Search results for ""Author Francis E. Witts""

With Edward now his curate at Stanway and married with a family Francis' interest in national and county events is eclipsed by family and local events. The growing Oxford Movement, (or Tractarians), is now mentioned regularly and Francis begins to lean more towards the Movement and away from his previous view of himself as a 'traditional' clergyman. His attitude to the Triennial Music Meeting changes too from the enthusiasm of younger years to a distinctly negative view as he grows older.

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The diary of a Cotswold parson, from 1820 to 1852, throws new light on to a fascinating period of English social history. It was just before the railways made travel faster, and we are astonished how well the Reverend F. E. Witts manages to commute from Upper Slaughter to Gloucester on his horse or in his carriage.He is a shrewd observer and notices how the fashionable world behaves as he passes through Cheltenham, and how the building of the town progresses. For the first time we discover that John Forbes the architect of the beautiful Pittville Pump-room was sentenced for fraud to transportation for life, even though it was subsequently commuted to a few years in prison.Witts may not savour each unique experience to the same extent as the diarist parson Kilvert did later in the century; but he had far wider and more interesting contacts. His references, for instance, to the widow of Warren Hastings, to Dr Jenner, to the bibliophile Sir Thomas Phillipps, the philanthropist Samuel Warneford, or to Bishops Monk, enable us to form much more complete pictures of these historical figures. Reading the diary is an enjoyable experience for anyone; but particularly for those who love Gloucestershire.

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Volume Eight begins with a family holiday, probably the only time in which the whole family, including grandchildren, spent a long time together (May-June 1846). The destination was the Isle of Wight where they had an enjoyable sojourn of five weeks, although Margaret's poor health precluded her doing much walking. Much of the volume covers property matters and the Hunt Trust. The summer of 1847 did not include a holiday, but as a substitute, Francis and Margaret spent nine days with the Hunt family in Stoke Doyle, Northamptonshire, and of course much Trust business was discussed. The following year saw their holiday, with a four-week break in North Wales. From 1848 onwards Margaret's health went into a severe decline. Missing diaries result in us knowing little of what happened between November 1848 and December 1849, but from that point onwards Margaret became bed-bound and by the end of this volume she was lying at death's door. Volume Eight is interesting for depth of detail. The Irish Potato Famine is covered, although not in as much detail as one may have imagined.There is also the say news of the death of Frederick Howell, in South Africa, killed in a conflict with Hottentots. Frederick was the eldest son of Thomas Howell, Francis Witt's closest friend.

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Life for Francis Witts is more settled. Victoria has ascended the throne and Francis is now Chairman of the Board of Governors of Stow-on-the-Wold Union Workhouse, a position he takes seriously and maintains until his death. The diaries throw much light onto the setting up of the Unions and the harsh routine there. He does not disapprove of charity being shown to the inmates but is most unhappy at the suggestion that they be allowed to enjoy the Coronation celebrations.

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Francis Witts gained a curacy in Wiltshire in 1806 but did not get on with his Rector and was about to be ousted when an opportunity at Upper Slaughter arose after his Uncle Fernando's death. By 1809 Francis is married to Margaret Backhouse and settled there. Frances discontinued his writing from 1808 until 1820 but, fortunately, details come from his mother, Agnes. The volume ends sadly with the death of his brother, George, in 1823 and Agnes's own death in 1825.

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As before, events alter the manner in which entries are recorded and here we see a change in style and emphasis as problems with his son, Edward, and the murder of Mr Rens figure prominently in Francis' life. Indeed, it seems that the gap in the diaries from June 1830 to January 1832 may be due to the depression that Francis suffers as he fears that his son will not be able to fulfil the ambitions of a loving father.

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Mr Rens' murderer is carted off to Gloucester but Francis is still beset by problems. A fellow magistrate, Richard Ford, even manages to profit from them. Francis and Richard's long-term but mutually antagonistic friendship suffers a blow when in 1834, at a meeting of the Stow Savings Bank, Mr Baillie makes a personal attack on Francis, and Charles Pole. Canon Ford has something to do with it and the 'Baillie' affair is set to blow up out of all proportion.

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In his forties Francis Witts enjoyed a leisurely lifestyle and by 1825 he was reporting on Parliamentary affairs in detail and reviewing the many books he read, but this declined as his magisterial duties grew. This volume sees many deaths and, as a consequence, Francis becomes the head of his family. However his expectations of inheritance are dashed as his line is excluded in favour of his Uncle Ferdinand's children and grandchildren. Even worse, a debt of GBP800 is called in!

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