Part 17 (2/2)

He subsequently moved to a better part of the metropolis, taking up his residence at 1, Albert Road, Regent's Park, where he remained for several years, until he finally settled in Warrior Square, Hastings.

While residing in London his wife {143a} had another illness, from which she eventually died, in 1859; and feeling her loss very acutely he decided, after a time, to erect the almshouses to her memory. {143b}

[Picture: West Street during the Flood, Dec. 31, 1900]

Among the doc.u.ments preserved in connection with this charity, is the original letter of George Whelpton, dated March 18, 1861, giving instructions that the building of the almshouses should be immediately taken in hand. The Indenture itself is dated March 21st, 1861, and among its terms are the following: ”This agreement is between Richard c.l.i.therow, of Horncastle, Gentleman, surviving trustee and executor of the will of Samuel Curtis Lomas, late of Blencogo, Co. c.u.mberland, Surgeon, of the first part; George Whelpton, of No. 1, Albert Road, Regent's Park, Middles.e.x, of the second part; and William Thompson Whelpton, of No. 69, Gloucester Crescent, Regent's Park, Middles.e.x, Gent., and Rev. Henry Robert Whelpton, of Upton Park, Slough, Bucks., on the third part.” In accordance with this agreement certain lands comprising, with others, the future site of the almshouses, situated on the east side of what was then called Union Street, the property of the said Samuel Curtis Lomas, were acquired through the said Mr. Richard c.l.i.therow, for Mr. G. Whelpton, for the purposes of the charity, with the above relatives as co-trustees. The sum of 1,000 was also conveyed as endowment of the charity, to the trustees.

It was provided by the agreement that the inmates of the houses should be selected from persons who were fit and deserving subjects of the charity, indigent, but of good character, not recipients of parish relief, and not under 45 years of age; and that any, becoming guilty of immorality, should forfeit their privileges. The power of selection of inmates was vested in the trustees, a.s.sisted by the vicar and churchwardens of the parish; a clause being added, that, in case of the trustees being incompetent, by reason of infancy or idiocy, the vicar and churchwardens should select. The weekly allowance to the inmates was to be 3s. 6d.

The agreement to this effect was signed, sealed, and delivered, by the said George Whelpton, in the presence of Richard c.l.i.therow, Solicitor, and Charles Dee, Solicitor, both of Horncastle. It was further signed by George Whelpton and William Thompson Whelpton, in the presence of Robert Cunliffe, Solicitor, of 43, Chancery Lane, London; and by Henry Robert Whelpton, in the presence of John Adams Cree, Clerk in Holy Orders, of Upton Park, Slough, Bucks. Appended is a receipt, signed by Richard c.l.i.therow, and witnessed by Charles Dee, shewing that, at the date of the Indenture, the sum of 101 5s. was paid by George Whelpton for the purchase of the site of the almshouses.

This agreement was examined on Feb. 7th, 1888, in the Court of Justice, London, before Mr. Justice Chitty, on an enquiry being made as to the estate of William Thompson Whelpton, deceased, at the instance of the Rev. Henry Robert Whelpton, and Stephen Whelpton; when the Court declared that the direction in the will of the testator, as to the endowment of the charity, was a ”valid charitable bequest of 1,000,” and the money ”invested in three per cents. Consols, for the following purposes”: (1) for the repair of the alms-houses; (2) to pay each occupant 3s. 6d. per week; (3) in case of there being any surplus, to pay them so much more as the trustees should think fit. A clause was added, empowering the Charity Commissioners, from time to time, to order any part of the income to be applied to special purposes, as they might think desirable.

We may add that while residing at Hastings, Mr. George Whelpton secured two acres of land, at Eastbourne, from the Duke of Devons.h.i.+re, the owner of the whole town, as he is also of Buxton; and at a cost of about 20,000, erected and endowed the church and vicarage of St. Saviour's, which was held by his youngest son, Henry Robert, who graduated at St.

John's College, Cambridge, and was afterwards made Canon of Chichester.

This benefice is private property, and is now held by his son, Henry Urling Whelpton, of Pembroke College, Cambridge.

The head of the Whelpton family may now be considered to be the Rev.

George Whelpton, at one time residing in France, but now of Trinity House, Abington, Berks. The original George Whelpton died in 1903.

For these details the present writer is indebted to several members of the Whelpton family, with some of whom he was a fellow pupil at the Horncastle Grammar School.

THE DRILL HALL.

The present building is not the first structure erected in connection with the Volunteers, any more than the present Volunteers themselves are the first inst.i.tution of the kind formed in Horncastle. In the early years of the 19th century, when there was a general feeling abroad that one great project, nurtured in the ambitious mind of the first Napoleon, was an invasion of England, volunteers were organized throughout the country, with a view to self-defence. As an instance of this, in the town of Pontefract a corps was formed, of which the Earl of Mexborough was Colonel Commandant, and George Pyemont, Esq., of Tanshelf House, Pontefract (grandfather of the present writer), was Major; {145} the records of which are preserved, among other public doc.u.ments, in Pontefract Castle.

[Picture: Conging Street during the flood, Dec. 31, 1900]

Similarly, a corps was raised in Horncastle at the same period, of which we have somewhat curious evidence in the following. There exists a small pamphlet, which the writer has recently (July, 1908) perused, ent.i.tled ”An address delivered to the Horncastle Volunteers, on Feb. 26, 1804, by their chaplain, in consequence of the resignation of some of the members.

Published by desire of the corps. Printed by James Weir, Horncastle, 1804.” In this address he expresses his great regret that so many volunteers are resigning ”after putting the country to the expense of supplying them with clothing and arms, having also pledged themselves to the country's defence, and received in return exemption from militia service,” this too at a time when (as he says) ”we are in danger of being reduced to a French province.” ”No resignations (he continues) have taken place in London, in Boston, or in Spilsby.” He reminds them that they (the Horncastrians) had been ”among the first in the county to offer their services,” and he urges them still to ”maintain their character”

for loyalty.

In consequence of this appeal a public meeting was called together, at which was formed a ”Court of Enquiry,” consisting of ”9 members, 3 elected from the officers of the corps, and 6 from the non-commissioned officers and privates, to whom all proposals of resignation should be submitted.” In subsequent pages regulations are added as to keeping their weapons in proper condition, orders as to loading their guns, &c., which are described as ”firelocks” with ”flints.” This we may regard as an interesting item of past local history, evidencing the spirit in which the first Horncastle Volunteers were formed.

The modern volunteer movement originated in the year 1859, under somewhat similar circ.u.mstances to the earlier movement. Notwithstanding our ultimate victory in the Crimean war, it was felt that our blunders had been most serious, and our military organization far from complete. War, as a science, was a.s.suming new forms; steam was giving to navigation an independence of wind and tide, which might lead to invasion unawares.

The state of our defences was considered most unsatisfactory. France was our ally, but the Emperor Napoleon III. only ruled by popular suffrage, and the memories of Waterloo still affected the sentiments of his people towards England. The facility with which England might be invaded was a subject of discussion in parliament in the course of the session of that year. Lord Palmerston held the view that France could, within a few hours, bring together an army, which could land on our sh.o.r.es and march upon London, before we were awake to the danger. It was our duty to be ready for defence against any such surprise, and it was said that ”our friend” Napoleon would himself welcome such preparedness on our part, as giving him the best arguments with his own subjects against any such enterprise.

Strengthened by such reasoning, the Earl of Ripon, Under Secretary for War, announced that volunteer corps would be enrolled throughout the country. The government plans were published on the first of July, were warmly accepted by all parties, and a circular was issued, dated July 13th, to all the Lieutenants of counties, urging immediate action; and forthwith the ”nation of shopkeepers” were, as by magic, transformed into an armed camp. So rapid was the progress that by June of the following year the cry was ”Ready, aye! ready;” and on the 23rd of that month the Queen held a review in Hyde Park, at which some 20,000 volunteers pa.s.sed before her. We are told, as a curious incident, that at that review there was present as a newly enrolled private, a Mr. Tower, of Wealdhall, Ess.e.x, who had also been present, as a private, at a review held under the former system in 1803. {146}

The loyal town of Horncastle was not behindhand; a public meeting was held in the Bull Hotel, on Aug. 10th, 1859, for the purpose of organizing a Rifle Corps, for the district, at which the Deputy Lieutenant attended.

Among those present were Major Smart, of Tumby, J. Wadham Floyer, of Martin Hall, H. F. Conington, Clarence House, Horncastle, Dr. B. J.

Boulton, Dr. W. Ward, Messrs. W. S. c.l.i.therow, R. C. Armstrong, E.

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