Transcript

of

Rev. William Harpley. [Obituary]

Maxwell Adams (Ed.) Trans. Devon. Assoc. vol. 46, (1914), pp. 38-39.

Provided by Michael Steer

The obituary was read at the Association’s July 1914 Tavistock meeting. Mr Harpley, for 47 years Rector of Clayhanger, was a Foundation Member of the Devonshire Association and its first secretary for 38 years, retiring in 1900. He edited the first 30 volumes of the Transactions and was Association President in 1902. He was Headmaster of Plymouth Grammar School 1858-66. The obituary, from a copy of a rare and much sought-after journal can be downloaded from the Internet Archive. Google has sponsored the digitisation of books from several libraries. These books, on which copyright has expired, are available for free educational and research use, both as individual books and as full collections to aid researchers.

Mr. Harpley, who was born in 1832, was the son of Mr. Richard Harpley of Guisborough in Yorkshire, by his wife Elizabeth, and was educated at the King's School, Peterborough, under the Rev. W. Cope, M.A. He was admitted to St. John's College, Cambridge, on 3 July, 1852, where after a distinguished career he took his degree, as 11th Wrangler, in the Mathematical Tripos of 1856. After taking his degree he went to France for two years as private tutor to the late Count D'Avigdore's eldest son and on his return to England was offered a Fellowship at St. John's College, Cambridge, which, however, he could not accept owing to the fact of his being engaged to be married. In 1858, he became Head Master of the Plymouth Grammar School, and was ordained Deacon at the same time. In June, 1861, he was appointed Assistant Curate of St. Andrew's Chapel, Plymouth, when he took Priest's Orders. These two appointments he held until December, 1866, when he was instituted to the Benefice of Clayhanger, which he held for 47 years, and from 1867 was also incumbent of Petton Chapel. He married in 1859, in Haccombe Church, Devon, Clara Johanna Mathilde, third daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Klussmann of Flensbury, North Schleswig-Holstein, and by her, who predeceased him, he had four sons and one daughter, two sons dying in early childhood. He died on 25 January, 1914, greatly regretted by his parishioners, by whom he was very highly respected.
Mr. Harpley was one of the Foundation Members of the Devonshire Association, and in conjunction with Mr. William Pengelly and Mr. C. Spence Bate took an active part in its formation in 1862, and acted as its first secretary for thirty-eight years, retiring in 1900. To his efficient management and untiring services for this long period the success the Association has attained is mainly due, and the first thirty volumes of the Transactions testify to his ability as Editor. In recognition of his services to the Association Mr. Harpley was invited to accept the office of President in 1902, when the Association met at Bideford, and at the same time he was elected an Honorary Member. By his death the Association has sustained a great loss, and his familiar figure will be greatly missed and regretted at the annual meetings, at which he was a regular attendant, having been absent but once during the long space of fifty-one years - 1862-1913 - namely, from the last meeting at Buckfastleigh in 1913.