Feedback request: Agrostis stolonifera x Polypogon monspeliensis = x Agropogon littoralis (26315)

[John Hughes]

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Specimen #289175

Taxon:	Poaceae: Agrostis stolonifera x Polypogon monspeliensis = x Agropogon littoralis (Sm.) C.E. Hubb. ("Perennial Beard-grass") confirmed by James B Phipps 11/1960
Filed in taxon folder:	Poaceae: Agrostis stolonifera x Polypogon monspeliensis = x Agropogon littoralis (Sm.) C.E. Hubb. ("Perennial Beard-grass")
Collected by:	Rev William Whitear
Collection date:	30/6/1834
Locality:	Great Britain, Norfolk
ex herb:	William West (Bradford) Prof George Stephen West
Institution:	University of Birmingham (BIRM)
Image:
fruits/flowers:	mature flowers

Documented by john hughes on 11^th February 2010.

Checked by oldnick

Edit history

date	user	change
18/02/2010	tom humphrey	Deleted collector: Rev William Whitear
18/02/2010	tom humphrey	Added collector: Rev William Whitear
06/09/2011	oldnick	Deleted determination (orig): Agrostis stolonifera x Polypogon monspeliensis = x Agropogon littoralis on 11/1960
06/09/2011	oldnick	Added determination (conf): Agrostis stolonifera x Polypogon monspeliensis = x Agropogon littoralis on 11/1960
06/09/2011	oldnick	Deleted determiner: Dr James B Phipps
06/09/2011	oldnick	Added determiner: Dr James B Phipps

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User comments about this sheet

john hughes wrote

This is one for the experts. There is another specimen for the same date which is attributed on the label to the Rev. William Whitear, who the system says died in 1826. The collector is clearly the same in both cases (the placename in the previous specimen is given as Cley). So either the Rev. Whitear lived longer than is thought or it is somebody else in both cases.

[mossysal]

Hi, John
There is a bit of a mystery here. Wm Whitear (1778-1826 - Kent & Allen) was rector at Starston in Norfolk, but I have also found a reference to a Rev Wm Whitear, Prebendary of Chichester, whose daughter was born in 1787, so he must have been a different one! (She finished up as Sarah Countess of Waldegrave!) I wonder whether it was a bit of a dynasty like the Wests?

Have now found a reference to (in 1840) Aug. 21.-Rev. William Whitear, Brockdish, Scole, Norfolk, graduate of Cambridge, as a member of the Phrenological Society whose journal had been purchased by Watson in 1837(Allen, 1986)!http://www.historyofphrenology.org.uk/phrens.html so he could have gone on to be Prebendary of Chichester, Sarah's father (and your Wm Whitear's son?)
Interesting, but as you say. probably one for the experts!
Sarah

[John Hughes]

Sarah,

Many thanks for this most interesting research. As you say, probably a dynasty. I'll wait to see if there are any more responses and then amend.

Best wishes,

John

[Chris Liffen]

William Whitear, Rector of Starston meet with his death in singular circumstances, according Norfolk Annals, Vol 1.

"He had gone out with a party to apprehend poachers; the party divided themselves into two bodies and on proceeding to the place where it had been agreed to reassemble. Mr Whitear was mistaken for a poacher and shot in the right side by another of the party, a young man named Thomas Pallant. He died from the effects of the wound on December 10th (*) and Pallant was committed for trial on the charge of manslaughter.
(*)Given as the 3rd elsewhere.
In a General History of the County Of Norfolk Vol 3- it is noted that "he was one of the first ornithologists of this part of the kingdom", and that "these studies were his chief recreation". There is also a comment that his father had imbued in him an interest in natural history.

[Chris Liffen]

addendum to above
William Whitear was born in February 1778 in Hastings. In April, 1806 when Rector of Starston, he married Rebecca Holmes of Gawdy Hall, Reddenhall (Norfolk). Whilst at Starston, they had seven children, only four survived childhood – William (b 1807), Ann (b 1816), Elizabeth (b 1818) and Mary (b 1821).
William (senior) died December 1826 (see note above), he was buried on the 16th December at Starston. His wife lived until 1861 (aged 81) and was buried at Starston. Their eldest son William, also a clergyman, married Harriet Thomlinson in March 1834 at Cley. In 1851, he was a widower and then living in Islington – where he lived until 1891.
Chris

[John Hughes]

Chris,

Thanks so much for both messages. I'll amend the record.

Best wishes,

John