In 1779 Hester Thrale wrote in the Family Book…
I think I am again pregnant.
She had a difficult pregnancy, which she prayed was a son. During most of the pregnancy she was confined to the house.
On 10 August 1779, she was a few days away from being full-term, but problems with the clerks had arisen at the brewery. In Thraliana [3], she wrote1…
Mr Thrale wished me to go, nay insisted on it, but seemed somewhat concerned too, as he was well apprized of the Risque I should run. I went however, & after doing the Business I went to do, beg'd him to make haste home, as I was apprehensive bad Consequences might very quickly arise from the Joulting &c. -- he would not be hurried … no Pain, No Entreaties of mine could make him set out one Moment before the appointed hour -- so I lay along in the Coach all the way from London to Streatham in a State not to be described, nor endured; -- but by me: -- & being carried to my Chamber the Instant I got home, miscarried in the utmost Agony before they could get me into Bed, after fainting five Times.
The stillborn child was a full term, perfectly formed, boy. Henry's inaction seemed to have caused, or contributed to the loss of his last chance to have a male heir.
John Perkins who was present at the scene in the brewery, said that Henry seemed to be…
"Planet-struck".
It is likely that the son was buried in St. Leonard's Church, Streatham [4] and has no monument.
Links
[1] https://thrale.com/user/login?destination=comment/reply/308%23comment-form
[2] https://thrale.com/user/register?destination=comment/reply/308%23comment-form
[3] https://thrale.com/thraliana_diary_mrs_hester_lynch_thrale
[4] https://thrale.com/st_leonards_church_streatham
[5] https://thrale.com/category/help_wanted_1