William Paynter

Rev. William Paynter D.D. (1637 – 18 February 1716) was an English clergyman and Vice-Chancellor of Oxford University. The son of William Paynter or Cambourne, from Antron in Sithney, and Jane, the sixth child of Richard Keigwin of Mousehole, he was born at Trelissick Manor in the parish of St Erth, Cornwall, England, and baptised on 7 December 1637. Having been admitted as a poor scholar in February 1656, he matriculated from Exeter College, Oxford, on 29 March that year, and on 3 July 1657 he was elected to a fellowship of the college. He graduated B.A. in 1660 and M.A. in 1663 (incorporated at Cambridge in 1664), B.D. in 1674, and D.D. in 1695. In 1669, together with those of several other Cornishmen, Paynter's fellowship was suspended by Arthur Bury, the college rector and a devout Devonian, on the grounds that Paynter had been elected to one of the fellowships earmarked for candidates from Devon. In spite of this rebuff, in 1685 Paynter gave £100 to Exeter College. The same year he faced scandal when a child was left on his doorstep in college and was claimed to be his; it was later revealed that John Jago, a disaffected undergraduate expelled by Paynter for debauchery, had tried to wreak revenge. It was not until 1686, that Paynter actually vacated his fellowship, having been appointed to the college living of Wootton, Northamptonshire. Paynter married twice. The date of his first marriage is uncertain, but it was possibly about the time of his appointment to Wootton rectory; his wife was Mary (1657–1695), daughter of John Conant who had been rector of Exeter College during the interregnum, and his wife, Elizabeth (daughter of Edward Reynolds). When probate was granted on Mary's first husband Matthew Poole's will, on 15 March 1690, Mary was already married to Paynter. Mary died on 7 May 1695 and was buried at Wootton near her children, William and Elizabeth. Paynter married secondly on 16 May 1695, at Preston in Northamptonshire, Sarah, daughter of Francis Duncombe of Broughton, Buckinghamshire.