The Incredible Mr Harding of Great Marlow

 In 1864, an event happened in Great  Marlow that drew a crowd of an estimated 4-5000 thousand souls. The entire town came to a halt, with shops and schools closed. Triumphant arches were erected for this great occasion. Visitors came in from far afield and the bridge was so full traffic could not pass. The man responsible for this excitement, was a certain Mr Harding. 

Richard Harding was born in the High Street Marlow in approximately 1821*. He became a well liked and respectable tradesman, married to Amelia. He was also a man with a big dream and buckets of determination. For Richard decided he was going to build a luxurious 60ft long pleasure barge capable of carrying a couple of hundred people in a style rarely seen on the Thames.  There might be nothing extraordinary in that if Richard had had a boat yard or special equipment or perhaps some experience in building a vessel like this. He in fact had neither, nor did he have any staff to assist him. But he did have a large  garden, at the rear of his High Street home and it's there he set to work in 1862..

Richard's premises occupied the site of the White Company shop in the entre of the above image. The current building dates from after his time however. 

Richard was a cabinet maker and upholsterer by trade, as well as a bird preserver (taxidermist) according to some sources. He clearly therefore knew how to handle wood. He had tinkered with making skiffs before more of less as a hobby. He completed several which were regarded as well made. In a riverside town like Marlow, a shoddy boat builder would soon be found out! He went straight from constructing them to making the pleasure barge which was to his own design. Did he consult a professional like Marlow's James Haynes for advice perhaps? We will never know. Mr Harding's marvel would be known as The Star of The Thames. 

Richard's experience as an upholsterer would also be useful for the fitting out of the interior. We know the barge had a 22 window saloon capable of holding 100 diners with ease. Overall it could apparently carry at least 200 passengers (300 according to one source). The colour scheme was crimson and gold, and it was said to be finished to a very high standard. There was a upper deck surrounded by iron railings and room on both the front and back for seating. 

The back garden build took two years. In the spring of 1864, Richard must have begun to think of the launch. How he planned originally to get the boat from his garden to the river is not absolutely clear. He could not obviously take it through the front door. The garden was entirely walled in with no significant back entrance so there was no hope of release there either. I only know that Richard's garden wall was demolished and the vessel dragged towards Portland Alley, which ran behind his garden. They could not knock down the alley wall as Richard did not own it, so they decided to lift it over the brickwork. How I have no idea. I am puzzled as to what they planned to do then, as the 13ft wide vessel could not surely fit easily in the alley. That was a mute point as the Star proved harder to move than previously thought and became stuck on top of the wall. This naturally attracted a number of bystanders with suggestions, helpful and otherwise, about how to advance things. Some declared it would likely stay where it was forever, or until the walls gave way. A number of schemes were tried, but in the end everyone went home to sleep on it. I can only imagine what a drinker coming out of the nearby Red Lion must have thought about their level of sobriety when they saw a 60ft barge floating above their heads! Six days after the start of the operation, and several improvised winches later, the barge had moved only 100 yards. But Marlow wasn't going to let Harding fail. Dozens of volunteers came to offer their brute strength if nothing else. Mr Borgnis allowed three of his workers to assist gratis for the week. 

Over the other side of the Alley lay the kitchen garden of Remnantz. And it was here that rescue was found. The Wethered's of Remnantz allowed the Star to be bought down into the garden, and dragged through the property. Whether the gardeners were very pleased about this is unrecorded, but it was noted that the grass was significantly torn up so we can imagine not! The route the team took is puzzling as you would imagine they would leave Remnantz by the Pound Lane entrance, that coming out closest to the Thames. Instead they bought it out of the large West Street gates nearest Borlase, which had to be taken down, along with part of the wall. Reports are unanimous in that. The various eventful points in the boats journey were captured by Richard Blake, whose wife Rebecca is the more well known photographer. The Blake's lived in West Street not far from where the barge emerged from Remnantz so were ideally placed to record that moment. I do not believe any copies of their photographs survive unfortunately. 

All in all the much advertised launch was delayed by a few days, but that allowed word to spread far and wide. The new launch date saw a huge volume of traffic coming into town. It was said some neighbouring towns and villages also declared a holiday for the occasion.  Triumphant arches were made out of wood for the boat to pass through. As there is no record of it getting wedged beneath any, it seems the builders of the arches had taken some careful measurements. Credit here to Thames Bank gardener Robert Hobbs who erected the largest arch assisted by a team of workman. 

It was launched at last from the slipway at the end of St Peter's Street at 3pm. A special peal of bells for the occasion from the adjacent All Saints church was timed perfectly. We are told a platform had been erected a little further away to accommodate more guests, and the boat was taken there. I believe this was at the wharf.  Invited guests naturally got a free tour, and afterwards the curious could pay a shilling to step a board themselves. I do not know if the barge actually took anyone on a trip that day, but it may have had some difficulty moving along the river even if it wanted to, given the water was said to be absolutely crowded with the boats of spectators. The lawn of the Compleat Angler hotel on the Bisham side of the water was full too, including a band bought along for the occasion. Whether anyone could hear them play over the cheers is another thing, not to mention the fact the band of the Bucks Volunteers and at least one more brass band were present! (The Marlow band paraded from outside the Rookery to the riverside.)

The traditional naming ceremony was performed by Mrs  Vansittart of Bisham Abbey, assisted by M.P Mr Brownlow Knox. Knox promised to give Harding a handsome silk flag for the Star in honour of the launch. 

The first proper trip was made by Mrs Wethered, who was perhaps offered first refusal given the assistance she had made to get the barge actually on the water. She took 70 friends and family members on an excursion as far as Culham Court near Henley. This journey also attracted riverside crowds and the waving of flags from the top of Bisham Abbey.  The party dined aboard near Medmenham Abbey.  Mr Harding was congratulated on the excellence of his arrangements, including the fact the boat could be managed easily by a crew of two waterman and the fact the conditions for the accompanying servants were also pleasant and convenient. There were 8 servants on that trip, who we are assured were "liberally" treated to refreshments. 

The boat may have had a luxurious appearance but it was far from only the gentry of the neighborhood who would get to use it. It's highly likely that if your ancestor was a child who lived in Marlow in the 1860s and 70's that they enjoyed a ride in the same.  The cost of hiring the Star of The Thames was obviously lowered sufficiently for the schools and churches of the neighborhood to consider it as a means of transport to their many Sunday treats and outings. The children of the Roman Catholic schools in Marlow took a river trip to Medmenham Abbey in 1865, for example and the National school children and those of the Salem chapel Sunday school  went separately to the same place on the Star in 1867 and 1868. A trip by the Marlow choir with their Hurley and Hambledon equivalents to Windsor in 1866 sounds an especially happy occasion.  Someone bought along the harmonium and choirmaster Mr Ringrose played it most of the way, to the pleasure of other Thames users.  

And the adults of Marlow were not left out. They could pay to use the Star to access a rural fete at Danesfield for example (1864) or the Temperance fete at Harleyford the following year. (Fare 1s 6d return to Bourne End)  Other groups from the Henley Abstinence society to the local lodge of the Oddfellows hired the barge throughout the 1860's and 70s. I have also seen the Star offering short trips from Henley on occasional summer weekends. 

At some point the barge was purchased by Charles Miller Footitt of The Compleat Angler hotel from whom it could be hired in a similar way. It was in already a familiar sight there - in 1872 it was stationed outside the Angler during the regatta, when it was used to house a band. It was still in use at the Angler in the early 1880s when it was being painted and provided with a new canopy. A reporter noting it's presence, commented that the Star had carried thousands of passengers up and down the Thames and he could think of no class of person that did not love her, with the possible exception of lock keepers. It was eventually sold by Footitt. I have last traced the Star to Shiplake in the late 1890s when it was still giving trips. She was a horse drawn barge, no steam for her at least at the time of the launch. Had she been converted at this point? 

Hardings "magnificent pleasure barge"  was in the words of the Reading Mercury, a marvel of perseverance and industry and one that had taken two years of incessant toil. Later, some recalling the launch said the boat was regarded as the eighth wonder of the world in Marlow and wondered a little sneeringly at all the excitement. But what is lovely to read is the pride everyone in Marlow, rich and poor, had in the success of one of their own. Well everyone except the gardeners at Remnantz left to put their garden back together perhaps!

* The building that Richard grew up in (and whose garden was used for the build) no longer exists. It was the former Turks Head/Saracens Head inn, once run by the Harding family but out of licensed use by the 1860s.  It was replaced by a premises that housed Rowe's the jewellers for many years and F Hinds more recently. He moved out of the house as a young married man, to return later. Richard's father William combined beer selling with shoemaking, a very common pairing in Marlow. He arranged for his son to be apprenticed to royal cabinet maker the Mealings, also of the High Street Marlow. After his apprenticeship ended he went into business himself and spent some time in London before returning to Marlow. He died in 1895 at Beaumont Villa, Beaumont Rise, Marlow after a two year long period of ill health. 

Written and researched by Kathryn Day with additional research by Charlotte Day. 

RELATED POSTS:

Royal furniture makers the Mealings, under whom Richard served his apprenticeship  - here

Charles Miller Foottit, later owner of The Star here

Everyday life in the Marlow during Richard's lifetime including posts related to the Thames and specific trades here

To read more about Potlands or other streets/places mentioned here, see the places index - here

Two professional Marlow boat builders - Haynes here and Shaw here

Photographer Rebecca Blake here

All mentions of an individual can be found in the A-Z index in the top drop down menu.

Sources:

Census 1861, 1871, 1881, - Jane Pullinger and Charlotte Day's transcript from the microfilm. 

Reading Mercury April 9 & 30, March 19 & June 25 1864

South Bucks Free Press, July 1 1865, May 3 1895

South Bucks Standard April 6 1864, May 3 1895

Oxford Journal 10 August 1872

Maidenhead Advertiser 6 August 1883 & 1 August 1899

Beaumont Rise and High Street property holding research by Charlotte. 

Our Thames by "Sylvania" 1873. 

Slater's Royal and Commercial Directory 1852

Dutton's Directory 1863.  (Dutton &Co 1863) 

Pigots Directory of Bucks 1839. 

© MarlowAncestors

That Furious Mob - 1847 Great Marlow Riots

there The destruction caused by the 1880 election rioters in Marlow is well known, not least because some excellent photos have survived of the damage to property. (See this post here for more) But Marlow has a history of election related violence going back a lot longer. This post focuses on one of the most lively contests, which was the 1847 General Election. We are not going to detail the political arguements, instead we are going to describe the effect on the everyday life of our Marlow ancestors. 

The Background 

Two candidates represented the Conservatives - Colonel Thomas Peers Williams of Temple House, and Colonel Brownlow Knox. The third was the Liberal or Whig candidate, Sir William Robert Clayton of Harleyford. A few years before they had been involved in a lengthy battle relating to the ownership of the brick kiln at Marlow Common. The Clayton family had sold the Marlow manor lands to Williams ancestors but there were later disputes about what exactly had been included in the sale. Clayton said the kiln was not included, the Williams that it most certainly was. It's fair to say no love was lost between the two and they were very frequently at each others throats in a legal sense. They were both substantial land owners with many tenants in Marlow. Both Williams and Clayton had sat in parliament for Marlow before. And yes, both had been accused of pressurising their tenants to vote for them, or of bribing voters. Clayton had his victory in the 1841 election overturned when some of the votes for him were thrown out for being invalid. He had had a majority of just one. Williams had evicted tenants for failing to vote for him  before and he was accused of regarding the borough as his own. 

The "Blues" or blue and whites were the liberals and the Conservative colours were the red or red and white although they were popularly known as the Coppers here. 

Marlow was already well known for troubled elections therefore. In March 1847, the Windsor and Eton Express voiced the hope that at last "party feeling" had subsided in Marlow and there was an "improved tone and better feeling now prevailing".  The previous bad atmosphere in town interfered with the friendly society they said. This hope was to prove very wrong. In the same month, William Robert Clayton declared that he would be a candidate in the coming election, and Williams had already indicated he would run. As Marlow returned two members at this time, it was hoped that there would be effectively no contest. But a little later, a second Conservative candidate was declared - Colonel Brownlow Knox. His wife was of the Williams family. 

Polling Day Panic

The polling was held in the summer.  Voting then was not by secret ballot. It was very public. A wooden stage was erected in front of the Town Hall, large enough to accommodate 100 persons. On these hustings were the candidates and some of their prominent supporters. Some of their less prominent but vocal supporters also found their way up at times, and lined the two sets of  steps leading upwards. Onto this stage, voters would go and vote. Before they could do this, they had to give some personal details to the returning officer such as by what right they were a voter (only those men leasing, owning or occupying a property of a certain value were entitled to vote) and their occupation. They were also required to answer out loud who they wished their two votes to go to. The supporters of the side you picked would let up a cheer so even those not close to the clerk recording the votes would know who you voted for. It was described as an intimidating experience to vote the "wrong" way according to the crowd gathered around the stage. Many men were jostled and had their hats knocked off or were on the recieving end of mocking chants but there was as yet no serious outbreak of violence. The polling started at 8am and continued until 4pm with periodic updates given to the crowd below. 

Before the voting started, the atmosphere was already tense. Most of the pubs and beer houses in town were associated with one side or another and did a roaring trade. It was said that the pubs of each side hung banners from their upper windows to indicate their support for either the Blues or Coppers.  The candidates grand arrival at the hustings had seen some scuffles. Williams and Knox were met by their supporters at Marlow Bridge. According to the (extremely) pro Conservative Berkshire Chronicle, their carriages were stopped by an adoring crowd of working class people who unhitched the horses and insisted on pulling the carriages themselves up the High Street. The same source says Clayton arrived shortly after and was amazed at the support given to his rival by the more humble citizens who were said to generally support the Clayton cause. This information has to be taken with some salt as the paper really was very partisan! All agree that a band had lead the Williams procession.  After the riot their instruments were left in pieces. 

 The Well Enders On The Rise

Williams and Knox took the two seats for Marlow. When this was announced, even the pro Conservative papers admitted that there was a loud groan from the crowd. What happened next is something I've had to pick out from many different accounts, trying to balance the differing versions of the opposing supporters. What is undoubted is there was an outbreak of fury, from a largely working class crowd, who were vocally supportive of the defeated Clayton. They were not it seems especially surprised by yet another Williams victory but did not like Knox taking the second seat. The Conservative supporters claimed that the Clayton's had in their pay a set of "blood thirsty ruffians" during the week before the election.  What's more they said the Claytons had "placed in their hands" cudgels and staves with which to cause trouble if the vote did not go Clayton's way. Clayton could not have expected to have any result overturned just because some armed men caused trouble in the town, however unpleasant that may be for those around. It would hardly help their cause with the more respectable householders for Clayton to be associated with riots. But another writer, William Mitchell, recalling his time as a polling clerk at this election, gives a similar story and another potential motive for the rioters. He said that a core group of Well End [what we know as Dean Street, not Well End, Little Marlow] residents lead by the three brothers East, had feared a Clayton loss. They had apparently sent to London for some staffs and policeman's batons.  He says the Easts and their friends gathered at an appointed meeting place at 6am on election day - the one mile stone, presumably the one near Seymour Court. They had organised for a Clayton supporter on the stage to keep them informed of the running total of votes and if near the end of polling, Clayton was behind, they were going to protest in the town, assuming Williams had used undue influence to succeed. In particular they were going to rush the stage and destroy the polling books and with them all records of the voting. This would cause the polling to be conducted again, presumably with less opportunity for bribery beforehand. However the apparent Clayton supporter on stage was not reliable. William Mitchell does not name him but did say this man was stood close by and he continually heard him shouting out "We are all right" to the Clayton supporters. He continued this until the poll stopped, but as this was not the correct result the men were even angrier when the truth of the victory was known. What this unnamed supporters motives can have been is hard to say, if indeed he was a Clayton supporter at all. The updates given earlier in the day had not generally shown Clayton to be loosing and the result often came down to a handful of votes. But the Conservatives had a late afternoon surge. 

  William Mitchell may have had time to personally attend the 6am Well End meeting before his official duties started but it seems unlikely it would have continued in his presence. He does not give the source of his account of events there so it may  have come from a partisan source. (However he seems generally fair, in that he reports unfavourable behaviour from both sides.) He says that about 31 men came forward as their names were read from a list and they were then given a half crown and either a baton or staff from a stack. The Well End residents were generally quite poor and if this is true, someone else must indeed have subsidised the violence. It is certainly true that tumult was feared much earlier in the day, as several businesses pulled shutters while voting was ongoing and did what they could to protect their windows. And in the afternoon, most of the Copper supporting beer houses are said to have closed. It was said those carrying the batons and staffs of the Well End gang could get free drinks at the Clayton supporting pubs all day on showing them. 

To be seen emerging from the headquarters of a particular group on the way to vote was also problematic. The supporters of Brownlow Knox, which had used the premises of lawyer William Ward in the High Street up to polling Day, switched base that morning. They used the house of Ward's clerk Mr Seagrave instead. This was supposedly placed so those inside could take advantage of a back entrance through a garden to get near the poll without attracting much attention. 

A Chairing Is Attempted 

Reports agree the tumult started as soon as the result was announced by Returning Officer Mr Stallwood outside the town hall.  No mention is made in the newspaper reports of an to attempt to rush the stage or steal the polling books which is not to say that was not the original intention, just perhaps it was considered now too late. The focus of their work was Brownlow Knox, and in particular the tradition of "chairing" him. This meant the carrying of the successful candidates through the town carried aloft in a (usually specially constructed) chair. The rioters, generally reported to be in varying states of drunkenness, thought that the chair for Knox was housed in the Market Square property of Rolls the auctioneer and wine merchant. They broke in and - according to the Knox supporters- threatened to murder everyone within if the chair was not produced. It does not seem to have been there, as the crowd went on to a second property which they attempted to search but found was already barred against them. Mitchell thought could not remember exactly what had happened to the chair but thought it had been at the Rolls after all and was thrown into the street through the windows and demolished.  Wisely, it was decided Knox would not be chaired on this occasion. It doesn't seem Williams was either. 

The Fleeing Constables

"Respectable citizens" who had turned out to hear the election result risked being "knocked down like beasts" (Berkshire Chronicle) if they were not considered to support Clayton. A number apparently sort shelter in whichever house would let them in. The two Misses Cocks, of Thames Bank, hid in Mrs (Eliza) Brighton's bakers shop in the High Street when confronted by the mob. The Conservative banners were reduced to ribbons and stones broke windows and thudded against shutters. A number of people were hurt and one man seriously. (Some reports gave his name as Mr Nugent, presumably one of the Nugent's of Westhorpe. He was pulled into the safety of the Rolls house, although the crowd followed initially.) William Mitchell the poll clerk, watching from the hustings, personally saw many men knocked down by a blow to the head with a staff, farmer John Gibbons among them. (Of Seymour Court farm, Blounts and Copy farms)

 The 26 Special constables were accused of fleeing as soon as they saw what was afoot and so parish Constable Thomas Walker was bravely left virtually single handed to deal with the situation. He was of course completely outnumbered. This probably explains a lack of prosecutions arising from the destruction. In the end, the magistrates, fearing that the "peace and property of the inhabitants in a serious state of jeopardy" were apparently able to appeal to the more respectable amongst the unhappy crowd to encourage all to disperse. All agree this happened quite quickly. 

Clerk William Mitchell was not hurt on the day but did experience a volley of stones and sticks thrown at his head as he was driving back from Maidenhead a little later! He escaped injury then too, thanks to a fast pony. 

Poor Henry Hyatt

Henry Hyatt (Hiatt) was the longstanding proprietor of the Greyhound Inn in Spittal Street. His landlord was a Wethered and it was therefore assumed he would vote Conservative in the election. William Mitchell recalls that Hyatt had "against all the efforts and threats of his landlord" publicly declared his intention of voting Liberal. What's more he was steadfast in this resolution. William Mitchell's eye witness account here is sad to read. He noticed that as Henry declared his vote for Clayton, his lips quivered. William heard a voice which he believed to be Wethereds, say "Hyatt, you are ruined man". Hyatt replied "I have voted conscientiously".  Henry must have known life was going to become very difficult indeed for him. Mitchell recalled that the inn keeper was given notice to quit, but refused to leave, and so Henry found various legal attempts was made to eject him. These failed. 

Mitchell personally witnessed the vindictiveness poor Henry was subject to. If they could not force him out, they would make it as difficult as possible for him to do business. His landlord had the windows removed, then the doors, floorboards and roofing materials. But Henry stuck on and William Mitchell saw him sitting in the roofless building at night, with a few loyal Blue customers perched on casks around him. The situation was not sustainable though, and in 1848, Henry left the Greyhound. Mitchell's says he had heard that Clayton had given him £150 so he could start again somewhere else. Let's hope that is true. 

The End? Not Quite

Sir William Robert Clayton thought he had been robbed of his seat. In October 1847, the unfortunate Henry Hyatt  invited Clayton to a dinner in his honour at the Greyhound. Among those present were long-standing liberal supporters who praised Clayton for his efforts. The Windsor and Eton Express described the company as some gentleman of the neighborhood and "a highly respectable assemblage of influential yeoman." Clayton was described as moved almost to tears and replied in fulsome terms. Samuel Barnes (parish clerk of St Peters Street), Ralph Spicer (the lawyer) George Cannon (bookseller and chemist), John Morris, Mr Morgan, Samuel Horrod, William Tyler, Mr Blackwell and Charles Susan are some of the people familiar to readers of this blog who were present. Some of these contributed some songs to liven up proceedings! A bench put together a bit hastily perhaps by a local carpenter collapsed during the proceedings, depositing several gentleman onto the floor, to much laughter.  Interestingly, a Wethered, no first name given, was also there and gave a speech in support of the Claytons. As his family were strongly associated with the Conservative cause, this was a probably awkward attendance! Interestingly, the large feast was said to have been prepared partly at the Crown, which was a Williams owned property. The Franklyns of the Crown had put their kitchen at Henry's disposal. A somewhat brave decision given Henry's treatment. 

 

Aftermath

In December, a petition was presented to Parliament to investigate the return of Brownlow Knox. This was partially because a number of people had promised to vote for Williams with one of their votes but not Knox with the other. (About 31 voters in all) These individuals had apparently decided at the last to in fact cast their ballot for both of the Conservatives. The suspicion was that the supporters of Knox had offered bribes to these voters. The petition itself went further and accused Knox himself of directly offering money for votes while out canvassing. The Berkshire Chronicle naturally rubbished this suggestion and thought it amusing that a gentleman such as Knox would be seen asking for votes after dark, knocking at shutters like a"timid lover." They mention a supposed £20 payment to a Well End resident (Dean Street)who after accepting the money had gone to Harleyford to report the action of Knox to Clayton. At the investigation into these events, it does not seem that Clayton's supporters were very well prepared with their evidence. They had failed to provide a list of suspected bribed voters when the committee first sat. Later they did bring forth witnesses from Well End/Dean Street who admitted taking money to vote for the Conservatives. Beer house keeper  Thomas Frith was the principle one. (He was of the Nags Head, Dean Street) He said that in coming across Mr Wethered on the road a little before the election, he had asked Mr Wethered out right for money. He said Wethered had said that if he promised to vote for both Williams and Knox, he could go to the counting house of the Brewery and claim his reward, which he had duly done. However Frith was discounted as a witness after he admitted on cross examination that he had spent time in both Oxford and Aylesbury gaols (for taking wood from private property, not taking bribes but it was enough to create an impression of dishonesty) He had also spent some time living at Sir William Clayton's estate in Goldstone and had received an allowance from him. Farmer John Miller also testified that an elector who had promised to vote for Clayton had not done so on the day, and when quizzed had admitted selling his vote to the other side. John was listed as of Little Marlow at the investigating committee but I believe he was at Marlow Bottom Farm. More on him here.

However what they could not find was an acceptable witness who would say he had received money from Knox himself, as stated in the petition. The Committee admitted that Knox had aroused suspicion by his habit of canvassing inhabitants in the evening - it was assumed he must have ulterior motives to be visiting under the cover of nightfall. His supporters did admit this had proved unpopular with many voters who had dismissed him with some forceful language! 

For a post on a voter said to have been bribed by Clayton in 1842 see here!

Researched and written by Kathryn Day. 

Related Posts:

To find other posts about general history of Marlow and life here for our ancestors, see our index here

1880 Election riots here

Swing riots 1830 here

Women's riots 1800 here

Posts related to some of the people mentioned above include:

Charles Susan, Radical and Emigrant here

George Cannon - Consumption cures and ball tickets here and here

Henry Hyatt - Greyhound Inn/hotel timeline and landlord listing here

Ralph Spicer - here

To find all mention of an individual here, use the A-Z person index in the top drop down menu. There's over 3250 people listed there, and new posts are added daily. 

©Marlow Ancestors 

Sources Include:

Dod, Charles Roger Electoral Facts from 1832-1852 (1852)

Great Britain Houses of Parliament, Accounts and Papers Vol 11, 1880.

Martin, Frederick. Handbook of Contemporary Biography (Macmillan 1870)

Walford, Edward - The County Families Of The United Kingdom (Robert Hardwicke, 1871)

Bucks Gazette 13 March 1847  

Berkshire Chronicle 7 August, 25 December 1847 

Bucks Herald  4 December 1847

Dublin Evening Mail - 03 December 1847

Bedford Mercury -  7 August 1847. 

Windsor and Eton Express 6 August, 2 Oct 1847, 19 Feb 1848. 

Memories of the Past, volume LIV , 10 August 1897, digitised by Christchurch City Libraries. 

Landlord research for licenced premises by Kathryn Day.