PMarione Site Admin
Joined: 26 Mar 2007 Posts: 883
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Posted: Sun May 16, 2010 10:56 pm Post subject: the marriage of Lieutenant Woodgate, RN |
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Quote: | With the progress of that mutual passion which led to this now indissoluble connection we are unacquainted; but the circumstances that occurred at the altar will be found to be somewhat out of the usual routine of modern marriages.
Her Ladyship is the daughter of the Earl of Cavan, and on the 29th of April last completed the 21st year of her age.
Lieut. Woodgate of the Navy served with the Noble Earl in Egypt, where he received a wound in his leg, which, without being amputated, obliges him, nevertheless, to make use of a wooden one.
This wounded Officer, on Saturday last, gave notice to the Parish Clerk of St. Pancras, that he should, on the following morning, repair to the church of that parish, to be married to one Honora Lambert, for which he had a license (which afterwards proved to be a special one,) and requested the Clergyman might be in attendance at a quarter past nine o'clock, and particularly desired that no delay might take place.
On the same day (Saturday) Lord Cavan called with a friend on the Parish Clerk, and inquired if he had not had notice of such an intended marriage; on being answered in the affirmative, his Lordship requested he might be permitted to wait in the Clerk's house to see the parties pass to the church, which was agreed to, and the next morning he attended at an early hour; but previous to his going to the Clerk's house, he had stationed some persons opposite the church door to recognise the parties.
About the appointed time (a quarter past nine o'clock) his Lordship was informed by one of his sentinels, that the parties were in church; whither, with three friends and two stout servants, he immediately repaired, and, on entering, demanded his daughter; which being refused by the Lieutenant and his friends, very high words ensued, and the argument was conducted with such violence, that it was thought proper to call in the constables resident in the neighbourhood.
The Clergyman at length arrived (but not until nearly one hour behind the appointed time,) and joined the parties in the vestry, when, we understand, his Lordship, in the most positive terms, forbid the marriage. But whether the Clergyman thought he was not warranted in refusing to perform the ceremony, both of the parties being of age, or from what other motive he might have acted, we do not pretend to decide, but to the altar, in presence of the Noble Earl, was his daughter led, "nothing loth," and the service was commenced; in the middle of which his Lordship rose, and in a loud voice three times forbade the marriage.
He was instantly answered by the Parson, who informed his Lordship that the couple were already betrothed to each other, and that it was his duty to finish the ceremony, which he accordingly did; and as soon as it was concluded, the Naval Hero bore away his Prize.
His Lordship left the church, after he was informed by the Clergyman that the parties were betrothed, which was before the ceremony was quite finished.
Lord Cavan was married very early in life, and has not yet completed his 42nd year: Lady Honora is his Lordship's eldest child living. |
The Naval Chronicle, Vol 14, 1805.
Lady Honora Elizabeth Hester Lambart, eldest surviving daughter of General Richard Ford William Lambart, 7th Earl of Cavan and Honora Margaretta Gould, was born on 29 April 1784 and baptized on 26 May 1784 at Westminster.
According to various "peerages" the date of the marriage is given as the 6th, 9th, 15th or 16th of June 1805. As all that fuss happened on a Saturday according to the Chronicle, it was either the 6th or the 15th. As the Gentleman Magazine gives the 15th, let it be the 15th of June 1805.
The husband name is given as "Captain John Woodgate".
There certainly was no Captain John Woodgate in the RN in 1805, and in fact no Woodgate at all in any rank between 1700 and 1880.
If he was a Lieutenant, RN, like says the Chronicle, he had just been promoted and his name never appeared in the Navy List; or he was not yet promoted which can explain the anger of the Noble Earl (or was it the wooden leg ?).
Anyway he didn't enjoy his Prize for long (or enjoyed too much) as the poor chap died in November the next year.
Milady certainly had some character as she re-married on 2 April 1809, Captain George Frederick Harvey of Catton, Norwich, Norfolk, but was divorced in 1816, not a common occurence at the period.
This Captain was in the army, in the 18th Light Dragoons (b on 18 February 1785, d on 18 April 1847).
They had a daughter, Alicia Honora Harriet Harvey (1812 - 1892).
Honora died on 30 March 1856, aged 71.
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