In Season 31 of the Antiques Roadshow UK, at Ascot, a man brought in a Riding Whip that his grandfather had picked up second-hand somewhere.
The silver top was marked:
“J. Eyre Kingdon
From the Boys
8 Feb 1865”
He seemed genuinely interested in the piece, so I thought a little deeper digging was called for. This story, unlike so many others, had a EUREKA! moment for me while researching. It isn’t always possible to nail something down to a specific date like this (smile). We have to start back with J. Eyre Kingdon’s father, though, to understand the man with the whip.
SAMUEL KINGDON (1779-1854)
When Samuel was born on 28 Apr 1779, his father was a well-established Ironmonger in Exeter. Samuel’s parents, Samuel and Jane (Kent) Kingdon, were registered Presbyterians at the Bow Meeting House in Exeter. Samuel apprenticed under his father and continued in the family business, through the Great Fire of 1826, finally retiring in 1849. On 19 Feb 1805, he married Jane Eyre, daughter of a Sheffield merchant. (Since both families were Protestant Dissenters, the marriage record hasn’t emerged yet.) Samuel was always active in community and church roles. His name is engraved on one of the bells at St David’s (no doubt, because of a large donation), where he was a churchwarden.
By 1841, Sam (as he was known by his detractants) was a Magistrate, living at Mount Stamp in Exeter, with his wife Sarah and four children: William (attorney), James (attorney), Helen, and Sarah. His son, Eyre, is living next door to him on New North Road. By the time of the 1851 census, Samuel Kingdom and his wife had moved (and not very far, at that) to Duryard Lodge. 71yo Samuel was a Magistrate & Landed Proprietor, and 68yo Sarah had one son (Thomas K. Kingdon) and four servants in the at home. Their other son, John E. Kingdon, is living next door, at Elm Villa, a widower with two sons and two servants living in his home. A Coal Merchant by trade, John’s sons — 16yo John Eyre Kingdon and 10yo William Henry Kingdon — were still in school.
Shortly after the taking of the census, on 14 Jan 1854, Samuel died, and the Western Courier, West of England Conservative, Plymouth and Devonport Advertiser published a helpful obituary for him on 25 Jan 1854:
“JANUARY 14, at Duryard House, near Exeter, in the 75th year of his age, Samuel Kingdon, Esq., for many years a Magistrate of Exeter. The deceased gentleman was the first Mayor elected under the Municipal Reform Bill in 1836, and he filled various other important public offices, and was ever known as the true friend of the poor, and the champion of truth; fearless and undaunted in exposing faults wherever he believed them to exist; truly liberal and benevolent to the poor, and a large contributor to every Charity and Institution for the benefit of the city. He was much and deservedly beloved and respected by his numerous family and a large circle of friends. His funeral took place on Thursday, at St David’s, and was attended by a large number of his sorrowing relatives. The procession was met at the church by many of his brother magistrates and gentlemen of the city, and several hundred persons were present to pay this last tribute of respect to his memory. The service was read in an impressive manner by the Rev C.C. Bartholomew.”
The Western Times of 21 Jan 1854 added even more:
“Our obituary records the death of Samuel Kingdon, Esq., of Duryard. Mr Kingdon was for many years one of the notabilities of the city. He was a man of great energy of character, and for many years at the head of the largest manufacturing concern in the city. Though kept out of the old Corporation on account of his religious opinions — he being a Dissenter — he was elected into the Reformed Corporation by the largest majority of the burgesses which was polled in the city at the first election, and was chosen the first Mayor under the new dynasty. He was afterwards appointed a Magistrate by the Crown, and for a long time was a leading member of the Bench. His manners, often brusque and dogmatical, sometimes brought him into wordy conflict with opponents; but his general goodheartedness secured for him the popular verdict that “His bark was worse than his bite.” He enjoyed the real regard and attachment of a large class of his fellow citizens–especially of the poor, who knew that the tender side of his heart more than compensated for the rough side of his tongue. His charities were very numerous, and he will be sadly missed in this respect. Mr Kingdon had a very extensive and minute knolwedge of all local topics and persons.”
The Auction notice in the newspaper, printed shortly after his death, gives an idea of a man who must have owned a lion’s share of Exeter “at his decease”. They were even set to auction off his Shares in five of the Plymouth Dock SHIPPING SCHOONERS! Extracts from his (very lengthy and instructive) will give a little more insight into the extent of his properties. His legacies were vast, and the heirs were numerous. Names mentioned include: Me, Samuel Kingdon, of Duryard Lodge. My Wife Sarah Kingdon. My Mansion house called Duryard Lodge. Brother William Kingdon of Harcombe House, Devon. Sons William Kingdon and James Smith Kingdon of London, Gentlemen. My Son in law the Reverend Sidney William Cornish of Ottery Saint Mary, Devon, Clerk (Doctor in Divinity). My daughter Jane, wife of Sidney William Cornish. My daughter Helen, wife of John Benson Coles Rose, Esquire. My daughter Sarah Emily, wife of The Reverend Augustus Archer Hunt. My son John Eyre Kingdon and his late deceased wife Margaret. Two grandsons, John Eyre Kingdon and William Henry Kingdon (sons of John Eyre & Margaret Kingdon). Son Samuel Kingdon and his wife, Julia Anna. Son Thomas Kingdon Kingdon. My accountant Henry Stoneman. Actually, this will is a masterpiece of final instructions, clearly exhibiting Samuel’s abilities as both a kind family man and a sharp businessman. And it was written and signed on 14 Oct 1853, shortly before his death at the age of 74.
JOHN EYRE KINGDON — EARLY LIFE
The owner of the whip and eldest son of Samuel and Sarah (Kent) Kingdon was born on 8 Dec 1807, as recorded in the church register of the “Bow now Mint” Meeting House for Presbyterians in Exeter. In 1841, he (listed as an Ironmonger) and his family are living next to his parents, at a house on New North Road. Family includes wife Margaret and two sons: John Eyre, Jr., and William. In February 1844, there is an exciting story in the Exeter Flying Post about his co-organizing the fire brigade that put out a ravaging fire near the Warehouses in North-street. It wasn’t all “fun and games”, though. His wife, Margaret (daughter of James Newman Tanner, Esq., of Sherwell House, Plymouth) died, at Elm Villa, on 15 Aug 1848. In 1851, listed as widower and Coal Merchant, Eyre was still living next to his parents in Exeter, at Elm Villa, and his two sons — 16yo John Eyre Kingdon and 10yo William Henry Kingdon — were still attending school. Six years later, Eyre made the national news as a hero of human kindness.
JOHN EYRE KINGDON AND THE POTATO FAMINE
Cornish farmers had been experimenting with different types of potatoes since at least 1833, in an attempt to increase each acre’s yield. (Ever heard of a “bread-fruit potato”? It apparently came from America but current knowledge of its existence is limited to an occasional ad or mention in a letter. And I mean occasional!) Despite the good results recorded in various Agricultural reports, even their efforts couldn’t forestall what was about to hit the country where it hurts most. While the Great Potato Famine of the 1840s is generally known these days as an Irish catastrophe, it turns out that England shared in the misery of the plight. Scarcity of the food drove prices out of the reach of the average person, if potatoes could be had at all. And Devon people were hungry.
In 1842, potatoes had been selling at market in Leeds for 9d per score (21 lbs. advertised). By August of 1847, the peak of the famine had hit Exeter (like it did so many other cities and villages), and “hucksters” were retailing potatoes at double the price, anywhere between 16d and 20d a score. It was time to take action, and Mr Eyre Kingdon was the man to make the first move.
Western Times, 7 Aug 1847, page 5:
“THE POTATO MONOPOLISTS. Our market has for a long period been over-run with potato hucksters, who buying of the farmers at the outskirts of the city, have brought the potatoes to the market, and combining together, have sold them to the inhabitants at a most enormous profit to themselves. On Friday, their monopoly was checked rather unexpectedly — they had commenced, by offering potatoes at from 16d to 20d per score, when our spirited townsman, Mr John Eyre Kingdon, appeared in the market as a potatoe dealer, and offering prime potatoes at 10-1/2d per score. Mr Kingdon had forestalled the monopolists, by purchasing of the farmers all the potatoes he could procure, and selling them at cost price. He found so many customers, that he was obliged to obtain the assistance of the police to keep the ground clear, whilst the potato hucksters deserted by their customers, were glad to obtain a more moderate profit than they have hitherto extorted from the poor. Honour to Mr Eyre Kingdon for his patriotic and philanthropic efforts, which it is understood he intends to continued.”
Western Courier, 18 Aug 1847, page 3:
“MONOPOLY IN THE EXETER POTATO MARKET. Mr Eyre Kingdon has made another dead-set at the potato monopoly in the Exeter markets. On Friday morning, he purchased of the farmers as many potatoes as he could procure, and offered them in the market at cost price (10-1/2d per score). He found, as may be expected, plenty of purchasers among the poor, and the hucksters, who had begun to retail at from 16d to 20d were fain to be content with a more reasonable profit. Mr Kingdon has done the same thing this Tuesday morning, and his potatoes have been sold to the public at 10d per score (copied from the Western Luminary).”
Western Times, 28 Aug 1847:
“Mr Eyre Kingdon renewed his war with the potato monopolists on Friday morning; he soon sold all his tock at 10d per score. To shew the necessity of his labours, it may be mentioned that on Tuesday the hucksters took advantage of his absence to raise the price of potatoes to 1s 4d per score. QUERY! Is there the remotest chance of permanently checking the Potato monopoly, except by allowing vegetables to be hawked about in the poor quarters of the city free of Market tolls?”
London Evening Standard, 18 Aug 1847, page 2:
“SUPPLY OF POTATOES. We understand that upwards of 1000 scores of potatoes were purchased by Mr. J. Eyre Kingdon, and retailed to the poor at [cost] 10d. per score. yesterday several lage growers offered to supply Mr Kingdon with considerable quantities at 9d per score, at which price they were sold to the poor. The town council on Wednesday passed a vote of thanks to Mr Kingdon, and it is intended to present him with a testimonial, in acknowledgment of his patriotic services. (copied from the Woolmer’s Exeter Gazette).”
In August 1847, a Subscription (i.e., seeking donations) was raised to buy our man a “mark of approbation for his unwearied exertions in the Markets”. £105 was raised in three months’s time, after which a silver salver was presented to John Eyre Kingdon, Esq. “for his exertions in putting down the potato monopoly”.
Exeter Flying Post, 16 Sep 1847, page 2:
“We understand that the testimonial to be presented to Mr Eyre Kingdon, is to consist of an elaborately wrought silverwaiter, to weigh 200 ounces, and to be of the value of 100 guineas. It is to be manufactured by Mr Ellis, silversmith, of this city. The Right Worshipful the Mayor has understaken to present the testimonial, and it is the wish of the committee that the presentation shall take place, if possible, on the day to be appointed for a national Thanksgiving.”
JOHN EYRE KINGDON — LATER LIFE
The story doesn’t end there, though. In February 1848, Eyre is (as a member of the Winter Relief Committee for the benefit of the Poor) buying coal for the 12,270 poor of Exeter and selling it to the Winter Relief Fund at cost. By April 1861, John’s household is still at Elm Villa but has been reduced to just himself, son William Henry Kingdon, and one servant. Occupation? Gentleman and Captain of the Volunteer Artillery. Eureka! (Interestingly enough, his 20yo son is a Lieutenant in the Royal Artillery.) That explains the date on the whip, and the whip is explained by the fact that Captain J. Eyre Kingdon was a member of “The Haldon Harriers” hunt. In November 1865, at a meeting of the Ide and Alphington Agricultural Society, Captain Eyre Kingdon of the Artillery was toasted for his work in the Army Volunteers and noted to be “a capital specimen of an efficient volunteer, and an example of what a volunteer ought to be. (Loud cheers.)” 1867 saw a big change in his life, though, as he married for a second time.
Western Time, 8 Feb 1867, page 5:
“YOUNG EXETER AT THE ALTAR. ‘That everlasting young fellow’, Eyre Kingdon, Esq., was married yesterday to Mrs Clara Child, widow of the late John Childe, Esq., and daughter of the late R. Rookes, Esq., of Fairfield, Topsham. The marriage dew a large concourse to the church, and the family of the bride were strongly represented in their several branches. The worthy bridegroom has been long popular in Exeter for his hearty manner, and benevolent feeling, having for years provided sports for the youngsters at Guy Faux day, and been a liberal contributor to all funds for relief of the poor in winter, and a hard working man at the Soup Kitchen, of which, we believe, he was chief founder. Eyre Kingdon, in short, was first in every innocent frolic, and readiest in all cases of want. This gave great eclat to his nuptials, and his bride being sister of his son’s wife, there was much talk of the entanglement of progenies in such cases–a youth becoming nephew or grandchild, or a son, brother, in cases usually arising from the complexity of these inter-relationships. The party, however, were too merry to perplex themselves with anticipations of this character, though they formed the subject of a very happy exercise of the impromptu talent of a poetic relation, at the breakfast table, and were done into song with unbounded applause. The happy couple, like the day, went off by the South Western line, and in gala fashion, for it blew a gale at the time.”
Unfortunately, the merriment of the couple was short-lived. Five years later, on 3 Mar 1871, “John Eyre Kingdon, formerly of Elm Villa in the county of the City of Exeter but late of Sandy Park Heavitree in the county of Devon, Gentleman” departed this life. A year later, his estate was probated at under £3,000 by his Executrix, Clara Kingdon of Sandy Park, Widow the Relict. on 2 Aug 1871, an auction noticed appeared in the Exeter Flying Post: “ELM VILLA, COWLEY BRIDGE ROAD, ST. DAVID’S, EXETER. Mr S.R. Force has received instructions to sell, by Auction, at the above Residence (many years in the occupation of the late John Eyre Kingdon, Esq.), on Thursday, August 10th, a portion of the mahogany and painted furniture, China, Glass, Books, Paintings, Engravings, and other effects.”
In 1870, the year before Eyre’s death was recorded, his eldest son, John Eyre Kingdon, Jr., died, leaving one son. A year after the father’s death, in 1872, the other son died in Wales (without children). The last of this line appears to have passed on in 1973.
THE EXTRA BITS
Western Daily Mercury, 12 Nov 1862, page 3:
“THE PRINCE’S BIRTHDAY. Yesterday, in commemoration of the Prince of Wales attaining his majority, the inmates of the workhouse were regaled with a substantial dinner of roast beef, plum pudding, and beer; and their enjoyments were much increased by the attendance of the fife and drum band belonging to the 5th Volunteer Artillery, who had been turned out by their gallant captain, J. Eyre Kingdon, to do honour to the occasion.”
The London Gazette, February 28, 1860, page 853:
“Commissions signed by the Lord Lieutenant of the County of Devon
5th Devon Artillery Volunteers
John Eyre Kingdon to be Captain. Dated 8th February 1860.”
The whip had obviously been given to him by his friends or fellow Volunteers on the 5th Anniversary of his Captaincy in the 5th Devon Artillery Volunteers!
Our Captain definitely used the moniker “Eyre Kingdon”, so don’t forget to search without the first name of John. And don’t forget that Eyre had a son named John Eyre Kingdon. In fact, the son died the year before the father, so it was a bit of trouble to figure out who was marrying and who was dying.
For more information on the business end of the Kingdon’s, www.exeterfoundry.org.uk features a gem of a 1939 history of the company.
Congratulations on making it all the way to the end! End? Hardly . . . what an interesting research project. Take a minute and learn more about the Potato Famine or the Volunteer units in England during the 19th century. Or someone in your own family. They all have a story of their own!