Mary Newce married Stephen Hales, Doctor of Divinity, in 1720 but died only a year later - one suspects that this may have been in childbirth. She had stood to inherit a considerable fortune from the Newce family of Much Hadham, in Hertfordshire. Her husband was the most famous incumbent at St Mary's Church Teddington, and this is what I wrote about him:-
"Stephen Hales, curate of St Mary's Church, Teddington and prominent amateur scientist, was born in Beaksbourne, Kent, and lost his parents at a young age. A modest private education showed him to be a bright pupil. He spent twelve years at Cambridge, graduating as BA and MA. He left Cambridge to start a career as parish priest in 1709, but with a keen interest in science. He took up curacy of St Mary's in Teddington and held the post till his death, even declining George II's offer of a canonry in Windsor. He supplied fresh water to the village. In 1718, he was elected a fellow of the Royal Society and read a paper on the effect of sunlight on plants. He married Mary in 1720 but she died the following year, childless. In 1727, he published a book, based on his botanical paper and, in 1733, a book on the arterial systems of animals. He was a friend of his neighbour Alexander Pope, though the latter was critical of his work with animals. His work on ventilation was ground-breaking and lead to the improvement in conditions in hospitals and jails, not only in England but also for British soldiers, held prisoner in France. He consorted with engineer Thomas Yeoman in the building of a powered ventilator for use in buildings, jails, warships and slave ships. Like other social reformers, he was strongly opposed to the imbibing of alcoholic spirits, though he himself enjoyed a glass of wine with his meal. He planned a hot-house for Kew Gardens. Money paid to him by the Royal Family was used to rebuild the tower of St Mary's Church. When he died, after fifty-one years in office, he was buried beneath the tower, as was his wish. Principally a parish priest, he was an amateur scientist, yet his reputation was second only to Sir Isaac Newton. Hales's work in botany, pneumatic chemistry and animal physiology were required reading for a hundred years."
Mary Hales and her husband lived - all too briefly, in her case - at Percy House which was in Teddington High Street, probably around the site of the post-office or slightly west. It was adjacent to Elmfield House, which still stands, and is familiar to those of us who have paid Council Tax across the counter. Mary was buried beneath the ancient south-aisle of St Mary's Church, and I need to ascertain whether she is still there - possibly not. Her husband was re-buried outside the church, for hygiene reasons.
Stephen Hales had this idea that we'd all be more healthy if we wandered around with our clothes soaked in sea-water. Franky, I'd rather be in Philadelphia.
"Stephen Hales, curate of St Mary's Church, Teddington and prominent amateur scientist, was born in Beaksbourne, Kent, and lost his parents at a young age. A modest private education showed him to be a bright pupil. He spent twelve years at Cambridge, graduating as BA and MA. He left Cambridge to start a career as parish priest in 1709, but with a keen interest in science. He took up curacy of St Mary's in Teddington and held the post till his death, even declining George II's offer of a canonry in Windsor. He supplied fresh water to the village. In 1718, he was elected a fellow of the Royal Society and read a paper on the effect of sunlight on plants. He married Mary in 1720 but she died the following year, childless. In 1727, he published a book, based on his botanical paper and, in 1733, a book on the arterial systems of animals. He was a friend of his neighbour Alexander Pope, though the latter was critical of his work with animals. His work on ventilation was ground-breaking and lead to the improvement in conditions in hospitals and jails, not only in England but also for British soldiers, held prisoner in France. He consorted with engineer Thomas Yeoman in the building of a powered ventilator for use in buildings, jails, warships and slave ships. Like other social reformers, he was strongly opposed to the imbibing of alcoholic spirits, though he himself enjoyed a glass of wine with his meal. He planned a hot-house for Kew Gardens. Money paid to him by the Royal Family was used to rebuild the tower of St Mary's Church. When he died, after fifty-one years in office, he was buried beneath the tower, as was his wish. Principally a parish priest, he was an amateur scientist, yet his reputation was second only to Sir Isaac Newton. Hales's work in botany, pneumatic chemistry and animal physiology were required reading for a hundred years."
Mary Hales and her husband lived - all too briefly, in her case - at Percy House which was in Teddington High Street, probably around the site of the post-office or slightly west. It was adjacent to Elmfield House, which still stands, and is familiar to those of us who have paid Council Tax across the counter. Mary was buried beneath the ancient south-aisle of St Mary's Church, and I need to ascertain whether she is still there - possibly not. Her husband was re-buried outside the church, for hygiene reasons.
Stephen Hales had this idea that we'd all be more healthy if we wandered around with our clothes soaked in sea-water. Franky, I'd rather be in Philadelphia.
Mary Newce married Stephen Hales, Doctor of Divinity, in 1720 but died only a year later - one suspects that this may have been in childbirth. She had stood to inherit a considerable fortune from the Newce family of Much Hadham, in Hertfordshire. Her husband was the most famous incumbent at St Mary's Church Teddington, and this is what I wrote about him:-
"Stephen Hales, curate of St Mary's Church, Teddington and prominent amateur scientist, was born in Beaksbourne, Kent, and lost his parents at a young age. A modest private education showed him to be a bright pupil. He spent twelve years at Cambridge, graduating as BA and MA. He left Cambridge to start a career as parish priest in 1709, but with a keen interest in science. He took up curacy of St Mary's in Teddington and held the post till his death, even declining George II's offer of a canonry in Windsor. He supplied fresh water to the village. In 1718, he was elected a fellow of the Royal Society and read a paper on the effect of sunlight on plants. He married Mary in 1720 but she died the following year, childless. In 1727, he published a book, based on his botanical paper and, in 1733, a book on the arterial systems of animals. He was a friend of his neighbour Alexander Pope, though the latter was critical of his work with animals. His work on ventilation was ground-breaking and lead to the improvement in conditions in hospitals and jails, not only in England but also for British soldiers, held prisoner in France. He consorted with engineer Thomas Yeoman in the building of a powered ventilator for use in buildings, jails, warships and slave ships. Like other social reformers, he was strongly opposed to the imbibing of alcoholic spirits, though he himself enjoyed a glass of wine with his meal. He planned a hot-house for Kew Gardens. Money paid to him by the Royal Family was used to rebuild the tower of St Mary's Church. When he died, after fifty-one years in office, he was buried beneath the tower, as was his wish. Principally a parish priest, he was an amateur scientist, yet his reputation was second only to Sir Isaac Newton. Hales's work in botany, pneumatic chemistry and animal physiology were required reading for a hundred years."
Mary Hales and her husband lived - all too briefly, in her case - at Percy House which was in Teddington High Street, probably around the site of the post-office or slightly west. It was adjacent to Elmfield House, which still stands, and is familiar to those of us who have paid Council Tax across the counter. Mary was buried beneath the ancient south-aisle of St Mary's Church, and I need to ascertain whether she is still there - possibly not. Her husband was re-buried outside the church, for hygiene reasons.
Stephen Hales had this idea that we'd all be more healthy if we wandered around with our clothes soaked in sea-water. Franky, I'd rather be in Philadelphia.
"Stephen Hales, curate of St Mary's Church, Teddington and prominent amateur scientist, was born in Beaksbourne, Kent, and lost his parents at a young age. A modest private education showed him to be a bright pupil. He spent twelve years at Cambridge, graduating as BA and MA. He left Cambridge to start a career as parish priest in 1709, but with a keen interest in science. He took up curacy of St Mary's in Teddington and held the post till his death, even declining George II's offer of a canonry in Windsor. He supplied fresh water to the village. In 1718, he was elected a fellow of the Royal Society and read a paper on the effect of sunlight on plants. He married Mary in 1720 but she died the following year, childless. In 1727, he published a book, based on his botanical paper and, in 1733, a book on the arterial systems of animals. He was a friend of his neighbour Alexander Pope, though the latter was critical of his work with animals. His work on ventilation was ground-breaking and lead to the improvement in conditions in hospitals and jails, not only in England but also for British soldiers, held prisoner in France. He consorted with engineer Thomas Yeoman in the building of a powered ventilator for use in buildings, jails, warships and slave ships. Like other social reformers, he was strongly opposed to the imbibing of alcoholic spirits, though he himself enjoyed a glass of wine with his meal. He planned a hot-house for Kew Gardens. Money paid to him by the Royal Family was used to rebuild the tower of St Mary's Church. When he died, after fifty-one years in office, he was buried beneath the tower, as was his wish. Principally a parish priest, he was an amateur scientist, yet his reputation was second only to Sir Isaac Newton. Hales's work in botany, pneumatic chemistry and animal physiology were required reading for a hundred years."
Mary Hales and her husband lived - all too briefly, in her case - at Percy House which was in Teddington High Street, probably around the site of the post-office or slightly west. It was adjacent to Elmfield House, which still stands, and is familiar to those of us who have paid Council Tax across the counter. Mary was buried beneath the ancient south-aisle of St Mary's Church, and I need to ascertain whether she is still there - possibly not. Her husband was re-buried outside the church, for hygiene reasons.
Stephen Hales had this idea that we'd all be more healthy if we wandered around with our clothes soaked in sea-water. Franky, I'd rather be in Philadelphia.
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