Charles Allen Du Val

The Reverend Robert Anlezark 1764-1845

Robert Anlezark was born at Duxbury in Lancashire in 1764, the son of James Anlezark 1729-1772 and his wife nee Margaret Ainsworth 1733-1771.

He was the minister of the Congregationalist Chapel at Stockport in Cheshire from 1793-1801, but as early as 1796 there was a report he had intimated to his “people an intention of leaving them.” (1)

He left to study at St Edmund’s Hall in Oxford, where he matriculated on 22 October 1804 at the age of 40, transferring to Christ’s College in Cambridge where he matriculated at Michaelmas 1806. He was awarded the degree of Bachelor of Arts in 1808 (2). On 20 November 1809 he was ordained deacon in Trinity College chapel in Cambridge by the Bishop of Bristol (3). He received the degree of Master of Arts in 1812 (4).

In 1816 he was appointed to the Perpetual Curacy of St Chad’s church in Stafford, and was additionally presented by the King to the Perpetual Curacy of the Castle Church in 1820 (5). He was recorded as living at “Deans Hill Cottage, Castlechurch” when the 1841 Census was taken, a Church of England clergyman aged 79 years together with his wife Beatrice aged 50 years, with two female and one male servant. He was still residing at Dean Hill in 1844 (6). He died on 24 November 1845 aged 83 years while still incumbent of Castle Church and St Chad’s, Stafford (7).

During his incumbency he was concerned in the rebuilding of the nave and chancel of Castle Church. This was completed in 1845, the year of his death, the architect being Sir Giles Gilbert Scott (8).

The Reverend Robert Anlezark married three times. His first wife was Elizabeth Ryle (9). Their son James Anlezark was born in 1789. He died aged 20 years in his father’s house in Cambridge in 1809 (10). He had been admitted as a sizar at St John’s College on 9 June 1807 (11).

His second wife was Mary Warren 1759-1820, the eldest daughter of the Reverend Dr John Warren 1731-1787, Rector of Ripple in Worcestershire and Archdeacon of Worcester. They were married on 8 June 1802 at St Mary Magdalene church in Bermondsey, London. She was born on 28 January 1759 and baptised at Stroud in Gloucestershire. She died at Stafford on 29 May 1820 (12).

His third wife was Beatrice Bolton, whom he married on 21 August 1826 at Cannock in Staffordshire. They had the following children:

Mary Anlezark born 1827
Robert Long Anlezark born 1830
Jane Anlezark born 1831

Beatrice Bolton was born in 1790, and had a son by a previous marriage. He was Frederick Samuel Bolton 1818-1880. She died aged 65 years at Broadclyst in Devon on 12 June 1855 (13).

The Reverend Robert Anlezark was a man of great stature and bulk. He is said to have been able to eat a leg of mutton at a sitting. Another story told about him is that, his pulpit being lit with candles, he would say “Now, brethren, you may meditate while I snuff the candles” (14).

(1) The Evangelical Magazine volume 4 (1796) page 102.
(2) The Athenaeum: a Magazine of Literary and Miscellaneous Information volume 3 (1808) page 590. The 1809 date in Alumni Cantabrigienses volume 1 part 2 (1940) page 60 is evidently incorrect.
(3) The entry in Alumni Cantabrigienses volume 1 part 2 (1940) page 60 states that his ordination as deacon took place at Bristol on 19 November 1808. However this also contains an error as to his date of birth. A contemporary report that this ordination took place on 20 November 1809 in Trinity College chapel by the Bishop of Bristol is more likely to be accurate. (The Literary Panorama volume 5 (1809) page 1044.)
(4) Alumni Cantabrigienses volume 1 part 2 (1940) page 60.
(5) The Gentleman’s Magazine, and Historical Chronicle volume 96 part 2 page 377 (1826).
(6) His name is entered in the List of Subscribers in The Natural History of the County of Stafford R. Garner (1844) page 1.
(7) In The Ecclesiastical Gazette, or, Monthly Register (1845) page 150 his age is given as 84 years, but the age of 83 years stated in Alumni Cantabrigienses volume 1 part 2 (1940) page 60 accords with that of the 1841 Census Return. The year of his death was 1845, as recorded in the Official Register. That of 6 January 1846 given H. Heginbotham Stockport: Ancient and Modern volume II (1892) page 37 is incorrect, but may have been the date of his burial.
(8) Biographical Register of Christ’s College 1505-1905 and of the Earlier Foundation, God’s House 1448-1505 John Peile volume 11 1666-1905 page 357 (1913); Alumni Cantabrigienses volume 1 part 2 (1940) page 60.
(9) H. Heginbotham Stockport: Ancient and Modern volume II (1892) page 37, quoted in Alumni Cantabrigienses volume 1 part 2 (1940) page 60.
(10) The Gentleman’s Magazine vol 105 page 587 (1809).
(11) Alumni Cantabrigienses volume 1 part 2 (1940) page 60.
(12) The New Monthly Magazine volume 14 (1820) page 118; The Gentleman’s Magazine volume 90 (1820) page 571; Berry's Essex Pedigrees page 745.
(13) The Gentleman’s Magazine, and Historical Review vol 44 (1855) page 218; Biographical Register of Christ’s College 1505-1905 and of the Earlier Foundation, God’s House 1448-1505 J.Peile volume 11 1666-1905 page 357 (1913).
(14) Alumni Cantabrigienses volume 1 part 2 (1940) page 60; Biographical Register of Christ’s College 1505-1905 and of the Earlier Foundation, God’s House 1448-1505 J. Peile volume 11 1666-1905 page 357 (1913).