Samuel Favell

Inscription on back of picture Family Mercantile career and relationships to Beddomes Early radical politics Council politics Election of Robert Waithman to Parliament Comments on Peterloo massacre Support of Queen Caroline Political reform Founding of Mill Hill school Retirement Obituary Wills of the Favells

The picture above is "Samuel Favell, published by Richard Dighton, November 1825".

Inscription on back of picture

An inscription by Samuel Charlesworth, on the back of a small portrait, owned by Angela Whitcombe, a grand-daughter of Samuel Charlesworth: "The portrait engraved from an oil painting of my great uncle, Mr. Samuel Favell. He married Miss Beddome, the sister of my grandfather [Samuel Beddome] who lived near Clapham. She was a very dear and kind relative. He was once a wealthy man and lived in a beautiful mansion in the higher portion of Camberwell. He was an eminent man in the City of London and a person of influence among the Common Councillors, then a very important body of men in the City. He lost a large portion of his property, then lived in the Crescent, Camberwell Grove, where he often went as a boy. His three children, Caroline, a very beautiful, attractive woman, Richard, a barrister, and John, a Wholesale cloth merchant, all died in the prime of life unmarried. The third of dear grandpapa's property came from him. S.C." I suspect this information is rather unreliable. I can find no reference to Favell losing a lot of property. However, he did lose a lucrative post in 1792, and he moved to Camberwell Grove around 1794 (see below). But his wealth as a merchant must have been built up throughout his life, as he was a Common Councilman from 1809 to 1829, and everyone seems to speak of him with respect at this time. A move to Camberwell Grove denoted prosperity, not losing "a large portion of his property". Also, I cannot see how Samuel Beddome could have got a third of his property from Favell, as Favell died before him, and nothing was left to him either by Samuel Favell or his son (see below). Also Boswell Brandon Beddome was the partner of Samuel Favell, not Samuel.

Family

The father of Sam Favell was John Favell. Here is his apprenticeship record (click for larger version):

This indicates that John Favell's father was William Favell, a farmer from Tipton in Staffordshire.

Sam Favell was not the only son of John Favell. His brother, John Favell Junior, was born in Southwark, England about but no later than 1740 and he emigrated to Canada in 1754, so he could have been only 14 or 15 years of age. About 1769 he entered into a form of marriage with an Indian woman named Titameg (or Whitefish in English) who was a member of the Swampy Cree nation. Apparently she was called his "Country Wife" but this does not seem to be a marriage in the European sense. John and Titameg had 4 children - Jane, Humphrey Martin, Mary and Thomas - and, unlike Samuel's children who died without issue, there are many descendants of their children in Canada today. John Favell died on the 2nd November 1784 and left a will in which he made provision for his Indian wife and children who he describes as his "four natural children". This indicates that John Favell's father was William Favell, a farmer from Tipton in Staffordshire.

Mercantile career and relationships to Beddomes

Samuel Favell (1760-1830) married Elizabeth Beddome (1765-1830) in 1799. She was the only daughter of Rev. Benjamin Beddome. That means that Samuel Favell was the brother-in-law of Samuel Beddome, and so the great uncle of Samuel Charlesworth (see above).

Elizabeth Beddome was Sam Favell's second wife. His first wife had been Sarah Bardwell and they had been married at St Gregory's, Norwich, on the 10th Jan 1786. They lived in Tooley Street and had 6 children before Sarah died in 1795 and was buried at Bunhill Fields on the 8th December at the age of 29. Only three children was alive at the time of his second marriage, and only the youngest, Samuel, was still alive in 1816. He must have died by the time of his father's will, since he isn't mentioned.

Samuel Favell was partner in two firms: Favell, Beddome & David (170, Fenchurch Street) and Favell & Bousfields (12, St Mary Axe, 108, Lower Thames St., E.C. and 247, Tooley St., S.E. (see below). One of the Beddomes was obviously his business partner, but the first name is not specified.

'Slops' were clothes for seamen. The Times used the term 'slop-seller' to mock Samuel Favell (see below).

In 1794, the Fenchurch Street business was "Beddome, Fish & Co.", but by 1817, it had become "Favell, Beddome & David", with Favell being, presumably, the senior partner. Samuel Favell was "buried with his business partner, Mr. David" (but not, apparently, Mr. Beddome). (See below.)

It is not clear whether the Beddome of "Favell, Beddome & David" is Samuel Beddome or his brother Boswell Brandon Beddome - see Boswell Brandon Beddome's page for a discussion of this.

Samuel Favell had other connections with the Beddome family. For example, he got the job of Sarjeant at Arms for Samuel Beddome, son of Boswell.

Early Radical Politics

Samuel Favell was a Whig, and as a young man, interested in radical politics.

Times, Oct 01, 1788

Times, Oct 21, 1790 Times, May 11, 1791

Times, Apr 10, 1790 Times, Apr 10, 1792

The London Revolution Society was formed 1788, obstensibly to commemorate the centennial of the Glorious Revolution of 1688 and the landing of William III, and was one of several radical societies in Britain in the 1790s. Along with some Anglicans a large number of English Dissenters and Unitarians were at the centre of the Society including Richard Price, Joseph Priestley, Andrew Kippis, Abraham Rees, Theophilus Lindsey, Thomas Belsham, and Thomas Brand Hollis. Many of the members of the London Revolution Society were also members of the Society for Constitutional Information, 1780–1794. At the time of the fall of the Bastille in July 1789, the London Revolution Society was the most vocal of the radical societies. The meeting place in 1789 was the London Tavern. The group became increasingly supportive of the French Revolution, then still in its initial stages. Their November 1789 address to the French National Assembly would inspire the creation of the first French Jacobin Club. The Society continued its activities in 1790–1792 but after 1792 the radical momentum shifted from the London Revolution Society back to the Society for Constitutional Information.

The London Revolution Society last met in 1792, as most of these societies went inactive after the conservative reaction in 1792–1794, when, following local sedition trials in 1792 and 1793, William Pitt the Younger initiated the 1794 Treason Trials, followed by the Seditious Meetings Act 1795.

The Society for Constitutional Information was a British activist group founded in 1780 by Major John Cartwright, to promote parliamentary reform. The Society flourished until 1783, but thereafter made little headway. The organisation actively promoted Thomas Paine's Rights of Man and other radical publications, and under the leadership of John Horne Tooke collaborated with other reform societies, metropolitan and provincial, such as the London Corresponding Society, with which it met in 1794 to discuss a further national convention as well as producing a large number of pamphlets and periodicals. After the government repression and 1794 Treason Trials in October, in which the leaders were acquitted, the society ceased to meet.

It can be see above that Samuell Favell was involved in both the London Revolution Society and the Society for Constitutional Information, although interestingly enough, his name is not mentioned in the advert for the 1789 meeting of the London Revolution Society.

Times, May 15, 1792

The Times was running these notices of meetings, and reports of resolutions, as paid adverts. However, the newspaper was not a supporter of the Whigs, let alone these more dangerous radicals organisations. The French Revolution had happened in 1789, and the news from France was getting more disturbing. Tom Paine's Rights of Man was published in 1791. Paine fled to France, and in 1792 he was tried and convicted in absentia for the crime of seditious libel. The Times printed this message.

The Times also started a campaign against Samuel Favell. I'm not sure why he was singled out, or whether there were similar campaigns against other people. But he was a slop-seller (seller of clothes to sailors) who lived in Southwark, which sounds good in a satire.

Times, June 22, 1792

Several months later:

Times, Dec 04, 1792

Times, Dec 05, 1792

The following day, an important meeting took place in the Merchant Taylor's Hall. The resolution that was passed is given underneath.

Times, Dec 06, 1792

The same day, this short piece appeared alongside this report. I am not sure whether the Times was aware that Samuel Favell was, in fact, at this meeting, and not skulking at home as they describe.

Favell gives his version of what happened much later, in a letter to Lord Eldon, printed in the Times, June 25, 1827.

The Times carried on mocking Samuel Favell.

Times, Dec 12, 1792

Times, Dec 22, 1792

Times, May 24, 1793

Also in the Times Dec 22, 1792 is this announcement. The inscription above says that Favell "lost a large portion of his property, then lived in the Crescent, Camberwell Grove". However the "The Memoir of the late Samuel Favell, Esq" states that "About this period [1794] Mr Favell removed his family to Camberwell, Surrey... In 1805, Mr Favell received from the church at Camberwell the strongest proof of their affection and confidence, by his election to the responsible post of deacon among them, and which he was enabled to sustain for more than twenty five years." He was elected as Councillor in 1809. All this hardly suggests that he lost a large portion of his property at this time! I wonder if Samuel Charlesworth had heard a garbled account of losing this "lucrative post".

In 1774 John Favell was Master of The Clothworkers’ Company. This presumably was Samuel's father. In fact, in 1813 Samuel Favell also was Master of The Clothworkers’ Company!

Times, Sep 13, 1793

Times, Oct 22, 1793

Times, Nov 18, 1793

The "The Memoir of the late Samuel Favell, Esq", published in the Congregational Magazine, dated November 1830, gives another account of the meeting, and of Samuel Favell's later thoughts about Republican France.

Council politics

Samuel Favell was Common Councilman from 1809 to 1829.

There is no hint by the Times that Samuel Favell was the previously ridiculed "slop-seller of Southwark". Perhaps they didn't realise.

Times, Nov 24, 1801

Times, Dec 15, 1809

Times, Nov 20, 1819

Election of Robert Waithman to Parliament

Robert Waithman owned a draper's shop in London. In 1818 he was returned to Parliament, as a liberal, for the City of London. He lost his seat at the election of 1820, but regained it in 1826, and retained it till his death, taking part vigorously in the parliamentary debates, and strenuously supporting reform. In 1820 he was appointed Sheriff of the City of London and in 1823 elected Lord Mayor of London. Waithman died in London in 1833.

Samuel Favell (another linen draper) was involved in getting Robert Waithman elected to Parliament.

Times, Sep 28, 1812

Times, Sep 29, 1812 Times, Oct 05, 1812

Times, Oct 10, 1812

Robert Waithman did get elected to Parliament, 6 years later. Times, Jul 07, 1818

Times, Apr 05, 1820

Times, May 26, 1826

Talking about the Peterloo massacre

Lord Byron and His Times mentions the book "Life of Dr. Parr". This quote is in it: "Among the numerous witnesses summoned to appear on the trial of Major Cartwright, were Sir Francis Burdett, and Samuel Favell, Esq., one of the common-council of London; and the writer cannot deny himself the pleasure of recollecting a delightful day, passed in the company of these gentlemen, who did him the honour of accepting an invitation to dinner at Leam, where they were met by Dr. Parr, and a party of common friends. The number being small and select, the conversation freed from all restraint, soon became highly interesting and animated, especially on the part of the learned divine, and the illustrious senator. As might have been expected, at that turbulent season, politics were, with them, a leading topic of discussion; and the rashness and violence of the Liverpool-administration drew from both of them expressions of high indignation and abhorrence. Even the dreadful slaughter of unarmed and unresisting men and women at Manchester, they thought not so revolting to the feelings of justice and humanity, as the cool and deliberate approbation of it, expressed in the sovereign’s name, by Lord Sidmouth and his colleagues. Considered as the sudden and furious excess of zeal for loyalty, or alarm for public safety, it might have been apologised for, it was said, and pardoned. But to hold it forth as a legal and laudable act! - to adopt it as the measure of a regular government! - that, indeed, did appear to them horrible! What worse, it was asked, could be found in the summary justice, or the bloody executions, of barbarous states?"

This is presumably talking of the Peterloo massacre, 1819. Sir Francis Burdett was the cause of the Burdett riots. Major Cartwright founded the Society for Constitutional Information (see below). In 1819, Cartwright was arrested for speaking at a parliamentary reform meeting in Birmingham, indicted for conspiracy and was condemned to pay a fine of £100.

Support of Queen Caroline

In 1820, George IV became king of the United Kingdom and Hanover. George hated his wife, Caroline, vowed she would never be the queen, and insisted on a divorce, which she refused. Caroline returned to Britain to assert her position as queen. She was wildly popular and the new king was despised for his immoral behaviour. On the basis of the evidence collected against her, George attempted to divorce her by introducing the Pains and Penalties Bill to Parliament, but George and the bill were so unpopular, and Caroline so popular with the masses, that it was withdrawn by the Tory government.

Samuel Favell supported Queen Caroline. The following describes a meeting to pass a resolution. I find the Times's approval of "the firmess and forebearance of the Chairman, Mr. Favell, and his rational adherents" most amusing, considering the language they had used about him nearly 30 years ealier! Times change...

Times, Jan 9, 1821

Times, Jan 9, 1821

Times, Jan 10, 1821

Times, Jan 31, 1821 Times, Apr 16, 1821

Times, Mar 02, 1821

Political reform

In the late 18th century, Samuel Favell had radical reforming views, and approved of the French Revolution. Events such as the French Reign of Terror, their anti-religious views and the Napoleonic War obviously had an effect on him, but he never lost his interest in political reform. I note that it still involved Dinners, though!

Times, Dec 23, 1818 Times, Dec 18, 1821

Times, Apr 03, 1821

Times, Mar 05, 1822

Samuel Favell was interested in education. He was one of the founders of Mill Hill School.

Mill Hill School

From "The History of Mill Hill School 1807-1923" by Norman Brett-James M.A. (Appendix - Our Co-founders - p.452)

Both of them [our co-founders] were men of deep religious earnestness and magnificent public spirit. They were widely tolerant of opinions from which they differed, but they themselves held unflinchingly to their own Puritan faith.
Favell, Samuel, borin in 1670, was possibly of Sheffield descent, his somewhat uncommon surname being met with in that district. He was a Citizen of London, and a member of the Clothworkers' Company. He was a partner in the firm of Favell, Beddome & David, warehousemen, 170, Fenchurch St., E.C., and in that of Favell & Bousfields, 12, St Mary Axe, 108, Lower Thames St., E.C., and 247, Tooley St., S.E. About the year 1790, he married the only daughter of Rev. Benjamin Beddome, M.A., hymn-writer, Bourton, Cheltenham, and he died at The Crescent, Camberwell Grove, 20.6.1830. He is buried with his business partner, Mr. David, in Burhill Fields, very near to the monument to Joseph Hart, the hymn-writer. He represented Aldgate in the Court of Common Council, 1810-29, and was an active member of the Irish Society (the Committee which managed the Coleraine and Londonderry property of the Corporation). A deacon of the Camberwell Congregational Church, he was also a member of the Constitutional Society, and worked untiringly for Catholic Emancipation and Parliamentary Reform, and for the abolition of the Slave Trade, and slavery, and the atrocious cruelties of the Criminal Law. In addition to what he did for Mill Hill his zeal for Education showed itself in the prominent part which he took in the foundation of the Guildhall Library, the University of London, and the Sunday School Society. As Chairman of a Committee of the Court of Common Council, he gace a casting vote for the new London bridge, which was built in 1824-31, at the cost of two millions. He bequeathed to his som John the gold snuff-box giveb him by the Corporation of London, to his son Richard the gold snuff-box given him by the Corporation of Londonderry, and to his daughter Caroline the silver tea-pot which he had received from the Irish Society. His bust is at the School House. ... The Constitutional Society, mentioned above, was a society which had been founded in 1769 by Horne Tooke and Wilkes in support of the Bill of Rights of 1689.

From London Gardens Online

...In 1807 Salisbury sold Ridgway House and the gardens to the Protestant Dissenters Grammar School Mill Hill for £1,912 and they ran the new school in Ridgeway House from 1807. The extent of the purchase is shown on the John Cooke map of 1796, being Plot numbers 156, 157 and 158, amounting to just over 8 acres in all. The principal founding members of the School were Samuel Favell, a successful mercer in the City of London, and the Revd Dr John Pye Smith, one of the best-known Nonconformist preachers in London. The founding Committee decided that the new school had to be beyond the restrictions on worship imposed by the Church of England at the time and be at least 10 miles from the corruption and temptations of London. The remains of the ’10-mile stone’ are a few hundred yards along the Ridgeway and the position of the stone is shown on the Cooke map of 1796. The coach house and stables of Ridgeway House were converted into a chapel for the School.

Times, Nov 23, 1829

Samuel Favell was also connected with the foundation of London University.

Times, Jul 09, 1825

Retirement

Times, Dec 22, 1829

Times, Apr 27, 1830

Times, Jun 22, 1830

Obituary

The following is from The Gentleman's Magazine 1830:

SAMUEL FAVELL, ESQ.

June 20. At Camberwell, aged 70, Samuel Favell, Esq., Citizen and Clothworker of London; for many years a very active member of the Common Council.

Mr. Favell was first elected a Common Councilman for the Ward of Aldgate in 1810; and on his retirement last November published the following autobiographical sketch of his political career, in the form of an address to his constituents:-

"Gentlemen, - My advanced age and the state of my health oblige me to relinquish the homour of representing you in the Common Council; and although I hope to retire with clean hands, yet, after 20 years' service, I owe some account of my stewardship. I am conscious of many deficiences in the discharge of he ward-duties, - deficiences which have been ably supplied by my colleagues and your worthy Alderman.

"I have deligently attended the Courts of Common Council, and its various committees, and have taken an active part in many political contests, without making, I trust, any personal enemies. I have witnesses repeated decisions of the Court in favour of Parliamentary reforms, and petitions for the revisal of the criminal code, for the abolition of slavery, and for the great cause of religious liberty, which has signally triumphed.

"I have lived to see great alterations in public opinion; one striking fact upon this subject may suffice. I joined the Constitutional Society soon after Sir Wm. Jones became a member of it. The Dean of St. Asaph (Mr. Shipley) presented us with a very temperate dialogue, written by Sir William, in favour of Parliamentary reform. It was immediately prosecuted by the Attorney-general (footnote - This assertion was corrected soon after publication; the prosecution was by a private individual, Mr. Jones, now Marshal of the King's Bench.) as seditious, and it was tried before Justice Buller, at the time the author held a high judicial situation in the East Indies. The enlightened state of the public mind has arisen in great measure from the power of the press, and the influence of general education. I have assisted to the best of my ability many societies formed to promote this great object, from the first general meeting of the Sunday School Society in 1785, to that of London University in 1825. I have laboured with other friends to establish the Mill-hill Grammar School, which, though not immediately connected with the city, has furnished during the last 20 years the sons of many of its merchants with an education equal in most respects to that of our anciently endowed schools, several Mill-hill scholars having obtained high honours in the University of Cambridge, and one became Senior Wrangler. It has always been one of the objects of that institution to lay a sure foundation for moral and religious character.

"I retire from the Corporation with great respect for its members, with many of whom I have long co-operated in supporting the rights of our fellow-citizens and the general liberty of the country. They have lately manifested a great spirit for improvements in the formation of a library in Guildhall and in many other objects. I shall ever consider it an honour to have given a casting vote in the committee for the erection of a new London-bridge, - a noble monument of national splendour, and a great public convenience to the city of London.

"In looking back to the history of 40 years, filled with events of the most extraordinary and momentous that have ever occurreed in the annals of civilised Europe, it is gratifying to reflect that the constitutional principles by which I endeavoured to regulate my conduct in early life, although they exposed me to much opposition and contumely, are now become the avowed sentiments of the ablest and best men of the age, and have, in many instances, been brought into efficient operation for the benefit of the public, by the enlightened members of His Majesty's Government.

"I beg to express my sincere wishes for the happiness of your worthy alderman, and the gentlemen with whom I have acted, and for the general prosperity of the inhabitants of the ward of Aldgate. I have the honour to be your faithful servant,

SAMUEL FAVELL

St. Mary-axe, Nov 6, 1829"

On the 20th of last April, a large proportion of the members of the Corporation met in the Council-chamber at Guildhal to witness the presentation of a piece of plate to Mr. Favell. It bore the inscription - "To Samuel Favell, Esq. Presented on his retirement from public life by 230 members and officers of the Corporation of London, in testiment of their respect and esteem for the ability and integrity which uniformly distinguished his conduct, and for his amiable and concilatory deportment during the many years he continued a member of the Court of Common Council - 26th April, 1830."

Mr. Favell was conducted into the Council Chamber by Mr. Alderman Wood and Mr. Alderman Waithman. The Lord Mayor offered the present with a complimentary speech, highly eulogizing Mr. Favell as the advocate of freedom; the asserter of the rights of toleration; and the promoter of education, and reform in the penal code; and Mr. Favell made a long and eloquent reply.

On the Sunday on which he died, Mr. Favell had three times attended public worship at Camden Chapel. He supped and talked cheerfully with his family; went to bed at half-past nine, and before ten was instantly summoned into eternity, by a stroke of apoplexy.

Wills of the Favells

An interesting point about the older John Favell's death is that it sounds as if the 'Slopseller of Southwark' (as made infamous in the Times - see above) could be John rather than Samuel. I don't think it is. Samuel definitely claims that the Times was libelling him personally, and that he attended the meeting and got shouted at. Perhaps Samuel was helping with his father's business or even running it, as his father got older. That would explain why he apparently stepped into the business before even finding the will.

The other son of John Favell Senior, the father of Samuel Favell, worked in Canada for the Hudson Bay Company from 1754-84 as a Writer, Accountant, Master, Deputy at the Henley House in Northern Ontario. He died in Albany, Ontario in 1784.

The inscription on the back of Samuel Favell's picture (see above) says "The third of dear grandpapa's property came from him.". Grandpapa was Samuel Beddome and he inherited nothing from Samuel Favell, because he died before him! Also, I don't believe that they were ever business partners (see discussion on Boswell Brandon Beddome's page). John Favell did leave money to Mrs Charlesworth, who was born Elizabeth Beddome and married Rev. John Charlesworth. She was the mother of the writer of the inscription, but this bequest took place in his lifetime, so he should have got the details right. Also, it's money, not property. More muddle by the writer (Samuel Charlesworth)! Also, I do wonder if he ever knew what Samuel Favell's politics actually were!

John Favell left money to children of my late partner, conditional on signing a release from bad trust. The children are described as 'cousins'. William Wilkins Beddome was the partner of Samuel Favell, and of his son, presumably. Also William Wilkins Beddome (who died the year before John Favell) left a strange will which said "I have little if any property besides what was assigned over to trustees many years ago for the benefit of my wife and children... I owe a heavy debt to my partner John Favell Esq. for the losses in business of bygone years but I think I know him well enough to believe that under the circumstances he will consider it cancelled." That all seems to make sense (and implies that he did not know his partner well enough!), but there's a problem with the cildren's names. The will describes the children of the late partner are called "Edward Gregory Joshua & Octavia". My parents' research suggests that William Wilkins Beddome's children were William Edward, Edward Smith, Foskett Brandon, Olinthus, Joshua Smith, Henry Septimus and Ellen Octavia. So perhaps he was using second names, and perhaps some of them had died, and perhaps my parents hadn't found 'Gregory' but still... William Edward Beddome was alive at the time of the will, and Henry Septimus Beddome emigrated to Canada and had a career there. And Foskett and his wife, Patience, are mentioned elsewhere in the will as Cousin Patience Beddome of Canada and Cousin Foskett Beddome of Canada (and the wife gets more money!) Of course John Favell is entitled to only give his money to some of his late partner's children, especially as there seems to have been bad blood between them, but all in all, this is a very odd will. It would have helped if John Favell could have brought himself to actually mention who his 'late partner' actually is!

This will is not really connected with the rest. It is the will of John Favell Junior, brother of Sam Favell, and uncle to Sam's son, John. (All these Johns can get confusing!) He emigrated to Canada.

In a letter written by Edward Jarvis to John Thomas, Chief at Moose Fort, on Dec 15, 1784, John Favell's death is described: "Poor Mr. Favell departed this life on 2nd November without scarce any previous sickness - he was seized with a fit the lst to which he had been much accustomed of late years and a repetition of it on the 2nd as he was going out, carried him off in less than one minute, he little expected his dissolution being anxious for Tenting out, for which he was preparing." (Moose Fort Journals 1783-85, page 253)