James Hews Bransby

James Hews Bransby (17 March, 1783 - 4 November, 1847), was an English Unitarian minister.

Bransby was a native of Ipswich. His father, John Bransby (d. 17 March 1837, aged seventy-five), was an instrument maker, a fellow of the Royal Astronomical Society, author of a treatise on 'The Use of the Globes, &c.,' 1791, 8vo, and editor of the 'Ipswich Magazine,' 1799.

The son became heterodox in opinion, and was educated for the Unitarian ministry, in the academy maintained at Exeter from 1799 to 1804 by Timothy Kenrick and Joseph Bretland. On 1 May 1803 (Letter, p. 15) he was invited to become minister at the 'new meeting' (opened 31 Oct. 1802) to the old presbyterian congregation at Moreton Hampstead, Devonshire. Here he kept a school, and among his pupils was John Bowring, afterwards Sir John Bowring, in whose autobiography are some amusing particulars of his master.

In 1805 Bransby removed to Dudley. He continued to keep a preparatory school for boys. He was by no means unpopular, but his eccentricities gradually excited considerable remark, particularly as he developed a tendency towards kleptomania. At length he committed a breach of trust, involving forgery, which was condoned on condition of his leaving Dudley in 1828 forever. He was succeeded, on 1 July 1829, by Samuel Bache.

Bransby moved to Wales, and supported himself by teaching, by editing a paper, and by odd jobs of literary work. His peculiarities accompanied him in this department, for he would borrow a manuscript and, after improvements, send it to a magazine as his own. An irresistible impulse led him on one occasion to revisit Dudley for a few hours; as he stood gazing at his old meeting-house he was recognised, but spared.

Late in life he occasionally preached again.

He died very suddenly at Bron'r Hendref, near Caernarfon, on 4 Nov. 1847, aged 64 years. His wife, Sarah, daughter of J. Isaac, general Baptist minister at Moreton Hampstead, predeceased him on 28 Oct. 1841.