Thomas Smith 1615-1702

Thomas SMITH 1615-1702

Biographical Note

Born at Asby, Westmorland, son of John Smith, yeoman farmer. BA Queen's College, Oxford 1635, MA and fellow 1639, BD 1660, DD 1661. Became chaplain to Catherine, Lady Fletcher ca.1652, then married her in 1655 and moved to Cockermouth, Cumberland. Canon of Carlisle 1660, of Durham 1661, Dean of Carlisle 1671, Bishop of Carlisle 1684.

Books

In his will, Smith bequeathed to Carlisle Cathedral "all such of my bookes as are and shall be wanting in their Library and be judged fit to be placed there", with the remainder divided equally between his chaplains George Fleming and Geoffrey Milbergh. Several hundred books remain at Carlisle today; the analysis of the contents by Holtby show that it was a typical library for a senior cleric of the period, built up throughout his lifetime, wide-ranging in contents with strong theological holdings.

Characteristic Markings

Smith typically inscribed his books with his name, and often a price and date of purchase.

Sources

• Ferguson, R. S., Wills relating to the Dean and Chapter Library of Carlisle, Transactions of the Cumberland and Westmorland Archaeological and Antiquarian Society 4 (1880), pp.1-12.
• Holtby, C., Carlisle Cathedral Library and records, Transactions of the Cumberland and Westmorland Archaeological and Antiquarian Society ns 66 (1966), 201-19, pp.214-9.
• Weston, D., Carlisle Cathedral history, 2000, p.124.
• Weston, David W. V. '"Smith, Thomas (1614–1702), bishop of Carlisle."' Oxford Dictionary of National Biography.