A Fascinating Insight into 1813

In the archives at Halifax is a fascinating little known manuscript. In the early part of the 20th Century Muriel M. Green, the daughter of the then archivist there wrote up many of Anne Listers letters from the Shibden Archive. She never published the manuscript thesis but a selection of letters were later published in a now very rare book "Miss Lister of Shibden Hall"

Copyright West Yorkshire Archive Service

In 1813 Anne Lister then residing in Bath wrote to her brother Sam. Anne and Sam were very close as siblings and from everything so far unearthed it very likely that his untimely and early death later that year had a profound influence on her future character. I find it profoundly moving to have transcribed and therefore read the entire letter from a sister to her brother, knowing that months later Sam would drown in a bathing accident while on active service with the army in Fermpy, Eire. Her longing to know how he was after months of not hearing from him is almost prophetic.

My interest in these letters primarily focuses on reference to Mariana Lawton of which there are many, with some resetting of previously established timelines. Yet it is their historical worth (and that of the more famous diaries) which is absolutely astounding. To explain why Anne's words are of great historical value, rather than try and explain myself, I will let Anne do the talking - her actual words (in italics below) and where necessary I have added a footnote of context or fact.

1 Laura Place, Bath. Feby 1813.....

..... If I rightly remember, my last was dated Langton, October. Up to this time I, of course, told you all I recollected that was likely to be interesting. Here then let me resume the thread of my story. My visit to L(angton) was protracted to the 1st of December, when Isabella, Charlotte, Miss Mariana Belcombe and myself filled Mr. N(orcliffe)’s chaise, disembarked at his house in Petergate, and proclaimed the intended arrival of the rest of the family in the course of a day or two. The first night, much to the merriment of our party, we all crammed ourselves  (in two beds tho’) into the same room. Early the next morning the Norcliffes went to visit a friend near Beverley, and I set off to the Duffins where I had promised to stay till Isabella and I went to Halifax. Here I rejoiced to find all well, and spent a fortnight as usual – that is – lounging away the mornings in calls &c – and the evenings playing cards – on the 14th (Decr) my friend and I took the mail for Halifax, and got there about 7 – finding all in bed, except 3 damsels who rushed out to hail our arrival. .....

... After spending a most agreeable week in Petergate, on Tuesday morning Feby 9th about half past nine, Mr. N (orcliffe)’s coach and 4, and chaise and pair carried off our whole party, and surely we had one of the loveliest days that ever beamed in the same season of the year. We reached Sheffield in good time, and here slept the first night. In the morning we reconnoitre’d the town, and were much interested with being shewn over one of the largest plate manufactories. We then pursued our journey, and took up our night’s quarters as the King’s Arms [1] (I think it was) in Derby. Here we saw the best porcelain manufactory, and were led from room to room to see every process of it. There is also a very large silk manufactory close upon the river (Derwent) but this we had not time to explore. It is really a nice neat city, and surrounding country very pretty. From this we went forwards to Birmingham where we slept. Here we saw the whole routine of pin making, and, thro’ a letter of introduction from Mrs Staunton we were shewn over the whole of Mr. Tomason’s [2] extensive works. Here we saw again the process of plating, Saw the mode of gem cutting and setting, and artificial gem making – the manufacture of cutlery, the striking medals, stamping, and milling provincial tokens, of livery buttons, of glass cutting, & papier mache of which tea trays and such things are made. With our heads full of the wonders we had just seen, we journeyed onwards to Worcester where we spent a fourth night of our travels. This is an uncommonly pretty city. Here we looked over Chamberlains beautiful collection of Worcester china [3]. In point of taste of design, this I think exceeds the Derby [4] – which, tho’ at first a better white, is said to lose this perfection by time, and turn rather more yellowish. They do not however attempt at Worcester the elegant biscuit work in which they so much excel at Derby – biscuit work is the name for a sort of entirely white porcelain of which they form various beautiful ornaments, as vases singly, figurines, and groups. Of course we went to the Cathedral...... Nothing struck me so much as the fine monument of Bishop Hough by Roubillac – the Bishop is represented on a bed dying and a (?) of religion supporting him. [5]

Friday morning – 12th March 1813.

You will wonder, my dear Sam as well as you may to see the former part of my letter dated last month. The truth is I have had it by me these 3 weeks; being so unwilling, whilst uncertain where you are, to send my pages hunting after at nobody knows what expense, that I determined to wait any time for a frank [5]. I have at last got one and sincerely hope it will reach you soon & safely. Again let me entreat you to write to me immediately on your receiving it. A few lines will satisfy if you have the opportunity to send… (Letter cut away here)...

The letter ends

....You my dear dear Sam, are the last remaining hope and stay of an old, but lately drooping family. Seize it in its fall. Renovate its languid energies; rear it with a tender hand, and let it once more bloom upon the spray. Ah! let the well-ascended blood that trickles in your veins stimulate the generous enthusiasm of your soul, and prove it not degenerated from the spirit of yr ancestors. “I feel the glow of patriot zeal”. But adieu – I can no more. 

Sincerely & affectionately yrs A.L.

Thus even in 1813 Anne was aware of the ancient lineage of the Listers and the importance of re-building the family fortunes. The death of Sam propelled Anne into the role of Landowner and Entrepeneur. 

Footnotes

[1] No reference to the King’s Arms in Derby. Much of Georgian Derby was demolished in the 1960’s. The Old Bell and The Georgian House Hotel were coaching inns, as was the George Inn. Where Anne actually stayed isn't certain.

[2] This is most probably a mis-spelling of  [Sir] Edward Thomason (c. 1769 – 29 May 1849) who was a manufacturer and inventor in Birmingham knighted by King William IV. Sir Edward, was a manufacturer and inventor, commenced a manufactory of gilt and plated buttons, which was gradually extended to medals, tokens, works in bronze, and silver and gold plate. In 1796 he submitted to the admiralty the model of a fireship propelled by steam and steered automatically, with which he proposed to assail the French shipping in their own harbours. On 22 Dec. 1798 he took out patents (Nos. 2142 and 2282) for a carriage-step folding up automatically on the door of the vehicle being closed. At various times he patented improvements in gun-locks and corkscrews, and in the manufacture of hearth-brushes, umbrellas, whips, medals, tokens, and coins. Sir Edward published an autobiography entitled ‘Memoirs during Half a Century’ (London, 1845, 8vo)

Thomason's Memoirs; Colvile's Warwickshire Worthies, p. 743; Gent. Mag. 1849, ii. 430

[3] In 1783, Robert Chamberlain (c.1736–98), head of the decorating department for Dr John Wall at Warmstry House, left the company to start his own porcelain decorating business in King Street, Worcester. At first he bought blank undecorated porcelain from other factories such as Caughley in Shropshire, but by the late 1780’s he was making his own wares at a new factory site in Severn Street, Diglis.  The Chamberlain factory quickly established an enviable reputation for the production of finely painted porcelain. Admiral Lord Nelson and his mistress Lady Hamilton visited Chamberlain’s factory in August 1802 and ordered an extravagant breakfast, dinner and dessert service in ‘Fine Old Japan’ pattern. Only the breakfast service was completed before the hero’s death at Trafalgar in 1805. Lady Hamilton purchased the service in 1806 for £120, 10 shillings and 6 pence. The Prince Regent awarded his Royal Warrant in 1807 and in 1811 a large book of designs was created for him to select a dessert service.  It is believed that Chamberlain developed a special type of porcelain, known as ‘Regent Body’ for this very important service. Chamberlain sold porcelain through his shop at no. 33 Worcester High Street and through china and fancy goods dealers in other large towns. In 1813 Chamberlain opened a London showroom at 63 Piccadilly, moving to 155 New Bond Street in 1816. Porcelain continued to be made in Severn Street, Diglis, where the factory still operated until 2008. 

https://www.museumofroyalworcester.org/learning/research/factories/chamberlain/

[4] Royal Crown Derby china

[5] Monument of Dr. Hough Bishop of Worcester in the Cathedral of Worcester, by Louis Francois Roubiliac (1702/5-1762).  This was erected in Worcester Cathedral in 1747 and was much admired by Horace Walpole in 1753 as 'a fine tomb, in the Westminster Abbey Style'. It was, indeed, to be the prelude to Roubiliac's more important London work. Its major innovations lie in the drama and symmetry of the design. Hough is seated on a sarcophagus, with his hands clasped, he makes a sudden turning movement, his head thrown up as if he saw a vision or heard the Last Trump. Below on his right a fine figure of Religion unveils a relief showing the only noticeable incident in the Bishop's career, his expulsion from the Presidency of Magdalen College by order of James II; while at the other end of the sarcophagus, instead of a full-sized figure, there is a small seated boy, holding a medallion portrait of the Bishop's wife. It is possible the sculptor did not know of the final siting of the monument as the Bishop's gaze is towards an arch rather than into the vast open Cathedral space. 

pp203 Sculpture in Britain 1530-1830. By Margaret Whinney. Yale University Press, 1992

[5] Anne is maybe referring here to ‘Free Franks’. Until 1840, most letters were sent privately with the recipient having to pay for its delivery, not the sender. Anne was a prolific letter writer, but in 1813 was not a wealthy woman, so aware sending a letter without her paying for it first, that may be redirected a number of times, may have financially inconvenienced the unknown recipient in that chain, and may therefore never reach her brother.  It is not inconceivable then that  Anne retained this letter until she found a friend or acquaintance who could ‘frank’ her letter to Sam. Possibly in Bath or York? The origin of the Franking System was a decree of the Council of State in 1652, by which correspondence to and from Members of Parliament and of certain State Officials was permitted to pass free through the post. The system lasted till January 10 1840, when the Uniform Penny Postage was introduced. Abuses soon arose, and regulations were made at various times, about the number and weight of 'FREE' letters, the time and place of posting and the method and form of addressing them. In the early days of the system, the written word 'FRANK' or 'FREE', accompanied by the seal and sometimes the name of the person entitled to the privilege was all that appeared on the letter. At the beginning of 1800, a type of mark was introduced which showed 'FREE' on a crown and contained within a single rim. This mark, with some variations based on location – London and many major cities having their own systems remained in use until 1807.  Later penny post franks emerged - with most Penny Post stamps showed the town name and "Penny Post" in various forms, with dated stamps being used in Bristol (as below), Bath, Exeter, Taunton, Southampton, Blandford, Devonport and Plymouth. By 1814 Francis Freeling, Secretary to the Post Office reported that the Penny Posts were a great accommodation to the Public and becoming a productive branch of the Revenue. So much so that by the 1830s they were producing revenue well in excess of £30,000 a year.

From J. W. Lovegrove, Herewith my Frank, (KB Printers Ltd. 15a Alma Road, Bournemouth). and also from "British Postmarks - A Short History and Guide" by R.C.Alcock & F.C. Holland. National Postal Museum Review of 1992