CHAPTER 9 the Fourth Son of Francis Alexander Halliday: Francis Augustus — 'The Medstead Hallidays' (1811-1873)

CHAPTER 9 The Fourth Son of Francis Alexander Halliday: Francis Augustus — 'The Medstead Hallidays' (1811-1873) (i) England, and was paid off at Sheerness on 3 February 1837. Thereupon he was posted back to the Chatham As told in Chapter 8, Francis Augustus was the fourth Division, being promoted first lieutenant at about this son of Francis Alexander Delap Halliday and Anne time. (White). He was born at Ham Lodge on 28 May 1811, and was to found what may be called for convenience 'the (ii) Medstead Hallidays'. After being christened at Petersham, he spent his Francis Augustus' next step was to marry. All his life boyhood at Ham. Francis Augustus' education was first he had known his pretty cousin Catherine Mary White, with his elder brother Lewis at•Mr. Carter's at Ham, and the youngest daughter of the rector of Shalden in then nearby with the Revd. J. France. Here he stayed Hampshire. Her mother, Anne, was Catherine's aunt, until at the age of 16 he accompanied his parents to and her father, the Revd. Charles White, was Anne's Caen, when he went to a French school. Then in July brother. Anne Halliday (White) and Charles were the 1830 he crossed over to Portsmouth to join the Royal niece and nephew of the Selborne parson-naturalist Marine Artillery, in which he had received his Gilbert White, and Catherine was therefore his great- commission dated 11 February 1830. Soon, when niece. Francis Augustus was often at the Shalden rectory, national economy caused a reduction in the Royal and Charles White was fond of this son of his sister. Marine establishment, he was transferred from the These facts notwithstanding, Charles White did not Portsmouth to the Chatham Division of the corps. want Francis Augustus as a husband for Catherine, and Unfortunately he was not present when his father, in his opposition he was joined by the young man's Francis Alexander, died suddenly at Caen just after he mother. Not only was Francis Augustus a first cousin — had joined. apparently the least of the objections — but he had the His uncle, now Admiral John Tollemache, his father's reputation of being rather a 'fast' and 'rackety' young elder brother, helped Francis Augustus to pay for his man with a far from serious outlook on life. Moreover he outfit on first being gazetted. In the same way the was only the fourth son of Francis Alexander, who was admiral helped the younger boy, George, who joined the himself a younger son, and his prospects were not navy — as a cadet — in this same year. Admiral John regarded as very good. kept in touch with both these nephews; he took a keen But Catherine White and Francis Augustus were and practical interest in their careers and did so until his serious in their feelings for eath other. At last they own death seven years later. decided to take matters into their own hands. They Francis Augustus, now of the Chatham Division of the planned to settle the matter for themselves, trusting later Royal Marine Artillery, was soon sent to sea. On 3 to win her father's approval — Catherine's mother had December 1830 he joined HMS Ocean, flagship, at died two years previously. Sheerness; but on 3 February 1833 he exchanged into The plan was this. Francis Augustus was too well Castor, a 35 gun frigate. In her he cruised on the North known at Shalden for his presence in the neighbourhood Sea station, and then in April and May took part in the to go unnoticed and unreported to the rectory. It would blockade of the Texel. He was in this frigate when she certainly not be understood why, for the first time in his escorted Queen Adelaide across the Channel to life, he had not gone to the Whites' house. In any case Rotterdam. Catherine and he decided that if he stayed in the rectory, HMS Castor next cruised off the Spanish coast and in as he had so often done before, his two-facedness would the Bay of Biscay. This was in connection with the Carlist be even more flagrant and would take more forgiving War of the 1830s in Spain. The contest was between the Accordingly, on 19 December 1837, Catherine took a legitimate House of the Bourbons and the reigning hasty departure from her home and met George Langley monarchy. The British government was supporting the — a brother officer of Francis Augustus in the Marines followers of Don Carlos — hence the presence of a — at a rendezvous between the village and the Golden British naval force off the Spanish coast. Pot inn. Francis Augustus was in a landing party sent ashore to George Langley had a carriage waiting for her, and occupy a convent in Bilbao and to support General escorted her to Chatham. There Francis Augustus had Evans's 'legion' of mercenaries fighting on the Carlist made arrangements and they were married on the same side. Later, he was again landed with a force given the day on which she had left Shalden. He had been given task of occupying the Heights of Passage in order to two weeks' leave; the honeymoon was spent at Tunbridge protect shipping entering and leaving the port of Bilbao. Wells. During these operations in support of the Carlist cause This runaway marriage was clearly carefully planned Francis Augustus contracted fever. He was sent to St — even though it may seem to us to have lacked the Sebastian hospital, but was fortunate enough only to be standard details of what we think of as a conventional kept there for a short time before being discharged to elopement. Catherine did not climb down a ladder into rejoin HMS Castor. Soon after this she sailed for her swain's arms — nor was there a drive to Gretna 48 Green just ahead of a furious pursuing papa. But this In November 1838 Francis Augustus took Catherine scheme worked, and very soon the forgiveness of both on a round of family visits. From the Wickhams in parents had been received. London they went down to his mother at Carlton In taking matters into his own hands Francis Augustus Cottage, Southampton. They travelled by the newly had plenty of examples in the family: his grandfather opened railroad as far as Winchfield. They went on from had run away with Jane Tollemache to Gretna Green; there by coach, through Odiham, South Warnborough, and three of his cousins, the daughters of Admiral John, past the Golden Pot to Alton. After a change of horses — had similarly eloped; and his father's sister, Charlotte, at The Swan? — the coach took them on to reach Mrs. had also run away to Gretna Green. So there was no lack Anne Halliday's at 5.30 p.m. Catherine wrote of this of family precedent for this runaway marriage with journey in her diary: Catherine White. Incidentally the country's marriage laws were changed at about this period, and Gretna Near the Golden Pot I actually saw the turning to Green ceased to be the fashionable magnet it had been Shalden, and felt almost in a dream, and as if every for earlier generations. tree recognised me again. But the fact that Francis Augustus did not himself meet Catherine to take her away from Shalden did nothing in later years to prevent their eldest son, S.C.H., Just before Christmas they took Anne to the Bests — from pointing out to his grandchildren the corner then still in their affluent days at Denham Mount — between Shalden village and the Golden Pot where travelling up to Staines by coach. They all stayed at Catherine had climbed into the carriage that took her to Denham for three weeks. Next they spent a few days with her runaway marriage. Her miniature proves that the Noels, another of Francis Augustus' sisters; Emily, it Catherine was certainly a beauty. She was aged 26 when will be remembered, had married Thomas Noel some six she married Francis Augustus. years earlier. Then Anne returned to Carlton Cottage, Almost at once he was ordered on detachment to accompanied by Francis Augustus and Catherine. After Pembroke Dock in Wales. There the newly-weds lived in a few days here, her son and daughter-in-law set off Pater House. S.C.H. writes of this period: 'Here they again; this time they went to Catherine's old home at spent a very pleasant time among his numerous friends Shalden. and brother officers.' The Quicksilver coach took them from Southampton to Alton. Here, Catherine's diary tells us, they were met by the rector and her brother, Charles. She writes: On 31 August they left Pembroke Dock for Chatham, stopping for the night at Lady Napier's at Tenby. Catherine has told of this short visit in her diary: (They had brought) the gig and old grey mare, into which I was squeezed with all our baggage. Francis walked over the fields with Charles (her brother). ...two Miss 'Peninsular War' Napiers came in to dinner, and the rest of the daughters to tea.. Francis and I distinguished ourselves in the music line. The rector had long since forgiven them, and Francis Augustus was once more in high favour at Shalden. They both sang well and she also played the piano, whilst Catherine quickly resumed her old life in the village; he was looked on as an accomplished guitarist — a amongst other things she paid many visits to her old fashionable instrument in early Victorian days. friends in the cottages as well as going to the school.

Load more