Henry Andrewes Uthwatt (1787-1855)
Henry Andrewes Uthwatt was the son of Henry Uthwatt Uthwatt (formerly Andrewes) and Judith Yates. He inherited Great Linford Manor on the passing of his father in 1812. At this time the Uthwatts had other estates in Oxforshire and Hertfordshire, and certainly it seemed that immediately upon the passing of his father, Henry was not particularly keen to live at Great Linford. A newspaper advert of September 25th, 1813, announced that the manor was available to let, for a period of seven years.
One must presume that Henry had a taker, as on November 14th the following year, the following notice of a two-day sale appeared in the Northampton Mercury. It gives an extraordinary insight into the scale of operations at the manor and the life led by the inhabitants, thought the inclusion in the list of items to be sold of two “men traps” provides for an alarming understanding into the methods deployed by Henry to protect his estate from unwanted visitors.
Henry Andrewes Uthwatt was the son of Henry Uthwatt Uthwatt (formerly Andrewes) and Judith Yates. He inherited Great Linford Manor on the passing of his father in 1812. At this time the Uthwatts had other estates in Oxforshire and Hertfordshire, and certainly it seemed that immediately upon the passing of his father, Henry was not particularly keen to live at Great Linford. A newspaper advert of September 25th, 1813, announced that the manor was available to let, for a period of seven years.
One must presume that Henry had a taker, as on November 14th the following year, the following notice of a two-day sale appeared in the Northampton Mercury. It gives an extraordinary insight into the scale of operations at the manor and the life led by the inhabitants, thought the inclusion in the list of items to be sold of two “men traps” provides for an alarming understanding into the methods deployed by Henry to protect his estate from unwanted visitors.
Hay, Corn, Farming-Stock, Dairy-Vessels, House-hold Furniture. Linen-Mangle, &c.
To be SOLD AUCTION, By JOHN DAY & SON
On the Premises, at the MANSION-HOUSE, GREAT-LINFORD, near Newport-Pagnell, Bucks, the Property of H. A. UTHWATT, Esq. (who is leaving the same), on Monday the 21st of November 1814, and following Day;
COMPRISING two Sacks New Hay and one of Old Ditto, nine Acres of Beans in the Straw, Quantity of Manure and Straw, the Whole to be taken off the Premises; four Cart-Horses, one stout Three-year-old Nag-Colt, broke in and temperate; two Dairy Cows; 10 South-down Ewe Sheep; two Six-inch Wheel Carts and one Narrow-wheel Ditto, Ploughs, Harrows, Gears for five Horses, Steel Bean-Mill, Corn-Drill, a portable Metallic Pump, a Ditto Mill for grinding Malt, bruising Corn, &c. two Steel Men-Traps, one Corn-Staddle on Piers, Bushel Measure, Corn-Sacks, Ropes, &c; two Men's Saddles, one Side-Saddle, Quantity of Fur and other Wood; Dairy-Vessels, as a Five dozen Churn and Frame, nine good Milk-Leads, a capital Cream-Cistern, Ditto Salting-Lead, Milk-Tubs, Kivers, Buckets, Scales and Weights; several Beer-Casks, of three, two, and one Hogshead each, Mash Vat, Underback, and other Brewing Tubs; a capital large new Bathing-Tub, large Iron Garden-Roll, Cucumber-Frames with Lights, Garden Tools, and other Effects - The Articles above-mentioned will be sold the first Day.
Second Sale comprises Four-post and other Bedsteads, with Dimity, Cotton, and Check-Furnitures ; Feather-Beds, Mattresses, Counterpanes, Quilts, and Blankets; Night-Tables, Basin-Stands, large Pier and Swing Glasses, Mahogany and Chamber-Chairs, Sofa, and small Settee; Dining, Tea, and Card-Tables; Dumb-Waiter, Floor and Bedside Carpets, Clock and Case; a capital double Bank or Office-Desk, with Stools, &c. complete; a Six-feet Mangle, portable Ironing- Stove ; large Quantity of Pewter, consisting of Water-Dishes and Plates, and common Ditto; a very excellent Wild-fowl Gun, and a Number of other Articles.
The Sale to commence each Morning at Eleven o'Clock precisely.
Who was in the manor?
Regardless of whom was occupying the manor, the Lord of the Manor was still exercising his authority, a fact made abundantly clear by a stern notice published on December 17th, 1814, warning that the (unnamed) Lord of the Manor’s patience had worn thing at the rampant levels of poaching taking place, and that steps would be taken to clamp down, including prosecutions.
A clue as to the occupier of the manor house may come from a list of Game Certificates issued in September of 1815, which names the Reverend William Andrewes, a resident (though not Rector) of Great Linford as a recipient. The Reverend was Henry's brother, born 1793. Of perhaps greater significance, we find William Andrewes listed on the Poll Book for Great Linford in 1831, but no sign of Henry. This then seems good, if somewhat circumstantial evidence that William was occupying the manor and overseeing his brother’s interests in the estate.
A clue as to the occupier of the manor house may come from a list of Game Certificates issued in September of 1815, which names the Reverend William Andrewes, a resident (though not Rector) of Great Linford as a recipient. The Reverend was Henry's brother, born 1793. Of perhaps greater significance, we find William Andrewes listed on the Poll Book for Great Linford in 1831, but no sign of Henry. This then seems good, if somewhat circumstantial evidence that William was occupying the manor and overseeing his brother’s interests in the estate.
Marriage and life at Great Linford
Though at least one source suggests he was a lifelong bachelor, the evidence is that Henry did marry, to a Jane Elizabeth Frances Bellchambers on February 18th, 1814 at the Church of St. George in Bloomsbury London. Her father appears to have been Benjamin Bellchambers, a coffee house owner and wine merchant. Perhaps the newly married couple lived in London for a time.
In 1830 Henry is listed as a subscriber for the sum of £2 2 Shillings per annum toward a hospital fund for the poor, and the following year he was elected to serve for one year as Sheriff of Buckinghamshire, but he otherwise seems to have let a quiet and unremarkable life, making few ripples in the newspapers of the time except for the occasional notice of houses in his ownership being made available for rent and the appointment of game-keepers. He also continued to a lesser degree the family habit of subscribing toward the publication of books.
If Henry had vacated the manor early in his Lordship, then we have ample documentary evidence placing him back at Great Linford from the late 1830s onward, starting with an 1837 Poll Book (by 1838 his brother William had moved to Stowe) and followed by the 1841 census, where we find both Henry and his wife Jane listed. He is described not unsurprisingly as being of Independent Means, though it is surprising that there are only 2 servants listed. Conceivably there would have been other staff in a variety of capacities living elsewhere within the village, but with only 2 live-in servants, it suggests that the lifestyle of the Uthwatts was perhaps not as grand as once it had been for the family. We also find Henry and his wife on the 1851 census, which gives us a place of residence, Linford Place, the name by which the manor house was known for a period of time. Again, there are only 2 servants.
In 1830 Henry is listed as a subscriber for the sum of £2 2 Shillings per annum toward a hospital fund for the poor, and the following year he was elected to serve for one year as Sheriff of Buckinghamshire, but he otherwise seems to have let a quiet and unremarkable life, making few ripples in the newspapers of the time except for the occasional notice of houses in his ownership being made available for rent and the appointment of game-keepers. He also continued to a lesser degree the family habit of subscribing toward the publication of books.
If Henry had vacated the manor early in his Lordship, then we have ample documentary evidence placing him back at Great Linford from the late 1830s onward, starting with an 1837 Poll Book (by 1838 his brother William had moved to Stowe) and followed by the 1841 census, where we find both Henry and his wife Jane listed. He is described not unsurprisingly as being of Independent Means, though it is surprising that there are only 2 servants listed. Conceivably there would have been other staff in a variety of capacities living elsewhere within the village, but with only 2 live-in servants, it suggests that the lifestyle of the Uthwatts was perhaps not as grand as once it had been for the family. We also find Henry and his wife on the 1851 census, which gives us a place of residence, Linford Place, the name by which the manor house was known for a period of time. Again, there are only 2 servants.
Death and a sale
Following his death on December 29th, 1855 , a sale was announced by his executors that provides an extraordinary insight into the contents of the manor and the lifestyle enjoyed by its residents.
GREAT LINFORD HOUSE near Newport Pagnell
Bucks
THE VALUABLE AND EXCELLENT
HOUSEHOLD FURNITURE,
CHAMBER ORGAN, SERAPHINE, PIANOFORTE, AND HARP
400 Ounces of PLATE, PLATED GOODS, LINEN, rare old CHINA, valuable OIL PAINTINGS, ENGRAVINGS and PRINTS, a few dozen choice old wines, pair of handsome PONIES, town-built CHARIOT, Pony CARRIAGE and HARNESS, OAK and ELM TIMBER and numerous Effects.
TO BE SOLD BY AUCTION
By G. BENNETT
On the premises on Monday and Tuesday 17th and 18th days of March 1856, punctually at Eleven o’clock each day, by direction of the Executors of the late H. A. Uthwatt, Esq., deceased.
COMPRISING four-post and other bedsteds, excellent feather beds, bolsters, and wool mattresses, elegant toilet services, wardrobes &c.; drawing and dining-room furniture, consisting of two pair of very handsome rosewood card tables, fancy chairs and seetees, easy chairs, mahogany dining table, set of mahogany chairs, horse-hair seats; easy chairs, in needle-work; two mahogany sideboards, with cellarets and drawers; Brussels and other carpets, a very handsome ornamental clock, fine-toned finger organ, handsome pianoforte, by R Wornum; seraphine, in rosewood; and a doble action harp.
Four hundred ounces of excellent and useful table plate, excellent printed articles, rare old china, valuable oil paintings (one “View in High Wycombe, Bucks” by Henry de Cort, R.A of Paris; engravings and prints, capital assortment of linen, mangle, quantity of liquors, a general assortment of cut glass china, in dinner, desert, and tea services; and a most complete variety of culinary and kitchen utensils; pair of handsome ponies, town-built chariot, pony carriage, and harness; Oak and Elm Timber, Oak Saplings, &c., and a variety of effects.
The whole of which will be set forth in catalogues, to be had at the Swan Hotel, Newport Pagnell, the Cock Hotel, Stony Stratford, the Radcliffe Arms, Wolverton Station; and of the Auctioneer, Buckingham; and New Inn, Stowe.
May be viewed on Friday and Saturday, the 14th and 15th of March, between the hours of Eleven and Five o’clock.
The painting mentioned is likely by the Flemish painter Hendrik Frans de Cort (1742-1810) but unfortunately whilst he is well known in the art world, the picture in question seems not to be on public display. However many of his other works can be found online, such as the one illustrated below.
Chantilly in 1781, View from the Lawn. Hendrik-Frans De Cort, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
When he died, Henry was aged 68. He was buried at Great Linford on January 4th, 1856. His wife Jane had predeceased him on December 17th, 1855. The couple being childless, the estate now passed to Henry’s brother, The Reverend William Andrewes Uthwatt, whom we had previously speculated might have been acting as the de facto Lord of the Manor.
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