On 11th October 1763, Henry and Hester were wed by Thelwall Salusbury at St. Anne's Chapel, Soho, London [3] aged 35-391 and 22 respectively. The Gentleman's Magazine announced2 …
Henry Thrale of Southwark, Esq;—to Miss Salusbury, niece to Sir Thomas Salisbury.
Nearly the handsomest man in England.
Henry was a solid respectable man who was kindly towards Hester. Hester once said that Henry Thrale only married her because other ladies to whom he proposed had refused to live in the Borough [5]. Hester complained that she was not allowed to ride or to manage the household, and was driven to amuse herself with literature and her children. Together they had 12 children [6], most of which died in childhood, and those that lived to maturity were distant and gradually estranged from Hester after her second marriage [7]. Boswell quotes Samuel Johnson as saying of Henry Thrale…
I know no man… who is more master of his wife and family than Thrale. If he but holds up a finger, he is obeyed.
In June 1777 Hester wrote the following account of Henry Thrale's traits in Thraliana [9]…
> As this is Thraliana—in good Time—I will now write Mr Thrale's Character in it: it is not because I am in good or ill Humour with him or he with me, for we are not capricious People, but have I believe the same Opinion of each other at all Places and Times. Mr Thrale's Person is manly, his Countenance agreeable, his Eyes steady and of the deepest Blue: his Look neither soft nor severe, neither sprightly nor gloomy, but thoughtful and Intelligent: his Address is neither caressive nor repulsive, but unaffectedly civil and decorous; and his Manner more completely free from every kind of Trick or Particularity than I ever saw any person's—he is a Man wholly as I think out of the Power of Mimickry. He loves Money & is diligent to obtain it; but he loves Liberality too, & is willing enough both to give generously & spend fashionably. His Passions either are not strong, or else he keeps them under such Command that they seldom disturb his Tranquillity or his Friends, & it must I think be something more than common which can affect him strongly either with Hope, Fear Anger Love or Joy. His regard for his Father's Memory is remarkably great, and he has been a most exemplary Brother; though when the house of his favourite Sister was on Fire, & we were alarmed with the Account of it in the Night, I well remember that he never rose, but bidding the Servant who called us, go to her Assistance; quietly turned about & slept to his usual hour. I must give another Trait of his Tranquillity on a different Occasion; he had built great Casks holding 1000 Hogsheads each, & was much pleased with their Profit & Appearance—One Day however he came down to Streatham as usual to dinner & after hearing & talking of a hundred trifles—but I forgot says he to tell you how one of my great Casks is burst & all the Beer run out. Mr Thrale's Sobriety, & the Decency of his Conversation being wholly free from all Oaths Ribaldry and Profaneness make him a Man exceedingly comfortable to live with, while the easiness of his Temper and slowness to take Offence add greatly to his Value as a domestic Man: Yet I think his Servants do not much love him, and I am not sure that his Children feel much Affection for him: low People almost all indeed agree to abhorr him, as he has none of that officious & cordial Manner which is universally required by them—nor any Skill to dissemble his dislike of their Coarseness—with Regard to his Wife, tho' little tender of her Person, he is very partial to her Understanding,—but he is obliging to nobody; & confers a Favour less pleasingly than many a Man refuses to confer one. This appears to me to be as just a Character as can be given of the Man with whom I have now lived thirteen Years, and tho' he is extremely reserved and uncommunicative, yet one must know something of him after so long Acquaintance. Johnson has a very great Degree of Kindness & Esteem for him, & says if he would talk more, his Manner would be very completely that of a perfect Gentleman.
Their friend Mr Pepys composed verses to commemorate their 13th wedding anniversary in 1776 [10]. In 1779, Hester who had also lost several children, was unhappy in the thought that she had ceased to be appreciated by her husband. She became jealous of his regard for Sophy Streatfeild of Chiddingsone (1754-1835), a rich widow's daughter. In January, 1779, she wrote in Thraliana [9]…
Mr. Thrale has fallen in love, really and seriously, with Sophy Streatfield; but there is no wonder in that; she is very pretty, very gentle, soft, and insinuating; hangs about him, dances round him, cries when she parts from him, squeezes his hand slily, and with her sweet eyes full of tears looks so fondly in his face - and all for love of me, as she pretends, that I can hardly sometimes help laughing in her face. A man must not be a man but an it to resist such artillery.
Queeney [11] in a letter to Fanny Burney [12] in 1813 wrote that she believed that Hester hated Henry. While there was no great passion, they loved and respected each other. Hester wrote that their match was …
mere Prudence and common good Liking, without the smallest pretensions to Passion on either side.
On the date of her wedding anniversary with Henry, in the first year of her widowhood, 11 October 1787, Hester wrote in Thraliana [9]…
Why do the people say I never loved my first husband? 'tos a very unjust conjecture. This day on which 24 years ago I was married to him never returns without bringing with it many a tender Remembrance: though 'twas on that Evening when we retired together that I was first alone with Mr. Thrale for five minutes in my whole life. Ours was a match of mere Prudence; and common good Liking, without the smallest Pretensions to passion on either Side: I knew no more of him than any other Gentleman who came to the House, nor did he ever profess other Attachment to me, than such as Esteem of my Character, & Convenience from my Fortune produced. I really had never past five whole Minutes Tête a Tête with him in my life till the Evening of our Wedding Day,—& he himself has said so a Thousand Times. yet God who gave us to each other, knows I did love him dearly; & what honour I can ever do to his Memory shall be done, for he was very generous to me.
The next day, 12 October 1781, Hester Thrale wrote in Thraliana [9] …
> Yesterday was my Wedding Day; it was a melancholy thing to me to pass it without the Husband of my Youth.
and …
Long Tedious Years may neither moan Sad—deserted and alone; May neither long condemn'd to stay Wait the second Bridal Day!!!
[8]
Henry [14] and Hester Thrale [4] had 12 children most of which died in childhood. It was speculated by Hester that Jeremiah Crutchley [19] was Henry's illegitimate son. However, modern historians think this unlikely.
Child | Image | Born | Died | Age at death | Buried |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Hester Maria Thrale (Queeney). Story [20]. Family tree [21]. | 17 September 1764 Southwark [22]. | 31 March 1857. 110 Picadilly, London | 92 | Keith Mausoleum [23] | |
Frances Thrale. Story [24]. Family tree [25]. | 27 September 1765 Southwark [22] [26]. | 6 October 1765. Southwark [22]. | 9 days | St Leonards Church, Streatham [27] | |
Henry Salusbury Thrale Story [28]. Family tree [29]. | 15 February 1767 Southwark [22]. | 23 March 1776. Southwark [22]. | 9 | St Leonards Church, Streatham [27] | |
Anna Maria Thrale Story [30]. Family tree [31]. | 1 April 1768 Streatham [26]. | 20 March 1770. Dean Street [32], London. | 23 months | St Leonards Church, Streatham [27] | |
Lucy Elizabeth Thrale Story [33]. Family tree [34]. | 22 June 1769 Streatham [26]. | 22 November 1773. Streatham. [26] | 4 | St Leonards Church, Streatham [27] | |
Susannah Arabella Thrale Story [35]. Family tree [36]. | 23 May 1770 Southwark [22]. | 5 November 1858. Knockholt, Kent. | 88 | St Leonards Church, Streatham [27] | |
Sophia Thrale Story [37]. Family tree [38]. | 23 July 1771 Streatham [26]. | 8 | November 1824. Sandgate, Kent. | 53 | St Leonards Church, Streatham [27] | |
Penelope Thrale Story [39]. Family tree [40]. | 15 September 1772 Streatham [26]. | 15 September 1772. Streatham [26]. | 10 hours | St Leonards Church, Streatham [27] | |
Ralph Thrale Story [41]. Family tree [42]. | 8 November 1773 Streatham [26]. | 13 July 1775. Brighton [43]. | 20 months | Unknown | |
Frances Anna Thrale Story [44]. Family tree [45]. | 4 May 1775 Streatham [26]. | 9 December 1775 Streatham [26]. | 7 months | St Leonards Church, Streatham [27] | |
Cecilia Margaretta Thrale Story [46]. Family tree [47]. | 8 February 1777 Streatham [26]. | 1 May 1857. Brighton Railway Station. | 80 | St Leonards Church, Streatham [27] | |
Henrietta Sophia Thrale Story [48]. Family tree [49]. | 21 June 1778 Streatham [26]. | 25 April 1783. Streatham [26]. | 4 | St Leonards Church, Streatham [27] | |
Stillborn son Story [50]. | Miscarried 10 August 1779 Streatham [26]. | Unknown |
Hester also miscarried a daughter [51] and adopted a son [52] with her second husband Mr Piozzi.
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Henry - also known as Harry - was born on 15 February 17671 in Southwark [22].
Named after his father, he was also described in his mothers journal as being very intelligent for his age. He had an attractive personality, was lively, dutiful and loving.
One entry described his physical appearance as …
Strong made, course and bony: - not handsome at all, but of perfect Proportion; and has a surly look with the honestest and sweetest Temper in the World.
Don't scream so, I know I must die.
By age three Henry had apparently already memorised many facts about religion; able to recite the different heathen Gods, the muses, his Catechism, grammar facts, and various other trivia. Around the age of eight 'Harry' had developed into an avid reader and been a person of a forward nature to which his mother had to warn him on what was appropriate conversation topic. He attended St Thomas's School (he refused to board).
Henry died at Brewery House [22] in Southwark between 3 and 4 o'Clock in the afternoon of the 23 March 1776 aged ten. The day before he died he went with a family party to the Tower of London [73] jumping in an out of 'every Mortar till he was black as the ground'. The next day he breakfasted with his father's clerks, bright as a berry. Later during the he suffered intense pain. A physician administered a medicine Daffy's Elixir [74]. As he became desperately ill, his mother rushed to his bedside where he lay in agony. He spoke to his nurse and said "Don't scream so, I know I must die".
It is a total extinction of the family. I would have gone to the extremity of the earth to have preserved this boy.
The cause of death has been speculated as being a ruptured appendix or fulminating septicaemia or meningitis. Today these would be treated with antibiotics with expected cure, but during the time a child often died within hours of a serious infection. He was buried on 28 March 1776 in St Leonard's Church, Streatham [27] and has a monument.
Samuel Johnson, learned of his death, in a letter received whilst having breakfast with James Boswell and Miss Porter on 25 March 1776. Johnson exclaimed:
Sir! one of the most dreadful things that has happened in my time!
Boswell asked…
What is it Sir?.
Johnson replied…
Why Sir Mr. Thrale [14] has lost his only son. It is a total extinction of the family. He'll no more value his daughters than … why sir, he wishes to propagate his name … I would have gone to the extremity of the earth to have preserved this boy.
His mother [4] slowly recovered from his death, although it is known that her disappointment in the behaviour of her friend Herbert Lawrence2 following her son's death led to the ending of their friendship [76]. In contrast, although Henry Thrale [14] lived for a further five years after the death of his son, his father his father never really recovered from his death.
Born on 1 April 1768 in Streatham [26], and named after Lady Anna Maria Salusbury (née Penrice) 1718-1759.
Wonderfully passionate and intelligent.
Christened on 17 April 1768 at St Leonard's Church, Streatham [27]. Anna Maria was the first Thrale child to be christened in the Streatham rather than at The Borough in London. Her service was held at St Leonard's, close to Streatham Park, the rector, James Tattersall, officiating. Mrs. Salusbury was again a godmother, and the other was Thrale's aunt Anne, the widow of Richard Smith, who had come with her nephew on his courting visit to Offley Place [80] nearly six years before. Jeremiah Crutchley [19] was Anna's godfather.
Anna Maria Thrale was described as very thin, not very pretty, but wonderfully passionate and intelligent. She lived mainly with her Grandmother, who would spoil her. In her Children's Book her mother described her thus…
Remarkably small bon'd & delicately framed, but not pretty, as she has no plumpness … her spirit uncommonly high, wonderfully passionate from the very first & backward in her Tongue tho' forward in general Intelligence: She could kiss her her hand at 9 months old, & understand all one said to her: could walk to perfection, & even with an Air at a year old, & seems to intend being Queen of us all if she lives which I do not expect she is so very lean.
On 20 March 1770 aged almost two Anna died from meningitis in Dean Street [32], London. On the same day Her mother's Children's Book described Anna as having died from "a dropsy of the brain". Since she suffered for awhile the sickness may possibly have originated in tuberculosis. She also may have lacked sweat glands, a rare congenital condition.
She was buried on 23 March 1770 in St Leonard's Church, Streatham and has no monument.
Born on 22 June 1769 in Streatham [26], and Christened on 16 July 1769 at St. Leonard's Church, Streatham [27]. She was described as a sickly child but also abundant in softness and kindness.
She acquired her name after Johnson insisted on her being called Elizabeth, in Memory of his late wife Elizabeth (known as 'Tetty). Lucy was very pretty and wonderfully active with her feet although not very talented concerning matters of grammar and English.
Lucy died aged four on 22 November 1773 due to a brain abscess caused by an inflammation of both middle ears and mastoids resulting from a cold. She was buried on 26 November 1773 at St. Leonard's Church, Streatham without any monument.
[85]
Susannah was born on 23 May 1770.
She had crooked legs and an umbilical rupture which made her irritable. Because of this she was called 'Little Crab' by the other children and 'Gilly' by her father from a Gilhouter, the Cheshire word signifying an owl.
She was a favourite of Johnson, who in 1777 said "I was always a Suzy, when nobody else was a Suzy". Johnson defended her as being strong and beautiful, against the opinion of her mother. Her mother described Susannah as "small, ugly & lean as ever; her Colour is like that of an ill painted Wall grown dirty." As she grew up, she was described by her mother as becoming pretty.
In July 1779 - when Susannah was nine - Hester wrote in Thraliana…
Susan & Sophy are fine Girls, and promise to be a Credit & Comfort to their Parents, neither do I yet see any Disposition in the Eldest [20] that need give one pain.
Susannah was knowledgeable on many things and had a talent for reading elegantly. She was able to speak French and English by age five. She attended Mrs Stevenson's school in Queens Square, London, and Mrs Cumyns's boarding school in Kensington, London.
I was always a Suzy, when nobody else was a Suzy.
On 20 January 1779, her mother wrote of her in Thraliana [9] …
My second Daughter Susanna1 Arabella who will not yet be nine Years old till next May, can at this moment read a French Comedy to divert herself, and these very holy days her Amusement has been to make Sophy [37] & sometimes Hester help her to act the two or three 1 st Scenes of Moliere [86]'s Bourgeouis Gentilhomme [87]: add to this that She has a real Taste for English Poetry, and when Mr Johnson repeated some of Dryden [88]'s Musick Ode the other day, She said She had got the whole poem & Pope's too upon the same Subject by Heart for her own Amusement.—Her Knowledge of Arithmetick goes no farther than the four Rules, but She has worked a Map of Europe, and has a Comprehensive Knowledge of Geography that would amaze one.
On 14 July 1780 Hester wrote in Thraliana…
Susan is three parts a Beauty, & quite a Scholar for ten Years old: few passages in History or poetry,—I mean English Poetry—are new to her, & She is a Critick in Geography & French.
In January 1781 - when Susannah was eleven - Hester wrote in Thraliana…
Susan has a surprising turn for Letter writing; her compositions are relly elegant, & She delights—odd enough—in reading Voiture [89] & Sevigné [90]. They both2 have obtained the French Accent very completely , considering they have never been out of England. I should like to treat them to with a run to the Continent.
On 17 December of the same year Hester wrote…
Susan is already taller than me, & three parts a Beauty.
In 1790, John Fuller [91], better known as "Mad Jack" Fuller, proposed marriage but was rebuffed. She remained unmarried.
In 1832, together with her other sisters, she founded the Thrale Almshouses [92].
Susannah Thrale lived with watercolourist William Frederick Wells, a widower and father of seven, but did not marry him. She "joined him at his house", Ash Cottage, in Knockholt, Kent. Wells' name does not appear in the Thrale family correspondence. Susannah's mother Hester refers to him as "Mr Ash Grove". What the nature of their relationship was is open to speculation.
Wells was a drawing instructor to young aristocrats and had exhibited at the Royal Academy. He founded the Society of Painters in Watercolours, now the Royal Watercolour Society in 1804.
Susanhah Thrale lived at Ash Grove Cottage for the rest of her life, remaining there even after Wells retired to Mitcham, Surrey.
Susannah died on 5 November 1858 aged 88 and was buried at St Leonard's churchyard, Streatham. She also has a monument at Knockholt Church [93], Kent inside the church.
[96]Born on 23 July 1771 in Streatham [26] and was Christened on 11 August 1771 at St. Leonard's Church, Streatham [27]. Sophia was also a favourite of Johnson [75], who called her:
dear, sweet, pretty, lovely, delicious Miss Sophy.
Sophia was a very large baby, common in overdue children. Johnson said of her during pregnancy…
This naughty baby stays so long that I am afraid it will be a giant, like King Richard.
As she grew she became very stout and…
handsome enough, though not eminant for beauty.
In July 1779 - when Sophia was eight - Hester wrote in Thraliana [9]…
Susan [35] & Sophy are fine Girls, and promise to be a Credit & Comfort to their Parents, neither do I yet see any Disposition in the Eldest that need give one pain”;.
Dear, sweet, pretty, lovely, delicious Miss Sophy.
Also at age four, she was memorising hymns, her multiplication tables and various Psalms.
On 6 August 1780 Hester wrote in Thraliana…
Sophy has a Turn for making Verses, bad enough to be sure, yet such a Turn shews Genius in a Girl who was nine Years old only a fortnight ago
In January 1781 Hester wrote in Thraliana…
Sophia, who is a more natural Character, finds no Entertainment in writing at all; but works hard at her Needle, and Harpsichord, and gets to spouting Fingal for her Diversion—they both1 have obtained the French Accent very completely , considering they have never been out of England. I should like to treat them to with a run to the Continent.
On 17 December 1781 Hester wrote…
My Sophy Thrale has begun to study Musik in good earnest; She will learn to play & sing very well I fancy, Piozzi has great hopes of her. Sophy is an Epitome of all the Cotton family—'tis odd that none of my children should resemble my Father.
She attended Mrs Stevenson's school in Queens Square, London, and Mrs Cumyns's boarding school in Kensington, London. [97]
In Bath on 19 November 1783, when Sophia was aged 12, Hester wrote in Thraliana…
Heavens! a new Distress! my Child, my Sophia will dye: arrested by the hand of God—apparently so: She will die without a Disease—Fits, sudden, unaccountable, unprovoked; Apoplectic, lethargic like her Father. Woodward and Dobson are called: they say her Disorder should be termed Allonitus. 'tis an instant Cessation of all Nature's Pow'rs at once. I saved her in the first Attack, bya Dram of fine Old Usquebough given at the proper Moment—it reviv'd her, but She only lives I see to expire with fresh Struggles.
Oh spare my Sophia, my Darling, oh spare her gracious heaven—& take in Exchange the life of her wretched Mother!
She lives, I have been permitted to save her again; I rubbed her while just expiring, so as to keep the heart in Motion: She knew me instantly, & said you warm me but you are killing yourself—I actually was in a burning Fever from exertion, & fainted soon as I had saved my Child.
Hester [20] has behaved inimitably too, all our Tenderness was called out on this Occasion: dear Creatures! they see I love them, that I would willingly die for them; that I am actually dying to gratifie their Humour at the Expence of my own Happiness: they can but have my Life-let them take it !”;
Sophy has a Turn for making Verses, bad enough to be sure, yet such a Turn shews Genius in a Girl who was nine Years old only a fortnight ago.
Johnson's letters show that he, and perhaps the physicians, regarded this attack of Sophia's as hysterical. On 27 November 1783 he wrote…
I had to-day another trifling letter from the physicians. Do not let them fill your mind with terrours which perhaps they have not in their own; neither suffer yourself to sit forming comparisons between Sophy and her dear father; between; whom there can be no other resemblance, than that of sickness to sickness. Hystericks and apoplexies have no relation.
Sophie's illness recurred for at least a year. It was mentioned again by Johnson in his March 1784 letters.
[98]
On 13 August 1807, Sophia married Henry Merrick Hoare (1770 - 1826). He was the 3rd son of Baronet Sir Richard Hoare [99] and Henry was a banker in the family firm [100] founded by his great great grandfather. Henry was also the 15th great grandson of King Edward I (1239-1307) [101] and 16th great grandson of Henry III (1297-1272) [102]. On hearing of the wedding, which she did not attend, Sophia's mother wrote of Sophia's kindness and civility.
In return Hester gave Sophy an original Gainsborough [103] landscape painting. This painting was later owned by the Marquis of Lansdowne [104] and displayed in London at 1936 Gainsborough exhibition. On 17 October 1807, Hester wrote of the painting…
"The Subject Cattle driven down to drink, & the first Cow expresses Something of Surprize as if an Otter lurked under the Bank. It is a naked looking Landschape—done to divert Abel the Musician by representing his Country Bohenia in no favourable Light, & the Dog is a favourite's Portrait….
In 1805 Sophia sent her mother a gift of pens, to which her mother wrote some verses in response, by way of thanks [105].
Sophia died on 8 November 1824 aged 53. Her portrait is believed to be at Bowood House [107].
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Born at 1pm on 15 September 1772. Penelope was born with a blackened face and unable to breathe properly. She survived just 10 hours, and died just before midnight the same day.
It was said that Mrs. Thrale had driven herself to total exhaustion during her previous pregnancy [37] and had not recovered by the time Penelope was born.
Penelope was buried in St. Leonard's Church, Streatham [27] without any monument.
His mothers' Children's Book records that she had suspected that Ralph was imbecile since 31 December 1773 and that Dr Pott the surgeon confirmed this in April 1775, suggesting that the cause was congential [117]. Ralph was said by Hester1 to have suffered from confluent smallpox [118].
During the last few months of his life, Ralph's state overshadowed the life of the Thrales taking everybody's mind off the fact that Frances Anna [44] was born two months earlier.
Ralph died of a brain disorder that caused his head to enlarge. Doctors now think that the cause of death was either congenital hydrocephalus [119], where there is an increase in the fluid in the ventricles of the brain, or hydrancephaly, where the a bag a clear fluid between the brain and skull distort the shape of the head.
He was buried in St. Leonard's Church, Streatham [27] and has a monument. Ralph Thrale was born on 8 November 1773 at Streatham [26]. He died on at the Thrale's Brighton home [120] on 13 July 1775 aged twenty months.
Born on 4 May 1775 at Streatham [26], she was named after Mrs. Thrale's niece, daughter of Mrs. Plumbe, Frances Plumbe Rice.
Sadly, Frances died of influenza at Streatham on 9 December 1775 aged seven months. At the time, most of the Thrale family had come down with the sickness but all recovered except Frances and her wet nurse who also died a few days later. Mrs. Thrale took the death as being normal in that during the time, infant mortality was high and death was always half expected with birth.
She was buried in St. Leonard's Church, Streatham [27] without any monument.
[125]
Cecilia was born on 8 February 1777 at Streatham [26]. Her Godparents were Miss Owen, Mrs. Hester D'Avenantfn [126], daughter of Sir Lynch Salusbury Cotton, later Lady Corbet. and William Seward1.
In July 1779 - when Cecilia was two - Hester wrote in Thraliana [9]…
Cæcilia improves daily and is a lovely girl of the fair delicate kind … their is not a fault to find with either of them2 person or Mind; and I thank God who gave them me, their health is excellent.
On 28 March 1783 Hester wrote in Thraliana…
poor Cæcilia has got the Hooping Cough.
On 14 April 1783 she again wrote…
poor Cæcilia and Harriett; I fear those poor babies will dye, notwithstanding the efforts of Jebb3 & Pepys4 to relieve them:—Thank Heav'n they are with Dear Mrs Ray5
On 30 December 1789 - when Cecilia was twelve - Hester wrote in Thraliana…
Cæcilia grows more amiable, She has some fondness, & much flexibility: Amica di ognuno, Amica di nessuno6. should be Cæcilia's Motto. we teize her, & say She is like her own favourite Spaniel, who fawns upon everybody, & upon ev'ry body alike—but She says Phillis has her Distinctions.
On 29 April 1787 Hester wrote of Gabriel Piozzi's relationship with Cecilia in Thraliana…
The little Cecllia is his Darling, & while She is at School will honour us with her Visits no doubt, but her Tenderness will end there I trust, as her Spirit is the same to that of her Sisters. Well! never mind, my heart is vastly more impenetrable to their unmerited Cruelty than it was when last in England. Let them look to their Affairs, & I shall look to mine: the World is wide enough I'll warrant it for Miss Thrales and Mrs Piozzi.
Cæcilia improves daily and is a lovely girl of the fair delicate kind.
On 3 January 1791 - when Cecilia was fourteen - Hester wrote in Thraliana…
Every body tells me that Cæcilia Thrale improves, & so I think She does; tho’ not because they say so: were She less altered for the better, no less would be said about her perfections I suppose. but She has lost much of the savage Manners She brought from School: is tamer, & handsomer, and grows very like what her Sisters were when they lived with me.—The Exterior is best tho’ with Cecilia; her Mind recovers more slowly than her Person, from a severe Shock certainly given to Both in the Year 1783 by the Hooping Cough & Measles together, when her younger Sister lost that Life which was preserved to this Girl only by Sir Lucas Pepys’s4 extreme Skill & Care. She will however be a fine Woman, with Accomplishments & Beauty & Virtue enough to accompany forty or fifty Thousand Pounds—although her Memory is far from strong, and her Spirit of Application to any Study much too weak ever to attain at Eminence I think.
Her Temper when unthwarted is sweet, but She arms against opposition even instinctively; and will do nothing because She is commanded, but the contrary, while the same surly Independent Soul inhabits her Bosom with equal Rapacity to obtain, and Rage to appropriate, as in the hearts of any of her Family. Cecilia seems however to love Mr Piozzi—in her way of loving—but no one accuses her of partiality towards me I believe, whose Company She studiously avoids; & I therefore say nothing, but provide Refuges for her to recur to, that are no less improving Companions than myself—while She has Miss Weston, Miss Williams, Miss Lees, or Dear Siddons [127] only for Confidents—She can hear of nothing but Literature, so I care not.
The Greatheeds too, so much her favourites! with whom can She be better? We keep no Company but that by which something must be obtained to a Young Mind, of Knowledge or of Virtue.—
Three weeks later, on 27 January 1791 Hester wrote in Thraliana…
Here's my Birthday returned; the first I have spent at Streatham for many Years, and quite the happiest I ever did spend there: Our daughter who lives in the house with us—Cecilia—much improved, & growing handsome as well as tall & rich; good as her Neighbours too, for ought I see; though without much Love of Study, or Regard for me, all goes well between us; and her Papa7 as She calls him, has a very solid kindness & true Goodwill towards her. I find he is of Opinion that Cator is no honest Guardian to those Girls, but I suppose they would rather be robbed by him, than saved by us.
On 1 September 1794 - when Cecilia was seventeen - Hester wrote in Thraliana…
Cecilia does not indeed trouble herself to disguise her Sentiments, She has, and She shews She has, an ineffable Contempt for us both8; but why do I say of us? She despises every body, I know, except her own Sisters & her Father's Family (I suppose‚ twas they taught her to hate us so, She was only indifferent to us till She knew them—but ’twas an easy Lesson to any of the Family), Cecilia is however a very charitable Girl, and loves the poor : which will produce her many Blessings I humbly hope, and certainly will cover a Multitude of Faults—for the rest, one can only say with Andromache—
Youth and Prosperity have made her vain9.
In 1784 when her mother [4] left England Cecilia was left with Miss Nicholson.
In the summer of 1786 she moved to Mrs Stevenson's school in Queens Square, London.
In August 1794 Hester Thrale became Godmother to Cecilia Siddons - named after Cecilia Thrale - daughter of Sarah Siddons [127]. Cecilia Margarita Battiste10 was also named after Cecilia Thrale.
Cecilia was admired by many, including Samuels Rogers who met her at Edinburgh [128] and Streatham.
On 6 June 1795 aged 18, Cecilia ran away and on 8 June 1795 was married in Gretna Green [129] in Scotland to John Meredith Mostyn (1775-1807). On 9 June, Cecilia wrote a letter to Hester which said…
We arrived safe here yesterday evening after an amazing long journey as you know & faster even than the mail—we were married immediately, stay here all today & set out on our road to Llewesog Lodge tomorrow
Hester Thrale’s account of this in Thraliana was…
“;Oh Lord! Oh Lord! Mosty & Cecilia are run away to Scotland sure enough, and here is M r Piozzi [7] in an Agony about his Honour wch he fancies injured by the step, Susan [35] & Sophy [37] are in Care for the Money which they unjustly fear is endanger’d ; Miss Thrale [20]11 behaves best, & I suffer most—on Acct of her Health & Youth & Inexperience—Oh my poor Cecy!—for the 1st five Minutes I knew not but Drummond might have tricked her off with him pretending to be the other: but No, She is in safe & honourable Hands, and happy with her Dear Mostyn at Llewessog Lodge, where all seem rejoyced to receive & court her Attention.—This Business then is happily over, & I might sleep if Nervous Complaints did not hinder me—for now the other Girls are kind & good, & stuff Cecy, so do I, with bridal Presents; and nobody is otherwise than happy & content.
'Fedele & costante, felice e contento12' as my Master says.
Her Temper when unthwarted is sweet, but She arms against opposition even instinctively; and will do nothing because She is commanded, but the contrary.
On June 17 1795 Cecilia wrote to Hester, from Llewesog, that she had been…
frightened into fits on her wedding night, and that her husband had kindly and considerately got Dr. Haygarth to prescribe for her at Chester. 'I am got quite well now & am learning to behave better & an only as usual not to hurried & flurried but left to myself by Dr. H’s orders & then I shall soon be as good as he himself could wish.
On 11 October 1796 Hester wrote in Thraliana about an alleged illegitimate child sired by Mostyn …
Cecy Mostyn is a foolish Girl, & cannot rule her own Household — all our unfashionable Neighbours cry Shame! to see Mason her Maid with Child by the Master of the Mansion & the Gay Mistress protecting this Partner in her Husband's Person because it is the Way She says; & all those who understand genteel Life think lightly of such Matters. When I offered to speak my antiquated Sentiments upon the Subject, She forbid me (smartly) to say another Word about it; & told my Maid that if Mrs Piozzi plagued her any more concerning such Nonsense She would leave the House into wch She never came to say the Truth except for mere Conveniency.
They had three boys. The first died at birth on 28 August 1797 after her mother was in labour for "Three Days and Nights in Torture".
The second was Henry Meredith Mostyn, also known as Harry, who was born in November or December 1799. Henry Mostyn had a distinguished career in Royal Navy and died in 1840.
The third was Thomas Arthur Bertie, born 11 July 1801, named after Bertie Greatheed, second son of Samuel Greatheed, Whig [130] Member of Parliament for Coventry and Lady Mary Greatheed. Bertie was a man of science interested in the latest inventions; and a writer. He wrote a play called The Regent in which he persuaded Sarah Siddons to take the leading part, but she miscarried on stage and the play was withdrawn. Thomas died early in life.
On 12 October 1804, Cecilia miscarried a girl after falling from a horse.
Cecilia visited her mother at <a href=brynbella">Brynbella and on 21 October 1804, Hester wrote of the visit in Thraliana…
Cecilia Mostyn has been here on a Three Days Visit & made herself as it appeared to me, studiously agreeable. cecy complains of her Husband grievously, accuses him of gross Avarice and rough Behaviour—scruples not to confess her dislike of the Man & her Resolution to live with him only till The Boys go to School: yet something says to my heart that half of this is Fable, & spoken with Design of some sort to dig out how far I should grieve at, or resnt his Treatment of her if it was absolutely & truly what She represents. I listn'd however with Expressions of Wonder only, & just such Indignation as one could not avoid—Cecy is false as Water— and since She told Mr Mostyn long ago that I wished his Neck broke when such a word has never cross'd my Tongue—what will she not say now? I do not like a Tête a Tête with any but Truth-tellers—& what this fashionable Lady says, must be taken with a Grain of Salt. The worst is I cannot sleep since the Visit—such staring tales has She related—& of poor Susan [35] too!! Who can believe as fast as Cis can talk??—
Cecilia and John Mostyn separated in 1805, once the boys were placed in Mr Davies' Streatham school. Cecilia took residence in Cheltenham, whilst John went to live in Bath for the health-improving spas. They were reconciled, but they separated again in Autumn of 1806. John Mostyn died of Tuberculosis [131] on 19 May 1807 in Bath.
In 1832, together with her other sisters, she founded the Thrale Almshouses [92].
Cecilia died on at Brighton Railway Station on 1 May 1857 aged 80. She was buried in St. Leonard's Church, Streatham [27] and has a monument. Her collection of curiosities and relics of Mr. Thrale and Dr. Johnson was sold at Silwood Lodge, Brighton, in the autumn of 1857.
The last of the Thrale full-term pregnancy children, Henrietta was born at Streatham [26] on 21 June 1778. Her mother called her Harriett.
Her godmother was Mrs Elizabeth Montagu [135].
In July 1779 - when Henrietta was one year old - Hester wrote in Thraliana [9]…
;Harriett is brown, rosy, fat and stout--their is not a fault to find with either of them1 person or Mind; and I thank God who gave them me, their health is excellent”;.
On 17 December 1781 Hester wrote…
Harriet much resembles the young Rices I think--She is a pretty creature!
On 28 March 1783 - four weeks before she died - Hester wrote in Thraliana…
my youngest child Henrietta is ill;.
On 14 April 1783 she again wrote…
poor Caecilia and Harriett; I fear those poor babies will dye, notwithstanding the efforts of Jebb2 & Pepys3 to relieve them:--Thank Heav'n they are with Dear Mrs Ray4”;.
She was ill before 22 March 1783, as that day Sanuel Johnson wrote…
I hope, Harriet is well;.
On 31 March 1783, Johnson wrote…
I hope to hear again that my dear little girl is out of danger;.
Henrietta died at Streatham Park on 25 April 1783 aged four. In Thraliana, Hester wrote…
Henrietta’s Death however was inevitable; She came home with a slight glandular Swelling in her Neck which was succeeded by the Measles & Hooping Cough: these united fell very heavy on an Infant so tender, & falling on her Lungs particularly, produced an Abscess which was the immediate Cause of her Death.;.
Surprisingly - by today's standards - during the period of her illness and death Hester was in Bath whilst Henrietta and Cecilia were in Streatham.
She was buried in St. Leonard's Church, Streatham [27] and has no monument.
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 [9], 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 [27] and has no monument.
In 1774, the Thrales went with Samuel Johnson [75] on a tour of Wales.
In September 1775 Hester, Henry, Queeney Thrale [11] (Hester and Henry's eldest child) together with Samuel Johnson and Joseph Baretti [143] went to Paris.
On the 27th they narrowly escaped serious injury during a coaching accident [144].
On 19th October the party were admitted to the Court of King Louis XVI and Queen Marie Antoinette at Fontainebleau, and enjoyed dinner and an evening at the theatre with them [145].
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