Barclay Fox
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Robert Barclay Fox (September 6, 1817 - March 10, 1855), Quaker businessman, gardener and diarist, was the son of Robert Were Fox F.R.S. of Falmouth in Cornwall and Maria (born Barclay of Bury Hill), his wife.
He was the brother of Anna Maria and Caroline Fox and brother-in law [1] of Edmund Backhouse, M.P. for Darlington, who married the Barclay's cousin, Juliet.
Contents |
[edit] The Journal
Barclay's courtship of Jane Gurney Backhouse is described in his Journal [2], published in 1979. Barclay's journal runs from 1832 to 1854, with most of the entries before his marriage to Jane, in October 1844, and the birth of their five children: four boys and a girl.
[edit] Polytechnic Society
Barclay and his siblings played a large part in the naming and establishment of the Cornwall Polytechnic Society (from 1835, the Royal Cornwall Polytechnic Society)[3].
[edit] Travels in 1843
In his diary for 1843, Barclay gives an entertaining account of his travels in France and Italy.
[edit] The family businesses
Before he left, on February 6, 1843, his family made in a partner in the firm of G.C. Fox (Shipping Brokers).[4] Barclay was also general manager of the Iron Foundry at Perranarworthal, from July 18, 1842, when his uncle, Charles Fox, retired.[5]
[edit] John Sterling
Barclay's sister, Caroline Fox, also kept a journal, which was published after her death and it was republished in 1972. Barclay and Caroline have interestingly different views on the same events that they witnessed. They were agreed on the great significance of John Sterling in their lives.[6]
[edit] Politics and pleasure
Barclay Fox was one of the leaders the unsuccessful campaign to persuade the Government not to shift the servicing of Post Office Packets from Falmouth to Southampton. In his spare time, he developed Penjerrick Garden, competing with his uncles Charles Fox of Trebah and Alfred Fox of Glendurgan. All three gardens are now open to the public.
[edit] Death and after
He died in Egypt on March 10, 1855. His wife, Jane Fox died April 10, 1860. Their four sons were brought up by Barclay's unmarried sisters, Anna Maria and Caroline. They were:
Robert Fox (1845 – 1915), George Croker Fox (1847 – 1902), Henry Backhouse Fox (1849 – 1936) and Joseph Gurney Fox (1850 – 1912), (known as "Gurney"). [7]
The daughter of Barclay and Jane Fox, Jane Hannah Fox, was brought up by her mother's brother, Edmund Backhouse (MP) and his wife.
Jane Hannah Fox married Horace Pym [8], who edited Caroline Fox's Journal for publication. She was his second wife. Barclay Fox's own journal was published in 1979 [2]
[edit] Notes and references
- ^ Peerage site
- ^ a b Fox, Robert Barclay (1979). in ed. by Raymond Brett: Barclay Fox's journal. London: Bell and Hyman. ISBN 0-7135-1865-0.
and U.S. Fox, Robert Barclay (1979). in ed. by Raymond Brett: Barclay Fox's journal. Totowa, N.J.: Rowman & Littlefield. ISBN 0-8476-6187-3.
(Includes Genealogical Tables of Fox of Falmouth, Barclay of Bury Hill and Gurney, pp.26-31) This edition both a scholarly and readable account of life in 19th Century Falmouth - ^ Barclay attended meetings of the Management Committee of the RCPS on many occasions between May 1835 and September 1843. He helped set up exhibitions, entertain guest speakers and other visiting dignitaries
- ^ The counting house of G.C. Fox & Co. was at 48 Arwenack Street, Falmouth TR11 5JH, near the Custom House. The company ceased trading September 30, 2003. The building was refurbished in 2005 and is now a branch of the Great Atlantic Art Galleries
- ^ However, according to H.A.F. Crewdson,
"The Fox Family established [the Foundry and Wharf] in this valley in 1791, with the object of supplying pumping machinery for the mines. The site had the advantage of ample water power from the stream and of the tidal creek and the sea.
The Foundry was extremely successful. Some very heavy machinery was cast there, particularly the "bobs" or beams for mine pumps. George Fox II . . . was the first manager, in which appoinment he continued until 1825, when his cousin Charles superseded him (and took over Tredrea [the large house in Perranarworthal used by Geoge Fox and his family] and continued until 1848.
By that time, Cornish mining was in decline and the works were finally closed in 1879: but long before this event, the Fox family had parted with their interest to the Wlliams family.
SOURCE: H.A.F. Crewdson George Fox of Tredrea and his three daughters: a century of family history;The Author, 1976.[Crewdson is a grandchild of George Fox II's daughter Eleanor. He bases his statements on extensive family correspondence and his grandmother's privately printed memoir 'Our childhood at Perran.
George Fox II's father, George was the son of Edward Fox of Wadebridge, who was the step-brother of George Croker Fox. The step brothers married the sisters Anna and Mary Were.
Charles Fox and his brother Robert Were Fox (Barclay's father) were the sons of another Robert Were Fox, who was the son of George Croker Fox (confusingly, their older brother shared their father's name). Edward Fox of Wadebridge also named one of his sons Robert Were Fox. Barclay Fox named one of his sons George Croker Fox
- ^ Barclay mentions his name very frequently in the Journal, from their first meeting on February 8, 1840 until he received notice of his death on September 22, 1844. See Brett's Introduction to the Journal pp 17, 18 for a summary of the relationship.
- ^ Tod, Robert (19780). Caroline Fox, Quaker bluestocking: 1819-1871. York: William Sessions Limted. ISBN 0-9006575-4-5. Chapter 10, pages 56-60 and family tree on page viii
- ^ Peerage site
| Persondata | |
|---|---|
| NAME | Fox, Barclay |
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES | Fox, Robert Barclay |
| SHORT DESCRIPTION | Businessman, garden designer and diarist |
| DATE OF BIRTH | September 6, 1817 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH | |
| DATE OF DEATH | March 10, 1855 |
| PLACE OF DEATH | Egypt |
