Individual Details
James Templer
(7 Jan 1787 - 28 May 1858)
Educated Blundells School, Tiverton. Articled to a Solicitor at Oakhampton about 1805, where he met Catherine Lethbridge. Engaged in 1806. married in 1811 and settled in Bridport as a solicitor. (From paper found in records collected by Cecil Robert Templer - source unknown)
OBITUARY James Templer, Esq., M. P. [Aug, 1858)
The decease of this gentleman, who was generally known and respected in the West of England, took place on the 28th of May last. The deceased, who was one of a numerous family, was born at Alphington, Devon, on the 7th of January, 1787. He was destined for the profession of the law, and served his articles with Mr. Luxmore of Okehampton. Mr. Templer afterwards studied for some time in London, where he became an exact and accomplished lawyer, and formed numerous friends, some of whom subsequently rose to distinguished eminence in the profession. An advantageous opening now offered at Bridport, and Mr. Templer (who had recently been united to a Miss Lethbridge, a native of Cornwall,) settled in that town, where he continued to practise until his death. Mr. Templer, however, speedily took a leading position in the county generally. His abilities and sound sense secured him a large business connection; and these qualities were united with a liberality, a high sense of honour, and a cultivated and refined taste, which procured him in many instances the warmest personal attachment. It is impossible indeed to overrate the position which may be occupied by a country solicitor in large practice, where the mind and character are not narrowed by professional interests. Time very opportunities which in unprincipled hands may be employed for peculation, become, when the practitioner is a man of integrity and firm sense, most powerful instruments for good. With the poor and uneducated he is constantly brought into contact; and these he has the opportunity of befriending in a thousand ways, protecting them equally from the designs of the sharpers of whom they form the legitimate prey, and from the consequences of their own wilfulness and incapacity. No less useful is the solicitor of high stamp to persons of a superior class. There is no interest or family occurrence, even of the most delicate nature, on which his assistance may not be required. When business of this kind is transacted with probity and skill, the confidential adviser quickly comes to be looked upon as a friend, and has the opportunity of exerting a most considerable influence ;— many a man will do for his solicitor what he would not even have listened to with patience from his clerical adviser. We have ventured on this brief digression, because it emphatically illustrates the value of Mr. Templer's professional character. During the many years he was in practice, no single suspicion of a sordid or disingenuous act ever crossed his path. An intelligent and acute lawyer, an able speaker, and a thorough man of business, his services were in general request; while of the numerous clients with whom he was thus brought in contact, there were few who failed to speak of him with the esteem amid regard of a personal friend, and none by whom his name was ever associated with dishonour.
The general esteem thus enjoyed by Mr. Templer was the more remarkable, as he was a keen politician, and that too at a time and place where party spirit ran very high. Mr. Templer espoused the Tory side in politics; and during time earlier portions of his career many of the successes of the party in the county and neighbouring boroughs were attributable to his energy and personal influence. Mr. Templer, however, was a Tory rather of the school of Pitt than of Lord Eldon. He lived to see many shades of change in the opinions even of those who remained in the same ranks with himself; and to several of these, such as the abolition of the corn - laws, the progress of legal and sanitary reform, and others, lie subscribed with a full sense of their value. In other respects, however, Mr. Templer retained his political principles consistently until the close of life; at the same time, his opinions were never maintained at the sacrifice of courtesy and good feeling towards those who differed from him. In other respects, the present sketch must be left incomplete. Few indeed of those who associated with Mr. Templer could fail to admire his singular unselfishness, and the genial warmth and kindness of a nature incapable of judging even time faults of other men harshly, and upon which not one of the corroding influences of life seemed ever to have passed. To a still interior circle belonged the knowledge of other qualities. A disciplined temper and affections, a fervent but humble piety, marked Mr. Templer's declining years, and formed the springs of time Christian hope which animated a more than usually tranquil death bed. But these private and domestic traits are without the province of the present memoir. Mr. Templer's death occurred at the somewhat advanced age of 71, and found him in the full possession of his faculties. The remains of the deceased were attended to the place of interment, which was at a considerable distance, by a large concourse of time gentry and others of Bridport and time neighbourhood, who formed a procession on foot in advance of the corpse. Time principal shops of time town were also partially closed throughout the day.
On the death of his father Thomas in 1796when he was only nine his mother moved to a smaller house and Clyst Honiton. Hewas the first Templer to go to boarding school. Started practice as a solicitorin Bridport. He was a keen sportsman and rider. He went hunting with Mr. Farquarsonwith his six handsome sons. He was a keen Tory politician and helped Sir HoraceSt Paul Bart. MP for Bridport 1810 to 1831 who gave him a handsome silver urn.
Lived at the Grove, now Council offices. AfterCatherine's death in 1845, he married Mary Bailey who survived him and isburied Bradpole. He took shares in pie Mall Mills.
1811 to 1858 solicitor of Bridport
1806 Engaged to then married in 1811 CatherineLethbridge of Launcester. Had 13 children. She died on 8 June 1845 age 59buried at at Bradpole.
1811 bought the Grove Bridport way he lived
1811 bolt Downe Hall from his brother Henry
1836 he bought Mountfield
His granddaughter Constance Horsfall (1856 to1958) said he used to set-off hunting early in the morning with his sixhandsome sons and returned at midday to carry on his solicitors work in Bridport
Bought J. N. Sartorius Junior oil painting probablyabout 1810 of Squire Farquharson’s pack. See ‘Kings of Hunting Field’ and ‘A bookof sporting painters” W. S. Sparrow.
OBITUARY James Templer, Esq., M. P. [Aug, 1858)
The decease of this gentleman, who was generally known and respected in the West of England, took place on the 28th of May last. The deceased, who was one of a numerous family, was born at Alphington, Devon, on the 7th of January, 1787. He was destined for the profession of the law, and served his articles with Mr. Luxmore of Okehampton. Mr. Templer afterwards studied for some time in London, where he became an exact and accomplished lawyer, and formed numerous friends, some of whom subsequently rose to distinguished eminence in the profession. An advantageous opening now offered at Bridport, and Mr. Templer (who had recently been united to a Miss Lethbridge, a native of Cornwall,) settled in that town, where he continued to practise until his death. Mr. Templer, however, speedily took a leading position in the county generally. His abilities and sound sense secured him a large business connection; and these qualities were united with a liberality, a high sense of honour, and a cultivated and refined taste, which procured him in many instances the warmest personal attachment. It is impossible indeed to overrate the position which may be occupied by a country solicitor in large practice, where the mind and character are not narrowed by professional interests. Time very opportunities which in unprincipled hands may be employed for peculation, become, when the practitioner is a man of integrity and firm sense, most powerful instruments for good. With the poor and uneducated he is constantly brought into contact; and these he has the opportunity of befriending in a thousand ways, protecting them equally from the designs of the sharpers of whom they form the legitimate prey, and from the consequences of their own wilfulness and incapacity. No less useful is the solicitor of high stamp to persons of a superior class. There is no interest or family occurrence, even of the most delicate nature, on which his assistance may not be required. When business of this kind is transacted with probity and skill, the confidential adviser quickly comes to be looked upon as a friend, and has the opportunity of exerting a most considerable influence ;— many a man will do for his solicitor what he would not even have listened to with patience from his clerical adviser. We have ventured on this brief digression, because it emphatically illustrates the value of Mr. Templer's professional character. During the many years he was in practice, no single suspicion of a sordid or disingenuous act ever crossed his path. An intelligent and acute lawyer, an able speaker, and a thorough man of business, his services were in general request; while of the numerous clients with whom he was thus brought in contact, there were few who failed to speak of him with the esteem amid regard of a personal friend, and none by whom his name was ever associated with dishonour.
The general esteem thus enjoyed by Mr. Templer was the more remarkable, as he was a keen politician, and that too at a time and place where party spirit ran very high. Mr. Templer espoused the Tory side in politics; and during time earlier portions of his career many of the successes of the party in the county and neighbouring boroughs were attributable to his energy and personal influence. Mr. Templer, however, was a Tory rather of the school of Pitt than of Lord Eldon. He lived to see many shades of change in the opinions even of those who remained in the same ranks with himself; and to several of these, such as the abolition of the corn - laws, the progress of legal and sanitary reform, and others, lie subscribed with a full sense of their value. In other respects, however, Mr. Templer retained his political principles consistently until the close of life; at the same time, his opinions were never maintained at the sacrifice of courtesy and good feeling towards those who differed from him. In other respects, the present sketch must be left incomplete. Few indeed of those who associated with Mr. Templer could fail to admire his singular unselfishness, and the genial warmth and kindness of a nature incapable of judging even time faults of other men harshly, and upon which not one of the corroding influences of life seemed ever to have passed. To a still interior circle belonged the knowledge of other qualities. A disciplined temper and affections, a fervent but humble piety, marked Mr. Templer's declining years, and formed the springs of time Christian hope which animated a more than usually tranquil death bed. But these private and domestic traits are without the province of the present memoir. Mr. Templer's death occurred at the somewhat advanced age of 71, and found him in the full possession of his faculties. The remains of the deceased were attended to the place of interment, which was at a considerable distance, by a large concourse of time gentry and others of Bridport and time neighbourhood, who formed a procession on foot in advance of the corpse. Time principal shops of time town were also partially closed throughout the day.
On the death of his father Thomas in 1796when he was only nine his mother moved to a smaller house and Clyst Honiton. Hewas the first Templer to go to boarding school. Started practice as a solicitorin Bridport. He was a keen sportsman and rider. He went hunting with Mr. Farquarsonwith his six handsome sons. He was a keen Tory politician and helped Sir HoraceSt Paul Bart. MP for Bridport 1810 to 1831 who gave him a handsome silver urn.
Lived at the Grove, now Council offices. AfterCatherine's death in 1845, he married Mary Bailey who survived him and isburied Bradpole. He took shares in pie Mall Mills.
1811 to 1858 solicitor of Bridport
1806 Engaged to then married in 1811 CatherineLethbridge of Launcester. Had 13 children. She died on 8 June 1845 age 59buried at at Bradpole.
1811 bought the Grove Bridport way he lived
1811 bolt Downe Hall from his brother Henry
1836 he bought Mountfield
His granddaughter Constance Horsfall (1856 to1958) said he used to set-off hunting early in the morning with his sixhandsome sons and returned at midday to carry on his solicitors work in Bridport
Bought J. N. Sartorius Junior oil painting probablyabout 1810 of Squire Farquharson’s pack. See ‘Kings of Hunting Field’ and ‘A bookof sporting painters” W. S. Sparrow.
Events
| Birth | 7 Jan 1787 | The Old Abbey, Alphington, Devon, England, United Kingdom | |||
| Christen | 8 Feb 1787 | Alphington, Devon, England, United Kingdom | |||
| Marriage | 7 Jan 1811 | St Mary Magdalene,, Launceston, Cornwall, England, United Kingdom - Catherine Lethbridge | |||
| Residence | 1841 | Age: 55 - Bradpole, Dorset, England, United Kingdom | |||
| Residence | 1851 | Age: 66; RelationToHead: Visitor - Wellington, Somerset, England, United Kingdom | |||
| Marriage | 9 Jul 1852 | Christ Church, St. Marylebone, Middlesex, England, United Kingdom - Mary Bayley | |||
| Death | 28 May 1858 | Bradpole, Dorset, England, United Kingdom |  | ||
| Burial | 1 Jun 1858 | Bradpole, Dorset, England, United Kingdom | |||
| Occupation | Solicitor of Bradpole, Dorset | ||||
| Educated | Blundell's School, Tiverton, Devon, England, United Kingdom |
Families
| Spouse | Catherine Lethbridge (1786 - 1845) |
| Child | James Lethbridge Templer (1811 - 1845) |
| Child | Henry Augustus Templer (1813 - 1874) |
| Child | John Charles Templer (1814 - 1874) |
| Child | George Denis O'Kelly Templer (1815 - 1872) |
| Child | Hebe Catherine Templer (1817 - 1887) |
| Child | William Vinnicombe Templer (1819 - 1819) |
| Child | Catherine Lethbridge Templer (1820 - 1835) |
| Child | Barbara Alicia Templer (1821 - 1822) |
| Child | Rev William Christopher Templer (1823 - 1885) |
| Child | Charles Copland Templer (1825 - 1895) |
| Child | Frederick Octavius Templer (1826 - 1841) |
| Child | Alice Mary Templer (1828 - 1889) |
| Child | Robert Baron Templer (1830 - 1886) |
| Spouse | Mary Bayley (1820 - 1864) |
| Father | Thomas Templer (1737 - 1796) |
| Mother | Alice Mary Vinicombe (1752 - 1829) |
| Sibling | John Templer ( - 1777) |
| Sibling | Barbara Templer (1776 - ) |
| Sibling | Anne Templer ( - 1829) |
| Sibling | Thomas Templer (1779 - 1818) |
| Sibling | Mary Templer (1781 - 1850) |
| Sibling | Captain Henry Templer HEIC (1784 - 1838) |
| Sibling | Rev John Templer (1784 - 1829) |
| Sibling | Rev Charles Templer (1789 - 1851) |
| Sibling | William Henry Augustus Templer (1791 - 1832) |
| Sibling | Richard Templer (1794 - 1795) |