Benjamin Lovell (1755 - aft. 1826)

Ancestors

Husband of Maria Elizabeth (Williamson) Lovell — married 1780 in Lambeth Church, England

Descendants

Died after 1826 after age 71 in Ash, Surrey, England, United Kingdom

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Biography

Research Notes

• See page 552 in Journal and Letters of the Late Samuel Curwen Judge of Admiralty, By Samuel Curwen Accessed by Langridge-71 16:06, 9 January 2018 (EST) This short excerpt states he was a refugee to Halifax then to England. He married in Halifax. This differs from data re first marriage in profile. Unable to access full citation link of journal. See web search https://books.google.co.uk/books?isbn=1429017295
• No identifiable records found on familysearch.org

The Revd Benjamin Lovell, younger brother of James who was master of Harvard College was the Rector of Ash in Surrey.

He wrote the following letter to his son George Lovell (natural grandfather of Mrs ME Manley nee ME Darton). The post mark on the letter was 16th May 1826. It was directed to Geo Lovell Esq, Enfield Highway, Middlesex.

My father died at Halifax in 1778. I understand from his friend Joe Green, who was then in England, that he was about 71 years old. I place his birth at 1707.

My grandmother, whose maiden name was Gardner? Died in 1760, 1 on 2 aged 77. I place her birth at 1686.

The Registers were kept in the office of the Bishop of London?, who was the Diocesan of the Provinces. The parish church for these registers was, I believe, Stepney. Enquire of the Bishop’s Register, Mr Gell, Cloisters – on Doctors Commons, in the Archbishop’s ?. You will find the marriage I think because from the time of their birth to the time of my father’s birth could only be about 21 years.

I think its much probable that my Grandfather was married in Boston as my father’s Aunt? Gardner lived in Green Lane during my infancy. My Grandfather was lost off Lovell’s Island, near the port of Boston, it must have been between his wife’s marriageable age and the birth of my father 1707 – between two or three years of that time, when my grandfather was lost by shipwreck!

He was in the act, as it were, of investing his ship and cargo (his all) in a shop, kept by his wife in Boston. She was ruined of course. My father was brought up, whilst very young, by his friends, and sent to college at their expense and thus made his way and supplied his mother till the end which I saw.

I think in ? that Grandfather married young in life and an American woman – Bess, my sister, must have taken out her Armorial Bearings in 1776 or 7. I had nothing to do with it. She left America in 1783. The seal was stolen from me was an Onyx set upon a dog of pure gold forming a pillar to it. It was engraved and expressed a Roman Senator. I know of no reference it had to the family only that it was long in possession of my father and grandmother. The sketch of the arms which a friend obtained for me in 1776 from the office, was three piles sable with a Fess? Wavy sanguine and a crescent expressing the second branch.

It had the motto “? Lupellis”. My father told me the proper crest was a Tabut? Dog pass? ?. The Arms which he possessed in America were crested with “a d? Hand in armour grasping a heart” This he said was wrong and belonged to the squirrel and not to the dog.

These were taken with him to Halifax, unless they went to my sister Walker?. The Arms which Bess took out prior to her marriage must be lodged ex officio in the office of the Prince of Hess? Hanneaux. I think the result is this...

Grandfather born about 1684 emigrated a little before the birth of my father 1705-6 or 7 and died before my father was sent to college, that is 1721 – (see the accounts of my father’s degree in catalogue) perhaps before he was even sent to school, 1714 most probably between 1707 and 1714 – NB I was not at the christening nor the funeral.

Now my dear boy, this is all and you must make your own way for the last – possibly at? Lovell – Minster in Somersetshire. {Minster Lovell is on the border of Oxon and Glos}

For myself I only say Abavoy et Provos et qua non fermius Ipsi nix ex nostra voss – in English, I do not think much of a dry cow’s milk. Let us know when we are to look out for the Possie and make it as large as you can – as will”

Signed BL

The postmark on this folded letter (no envelope) were Farnham Forenoon MY16 1826

Sources

• Entered by Henry Hoffman from notes made by Ithell Colquhoun. Click the Changes tab for the details of edits by Henry and others.