Alton Towers
Cheadle –
Jan: 23. 1843
Dear Mr Talbot
I have been reading over the minutes of proceedings had before the House of Lords in 1719, on occasion of the passing of the Act for the Settlement of the Duke of Shrewsbury’s estates, & therein I find the following.
“Mr Mead desires to prove the Bishop of Salisbury’s pedigree & offers Mr Ansty for that purpose who produces a book, belonging as he said, to the corporation of Heraulds which was in the office before he came into it, T’was [sic] signed in 1675 no officer at that time there being now living & shews Sir Gilbert Talbot’s name at the bottom of the Pedigree he was master of the Jewell office. Mr Anstis [sic] then explains the Pedigree out of the Book and Sir John Talbot of Laycock was in it who was Grandson of Sherrington Talbot was grandfather of the Bishop” –
“Lord Fitzwilliam acquaints the committee Three Pedigrees were found in the family which reduce down to George Talbot but no mention is made of the Bishop.”
The said Sir Gilbert is asserted to be a descendant of the Talbot’s [sic] of Grafton – but no satisfactory proof appearing, the question of the Bishops Pedigree was waved [sic], & struck out of the Bill – It was neither confronted nor admitted –
Could you throw any light upon the Bishop’s Pedigree? Lord Earl Talbot is (I think) a direct descendant of his. I shall be much obliged to you, when you have leisure, to send me any information you may have on it.
I have to thank you also for your very kind attention to Monr L’abbé Poucelet’s queries respecting the use of the Calotype <1> – He certainly makes progress, but it is still far from perfection –
If you & Mrs Talbot <2> are travelling into our neighbourhood next Summer, it would afford Lady Shrewsbury <3> & myself much pleasure to receive you here – you know we are only a drive from Derby.
Believe me, my Dear Sir Very truly & faithfully your obliged Servant
Shrewsbury
Was the said Sir Gilbert Talbot (master of the Jewel office) father to the Bishop?
Notes:
1. See Doc. No: 04651 and Doc. No: 05226.
2. Constance Talbot, née Mundy (1811–1880), WHFT’s wife.
3. Maria Theresa Talbot (1791–1856).