William Hals (1655–1737) was a British historian who compiled a History of Cornwall, the first work of any magnitude that was printed in Cornwall.[1] He was born at Tresawsan, in the parish of Merther in Cornwall.[2] Much of his work was never published but was used by other Cornish historians, including Davies Gilbert, Thomas Tonkin, and John Whitaker. Some of his original work is now held by the British Library.
His parents were James Hals of Fentongollan, and Anne, daughter of John Martin of Hurston, Devon. James was a son of Sir Nicholas Halse.[3]
He married three times. His first wife was an Evans of Landrini in Wales, his second a Carveth of Perranzabuloe, and his last wife was a Courtenay of Tremere. He died without issue in 1737 or 1739 at Tregury (Tregurtha), in the parish of St Wenn, of which he owned the rectorial tithes.
Parochial History of CornwallEdit
Hals began his work on the history of Cornwall in 1685, forming a collection which he continued until 1736, but it was never actually finished.[4]
In about 1750 Andrew Brice, a publisher from Exeter, published Hals's Complete History of Cornwall, Part II being the Parochial History, containing accounts of seventy-two parishes, Advent to Helston. The fascicules were printed progressively at Truro (160 pages in all).[5] However the first part was never published.
It is believed that the scandalous details included by Hals caused a discontinuance of the publication. Hals's incomplete History is very rare. The most complete copy is in the Grenville Library at the British Library.
The Parochial History of Cornwall by Davies Gilbert was based on the collections of Hals, with additional collections by Thomas Tonkin. Much of Hals's digressions and gossip is omitted. The manuscripts of Hals's History passed through various hands, and belonged at one time to Dr John Whitaker. They were given by Whitaker's daughter, Mrs Taunton, to Henry Sewell Stokes of Bodmin, Cornwall. Mr Stokes transferred them to Sir John Maclean, from whom they were acquired in 1875 for the British Museum.
Other worksEdit
Title page of Hals' Cornish British Vocabulary [Add. MS 71157]
Other works in manuscript form held in the British Library
The History of St. Michael's Mount
Cornish British Vocabulary [Add. MS 71157] (c. 1701)
An Latimer ay Kernow, a Dictionary of the Cornish Language
^The Journal of the British Archaeological Association, Volumes 144-145, p. 37
^"Hals: History of Cornwall". Copac. Retrieved 10 February 2010.
Wikisource has original text related to this article:
Hals, William (DNB00)
October 21, 2023
william, hals, 1655, 1737, british, historian, compiled, history, cornwall, first, work, magnitude, that, printed, cornwall, born, tresawsan, parish, merther, cornwall, much, work, never, published, used, other, cornish, historians, including, davies, gilbert,. William Hals 1655 1737 was a British historian who compiled a History of Cornwall the first work of any magnitude that was printed in Cornwall 1 He was born at Tresawsan in the parish of Merther in Cornwall 2 Much of his work was never published but was used by other Cornish historians including Davies Gilbert Thomas Tonkin and John Whitaker Some of his original work is now held by the British Library Contents 1 Family 2 Parochial History of Cornwall 3 Other works 4 Sources 5 ReferencesFamily EditHis parents were James Hals of Fentongollan and Anne daughter of John Martin of Hurston Devon James was a son of Sir Nicholas Halse 3 He married three times His first wife was an Evans of Landrini in Wales his second a Carveth of Perranzabuloe and his last wife was a Courtenay of Tremere He died without issue in 1737 or 1739 at Tregury Tregurtha in the parish of St Wenn of which he owned the rectorial tithes Parochial History of Cornwall EditHals began his work on the history of Cornwall in 1685 forming a collection which he continued until 1736 but it was never actually finished 4 In about 1750 Andrew Brice a publisher from Exeter published Hals s Complete History of Cornwall Part II being the Parochial History containing accounts of seventy two parishes Advent to Helston The fascicules were printed progressively at Truro 160 pages in all 5 However the first part was never published It is believed that the scandalous details included by Hals caused a discontinuance of the publication Hals s incomplete History is very rare The most complete copy is in the Grenville Library at the British Library The Parochial History of Cornwall by Davies Gilbert was based on the collections of Hals with additional collections by Thomas Tonkin Much of Hals s digressions and gossip is omitted The manuscripts of Hals s History passed through various hands and belonged at one time to Dr John Whitaker They were given by Whitaker s daughter Mrs Taunton to Henry Sewell Stokes of Bodmin Cornwall Mr Stokes transferred them to Sir John Maclean from whom they were acquired in 1875 for the British Museum Other works Edit nbsp Title page of Hals Cornish British Vocabulary Add MS 71157 Other works in manuscript form held in the British Library The History of St Michael s Mount Cornish British Vocabulary Add MS 71157 c 1701 An Latimer ay Kernow a Dictionary of the Cornish Language John Keigwin s MS of Mount Calvary Pascon agan Arluth 1679 1680 amended transcript Sources EditBoase and Courtney s Bibl Cornub 1874 i 204 iii 1214 Polwhele s Hist of Cornwall 1806 v 203 D Gilbert s Parochial Hist of Cornwall passim Notes and Queries 3rd ser xii 22 Gent Mag 1790 pt ii pp 608 711 1791 pt i p 32 William Thomas Lowndes s Bibliographer s Manual 1858 i 525 Lysons s Magna Britannia 1814 cv 2 H Merivale s Historical Studies 1865 p 357 Journal of Brit Archaeol Assoc xxxiii 37 Information from Mr Stokes see also note in Mr Stokes s Voyage of Arundel References Edit nbsp Cornwall portal Fortescue Hitchins amp Samuel Drew The History of Cornwall from the earliest records and traditions Volume 1 p 693 Merther Cornwall UK Genealogy Archive Pearce Nigel Douglas Frith 1890 Hals William In Stephen Leslie Lee Sidney eds Dictionary of National Biography Vol 24 London Smith Elder amp Co pp 123 124 The Journal of the British Archaeological Association Volumes 144 145 p 37 Hals History of Cornwall Copac Retrieved 10 February 2010 nbsp Wikisource has original text related to this article Hals William DNB00 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title William Hals amp oldid 1115601472, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
