James and the Giant (Red) Cabbage
A bittersweet story for Christmas
Photo: Fifth Crow Farm, Pescadero California
Just before Christmas 1822 - a little over 200 years ago, the Lancaster Gazette published this snippet of information. It was that time of year for this sort of popular local news.
Courtesy Guardian Newspapers
It is a gem of unusual SP information. Not knowing anything about James Nottage or the garden, it was slipped into the file of interesting oddities alongside Ralph Gerrard’s duck eggs, Tom Gardner’s pig, and Billy Wilson’s pullets.
But the itch persisted. Who was this Jas. B Nottage Esq. Much more importantly, where at Sunderland Point was the garden this remarkable red cabbage was grown?
A Sunderland Point Garden: a first clue…
By pure chance, during Beth Hampson’s research into the lives of the Quaker Lawson family, she found that one of the later descendants, a John Lawson, had made an ‘irregular’ marriage – a Church of England ceremony - to a much younger widow, Mary Nottage.
James Barton Nottage
The detail revealed that she came with a three-year-old son, James B. (the B in his name stands for Barton, Mary’s maiden name).
Unaware of a connection with a red cabbage, Beth continued to extract more details. What follows is what Beth found, including the bitter twist.
James was born in Birmingham in 1785 into a Quaker family. After his father died, the family received a removal certificate and left for Lancaster. His step-father, John Lawson, died when James was 11, and when he was 13, his mother died.
At 18, he split from the Quakers after being disowned for breaching their pacifist principles by joining the Militia.
In 1807, when he was 22, he married Jane Alston, then 19, at St Mary’s Church in Lancaster. Their marriage lasted a lifetime and produced six children. Tragically, two died in infancy. On the marriage certificate, James described his occupation as a merchant, and his business partner, George Borrow, was one of the witnesses.
It is unknown how James became a merchant by the age of 22. Perhaps he received an inheritance from his father or stepfather, received help from within the Lawson family, or was simply very capable. He certainly made a name for himself.
In the Lancaster Gazette of April 1810, three years later, we find this:
On Thursday last a fine new ship was launched from Messrs Brockbank’s yard in this town, She is called the William Ashton, burthen 366 tons, commanded by Capt. Thomas Greenwood, built for Messrs Burrow & Nottage of the town and intended for the West India Trade.
George and James were firmly established in transatlantic commerce.
They traded in ships, the cargos in shipping, and imported the produce of plantations in the Caribbean for auction in Lancaster, most frequently sugar from the Virgin Islands.
Sugar
In the pages of the Lancaster Gazette, during the1810s and 20s, numerous notices were placed by the partners advertising Sugar auctions imported mostly from the islands of St. Croix and Tortuga.
Location of Tortuga and St Croix in the Caribbean: Nations Online Project, locator arrow Paul Hatton.
Here is a gallery of examples:
Their investment in the Sugar trade went deeper. The records of the British exploitation of the West Indies islands show that Burrow and Nottage had options and ownership of sugar plantations. There is no need to go further.
James was active in Lancaster’s political life and was elected Mayor in 1822 (aged 39); he was subsequently an Alderman and appointed deputy Mayor in 1824.
He died at his home in Caton in February 1845, aged 59, and was buried in St Mary’s Churchyard in Lancaster.
But where at Sunderland Point? Which Garden?
The Garden of James Nottage
A Sunderland Point Garden: a second clue, getting warmer?
The breakthrough was hiding in plain sight. Some time ago, Beth put together a list of as many properties for sale or rent at SP as she could find in the newspaper archives. Looking through, we spotted this:
Courtesy Guardian Newspapers
The property owner was a Mr Nottage of Lancaster. This was our man.
Hang on, though – but which house is it? There are plenty of houses with gardens. A forensic analysis was needed – sort of.
These are the key bits of information:
- Consisting of a sitting room, dining room, and five bedrooms, with good kitchens, wash house, and laundry.
- An excellent garden, well stocked with fruit trees.
- A cottage house adjoining. And
- A right of fishery in the River Lune.
Five bedrooms is a big house, and a garden and a house attached. This rules out most houses but could include the Old Hall (21), Hall End House (22), the Big House (17), and The Haven (7).
The Old Hall and Hall End House are dismissed as their ownership is known. There is some doubt about the ownership of the Big House, and it wasn’t clear who owned number 7 in 1827.
The Big House had five bedrooms, gardens, and could have been offered with an attached house. Its size was suitable.
The Big House. Today, two maisonettes and the Reading Room
Number 7 also fits, as 7A could be the attached house. There is a garden, but is it too small to accommodate five bedrooms?
A John Walker Photograph of number 7: Courtesy Lancaster City Museums.
Then there’s this:
A RIGHT of FISHERY in the River LUNE.
We have seen this before – and only once - connected to a house at Sunderland Point. In another advert, twenty years later:
Lancaster Gazette 25th April 1846
Late the residence of the Rev J.G.R. Manby, incumbent of Overton, together with the large and productive garden and a right of Fishery thereto belonging.
Ah ha - we know which house the Rev. Manby owned. The Tithe map of 1843 identifies the house and garden we know as number 7 as property 21. In the schedule attached to the map, 21 is owned by the heirs of Rev Manby (he had recently died) as the owners.
Extract from the Tithe map of 1843: Photo Kate Hurst from the Lancashire Archives.
We visited Alan Smith, the senior resident at SP, who currently lives at number 7.
Alan was sceptical. The right to the fishery was a strong clue—he even had it in his property deeds—but that could apply to many houses. But there was a problem, not really enough space for five bedrooms.
More evidence was needed. Another for sale notice.
We found one six years later.
Lancaster Gazette 6th March 1852
Dwelling House, situate on the Terrace at Sunderland, near Lancaster, occupied by Mr C Bower, the owner.
It said it had a large and productive garden well stocked with choice wall and other fruit trees. The house also contained dining and drawing rooms 27 feet by 12 feet 6 inches each and five bedrooms.
This is the house of Charles Bower, who spent his childhood at the Point and was a frequent visitor. The Terrace could refer to either of the terraces, but here it refers to First Terrace, where Charles lived in the 1851 census. Note that the property then had five bedrooms.
And doesn’t Alan have two rooms 27 feet by 12 feet 6 inches today?
A favourite John Walker photo of First Terrace and his house, number 7: courtesy Lancaster City Museums.
We returned to Alan and asked his opinion. We waited nervously while he considered, reread the evidence, asked questions, and reflected.
He agreed, it was number 7!
The Sunderland Point Garden of Alan Smith
Alan even allowed us to take his photograph in the garden with a favourite spade.
Alan Smith in the Garden that once belonged to James Nottage, The Rev. J.G,R. Manby Charles Bower and John Walker (and others).
We want to give special thanks to Beth Hampson, whose brilliant research into the Lawson family has allowed us to uncover the house and garden once owned by James Nottage two hundred years ago.
Beth has very generously donated the contribution on sales of her books to the Mission Heritage Centre Trust which has been established to restore the Mission Church for use by residents and the public.
Copies cost £7 each or all three for £20, and the series of four for £25. P&P £2.40. Orders from the immediate local area can be delivered free. They may be obtained in person by calling at number 14 on the Point, or by contacting Lynne Levey at lynne.levey@icloud.com
And great thanks to Alan, who let us pester him about the past ownership of his lovely house. All the photographs of his garden were taken by Alan.