Henry Hele
Encyclopedia
Henry Hele M.D.
(1688/9-1778) was an English physician, who became a substantial landowner in Wiltshire
and Somerset
.
, whose will (dated 1704 and proved in 1706) described him as “gentleman”. At the date of Richard’s will, Henry had two brothers, Richard (1688/89-1756), later a prebendary
of Salisbury) and John, and two sisters, Amy and Susannah. The elder Richard’s origins are obscure, though he may be connected to the two Richard Heales (father and son), who were identified as musicians in deeds of bastardy and settlement from the 1670s in the Salisbury City Council archives.
for over 50 years. He engaged in a long-running professional controversy in the Salisbury Journal
with his younger rival, John Barker (1708–1749). At a meeting on 24 September 1766, he was nominated as one of the first two physicians of the new hospital that became the Salisbury General Infirmary
. Towards the end of his long life, in 1776, he became involved in a scandal concerning an alleged conspiracy by one Mary Bowes to have her sister Diana forcibly incarcerated in a lunatic asylum. Hele signed the certificate of lunacy that made the scheme possible and was indicted by a grand jury.
in Somerset, and Brook House and Lodgwood Farm, near Westbury, Wiltshire.
) and Martha (married Joceline Robinson). In April 1737, Hele married secondly Jane Rolfe, the daughter of John Rolfe, who reputedly brought with her a fortune of £10,000.
Hele died on 24 June 1778. In his will (proved on 9 July 1778), he made bequests of money totalling over £23,000, as well as disposing of his real property. He was buried in Salisbury Cathedral
and his memorial inscription reads: “M.S. [Memoriae sacrum] Henrici Hele qui rem medicam in hoc clause & civitate adjacenti per quinqueginta annose probe & feliciter exercuit”.
Doctor of Medicine
Doctor of Medicine is a doctoral degree for physicians. The degree is granted by medical schools...
(1688/9-1778) was an English physician, who became a substantial landowner in 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...
and Somerset
Somerset
The ceremonial and non-metropolitan county of Somerset in South West England borders Bristol and Gloucestershire to the north, Wiltshire to the east, Dorset to the south-east, and Devon to the south-west. It is partly bounded to the north and west by the Bristol Channel and the estuary of the...
.
Origins
Hele was the son of Richard Hele, of the Close, SarumSalisbury
Salisbury is a cathedral city in Wiltshire, England and the only city in the county. It is the second largest settlement in the county...
, whose will (dated 1704 and proved in 1706) described him as “gentleman”. At the date of Richard’s will, Henry had two brothers, Richard (1688/89-1756), later a prebendary
Prebendary
A prebendary is a post connected to an Anglican or Catholic cathedral or collegiate church and is a type of canon. Prebendaries have a role in the administration of the cathedral...
of Salisbury) and John, and two sisters, Amy and Susannah. The elder Richard’s origins are obscure, though he may be connected to the two Richard Heales (father and son), who were identified as musicians in deeds of bastardy and settlement from the 1670s in the Salisbury City Council archives.
Practice
Hele practised successfully as a physician in SalisburySalisbury
Salisbury is a cathedral city in Wiltshire, England and the only city in the county. It is the second largest settlement in the county...
for over 50 years. He engaged in a long-running professional controversy in the Salisbury Journal
Salisbury Journal
The Salisbury Journal is the local newspaper for the Salisbury area of England. It was founded in 1729. It is part of the Newsquest publishing company. It contains, among other things, local news, local sport reports, cars for sale, assorted classified advertisements and government and utility...
with his younger rival, John Barker (1708–1749). At a meeting on 24 September 1766, he was nominated as one of the first two physicians of the new hospital that became the Salisbury General Infirmary
Salisbury District Hospital
Salisbury District Hospital is a hospital located in the city of Salisbury in Wiltshire, England.Previously Salisbury Hospitals comprised three units...
. Towards the end of his long life, in 1776, he became involved in a scandal concerning an alleged conspiracy by one Mary Bowes to have her sister Diana forcibly incarcerated in a lunatic asylum. Hele signed the certificate of lunacy that made the scheme possible and was indicted by a grand jury.
Property
From 1744, Hele lived in Myles Place, one of the finest houses in the Cathedral Close in Salisbury. He was involved in numerous land transactions and acquired, in particular, the manors of Sock Dennis and South PethertonSouth Petherton
South Petherton is a small country town and civil parish on the River Parrett in the South Somerset district of Somerset, England. It is east of Ilminster and north west of Crewkerne. It had a population of approximately 3,200 in 2002...
in Somerset, and Brook House and Lodgwood Farm, near Westbury, Wiltshire.
Family, death and posterity
By his first wife, Martha Vince (or Vints), Hele had two daughters and co-heirs, Jane (1720/1-1768; married Thomas Phipps of Leigh, Westbury, WiltshireWestbury, Wiltshire
Westbury is a town and civil parish in the west of the English county of Wiltshire, most famous for the Westbury White Horse.-Name:The most likely origin of the West- in Westbury is simply that the town is near the western edge of the county of Wiltshire, the bounds of which have been much the same...
) and Martha (married Joceline Robinson). In April 1737, Hele married secondly Jane Rolfe, the daughter of John Rolfe, who reputedly brought with her a fortune of £10,000.
Hele died on 24 June 1778. In his will (proved on 9 July 1778), he made bequests of money totalling over £23,000, as well as disposing of his real property. He was buried in Salisbury Cathedral
Salisbury Cathedral
Salisbury Cathedral, formally known as the Cathedral Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary, is an Anglican cathedral in Salisbury, England, considered one of the leading examples of Early English architecture....
and his memorial inscription reads: “M.S. [Memoriae sacrum] Henrici Hele qui rem medicam in hoc clause & civitate adjacenti per quinqueginta annose probe & feliciter exercuit”.