Philip Chauncy’s memoir: 1835 and 1836
Philip continues his training to be a surveyor
Philip Chauncy’s 1877 memoir continues with an account of his training to be a surveyor.
Between 1835 and 1836 Chauncy worked on surveys in Somersham, Huntingdonshire, and Orwell, Cambridgeshire.
During 1835 and 1836 he made several trips to London. There he attended meetings of the British and Foreign Bible Society and the London Missionary Society, and family occasions, including his grandmother’s funeral, the wedding of his sister Martha, and a farewell for his sisters Theresa and Martha when they sailed for South Australia.
A barge excursion on Whittlesea Mere, famous for its yachting, boat races, regattas, fishing and fowling and also its skating competitions and ice fairs in harsh winters, may possibly be counted as evidence that Philip also enjoyed a social life in Cambridgeshire.
1835
From the commencement of this year. I was engaged in the general routine of office work until the 4th of May when I obtained leave of absence.
At this period I considered. myself a very good walker. Indeed I was rather proud of my performances as a pedestrian. So having proceeded to Cambridge, thirty two miles, by coach I undertook a journey thence to London on foot. The distance by the direct coach road from Cambridge to London is fifty two miles. But I did not keep this road all the way. I reached
Hare Street, Cambs, twenty miles the same evening and the next morning walked to Hertford to breakfast. Having looked over the town, church and castle I continued my journey to London, having walked sixty miles from Cambridge.
Hertford was the county town of some of my ancestors but I looked in vain for any tablet or mausoleum belonging to any of them. [There were memorials of his Chauncy forebears in the Church of St. Lawrence in Ardeley, East Hertfordshire.] On this day I walked forty miles.
1835 May 5th to 19th
While in London I attended with my Father some of the meetings at Exeter Hall, where I heard Mr. Brandram and Mr Dudley the well known secretaries of the British and Foreign Bible Society make speeches. As also Lord Bexley, Lord Teynmouth, the Bishop of Lichfield, the Bishop of Ohio, the Rev. Mr. Collins, Archdeacon of Calcutta, the Marquis of Cholmondley, Dr. Bennett, Mr. Knill missionary from St Petersburgh – this was the speech of the day – Lord Brougham, Danl O’Connell, Fowell Buxton and other celebrity**.
One Sunday I heard my relative Hugh Stowell (afterwards Canon Stowell) preach at St Luke’s in Fleet Street. I went to the top of the monument by London Bridge and visited some of the great institutions and other places worth seeing, with my sisters Theresa and Martha, and sometimes with William. Part of my time in London was spent on a visit at my step-uncle’s John Harison Curtis, the aurist of No 2 Soho square.
1835, Somersham Survey.
On the 20th May I returned to March and resumed my duties in Mr. Jackson’s office. They consisted in drawing plans and assisting in various Enclosure surveys.
On the 23d November I commenced the survey of the Parish of Somersham in Hunts, where I first took charge of a survey party and conducted the field operations by myself.
On the 18th June Mr. Jackson gave very pleasant entertainment. – A party of fifteen of us proceeded in large barge to Whittlesea Mere which at that time was a splendid sheet of water though it has since been drained. A large supply of refreshments for a grand picnic was provided and we enjoyed ourselves very much.
At that time perhaps few towns in England, no larger than March could boast of so many beautiful and accomplished young ladies. And many of them on this delightful day graced our festive board on the barge, as we moved slowly up the river Nene and over the broader expanse of the Mere: We did not reach home until about midnight.
During the remainder of the year I was engaged alternately in office and field work – chiefly at Somersham the survey of which Parish I finished on the 23 December 1835.
The time passed easily between the official routine and riding out, walking or romping with the girls. We used to spend the evenings with dancing, music, chess and sometimes cards.
I occasionally accompanied Mr Jackson and his other friends on shooting and fishing excursions, and in winter skating was one of my chief amusements.- For a long time I refused to play at cards, but at length yielded on condition that I did not play for money.
1836
On the 23. Jan I finished my first survey It was the survey of the town and parish of Somersham.
To the sixth of April my was time was employed in office work at March and I joined in the usual amusements with Mr. Jackson’s family.
From the 7th April to the 27th May I was engaged with Mr. Jackson of Barkway in the survey of the parish of Orwell in Cambridgeshire for the enclosure of the “open field” situated within its limits.
Chronic ailment
It was at Orwell that I first experienced the very distressing nervous and cramping sensation in the bowells which has so much afflicted me for the last few years and to the present day (11th April 1877) & will get worse as I grow older.
Grandmother died 26/5/36
My Fathers mother died at his house in London (where he was born 55 years before) on the 26th on the 26th May 1836.
I went up to London on 28th and attended her funeral.
On the 1st June I called with Therese on Mr. Western our solicitor of 7 Great James Street, Bedford Row, London to enquire about Australia. On the 2nd I returned to my duties under Mr Jackson & proceeded to carry on the survey of Somersham Heath and for which I finished on the 24th.
While at Somersham I spent some pleasant evenings at the house of Mr. Warner a large landed proprietor and leading man there and for whose pretty daughter I fancied I had formed some attachment, but she was soon after married to Mr Vipan a wealthy neighbour.
After spending three days at home Mr. Jackson sent me again to Orwell, the survey of which town and parish I finished on the 23d July and returned to March.
Family meeting 1/8/36
On the 1st of August I went to London and met for the last time altogether, my
Father, step mother and seven brothers and sisters.
After duly seeing the “lions” I returned in ten days to March and was occupied in the office until the 3d Oct. on which day. proceeded to Orwell and thence on the 8th on to London.
Martha’s marriage 11/10/36
On the 11th Oct., acting as my Father’s delegate, I gave my sister Martha away in marriage to Captain Berkeley 60th Rifles – formerly a Lieut. in the 15th.
27th Oct. I returned to March, & 21st Novr again to Orwell and on the 26th back to March where I remained until the end of the year.
Theresa & Martha go to South Australia
On the 18th Oct. I was on board the “John Renwick” with my sisters when they weighed anchor and sailed for South Australia which had that year been created into a British province.
I should have liked to have gone with them but was providentially. prevented from so doing.
Philip’s training as a surveyor continued until 1839. I will resume his account of his training in a future post.
Related posts and further reading
1877 Memoir by Philip Chauncy
Meeting of the British and Foreign Bible Society reported in the Patriot 11 May 1835 page 147, page 148, page 149, page 150
Meeting of the London Missionary Society reported in the Patriot 18 May 1835 page 163, page 164, page 165, page 166 (includes Mr Knill’s address)
Whittlesea Mere. (n.d.). The Great Fen. https://www.greatfen.org.uk/about-great-fen/heritage/whittlesea-mere
Gibson, R. (2024, January 17). Whittlesea Mere. Great North Road. https://greatnorthroad.co.uk/whittlesea-mere
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