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The present chapter ought to be as least as long as any contained in this family history. Thomas the Rector of Brailsford, and Joseph his brother, stand at the head of two lines into which the family has been divided.
Circumstances, as well as the yearly increasing distance of relationship, have tended to a separation between the two lines which has only been broken of late by some casual meeting of one or other of these now distant cousins.
[This has been rather a difficult chapter to edit into a reasonably coherent form. It is partly due to the actually small amount of information able to be gathered by TPB although we cannot blame him for this. He had obviously done his best to keep up with very distant relations, but much of what he was able to record was very incomplete, mostly undated, and did not go very far onwards into lines of descent. Some additional information was added by JB (see here). Later research by several past family hands, more recent research, and help from living family members has added a tremendous amount towards completing the history of Joseph of Coleorton and his descendants to the present time. Most of these now live in Canada, and some in Western Australia, as will be later seen. Readers may find it helpful in following the sequence to bear in mind the names and order of the sons of Joseph of Baxterley (only son of Joseph of Coleorton) in the table of descent (see here). Ed.] |
The fortunes of the two branches, on the whole, have not been dissimilar, though landed estate and consequent position have fallen to the lot of some members of the younger, beyond perhaps that which the elder branch has shared. It has been seen that no legacy was left to Joseph his son by the first Thomas Boultbee of Stordon, who bequeathed all his landed property first to his elder son Thomas and then to his grandson Thomas. Yet we infer that this did not imply dissatisfaction with Joseph, for his father requested him to act as overseer to his Will in order to aid his executor and grandson Thomas in carrying out its provisions. No doubt Joseph had received his portion, and had already at that date (1750), acquired considerable property. He was proportionally well qualified to guide his nephew. Joseph is known to have resided at the old Coleorton Hall, the ancient residence of the Beaumonts, which preceded their present mansion so well-known through the admiring poetry of Wordsworth. [The present mansion was begun in 1804. Ed.] He was also land agent to that family.
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He [i.e.Joseph Senior. Ed.] married Elizabeth Ward in 1735 at St. Peter's Derby. She died in 1771, and he followed her in 1789 at the great age of 88, not having attained however to the days of the years of his brother the Rector. Whether he was of similar stature seems unknown. It appears from Nichol's Leicestershire that the following monument was erected to him in Coleorton Church on the north side:- [Transcribed from an Editorial photograph rather than from Nichol. Ed.]
SPERO IN DEO
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Editorial Note:
As well as assisting his father in the management of the Beaumont estate, and succeeding to its stewardship in 1789 (see Joseph Of Coleorton) he was High Sheriff of Worcestershire. However, he lived at Baxterley Old Hall -- also moated like Stordon Grange -- a short distance from the village of Baxterley, some 15 miles southwest of Coleorton. Boultbee's Farm still shown on current Ordnance Survey Map No. 140, was probably the home farm of the estate and is nearby the remains of the Hall. The following fascinating letters cast further light on Joseph-of-Baxterley. The good offices of Matthew Boulton (1728 - 1809), the famous Birmingham engineer, are sought on behalf of an actress, Jane Wallis. The addressee, William Villers, seems to be connected either with the theatre at Birmingham, or with William McCready the Elder (1755 - 1829) the well-known actor-manager who is known to have managed the Birmingham Theatre amongst others. On receipt of Joseph's letter, Mr. Villers was obviously non-plussed, not to say agitated. The circumstances in which Joseph thinks that Matthew Boulton might take a barrel of rice off his hands leave one unable even to hazard a guess at! It is possible that the Boulton connection may be through him perhaps supplying the two Josephs, father and son, with colliery machinery. At that time, Boulton and his partner James Watt had co-operated in producing efficient steam-operated engines and pumps. Watt had developed and improved the earlier Newcomen engine. |
JOSEPH BOULTBEE OF BAXTERLEY (1737 - 1806) |
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Click below for
Captain Edward Moore Boultbee (1797 - 1889)
(written by the Editors)
Richard Frederick (Standing) Edward | Back of original Photo |
[The details of Frederick Moore's active service career as set down in the History by TPB were taken from O'Byrne's Naval Biographical Dictionary. William Richard O'Byrne (1823 - 1896) though not himself connected with the Navy, devoted six years to producing his Dictionary, the first edition of which appeared in 1849 -- the present 1990 edition is a reprint. In 1861 he began a new and enlarged edition which was issued in monthly parts, still in alphabetical order of names of officers, but he only took them as far as 'G'. These parts are now very scarce and hard to come by.
In those days promotion advancement for Army and Navy officers could sometimes come from family money, influence or patronage. Thirty-one years after Matthew Boulton's good offices were invoked on behalf of Joseph of Baxterley's actress protégée (see here), help was sought for Frederick Moore from his son Matthew Robinson Boulton in the following letters of 1826. We do not know who Thomas Levett was, and would like to know more of Mrs. Tennant. In 1826 Frederick Moore was 28, had been serving in H.M.S. North Star for a year, and had been a Lieutenant since 1821. He may not actually have been aware of his friends' actions, but it may be that Boulton's influence and connections in high places may have assisted in his promotion to Commander in 1829. We feel, however, that his part in the capture of the Spanish ship had not been forgotten, even though this promotion was followed by relegation to half-pay, the fate of many naval officers, not excepting Lord Nelson for a period, when there were often too many of them for the available command vacancies on ships. Ed.]
Jan. 25. 1826.
My Dear Sir, Mrs.Tennant of Aston, is very anxious to procure a Letter of introduction, for a young Friend of hers, a Mr.Boultbee, Lieutenant of H.M.S. North Star, to Captain Bullen of his M.S.Maidstone, Commodore on the African Station. I trust therefore you will not think me intrusive in requesting that you will have the goodness to ascertain whether Admiral Coffin is sufficiently acquainted with Captain Bullen, as to justify his taking the liberty of supplying the said Lieutenant with such introductory Letter. Captain Pinker has been applied to, but being unknown to Capt. Bullen, is unable to promote the wishes of Mrs. Tennant, on this occasion. I have many apologies to offer f[or] giving you so much trouble; [do] not attribute it to any officious interference on my part: Could I refuse to comply with the solicitations of mine Hostess of little Aston? Believe me, my dear Sir very faithfully yours Thomas Levett. (addressed) M.R.Boulton Esq Soho Birmingham. |
My dear Sir,
I beg you will accept my very best thanks for the friendly & efficient manner in which you have promoted the object we had in view, with regard to the professional welfare of the young Sailor. Should you see or have occasion to write to Sir I. Coffin, I shall be much obliged to you to express to him, in the strongest manner, how sensibly we feel his kindness. Believe me, my dear Sir very sincerely yours Thomas Levett. Packington Feb. 8/26. (addressed) M.R.Boulton Esq Soho Birmingham. |
Click below for
Admiral Frederick Moore Boultbee (1798 -1876)
(written by the Editors)
[Having dealt with Joseph of Springfield and the complicated sequence of his children and descendants we return to his brothers and sisters. Ed.]
Edward Francis Boultbee (1809 - 1897)
(Written by the Editors)
He was educated at Repton School, which he entered in 1821. He entered the East India Company's Mercantile Marine Service on 27th February, 1827, presumably as a Midshipman as was customary. He served for seven years and was discharged on 27th April, 1834, probably at the end of a long voyage to the East, the ship not returning home until after the Service ceased officially in 1833. In 1855 he was commissioned a Captain in the 6th Yorkshire Militia Regiment, and promoted Major in 1872. He married, in 1866, Annette Erlam, a widow. There were no children.
This is but a meagre sketch of so important a branch of the family but it may serve to trace the degree of relationship existing between the widely scattered individuals who bear the name. To illustrate this further the following parallel lines of descent may be added.