Bedfordshire Archives Service Catalogue
  • Reference
    L30/11/330/54
  • Title
    Letter from Harriett Yorke to Countess de Grey, written from Bonnington, near Ware, Hertfordshire. Sorry to hear Lady Grantham has been indisposed with a cold. Mentions the weather – it has rained every day since the 12th of July. Hopes the harvest will not be as bad as the last.
  • Date free text
    15 Aug 1817
  • Production date
    From: 1817 To: 1817
  • 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
    Mention of a statement by Mr Hunt that the people should expect the price of a quarter loaf to be 8d after the harvest. The weather is hostile to Mr Yorke’s rheumatic complaints. The writer, however, is better in all respects than she has been for the last two years. Writer is very happy at the continued good accounts of Caroline and her babe [Caroline Harriet Somers-Cocks, nee Yorke, and daughter Caroline Margaret]. Caroline had some fever from her milk for about three days but it has subsided, and she was allowed on Monday to have her boiled chicken. Lady Hardwicke has said nothing of the Baron of Eastnor’s supposed disappointment ‘so I trust he is wise enough, if he feels any, as he probably does, to keep the expression of it to himself.’ Mrs [Agneta] Yorke has taken a house in Clifton [Bristol] for six weeks. She complains of deafness and rheumatism. Lord Hardwicke, however, by no means confirms this account. ‘She is as usual very impatient to return again to her home, and should we have a fine hot October, she will be equally impatient to leave it again. Pleased to hear that Lord & Lady Grantham and their children have arrived safely in Yorkshire, and to have satisfactory tidings of Sarah Robinson [wife of Frederick John Robinson]. Thanks for offer of cygnets, ‘but those you formerly gave us, and which are now swans, are very flourishing.’
  • Level of description
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