Catalogue description Trust Deed under the Will of Robert Middleton of Cuckfield

The majority of books in the library were bought during the lifetime of Robert Middleton and their content is primarily theological

The library was in fact bequeathed to The Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge and a few of the books from Robert Middleton's library have survived in the SPCK's library

See MP 2138 for a list of these books

Deposited by the British Records Association provenance uncertain, possibly Messrs. Farrer and Co. or war salvage, in March 1983.

For further details about Robert Middleton see:

J. and J.A. Venn, Alumni Cantabrigienses; pt 1: From the Earliest Times to 1715, vol. III, p. 184.

R.A. Beddard, The Sussex General Election of 1695: A contemporary Account by Robert Middleton, vicar of Cuckfield in SAC, vol. 106, pp. 145-157.

West Sussex Record Office, Catalogue of Parish Records.

Robert Middleton was vicar of Cuckfield from 1690-1713. He was born in Horsham in 1631, the son of Richard Middleton. He was educated in Horsham and at Christs College Cambridge where he graduated in 1653. On 5 March 1661 he was ordained priest by Bishop Laney of Ely.

Robert Middleton was the brother-in-law of Dr. Symon Patrick who was successively Dean of Peterborough and Bishop of Chichester and Ely. On 27 May 1690 Dr. Symon Patrick, then Bishop of Chichester, collated his brother-in-law to Cuckfield. Robert Middleton held the vicarage until his death in 1713. The Simon Patrick referred to in this deed was probably the son of Dr. Symon Patrick, Bishop of Chichester and Ely.