Mary COXWELL of Ryton

[raf]

I'm researching the history of the Westmacott family of sculptors, and have a reference to a memorial tablet in Ryton parish church to Mary Coxwell (died 1776) designed by Richard Westmacott the Elder (1747-1808). The Coxwells were lords of the manor of Ablington in Gloucestershire, and Richard's aunt married into the family, but I can't work out where the above Mary fits into the tree. Would anybody be able to send me a transcription of the tablet or give me any details about the Coxwells of Ryton?

[pwh]

f I came across your post quite by accident.   My connection to the Coxwell   family comes  by way of a marriage  between  Hyam  Hart and Anne Coxwell  Forster  in  Melbourne Australia  in  1857.
I have a record  of a Mary Westmacott B  1700 and John Coxwell   (1698-1754).  They  had  6
children.
John  b  1733 d 1762
Ann    b  1735 d 1800  M  Reverend Charles Page B 1717 d 1784
Elanor B1745 d 1808  M    reverend Nicholas  Marshall  b 1760 d 1791
Mary b 1736  d 1807   M    Francis  Langstaffe   b 1740 d  1772   M    Mark Ord  b1755 d 1791
Elizabeth  b  1738 d 1756
Charles  b  1740 d 1829  (reverend)  M Mary Small  b 1745 d 1833.
If this sounds right please contact me.
                                                                Pwh

[raf]

Hi pwh

I sent you a private message last week in reply to your posting, but as I haven't heard from you, I thought I'd better check whether you received it okay. If not, I can resend it.

raf

[pwh]

Raf
           Until very recently my only knowledge of the Coxwell  branch of the Hart tree was a  name
in that tree. I have since corrected that  During an internet search I came across two sites that
have the Coxwell tree going back to 1516 in Ablington, Gloustershire.  They are
http://www.stirnet.com/genie/data/british/cc4aq/coxwell1.php  and http://www.reocities.com/val_
james/genealogy/coxwell.html.  There are also other sites about this old and notable county
family.  In the tree  on the second site you will see a link  to  some information on the 
Westmacott family .  It does not mention Richard Westmacott but it is only a  small   sample
of that tree.  There is also a site for Ablington Manor , their former home.  Hope this helps.

                                                                                                             PWH

[pwh]

Raf
 I googled Richard Westmacott  and found many references to the  him and his family.  If you have not done so already  I suggest that you do.  On page four  there is a  reference to his father.
Thomas Westmacott  born at Somerford Keynes  Gloustershire  on 9/3/1651.

                                                                                          Regards
                                                                                                            PWH

[raf]

Hi pwh

Many thanks for your suggestions. I've researched the Westmacott family, but I'll follow up the Coxwell links.

[pwh]

Raf
      During an internet search I came across  a  Captain Robert Marsh Westacott   (1801-!870.
He was the third child and second son of Sir  Richard  Westmacott. The fact that he was born
in Sidmouth county Devon  and that no birth certificate for him has been found  opens  the
possibility of him being illegitimate. He joiuned the Army in 1823 and spent most of the  30
years in places like South Africa, Mauritius, Australia  and New Zealand.   He was  an artist in his own right  whose place in  early Australian  art  is now being  recognized.  He married  Louisa
Marion  Plummer in London on  18/6/1831.  They  had five children  in Australia.  That is a small
part of an 18 page document.  You will find it  at http://www.uow.edu.au~morgan/mw1.html

                                                      Regards
                                                                  PWH

[raf]

Hi pwh

Yes, I've come across that link, too - quite a fascinating story. I'm not so sure about Robert being illegitimate - there would be no birth certificate for him as they were only issued after 1837, and I have found a baptism for him dated 9 June 1801 at St George's Hanover Square London which looks quite in order.

Regards, raf

[pwh]

Raf
          Yes the westmacotts were indeed a colourful family.  I have come across a couple of them,
one you may know of the other not.  The first one is Charles Molloy Westmacott.  He claimed to be the illegitimate son of Sir  Richard Westmacott  and an inn keeper named Susannah Molloy.   The
intriguing  thing is that he was educated  at St Pauls School and the Royal Academy.  The story is that during  Richard the elders life he was provided for but  Richard the younger cut him off. He became  editor of  The Age ,  a publication that specialised in  scandalous reporting  of  the
aristocracy.  His many detractors called him a "virulent scribbler.  The fact that the illegitimate
son of an innkeeper  could get into the Royal  Academy makes the story sound plausible.
The second is a Frederick  Westmacott  who arrived  in Sydney on  board the " Australia"
on  18/5/1830.  Captain Robert Marsh Westmacott arrives on the  Magarat on  3/12/1831
as ADC to  Governor Richard Burke  and Frederick  stats being appointed to  government
positions.  Coincidence  or family patronage, what do you think ?

                                                                                            Regards
                                                                                                           Peter