Character etc. of all the Cat[holic] Gentlemen unmarried in 1767

This month we are letting you see something of Mary Ravenscroft six years before she became a wife and mother. She was doing some careful research into eligible Catholic bachelors. There are three possible husbands noted here. We do not know if this document forms part of more extensive research or how she came by this information. One wonders if she was part of a network of friends and acquaintances on a similar quest comparing notes! The three gentlemen lived in different parts of England so were not her near neighbours in Lincolnshire. And at least two of them would have spent several years out of the country being educated at Douai, a Catholic seminary in northern France. Mary's future husband, Lord Linton, son of the 6th Earl of Traquair, is not mentioned here. Unfortunately, we have no idea how she met him.

Mary's primary consideration in her choice of husband would appear to be his financial prospects. This may well have been the main consideration for young women of this class in this era. Certainly it featured highly in Jane Austen’s world. Indeed, this document gives an earlier insight into this world. We cannot glean from it what else Mary regarded as important in a husband, but her eventual choice was not determined by money. In the later 18th century, when Mary joined the family, the Stuarts of Traquair were living within their slender means, having suffered financially for their political allegiances.

This document has been described by William Turnbull who catalogued the Traquair archives in the 1860’s as “A very curious fragment of gossipry”.

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Mr Eyeres when his father Dies will have 4 or 5 thousand per annum & if Lord Widdrington makes his will in his favour will have 2 or 3 thousand per annum . – brought up at Douay his Char[acter] Can't indure the Jesuites, of a close disposition positive to the last degree takes after his father, is very nice in regard of ye Ladies & satirical, thinks no woman handsome or Complete, very Bookish likes no sort of exercise or deversion, has a high Opinion of him self, never writes when absent to his father or mother, has good Share of Sence, by some reckoned good Natured but even his best of friends Calls him a whim & an oddity by his mother's side madness, for which reason Lady Mary Eyers never wishes him to marry. Miss Langdale she having some thing of the same by her mothers side, age 3 or 4 twenty a very good family.

Ralph Sheldon when his father dies will have 4 thousand p[e]r an[num] brought up at ---------------- Char[acter] very proud & Conceited fond of his Glass reckon'd a rake a fortune hunter has died for several; is rather extravagant & not over polite in Company Esteemed rather a loose Christian a great fox hunter. is Called Sensible & by some good natured; but makes nothing of saying an Ill natured thing. his mother by Adultery, his father not an Old family, lives in Oxfordshire Age 6 or 7 & twenty

Mr St Tunstal between 2 & 3 thousand p[e]r an[num] & if his uncle Constable leaves him his Estate will have 9 or 10 thousand p[e]r an[num] brought up at Douay, is not prejudiced against the Society. Char[acter] very Bookish loves retirement don’t like to stir when he is once settled in a place vastly fond of London don’t like Company never Dines out a great Phylosipher is fond of talking like one of Books & his great delight & only pleasure is in having all sorts of Birds etc. Cats & such animals, is fond of paintings, Can’t indure music Spends most of the summer in Town but never goes to any diversions, the Chiefest places he frequents is the Tavern & Coffee houses in the mouring [morning]. his passion is for Books birds etc. which takes place of every thing else takes no exercise is not fond of Riding etc. nor traveling he never went on his travels; is very Childish. – has prayers every day. is Called Sensible & every ones says very good natured but his best friends allow he has an odd turn, & fear he will take after his father. he seems generously inclined, & Charitable he was an admirer of Mrs Welds, & wou’d like such a one as her Lady Arundell or Mrs Townly for a wife, by the by, all 3 very different women. Age 23 or 24 very good family

Please note that there will be no further additions to Traquair Archives Online for a few months to allow us to concentrate on preparing a new book based entirely on our archives telling the story of the Stuarts of Traquair, 1491 - 1875. This will be published next year.