Thomas Page d. 1763 and his wife Juliana Page, nee Howe 1701-1780
Thomas Page was the younger brother of Sir Gregory Page 2nd Bt. (1689-1775) He was the son of Sir Gregory Page 1st Bt and his wife Mary Page, nee Trotman, he was the third child born after Ambrose Page who died in infancy 1698. Thomas was almost certainly born in Wapping between 1699 and 1700, but certainly before his younger sister Mary Page who was born in 1702. Thomas like his eldest brother Gregory was an Alderman of the City of London and director of the East India Company. Both his father and his grandfather had been directors of the East India Company. The first baronet was MP for New Shoreham in 1708–13 and 1715–20: on his death in 1720 his executors sold his large shareholding in the South Sea Company, and his son was left about £600,000. He was very wealthy in his own right having an additional fortune of £700,000. His brother started purchasing land and estates in 1720 for himself and his family. In 1724 he purchased the Battlesden and Potsgrove estate from Lady Bathurst for £38,000 for his brother Thomas; resulting in the Pages becoming one of the ten largest landowners in Bedfordshire (Joyce Godher, the Story of Bedfordshire). This of course was in the year before, Thomas married the Hon.
Juliana Howe, sister of famous Admiral Earl Howe. both of whom were to live at Battlesden Park throughout their married life and Juliana for an additional 17 years of widowhood. One can only speculate that this may have been an early wedding present. Thomas Pages's wife Juliana was described as "an extremely pretty woman" The marriage took place at the end of May 1725. The bridegroom was described as being "extremely rich" so much so that he allowed Juliana to give away her marriage portion of £3000 to her younger sister Anne Howe.
It seems
reasonable to assume that Battlesden House stands on, or near, the site of the
medieval Manor House. The Manor was created just after the Norman Conquest. Before this most
of the land in Battlesden had been held by seven freemen of the village.
Naturally, the new Norman King William deprived these natives of their land and
gave it to one of his supporters - Walter Giffard.
It is not known what form the medieval manor
house took but over a century from the middle of the 19th to the middle of the
20th centuries the history of Battlesden House has been quite unusual for a
country house. Sir Gregory Page, a director of the East India Company bought
the manor, including the Manor house in 1724. At this stage the house was a
quite large, quite pleasant structure, perhaps dating back, in part, as far as
the 16th century. The earliest part was red brick with a projecting doorway,
carried up to the roof and surmounted by a clock and turret. Later, perhaps at
the end of the 17th or beginning of the 18th century, a wing was added to the
left of this which more than doubled the size of the property. This wing
contained a paneled dining room with a domed ceiling, the windows installed
with stained glass versions of pieces by the Italian Renaissance artist Raphael.
There is very little information on the life of Thomas Page and his wife Juliana however there are a few contemporary accounts that give some idea of their character.
Thomas Page Esq at Mr Mordaunts in Gerrard Street mentioned
in a letter From Charles Pratt, Lord Camden, dated 4th Feb 1743-4 (Nichols Literary
Illustrations 1817—vol p 543 Note by Mr Justice
Hardinge March 1816
“Young as I am /notwithstanding Lady Knowles I have been the
guest of this gentleman, who died half a century ago. He was a younger brother
of Sir Gregory Page and resided at Battlesden in Bedfordshire. He was one of
my Father's intimate friends and we always baited there for three or four days
in our summer tour to Knoll Hills Derbyshire. He had. the appearance of a
Quaker, and was in general of a serious turn, well cultivated, and of a most
benevolent heart, of polished manners and an excellent understanding. He never
left this country seat, the gift of his mother to him. He was blessed with a
most beautiful wife who was an aunt of Lord Howe, and. Survived her husband for several years. A gentle and sweet manner graced her beauty, and he was handsome
at a very advanced. age."
(Elizabeth Montague the Queen of Blue Stockings her
Correspondence Nona 172 D inc 1761. By Emily J.Clinrenson, London,19C6.Vo.,I.,p.28).
"Mr. PAGE‘ brother to Sir GREGORY PAGE of Blackheath Bart.,
going to visit Mr. Edward Walpole son of Sir Robert and brother of Horace Walpole a tame goat which was in the street followed him unperceived
when he got 01:1, of the coach into the house. yr. Walpole's servant thinking the goat came out of Mr- Page’s coach carried it
into the room to Mr. Walpole who thought it a little odd that Mr. Page should bring such a visitor as Mr. Page no less admired at
his choice of so savory a companion; but civility a great disquiet of sentiment prevented their declaring their opinion and the
goat no respecter of persons or furniture began to rub himself against the frame of a chair which was fit for a Christian being
carved and gilt but which unable to bear the shock of a beast fell almost to pieces. Mr. Walpole thought Mr, Page very indulgent to his
dear crony the goat and wondering he took no notice of the damage said he fancied some goats did a great deal of harm, to which the
other said he believed so too: after much free and easy behaviour- of the goat to the great
detriment of the furniture they came to an explanation and Mr . Goat was turned
down stairs with very little ceremony or good manners."
The following notice appeared in the
"Northampton Mercury” in 1731 concerning an attempted burglary and murder
at Battlesden House:~
Whitehall, Dec. 11, 1731:— "Whereas on Tuesday the 30th November
last, in the night time between the hours of Ten and Twelve, the Dwelling House
of Thomas Page, Esg., at Battlesden in the County of Bedford was attempted to
be broken open by Four Persons unknown, and on Friday the and instant, between
the hours of Seven and Eight in the Evening, Samuel Lenten, a servant of the
said Mr. Page's was fired at when he was in his Master's Brew-House adjoining
to the said Dwelling-House, through a hole in the well and was in danger of
being killed. the bullet taking off two buttons from his waistcoat, which
attempt upon the said Samuel Benton was supposed to have been made by one of
the four persons above mentioned, in revenge for his having discharged a Blunderbuss from the windows of the House at the time it was endeavored to be
broken open as aforesaid, and thereby wounding as he imagined, one or more of
the four persons. His Majesty for the better detecting of the Persons concerned
in such villainous and wicked Actions, is pleased to promise His most gracious
Pardon to one of them, who shall discover his accomplice or Accomplices except
the person who fired at the said Samuel Lenten), so as they or any of them, be
apprehended and convicted thereof."
THE WILL OF THOMAS PAGE OF BATTLESDEN. DATED 23 Jun.1726.
To my Wife £4000.
To my brother Sir Gregory Page Bart. £1000 and I make him sole executor of this
my will.
"THOMAS PAGE." WITNESSES:—Will Wall,ste. Hervey, Emd. Edwards.
(A)
THE List or Note of Persons Names 8: Legacys refer—
red to in my last will Dated 23 June,1726,as follows:—
To my mother Dame Mary Page I give £100.
To my sister Sophia Way, £100.
To my uncle Ambrose Page, £100.
To my uncle John Elwick, £100.
To Lord Howe, £100.
To Sir Matthew Decker, £100.
To Mr.‘ Bendall Martin, £100.
To Mr Nicholas Hardinge, £100.
To Mr.MarK1and I remit £700 which he now owes me.
16 Novr.1763.
on which day appeared Sir Gregory Page of Blackheath
Co Kent Bart. and made path that Thomas Page late of Batlesden Co. Bedford
Esqre departed this life in or about the month of October last without leaving any issue.
PROVED:—16 Nov. 1763. (P.G.C.526 Caesar.)
Inscription on the grave of Juliana Page in Battlesden Churchyard
The Honorable Juliana Page Widow
Of Thomas Page Esq Of Battlesden
Died July the second 1780 In the 79th year of her age
Her virtues are recorded in the breasts of those to whom she was known
The Will of Hon Juliana Page of BATTLESDEN PARK
Bequest of Furniture, October 15,
1775. All that is here set down of the
Goods at Battlesden that. are mine I leave to Sir Gregory Turner, Bart, a: I
had Done To Sir Gregory Page.
Hall & Billiard Room:-
3 01d Tables, some Garden Chairs, 5 Deal Tables & large Leather
Chair: .
Outward Room:—
A large Dining Table, 2 leaves belonging to it, a Couch Chair,
four Tables, a round one, a Square Deal one, a tea Table, a Coffee Table
four Chairs, Green Seats, 5 window Curtains Green, Carpet & Seretoir.
Drawing Room:—
Long Couch, 4 Pillow, 4 arm Chairs, 5 rec: Damask Setees, 6 Ditto
Chairs, a carpet, a Writing Table, 2 reading Tables, 2 six Leaved ‘
Japan Screen.
Dining Room-
Large Horse Shoe Table, 4 pieces belonging & a point for the Middle
and 8 Square Tables, an Oval Table, 5 hand Maid, a bottle Tub & ‘
Stand, 2 Chairs Green Seats, 10 Chairs red Damask Seats, a Carpit, ‘
5 Window Curtains, 2 figures over ye Chimney. ;
Little Bed Chamber below
Galileo Bed, 5 Mattress, 3 Blankets, bolster, Pillow, white quilt, :
2 window Curtains, Chinze Chairs, one
large one, Carpit. 3
Stairs at Leby:-
Soruteir, Cyder Chest, two Press's, a Glass Lantern. ‘
My Dressing Room-
Long Couch, a Night Table, two little Tables, & 2 square Tables. ‘
My bed-chamber & closet:-
Field bed &e. a Dressing Table, 2 stands, a black Leather Chair.
Room on ye Stairs and closet 1
Chintz Bed, 3 Matress, E Blankets, Pillow, a white Quilt, carpet,
6 Ben Damask Chairs, black Leather one & one other, little Draws
& Key. - ‘
Ye Worked Room &- Dressing Room:-
Satin worked bed, 5 Mattress, 3 Blankets, Bolster, 2 Pillows, white ‘
init, Counter pain, 5 window Curtains, 5 Red Damask Chairs, 1 bleak
Black Chair, Dressing Table, Carpet, W window Curtains, 6
long
back Chairs, Dressing Chair,
Blue Roam & Dressing Room & Servants Rooms- V
Two field Beds &c. Carpet, Round ye Great Bed, Large Chair, 2 little
Tables, a night Table, an ether Chair, little Draws &
Key a pier Glass.
All beds & furniture that are in the Garrets, Kitchen &
Landry & Brewhouse in ye back Room was a Tattsr'd Red Damask Bad,
was forced to take it Down'& have Set-Hp a Cotton bed.
November ye ‘7. 1775.
Juliana Page.
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