Michael D.Heath-Caldwell M.Arch.

1778 - 1779 - 1780

 

Joseph Heath - Bookseller - Nottingham     1728-1789
George Heath -Bookbinder - London          1724-1773
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Joseph Heath - Bookbinder - Attorney?       1754-1820
James Heath A.R.A.                                     1757-1834

     Eliza Heath (ne Thomas) (ran away)

     George Heath  (aged 0)                               1779 - 1852

Sarah Heath                                                   1759-
George Heath                                                1766-1821

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The Heath Family Engravers 1779-1878, James Heath A.R.A. by John Heath

James Heath worked his apprenticeship for nearly eight years with Collyer until June 1779, during which time he was his master's only pupil, apart from a William Collyer, presumably a relative who was taken in in 1775. Joseph Collyer's workshop was in Plough Yard, Fetter Lane, and then moved to 17 Rosamond Street, Clerkenwell soon after James' apprenticeship was over.

According to the engraver Abraham Raimbach, 'Heath complained, I believe, of the severity of Collyer's treatment of him and his rigid enforcement of close application. Without entering into Collyer's motives there can be little doubt that Heath derived the greatest advantage from this circumstance inasmuch as that high degree of mechanical execution which constitutes one of the fascinating qualities of Heath's engraving may be fairly deduced from it.' 

Sandby commented similarly that 'James Heath ...must have derived from his (Collyer's) instruction some portion of that talent which distinguished his style. His numerous engravings gave a new impetus to the rising taste for book illustrations, since his execution far exceeded that of his predecessors in the same class of works.' 

James' first commercial book illustrations appear in Hervey's 'Naval History of Great Britain' including five prints, one of which dated '8 May 1779' (King William Landing at Torbay) is the first. Rather more important in terms of getting himself known were the four plates, the first dated 26 July 1779 (and known to his fellow engravers, according to John Pye as 'The Piping Boy' from his caption 'Love stole the pipe') which he was commissioned to engrave (amongst many other engravers) for John Bell's 'The Poets of Great Britain,' published between 1779 and 1781 in 109 slim volumes. 
 

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19 June 1779
The Heath Family Engravers 1779-1878, Volume 1. James Heath A.R.A. by John Heath

The Naval History of Great Britain (Frederick Hervey) Publised by J.Bew  - Engraved from paintings by Thomas Stothard R.A., 1

1. Vol.II Frontispiece, King William landing at Torbay, 5 November 1688. (size 12 x 8) - plated dated 8 May 1779.
2. p.175 - Admiral Blake at Malaga -
3. Vol.III. p.63. Duke of Buckingham stabbed by Felton. (size 13 x 8) 
4. Vol. IV. p.90. Sir Chas. Wager (size 12 x 7)
5. Vol.V. p. 134. Hon. Captain Robert Hervey. 

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The Heath Family Engravers 1779-1878, Volume 1. James Heath A.R.A. by John Heath

The Poets of Great Britain (John Bell)

Engraved after Thomas Stothard. 
1. John Hughes: Vol.1. Title page: Love stole the pipe..." 10 x 6 - 26 July 1779 - was known to Heath's fellow engravers a the 'Piping Boy' (Pye's Patronage of British Art). This series appeared in 109 volumes between 1779 and 1781. It was then reproduced several times with many variations, and with new plates by James Heath, notably in 1783 and 1787.
2. John Hughes: Vol.11 Title page: "As from the sea..." 10 x 6 - 6 November 1779
3. John Cunningham. Frontispiece: "Now I'm in my armour clasp'd..." 10 x 6 - 6 November 1779
4. Chaucer: Vol.XII. "The House and the Leaf."  12 x 5 - This may belong to the 1783 or a later edition. Its title is a mis-print of "The Floure and the Leaf." 

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The Lady's Magazine. 

Engraved after Thomas Stothard R.A. 

Two ladies in the dress of 1779. 10 x 6
Their Majesties taking farewell of Prince Henry at Monmouth. 10 x 15
Engrave after Sir Joshua Reynolds F.R.A.
1. Honourable Captain Hervey, afterwards Earl of Bristol and Admiral of the White - 
 

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Derby Mercury 
Friday 18 June 1779

Hill's Ormskirk Medicine

After many repeated applications from numbers of the Nobility and Gentry, who have experienced the Efficacy of he Medicine for the Cure of the Bite of Mad Dogs, prepared by William Hill, Esq.; - --
It is also sold by J.Willor, Chesterfield; W. Ashton, Winster; J. Salt, Wirksworth - - Mr Heath in Nottingham and Mansfield - - 

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Sarah Heath, Sister of James Heath R.A. Married 1779, John Botheroyd, of All Hallows, Barking, bachelor. Witnesses were William Hensman, John Darby.

His Will, as of Tower Street, City of London, carpenter, was proved in P.C.C. May 25th 1813. 
 

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