James Hart, born 1647, composer and Gentleman of the Chapel Royal, was buried in the west cloister of Westminster Abbey on 15th May 1718, aged 71. His wife Ann was buried on 10th April 1722. He was described as a bass singer from York (presumably the Minster there) and was also said to have been in the Abbey choir. More than 60 songs by him were published and he also kept a boarding school for young ladies with another gentleman. He sang at James II's coronation and attended the coronations of William and Mary and also Queen Anne. His son George (died 1700) was also a composer and was at James II's coronation, being a member of the Chapel Royal. Another son was possibly called James and son Philip died in 1749. The Weekly Journal said his body was carried from Founders' Hall and that he was the father of "the ingenious Philip Hart, organist of St Michael and St Mary Axe in London". Neither have marked graves.
He was perhaps a brother, or relation, of Richard Hart, choirman and also Gentleman at the Chapel Royal who was buried on 11th February 1690 in the east cloister near the Library door. He married on 18th November 1683 in the Abbey widow Elizabeth Hopwood (whose first husband was a Minor Canon of the Abbey William Hopwood). He has no marked grave.
Further reading for organist Philip
Oxford Dictionary of National Biography
Biographical Dictionary of English Court Musicians... by A. Ashbee and D. Lasocki, 1998
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