From C. M. C. Darwin 14 April 1879
Creskeld, | Otley.
April 14th. 1879
Dear Mr. Darwin,
I have to thank you for a long kind letter, and will endeavour as far as I can to reply to your question about our mutual ancestor, Robert Darwin of Lincoln’s Inn— 1
My Husband and I have looked over the Pedigree, and have come to the conclusion that the said Robert never was owner of Elston, he is described as of Balderton, and died 1754— his cousin William Morgan Darwin (who died in 1762.) being then owner of Elston— Robt. Waring Darwin his son, then got the Elston Estate—2
Robert Darwin of Lincoln’s Inn was buried at Elston, and we have a portrait of him by Richardson, if you would like it photographed—3 Our solicitor Mr. Dunning also, of Parliament St. has a number of old Darwin deeds & papers, which might throw some light upon the subject—4
I cannot but imagine however, as your son says, that it is a misconception of his descendants, to call him “of Elston”—5
I have great pleasure in enclosing a note of introduction for your son Mr. Leonard Darwin to our Tenant at Elston who I am sure will be most glad to shew him every attention.6 In regard to Cleatham, we have no property there at all now, nor do we know the name of the clergyman there—7 What an interesting discovery you must have made, in finding all those old letters, and the view of the house before it was restored & spoilt—8
We have seen lately mentioned that such an admirable portrait of yourself has been published, an etching, but that it is most difficult to procure, and we shall esteem it a great favour if you could kindly tell us, where one may be obtained—9
With kind regards, | Believe me | Yrs. sincerely | Charlotte M C Darwin
CD annotations
Footnotes
Bibliography
Browne, Janet. 2002. Charles Darwin. The power of place. Volume II of a biography. London: Pimlico.
Darwin pedigree: Pedigree of the family of Darwin. Compiled by H. Farnham Burke. N.p.: privately printed. 1888. [Reprinted in facsimile in Darwin pedigrees, by Richard Broke Freeman. London: printed for the author. 1984.]
Erasmus Darwin. By Ernst Krause. Translated from the German by W. S. Dallas, with a preliminary notice by Charles Darwin. London: John Murray. 1879.
Post Office London directory: Post-Office annual directory. … A list of the principal merchants, traders of eminence, &c. in the cities of London and Westminster, the borough of Southwark, and parts adjacent … general and special information relating to the Post Office. Post Office London directory. London: His Majesty’s Postmaster-General [and others]. 1802–1967.
Summary
Answers CD’s query about Robert Darwin of Lincoln’s Inn.
Sends an introduction for Leonard Darwin to their tenants at Elston Hall.
Letter details
- Letter no.
- DCP-LETT-11994
- From
- Charlotte Maria Cooper Darwin
- To
- Charles Robert Darwin
- Sent from
- Otley
- Source of text
- DAR 99: 138–41
- Physical description
- ALS 7pp
Please cite as
Darwin Correspondence Project, “Letter no. 11994,” accessed on 26 September 2022, https://www.darwinproject.ac.uk/letter/?docId=letters/DCP-LETT-11994.xml