William Paynter (academic)
Encyclopedia
Rev. William Paynter D.D. (1637 – 18 February 1716) was an English
clergyman and Vice-Chancellor of Oxford University.
The son of William Paynter or Cambourne, from Antron in Sithney
, and Jane, the sixth child of Richard Keigwin of Mousehole
, he was born at Trelissic Walbert, in the parish of St Erth
, Cornwall
, England
, and baptised on 7 December 1637. Having been admitted as a poor scholar in February 1656, he matriculated from Exeter College, Oxford
, on 29 March that year, and on 3 July 1657 he was elected to a fellowship of the college. He graduated B.A.
in 1660 and M.A. in 1663 (incorporated at Cambridge
in 1664), B.D.
in 1674, and D.D.
in 1695.
In 1669, together with those of several other Cornish
men, Paynter's fellowship was suspended by Arthur Bury
, the college rector and a devout Devon
ian, on the grounds that Paynter had been elected to one of the fellowships earmarked for candidates from Devon. In spite of this rebuff, in 1685 Paynter gave £100 to Exeter College. The same year he faced scandal when a child was left on his doorstep in college and was claimed to be his; it was later revealed that John Jago, a disaffected undergraduate expelled by Paynter for debauchery, had tried to wreak revenge. It was not until 1686, that Paynter actually vacated his fellowship, having been appointed to the college living of Wootton, Northamptonshire
.
Paynter married twice. The date of his first marriage is uncertain, but it was possibly about the time of his appointment to Wootton rectory; his wife was Mary (1657–1695), daughter of John Conant
who had been rector of Exeter College during the interregnum
, and his wife, Elizabeth (daughter of Edward Reynolds). When probate was granted on Mary's first husband Matthew Poole's will, on 15 March 1690, Mary was already married to Paynter. Mary died on 7 May 1695 and was buried at Wootton near her children, William and Elizabeth. Paynter married secondly on 16 May 1695, at Preston in Northamptonshire, Sarah, daughter of Francis Duncombe of Broughton, Buckinghamshire
.
On 15 August 1690, Paynter was elected by a depleted Fellowship to the Rector
ship of Exeter College, on the deprivation of Arthur Bury. Bury appealed to the Court of the King's Bench
, which granted him management of the College until a definite decision on the legality of Bury's dismissal was made. The Exeter fellowship was divided by the decision of the Bench; both Bury's opponents and his supporters attempted to run the college. The 'great Exeter schism' resulted in double elections to fellowships. The resulting disorder was not put right until 1694, when the House of Lords
confirmed Paynter as rector after reversing the decision of the King's Bench
. He was Vice-Chancellor of Oxford University in 1698 and 1699, and held the Rectorship until his death.
Paynter died on 18 February 1716; having retained the rectory of Wootton until that time, and he was buried there on 22 February. His second wife, who survived him, died on 22 September 1725, and was buried at Ilsington, Devon
. It is uncertain if they had children.
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...
clergyman and Vice-Chancellor of Oxford University.
The son of William Paynter or Cambourne, from Antron in Sithney
Sithney
Sithney is a village and civil parish in Cornwall, England, United Kingdom. It is named for Saint Sithney, the patron saint of the parish church....
, and Jane, the sixth child of Richard Keigwin of Mousehole
Mousehole
Mousehole is a village and fishing port in Cornwall, United Kingdom. It is situated approximately 2½ miles south of Penzance on the shore of Mount's Bay.The village is in the civil parish of Penzance...
, he was born at Trelissic Walbert, in the parish of St Erth
St Erth
St Erth is a civil parish and village in Cornwall, United Kingdom.The village is situated four miles southeast of St Ives and six miles northeast of Penzance....
, Cornwall
Cornwall
Cornwall is a unitary authority and ceremonial county of England, within the United Kingdom. It is bordered to the north and west by the Celtic Sea, to the south by the English Channel, and to the east by the county of Devon, over the River Tamar. Cornwall has a population of , and covers an area of...
, England
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...
, and baptised on 7 December 1637. Having been admitted as a poor scholar in February 1656, he matriculated from Exeter College, Oxford
Exeter College, Oxford
Exeter College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England and the fourth oldest college of the University. The main entrance is on the east side of Turl Street...
, on 29 March that year, and on 3 July 1657 he was elected to a fellowship of the college. He graduated B.A.
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
in 1660 and M.A. in 1663 (incorporated at Cambridge
University of Cambridge
The University of Cambridge is a public research university located in Cambridge, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest university in both the United Kingdom and the English-speaking world , and the seventh-oldest globally...
in 1664), B.D.
Bachelor of Divinity
In Western universities, a Bachelor of Divinity is usually an undergraduate academic degree awarded for a course taken in the study of divinity or related disciplines, such as theology or, rarely, religious studies....
in 1674, and D.D.
Doctor of Divinity
Doctor of Divinity is an advanced academic degree in divinity. Historically, it identified one who had been licensed by a university to teach Christian theology or related religious subjects....
in 1695.
In 1669, together with those of several other Cornish
Cornish people
The Cornish are a people associated with Cornwall, a county and Duchy in the south-west of the United Kingdom that is seen in some respects as distinct from England, having more in common with the other Celtic parts of the United Kingdom such as Wales, as well as with other Celtic nations in Europe...
men, Paynter's fellowship was suspended by Arthur Bury
Arthur Bury
Arthur Bury, D.D. was an English college head and Anglican theologian of controversial views. His 1690 antitrinitarian work, The Naked Gospel, first published anonymously, was commanded to be burnt at Oxford, and, in a complex sequence of events involving legal action, Bury lost his position as...
, the college rector and a devout Devon
Devon
Devon is a large county in southwestern England. The county is sometimes referred to as Devonshire, although the term is rarely used inside the county itself as the county has never been officially "shired", it often indicates a traditional or historical context.The county shares borders with...
ian, on the grounds that Paynter had been elected to one of the fellowships earmarked for candidates from Devon. In spite of this rebuff, in 1685 Paynter gave £100 to Exeter College. The same year he faced scandal when a child was left on his doorstep in college and was claimed to be his; it was later revealed that John Jago, a disaffected undergraduate expelled by Paynter for debauchery, had tried to wreak revenge. It was not until 1686, that Paynter actually vacated his fellowship, having been appointed to the college living of Wootton, Northamptonshire
Wootton, Northamptonshire
Wootton, Northamptonshire is a village about south of Northampton town centre and now part of the Northampton Borough Council area.The village is separated from Hardingstone by the Newport Pagnell Road the B526, formerly part of the A50 road...
.
Paynter married twice. The date of his first marriage is uncertain, but it was possibly about the time of his appointment to Wootton rectory; his wife was Mary (1657–1695), daughter of John Conant
John Conant
Rev. John Conant D.D. was an English clergyman, theologian, and Vice-Chancellor of Oxford University.-Life:John Conant was born at Yettington, Bicton, in southeast Devon, England, the eldest son of Robert Conant, son of Richard Conant and his wife, Elizabeth Morris...
who had been rector of Exeter College during the interregnum
Interregnum
An interregnum is a period of discontinuity or "gap" in a government, organization, or social order...
, and his wife, Elizabeth (daughter of Edward Reynolds). When probate was granted on Mary's first husband Matthew Poole's will, on 15 March 1690, Mary was already married to Paynter. Mary died on 7 May 1695 and was buried at Wootton near her children, William and Elizabeth. Paynter married secondly on 16 May 1695, at Preston in Northamptonshire, Sarah, daughter of Francis Duncombe of Broughton, Buckinghamshire
Broughton, Buckinghamshire
There are two places called Broughton in the ceremonial county of Buckinghamshire, England.*Broughton, Aylesbury*Broughton, Milton Keynes...
.
On 15 August 1690, Paynter was elected by a depleted Fellowship to the Rector
Rector
The word rector has a number of different meanings; it is widely used to refer to an academic, religious or political administrator...
ship of Exeter College, on the deprivation of Arthur Bury. Bury appealed to the Court of the King's Bench
Court of King's Bench (England)
The Court of King's Bench , formally known as The Court of the King Before the King Himself, was an English court of common law in the English legal system...
, which granted him management of the College until a definite decision on the legality of Bury's dismissal was made. The Exeter fellowship was divided by the decision of the Bench; both Bury's opponents and his supporters attempted to run the college. The 'great Exeter schism' resulted in double elections to fellowships. The resulting disorder was not put right until 1694, when the House of Lords
House of Lords
The House of Lords is the upper house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Like the House of Commons, it meets in the Palace of Westminster....
confirmed Paynter as rector after reversing the decision of the King's Bench
King's Bench
The Queen's Bench is the superior court in a number of jurisdictions within some of the Commonwealth realms...
. He was Vice-Chancellor of Oxford University in 1698 and 1699, and held the Rectorship until his death.
Paynter died on 18 February 1716; having retained the rectory of Wootton until that time, and he was buried there on 22 February. His second wife, who survived him, died on 22 September 1725, and was buried at Ilsington, Devon
Devon
Devon is a large county in southwestern England. The county is sometimes referred to as Devonshire, although the term is rarely used inside the county itself as the county has never been officially "shired", it often indicates a traditional or historical context.The county shares borders with...
. It is uncertain if they had children.
Sources
- Dictionary of National BiographyDictionary of National BiographyThe Dictionary of National Biography is a standard work of reference on notable figures from British history, published from 1885...