THE SALAMANCA CORPUS:

DIGITAL ARCHIVE OF ENGLISH DIALECT TEXTS

CORNWALL

DING 2022: "Very little is known about him although he was considered by Wright 1896:182 "one of the most noted Cornish dialect writers". A search in census records and contemporary newspapers has provided the following information about him. His mother, Rebecca Forfar (née Lemon), with whom he lived until her death, was born in Breage, Cor. His father, John Bentinck Forfar, was a native of Kent. William Bentinck Forfar was born in Breage, Cor. and lived in Helston, Cor.,  Compton Gifford, Dev., Hastings, Sus.,  and Bournemouth, Dor., according to the 1851, 1861, 1871 and 1881 census records. He was an attorney at law and a solicitor but also devoted much of his time to writing poems, short stories and novels in which he represented Cornish English. He composed music for some of his Cornish songs and ballads and was a popular singer. He was secretary of the Helston Harmonic Society in 1842. He delivered lectures on music (for instance in 1853 to the Truro Institution on "Music and its influence" with vocal and instrumental illustrations or in 1855 to the Literary Institution, on "Music, Poetry and Painting") and also about about his tales and novels and on Cornish types. His "perfect imitation of the brogues of the miners as spoken in some parts of Cornwall" (Anonymous 1859:5) was much applauded. "...his inimitable style of delineating Cornish manners, and describing them in the "vulgar tongue" of the people, delighted all assembled" was said about his performance in 1867 at the Helston Institution (Anonymous 1867:3). He died at Branksome Park, Bournemouth.”

WORKS

1850. The Bâl; or, Tes a bra, keenly lode. Helston: R. Cunnack.

1859. Cousin Jan's Courtship and Marriage. The Exhibition. Two Cornish tales in verse. Truro: J.R. Netherton. EDD.

1859. Pentowan ; or the Adventures of Gregory Goulden, Esq., and Tobias Penhale. A Cornish story. Helston: R. Cunnack. EDD.

1861. The Helston Furry Day; an account of its origin and celebration; with the music of the ancient Furry dance. Helston: R. Cunnack. EDD.

1862. Pengersick Castle. A Cornish tale. Truro: J.R. Netherton. EDD.

1863. Found Drowned. A Tale Founded on Fact. Truro: J.R. Netherton.

1865. Kynance Cove; or the Cornish Smugglers. A tale of the last century. London: John Russell Smith. EDD. SC.

1865. Rozzy Trenoodle and his Leathern Bag. A Cornish Tale. Truro: J.R. Netherton.

1871. The Wizard of West Penwith; a tale of the Land's End. Penzance: W. Cornish. EDD.

1885. Cornish Poems and selections from 'Pentowan.' Truro. EDD.

KINGKONG PROJECT

William Bentinck FORFAR (M: 1810 - 1895 Mar 20)

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION ABOUT HIS LIFE AND WORKS SEE

Anonymous. 1853. "Truro Institution" Royal Cornwall Gazette 21st Jan. March: 4.

Anonymous. 1855. "Literary Institution". The Cornish Telegraph 10th Jan.: 3.

Anonymous. 1856. "Crowan Reading Room and Library." Royal Cornwall Gazette 11th April: 5.

Anonymous. 1859. "Penzance Institute." Royal Cornwall Gazette 18th March: 5.

Anonymous. 1859. "Penzance Literary Institution." Royal Cornwall Gazette 28th January: 8.

Anonymous. 1867. "Helston Institution." Western Morning News 1st Feb.: 3.

Wright, W. H. Kearley. 1896."W. B. Forfar (1810-1895)" West Country Poets. London: Elliot Stock: 182-183

Copyright © 2022- DING, María F.García-Bermejo Giner, The Salamanca Corpus, Universidad de Salamanca

William Bentick Forfar

(1810-1895)