Talman Family; Wm. and Mary Qrtly., Vol. 3, No. 2, 1894 Transcribed by Kathy Merrill for the USGenWeb Archives Special Collections Project ************************************************************************ USGENWEB ARCHIVES NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. http://www.usgwarchives.net *********************************************************************** Talman Family William and Mary College Quarterly Historical Magazine, Vol. 3, No. 2. (Oct., 1894), pp. 101-104. TALMAN FAMILY. Sir Horace Walpole, in his "Anecdotes of Painting", says: "William Talman was born at West Larington in Wiltshire, where he had an estate; was comptroller of the works in the reign of King William . . . . He was an architect employed in considerable works. In 1671 he built Thoresby House in Nottinghamshire, burnt a few years ago; Dryham House in Gloucestershire, in 1698, Swallowfield in Berks (Diary of Henry, Earl of Clarendon, for whom it was built), and Chatsworth; the elegance and lighness of the latter front do great honor to the artist - the other sides are equally beautiful. The flight of steps by which you ascend from the hall tot he apartments was thought noble enough by Kent to be borrowed for Holkham. His son, John Talman, resided much in Italy; made a large collection of prints and drawings, particularly of churches and altars, many of which were done by himself . . . . A few of his drawings are in the library of the Antiquarian Society." The Parish Register, of West Larington, Wiltshire, shows that "William Talman, ye son of Christopher Talman and Joanna, his wife, was bapt Apl 5, 1663." The rector of West Larington writes that, owing to laxity in religious matters at the time, he thinks Wililam, the architect, was about thirteen years old when he was baptized. He bought Felmingham manor, otherwise Felmingham Hall, about 1700, and in 1711 there is a petition of his to the Lord High Treasurer, praying per- mission to surrender his patent as Queen's waiter in her Majesty's customs, to his brother-in-law, James Tate, "who was fully qualified." This entry is minuted Page 102. thus: "28 August, 1711. The oath must first be taken that no money or other consideration is given or promised to Mr. Talman." William Talman's will is recorded in Register Shaller, fo. 44, Prerog. Court, Canterbury, 1720, by which it appears that he died at Felmingham Hall, Norfolk county. He mentions his wife, Hannah, and children: John, to whom he bequeathed his collection of prints, drawings and books for his life, L1,500, and his chambers in Gray's Inn; Hannah, who married John Green, Jr.; James who married Elizabeth (buried at Felmingham in 1730, aged 25 - tombstone), and Henry. Mr. J.S. Moore, of Richmond, who is a lineal descendant of the last-named, writes: "The following is a copy of the inscription on the tomb, covered by a black marble slab, at the old church at Felmingham Hall, Norfolk county, England: 'Here Rests the bodies of William Talman, of Felmingham, Esq., who died Nov. 22, 1719, aged 69 years, and of Hannah his wife, who died Jan'y 4, 1729, aged 66 years.' I have also the inscriptions of two or three others of the family, one in Latin. Each one of the tombstones has a quaint monogram or device on it, which I would like to send you, but I am no draftsman. It is supposed the Talmans came over with William the Conqueror. (The shield of the family coat- of-arms in Norman, and the device on it indicates that the bearer was a crusader.)" The records of Norfolk county, England, state that "John Talman, of Grimstone parish in Norfolk, conveyed a parcel of land for charity by deed in 1394." The name also occurs in documents conveying sales of land in the 47th and 48th of Edward III., that is, in 1373, also in the 9th of Richard II., that is, in 1385, in Grimeston and adjoining parishes. In Mobray's "Travels", occurs the following: "By letters on board the 'Medway' in the East Indies, we have an account of the death of Mr. John Talman, only son of the late John Talman, Esq., famous for the best collections of prints, drawings, and particularly church ornaments, of any private gentleman in England, and grandson to William Talman, Esq., comp- troller of all his Majesty's Buildings and Gardens in the reign of King William. He was a young gentleman of a sweet temper and disposition, and much lamented by all his friends and acquaintances. His estate, which is considerable, descends to his two sisters." These two sisters were Frances Ann, and Mary, whose names are in Burke's Peerage. This John, the grandson of William (the architect), was never married. At Hinxworth, near Baldock, county Page 103. Hertford, is a tomb to another John Talman, who was likewise a great traveler and "collector of curious paintings and drawings," who died November 3, 1726, aged forty years. His wife was Frances, daughter of John Cockayne, "of this parish, gent., who died March 22, 1732." Mr. Moore, who has made extensive re- searches in old wills and other records in England, writes that this John Talman was descended from Rev. John Talman, vicar of Salisbury Cathedral, who was first cousin of William, the architect. HENRY TALMAN, of New Kent county, Virginia, had among his papers the original will of William Talman, the architect, and it was in existence shortly before the war, as proved by depositions sent to England. He was son of the architect, resided in St. Peter's parish, New Kent county, but spent much of his time on the sea as captain and owner of the ship "Vigo", running between Bristol and Virginia. Mr. Moore has in his possession a gold sleeve-button once worn by Capt. Henry Talman, and a quaint round walnut dining-table brought over in his ship, also his autograph to a bill of lading for goods shipped from Bristol in 1737-'38, to Wm. Cabell, to be discharged at Shockoe Warehouse on James River. Mr. Moore writes that Capt. Henry Talman married Ann Elizabeth Ballard, and died in London in 1775. He adds: "Capt. Henry Talman had three children(1), one son, William, who was my grandmother's grandfather, and the ancestor of the Talman's now living in Virginia, and who married Elizabeth Hewlett; he had also two daughters, one married Hewlett, the other Bacon (John). William the son of Henry, had six children who lived to maturity: Nancy was my grandmother's mother, and married Robert Pollard, of New Kent county; Austin lived and died in Richmond; John lived and died at the old residence of his grandfather "Talmans" in New Kenty county, and their descendants are still among us; Patsy _______________________________________________________________________________ (1)In the mutilated register of St. Peter's Parish, are the following entries: "Martha, daughter of Henry and Ann Talman, birth march 16, 1773." "Rebecca, daughter of Henry and Ann Talman, birth April 2, 1737." "Henry, son of Henry and Anna Talman, born December 25, 1739." [He died in childhood]". "John, son of William and Elizabeth Talman, born Feb. 27, 1756." "Elizabteh, daughter of William and Elizabeth Talman, born January 15, 1758." "Anna (Hannah), daughter of William and Elizabeth Talman, born April 6, 1760." "James, son of William and Elizabeth Talman, born June 17, 1767." Page 104. married Boolington, their heirs are still in Virginia; James was a revolutionary soldier, and died, or was killed at Valley Forge; Hannah, the sixth child, married a Turpin and moved to Savannah, Ga., and their descendants are still there. The coat-of-arms and family portraits in the division fell to Hannah, and were carried to Georgia as her lares, manes and penates, and were destroyed by fire during the late war. The coat-of-arms was on parchment and was framed. A copy was found a few years ago by one of the family in Georgia, a book-plate in a volume of Bertram's Travels; a Norman shield, the crest an arm in armor em- bowed, wielding a battle-axe. The vertical lines ont he shield are crimson; on the chevron are three round silver coins (Byzantian), indicating that the bearer was a Crusader; above the chevron, on each side, are to daggers or swords, hilts up, points downward; at the base of the shield is also a sword, hilt down, point upward; the Norman shield indicates its antiquity and early origin; the motto is "In fide et in Bello Fortis" - Faithful in friendship, strong in war! This crest, and motto, and shield, were not registered at the College of Arms in London. Sir Albert W. Woods, Rouge Dragon, says, in a letter to the writer, that many of the gentry never registered or recorded their coats-of-arms. Dr. W. H. Turpin, of Georgia, who was descended from Hannah Talman, had this coat-of-arms painted on his carriage doors. I have also a copy of it on an old letter-head."