798-1834. R. of Bulvan, 1829. Died June 11, 1834. Doubtless father of Henry G. (1828) and grandfather of the next. (Eton Coll. Reg.; Cant. Act Bk.; G. Mag., 1834, II. 441; Foster, Index Eccles.) Ref: Cambridge University Alumni, 1261-1900

Ordained Deacon 22 May 1785, ordained priest 5 Apr 1789, St Georges Chapel Windsor Castle. Rector of both Dunton Waylett, ESS 1798-1834 & of Bulphan ESS 1829. Living Billericay 1834

John Staples Hand
Death Age: 78
Birth Date: abt 1756
Death Date: abt 1834
Burial Date: 18 Jun 1834
Burial Place: St Mary DuttonEssex, England

  Research Notes:

The Hand crest is the emblem of an arm with a sword in its hand above the motto 'Dextra me vibrat' - Brandished in my right hand.

Bulphan Hall which with its grounds has been separated from the Manor, is situated near the east end of the church and Wick House, another mansion in the parish is situated on low ground a little to the east of it. The living is a rectory valued in the King's Books at L23. Patrons - trustees of J. S. HAND The tithes have been commuted for a rent charge of L405 12s subject to the payment of rates which on average amount to L84. The glebe comprises 15 acres valued at L26 5s per annum - 1848.
Ref: A Turreff.

Much of the research on the Hand = Vanderzee line has been carried out by Rosemary Flower, Genealogist & Family Historian.

  Other Records

1. John Staples Hand: Letter to George Alston re birth of Maria Hand, 11 Jan 1809.
Billericay Jan 11th 1809
Dear Sir,
Mary was safely confined on Saturday night last, and has got a daughter. They are both as well as we have any reason to expect. We should have been happy to have seen Mrs Alston upon this occasion and thought the change of scene might have diverted her attention from things past.
We write in wishing you both many returns of the season.
The two boys are both well.
I am Dear Sir,
Yours truly
J S Hand

Letter to George Alston, in Nayland, his brother-in-law, was this Maria's birth? Copy in Fenn archive 2000.
George Alston replies:
Dear Sir,
It gave us great pleasure to hear that Mrs Hand was safely confined and that yourself and children are all well.
I consider myself at your command this or any future occasion to . . . . . for the day . . . . . My dear Anne was much ill lately . . . . . were to shake off the . . . . .
This reply is in draft form illegibly written with much striking out on the back of John Hand's letter.

2. John Staples Hand: Will, 4 Dec 1833, Dunton ESS.
Will of John Staples HAND
Rector of Dunton
4 Dec 1833
The last will and Testament of the undersigned John Staples Hand Rector of Dunton in Essex in the seventy eighth year of his age the year of our Lord 1833. First I trust that my oldest son Thomas will consider the presentation to the Rectory of Bulvan in the said County with the furniture in the house and other appendages which he enjoyed early in life as a full equivalent to his share of my property except so far as the contingencies hereafter mentioned may add to it. 2ndly it is my will that the thousand pounds insured on my life in the P. . . . . [Pelican?] Insurance Office Lombard Street London and payable at my decease to my Executors Administrators or Assigns be paid to my second son George Sumner Hand and his heirs. 3rdly to my next son Henry George Fellow of Kings College Cambridge I bequeath whatever Principal Money I may have at the time of my decease in the Public Stock called Long Annuities but considering that the Interest upon that Stock will cease and determine in the year 1860 my will is that the advowson of Bulvan be sold then or at such previous time as may be found expedient or necessary for which purpose I give the said advowson to George Shaw Esq Attorney at Law in Billericay and my son Henry George Hand in trust to sell the same by Auction or otherwise and at such time as shall be thought most advisable out of the product of which sale my will is that the said George Shaw shall receive twenty pounds for his trouble over and above his charges for preparing the Title and other requisites for the sale of the nett residue is it my will that a moiety be paid to my son Henry George in compensation for the failure of his annuity at a given period. The other moiety to be paid to my son Thomas Rector of Bulvan and his heirs. 4thly I give to my son John three thousand five hundred pounds part of the Stock standing in my name in the three per cent Consolidated Annuities and his heirs for ever. 5thly I give three thousand five hundred pounds of the said last mentioned stock to my son Frederick James upon his attaining the age of twenty one years the Interest arising from the same to be applied in the meantime to his education and maintenance by my Executor hereinafter mentioned whom I also appoint his Guardian. 6thly I give to my son George and his heirs the copyhold house in which I live together with the premises and stock thereon household furniture books etc except as hereafter excepted to be let or sold as may be found most advisable but for his sole use and profit. 7thly I give to my son Thomas all my Manuscripts and paper writing of every kind which I wish him to examine with a careful eye with a view to publication if there should appear to be any such as would not disgrace the memory of the writer. As to the rest of my books considering that if sold they would not fetch their int….[intrinsic?] value I would wish them divided by agreement among my several sons somewhat in the following way. The Divinity Books to be divided between Thomas and Henry together with the works on Ancient History. George to have the Books of Modern History and such other Books English of French as he may choose Books also of Botany. John to have the Latin and Greek Classics books of . . . . . etc together with the few Medieval Books. Frederick to take all the Law Books and Englis. . . . . . [History? - too dark] with respect to the rest of the Books it is to be hoped they may be divided without difficulty as the wants or wishes of such may desire [?] them in the choice Voltaires works however as well as those of Johnson are of such superior value that they ought perhaps to be subjected to be drawn for by lot. 8thly I give to my son Thomas all my plate and plated Goods together with the knife cases provided there is no other of my sons married or near being married at the time of my decease in which case I would have them divide it as equally and fairly as possible according to value excepting the Silver Salver with the Ravensworth and Simpson arms engraven on it which I request my excellent friend Lord Ravensworth to accept as a testimony to my latest . . . . . of the sense of the favours and kindness shown to me thro' life. It may properly form an heir loom in his family. It was the gift of His Lordship on his marriage with Maria Susanna Simpson and may be a Memorial of the connection of the two families with the [Hand?] who joined them. I also request my Executor to convey with the Silver Salver the Nr. 8 Volume containing anecdotes of the Liddell family with any Letter of paper writing which may be found in it. Lastly I give to my son Thomas whom I hereby constitute and appoint the Executor of this my will all my farming stock implements of husbandry with all other chattels belonging to me or the Glebe or in the Glebe House at Dunton as also all monies in my house or in my Bankers Hands with all such as shall be due to me at the time of my decease for Tithe or arrears of Tithe Interest of Stock Annuity from Lord Ravensworth (usually considered due half yearly viz on the last day of June and the last day of December in each year) or from any source whatever. In trust to pay all my just debts dilapidations at Dunton funeral expenses taxes and other exigencies such as Servants wages to the time of their discharges and house expenses for six weeks after my decease provided it does not incur any . . . . . annual tax. Should however these funds be found contrary to all expectation insufficient for the purposes above mentioned my will is that the deficiency should be made up jointly by the different Legatees. On the contrary whatever surplus there may be it is my will that it should be retained by my Executor for his sole use and benefit. As to my funeral I wish it conducted at the least possible expense. I desire however to be buried at Dunton in the Church Yard near the East Window of the Church with the following Inscription on a small tablet placed in the wall under the window aforesaid.
Here lie
The mortal remains
Of
John Staples Hand A M
[blank] years Rector of this Parish
("Instituted AD 1798" prefaced to the above line)
who died [blank]
Zealous alive his duty to fulfill
Within these hallowed walls be still
Would willingly discharge his sacred trust
And warn his former bearers from the dust
That all who read this and grieve [?] on this stone
May never live regardless of their own
And now recommending my Spirit to Him who gave it and my surviving ffamily to that providence who notwithstanding my many great failings was ever most gracious to me thro' life. I here put my hand and seal to this my last and sole will in the year above mentioned
John Staples Hand Decr 4. 1833 -
Signed sealed and delivered by the Testator John Staples Hand as his will in presence of us who at his request in his presence and in the presence of each other have subscribed our names as witnesses Jas Blatch Edwd Woodard Clerks to Mr Shaw Billericay Essex George Clover Burgess Billericay.
Proved at London on 7^th July 1834 before the worshipful John Danbury Dr of Laws and Surrogate by the Oath of the Revd Thomas Hand Clerk the son the sole Executor to whom admon was granted being first sworn duly to adm^r.
Transcribed Rosie Flower 2008

John married Mary VANDERZEE [353] [MRIN: 73], daughter of James VANDERZEE [126] and Philadelphia MEAD [1041], on 25 Aug 1802 in St Mary the Virgin Prittlewell ESS. (Mary VANDERZEE [353] was baptised on 19 Apr 1773 in St Mary Magdaline Gt Burstead ESS, died in 1829 and was buried on 5 Jul 1829 in Gt Burstead ESS Churchyard.)