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Accompt dated 1714
This true, just and perfect Accompt of Dorcas Aghmuty widow which and sole executrix of the last Will and Testament of Thomas Aghmuty late of Brianstown in the County of Longford and Diocese of Ardagh, Esq deceased which since his death is made and declared as well of and upon all and singular the goods and chattels, debts and credits of the said deceased and also of and upon all and singular such payments, expenses and charges as she hath been at and paid, laid out and expended in and about the funeral of the defunct and paying the debts of the said deceased and other disbursements as followeth (viz)
The Charge:
This accomptant chargeth herself with the sum of two hundred forty nine pounds eighteen shillings and seven pence sterling being the total sum, price and value of all and singular the goods and chattels, debts and credits of the said deceased as by a true, just and perfect Inventory duly taken and appraised by Charles Hamilton gent and Redmund Danoghen gent, lawfully authorized, commissioned and sworn appraisers by the Vicar General of the Consistory Court for the Diocese of Ardagh as exhibited and now remaining in the Registry of said Consistory Court of the said Diocese of Ardagh may more plainly appear.
The Discharge:
This accomptant desires an allowance for the sum of £21. 1s. 1d being truly expended and laid in and upon the funeral of the defunct
This accomptant craves the sum of £8. 2s. 0½d being so much paid by this accomptant for drugs and physick to the apothecary and to the Dr. for his attendance during the sickness of the defunct
This accomptant desires an allowance of £70. 0s 0d being a debt due to the Rev'd Benjamin Span of Temple Michael in the County of Longford paid by this accomptant since the decease of the defunct
This accomptant desires the sum of £32. 12s. 0½d being arrears of rent due by the defunct to the Countess of Granard and since his decease paid by this accomptant to Capt Willson, her agent
This accomptant desires an allowance for the sum of £5. 0s. 0d being a debt due to Lieut John Dean of Longford by the defunct since his decease paid by this accomptant to the said Lieut Dean
This accomptant desires £5. 0s. 0d being a debt due to Mr William Daois of Longford for diet and lodging of the children of the defunct in his life time and since his decease paid by this accomptant
This accomptant desires allowance for the sum of £3. 0s. 0d being wages due to Robert Russell by the defunct since his decease paid by this accomptant
This accomptant desires an allowance for the sum of £2. 0s. 0d being wages due to Daniel Couen by the defunct and since his decease paid by this accomptant
This accomptant desires an allowance for the sum of £2. 0s. 0d being wages due to William Burn by the defunct and since his decease paid by this accomptant
This accomptant desires an allowance for sum of £0. 5s. 0d being a debt due to the said William Burn by the defunct and since his decease paid by this accomptant
This accomptant desires an allowance for the sum of £8. 0s. 5d being a debt due by the defunct to Mr Robert Hamilton of Longford gent and since his decease paid by this accomptant
This accomptant desires allowance for the sum of £6. 8s. 10d being a debt due to Mr John Webster of Longford merchant and since the decease of the defunct paid by this accomptant
This accomptant desires an allowance for the sum of £1. 19s. 3d due by the defunct to William Warden late of Longford and paid by this accomptant
This accomptant desires allowance for the sum of £1. 8s. 6d being a debt due by the defunct for shoeing of horses etc due to Francis Hill and paid by this accomptant
Likewise allowance for £0. 13s. 8d due by the said defunct for shoeing of horses and other work to David Seaton and paid by this accomptant
This accomptant craves £1. 18s. 0d being a debt due to James Murtagh of Newtownforbes merchant by the defunct since his decease paid by this accomptant
Paid by this accomptant to John Farrell of Longford merchant £0. 8s. 10d due by the defunct
Paid by this accomptant to Patrick x the sum of £0. 4s. 2½ d due by the defunct
This accomptant desires an allowance for the sum of £2. 4s. 1d being a debt due to John Hudleston of Longford shoemaker for shoes etc for the children and paid by the accomptant
This accomptant desires an allowance for the sum of £0. 8s. 8d paid to James Donnely of Longford shoemaker for shoes for the children and paid by this accomptant
Paid the taylor for making the children's mouming £0. 16s. 0d.
Paid James Quin taylor for making cloaths for the children and furnishing necessaries £1. 19s 3½d.
Paid John Levy the sum of £0. 3s. 0d.
Paid country money £0. 2s. 8d.
Paid to Dodly McQue for wages due by the defunct £0. 10s. 0d.
Paid Edmond Mallen wages due by the defunct at his decease the sum of £0. 16s. 0d.
Paid Martha Shiply wages due by the defunct at his decease the sum of £0. 9s. 6d.
Paid the hatter for hats for the children of the defunct in his life time and paid since his decease by this accompt the sum of £0. 16s. 2d.
Paid in arrears of tithe due by the defunct £0. 9s. 6d.
Paid Mary Gallaway wages due by the defunct at his decease the sum of £1. 0s. 0d.
Paid curing of scabby horses £0. 7s. 4d.
This accomptant craves an allowance for a horse that died being part of the cattle in the inventory mentioned £0. 10s. 0d.
This accomptant desires an allowance for one horse that died since the death of the defunct being part of the inventory the sum of £3. 0s. 0d.
Bought by this accomptant muslin for cravats for the orphans which cost £1. 4s. 0d.
This accomptant desires an allowance for forty yards of linnin cloath for shirts for the orphans £2. 0s. 0d.
This accomptant desires an allowance for the following debts supposed to be insolvent and irrecoverable which when recovered she will accompt for:
Sums due by Mr Halbert Carrithers as accompt stated by Rev'd Benjamen Span of £14. 8s. 11½d.
Item due by note from one Jeremiah Ormsby the sum of £1. 0s. 0d.
Item due by a Bond of £10. 0s. 0d from Mr James Aghmuty.
Item due by note from Patrick McMahon the sum of £0. 10s. 10d.
Item due the balance of a Bond from David McGarry the sum of £2. 6s. 0d.
Total of the insolvent and supposed irrecoverable debts £28. 5s. 9½d.
This accomptant craves an allowance for a Lewisdeore (louis d'or) gave the sherriff also he took by goods of the defunct by a Fieri Facias at the suit of Mr Jessop £0. 18s. 6d (fieri facias: writ of execution directing the sheriff to levy from the goods and chattels of the debtor a sum equal to the amount of judgement debt and interest).
This accomptant desires allowance for a Lewisdeore gave Mr Donoghen for appraising the goods of the defunct the sum of £0. 18s. 6d.
This accomptant desires allowance for fees given to councillors on several occasions for or concerning the business of the defunct and the orphans £4. 5s. 6d.
Given by this accomptant to Mr Hanley for business done by him for benefit of orphans £0. 5s. 5d.
Due to the Rev'd Benjamen Span as vicar gentleman of the Diocese of Ardagh and to the Registrar of the said Diocese for the probate of the last Will and Testament of the defunct £2. 2s. 0d.
Due to the Judge and Register aforesaid for a commission to appraise the goods and chattels of the defunct the sum of £0. 13s. 4d.
Due for the Exemplification of the last Will and Testament of the deceased upon taking the original Will out of the Registry the sum of £2. 0s. 0d (exemplification: copy of document made under Seal of a Court or public functionary).
Expenses in sending a servant at two several times to Dublin upon occasion of the deceased's concerns and on account of the orphans £0. 10s. 0d.
This accomptant desires allowance for the sum of £10. 0s. 0d being truly expended and laid out on her going and continuence in Dublin being subpoened there by Mr Carrithers on an account of a pretended lease promised by the defunct as alleged.
This accomptant craves allowance for arrear of Tythe due in the year 1699 due to Mr Quin being threatened to be subpoened for the same £5. 5s. 0d.
Due to Mr Mulvacoy a hatter in Longford £0. 9s. 0d.
Paid a Proctor drawing and ingressing the inventory £0. 6s. 8d.
Paid for an authenick and attested copy of the inventory £0. 6s. 8d.
Paid drawing engressing and making up this accompt £0. 6s. 8d.
Paid a Proctor for a motion for the Exemplification of the Will £0. 3s. 4d.
Paid for the Quietus £0. 13s. 4d (discharge granted by the Crown to a person indebted to the Crown).
More to Councillor Gore for advise and a retaining fee in business relating to Mr Carrither's subpoena the sum of £0. 18s. 6d.
Paid for three wigs for the children the sum of £1. 1s. 6d.
Paid for five hats the sum of £0. 12s. 0d.
Paid for five suits of cloath for the children the sum of £6. 0s. 0d.
Paid for five pairs of shoes the sum of £0. 12s. 6d.
Paid for diet for half a year for the children in Longford and for schooling the sum of £8. 0s. 0d.
Agreement Ahmuty & Co and the EICO 1785
It is agreed this first day of December one thousand seven hundred and eighty five Between John Kingston of London merchant for and on behalf of Messrs Ahmuty and Company of the Island of Madeira merchants of the one part and The United Company of Merchants of England trading to the East Indies of the other part as follows that is to say the said John Kingston agrees that the said Messrs Ahmuty and Company shall sell and deliver to the said United Company at the Island of Madeira to be carried from thence to India one hundred and eighty pipes of the best Madeira Wine (being wine ordered near two years ago for the Bengal market and now in a perfect sound and good state) at and for the price of twenty seven pounds per pipe each pipe to contain one hundred and fifteen gallons of wine and the said pipes to be made of the best Hamburgh staves and to be properly ironbound and the said wine to be shipped and delivered on ship board to such of the said United Company's outward bound ships to India in the present season as they shall order to proceed to and touch at Madeira for the same and such shipping is to be at the proper costs and charges of the said Messrs Ahmuty and Company and no demand whatsoever to be made on the said United Company in respect of Shipping Charges or otherwise howsoever beyond the said price of seven pounds per pipe And further that the wine ordered for each ship shall be loaded and put on board such ship within eight working days next after such ships arrival at Madeira or in default thereof the said Messrs Ahmuty and Company shall pay damages to the said United Company at and after the rate of twenty pounds per day for every day such ship shall be detained for any part of such wine over and beyond the said eight working days And the said United Company do hereby agree that the said United Company shall purchase and take the said one hundred and eighty pipes of Madeira wine to be shipped as aforesaid on board some or one of their Outward bound ships for India which are to sail in the present season and shall pay for the same by Bills of Exchange to be drawn on the Court of Directors of the said Company at thirty days sight such Bills to be drawn as the said wine shall be shipped in each ship And it is hereby agreed between the said parties that in case upon the arrival of the said wine or any part thereof in India the said United Company's President and Council at the Residency for which the same shall be intended shall be of opinion that the said wine shall not be of such good quality as hereinbefore is mentioned and particularly of as sound and good quality as the Madeira wine usually sent to India by the said United Company it shall and may be lawful for them within two months after the ships arrival to refuse and reject the said wine and in that case the same shall forthwith afterwards be sold by Public Auction for the account of the said Messrs Ahmuty and Company and in case the same after deducting freight and all charges shall not produce in nett money the rate of twenty seven pounds per pipe computing the current Rupee of Bengal at exchange of twenty pence and the currency of any other settlement in the same proportion then the said Messrs Ahmuty & Company shall pay to the said United Company in England within thirty days after demand made on the said John Kingston his executors or administrators what the nett produce thereof shall be deficient of twenty seven pounds per pipe computing the exchange as aforesaid but in case the same shall produce in nett money after such deductions as aforesaid more than twenty seven pounds per pipe computing the exchange as aforesaid such profit shall be accounted for and paid by the said United Company in England to the said Messrs Ahmuty & Company within thirty days after demand on the Court of Directors of the said Company and in case of the said wine being disapproved of in India the leakage in the voyage shall be borne by the said Messrs Ahmuty and Company And for the true performance of the Agreements aforesaid the said John Kingston doth hereby bind himself to the said United Company in the sum of five thousand pounds and the said United Company do bind themselves to the said John Kingston in the like sum of five thousand pounds by these presents.
In Witness whereof Thomas Morton Esquire by order of the Court of Directors of the said Company and the said John Kingston have hereunto interchangeably set their hands and Seals the day and year first above written sealed and delivered being first duly stamped in the presence of x
Appointment of John Ahmuty 1780
George the Third by the grace of God, King of Great Britain, France and Ireland, Defender of the Faith etc:
To our trusty and well beloved John Ahmuty, Gent, Greeting: we do by these presents, constitute and appoint you to be Lieutenant in Capt___'s Royal Volunteer Company to be raised for the Defence of our County of Middlesex & City and Liberty of Westminster but not to take Rank in our Army except during the time of the said Companies being called out into actual service. You are therefore carefully and diligently to discharge the duty of Lieutenant by exercising and well disciplining both the inferior Officers and Soldiers of that Company and we do hereby command them to obey you as their Lieutenant and you are to observe and follow such Orders and Directions from time to time as you shall receive from your Captain or any other your Superior Officer according to the Rules and Discipline of War in pursuance of the Trust hereby reposed in you.
Given at our Court of St James's the second day of February 1780 in the twentieth year of our Reign. By His Majesty's Command signed Hillsborough.
Anne Auchmuty A Curious Case of Seduction 1828
The magistrates of the head police office in Dublin were occupied for a considerable time on Saturday in the investigation of a very singular charge of seduction preferred by a decent-looking old man named Auchmuty, a servant out of place, against a gentleman named F who resides near Harold’s Cross and who is the agent of one of the numerous Bible and Tract Societies who hold their offices in Upper Sackville Street. The summons issued on the occasion required the attendance of the accused in order to show cause why informations should not be taken against him for having seduced and taken away from her mistress Mrs B of Harold’s Cross Bridge, the daughter of the Complainant Anne Auchmuty, whom the accused was required at his peril to produce before the magistrates.
In obedience to this summons, Mr F accompanied by his fair enamorata, attended at the office shortly after 12 o’clock and were ushered into the waiting room until the magistrates had disposed of some business then before them. Miss Auchmuty is an interesting looking girl of seventeen with jet black eyes and rosy cheeks. Her fine dark hair was most tastefully arranged in ringlets which rested with peculiar grace on a bosom of snowy whiteness. As she sat in the waiting room bathed in tears which her particularly awkward and embarassing situation caused to flow in abundance, she appeared to be an object of the deepest interest and commiseration; and to those who would be inclined to make allowances for human fraility, it may not be a matter of astonishment that in the admiration of her charms even a ‘saint’ had turned sinner. During her sojourn in the vestry room, Mr F paid her the most marked attention and was anxiously engaged in soothing her affliction; but all communication was prevented between her and her father who was very indignant at the prohibition and spoke of it to every person whom he met in no very measured phrase.
At one o’clock the parties were summoned to the boardroom and the case was called on. A professional gentleman who appeared as counsel for Mr F spoke for a few minutes in a low tone to the magistrates when Mr Tudor inquired if any persons were present but those immediately concerned; he added that the magistrates had determined to hold a private investigation and no reporter could be permitted to remain in the room. He therefore requested that if any gentleman connected with the press was present, that he would withdraw. In consequence of this order our reporter left the board-room. It may perhaps not be inapposite here to remark that the practice of secret investigations has in great measure been abandoned in England and in two remarkable instances recently Sir Richard Birnie peremptorily refused to yield to the earnest entreaties of persons high in rank and station who would have him turn Bow Street police offfice into a snug little Star Chamber. Sir Richard Birnie stated on those occasions that secret examinations were unknown to the English law.
In consequence of the exclusion of our Reporter we are of course unable to state what took place during the investigation but the following curious particulars regarding the affair have reached us:-
the complainant and his daughter resided in the house of Mr F a short time since as servants; in consequence of certain circumstances which came to his knowledge regarding his daughter and her master, Auchmuty withdrew her from his service and obtained for her the situation of housemaid in the family of Mrs B in the same neighbourhood. But the change did not terminate the acquaintance of Mr F and Miss Auchmuty; they were frequently seen conversing together whenever an opportunity permitted; and the father’s vigilance failed completely in keeping them asunder, so fondly were they attached. Nothing remarkable, however, occurred until the night of the eleventh inst when Mrs B who slept in a room over the kitchen was alarmed by the sound of voices proceeding from that quarter. She immediately arose and armed with a washing beetle, the only weapon of defence she could at the moment procure, she descended to the kitchen where she encounted Mr F who was hastily making his exit. Mrs B upbraided him with his conduct; he could not, she said be secretly in her house at such an hour for any proper purpose; and by way of giving additional force to her censure, she applied the beetle to his head. If Mr F was in a hurry before, his speed was now doubly increased; and before Mrs B could come up, he succeeded in making his escape by the back door and over the garden wall not however without the loss of a fashionable wig, which although not yet arrived at the grand climateric, the premature loss of his hair has obliged him to wear.
The circumstances above detailed, formed we understand, the ground of the Complainant. With the nature of the defense or the decision, we are for reason we have stated, wholly unacquainted – Dublin Newspaper.
The Times Saturday 1 November 1828
Bill of Complaint dated 17 December 1790
To the Rt Hon Edward Lord Thurlow, Baron Thurlow of Ashfield county of Suffolk, Lord High Chancellor of Great Britain.
Humbly complaining James Cole of Chelsea, Middx esquire show unto your Lordship as their next Friend your Orator and Oratrixes infants under the age of twenty one years that is to say John Townly Ahmuty aged ten years, Letitia Maria Ahmuty aged eleven years and Katharine Constantia Ahmuty aged six years.
and that Katharine Anderson a widow late of Wanstead in the county of Essex now deceased the grandmother of your Orator and Oratrixes was in her life time and at the time of her death possessed of or intitled unto a considerable personal estate and being so possessed or intitled she duly signed and published her last Will dated 12 August 1790.
and that Maria Elizabeth Amuty the mother of the three children and daughter of the late Katherine Anderson duly proved her mother's Will and as executrix was empowered to transfer the £4400, £1100 and £6000 consolidated bank annuities into the names of herself, John Anderson, Westgarth Snaith and Lawrence Holker as trustees and to apply the interest and dividends for the maintenance and education of her three children.
and that the trustees have declined to do so as they believe they cannot act with safety in the trusts vested in them without direction of this Court due to the clause in the said Will that a suit be instituted in the High Court of Chancery for the children to be made Wards of Court and their respective fortunes to be under the care and direction of the Court during their minorities.
Now may it please your Lordship the premises considered to grant unto your Orator and Oratrixes his Majesty's most gracious writ or writs of subpoena to be directed to the said Maria Elizabeth Ahmuty, John Anderson, Westgarth Snaith and Lawrence Holker hereby commanding them and every of them at a certain day to appear before your Lordship in this honourable Court then and there to answer to all and singularly the premises and to perform and abide such order direction and decree therein as to your Lordship shall seem meet And your Orator and Oratrixes shall ever pray etc.
The Reponse dated 3 February 1791
The joint and several answers of Maria Elizabeth Ahmuty, John Anderson, Westgarth Snaith and Lawrence Holker the defendants to the Bill of Complaint brought by James Cole esquire the next Friend of John Townly Ahmuty, Letitia Maria Ahmuty and Katharine Constantia Ahmuty infants under the age of twenty one years.
These defendants saving and reserving at all times their rights as if only speaking for himself and herself now do severally answer and say that Katharine Anderson deceased named in the said complainants Bill did duly make and publish her last Will and Testament in writing in such or like words and figures as stated although these defendants for their greater certainty crave leave to refer thereto when the same be produced.
They further severally also admit that the said testatrix departed this life on or about the twenty fifth day of September 1790 without having revoked or altered her Will and that the defendant Maria Elizabeth Ahmuty upon or soon after the death of her late mother duly proved the said Will in the Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury and took upon herself the execution thereof. The defendant Maria Elizabeth Ahmuty admits that she hath possessed the personal estate and effects of the said testatrix to considerable amount in the whole and more than sufficient for payment of all the said debts, legacies and funeral and testamentary expenses.
These defendants further severally say they are willing to act in the trusts vested in them by the said Will in such manner as this honourable Court shall direct being indemnified by the Court in so doing and being paid their costs and with no other matter to answer in the said Bill of Complaint now humbly pray to be hence dismissed.
Biography of Richard Brydges Beechey 1808-1895
This officer born 17 May 1808 entered the Royal Naval College 1 March 1821 and embarked in June 1822 as First Class Vol on board the Espiegle 18, Capt Henry Theodosius Brown Collier on the Home station. He next joined the Owen Glendower 42, Capt Hon Sir Robert Cavendish Spencer, employed on a Particular Service and Seringapatam 46, Capt Samuel Warren in the West Indies. On 2 April 1823 he rejoined Sir R.C Spencer as Midshipman in the Naiad 46. In that frigate Mr Beechey served in 1824 at the blockade of Algiers and while on the coast of Barbary took part in several boat expeditions especially in the cutting out of a vessel laden with grain from under the forts of Bona. He next became attached for passage home to the Phaeton 42, Capt Henery Evelyn Pitfield Sturt and in March 1825 joined the Blossom 24 commanded by his brother Capt Frederick William Beechey with whom he proceeded on a voyage of discovery to the Pacific and thence to Bering Strait for the purpose of cooperating in the Polar expeditions of Capts Parry and Franklin.
On his return to England Mr Beechey was promoted immediately upon passing his examination into the Madagascar 46, Capt Sir R.C Spencer on the Mediterranean station 15 Sept 1828. After a short servitude on board the Aetna bomb, Capt Stephen Lushington he was further appointed 1 May 1829 to the Belvidera 46, Capt Hon Richard Saunders Dundas on the Home station and on 2 April 1831 to the Curacoa 24, Capt David Dunn forming one of an experimental squadron. He was invalided soon afterwards but taking part in 1835 in the Survey of Ireland, he continued to be employed on that service latterly with his name on the books of the Tartarus steam vessel Capts Horation Thomas Austin and James Wolfe until advanced to the rank he now holds 31 March 1846.
Commander Beechey married Frideswide Maria Moore eldest daughter of Robert Smyth esq of Portlick Castle, Westmeath.
Naval Biographical Dictionary by William O'Bryne.
Biography of Robert Ross Ahmuty 1789-1844
This officer entered the Navy 30 January 1808 as Third-class Boy on board the Dictator 64, Capt Donald Campbell; attained the rating of Midshipman the 6 March following and continued to serve in the Baltic until transferred in March 1809 with the same Captain to the Audacious 74 one of the ships employed in the ensuing expedition against Flushing. After further participating in the cooperations with the British army in the Tagus, Mr Achmuty in November 1811 joined the Warrior 74, Capts Hon Geo Byng and John Tremayne Rodd under the former of whom we find him escorting the Prince of Orange to Holland in Nov 1813 and in the year following a fleet of merchantmen to the West Indies. He then next served between July 1815 and March 1817 as Acting Lieutenant on the latter station of the Sabine 16, Capts Wm Hall and A Campbell and the Briseis 10, Capt Geo Domett; then returned home in the Lady Hamilton transport and was subsequently attached for short periods as Admiralty-Midshipman to the Blossom 20, Capt Fred Hickey and the Hyacinth 20, Capt Alex Renton Sharpe on the Brazilian station; and again as Acting-Lieutenant to the Salisbury 58, flag ship in the West Indies of Rear Admiral Donald Campbell where he was officially promoted to the Raleigh 18, Capts Wm Augustus Baumgardt and Geo Blackman 13 July 1819.
Mr Achmuty returned to England and was paid off towards the close of 1821 from which period he remained on half-pay until appointed 27 December 1841 Admiralty-Agent in a Contract Mail Steam-vessel. In this capacity he appears to have been employed until the date of his death 30 December 1844. He was the son of Robt Achmuty Esq of Dublin; grandson (sic) of the late Thos Achmuty of Brianstown, co Longford and a near relative of Lieut-General the gallant Sir Sam Auchmuty GCB.
He married 27 August 1822 Alicia Jane the eldest daughter of Arthur Auchmuty Esq M.D of Kilmore House, Roscommon, a magistrate for that county, by whom he has left issue. Agents - Halett and Robinson.
Naval Biographical Dictionary by William O'Bryne.
Cobbe Family
Charles Cobbe 1686-1765 the Archbishop of Dublin who started the construction of Newbridge House at Donabate, Dublin married Dorothea Levinge daughter of Sir Richard Levinge and their son Thomas Cobbe 1733-1814 married Lady Elizabeth Beresford the daughter of Marcus the 1st Earl of Tyrone and sister of George Beresford the 1st Marquis of Waterford.
Their son Charles Cobbe 1753-1798 mentioned by Thomas Ahmuty in his Will married Ann Power Trench the sister of William Trench the 1st Earl of Clancarty whose son Richard the 2nd Earl married Henrietta the daughter of John Staples 1736-1820; he was the brother of Mary Staples 1738-1781 the first wife of Thomas Ahmuty.
Of their five sons Charles Cobbe 1781-1857 joined the army served in India and in 1805 returned to Bath; in 1809 he married Frances Conway and their daughter Frances Power Cobbe was the noted social writer and feminist.
Members of the Cobbe family were listed in Bath Street Directories living at 9 and later at 22 Marlborough Buildings and from recorded transcripts of headstones at All Saints Church, Weston Bath:
Thomas Cobbe of Newbridge co Dublin died 11 March 1814 aged 81 and his wife the Right Hon Lady Elizabeth Cobbe died 6 May 1806 aged 69. Charles Cobbe died 9 July 1798 aged 45 and his wife Ann died 18 December 1835 aged 79. Their son Henry William Cobbe died 23 March 1825 aged 37.
Thomas Ahmuty married Alice Frideswide Moore In 1782 and from the Poor Rate Books lived at 22 Royal Crescent and after his marriage to Caroline Cavendish in 1792 lived at 19 Marlborough Buildings until he died in 1801; he was listed in Robbin’s Directory for the year 1800 in which the Editor published:
Of the utility of the following work it may be perhaps be considered as unnecessary to say much since this must be sufficiently obvious to any one who will barely glimpse at its contents. The population of Bath has of late years so much increased; its trade has been so much augmented; and its intercourse with every part of the kingdom so considerably extended that a Local Directory appears to be absolutely necessary, for the convenience not only of its inhabitants, but of the public at large. Under this impression the editor prepared the Book now presented to the public; and as it has been compiled with all that accuracy, which a Personal Survey of the city may be expected to ensure, he has every hope that it will meet with general approbation This indeed he requests may be received as an apology for the delay which has occurred in the publication of His Directory; as after repeated trials he found, if he wished it to be Useful and Compleat, it would be necessary for him to collect all the information Himself as endless omissions and mistakes were discovered in the lists of others employed for that purpose. That this should protract the time of publication may be easily imagined; but few can conceive the additional labour and perplexity which it also occasioned to the editor. Should the public however discover that utility in his work, which he is willing to think it possess himself, he will by no means consider his pains as unrewarded or his time expended in vain - Bath 28th May 1800.
The Royal Crescent in Bath.
Until the decline of Bath’s popularity early in the nineteenth century, the Royal Crescent was a fashionable and popular promenade. On fine days both residents and visitors took gentle exercise along its curved pavement and at weekends during the season it was thronged with well dressed strollers. It was a colourful scene; smart barouches clattered over the cobbled roadway, haughty gentlemen on splendid horses trotted slowly by, elegantly garbed women chatted with friends or walked serenly on the arms of their escorts. It was a provincial microcosm of Hyde Park, Rotten Row and Kensington Gardens and Fanny Sage knew it well. She knew many of the promenaders and must certainly have been aware of a titled lady who was fregently the cynosure of all eyes; her name was Lady Betty Cobbe who should not really concern us here because she was not a resident of the Crescent; she lived at No 22 Marlborough Buildings . . The story of Lady Betty is told by her great grand-daughter Miss Frances Power Cobbe in a fascinating autobiography published early in this century. Miss Cobbe was born in 1822 and was a frequent visitor to Bath throughout her long life. Her mother had spent much of her childhood at No 29 the Crescent, then the home of Colonel and Mrs Champion and was virtually their adopted daughter. She told Miss Cobbe that in this beautiful house towards the end of the eighteenth century most of Bath’s fashionable society met regularly; Mrs Champion’s Wednesday evening parties were famous. The Colonel was a great friend of Warren Hastings and had served as Commander in Chief of the troops of the East India Company and No 29 was filled with exotic furnishings and objects from the subcontinent; according to a cynical observer at the time, he had enjoyed ‘a good shake of the Pagoda tree’.
A Fragment of English Life by William Lowndes.
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Criminal Conversation William Lambe 2nd Viscount Melbourne
And while in Ireland he had made the acquaintance of a certain Lady Branden the wife of an Irish peer in holy orders. Nothing is known of her beyond the fact that she was young, lovely and that she lived apart from her husband. Melbourne spent almost every evening with her when in Dublin; in the following year she settled in London where he continued to visit her. In the summer of 1828 trouble began to raise its head. If scandal was to be believed the Reverend Lord Branden was not a credit to his cloth. It was rumoured he had written to Lady Branden alleging that he had got some compromising evidence about her relations with Melbourne but that he would overlook the matter if she would persuade her lover to get him made a bishop. Lady Branden very properly rejected this unseemly proposal. Accordingly in the summer of 1829 Lord Branden brought an action. When it came into court however Melbourne turned out to have little to worry about. All the evidence Lord Branden could produce was first that Lord Melbourne had sent Lady Branden some grapes and pineapples and secondly that a gentleman alleged to be Melbourne had been seen leaving her house in Lisson Grove in the early hours of the morning. This was not much; it proved to be even less when the only witness who professed to have seen the gentleman in question said that he was short whereas Melbourne was unusually tall. ‘Pray call someone who will prove something to the purpose’ said the judge testily. ‘You must get him a good deal nearer than this. You have not got him to the lady's house yet’; while the Attorney-General remarked facetiously that if there was any suspicion it attached to the short gentleman. The case was dismissed.
The truth about the matter will never be known for certain, it is possible that Lord Branden had more ground for his suspicions than he was able to justify. It is significant that in his will Melbourne left annuities to two ladies with whom his name had been connected Lady Branden and Mrs. Norton; but whereas he categorically stated in the will that there had been no guilty connection between himself and Mrs Norton, he made no similar statement about his relations with Lady Branden. He made Lady Branden an allowance of £1000 a year which he bequeathed to her after his death and he kept sufficiently in touch with her to be worried five years later because he had not heard from her for some months. But she had before this ceased to play an important part in his life.
Melbourne by David Cecil.
The Foundling burial ground of St George the Martyr
St George’s Gardens two and half acres in extent situated at the rear of the Foundling Hospital between Gray's Inn Road and Judd Street were formerly the burial grounds belonging to St George the Martyr, Holborn and St George, Bloomsbury. According to a deed executed on 12th August 1713 we find that the Commissioners appointed under Queen Anne's Act for building fifty new churches with churchyards in and about the cities of London and Westminster by means of a duty on coals, under the powers invested in them, purchased on 8th July 1713 the piece of ground referred to above. Of the three acres then purchased, one acre and a quarter was set apart to serve as a burial ground for St George-the-Martyr: a further piece of the same size being held in reserve to serve as a burial ground for another parish, and subsequently assigned to the Parish of St George's, Bloomsbury whilst the remainder was set apart to form the approach to the new grounds and is now known as Prospect Terrace, Gray's Inn Road. This approach became somewhat famous on account of a rector of St George the Martyr having endeavoured to dispose of it for building purposes and in this he would probably had been successful had it not been for the opposition of the St Pancras Vestry.
Clauses in the deed specially referring to the purchase of the ground and of this approach read as follows:
The said Commissioners so appointed as aforesaid, and Five or more of them, by virtue and in Further pursuance of the said severall recited Acts of Parliament, have bought and purchased of and from Henry Proctor, of Hemell hempsted, in the County of hertford practitioner in physick a piece or parcell of ground situate lying and being in the hamlett or Inship of the pinder of Wakefield in the parish of St Pancras in the said County of middlesex contayning three Acres be the same more or less now or late in the occupation of one Richard Gray for the making two Church yards or Cemetrys for the buryall of the dead, one Whereof contayning one Acre and a quarter or a little more part thereof lying Southward is and is intended to be laid to the said New Chappell called St Georges Chapell and the other containing likewise near one other acre and a quarter other part of the said one acre and a quarter other part, of the said three acres, and Iying on the North side of the said piece or parcell of ground is intended to be appropriated For some new church, intended to be erected and Which shall hereafter be appointed and declared by the said Commission or Five or more of them pursuant to the said Acts of parliament and the remaining part of the said three Acres contayning near half an Acre is to remain and be For an open Way to the said two Church yards respectively as the same is more plainly set Forth and described in the plann scheme on ground plott to the deeds of purchase or conveyance thereof.
St Pancras Open Spaces & Disused Burial Grounds by Walter E Brown 1911.
Gaiety Theatre Rosie Boote and her song ‘Maisie’
At the old Gaiety in the Strand the chorus was becoming a matrimonial agency for girls with ambitions to marry into the peerage and began in the nineties when Connie Gilchrist a star of the Old Gaiety married the Earl of Orkney and then in 1901 the Marquess of Headfort married Rosie Boote who had charmed London the previous year when she sang Maisie in The Messenger Boy. After Connie Gilchrist and Rosie Boote had started the fashion a score of the Guv'nor's budding stars left him to marry peers or men of title while other Gaiety Girls settled for a banker or a stockbroker. The Guv’nor finding this was playing ducks and drakes with his theatrical plans had a 'nuptial clause' inserted in every contract. When George Edwardes heard that a certain Gaiety Girl had been led to the altar he burst out: 'It's ingratitude, sheer ingratitude! I've done everything for her, taught her to pick up her aitches, clean her fingernails, had her teeth looked to, her appendix removed, her hair dyed, dressed her from her underclothes to her boots and now when she looks like making good, she marries!’ Debutantes were competing with the other girls to get into the Gaiety chorus while upper-class youths were joining the ranks of the chorus boys. Soon after the accession of George V two immaculate chorus boys were chatting together on stage before the curtain went up. ‘I wonder is dear old George in front tonight’ said one of them. The stage manager GM Salter overheard them; shocked by their impertinence he said pompously ‘I must ask you to remember that when you have occasion to refer to Mr George Edwardes in this theatre, you must refer to him as Mister George Edwardes and in no other manner’. ‘Oh, I was talking about the King, old boy’ drawled the chorister.
The Gaiety Years by Alan Hyman.
Sung by Rosie Boote in The Messenger Boy.
Maisie is a daisy, Maisie is a dear
For the boys are made about her
And they can't get on without her
And they all cry 'Whoops!' when Maisie's getting near
The Edwardian Theatre by J C Trewin.
Indenture dated 1 May 1696
This Indenture witnesseth that I Arthur Aghmuty esq for the yearely rents and covenantes hereafter mentioned hath demized sell and to farme sell unto Ralph Foster, William Moffet, John Rawlins, James White and William Morray the two cartrons of the Lower Killmore now lyeing and being betweene Foyoges and the Upper Killmore in the County and Barrony of Longford for the tyme terme and space of sixteene yeares commencing the first day of May in the yeare of our Lord God one thousand six hundred ninety and six to have and to hold unto them the s’d Ralph Foster, William Moffet, John Rawlins, James White and William Morray theyre heires or assignes for theyre propper use and behoofe they yeildeing and payeing theyre rent yearely for the first three yeares and every yeare of the afores’d three yeares the sume of tenn poundes sterling for each cartron and for the next ensueing twellve yeares of the s’d terme they are to pay yearely and for every yeare for each cartron eleven pounds sterling and for the last yeare of the s’d terme they are to pay tenn poundes tenn shillings sterling for each cartron and the s’d yearely rents to be payde at two equall moyeties or termes of payment viz at x or ye first day of November the other moyetie at or upon the first day of May yearely and if it happen that any parte of the s’d rent or rents be behinde or unp’d at the s’d termes or dayes of payment afores’d or within fourteene dayes after that then it shall be lawfull for the s’d Arthur Aghmuty esq his heires executors or assignes into the s’d demized premisses to enter or any parte thereof and distrayne and the distresses there found to leade drive and carry away and thereof to dispose according to law and if it shall happen that noe sufficient distresses can be had or found in or upon the s’d premisses that then and from hence forth it shall be lawfull for the s’d Arthur Aghmuty esq his heires executors or assignes to re enter into all and singular the s’d demized premisses and the same to repossesse and x as his or theyre former estate they the s’d Ralph Foster, William Moffet, John Rawlins, James White and William Morray payeing all country taxes and charges whatsoever which shall become due upon the s’d lands dureing the s’d terme Kings Rent onely exception and during the s’d terme shall keepe in sufficient repayre the buildings or ediffices which and or shall be buillt thereon and at the end of the s’d terme leave them x x and tennentable and then yeilde up the quiett and peaceable possesion thereof and alsoe dureing the s’d terme shall grind all theyre corne grayne and grice at the mill or mills of within the Mannor of Castleforbes and yearely come with men and horses and assist in repayreing the s’d mill damm and alsoe do suite and service at the Courte Leete and Court Barron within the s’d Mannor of Castleforbes as shall of them be reasonably demanded and alsoe that the s'd Ralph Foster, William Moffet, John Rawlins, James White and William Morray or any of them shalle not sell theyre interest without lycence from the s’d Arthur Aghmuty esq his heires or assignes under his or theyre hand and sealle first had and x And lastly the s’d Arthur Aghmuty esq for himselfe his heires executors and assignes doth promise and agree with the s’d Ralph Foster, William Moffet, John Rawlins, James White and William Morray theyre heires or assignes performeing the covenantes herein contayned that they shall at all tymes hereafter during the s’d terme quietly and peaceably x and possesse the s’d premisses without any trouble from or by the s’d Arthur Aghmuty esq his heires executors or assignes from him or them or theyre x or consent In witness whereof the s’d Ralph Foster, William Moffet, John Rawlins, James White and William Morray have interchangeably set theyre hands and seales this first day of May one thousand six hundred ninety and six being present at signeing sealeing and delivery.
Indenture between John Ahmuty and George Errington 1783
Registered at 12 the 10th July 1783 upon the oath of Chas Whishaw sworn before R F Lee
An Indenture of Assignment bearing date the twenty fourth day of June in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and eighty two made between John Ahmuty of the Inner (sic) Temple London Esquire of the one part and George Errington of Lincolns Inn in the county of Middlesex Esquire of the other part Whereby the said John Ahmuty in consideration of the sum of six hundred pounds to him in hand paid by the said George Errington did assign to the said George Errington all and singular the piece or parcel of ground and premises situate in the parish of Saint Martin in the Fields in the said county of Middlesex mentioned and described in an Indenture of Lease tripartite bearing date the fifth day of July one thousand seven hundred and sixty nine and made between the Right Honorable Charles Spencer Esquire (brother of the most noble George Duke of Marlborough) and Sir Philip Musgrave of Hartley Castle in the county of Westmorland Baronet trustees of the estate of the most noble George Duke of Saint Albans of the first part John Adams of Maryburgh in Kinrosshire North Britain Robert Adam and William Adam both of the parish of Saint George Hanover Square in the county of Middlesex aforesaid Esquires of the second part and James Adam of the said parish of Saint George Hanover Square Esquire of the third part a memorial whereof was registered on the tenth day of July one thousand seven hundred and sixty nine (B4 No 336) To hold to the said George Errington his ex’ors adm’ors and assigns for all the residue and remainder then to come and unexpired of the term of ninety eight years by the above mentioned Indenture of Lease demised subject to the rent and covenants in the said Indenture of Lease contained which said Indenture of Assignment is witnessed by Tobias Stapleton of Clements Inn in the county of Middlesex Gentleman and Charles Whishaw of Grays Inn in the said county of Middlesex gentleman and is hereby required to be registered by the said John Ahmuty As Witness his hand and seal this ninth day of July one thousand seven hundred and eighty three John Ahmuty (ls) Signed and Sealed in the presence of Tobias Stapleton and Chas Whishaw.
Indenture between Margaret Sophia Ahmuty and John Kingston 1800
Registered at 12 the 3rd February 1800 upon the oath of F Luard sworn before J Rigge
An Indenture bearing date the thirty first day of January in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred (endorsed upon an indenture of lease bearing date the thirty first day of May one thousand seven hundred and ninety eight and made between Thomas x of Newman Street in the parish of Saint Marylebone in the county of Middlesex carpenter of the one part and Margaret Sophia Ahmuty of Russell Place in the parish of Saint Pancras in the said county widow of the other part) whereby the said Margaret Sophia Ahmuty did assign to John Kingston of New Broad Street in the city of London and Joseph Crump of the same place merchants and carpenters all and singular the premises in said indenture of lease mentioned and contained situate in the parish of Saint Marylebone otherwise Marybone aforesaid and more particularly described in a memorial of the said indenture of lease registered on the seventh day of June one thousand seven hundred and ninety eight (B2 No 622) To hold to the said John Kingston and Joseph Crump their ex’ors admin’ors and assigns for the remainder of the term by the above mentioned indenture of lease granted subject to the rent and covenants in the said indenture of lease granted subject to the rent and covenants in the said indenture of lease contained which said indentures now about to be registered as to the execution thereof by the said Margaret Sophia Ahmuty is witnessed by Francis Luard of Grays Inn Place in the county of Middlesex gentleman and Esther Shaw of the same place spinster and is hereby required to be registered by the said Margaret Sophia Ahmuty As Witness her hand and seal M S Ahmuty (ls) signed and sealed in the presence of Esther Shaw, F Luard.
Notices of bankruptcy Christopher Rigbye Ahmuty 1862
Late of No 108 Regent Street in the county of Middlesex and now a prisoner for debt in the Queen's Prison in the county of Surrey having been adjudged bankrupt by a Registrar of the Court of Bankruptcy in London attending at the Queen's Prison on the 18th day of January 1862 and the adjudication being directed to be prosecuted at the Court of Bankruptcy in London aforesaid, is hereby required to surrender himself to Henry Philip Roche esq a Registrar of the said Court at the first meeting of creditors to be held before the said Registrar on the 14th day of February next at eleven o'clock in the forenoon precisely at the said Court, Mr William Bell of No 3 Coleman street buildings is the Official Assignee and Mr Aldridge of Moorgate street the Solicitor acting in the Bankruptcy
The Gazette 31 January 1862
Notice of Bankrupts Adjudications & First Meeting of Creditors:
Late of Regent Street Feb 14 at 11 Sol. Mr Aldridge, Moorgate St offi. assig. Mr Bell, Coleman Street Buildings
The Times 1 February 1862
Obituary of Rose Boote 1878-1958
Rose Lady Headfort widow of the fourth Marquess of Headfort died at home in London at the age of eighty years on the 17h August 1958 At the turn of the century she was the toast of the town when as Miss Rosie Boote she had a brief but eminently successful stage career at the old Gaiety Theatre. She was bom at Tipperary the daughter of a gentleman of independent means and she worked her way up to stardom from the ranks of the chorus which she joined at the Gaiety during the run of The Shop Girl in 1895. Her delightful appearance, her charrn both as a singer and a dancer and her readiness to take on any amount of hard work brought her quickly to the notice of George Edwardes of whose company she was a member for the whole of her theatrical career. When The Runaway Girl was presented at the Gaiety in 1898 Rosie Boote became one of the principals in the part of Marietta the flower girl. Then in 1900 came her great chance when she played the part of Isabel Blyth in The Messenger Boy in which she was entrusted with the main song of the show Maisie for which Lionel Monckton had composed the music. She retired from the stage when she married the fourth Marquess of Headfort in 1901 and she never sought to return to it although she continued to take a lively interest in affairs of the theatre. There were two sons and a daughter of the marriage and the elder son is the present Lord Headfort.
The Times 18 August 1958.
Obituary of Richard Brydges Beechey 1808-1895
Portsmouth, Monday: The death is announced at Southsea of Admiral Richard Bridges (sic) Beechey, son of the late Sir William Beechey of the Royal Academy. The deceased officer who retired as a captain in 1870 for some time lived at Plymouth and afterwards moved to Portland-terrace, Southsea where he pursued with remarkable success his father's art as a painter; several of his pictures hang at Osborne and in the Jubilee year he was commissioned by the officers of the Royal yacht to paint a sea piece for presentation to her Majesty. In spite of his being eighty-six years of age, his name was recently mentioned as a probable successor to Sir Oswald Bayenly as marine painter to the Queen but he was in very indifferent health and shortly before Christmas he suffered so much from weak action of the heart that his relatives were summoned to his bedside. He however rallied and though feeble from old age he regained some amount of strength. The prolonged frost proved a severe trial to him but he escaped the epidemic of influenza and died Friday from heart affection accelerated by his advanced age. Admiral Beechey joined the navy as a cadet in March 1821 and three years later served as a midshipman in the Naiad at the blockage of Algiers and in several boat and cutting-out expeditions. He also served in the Blossom in a voyage of discovery to the Pacific and twice visited Behring Strait for the purpose of co-operating in the Polar expeditions of Captains Parry and Franklin.
Naval and Military Record 14 March 1895.
Queen Square in the Eighteenth Century
Queen Square was in the middle of its fashionable and social hey-day. It was probably faithfully represented in the water-colour drawing by Dayes, the subject of an aquatint by Pollard and Dodd. In this picture the dull and stately effect of the masses of buildings as they appeared in 1785 is relieved by some groups of people and animals in the foreground. We see an elderly man with a charming daughter on his arm being importuned on one side by a little beggar boy and on the other by a flower-seller with a baby. Close by two gallants are apparently trying to make use of the incident to get on further terms with the family party. There are also a brewer's dray, a laundryman, a blind beggar and his dog and a butcher's boy. Wigs, three-cornered hats, voluminous skirts, tight trousers and stockings, picture the costumes of the day and the promenaders step gingerly over the cobblestones with all the leisureliness of the period
An advertisement published in the Morning Post of 2-6 June 1780:
By Mr Skinner on Wednesday the 28th June at Garraway's Coffee House, Change Alley at 12 o'clock in nine lots: a most Eligible Freehold Estate comprising all the ground rents of these nineteen capital houses which form the West Side of Oueen Square, Bloomsbury, and four others in Brunswick Row adjoining, together with the indisputable sole right of Queen Square itself (within the rails) with every advantage to be derived from the freehold property therein, clear of any grant or privilege whatever. Also seven spacious valuable houses on the West Side of Great Ormonde Street with extensive gardens consisting of that in the possession of the Right Hon the Lord Chancellor, and the six adjoining, now on ground-rent leases for short terms, on the expiration of which the premises will become the absolute improved property of the purchasers, the present ground-rents near £500 per annum exclusive of the yearly value of the Square. Printed particulars may soon be seen at Mr. Skinner's (Aldersgate Street) or the whole may be purchased by private contract.
During the Gordon Riots trouble came near but not quite into Queen Square and the Recorder of London wrote to Lord Hillsborough, Secretary of State for the Southern Division in an undated letter:
Mr Sergeant Adair presents his respects to the Earl of Hillsborough and acquaints him that the mob are beginning to assemble with colours flying in Bloomsbury Square. The force the Sergeant mentioned will be absolutely necessary for the sure protection of Ormond Street, Queen Square and the neighbouring Streets
It is understood that when Queen Square was first designed those who were responsible for the lay-out had in their minds a kind of town planning scheme in which there would be a chain of similar open spaces extending in the direction of Highgate. This excellent scheme was frustrated by the narrow vision of the ground landlord or landlords of Queen Square for at a special court of the Foundling Hospital held on the 26th January 1781, a plan prepared by Mr Merryweather, which an account of the Foundling Hospital 1796 says possessed considerable merit was adopted for the proposed buildings; in which the opening of Queen Square 'though with some diminution in the amount of the expected ground-rents, was proposed to be continued of the same width over the estate; a benefit which after every effort of persuasion the proprietors of that Square have declined to accept.' We learn from the account that the subject had been broached before. The refusal of the ground landlord of Queen Square to consent to the union of that Square with the Foundling Estate was reported to the General Court in March 1793; when an advantageous proposal being made for the ground lying north of Queen Square, and a meeting of the inhabitants of the Square, in consequence of a message from the building committee, having produced no alteration of opinion or inclination on the subject, the ground was at length let to Mr Burton, on a plan as favourable as well could be, to the adjoining Square
This chapter concludes with a realistic passage from Mr Bedford's history of St George the Martyr:
In those early days, the coffee houses in Great Ormond Street were thronged with fashionable gentlemen, bewigged, and silk stockinged, wearing sword, and bearing cane and snuff-box: then hardly an evening in the week Sundays included but to the great scandal of decent folk, sedan chairs and link men waited outside the houses in Queen Square for the ladies and gentlemen enjoying rout and card party within. These were the days when smartly dressed ladies and their beaus promenaded in Queen Square garden or rumbled over the cobble paved streets in their chariots.
Queen Square, Its Neighbourhood & Its Institutions
by Geoffrey Heathcote Hamilton
Smith, Payne & Smith the Bankers of Thomas A S Ahmuty
This banking firm was first found in the London Directory in the year 1759 when its style was Smith and Payne carrying on their business near Coleman Street, Lothbury. The same authority shows us that in I766 they had removed to 18 Lombard Street. Before particularising the various changes that have occurred therein from time to time, I will give verbatim an interesting and lively account of this great-house supplied by Mr F Martin in his Stories of Banks and Bankers of the old banking establishment of Smith of Nottingham now merged in the well-known firm of Smith, Payne and Co of Lombard Street.
Smith the First, the Smith of all other Smiths, was at the beginning of the last century a respectable draper at Nottingham well patronised by the gudewives of the farmers, who brought their quarterly stock of thread and ribbons at his shop, after having sold their pigs. The wives of course brought the husbands and though the latter wanted no caps and laces, they liked to have a quiet half-hour in the cozy back-parlour to discuss the news of the and the state of the markets with Mr. Smith. A frequent theme of conversation was the danger of the roads. The neighbourhood of Nottingham, the home of Robin Hood, was as ever infested with footpads and Dick Turpin himself, or one of the Dick Turpins, was believed to honour the country at times with his presence. It was not that the farmers feared for their wives, or their pigs, but they feared for their money, dearer to them than their pigs - it would be wrong to say their wives. The bland draper having long listened to these outpourings of woe at last hit upon a ready solution of the difficulty. "I will take care of your money Mr. Smith proposed and will moreover keep an account of your market transactions and you may draw your cash or get goods from me whenever you like". The offer was accepted first by one, then by a dozen, then by a score of farmers and soon Mr. Smith found himself the holder of very considerable sums of money. He was a shrewd man the Nottingham draper and the cash did not remain idle in his hands, as every man knew who had a good bill to discount anywhere in Notts or Lancashire. The merchants of Preston themselves were often glad to get accommodation and the profits were as sure as the returns were quick. Now Mr Smith took the second step in his prosperous career and a very sensible one it was. He allowed a small interest to his friends the depositors. The pleased farmers, it need not be said, were after this perfectly enthusiastic in handing their surplus cash to the Nottinghim draper instead of putting it into an old stocking at home where, whatever else might happen to it, it certainly would not grow. So things went on in the natural course until the draper became a regular banker and justly thinking his shop a hindrance to his business, gave up the trade in cloth and ribbons in favoour of that in money and bills.
Smith the First died a Nottingham banker and Smith the Second extended his operations to Hulland Lincoln; while Smith the Third sought and found a London correspondent in the person of a shrewd and active man Mr Payne with whom he subsequently entered into partnership. Hence the firm of Smith, Payne and Co still flourishing near the Mansion House, undevoured by Joint-Stock. Thus it will be seen that this firm of bankers had been established for some years in the same capacity in Nottingham and elsewhere before they made their appearance in London about 1759 under the style of Smith and Payne; in 1773 an additional partner was taken and the firm became Smith, Payne and Smith. In 1778 they were located in George Street, Mansion House and in 1785 the London Directory discloses the firm as consisting of Smith, Payne, Smith and Payne. In 1824 Smith, Payne and Smith were at Mansion-house Place and in 1830 they found a local habitation in No 1 Lombard Street. The style of the firm continuing to be Smith, Payne and Smiths and consisting of the following partners: Martin Tucker Smith, Samuel George Smith MP, Robert Smith, Oswald Augustus Smith, Jervoise Smith, Eric Carrington Smith and Martin Ridley Smith.
A Handbook of London Bankers by Hilton Price 1876.
Report of the Chess & Tennis Challenge with Thomas B Rowland 1891
The Clontarf Club in being singled out for the distinction of receiving the challenge was known to possess a strong element of tennis for many of its members figure prominently in the records of that prosperous young institution the Clontarf Lawn Tennis Club. The Clontarfites at once gallantly accepted the unique challenge and after settlement of preliminaries, sallied north wards on the appointed day the 16th August 1891 with the following team of Messrs C Drury, S Fitzpatrick, Powis Hoult, H Jenkins, W Morrow, T B Rowland, K A Rynd, Porterfield Rynd and A Stephens accompanied by Mr R McFerran.
Most cordially welcomed on their arrival in the Northern capital by Mr D R Lowry, President and other officers of the Belmont Club the Clontarf team lost very little time in repairing to the picturesque grounds of the Belmontites, near Sydenham. The Belmont Club was determined to make the day a gala occasion and the Band of the 2nd Battallion Rifle Brigade performed numerous musical numbers conducted by Sergeant F McGarry while an impressive banquet was prepared for the southern visitors. The tennis events were the first to be decided and in the singles honours were divided while in the doubles Belmont obtained a majority. The rack and dust of the journey had an obvious effect on the nerves and optics of the visiting team which would account for them not exhibiting their very best form; nevertheless the Belmont players were a strong lot and played so well that the result may fairly be attributed to their superior skill.
Before the Chess events came off a repast of a sumptuous kind was laid in the Ferguson Hall adjoining the tennis grounds. The tables and walls were gorgeously decorated with flowers and the eye caught the conspicuous display of Clontarf colours red and blue provided by yellow marguerites and blue iris; alternating with the Belmont colours of blue and yellow provided by red poppies and blue comflower. The Clontarf director Mr T B Rowland was visibly affected with anxiety for the fate of his chess team who if they yielded to the temptation of the rich banquet - ‘many joints of roast meat and foul accompanied by a profusion of fruits strawberries, raspberries, grapes; while a wonder of size and flavour was the enormous salmon carried to the table in two halves which put together made a young whale in length and height’ - might be unable to cope with their adversaries. At 8 o'clock he however had the satisfaction of seeing his valiants march off to the chequered squares in good fighting form.
Dublin Evening Mail 26 August 1891.
