|
By the end of his life, John
Howcutt was probably the wealthiest member of the family there has ever been
in England. The only son of William and Elizabeth (Higginson) Howcutt, he was
born in St Martin’s parish, Leicester and christened at its church on 1
February 1814. At the time, the family were living at Cheapside in the centre
of the town. The family home was evidently either the building from which
William then ran his business or very close to it, as in 1813 he is recorded
as having a warehouse at Cheapside. [1]
William Howcutt was a freeman of
Leicester, who served as Chamberlain of the Corporation in 1813-14. John was
described as an ironmonger, the only son of William Howcutt and a former
apprentice to Alderman Parsons, when he also was admitted as a freeman on 9
June 1835 – one of the vast numbers who were added to the roll of Freemen
during the final stages before the old Corporation was abolished at the end
of that year. Until then, the common councilmen of Leicester Corporation were
elected from the ranks of the Freemen by the Mayor and Aldermen.
John’s own business was formerly a
partnership with a Mr Johnson as ironmongers at Cheapside and afterwards as a
seed merchant at 15 Cank Street. The 1851 census
describes him as a "seed merchant employing 3 men". At one stage,
John took into partnership a former employee, Thomas Barwell.
In addition to these activities, from 1862 until February 1885 he was a
Director of the Leicestershire Banking Company. [2]
John married Susan Higginson at
Belgrave church, Leicester on 3 August 1844. The marriage licence which was
issued on the same day, described him as a gentleman living at Granby Street.
The two families had long-standing connections, as Higginson was the maiden
name not only of John's mother but also of his father's mother.
John and Susan had seven
offspring:
·
Eliza (1845-1923)
·
Helen (1846-1903)
·
Alfred (1849-1858)
·
John (1850-1852)
·
Fanny (1852-1932)
·
Agnes (1853-1854)
·
Frederick John
(1856-1857)
John, his sister Mrs. Elizabeth
Perkins and his mother were the main beneficiaries of the will of his father,
who died in 1844. [3] Further legacies arrived for John in 1851 under the
will of his uncle John Howcutt of Bitteswell. [4]
In 1851, John was living at 34
Granby Street, which was on the east side of that road between its junctions
with Halford Street and Campbell Street. In the
census of that year, he was described as a seed merchant employing three men.
John, Susan and their four children had the support of three resident
servants.
 During the 1850s, John followed his father's path in local
politics. In 1850, John stood unsuccessfully in St Margaret's parish as a
candidate for election to the Board of Guardians, which was responsible for
administering poor relief in Leicester. He had better fortune in the
following year when he was returned unopposed to fill a vacancy as a
councilman in St Martin's Ward that arose through the bankruptcy of George
Edward Cuff. St Martin's was the smallest of the seven wards into which
Leicester was then divided and included the central area of the town. John
was re-elected in 1853, just topping the poll in a close race for the two
available seats with 157 votes, the other candidates scoring 150, 148 and
136. In 1856, John Howcutt was retained the same seat. In the same year, he
was also elected to the Board of Guardians for St Margaret's No. 2 district. In 1856, John retained the seat. In the
same year, he was also elected to the Board of Guardians for St Margaret's
No. 2 district. [5] Until the 1870s, Leicester town council met at the
medieval Guildhall in Guildhall Lane (see picture).
John Howcutt of Leicester was
probably the “John Howcott”, who owned Higher Inchcombe,
a 160 acre farm in the parish of Lapford, Devon,
which was advertised for sale in “Trewman’s Exeter
Post or Plymouth and Cornish Advertiser” on 18 September 1856.
By the end of the 1850s, John and
his surviving family moved from the commercial centre of Leicester to Stoneygate, which was emerging as one of the most
salubrious new residential areas just outside the contemporary boundary of
Leicester itself. An auction was held at the Bell Hotel on 1 June
1858 to dispose of nine generously sized lots of building land on the east
side of London Road. John Howcutt bought two of the lots - one consisting of
2 acres, 5 perches at £450 per acre and the other amounting to 1 acre, 3
roods, 18 perches at £350 per acre. [6]
Arrangements for constructing the
new house, which was named “Ashfield”, did not go totally smoothly. James
Foster, a gardener, was engaged to lay out the grounds but was discharged
rather suddenly and then sued John Howcutt for some plans that he said he was
authorised to get made. John stated that he had paid Foster regularly for his
work and that on discharging him he never said anything about plans being
owed for. The Judge suggested that the parties should settle the matter by
John paying half the amount sued for, and this was agreed to. [7]
Soon after the court case was settled, John
advertised his old home in Granby Street for sale by auction at the Stag and
Pheasant Hotel, with the following description:
“A Capital Dwelling-House, situate in
Granby-street, in the parish of Saint Margaret, Leicester, in the occupation
of MR HOWCUTT, the owner comprising Entrance Hall, good Dining and Drawing
Rooms, Breakfast Room, Bed Rooms, Kitchens, Scullery, Hard and Soft Water
Pumps, Brewhouse, Stable, Harness Room, and every requisite for a family of
respectability.
The Property comprises, with the Garden, an area
of 544 square yards, with a frontage to Granby-street of 47 feet 7 inches,
and is situate in the great thoroughfare between the Market-place and Gallowtree Gate, and the Railway Station, and in the
centre of the principal places of business, and is well-adapted for
Warehouses or Shops.” [8]
The auction took place on 28 March
1860, when the property was sold for £2,600. Newspaper reports differ as to
the purchaser. “The Leicester Chronicle” stated that he was James Spencer, a
cabinet maker. However, the “Leicestershire Mercury” identified him as Mr
Harding, a grocer. The account that follows appears to confirm that Mr
Harding was indeed the successful bidder.
John’s former home did not longer survive the
change of ownership, as on 6 April 1861 the “Leicestershire Mercury” (page 5,
column 1) carried this report:
“R C Harding of the Haymarket, has recently
erected a fine block of buildings, including two handsome shops, on the site
of the house formerly occupied by Mr Howcutt, next to the Mercury Office, and
on Saturday opened one of the shops himself as a grocery establishment, when
its appearance excited general attention and admiration.”
In the 1861 census John was
recorded at his new home as a seed and oil cake merchant, accompanied by
Susan and their daughter Fanny. John's mother was visiting on census night;
she was described as a "proprietor of houses". The resident
servants had increased to number a cook, two housemaids and a groom. The
older daughters, Elizabeth (aged 15) and Helen (aged 14), were away at school
in Dover. The inhabitants of the premises where they boarded were the
schoolmistress, four assistant schoolmistresses, five domestic servants and
16 scholars. In view of the size of this establishment, it probably occupied
some or all of the Priory buildings that, since its foundation in 1871, have
been used by Dover College.
During the 1860's, two of John's daughters were
married at St Mary Magdalene church, Knighton. Both of their husbands were
sons of William Meade, the vicar of Inchinabaccy,
and his wife Anne, daughter of Robert Warren of Kinsdale
(14).
- 13 June
1867 – Eliza Howcutt married Rev Richard Corker Meade, a clergyman whose
residence was given as Knighton.
·
8 April 1869 - Helen Howcutt
married Warren Meade, a physician then living at Clogan,
county Cork.
It is quite feasible that the
Howcutt sisters and Meade brothers had been introduced through Elizabeth’s
cousin William Howcutt Perkins, who had married Caroline Jane Wilkinson at
Cloyne Cathedral, Ireland on 4 June 1863. William and Caroline had probably
returned to Leicestershire by 1866, as the monument to their son John Howcutt
Perkins in Arnesby churchyard gives the age when he
died in December 1869 as 3 years 4 months; this child’s birth was presumably
the one indexed as “John H Perkins” when it was registered at Lutterworth in
the September quarter 1866.
John Howcutt was appointed a
Justice of the Peace in 1867 and served regularly on the Bench until his
health failed in the last couple of years of his life.
In 1871, the address recorded for
John and his family was Eastfield Road, Knighton. The number of servants had
increased again and mustered a nursemaid, cook, housemaid, ladies' maid and a
coachman. Two of the women had been born at Bitteswell, including Elizabeth
York, aged 31, who was the cook. She was presumably related to Ann York, aged
12, who had been living in as a servant of Mrs Mary Howcutt at Bitteswell in
1851.
The 1881 census gives the family’s
address as Ashfield, Elmfield Avenue, and lists
three resident servants. In addition, the coachman was living at Ashfield
Cottage.
Ashfield - entrance gates
John Howcutt died at Ashfield on 4
December 1885, leaving a net estate valued at the then enormous sum of
£110,391.14s.10d. His will left the bulk of these assets to Susan and their
children. A total of £200 was given to the Infant Orphanage Asylum, Leicester
Blanket Lending Association, the Leicester
Association for Promoting the general welfare of the Blind and the Society
for the Sick Poor in Leicester. An unusual bequest was of the advowson (i.e.
right to appoint the Vicar) of St Mary at Oatlands in the parish of
Walton-on-Thames in Surrey; John left this right to his son in law, Rev.
Richard Corker Meade.
Susan was still living at Ashfield
at the time of the 1891 census, along with her only as yet unmarried child
Fanny, a cook, serving maid, housemaid and two nurses. As in 1881, the
coachman and his family lived nearby at Ashfield Cottage.
Fanny Howcutt was 42 when she
married Rev. David William Lord at Knighton church on 26 March 1894. It seems
that they did not stray far from the area, as his residence was recorded as
Knighton Fields House, Leicester when he was buried in 1918; Fanny died in
1932, her last residence being Charnwood, Kirby Muxloe.
Susan Howcutt survived until 10
May 1900. When her daughters obtained administration of her estate, the
effects were reported to be worth £5,866.7s.3d.
John and Susan are buried, along
with five of their children, under a monument on the left hand side of the
main entrance drive of Welford Road Cemetery, Leicester. This edifice is
almost certainly the largest Howcutt memorial in Britain. The inscriptions record
John and Susan's repeated bereavements. Their son John was 1 year and 7
months old when he died in 1852. A daughter Agnes died in 1854, aged 14
months. Frederick John was also 14 months old when he died in 1857. Their
last surviving son, Alfred died in 1858 of convulsions accompanying a fever
of nine days; this was around the time of his tenth birthday. [9]
Obituary
Death of Mr John Howcutt
It is with deep regret that we
have this week to announce the death of Mr. John Howcutt, which took place at
his residence at Ashfield, Knighton, on the 4th inst. The deceased gentleman,
who was in his 72nd year, was formerly in partnership with Mr. Johnson, as
ironmongers, in Cheapside, and afterwards carried on business as a seed
merchant in Cank-street. While engaged in this
trade he took into partnership Mr. Thomas Barwell,
who had been in his service many years. Deceased, several years ago, retired
from any active part in the management of the concern, but was appointed a
director of the Leicestershire Banking Company. Mr. Howcutt was at one time a
member of the Town Council, having been elected in 1853 for St. Martin's
parish with Mr. Joseph Swain. He continued on the Corporation six years, when
Mr. Councillor Crow became the colleague of Mr. Swain. He was also, in 1867,
appointed a magistrate of the borough, and for several years was very
assiduous in attending to his duties as a justice of the peace. During the
last year or two, however, the deceased gentleman was unable to give much
service to the town, and his appearance on the Bench, which at one time was
frequent, was made at irregular intervals, owing to failing health. Mr.
Howcutt was a Conservative in politics and a Churchman, and was generally
respected by the townspeople at large.- At the Town Hall on Monday morning,
the Mayor (Ald. Hart) referred to the death of Mr. Howcutt and said he was a
gentleman who was identified many years with the administration of justice in
that Court. He could only say, on the part of the Bench, how much they
regretted the loss of one who had not only distinguished himself in the
position of magistrate, but also as a townsman of Leicester. His loss would
be deeply deplored by his friends and everyone who knew him. [10]
Grandchildren
Although John and Susan had no grandchildren
with the Howcutt surname, their two oldest daughters were both mothers of
substantial families.
Eliza (1845-1923) and her husband, Rev Richard Corker Meade
(1834-1902) initially lived at Marmullane, county
Cork where he was curate before moving to England where Richard became Vicar
of Oatlands, Surrey in 1872. Three years later, he was appointed Vicar of St Neots from that year until his death in 1902. [11]
Elizabeth remained in residence at St Neots. She
died on 29 April 1923 and the monument in the churchyard there refers to her
as “Lily wife of Rev R C Meade”. The couple had nine children:
|
Name
|
Born
|
Birthplace
|
Died
|
|
Lilian
|
1869
|
Passage West, Ireland
|
1939
|
|
Herbert Edward
|
1871
|
Passage West, Ireland
|
1927
|
|
Richard Warren
|
1872
|
Surbiton, Surrey
|
1901
|
|
Kathleen
|
1874
|
Oatlands, Surrey
|
|
|
Sydney
|
1876
|
St Neots
|
1963
|
|
Claude John
|
1880
|
St Neots
|
1953
|
|
Veronica
|
c.1883
|
St Neots
|
1966
|
|
Alwyne Howcutt
|
1886
|
St Neots
|
1958
|
|
William Clanwilliam
|
|
|
(died young
|
Helen (1846-1903) and her husband, Warren Meade (1838-1916),
had seven offspring, their first child being born in Ireland and all the
others at Alverstoke, Hampshire:
|
Name
|
Born
|
Died
|
|
Helen Ann Warren
|
1870
|
1948
|
|
John Augustus Warren
|
1871
|
1919
|
|
William Edward
|
1872
|
1923
|
|
Warren
|
1874
|
1949
|
|
Frances M
|
1880
|
|
|
Guy Warren
|
1882
|
1957
|
|
Horace Warren
|
1884
|
1916
|
Ashfield
In September 1900, Warner,
Sheppard and Wade announced that they had been instructed by the Trustees of
the late John Howcutt, Esq. to sell Ashfield and
its grounds by auction. [12] A further advertisement appeared, shortly before
the sale that was due to take place on 31 October [13], with this description
of the property:
“Ashfield”, Elmfield Avenue, Stoneygate
A highly important and attractive
residential property situate in a charming position in the best suburb of
Leicester, about one mile from the centre of the town, within three minutes’
walk of the Tramways, for many years in the occupation of the late Mr. and
Mrs. Howcutt, comprising the substantially-built family residence known as
“Ashfield”, Elmfield-Avenue, Stoneygate,
standing in beautifully timbered and extensive grounds, with conservatory,
vinery, lawns. Kitchen garden, paddock with sunk fence, and field below
extending to the Evington Brook. There is a frontage of about 540 ft. to Elmfield Avenue and the whole property has an area of 7
acres, 3 roods, 0 perches or thereabouts.
The House, which has a
handsome carved stone portico entrance, is approached by a tastefully
laid-out carriage drive, the front has a pleasant outlook, and to the East
side there is a fine view over the undulating country towards Thurnby. It contains a spacious tiles entrance hall, 21
ft. by 16 ft., with stone fireplace and stained glass roof; dining room 24ft.
6in. by 17 ft. 4in.; drawing room, 23 ft. by 17 ft.; breakfast-room, 17ft by
15 ft.
On the First Floor, which is
reached by a wide oak and mahogany staircase, there are five bedrooms and two
dressing-rooms, bath-room, fitted with lavatory, w.c.;
three store cupboards, and linen cupboard.
On the Second Floor, three
bedrooms, large box-room tank-room, and housemaid’s closet, with back
staircase.
The Domestic Offices, which are adequate
for the requirements of the house, consist of two kitchens, butler’s pantry,
two larders, china pantry, and excellent cellarage.
The Out-Offices surround a
stone-paved stable yard, enclosed by double doors and comprise two loose
boxes and stall, coach-house and harness room, with three roomy corn and hay
chambers over, wash-house fitted with oven and coppers; coal house, boot
house and manure pit, etc.
There is a productive Kitchen
Garden, in which are Greenhouse, Vinery, Store House and Mushroom-house
heated by hot water pipes, tool house, etc.
The Grounds are
extensive, and well planted with shrubs, and sheltered on every side by
matured timber trees, on the north side of the paddock there is the Long
Walk, which is protected by a row of lime trees.
Notes
[1] The Leicester
Journal & Midlands Counties General Advertiser (5 March 1813) included
this advertisement:
|
Iron chests for parish registers
William Howcutt, ironmonger etc.
most respectfully informs Churchwardens, Overseers, and others, that he has
now ready for sale Iron Chests for the above purposes, made and fitted up
to agreeable Act of Parliament, and which he can sell from £2.10s to £4.
They may be seen at his Warehouse in Cheapside, or at his shop in
Lutterworth, on Market days; any orders will be thankfully received.
Leicester, Feb. 25th, 1813
|
[2]
Leicestershire Mercury, 14 February 1885, page 6, column 5.
[3] Will of
William Howcutt, gentleman of Leicester, proved at the Prerogative Court of
Canterbury (PCC) on 29 February 1844.
[4] Will of John
Howcutt, gentleman of Bitteswell, proved at PCC on 14 February 1851.
[5] Leicester
Municipal Borough and County Poll Book 1883 (Leicester).
[6] Leicester
Chronicle, 5 June 1858, page 7, column 4.
[7] Leicester
Chronicle, 25 February 1860, page 1, column 2.
[8] Leicester
Chronicle, 10 March 1860, page 2, column 3.
[9] Cause of
death from death certificate. The certificate states he was 9 years old but
the tombstone gives Alfred's age as 10. He died on 10 December 1858, his
birth having been registered during the first three months of 1849.
[10]
Leicester Journal and Midland Counties General Advertiser, 11
December 1885, page 8, local news.
[11]
“Church and parish records of the United Diocese of Cork,
Cloyne and Ross” by Rev J H Cole (Cork 1903), page 86.
[12]
Leicester Chronicle, 22 September 1900, page 1, column 1.
[13]
Leicester Chronicle, 27 October 1900, page 1, column 1.
|
