Mark Antony Lower F.S.A. M.A. (1813–1876) was a Sussex historian and schoolteacher who founded the Sussex Archaeological Society. An anti-Catholic propagandist[1] Lower is believed to have started the "cult of the Sussex Martyrs",[1][2] although he was against the excesses of the "Bonfire Boys".[3]
Lower was born 14 July 1813, one of six sons[4] of Richard Lower, a schoolmaster, and his wife in Chiddingly. Richard and Mary (née Oxley) gave Lower a good education.[5] It appears he showed an early interest in heraldry as a painted coat of arms in the local church is attributed to him.[6] He worked first at his sister's school in East Hoathly,[7] before further extending the family's interests in local education with a school at Alfriston under his control. Within three years however he left to establish another school in Lewes in Sussex in 1835.
The Sussex Martyrs are still remembered today
He married Mercy Holman in 1835 when his school had moved to St. Anne's House in Lewes High Street. He was elected a member of the American Antiquarian Society in 1844.[8] His establishment of the Sussex Archaeological Society with J. H. Hurdis in 1846 established Lower as a well regarded notable antiquarian. His publication of The Sussex Martyrs, their Examinations and Cruel Burnings in the time of Queen Mary... in 1851 together with an etching by James Henry Hurdis of Richard Woodman and nine other martyrs is credited with establishing the "cult of the Sussex Martyrs".[2] However it is noted that his Sussex Martyrs was really a re-publication of John Foxe's account in his Book of Martyrs.[3] Although Lower is credited with publicising the Sussex Martyrs, he does not appear to have started the Bonfire Societies. His biography credits him with writing a note complaining of the excesses of the "Bonfire Boys", and he had himself been an active member of the Lewes New Temperance Society.[3]
Lower said that he had published the Sussex Martyrs because their deaths had been largely forgotten and high churchmen were referring to the Reformation and the deaths of these people as a mistake. Following the publications "anti-popish" demonstrations took place each year around 5 Nov. In 1868 a figure dressed as the "Bishop of Lewes" warned protestants of the Roman Catholic threat and the following year an effigy of the pope was to be blown up with gunpowder.[9]
Title page, A Compendious History of Sussex, Mark Antony Lower, 1870
Lower published numerous articles for the Sussex Archaeological Society and he was employed for a number of years as a secretary. He published Patronymica Britannica: A Dictionary of the Family Names of the United Kingdom in 1860 and The Worthies of Sussex in 1865.[10][11] Mercy Lower died in 1867. The widower married Sarah Scrase three years later after moving to Seaford. His important Sussex local history book, A Compendious History of Sussex was completed just a year before he left Lewes for London. His guide to Scandinavia was published in 1874 after he toured there to improve his health.[3]
Lower died on 22 March 1876[5] in Enfield. He was buried in St Anne's Church in Lewes.[12]
Sussex Archaeological Society, various publications, 1846–
The Sussex Martyrs, their Examinations and Cruel Burnings in the time of Queen Mary, comprising the interesting personal narrative of Richard Woodman, &c. &c., 1852
Patronymica Britannica, 1860 (A dictionary of the family names of the United Kingdom)[10]
The Song of Solomon in the dialect of Sussex; from the authorised English version, 1860
Wikisource has original text related to this article:
Mark Antony Lower
^ ab"East Sussex". The Keep. Retrieved 9 January 2017.
^ abChristopher Whittick, 'Hurdis, James Henry (1800–1857)', Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, Sept 2004; online edn, Jan 2008 accessed 6 Nov 2009
^ abcdefg"Mark Antony Lower". Open Library. 2009. Retrieved 8 November 2009.
^What's in a Surname? A Journey from Abercrombie to Zwicker, David McKie, Windmill Books, 2014, p. 84
^ abCampkin F.S.A., Henry. Two Sussex archaeologists: William Durrant Cooper and Mark Antony Lower. Bacon. Retrieved 8 November 2009.
^Chiddingly Church, Sussex, accessed November 2009
^"Mark Antony Lower". The Weald. Retrieved 8 November 2009.
^Goring, Jeremy (2003). Burn holy fire: religion in Lewes since the Reformation. James Clarke & Co. pp. 129–192. ISBN978-0-7188-3040-3. Retrieved 10 November 2009.
^ abMark Antony Lower (1860). Patronymica Britannica: A Dictionary of the Family Names of the United Kingdom. J.R. Smith. Retrieved 19 February 2014.
^ abLower, Mark Anthony (1865). The Worthies of Sussex. Lewes: Sussex Advertiser. Retrieved 29 March 2013.
^John H. Farrant, 'Lower, Mark Antony (1813–1876)', Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, 2004 accessed 8 Nov 2009
^Mark Antony Lower (1 March 2004) [1845]. The Curiosities of Heraldry. Kessinger Publishing. ISBN978-0-7661-8651-4.
^Battle Abbey; Mark Antony Lower (1851). The Chronicle of Battel Abbey, from 1066 to 1176: now first translated with notes, and an abstract of the subsequent history of the establishment. J. R. Smith. p. 224.
Further reading
Mark Antony Lower (1860). Patronymica Britannica: A Dictionary of the Family Names of the United Kingdom. J.R. Smith.
Battle Abbey; Mark Antony Lower (1851). The Chronicle of Battel Abbey, from 1066 to 1176: now first translated with notes, and an abstract of the subsequent history of the establishment. J. R. Smith.
Mark Antony Lower (1870). A compendious history of Sussex: topographical, archæological & anecdotical. Containing an index to the first twenty volumes of the "Sussex archæological collections". G.P. Bacon.
Mark Antony Lower (1875). English Surnames: An Essay on Family Nomenclature, Historical, Etymological, and Humorous; with Several Illustrative Appendices. J. R. Smith.
External links
Two lectures on the Bayeux tapestry, 1857 by Mark Antony Lower at Mount Holyoke College
The Sussex Archaeological Society official website
mark, antony, lower, 1813, 1876, sussex, historian, schoolteacher, founded, sussex, archaeological, society, anti, catholic, propagandist, lower, believed, have, started, cult, sussex, martyrs, although, against, excesses, bonfire, boys, contents, life, works,. Mark Antony Lower F S A M A 1813 1876 was a Sussex historian and schoolteacher who founded the Sussex Archaeological Society An anti Catholic propagandist 1 Lower is believed to have started the cult of the Sussex Martyrs 1 2 although he was against the excesses of the Bonfire Boys 3 Mark Antony LowerContents 1 Life 2 Works 3 References 4 Further reading 5 External linksLife EditLower was born 14 July 1813 one of six sons 4 of Richard Lower a schoolmaster and his wife in Chiddingly Richard and Mary nee Oxley gave Lower a good education 5 It appears he showed an early interest in heraldry as a painted coat of arms in the local church is attributed to him 6 He worked first at his sister s school in East Hoathly 7 before further extending the family s interests in local education with a school at Alfriston under his control Within three years however he left to establish another school in Lewes in Sussex in 1835 The Sussex Martyrs are still remembered today He married Mercy Holman in 1835 when his school had moved to St Anne s House in Lewes High Street He was elected a member of the American Antiquarian Society in 1844 8 His establishment of the Sussex Archaeological Society with J H Hurdis in 1846 established Lower as a well regarded notable antiquarian His publication of The Sussex Martyrs their Examinations and Cruel Burnings in the time of Queen Mary in 1851 together with an etching by James Henry Hurdis of Richard Woodman and nine other martyrs is credited with establishing the cult of the Sussex Martyrs 2 However it is noted that his Sussex Martyrs was really a re publication of John Foxe s account in his Book of Martyrs 3 Although Lower is credited with publicising the Sussex Martyrs he does not appear to have started the Bonfire Societies His biography credits him with writing a note complaining of the excesses of the Bonfire Boys and he had himself been an active member of the Lewes New Temperance Society 3 Lower said that he had published the Sussex Martyrs because their deaths had been largely forgotten and high churchmen were referring to the Reformation and the deaths of these people as a mistake Following the publications anti popish demonstrations took place each year around 5 Nov In 1868 a figure dressed as the Bishop of Lewes warned protestants of the Roman Catholic threat and the following year an effigy of the pope was to be blown up with gunpowder 9 Title page A Compendious History of Sussex Mark Antony Lower 1870 Lower published numerous articles for the Sussex Archaeological Society and he was employed for a number of years as a secretary He published Patronymica Britannica A Dictionary of the Family Names of the United Kingdom in 1860 and The Worthies of Sussex in 1865 10 11 Mercy Lower died in 1867 The widower married Sarah Scrase three years later after moving to Seaford His important Sussex local history book A Compendious History of Sussex was completed just a year before he left Lewes for London His guide to Scandinavia was published in 1874 after he toured there to improve his health 3 Lower died on 22 March 1876 5 in Enfield He was buried in St Anne s Church in Lewes 12 Works EditEnglish surnames 1842 3 The Curiosities of Heraldry 1845 13 Chronicles of Pevensey 1846 Sussex Archaeological Society various publications 1846 The Sussex Martyrs their Examinations and Cruel Burnings in the time of Queen Mary comprising the interesting personal narrative of Richard Woodman amp c amp c 1852 Patronymica Britannica 1860 A dictionary of the family names of the United Kingdom 10 The Song of Solomon in the dialect of Sussex from the authorised English version 1860 Old Speech and Old Manners in Sussex 1861 Parochial history of Chiddingly 1862 3 The Worthies of Sussex 1865 11 A Compendious History of Sussex 1870 Historical and genealogical notices of the Pelham family 1873 3 The Chronicle of Battel sic Abbey 1851 14 References Edit Wikisource has original text related to this article Mark Antony Lower a b East Sussex The Keep Retrieved 9 January 2017 a b Christopher Whittick Hurdis James Henry 1800 1857 Oxford Dictionary of National Biography Oxford University Press Sept 2004 online edn Jan 2008 accessed 6 Nov 2009 a b c d e f g Mark Antony Lower Open Library 2009 Retrieved 8 November 2009 What s in a Surname A Journey from Abercrombie to Zwicker David McKie Windmill Books 2014 p 84 a b Campkin F S A Henry Two Sussex archaeologists William Durrant Cooper and Mark Antony Lower Bacon Retrieved 8 November 2009 Chiddingly Church Sussex accessed November 2009 Mark Antony Lower The Weald Retrieved 8 November 2009 American Antiquarian Society Members Directory Goring Jeremy 2003 Burn holy fire religion in Lewes since the Reformation James Clarke amp Co pp 129 192 ISBN 978 0 7188 3040 3 Retrieved 10 November 2009 a b Mark Antony Lower 1860 Patronymica Britannica A Dictionary of the Family Names of the United Kingdom J R Smith Retrieved 19 February 2014 a b Lower Mark Anthony 1865 The Worthies of Sussex Lewes Sussex Advertiser Retrieved 29 March 2013 John H Farrant Lower Mark Antony 1813 1876 Oxford Dictionary of National Biography Oxford University Press 2004 accessed 8 Nov 2009 Mark Antony Lower 1 March 2004 1845 The Curiosities of Heraldry Kessinger Publishing ISBN 978 0 7661 8651 4 Battle Abbey Mark Antony Lower 1851 The Chronicle of Battel Abbey from 1066 to 1176 now first translated with notes and an abstract of the subsequent history of the establishment J R Smith p 224 Further reading EditMark Antony Lower 1860 Patronymica Britannica A Dictionary of the Family Names of the United Kingdom J R Smith Battle Abbey Mark Antony Lower 1851 The Chronicle of Battel Abbey from 1066 to 1176 now first translated with notes and an abstract of the subsequent history of the establishment J R Smith Mark Antony Lower 1870 A compendious history of Sussex topographical archaeological amp anecdotical Containing an index to the first twenty volumes of the Sussex archaeological collections G P Bacon Mark Antony Lower 1875 English Surnames An Essay on Family Nomenclature Historical Etymological and Humorous with Several Illustrative Appendices J R Smith External links EditTwo lectures on the Bayeux tapestry 1857 by Mark Antony Lower at Mount Holyoke College The Sussex Archaeological Society official website Works by Mark Antony Lower at Project Gutenberg Works by or about Mark Antony Lower at Internet Archive Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Mark Antony Lower amp oldid 1101090945, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
