One of my 4th great grandfathers was Rowland Mainwaring (1782–1862), a British naval officer.
Rowland Mainwaring was the second son of Rowland Mainwaring of Four Oaks in Warwickshire (1745–1787). This Rowland was a younger son of Edward Mainwaring of Whitmore Hall (1709–1795) (Edward 7).
In 1795, at the age of twelve, Rowland joined the navy as a midshipman. He had an active career during the Napoleonic wars and rose to the rank of lieutenant. In November 1815, however, with the wars over, Lieutenant Mainwaring was paid off and did not serve at sea again.
In 1810 Rowland had married Sophia Duff, daughter of an army officer and step-daughter of a naval officer. They had eight children. From 1815 the Mainwaring family lived at Bath. After Sophia’s death Rowland married a further two times and had a total of 17 children.
In 1817 Rowland Mainwaring had been named by his uncle Edward Mainwaring (1736–1825) (Edward 8) as heir after the death his, Rowland’s, cousin Charles, to the “manors of Whitmore and Biddulph and the advowson of the rectory of Whitmore, all his messuages land, &c. in Whitmore, Swynnerton and Biddulph, his messuage land, &c. in Bucknall, and all other his real estates, in the county of Stafford”.
Edward Mainwaring 8 had had no children, and the succession did not transfer to his nephews, for although his brother William Mainwaring had five sons all of them died unmarried. Charles Mainwaring (1787–1831), his first nominated heir, was in fact excluded for some unspecified reason from the inheritance of Whitmore by an 1819 codicil to Edward Mainwaring’s will. This codicil, which left the estate to Charles’s older sister Sarah Mainwaring (1774–1837), reaffirmed that Rowland would succeed to the estate after Sarah’s death.
Rowland Mainwaring was a second son, and so not in the direct line of inheritance. His older brother Edward (1781–1807), however, had died at the age of 26 while on service at Dacca in the East Indies.
Rowland Mainwaring attended his Uncle Edward’s interment at Whitmore on the 15th of December 1825, and left an account of the funeral procession.
The body, preceded by the curate, the physician, the estate agent, the estate solicitor, the apothecary and the undertaker, was borne by eight estate labourers, with six of the principal tenants as pall bearers. The chief mourners were three of his nephews [including Rowland], followed by his butler, his groom, his footman, his valet, his gamekeeper and the estate waggoner, the other tenants, labourers, servants and villagers came after.
Rowland’s cousin Sarah Mainwaring died on 31 March 1837 at Whitmore. Rowland Mainwaring heard news of her illness on 25 March and returned promptly to England.
Staffordshire Advertiser 29 April 1837
DINNER AT WHITMORE.—Yesterday week the tenants on the Whitmore estate dined together at the Mainwaring Arms, Whitmore, by invitation of Captain Rowland Mainwaring, on the occasion of his taking possession of the family property, which has descended to him on the demise of the much-respected lady, Mrs. Sarah Mainwaring, whose death was announced in one of our late numbers. The dinner was very ample, and was served up to the entire satisfaction of the guests, who appeared to enjoy themselves in the most comfortable manner. The gallant Captain presided at the table, and his kind and open demeanour made a very favorable impression on all present, and from that, as well as from the repeated expressions of the most friendly feelings, every one felt assured that he should experience the same liberality in the new connexion as he had done under that which had now terminated by the lamented event before alluded to. We understand Captain Mainwaring, who now resides abroad, intends to bring his family to Whitmore Hall, in about twelve months, and then to make it his permanent residence.
He spent three months in England sorting out his affairs before returning to Germany and after a farewell tour there travelled to Whitmore and took up residence with his family.
When Rowland and his family arrived at Whitmore railway station on 31 October 1837, they found all the tenantry, and a large number of tradesmen from Newcastle, waiting to receive them. A procession was formed, consisting of: —
. Six Horsemen,
. The Scholars of the National Schools,
. Two men carrying evergreens and flowers,
. A Flag,
. The Newcastle Brass Band,
. THE CARRIAGE containing Captain Mainwaring and family,
. 120 Horsemen — 2 and 2.
. The carriage was drawn by a number of stout labourers.
The entrance to the village was announced by the firing of cannon and the ringing of the village bells. A cask of ale was distributed before the Hall door, where the children paraded and made their obeisance to Mrs. Mainwaring. The cottagers were given a dinner of good substantial English fare, while Captain Mainwaring and his eldest son dined with a party of seventy in the village, when the hilarity of the evening was kept up to a late hour.
The Staffordshire Advertiser 4 November 1837
REJOICINGS AT WHITMORE.
The beautiful and sequestered village of Whitmore presented a scene of great animation and unusual gaiety on Tuesday and Wednesday last. The expected arrival of Captain Mainwaring, R.N., who had lately come in possession of his estates at Whitmore, had determined his tenantry and cottagers to observe Tuesday as a regular gala day, in order to give that gentleman a hearty welcome to the peaceful mansion of his ancestors. On the morning of the day the village was enlivened by the merry peals of the bells and the music of Mr. Worrall's excellent military band, from Newcastle. The Captain and his family, consisting of Mrs. Mainwaring, his sons and daughters, were met at the Whitmore railway station by his tenantry and cottagers, the children of the village schools, and a number of gentlemen and tradesmen from Newcastle and the surrounding neighbourhood, who received him with the greatest marks of respect, a respect which that gentleman had secured for himself by the urbanity of his manners and the kindness of his heart displayed during a visit estates some short time since. A number of his cottagers and labourers employed about the estate refused to allow his horses to be put in the carriage in which himself and family were seated, and with the greatest enthusiasm resolved themselves to draw it to the hall. The carriage was preceded by the children of the village schools, the superannuated labourers residing on the estate, the band playing a favourite march, the Union Jack and several other banners flying in the air, and followed by a cavalcade of about 120 horsemen, who escorted the Captain and his family to the hall ; the whole marshalled under the superintendence of J. Cottrill, of Newcastle, mounted, wearing his Waterloo medal. On entering the village, they were welcomed by a salute of cannon, and on their arrival at the hall were loudly cheered by the numerous groups of bystanders, and the cheering was most enthusiastically responded to by the whole cavalcade.
The CAPTAIN ascended an elevation, from which he addressed his tenantry and the other gentlemen who had honoured him on that interesting occasion, and expressed his gratitude for their kindness, and assured them that the distinguishing mark of respect he had that day received from them would never be forgotten by him. He felt his interests were identified with theirs, and it would be his happiness on all occasions to promote their comfort.
The short address was received with the most enthusiastic cheers. The fine old ale from the cellars of the family mansion was liberally distributed among the crowds who had gathered on the lawn ; and the health of the Captain was drunk with many a sincere and hearty wish for " long life and happiness." After the bustle of a life of 36 years spent in the service of his country, such a scene as this, and on such an occasion, must have been highly gratifying and deeply affecting; and most sincerely do we join in the wish that he may long enjoy the happiness of this quiet and lovely retreat, and live in the affections of his tenantry and surrounding neighbours.
The Captain, observing from his elevation a private soldier of the 63rd standing at a distance looking with interest on the scene, took him a glass of ale, and handing it to him said, "in peace, as in war, sailors and soldiers should assist each other."
After this the boys and girls of the village schools were regaled with cake and wine; and the cottagers and labourers had a most substantial dinner provided for them at the Mainwaring's Arms, and were waited upon by the respectable tenantry while they partook of the good cheer.
Mr. Martin had provided in a room fitted up for the occasion a most sumptuous dinner, with a rich dessert, to which 130 gentlemen sat down.
… (toasts and speeches)
The Chairman and Captain Mainwaring left about eleven o'clock in the evening, when the chair was taken by E. F. Mainwaring, Esq., and the festivities were kept up to a late hour. The company parted in good humour, highly delighted with the day's proceedings. The spirit stirring music of Mr. Worrall's excellent band contributed largely to the pleasures of the evening.
We are happy to say that the poor of the workhouse were not forgotten on this festive occasion. The men were regaled with a substantial dinner on the Tuesday, and the women with tea on the following day.
On Wednesday the wives of the respectable tenantry and the cottagers sat down to tea at the Mainwaring's Arms, after which the evening was spent in dancing. The dance was opened by Captain Mainwaring and Mrs. John Furnival. The whole of the Captain's family was present, and by their affable demeanour and kind attentions made the humblest cottager feel easy and happy. Too much praise cannot be given to Mr. Martin, the landlord of the inn, for the excellent provisions he had made on such short notice, as Mr. Mainwaring's arrival had only been heard of, we believe. on the previous day.
… (career of Captain Mainwaring)
Captain Mainwaring settled down to the ordinary life of an English country gentleman. He attended the Stafford Assizes in March 1838 and was sworn on the Grand Jury and was placed on the Commission of the Peace for Staffordshire, thereby becoming a magistrate. His magisterial duties occupied much of his time. He was also a substantial landlord of 3000 acres (1240 hectares) in 5 different parishes.
On 29 September 1855 he was promoted to Rear-Admiral. He was one of 11 Captains on the Retired List promoted to be Retired Rear Admiral without increase of pay.
Rowland Mainwaring died at Whitmore on 11 April 1862 at the age of 79. He was buried in the local church of St Mary and All Saints.
Newspapers, such as the Morning Herald (London), noted his passing:
MAINWARING.—On the 11th inst., at his seat, Whitmore Hall, Staffordshire, Rear Admiral Rowland Mainwaring, aged 79. The deceased was present at the battles of the Nile and Copenhagen.
A longer obituary appeared in the Illustrated London News of 26 April 1862. It mentioned:
He succeeded his cousin, Miss Sarah Mainwaring, in the Mainwaring estates, the 31st of March, 1837, and since his accession to them he has devoted himself entirely to his duties as country gentleman, and has made himself universally beloved and respected as a kind and considerate landlord, a good neighbour, and an active and upright magistrate.
Related posts and further reading
- Midshipman Rowland Mainwaring
- Rowland Mainwaring: from midshipman to rear-admiral
- 240th birthday of Rowland Mainwaring
- Photographs of Admiral and Mrs Mainwaring
- Trove Tuesday: Obituary for Admiral Mainwaring
- I is for Ilmenau
- Cavenagh-Mainwaring, James Gordon. The Mainwarings of Whitmore and Biddulph in the County of Stafford; an account of the family, and its connections by marriage and descent, with special reference to the manor of Whitmore, with appendices, pedigrees and illustrations. 1934. Pages 104 – 115. Retrieved through archive.org
- Mainwaring Rowland. The Lost Manuscripts of a Blue Jacket. 1850. Retrieved through Google Books
Wikitree: Rowland Mainwaring (1782 – 1862)