William Harvey, Rector of the Church of St Martin, Fincham, Norfolk 1700?-1787?

Born: around 1695 at Beechamwell, died 1786 aged 92, buried at Crimplesham, Norfolk.
Parents: Robert Harvey of Crimplesham, Norfolk (possibly: Robert Harvey, 16??-1720).
Brother of:
1. Robert Harvey (1700-1756), of Stoke Ferry, Norfolk.
2. Possibly Lieut John Harvey RN (1700ish to mid 1700ish).
William married: Martha (1695-1775) the widow of Joseph Forby Rector of Fincham from 1723 - 1744.
Had issue: Not known.

The information I have about William Harvey is very limited and comes from the following sources:

1. The diary of his brother's great grandaughter Elizabeth Jones (nee Helsham) who makes reference to him but gives no information about him (written in the mid 1800s).
2. A list of rectors of the Church of St Martin, Fincham, Norfolk.
3. The will of his brother Robert Harvey of Stoke Ferry, Norfolk
4. His gravestone at Crimplesham, Norfolk.

William Harvey's existance is briefly mentioned in the diary of Elizabeth Jones where she records him as a relative of her grandfather (Robert Harvey). Robert Harvey's will lists William as being his brother. William is also recorded on a list of Rectors inside the Fincham Church as follows:

1723-1744 Joseph Forby
1745-1787 William Harvey
1787-1799 Joseph Forby (Uncle of Robert Forby)
1799-1826 Robert Forby

It is interesting to note that William married Martha (1695-1775) who was the widow of his predecessor Joseph Forby.

My Grandmother was Anne Harvey, and I should think that she was both born and married at Stoke Ferry, her parents being Robert and Mary Harvey. A relative, the Rev William Harvey, was incumbent of Fincham Church the years 1745 and 1787 [1786]. Another of the name, a cousin, resided at Watton in Norfolk, whose only child married Sir Robert Harvey, and their son is the Mr Harvey whose entertainments at Crown Point cause such a sensation from year to year. My Grandmother had, I believe, more than one brother but the only member of the family we knew and loved was her sister Susan who is very imperfectly represented by the portrait which hangs over my fireplace. She married Mr Forby of Stoke Ferry, whose brother [uncle], the Rev. Joseph Forby, was Rector of Fincham from 1787 to 1799 and he it was who, while travelling on the Continent before the French Revolution, left some small sum in the French Fund of which mention was made some years since.

William Harvey is buried in Crimplesham Churchyard. His large tomb near the church porch is of a 'box' type and is collapsing slowly. On the end can still be clearly seen his family crest consiting of an upheld hand and cresent. He held various posts including Vicar of Crimplesham 1735-1785. He married the widow of Joseph Forby, Rector from 1723 - 1744 in the last service held at St. Michael,s Church, Fincham, before it was pulled down.

Grave of William Harvey

A note sent to me reads as follows:
College: CAIUS Entered: 1713 More Information: Adm. sizar (age 18) at CAIUS, Sept. 14, 1713. S. of Robert, of Crimplesham, Norfolk, gent. B. at Beechamwell. School, Norwich (Mr Pate). Matric. 1713-4; Scholar, 1713-8; B.A. 1717-8; M.A. 1726. Ord. deacon (Norwich) July 13, 1718, as C. of Cockley Cley, Norfolk; priest, June 12, 1720. R. of West Winch, 1732-86. V. of Crimplesham, 1735-85. R. of Fincham, 1745-86. Buried at Crimplesham, 1786. (Venn, I. 531.).

A few years ago a large portrait of a "William Harvey, Mayor of Norwich" came up for sale (Sotheby's Olympia, 21 January 2004). It had been relined and the inscription had been rewritten onto the new backing. Unfortunately no further provenance was recorded. I checked with the County Record office in Norwich who confirmed that there had never been a mayor of Norwich by the name of William Harvey. A number of other Harvey relatives did in fact become mayors of Norwich so it would appear that there has been a mix up somewhere. Existing portraits of some of these other Harvey relatives do show a family resemblance and as the portrait appears to date from around this time there is a possibility that it is our William Harvey.