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HISTORY OF THE

[THE GENEALOGIST.

THE GENEALOGIST.

The facts respecting the appointment of a Genealogist of the Order of theBath are curious. All the details connected with the revival of the Institutionwere prepared by the learned Anstis, then Garter King of Arms, and in con-sideration of his services he appears to have been permitted to create a situationfor his son, afterwards his successor as Garter, who was then a very young man.He accordingly chose the Office next in rank to the Dean, and to whichthe greatest emoluments were attached, with the title of Genealogist.Though the establishment of the Order of the Garter was in other respectsclosely followed, no such Office is attached to it; and the same reasons thatrender a record of Pedigrees and Arms necessary in the Bath, equally applyto the Garter, because the qualification of three descents of Nobility in themodern, was derived from the ancient Fraternity.

The Statutes of 1725 ordain that “ the Genealogist shall examine and enterthe Pedigrees of the respective persons now elected, and of such who shallhereafter be elected into this Order, and of their Esquires Governors, and of theyoung Esquires, with their several Coat-Arms, and fairly to enter the sameinto Books, to remain to posterity for the memorial of their families; for whichhe shall receive such reward, as shall be determined by the Great Master, withregard to the length of the Pedigrees, the authentic proofs thereof, and thepains taken therein 1 but, slight as are the duties prescribed to the Genealogistby the Statutes, it has since been found that he could not legally performthem.

In 1803 a dispute arose between the Genealogist and the College of Arms,on the ground that the original cognizance of Pedigrees and Arms belongsexclusively to that Corporation. The matter was referred to the Law Officersof the Crown, and they having declared their opinions in favour of the College,a new Statute was issued on the 8th of May 1804, which, after acknow-

1 Art. XVIII. p. 60, antea.