Philip Chauncy’s memories of his father William Snell Chauncy
From the 1877 memoir of Philip Lamothe Snell Chauncy (1816 – 1880)
My third great grandfather Philip Chauncy (1816 – 1880) wrote memoirs of his sister, Theresa Susannah Snell (Chauncy) Poole (1807 – 1876), and his second wife, Susan Augusta (Mitchell) Chauncy (1828 – 1867). They were first published in 1873 and given the title “Memoirs of Mrs Poole and Mrs Chauncy“. The autograph copy is held by the State Library of Victoria which also holds manuscripts of his journal of his trip to South Australia and other Chauncy family history and biographical notes he made, including an autobiographical memoir dated 1877 and dedicated to his oldest son, William Snell Chauncy (1853 – 1903).
The 1877 memoir starts with an account of his father.
Transcription
Page 1Memoirs of Philip Lamothe Snell Chauncy *
Dedicated to his eldest son William Snell Chauncy with his Father’s fondest love. Jan. 1877.
My Father’s Father W S Chauncy of Wingfield Berks was born 3d May 1756 & died 17th Nov 1829
My Father was born in London on the 16th August 1781, and received a good classical Education from his kinsman, the Reverend Hugh Stowell, Rector of Balaugh in the Isle of Man, who designed him for the Church, as he had refused, from conscientious motives, to accede to his Father’s wishes and learn the business of a West-Indian planter.
We lived in France from May 1821 to 1. Augt 1825 = 4 years & 3 mos.
He imbibed true Christian principles from Mr Stowell, which he never afterwards forsook, & acquired an extensive knowledge of the sacred Scriptures in the study of which he took much pleasure as he did also in assisting others in reading and understanding them as may be seen by several of his Works – “La Vérité des Saintes Ecriteur” published
*See among my papers an extract from the Genealogy of the Chauncy family in Sir Henry Chauncy‘s History of the Antiquities of Hertfordshire, Also the 1st 2nd & perhaps the 3d Editions of Burke’s Landed Gentry which give the regular descent from Chauncy de Chauncy who rode by the side of Willm the Conqueror down to my Grandfather, my Father was his only son, and I am my Father’s Eldest Son.
Also see notes in fly leaves of Our Family Bible. P.C.
See a bundle of papers containing genealogical & Especially Nat Chauncy’s letter dated 1824 P.C. 14.1.77
Page 2published at Toulouse in 1824 ; “A Summary of Christian Instruction”, London 1826; “A Dissertation on Unaccomplished Prophecy” published in 1838. He also originated and established Bible reading associations at Bristol in 1810, Worcester in 1830 and at Ipswich in 1833.
Although attached to the Church of England until we went to reside in France in 1821, he had long Entertained conscientious scruples regarding the Government, discipline and practices of that Establishment.
On becoming acquainted with the French Protestant Church, carefully avoiding that Section of it which had Socinian tendencies, he could no longer remain in the Anglican communion, and on our return to England in 1824 united himself. with the Independents, of which denomination I considered myself a member, though without having had an opportunity of joining them since 1839, until, at Dunolly, in 1862 on seeing more of them in that town I was offended by their daily life and practices which accorded so little with the principles set forth in the very excellent and eloquent
Page 3sermons preached by their Ministers
Since that time I have united myself with the Church of England and have brought up my children in its communion.
I may here remark that I am the only one of my Father’s seven children who, on growing up, continued in the Church in which we were brought up — All the others I believe profess themselves to be followers of Swedenborg.
My Father, tho’ for some time in the Counting house of a large firm in Liverpool where he had been placed by his Father, never practiced any profession or business but derived his income from his Father. He was refined in his tastes, correct and scrupulous in his principles and affectionate in his disposition.
His correspondence with me was regular from the time I left home at sixteen until the time of his decease on 1st August 1845. I had carefully retained and Endorsed all his letters to me until December 1860, when on looking over them I was much struck by the affectionate
Page 4and considerate tone that prevaded them throughout. My Father was naturally retiring and timid in his disposition and habits and had an unconquerable aversion to the follies and vanities of the world. He seemed to have have few sentiments in common with other people and sedulously avoided irreligious persons. He was the better able to do this inasmuch as that he was independent of them.
There are perhaps few words in the English language which are understood in such different ways as the word nervous. From the Greek root neuron, a sinew, it is taken in one sense to signify having strong nerves, vigorous; and in another to imply weak nerves. A man is said to have a nervous, that is, a strong, arm; another is said to be nervous, that is to possess a weak mind so as to be alarmed at trifles – an unusual noise, the bolting of the horse one is driving, or at an unexpected apparition. None of these meanings convey the sense in which my Father was nervous. He was excessively nervous, but his nervousness consisted in an abnormal and morbid
Page 5condition the whole nervous system – this was constitutional and was probably the result of the intemperate and extravagant habits of his forefathers. The effect on him was to make him weak, delicate and shun society – never to be in health or vigorous, yet, he never took medicine or consulted any doctor, and seldom had any definite complaint, except headaches and neuralgia in the head and face.
I inherit from him this species of nervousness, but with this difference that in my case it is a distinct localised disease of the mucous membrane, chiefly of the bowels. It is a very distressing complaint & must be uncommon for I have never met with any person, medical or otherwise, who could comprehend or relieve it, except perhaps in a small degree and temporarily.
My Father died at Leamington in England at the age of 64, from what was called “water on the chest”. I never heard that he had any heart affection. But I have suffered from a complaint of the heart for many years.
………………………………….
“Water on the chest” is an archaic phrase and was later known as dropsy or oedema; Philip Chauncy’s obituary in the Ballarat Star of 10 April 1880 mentions he had suffered from dropsy which ultimately led to his death.
Philip’s memoir gives additional detail about his father William Snell Chauncy, noting that he was an author, with a considerable interest in theological matters.
Despite poor health Philip and his father William were determined travellers. Philip emigrated to Australia and covered great distances as a surveyor; William sailed half way around the world to Australia to visit his children and afterwards made the long journey home.
Related posts
A natural conclusion: Philip Chauncy neglects to mention that his father was illegitimate, the natural son of William Snell-Chauncy (1756-1829)
Chauncy letter: pedigree back to Charlemagne via the Bigods: Philip refers to the letter in his footnote on page 1 of the memoir
Wikitree:
Philip Lamothe Snell Chauncy (1816 – 1880)
William Snell Chauncy (1853 – 1903) Philip’s son
William Snell (Brown) Chauncy (1781 – 1845) Philip’s father
William (Snell) Snell-Chauncy (1756 – 1829) Philip’s paternal grandfather
Eunice Brown (1753 – 1836) Philip’s paternal grandmother
Rev. Thomas Stowell (1731 – 1807) brother-in-law of Philip’s paternal grandmother Eunice Brown
Rev. Hugh Stowell (1768 – 1835); William’s maternal cousin and his tutor
This post first published at https://anneyoungau.wordpress.com/2024/11/05/philip-chauncys-memories-of-his-father-william-snell-chauncy/