Michael D.Heath-Caldwell M.Arch.

1842

Elizabeth Caldwell (Bessy) of Nantwich -  75/76  (died June)

Hannah Eliza Roscoe - age 56/57                                               .         

James Stamford Caldwell of Linley Wood Hall - age 55/56              

Arthur Cuthbert Marsh of Eastbury Park - age 55/56   

Anne Marsh-Caldwell of Eastbury Park – age 50/51 - at Boulogne, France

Eliza Louisa Marsh-Caldwell – 'Louisa' –  age 23/24     

Frances Mary Marsh (later Crofton) - age 22/23    

Georgina Amelia Marsh-Caldwell – 'Gies' – age 21/22  

Rosamond Marsh-Caldwell – 'Posy' - age 18/19  - in London

Martin William James Marsh - age 16/17  - at Eton.

Mary Emma Marsh (Lady Mary  E. Heath) – age 15/16  

Hannah Adelaide Marsh (later Loring) - age 13/14



Wedgwood Archive

28-20791

12 January 1842

Letter from Arthur Cuthbert Marsh to Josiah Wedgwood (1769-1843).

This letter is written from Eastbury and confirms that the Marriage Trust holds a mortgage of £7,500 on the Eastbury Estate.

Letter from Arthur Cuthbert Marsh

to his son Martin Marsh.  

Sunday 20 February 1842

My dear Martin

I ought to have written to you before this about the lock up but I was obliged to go to town last Wednesday and thence to Shorne, about the commutation of the Tithes of that Parish. 

I only returned late on Friday night, and I have been so full of that business all the time that I confess your affair went quite out of my head; but I trust that the delay of my answer has been of no consequence as I think there cannot yet be any boats afloat, however I give my consent most cheerfully.

Take care of yourself and avoid tobacco and strong drink.

Ever most affectionately yours

ACM.

It is recorded, by the Borough Archivist, Medway Council, that Arthur Marsh was the lessee of some land in Shorne, near Rochester, Kent.  He had connections with this area as there are a number of memorials to the Marsh family in the Gillingham Parish Church of St Mary Magdalene.

Letter from Arthur Cuthbert Marsh

to his son Martin Marsh. The letter and envelope are all one piece, post marked Watford and Windsor, 10 March 1842.  I

Mr M Marsh

Mrs Horsfords

Eton College

Bucks

The letter reads as follows:

Eastbury

Wednesday 9 March 1842

My dear Martin

With such a cause as you assign for the shortness of your letter, I am well content with it; in general the longer your letters are the better.  I always read them with interest, (when I can) and when they are past my powers of deciphering, which sometimes happens, I get your Mother or one of your Sisters to guess at the contents for me. 

I have a choice to offer you, as to how you are to come home.  If you like to wait until later in the day, two of your sisters would be delighted to go over to Drayton and meet you, but if you prefer starting at 8 oclock from Slough, I will send James with Shillings Spring Cart. 

So take your choice, and should it incline to the first mode, let me know of what hour the girls should be at West Drayton, it being understood that they cannot start from hence earlier than nine o’clock. 

Your Mother is to go to Linley Wood from Nantwich this day and I hope she will be here by Monday the 14^th. 

Fanny had a letter from Georgy this morning. I hope they have settled their business at Nantwich, but your Mother was too tired to write, so I am ignorant of particulars and can only infer that she has been hard at work.

Ever most affectionately yours

AC Marsh.

The Linley Wood Estate, Talke, Staffordshire, was at this point in time the home of Anne’s brother James Stamford Caldwell.

Letter from Arthur Cuthbert Marsh

to his son Martin Marsh.  

7 July 1842

My dear Martin

I received your letter from three days ago, but not having a £5 note in the house, I deferred writing to you until I could come to London and purchase one. 

I hope that the £4 you got from Mr Horsford has kept you going.  I now enclose the £5 the receipt of which pray acknowledge to Eastbury. 

Your Mother and Sisters return from Worcestershire on Saturday.  Mrs Swinton Holland could not receive them, so that I got them back a day or two earlier than I expected to my great satisfaction. 

Our building is still going on and I believe that the roof will be finished tomorrow but I do not hope to have the room habitable by the time you come home. 

On the 18^th I am going into Gloucestershire for a few days but trust to be at home again in time to receive you. 

I am highly gratified at S… [Schornested’s?] report of your progress.  What you are acquiring of German will be of great use to you … … … to the prize of which herein I do not despair.

Ever yours most affectionately

ACM.

Diary of Anne Marsh-Caldwell

1^st August 1842, Monday (page 220)

At Eastbury

In wood looking at fern and (Guon?) getting up from Parker. Began to mow Long Marlins, went to Watford to meet Amelia, Martin driving as gave him first lesson in Botany.

(Long Marlins and Upper Marlins were paddocks on Eastbury estate)

2^nd August 1842, Tuesday

Went to see Moor Park, fine fir cedars and pines, these trees on an artificial mound with great depth of earth, walked with Arthur round farm. Parker began to mow, think but short Parker says we lost -/2 a load an acre by mowing the others too early, Staple took faggots to house.

8^th August 1842, Monday

To Cassiobury (nearby estate of Earls of Essex). Great Lodge meadow began to can(?) Mr Mason called, advised not to sell sheep or lambs till later saying they will fatten better when fly gone. M cows and 4 Bushels in Upper Marlins range, have been in about 5 days. Sheep fattening in Paddock run in Burrow’s Hill (a paddock on Eastbury Estate). Miss Pell called, did not see her, girls did.

9^th August 1842, Tuesday

Out with Arthur almost all day. In Lodge Meadow finishing carrying the grass long though coarse on the lower part, which was very wet, thin and poor on the upper. There is water still in the pond, dry as the season is. A calf to patience a Dewey (Dairy?) cow.

10^th August 1842, Wednesday

Excessive hot day, did not go out, wrote long story to H(?) and Miss Martineau. Arthur to town, girls to Harrow.

11^th August 1842, Thursday

To Partons Garden mowing hedge grass, Patience give 3 gallons of milk a day, her calf put to Pollord cow as her milk is thin, planted by Wooden 120 cabbages in Marlins, there was a tremendous thunder storm and much rain last night. To Watford to visit Miss Morrison. Pells to tea, looking at (Impatience?) saw 3 falling stars only. I did not see one. Mare and cold taken out of ley.

14^th August 1842, Sunday

To Church, to call upon Miss Morrisons.

15^th August 1842, Monday

Tate garden, ordered turnips to be sowed, --tes spinage and other things to farm. Parker mowing further Frith - and then – Stable farm and 2 loads of leaves and oldest farm boy to spread manure and -- -- nearWatfordgate. Cows only gve 18 gallons of milk in all this three days, why? To Harrow with Amelia and called on Lady Milman – riots carpenters gone to a district meeting atWatford.

16^th

17^th August 1842, Wednesday

Cows in Paddock, walked observing them feed. Girls to (Nattah?). Very hot day.

18^th August 1842, Thursday

Arthur to London. With Martin into wood, garden and to look at table(?). ToWatfordto call on Morrisons, very hot, rain in evening. Miss Pell and Miss St. John called. Girls later evening.

19^th August 1842, Friday

Attack of grippe, day in bed. Rain and cool. Cricket match at Moor Park. Martin and girls went. Miss Morrisons called.

22^nd August 1842, Monday

Mr Marsh and Georgey and Willy to dinner, hot day. Miss Morrisons called.

23^rd August 1842

In wood carrying Fern, and Gunner collecting the grass. Adder killed by Shapell. Hot dry.

24^th August 1842, Wednesday

Arthur to town and back in the evening, set Gunner to cut thistles in field, and had grass, one load from c—id. Hot and dry.

25^th August 1842, Thursday

Not well, Carpenter discharged. (The men, Anderson?) gone at 5. White making dining room cornice began to put ornaments in. Sir W called, took 20 ton coal. 4 ton of coal drawn into usual of

26^th August 1842, Friday

Much rain. We are to have began consumption(?) of coal to day, rain.

27^th August 1842, Saturday

Pond Farm, mowing thistle and carrying coal. From clearing meadow. Woodword painting. Cows in pasture. Amelia went today, her toWatford, met Miss Morrisons and returned with them. Dry.

Bought 40 Welsh sheep at 13/-. Mr Mason called, he evidently would have got them for 12. Much talk with him. Mason employed one of these agents to buy and sell everything the money earned of the market almost of as much consequence to people as good farming it is to good business. Mortifying but true, get a good (man?), let the knowing ones play it for you. Thinks stock will fall much in the spring owing to the Tariff, says our hay if pretty good, will in April be worth £4 a load. Arthur returned with £450, part of (Sterling?) 50-A.

28^th August 1842, Sunday

To Church and walk through fields home. A chesnut came up on Calvers, much less vigorous than in the quiet of the wood, seeing Chesnuts will do. Called after Miss Morrisons.

29^th August 1842, Monday

ToWatford, paid Sanders and Barton and Goad (Grant?). Posy ill. Parker still mowing, Staple drawing coal (Gion, Goad?) clearing great meadow. Called on Miss Roberts and at Marden.

Letter from Arthur Marsh

to his son Martin Marsh.  

Eastbury

11 September 1842

My dear Martin

I am sure it would be very unwise in me not to pay the greatest possible respect to Mr Corkesley’s opinion on the subject of your stay at Eton.  Pray therefore make my compliments to him and say that I shall take no steps in the matter until I have had the pleasure of seeing him. 

I will certainly go over to Eton for that purpose in the course of this half year, but I cannot yet fix a day. 

Your Mother and two of your Sisters have received an invitation to Melford which they can’t resist; so we start early on Wednesday morning.  I shall make the little mares take us half way and post the rest. 

We are to return on Saturday and on Monday the detachment for Linley Wood will move out.  Louisa and Fanny are on duty for Melford.  I really believe that the carpenters will have entirely finished in the two bay windows in the course of this week.  Mr White like a man of honour and of his word finished his work on Friday and is now upon the out of door jobs. 

Your Mother received your journal this morning which she is going to read to me.  No news of the Dog biscuits as yet.  I fear that the carriage from Eton will make it dear food rather.

God bless you my dear Boy.

Ever most affectionately yours

ACM.

William Gifford Corkesley (1802-1880).  Educated at Eton and King’s College Cambridge.  Assistant master at Eton.

C44

Pencil sketch of trees on steep hills.

On reverse scribbled in pencil

Where we had our (pieme?) at Mashobra and – (India)

EtonCollege

Election, 1843

Marsh Esq.

To Sn Schönerstadt. For Instruction in German during two School terms. £8.8.0

Books.

Oct 1842

6^th Schiller’s Works £1.16.0

£9.18.0

Letter from Arthur Cuthbert Marsh

to his son Martin Marsh.  

Eastbury

2^nd October 1842

My dear Boy

I was gratified by your note announcing the result of the contest for Prince Albert’s Prize.  Your place, considering the qualifications and talents of the two more successful competitors, is creditable to your industry, and I am satisfied. 

How many of you offered themselves for examination?  I should like to know how many you excelled as well as the number of those who excelled you.  I am as you know left here with only Mary and Adelaide; your dear Mother I expect in a fortnight, and probably Fanny and Rosamond some days earlier. 

I hope to go over to Eton and see Mr Corkesley again before the end of the month.  I believe my new bailiff will enter on his office about the 10^th and I must be at home at that interesting moment and for some days after in order that I may put him in the way I wish him to pursue; then I must go to Melford and bring home Louisa so that there is little chance of my being with you sooner than the 25^th. 

Write me a line and say what day in the week is best for my seeing Corkesley.

Ever most affectionately yours

AC Marsh

Did Bob thank you for the … for me?  It is excellent and I feast on it every morning.  Now dear Boy do not spend your money in making … to me, otherwise I shall not think you so prudent an administrator of your finances as I do at present.

Letter from Arthur Cuthbert Marsh

to his son Martin Marsh.  

Eastbury

19 October 1842

My dear Martin

Your note was forwarded to me to Melford whence I returned with Lousia last night; I have been talking over the question of these French lessons with your dear Mother and the result is that our desire to afford you any advantage in your education overcomes our mere prudential considerations and we desire that you should take lessons for a year, but we should like to know what the ½ yearly charge is to be. 

We have not yet got the new Bailiff but I hope he will come next Monday the 24^th and I have fixed as the probable day for going over to you and Mr Corkesley, Tuesday the 1^st November. 

By that time we shall be able to see more clearly what the probability of your being able to come home on the 5^th.  In the meantime God bless you my dear Boy.

Ever most affectionately yours

AC Marsh.

William Gifford Corkesley (1802-1880).  Educated at Eton and King’s College Cambridge.  Assistant master at Eton.

Diary of Anne Marsh Caldwell

28^th October 1842

Mr Williams came to give advice upon work. Walked first to Spring Wood, the smaller sized faggots there which have no large piece worth about 10/- 100. The wood has been injured(?) by pieces being cut out. The coppice –al some wants cutting but it does not answer to cut out pieces here and there, better cut the whole piece intended, say 2 or 3 acres clear at once.

Walk to Great wood, it is no use leaving oak standing(?) on the stools unless they have a good leading shoot, they will never make a good tree. Birch will not bear cutting after it comes to a certain age, which is about the growth of 15 years, it kills the stork. Birch most profitable to be cut clean, pruned the first two years and the fourth year, in pruning cut out all but three or four stems the wood you cut out would inevitably die. And it sells for brooms.

Birch should be planted not sown, little plants about a foot long are sold in Bundles for the purpose. A good way is to lay Birch to fill up vacancies. For this purpose the stem two or so feet high, that is cut them as for pleaching hedges. Birch will grow upon any soil and is one of the best for planting in the rough gravel or the heathy peat parts of wood.

Birch (Hornbeam included in these remarks) is of use for faggots only. Good large faggots Spring 14/100, Winter 20/the 100. Birch grows very slowly in the first years, afterwards very quickly. In cutting down Birch reserve the small shoots about four or five feet high, it will not hurt the growth of the stubb. For Birch Wood in the rough parts to be processed at Rickmansworth collected from the Black woods of Cheyneys for the pigs.

As deems Willow two sorts in the wood, the red hearted, and what is called the black but is in fact the white, peeling very white and being favourite of Basket makers, sells very well and  grows quick, will not live if stem too old. Kills stubb as in Birch. White has a narrower and smaller leaf than red hearted. Red hearted good for (halters, hammers) and c., but in value less than white. Those I planted last year are white will not do but in wet (setachors?).

Hegit(?) cut down to stork grows better when not cut extremely close, reliable copse.

Cherry if cut down too old will kill stubb.

Asp, a tree of some value, worth taking care of, though not among the first.

Ash, first value as copse, best perhaps pleached but may try heys, it will not do on the poor upper side of the wood, but in most parts of the  lower where not very poor requires a little loam in the soil. In planting copse the tree on the second year when it has gained a footing in the ground, should be herded(?) to within a short distance of ground, makes it form a stubb.

Alder not much value

Oak, plant acorns in abundance, prune all the maiden oaks, completely, and select(?) shoots from stubbs as are very promising, on the timber trees cut down the shoots, will be good for nothing but copse.

Larch evidently not a copse tree but good timber intermix some to stand for winter in the bad places where other timbers will not thrive.

Advice, cut every 11 years. Divide wood into lots of  4 acres each, about. 2 lots being in spring wood, 9 in Firth, Confine this year to picking out and cutting clean the cuttings of last year. Which make 2 lots, 1 above road, other below, complete these lots by cutting clean no matter whether at a loss by too young a lot left undone last year.

Ash

Planting, sow acorns, Birch most, plant Ash.

Birch, stick cuttings of willows, choose by observation the spots where you observe the trees naturally flourish.

Draining – drain off stagnant water,  but spongy ground perhaps is better left for the copse grows finely there. Upon this (soquit?) of choosing,  get better information.

Prices of cuttings – faggots 2/- to 2/6 100

Birch 1d to 1d ./2

Per stork 6/- 100

Faggots 14 to 20/- Poles 8/ to 50/-

Birch 5d to 6d a bundle (Witty?) whites 1/- perhaps?

The rabbits bite off the young shoots and do immense injury. The part which has thriven so ill cut four years ago, was actually shorn down by the rabbits.

Cutting up, he has not observed to be of any great use.

The Willows pollard, if left to  grow too old will die when cut, and may well be cut down those in stable yard not too old, will  be well worth cutting.

Plantation trees in the oldest, will improve much in value by standing a few years, but thin where nearly in one anothers way, take out pine in preference to scotch fir, the latter being most valuable.

Work to do, clear two lots of last year. Thin plantation mainly with assurance to growth, herd Pollard Willows in yard.

1842

Diary continued.

26^th October 1842, Wednesday

In wood with William, carpenter finish shelves, store room. To (Watford?) with girls, saw Lady Plomer, called on Mrs White and Mrs Maine, Walton came on Monday evening.

C61

Printed note. Eton academic results 

Christmas 1842

First Set.

Pindar, Tomline’s          Theology, Greek Testament Total

1. Blanchard                 317      176      230     255      978

2. Hervey                     310      130      210      275      925

3. Marsh                      315      186      140      270      911

4. Ld Darnley               286      160      200      255      901

5. Brine, K.S.               135      100      170      240      645

6. Rouse-Boughton      130      123       90      240      583

7. Close                       157         20     125      255      557

8. Woodbridge               63       100      80       220      463

9. Batchelor ma.K.S.     50         90      70       215      425

Second Set

Euripides          Virgil    Paley    Total

1.   Ld Robert Cecil        150      350      150      650

2.   Mr. Bligh                   115                              618

3.   Boileau                     100                              500

4.   Myers ma.                130                              483

      Eq Myers mi               20                              430

      Eq Talford ma             20                              430

7.   Leveson-Gower         50                               350

8.   Baillie ma.                  54                               329

9.   Burtonmi                    40                               307

10. Ld Guernsey              20                               210

11. Mr Finch                     40                               165

12. Digby                         30                                130

13. Brown, K.S.               60                                120

Third Set

First Division

Seeker Corn.Nepos Total

1. Errington ma.             155      195      350

2. Errington mi.              125                  325

3. Sutherland ma.          120                  325

4. Mr. Sidney                  110      198      308

5. Bunny                        135                   275

6. Sutherland mi.           110                   260

7. Tredcroft                      70                   250

8.Walker.                         90                   234

Second Division

Eq. Oldfield                  115      185        300

Eq. Vaughan                  85                    297

3. Payn                        100      145        245

4. Wiss                          50                     209

5. Cookesley                 85                     191

6. Mr Brownlow             60                     150

7. Foulkes                     90                     140

8. Baillie mi.                  55        20           75

Agrotant.

Mr DeRos

Mr. Deane

Burtonma.