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Between c.1775-1834 the Heath Family were a family of engravers and etchers,
who came to prominence with James Heath (1757-1834). For more information see
the entry on the Heath Family in the Oxford Dictionary of National Biography
(Revised Edition) submitted by John Heath. James Heath the engraver
was my fourth great grandfather. There is a portrait of him in the National
Portrait Gallery.
Brief Summary
| Joseph Heath |
Book seller and writing master. His wife was called Hannah. Lived in
Nottingham. He was the father of GEORGE. |
| George Heath (1722-1773) |
Born abt. 1722. The DNB gives his year of birth as 1724, but the IGI
gives his date of baptism at High Pavement Presbyterian Church,
Nottingham as February 1723, aged 1 year, making 1722 more likely.
Occupation: bookbinder. Married Mary
Jacob on 8 October 1752 at St. Lawrence, Poultney, London. They
had nine children: Joseph, William, JAMES, Hannah, Sarah, Robert,
William, George and Ann. Died 1773. |
| James Heath (1757-1834) |
Born 19 April 1757 in Butcher Hall Lane, Newgate, London. Bapt. 13
May in Christchurch, Newgate Street. (The original DNB stated that he
was born in Gorton, Staffordshire and that his father was a yeoman
farmer). Occupation: engraver. Elected an associate engraver of the
Royal Academy in 1791 and appointed historical engraver to George III.
Married Elizabeth Thomas,
the dau. of David Thomas, a stocking presser. Their son George (b.1779)
became a sergeant at law. Elizabeth left James in 1781, who then lived
with Mary Phillipson
(1757-1819). They had five daughters, including AMELIA CHARLOTTE,
and a son called Charles (b. 1 March 1785). Charles Theodosius Heath
(1785-1848) became a noted landscape figure and engraver (for more
details see the DNB). James Heath died at Great Coram Street, London on
15 Nov. 1834. He was buried in Acton Church on 21 Nov. 1834. |
| Amelia Charlotte Heath |
Married Rev. Francis Dollman on 23
Feb. 1820 at St. Pancras Old Church, Middx. Six children: Francis,
Amelia, MARY (who married the Rev. Robert Stammers
Tabor), Agnes, Elizabeth and David. She appears to have been dead by
the time of the 1851 Census. |
Other Heath Researchers
Molly Heath (b. 1923), who is my first cousin once removed, and her
children are descended, like me, through the illegitimate James Heath/Mary
Phillipson line. Meanwhile, her late husband Martin Heath (1920-91) was
descended through the legitimate line of James and Elizabeth Heath. What a
coincidence!
Other Sources
The Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (Revised Edition) The new
entry contains several important revisions to the original DNB.
John Heath, The Heath Family Engravers, 1779-1878 (3 volumes) (1993-9)
G. Heath, Records of the Heath Family, 1744-1913 (privately printed,
1913)
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