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I am intrigued and puzzled

duckweed

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I have been searching the Blythe family, famous for their 2 bishops Geoffrey Bishop of Litchfield and Coventry, and John Bishop of Salisbury. Now I've found a 3rd Bishop Blythe!! Robert Blythe Bishop of Down and later sufflicant Bishop of Ely. Listed in the list of Cambridge academics it say he was brother to John Blythe (but doesn't mention Geoffrey) Other sources say he came from Norton, same parish and then 2 sources claim he is from Norton Lees. My problem is that none of my previous sources have mentioned a third bishop and you'd think they would, wouldn't you? He was originally Abbot of Darley Abbey, which is Derbyshire so he definitely started in same county. But he isn't named as an executor in any of the families wills and he was the last to die as he died in 1547. What do you think? Someone found another Blythe from Derbyshire and leapt to conclusions or have I found a genuine third Brother Bishop? My other sources say of a Roger who died without children. Could he have been Robert not Roger. I have no record of a Roger buried in Norton church in the family vault. Robert was buried elsewhere like the other Blythe Bishops. I haven't found any baptisms early enough for any of the Bishops. Anyone know where to look for the biography of Robert Blythe?
 

crankypants

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Hi Duckweed

Sorry if you already have these details, hope it helps, doesn't mention a Robert.

The Leeds Mercury (Leeds, England), Saturday, November 24, 1894; Issue 17672.
Some Old Yorkshire Divines.
Blythe Geoffrey, LL.D., son of William Blythe, of
Norton, near Sheffield, by a sister of Archbishop Rother-
ham, was born at Norton, and was brother to John
Blythe, Bishop of Salisbury, and master of King’s Hall,
Cambridge. Geoffrey Blythe was educated at Eton,
and elected to King’s College in 1483. He afterwards
proceeded to the degrees of LL.D., &c. In April 1493,
he became Prebendary of Strensall in the Church of
York, and in May following was collated to the Arch-
Deaconry of Cleveland. In April, 1496, he was ordained
priest, and in May following admitted Dean of York.
He was appointed master of King’s Hall in February,
1498, and was collated to the Archdeaconry of Sarum
in August, 1499. In 1502 he was sent on a special
embassy to the King of Hungary, and on his return
was appointed Bishop of Litchfield and Coventry, the
temporalities being restored to him in September, 1503.
In 1512 he was appointed Lord-President of Wales,
continuing in that office till 1524; and he resigned the
mastership of King’s Hall in 1528. He is said to have
died at London about 1530, and was buried at Lich-
field, before the image of St. Chad; a noble monu-
ment to his memory has been long destroyed. Bishop
Blythe in his lifetime built fair houses for the choristers
Of Lichfield Cathedral; also a chapel at Norton, in
which he erected an alabaster tomb for his parents, and
established a charity. He, with his Dean and Chapter,
collected all the statutes of the Cathedral of Lichfield,
and got the same confirmed by Cardinal Wolsey, as
Legate, in 1526. For additional particulars see Wood’s
“Athenae Oxon,” by Bliss; Cooper’s “Athenae
Cantab,” and Stephen’s “Dict. Of Nat. Biog.,” & c.
His brother, John Blythe, of Norton, near Sheffield,
Was Prebendary of York, and Archdeacon of Richmond,
Yorkshire; and afterwards Bishop of Salisbury. See
“Dict. Of Nat. Biog.,” &c.
Blythe Samuel, D.D,., Master of Clare Hall, now
College Cambridge (from 1678 to 1713), was born at
Doncaster, and there baptised, February 8th, 1635-6;
admitted of Clare Hall, Cambridge, as subsizar, April
17th, 1652, elected a Fellow and tutor in 1657; and
master of that college in 1678. In which office he con-
tinued until his death, on the 19th of April, 1713. He
also held the Rectory of Newtown, a very valuable
living in Cambridgeshire., in the gift of the Bishop of
Ely. He was not an author, and the college does not
possess any portrait of him. He was buried in the
Church of St. Edward, Cambridge, where there is a
marble monument, bearing a long Latin inscription
to his memory, a duplicate of which is in Clare Chapel,
By his will he bequeathed 6,000p to his college, the
income whereof was to be laid out in the purchase of
perpetual advowsons for the Fellows. Upon his monu-
ment is a shield with arms, “Argent, a chevron,
gules, between three lions rampant, sable,” surmounted
by the armorial bearings of his college. Dr. Blythe,
or Blyth, had five brothers – John Blyth, of Doncaster,
Alderman, and haberdasher, elected Mayor, September
25th, 1684; Richard Blyth, butler of Clare Hall
(executor of the doctor’s will, dated April 18th, 1713):
Daniel Blyth, probably the person who was admitted
subsizar of Clare Hall, July 1st, 1654: Thomas and
James, and a sister Mary, the wife of John Briggs, of
of Doncaster, Alderman. His nephew, John Blyth, son
of his brother of that name, was baptised at Doncaster,
September 12th, 1666; admitted sizar of Clare Hall,
Cambridge, July 6th, 1682, B.A. 1687, M.A. 1691, and
Fellow of the college 1689. Dr. Blythe’s father was
Samuel Blyth, of Doncaster, who was there buried as
“Clarke.” i.e.. probably parish clerk, Jjune 11th, 1674:
and administration to whom was granted to Lettice,
his widow, September 10th 1674. See Hunter’s “South
Yorkshire,” and “Yorkshire Diaries,” published by
Surtees Society, vol. 65. &c. The present Master of
Clare College, Cambridge, the Rev.Edw. Atkinson,
D.D., is also a Yorkshireman, and was educated at the
Leeds Grammar School; and the Rev. Matthew Wilkin-
son, D.D., also of Clare College, Cambridge, late Head
Master of Marlborough College, and formerly Master
of Huddersfield and Kensington Grammar Schools, was
also a Yorkshireman, and educated at the Leeds Gram-
mar School, both being natives of Leeds.

cheers
crankypants
 

duckweed

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#3
No I hadn't seen that. I knew of Samuel but not what relationship he was. The doncaster branch come from Thomas Blythe brother to the bishops. His son Geoffrey was executor for his uncle Geoffrey's will. That article gives me more detail of the Doncaster branch. Doesn't mention Robert Blythe there. I have found mention of Robert in an 1858 book Athenae Cantabrigienes and it says he came from Norton. Another record from Cambridge University records also put him from Norton. Some IGI records says he is from Norton Lees but as they also say he married when he quite clearly did not and say John junior was his son when he was quite clearly his nephew I can't take them as a good source.
 

duckweed

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Its really interesting Cranky Pants as it seems I've found a part of history with your help that is unreported and yet evident. Robert is a Blythe but not another brother but a cousin. When you consider Eton at the time only took 20 boys, it must have been full of Blythes.
 
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Hello
I have a book called "Notes on The Yorkshire Branch of The Family Blyth of Norton Lees by LGM Praeger published in 1912. I shall read it and see if there is anything to add. My father is a "Blyth" and decended from this branch of the family.
Wendy
 

duckweed

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Oh Yes Please. I was told by another Blythe descendant there was a book about the Blythe family. There is a book called Chantry Land written by Harold Armitage in about 1905 that mentions some facts about the Blythes. It was reprinted about 10 years ago so there are a few copies around. I bought one when they came out. In the book it says one Blythe family member was eaten by cannibals!! Any information about Norton Lees born Blythes would be especially welcome, even family legends.
 
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I have found this in the book which may be of interest.

"William Blythe had five sons. As to the names of these sons, as also to the biographical details concerning them most of the authorities are agreed; but their order in age is variously given. That which the present writer believes to be the correct order is:- (1) Richard, (2) John, (3) Roger, (4) Geoffrey, (5) Thomas, and in this order they will here be considered ............ It is probable that all five boys received their early education at Beauchief Abbey, which is only about two miles from Norton, and at Norton Grammar School, where also their uncle, Archbishop Rotheram was educated. The Wooley manuscripts in the British Museum, mention Norton, the two Bishops Blythe - John and Geoffrey - and Beauchief Abbey."

The book also suggests that Roger died young and mentions a little about Richard and Thomas, Richard was the progenitor of the branch of the family known as the "Birchett Blythes" and Thomas married the heiress Alice Skellowes and had five sons and a daughter.

This little book is really quite interesting. Only 100 copies were published. I also have a pedigree which goes back an incredibly long way.

I am sure I have a lot of other things I could share with you but it is difficult to know where to start.

Incidentally, my father (who was a scrivener for the College of Heralds) re-instated the Blyth of Norton Lees grant of arms which were confiscated I believe because a Blyth refused to fight in some battle. I am a bit hazy about this but I will check with my father.
 

duckweed

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You have a fascinating family. Who I am really interested in are the early Norton Lees family. In particular pre 1630s though interesting direct descendants are good too. What I am trying to do is add extra interest to the story of the owners of Bishops House which is currently under threat due to spending cuts. I feel the story of the Blythe family is not only interesting but important to Tudor History as well as later Jacobean and the English Civil War. 4 Bishops being connected, the first professor of medicine at Cambridge to name but a few.
 
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Hello Duckweed

I would be happy to photocopy the book if you think you might find more information there, it is about 50 pages long and I would be very pleased to do this for you. Also the pedigree if you want (all supposing I can find it). I only joined this website because I saw on an internet search for Bishop Blyth that you had asked a question and I have no idea how you could let me know your address, but I am sure you do!

Wendy
 

duckweed

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I have sent you a private message which means only you can read it. Private messages can be sent by clicking on the persons user name and them sending them a message a pm.
 
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