Celebrating Hampshire Historians

Phillimore (formerly Stiff), William Phillimore Watts

9 April 1853 – 9 April 1913

This celebrated genealogist and publisher, who started life as a solicitor, is included because he was involved in early attempts to collect and publish the records of family history in Hampshire that are now more readily available online from FamilySearch, FindMyPast, Ancestry and the like. For example, between 1899 and 1912 he master-edited 14 volumes of Hampshire Parish Records: Marriages, with a co-authorship of Anglican clergymen. It was a massive exercise for the time that must have set many an interested member of a Hampshire family in search of his or her roots. Overall, in all counties, he edited more than 200 volumes of such works, dealing with parish records, inquisitions and wills.

He was a passionate advocate of the formation of record societies, though seems not to have played any part in that movement in Hampshire.

He founded the publishing house that took his name, which for a long time was based in Chichester. The imprint has been owned by The History Press for about 10 years, and was for long ‘mothballed’, though Phillimore Book Publishing, run by Andrew Illes in Eastbourne, now has the right to use it (2024).

The catalogue of Hampshire Libraries lists more than 240 books published by Phillimore, some of a general nature, but many relating to the county. Amongst these are histories of the Royal Hampshire County Hospital,  Hospital of St Cross, King Alfred’s College, Hampshire County Cricket Club, Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary, the Treloar School and College and many other major institutions. There is scarcely a place that is not the subject of at least one title published by Phillimore, reflecting a late phase in history of the company, when it used its authority as a local history publisher to command the market.

Sources

• Wikipedia

• HRO Catalogue

• Hampshire Libraries Catalogue

• Andrew Illes, pers. comm.

Portrait

None found.

Contribution to county’s history

As in many any parts of the country, he kick-started a general interest in family and local history, and his company served as an invaluable publisher of works on the subject.

Relevant published works

• Hampshire Parish Registers (1899-1914)

Critical Comments

Phillimore promoted family history and more broadly local history throughout the country and his publishing company made available a large canon of material that might not otherwise have seen the light of day.

Other Comments

Sadly, much of his work has long been overtaken by online resources, though transcription errors are probably more frequent in the latter

Contributor

Barry Shurlock, 20/05/25

Key Words

Genealogy, publishing

Any queries or further suggestions for this part of the list should be addressed to celebrating@hantsfieldclub.org.uk.

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