The Betham family of Suffolk
Rev William Betham married Mary Damart
born 17 May 1749 (OS) July 1775 born circa 1754
Little Strickland, Westmoreland Stradbrooke
died 27 Oct 1839 died 21 Jul 1839 (85)
Westerfield Westerfield
William Betham born circa 1744 was educated at Bampton school. He took Holy orders and
was ordained by Dr Green, Bishop of Lincoln in 1771 and was Chaplin to the Duke of Ancaster.
He was successively curate of Keswick in Cumberland and Haseby in Lincolnshire before getting
the curacy of Stradbroke in Suffolk, a deeply pauperised parish. He married Mary Damant,
daughter of William Damant of Eye in the County of Suffolk at Stradbrook in July 1775. Mary
was the widow of Captain Whitelock Planck of the Hon East India Company (HEICS). They had 8
sons and 6 daughters. With an increasing family and only a small income, the family had sold
off the family plate to maintain the family. Rev William was the author of 'The Genealogical Tables
of the Sovereigns of the World' published in 1795 and ‘The Baronetage of England’. He
collaborated on the 'History of Suffolk' published in 1813. The Bethams considered themselves
to be descended from the ancient family of De Betham of Betham, in the county of
Westmoreland where they had settled from the time of the conquest. William was appointed the
principal of the Stonham Free Grammar school in 1785 on a salary of £70 pa giving instruction in
Latin, Greek classics, writing, drawing and mathematics. That same year he received the curacy of
Stonham which gave him a further £50 pa. He resigned as principal of the school in 1833 when he
was eventually instituted to the rectory of Stoke Lacy aged 84. The Bethams were proud of their
longevity. William's father was born in 1697 and died in 1784 aged 86 and his grandfather was
born in 1653 and died in 1722. Mary died 21 Jul 1839 aged 85 and Rev William died 27 Oct 1839 aged
91 both at Westerfield near Ipswich, the home of their daughter Barbara.
1 Matilda Mary Betham, eldest daughter born circa 1776 was baptised at Stonham Aspall on
1 Jan 1777. She was a poet, authoress and miniature portrait painter. She was a sickly child
and educated at home. She spend time with her uncle Edward Beetham, who changed the
spelling of his name following a row with his father. He joined a travelling theatre company,
eloped and married Isabella Robinson in 1774. Isabella became a very successful miniature
portrait painter and encouraged Matilda. In 1797, Matilda published ‘Elegies and other small
poems’ and a ‘Biographical Dictionary of Celebrated Women of every age and century’
followed in 1804. The lay of Maria her most famous
poem was published in 1815 and in 1818 Vignettes was published which included a elegy for
her brother Edward who was lost at sea. She was put in a mental asylum by her family in
1819 but released the following year and moved to London withholding her address from
her family, who she blamed on her institutionalisation without examination or treatment. She
died a spinster 30 Sep 1852 at Burton Street, London aged 76.
At Stonham, at London, in Erin’s green isle
At six let us drink to the health of our sire
Whose shield has been patience, who thanks are a smile
And whose praise is the love he must always inspire.
Written by Matilda for her father’s 84th birthday.
2 Sir William Betham
3 Charles Thomas Betham second son married Elizabeth Mickleburgh on 3 Oct 1811 at Stonham.
He died 23 Sep 1841 at Simpheropal in Crim Tartary.
4 Mary Betham born circa 1783 died at Englefield Road Islington, the last surviving daughter in
her 85th year on 5 Dec 1868.
5 Ann Betham, third daughter baptised 4 Mar 1785 married Captain George Norman of the 9th
Regiment, Native Infantry, HEICS and second son of John Norman of St Margaret’s Southelmham.
George was the Persian interpreter of the Hyderbad Subsidiary Force and a member of the
Asiatic Society. He was in the process of translating the Gospels into Persian when he died
23 Aug 1829 at Secunderabad in India aged 41. Anne died at Lower Mount Street 28 Mar 1833.
6 John Betham, fourth son baptised 8 Sep 1786 at Stonham joined the HEICS. He was a boat master,
coroner and police magistrate at Madras. He suffered a mutiny aboard his ship the Benson, when
the crew downed tools and his passengers had to perform the duties in their stead. In 1831 he
was a lottery winner in Madras, his prize money was 20,000 rupees. He married Sarah Nicholls,
third daughter of P Nicholls on 18 Sep 1833 at Yelverton. John of the Indian Navy died after a
severe and painful illness of a number of weeks on 23 Jan 1835 at his house in Upper Norton
Street, London.
1 John Elwin Betham married Sibylla Harriette, second daughter of Edward Edwards of
Westerfield Hall on 5 Jan 1853 at Bombay.
7 Edward Betham baptised 12 Feb 1790 at Stonham joined the East India Company and was onboard
the Duchess of Gordon which sank off the coast of Good Hope circa 1809.
8 Elizabeth Betham, fourth daughter baptised at Stonham on 7 Jan 1793 died at Stradbrook House
on 6 Jan 1835 from Typhus.
9 Robert Graham Betham baptised 8 Jun 1788 at Stonham married Mary Abbott in 1815. He was
appointed Master Attendant at Negapatan on the Coromadel Coast in May 1820. He died on
17 May 1820 at Negapatan. His wife had set sail from the Downs to join him but her ship was
detained at Plymouth. Mary secondly married E J Pasquier at Ipswich in July 1822.
1 Edward Graham Betham only son born circa 1816 died at Charter House Street in
December 1837.
10 Captain George Betham Commander of the Partridge and the Asia was bankrupt in 1822. He was
with HEICS and a master mariner. He died of Cholera at Calcutta.
11 Frederick Betham seventh son baptised 13 Jul 1791 married Keziah Pashley on 26 Oct 1815 at
Stonham. He died 20 Apr 1841 aged 50 at his residence Arkley Hall, Barnet in Herts.
1 Theresa Betham, eldest daughter died at Islington on 19 Nov 1851.
2 Amuria Mary Betham married Graham William Betham Edwards of Witnesham at St
Barnabas Church, King’s Square, London on 12 Sep 1861.
3 Alfred William Betham, youngest son married Alfreda Eliza Edwards, youngest daughter of
Edward Edwards of Arkley Hall, Barnet of Westerfield, Suffolk on 25 Jul 1861 at St John
Street Chapel Bedford Row.
12 Alfred Betham youngest son baptised 11 Jun 1795 at Stonham was an agent for the British Empire
Life Assurance Loan Pension and Endowment Company and also worked at Dublin Castle,
transcribing and copying material for his brother William. He died 10 Apr 1841 at Bethampton,
Rathgar Road aged 44. His wife Eliza died at Blackrock 28 Oct 1864.
13 Emma Betham baptised at Stonham Aspall 8 May 1797 died 26 Jan 1863 at 22 Burton Crescent,
London.
14 Barbara Betham, youngest daughter baptised 7 Aug 1799 married Edward Edwards of Westerfield
Hall, near Ipswich. Barbara died July 1848 and Edward died 5 Dec 1864.
1 Matilda Betham Edwards published A winter with the Swallows in 1866.
2 Sibylla Harriette Edwards, second daughter married John Elwin Betham at Bombay on
5 Jan 1853.
3 Graham Betham Edwards married Amuria Mary Betham at St Barnabas Church, King’s
Square, London on 12 Sep 1861.
4 Alfreda Eliza Edwards, youngest daughter married Alfred William Betham, youngest son
of Edward Edwards of Arkley Hall, Barnet of Westerfield, Suffolk on 25 Jul 1861 at St John
Street Chapel Bedford Row.
5 Burton Fitz-Roger Betham second surviving son married Marianne second daughter of
the late George Gale of Rushmore Hall, Suffolk on 17 Mar 1866 at St Paul’s Church, Islington.
© June Bow & Karen Poff – January 2019
Rev William Betham married Mary Damart
born 17 May 1749 (OS) July 1775 born circa 1754
Little Strickland, Westmoreland Stradbrooke
died 27 Oct 1839 died 21 Jul 1839 (85)
Westerfield Westerfield
William Betham born circa 1744 was educated at Bampton school. He took Holy orders and
was ordained by Dr Green, Bishop of Lincoln in 1771 and was Chaplin to the Duke of Ancaster.
He was successively curate of Keswick in Cumberland and Haseby in Lincolnshire before getting
the curacy of Stradbroke in Suffolk, a deeply pauperised parish. He married Mary Damant,
daughter of William Damant of Eye in the County of Suffolk at Stradbrook in July 1775. Mary
was the widow of Captain Whitelock Planck of the Hon East India Company (HEICS). They had 8
sons and 6 daughters. With an increasing family and only a small income, the family had sold
off the family plate to maintain the family. Rev William was the author of 'The Genealogical Tables
of the Sovereigns of the World' published in 1795 and ‘The Baronetage of England’. He
collaborated on the 'History of Suffolk' published in 1813. The Bethams considered themselves
to be descended from the ancient family of De Betham of Betham, in the county of
Westmoreland where they had settled from the time of the conquest. William was appointed the
principal of the Stonham Free Grammar school in 1785 on a salary of £70 pa giving instruction in
Latin, Greek classics, writing, drawing and mathematics. That same year he received the curacy of
Stonham which gave him a further £50 pa. He resigned as principal of the school in 1833 when he
was eventually instituted to the rectory of Stoke Lacy aged 84. The Bethams were proud of their
longevity. William's father was born in 1697 and died in 1784 aged 86 and his grandfather was
born in 1653 and died in 1722. Mary died 21 Jul 1839 aged 85 and Rev William died 27 Oct 1839 aged
91 both at Westerfield near Ipswich, the home of their daughter Barbara.
1 Matilda Mary Betham, eldest daughter born circa 1776 was baptised at Stonham Aspall on
1 Jan 1777. She was a poet, authoress and miniature portrait painter. She was a sickly child
and educated at home. She spend time with her uncle Edward Beetham, who changed the
spelling of his name following a row with his father. He joined a travelling theatre company,
eloped and married Isabella Robinson in 1774. Isabella became a very successful miniature
portrait painter and encouraged Matilda. In 1797, Matilda published ‘Elegies and other small
poems’ and a ‘Biographical Dictionary of Celebrated Women of every age and century’
followed in 1804. The lay of Maria her most famous
poem was published in 1815 and in 1818 Vignettes was published which included a elegy for
her brother Edward who was lost at sea. She was put in a mental asylum by her family in
1819 but released the following year and moved to London withholding her address from
her family, who she blamed on her institutionalisation without examination or treatment. She
died a spinster 30 Sep 1852 at Burton Street, London aged 76.
At Stonham, at London, in Erin’s green isle
At six let us drink to the health of our sire
Whose shield has been patience, who thanks are a smile
And whose praise is the love he must always inspire.
Written by Matilda for her father’s 84th birthday.
2 Sir William Betham
3 Charles Thomas Betham second son married Elizabeth Mickleburgh on 3 Oct 1811 at Stonham.
He died 23 Sep 1841 at Simpheropal in Crim Tartary.
4 Mary Betham born circa 1783 died at Englefield Road Islington, the last surviving daughter in
her 85th year on 5 Dec 1868.
5 Ann Betham, third daughter baptised 4 Mar 1785 married Captain George Norman of the 9th
Regiment, Native Infantry, HEICS and second son of John Norman of St Margaret’s Southelmham.
George was the Persian interpreter of the Hyderbad Subsidiary Force and a member of the
Asiatic Society. He was in the process of translating the Gospels into Persian when he died
23 Aug 1829 at Secunderabad in India aged 41. Anne died at Lower Mount Street 28 Mar 1833.
6 John Betham, fourth son baptised 8 Sep 1786 at Stonham joined the HEICS. He was a boat master,
coroner and police magistrate at Madras. He suffered a mutiny aboard his ship the Benson, when
the crew downed tools and his passengers had to perform the duties in their stead. In 1831 he
was a lottery winner in Madras, his prize money was 20,000 rupees. He married Sarah Nicholls,
third daughter of P Nicholls on 18 Sep 1833 at Yelverton. John of the Indian Navy died after a
severe and painful illness of a number of weeks on 23 Jan 1835 at his house in Upper Norton
Street, London.
1 John Elwin Betham married Sibylla Harriette, second daughter of Edward Edwards of
Westerfield Hall on 5 Jan 1853 at Bombay.
7 Edward Betham baptised 12 Feb 1790 at Stonham joined the East India Company and was onboard
the Duchess of Gordon which sank off the coast of Good Hope circa 1809.
8 Elizabeth Betham, fourth daughter baptised at Stonham on 7 Jan 1793 died at Stradbrook House
on 6 Jan 1835 from Typhus.
9 Robert Graham Betham baptised 8 Jun 1788 at Stonham married Mary Abbott in 1815. He was
appointed Master Attendant at Negapatan on the Coromadel Coast in May 1820. He died on
17 May 1820 at Negapatan. His wife had set sail from the Downs to join him but her ship was
detained at Plymouth. Mary secondly married E J Pasquier at Ipswich in July 1822.
1 Edward Graham Betham only son born circa 1816 died at Charter House Street in
December 1837.
10 Captain George Betham Commander of the Partridge and the Asia was bankrupt in 1822. He was
with HEICS and a master mariner. He died of Cholera at Calcutta.
11 Frederick Betham seventh son baptised 13 Jul 1791 married Keziah Pashley on 26 Oct 1815 at
Stonham. He died 20 Apr 1841 aged 50 at his residence Arkley Hall, Barnet in Herts.
1 Theresa Betham, eldest daughter died at Islington on 19 Nov 1851.
2 Amuria Mary Betham married Graham William Betham Edwards of Witnesham at St
Barnabas Church, King’s Square, London on 12 Sep 1861.
3 Alfred William Betham, youngest son married Alfreda Eliza Edwards, youngest daughter of
Edward Edwards of Arkley Hall, Barnet of Westerfield, Suffolk on 25 Jul 1861 at St John
Street Chapel Bedford Row.
12 Alfred Betham youngest son baptised 11 Jun 1795 at Stonham was an agent for the British Empire
Life Assurance Loan Pension and Endowment Company and also worked at Dublin Castle,
transcribing and copying material for his brother William. He died 10 Apr 1841 at Bethampton,
Rathgar Road aged 44. His wife Eliza died at Blackrock 28 Oct 1864.
13 Emma Betham baptised at Stonham Aspall 8 May 1797 died 26 Jan 1863 at 22 Burton Crescent,
London.
14 Barbara Betham, youngest daughter baptised 7 Aug 1799 married Edward Edwards of Westerfield
Hall, near Ipswich. Barbara died July 1848 and Edward died 5 Dec 1864.
1 Matilda Betham Edwards published A winter with the Swallows in 1866.
2 Sibylla Harriette Edwards, second daughter married John Elwin Betham at Bombay on
5 Jan 1853.
3 Graham Betham Edwards married Amuria Mary Betham at St Barnabas Church, King’s
Square, London on 12 Sep 1861.
4 Alfreda Eliza Edwards, youngest daughter married Alfred William Betham, youngest son
of Edward Edwards of Arkley Hall, Barnet of Westerfield, Suffolk on 25 Jul 1861 at St John
Street Chapel Bedford Row.
5 Burton Fitz-Roger Betham second surviving son married Marianne second daughter of
the late George Gale of Rushmore Hall, Suffolk on 17 Mar 1866 at St Paul’s Church, Islington.
© June Bow & Karen Poff – January 2019