Leigh of Stoneleigh

Description

Manuscript volume with title page: 'Poems on several occasions by Sir Edward Turner and members of the Leigh family, 1740-1750': rebound in the 19th century with Stoneleigh Abbey bookplate (post 1838) and a near identical spine title. It was used thereafter, until 1894, for contemporary additions. Folios 1-65, written in the same, late 18th century (post 1768) hand, are copies of poems mainly by: - Sir Edward Turner (1719-1766) Bart., who married Cassandra eldest daughter of William Leigh of Adlestrop. - Mary Leigh, d. 1768, daughter of William Leigh of Adlestrop The contents of this section comprise: - ff. 4-6: poem 'On the Marriage of Sr E T Barnt by the late Lord Deerhurst 1739': viz., Thomas Henry Coventry, Viscount Deerhurst, 1721-1744 - ff. 7-22: six miscellaneous poems by Sir Edward Turner, two dated 1739. - f. 23: 'Epistle by J. L. Esqr ' - f. 24: 'Spoke extempore by Sir E: T: as he was walking in the fine garden of a very great Man', and 'To Miss Charlotte Buckworth with a parcel of Franks - by the same' - f. 25: 'To Miss Wentworth upon her leaving Sunning Hill - by Miss Leigh', probably Turner's sister-in-law, Mary Leigh - ff. 26-44: seven further poems by Miss [Mary] Leigh, one dated 1750. - f. 44-5: poem, 'The Wish' by Sir Edward Turner - ff. 46-57: 6 further poems by Miss [Mary] Leigh - f. 58: poem 'Found in Miss [Mary?] L-eigh's pocket book after her decease' in 1768. - f. 59-61: 'From Miss Cassandra Leigh to her Sister [Mary] Canly Sepr 5th 1762' on her marriage to her cousin, Thomas Leigh of Adlestrop. Cassandra and Mary were the daughters of Dr Theophilus Leigh. - ff. 62-5 : two anonymous poems The volume, in this form, may have passed from Cassandra Turner (died 1770) to her daughter, Elizabeth, who married Thomas Lord Saye and Sele, and from her to her daughter Julia Judith who married her second cousin, James Henry Leigh of Stoneleigh. ff. 66-70 are in a different hand and comprise poems by 'Lady Leigh', the second at least, dated 1887, composed by Caroline Amelia wife of William Henry Lord Leigh probably ff. 74-106 are in a variety of late 19th-century hands and comprise: - Song to the tune of 'Barbara Allen', in praise of Mrs Allen the well known world wide hair restorer composed by the Margaret Countess of Jersey (daughter of William Henry Lord Leigh) and sung in charade 'Pig-Tail' acted on 26 January 1877 by members of the Leigh, Jersey and Cholmondeley families (ff. 74-5) - 'Blue - Beard', a burlesque by Caroline Amelia, Lady Leigh, composed for New Years Night 1862 and performed by children of the Leigh family, aged 6 to 12 (ff. 76-84) - 'Kilchurn Castle' a burlesque by Caroline Amelia, Lady Leigh, performed 17 January 1864 by the children of William Henry Leigh on his birthday (ff. 86-99). - three poems by Rupert Leigh , two apparently autograph (ff. 101-105 - two poems by Mary Cordelia Leigh, one dated 1894 (ff. 105v-106v)