Unton Reade 1689-1750

Unton READE 1689-1750

Biographical Note

Son of Thomas Reade of Moreton, Dorset, clergyman. BA Balliol College, Oxford 1708, MA 1711. Vicar of Shillingstone, Dorset 1715-50, also rector of Durweston 1730-50.

Books

Reade used an engraved armorial bookplate (Franks 24684); the extent of his library is not known, but he made extensive provision for the disposition of books in his will. His eldest son Henry was to receive "all books in my study treating of mathematical subjects and all the classick authors in my study both in Greek and Latin"; Henry was also bequeathed "my fine theodolite pair of globes telescope and all my mathematical instruments". His younger son Francis was left "thirty volumes upon moral and divine subjects to be selected out of my study". The books in his "little closet" were left to his wife, for her use during her lifetime, and afterwards to his daughter Johanna (these would no doubt have been largely devotional books).

He also left directions for the purchase of some books, out of his estate, for family members. For his second son John, £20 was allocated "for Bayle's Dictionary in four volumes folio, Thucydides Greek and Latin folio, Lord Clarendon's History of the Rebellion 6 volumes large octavos, Doctor Barrow's Works in 3 volumes folio, Locke upon humane understanding 2 volumes, South's sermons 6 volumes, [and] Burnet's History of the Reformation 2 volumes folio. His daughter Johanna was to receive "The works of the whole duty of man in folio, Burkitt on the New Testament, Doctor Taylor's Life of Christ, and 20 volumes in octavo treating upon moral and divine subjects which she shall make choise of out of my study".

Reade also directed that his manuscript sermons "should be committed to the flames within one month after my decease".

Sources

• Will of Unton Reade, The National Archives PROB 11/782/291.
• Foster, J., Alumni Oxonienses, Oxford, 1891.
• Gambier Howe, E. R. J. Franks bequest: catalogue of British and American book plates bequeathed to the ... British Museum. London, 1903.