Welsh Journals

from the voluminous accounts throw light on the Shipley activities. It was typical of the age that the Dean saw nothing incompatible with his holy orders in buying and breeding slaves. His Nevis manager, Robert Thomson, on 22 June 1799 wrote In one of your letters some time ago. you observed that the breeding Women upon your estate here were few in comparison to the number upon your Lint — and your observation was a just one. I would therefore advise your adding to the Gang ten or a dozen young females when they can be purchased, and indeed, they will be otherwise useful, for though the number of your Gang be not decreased, the effective strength is by no means equal to what it was, for many of the marking Negroes are getting old and feeble. The young women therefore that I wish you to purchase will serve a double purpose, they will add to the strength of the working gang, and they will promote the increase by breeding. We have now and then slave ships arriving here, and as soon as I have your leave. I will make the addition from the first Ship that shall arrive afterwards. Your Negroes and Stock are in their usual good health and con- dition.'1 The epitaph in Rhuddlan Church refers to the Dean's resignation under heavy afflictions.' Tragedy undoubtedly darkened his life. His wife died at the ago of 29 after giving birth to the eighth child, Robert John, whom the Bishop's wife termed the last and fatal infant.' The Dean's eldest son died as the result of a shooting accident in France his second son succumbed to the West Indian climate his next son, a brilliant naval officer, was killed in action, and the youngest died, presumably of fever, while serving with the army in the West Indies. Undaunted by disaster the indomitable Dean lived to be eighty years of age. Before dealing with Dean Shipley's family, reference must be made to the Dean's five sisters. The Bishop's eldest daughter, Anna Maria, born 24 November 1748 (Old Style), married on 8 April 1783 Sir William Jones, one of the East India judges who was a celebrated linguist. He is said to have mastered eight languages. The second daughter, Amelia, was born 23 September (O.S.) 1750. She married William Charles Sloper and they had a daughter, also named Amelia, born 25 October 1775. Elizabeth was born 2 September (New Style), 1753. The fourth daughter was Georgiana, and the fifth, Catherine Louisa, born 2 January, 1759. Georgiana, born 24 July, 1756 (according to Mrs. John Dykes, Twyford Moors), threw away her beauty on a rake.' Mrs. Dykes possesses a charming miniature of Georgiana with powdered hair, dressed Pompadour style. According to the family records Francis Hare Naylor who aspired to her hand was ejected from Twyford by the irate Bishop. Georgiana, however, was able to marry the man of her choice on the strength of £ 200 a year which her cousin, the Duchess of Devonshire, allowed her. Later, Georgiana's husband inherited Hurstmonceaux Castle. A memorial by Flax. man is in St. Mary's Church, Twyford. Her marriage to Francis Hare (the Naylor was subsequently dropped) took place on 14 November, 1784. Her epitaph states that she was of amiable and gentle disposition.' After infinite suffering she died in Switzerland, 6 April, 1806. There were four children: Augustus, Julius, Marcus, and lU.C.N.W., Stapleton -Cotton Papers.