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| ==== Eliza Prior, nee Skynner ==== | ==== Eliza Prior, nee Skynner ==== |
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| Thomas and Elizabeth (Eliza) Catherine Skynner (1795-1863) were married at Cookham, Berkshire by the long-term vicar there, Rev. Richard Whately on 31 December 1818. Perhaps because Thomas had two very young daughters to care for, and his need for money, the marriage took place a little over a year after his first wife died. The year of their marriage is confirmed by a silver case ((Provenance: Geoffrey M-P)) with an inscription on it that it was given to Colonel Prior by his wife Eliza Skynner on their marriage in 1818. As noted elsewhere, despite Thomas' financial fecklessness, the marriage appears to have been a happy one, with all the children enjoying a loving relationship.\\ | Thomas and Elizabeth (Eliza) Catherine Skynner (1795((or 10 May 1794, TLM-P, Diary, 6 August 1882, ML.)) -1863) were married at Cookham, Berkshire by the long-term vicar there, Rev. Richard Whately on 31 December 1818. Perhaps because Thomas had two very young daughters to care for, and his need for money, the marriage took place a little over a year after his first wife died. The year of their marriage is confirmed by a silver case ((Provenance: Geoffrey M-P)) with an inscription on it that it was given to Colonel Prior by his wife Eliza Skynner on their marriage in 1818. The details of the marriage were also provided by TLM-P to the College of Heralds.((‘Questions to be answered by T.L.M-P’, 6pp Memoranda by the Herald Office, Somerset House, London re Burke’s Colonial Gentry.)) As noted elsewhere, despite Thomas' financial fecklessness, the marriage appears to have been a happy one, with all the children enjoying a loving relationship.\\ |
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| Eliza Prior died on 18 November 1863.(([[https://www.freebmd.org.uk/cgi/information.pl?r=36256308:3331&d=bmd_1508773079|Death registration at Portsea of Eliza Prior, December 1863.]] TLM-P wrote in his Family Bible that Eliza died on the 17th; in his father’s prayer book and 1863 diary, on the 18th. In ‘Questions to be answered by T.L.M-P’, 6pp Memoranda by the Herald Office, Somerset House, London re Burke’s Colonial Gentry, he mistakenly has the vicar's name as Wheatley. According to the wikipedia entry on Cookham, Whately was a leading promoter of the principles of the new Poor Law.)) Jemima wrote immediately to TLM-P, saying that his mother had died from heart disease, with her husband by her side. He would, Jemima wrote to TLM-P. 'feel her loss deeply' after being married so long.((M-P family papers, NLA, Ms 7801, Box 4, folder 20, letter 18 November 1863)) That letter, in an envelope with a black border, took over two months to reach TLM-P.((TLM-P diary, 28 January 1864)) She had been ill for some time, and prepared for death. TLM-P wrote, that 'if ever there was faith and hope on earth it was in her, may we follow her steps.'((TLM-P diary, 28 January 1864))\\ | Eliza Prior died on 18 November 1863.(([[https://www.freebmd.org.uk/cgi/information.pl?r=36256308:3331&d=bmd_1508773079|Death registration at Portsea of Eliza Prior, December 1863; ‘Questions to be answered by T.L.M-P’, 6pp Memoranda by the Herald Office, Somerset House, London re Burke’s Colonial Gentry.]] TLM-P wrote in his Family Bible that Eliza died on the 17th; in his father’s prayer book and 1863 diary, on the 18th. In ‘Questions to be answered by T.L.M-P’, 6pp Memoranda by the Herald Office, Somerset House, London re Burke’s Colonial Gentry, he mistakenly has the vicar's name as Wheatley. According to the wikipedia entry on Cookham, Whately was a leading promoter of the principles of the new Poor Law.)) Jemima wrote immediately to TLM-P, saying that his mother had died from heart disease, with her husband by her side. He would, Jemima wrote to TLM-P. 'feel her loss deeply' after being married so long.((M-P family papers, NLA, Ms 7801, Box 4, folder 20, letter 18 November 1863)) That letter, in an envelope with a black border, took over two months to reach TLM-P.((TLM-P diary, 28 January 1864)) She had been ill for some time, and prepared for death. TLM-P wrote, that 'if ever there was faith and hope on earth it was in her, may we follow her steps.'((TLM-P diary, 28 January 1864))\\ |
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| Eliza's parents were William Augustus((TLM-P, genealogical notes in John & John B. Burke, //A Genealogical and Heraldic Dictionary of the Landed Gentry of Great Britain & Ireland: M to Z//, London: Henry Colburn Publisher, 1846; Robert M-P, //The Blood Royal of the Murray-Priors//, p.13; Thomas Bertram M-P, //Some Australasian Families Descended from Royalty//, ms, n.d., p.5; ((‘Questions to be answered by T.L.M-P’, 6pp Memoranda by the Herald Office, Somerset House, London re Burke’s Colonial Gentry.)) and Mary Skynner of {{http://cimmoorhall.co.uk/\Moor Hall}}, [[wp>Cookham|Cookham]], Berkshire, England. Eliza's mother was née Orlebar, of [[http://www.hinwickhouse.com/|Hinwick House]], Bedfordshire (now a luxurious hotel.((‘Questions to be answered by T.L.M-P’, 6pp Memoranda by the Herald Office, Somerset House, London re Burke’s Colonial Gentry; TLM-P's Family Bible; John Burke, //A Genealogical and Heraldic History of the Commoners of Great Britain and Ireland Enjoying Territorial Possessions Or High Official Rank, But Uninvested with Heritable Honours//, 1834; Thomas Bertram M-P, //Some Australasian Families Descended from Royalty//, ms, n.d., p.5.))\\ | Eliza's parents were William Augustus((TLM-P, genealogical notes in John & John B. Burke, //A Genealogical and Heraldic Dictionary of the Landed Gentry of Great Britain & Ireland: M to Z//, London: Henry Colburn Publisher, 1846; Robert M-P, //The Blood Royal of the Murray-Priors//, p.13; Thomas Bertram M-P, //Some Australasian Families Descended from Royalty//, ms, n.d., p.5; ‘Questions to be answered by T.L.M-P’, 6pp Memoranda to the Herald Office, Somerset House, London re Burke’s Colonial Gentry.)) and Mary Skynner nee Orlebar of {{https://moorhall.cim.co.uk/Moor Hall}}, [[wp>Cookham|Cookham]], Berkshire, England. The Orlebar's lived at [[http://www.hinwickhouse.com/|Hinwick House]], Bedfordshire (now a luxurious hotel.((‘Questions to be answered by T.L.M-P’, 6pp Memoranda to the Herald Office, Somerset House, London re Burke’s Colonial Gentry; TLM-P's Family Bible; John Burke, //A Genealogical and Heraldic History of the Commoners of Great Britain and Ireland Enjoying Territorial Possessions Or High Official Rank, But Uninvested with Heritable Honours//, 1834; Thomas Bertram M-P, //Some Australasian Families Descended from Royalty//, ms, n.d., p.5.)) In his 1882 diary, TLM-P recalls when on a trip between Uxbridge (now in west London) and Amersham, it was near where 'Uncle Augustus Skynner was taking us to [Birds?]'(19 August) \\ |
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| TLM-P visited the Orlebar family at Hinwick House in 1882 at a sad time: the current Orelar (a little man 'ferretty with red hair') had been doing what 'he could to retrieve what his father had done but heavy interest on mortgages, bad seasons one after another, rents unpaid etc., so with all their striving has failed and now they have to shut up the House and leave.' Though they had two 'steady' sons in professions, Mr Orlebar had only an agency which would bring in £100 p.a. income, a significant came-down for the family. TLM-P thought that it would need an income of £20,000 p.a. to maintain Hinwick House. Among the portraits owned by the Orelars was one of Eliza's Orlebar grandfather, 'nothing like the miniature of my Grandfather, W.A. Skynner who married his daughter Mary O[rlebar]'. He also mentioned that nearby Pollington Church contained the graves of his maternal ancestors.((TLM-P, Diary, 1 June 1882)) TLM-P was sufficiently impressed with this past grandeur that, two years later, he named his youngest son Julius Orlebar M-P.\\ | TLM-P visited the Orlebar family at Hinwick House in May-June 1882 at a sad time: the current Orlebar (a little man 'ferretty with red hair') had been doing what 'he could to retrieve what his father had done but heavy interest on mortgages, bad seasons one after another, rents unpaid etc., so with all their striving has failed and now they have to shut up the House and leave.' Though they had two 'steady' sons in professions, Mr Orlebar had only an agency which would bring in £100 p.a. income, a significant came-down for the family. TLM-P thought that it would need an income of £20,000 p.a. to maintain Hinwick House. Among the portraits owned by the Orelars was one of Eliza's Orlebar grandfather, 'nothing like the miniature of my Grandfather, W.A. Skynner who married his daughter Mary O[rlebar]'. He also mentioned that nearby Pollington Church contained the graves of his maternal ancestors.((TLM-P, Diary, 1 June 1882)) TLM-P was sufficiently impressed with this past grandeur that, two years later, he named his youngest son Julius Orlebar M-P.\\ |
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| | {{:eliza_s_1816.jpg?250|}} This sketch of 'Miss E. Skynner, Moor Hall Berks 1816' is by an unknown artist.((Provenance: J. Godden.))\\ |
| | {{:e_prior.jpg?250|}} In the bottom right hand corner, is the faint name, E. Prior.\\ |
| | {{:dscn3633_rotated.jpg?direct&250|}} This painting is unidentified but, given the similarity with the unfinished sketch of a girl (shown ?) is probably by William M-P. Given her age and dress, it is possibly Eliza Prior. It is likely to be the painting mentioned in TLM-P's will - of his mother by W.A.M. Prior.((Provenance: Geoffrey M-P to T.A. M-P.))\\ |
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| {{:eliza_s_1816.jpg?300|}} This sketch of 'Miss E. Skynner, Moor Hall Berks 1816' is by an unknown artist.((Provenance: J. Godden.))\\ | |
| {{:e_prior.jpg?300|}} The name, presumably of subject not artist, can be faintly made out in the right hand corner: E. Prior.\\ | |
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| {{:dscn3633_rotated.jpg?direct&300|}} This painting is unidentified but, given the similarity with the unfinished sketch of a girl (shown ?) is probably by William M-P. Given her age and dress, it is possibly Eliza Prior. It is likely to be the painting mentioned in TLM-P's will - of his mother by W.A.M. Prior.((Provenance: Geoffrey M-P to T.A. M-P.))\\ | |
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| ==== Religious faith ==== | ==== Religious faith ==== |
| Evidence of Eliza Prior's strong religious nature comes from the books which she owned. Almost all of them are religious ones, with a strong evangelical flavour.((Provenance of all the following books: J. Godden.)) | Evidence of Eliza Prior's strong religious nature comes from the books which she owned. Almost all of them are religious ones, with a strong evangelical flavour.((Provenance of all the following books: J. Godden.)) |
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| **1.** Collected works of Bishop Joseph Hall, published in 1617. The works include Hall’s uncompromising anti-Catholic tract with a title that leaves no room for misinterpretation!: 'No Peace with Rome. Wherein is proved, that (as termes now stand) there can be no reconciliation of the Reformed Religion, with the Romish (and that the Romanists are in all the fault)'. It also includes his still-popular 'Meditations and Vowes, Divine & Morall [Moral]: Serving For Direction in Christian and ciuill [civil] practise'. Eliza was 26 years old when she was given this book, with the following dedication: | **1.** Collected works of Bishop Joseph Hall, published in 1617. The works include Hall’s uncompromising anti-Catholic tract with a title that leaves no room for misinterpretation!: 'No Peace with Rome. Wherein is proved, that (as termes now stand) there can be no reconciliation of the Reformed Religion, with the Romish (and that the Romanists are in all the fault)'. It also includes his still-popular 'Meditations and Vowes, Divine & Morall [Moral]: Serving For Direction in Christian and ciuill [civil] practise'. Eliza was 26 years old when she was given this book, with the following dedication: |
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| This inscription reads like a Bishop’s greeting to a ‘sister’ in Christ, while the names suggest a couple with the surname Bishop: another mystery that needs further research.\\ | This inscription reads like a Bishop’s greeting to a ‘sister’ in Christ, while the names suggest a couple with the surname Bishop: another mystery that needs further research.\\ |
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| **2.** //The Saints’ Everlasting Rest; or, a Treatise of The Blessed State of the Saints in their Enjoyment of God in Heaven//, published 1814 and given to her by a clergyman [ to do name].\\ | **2.** //The Saints’ Everlasting Rest; or, a Treatise of The Blessed State of the Saints in their Enjoyment of God in Heaven//, published 1814 and given to her by the Rev. G. Valpy.\\ |
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| **3.** [to do title] Eliza wrote in it that it was ‘Bought at the sale of Mr Nelson’s Books late secretary to Mr[?] Rob: Walpole & Fell: of Kings coll: Camb: [ie. Fellow of Kings College, Cambridge University]'.\\ | **3.** //Physico-Theology: or, a demonstration of the Being and Attributes of God ...// by W. Derham, Eliza wrote in it that it was ‘Bought at the sale of Mr Nelson’s Books late secretary to Mr[?] Rob: Walpole & Fell: of Kings coll: Camb: [ie. Fellow of Kings College, Cambridge University]'.\\ |
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| **4.** [to do title] with the inscription ‘E. Prior 1831’.\\ | **4.** //A Connected View of some of the Scriptural Evidence of the Redeemer's Speedy Personal Return ...//by James Begg, 3rd Edn., 1831, with the inscription ‘E. Prior 1831’.\\ |
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| **5.** //Theron and Aspasio//, another evangelical book that remains popular today. It had a major impact on Eliza, as seen by her writing inside it:\\ | **5.** //Theron and Aspasio//, another evangelical book that remains popular today. It had a major impact on Eliza, as seen by her writing inside it:\\ |
| //Eliza Prior. This book she has found a treasure indeed, as it easily convinced her, that Christ was all. May her dear children read it with attention, and may they be led by the influence of the Holy Spirit to take Christ as their portion, and to say that they “count all things but less for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus their Lord.// | //Eliza Prior. This book she has found a treasure indeed, as it easily convinced her, that Christ was all. May her dear children read it with attention, and may they be led by the influence of the Holy Spirit to take Christ as their portion, and to say that they “count all things but less for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus their Lord.// |
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| **6.** //The Titles of Christ viewed Prophetically: Being Lectures delivered during Lent, 1857// ... by Twelve Clergymen of the Church of England, London: John Farquhar Shaw, 1857. In it is written,'Mrs Prior; Southsea August 31st 1857.'\\ | **6.** //The Titles of Christ viewed Prophetically: Being Lectures delivered during Lent, 1857// ... by Twelve Clergymen of the Church of England, London: John Farquhar Shaw, 1857. In it is written 'Mrs Prior; Southsea August 31st 1857.'\\ |
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| **7.** //The Gospel-Mystery of Sanctification ... Suited especially to the cases of those who labour under the GUILT and POWER of IN-DWELLING SIN. To which are added, A Sermon on JUSTIFICATION//... by Walter Marshall, London, Joseph Johnson, 1765. The name written in it is simply 'Eliza --'.\\ | **7.** //The Gospel-Mystery of Sanctification ... Suited especially to the cases of those who labour under the GUILT and POWER of IN-DWELLING SIN. To which are added, A Sermon on JUSTIFICATION//... by Walter Marshall, London, Joseph Johnson, 1765. The name written in it is simply 'Eliza --'.\\ |
| //'Mother … [gave me all the money] she could possibly spare from their modest allowance and made me take the few sovereigns which would diminish home comforts for the quarter [til next payday]'.((TLM-P, draft memoirs of a voyage from London to Sydney on the 'Roxburgh Castle', MLMSS6576, copied from Praed Papers, Oxley Library.))// | //'Mother … [gave me all the money] she could possibly spare from their modest allowance and made me take the few sovereigns which would diminish home comforts for the quarter [til next payday]'.((TLM-P, draft memoirs of a voyage from London to Sydney on the 'Roxburgh Castle', MLMSS6576, copied from Praed Papers, Oxley Library.))// |
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| ===== Mourning Mary ===== | ===== Mourning Mary ===== |
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| This is a mourning ring, worn to indicate (along with the strict wearing of black) the recent death of a loved one.((Provenance: J. Godden.)) The writing around the centre funeral urn states that it is in memory of ‘Mary Skynner OB [who died aged] 63 [on] 14 November 1797’. Given her age, this Mary could not be Eliza’s mother, but perhaps her grandmother? Research into the death of Mary Skynner will hopefully resolve this mystery although it was before State registration of deaths. | This is a mourning ring, worn to indicate (along with the strict wearing of black) the recent death of a loved one.((Provenance: J. Godden.)) The writing around the centre funeral urn states that it is in memory of ‘Mary Skynner OB [who died aged] 63 [on] 14 November 1797’. Given her age, this Mary could not be Eliza’s mother, but perhaps her grandmother? Research into the death of Mary Skynner will hopefully resolve this mystery although it was before State registration of deaths. |
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