Astonishing People

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume LXIX, Issue 13325, 30 April 1941, Page 2

Astonishing People

JOHN BRAND Born at Washington in Durham, he was brought up by his uncle, and was educated at the Royal Grammar School, impressing the Rev. Hugh Moises. his master, by his taste for classical" studies. Mr Moises persuaded wealthy friends to assist in sending John to Oxford. In 1774 he was appointed to the curacy of Cramlington, near Newcastle, and in 17 77 Avas elected a fellow of the Society of Antiquaries. In 1754 he was presented by his early friend and patron, the Duke of Northumberland,' to the rectory of the united parishes of St Mary at Hill and St Mary Hubbard in the City of London, and two years later he was appointed one of the duke's chaplains. We are told that his manners, somewhat repulsive to a stranger, became easy on closer acquaintance; and he loved to tell men of literary and antiquarian taste the result of which they might require information-. His works include "Observations on Popular Antiquities," "The Antiquities and History of the Town and Country of Newcastle-upon-Tyne," and immense masses of manuscript collections of knowledge. The British Museum keeps a copy of an edition of his "Observations on Popular Antiquities." In 17 84 he was elected residentsecretary to the Society of Antiquaries, and was annually re-elected to that office till his death, which took caple suddenly in his rectory in 1806.

He sleeps near the altar of St Mary at Hill's Church.