Letters, References and Notes (1831-1838) relating to James Caldwell of Linley Wood, Talke, Staffordshire, and his daughter Anne Marsh

Letters, References and Notes (1831-1838)
Relating to James Caldwell and Anne Marsh (Marsh-Caldwell)

The following is a listing of letters, references and general notes, from 1831-1838, relating to James Caldwell, his daughter Anne Marsh (nee Caldwell) and her husband Arthur Marsh . For notes relating to other years please go to Letters, References and Notes (1780-1874).

No date but probably early 1830s

Document summarising the situation regarding the Marriage Settlement of Arthur Cuthbert Marsh and his wife Anne Marsh (Marsh-Caldwell nee Caldwell), after the bankruptcy of William Marsh. This document is not dated but was probably prepared for Josiah Wedgwood in the early 1830s, (certainly after 1828). The document reads as follows:

Case

In the year 1816 Arthur Marsh possessed a freehold and copyhold estate at Hendon. The same year William Marsh the father of Arthur Marsh borrowed £25,000 3 per cent consols of James Wheeler, the repayment of which was secured by William Marsh's bond, as a further security Arthur Marsh as surety for his father agreed to execute to James Wheeler a mortgage of the estate of Hendon. This mortgage was accordingly carried into effect by indentures of Lease and Release dated the 16th and 18th of March 1816 which contained a proviso for redemption of the premises upon reinvestment of the sum of £25,000 in the name of the said James Wheeler and payment of the dividends to him in the meantime. In order to indemnify Arthur Marsh against the consequences of this mortgage a deed of assignment was executed dated the 15th of June 1816 and made between William Marsh of the one part, and Arthur Marsh of the other part, by which for the purpose of such indemnity William Marsh conveyed to Arthur Marsh certain leasehold and other property, consisting of a reversionary interest in certain leasehold premises in Sloane Square, Chelsea, and two leasehold houses in Norfolk Street, Strand, a leasehold messe at Knightsbridge, a piece of leasehold land at Knightsbridge, the lease of the Rectory and Tithes of the parish of Shorne in Kent subject to a mortgage of the said premises at Knightsbridge and Shorne for securing the payment of £3,810 East India Stock and the dividends thereof. A share in the Westminster Life Insurance Office subject to a prior mortgage of £1,800, Five shares in the Plymouth Dock Waterworks, a reversionary interest in 3/8th shares of the sum of £4,000 £4 per cent expected on the death of Catherine Plank, Ten shares in the Bristol Fire Office, A policy of assurance of £900 on the life of John Shilling in the Equitable Insurance Office and also a sum of £1260 secured by the bond of Warrant of Attorney of the said John Shilling, A sum of £3,666 13 consols subject to certain charge there on, And so to all the promised hereinbefore mentioned subject to a proviso for redemption of the same by the said William Marsh if he should pay the said sum of £25,000 consols with the dividends thereof to the said James Wheeler and should keep indemnified the said Arthur Marsh and the estate comprised in the said mortgage from the transfer of the said sum of £25,000 consols and the dividends thereof and all costs and expenses subsequent thereupon. And after the estate of Arthur Marsh in mortgage to the said James Wheeler should be reconveyed to the said Arthur Marsh discharged from the said mortgage and all other encumbrances the said Arthur Marsh should reassign to the said William Marsh and his assignees the several heredits and premises included in the now reciting deed of indemnity. And William Marsh covenanted with Arthur Marsh that in case default should be made in such transfer payment and indemnity as aforesaid it should be lawful for Arthur Marsh to hold the premises therefore assigned to enable him to pay the dividends of the said sum of £25,000 consols or so much as should be due and to call on the money due upon the several securities hereinbefore mentioned and after paying the dividends of the £25,000 consols to invest the residue in the name of the said James Wheeler in like consols in part or full satisfaction as the case might be of the £25,000 consols so as to exonerate the estate of Arthur Marsh from the said mortgage to James Wheeler.

By another deed of assignment dated the 3rd July 1816 William Marsh as an additional security to Arthur Marsh assigned to him a mortgage for the sum of £2,726 and interest upon an estate of Sir B . . . Hollowell at Ealing subject to redemption upon the investment of the mortgage money in 3 per cent consols to be applied in part satisfaction of the said sum of £25,000 3 per cent consols due to James Wheeler.

In the year 1817 Arthur Marsh married Anne Caldwell and previous to the marriage by Lease and Release dated the 27th and 28th of July 1817. The release being made between James Caldwell of the 1st part, William Marsh of the 2nd part, Arthur Marsh and Anne Caldwell of the 4th part and Josiah Wedgwood and George Pigott of the 5th part Arthur Marsh conveyed the estate at Hendon in mortgage to James Wheeler to Josiah Wedgwood and James Pigott, To hold the same to the use of the said Josiah Wedgwood and George Pigott and their heirs subject to the said mortgage Upon certain trusts there in mentioned for the benefit of the said Anne Caldwell and her children by the said Arthur Marsh.

And it was thereby provided that the Trustees for the time being should be chargeable only with such money as they should actually receive by the virtue of the Trusts and powers therein contained And that anyone or more of them should not be answerable for the others of them or for acts receipts neglects or defaults of the others of them but each of them for his own acts receipts neglects or defaults only And that the Trustees should not be answerable for any Banker Broker or other person with whom any part of the Trust moneys might be deposited for safe custody or otherwise in execution of any of the aforesaid Trusts. Neither should they be answerable for the insufficiency of any security or funds upon which any part of the Trust Moneys should be invested Nor for any other Misfortune Loss or Damage which might happen in any of the Trusts therein contained or in relation there to unless the same should happen through their own wilful default respectively.

By another indenture dated 20th July 1817 being a further settlement previous to the marriage of the said Arthur Marsh with Anne Caldwell and made between the same parties with the exception of the said James Caldwell He the said Arthur Marsh in order to protect the estate at Hendon from the mortgage to James Wheeler assigned to the said Josiah Wedgwood and George Pigott the Ldts and premises comprised in the two deeds of indemnity here in before mentioned subject to such Equity of Redemption in the same premises were liable to under the same indenture and subject to a further proviso for redemption and reassignment of the said premises in case William Marsh should transfer into the name of James Wheeler the sum of £25,000 consols and in the meantime pay him the amount of the dividends thereof and should also keep indemnified Josiah Wedgwood and George Pigott from the said mortgage to James Wheeler And in case the said William Marsh should make default in such transfer of payment It was provided that it should be lawful for the said Josiah Wedgwood and George Pigott to hold or sell and dispose of or call in the whole of the heredits and premises comprised in the aforesaid deeds of indemnity to enable them to pay the said sum of £25,000 consols and the dividends thereof or so much thereof that should be done so as to exhonerate the estate at Hendon from the mortgage to the said James Wheeler.

The marriage took place shortly after the execution of these settlements and there are now issue 7 Children.

In the month of September 1824 William Marsh and his partners became bankrupt.

Previous to the issuing of the commission against them the mortgage money due from Sir Beng Hollowell mentioned in the deed of indemnity was paid in and invested in the purchase of £3,000 consols in the name of James Wheeler in reduction of his mortgage.

After the issuing of the commission James Wheeler the mortgagee brought an action of ejectment and recovered possession of the estate at Hendon and obtained a degree of foreclosure in the Court of Chancery. By the master's report in this suit it appeared that there was owing to James Wheeler £22,000 3 per cent consols and £1210 for interest expenses and costs on the 10th October 1827.

After the foreclosure of the estate at Hendon Josiah . . .

The above is the first 5 pages of a 9 page document. Note that "George Edward Graham Foster Pigott" of Bryanston Square, Middlesex, had previously gone by the name of "George Edward Graham".

4 June 1830 - Marsh Bankruptcy Sale.

Particulars and condition of sale of the Rectory of Shorne in the County of Kent; Shares in the Plymouth Dock Water Works, A Policy in the Equitable of £900 and the Revisions of Houses in Norfolk Street, Strand and Sloane Square.

For Sale at Garraway's on Friday, the 4th of June 1830 at one o'clock precisely.
E. Foster, 54, Pall Mall, and 14, Greek Street, Soho.

Particulars and Conditions of Sale of the Impropriate Rectory of Shorne in the County of Kent with the Tithes of 1016 Acres of arable land, also Five Shares in the Plymouth Dock Water Works, a Policy for £900, in the Equitable and the Reversion to a Leasehold House, 13 Sloane Square and Two Capital Houses 23 and 25, Norfolk Street, Strand which will be sold by auction by Mr Edward Foster at Garraway's Coffee House, 'Change Alley, Cornhill, London on Friday, the 4th day of June, 1830 at one o'clock precisely by Orders of the major part of the Commissioners in Two Commissions of Brankrupt issued against Messrs Marsh, Stracey & Co, Banker. Particulars may be had Twenty-one Days before the sale, at Garraway's; at the Bull, Rochester; Crown and Anchor, Gravesend; and at Mr. Edward Foster's offices, 54 Pall Mall and 14 Greek Street, Soho Square, London.

Particulars &c.

Lot 1

The Rectory and Parsonage of Shorne, near Rochester in the County of Kent, with the barn and barn yards, together with the Tithes of the said Rectory and Parsonage, extending over Two Thousand Six Hundred and Eighty-seven acres of fertile land of which 1016 acres are at present arable in the Parish of Shorne, held under the Dean and Chapter of Rochester on a lease for a term of Twenty-One years commencing from Midsummer 1826, renewable every seven years, on payment of a fine, which at the Two last Renewals was assessed at £520. 10s. 9d.

The Glebe Land, including farm yard and Site of Buildings, is about half an acre. The Parsonage bar has two thicking floors and a shed for cattle, and is well situate for collecting the Tithes, near the Turnpike Road and the Village of Shorne, between the two good markets of Rochester and Gravesend.

The Rectory is subject by the Lease to the following obligations and Annual Charges:-

£. s. d.

Rent to Dean and Chapter 20.0.0

Ditto 5.12.0

Ditto, in lieu of Land Tax 14.0.0

The Bishop of Rochester's Pension 1.0.0

To Ditto, when he visits Shorne, 12s 0.0.0

To the Archdeacon for Proxies at the Visitation 0.7.6

To the Vicar and Churchwardens of Shorne for the Poor 0.10.0

To the Vicar of Shorne 5.10.0

£46.19.6

Lessee to find Rushes for the Church at Easter.

Also, once a year, a dinner for the Dean or Prebend, who may choose to preach at Shorne, upon giving Notice, and Feed for his Horse, or 20s at the option of the Lessee. Also, Lessee to repair the Chancel of the Church and Barns.

Lot 2

Five Shares in the Plymouth Dock Works. The Debentures for which bearing Date respectively the 30th April, 1801, Nos. 144,145,146, 147, and 148.

Lot 3

Policy of Assurance in the Equitable Assurance Office, for £900 No.29,421, dated the 3rd of February, 1815, on the Life of Mr John Shilling, of Alton, in the County of Hants, Nursery Seedman, in his 56th year. Annual Payment, £31.8s.

Lot 4

The Revisionary Interest, Expectant on the Demise of a Lady without issue by her present Husband. (The Lady is now in her 61st Year and has no children) in a Dwelling House and Premises being No.13, Sloane Square, held for a term of Eighty Years, of which Twenty-eight years were unexpired at Michaelmas Day last past. Subject to a Ground Rent of £5 per annum. Now under-let to a respectable Tenant, at Forty Guineas per annum.

Lot 5

The like Revisionary Interest in a Capital Dwelling House and Premises, No.23 Norfolk Street, held for a term of Sixty Years, of which Twenty-two years were unexpired at Michaelmas Day last. Subject to a Ground Rent of £15 per annum. Now under-let to a respectable Tenant, at £157. 10s per annum.

Lot 6

The life Revisionary Interest in a Capital Dwelling House and Premises, No.25 Norfolk Street, Strand, held for a term of Sixty Years, of which Twenty-two years were unexpired at Michaelmas Day last. Subject to a Ground Rent of £20. Now under-let to a respectable Tenant, at £125 per annum.

Conditions of Sale

First - The highest bidder to be purchaser, and if any dispute shall arise between two or more bidders, the lot shall immediately be put up again and resold.

Second - No person to advance less than twenty guineas at each bidding on lot 1, and five guineas on lots 2,3,4,5, and 6.

Third - The purchaser to pay down immediately into the hands of Mr Foster, a deposit of £20, per cent, in part of the purchase money, and sign an agreement to pay the remainder on or before Midsummer-day-next, from which time they shall be entitled to the rents and profits of the premises: but should the completion of any of the purchases be delayed, from any cause whatever, beyond the time specified, the purchasers so delaying are to pay interest at the rate of £5 per cent per annum on the balance of their purchase monies from that time until the purchases shall be completed.

Fourth - The vendors will deliver abstracts of the debentures in lot 2, the policy of assurance in lot 3, and of the subsisting leases relating to the other lots, and all subsequent assignments, but they will not produce, nor shall the purchasers require the lessor's titles, or any evidence or explanation thereof.

Fifth - The purchasers shall have proper assignments of the several lots, at their own expense, on payment of the remainder of the purchase money, agreeably to the third condition.

Sixth - The subsisting lease of lot 1, the five debentures, and the policy of assurance relating to lots 2 and 3, will be delivered up to the purchasers on the completion of the respective purchaser thereof; but all the other title deeds, wills, and documents relating to the several lots, will be retained by the vendors, who will deliver attested copies of, or extracts from them, if required, to the respective purchasers, and enter into the usual covenants for the production of the originals. All such deeds of covenant, and attested or other copies or extracts to be prepared or procured by the vendors, at the expense of the parties requiring the same.

Seventh - The property described in this particular is presumed to be correct, but if any mistake or error shall hereafter appear, the same shall not vitiate or annul the sale, but a compensation shall be given or taken, as the case may require, to be settled by two indifferent persons, one to be chosen by the vendor, and the other by the purchaser, or their umpire.

Lastly - If the purchaser neglects or fails to comply with the above conditions, the money deposited in part of payment shall, at the expiration of the time before limited, be actually forfeited to the vendor, who shall be at full liberty to re-sell the property, either by public or private sale, and if, on such re-sale, there shall be any deficiency, the purchaser at this sale, neglecting to comply with these conditions, shall make good such deficiency, together with all expenses attending such re-sale.

This being a sale by order of the Commissioners of Bankrupt, no Auction Duty is payable.

14 June 1830

Printed document advertising the Auction of property belonging to Arthur Cuthbert Marsh.

Reads as follows:

Particulars and Conditions of Sale

of the Impropriate Rectory of Shorne, in the County of Kent, with the Tithes of 1016 acres of arable land, also 5 shares in the Plymouth Dock Water Works, A Policy for £900 in the Equitable and the Reversion to a leasehold house, 13 Sloane Square, Two Capital Houses 23 & 25 Norfolk St, Strand, which will be sold by auction by Mr Edward Foster at Garraway's Coffee House, Change Alley, Cornhill, London, on Friday the 14th day of June 1830, by the order of the major part of the Commissioners in Two Commissions of Bankrupt issued against Messers Marsh, Stacey & Co, Bankers.

Lot 1 Sold for £4,600

Rectory and Parsonage of Shorne, near Rochester in the county of Kent 2687 acres of which 1016 acres are at present arable.

Lot 2Sold for £550

5 Shares in the Plymouth Dock Works.

Lot 3 Sold for £520

Policy of Insurance in the Equitable Insurance Office for £900, No29,421, Dated 3 February 1815, on the life of Mr John Shilling, of Alton, in the County of Hants, Nursery & Seedsman in his 56th year.

Lot 4Sold for £160

The Reversionary Interest, Expectant on the Demise of a Lady without issue by her present husband (the Lady is now in her 62nd year and has no children). In a dwelling house and premises being No 13 Sloane Square. Held for a term of 80 years of which 28 years were unexpired at Michaelmas Day last past.

Lot 5Sold for £330

The like reversionary interest in a Capital Dwelling house and premises No 23 Norfolk St. Strand. Held for a term of 60 years of which 22 years were unexpired at Michaelmas Day last past.

Lot 6 Sold for £210

The like reversionary interest in a Capital Dwelling house and premises No 25 Norfolk St. Strand. Held for a term of 60 years of which 22 years were unexpired at Michaelmas Day last past. . . .

1832? Extract from page 376 of Vol 1 of Harriet Martineau's Autobiography, published in 1877. This extract is identified as being from the period 1832-1834. As "Two Old Men's Tales" was published in 1834, the following meeting probably took place in 1832-1833. The extract reads as follows:

I was spending a couple of days at Mrs Marsh's, when she asked me whether I would let her read to me "one or two little stories" which she had written. From her way of speaking of them, and from her devotion to her children, who were then for the most part very young, I concluded these to be children's tales. She ordered a fire in her room, and there we shut ourselves up for the reading. What she read was no child's story, but "The Admiral's Daughter". My amazement may be conceived. We were going to dine at the Wedgwoods': and a strange figure we must have cut there; for we had been crying so desperately that there was no concealing the marks of it. Mrs Marsh asked me what I thought of getting her tales published. I offered to try if, on reading the manuscript at home, I thought as well of it as after her own most moving delivery of it. A second reading left no doubt in my mind; and I had the pleasure of introducing the "Two Old Men's Tales" to the world through Messers Saunders & Oatley , from whom, as from the rest of the world, the author's name was withheld as long as possible. Mr Marsh made this the condition of our attempt: a condition which we thought perfectly reasonable in the father of many daughters, who did not wish their mother to be known as the author of what the world might consider second-rate novels. That the world did not consider them second-rate was immediately apparent; and the reason for secrecy existed no longer. But no one ever knew or guessed the authorship through my mother or me, who were for a considerable time the only possessors of the secret. From that time Mrs Marsh managed her own affairs; and I never again saw her works till they were published. I mention this because, as I never concealed from her, I think her subsequent works very inferior to the first: and I think it a pity that she did not rest on the high and well deserved fame which she immediately obtained. The singular magnificence of that tale was not likely to be surpassed: but I have always wished that she had either stopped entirely, or had given herself time to give justice to her genius. From the time of the publication of "The Two Old Men's Tales" to the present hour, I have never once, as far as I remember, succeeded in getting anther manuscript published for anybody.

1834. Anne Marsh's first book is published "Two Old Men's Tales". It is an immediate success and goes to a second edition in the same year.

3 March 1835. Extract of a letter from Elizabeth Wedgwood to her mother. This is taken from page 266, of Vol 1 of "Emma Darwin, A Century of Family Letters" published 1915. The letter is addressed from Clapham, and dated Tuesday 3rd March 1835. The extract reads as follows:

Saturday we dined at the [Marshes] . . . Anne was very pleasant, and when we got round the fire after dinner she talked a great deal with an openness that was very engaging about her book [Two Old Men's Tales] and her feelings. I was in hopes that her being known as the author would have saved her from hearing disagreeable things; but she told us of some things that had been said that she would have given a thousand pounds rather than they should have been said. I cannot think who could tell her. She was very much amused when she dinned at Lady Millman's to find Mr Murray paying court to her as if she was somebody. I think the vexation of being known has more than counterbalanced the pleasure of her success, but the pleasure of the writing itself seems to be very great.

3 May 1835. Extract of a letter from Madame Sismondi to her niece Emma Wedgwood. This is taken from page 267, of Vol 1 of "Emma Darwin, A Century of Family Letters" published 1915. The letter is dated 3 May 1835. The extract reads as follows:

I think Anne's Tales particularly interesting; they both robbed me of some of those precious tears I am so chary of shedding. I prefer the first, there is greater purity and far greater truth. The Admiral's Daughter is deficient in both these qualities, and interesting as it is, I can hardly forgive its immorality. Nevertheless I should like to read more by the same author, and shall be sorry if indeed she is, as she now feels, exhausted.

1836, December 22. Part of a letter from Anne Marsh to Mrs Young confirming that she is in fact the anonymous authoress of "Two old Mens Tales" published in 1834 and "Tales of the Woods & Fields" published in 1836. Presumably Mrs Young is Mary Young (nee Abbott) who was the wife of George Frederick Young (1791-1870) Shipowner and Merchant of London, M.P. 1832-1838 and 1851-1852. His father was Vice-Admiral William Young (1761-1847). This letter is in the British Library (Add 46713 f 90) in the papers of George Frederick Young. The letter reads as follows:

The Parke B. Heath

Thursday 22 December 1836

Pax! Pax! Pax! My dear Mrs Young, and tell me I am yet in time to disperse the Clouds of your threatened "everlasting displeasure", which I have allowed thus long to collect, but feel sure, if they have not already burst in lucky forgetfulness of my and my sins, through the dissipating nature of Xmas preparations, and Schoolboy's return home. They will at least dissolve in pity and forgiveness, at the recital of the various excitements and engrossed feelings not sufferings thank God! which the yet more awful storms and visitations of Heaven, have occasioned us for ourselves, and still more for our friends, but let me first bravely face the attack of why and wherefore I never told you Mrs Arthur Marsh was an Authoress simply because I am not an "Old Man" and do not therefore tell "Tales", especially Tales I have been enjoined to keep secret, no matter to me how this same secret becomes known to everyone, and is revealed to me from North, South, East and West, with a similar enquiry to your "Is it true . . . ?" till at length I find it so publicly known, that at least the "Old Man" wears petticoats, when he walks in the "Woods & Fields" that he is at once boldly femininized by his Coat picker W. Quarterly, who nevertheless (I agree with you) gives him due praise, as well as (I hope for the sake of our English nobility) due censure, and I agree with you in hoping the next, if any next there should be, will be "better", though I should say in plot, more than in style, and give the reading world more insight into all the best workings of the human Heart, with less to ponder on, that is evil and miserable. The Papers seem enough with such thoughts and deeds of real living Men and Women, and I agree with Mrs Trollope, that many a mind gets imbued with ideas of evil, that might never have tainted it, but for the quantity of the sort that it published, and however true of our nature, or well depicted and even morally conducted and concluded, it were better withheld. The Books in question abound also with body Sentiments of piety and moralities and good feelings, but our fallen nature, is so apt to chide the Evil rather than the Good, that I always wish all Books and Papers recited a preponderance attraction the other way, but dear me, you do not ask my opinion about the Books, but to tell you all I could about the writer, and how shall I answer you? Unless in her own words that she is neither "particularly this" nor "particularly that", tall and thin and wears spectacles in general. Do you not chance to remember her, the day you so kindly called on us in Stanhope Place, as you entered our room from a Wedding, in Lavender silk, white B . . . and Plume. She quitted it, in similar attire, to go to a Wedding Déjeuner. She certainly is clever in many ways more by her own exertions, than by original education, which in a country place in Staffordshire, and from the fashions, or mode of teaching in her days, was limited, and accomplishments little cultivated, so that she neither sings, plays, draws, or even speaks French well, to be noted for either performance, but having by nature an enquiring mind, and intuitive quickness of observation, and great energy, and having many clever and learned connections, and fond of society, for its own sake, caring nought for the forms of it, she has not only improved herself, but has still more merit, in the unsparing exertions, and their successful result, with which she has entirely conducted the education of six girls, three only are yet grown up to be 18, 16 and 15, and they now assist in teaching the 3 younger. She also grounded well her only Boy who now comes to School here. Her profits of her pen have given her elder girls some best Masters for Music etc, and they promise to do well, and all have a natural turn for drawing and languages moreover they all contrive to please and make friends wherever they go by their nice and perfectly artless manners, and altogether are an interesting, happy and attached party, and we, of course, love them all dearly. My brother you have seen, years ago, he has a plain face but good Head and good Heart, and would not exchange one of his Girls for ten Boys he says, and here ends my history of an "Old Man", or rather "Two Old Men", which may better excuse its length, and are you satisfied? My next topic must be sincerely to wish you and yours a cheerful Season and many returns of it in health and comfort. Your five Branches are, I conclude, assembled round you, all well and merry hearted I trust and Mr Young, free enough in mind, as in person, to give you an agreeable daily prospect at dinner time. My third subject, to thank you equally for not inviting us now, when we must have the pain of saying no, and for so kindly, as we think, asking us to endure your "unfortunate work", in Spring, for "ere" Spring, I fear, I must equally forebear, and endure, from now till May, a much greater endurance than passing a few days with kind friends, no matter where, or what, their abode, unless indeed it was in the frozen ocean. My trial is, to give up all visits, morning or evening, and even exercise out of doors for a fortnight together, but I am repaid (or I was last year) by averting visits from the Doctor, or being laid up.

23 May 1837. Extract of a letter from Emma Wedgwood to her sister-in-law Mrs Hensleigh Wedgwood. This is taken from page 276, of Vol 1 of "Emma Darwin, A Century of Family Letters" published 1915. The letter is addressed from Maer and dated 23 May 1837. The extract reads as follows:

Disputes run very high here upon the subject of Violet [Violet la danseuse, a pathetic novel that had a great success]. Some of the party are quite convinced it is written by a women and have some suspicions it is Mrs Marsh. She acted very well when she was here if it is hers, and did not show the least interest on the subject. I think it is much too clever for the author of the two last old men [Two Old Men's Tales].

26 October 1837

Letter from Arthur Cuthbert Marsh to Josiah Wedgwood (1769-1843). Arthur's letter seal is a shield with three crowns on the left half and four left facing lions passant on the right half. The right half also has a large vertical/horizontal cross covering it. Arthur's address is 11 King's Road, Bedford Row, London.

10 November 1837

Letter from Arthur Cuthbert Marsh to Josiah Wedgwood (1769-1843). Arthur's letter seal is a man's head wearing a helmet facing left.

16 January 1838. Letter from Anne Marsh Caldwell to her Children telling them of the death of their grandfather James Caldwell at Linley Wood. Addressed to Miss Fanny M Marsh, Maison Bourdon, Rue dd Alger, Capecure, Borlogne Sur Mer. Postmarked Lawton, London 17 Jan 1838, Paid 17 Jan 1838.

Linley Wood
Tuesday 16 January
My Dearest Loves
Your poor Grandpapa expired at 14 past six this morning. He had been in the art of dying for nearly 24 hours, the first part of the time he knew us all, gave his directions about morning matters to be done after his death to your Uncle Stamford, enquired for his three sons in law. Mentioned his grandchildren, recommended family love & union to us all, spoke as a good Christian should upon his past life & his humble hope of a better & in short had prepared himself for this long agony as a wise & good man should. He has been evidently much employed in self preparation and . . . prayer for the whole time that I have been here. His speech forsook him yesterday evening & he then lay quietly breathing until he breathed his last without the faintest struggle, so that I who sat close by his head was in doubt some minutes whether all was over. I have endeavoured my dearest children not to sit by this long death bed of two weeks without profiting by those serious thoughts which a death bed ought to enforce upon us all & I hope . . . as it is & much as these impressions are weathered by distance that you will all endeavour to lay it to heart & to strengthen your serious thoughts of a death & judgement to come which waits sooner or later for us all & that you will each & every one endeavour to make it a serious means of . . . by reflecting upon those sins to which you are most prone & upon the certainty that those we do not endeavour to . . . while we are strong & young will assuredly grow too strong for us when we are old. Your grandpapa had many bright & shining virtues extreme parity of conduct to the most perfect & beautiful . . . great integrity just self denial & the most indefatigable industry. A very strong desire to make his great talents . . . & an abhorrence of . . . , all his little imperfections of temper he in the greatest & kindest manner as had forgiveness for even from his very man servant , giving as a beautiful example of that humility of mind, that readiness to acknowledge ourselves in the wrong & that readiness to atone for it which you know I so often recommend as the true basis of the . . . character. Such a death to be 11 days hourly expecting it, without the hope of escaping must indeed be an awful thing to everyone. He took evidently great pains to endure the wearying hours with . . . and never to allow the slightest hasty word to escape him amid the many . . . difficulties of his illness, & almost the last word he said was I am afraid I have been impatient. Your Aunt Betsy & Aunt Roscoe have been unwearied in their attentions they bear up wonderfully but are much fatigued & you may be sure are a good deal . . . I am writing in my bed. It is . . . cold . . . lay in plenty of coals lest there should be any difficulty in getting them should this frost continue . . . . . . to make yourselves warm these grates for the bedrooms if you want them that is of wood fires are not warm enough I think my little ones had better have each of them a Squirrel Muff. You will get them at about 12? a piece. You will undoubtedly put your morning in hand get Louise & some other woman if keeping. There was one at the . . . I wish you all to go into black . . . [Bombusine?] & Crape. Make your gowns low as for some time you will wear no other in the evenings & have good warm . . . [pelesines?], lined & wadded would be very well. &ldots; &ldots; &ldots; You may make long & short sleeves or only long as you like best. Get black bonnets and Madame Boches. She will make an assortment if they are all taken together, something quite simple trimmed with creape, . . . . . . gloves & black calico petticoats will be all you will want with a few broad . . . frills or collars &ldots; I came. Get your morning made and arranged in the mode of the place you are at. Give my old Bombesine to Elizabeth to make her a gown. She must be in black to walk out with you. And black ribbons for her bonnet. Give Katherine & Marie black ribbons & black gloves. Your kind Aunt she will I am sure give you the benefit of her taste & advice & wish you all to be in . . . morning. Of course you know my loves we must do this as we do other things as frugally as is consistent with propriety. I am anxious for another letter from you my next will tell you when I think to be back. Your Uncle Stamford is as tender & . . . of us as your own Papa could be. I cannot say more for him can I. God bless you all my beloved children & I am ever your tender & loving Mother.
Pay for everything as you by it . . . money. Write to your Papa for more money if you want it. All the above things will be at my expense dear Louisa & Fanny. My very king love to Aunt M.

12 April 1838

Letter written from James Stamford Caldwell to Josiah Wedgwood. Stamford is executing the will of James Caldwell, who had recently died leaving a legacy of £5,000 to Anne Marsh. The letter reads as follows:

Linley WoodApril 12 1838

My dear Sir

I propose to pay off the £5,000 due on my sister Anne Marsh's Settlement directly. Pray tell me into what bank you wish it paid. Dr Holland's - your co-trustee's - Bankers are Messers Drummond - do you wish it to be paid there? You will have to execute a regular release to me which shall be got ready for your signature very soon.

I am my dear Sir

faithfully yours

J Stamford Caldwell.

The letter is addressed on the outside to Josiah Wedgwood Esq, Maer Hall, Newcastle-under-Lyme.

Josiah has noted a copy of his reply on the same sheet of paper. This reads as follows:

I have written to Mr Marsh on the subject of your letter of &ldots; in our need yesterday. I have no objection to the money being paid in at Drummonds. I have no copy of the settlement and it will be required that the Release should be paid on my behalf. It will probably save time if you send the Draft to Mr Marsh as I have proposed Mr Delmer who is intimately acquainted with the settlement should procure the Release for the Trustee's.

27 April 1838. Letter from Arthur Cuthbert Marsh to Josiah Wedgwood (1769-1843). Arthur notes that he has just come back from Boulogne.

12 April 1838. Letter written from James Stamford Caldwell to Josiah Wedgwood. Stamford is executing the will of James Caldwell, who had died three months previously (16 January) leaving a legacy of £5,000 to Anne Marsh. Wedgwood Archive (28-20694). The letter reads as follows:

Linley Wood, April 12 1838

My dear Sir

I am my dear Sir

faithfully yours

J Stamford Caldwell.

The letter is addressed on the outside to Josiah Wedgwood Esq, Maer Hall, Newcastle-under-Lyme. Josiah has noted a copy of his reply on the same sheet of paper. This reads as follows:

I have written to Mr Marsh on the subject of your letter of . . . in our need yesterday. I have no objection to the money being paid in at Drummonds. I have no copy of the settlement and it will be required that the Release should be paid on my behalf. It will probably save time if you send the Draft to Mr Marsh as I have proposed Mr Delmer who is intimately acquainted with the settlement should procure the Release for the Trustee's.

If you have any information to add to what is listed please contact me on jj@jjhc.info

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