William Cantrell

The William Cantrell who owned our edition of Terence was almost certainly a bookseller in Derby. The date of the inscription should probably be read as 1709, which would suggest the William Cantrell who was jointly responsible for publishing a number of books between 1718 and 1728, all of which describe him as “bookseller in Derby”. Most were written by Anthony Blackwall who was Headmaster of Derby Grammar School from 1697 to 1722 and a noted classical scholar. The two men clearly knew each other and there may be a further link in that Blackwall married the widow of Thomas Cantrell – whether or not this represents a family link with our William Cantrell is uncertain. Either way, it would seem plausible for Cantrell to have presented this edition of Terence to Blackwall (or for use of the school) in 1709.

In 1753, Blackwall’s granddaughter is reported to have married a William Cantrell who is described as a bookseller in Derby. It is possible that the groom is the same man who published her grandfather’s books; however, it could equally well be that man’s son or indeed a member of a different family, perhaps one of the Cantrells connected to the Blackwall family through her grandfather’s second marriage.