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ELIZA
HORROCKS (nee MILLER) and SAMUEL HORROCKS
After
Alfred Binyon's death in 1856, Merlewood was purchased by Eliza Horrocks. She
was 1797 Lark Hill House built by Samuel Horrocks,
senior.[1] 1842
Samuel Horrocks, senior, died on 2nd March … The Lark Hill
estate was bequeathed to Samuel, junior, on trust, for his lifetime. … Samuel
and his wife Eliza left their home in Winckley Square, and took up residence
at Lark Hill. There were no children of the marriage. Samuel was elected to the office of Guild Mayor.
During this same year there was growing dissatisfaction among cotton workers
across the whole of Lancashire. In August the threat of further wage-cuts
brought the Manchester workers out on strike. … On Saturday 13th
August there was a great disturbance in Preston town centre. Samuel Horrocks was
brought from Lark Hill to the Bull Inn, Church Street, to discuss the situation
with the magistrates and the police. … Samuel Horrocks took up a position on
his horse and, in an attempt to prevent further trouble, read out the Riot Act
to the crowd. A stone thrown at him knocked the paper from his hand. … The
order to fire was given, and the first volley was aimed over the people's heads.
When the next order was given the musket balls were fired into the crowd,
killing five people and injuring others. … This all happened less than a month
before the Preston Guild celebrations were due to be held … On Monday 5th
September Samuel Horrocks' carriage drove out of Lark Hill and took him, in full
regalia, to the Town Hall where he proclaimed the opening of the Guild Merchant.
He was now a very wealthy man and no expense was spared in the lavish
entertaining of the guests. … Eliza Horrocks, as Mayoress, was hostess to all
these glittering events. She and her husband received the guests at the opening
of the Full Dress Ball in the Corn Exchange in Lune Street. … Samuel and Eliza
led off the dancing to Horrabin's celebrated 'Quadrille Band', hired for the
occasion.[2] 1851
Public Free Library and Museum. List of subscribers: Mrs
Horrocks £10.0.0 Second donation: £10.0.0 1859
Lark Hill estate. On Thursday last, the Lark Hill mansion and estate,
with "Albyn Bank" and the adjoining field, were offered by auction, at
the Bull Hotel, Mr Burton being the auctioneer. After several bids had been
made, the lot was knocked down to Mr Richard Carr, corn merchant, for £4,525,
who has purchased it for the Roman Catholic body, who intend converting it into
a conventual establishment, for which the house and gardens are well calculated.
Lark Hill house was built by Mr S.Horrocks, M.P. for Preston, who occupied it
until his death in 1842, by whose son, Mr S.Horrocks, it was afterwards occupied
until his demise, in 1846. The latter gentleman's widow resided at it until two
or three years ago, when she removed to Merlewood, near Grange. There are ground
rents on the property amounting to £97 a year.[3] [1860
The convent opened in September 1860.] [4] 1861
1862
Cotton Famine. March. Relief Fund - Second subscription list: Mrs
Horrocks, Merlewood £20.[6] July. Mrs Horrocks's donation to the Relief Fund,
which appeared in the Chronicle of the 19th of July, should have
been: Mrs Horrocks, Merlewood (3rd donation) £20.0.0. Mrs Horrocks's
servants £1.10.0.[7]
November. Mrs Horrocks, Merlewood (5th subscription) £10.0.0.[8] 1862
Lindale Reading Room. During the incumbency of the Rev J.H.Ransome a
Reading Room was built by subscription, Mrs
Horrocks laying the foundation stone.[9]
A building which dates back to 1862 is to be put on the market after villagers
voted to sell it. Lindale Institute, which is owned by the Charities Commission,
will be sold and the proceeds used for the benefit of the community.[10] 1866
Grange Floral and Horticultural Exhibition. … Among the most successful
competitors were the following … Mrs
Horrocks, Merlewood, exotic ferns, geraniums, lycopodiums, cut roses,
potatoes; … [11] 1871
1872
DEATH OF MRS. SAMUEL HORROCKS. We are sorry to record the death of Mrs.
Samuel Horrocks, late of this town, which took place at Merlewood near
Grange on Wednesday. The deceased lady was the eldest daughter of Thomas Miller,
Esq. She was married in 1825 to the only son of S. Horrocks Esq. The fathers of
the bride and bridegroom at the time were partners and members of the firm of
Horrocks, Miller and Co. The father of the bridegroom was member of Parliament
for Preston, and the father of the bride was Mayor of the town. The husband of
the deceased was for some time representative of Fishwick Ward, and in 1842 he
was Guild Mayor, After marriage he resided in the large house on
Lark‑hill, which subsequently, and is at present, occupied as a convent.
He afterwards resided in the house which the sons of the late Alderman Dr.
Spencer at present occupy, in Winckley Square. There he died, and was interred
In St. Paul's Churchyard, in this town. His wife afterwards left Preston, and
has since resided at Merlwood (sic) 68 years of age.[12] 1872
WILL PROVED 23 July 1872 AT LANCASTER Bequests: £1000 to Treasurer of Preston Infirmary. household goods, etc, horses and carriages to be
divided equally between sisters Catherine Jeffray and Mary Cairns. £1000 each to nieces Katharine Hamilton, Katharine
Maria Cairns and Rosanno Matilda Coddington, nephew William MacNeile Cairns. £300 to
Revd John Henry Ransome (vicar of Lindale)
£200 each
to godchildren and nieces Julia Catherine Rawstorne, Eliza Fanny Elgee, Caroline
Louisa Pigott, grand‑niece and goddaughter Emily Mary Dew. £100
each to nieces Emily Clowes, Caroline Mary Finch, Sarah Maria Marshall. £50
each to nephews Frederick Earnshaw Marshall, John Marshall, William
Marshall and to goddaughters Mary Elizabeth Birkett, Fanny Penelope Leigh,
Louisa Allan, Annie Louisa George. £25
to nephew Thomas Horrocks Miller. £20
to Maria Cairns sister of late Nathan Cairns. £19-19-0 each to Revd Charles Whitaker,
now or late of Simonstone, Lancashire, George Frederick Greaves, son of George
Greaves formerly of Ambleside Catherine Rowlandson, now or late of Bath, Sarah
Lee, now or late of Wetheroak, Jane Verdon, widow of the late Revd. William
Verdon, Elizabeth Kenrick, now or late of Stamford, Henrietta Sarah Miller,
widow of late brother Thomas, Isabel Armide Miller, wife of nephew Thomas
Horrocks Miller, my nephew William Pitt Miller, my nieces Mary Elizabeth Miller,
Catherine Miller and Edith Miller, Caroline Anne, widow of late brother Henry,
my nieces Mary Kennedy and Emily Georgina Miller, Mary Dew late of Whitney,
Hereford, Mary Birkett, wife of Revd. William Birkett and Alice Master, wife of
Revd. James S Master. £10
each to Fanny Payne, daughter of said William Birkett, Revd Augustus
Birkett, son of said William, Eliza Master, Caroline Master and Mary Birley,
daughters of said James S ‑ Master, Streynsham Mosley Master and Revd
Gilbert Coventry Master sons of Revd James S _ Master, Jane Augusta Raven, Revd
Melville Raven, John Samuel Raven, Revd Eustace Raven and Catherine Holliday,
daughters and sons of Revd James Raven deceased, and Eliza Raven, wife of said
Revd Melville Raven. £5
each to Lucy Ann Marshall Bell and Caroline Marion Bell, daughters of my
late niece Lucy Bell. Servants £50
to William Withers £20 to
William Sharples £200 to
Mary Withers (housemaid at Lark Hill 1851) £150 to
Margaret Edgar (cook) £100 to
William Jackson (coachman) £20 to
William Nixon (gardener) £10 to
George Atkinson (farm bailiff) £10 to
Mary Atkinson, wife of George £10 to
Sarah Proctor (housemaid) £10 to
Mary Barrow (kitchen maid) £5 to
each under gardener employed two years or more £5 to
Cornelius Lewis Wray (butler) All real Estate and all personal Estate to my friends
William Henry Wakefield of Kendal, banker, and John Henry Ransome ... upon
trust to permit my sister Catherine Jeffray personally to reside in and
occupy Merlewood for and during the term of her natural life on payment by her
to my said trustees such reasonable annual rent an shall be fixed and agreed
upon by my executors. If Catherine is not living, or should die in the lifetime
of sister Mary, or should discontinue to live in Merlewood, opportunity should
be offered to Mary on same arrangements. After that the property should be sold,
or leased pending a sale, the proceeds to be divided equally between Catherine
Jeffray and after her decease her daughter Katharine Hamilton during the life of
my said sister Mary Cairns, and Mary Cairns, and then equally among her children
Katharine Maria Cairns, Rosanno Matilda Coddington and William MacNeile Cairns. Executors were William Henry Wakefield, John Henry
Ransome, Catherine Jeffray and Mary Cairns. Witnesses
were T.S. Shuttleworth, solicitor, Preston, William Collinson, gardener ,
Windermere Proved by WHW, JHR, CJ of Windermere and MC of
Grange. [1] Burscough, M. 1989. The history of Lark Hill, Preston, p.11-14. [2] Burscough, M. 1989. The history of Lark Hill, Preston, p.30-33. [3] Preston Chronicle, 17 December 1959. [4] Preston Chronicle, 29 September 1860. [5] later Merlewood Farm. [6] Preston Guardian, 12 March 1862. [7] Preston Guardian, 25 July 1862. [8] Preston Guardian, November 1862. [9] Kirby. 1892. Rural deanery of Cartmel, p.71. [10] Westmorland Gazette, 21 January 2000, p.1. [11] Westmorland Gazette, 7 July 1866, p.5. [12] Preston Chronicle, 15 June 1872 p. 5. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||