| Notes |
--- "York Herald" 09 May 1868, page 7:
We record with sorrow the death of the Right Honorable Caroline Dowager Lady Wenlock, widow of the late Paul Beilby Lawley Thompson, first Lord Wenlock, of Escrick Park, in this county, and of Bourton Cottage, in the county of Salop. The deceased lady was born in October, 1792; youngest daughter of Richard Aldworth neville, second Lord Braybrooke, of Audley End, in Essex, whose wife was Catherine, youngest daughter of the Right Honorable George Grenville, and sister to George, first Marquis of Buckingham, and William Lord Grenville.
Her ladyship was married in 1817 to the late Lord Wenlock, then Paul Beilby Lawley, Esq., who, on the death of his uncle, assumed the name of Thompson, and came to the Escrick estate in 1820. They had issue five children, all of whom survive -- Beilby Richard, the present Lord Wenlock (married in 1846, to the Lady Elizabeth Grosvenor, third daughter of the Marquis of Westminster), Captain the Honorable Robert Neville Lawley (married in 1852, to Georgiana, daughter of the late Lord Edward Somerset), the Honorable and Rev. Stephen Willoughby Lawley, rector of Escrick, the Honorable Francis Charles Lawley, and the Honorable Jane, the wife of the Right Honorable James Stuart Wortley.
Lady Wenlock had been in failing health for several months, and died gently and peacefully on Saturday morning last, at her house in Bearkeley Square, surrounded by all her children except Capt. Lawley, whose recent accident confined him to his home in Yorkshire.
Few persons in high position have exerted a greater influence than the deceased lady -- few have been more sincerely or more generally beloved.
Born of high lineage, she dignified her position by a life of the most unobtrusive charity, by the most active and continuous benevolence, and by the readiest sympathy which all might command.
In her own house, amid the hospitalities she much loved to dispense, she shone with a peculiar charm and refinement, and as one of the wise and excellent ones of the earth she will be greatly missed and mourned, especially by the poor.
Her ladyship was long honoured and revered by all clases in this city, where she had ever taken an active interest in all the charitites. The County Hospital was always the special object of her solicitude, and many of our fellow-citizens will remember how much it owes to her activity in originating and bringing to so successful an issue the great bazaar of 1829.
In her own villages, where there remain so many lasting records of her untiring exertions for the welfare of her people, she will not soon be forgotten; and when, today, her mortal remains are borne to the vault, to lie under the monumental chapel which she built in Escrick church, it will be a saddening thought to many that, this day, sixteen years ago, the great shadow of her life -- the sorrow of widowhood -- fell on her, in teh death of her much-loved lord, at whose side she now again reposes. ---
"Oh, blest are they who live and die like these,
Loved with such love, and with such sorrow mourned."
--- "York Herald" 16 May 1868, page 9:
FUNERAL OF THE DOWAGER LADY WENLOCK
The funeral of the late Lady Wenlock took place at Escrick on Saturday last, amidst the heartfelt sorrow of all who were present, and who had known her during a lifetime of piety, benevolence, and charity. Long and deservedly will her memory be cherished, not only by the members of her own family, but also by the numerous tenanty, tradesmen, and labourers connected with the estate.
The remains of her ladyship were brought from the Metropolis to Escrick, in the care of Mr. Henry Daniel Clarke, of Desborough House, Westbourne Green, Paddington, London, the body being enclosed in a shell, lead coffin, and an outer coffin of oak, which was covered with fine black cloth, and studded with silver gilt nails, formed in panels. On the silver breastplate was the following engraved inscription:--- "Caroline, Dowager Lady Wenlock, born October, 1792, died May 2, 1868, aged 75." The hour fixed for the funeral to take place was eleven o'clock on Saturday forenoon, and only on the occasion of the funeral of the late Lord Wenlock has the village presented so melancholy an aspect. The indications of sorrow were general, whether as regards the habiliments of mourning worn by the people themselves, or having reference to the curcumstance that every house exhibited a deserved mark of respect towards the deceased lady by either closing the shutters or drawing down blinds. At the hour just inidcated the coffin was taken out of the hall where she and the late Lord had spent a not inconsiderable portion of their lives, to the entrance to Escrick Park, where the tenantry, several tradesmen from York, and the church choir were in waiting. The coffin rested on a bier, which was carried by twelve bearers, and the large bell of the beautiful church at Escrick was tolled at half minute intervals.
. . . Although Escrick Park is nearly a mile from the church, the male portion of the chief mourners and others in the procession walked with their heads uncovered, and their example was followed by others on the route of the procession. The strongest indications of grif were depicted on every countenance, and the singing of the choir produced a powerful and solemnising effect. The church was reached in about half an hour from the time of starting, and at the entrance to the sacred edifice the corpse was met by the Rev. W.F. Neville, Prebendary of Wells and vicar of Butleigh, Somerset, the Rev. J.R. Farros, vicar of Riccall, and the Rev. O.A. Medd, curate of Escrisk. The Rev. W.F. Neville read the opening sentences in the burial service, and after the coffin had been taken into the chancel, a wreath of flowers and evergreens was placed upon it. The pulpit, the lectern, the reading desk, and the communion table were covered with black cloth, with a border of white fringe. The church was speedily filled by those who composed the procession and the spectators, and, whilst they were being seated, Mr. Tuke, the organist, played the Dead March in Samson. The Rev. W.F. Neville afterwards proceeded with the service, and at its conclusion the coffin was borne outside the church. During the time of the removal of the body to its final resting place, Mr. Tuke played the Dead March in Saul. The remains of her Ladyship were deposited in a vault under the monumental chapel which she built in Escrick church, there to repose by the side of her much-loved Lord until the time of the consummation of all things. The remainder of the service having been read, the mourners -- and in reality every one present appearing in that capacity -- took their last "long lingering look" at that which contained the frail tabernacle of clay of one whose deeds of generosity and benevolence will be long registerd on the scroll of fame. The assembly slowly dispersed to several homes, and mufffled peal was rung on the bells of the church.
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1792 - 1868 (75 years)
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