Notes for: Joseph Bentham
From "Literary anecdotes of the eighteenth century" by John Nicols (London 1814), on Google Books:
Joseph Bentham, the Printer and Alderman, was born at Ely in November 1708. He married Anne, sister and heiress of George Reste, esq., and died June 1, 1778, s.p. He was buried, as was his wife, in Trumpington Church, in the same vault with a very near Relation; to whose memory they placed the following Inscription, obligingly transmitted to me by Mr George Dyer:
"In a vault near this place are deposited the Remains of George Reste, Esq. Alderman of the Town of Cambridge, one of His Majesty's Justices of the Peace for the Town and County of Cambridge, and one of the Conservators of the River Cam; who, among other tokens of friendship, gratitude, and public spirit, out of a pious regard to the place of his nativity, bequeathed 20£ to be given to the Poor of this Parish at his decease, and 10£ to be charged on his estate at Botesham (sic), to be distributed among them in bread and coals annually on St Thomas's day. He died October 1761. aged 66 years.
"Jos. Bentham Aldn of Cambridge And Anne his wife only Sister of the said Geo Riste Erected this Monument To commemorate his Charity and their affection for him."
Mr Dyer adds, "From the total want of even a scrap of inscription over Mr Joseph Bentham, it is evident that he was more careful in perpetuating the memory of his friends, than his survivors have been to perpetuate his. I understand that through his wife he possessed handsome property. He was not eager after money in the way of his business, but rather ambitious of printing Works that would do him credit. He printed his Brother's (James, d. 1794) valuable History at a considerable expence to himself. He had a great taste for Gardening, and a turn for humour. He was an amiable man, as all the Benthams were; and was the only Bentham of the family that was not in orders. There were six brothers, who all used to assemble at the Prebendal-house in Ely at Christmas. An uncommon affection existed among them; and indeed there could not exist a family of brethren who more cordially loved one another."