Matlock & Matlock Bath Lists Through the Centuries: The Nineteenth Century : Petition of behalf of Thomas Bunting. Applicant for the post of master, 1835.

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The Nineteenth Century:
Petition on behalf of Thomas Bunting. Applicant for the post of master, 1835.

This document is recorded elsewhere as having no date, but was thought to be 1808-1817.
However, there is sufficient documentary evidence to provide a date of 1835, when Rev. Henry Barlow^[1] contacted George Holcombe, the Rector, stating that it was his intention to resign the situation of Master of the Matlock endowed School from Lady Day next^[2]. The school was funded by charities, so was not "endowed"^[3] as Rev. Barlow had said in his letter.
In early February the same year George Nuttall, a local land surveyor, wrote to the Rector about Barlow charging fees for the "free" school^[4]. He also recommended a suitable replacement, i.e. Thomas Bunting.
Thomas Bunting went on to become the master of the school^[5].

To the Reverend George Holcombe D.D.
The Reverend J. H. Wolley

}
} Trustees of the Matlock Free School

The Reverend Henry Barlow having signified his intention of resigning the situation of Master of the Free School of Matlock we the undersigned inhabitants beg most respectfully to certify that Thomas Bunting the bearer of this is in our opinion a person well qualified in all respects for that situation and we venture to make it our request that you will (unless you see reasons to the contrary) be pleased to appoint Bunting as Mr. Barlow's successor.

Stephen SMITH } Churchwardens

George ROBINSON }

Henry BARLOW

Geo SMITH } Overseers of Poor

Timothy SPENCER }

George HEPWORTH

George NUTTALL

John ADAMS

Robert SYBRAY

Saml. HODGKINSON

William CHINERY

HODGKINSON

Rev. Richd. WARD

John VALLANCE

Peter SMEDLEY

Joseph PEARSON

John WILDGOOSE (Hurst)

Frans. HURSTHOUSE (Constable)

Joshua SMITH

Willm STONE

Thomas SMEDLEY

Anthony LEEYS

Joseph JANNEY

James CROWDER

Job SPENCER

John TAYLOR

Ths BOWN

Charles ELSE

William WRIGHT

Thos ROBINSON

Peter KNOWLES

George HAWLEY

George KNOWLES

James BOWN

Timothy SPENCER

William BOWN

Adam ROWSON

George BODEN

Geoe BALLINGTON

James KING

James BUCKLEY

Geo. DAVIES

Transcribed by Ann Andrews.
Information shared from the Mike Spencer collection.
Original document held by the Derbyshire Record Office.

Also see:
Schools in Earlier Times (Matlock Town)
Matlock School Charity, 1814

The names of most of the people who signed the petition can be found in the onsite transcripts of the 1841 Census.
Compare names with those listed in Pigot's Directory, 1842

References:

^[1] Venn tells us that Henry Barlow matriculated from Catharine Hall in 1829 (then of Matlock) but migrated to St John's College in 1831 (as of Yorkshire), gaining his BA in 1834 and MA in 1839. He had been ordained deacon in 1832 and then priest of Lichfield in 1833. (Venn, J. A. "Alumni Cantabrigienses; a biographical list of all known students, graduates and holders of office at the University of Cambridge", pub Cambridge University Press.)
He was curate at Dethick 1832-37, before moving the Shirland (see Shirland Parish Church, St. Leonard's). He advertised an Academy in Pigot's Directory, 1831 and 1835. He was also listed as the national schoolmaster in two earlier directories as Jno. Barlow.

^[2] Letter from Henry Barlow to Rev. George Holcombe, the rector, dated Jany 29th 1835. He stated that held the post for fourteen years, and recommended Thomas Bunting as his successor as he would "be agreeable to the Parishioners generally".

^[3] See: Miscellany: Charities left to the Church and Church Schools

^[4] Letter from George Nuttall to Rev. Holcombe about Matlock charity school, stating that before Rev. Barlow's time the number of boys was "limited and regulated by the rents received". However, in Barlow's time he received "any number of boys which his schoolroom would contain, each paying a small sum weekly". Nuttall pointed out that the school was supposed to be free for the children of the poor and the old headmaster was less attentive to the charity boys than those who paid. He also noted that one of the disadvantages of the old system appears to arise from the trustees not living at Matlock.

^[5] Thomas Bunting can be found as headmaster in the 1841 census | Pigot's Directory, 1842 | Bagshaw's Directory, 1846. By 1848 his son Robert had taken over the role at the national school (Kelly's Directory, 1848). Thomas (ex schoolmaster) passed away in late February 1859, aged 66 (Derby Mercury, 2 March 1859); his son Robert died on 27 Feb 1862, aged 38 (Derbyshire Advertiser and Journal, 14 March 1862).