 He was born into a large and committed Catholic family, one of three sons to be ordained as priests.’’Since Catholics were not allowed at the time to study in England for the priesthood, the Witham brothers went across the Channel to attend the English College, Douai (contemporary English spelling, Douay).Sources conflict on Robert’s year of ordination, either 1691 or 1694.He remained as a professor at Douay until 1698 or 1699, and then returned to England, where he rose quickly in the Church hierarchy.