Richard Allott

Richard Allott junior (1782/3–1858) was an Anglo-Irish cleric and academic, known as a librarian and a musician at Armagh Cathedral, where he earned the nickname "Fiddling Dick", and as a music collector.[1]

Richard Allott senior

Richard Allott senior (1744/5–1832), his father, was the third son of Brian Allott (1693–1773), Rector of Kirkheaton;[2][3] he was an Anglican priest in Ireland during the later 18th and early 19th centuries.[4] Towards the end of his life he was in Switzerland, and he died at Beau-Rivage, Lausanne, aged 87.[3][5]

Early life

Allott was educated Beverley Grammar School. He was admitted to Trinity College, Cambridge in 1762, graduating B.A. there in 1766, and M.A. in 1769. He took degrees of B.D. (1776) and D.D. (1783) at Trinity College, Dublin.[3][6]

Cleric

Ordained deacon in 1767, Allott became rector of Annaduff in Ireland. From 1771 to 1774 he was a prebendary of St Mary's Cathedral, Tuam. From 1774 he was precentor in Armagh Cathedral, as his son more prominently would be, and a prebendary there.[3][5] The position was taken over in 1802 by John Cleland (1755–1834).[7] He was Dean of Raphoe from 1795[8] until his death in 1832.[9]

Allott married an Irish wife, Anna Maria Weller.[2] Their youngest daughter, Jane, was a watercolour artist.[10]

In the Armagh disturbances, Allott in 1789 forwarded a prospectus of the Defenders to the 1st Marquess of Buckingham, as Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland.[11] After the Battle of the Diamond of 1795, in north-west Co. Armagh, Allott as a magistrate signed the resolution of the county magistrates.[12] In December of that year, Arthur Acheson, 2nd Viscount Gosford as governor of the county spoke on the fighting; he was a Whig, considered by some to be sympathetic to Catholic concerns, about the violent Peep o' Day Boys. Allott was taken to have "already proved his anxiety to repress outrage and maintain peace".[13] In 1796 Thomas Pelham, who had visited Allott in Armagh to discuss a possible university there, wrote to John Hely Hutchinson including specifics on plans arising from Allott.[14]

Horatio Nelson wrote to Allott in 1804, following the death in 1803 of Allott's brother the Rev. Bryan Allott, who had been Rector at Burnham Westgate in Norfolk, and a neighbour to the Nelson family. Richard Allott had met him there.[15][16][17] He preached the fast sermon to the House of Commons on 26 February 1806.[18] It contained a suggestion that God was using Napoleon as a scourge for sinful Britain.[19]

Last years

In 1817 Allott was living in Orchard Street, near Portman Square in London.[20] Lord John Beresford, Bishop of Raphoe in 1819, wrote for a parliamentary report on the Church of Ireland that Allott was absent with his leave, "on account of the embarrassed state of his circumstances, and his advanced period of life". His duties were being carried out by six curates.[21] When Hugh M'Neile was ordained as curate of Stranorlar in 1820, where Robert Butt, father of Isaac Butt, was the incumbent, it was Allott who made the nomination, offered to M'Neile's uncle. The uncle was Lieutenant-general Daniel McNeile, and was a friend of Allott. At this point Allott was abroad in continental Europe.[22][23][24][25]

Allott's daughter Jane died at Lausanne in 1821, by which time Allott had settled at Ouchy. He went on to officiate at the English Protestant church services there, and gained a residence permit.[26][27][28] The Rev. Isaac Cheesbrough from Penrith was appointed that year to the church, and Allott gave services with him, which were held in the French Protestant church.[28][29][30][31][32]

Allott confirmed the 1822 baptism, according to Church of Ireland rites, of Charles William George Bury, future 3rd Earl of Charleville (1822–1859), in Geneva.[33] Allott's wife died on 13 July 1824.[34] His wife and a daughter were buried in the Pierre de Plan cemetery at Ouchy, where he erected a memorial to them.[35] A guidebook of 1829 mentions a monument at Lausanne, by the sculptor Gibson of Rome (but gives date 1823), to "Anna Maria Allott, nata Waller".[36] Allott was again stated to be non-resident at Raphoe in a report of 1824, with the reason given as bad health.[37]

In 1828 Allott bought from François Bonjour, a Parisian, a substantial property at Ouchy on Lake Geneva, comprising two houses and land.[28]

Later developments

Allott's daughter Anna Maria lived at Ouchy, where Charles Bunbury dined with her in 1848.[38] She attended a marriage in the Close family at Drumbanagher House, County Armagh, in 1850.[39] She died at Lausanne on 12 December 1851.[40] Louisa Beaufort, a cousin, was one of her executors; also a beneficiary, with Richard Allott junior.[41]

The Société immobilière d'Ouchy was founded in 1857 to build the Beau-Rivage Hotel on the former Allott property to the east of village of Ouchy, keeping the name it had been given.[42]

Beau-Rivage Palace Hotel, 2012 photograph

Life

Allott junior was educated at Harrow School, and admitted as a pensioner to Trinity College, Cambridge in 1801. He graduated B.A. in 1805, M.A. in 1808, and became a Fellow there in 1807.[43] He succeeded William Lodge DD (1742–1813) at the Armagh Library founded by Primate Richard Robinson, taking up the position on 3 September 1814.[44][45] In 1815 he prepared the first significant catalogue of the library's manuscripts, nearly 5,000 in number.[46]

In 1825 Allott, with Thomas Romney Robinson, was brought onto the committee attempting to set up a Mechanics' Institute in Armagh. The main proponent responsible for involving Anglican clerics in the venture was George Ensor, Allott being considered influential with them. Over the next year or two, clerical support was withdrawn, and the Institute failed.[47]

In 1830 Allott was elected a Senior Fellow of Trinity College, Cambridge, replacing John Henry Renouard who had died.[48][49] In 1834, on the death of John Cleland, he took over as precentor of Armagh Cathedral, and Rector of Killeavy, giving up at this point his post as librarian.[7][50] He held these positions to the end of his life.[43] In his capacity as a Senior Fellow of Trinity, he attended a dinner in Cambridge for the incognito Frederick Augustus II of Saxony in 1844.[51]

Death and legacy

Allott died at Armagh in 1858.[52] He was buried in the south aisle of Armagh Cathedral, where a window was dedicated to his memory. He had been the senior fellow of Trinity College, Cambridge since 1853.[53] At the time in 1860 when the donations for the window were being collected, the Newry Telegraph commented adversely, saying that from Allott's large estate nothing was left to Irish charitable causes.[54] The window was installed in 1862; the lower part refers to the story of Saul and David in 1 Samuel 16.[55]

Memorial window in Armagh Cathedral to Richard Allott[56]

Musical interests

Leslie's Armagh Clergy and Parishes described Allott as "a most accomplished musician as well as scholar".[50] On 17 December 1824 he directed a concert in the Music Hall, Vicar's Hill, Armagh with a programme of music by Emanuele d'Astorga, Corelli, Gluck, Handel, Benedetto Marcello, Mozart, Marcantonio Negri and Pergolesi, given to a distinguished audience.[57]

John Jebb in A plea for what is left of the Cathedrals (1852) praised the Allotts, father and son, writing of Richard Allott junior at Armagh Cathedral that "he has made that choir perhaps the most efficient in the united Church."[58] Edward Rogers wrote in 1881 of the music of the Armagh Cathedral Choir and its Music Hall:

For the convenience of the Rev. R. Allott, who always "played first fiddle", and made the programme of performance for the weekly concerts, much of the music was kept at his house.[59]

Allott was the dedicatee of the two volumes of The Beauties of Purcell edited by John Clarke Whitfield.[60] He, or his father, owned a first edition of Francesco Geminiani's Sonatas Op. 4, now a rare work.[61] He is tentatively identified as the purchaser in Piacenza in 1821 of north Italian counterpoint manuscripts, now in the British Library.[62] He was one of the early subscribers to the Bach Gesellschaft set up in 1850.[63]

Sale of library

Allott's musical library was announced as for sale on 26 July 1858, by Puttick & Simpson, in particular including editions of Handel.[64] Murphy and Smaczny, however, write "It must also be noted that a large portion of the early nineteenth-century cathedral music was mistakenly sold with the possessions of Richard Allott [...]".[65]

The musical library was sold on 2 August 1858, by Puttick;[66] and the rest of Allott's library on 29 November by Leigh Sotheby.[67]

Notes

  1. ^ Paterson, T. G. F. (1975). Harvest Home: The Last Sheaf: a Selection from the Writings of T. G. F. Paterson Relating to County Armagh. Armagh County Museum, T. G. F. Paterson Memorial Fund Committee. p. 36. ISBN 978-0-9504780-0-5.
  2. ^ a b Familiae minorum gentium. London: Mitchell and Hughes. 1894–1896. p. 501.
  3. ^ a b c d "Allott, Richard (ALT762R)". A Cambridge Alumni Database. University of Cambridge.
  4. ^ National Archives
  5. ^ a b "Allott, Richard, 1745-1832 (clergyman), ArchiveSearch". archivesearch.lib.cam.ac.uk.
  6. ^ "Alumni Dublinenses : a register of the students, graduates, professors and provosts of Trinity College in the University of Dublin (1593–1860George Dames Burtchaell/Thomas Ulick Sadleir p12: Dublin, Alex Thom and Co, 1935
  7. ^ a b "Cleland, John, Dictionary of Irish Biography". www.dib.ie.
  8. ^ "Fasti Ecclesiae Hibernicae: The succession of the prelates Volume 3" Cotton, H. p363 Dublin, Hodges & Smith, 1848-1878
  9. ^ Belfast News Letter (Belfast, Ireland), Tuesday, December 25, 1832; Issue 9968. (1027 words). British Library Newspapers, Part I: 1800-1900
  10. ^ Allott, Jane (1800). "[The Castle formerly the Bishop's Palace, Raphoe, Donegal]". catalogue.nli.ie.
  11. ^ Musgrave, Richard (1802). Memoirs of the Different Rebellions in Ireland: From the Arrival of the English Also, a Particular Detail of that which Broke Out the XXIIId of May, MDCCXCVIII; with the History of the Conspiracy which Preceded it. R. Marchbank, and sold by J. Archer. p. 222.
  12. ^ Tohall, Patrick (1958). "The Diamond Fight of 1795 and the Resultant Expulsions". Seanchas Ardmhacha. 3 (1): 26. doi:10.2307/29740669. ISSN 0488-0196. JSTOR 29740669.
  13. ^ Lilburn, Richard (5 February 1887). "Chapters in the History of Orangeism: XXX Local Defensive Associations". Belfast Weekly News. p. 5.
  14. ^ Paterson, T. G. F. (1955). "Further Note on the Proposed Armagh University". Ulster Journal of Archaeology. 18: 105–108. ISSN 0082-7355. JSTOR 20567450.
  15. ^ Nelson, Horatio; Nicolas, Sir Nicholas Harris (1846). The Dispatches and Letters of Vice Admiral Lord Viscount Nelson: With Notes. H. Colburn. p. 18.
  16. ^ "Allott, Bryan (1765–1804)". The Clergy of the Church of England Database 1540–1835. CCEd Person ID 84114. Retrieved 10 December 2023.
  17. ^ "Allott, Bryan (ALT756B)". A Cambridge Alumni Database. University of Cambridge.
  18. ^ Allott, Richard (1806). A Sermon Preached Before the Honourable House of Commons, at the Church of St. Margaret, Westminster, on Wednesday, February 26, 1806, Being the Day Appointed for a General Fast. Luke Hansard; and sold by Stockdale, and Hatchard: and at Cambridge, by Deighton.
  19. ^ Coffey, John (2012). "'Tremble, Britannia!': Fear, Providence and the Abolition of the Slave Trade, 1758—1807". The English Historical Review. 127 (527): 870. doi:10.1093/ehr/ces149. hdl:2381/29181. ISSN 0013-8266. JSTOR 23272689.
  20. ^ "Old Bailey Proceedings. 15th September 1845". Old Bailey Proceedings Online. 2018 [September 1845]. t18450915.
  21. ^ Papers relating to State of Established Church of Ireland. HMSO. 1820. p. 100.
  22. ^ The Dublin University Magazine. William Curry, Jun., and Company. 1847. p. 465.
  23. ^ Wolffe, John. "McNeile, Hugh Boyd (1795–1879)". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/17711. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
  24. ^ "McNeile, Hugh Boyd, Dictionary of Irish Biography". www.dib.ie.
  25. ^ The Church Record. 1879. p. 173.
  26. ^ "Died". Sun. London. 20 June 1821. p. 4.
  27. ^ Journal of Swiss archaeology and art history (in French). Vol. 40. Verlag Birkhäuser. 1983. p. 13.
  28. ^ a b c Revue historique vaudoise (in French). Vol. 86–87. 1978. p. 96.
  29. ^ Biber, George Edward (1845). English Church on the Continent: Or, an Account of the Foreign Settlements of the English Church : Including a Notice of the Times of Service, and Other Information Useful to Travellers and Foreign Residents. F. & J. Rivington. p. 68.
  30. ^ "Cheesborough, Isaac (1816–1817)". The Clergy of the Church of England Database 1540–1835. CCEd Person ID 130991. Retrieved 11 December 2023.
  31. ^ Slinn, Sara (2001). "York Clergy Ordinations 1800-1849" (PDF). p. 39.
  32. ^ Dickens, Charles (1977). Letters: Edited by Madeline House & Graham Storey. Associate Editors: W.J. Carlton [and Others]. Clarendon Press. p. 77. ISBN 978-0-19-812475-7.
  33. ^ "Baptism of Charles William George Bury". offalyarchives.com.
  34. ^ "Deaths". Morning Chronicle. 24 July 1824. p. 4.
  35. ^ Coghlan, Francis (1861). Coghlan's Belgium, Holland, the Rhine and Switzerland; the Fashionable German Watering Places ... Seventeenth Edition. Illustrated with Maps and Plans. Trübner & Company. p. 202.
  36. ^ Murray, John (1829). A Glance at Some of the Beauties and Sublimities of Switzerland: With Excursive Remarks on the Various Objects of Interest, Presented During a Tour Through Its Picturesque Scenery. Longman, Rees, Orme, Brown and Green. p. 52.
  37. ^ "Clergy: Returns To An Order Of The Honourable House Of Commons, Dated The 10th Of February 1824 For A List Of The Parishes In Ireland With The Names Of Their Respective Incumbents, And Distinguishing Those Parishes In Which The Incumbent Is Not Resident": 134. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  38. ^ Bunbury, Charles James Fox (29 December 2011). Memorials of Sir C. J. F. Bunbury, Bart. Cambridge University Press. p. 432. ISBN 978-1-108-04113-3.
  39. ^ "Marriage in High Life". Newry Telegraph. 11 April 1850. p. 3.
  40. ^ The Gentleman's Magazine and Historical Review. Bradbury, Evans. 1852. p. 210.
  41. ^ Scott, Breda (2016). "Small Treasures: The Production, Retail and Consumption of Jewellery in Dublin, c.1770 to c.1870". mural.maynoothuniversity.ie. Maynooth University. p. 239.
  42. ^ Les Monuments d'art et d'histoire (in French). Vol. 71 du Canton de Vaud. Birkhauser. 1981. p. 58. ISBN 978-3-7643-1208-4.
  43. ^ a b "Allott, Richard (ALT801R)". A Cambridge Alumni Database. University of Cambridge.
  44. ^ Dean, James (1828). "Catalogue of Manuscripts in the Armagh Library" (PDF). The Governors and Guardians. p. 3.
  45. ^ Reeves, William (1895). "Memoir of Rev. William Lodge, LL.D.". Ulster Journal of Archaeology. 1 (2): 89. JSTOR 20563541.
  46. ^ Cole, Richard C. (1974). "Community Lending Libraries in Eighteenth-Century Ireland". The Library Quarterly: Information, Community, Policy. 44 (2): 118. ISSN 0024-2519. JSTOR 4306377.
  47. ^ Duffy, Séamus S. (1988). "The Armagh Mechanics' Institute (1825-1831)". Seanchas Ardmhacha: Journal of the Armagh Diocesan Historical Society. 13 (1): 122–172. doi:10.2307/29745300. ISSN 0488-0196. JSTOR 29745300.
  48. ^ "University Intelligence". Sun. London. 15 March 1830. p. 3.
  49. ^ "Renouard, John Henry (RNRT776JH)". A Cambridge Alumni Database. University of Cambridge.
  50. ^ a b Leslie, James B. (1911). Armagh Clergy and Parishes: being an account of the clergy of the Church of Ireland in the Diocese of Armagh, from the earilest period, with historical notices of the several parishes, churches, &c. Dundalk: W. Tempest. p. 35.
  51. ^ "The King of Saxony's Visit to Cambridge". Cambridge Chronicle and Journal. 22 June 1844. p. 2.
  52. ^ Gentleman's Magazine, Or Monthly Intelligencer. Edward Cave. 1858. p. 681.
  53. ^ Boase, Frederic (1965). Modern English Biography. Vol. IV. Frank Cass & Co. Ltd. p. 104.
  54. ^ "The Cathedral of Armagh". Newry Telegraph. 15 December 1860. p. 3.
  55. ^ "The Church". Dublin Evening Mail. 29 August 1862. p. 2.
  56. ^ "Window - W11 - Armagh Cathedral, St Patrick - Gloine - Stained glass in the Church of Ireland". www.gloine.ie.
  57. ^ "Concert of Ancient Music - Armagh". Belfast Commercial Chronicle. 22 December 1824. p. 4.
  58. ^ Jebb, John (1852). A plea for what is left of the Cathedrals, their Deans and Chapters, their corporate Rights, and Ecclesiastical utility. London: Francis & John Rivington. p. 13 note.
  59. ^ Rogers, Edward (1881). Memoir of the Armagh Cathedral: With an Account of the Ancient City. W. and G. Baird. p. 147.
  60. ^ "The Beauties of Purcell (Purcell, Henry) - IMSLP". imslp.org.
  61. ^ Rasch, Rudolf. "Work 8: The Sonatas Opus 4 (1739)". The Thirty-One Works of Francesco Geminiani. Utrecht University.
  62. ^ Leal, Sergio; Germano, Nayana Di Giuseppe; Castro, Rafael Y.; Pompeo, Samuel; Gomes, Flávio H. Monteiro; Oliveira, Leonardo K. de; Gianesella, Eduardo Flores; Velho, José Rodrigo Santos; Iafelice, Carlos C. (29 November 2023). XX ANOS DO PPG EM MÚSICA DO IA-UNESP: I VOLUME (in Brazilian Portuguese). Tesseractum Editorial. p. 166. ISBN 978-65-89867-70-8.
  63. ^ Young, Percy Marshall (1970). The Bachs, 1500-1850. Dent. p. 296. ISBN 978-0-460-03825-6.
  64. ^ The Athenaeum. J. Lection. 1858. p. 67.
  65. ^ Murphy, Michael; Smaczny, Jan (2007). Music in Nineteenth-century Ireland. Four Courts Press. p. 131. ISBN 978-1-84682-024-3.
  66. ^ King, A. Hyatt (2 January 1963). Some British Collectors of Music C.1600-1960. Cambridge University Press. p. 95. ISBN 978-0-521-05886-5.
  67. ^ S. Leigh Sotheby & John Wilkinson (1858). Catalogue of the Library of the Late Rev. Richard Allott, D.D. Fellow of Trinity College, and Precentor of Armagh ... and the Library of the Late Admiral Sir Francis Beaufort, K.C.B. ...: Which Will be Sold by Auction ... on Monday, 29th of November, 1858, and Two Following Days. Messrs. S. Leigh Sotheby & John Wilkinson.