David Wright, M.A., Ph.D., F.S.A., F.S.G.

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Between The Lines

Appointed I.H.G.S. Principal

2/8/2020

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The Institute of Heraldic and Genealogical Studies

The School of Family History
The Institute of Heraldic and Genealogical Studies is an independent educational charitable trust established to provide full academic facilities for training and research in the study of the history and structure of the family. It was established in Northgate, Canterbury, in 1961 by Cecil Humphery-Smith.
From Newsletter 231:  Dr. David Wright, is a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries and of the Society of Genealogists. He is well known to genealogists for his East Kent Probate Index as well as for his several books on Kent genealogy, including Tracing Your Kent Ancestry which was published in 2016. David has been a genealogical lecturer for many years and is a specialist in Medieval Latin. Alongside his love of genealogy he has a keen interest in the history of Anglo-Saxon and Mediaeval England.
"Having lived (almost) within the shadow of Northgate all my life, and consequently knowing many of the past and present staff as well as numerous former employees who are now distinguished genealogists in their own right, it is with a sense of slight foreboding that I shall formally enter the august portals of the Institute as its Principal on August 3. Not quite fully behind me are careers in philately, the classics, history, genealogy, translating, teaching, writing and lecturing, some of which I shall hope to bring to bear to my daily duties in Canterbury. Genealogy still remains a huge passion after 45 years, and I note with considerable pride the splendid IHGS educational classes and courses currently on offer - all still very much needed, especially as the Internet means our subject is now a little less earthbound than it used to be. Alas, I cannot fool myself that I shall be able to equal Dr Richard Baker's long tenure in the post, but I arrive with a fresh pair of eyes and enthusiasm to see what may lie ahead for the Institute as it enters its diamond jubilee year."

Find out more about I.H.G.S. >>

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Current work plans for 2020

18/2/2020

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​Having lectured in Australia for much of last autumn, 2020 is proving to be a time of consolidation and catching up on domestic projects.
The Institute of Heraldic and Genealogical Studies
Hythe, the Head Cinque Port
Canterbury probate index, 1700-1858
Latin for beginners at Blean Village Hall
I am currently translating a series of interesting borough charters for the Kentish Cinque Port town of Hythe, all from the twelfth to fourteenth centuries, and typically a rich source of placenames and surnames.

My consolidated Canterbury probate index, 1700-1858, draws together both wills and administrations as well as the relevant PCC wills form the supreme court in London. It will be sorted by surname, address/parish and occupation, and should prove a fruitful source for local researchers. It will appear on my website later this year.

I am delighted to announce that from August I shall take up a new position as Principal at the Institute of Heraldic and Genealogical Studies in Canterbury. The Institute is strongly focussed on education and achievement by examination results, of which there is already an impressive run over many years.

​In September I shall start teaching classical Latin for beginners at Blean Village Hall near Canterbury. Full details will appear in the U3A summer programme. Do come and learn the basics which will of course be exceptionally useful for looking at many earlier genealogical documents.

The Institute
Hythe Cinque Port
Kent Probate Indexes
Latin Classes

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Australian lectures update

9/10/2019

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My genealogical lectures have attracted good crowds in Brisbane and Canberra, and there is till time to attend the congress in Sydney this weekend or my venues in Melbourne and Adelaide shortly afterwards, details of which are within this website.

​I look forward to meeting old and new friends.

Check the next dates
Get in touch

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Australian Tour 2019

30/9/2019

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David Wright is on his fourth Australian tour and second genealogical lecture circuit, starting in Brisbane (October 1 and 5), proceeding to Canberra (October 7), the Sydney conference (October 11 and 12), Melbourne (October 17, 18 and 20) and Adelaide (October 22 and 23). He is talking on a variety of subjects including parish registers, the workhouse, and genealogical geography and history, as well as giving practical seminars in the interpretation and reading of old documents.

​Do please come and have a chat if he may be able to help you with your genealogical problems. 

Find out more
Get in touch

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Archaeologia Cantiana 2019 - vol.140

29/6/2019

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'Devotion to the uncovering and recording of a nation's language and a city's antiquities': the life of William Somner of Canterbury (1606-1669).  Part 1.

As the 350th anniversary of the death of the great Canterbury scholar William Somner (1606-1669) begins to fade, those interested in his life in much more detail may now consult the first half of my full-length biography in this year's Archaeologia Cantiana (Vol.140). The second and final part will appear in the 2020 volume (Vol.141).
Detailed Somner family trees were displayed at the Somner Colloquium in the Cathedral Archives last March, and anybody interested in the pedigree or any other aspect of Somner is most welcome to contact me directly.

More About the Archaeological Cantiana

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Australian Lecture Tour 2019

5/5/2019

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​After a considerable gap David Wright is pleased to announce that he is undertaking a further Australian lecture tour in October 2019, speaking on various aspects of genealogy, offering consultations and teaching palaeography. He is looking forward to catching up on old friends and acquaintances and meeting many more.
Tuesday 1st October - Brisbane
Tweed Gold Coast Family History Society, South Tweed Sports Club, 4 Minjungbal Drive, Tweed Heads South
  • 1.30 The English Workhouse

Saturday 5th October - Brisbane
Genealogical Society of Queensland, 25 Stackpole St, Wishart, Queensland 4122
  • 9.00-11.30 English palaeography seminar reading documents of the 16th to 18th centuries

Monday 7th October - Canberra
Heraldry and Genealogy Society of Canberra, 41 Templeton St, Cook, A.C.T. 2607
All day seminar:
  • Genealogical History and Geography;
  • The English Workhouse;
  • Parish Registers;
  • Problem Solving

​Friday/Saturday 11,12 October - Sydney
'Exploring The Past' Conference, Ku-ring-gai Historical Society, Knox Grammar School, Pacific Highway, Wahroonga, NSW 2076
  • Friday 11 October, 2.00-2.45, English Palaeography Seminar
  • Saturday 12 October, 9.30-10.15, Genealogical History and Geography
  • Saturday 12 October, 2.30-3.15, The English Workhouse

Thursday 17th October - Melbourne
Genealogical Society of Victoria, Level 6, 85 Queen St, Melbourne 3000
  • 10.00-11.00 Genealogical History and Geography
  • 11.30-12.30 Researching in Kent

Friday 18 October - Melbourne
Mount Waverley Library, 41 Miller Crescent, Mount Waverley, Victoria 3149
  • 10.30-12.00 Overview of Principal English Sources and problem solving

Sun. 20th October - Melbourne
Family History Connections, 1/41 Railway Rd, Blackburn, Melbourne 3130
  • 11.00 Parish Registers
  • 1.00 The Parish Chest

Tuesday/Wednesday 22, 23 October - Adelaide
South Australian Genealogy and Heraldry Society, 201 Unley Rd, Unley, S.A.
  • Tuesday 22 October, 7.00-9.00pm English Palaeography Seminar
  • Wednesday 23 October, 7.30 The Parish Chest
Brisbane
Canberra
Sydney
Melbourne
Adelaide
Do please get in touch for more details and perhaps the possibility of further speaking appointments.

Talks and Teaching
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William Somner Colloquium

25/3/2019

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​350th Anniversary Conference & Exhibition
Saturday, 23rd March 2019

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​On 23 March 2019 over 50 people attended Christ Church University, Canterbury, for a one-day colloquium to mark the 350th anniversary of the death of one of the city's greatest sons, the antiquary and notary public, William Somner (1606-1669). An exhibition of some of his surviving books and manuscripts in the cathedral archives was followed by a plenary session of five distinguished speakers.

After an introduction by Dr David Wright (whose 'Life of William Somner' will appear in Archaeologia Cantiana over 2019/2020), the proceedings opened with Professor Jackie Eales setting the scene by describing life in Somner's Canterbury and some of the sources available to researchers. Then Avril Leach spoke on Somner's first masterpiece, 'The Antiquities of Canterbury' of 1640, perhaps the best of all the early English borough histories, describing in detail the corpus of surviving first editions.

After lunch Dr Rachel Fletcher gave much fascinating information on Somner's second masterpiece, the Anglo-Saxon- Latin- English Dictionary of 1659, rightly emphasising Somner's key contribution to the study of Old English in the seventeenth century. She was then followed by Dr David Shaw on 'Somner's Books', a predictably engrossing treatment of purchases for his own library, his gifts to the cathedral library, prices paid and scholarly provenances.

The day's proceedings concluded with Professor Kenneth Fincham, who with customary vigour and clarity described the complex relationship between Somner and Archbishop William Laud, and also noted the problems encountered by scholars in differentiating between a father and son with the same name.

The colloquium was a worthy remembrance to a Kentish scholar with far more than just a local, or even national, reputation.


Read a Review of the event

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Kent Archaelogical Society - No.110, Winter 2018

16/12/2018

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Willian Somner, Kentish Scholar

Article by David Wright 
Arrangements for the March 2019 William Somner 350th anniversary colloquium at Christ Church, Canterbury, are now well in hand. My full life of him will appear in Archaeologia Cantiana over 2019/2020, but a summary of his remarkable scholarly activities is now available in the latest edition of the Kent Archaeological Society Newsletter for all to see.
Read the article >>

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One Day Colloquium, Saturday 23 March 2019

3/12/2018

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William Somner 1606-1669


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350th Anniversary Conference & Exhibition
Saturday, 23rd March 2019
Exhibition: Canterbury Cathedral Archives, Cathedral Precincts, Canterbury, CT1 2HG: 9.30-10.45
​
Conference: Old Sessions House, Christ Church University, Longport, Canterbury, CT1 1PL: 11.00-17.00
Before the lectures at Old Sessions, there will be an exhibition of Somner manuscripts and books in the Canterbury Cathedral Archives for those who have booked for the full day.

Programme

Session One – Preliminaries AT THE CATHEDRAL ARCHIVES
09.30-10.45 Exhibition of Somner manuscripts and books
11.00-11.35 Coffee at OLD SESSIONS HOUSE
​11.35-11.45 Welcome and introduction by Dr David Wright
​
Session Two – Somner and Canterbury
11.45-12.30 Professor Jackie Eales – Somner’s Canterbury
12.30-13.00 Avril Leach – Somner’s The Antiquities of Canterbury 
13.00-14.00 Lunch (not provided)

Session Three – Somner the Scholar
14.00-14.30 Dr Rachel Fletcher – The Anglo-Saxon/Latin/English Dictionary
14.30-15.15 Dr David Shaw – William Somner’s Books
15.15-15.45 Tea

Session Four – Somner and the Church
15.45-16.45 Professor Kenneth Fincham – Somner and William Laud
16.45-17.00 Questions, summing-up and close

Booking & Downloads

To download your copy of the Programme for the day, the flier for the event, and also for details on tickets and to book tickets for the event, please click the link button:
William Somner Event - 23rd March 2019 >>

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Current Research - William Somner (1606 - 1669)

2/7/2018

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I am busily completing my life of William Somner (1606-1669) the Canterbury scholar and antiquary whose two greatest works were 'The Antiquities of Canterbury' (1640) and the 'Anglo-Saxon-Latin-English Dictionary' of 1659. Somner was a notary public as well as being the cathedral auditor and registrar, and was instrumental in saving and protecting many of the cathedral records during the Civil War.

One Day Colloquium, Saturday 23 March 2019

A one-day colloquium on his life and work will be held in Canterbury on 23 March 2019, where various expert speakers will help to give a rounded picture of this remarkable man.  Contact me directly for more information.

Take a look >>
Talks & Events >>

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