John Bettesworth

John Bettesworth (1677 – 17 December 1751) was Dean of the Arches.^[1]

Bettesworth was the son of Robert Bettesworth, a saddler, and was born in Petersfield, Hampshire. He was admitted to St John's College, Cambridge in 1696 (although he did not matriculate until 1699), graduating B.A. 1700, LL.B. 1701, LL.D. 1706.^[2]

He was appointed as Dean of the Arches and Master of the Prerogative Court of Canterbury in 1710, serving in both capacities until his death in 1751.^[1]

He married in 1711 Elizabeth Jones, the daughter of Revd John Jones, rector of Selattyn, Shropshire, and sister-in-law of Edmund Gibson, Bishop of London. He had a son, also John Bettesworth, who became Chancellor of London and another son, Edmund, who became vicar of Highworth, Wiltshire.^[1]

Bettesworth's coffin was discovered in 2017 beneath the floor of the mediaeval church of St Mary-at-Lambeth during refurbishment of the Garden Museum.^[3]