William Beamont (1797 - 1889)

Born 12 Sep 1797 in Warrington, Lancashire, England

Husband of Ann (Gaskell) Beamont — married 27 Dec 1825 (to 1 Dec 1859) in St Elphin's Church, Warrington, Lancashire, England, United Kingdom

Husband of Letitia (Naegeli) Beamont — married 7 May 1863 in Edge Hill, Lancashire, England, United Kingdom

Died 6 Jun 1889 at age 91 in Orford, Lancashire, England, United Kingdom

Biography

William Beamont is Notable.

William Beamont was born in Warrington, Lancashire, England.

William was born 12 Sep 1797 and baptised 20 Oct 1797 St Elphin, Warrington the son of William Beamont Draper and Jane^[1]

Education

He was educated, firstly at a Dame School. Then he attended boarding school , a Roman Catholic Academy in Queen Street Chester, run by Mr Stolterforth. ^{[2] [3]}

Note :A Catholic Church was founded in Queen St Chester in 1799 funded probably by Irish merchants who headed the list of those for whom perpetual masses were afterwards said. At the time Irish Linen imports were important in Chester. A possible connection with his fathers’ Linen business.^[4][5]

23 Jan 1812 At the age of 14 he was apprenticed for 7 years to Strethill Wright, Solicitor in Nether Knutsford and active opponent of Luddism a hot topic in the textile industry ^{[6] [7]}

c1819 He completed his training in London at the office of Wright and Cole in Serjeant’s Inn and returned to Warrington to set up a practice in Market Place in which he practiced for c50 years.^[2]

Family

First Marriage :27 Dec 1825 William Beamont married Ann Gaskell, St Elphin, Warrington, Lancashire, England. Witness: Edwd. Gaskell, John Gaskell Married by Licence by: Jonathan Topping Curate ^[8]

They had 2 children, William who became a cleric and John who died young.

His wife Ann was the grand-daughter of Thomas Dakin who ran a successful Gin Distillery on Bridge Street, Warrington. The brand bearing his name is still produced today and the family benefited by a leasehold and eventual takeover by Greenall’s Brewery.

In 1851 William (54 Alderman Attorney b Warrington ) and Ann (60 b Warrington) lived in Bewsey Street (No 50 now No 65), Warrington along with 3 servants ^[9]

Ann died in 1859

In 1861 he was a 63 year old Widower living at Rock Villa in Latchford with 3 servants. ^[10]

Second Marriage :7 May 1863 William Beamont (Full Age) Widower Solicitor Latchford, Son of William Beamont, Gentleman, Married Letitia Naegeli (Full Age) , of Queen St, West Derby daughter of John Naegeli , Merchant by License at St Mary’s Church, Edgehill, West Derby Witnessed: Mr E Marsh, M H Hillick, Serggei Harkey ^[11]

After the Blackburnes left Orford Hall in around 1812, it was let and in 1866 it was let to William Beamont and his new wife. Following his death, Letitia continued to live at the hall and the 1891 Census provides details of the staff, including cook, waitress, kitchen maid and housemaid. There was a head gardener who lived in a separate cottage, as well as a coachman, whose cottage was situated on the west side of the hall, After Letitia Beamont’s death the house and contents were sold.^{[12] [13]}

Travels

In Sept-Dec 1854 he undertook a tour of the East passing through Spain, the mediterranean and then to Israel and back. The resulting diary was published in a weekly supplement in the Warrington Guardian.^[14]

1860/61 he travelled to Egypt accompanied by William Vigor Fox^[15]

Career

He was a solicitor with an office in central Warrington which also facilitated his involvement in public affairs during his 50 year working life. He supported the incorporation of Warrington which was granted in 1847 and was duly elected Warrington’s First Mayor at the council's inaugural meeting. ^[2]

He was chairman of the Savings Bank and was active on other committees such as the Gas Board and the Infirmary. He also held the offices of High Constable and clerk to the magistrates. ^[2]

Charitable Works

His activities with charities include educational establishments, such as the Mechanics Institution, the School of Art, the Grammar School, Heathside Schools, St Ann's School and Orford Schools. Beamont Collegiate Academy in Orford still exists. ^[2]

He also enabled the completion of St Ann's church in 1868 by paying off the builder allowing its consecration in Feb 1889. He was an active member until he was 90 years old. ^{[16] [2]}

He supported building a hospital to replace the Warrington Dispensary (opened in 1810) The Infirmary was opened in 1872. Funded principally by James Hatton^[2][17]

Antiquarianism

He had a lifelong interest in antiquarian and historical research, especially after retirement c1865. He had many works published, numbering some sixty or more books and pamphlets. These include histories of Warrington and the surrounnding parishes and townships, books based on his foreign tours, and transcripts or abstracts of historical documents. ^[2][18][19]

20 Sept 1855 he laid the foundation stone of the present museum building in Warrington.^[20]

He was vice president of the Chetham Society 1879-1882^[21]

Death

He died at Orford Hall 6 Jun 1889 and was buried 8th June 1889 Christ Church Padgate, Warrington. ^{[22] [23]}

Probate: The Will of William Beamont late of Orford Hall Warrington in the county of Lancaster Esquire who died 6 Jun 1889 at Orford Hall was proved at Liverpool by Letitia Beamont of Orford Hall Relict. Robert Davies of Birchdale Appleton near Warrington in the County of Chester Gentleman and William Sharp of Warrington Gentleman the executors Effects £61118 8s 9d ^[24]

Sources

1. ↑ OPC for the County of Lancashire Register Baptisms 1781-1812 Page 197 Entry 6328
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7} Biography summary on the Beamont MSS Unknown Author 19 - Warrington Archives, Culture Warrington National Archives
3. ↑ An History and Description of the City of Chester, etc. N.p.: T. Crane, 1808. Page 17
4. ↑ J S Barrow, J D Herson, A H Lawes, P J Riden and M V J Seaborne, 'Churches and religious bodies: Roman Catholicism', in A History of the County of Chester: Volume 5 Part 2, the City of Chester: Culture, Buildings, Institutions, ed. A T Thacker and C P Lewis (London, 2005), pp. 162-165. British History Online http://www.british-history.ac.uk/vch/ches/vol5/pt2/pp162-165 [accessed 7 April 2022].
5. ↑ 'Late Georgian and Victorian Chester 1762-1914: Social character', in A History of the County of Chester: Volume 5 Part 1, the City of Chester: General History and Topography, ed. C P Lewis and A T Thacker (London, 2003), pp. 199-201. British History Online http://www.british-history.ac.uk/vch/ches/vol5/pt1/pp199-201 [accessed 7 April 2022].
6. ↑ The National Archives of the UK (TNA); Kew, Surrey, England; Court of King's Bench: Plea Side: Affidavits of Due Execution of Articles of Clerkship, Series I; Class: KB 105; Piece: 22 Ancestry uk Record 2380 #59632 Ancestry share
7. ↑ Chapple, John., Chapple, Field Marshal Sir John. Elizabeth Gaskell: the early years. United Kingdom: Manchester University Press, 1997. Page 168-169
8. ↑ OPC for the County of Lancashire Register: Marriages 1824 - 1833, Page 108, Entry 324 Source: LDS Film 1562961
9. ↑ Class: HO107; Piece: 2203; Folio: 638; Page: 30; GSU roll: 87213 Ancestry uk Record 8860 #13241378 Ancestry share
10. ↑ Class: RG 9; Piece: 2797; Folio: 12; Page: 18; GSU roll: 543030 Ancestry uk Record 8767 #23443590 Ancestry share
11. ↑ "England Marriages, 1538–1973 ", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:NVKZ-V22 : 13 March 2020), William Beamont, 1863.
12. ↑ Orford Park, Orford, Warrington, Cheshire. Archaeological Desk- Based Assessment Oxford Archaeology North May 2009 Capita Symonds Issue No: 2009-10/951 OA North Job No: L10149 NGR: SJ 610 900
13. ↑ The National Archives of the UK (TNA); Kew, Surrey, England; Census Returns of England and Wales, 1891; Class: RG12; Piece: 3079; Folio: 136; Page: 42; GSU roll: 6098189 Ancestry uk Record 6598 #20728193 Ancestry share
14. ↑ A diary of a journey to the East, in the autumn of 1854, 2 vols by William Beamont Vol 1 Vol 2
15. ↑ To Sinai and Syene and back, in 1860 and 1861, 2nd ed by William Beamont 2nd Ed
16. ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "Old St Ann's Church, Warrington," Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Old_St_Ann%27s_Church,_Warrington&oldid=1082070668 (accessed April 13, 2022).
17. ↑ National Archives Warrington Dispensary and Infirmary
18. ↑ The Online Books Page Online Books by William Beamont
19. ↑ Worldcat listing
20. ↑ Warrington Museum and Art Gallery.History of Warrington Museum
21. ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "Chetham Society," Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Chetham_Society&oldid=1075050058 (accessed April 12, 2022).
22. ↑ Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/143438179/william-beamont : accessed 13 April 2022), memorial page for William Beamont (1789–8 Jun 1889), Find a Grave Memorial ID 143438179, citing Christ Church Graveyard, Padgate, Warrington Unitary Authority, Cheshire, England ; Maintained by kevin bailey (contributor 48543966) .
23. ↑ Find A Grave: Memorial #143438179
24. ↑ Gov.uk Find a Will Beamont 1989

See Also

• All things Warrington William Beamont (1797-1889)
• Culcheth Local History Group The Life of William Beamont Harry Wells 2021
• Record of the Week: The Diaries of William Beamont Carys Brown
• Wikipedia contributors, "William Beamont," Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=William_Beamont&oldid=1055399329 (accessed April 5, 2022).
• Wikidata: Item Q8005253