THE FINAL YEARS PART 2
MAY JUNE JULY AUGUST
MAY
1 Sun Rogation Sunday
Rogation Sunday in the manuscript is written as ROG. S. as the headline entry for 1o th of May
Rogation Sunday is the Sunday preceeding Rogation Days, a period set aside for prayer and fasting in Western christianity. You need to know your religion to be including such a term. I have no doubt that Rev. CJB knew his religion as maybe did Elwes but Wisden?
4 Wed Defeat of the French at Fuentes D'Onor 1811
Rev. Charles Cary Barnard a close friend and family member of the extended Elwes family had an ancestor who was in the 24th Regiment. There are several battles commemorated in the Almanack where the link is that a member of the Barnard family belonged to a battle unit that fought at the battle mentioned. The information source for these details was quite likely to have been Cannons Regimental Histories.
May 4th Defeat of the French at Fuentes D'Onor 1811 Battle honours were earned by the 24th Regiment at this engagement
5 Thurs Ascension day Lord F Beauclerk b. 1773
These 2 days are recorded but because they follow Easter and because Easter is on different days each year these two days are also on different days of the year. In the diary they are recorded as occurring " 14 THURSDAY Ascenscion Holy Thursday" and "17 SUN. AF. AS "
Also recorded on the 9th May is the birthday of Lord F. Beauclerk.
Its not impossible that this man, the 4th son and 5th child of the Duke of St. Albans and his wife Lady Caroline Ponsonby and whose mother was Lady Caroline Cavendish from the Cavendish family knew the Elwes family. In fact its almost certain. Beauclerk was at Cambridge at the same time as F.E.C. Elwes's father and Elwes senior purchased in 1799 the Great Billing Estate from another member of the Cavendish family. Furthermore, It a quick study of gentleman cricketers indicates to me at least that there is preponderance of cricketers with connections to Cambridge and of course F.E.C. Elwes and his father have strong connections to Cambridge. Whilst Wisden has minor claims to being the source for this entry these claims, in my opinion at least pale into insignificance when compared to Elwes's. It should also also be remembered as one match makes clear that Elwes was clearly a strong Cambridge supporter. Lastly, most of the people listed have but one entry. LFB has both his birth and death recorded.
9 Mon British Museum re-opens
Almost this exact phrase "British Museum opens" is used for the same day Saturday May 9th.
11 Wed Perceval assassinated by Bellingham 1812
In the shooting diary a gentleman by the name of Percival (different spelling ) takes a part. Banking records show him as paying monies to Elwes presumably for the shooting.
I have recently learnt courtesy of William Barnard's family history "The Quest for Barnard Bear" that a further ancestor of the Barnard family Anthony Rosenhagen was described as "Private Secretary to Prime Minister Perceval"
12 Madame Elizabeth, sister of Louis XVI guillotined 1794
One can surely wonder exactly why Madame Elizabeth has been included within the Almanack if this was Wisden's work. Of Paris and the revolution years what did he know? However if it was Elwes and I am sure it was, there is an answer. It is known that Elwes's father was in Paris in 1790 and was supposedly one of the last to leave before everything "kicked off" in 1792? which would also indicate he may have been in Paris more than once. Perhaps he even knew Madame Elizabeth. A portrait was painted of him in Paris by society painter Ludwig Guttenbrun in 1790. This portrait is now lost and is known only by a photograph. The photograph shows Elwes Senior with long flowing locks all of his own, contrary to the prevailing use of periwigs. According to family tradition this prompted Queen Marie Antoinette to inquire why he wore his own hair long as he did. Frustratingly his reply has been lost and forgotten.
15 Sun Whit Sunday
This day is noted in the diary on the 24th May as 24. WHIT - SUN.
16 Mon Whit Monday Battle of Albuerra 1811
This day is noted in the diary as 25. WHIT MONDAY
The Reverend Cary Barnard also had a relative serving in the 34th regiment. This regiment fought at the Battle of Albuerra although the relative was not involved
18 Wed Oxford Trinity Term begins Ember week
The diary notes this same day as 27 WEDNESDAY OX. T. B.
Those well versed in religious matters such as C.C. Barnard would understand the significance of "Ember Week"
17 Tues Whit Tuesday William Hooker b. 1796
This day is noted in the diary as 26 WHIT TUESDAY
William Hooker is a member of the Barnard family previously mentioned and his son Joseph Hooker married William Barnard's great grandmother Anne's sister Frances
20 Fri The Hon. Admiral John Byng shot by order of a court - martial 1756
This date is also incorrect. It was in fact 1757.
Elwes makes a number of mistakes with dates. This could be one reason for such early diligence on the part of Wisden not to make mistakes and thus becoming a byword for accuracy. After a retreat to and defense at Fort St. Philllip in 1756 that lasted 2 months the 34th foot regiment watched themselves being abandoned by Admiral Byng. (see earlier mention of 34th Foot)
28 Sat Battle of Solebay (Southwold) Bay 1672
The most likely source for this entry is Motley's History of the Dutch Republic a copy of which Elwes records reading in his diary
30 Mon Sir James Mackintosh d. 1832
There are some loose links but potential links between the Elwes family and Sir James Mackintosh.
Mackintosh visited France and spoke French "uncommonly" well. Elwes's father certainly knew France and whilst in Paris circa 1790 had a portrait (now sadly lost) painted by Ludwig Gruttenbrun. For a time Mackintosh lived close to Ware near where the Elwes family had an estate in the 18th century. He knew Spencer Percival well enough to be offered a seat in Parliament. The most likely reason perhaps however for his inclusion is that Sir James Mackintosh died at Langham Place in London. Elwes's father rented
Langham Hall in Suffolk from Sir Patrick Blake. A half brother of Elwes is recorded as dying in infancy at Langham Hall.
JUNE
June 2 Benj. Aislabie, Esq. d1842 aetat 68
One of the more unexpected cricketers to be included. He has some of the least impressive if not the worst ever cricket averages. He was also a cricket administrator. Hardly reason enough to be included. However, his surname although spelt differently is pronounced the same was as the place where Elwes and his brother rented a hall in Yorkshire. They rented Aislaby Hall Aislaby . This is also one of the correspondence addresses given by Elwes in his Lords Membership details.
June 6 Jeremy Bentham, the jurist, d. 1832
Yet another bizarre entry for Wisden to have chosen were it Wisden's choice. I mean Why? Jeremy Bentham. What possible reason? The link to Elwes is the diary entry that a man of the name Bentham is recorded as being present at a musical entertainment at Elwes's house.
June 7 William Warburton, Bishop of Gloucester d. 1779
I can only find the most tenuous of connections to Elwes. Another member of the same family owned Colesbourne Park a distance of 11 miles from Gloucester.
June 8