Edward Hasted
Encyclopedia
Edward Hasted was the author of a major county history
, The History and Topographical Survey of the County of Kent (1788–99).
, London, the son of Edward Hasted (1702–1740) of Sutton-at-Hone
near Dartford
, Kent
by his wife Ann Tyler. His grandfather, Joseph Hasted (1662–1732), had been employed as chief painter at the Royal Navy
's Chatham dockyard
, but he was also a skilled financier amassed a considerable private estate and income. Hasted's father, Edward, became a wealthy barrister, and the young Edward Hasted was educated at Darent (1737–40), The King's School
, Rochester (1740–44). From there he went to Eton College
(1744–48) and a school in Esher
(1748–50). After completing his education he was a student for a short time at Lincolns Inn
, although he was not called to the bar.
Hasted returned to his parents' home in Sutton-at-Hone and in July 1755 married the daughter of a neighbour, Anne Dorman. In May 1766 he was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society. Hasted acquired The Knights Hospitaller's
manor house of St. John's Jerusalem
; and it was here that he wrote his magnum opus. He attended the local church regularly and also sat on the West Kent Quarter Sessions
bench at Maidstone
. The couple had two daughters and five sons, one of whom was also named Edward. In 1770 they moved to Canterbury
where they lived until 1789, by which time his finances were in total confusion, and although he sold of some of his estates, he sank deeper into debt. In 1790 he left his wife Anne and fled to France with another woman. There he remained until the war with Napoleon
drove him back home and into debtor's prison for almost seven years.
Released 1802, Hasted lived in poverty for five years until he was given the Mastership of Lady Hungerford's Almshouse
in Corsham
, Wiltshire
, by his friend William Bouverie, who had become Earl of Radnor
in 1765. The Almshouse had been founded in 1668 by Lady Margaret Hungerford to provide homes for six (later eight) poor people and education for ten children. Hasted remained Master of the Almshouse from 1807 to until his death 1812, aged 79.
He also published separate titles on other places in the county, listed below.
English county histories
English county histories, in other words historical and topographical works concerned with individual ancient counties of England before their reorganisation, were produced by antiquarians from the late 16th century onwards...
, The History and Topographical Survey of the County of Kent (1788–99).
Life
Hasted was born in Lombard StreetLombard Street, London
Lombard Street is a street in the City of London.It runs from the corner of the Bank of England at its north-west end, where it meets a major junction including Poultry, King William Street, and Threadneedle Street, south-east to Gracechurch Street....
, London, the son of Edward Hasted (1702–1740) of Sutton-at-Hone
Sutton-at-Hone
Sutton-at-Hone is a village south of Dartford in Kent, England. It is part of the Dartford local government district and the civil parish of Sutton-at-Hone and Hawley. It is represented by Dartford Borough Councilors Pat Coleman and Tony Martin....
near Dartford
Dartford
Dartford is the principal town in the borough of Dartford. It is situated in the northwest corner of Kent, England, east south-east of central London....
, Kent
Kent
Kent is a county in southeast England, and is one of the home counties. It borders East Sussex, Surrey and Greater London and has a defined boundary with Essex in the middle of the Thames Estuary. The ceremonial county boundaries of Kent include the shire county of Kent and the unitary borough of...
by his wife Ann Tyler. His grandfather, Joseph Hasted (1662–1732), had been employed as chief painter at the Royal Navy
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
's Chatham dockyard
Chatham Dockyard
Chatham Dockyard, located on the River Medway and of which two-thirds is in Gillingham and one third in Chatham, Kent, England, came into existence at the time when, following the Reformation, relations with the Catholic countries of Europe had worsened, leading to a requirement for additional...
, but he was also a skilled financier amassed a considerable private estate and income. Hasted's father, Edward, became a wealthy barrister, and the young Edward Hasted was educated at Darent (1737–40), The King's School
The King's School, Rochester
The King's School, Rochester is an independent school in Rochester, Kent. It is a cathedral school, and being part of the foundation of Rochester Cathedral, the Dean of Rochester Cathedral serves as the chair of the school's governing body...
, Rochester (1740–44). From there he went to Eton College
Eton College
Eton College, often referred to simply as Eton, is a British independent school for boys aged 13 to 18. It was founded in 1440 by King Henry VI as "The King's College of Our Lady of Eton besides Wyndsor"....
(1744–48) and a school in Esher
Esher
Esher is a town in the Surrey borough of Elmbridge in South East England near the River Mole. It is a very prosperous part of the Greater London Urban Area, largely suburban in character, and is situated 14.1 miles south west of Charing Cross....
(1748–50). After completing his education he was a student for a short time at Lincolns Inn
Lincoln's Inn
The Honourable Society of Lincoln's Inn is one of four Inns of Court in London to which barristers of England and Wales belong and where they are called to the Bar. The other three are Middle Temple, Inner Temple and Gray's Inn. Although Lincoln's Inn is able to trace its official records beyond...
, although he was not called to the bar.
Hasted returned to his parents' home in Sutton-at-Hone and in July 1755 married the daughter of a neighbour, Anne Dorman. In May 1766 he was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society. Hasted acquired The Knights Hospitaller's
Knights Hospitaller
The Sovereign Military Hospitaller Order of Saint John of Jerusalem of Rhodes and of Malta , also known as the Sovereign Military Order of Malta , Order of Malta or Knights of Malta, is a Roman Catholic lay religious order, traditionally of military, chivalrous, noble nature. It is the world's...
manor house of St. John's Jerusalem
St. John's Jerusalem
St. John's Jerusalem is a National Trust property at Sutton-at-Hone, Kent, England which includes the 13th century chapel of the Knights Hospitaller and a garden moated by the River Darent...
; and it was here that he wrote his magnum opus. He attended the local church regularly and also sat on the West Kent Quarter Sessions
Quarter Sessions
The Courts of Quarter Sessions or Quarter Sessions were local courts traditionally held at four set times each year in the United Kingdom and other countries in the former British Empire...
bench at Maidstone
Maidstone
Maidstone is the county town of Kent, England, south-east of London. The River Medway runs through the centre of the town linking Maidstone to Rochester and the Thames Estuary. Historically, the river was a source and route for much of the town's trade. Maidstone was the centre of the agricultural...
. The couple had two daughters and five sons, one of whom was also named Edward. In 1770 they moved to Canterbury
Canterbury
Canterbury is a historic English cathedral city, which lies at the heart of the City of Canterbury, a district of Kent in South East England. It lies on the River Stour....
where they lived until 1789, by which time his finances were in total confusion, and although he sold of some of his estates, he sank deeper into debt. In 1790 he left his wife Anne and fled to France with another woman. There he remained until the war with Napoleon
Napoleonic Wars
The Napoleonic Wars were a series of wars declared against Napoleon's French Empire by opposing coalitions that ran from 1803 to 1815. As a continuation of the wars sparked by the French Revolution of 1789, they revolutionised European armies and played out on an unprecedented scale, mainly due to...
drove him back home and into debtor's prison for almost seven years.
Released 1802, Hasted lived in poverty for five years until he was given the Mastership of Lady Hungerford's Almshouse
Hungerford Almshouses
The Hungerford Almshouses in Corsham, Wiltshire, England were built in 1668 for Lady Margaret Hungerford of Corsham Court. It has been designated as a Grade I listed building....
in Corsham
Corsham
Corsham is a historic market town and civil parish in north west Wiltshire, England. It is at the south western extreme of the Cotswolds, just off the A4 which was formerly the main turnpike road from London to Bristol, between Bath and Chippenham ....
, Wiltshire
Wiltshire
Wiltshire is a ceremonial county in South West England. It is landlocked and borders the counties of Dorset, Somerset, Hampshire, Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire. It contains the unitary authority of Swindon and covers...
, by his friend William Bouverie, who had become Earl of Radnor
Earl of Radnor
Earl of Radnor is a title which has been created two times. It was first created in the Peerage of England in 1679 for John Robartes, 2nd Baron Robartes, a notable political figure of the reign of Charles II. He was made Viscount Bodmin at the same time. Robartes was the son of Richard Robartes,...
in 1765. The Almshouse had been founded in 1668 by Lady Margaret Hungerford to provide homes for six (later eight) poor people and education for ten children. Hasted remained Master of the Almshouse from 1807 to until his death 1812, aged 79.
Works
Hasted's great work on the history of Kent was first published 1788–99. A modern printing of his much-revised second edition (1797–1801) was published in 1972.He also published separate titles on other places in the county, listed below.
- History of the Ancient and Metropolitical City of CanterburyCanterburyCanterbury is a historic English cathedral city, which lies at the heart of the City of Canterbury, a district of Kent in South East England. It lies on the River Stour....
(1799) - History of BexleyBexleyBexley is an South East London]] in the London Borough of Bexley, London, England. It is located on the banks of the River Cray south of the Roman Road, Watling Street...
- History of BrastedBrastedBrasted is a village and civil parish in the Sevenoaks District of Kent, England. The parish is located to the west of Sevenoaks town. The parish includes the settlements of Brasted Chart and Toys Hill, and had a population of 1321 persons . The single slightly winding street of the village has a...
- History of GravesendGravesend, KentGravesend is a town in northwest Kent, England, on the south bank of the Thames, opposite Tilbury in Essex. It is the administrative town of the Borough of Gravesham and, because of its geographical position, has always had an important role to play in the history and communications of this part of...
- History of LamberhurstLamberhurstLamberhurst is a village and civil parish in Kent although the latter parish was at first in both Kent and East Sussex. The line of the county border was adjusted following the Local Government Act 1894, which required that parish boundaries be aligned with counties...
- History of LewishamLewishamLewisham is a district in South London, England, located in the London Borough of Lewisham. It is situated south-east of Charing Cross. The area is identified in the London Plan as one of 35 major centres in Greater London.-History:...
- History of SandhurstSandhurst, KentThe village of Sandhurst is in Kent near the border with East Sussex. It is situated very close to Bodiam. It is located on the A268 near the villages of Hawkhurst and Northiam...
- History of TenterdenTenterdenTenterden is a Cinque Port town in the Ashford District of Kent, England. It stands on the edge of the Weald, overlooking the valley of the River Rother....
External links
- Hasted's 'History of Kent': a full-text edition of some of the volumes of the second edition, as part of British History Online.