Rawlinson, Christopher
, of CarkhalL in Lancashire, esq. an able Saxon scholar, the only son of Curwen Rawlinson of the same place, who died in 1689, and descended from a family of long standing in High Furness, and very numerous in the parish of‘ Hawkshead and Colton, was collaterally related to the subjects of the three following articles. He was born in 1677, educated at Queen’s college, Oxford, made upper commoner May 10, 1695, and eminently distinguished for his application to Saxon and Northern literature. He published, whilst at Queen’s college, a beautiful edition of king Alfred’s Saxon translation of “Boethius de Consolatione Philosophise,” Oxon. 1698, 8vo, from a transcript, by Franciscus Junius | of a very ancient ms. in the Bodleian library, collated with one in the Cotton library. The “Grammatica Anglo-Saxonica, ex Hickesiano Thesauro excerpta,” printed at Oxford in 1711, is dedicated to this gentleman, in the following words “Viro eximio Christophoro Rawlinson Armigero, Literaturae Saxonicae Fautori egregio, hasce breviculas Institutiones Grammaticas dicat, dedicat, Editor.” He left behind him a large collection of Mss. among which are many relating to Westmorland and Cumberland, of which copies are at sir Michael le Fleming’s at Rydal. He ordered his under-coffin to be heart of oak, and covered with red leather; and died January 8, 1732-3, aged fiftyfive. At the north end of the north transept of the abbeychurch of St. Alban’s is a white marble sarcophagus, with a figure of History sitting on it, reclining on her left arm, holding in her hand a pen, with which she writes in a book, while two other books lie under her feet. Below is this epitaph:
To the mmory of
Christopher Rawlinson, of Caik-hall in Carimel, in the county of Lancaster, esq. whose remains are deposited in a vault near this place. He wa son of Curwen Rawlinson, member of parliament for the town of Lancaster, and Klizabeth Monk, daughter and co-heir of the loyal Nicholas Monk, lord bishop of Hereford, brother to (Jen. Monk duke of Albemarle. The said Christopher was of Queen’s college, in Oxford, and published the Saxon version of “Boethius de Consolatione Philosophise” in the Saxon language. He was born in the parish of Springfield in Essex, June 13, 1677, and died in Jan. 1733. This monument was erected pursuant to the will of his cousin and co-heiress, Mrs. Mary Blake, youngest daughter of Roger More, of Kirkby Lonsdale, in the county of Westmoreland, serjeant at law, and Catharine Rawlinson, sister of the said Curwen Rawlinson.
For this gentleman’s pedigree, see “Sandford’s Genealogical History of the Kings and Queens of England, 1707;” where also is a print*
This print is eagraved by Nutting, and inscribed at bottom, as follows: “Viro nobili & ornatissimo, literarum patrono, Christophoro Rawlinson, de Cark, in comitatu Lancastriæ, armigero; qui ne dulcis memoria avi sui honorabilis et matris charissimæ pereat, monumentum hoc æternitati sacrum esse voluit.” In the center of this inscription is a shield, quartering the arms of Rawlinson, Plantagenet, Curwen, and Monk; with the motto of the Rawlinsons affixed. The epitaph runs thus "Near this place lyeth the body of that most learned and honest counsellor at law, Robert Rawlinson, of Cark Hall in Cartmell in Lancashire, and of Gray’s Inn in Middlesex, esq. His great integrity, joined with a profound knowledge of the law, made him esteemed and admired by all that knew him. He was justice of the peace, of Quorum, and of Oyer and Terminer, for the counties Palatine of Lancaster and Chester to king Charles II.; a great sufferer for his loyalty to king Charles I. vicechamberlain of the city and county of Chester to Charles earl of Darby. He lived beloved of all, and so he died lamented, Oct. 21, 1665, aged 55. He married the prudent Jane Wilson
|(eldest daughter of Thomas Wilson of Haversham Hall in Westmoreland, esq.) who died 1686, aged 66; and was buried in the same grav with him; by whom he left Curwen Rawlinson, esq. his eldest and only son, who married. He was a most accomplished and ingenious gentleman, and a true patriot; so succeeded his father in the service and love of his country, and died in it 1689, aged 48, being burgess for Lancaster in the parliament convened 1688, Jan. 22, and was buried in the chancel of St. Mary’s, Warwick. Next Robert Rawlinson lyeth the remains of the truly pious and religious Elizabeth Rawlinson, wife of Curwen ’Rawlinson of Lark, esq. (daughter and qo-heir of the loyal Dr. Nicholas Monk, lord bishop of Hereford) a great assistant in the Restoration to his brother, the most noble George Monk duke of Albemarle, and son of sir Thomas Monk of Potheridge in Devonshire, knt. She was a most dutiful daughter of the Church of England, as veil as of a prelate of it; being a sublime pattern of holy piety, a true charity, a Christian humility, a faithful friendship, a religious care of her children, and a divine patience under the torture of the stone, and with which she resigned her heavenly soul, Sept. 27, 1691, aged forty-three, leaving two sons; Monk Rawlinson, who died 1695, aged 21, and lyeth buried by ter; and Christopher Rawlinson, esq,, now living, born in Essex, 1677, who, in memory of his grandfather, and most dearly beloved and good mother* erected this monument, MDCCV." The above is an exact copy of the plate.
Drawn up by Mr. Gough for the edition 17S4 of this Dipt. Collier’s Ditionary, vol. II. art. Rawlinson.
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