James Hargraves

Early life

Hargraves was the son of Nathaniel Hargrave of Wakefield, Yorkshire and went to school in his home town. He matriculated in 1709 and studied at Clare College, Cambridge, where he was awarded his BA in 1711–1712. He received his MA 1715 and his DD (Com. Reg.) in 1728.

Career

James Hargraves was ordained in 1712/13. He was appointed Chaplain to the King in 1724 and Prebendary of Westminster in 1725, was Rector of St Margaret's, Westminster 1730–1734, and was Dean of Chichester from 1739 until his death.

He was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1726.

He died on 4 December 1741 and was buried in Chichester Cathedral.

Patronage and the church in Sussex

The Pelham family had been in Sussex since the thirteenth century. In 1711 one of the family, Thomas Pelham, inherited the title and vast estate of John Holles, the Duke of Newcastle who had been his mother's brother. The heir's only obligation was to append 'Holles' to his name and so he became Thomas Pelham-Holles. In Sussex the Pelham family had influence and contacts among the clergy.

Hargraves first met Thomas Pelham-Holles at Clare College, Cambridge, where he was the future duke's tutor. Hargraves originally came from Wakefield, in Yorkshire, but was brought to Sussex by the duke to be his chaplain. Even so, with Newcastles help, Hargraves was able to progress rapidly from his post as chaplain to Dean of Chichester. He became dean of Chichester after Hayley's death in 1739

Hargraves continued to tutor various Pelhams down the years as well as spending much of his time and effort campaigning for Whig candidates in parliamentary elections.

Both Newcastle and Hargraves seemed to have remained friends until Hargraves death in 1741.

Notes

References

References

1. Com Reg. – Comitia Regia: certain gatherings of the Senate of the University at which royal personages were present and degrees specially conferred. [http://venn.lib.cam.ac.uk/acad/abbreviations.html]
2. {{acad
3. He became Rector of the parish of [[East Hoathly with Halland. East Hoathly]] in 1718 (the location of the [[Thomas Pelham-Holles, 1st Duke of Newcastle. [East]Thorney]], Sussex in 1723.Salzman. A History of the County of Sussex: Volume 4. pp. 215 – 217. Three manorial estates in this parish (of East Wittering) formed the endowments of prebends in Chichester Cathedral to which they gave their names—SOMERLEY, BRACKLESHAM, and [EAST]THORNEY.
4. (August 2025). "Library and Archive Catalogue". Royal Society.
5. Lower. Worthies of Sussex. p. 40
6. Reed Browning, 'Holles, Thomas Pelham-, duke of Newcastle upon Tyne and first duke of Newcastle under Lyme (1693–1768)', Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, 2004; online edn, May 2011 [http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/article/21801, accessed 8 February 2012]
7. In 1712 he also inherited the Pelham estates in Sussex, from his father. The new Duke of Newcastle, Thomas Pelham-Holles was a very wealthy man with major landholdings throughout England and the power to influence the selection of at least a dozen members of parliament. He became a strong supporter of the [[Whig (British political party)|Whig party]]. The 19th-century historian Mark Anthony Lower said that ''his great wealth and influence secured him the utmost deference amongst his Sussex neighbours''.Lower. Worthies of Sussex. p. 45
8. Chamberlain. Accommodating High Churchmen. pp. 79–82
9. Several Sussex clergymen were to receive preferment due to Newcastle's contacts and influence through the Pelham family. The duke had hoped that the previous dean of Chichester, Thomas Hayley, could be induced to decline his nomination (as dean), so that James Hargraves could be nominated for the post instead. The king had even ordered a warrant to be ready for the royal signature, as soon as he heard of Hayley's refusal. Hayley, however, decided to accept the deanery.Horn. Fasti Ecclesiae Anglicanae 1541–1857: volume 2. pp. 6–9