Preconfederation Ornithology

Introduction

The following profile of the life and ornithological contributions of Reverend Robert Ferryman is based on numerous sources which are specifically cited, but largely on the most comprehensive history of Feryman's life pieced together by Hugh Torrens and published in the Oxford Dictionary of National Biography.

Ferryman, along with John James Audubon and Thomas Wright Blakiston, is without question one of the most interesting naturalists to visit Nova Scotia in the 19^th^ century.

Ferryman's contributions to Nova Scotian ornithology in the early 19^th^ century are important. They consist of a small publication entitled "A descriptive catalogue of the quadrupeds and birds collected and preserved in the British North American colonies" published in 1817. This pamphlet, which includes field notes on some species, is the first substantial bird list published on Nova Scotian birds. Thomas McCulloch Sr, who arrived at Pictou in 1803, and his son, Thomas Jr. were to have a much larger impact on the pre-1850 ornithology of Nova Scotia, largely through their association with Audubon. Like 18^th^ century ornithologists, Davies and Vieillot, the McCulloch contributions, set out in a separate paper, have been largely pieced together from other sources since they published very little.

My brief recounting of Ferryman's life barely scratches the surface on this unique man. I suspect a full accounting of his life and times would make a fascinating cross-disciplinary study of late 18^th^ and early 19^th^ century British life.

Reverend Robert Ferryman was born at Barrow-on-Soar, Leicestershire, the son of John Ferryman (c.1720-1784), gentleman, and likely a farmer, and his wife, Elizabeth Beaumont (c.1727-1797).

The village of Barrow-on-Soar is located in the midlands, half way between Leicester and Nottingham.

Growing up in the countryside Robert Ferryman developed a strong interest in natural history from an early age. At 17 he was known to have started a collection of birds and mammals. By his early twentys he chose the ministry as a career. In 1776, at age 24, he was ordained a deacon of the Church of England. In 1777 he took up the position of curate at Ratcliffe-on-Wreake, a village southeast of Barrow.

Ferryman married Sibylla Mary Barke (1758-1838) at St Margaret's church, Westminster, in 1782. This union produced seven children. The 1780s turned into the first of a series of turbulent decades that defined most of Ferryman's life. During the decade he left the Church of England to try a second career as a brewer in London, soon went bankrupt, and then rejoined the church. Between 1776 and 1779 he served as a curate at Nettleton, Lincolnshire. During his period Ferryman met and formed a relationship with two important people who helped his career: Frederick Augustus, Earl of Berkeley, and the famous physician, Dr Edward Jenner (1749-1823) who also lived at Berkeley, Gloucestershire.

In December 1787 Jenner, who shared Ferryman's interest in natural history and had viewed Ferryman's collection, wrote to Joseph Banks, President of the Royal Society, about Ferryman:

[Ferryman] had for many years been collecting British Birds and Quadrupeds... his preparations are animated beyond description,....the eyes which he makes himself from coloured glass and enamel are exact models from nature. The whole is freed from that gaudiness which attends Sir Ashton Lever's. (Jenner to Banks, J. Banks Archive, Fitzwilliam Museum)

In 1788 Ferryman was charging a 1s admission to his museum of stuffed mammals and birds. His first work, "A catalogue of British quadrupeds and birds in the his museum" was published at Bristol in 1789. The location of his museum is unclear. It may have been in Gloucester which is about 25 kms east of Berkeley. Presumably Ferryman moved there in 1789.

Ferryman's little 12 page c*atalogue* can be examined online though the British Museum. Catalogue is a simple list of 84 species of birds in his museum. Fifty of the birds on the list are identified only by their common name, usually followed by their French name. Of the remainder, Ferryman usually lists more details: a male and female, sometimes with nest and eggs, and occasionally details on nesting location. All the listed species were British birds, presumably collected, skinned and mounted by Ferryman during his residence in the midlands.

The next decade, the 1790s, continued to be a tumultuous time for Ferryman. His character was well regarded among the many wealthy people he befriended. Patronage brought him opportunities such as the position of chaplain to Christian Frederick Charles Alexander, Margrave a German title of Ansbach, at Brandenburgh House in Fulham. Never shy to try new ventures Ferryman tried his hand briefly as a theatre designer to the Margravine, the Earl's sister.

During the period he also turned his talents to inventions and landscape gardening. Ferryman is noted for a number of inventions including a Jail Lock, a Valve Cock, something referred to as a "Bathing Machine" and finally in 1797, a machine for dressing corn.

In 1795, perhaps never devoting enough time and energy to his many schemes, and lacking money and business skills, his 'furniture was seized for rent as he was in the greatest possible pecuniary distress '(Minutes of Evidence, 813). In the same year Ferryman published a second catalogue "A catalogue of British quadrupeds and birds in the British Zoological Museum, Oxford Street, London". His catalogue appears to be a list of specimens from his collection that he arranged to be put on temporary display at the Zoological Museum in London.

After Fulham Ferryman moved to Gloucestershire County, to serve as curate to Jenner's brother-in-law at Eastington and Cowley. At this point he appears to be living in Cheltenham with Edward Jenner, who Torrens noted shared his zoological interests and for whom Ferryman built the famous Temple of Vaccinia at Berkeley, where Jenner vaccinated the poor.

Soon Torrens notes another change in Ferryman's place of residence:

Jenner next arranged, after Ferryman's ordination as priest at Gloucester, his appointment by George third earl of Egremont, as rector of Iping and Chithurst, Sussex, in October 1796. This was to remunerate Ferryman's work on the duke's private museum at Petworth House.

Iping is a village 14 kms west of Petworth. Petworth House had been the ancestral home of the Percy family since the mid-12th century. It became the property of Charles, 6^th^ Duke of Somerset when he married the Percy heiress in 1682. Petworth House came into possession of the Duke of Wyndham who also held the title Earl of Egremont. Petworth House was eventually given to the National Trust in 1947 the family of the 7th Duke to the Wyndham.

The National Trust has a painting of Ferryman in Petworth House painted by Thomas Phillips RA in 1797. Phillips painted some of the cream of English society.

In addition to Hugh Torrens research, some of the most interesting information about Ferryman's life and personality is associated with his continuing relationship with physician Edward Jenner.

Sunil Mhaske, who wrote an article entitled "Father of immunization-Edward Jenner" in the Indian Journal of Emergency Pediatrics 2: 210-211 (2010) noted:

In his busy practice Jenner faced a vast array of medical problems on a daily basis. Patients would often come to consult at The Chantry, Jenner's home, or he would make home visits on horseback, sometimes riding great distances in bad weather.

Between 1796 and 1804 Reverend Robert Ferryman, built for him a small thatched hut [known as the Temple of Vaccinia] in the corner of the Chantry garden. In this building on certain days the poor of the district would be given vaccinations, free of charge.

Another article, written in 2020 by the online Editor under the title "The Folly Flanteuse the Temple of Vaccinia, Dr. Jenner's House, Berkekey, Gloucestershire" discussed Jenner's thatched hut. The author reveals more of Feryman's character including a talent for landscape gardening: https://thefollyflaneuse.com/temple-of-vaccinia-dr-jenners-house-berkeley-gloucestershire/

The picturesque rustic shelter was constructed out of branches and roots to a design by Jenner's friend, the Reverend Robert Ferryman..... Ferryman is an interesting character; a conviction for violent abuse and assault, 'pecuniary distress', and accusations of neglect by his churchwardens, suggest that he perhaps enjoyed socializing more than sermonizing, and as we shall see his considerable talents lay in other fields.

The Reverend Fosbroke wrote about Jenner's garden in 1821 and described the designer of the 'thatched cottage' as a Clergyman of 'very original and surpassing taste', particularly in picturesque gardening and 'perfect rustic work'.

Baron, writing in the 1830s, suggested that Ferryman's talent as a landscape gardener outstripped all others: 'in the style of ornamental improvement, which within the last half century has done so much to augment the natural beauties of England, Mr Ferryman was quite unrivalled'. This is surely hyperbole, and Humphry Repton may remain as the period's preeminent landscape gardener, but Reverend Ferryman's garden design prowess clearly demands further research. There's a tantalizing reference to the clergyman 'laying-out' grounds 'in the neighbourhood of Gloucester' [sic] in a letter from Samuel Lysons to Joseph Banks in 1789, so Jenner's garden *may *have been one of Ferryman's commissions at this date.

Claire Hickman discusses Ferryman in her article on Jenner's garden "The garden as a laboratory" in Post-Medieval Archaeology (p. 241) she wrote:

The Revd Ferryman himself was an intriguing figure. There is not space to discuss him in detail here, but Hugh Torrens' entry in the *Oxford Dictionary of National Biography* [DNB: Robert Ferryman (1752-1837) naturalist & museum keeper,19, 445-446] gives an account of his varied life, which included occupations such as curate, brewer, natural historian, and, according to Jenner, also a garden designer and architect.

Hickman also quotes from an 1813 letter Jenner wrote to his son about Ferryman:

I have not seen or heard anything of Mr Ferryman in this part of the World, and of course am still without the Lettuce Seed. Having obtain'd a promise of Garden Seeds from the South of Spain & from Genoa, I am in hopes they may arrive time enough for sowing.

Hickman adds further to Ferryman's character revealed by in a letter by Jenner to Thomas Pruen in 1817:

what a strange jumble of intellect does that unfortunate man possess. How much he has mistaken himself, & put that in front which should have been in the background. He is pre- eminent (in my opinion) as a Landscape Gardener & by pursuing this for the benefit of others, he might have enrich'd himself but he must become an architect & be hanged to him, ruin himself & those who were heedless to employ him.

Hickman concludes that "These letters indicate that, although he has tried Jenner's patience, Jenner still holds him in high regard as a landscape designer and as someone who can obtain interesting seeds for him."

Not to be labelled as a clergyman, a naturalist, a museum operator, a brewer, inventor, a stage designer, landscape architect, Ferryman's third publication "Observations on the proper modes for preparing what flour for bread." was published in 1802.

While Ferryman maintained a relationship with Jenner and others in the Gloucestershire area, almost 180 kms from Iping, he appears to maintained his residence at Iping and his association with the Wyndams. After many years of misfortune, uncertainty, and penury Torrens noted Ferryman's wife had finally had enough. They separated in 1815. To clear his debts and provide a living for his wife and children, Ferryman dissolved his rectory at Iping. At this point, somewhat unencumbered, Ferryman decided to go to Nova Scotia.

Ferryman in Nova Scotia

Ferryman was known to have made two trips to Nova Scotia in the first two decades of the 19^th^ century. Hugh Torrens suggests that the first trip, in 1808-1809, arranged through the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts, may have been prompted as an escape from his numerous creditors. The second, a longer visit, took place between 1815 and 1817.

Ferryman's final work was "A descriptive catalogue of the quadrupeds and birds collected and preserved in the British North American colonies" This appears to be largely a direct result of his second trip to Nova Scotia in which he collected mammals and fifty-five species of birds.

This work by Ferryman, zoologist and ornithologist, was discovered by American ornithologist, Robert Cushman Murphy who wrote an article in in the American Philosophical Journal 103 (1959) entitled "Robert Ferryman, Forgotten Naturalist". Murphy's research unearthed more interesting details about Ferryman.

Murphy found a letter from the London Branch of the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts which stated that Ferryman was sent to Sydney, Cape Breton, in 1815 and returned to England in 1817. According to a personal communication from Denis Robillard, Ferryman not only resided at Sydney, but probably, as part of his curatorial duties, visited Bras D"or, St. Peters, Little River and gut of Canso. This would have been an adventurous undertaking in 1815 for a 62 year old man. Given his life history perhaps not so surprising.

Following his initial stay on Cape Breton he came to Lunenburg. Mather DesBrisay in his 1895 History of the County of Lunenburg noted:

In 1787, Rev. Richard Money, B.C.L., Oxford, was appointed missionary at Lunenburg. He had  a paralytic stroke in 1800, and was for some months laid aside from work. He resigned in 1803,  and was succeeded by Rev. Thomas Shreve, who had been stationed at Parrisboro, and began    his work at Lunenburg in 1804. He died August 21^st^, 1816, in his sixty-second year, and Rev.  Robert Ferryman took charge for twelve months.

The 1817 Descriptive Catalogue of mammals and birds has been transcribed and can be examined here. It contains a list and notes on fifty-five species of North American birds which Murphy notes are "not all of which are satisfactorily identifiable". Murphy described the Descriptive Catalogue as:

This small work comprises only twenty-four pages, which measure approximately seven by four and one-half inches. A preface of five pages precedes the catalogue of warm-blooded vertebrates that had evidently been skinned and mounted by Ferryman himself, and exhibited in England.

In the preface Ferryman noted:

watching and interpreting nature offer "the highest and noblest subject that in all ages and countries hath always offered a large portion of the time of the greatest and best men

Ferryman also reveals reading many of the historic and contemporary naturalists including Gesner, Ray, Catesby, Linnaeus and Wilson. Despite suggestions from others (Torrens suggests that it was Humboldt) that there was little of value to be learned from the study of North American natural history Ferryman wrote "how very little was really and rightly known, and described at all, it was incorrectly so...... I resolved upon making a collection, and of placing the birds of both countries in a comparative point of view".

Catalogue reveals considerable knowledge of British birds, keen observation skills in the inclusion of occasional field notes on behaviour (Spruce Grouse), nest-building techniques (Cliff Swallow), description of songs (Brown Thrasher, Bobolink), song as a way to identify genus (American Robin as a turdus thrush), appearance as a way discuss the Common Grackle (more of a pie, than a turdus or thrush) food preferences (Ruby-throated Hummingbird, Ruffed Grouse, Cedar Waxwing). As an ornithological collector he noted important field marks (Common Nighthawk), to distinguish from the English Goatsucker, and among other things, he carried out a dissection to identify gender to assist hard-to-identify female specimens (Rose-breasted Grosbeak).

In this short paper Ferryman provides the sort of details on Canadian birds in 1817 that is fairly unique in Canadian ornithological history.

Murphy's comments on North American Wood-Warblers point out another talent:

Some ten species of wood warblers, many of which are readily recognizable [by the descriptive names Ferryman gives them] are listed as "Motacillas", but we are given little information beyond the names.

Ferryman returned to England in 1817 when he produced his Descriptive Catalogue published in London by Darton, Harvey and Darton.

By 1819 Torrens notes that Ferryman had returned to Iping where he remained until his death in November, 1837.

Torrens concludes his biography with a quote from a letter Jenner wrote to Lord Egremont in 1799:

I have ever thought [Ferryman] in the midst of all his eccentricities a man of a Good Heart,...yet I have always had to lament that his good qualities, and his Genius too (which I deem of an extraordinary nature) are under no kind of control. (Egremont archives, PHA55)

Sibylla Ferryman moved to Boulogne, France, where she died in 1838.

Bibliography:

• Banks, Joseph, Archive. Jenner to Banks Correspondence. Cambridge University: Fitzwilliam Museum
• DesBrisay, Mather Byles. 1895. History of the County of Lunenburg Toronto: William Briggs
• Farrant, John. 2001. Sussex Depicted, Views and Descriptions 1600-1800. Sussex Record Society Vol. 85 (p. 286) Lewes, East Sussex: Sussex Record Society
• From NS Archives: https://archives.novascotia.ca/lunenburg/results/?SearchList1=5
• Ferryman, R. 1789. A catalogue of British quadrupeds and birds in the museum. Bristol: J. Rudhall https://books.google.ca/books?id=taJAmiM_WY4C&pg=PA7&source=gbs_selected_pages&cad=3#v=onepage&q&f=false
• Ferryman, R. 1795. A catalogue of British quadrupeds and birds in the British Zoological Museum, Oxford Street, London
• Ferryman, R. 1802. Observations on the proper modes for preparing what flour for bread. London
• Ferryman, R. 1817. A descriptive catalogue of the quadrupeds and birds collected and preserved in the British North American colonies. London: Darton, Harvey and Darton
• Hickman, Claire. 2014. "The garden as a laboratory: the role of domestic gardens as places of scientific exploration in the long 18th century", Post-Medieval Archaeology, 48:1, 229-247, London: Rutledge
• https://doi.org/10.1179/0079423614Z.00000000054
• Murphy, Robert Cushman. 1959. "Robert Ferryman, The Forgotten Natturalist". American Philosophical Society Journal 103: 774-777
• National Trust. http://www.nationaltrustcollections.org.uk/object/485097 Painting of Robert Ferryman, 1797 Torrens, Hugh. "Robert Ferryman (1752-1837) naturalist & museum keeper", Oxford Dictionary of National Biography 19, 445-446. Oxford: Oxford University Press