Thomas Chatterton Manuscript Project
Key People
William Barrett, 1733 - 1789
Surgeon, Author, Historian of Bristol
Chatterton's Friend and Mentor?
William Barrett, at 31.
By Jan van Rymsdyk.
William Barrett, along with George Symes Catcott, played a central role in the Chatterton - Rowley story.
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Chatterton was a regular visitor to Barrett's house. He would have ambled through the front door and on into the inner sanctum to assist Barrett with his History of Bristol. In return Barrett assisted Chatterton with his own works, as is shown by Barrett's annotations on some of Chatterton's manuscripts, where he 'corrected' some of Chatterton's writings. Yet when Chatterton was in London and asked Barrett for a reference he refused - surely this tells us that Barrett did not trust Chatterton!
William Barrett's
The History and Antiquities of the City of Bristol
Barrett's life's work or, rather, the work that consumed much of his leisure time, 'The History and Antiquities of the City of Bristol...', is a highly important Chatterton source. The two images below are facsimiles of original Chatterton manuscripts. They appear facing pages 196 & 637.
Barrett's book also contains insights into the thinking of both Barrett and, perhaps, the development of Chatterton. The book has 704 pages, of which around 127 contain either the first printing of one of Chatterton's works, or some reference to Chatterton.
I have extracted the contents of these 127 pages to a Control Page, and then added additional interesting and illuminating information, complete with links - all to save my readers the effort of scanning Barrett's book in full, which can be a bit of a trial : View
Proof Engravings to
Barrett's History and Antiquities of Bristol​
Annotated by Thomas Chatterton and William Barrett​
Rediscovered by John E. Pritchard F.S.A
Transactions of the Bristol & Gloucestershire Archaeological Society​​​​​​​
One of the Proof Plates discovered by John E. Pritchard
The engraving actually used in Barrett's History & Antiquities of Bristol, 1789
Read all about John E. Pritchard's discovery in his own word : View
William Barrett Memorial
William Barrett is buried in St Andrew's church, High Ham, Gloucestershire, England. I wonder if his some of his specific wishes, as listed in his Will, were actually carried out :
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"Lastly I desire that wherever I shall happen to die that my corps may be roll'd up in an old Blanket and put in a common shell or coffin and that it be buried in any churchyard nearest and adjoining and carried to the grave by six of the poor men of the parish who shall receive five shillings each and a crape hatband each for their trouble and a large flat stone only put over ye grave inscrib'd with my name."
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In addition it does look as if he was not overly concerned about his name living in 'after times,' unlike his friend, George Symes Catcott.
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I can't help but add that Barrett's statement above feels vey much like the lyrics to a famous blues song, 'St James Infirmary,' Additionally, there is a claim that the song was influenced by the story of Chatterton's life and death - the only trouble here, is that I can't remember where I read the claim - so, I throw this out in the hope of gathering information.
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So many versions of this song, here are a few.
Trombone Shorty at The Whitehouse :
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Click the above to listen on Youtube. My own favourite vocal performance is the one by Katie Smith.
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William Barrett's Works
(Works & Publications &c)
The History and Antiquities of the City of Bristol : View the Chatterton pages
Barrett's book is a highly important source, which contains the first printings of a number of Chatterton's works. It has 704 pages, of which around 123 contain either Chatterton's works or references to Chatterton. The above link gives you the choice to view the 123 pages with my analysis, complete with additional interesting and illuminating information; or to go directly to Barrett's 704 pages online.
A Calendar of Bristol Deeds (Chiefly Relating to Bristol) by Francis B. Bickley : View
The following is from Meyerstein p. 116n : '...certain thirteenth century Indulgences' deeds 14, 34, and 36, found in Canynges Coffer by William Barrett. No. 14 [p.6] has been treated with galls, as we know Barrett to have treated some of Chatterton's "originals." '
Biography of William Barrett : View
In Dictionary of National Biography.
​The First Historians of Bristol : View
A small pamphlet from The Bristol Branch of the Historical Association. Barrett is included thanks to his 'The History & Antiquities of Bristol'.
​​Biographies & Works of Thomas Chatterton : View
A link to multiple editions of biographies of Chatterton, which contain a wealth of detail about William Barrett.
Barrett's Correspondence
Chatterton (one letter only, see 'M' p.144)
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Letter from Chatterton to Barrett : The Clayfield Letter : View
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Still working on populating this page - much still to be done.