James Bettenham (1683–1774; fl. 1712–1766)

BETTENHAM (JAMES), printer in London, St. John's Lane, 1712(?)–74. Is believed to have been born in 1683, but no particulars are obtainable as to his life before the year 1712, when he married the step-daughter of William Bowyer the elder. This took place shortly before the fire which destroyed Bowyer's premises. Nichols [Lit. Anecd. I. 65] furnishes almost all that is known about him. He refers to Bettenham as "a printer of no small eminence in his profession, which he pursued with unabated industry and reputation till the year 1766, when he retired from business, and died Feb. 6, 1774, of a gradual decay, at the advanced age of 91. To shew the uncertainty of human affairs, this worthy man, after carrying on a respectable and extensive business for more than 60 years, left behind him not quite
£400. ... His first wife died Dec. 8, 1716, aged 30; and he had a second who died July 9, 1735, aged 39." Amongst those who served their apprenticeship in his office was F. Kirkby, the successor of J. Abree the Canterbury printer and the partner of J. Simmons of that city. Bettenham will always be remembered as one of those who helped to finance William Caslon the First and set him up as a type founder. [Nichols, Lit. Anecd. II. 356, 720.] Negus in his list of printers in 1724 described Bettenham as a Non-juror. Most of his work as a printer lies beyond the limit of this volume, but it may be noted that amongst other things he was the printer in 1721 of Vita Johannis Barwick. [Nichols, Lit. Anecd. I. 217.]