Bedfordshire Archives Service Catalogue
  • Reference
    L30/11/330/82
  • Title
    Letter/notes, from ‘Off the Start’, Catwater, and Hamoaze, Plymouth and Sydney Lodge. [Typed transcript available].
  • Date free text
    Mon 5 Aug/Tues 6 Aug/9 Aug/11 Aug [1816]
  • Production date
    From: 1816 To: 1816
  • Admin/biog history
    Harriet Yorke, nee Manningham born c.1763, was the daughter of Charles Manningham and his wife Ann. Her siblings were: Charles William Manningham, b. 1762, d.1849 Coote Manningham, b.c.1765, d.1809 Boyd Manningham, b. 1766 Amelia Manningham, b.1767 Elizabeth Manningham, b.1768, d. 1853 (usually referred to as Eliza or Elvira in the letters) Henry Manningham, b 1773, d. 1821 Coote Manningham married Anna Maria Pollen in 1802. Their children were: Charles Coote Manningham b 1804, d.1810 Boyd Pollen Manningham, b. 1807, d. 1831 Harriet Manningham, b,1806, d. 1824 Mary Anne Manningham, b.1802, who married Edward Buller. Coote Manningham died in 1809, and his wife died in 1822. By Anna Maria's Will, Coote’s siblings Harriet Yorke, Charles William Manningham and Elizabeth Manningham became the guardians of Coote's surviving children (Boyd, Harriet and Mary Anne). The children lived with Elizabeth. The letters contain several references to Elizabeth's "charges" and other details of this side of the family.
  • Scope and Content
    5 Aug: Standing towards Plymouth and expect to be at anchor by 4.00pm. Sailed from the Lodge on Saturday and have had a delightful voyage. Charles [writer’s eldest brother] and the writer have suffered little from seasickness. Expect to be back at the Lodge about Saturday or Sunday next, as all matters in Plymouth may be finished on Thursday. 6 Aug: Did not anchor until 5.00am; delay due to lack of wind; since that time a south-wester has been rising, blowing very strong. Has been on board the vessel which has the diving bell, and saw two men descend to the bottom of Catwater [stretch of water where the mouth of the river Plym merges with Plymouth Sound], in 20ft of water, and remain a quarter of an hour and come to the top again without the slightest inconvenience. Are going to dine with ‘Breakwater Joe’, the name given to Joseph Whidbey, the superintendent of the work; afterward propose to go to Hamoaze to visit the dock yard and dine with Sir John Duckworth. 9 Aug: Preparing to return having finished all business. Visited Port Eliot yesterday, paid respects to the Mayor and Alderman of Liskeard, dined at Antony with the Carews and were back on board by 10.00 pm. Expect to be under way by 3.00pm if the weather stays fair. Visited Mount Edgcumbe [home of Richard Edgcumbe, 2nd Earl] 11 Aug: Landed this morning before breakfast and after spending the day on shore, propose to go by water tomorrow to see Portsmouth dock yard.
  • Level of description
    item
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