Family Records
of the
Paumiers & Twentymans
Collected & Arranged
by Mr. M. W. Paumier
with
an Autobiography of himself
and an Appendix Containing
Many Interesting, Familiar
& Amusing Facts & Anecdotes
Affectionately Dedicated to
His Children, Grand-children
& their Descendants, & lib.
Crest A Stork with a stone in his claw
Arms A Field Azure with a Chevron Or in chief bearing 2 Palm branches – 2 Roses and a Pomegranate
Motto “Vigilantia” – Watchfulness
Explanation of the Crest
The Stork is a very wary bird.
When a flock of these birds goes to sleep on the shore they appoint one to sit
as sentinel; who stands on one leg, holding a stone in the other claw, which he
throws down violently amongst the rocks, the noise of which alarms the whole
flock when any danger is apprehended. Therefore the Stork is celebrated as an
emblem of “Watchfulness”. It is very remarkable that on my quitting
Dedications, etc.
To you, my dear children, all, but more especially to you my fine surviving sons – William George, John Peter, Mun Noble, Henry Charles, and George – to your children and their descendants, henceforth, I most affectionately address and dedicate this little volume for your information and amusement. It contains the only authentic “Family Records” of the two originally most respectable and opulent (although latterly very unfortunate) families of the “Paumiers” and the “Twentymans” of whom we are now the only true, lineal, legitimate and legal personal descendants, representatives and heirs.
It is not that I now have any expectation of ever recovering any part or portion of the very considerable family property, on both sides, to which I am legally entitled; and which I ought now to be in possession of – for, alas! I fear, we shall never recover a penny thereof, having lost all the requisite proofs and documents necessary to establish my just and legal claim. But it is because I feel and own it to be my duty to leave you all the information I can upon these, to you, very interesting subjects, that I now, for the third time, commence the task of detailing to you the whole particulars of our Family connections and circumstances, because you naturally wish and ought to know them, and because there is still a faint and remote possibility that even after my death, you may be wanted and sought for as the heirs-at-law of the Paumiers, and even of the Twentymans.
It is not, therefore, with any empty pride of birth or ancestry that I am about to inform you who and what my progenitors were. It affords but little satisfaction and no present advantage to me that I have not only gentle but noble blood in my veins, that all my relations on both sides were independent and opulent Gentlemen and Ladies, whilst I (a solitary exception to the general rule), have been, and am still, the only individual of my Family ever engaged in business, devoid of property and power.
Could I live my life over again and choose my circumstances, I would willingly resign the honour of noble and gentle origin and prefer being the son of a humble and industrious tradesman or mechanic; that I might be brought up to some useful, respectable and profitable trade, rather than to any official employment which, although it may be considered suitable for a Gentlemen, is still so very precarious and unstable. It was my intention to have reared you all as Clerks, and had I continued in that line myself, I should probably have done so, but under existing circumstances, I am glad to see you all engaged in humble but respectable situations where I trust you will all gradually advance until you finally attain to an honest independence, the fruit of your own good conduct and industry.
In official employments the opportunities are frequent and the temptations great for making use of other’s property. Even amongst the highest and wealthiest it is the same, as witness Mr. Fontleroy, Sir John Dean Paul 1 and Partners, and still more recently Mr. Sadlier M.P., who lost their character, liberty and lives through a blind and infatuating avarice. Not a week elapses without bringing to light some fresh and glaring case of embezzlement, vide Messrs. Robson–Redpath, etc., so that you are really surer and better off in your present humble situations than in better paid, more respectable but more dangerous circumstances.
And, should it ever be the will of providence to raise you in the scale of society, to endow you with independent incomes and render you rich in comparison with the past, you will feel that you have deserved that favour by your patient “perseverance in well doing”.
You will enjoy your advantages tenfold more than if you had been “born with a gold spoon in your mouths”, and I trust that in such case you will fulfil all your duties in accordance with your improved means.The Paumiers
No. 1 Monsieur Jean Paumier: (my Great Grandfather) was a French Gentleman of good family possessed of considerable property in the neighbourhood of Bordeaux. I believe he was the Proprietor of Chateau Clarac1, famous for its wines and imperial plums. He was a strict Roman Catholic.
No. 2 Madame Paumier: wife of the above (and of course my Great Grandmother) was a Lady of good family and fortune. She was likewise a Roman Catholic but not so bigoted as her husband.
No. 3 Monsieur Jean (or John) Paumier: (my Grandfather) was the eldest son of the two preceding persons. At 18 years of age he became a Protestant, which subjected him to much persecution.
No. 4 Pierre (or Peter) Paumier: his brother, younger than himself, followed his example 2.
Both
of them were so terribly annoyed and harassed on that account, and so much in
danger of losing their lives, that they were ultimately advised and compelled
to quit their native country forever and to emigrate with many others under
similar circumstances. They accordingly made their way to, and settled in,
My Grandfather, John Paumier, must have been a person of strong mind and good sense, for instead of devoting himself to pleasure and extravagance, as many at his age would have done, he very wisely began at once to prepare himself for a future course of industry and independence by placing himself and his brother at a public Grammar School in Drogheda (a large town or city about 23 miles from Dublin) for the express purpose of acquiring a perfect knowledge of the English language and the most approved methods of accounts and book-keeping. There they continued for two or three years, in which time my Grandfather made himself so completely master of the English tongue that he never afterwards spoke with the slightest foreign accent.
He likewise acquired such remarkable proficiency in writing, arithmetic and book-keeping that, when he afterwards became a merchant and kept his own books they were the admiration of all who ever saw them – I never did. Nor do I know what became of them, although doubtless they are still in existence, preserved by some member of our family, for no one would wilfully destroy such venerable documents and evidences of my Grandfather’s great talents and extensive business. The case of his brother Peter was totally different, for he never could speak good English nor imbibe any turn for business.
Having
thus qualified himself for mercantile pursuits, my Grandfather decided upon
commencing operations in the Sugar Refining department, for which purpose he
had the large dwelling house and extensive warehouses erected at a cost of
Fifteen Thousand Pounds, in the first instance, which were afterwards enlarged
and increased as occasion required. Those large premises and property were
called Mullinahack 1, by which name the remains of them are still
known to every intelligent inhabitant of
I visited them when there in 1838 and shall never forget the melancholy interest with which I wandered through those remnants and monuments of the Paumiers’ prosperous days, when riches and happiness enlivened those scenes – so lonely, so dreary, neglected and sad when I inspected them then. There stood the large mansion, still in good presentation, but empty, except a room or two on the ground floor, occupied by a poor family in care of the premises once and long no doubt filled with costly furniture, the happy and numerous family and the joyous and wealthy friends and relations of the Paumiers.
There was the countinghouse where my Grandfather transacted his extensive and thriving business, now silent and untenanted like some dismal prison. And there were the extensive and lofty warehouses (huge as some of those now used in the same line, Sugar Refining, situated in the neighbourhood of Whitechapel) once filled with costly merchandise and busy workmen, now forsaken and fallen into ruins. There were even the fragments of various utensils pertaining to the business and the places where the sugar grinding mills and the boiling vats were once so diligently employed, looking like the vestiges of some doomed city buried by an earthquake, deserted by its inhabitants in the midst of their occupations, and left a sad memorial of former prosperity.
Those
great premises were erected by my Grandfather above a century ago at a very
considerable cost, and you will very naturally wonder and enquire how that cost
could be defrayed by an expatriated emigrant and refugee who had fled from
persecution in France and settled in Ireland so very recently ? The fact is
that my Grandfather John and his brother Peter had sold property which they
possessed in
And perhaps also they, like most other persons commencing business, begun with large credit. Be that as it may, it is quite certain that Mullinahack was built, fitted up, stocked and set to work, as the first and largest Sugar Refining establishment ever opened in Dublin under the firm of Messrs. John and Peter Paumier, for although my Grand-Uncle Peter had no knowledge of, or talent for, business his brother generously gave him an equal share in the same, of which he was only a sleeping partner, whilst my Grandfather was the active one, having all the trouble and responsibility resting upon him.
The Sugar Refining business answered remarkably well, and my Grandfather gradually added other articles and speculations, until he became a General Merchant – having ships of his own, trading to various nations with freight to and fro.
Until lately I had in my possession for many years my Grandfather’s Freedom of the Guild of Merchants in Dublin – dated April 17471. It was a piece of parchment about the size of this book when opened, consisting of a copperplate form with the City arms and a neat border. On the back were endorsed the fees paid on registry and which amounted to £ 13 odd. That document I lost, together with many others of great importance to me, during a serious illness in February 1855.
Thus, my Grandfather was proceeding successfully in his mercantile career, and would no doubt have realised an immense fortune had he lived to continue his operations for many years longer. But, alas! He was suddenly cut off by a fever in the prime of his life (about 40) and the height of prosperity, leaving a widow and 8 children of whom my Father, the oldest I believe, was only 14 years old, and at that time young men went to school until they were 20 years of age.
As my Grandfather died Intestate (or without having made any Will) his property, which was all personal, had to be equally divided between his children and must have amounted to at least £ 120,000 as my Father’s share was at least £15,0002.
About the years 1748 or 1749 my Grandfather married Miss Susanna Noble 3, a young lady of excellent family in the County Fermanagh and Province of Ulster in Ireland, who of course thereby became
No. 5 Mrs Susanna Paumier: of Mullinahack, by whom he had 8 children as follows:-
No. 6 John Paumier Esq.: my Father, born 1750 who married my mother Miss Susanna Twentyman in 1785 at Lincoln, died at Phibbsborough, Dublin 19th August 1812 and was buried at Clontarf, County Dublin 22nd August 1812.
No. 7 Mungo Paumier Esq.: my Uncle, who became a Lieutenant Colonel in the army, served in the first American War4 and was wounded at Bunker Hill 5. Retired upon Half-Pay. Married Miss Maria Faulkner in the Isle of Man in 18-- 6 by whom he had 3 children (2 Sons and 1 Daughter). He inherited the property of his Uncle Peter Paumier (producing about £500 or £600 per annum) and died at Egremont in Cumberland in 1820.7
No. 8 Miss Frances Paumier: my Aunt, married Thomas Clement Esq., by whom she had 4 children (3 Sons and 1 Daughter). She was left a widow and died at Douglas, Isle of Man 18--.8
No. 9 Miss Penelope Paumier: my Aunt, who married the Reverend John Ball, by whom she had many children, and after his death she married Milo Bagot Esq., by whom likewise she had several children. She died in Dublin in 18--9.
No. 10 Miss Susan Paumier:
of No. 3 Gloucester Street, Dublin, my Aunt, who never married, a lady of large
property, most highly respected by all, the great depository of all the family
annals, memorials and anecdotes. She died in
No. 11 Miss Prudence Paumier: my Aunt, who never married, but having spent her fortune in fashionable society (Lady Kinsale was one of her most intimate friends, as was also General Sir John Moore, the noted Hero of Corunna, Lord Aylmer and many other noble and exalted persons) she sold the last part of her property for an Annuity of £60 per annum, which she received regularly until her death which took place in Dublin in 18--.1
No. 12 Miss Elizabeth Paumier: my Aunt, who never married but died many years before any of her sisters 2.
No. 13 Miss Mary Paumier: my Aunt, who never married. She was rather weak in her intellects, through grief at losing more of her property, as I shall state by and by. She lived with Mrs. Paumier, widow of my Uncle Lt. Col. Paumier, until her death, which happened at Egremont, Cumberland in 18[42]3.
My Grandmother, Mrs
Susanna Paumier, had a relation (whether brother or cousin I am not certain,
but the latter I believe) Brabazon Noble Esq., a Gentleman who holds a very
conspicuous place in the history of our Family, and but for whom we might now
have been amongst the most wealthy and respectable citizens of
This Brab Noble was a Gentleman of handsome fortune and most insinuating manners. He was universally considered as a man of the strictest probity, judgment and generosity, and was selected by many distinguished and opulent families as the most eligible person to be appointed as executor, trustee and guardian to many young persons inheriting very considerable property. So high indeed was his reputation and character that he was actually called by many “The God-like Brab”.4
Amongst others, my Grandfather was one of his great admirers and, although he died intestate, he had often expressed his wishes that Brab Noble should be the Guardian and Trustee to his children in case of his death – then little expected. Therefore, when that sad event suddenly occurred, Brab Noble stood forward as the especial friend and protector of the orphan family. Had he fulfilled his duty properly as such, he should have had the great business of Mullinahack continued and carried on for the benefit of the orphans and minors until they were able to take it in hand themselves, which would not have been very long as my Father was then 14 years old and his brother Mun only a little younger. But, instead of doing that, Brab Noble discontinued the business and broke up the establishment at Mullinahack, called in the debts, sold off the stock and shut up the premises.
This of
course could not have been done without the knowledge and consent of my
Grandfather’s brother and partner, Peter Paumier. But he, as I have already
stated, had no turn for business, and probably left it all at the disposal of
this talented gentleman and friend of the family – Brab Noble. My Grand-uncle
Peter ought of course to have had his half, or proper share, whatever it might
be of the proceeds. But I rather imagine that he as well as others was
victimised, as it appears that all the property which remained in his
possession until his death, which he left to his Widow Mrs Paumier of Bath, and
at her death to my Uncle Col. Paumier, consisted of a certain share in the
freehold premises of Mullinahack, some adjoining houses and some other houses in
Lower Dominick St. (one of which was tenanted by Lord Howth) producing an
income of about £500 or £600 per annum.
My Grandmother complained that she had no jointure, no marriage settlement having been made, and she married again, a Mr. Macquay1, Uncle I believe to the very Gentleman, Mr Hamilton, who now holds possession of that part of the Mullinahack property which belonged to my Grand-Uncle Peter, and which my Cousin Mun Noble Paumier sold to him, having by a Deed of Consent, surreptitiously obtained from my brother Charles (then his Heir at Law), cut off the entail of that property from me and you.
Brab Noble had therefore the complete management and control of all the property belonging to our family, my Father, his Brother and Sisters, my Uncle and Aunts, and of other families likewise, which he made use of for his own objects and advantage.
In the first place, as soon as he had suppressed and discontinued the Sugar Refining business at Mullinahack, he commenced the same on his own account in other premises I believe, but failed in his undertaking, whether from incapacity or inattention I am not sure, but most probably from a combination of both those great obstacles to success. This was the just reward of his cruelty and selfishness in breaking up the business at Mullinahack instead of continuing the same for the benefit of the orphans.
Another unlucky speculation of Brab Noble, was opening and working a Copper Mine called the “Crone Bane”2 Copper Mine from which he coined money, halfpence and penny pieces, which circulated freely for many years in Ireland. I can well remember having some of them in my possession when I was very young. On the obverse was the head of an aged woman, I suppose with a large cowl or hood on (much resembling the Welsh coins I have seen with the Druid’s head upon them). On the reverse was a cipher of two or three letters, and the inscription contained the name of the mine, “Crone Bane”. But that attempt to amass riches likewise failed with our great speculator.
The way, however, in which he chiefly squandered immense sums of money was the indulgence of a very peculiar fancy he had for purchasing forsaken and dilapidated mansions and neglected estates, repairing, enlarging and furnishing the same, living there for a while and then abandoning that when he had renovated another.
When to these extravagant habits, was added the excessive hospitality then so frequently practised in Ireland in “Keeping Open House”, where every decent stranger was welcome to bed and board free of expense for weeks and months together, which absolutely ruined many Gentlemen of good property, and which silly extravagances Brab Noble used to excess.
All these things combined shattered his fortune and
involved him in difficulties, especially as some of his wards were coming of
age and demanding their property, demands which he could not meet. He suddenly
disappeared and went off to
After my Grandfather’s death, my Father continued at school for some years, then entered Trinity College, Dublin1 and afterwards came to London to study the Law, or “eat his terms as a bencher in the Temple”, meaning to become a Barrister, and no man was ever better qualified to rise and shine in the legal profession as he was. For no man was gifted with brighter talents, possessed of a handsome face and elegant figure, graceful in all his movements, of highly polished manners and most engaging address, learned, witty and glamorous, he would have been a star of eloquence, and would doubtless have filled some of the very highest judicial office, such as Lord Chief Justice or Lord Chancellor, and would in that way have acquired a noble title and considerable property.
But my father was too gay and fond of travelling about to sit down to the dry and musty study of the Law, and therefore never was called to the Bar. He entered the Army however as an Ensign [in the infantry, in today’s army a Second Lieutenant], but continued in that line only a short time as his proud and ungovernable spirit and temper would not suffer him to submit long to military subordination and restraint. Still, he spent most of his time with military men and was particularly intimate with many general officers, colonels and amongst whom I recollect a few, viz. Lord Moira (afterwards Marquis of Hastings) and his brother Colonel George Rawdon2, General Sir Brent Spencer3, Sir William Payne Galway, Sir J. C. Hippesley 4, Sir John Moore3, Vereker 5, Desondass, etc, etc.
My Father spent the greater part of his time in
He was a most accomplished Gentleman and an exquisitely elegant dancer, equal I believe to many opera dancers. This naturally led him into society and thus he became acquainted with my Mother
No. 14 Miss Susanna
Twentyman: daughter of the Reverend Dr. Childers Twentyman, one of the
Vicars Choral at Lincoln Minster, and sister to Brigadier General Samuel
Twentyman, whom my Father married in the year 1785. She was a very handsome and
elegant young lady, the most fashionable belle of Lincoln, likewise a most
accomplished dancer, a very pleasing singer, and a good player on the English
guitar, strung with wire. She had no
fortune except £100 left her by an Uncle, a Mr Twentyman who was a Banker at
No. 15 Henry Paumier: my eldest Brother who died young;
No 16. Charles Paumier: my
second Brother, who left home when about 6 years old, who was adopted by my
Uncle, Colonel Paumier, and was sent by him to a large public boarding school
at Barnard’s Castle, Northumberland, where he continued several years and then
entered the Navy as a Midshipman under the kind auspices of Captain Inglefield,
who treated him as if he were his own son and who would have adopted him as
such had his conduct proved satisfactory. But, unfortunately, Charles had
several vicious propensities, was terribly extravagant in his habits, too fond
of women, drinking and low company and thus lost the favour of his Captain and
patron; was guilty of many breaches of discipline and finally deserted from the
service in the West Indies, thereby forfeiting his right to promotion and
having the King’s Broad Arrow ( )
placed against his name, by which he was dismissed from the Service.1
He wandered about for years sometimes in
My Mother had not seen him for 16 years, and could never be persuaded that he was the same person who had left home a fine handsome spirited boy, for he now appeared really ugly, ill conditioned and degraded in every respect almost to the level of the brute creation so that we commonly spoke of him as the chimpanzee or the oranutang (sic).
My Father rigged him out in new sailor’s clothes and made interest with some of his noble friends connected with the admiralty so effectually as to procure Charles’s pardon for desertion, to have the Broad Arrow removed from his name, and to allow him to resume his standing in the Navy as a Midshipman, eligible to be soon promoted to a Lieutenancy provided his conduct gave satisfaction.
What an unlooked for and undeserved advantage and opportunity was thus afforded to Charles of redeeming his lost character and of regaining his proper position in society as a Gentleman, and his proper rank in the noblest of all professions as an Officer in the British Navy ! What an almost miraculous chance of emerging suddenly from the most abject and degraded state of a miserable vagrant, pauper and mendicant to the high level of respectability !
Would to
God, I had now or ever might have such a chance ! But, alas ! I fear I never
shall. My future lot, I calculate, is only penury and wretchedness, poverty,
obscurity and the Workhouse, for I have no friends left to interest themselves
for me
“I have no Rich Relation To get me a situation”
and I am too old now to hope for or expect any such favourable opportunity of re-establishing my proper place in society.
And how did the wretched Charles use the means thus afforded him. Instead of returning with alacrity to his noble profession as an Officer (all his past errors blotted out), he declined that advantage and voluntarily preferred going “before the mast” as a common sailor, until he could find another opportunity of deserting from the Service entirely. This, of course, we were all shocked to learn in the course of events. He therefore returned to all his old vicious and depraved habits, “like a sow that is washed to her wallowing in the mire”, and chose rather to continue the life of a vagrant than to be an Officer and a Gentleman.
After my Father’s death, when I held a highly respectable
situation in
When my Cousin, Mun Noble Paumier, came of age in 1833 and took possession of his property he, somehow or other, found out Charles, who was then in his usual state of poverty and wretchedness, and appointed to meet him in Dublin to purchase from him his title to some houses adjoining Mullinahack, bringing in about £60 per annum, which had devolved to Charles as Heir at Law to my Aunt, Miss Susan Paumier of Gloucester St. Being freehold property, it required three witnesses to her will, and it had but two. My Cousin made this a pretext for getting Charles to enter into a Deed of Assignment, which no doubt was so framed as to surrender his legal right and title, not only to that small portion of property, but likewise his Revertion of Rights and Heirs at Law to the whole of the property which my Cousin was then in possession of.
Whether Charles was aware of what he was doing at the time he did it I am not certain. But I rather imagine he was not, and think it most likely that when he signed that Deed he was either actually drunk or nearly mad from the effects of his usual habits of intemperance, and he probably never read the Deed at all.
It is certain, however, that he had no legal adviser to act for or direct him, and he was therefore entirely at the mercy of my Cousin and his attorney. For that job my Cousin paid Charles just £500, a tempting bait and a grand prize to a reprobate like him so lately sunk in the abyss of misery, profligacy and degradation. Thus he “sold his Birthright for a mess of Pottage”, and in doing so likewise sold mine and yours, my sons, as it must have devolved to me at Charles’s death, and to you at my decease.
I am still certainly Heir-at-Law to my Cousin Mun Noble.
But unfortunately he has sold that property (the entail being cut off) to a Mr
Hamilton of
Although Charles pleaded ignorance of the real purport
and extent of that Deed, my Mother warned him of it, and when it was executed
she actually went down on her knees and cursed him, because he had thereby not
only surrendered and sold his own right and title to the property in case of my
Cousin’s death, but had likewise destroyed mine and my children’s, should I or
any of you survive him. And what good did that ill-gotten £500 do Charles ? The
first thing he did was to lend my brother-in-law £200 of it, for which he,
I cannot but blame my Sister Fanny (the wife of
Charles, not knowing what to do with the remaining £300,
by my mother’s advice came over to me in
When he came to me here in the summer of 1833, I was in a good situation, as clerk and book-keeper to Messrs. Bardon and Gray, Importing and Shipping Wine Merchants, at a salary of £100 per annum, and was then a regular householder and rate payer at No. 8 Hackney Road Crescent, in the Parish of Bethnal Green, which gives me a legal settlement there as I never paid rates and taxes anywhere else since then.
When Charles sought my counsel, I advised him to advertise for employment, offering £100 as a “douceur” 1, by which means he got a situation as clerk at Lime Wharf in Wapping under Mr. Barlow, the proprietor, who agreed to hold £100 of Charles’s as security for which he was to allow him £5 per annum interest and to repay him the principal by instalments. The salary was £80 per annum, and it was almost a sinecure as the actual business was done by an experienced man who lived on the premises, so that Charles had only to enter the particulars in the books and to make out the invoices. Besides which, he had several rooms in the large dwelling house rent free, some of which I and my family occupied as company for Charles and to provide his meals, washing, etc.
For getting him that engagement, for his board and
lodging while living with me in the
Charles held that situation for several months, and then voluntarily resigned it. Not that his employer found any fault with him, but because he said he was receiving the salary without rendering any adequate service in return. The fact was, he got tired of sedentary employment and wished to be at liberty to indulge day and night in his old depraved habits of drinking, base women and other low company.
With the same view, he picked a quarrel with me after my return from Dublin, the consequence of which was as he wished, that I and my family quitted Wapping and left him “alone in his glory”. Soon afterwards, he threw up his situation, although his employer, Mr Barlow, wished him to retain it. He gave himself up to all his vile habits, spending most of his time at a low pot house in Wapping, squandering the remains of his little fortune in continual drunkenness and the very worst of company, and actually thought of marrying a tap room wench of the vilest character, for, of course, no decent female would have received his addresses. He lodged at a low house near Ratcliff Highway and became such a loathsome object of disease that he was compelled to go into the London Hospital where I saw him in bed after undergoing a filthy operation and where the very nurse who attended him, accustomed as she was to everything disgusting, was shocked to see an old man like him in such a condition. For although he was then only about 50, he looked above 10 years older, much older indeed than I do now, although I shall very soon be 60. He left that hospital incurable.
After that he went to Scotland, where he had some friend, an old Admiral who had known him in the days of prosperity when he was an Officer in the Navy, and I lost sight and knowledge of him for nearly two years, when he suddenly made his appearance, early in 1835, when I was living in Barret Street, Lambeth as a small Confectioner, having no settled employment.
That was the last I saw of my unfortunate Brother
Charles. But I know he returned to
No. 17 Frances Maria
Paumier: my eldest Sister, born in Lincoln 14th January
1786 and consequently now, if still living, above 70 years old. She was adopted
by my Aunt Wetherall, my Mother’s Sister, in
Had her talent for music been cultivated there can be no doubt she would have equalled at least, if she had not surpassed, the most noted public songstresses, even Catalani, Miss Stephens or Jenny Lind herself. She could likewise play the guitar and piano-forte, but all by ear, as she never had the slightest instruction in vocal or instrumental music.
Her talents for drawing and painting were likewise most remarkable. She was an excellent copyist, but could draw equally well from nature and from fancy. Mr Mulvany, a distinguished artist and drawing master who lived next door to us in Phibbsborough, and who gained many prizes at the annual exhibitions of the Royal Dublin Society’s pictures, would have given anything to have my sister Fanny as a pupil, not, as he said, that he could teach her much, but for the honor and credit of his name.
Her compositions, both in prose and verse were elegant and her taste in literature most judicious and refined. Some years ago she gave me a little book containing some of her prayers and reflections upon domestic calamities and which were replete with the most truly christian piety, the loss of which I deeply lament.
She was equally skilful at needlework, making all her own dresses and milinery in the most tasteful and substantial manner. Her taste in dress was chaste and elegant, no gaudy colours, no incongruous mixtures, but the very best materials of the plainest colours, made according to the most approved patterns, but never in the extremes of the fashion, except in this respect - her dress resembled the most genteel Quakeress. Her mind was truly religious yet she was genuinely very cheerful and lively. It was impossible to be dull in her society, for she abounded with wit, humour and satire although always innocent and harmless. Her company was therefore much valued and sought. But although calculated to shine so brightly in society, she rather shunned than courted it, and exquisite as her singing was, she could very rarely be persuaded to sing in strange company. Indeed, modesty and reserve are generally the accompaniments of real genius, whilst those who are flimsy in talent and superficial in knowledge are ever ready to exhibit their limited powers.
As to personal appearance, my sister Fanny had no
pretensions to beauty, but she had an intellectual intelligence in her
countenance much more fascinating than the most regular features devoid of soul
and mind. Her figure was symmetrical, movements dignified and graceful. Thus
richly endowed by nature and fitted to mate with the most accomplished of men,
she was destined to become the partner of a rude and savage husband, her own
first Cousin,
“Forever Fortune wilt thou
pierce”
especially where he says:
“To bind the gentle to the rude”.
Respecting them we might
justly reverse the position in the well known and much admired song:
“Ah ! sure a pair were never seen” less “justly formed to meet by nature”.
And yet she
continued to “sub on” somehow or other with him for 40 years.
His income ought to have been about £700 per annum, but unfortunately he was much addicted to gambling and other extravagant habits and had involved his property to a very great extent before he married my sister Fanny, and never, up to the hour of his death in 1852, cleared off the incumbrances, so that instead of living in comfort and even elegance upon such a fortune, he was always in difficulties and had not half the enjoyment of life he ought to have had with such ample means if properly applied.
My Sister
Fanny had, by her husband
1st
2nd Frances, a very
amiable girl who lived until upwards of 20 and died of Cholera;
3rd Jane, a lively and innocent girl who shared the same
fate and died about the same time as her elder sister;
4th Susan, who died
young;
5th Thomas, a fine
intelligent boy who died when about [12] years old;
6th Maria, a sweet and lovely girl, who lived to grow up and was suddenly removed.
Soon after
her marriage in January or February 18122, my Sister Fanny
accompanied her husband
When my brother-in-law was thrown into the prison of Kilmainham near Dublin, my Sister removed with her family to Phibbsborough, where my Mother continued to reside, that she might be near her husband to minister to his necessities and comfort, and there she resided for several years until after the death of her husband on 8th June 1852, my Mother lodging with her for many years previous and dying about the same time. After those sad events, my sister Fanny left Dublin and went to join her son Dixie Clement Esq. at Rathdrum4, where he had been living some years with a particular friend and where I suppose they both reside at the present time.
No. 18 Prudence Paumier: my youngest sister, called after my Aunt Prudy, who adopted her and had her brought from Lincoln to Kinsale 5 in Ireland when a mere infant. At that time my aunt Prudy had some considerable property left, which she promised to settle upon my sister, but which she afterwards squandered in fashionable follies excepting an annuity of £60 per annum only for her life for which she sold the residue of her property very prudently, or else she would have gone on spending until she had left herself totally penniless. But she frequently received very liberal assistance from many of her noble and wealthy friends by whom she was very much liked, for although she was really ugly, she was very agreeable in her manners very witty and satirical and of a very literary turn, so much so as to be considered quite a “Blue Stocking”. She was likewise a perfect lady of the old school in her manners, and altogether was a most agreeable companion but very extravagant in her habits.
My Sister Prudy was really handsome, and was the only one of our family who could have any claim to beauty. Under such an indulgent patroness as my aunt Prudy, it was not surprising that she inherited and copied the extravagance she shared in. She was really fascinating in her manners, although in a very different way from my sister Fanny, whose influence over others had its origins in her intellectual powers and developments, her sacred sense, her refined judgment, her religious and virtuous disposition combined with her wit and humour properly regulated, whilst my sister Prudy was all vivacity and fun without strict regard to propriety of expression. It was almost impossible to see her bewitching smile or hear her hearty laugh without joining in the demonstrations of mirth.
In January 18121 she married William Peter
Birmingham Esq., a very tall and rather ugly Gentleman from the County Mayo,
where he had spent the greater part of his fortune in very extravagant habits
having been an Officer in the Mayo Militia. He had then apprenticed or articled
himself to Mr. Hallahan, I think, a most eminent Surgeon in
My brother-in-law, Mr Birmingham, soon afterwards got appointed assistant Surgeon to the 87th or Connaught Rangers, one of the most distinguished Regiments in the service which was then in India, whither he and my sister proceeded to join that celebrated corps and there they remained several years.
Mr. Birmingham accompanied his regiment to Ceylon and
went through the whole of the Burmese War leaving my sister, his wife, and
children (they had several) awaiting his return in
Although the duties of a Surgeon should always keep him in the rear of a fighting army to attend to the wounded as they are brought in, his courage and rashness induced him to take an active part in the engagements, by which he unfortunately lost his life. For in storming and scaling one of the stockades he received so severe a blow of a musket butt on the chest that he never recovered the effects of the injury, although he lived and lingered in pain for a considerable time after2.
The climate of
Consequently,
when my brother-in-law, Dr. Birmingham, died, my sister was left without any
means or provision until she could obtain the pension to which she was entitled
as an Officer’s widow. She therefore sold off all her furniture, carriage,
horses, etc. and came to
She then
returned to
Finding Dublin too expensive she retired to a remote part
of Ireland, Bere Island off the coast of the County of Cork where she lived
some years and died about 10 years ago leaving her two sons, my nephews, then
surviving viz:
1st. Mr William Peter Birmingham, the eldest then of age
who had received and spent his small fortune, and
2nd. Matthew Birmingham, the youngest, who soon after followed his brother’s example.1
Whether
those two young men are still living or not I am totally ignorant, or if living
how they are circumstanced, as I have heard nothing respecting them for some
years. The last I did hear of them was from the Reverend Abraham Hallowell of
Bantry,
No. 19 John Paumier:
my brother, above 3 years older than myself. He had no occupation or profession
until he was above 24 years of age when he came to London and was accepted as
an Officer for the Patriots in South America (February 1819) by General English
who was then recruiting here for that Service. My brother John was at once
appointed as Cornet [cavalry rank,
in today’s army a Second Lieutenant], in the 1st Venezuelan
Hussars and immediately upon his arrival at
A very remarkable coincidence occurred on this occasion. In the same service, and on board the same ship as my brother John sailed in, was a young man named Byrne, Grandson of the celebrated Byrne of Mullinahack, the great distiller who succeeded my Grandfather there, and my brother was the Grandson of the original proprietor, founder and builder of Mullinahack.
Of course, a close intimacy and friendship sprung up
between these two Soldiers of Fortune, although I never heard anything more
about Byrne or his career in
My Mother only had the one letter from him, but I had an authentic account of his subsequent life and death from Colonel Mackintosh of the “Battalion of Albion” in which my brother John was a Captain “most esteemed and beloved by all his fellow officers as a perfect Gentleman, a brave Soldier and a most agreeable companion” and never had any troops greater hardships to endure or harder battles to fight than they had.
After securing the
Nevertheless, harassed and weak and weary as the Patriots were, they at once boldly attacked the Spanish forces and beat them in several engagements, but especially in the celebrated Battles of Boyaca, Pasto and Popeyan 2, for all of which my brother John was entitled to Grand Crosses besides a “Habu Militar”, some distinguished military honor and distinction for his bravery. He died of dysentry at Popeyan in November 1820, having then 2 years arrears of pay and allowances due to him. I applied on behalf of my Mother to Senor Machu, the Colombian Ambassador in London, and sent out two Powers of Attorney, the first to Colonel Campbell the British Charge d’Affairs at Bogota who declined acting on account of his official situation, and secondly to Messrs. Powels, Illingworth and Co., merchants in Bogota, connected with Messrs. Powles Brothers of London. Besides which, I forwarded a memorial from my Mother to the great Bolivar himself, claiming the arrears due to my brother and the Grand Crosses, etc., to which he was entitled, but we never succeeded in obtaining any of those things.
No. 20 Mungo William
Paumier: the unfortunate author of these “Family Records”, the
youngest child and son of John Paumier (No. 6) and his wife Susanna Twentyman
(No. 14); was born in Phibbsborough, Dublin on the 4th of November,
1796. I am therefore now (
No. 21 Mrs. Phoebe
Elizabeth Paumier: wife of the foregoing Mungo William Paumier. Her
maiden name was Gargrave. Her Father was a Cabinet and Plate Case Maker, a very
respectable tradesman, who had seen much of life and was a very intelligent,
well informed, sensible and prudent man who lived to considerably above 70
years of age and died on 29th January, 1855. He was of course your
Grandfather. His wife, your Grandmother, was a Miss Pritchard of
After his first wife’s death, your Grandfather George Gargrave married Jane Atkinson, a Quakeress by whom he had a second family, of whom 4 lived to maturity, namely your Uncle William Gargrave and your 3 aunts Susan, Betsy (Mrs Bull) and Jane, who died when about 20.
Since the death of her (Jane’s) mother, your Grandfather married his third wife Mary by whom he has left 2 children, Mary and James. Thus he was the Father of three distinct Families, several members of which have married and had children and even grandchildren so that if we calculate the number of his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, all born whilst he was living, we shall find that your Grandfather was the progenitor of considerably above 50 individuals.
When I married your mother2 she was a buxom, blooming girl about 16 years old 3 whilst I was about 29, yet there never appeared any remarkable disparity in our ages, and I am now as young in constitution and almost as young in appearance as your Mother. This is by no means extraordinary, for she has been the Mother of 11 living Children, besides several miscarriages, which it is well known, rack the constitution far more than a regular confinement. Besides which she has suffered severely from our reverse of fortune and for the last few years she has been subjected to much unhappiness in consequence of my frequent and long absence from home, the causes of which are elsewhere finally explained.
As this little Book may fall into the hands of strangers as well as yours, my sons, and as I promised and mean to give a full and complete record of all our Family up to the present period, I shall now proceed to subjoin a list of all your names and ages in regular order as your births occurred, with a few observations upon your several characters, dispositions and prospects. The following were the eleven Children of me, Mungo William Paumier, and Phoebe Elizabeth, my lawful wife, viz:-
No. 22 William George
Paumier: Born
By his first wife, Harriet Avery, who of course became Mrs. Paumier No. 23, he had one child, a daughter still living, whose name is Rose Paumier No. 24, who has resided with her grandmother, Mrs. Shepherd, ever since her mother’s death, after which event my son William George was united to Louisa Avery 1, to whom he had been attached long before his first marriage, and who consequently in her turn became Mrs. Paumier No. 25, by whom he has already had two children, viz:
No. 26 [Emily Frances] Paumier
No. 27 [William George] Paumier 2
I prophecy that my son William will either go into business for himself, or will be taken into partnership by some future employer, and that he will, if he lives for many years, ultimately attain to a comfortable independence as honesty and industry are almost certain to meet with their just reward at last.
My eldest
Daughter, Susanna Phoebe Paumier No. 28, was born in Bennet’s Buildings,
She is
genteel in person, deportment and manners, but is rather prudish in carriage,
hauty in look and selfish in disposition. She is too proud for her station in
life and has no proper sense of her duty as a daughter, treating her Mother and
me as if we were her inferiors or servants. She pretends to be very religiously
disposed, but is deficient in all the leading features of the true christian
character, having neither meekness, humility, patience or charity which is
love. Should sickness or accident incapacitate her for work she would suffer
most surely from her proud and stubborn nature, and unless she should have the
good fortune to get married to some respectable man, I fear that great
degradation and sorrow will be her portion, for as Solomon says:
“Pride goeth before distinction And a haughty spirit before a fall” 3
No. 29 John Peter Paumier:
my second son was born in King St., Hackney Road in the Parish of Bethnal Green
on the 1st of August 1830 and is therefore now, if living, 26 years
of age. His early years were spent in happiness until he was 9 or 10 years old
when I fell into adversity. He, like his brother William, was naturally
industrious and soon sought for and obtained employment and was very rarely
without it whilst he remained in
No. 32 Mun
Noble Paumier: my third son, was born at No. 8 Hackney Road Crescent in the
Parish of Bethnal Green, on
He always shunned low company and idle habits and was naturally serious and correct in his habits and never disposed to gamble or swear like most boys. He had always and still retains a natural antipathy to all strong drinks, being born a teetotaller, which he remains to the present day and will continue so, I am certain, all his life.
No one could ever persuade him to taste any alcoholic liquor, not even wine which we had in abundance during his infancy, and I have seen him provoked to absolute rage whilst quite a child by persons trying to prevail on him to drink spirit, beer or wine. Even Ginger Beer he would not taste for many years, nor would he even drink water (his favourite beverage) out of a jug or vessel which he thought had contained beer. Yet he never railed against drinking, nor objected to his Mother or anyone else having those liquors in moderation. He was naturally fond of reading, painting and stencilling theatrical prints, was very attentive to his tasks and writing when at school, and had he been under a proper master there can be no doubt but that he would have become a distinguished scholar.
He was for some years in Worrall’s Red Lamb School, Battie Street, Saint Luke’s where he was remarkable for his correct and orderly conduct, cleanliness and regularity, being the chief favourite of his master, Mr. Sevaine, who was very sorry when he left the school. He like his elder brothers always showed a disposition to industry and has seldom been out of employment during many years past.
He is of a generous, confiding and affectionate
disposition, although in temper he is rather hot and hasty, but by no means
vindictive or implacable. In his manners he is kind and affable, his address is
genteel and agreeable and he is universally esteemed. His talent for music is
considerable, as he plays very well upon the concertina and accordion and has a
very soft and pleasing voice.
I used to think that he would become the brightest adornment of our family, either in a military or civil capacity, but as to the first his short stature precludes all prospects in that line, and his fickleness of purpose and change of occupation render his attainment of independence very precarious. Had he continued with Mr. ____, the blind maker, or with Mr. Fuller in the same line, I have no doubt but that he would ultimately have become a most respectable and opulent tradesman. As it is, I fear he has got into a very wrong track and may never now rise above mediocrity and a mere competence.
No. 33 Henry Charles Paumier: my fourth son, was born in Duke St., Westminster Road, on the 7th April 1837, and is now of course above 19 years old. He was the child of misfortune and then drank deeply of the bitter cup of adversity, with occasional although short gleams of prosperity’s sunshine. He was always of a wild and mischievous disposition and an ungovernable temper, although he has a good heart and will often do a generous action in a very ungracious manner. He has always been industrious in his habits and is likely I think to get on in the world by perseverance, bustling and activity in business.1
No. 34 George Paumier:
my fifth son was born on
When very young poor George caught the measles, which turned to the Croup2, for which he was attended by Dr. ____ who administered strong doses of mercury without giving us the very necessary caution not to give the child cold drink, and to be careful to keep him from catching cold. Some will say give a sick person whatever they ask for, it is nature which dictates to them and it will do them no harm but most probably good. Now here is an instance directly to the contrary.
For the child was constantly craving for “water, cold water, white water out of the butt” to cool his poor mouth and throat, and he would not take medicine nor tea, nor coffee, nor even barley water, least there should be medicine disguised in any of them. The poor child was evidently in a high state of salivation and my wife, convinced that he had taken strong doses of mercury, asked the Doctor if it was not so and if it would not be wrong and dangerous to let him drink cold water.
The Doctor
positively denied having administered mercury, and said “you may give him as
much cold water as he will drink it will do him no harm”. On such authority we
suffered the child to have it, and the consequence was that his teeth gums and
cheeks became so dreadfully swelled inflamed and lacerated that he could not
speak, eat or almost breathe, and if he was to live to an hundred years of age
he will always be a sufferer from the effects of that unskilful medical
treatment. He has indeed suffered a martyrdom already with his mouth, as all
his teeth have decayed and ligatures found connecting his gums and cheeks so
that at times he could scarcely get any food into his mouth. In fact, he was in
a measure lock-jawed for some time.
We have not neglected him, but have had him under the care of several eminent physicians and surgeons who have done the best they could for him. Dr. Golder Bird gave him some powerful medicine (caustic, I think) in honey, to anoint his gums and cheek with a feather to destroy the ligatures, I suspect, but it caused such pain that he could not bear it. And at the same time, he had to wash his mouth with a strong solution of Vitriol. Dr. West sent him to the dentist at the Waterloo Road Dispensary, who put him to excruciating torture by digging several stumps and fragments of teeth from his gums, and very recently when I took him to Guy’s Hospital the Doctors there strove in vain to extract some of his teeth which they could not get at on account of the ligatures which unite his cheek and gums, an impediment which, I fear will continue through his life.
I cannot help thinking that the Mercury, which so sadly affected his mouth, had also an injurious effect upon his brain and intellect. For, ever since that unskilful usage by the Doctor, George has been rather stupid dull and timid. He is very deficient in learning and I never urged him much in that respect either at home or by forcing him to attend school. But I still have hopes that when I come to settle at home I may be able to coax and encourage him to learn, so that perhaps he may yet prove a better scholar than any of his brothers.
No. 35 Lavinia Paumier:
my fourth and youngest Daughter, was born on Lady Day, the 25th of
March 1851 in
This dear child was always very fond of me when at home and I was much struck with the proofs of her affection when, after a long absence, she and her Mother met me by appointment, when she not only kissed me cheerfully but of her own accord warmly squeezed and kissed my hand.
She is an animated, lively little creature, with a warm temper and an affectionate heart and will I trust be spared to prove a real comfort and consolation to her Mother, for all her disappointment and vexation with our eldest Daughter.
Having thus heard of all the Paumiers yet living, and most of those dead also, I now proceed to mention four more of my own children who have departed this life and are, no doubt, angels in heaven.
No. 35 ½ A Boy:
born between Susan and John in Bennet’s Buildings, Kennington Lane, who only
lived a few minutes and of course was not christened. This was a premature
birth, his mother having carried between 6 and 7 months, yet we both grieved
for the loss of this child as much as if it had lived for years. I buried it
myself in the side of a new made grave in the churchyard of
No. 36 Emma Paumier:
my second daughter, born on the 9th February 1835, in Dimond
Buildings, White Hart Street,
No. 37 Francis William Paumier: my seventh Son was born on the 28th December 1846, and lived to the age of 5 years, and died of Cholera in William Street, Great Suffolk St, Borough about July 18491 whilst his mother lay ill of the same fearful complaint and was actually supposed to be dead and whilst I was absent from home.
This dear child, Frank, was a most interesting and engaging little fellow, always a good boy and fond of school, having a heavenly expression in his features, often serious and fond of hymns and verses, although at times very humorous and amusing in his ways. We both regretted his loss severely.
No. 38 Phoebe Elizabeth
Paumier: my third Daughter was born on the 2nd November
1848 in William St., Gt. Suffolk St., Borough, and like her brother Frank only
lived a little beyond 5 years and died of a Coup de Soleil, or sun-stroke, in
11 John Street, Webb St., Bermondsey on the 31st July 1854. She was
another angelic visitor, only permitted to sojourn with us upon earth for a
very brief period and then recalled to rejoin the heavenly host “for such is
the
This lovely and amiable child was the admiration of all who saw her fairy like form and movements, or heard her sweet voice. She was indeed her mothers hope and darling, and her sudden loss proved a deep and lasting affliction to us both. She had a heavenly mind and spirit, was fond of attending the Infant and Sunday School in Maze Pond Chapel, and was a great favourite with her teacher. Her chief delight was in singing the little school hymns, which she did in a most pleasing manner and melodious voice, accompanied frequently by her little sister “Tiny” (as we called Louisa), of whom our dear Phoebe was remarkably fond.
The very day before her
death she stood gazing up towards heaven and quite startled her mother by
saying “Mother, if I were to die, do you think I should go to Heaven?”. “Of
course you would my dear”, said her mother. She then asked several questions
about God and heaven and sang a hymn of which she was very fond:
“Death has been here and stolen away a Scholar from our side”
little thinking, perhaps, that the very next day Death would come and steal her away and that very hymn be sung in the school, on account of her death, by her schoolfellows.
The next morning she appeared rather unwell and unwilling to go to school (a most uncommon thing with her) and begged of her mother not to send her. But her mother thought it was merely a whim, and that she would be better there than at home, and therefore sent her giving her something for dinner as she very frequently did.
When Phoebe returned home in the evening she appeared lazy and feverish, complained of headache and wished to lie down. Alas! That was her death bed, and in a few short hours she had ceased to exist. She had told her mother the evening before that when at school, during dinner hour or play time, she had been playing in the burial ground at Maze Pond Chapel without a bonnet and felt the sun very hot upon her head. The moment the Doctor saw her he said she had got a sun-stroke and that he could give no hope of her recovery. I was from home at that time and was shocked beyond expression when I was informed of her death. Accordingly, I went home at once but was too late to see the remains of my dear child, which were screwed down in her coffin, and I was so circumstanced that I could not even attend her funeral, which took place in the Victoria Cemetery in Bethnal Green.
On reviewing this History of the Paumier Family, I find that I have omitted to mention several members in their proper order, whom I must therefore introduce here by additional numbers in order to complete the list. Where I mention my Uncle Colonel Paumier, his marriage and progeny, I should have particularised his wife and children as so many members of the Paumier Family.
No. 39 must
therefore represent my aunt, Mrs. Colonel Paumier, widow of my Uncle
Mun, who is still living at Egremont in
No. 40 John Peter Paumier: who lived to the age of about 13 and then died of consumption during the lifetime of his father.1
No. 41 Susanna Jane Paumier, adopted by my Aunt Susan, with whom she lived for many years, but ultimately died of consumption. Had she survived my Aunt, she would have inherited all her property.2
No. 42 Mun Noble Paumier: my Uncle’s youngest child, was born at Egremont in 1812 3. He was so delicate in his early years that no one ever expected he would live to maturity, and had he not done so it is almost certain that I should now and long since have been in possession of the Family Property which he has squandered and sold, not only unimpaired but improved and augmented. For, had it been my fortune to become possessed of that property many years ago, I should have employed it in some safe and lucrative business and thereby not only have preserved it undiminished for my children, but have increased it considerably for their benefit, and possibly even have restored old Mullinahack by degrees to something like its original uses and prosperity.
When I visited him, my Cousin Mun Noble, at Egremont in 1823, he evinced a warm attachment to me which continued for several years, and I always considered him as a brother until he did me the injustice of cutting off the entail of his property, which would have devolved to me in case of his death without a lawful heir. His mother was the daughter of an actress, by whom she was reared in all the extravagant habits of fashionable life which prevailed about the middle of last century, and in which my Father, my Mother, uncles and aunts all participated to the loss of their property and the injury of their descendants and relatives.
My Uncle Colonel Paumier was far advanced in life when he married, and his constitution was broken by the hardships of long and active military service and by the effect of dissipation. It was not, therefore, likely that any of his children would live to grow up. Out of the three, his son John Peter died young before his Father, and his daughter Susan Jane followed at about 15 or 16 years old 1, and it was never expected, even by his own mother, that Mun Noble would live to attain manhood. He was therefore petted and indulged in all his fancies.
My Uncle Mun did not live long in the enjoyment of the
property he inherited from my Grand Uncle Peter after the death of his widow,
the celebrated Mrs Paumier of
My Aunt, Mrs. Colonel Paumier, was very extravagant in all her habits, in dress, in living, in furniture, in travelling and in parties when at home, so that she lived fully up to her income. My Cousin Mun Noble was equally extravagant. Whilst quite a boy he dressed in a scarlet coat, and followed the hounds, and his mother had to pay an innkeepers bill for £45 for the hire of horses which he used to hunt with, whilst she thought he only borrowed the horses from Gentlemen of the Hunt with whom he was acquainted.
Being very young when his Father died he had a very long minority, during which the surplus of his property (beyond the allowance to his Mother) was considerable, although the Chancery costs of a Receiver of the Estate and many legal formalities considerably diminished the annual savings. Still, there must have been a considerable sum in hand for him to receive on his majority. Out of that he paid Charles the £500 for his birthright and no doubt squandered much in vanities and follies. Amongst other items there one very foolish and ridiculous one, namely £30 paid for a place in Mr Green’s Balloon on its ascension from Whitehaven 2.
My Cousin Mun Noble’s passion for the stage had its origin in a very kind and charitable feeling. There was a poor widow with a large family left in great distress in Whitehaven, for whom a benefit was got up at the Theatre there. The Play fixed upon was Shakespeare’s “Othello”. But when the time drew nigh, the party who was to play Othello was either really taken ill, or more probably feigned illness not having nerve or courage enough to appear in such a charactic before an audience in Whitehaven 3. Whitehaven, like Ireland, is remarkable for the dramatic taste of its inhabitants, owing most probably to the fact that it was there Mr. Macready made his first appearance, when his father was manager there, which place he often afterwards visited in the course of his distinguished career and favoured the townspeople of Whitehaven with representations of some of his finest characters, amongst which Othello was one of the most remarkable.4
The poor widow’s benefit was close at hand, and no one to perform the principal part. We often hear of the Play of “Hamlet”, with the part of Hamlet left out, but no one ever heard of the Tragedy of “Othello” being represented, with the character of Othello omitted. The thing was therefore likely to prove a failure and the poor widow and orphans to lose the chance of obtaining a few pounds.
In this emergency my Cousin stepped forward and, although totally inexperienced in theatrical affairs, offered his services to dress and read the part on the stage rather than the benevolent object of the performance should be defeated. Fresh bills were therefore printed and widely distributed, setting forth in large letters that the part of Othello would be taken by Mun Paumier Esq. of Ulcoats, near Egremont (well known to all around as the son and heir of Colonel Paumier, highly respected by all his neighbours). The prices of admission were doubled, and the theatre was crammed almost to suffocation by a most respectable audience.
My Cousin had not only read but deeply studied the part of Othello and had got the most splendid and expensive dress for the character, and instead of merely reading the part on the stage he performed it with such judgement, force and eloquence as not only to astonish and gratify but absolutely to electrify his audience, who all agreed that even the great Macready himself could not possibly surpass if he could even equal the splendid acting of my Cousin.
He certainly had much the advantage of Macready or other actors in the elegance of his figure, the expression of his features, the gracefulness and ease of his movements, the correctness of his enunciation and the majority of his deportment. His stature was commanding, his face handsome and sensible with rather a melancholy cast and his limbs were beautifully moulded without being heavy. With such qualifications for the stage it is not surprising that his success was complete. The whole County round rang with his praises, all the provincial papers were unanimous in their admiration of him, and he was entreated to repeat his performance of Othello and to play other characters afterwards, and on all occasions he “won golden opinions” and greatly augmented his fame.
Having once begun, and so successfully, he resolved to follow up the stage as a regular profession. His next essay in the histrionic art was in Dublin, where it is very well known that nothing but the most distinguished abilities can obtain favor or applause, as the Dublin audience have always been considered the very best judges of dramatic merit, the most just and yet severe critics there are.
Our very proud Family felt highly indignant at the disgrace, as they considered it, of one of its leading members becoming an actor, and more especially so at his intention of performing in Dublin, where his family and connexions were so well known and so highly respected and where his own property was situated. There was therefore an absolute conspiracy formed to oppose and defeat him, and the night of his first appearance on the Dublin stage, the Theatre was absolutely packed with persons engaged and even paid to put him down, to defeat and to damn him with the object, view and hope of them sickening and disgusting him with the profession altogether.
The part
he sustained was “Tanya” in “The Revenge”, and splendidly he would no doubt
have sustained that character. But all his merits and talents, all his energy
and perseverance, all his courage and patience were exercised in vain. From the
very beginning to the end of the play he was greeted only with hissing,
hooting, the most discordant noises and cries of “off, off”, and he was
actually pelted with oranges, apples and halfpence to compel him to retire. In
spite of all this he went boldly through the whole of his part well knowing the
cause and object of this most unfair and unreasonable opposition. But still he
was absolutely damned. He therefore left
Having thus completely established his fame, he had the
courage to return to Dublin, where he was suffered to stand alone upon his own
real merits, as our Family found it was useless to oppose him any longer, and
there he achieved as complete success and victory as he had formerly
experienced defeat and offence. And there he has even since been, and still is,
one of the greatest favourites seen upon the
In
Edinboro’, Glasgow and other cities in Scotland, as well as in Liverpool,
Bristol, Bath, Cheltenham, Brighton and many other towns in England, his
theatrical career has been one continued round of complete success and
rapturous commendation which I have read in many County Newspapers
published where and when he was then performing. Under such encouragement, it
is not surprising that he should have wished to try his fortune in
My Cousin arrived in
On going home to his lodging he was waited upon by Mr. Palmer, the property-man and dresser of Drury Lane Theatre, for whom he had sent to show him his dress for Hamlet which was made of the very richest black Genoa Velvet and elegantly ornamented with bugles, and which dress he had worn on several occasions when he had played the part of Hamlet.
He thought, however, that it was not fit to appear in at Drury Lane, and wished to have an entirely new one much more costly made. But there was not sufficient time to have that done, and Mr. Palmer said he could alter and improve that dress so as to suit very well. He did so accordingly and charged only 15 guineas for the trifling alteration. The sword, having a polished steel hilt, was most proper, he said, as it ought to be ensanguined or blue. So my Cousin bought a new one of the required description. The cap and feathers and the jewelled ornaments were also objectionable and had to be altered likewise. Bills and tickets were printed, large numbers of which I distributed amongst my friends gratuitously, for my Cousin said to me on no account take money for them.
He likewise said most positively and emphatically “Do not you suppose, nor let your friends suppose, that I wish to buy their applause or influence their judgement by a free admission. All I require is a fair hearing and seeing. Beg of them not to applaud me where they see no reason for it, but only to do so when they think I really merit it. In fact, to treat me as they would any total stranger on his first appearance, to see whom they had regularly paid”. To his theatrical friends he spoke to the same effect when giving them large numbers of tickets to distribute free amongst their friends.
On the Monday, the only day which intervened between his arrival in town and his appearance at Drury Lane, he gave a sumptuous dinner to most of the actors of Drury Lane Theatre at the Piazza Coffee House and Tavern in Covent Garden at which I was present, and when, in the evening, my Cousin left us for an hour or two to attend to some private business, he put me in his chair at the head of the table, to represent him during his absence. When, on his health being drank with the usual honors, I had to make a speech and return thanks on his account, in which they said I requited myself to perfection, bringing down rounds of applause.
Being then a Clerk in Egan, Waterman and Wright’s Office,
I gave hugely of the tickets to my employers and to all the clerks, as well as
to many members of the
The House was very full, the audience highly respectable. My cousin had been used to play in small provincial theatres to audiences in general but little qualified to judge of fine acting. He was therefore somewhat abashed and nervous when he came to look from the stage through a loophole in the curtain at so large a house as Drury Lane, crowded with well educated persons used to seeing the finest actors frequently and very difficult to please. He soon, however, overcame his momentary timidity and came on the Stage with all the easy confidence and grace of the most accomplished and experienced actor, and was hailed with great applause.
His performance of Hamlet was most beautiful, classic and finished. His tall, light and elegant figure, his fine expressive and saddened features, his mellow and pathetic voice and distinct pronunciation seemed all peculiarly suited to the character he represented, and in every part of the play he received the most decided enthusiastic and well merited applause, astonishing and highly gratifying Mr Burn, who was then the Manager of Drury Lane, and Mr Cooper the Stage Manager likewise.
He was well supported in the play by Miss Romer as Ophelia, Mr Graham as Laertes and Mr Baker as the Ghost of Hamlet’s father. I sat with Mrs Paumier in one of the side boxes and was greatly delighted as well as surprised by my Cousin’s complete success.
He had made one very great, important and fatal omission in not propitiating the favor of the press. He should have invited the leading editors, members and reporters of the best papers to his inaugural dinner the day previous to his first appearance, along with the actors whom he feasted. He should have made them some handsome presents and have supplied them and their friends with abundance of free tickets. Thus he would have secured their favor and approbation. But on the contrary by not doing so he slighted and offended them, and the consequence was that several of the papers spoke as unfavourably of him as they could do consistently with his real and indisputable merits and advantages.
The only real defect, however, which they could establish was that he wanted power of voice to fill the Theatre. His person, his action, his delivery they could not possibly object to, and they admitted that his deportment was easy and gentlemanly and that he was the best reader they had seen on the stage since John Kemble. They endeavoured, however, to sneer at his pretensions saying “This young man is the son of a Colonel. He is possessed of a handsome property. He keeps his vehicle and servant and glories in the name of Paumier. What business has he, a gentleman of independent means, to take the stage as a profession to the injury of them who have no other resource?” Another paper then in circulation, “The Radical”, took up the cudgels in defence of my Cousin and replied to the preceding remarks to this effect: “We welcome Mr Paumier’s appearance most cordially, especially because he is a gentleman. We are much in want of real gentlemen in the profession, which is made a mere trade of for mercenary purposes by most, whilst he who is independent acts from the genuine impulse of his genius for the gratification of the public”.
The chief objection against him was his want of voice to fill so large a Theatre as Drury Lane, and it was prophecied that when he had some years more practice and experience in the provinces, he would no doubt improve considerably and ultimately become an eminent actor.
The next character he played free and for Mr Burn’s
advantage was “Richard the 3rd”, but in the meantime a systematic
opposition had been organised by Mr Macready’s friends (who were jealous of my
Cousin’s merits) and the offended members of the
He made
a capital hit in that part of the play where Richard is in his camp, teased and
abused by his mother, the widowed Queen of Lady Anne, and he strode to the
front of the stage with his truncheon in his hand and, looking up boldly to the
boxes and galley, he exclaimed with a loud voice and peculiar emphasis and
point
“Either be patient and entreat
me fair
Or with the clamorous aspect
of arms [Mungo misquotes, should be “report of war”]
There will I draw your
accusations [Mungo misquotes, should be “Thus I will drown”]”
at the same time throwing backwards from him his truncheon with considerable force which struck the shin of one of the supernumeries, a soldier standing at the back of the stage who jumped (not for joy) and rubbed his leg for some time.
The applicability of that passage to the unfair opposition raised against my Cousin struck every one in the Theatre (especially Mr. Shin-bone) drawing forth a spontaneous burst of applause, long continued and repeated rounds of which acknowledged how admirably he had applied it.
The next day’s papers admitted that he improved upon acquaintance and spoke against the unfair set evidently made against him.
His third character was Rolla in Pizzaro, wherein his tall and elegant figure, stern and handsome countenance, and truly graceful actions were fully developed. His dress was beautiful, costly and appropriate. On his shoulder he wore a large and real Leopard’s skin, fastened in front with gold claws. On his head he displayed a richly gilt tiara, studded with jewels, in which he wore 3 splendid and valuable Birds of Paradise, one over each ear and one in the centre of his forehead, which gave him a most commanding appearance and was peculiarly suitable as head-gear for an Indian chief, as they generally decorate their heads with feathers.
In the scene where Rolla escapes with Cora’s child when about to cross the wooden bridge, the man behind the scenes was ready to thrust a stuffed effigy into my Cousin’s arms when he exclaimed “Damn your Dolly” and, snatching up the real child, he dashed onto the bridge, which was so badly secured that it nearly gave way with him, and he had no difficulty cutting it loose with his sword. When the Spaniards fired at him and he was supposed to be mortally wounded, the property man was ready and gave him a smudge of red paint on the temple, where he had some leech bites festered (for, having caught a severe cold from the draughts on the stage when he was heated by exertion in the character of Richard, his eyes became inflamed and he was obliged to have leeches applied to both his temples) and this daub of red paint made the sore places worse. The newspapers approved much of his performance of Rolla, and Mr Burn was very anxious that he should play “William Tell” next, which was announced in the Bills accordingly.
I called
on him next day and found him really ill and stretched upon a sofa like the
Grand Sultan himself. He soon, however, started up and pacing the room with
hurried strides, exclaimed vehemently against the unfairness of the
He
therefore resolved to quit town for a few days on the ground of illness, and he
was really ill, and not to venture upon the prohibited character. The fact was
that his success in the Provincial Theatres in that part had been so great and
remarkable, even where Macready had often played it, that he feared my Cousin
might succeed in it equally in London. It was therefore resolved not to permit
him to have the chance of doing so. He accordingly left town, but returned in a
few days, when he played for the fourth time at
His Brutus was indeed a most finished, chaste and truly classical performance, and the Roman dress became him remarkably well. It seems there is a great art in wearing the toga properly, in which but very few succeed, and this was evident amongst the Senators, many of whom resembled a boy in armour or a pig in a blanket, whilst my Cousin wore his toga with ease and grace. Mr Ward played Cassius to his Brutus, and the quarrel scene was really fine between them, as Ward’s inherent envy and spleen had a suitable opportunity of displaying itself, whilst my Cousin’s natural dignity of manner suited the occasion admirably.
I had
almost forgotten to state that immediately after my Cousin made his first
appearance at
After playing Brutus, my Cousin quitted London, which he has never visited since, but once, to my knowledge, and then I did not see him, but was afterwards told by his friend Mr Baker of Drury Lane Theatre (long since dead) that he had played for one night in London, but in what theatre or character I was not informed.
On coming first to town, my Cousin gave me £10 to purchase a new suit of clothes and appear as respectable as possible amongst his friends. That, he said, was a mere trifle for present purposes, but before his departure he promised that he would do something handsome for me. That promise he never fulfilled, although I exerted myself so strenuously and usefully in his behalf, all I ever had from him was that £10. His excuse was that he had spent so much more in London than he had calculated or expected to do (I was told he spent £500 in the two or three weeks he was here) that he could not then afford to do more for me, but that he would soon recount his means and send me something worthwhile, but that he never did.
The last time I had a letter from him was in 1849. He was then in Glasgow, playing together with Miss Fawcett to crowded houses with immense applause, as proved by newspapers which he sent me: Claude Melnotte in “The Lady of Lyons”, Master Walter in “The Hunchback”, and Sir Giles Over-reach in “A new way to pay old debts” were some of his favourite characters. In that letter he told me that he was about to take a benefit, and if it answered his expectations he would make me a handsome remittance. This was a voluntary offer on his part, but like all his other promises came to nothing as I never heard from him since.
Not having seen or heard of any mention of his name in the papers for several years past, I began to think that he must be dead, or else that he had retired from the stage altogether, and in order to ascertain these facts I lately wrote a long letter to him which I enclosed to the Postmaster, Egremont, Cumberland (where my Cousin was born, reared and resided when not on circuit) requesting him to forward the same to my Cousin, should he not be there, if he knew or could find out his then present address, or, if my Cousin were dead, to inform me if he could when and where he died. Also begging him to let me know how he had disposed of the letter and how long my Aunt, Mrs Colonel Paumier, had been dead.
To those enquiries the Postmaster very promptly and politely replied, stating that he had forwarded my letter to my Cousin at Belfast in Ireland, and (to my astonishment) that Mrs Colonel Paumier was still living and in good health. I accordingly wrote to her for information respecting her son, my Cousin, Mun Noble, as I feared I should not hear from him, and she soon favoured me with an answer in which she stated that “He and his Wife enjoy excellent health, to which their hard work and frequent journies have contributed. At present they have no children”.
From
this I infer that he has been performing in all the Provincial Theatres in
On looking back I have omitted to mention the names of my several Brothers and Sisters who died in their infancy; they were as follows:
No. 43 - George Paumier
No. 44 – Georgiana Paumier
No. 45 – Another Georgiana Paumier
No. 46 – Mungo born 2 years before me
No. 47 – Susan Paumier
No. 48 –
No. 49 – A Boy still born
This completes the Paumier Family.
The Twentymans
No. 1 Reverend Childers Twentyman: Doctor of Divinity, one of the Vicars Choral of Lincoln Minster, my Grandfather, possessing a plurality of benefices or several livings in and about Lincoln, which together with his private property, amounted to at least £2000 per annum, an income which he fully lived up to, instead of laying by something considerable every year to provide for his children. But, amongst his other christian virtues, he was “given to hospitality”, was fond of society, gave frequent routs and parties, and was blessed with a very fashionable and extravagant wife and family1.
He was
actual lineal heir to the Title and Estates of Lord Ravensworth, and was
absolutely preparing to prefer his claim to that Peerage in the House of Lords
when he met with a sudden and violent death by a fall from his horse. How he
came to be the rightful Heir to that noble title and estates was thus: The original family name was Liddell,
the name still retained by the present Lord Ravensworth. One of our ancestors,
Sir Liddell, a knight of great valour and fame in those days, was by some
chance left alone to defend a bridge or pass, which was attacked by his
enemies, who he defeated single handed, and of whom he killed twenty. His name
was therefore altered from Liddell to Twentyman, and he was likewise made a
Baronet, the family arms being:
Crest
A Bloody hand & Battle-axe
Armorial bearings
A field Azure with 3 Battle-axes in Chief & the Baronet’s Red Right Hand
Motto
“Manu tuenti
finis”
With my hand I finished twenty
But, besides all this, my Mother said there was a second crest and a second motto (probably those of the original Liddell family), which motto I believe was “Omni quod exit in [orn]”, the English of which I forget.
This
alteration of the family name from Liddell to Twentyman could not, of course,
invalidate the just claim of succession to the property of the Liddells or to
the title of Ravensworth which they had acquired, and it was thus that my
Grandfather, the Reverend Doctor Twentyman, became the right heir to both that
title and the estates which belonged to it. But, after his death, nothing was
done by my Uncle, General Twentyman, to establish the claim which, had he
recovered and other affairs gone on as they have done, the title and estates of
Ravensworth would have descended to my Mother, as the eldest surviving sister
of the last possessor thereof, he having no legitimate child or children, and
next to me at my Mother’s death, as her only surviving son and the only male
descendant, heir and representative of the last Lord Ravensworth and that
branch of the Liddell and the Twentyman families. Thus, instead of being the
poor, obscene individual that I now am, I should have been now Lord
Ravensworth, or peer of the realm and the possessor of large and valuable
estates in
Some
years ago, I saw a picture of “
But, you will naturally enquire, “How is it that the title of Ravensworth (if not the actually Property thereof) is now and has been for many years possessed and enjoyed by the present Lord Ravensworth ? The fact is that, when I was young, he who is now Lord Ravensworth was only Sir Thos. Liddell, a Baronet. The title of Baron Ravensworth was re-created and bestowed on him by George the Fourth, and was not recovered by that family through the House of Lords. But, I have read of many cases wherein noble Lords were dispossessed and deprived of their titles and estates by other claimants who proved to be the right heirs. We shall not, however, dispute the title with the present Lord Ravensworth or his heirs, because we have not the requisite proofs, evidences of lineal descent from the first Lord of that title to found our claim on.
It must therefore rest with us a mere naked, barren and unprofitable fact, and there is but little if any satisfaction in knowing or saying that “We have Noble Blood in our Veins”. That noble blood will not render us proof against hunger, cold or want.
In Ireland, I knew of an instance where a poor, ignorant butcher’s boy proved to be the rightful heir to a noble title and large estates which were duly recovered for him, and which he possessed and enjoyed for the remainder of his life. Your Mother had once a nurse, a Mrs Gilham, who was intimately acquainted with that noble Lord (whose title I forget) and with his family.
Soon after my first arrival in London in 1825, I wrote to Lord Ravensworth upon the foregoing subject, requesting to know if there were not some account and evidences amongst the archives of the Liddell family respecting the achievement of my ancestor who had thereby acquired the name of Twentyman.
His Lordship (my Cousin no doubt, but by how many removes I am utterly unable to say) favored me with a very polite answer stating that there were no such evidences amongst the family records of the Liddells. This did not surprise me, as it was hardly to be expected that he would acknowledge the existence of such evidences. But, if I am spared a little longer and can find the means and opportunity to make the necessary enquiries and search in the Office of Arms or in old books of the peerage, I have no doubt I shall be able to prove the facts above stated merely for the purpose of convincing my ‘cousin’ of Ravensworth that my claim to relationship with him was correct and true 1.
My Grandfather, the Reverend Doctor Twentyman, married a Miss Lloyd, a Welch heiress of good family who consequently thereby became
No. 2 Mrs Twentyman: my Grandmother, by whom he had five children, namely:
No. 3 Samuel Twentyman
Esq.: my Uncle, who entered the army very young and purchased all
his commissions, from his Ensigncy to his Lieutenant Colonelcy, both inclusive,
at a cost of 5000
His chief object and ambition was promotion in the army, to which object he sacrificed every other consideration, selling the greater part of his own private property, and even some of his Brother Childers’, and which he had no right to touch, in order to raise the funds necessary for the purchase of his several commissions. However, he voluntarily executed a Bond in favour of his Brother for £ 216, as a partial recompense to him, binding himself, his heirs, executors and administrators to pay the same with lawful interest. But, my Uncle Childers never would forgive his Brother’s injustice towards him, and he never would consent to accept that Bond or receive the interest thereon to the time of his death in 1838. On my taking out Letters of Administration to his effects in my Mother’s name, we received that Bond from my Uncle Childers’s bankers Messrs. Claypon & Co. of Boston in Lincolnshire, together with several years interest thereon, which had been paid into their hands by Mr. Johnston, the executor of my Uncle, General Twentyman, many years previous, upon which additional interest had consequently accumulated. With the sum obtained by the sale of books and other property, left at his lodgings by my Uncle Childers when he was removed from Boston to Haslar Hospital, Gosport, having become childish and incapable of managing his affairs, the total amount which I received from those bankers for my Mother, together with the balance of my Uncle’s half-pay at the Admiralty, as a First Lieutenant of Marines, was £477 odd, and in 1846 I received for my Mother from Mr Johnston’s executors, on account of that Bond for £ 216, the sum of £220 in cash, after allowing about £20 towards the law costs and the large sum paid us as interest upon that Bond.
My Uncle, General Twentyman, never married, but formed an illicit connection with Susan Harmston, who was originally his servant, by whom he had one illegitimate daughter, Charlotte Harmston, to whom he bequeathed all his Property in Lincoln (although it is a question whether it was not entailed and justly revertible to his Brother and sisters at his death) with an express proviso that, in case she (his natural daughter, Charlotte Harmston) should die under age, or without leaving lawful issue to inherit the same, that property should in such case revert to his own right heirs, who were of course first his Brother, my Uncle Childers, at whose death, without children it must have descended to my Mother, their only surviving sister, and at her death to me, her only surviving son and the only real and legitimate and lineal heir and representative of that branch of the Twentyman family. But, whether that Charlotte Harmston lived to inherit that property, or, if so, whether she ever married, or left lawful heirs to take that property after her, I have never been able to ascertain, because it is the interest of the heirs and executors of Mr. Johnston, who was the acting executor of my Uncle, General Twentyman, to keep us in the dark as to what constituted that property, what became of it, and how it is now circumstanced. 1
Here again we are at fault and, possessing no materials or criterion whereby to shape or whereon to ground a just claim (supposing that this Charlotte Harmston may have died without lawful issue, or that such issue may have lapsed and failed since her death), we may be unjustly deprived of and kept out of that property. But unfortunately we have no remedy for this evil and must only “grin & abide it”.
No. 4 Childers Twentyman Esq.: my Uncle, was always excentric in his ways. When a boy he had a favourite tom-cat which killed some birds and rabbits belonging to his Brother, Sam, who destroyed the cat in consequence, and for that his Brother Childers never forgave him. Early in life he became a Lieutenant in the Royal Marines.2 Until lately I had his commission as such signed by King George the Third, and am very sorry I have lost it, although it was of no real value. After the long war with France, which ended with the Battle of Waterloo in 1815, my Uncle Childers retired upon half-pay and took lodgings in Boston, where he lived alone until 1823, when he was removed on the orders of Government to Haslar Hospital on account of his having become quite imbecile. Early in 1825, I visited him there and found him a very plain looking little man, very simple, though somewhat sly and suspicious in his manners. He looked old but healthy. It was difficult to get him to speak, and when he did so it was but little he would say, and that rather incoherent. His attendant informed me that he was harmless and innocent, that even in summer, when there was no fire in the ward, he would sit close to the fire-grate spreading out his hands as if he were warming them by a good fire.
He had taken his watch to pieces, but could not put it together again. When I told him I was his nephew, and spoke to him about my Mother and my aunts King and Wetherall, he seemed hardly to comprehend me, evincing no anxiety or care respecting them, his 3 sisters. There he continued in the same state until his death in 1838, 13 years after I saw him.3 Then, I collated and recovered the little property he had left for my Mother, as already stated above, as his other sisters were then dead, my Aunt Wetherall having died several years before, my Aunt King only a month or two previous to his decease, just as if it had be so ordained that my mother should have the whole of it herself, and that I might receive a great part thereof from her then and by degrees afterwards, until her death, to keep me and my family from utter destitution and the workhouse.
No. 5 Catherine Twentyman:
my Aunt, my Mother’s elder sister, married Mr. Henry King, an Irishman, who was
then a Subaltern Officer in the army and who afterwards attained the rank of
Major. He spent many years on Foreign Service, in
As my Aunt and Uncle occupied the very furthest block-house of the British possessions, they were frequently visited by the real native, wild Indians, many of whose Chiefs were on very friendly terms with them, and used to sit with them for hours together talking (for many of them could speak tolerable English) drinking whatever liquor was given to them, and smoking the Calumet or Pipe of Peace. They gave my Uncle some of those pipes, the Wampum belt, worked with many coloured beads, some mockasins and snow shoes, and a large quilt made of a buffalo’s hide, ornamented with porcupine’s quills and beautiful coloured feathers, in exchange or acknowledgement of various small presents he had made to them and the kindness he treated them with.
Major
King and my Aunt were always very regular and frugal in their habits, and when
he retired on half-pay he left a considerable balance in the hands of his
agent, who afterwards decamped, leaving my Uncle the loser of a large sum
which, had he possessed and left to his widow, she would most probably have
bequeathed it to my Mother and me as she had no other relations living, they
never having had any children. They went to live in Bridgenorth, in
No. 6 Susanna Twentyman: my Mother, married my Father, John Paumier Esq., as stated above where I have given some particulars respecting her. She was always the favourite daughter of her parents. Her mother died when she was entering into womanhood and, as her elder sister Catherine was soon afterwards married to Mr King, my mother became housekeeper and sole manager to her father, who, although a clergyman, encouraged and indulged her in all sorts of fashionable gaities, extravagances in dress and living, so that she spent her youth in a constant round of pleasure and amusement, at assemblies, balls, concerts, plays, races, routs and private parties, being (as I have before stated) a sweet singer and player on the guitar and a most splendid and elegant dancer. She was also handsome and possessed a very elegant and graceful figure. No wonder that she was much admired and followed by many suitors, to none of whom she gave any encouragement until she met with my Father, whose person, manner and accomplishments suited her taste exactly, and to whom she therefore gave her heart and hand. He proved, however, too gay for domestic life or happiness, was but rarely at home, drank hard and treated her harshly, being often absent for weeks and months together, visiting some of his noble friends. On one occasion, I recollect spending about a week with my Father on a visit to Lord Audley1, when I was stuffed with all sorts of luxuries. At another time, my Father quitted home and took private lodgings, taking me with him, where we lived for several weeks. You will therefore perhaps say that I inherit his roving disposition, though I can swear I do not resemble him in fondness for drink and women, in extravagant habits or unkindness, or severity towards my wife and children when at home.
The effect of such
conduct on the part of my Father rendered my Mother’s life very unhappy whilst
he lived, but, after his death in 1812, she enjoyed peace, comfort and
contentment with me until I left her and came to reside in
My Sister, however, charged £30 per annum for my Mother’s board and lodging, although she had her own furniture and found herself in many little necessaries which she would not ask or accept from them. Even there, she generally kept in her own room having her meals sent up to her, except when I was there and she sat at the same table to enjoy my company. And there she continued until her death, which took place on the 28th of May 1852.
No. 7 Frances Twentyman:
my Aunt, was married to Mr William Wetherall, an Irishman, who visited Lincoln
as agent to a large house in the china trade and represented himself as the
nephew and heir of the principal partner, sure to inherit considerable
property. But afterwards, he turned out to be only a staymaker, related to the
head partner in the firm of “Wetherall Medission & Co.” of
He soon took my Aunt over to Dublin, where he opened a handsome shop as a staymaker and secured the business and patronage of the then Lady Lieutenant, and thereby established a first rate connexion amongst the Irish nobility and gentry, and did business which brought him in at least £700 per annum. At that time, ladies wore the long, full-boned stays, which were chiefly made and fitted on by men, and they were very expensive.
Of
course they had frequent orders from the gay ladies, and as my Uncle Wetherall
was a very amorous and rakish chap, he often had too much to say to such sort
of customers. He was likewise terribly addicted to drunkenness and
extravagance, and proved a very bad husband to my Aunt, whom he often treated
with brutal violence without the slightest cause or provocation, for she was
kindness, gentleness and patience personified, and she bore all his
ill-treatment without resistance and almost without complaint. He spent his
money as fast as he got it and would no doubt have come to ruin soon if he had
lived longer, but his career was cut short by death, the consequence of
intemperance. After his decease, my Aunt carried on the business by herself for
many years on
After that, my Aunt took a fancy to keep the orphan daughter of one of her work-women The name of that girl was Fanny Proudfoot, who gradually worked herself into my Aunt’s affections by artfulness and hypocrisy, and obtained a most extraordinary and paramount influence over her, until she became almost her mistress in everything, to the injury and exclusion of my Aunt’s nearest relations. That girl ultimately married a Mr Pemberton, agent to a Scotch Bottle & Glass Company, but she still stuck by my Aunt until her death and then succeeded her in the business. Whatever property my Aunt had disappeared, except one debenture for £100, which was given up to my Mother; all else was kept and appropriated to her own use by Mrs Pemberton.
Thus has our branch of the Twentyman Family become extinct, my Mother being the last, and at the same time the only one leaving any legitimate heir in me. For it is somewhat remarkable that neither of my Uncles Twentyman married, and that although both my aunts, their and my Mother’s sisters married, neither of them left any child behind them. The whole family of the Twentymans for three generations is therefore comprised in and represented by 8 individuals, unless we include my Mother’s 13 children. But, there were only 7 persons of the name of Twentyman, whilst in the 3 generations of the Paumiers there were 28 individuals of that name, including my Father’s and my Uncle, Colonel Paumier’s, children only. But, by adding the fourth and fifth generations, being my children and grandchildren, we have a total of the Paumiers family to the present time of 50 in number, with every probability of their extending by degrees to double that number, although another remarkable fact is that neither of my 2 Brothers ever married or had any children to the best of my knowledge and belief. Neither have either of my 2 sisters any children living likely to increase the descendants of the Paumiers, as far as I know.
If their children, your first cousins, living and dead, be included in our Family, though not of our name, we shall have a grand total of about 62 persons. With such descent and connexions, and considering how much property there was in the family on both sides, it is melancholy and painful to think of our present circumstances, when, if justice had been done, we should all be rich and independent now instead of being poor and in obscurity.
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