John Fenn (antiquarian)
Encyclopedia
Sir John Fenn was an English
antiquary. He is best remembered for collecting, editing, and publishing the Paston Letters
, describing the life and political scheming of the gentry in Medieval England. He was also a justice of the peace who served as High Sheriff of Norfolk
for 1791/2.
) from which he was admitted to Caius College, Cambridge. At university he became friends with John Frere
, and in 1763 he courted his sister Ellenor. They married 1 January 1766 and went to live at Dereham
in Norfolk
. (Ellenor Fenn
was subsequently the author of children’s books, under the pseudonyms of Mrs Teachwell and Mrs Lovechild.) After their marriage the couple lived in Dereham. They had no children, but brought up an orphaned heiress and later their nephew, William Frere. Between 1768 and 1775 Fenn helped William Whittingham to publish the remaining parts of the continuation of Francis Blomefield
's History of Norfolk. He also became friendly with the antiquary Thomas Martin of Palgrave, and after the latter's death in 1772 assisted in cataloguing many of the latter's manuscripts prior to their sale. It was at this time that he acquired the Paston Letters.
The first two volumes of Fenn’s edition of the famous letters appeared in January 1787, dedicated to King George III, and caused a literary sensation. Fenn received a knighthood after presenting the originals to the king in May 1787. A third and fourth volume were published in May 1789, but further progress was delayed by his appointment as High Sheriff of Norfolk for 1791. Work on the final volume of letters was almost complete when he died, on 14 February 1794, but a planned biography of the Pastons was never completed.
He was buried with his wife at the Frere family's church of St Bartholomew, Finningham
, Suffolk, where there was erected a significant marble monument to them both by John Bacon.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
antiquary. He is best remembered for collecting, editing, and publishing the Paston Letters
Paston Letters
The Paston Letters are a collection of letters and papers from England, consisting of the correspondence of members of the gentry Paston family, and others connected with them, between the years 1422 and 1509, and also including some state papers and other important documents.- History of the...
, describing the life and political scheming of the gentry in Medieval England. He was also a justice of the peace who served as High Sheriff of Norfolk
High Sheriff of Norfolk
This is a list of High Sheriffs of Norfolk. The High Sheriff is the oldest secular office under the Crown and is appointed annually by the Crown. He was originally the principal law enforcement officer in the county and presided at the Assizes and other important county meetings...
for 1791/2.
Life
Fenn was born 26 November 1739, the son of a surgeon, and was educated at the grammar schools of Scarning and Bottisdale (BotesdaleBotesdale
Botesdale is a village and civil parish in the Mid Suffolk district of Suffolk, England. The village is about south west of Diss.Botesdale is located about 25 miles from Norwich and 16 miles from Bury St Edmunds.- Road :...
) from which he was admitted to Caius College, Cambridge. At university he became friends with John Frere
John Frere
John Frere was an English antiquary and a pioneering discoverer of Old Stone Age or Palaeolithic tools in association with large extinct animals at Hoxne, Suffolk in 1797.-Life:...
, and in 1763 he courted his sister Ellenor. They married 1 January 1766 and went to live at Dereham
Dereham
Dereham, also known as East Dereham, is a town and civil parish in the English county of Norfolk. It is situated on the A47 road, some 15 miles west of the city of Norwich and 25 miles east of King's Lynn. The civil parish has an area of and in the 2001 census had a population of...
in Norfolk
Norfolk
Norfolk is a low-lying county in the East of England. It has borders with Lincolnshire to the west, Cambridgeshire to the west and southwest and Suffolk to the south. Its northern and eastern boundaries are the North Sea coast and to the north-west the county is bordered by The Wash. The county...
. (Ellenor Fenn
Ellenor Fenn
Ellenor Fenn was a prolific 18th-century writer of children's books.-Early life:Fenn was born on 12 March 1743/44 in Westhorpe, Suffolk to Sheppard and Susanna Frere. John Frere was her elder brother and John Hookham Frere her nephew. In 1766 she married the antiquarian John Fenn and moved with...
was subsequently the author of children’s books, under the pseudonyms of Mrs Teachwell and Mrs Lovechild.) After their marriage the couple lived in Dereham. They had no children, but brought up an orphaned heiress and later their nephew, William Frere. Between 1768 and 1775 Fenn helped William Whittingham to publish the remaining parts of the continuation of Francis Blomefield
Francis Blomefield
Francis Blomefield was an English antiquary, who projected a county history of Norfolk. During his lifetime, he compiled and published detailed accounts of the city of Norwich, Borough of Thetford and the southern hundreds of the county, but died before the whole work could be completed.-Biography...
's History of Norfolk. He also became friendly with the antiquary Thomas Martin of Palgrave, and after the latter's death in 1772 assisted in cataloguing many of the latter's manuscripts prior to their sale. It was at this time that he acquired the Paston Letters.
The first two volumes of Fenn’s edition of the famous letters appeared in January 1787, dedicated to King George III, and caused a literary sensation. Fenn received a knighthood after presenting the originals to the king in May 1787. A third and fourth volume were published in May 1789, but further progress was delayed by his appointment as High Sheriff of Norfolk for 1791. Work on the final volume of letters was almost complete when he died, on 14 February 1794, but a planned biography of the Pastons was never completed.
He was buried with his wife at the Frere family's church of St Bartholomew, Finningham
Finningham
Finningham is a village and civil parish in the Mid Suffolk district of Suffolk in eastern England. Located adjacent to the Great Eastern Main Line , in 2005 its population was 430....
, Suffolk, where there was erected a significant marble monument to them both by John Bacon.