Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Pegge, Samuel (1733-1800)
PEGGE, SAMUEL, the younger (1733–1800), antiquary, poet, and musical composer, born in 1733, was the only surviving son of Samuel Pegge, LL.D. (1704–1796) [q. v.], by his wife Anne, daughter of Benjamin Clarke, esq., of Stanley, near Wakefield, Yorkshire. After receiving a classical education at St. John's College, Cambridge, he was called to the bar at the Middle Temple, and by the favour of the Duke of Devonshire, lord chamberlain, he was appointed one of the grooms of his majesty's privy chamber and an esquire of the king's household. On 2 June 1796 he was elected a fellow of the Society of Antiquaries (Gough, Chronological List, p. 59). He died on 22 May 1800, and was buried on the west side of Kensington churchyard, where a monument, with an English inscription, was erected to his memory.
By his first wife, Martha, daughter of Dr. Henry Bourne, an eminent physician of Chesterfield, he had one son, Sir Christopher Pegge, M.D. [q. v.], and a daughter, Charlotte Anne, who died unmarried on 17 March 1793. He married, secondly, Goodeth Belt, aunt to Robert Belt, esq., of Bossall, Yorkshire.
In early life he acquired considerable proficiency in music. He composed a complete melodrama—both the words and the music in score—which remains in manuscript. Many catches and glees, and several of the most popular songs for Vauxhall Gardens were written and set to music by him. He was also the author of some prologues and epilogues which were favourably received. Among these were a prologue spoken by Mr. Yates at Birmingham in 1760 on taking the theatre into his own hands; an epilogue spoken by the same actor at Drury Lane on his return from France; and another epilogue, filled with pertinent allusions to the game of quadrille, spoken by Mrs. Yates at her benefit in three different seasons—1769, 1770, and 1774. He was likewise the author of a pathetic elegy on his own recovery from a dangerous illness, and of some pleasant tales and epigrammatic poems.
His other acknowledged writings are: 1. ‘An Elegy on the Death of Godfrey Bagnall Clerke, M.P. for Derbyshire, who died on 26 Dec. 1774,’ printed at Chesterfield. 2. ‘Brief Memoirs of Edward Capell, Esq.,’ 1790, in Nichols's ‘Literary Anecdotes’ (i. 465–76). 3. ‘Curialia; or an Historical Account of some Branches of the Royal Household,’ 5 parts, London, 1782–1806, 4to; parts iv. and v. were edited by John Nichols. 4. ‘Illustrations of the Churchwardens' Accompts of St. Michael Spurrier-Gate, York,’ in ‘Illustrations of the Manners and Expences of Antient Times,’ 1797. 5. ‘Memoir’ of his father, Dr. Samuel Pegge, in Nichols's ‘Literary Anecdotes’ (i. 224–58). 6. ‘Anecdotes of the English Language; chiefly regarding the Local Dialect of London and its Environs,’ edited by John Nichols, London, 1803, 8vo; 2nd edit. enlarged, ‘to which is added a Supplement to the Provincial Glossary of Francis Grose,’ edited by John Nichols, London, 1814, 8vo; 3rd edit., enlarged and corrected, edited by H. Christmas, London, 1844, 8vo. 7. ‘Curialia Miscellanea; or Anecdotes of Old Times, regal, noble, gentilitian, and miscellaneous, including Authentic Anecdotes of the Royal Household,’ edited by John Nichols, London, 1818, 8vo.
[Addit. MS. 5878, f. 150 b; Gent. Mag. 1782 p. 340, 1800 i. 494; Nichols's Lit. Anecd. vi. 258; Nichols's Illustr. of Lit. iv. 561; Pegge's Curialia Miscellanea, pp. lxxvii sq.; Notes and Queries, 1st ser. xii. 327.]