Joseph Partridge (historian)  The Reverend Joseph Partridge (1724 – 25 October 1796) was an English waggoner, schoolteacher, clergyman, antiquary and historian. Despite the lack of a university education, he was ordained in his forties and subsequently wrote the first history of the Cheshire town of Nantwich, published in 1774. He also published religious works, including a didactic poem, "The Anti-Atheist". Partridge was born at the Red Lion Inn (now the Wilbraham Arms) on Welsh Row in Nantwich, where his father, also named Joseph Partridge, was the landlord. He was baptised on 1 May 1724. His father also worked as a waggoner, transporting goods to London. His mother, Sarah Tew (died 1771/2), was probably the daughter of John Tew (died 1722), another Nantwich waggoner. His parents had married on 13 October 1722. Nothing is known of Partridge's early life or education, except that he never attended university. It is possible that he attended one of the two boys' schools of the town, the grammar school or the Blue Cap Charity School, or the free grammar school at nearby Acton. When his father died on 15 August 1756, Partridge took over his haulage business. He married Mary (1726/7–1806) at an unknown date, and their only child, Jane, was baptised in Nantwich on 15 August 1757. His occupation was then described as "waggoner". Employment as a waggoner does not seem to have satisfied Partridge. Aged about 42, despite his lack of university education, he was ordained by the Church of England. In around 1766, he took up the positions of curate at St Michael's Church, Baddiley and chaplain of Woodhey Chapel, Faddiley, two villages near Nantwich, holding both positions for the remainder of his life. The curacy of Baddiley paid an annual income of £30. The resignation of Edward Hughes on 9 June 1788 led to Partridge also being nominated as schoolmaster of the free grammar school of Acton by several members of the school's board. Partridge gained the consent of Edmund Keene, Bishop of Chester, to take up the post on 26 August 1766. The school had been founded in 1662 and the original salary was £20 a year.