Sir Wilfrid Lawson, 1st Baronet, of Brayton (5 October 1795 – 12 June 1867), was an English landowner, businessman and investor in the new industrial age. He was of the Lawson baronets.
Early life After the death of Sir Wilfrid Lawson, 10th Baronet in 1806, the title expired and the estates passed to the nephew of his wife, Thomas Wybergh, the son of Thomas Wybergh of Clifton Hall, Westmorland who assumed the name and arms of the Lawson family. Six years later Thomas drowned off the coast of MadeiraThe Cumberland Paquet, 14 July 1812 and having no direct heirs the estates passed to his younger brother Wilfrid, who likewise assumed the name of Lawson. In 1821, he married Caroline Graham, sister to the famous Peelite statesman, Sir James Graham of Netherby. Their marriage produced eight children; four sons, Wilfrid, Gilfrid, William and Alfred; and four daughters, Caroline, Elizabeth, Catherine and Maria.
Wybergh connections The Wybergh family, long established in North Westmorland, arrived in the district of St Bees, sometime in the 13th century. Gilbert de Engayne, the last of that ancient family in the direct line had a daughter Eleanor, who in 1364 carried the manor and demesne of Clifton near Penrith, in marriage to William de Wybergh, of St Bees. The aforementioned possessions remained the property of their descendants until the twentieth century. Eleanor Wybergh died in the reign of Henry IV of England, and the family laid her body to rest in Clifton Church, close to the old hall, where the residents placed a window in stained glass to her memory, bearing her effigy and arms. In 1524, Thomas Wybergh married a Lancaster of Melkinthorpe Hall. The family later suffered greatly in the English Civil War. In 1652, a Thomas Wybergh of St Bees, had his name attached to 'the list of delinquents', thus forfeiting the right to own his estates, which were later sold under the direct orders of Oliver Cromwell. The arms of Wybergh are 'of three bars sable, and in chief three stoiles of the last'.
After the Glorious Revolution of 1688, the Wyberghs transferred their allegiances from the Stuart's to the House of Hanover. During the rising of 1715, Thomas Wybergh a prisoner of the Jacobites was exchanged for Alan Ayacough, who had supported the Pretender. His son, also called Thomas was later involved in the 1745 Uprising.
Following Thomas's death in 1753, the estates passed to his eldest son William, who died in 1757. He was succeeded by Thomas, the father of the person under discussion, who died in 1827. Thomas married Isabel Hartley, and after their son assumed the Lawson inheritance the family settled at Isel, where they remained for many years.Russell, p. 1-2
Politics He was appointed Sheriff of Cumberland for 1820.
Throughout his life, Lawson took an active role in politics, where he championed the Whig (Blue) cause. He supported the extreme radical section: he was what he called a 'true blue', a supporter of the political philosophy of Charles James Fox, the constitutional republicanism of John Wilkes and in time the social reforming of Richard Cobden and John Bright. Lawson remained a constitutionalist, and wished to extend the franchise to include the masses, but he practised what he preached in his own household and family. He resented the class structure. Although his name is intimately associated with some of the political contests before the passing of the Reform Act 1832, he only stood in one election.
Carlisle election
After the death of Sir Philip Musgrave in 1827, Lawson reluctantlyThe Times, 31 July 1827 came forward as the Parliamentary Whig (Blue) candidate for the representation of the City of Carlisle, in opposition to James Law Lushington, the Tory (Yellows) Lowther nominee. Lawson stood on the following manifesto:
For radicals, freedom from obligation was a precondition for political citizenship and the cornerstone of the chartist cause; freedom was their antidote to slavery. Lawson is emphasising that parliament could only represent the people if the electorate were given the opportunity to elect representatives freely. Although he advocated reforms, Lawson senior was more of a radical in the Sir Francis Burdett tradition than a reformer, an advocate of 'going back to the roots'. As Matthew McCormack differentiates: the reformer sought to remove abuses as a means of preserving the system, whereas the radical insisted upon the necessity of a more fundamental change.McCormack p. 21
In those days, elections took place over several days. It was a time of open voting where 'tallies' or groups of ten likeminded freemen ascended a small scaffold erected adjacent to the Moot Hall, where the lord mayor publicly recorded each man's vote.The Times, 16 August 1827 They were exciting times, a theatre crammed with noise and bustle: the playing of patriotic music by rival bands; the flaunting of flags and banners; the display of party favours and colours; the processions and counters processions; and the cheering and counter cheering.The Carlisle Journal, 21 June 1867
On the day of the nomination, Lawson travelled the nineteen-mile journey from Brayton in an open carriage, drawn by four horses. In the suburbs, his supporters, many of whom were ineligible to vote, withdrew the horses and dragged their candidate through the streets in triumph. They proceeded, carrying a blue ensign bearing the slogan 'Lawson and Independence', to make a demonstration in front of their rivals' headquarters in the Bush Inn. Then, amidst a loud chorus of cheers, they paraded the carriage several times round the Market Cross. At the close of the poll on the opening day Lawson had received ten votes, while Lushingtons had received none.
On the second day, Lawson recited a letter written by a voter from Edinburgh, who had received a message signed by one of Lushington's election agents enclosing £10, inviting the receiver to journey to Carlisle and vote accordingly. "But" added the writer, "I have returned the £10, and I shall be in Carlisle on Tuesday to vote for Lawson." This example of political virtue was regularly referred to throughout the campaign. Marred by rain, the day ended with a brawl after scores of Yellow supporters attacked their opponents. At the close of the second day, Lushington had received 175, while Lawson trailed with 153.The Times, 17 August 1827
On the third day, a coach carrying Blue freemen arrived from Newcastle. At the Kings Arms, a mob of angry Yellow supporters surrounded the coach and tried to prevent the freemen from entering their headquarters. Blue supporters appeared and drove their rivals back to their committee rooms in the Kings Head. Stones, slates and items of furniture were hurled, resulting in serious damage. At the close of the day, Lushington had 276 votes to Lawson's 261. According to The Times: "It's beginning to look like a proper Carlisle election, rioting included"The Times, 18 August 1827
On the fourth day, Lawson abandoned the election with the poll standing at Lushington 362 votes, Lawson 323. Lawson gave an explanation.
Following the announcement of the withdrawal, the Yellows proceeded to seek revenge for their defeat on the previous day. Wielding bludgeons they attacked their opponents with great force, and a scene of riot and broken heads prevailed. Having wreaked their vengeance on the people they proceeded to the Liberal headquarters and vandalised the Coffee house. The day ended with the reading of the Riot Act and the arrival of the military.
Baronetcy restored In 1831, Sir James Graham, then First Lord of the Admiralty suggested to his brother-in-law.
Lawson accepted, and Graham conveyed his wishes to the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Charles Grey, 2nd Earl Grey and by such means were the Coronation honours of the reform government decided. On 1 September 1831, King William IV created Lawson a baronet.Ward p. 113
Temperance When Lawson fell dangerously ill in 1834, he turned to religion, and sent for a Presbyterian minister named Walton who preached in the neighbouring village of Blennerhasset. His health restored, he befriended the Home Mission Society, whose purpose was to send missionaries into neglected villages in England. He became an associate and established a House Mission Station in Aspatria. Shortly afterwards he attended a Temperance lecture, which had an immediate impact on the Lawson household.Russell p. 3
"Sir Wilfrid Lawson of Brayton Hall, Cumberland, is said to have been so strongly impressed by the arguments of Mr (William) Pollard, who is lecturing on behalf of Temperance societies throughout the county, that he has had the whole of his Brandy, Rum, Gin and Whisky taken from his cellars at the back of the Hall, and destroyed by fire in his own presence.The Parliamentary Review 26 July 1834; also Chambers Historic Newspapers, August 1834
A modified version of this story appeared in the Pall Mall Gazette almost fifty years later and was used to vilify the baronet's son.
"An amusing instance of the zeal displayed by the more enthusiastic advocates of temperance is that of the late Sir Wilfrid Lawson, father of the present baronet. Old Sir Wilfrid, as the inhabitants of West Cumberland are wont to call him – on his conversions to the cause of teetotalism, had all the wines and spirits taken out of the cellars and thrown into the fishpond at Brayton Hall, thereby causing great destruction of life, to the astonished and unoffending fish."Pall Mall Gazette, 15 April 1889
Thus was born the legend of the Whisky Pond. In 1878, Samuel Smiles published a biography, of George Moore of Mealsgate, which noted a visit made by Moore and the Lord Mayor of London, to Brayton in 1854.
"Sir Wilfrid Lawson and most of his family are teetotallers, but the Lord Mayor pronounced his wines, the best he had ever drank."Smiles p. 69
For many years Lawson adopted the old temperance platform, that while spirits were forbidden, wine and beer could be used as beverages.Russell p. 301-2 Eventually the Lawson family became great drinkers of ginger beer.The World, 21 May 1879
Rebellion In his younger days, Lawson was a mischievous rebel, and an ardent friend of controversy. The following examples will somewhat explain his character, and highlight the integrity and humour that he bequeathed to his family. At the pre-election dinner in 1830, prior to nominating his brother-in-law, Sir James Graham, Lawson proposed a toast, which formed the subject of much comment at the time. Sir James had been speaking of the right and duty of the people to resist despotic powers as exercised against their liberty, when Lawson, rose to propose a toast.Ward p. 88
"That the heads of Don Miguel, King Ferdinand (VII of Spain) and Charles Capet (Charles X), be severed from their bodies and rolled in the dust – and the more speedily the better."The Carlisle Journal, 14 June 1867
The vociferous cheers with which his sentiment was received showed that the feelings of the speaker were shared by his audience. It was however much condemned by the opposing press on the following day.
Liberalism