Burrish Crisp – aged 27/28 – son of James Crisp and Elizabeth (Marsh) – Calcutta
Elizabeth Maria Shee (ne Crisp) – aged 25/26 – daughter of James and Eliza Crisp
Sir George Shee – husband of above – Surveyor-General of the Ordnance, Secretary of the Treasury, Receiver-General in Ireland, etc etc.
George Shee – aged 5/6
Charles Shee – aged 0/1
Mary Duval (ne Marsh) – aged 77/78 – Sister of George and Milbourne
John Duval – husband of Mary Duval
Elizabeth Morrison (ne Duval) – 37/38 – daughter of John Duval and Mary (Marsh)
James Morrison – aged 51/52
James Morrison – aged 15/16, son of above and brother of Jane, Mary, Elizabeth and Ann.
George Marsh – aged 67/68
George Marsh – aged 40/41 – eldest son of of George and Anne (Long) (died 1790)
William Marsh – aged 34/35 – second son of George Marsh above
Amelia Marsh (ne Cuthbert) – aged 24/25
Arthur Cuthbert Marsh – aged 3/4
Amelia Marsh – aged 1/2
George Marsh – aged 0
John Marsh – aged 42/43 – son of Milbourne Marsh
Lucy Marsh (ne Gosling) – aged 31
John Milbourne Marsh – aged 2/3
George Augustus Elliot Marsh – aged 0
Elizabeth Downman ?
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Different – finer handwriting – re Paintings
28 January 1790 – Received Draught of £30.0.0 – carried over – £887.14.0
18th March 1790 – Received on account – £100.0.0
29th May 1790 – Received by Draught – £42.0.0
6th November 1790 – Received by Ditto from Willey – £50.0.0
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Letter of 1790.
Bedford Row, 19th March 1790.
Sir
As the Commission of American Claims expires on the 25th instant, I take the liberty of acquainting you that Mr Marsh, one of the Commissioners who has been in it from it’s first institution in 1783, will then be without any employ and without any provision whatsoever, and when I have related the peculiar situation as well as long and important services of this gentleman, I flatter myself you will not think it officious in me to have submitted them to your consideration.
In July 1783, then an entire stranger to Lord John Cavendish [1732-1796], then Chancellor of the Exchequer Mr Marsh was appointed a Commissioner of American Claims, and tho’ his character and merit are too high and too well known to require any representation from me, yet I cannot forbear, on this occasion, giving my testimony and opinion of his service in this Commission for seven years, namely that they have been those of exerting the most useful talents, the most unwearied diligence and the most exemplary integrity and zeal for the Public, in a trust of the most delicate and arduous nature.
I have the honor to be Etc
J. Wilmot
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July 1790
Admirals . . . 102
Post Captains . . . 520
Masters & Commanders . . . 350
Lieutenants . . . 2000 2,900
No doubt but the Navy is wonderfully increased in 1789 but for the sake of Patronage new Officers have been more employed, and the old ones permitted to receive half pay and follow other employments, and many others wish to serve who could not get employed at sea.
March 1792
Some years since an estate was advertised of about £1000 per annum, which had been property of William Marsh Esq. of Hertfordshire, who died intestate (no will), and was descended from one of that name, who formerly resided near Romney Marsh in Kent. Which imported that whoever could prove themselves the heirs at Law would be immediately put in possession of it. Whereupon, I took a great deal of trouble from what I had heard my Father say, of his Father and Grandfather (see page 13) but as I was not enabled to prove myself the heir to this estate, it became an escheat to the Crown.
This circumstance induced me to commit to writing the following memorandum of what I had heard from my Father and Mother of their Families, and what I knew of my own, in order to leave to my Es:; being satisfied from the above mentioned circumstance, and for other reasons, a chronology from Father to Son, would be very proper, and afford information and perhaps pleasing entertainment to successors.
George Marsh.
See my own situations and the account and occurrences from my own life from page 60.
Page 1
[later note written in the hand writing of Elizabeth Louisa Marsh Caldwell]
My Great grandfather G.M. was cousin to Herbert Marsh the Bishop of Peterborough’s Father and used to make him an annual visit as I have heard my Father and Grandfather say. (Louisa Marsh-Caldwell note in about 1860s)
Memorandum.
The account of my family with some particular circumstances respecting the Marquis of Montrose as related by my Mother. Viz.
George Marsh
March 1792
Her maiden name was Elizabeth Milbourne whose Grandfather John Milbourne Esq. had a capital fortune in the North of England, where he resided when the great Marquis of Montrose defeated by the Kings enemies (1650), who after suffering very great hardships in living in disguise in woods and Barnes several days, escaped from the very great extraordinary search made all over the country for him, and came to his house by night for protection, in a most wretched condition as he well knew he was a faithful subject of the Kings, and that he had a very great respect and affection for himself; but before he would take refuge there – (see 1650s)
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Purnham Green, 2nd March 1790
Dear Sir,
Nothing can contribute more to the restoration of my health than the interest kind friends express for it and their frequent enquiries, especially those that come from Mr Marsh, whose regards for the Public Service furnished me with means whilst we were together in the Mediterranean to faithfully discharging my duty in such manner as to draw down from the bounteous hand of my Gracious Sovereign such honour and favour as I can not have the presumption to say were owing either to my zeal or talents alone, but if those affairs have taken a right turn, the success was entirely founded upon the excellent materials of early information and timely notice carefully transmitted to me from Malaga, for indeed to you my dear friend and your friends, me and mine owe such unexampled Royal favours. We have been long enough acquainted for you to be assured these declarations are sincere and without flattery, indeed my official correspondence with the King’s Ministers in those times will furnish sufficient testimonials of my unaffected veracity in these declarations of the infinite obligations I was daily under to you towards carrying on the Public Service.
I beg to offer my respects to Mrs Marsh to whom I am impatient to make my bows.
I have the honour to be dear sir etc
Signed Heathfield
John Marsh Esq.
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Copy –
Mr Marsh’s answer to Lord Heathfield’s letter.
Battersea, 15th March 1790
My Lord,
I received the honor of your Lordship’s letter and beg leave to assure you I am at loss how to sufficiently express the due sense of the acknowledgment I entertain for the kind and flattering manner in which you therein are pleased to notice my conduct at Malaga previous to the last war with Spain.
I can say with great truth my Lord, that the desire I had of being useful was in no small degree heightened by the example of your Lordships unwearied attention to the duties of the important trust that you held at so critical a juncture, and the almost daily assurances that I received from you that my exertions in obtaining authentic information of the real designs of the Court of Spain, were considered by you as proof of my zeal for the Public Service; and I was still the more anxious of discharging my duty in a business of such importance, from a doubt whether or not Government were disposed to believe that Spain had any serious intention of taking part with France, much less to set about preparing for such an undertaking as that of laying siege to Gibraltar. Your Lordship had no doubts whatever thereon, and the event fully proved how fortunate it was for this Country that your measures were so timely and provident. Accept my Lord, my hearty wishes for the restoration of your health, and do me the justice to believe that I am with the sincerest and most respectful attachment.
Your Lordships
Most Faithful Servant
John Marsh
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Copy
Bedford Row, 19th March 1790.
Sir
As the Commission of American Claims expires on the 25th instant, I take the liberty of acquainting you that Mr (John) Marsh, one of the Commissioners who has been in it from it’s first institution in 1783, will then be without any employ and without any provision whatsoever, and when I have related the peculiar situation as well as long and important services of this gentleman, I flatter myself you will not think it officious in me to have submitted them to your consideration.
Mr Marsh had been eleven years His Majesty’s Consul at Malaga when the War broke out with Spain in 1779, and as to the manner in which he acquitted himself in that department I understand that besides the general tenure of his conduct, Lord Heathfield has taken an opportunity since he came home of representing to the Secretary of State for the Foreign Department what he had frequently before stated to his predecessors, namely the important communication made by Mr Marsh previous to the last rupture with Spain, and I beg to assure you that I heard Lord Heathfield declare, a short time ago, that if it had not been for the vigilant conduct and early intelligence of Mr Marsh at the period, he doubted whether the garrison at Gibraltar would at this time have belonged to the Crown of Great Britain.
On coming home in 1779, he was appointed to inspect and receive the provision contracted for and sent from Cork for the use of the troops to North America and the West Indies in how he executed that trust appears from a letter written by the Commissioners of the Navy to the Board of Treasury the 24th January 1783, of which the following is an extract “As the present appearances of Peace will naturally put an end to the employments of Mr Marsh and Mr Cherry [George Cherry, Chairman of the board of commissioners for victualing the navy] at Cork, and at Cowes we think it our duty in justice to the Public as well as these gentlemen to represent to the Lord Commissioners of His Majesty’s Treasury, that the trust reposed in Mr Marsh and Mr Cherry has been of such a nature as to have enabled them to have made considerable fortunes at the Public expense if they been so inclined. But we have the best ground for assuring their Lordships that they have carried on the branch of duty with such integrity, ability and indefatigable zeal that we are at a loss to say to which quality the Public have been most indebted.”
In July 1783, then an entire stranger to Lord John Cavendish [1732-1796], then Chancellor of the Exchequer Mr Marsh was appointed a Commissioner of American Claims, and tho’ his character and merit are too high and too well known to require any representation from me, yet I cannot forbear, on this occasion, giving my testimony and opinion of his service in this Commission for seven years, namely that they have been those of exerting the most useful talents, the most unwearied diligence and the most exemplary integrity and zeal for the Public, in a trust of the most delicate and arduous nature.
I submit, therefore Sir, to your consideration whether after the exertion of so much ability and integrity in the Public Service for 22 years Mr Marsh has not a fair claim on Government for a liberal and permanent provision at one of the Boards of Revenue, or Auditors of the Public Accounts, or on some other establishment equally respectable, tho’ I conceive that his character and talents peculiarly qualify him for either of the above departments.
I beg leave to add that Mr Marsh is very well known to Mr Molleson who I believe would be very glad of Mr Marsh’s assistance whenever there should be a vacancy in either of the Commissions to which he belongs. I flatter myself you will think the circumstances I have stated sufficient to justify me in troubling you with this address, as without your protection Mr Marsh will have no provision whatever at the expiration of his commission, and as it has been one of the characteristic features of your administration to reward those who distinguished themselves in the Service of the Public.
I have the honor to be Etc
J. Wilmot
Rt.Hon William Pitt [1759-1806] etc etc.
Lord John Cavendish
1732-1796
William Pitt
1759-1806
Having enjoyed uncommon and various blessing and success through life, I think it proper to make the following memorandums, to show my situation at different periods of it, and how wonderfully I have been brought forward in the world; of which I am so truly sensible and thankful to God Almighty, that I hope I have ever shewn and shall continue to show, by my Actions and conduct, I have a constant and proper sense thereof.
George Marsh
1792
Now in my 70th year
Note. The following memorandums have been written in a hurry, consequently not correct or properly connected, for indeed at my time of life I thought not time should be lost in making them, as I wished to do, for the perusal of my successors, and to show that by the blessing of God Industry and prudence how successful I have been.
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15 March 1790
Sir Charles Middleton quitted his office as Comptroller of the Navy as he could not get a deputy Comptroller appointed. Most of the clerks were in the Hall of the Navy Office to meet and tell me of it, as I went to it this morning, expressing the utmost pleasure on the event, and to my great surprise in going to my room I met him, and he took by the hand and told me he had quitted (tho’ I had not spoke to him for months before, but in business) and had been and was very uneasy ever since he had differed with me and therefore begged my pardon for whatever he might have said or done to my prejudice or contrary to my opinion and added that he had and ever should have the greatest regard for me.
I own this astonished me very much and caused me to reflect how very few men can conduct themselves with propriety who suddenly obtain great power and riches with unexpected honours. I am also confirmed in my opinion that no man can be happy in himself who acts by others unjustly, or in any manner in which he should not like to be treated himself. And indeed I doubt whether this condescension of him did not arise from fear of my exposing him in the public papers, by publishing an account of all his actions in office, but be that as it may, I so far forgive him, that I shall always have great pleasure in rendering him or his friends my very best services, but I never shall be intimate with such a man, so as to visit him.
There is an unaccountable weakness even in artful unjust designing men, it often happens by the unguarded part of their conduct, that Providence makes them the instruments of their own detection and overthrow.
It will appear that I have been very particular in relating this business and event which happened to me, the reason of my being so is, I really suffered great uneasiness of mind at times on account of it.
The Clerk of the Acts of the Navy should be possessed of great prudence and good disposition, for by leading this great variety of business, and registering the dayly occurrences of the letters received, and the answers thereto with all the contracts bargains allowances etc etc and in short of all accounts and papers that comes to, or is sent from that Board, his duty is very great and important and should constantly attend to it as I faithfully have done for he too often meets with disagreeable events and reflections even from his brother Commissioners many of whom attend it just as they please, which is not very constantly and it is much easier to find fault than to remedy anything that is done amiss, and as they have equal power, it too often happens that they do so. And tho’ the Clerk of the Acts is the first Clerk officer in rank at the Board it is a very laborious and a very confined one, if he does his duty.
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1790 – Gardner &c – – -Cleaning &c – £1.1.0
5th April 1790 – Paid for Three (Uprite?) Landscapes – £65.12.6
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16 April 1790
Mr John Margetson was appointed my assistant upon Mr Serles quitting by my application to Lord Chatham and instead of being called in his Warrant Secretary to the Navy Board as Sir Charles Middleton got Mr Serle to be, he was named assistant to the Clerk of the Acts of the Navy, as it was always usual before.
This I wished very much to be done for the Clerks of my office, who have double the labour and confinement of any other clerks in the Navy Office and as being regularly bred in it, should regularly rise therein, and if capable and fit in other respects, the head Clerk to the Clerk of the Acts of the Navy, should on the vacancy of his assistant be appointed thereto, for no stranger to the business of the Office is fit for it, or can be so without many years experience.
21 May 1790
Mary Marsh’s death should have been inserted here – see page 169
14 July 1790
My dear son George died who was borne 29th December 1749 who from bad connections particularly with women neglected the very great business of a Proctor in Doctors Commons which he had and might have had, and fell into every other bad destructive habit, insomuch that I advanced some thousands to keep him from Bankruptcy, tho’ he might have got a fortune in his situation with honour and honesty, he having also a seat in the prerogative Office there as a mere sinecure of about £200 per annum. I ever had a most fatherly love and affection for him, although his bad conduct to often gave me great very great uneasiness. But now he is no more, all his imprudence vanishes, and his fine person is uppermost in my mind with his genteel amiable manners and various other good qualities, which has occasioned some unpleasant reflections, that I have not made those allowances I ought to have done for the imperfections of human nature, or rendered him all the service and assistance with money, which I had it in my power to do.
But upon as strict examination of my heart hereon, I knew my readiness to do my utmost for him, if I had thought it would not have fed his vices and idleness, rather than have been of service, and would too have put it out of my power to provide for him hereafter when they might bring him into the utmost distress, I would have given him as much as was in my power, with the greatest pleasure. From this self examination, I therefore found great comfort, being conscious I have . . . . . supplied him with money from time to time ’till I found it answered no good end, and that he did not reclaim and follow my advice tho’ frequently given it in the mildest friendly manner possible.
Having therefore acted my own part, as I ought to do, I have no reason to be uneasy for any event that has frequently happened to him or my family, on the contrary I am sensible it is my duty to submit thereto, and make the best of all things which has or may happen to me or them, being totally ignorant of what is best for us, or will tend most to our happiness. He was buried the 20th July 1790 in the vault I built in Gillingham Church, Kent.
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design for memorial
Anne, daughter of George Marsh of Blackheath Esq., departed this Life, the 30th of August 1777 in the 18th Year of her Age.
Farewell dear Maid, of modest worth possest
With virtue, sense, and genius, richly blest.
Farewell my Child, till happier times arrive;
When thy fair form, shall from the dust revive,
If worthy Judg’d thy Joyful Father then,
To his fond Breast, shall clasp his Child again.
Anne Wife of George Marsh Esq., and Mother of the above named Anne died the 1st of April 1784 Aged 63 Years
George Marsh junior Esq., Proctor in Doctors Commons son of the above mentioned George and Anne Marsh, died the 14th of July 1790 in the 41st Year of his Age.
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George Marsh diary continues…
21 May 1790
My cousin Mrs Mary Marsh died and was buried in Camberwell Church yard. She left to me and my sons £6,400 in the £3 & 6th Bank consolidated Anns which Mr Warren meant to leave to me, but by a mistake he made in writing his own will, who was also my first cousin – see page 33.
(note this memorandum should have as in page 167)
My son George left two illegitimate children a son named George who turned out a very bad youth so that tho’ we had interest enough when he went to the East Indies to have made his fortune he conducted him so bad in every respect, that nothing could be done for him, and after going to Botany Bay and several other voyages without the least amendment, he last entered for a soldier in the East India Company’s service and changed his name for Smith, since which I have not heard anything of him.
The daughter married Lieutenant Gilbert Paterson about the year __ and has two children. I gave her £40 per annum for her life and various other sums who conducts herself very well, as does her husband tho’ upon a very scanty income for his pay is not more than between £60 and £70 per annum. Note I have since increased her allowance £60 per annum and he is now a Captain in full pay of about £180 per annum.
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