in 1719, and succeeded his father in business as a draper. He was three times elected mayor, in 1755, 1758, and 1760, and was for thirty years a justice of the peace. He published (1779–90) a journal of his magisterial proceedings ‘in cases of riots, coiners, murder, highway robberies, burglaries, returned transports, and every species of events that falls under the cognizance of the laws of this kingdom.’ The book is a curious medley, in which the record of offences more or less serious is found side by side with explanations of the criminal law, correspondence with official persons, and an account of the writer's municipal achievements and hospitalities. Hewitt also published ‘A Guide for Constables,’ 1779, and ‘Memoirs of Lady Wilbrihammon, alias Mollineux, alias Irving, an Impostress,’ Birmingham (1778?), 4to. He died 20 April 1802.
[A Journal of the Proceedings of J. Hewitt, Senior Alderman of the City of Coventry; Coventry Mercury, 26 April 1802; Colville's Worthies of Warwickshire; Watt's Bibl. Brit.]
HEWITT, JOHN (1807–1878), antiquary, born at Lichfield in 1807, studied music in youth, and was for some time organist of St. Mary's Church in that city. He also contributed to many periodicals. Subsequently he was appointed to a post in the war office, and while living in London was well known in literary society. He enjoyed the friendship of Bulwer Lytton, Mary Howitt, Mrs. S. C. Hall, Allan Cunningham, Leigh Hunt, and others, and wrote under the nom de guerre of ‘Sylvanus Swanquill.’ For many years he resided at Woolwich, but on his retirement from the war office he removed to Lichfield, where he died on 10 Jan. 1878.
His works are: 1. ‘The Tower [of London]: its History, Armories, and Antiquities: before and since the Fire,’ London, 1841, 8vo, published by the authority of the master-general and board of ordnance. It has gone through several editions in English, French, and Spanish. 2. ‘Chart of Ancient Armour from ye XI to ye XVII cent.,’ with descriptions of the figures in the chart [London, 1847], fol. and 8vo. 3. ‘Ancient Armour and Weapons in Europe: from the Iron period of the Northern nations to the end of the [seventeenth] century,’ 3 vols., London, 1855–60, 8vo. A work of great erudition. 4. ‘Official Catalogue of the Tower Armories,’ London, 1859, 12mo. 5. ‘Old Woolwich,’ 1860, published by the Royal Artillery Association. 6. ‘Handbook for the City of Lichfield and its Neighbourhood,’ Lichfield, 1874, 8vo; 2nd edit. 1884. 7. ‘Handbook of Lichfield Cathedral,’ 1875; 3rd edit., enlarged by the Dean of Lichfield (E. Bickersteth), Lichfield, 1886, 8vo. 8. An enlarged edition of Stothard's ‘Monumental Effigies,’ London, 1876. 9. Numerous contributions to the ‘Archæological Journal’ and the ‘Reliquary,’ including a series of papers in the latter on ‘Mediæval Arms and Armour.’
[Reliquary, xviii. 228; Anderson's Book of British Topography, p. 259.]
HEWLETT, EBENEZER (fl. 1747), antitrinitarian writer, lived at the New Pales in Sun Street, without Bishopsgate, London, and was for a time employed by the East India Company. He wrote a number of theological tracts, the doctrines of which, he says, brought him ‘only poverty, disgrace, and loss of friends.’ Their titles are: 1. ‘An Answer to Mr. Tho. Chubb's Book entitled “The True Gospel of Jesus Christ,”’ 8vo, London, 1738. 2. ‘Mr. Whitefield's Chatechise. Being an Explanation of the Doctrine of the Methodists. In a Letter to Mr. Seagrave [occasioned by his answer to Dr. Trapp],’ 8vo, London, 1739. 3. ‘The Deist turned Christian, the Papist turned Protestant, and the Calvinist turned Arminian, by being undeceived concerning the Doctrine of Free Justification by Christ's Blood. By way of dialogue between E. Hewlett and a Deist,’ 8vo, London, 1740. 4. ‘Miracles real evidences of a Divine Revelation, and the influence of evil Angels carefully examin'd: in answer to Mr. Chubb's Discourse on Miracles, and Mr. Fleming's Animadversions thereon,’ 8vo, London, 1741. 5. ‘A Vindication of the Bible from the censures of the Deists and the inconsistencies of Popery and Calvinism, &c.,’ 8vo, London, 1741. 6. ‘Satisfaction by the Merits of Christ Blasphemy against God,’ 8vo, London, 1741. 7. ‘Letter to A. P.,’ 8vo, London, 1747, which was answered by A. P. in ‘A Discourse on the Trinity,’ 8vo, Reading, 1747.
[Hewlett's Works.]
HEWLETT, JAMES (1768–1836), flower-painter, born 15 Sept. 1768, was son of a gardener and an associate in boyhood of John Britton, the Wiltshire antiquary (Britton's Autobiog. 1850). He practised chiefly at Bath, painting flowers in water-colours, which are noted for good drawing, colour, and botanical accuracy. He occasionally painted other subjects, such as gipsies, and contributed to the Royal Academy and other exhibitions. He died at Park House, Isleworth, 18 Aug. 1836, and was buried in Isleworth Church, where a monument was erected by his widow. There are four drawings of flowers by him at
