Author: Law, William
Biography:
LAW, William (fl 1818)
A Forest Ramble (1818), published anonymously, dedicated by “A Forester” to “The Sportsmen of Windsor Forest,” and incorporating “sketches” of masters of the Royal Hunt at Windsor during the reign of George III, is traditionally attributed to William Law, on what basis is not known. (It does not appear in HL.) The author maintains in his Dedication that he has been “connected with His Majesty’s Hunting Establishment” for most of his life. It has therefore been assumed that he was actually a forester or in some such capacity a servant of the royal household—as might have been the case. But the verse is sophisticated and the author further identifies himself in a footnote on the first page as an Overseer of the Poor and a member of the governing committee of the National School at Bagshot, Surrey, for providing religious instruction to the children of the poor. These philanthropic roles usually went to members of the middle and upper classes. Bagshot Park and Windsor Great Park, in close proximity to one another, were both royal hunting forests in their time. No very likely William Law of Bagshot or of Windsor has been found in the genealogical records, although there are a few possible candidates. (Goodridge; ancestry.com 7 Dec. 2023; findmypast.com 7 Dec. 7 2023)