14 GILBERT WHITE OF SELBORNE 



**The next brother to John is Henry White," 

 Mayor of Oxford in 1691-2, who seems to have been 

 called " Squire White." After him, " The next son 

 is Gilbert White, Fellow of Mag^- College, afterwards 

 Rector of Selbourn, in Hampshire, by y^ gift of his 

 College." He held his Fellowship from 1672-81, 

 being presented to the living of Brandeston, Norfolk, 

 21st June, 1680. In February, 168f, he was pre- 

 sented to Selborne, Hants, the Register of Baptisms 

 of which church contains the following entry in his 

 handwriting : — 



"Gilbert White took possession of y® Church June y^ 

 2S^ 1681." 



His grandson, in his "Antiquities of Selborne, ""^ 

 notes that at this time the living of Selborne was a 

 very small vicarage, and after giving a list of vicars, 

 says : — 



"June 1681. This living was now in such low estimation 

 in Magdalen College, that it descended to a junior fellow 

 CHlhert White, M.A., who was instituted to it in the thirty- 

 first year of his age." 



In what humble circumstances the rural clergy 

 were sometimes accustomed to live at this date is 

 apparent from the following : — 



"At his first coming he ceiled the chancel, and also floored 

 and wainscoted the parlour and hall, which before were 

 paved with stone, and had naked walls; he enlarged the 

 kitchen and brewhouse, and dug a cellar and well : he also 



* Letter VI. 



