¥803.J 
Tey, Redtor of Eton, in Northampton- 
thire, to Miss C. M.Packe, 4th daughter of C. 
J. Packe, Efq. of Prieftwould, in this county. 
At Great Wigfton, Mr. T. Coltman, 
hofier, to Mifs J. Ruffell, 
Died.] At Leicefter, Mr. Hartthorn, woole 
comber,—WVirs. Bankart, widow. 
At!Tinckley, Mr. Ingleby, hofier. 
At Blaby, Mrs. Flude, 
At Old Dalby, Matonmowbray, Mrs. Hoe, 
wife of the Rev T. Hoe, rector of Long Clax- 
ton, &c.. 
At Waltham, in her 73 year, Mrs. J. 
Greenfield, widow. 
At Athby-de-la-zouch, the Rev. J. Prior, 
B. D. Yicar of that place andof Packinton, 
and mafter of the grammar fchool, at Afthby. 
He was born at Swithland, mm this county, in 
Augutt, 1729. His father was for more than 
forty years fteward to Sir Jofeph and Sir John 
Danvers, and by his ability and integrity me- 
rited and enjoved the confidence of thofe gen- 
tlemen, and the refpett of ail with whom he 
was connected, Mr, Prior was, at a very 
early age, fent to the endowed fcheol, at 
Woodhouse, near Swithland, where his pro- 
ficiency in learning, and his premature foli- 
dity of underftanding and condu&t were fo re- 
markable, that upon the death of the mafter, 
although he was then only fifteen years old, 
he was, by the truftees, appointed to fucceed 
him. In converfation with his friends, he 
would fometimes mention with pleafantry, 
the miftakes which for the firft few years of 
his acting in this capacity, were often made 
by perfons who came to the fchool and quef- 
tioned him, as one of the pupils, concerning 
the mafter; the elevated feat upon which he 
placed himfelf during the hours of bufinefs, 
and the other methods which he made ufe of 
to appear important. ‘The inconveniences 
however which were fuftained by his imma- 
turity of age, were of no long duration, and 
being compenfated by a maturity of intelle& 
and an unremitted attention to the improve- 
ment of his pupils, The fchool was never in 
a more flourifhing ftate than when under his 
dire€tion. In this fituation he continued 
many years, availing himfelf of every oppor- 
tunity of increafing his knowledge with 
which books and the converfation of the lite- 
rary perfons in his neighbourhood could fur- 
nifh him, and devoting his leifure hours to 
mufic. With the affiftance which he was 
able cafually to obtain, he became ina few 
years mafter of the theory of mufic, and at- 
tained to great excellence as a performer. 
Among the literary charaGers with whom 
he affociated at this perio’, the prefent bithop 
ef Worcefter, at that time the learned and 
refined Mr. Hurd, reétor of ‘Thurcafton, 
near Swithland, honoured him with peculiar 
- marks of his attention, and when he was of 
proper age, figned his teftimonials for orders. 
And his friendihip with this diftinguifhed Pre- 
Leicefter hires 
4&9 
late continued till his death. The duties of 
his fchool being incompatable with a ftated 
relidence at College, although he entered him- 
felf at Emanuel college, Cambridge, he only 
attended the terms neceffary for degrees du» 
ring his vacations. He was for about feven: 
years Curate of Woodhoufe and Quorndon, 
and defervedly admired as a judicious and in- 
terefting preacher, and beloved as a faithful 
and affe€tionate paftor. In the year 1762, Mr,: 
Prior was, by the recommendation of fome 
gentlemen who were acquainted with his me- 
rit, without any folicitation on his part, ap~ 
pointed by the late Earl of Huntingdon, maf- 
ter of the grammar fchool, at Afhby. The 
income arifing from eftates belonging to the 
fchool was only 6:1. a year, although at the 
expiration of the leafes, a little before his: 
death, the tenants offered him 6ool. a year 
for their renewal. In the year 1763, he 
matried Mifs Cox, of Quorndon, with whom 
he lived in the full enjoyment of all the blef- 
fings of domettic life for nine years. On the 
death of the Rev. Mr. Cowper, Vicar of 
Aibby, in the year 1782 Mr. Prior was, by 
his former patron, the Earl of Huntingdon, 
whofe perfonal knowledge of him was now 2 
fufficient recommendation, prefented with 
the vacant vicarage. And in the year 1792, 
General Haftings, from fimilar motives, pre- 
fented him with the vicarage of Packingtons 
which was all the preferment he received, 
and with which his limited defires were ful- 
ly gratified. His mild and unaffuming tem- 
per, his freedom from ambition, his love of 
mu fic, and his relifh for the calm delights of li- 
terature, friendfhip and domeftic fociety pree 
ferved him fromthofe painful fenfations which: 
arife fromdifappointed expectations, and rend-. 
ered his life a fcene of almof uninterrupted ena 
joyment. The circumflance of an aflictive na- 
ture which made the deepeft impreffion upon 
his mind was the death of Mrs. Prior, 
which happened in 1774. Supported, hows 
ever, by the confolations of religion, happy in 
his children, and poffeffed of fo many inter- 
nal fources of enjoyment, he in time reco- 
vered his wonted granguillity, and thewed that 
he could both fuffer and a& as’ a Chrittian, 
Mr. Prior for fome time before his death 
was afflicted, as he apprehended, with the 
ftone in a flight degree, which rendered him 
incapable of his ufual exercife of riding. In 
the year 1800, his friends were apprehenfive 
of a flight paralytic feizure, after which he 
himfelf complained of a partial lofs of his me- 
mory; and from this period although his 
mind was capable of confiderable exertions, 
yet his bodily ftrength: gradually declined. 
So anxious, however, was he to fulfil his duty 
that he taught fchool till within eight days 
of his death. He fpoke of his diffolution 
with perfect calmnefs, and died, as he had 
lived, with the cheerfulness of the Chrittiany 
thankful for the bleflings which he had en- 
joyed 
