{"id":8463,"date":"2026-03-11T07:44:48","date_gmt":"2026-03-11T07:44:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ianwaugh.com\/archive\/?page_id=8463"},"modified":"2026-03-11T07:44:48","modified_gmt":"2026-03-11T07:44:48","slug":"bickersteth-heralds-college-correspondence-1906-transcription","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/ianwaugh.com\/archive\/bickersteth-heralds-college-correspondence-1906-transcription\/","title":{"rendered":"Bickersteth Heralds\u2019 College Correspondence (1906) – Transcription"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Letter 1<\/h1>\n

Telephone
1888 Central.<\/strong><\/p>\n

HERALDS\u2019 COLLEGE
LONDON, E.C.<\/strong><\/p>\n

31 May 1906.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Dear Sir,<\/p>\n

Thanks for your letter of the 30th Inst. enclosing cheque for \u00a31.15.0.<\/p>\n

The pedigree will be forwarded to you early next week.<\/p>\n

Yours faithfully,
H. Farnham Burke<\/strong>
Somerset Herald.<\/p>\n

R.A. Bickersteth, Esq., F.R.C.S.
10, Rodney Street.
Liverpool.<\/p>\n

Letter 2<\/h1>\n

Telephone
1888 Central.<\/strong><\/p>\n

HERALDS\u2019 COLLEGE
LONDON, E.C.<\/strong><\/p>\n

29 May 1906.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Dear Sir,<\/p>\n

Thanks for your letter of the 27th Inst.<\/p>\n

The copy of the pedigree will remain in roll form, as you request.<\/p>\n

I will have the arms painted on the face of the pedigree and would ask you to favour me with a cheque for the cost of the painting, \u00a31.15.0.<\/p>\n

Yours faithfully,
H. Farnham Burke<\/strong>
Somerset Herald.<\/p>\n

R.A. Bickersteth, Esq., F.R.C.S.
10, Rodney Street.
Liverpool.<\/p>\n

Letter 3<\/h1>\n

Telephone
1888 Central.<\/strong><\/p>\n

HERALDS\u2019 COLLEGE
LONDON, E.C.<\/strong><\/p>\n

25 May 1906.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Dear Sir,<\/p>\n

Thanks for your letter of the 23rd Inst. enclosing cheque for \u00a35.17.6.<\/p>\n

The copy of the pedigree has been prepared and will be forwarded to you as soon as possible.<\/p>\n

In 1836 Lord Langdale obtained a Grant of Arms to himself and his descendants and the motto \u201cSuum cuique\u201d was recorded under the arms.
Lord Langdale appears always to have used this motto.<\/p>\n

In 1856 the Bishop of Ripon obtained a Grant of the same arms to himself and his descendants and to the other descendants of his grandfather, and the motto painted under his arms on the Patent and on the recorded pedigree was \u201cEsto fidelis\u201d.<\/p>\n

Yours faithfully,
H. Farnham Burke<\/strong>
Somerset Herald.<\/p>\n

R.A. Bickersteth, Esq., F.R.C.S.
10, Rodney Street.
Liverpool.<\/p>\n

Letter 4<\/h1>\n

HERALDS\u2019 COLLEGE
LONDON, E.C.<\/strong><\/p>\n

27 June 1906.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Dear Sir,<\/p>\n

I am forwarding you the Somerset Herald’s official copy of your pedigree.<\/p>\n

Perhaps you would kindly acknowledge its safe receipt.<\/p>\n

Yours truly,
H. Farnham Burke<\/strong>
Somerset Herald.<\/p>\n

R.A. Bickersteth, F.R.C.S.
10, Rodney Street.
Liverpool.<\/p>\n

Letter 5<\/h1>\n

HERALDS\u2019 COLLEGE
LONDON, E.C.<\/strong><\/p>\n

5 September 1906.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Dear Sir,<\/p>\n

Thanks for your letter of the 24th.<\/p>\n

I am sorry to have kept you waiting so long for the pedigree.<\/p>\n

I am now sending it to you and you will see that I have added on the other entry.<\/p>\n

The cost of the addition is \u00a32.10. for which amount perhaps you would favour me with a cheque.<\/p>\n

Yours truly,
H. Farnham Burke<\/strong>
Somerset Herald.<\/p>\n

R.A. Bickersteth, Esq., F.R.C.S.
10, Rodney Street.
Liverpool.<\/p>\n

Letter 6<\/h1>\n

Telephone
1888 Central.<\/strong><\/p>\n

HERALDS\u2019 COLLEGE
LONDON, E.C.<\/strong><\/p>\n

9 July 1908.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Dear Sir,<\/p>\n

Thanks for your letter of the 2nd inst.<\/p>\n

There must be some mistake about the pedigree and if you will very kindly return it to me I will rectify it.<\/p>\n

Yours faithfully,
H. Farnham Burke<\/strong>
Somerset Herald.<\/p>\n

R.A. Bickersteth, Esq., F.R.C.S.
10, Rodney Street.
Liverpool.<\/p>\n

Letter 7 (from R. A. Bickersteth)<\/h1>\n

10 Rodney Street,
Liverpool.<\/strong><\/p>\n

August 24th 1906.<\/strong><\/p>\n

H. Farnham Burke Esq.
Somerset Herald,
Heralds\u2019 College,
London E.C.<\/p>\n

Dear Sir,<\/p>\n

As requested by you in your letter of July 31st, I returned the pedigree to you in the following day. I have not heard from you since then, and I should be glad to do so.<\/p>\n

I enclose no duplicate. No doubt you have returned the same to me.<\/p>\n

Now as regards the mistake or mixing over in my family pedigree and genealogy of Bickersteths, I should be more glad if you could say how you know you are sure you are correct and that I must have been wrong.<\/p>\n

In particular, I should be glad to hear from you why Walmesley is not mentioned in your recorded pedigree \u201cJane Bickersteth of Eccleston Hall\u201d married Rev. Thomas Walmesley of Eccleston Hall, and no trace of Henry Bickersteth of Eccleston is given.<\/p>\n

Yours faithfully,<\/p>\n

R. A. B.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Letter 8 (from R. A. Bickersteth)<\/h1>\n

10 Rodney Street
Liverpool<\/strong><\/p>\n

July 2nd 1906<\/strong><\/p>\n

Mr. Farnham Burke Esq., G.V.O.
Somerset Herald,
Heralds\u2019 College, London E.C.<\/p>\n

Dear Sir,<\/p>\n

I have duly received the pedigree which you have sent to me.<\/p>\n

I am concerned that there will be a still more complete copy of the whole pedigree of the Bickersteths as it now stands recorded by Somerset Herald in Heralds\u2019 College.<\/p>\n

I have carefully gone over the pedigree and genealogy again and should be glad if you could say how you know you are correct and that I must have been wrong.<\/p>\n

But I feel specially interested in this you have named and we will then wish to trace Walmesley, and any other information concerning the circumstances (transactions) that might carry weight of evidence, in connection with this line.<\/p>\n

No one now can say positively and entirely, while people are alive who have personal knowledge of the same relations, and perhaps also of some other persons, and others who may not have known the same persons.<\/em><\/p>\n

I should be glad to hear from you to see whether it accords in any detail with the original registers or parish records of the Bickersteths of Henry Eccleston.<\/p>\n

I am,
Yours faithfully,<\/p>\n

Letter 9 (from R. A. Bickersteth)<\/h1>\n

(handwritten note at top: Copy<\/strong>)<\/p>\n

Mr. Farnham Burke Esq., G.V.O.
Somerset Herald,
Heralds\u2019 College,
London E.C.<\/p>\n

Dear Sir,<\/p>\n

Thank you for copy of the MS. which does not however quite coincide upon the subject of the motto, nor has that I know to accord and bear the authority thereof when we are to ascertain the proper motto to be used under the arms borne by his ancestors.<\/p>\n

(1) You say there is reason to use the motto \u201cEsto fidelis\u201d where this came from I am quite sure, when it is entirely, if any, more than this below?<\/p>\n

(2) I gather that my ancestors retained the motto \u201cSuum cuique\u201d \u2014 many generations say at least three \u2014 and they used this until?<\/p>\n

(3) I will much hope therefore always used the same \u201cSuum cuique\u201d \u2014 can you tell me when it was not so?<\/p>\n

I shall be obliged if you will kindly send me a copy of the scale pedigree, or William and Laurence where my descent from C.E.T.S.<\/strong> is now made for us.<\/p>\n

Yrs faithfully,<\/p>\n

R. A. B.<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n

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Document 1<\/h1>\n

Heralds\u2019 College Letter<\/h3>\n

Telephone
1888 Central.<\/p>\n

HERALDS\u2019 COLLEGE
LONDON, E.C.<\/p>\n

21 May 1906.<\/p>\n

Dear Sir,<\/p>\n

Thanks for your letter of the 16th Inst.<\/p>\n

A motto is personal and does not necessarily descend with the arms, so that in the majority of instances a man prefers to use a motto which has been borne by his ancestors.<\/p>\n

The details as to your father’s descendants have been added to the Record, and the cost of a copy of the whole pedigree would be \u00a32.17.6. on paper, and \u00a33.17.6. on vellum.<\/p>\n

If you wish the arms painted on the face of the pedigree this would of course increase the cost.<\/p>\n

Yours faithfully,<\/p>\n

H. Farnham Burke
Somerset Herald.<\/p>\n

R.A. Bickersteth, Esq., F.R.C.S.
10, Rodney Street.
Liverpool.<\/p>\n

Document 2<\/h1>\n

Letter from R. A. Bickersteth<\/h3>\n

10, RODNEY STREET,
LIVERPOOL<\/p>\n

May 16th 1906.<\/p>\n

H. Farnham Burke Esq., G.V.O.
Somerset Herald,
Heralds’ College, London, E.C.<\/p>\n

Dear Sir,<\/p>\n

I have had from home, and on perusing I find nothing new here in certified pedigree of my ancestors as answered by you in your letter of Apr. 4th, I now write to acknowledge safe receipt of this.<\/p>\n

Your one point I should be much obliged if you would kindly elucidate me, for, as you no doubt realise, a modern school and university education may leave one very ignorant of even the minutiae of heraldry, if not much the motto given under the arms is \u201cEsto fidelis\u201d \u2014 in the seals generally \u2014 yet it is not in such a part of the original record as used by our family or now the same say \u201cSuum cuique\u201d.<\/p>\n

My reason for asking this is that I do not know this motto. My father and my grandfather have sometimes to use the motto \u201cSuum cuique\u201d and it has been only once or four in Langdale\u2019s letters which I saw (on the title-page of his memoirs for instance) stating as used the motto \u201cSuum cuique\u201d. Am I to take it that \u201cEsto fidelis\u201d and \u201cSuum cuique\u201d are two separate and arbitrary or \u201cfancy\u201d mottoes?<\/p>\n

I should also like to ask if it would be an expensive matter for me to obtain a copy of the full pedigree of the family of Bickersteth (commencing with those Bickersteths of Bickersteth mentioned in Domesday or in some standard) ? I presume that the descent on Mr. Langdale’s descendants which I recently sent to you now how much earlier the record ?<\/p>\n

Yours faithfully,<\/p>\n

R. A. B.<\/p>\n

Document 3<\/h1>\n

Heralds\u2019 College Letter<\/h3>\n

HERALDS\u2019 COLLEGE
LONDON, E.C.<\/p>\n

5 April 1906.<\/p>\n

Dear Sir,<\/p>\n

I am searching for Alexander the first whose marriage began for \u00a35.0.0.<\/p>\n

The result shall be communicated to you as soon as possible.<\/p>\n

Yours truly,<\/p>\n

H. Farnham Burke
Somerset Herald<\/p>\n

R.A. Bickersteth, Esq., F.R.C.S.
10, Rodney Street.
Liverpool.<\/p>\n

P.S.
I have just ascertained that Dr. Alexander Burchison his degree of M.D. from the University of Edinburgh on 7 April 1820.
He married a daughter of Professor Copland.<\/p>\n

Document 4<\/h1>\n

Handwritten Note<\/h3>\n

Alexander Burchison M.D.<\/p>\n

of Springfield
near
St Andrews<\/p>\n

returned Dr. Bickersteth
died at Elgin 1845
Nov. 7th aged 66<\/p>\n

Document 5<\/h1>\n

Heralds\u2019 College Letter<\/h3>\n

Telephone
1888 Central.<\/p>\n

HERALDS\u2019 COLLEGE
LONDON, E.C.<\/p>\n

31 March 1906.<\/p>\n

Dear Sir,<\/p>\n

Thanks for your letter of the 30th inst. enclosing statement of pedigrees duly signed.<\/p>\n

I am writing to Aberdeen and Edinburgh Universities in order to ascertain whether Dr. Burchison was an M.D. of either of those Universities. If the answers to my letters do not produce any information I do not think we should trouble further over this point as the facts we have about him are sufficient for the purpose of identification.<\/p>\n

I am having the certificate of arms prepared and would ask you to favour me with a cheque for the cost thereof, \u00a35.5.0.<\/p>\n

Yours very truly,<\/p>\n

H. Farnham Burke
Somerset Herald<\/p>\n

R.A. Bickersteth, Esq., F.R.C.S.
10, Rodney Street.
Liverpool.<\/p>\n

Document 6<\/h1>\n

Hotel Letter (Menton, France)<\/h3>\n

HOTEL DU LOUVRE
MENTON<\/p>\n

22 March 1906<\/p>\n

Dear Bob,<\/p>\n

Many thanks for your interesting letter from Long Sutton.
Your letter arrived just as I was leaving for the Gardens above, so I was obliged to leave your letter for the day.
Our friend\u2019s letter of the 16th had a curious one that he is trying to prove that Dr Alexander Burchison of James, and I had therefore been certified as B?<\/p>\n

He continues from his note to say that Dr B, though the parents during when their children were very young in two successive generations in his branch.
He writes that Dr Page writes to say that (for a copy) I enclose a paper or copy from the record of Bickersteth and Bickersteth and a paper on my father which he made a few years ago, if that shows anything of the kind.<\/p>\n

Your Aunt writes a very kind letter and says that she hopes you are in good health.
She was at Queens and Lancing School.
And she asks whether the house has been bought at last.<\/p>\n

I have a kind letter from the sister of the family doctor by her wife at North Fawley.
We hope that they will soon come here for a visit.<\/p>\n

Our letters from Aberdeen University will be forwarded above as they arrive.<\/p>\n

Your affectionate
C. Henry (?)<\/p>\n

Document 7<\/h1>\n

Continuation of Letter<\/h3>\n

…
about as many of Edinburgh, but they both had two years confirmation of the fact that Dr Alexander Burchison had his degree at Edinburgh University.<\/p>\n

When asked I cannot give you much information regarding my grandfather Burchison except that in life he was born in 1793, that he died in Elgin in 1845 as I have mentioned earlier.<\/p>\n

He married Mary, only daughter of Patrick Shaw Esq., MD from the father of Philadelphia \u2013 Aberdeen University.<\/p>\n

He died at Inverness Hall Aberdeen.<\/p>\n

I believe she passed at the same Professor Copland was born in 1799 and died at Aberdeen (where he lived) in Nov 1828.<\/p>\n

One granddaughter was Eliza Bell Grierson. She died there in 1852.<\/p>\n

There is unfortunately very little information regarding our maternal great-grand parents, largely due, I suppose, to the loss of the old family papers.<\/p>\n

Document 8<\/h1>\n

Heralds\u2019 College Letter<\/h3>\n

Telephone
1888 Central.<\/p>\n

HERALDS\u2019 COLLEGE
LONDON, E.C.<\/p>\n

22 March 1906.<\/p>\n

Dear Sir,<\/p>\n

Thanks for your letter of the 21st inst.<\/p>\n

I have noted the information you send.<\/p>\n

When next writing perhaps you would let me know where your brother, Henry Maxwell Bickersteth, was buried.<\/p>\n

If you will sign the pedigree which I sent you and return it to me I will have the necessary additions and alterations made thereto.<\/p>\n

I am,<\/p>\n

Yours faithfully,<\/p>\n

H. Farnham Burke
Somerset Herald and Registrar.<\/p>\n

R.A. Bickersteth, Esq., F.R.C.P.
10, Rodney Street.
Liverpool.<\/p>\n

Document 9<\/h1>\n

Letter from R. A. Bickersteth<\/h3>\n

To H. Farnham Burke Esq., G.V.O.
Somerset Herald,
Heralds\u2019 College,
LONDON, E.C.<\/p>\n

March 21st 1906.<\/p>\n

Dear Sir,<\/p>\n

In reply to your favour of March 10th, I am enclosing answers to questions of descent made out and as we shall I am certain make knowledge of the pedigree at once we will now act until the answers to the letters from Aberdeen Universities reach us.<\/p>\n

You asked me concerning Alexander Burchison and his degree as M.D. I am enclosing some notes and as soon as I can learn more particulars I will send the same to you.<\/p>\n

In answer to your several enquiries:<\/p>\n

(1) My son\u2019s name is Alexander Burchison.<\/p>\n

(2) The brother referred to is the son of the University of Edinburgh.<\/p>\n

The other points cannot be more exactly answered until your researches\u2014<\/p>\n

(3) My father\u2019s grandfather, Alexander Burchison, was born in Scotland. He was a doctor and his father also was a doctor and resident in Scotland. His son was resident in London as medical practitioner.<\/p>\n

He lived in London, but we received the following certificate and calling he died in 1876.<\/p>\n

25 November you may remember that it is a member of the English College.<\/p>\n

(4) I regret the family we were entitled to the fact that I had a brother who died in infancy whose name was Alexander, but this little fact I have now learned from the family record.<\/p>\n

I am etc faithfully.<\/p>\n

Document 10<\/h1>\n

Heralds\u2019 College Letter<\/h3>\n

Telephone
1888 Central.<\/p>\n

HERALDS\u2019 COLLEGE
LONDON, E.C.<\/p>\n

15 March 1906.<\/p>\n

Dear Sir,<\/p>\n

Thanks for your letter of yesterday’s date enclosing answers to my questions and cheque for \u00a35.5.0.<\/p>\n

Would you kindly sign the enclosed statement of pedigree in the presence of a witness and return it to me.<\/p>\n

Perhaps you would add in pencil (1) Your place of baptism, (2) The name of the University of which Mr. George Roden Murray is an M.D., (3) The name of the University of which your grandfather Mr. Alexander Burchison was an M.D.<\/p>\n

Yours faithfully,<\/p>\n

H. Farnham Burke
Somerset Herald<\/p>\n

R.A. Bickersteth, Esq., F.R.C.S.
10, Rodney Street.
Liverpool.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Letter 1 Telephone1888 Central. HERALDS\u2019 COLLEGELONDON, E.C. 31 May 1906. Dear Sir, Thanks for your letter of the 30th Inst. enclosing cheque for \u00a31.15.0. The pedigree will be forwarded to you early next week. Yours faithfully,H. Farnham BurkeSomerset Herald. R.A. Bickersteth, Esq., F.R.C.S.10, Rodney Street.Liverpool. Letter 2 Telephone1888 Central. HERALDS\u2019 COLLEGELONDON, E.C. 29 May 1906. […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-8463","page","type-page","status-publish","czr-hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/ianwaugh.com\/archive\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/8463","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/ianwaugh.com\/archive\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/ianwaugh.com\/archive\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ianwaugh.com\/archive\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ianwaugh.com\/archive\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=8463"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/ianwaugh.com\/archive\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/8463\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":8464,"href":"https:\/\/ianwaugh.com\/archive\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/8463\/revisions\/8464"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/ianwaugh.com\/archive\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=8463"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}