Witham Family Genealogy & History

Thomas Witham, also known as Wytham, was a prominent English Chancellor of the Exchequer under Kings Henry VI and Edward IV. His tenure, from 1454 to 1469, during the tumultuous period of the Great Bullion Famine and the Great Slump in England, highlights his significant role in managing the kingdom’s finances. Appointed initially in 1454 and confirmed for life in 1456, Witham’s expertise was further recognized by Edward IV in 1461. After serving as Chancellor, he continued his public service as a counselor to the future Richard III. Notably, Witham was buried in Sheriff Hutton church, where he had endowed a chapel.

Thomas Witham was the son of Robert Witham from Grantham, Lincolnshire, and had a brother named William Witham, who was the Dean of Wells. He married Agnes Thweng of Cornburgh but did not leave any surviving children, though his 1474 will mentions several grandchildren.

Robert Witham (1667–1738) was a prominent English Roman Catholic biblical scholar and college head, best known for his presidency at the English College, Douai. During his 23-year tenure, he overcame significant challenges, including financial crises and doctrinal disputes, to modernize the campus, increase the student body, and eliminate the college's debt. Witham also made a lasting impact with his "Annotations on the New Testament of Jesus Christ," which updated the Rheims translation, incorporating changes that sparked debate yet influenced future Catholic editions.

Robert Witham was born into a devout Catholic family, one of three brothers who became ordained priests. Due to restrictions in England, he and his brothers pursued their religious education in France at the English College, Douai.

Myron Ellis Witham was a prominent American football player and coach, also recognized for his contributions as a mathematics professor. Born on October 29, 1880, in Pigeon Cove, Massachusetts, Witham made significant strides in collegiate sports. He held the position of head football coach at Purdue University in 1906 and later at the University of Colorado at Boulder from 1920 to 1931, achieving a commendable career college football record of 63–31–7. Additionally, he led the Colorado baseball team from 1920 to 1925, securing a 29–25 record. Witham was an esteemed mathematics educator at several institutions, including Purdue, Colorado, the University of Vermont, and Saint Michael's College, before passing away on March 7, 1973, in Burlington, Vermont.

Henry Thomas Maire Witham FRSE FGS (1779–1844) was a distinguished British landowner and amateur palaeontologist known for his pioneering research into fossil plants. Despite lacking formal botanical education, he applied William Nicol's microscopic examination methods to study the internal structure of fossilized vegetation. Witham's significant contributions include his publications "Observations of Fossil Vegetables" (1831) and "The Internal Structure of Fossil Vegetables" (1833), illustrating his findings on the Carboniferous and Oolitic deposits of Great Britain. He was a Fellow of both the Royal Society of Edinburgh and the Geological Society of London, reflecting his influence and dedication to the field.

Born as Henry Silvertop to John Silvertop of Minsteracres, Northumberland, and Catherine Lawson of Brough, he later adopted the Witham surname through marriage. In 1800, he married Eliza Witham, the daughter of Thomas Witham and the niece and heiress of William Witham of Cliffe, thereby inheriting the Witham coat of arms. The family, including their son Henry John Silvertop, were Roman Catholic.