John Gage Rokewode
Encyclopedia
John Gage Rokewode was a historian and antiquarian
.
, and took the name Rokewode in 1838 when he succeeded to the Rokewode estates. John was a descendant of a maternal line from Ambrose Rookwood. He was educated at Stonyhurst College
, and having studied law under Charles Butler he was called to the bar, but never practiced, preferring to devote himself to antiquarian pursuits. He was elected a fellow of the Society of Antiquaries of London
in 1818, and was director from 1829 till 1842. He was also elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in April 1824.
in 1840, furnished Thomas Carlyle
with much of his materials for Past and Present
(1843). Many papers by him appeared in Archaeologia, many of these being republished as separate pamphlets, including the description of the Benedictionals of St. Æthelwold
and of Robert of Jumieges
; he also printed the genealogy
of the Rokewode family with charters relating thereto in Collectanea Topographica et Genealogica, II. He contributed to the Orthodox Journal and the Catholic Gentleman's Magazine. The Gentleman's Magazine published a full list of his work with the Society of Antiquaries, these include,
Many of his manuscripts were sold after his death with his valuable library. The Society of Antiquaries possesses a bust of him by R. C. Lucas
. He died suddenly while out shooting.
Antiquarian
An antiquarian or antiquary is an aficionado or student of antiquities or things of the past. More specifically, the term is used for those who study history with particular attention to ancient objects of art or science, archaeological and historic sites, or historic archives and manuscripts...
.
Life
He was the fourth son of Sir Thomas Gage of HengraveHengrave Hall
Hengrave Hall is a Tudor manor house near Bury St. Edmunds in Suffolk, England and was the seat of the Kytson and Gage families 1525-1887. Both families were Roman Catholic Recusants.-Architecture:...
, and took the name Rokewode in 1838 when he succeeded to the Rokewode estates. John was a descendant of a maternal line from Ambrose Rookwood. He was educated at Stonyhurst College
Stonyhurst College
Stonyhurst College is a Roman Catholic independent school, adhering to the Jesuit tradition. It is located on the Stonyhurst Estate near the village of Hurst Green in the Ribble Valley area of Lancashire, England, and occupies a Grade I listed building...
, and having studied law under Charles Butler he was called to the bar, but never practiced, preferring to devote himself to antiquarian pursuits. He was elected a fellow of the Society of Antiquaries of London
Society of Antiquaries of London
The Society of Antiquaries of London is a learned society "charged by its Royal Charter of 1751 with 'the encouragement, advancement and furtherance of the study and knowledge of the antiquities and history of this and other countries'." It is based at Burlington House, Piccadilly, London , and is...
in 1818, and was director from 1829 till 1842. He was also elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in April 1824.
Works
In 1822 he published The History and Antiquities of Hengrave in Suffolk and in 1838 The History and Antiquities of Suffolk. His edition of Jocelin de Brakelond's chronicle, published by the Camden SocietyCamden Society
The Camden Society, named after the English antiquary and historian William Camden, was founded in 1838 in London to publish early historical and literary materials, both unpublished manuscripts and new editions of rare printed books....
in 1840, furnished Thomas Carlyle
Thomas Carlyle
Thomas Carlyle was a Scottish satirical writer, essayist, historian and teacher during the Victorian era.He called economics "the dismal science", wrote articles for the Edinburgh Encyclopedia, and became a controversial social commentator.Coming from a strict Calvinist family, Carlyle was...
with much of his materials for Past and Present
Past and Present (book)
Past and Present is a book by Thomas Carlyle published in April 1843 in England and in May in the United States. It combines medieval history with criticism of 19th century British society. It was written in seven weeks, as a respite from the harassing labor of writing Cromwell...
(1843). Many papers by him appeared in Archaeologia, many of these being republished as separate pamphlets, including the description of the Benedictionals of St. Æthelwold
Benedictional of St. Æthelwold
The Benedictional of St. Æthelwold is a 10th century illuminated benedictional, the most important surviving work of the Anglo-Saxon Winchester School of illumination...
and of Robert of Jumieges
Robert of Jumièges
Robert of Jumièges was the first Norman Archbishop of Canterbury. He had previously served as prior of the Abbey of St Ouen at Rouen in France, before becoming abbot of Jumièges Abbey, near Rouen, in 1037...
; he also printed the genealogy
Genealogy
Genealogy is the study of families and the tracing of their lineages and history. Genealogists use oral traditions, historical records, genetic analysis, and other records to obtain information about a family and to demonstrate kinship and pedigrees of its members...
of the Rokewode family with charters relating thereto in Collectanea Topographica et Genealogica, II. He contributed to the Orthodox Journal and the Catholic Gentleman's Magazine. The Gentleman's Magazine published a full list of his work with the Society of Antiquaries, these include,
- A Dissertation on St. Æthelwold's Benedictional, an illuminated manuscript of the tenth century, in Archæologia, xxiv. 1–117, with thirty-two plates;
- A Description of a Benedictional or Pontifical, called Benedictionarius Roberti Archiepiscopi, an illuminated manuscript of the tenth century in the public library at Rouen, ib. pp. 118–136;
- The Anglo-Saxon Ceremonial of the Dedication and Consecration of Churches, ib. xxv. 235–74;
- Remarks on the Louterell Psalter, printed, with six plates, in the Vetusta MonumentaVetusta MonumentaVetusta Monumenta is the title of a published series of illustrated antiquarian papers on ancient buildings, sites, and artefacts, mostly those of Britain, published at irregular intervals between 1718 and 1906 by the Society of Antiquaries of London...
, vol. vi.; - A Memoir on the Painted Chamber in the Palace at Westminster, printed, with fourteen plates, in the same volume of Vetusta Monumenta.
Many of his manuscripts were sold after his death with his valuable library. The Society of Antiquaries possesses a bust of him by R. C. Lucas
R. C. Lucas
Richard Charles "Dick" Lucas is an Anglican evangelical cleric, best known for his long ministry at St Helen's Bishopsgate in London, England. He is also known as a founder of the Proclamation Trust and the Cornhill Training Course. He is the author of a number of evangelical books and commentaries...
. He died suddenly while out shooting.