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Crawford, Matthew, fl 1817-1854 (Barrister and husband of Louisa Matilda Crawford)

 Person

Dates

  • Existence: fl 1817 - 1854

Biography

Matthew Crawford was a barrister of Middle Temple who lived during the 19th century. His only known relations are his uncle, the Reverend George Newby (c. 1779-1846), who was the rector of Whickham near Gateshead and his cousin William Crawford Newby (1807-1884), a solicitor who lived in Stockton-on-Tees. In 1822 he married Louisa Matilda Jane Crawford (1789-1857) of Lackham House, Wiltshire. Louisa was a professional songwriter, and spent their marriage living and working in London. Matthew, meanwhile, was frequently away, working in the "North," primarily Newcastle and Edinburgh, evidenced by correspondence between the couple. Matthew also wrote poetry, he sent many poems to Louisa during their courtship and seems to have played a collaborative role in editing and supporting her work. Despite Louisa's income, the couple struggled financially, and frequently appealed to wealthier relatives for financial aid. They were childless, and upon their deaths their papers passed to Matthew's cousin, W C Newby, and thence on to his heirs.

Found in 58 Collections and/or Records:

Poem addressed to Miss Louisa M J Montagu in the hand of Matthew Crawford, 15 February 1818

 Item
Identifier: Coll-1839/1/2/7
Scope and Contents

Poem addressed to Miss Louisa M J Montagu. Signed from "Ulysses" but in the hand of Matthew Crawford. The first lines read, "Alas! the day of compliments is past! / Yet days of truth and love shall always last; / And compliments (if compliments they be,) / Can ne'er be out of season, penn'd to thee." On decorative paper with an embossed border outlined in pink.

Dates: 15 February 1818

Poem by Louisa Crawford titled "To My Beloved Matthew on his birthday" and addressed to the same, 18 January 1825

 Item
Identifier: Coll-1839/1/2/11
Scope and Contents

Poem by Louisa Crawford titled "To My Beloved Matthew on his birthday" and addressed to the same. The first lines read, "Blest be the dawn of that auspicious morn! / When thour my Matthew to this world was born / When those dear eyes first opened to the light / To fill a mothers heart with fond delight."

Dates: 18 January 1825

Poem titled "At the mid hour of night" by Matthew Crawford and addressed to Miss Montagu, 1817-1822

 Item
Identifier: Coll-1839/1/2/9
Scope and Contents

Poem titled "At the mid hour of night" by Matthew Crawford and addressed to Miss Montagu. The first lines read, "At the mid hour of night, when stars are weeping, / I fly / To the lone vale we loved, when life shone warm in thine eye;"

Dates: 1817-1822

Poem titled "War Song of the Spanish Patriots" by Louisa Crawford, 7 March 1823

 Item
Identifier: Coll-1839/3/1/5
Scope and Contents

Poem titled "War Song of the Spanish Patriots" by Louisa Crawford. A note reading "Recd. fm. my beloved" identifies the recipient as her husband, Matthew Crawford. The first lines read, "Hark, hark, 'tis the war Trump, it summons the free / To fight for the Land of the noble and fair, / Then onward my Comrades, and Gallia shall see / If her slaves with the Patriots of Spain can compare."

Dates: 7 March 1823

Stitched booklet titled "To My Beloved" containing poems and prose on the subject of love in the hand of Louisa Matilda Crawford, 1 January 1822

 Item
Identifier: Coll-1839/6/1
Scope and Contents

Stitched booklet titled "To My Beloved" containing poems and prose on the subject of love in the hand of Louisa Matilda Crawford. Includes a transcription of a poem by Byron beginning, "Yes, Love indeed is light from heaven; / A spark of that immortal fire..." Original works are dedicated to Matthew Crawford and signed L.M.J.M. (Louisa Matilda Jane Montagu).

Dates: 1 January 1822

Two poems titled "On my dearest Lifes presenting me with a Pocket Book, for a New Years Gift," and "On my Beloved Husbands Birth Day" by Louisa Crawford, 1-18 January 1825

 Item
Identifier: Coll-1839/3/1/6
Scope and Contents

Two poems titled "On my dearest Lifes presenting me with a Pocket Book, for a New Years Gift," and "On my Beloved Husbands Birth Day" signed Louisa M J Crawford.

Dates: 1-18 January 1825

Unsigned letter to Matthew Crawford regarding the expenses of a Mr Henry V Crotty, 28 March 1829

 Item
Identifier: Coll-1839/2/1
Scope and Contents

Unsigned letter to Matthew Crawford detailing the expenses of a Mr Henry V Crotty and asking Mr Crawford's help in handling some bills on his behalf.

Dates: 28 March 1829

Untitled poem addressed to Miss Louisa Montagu in the hand of Matthew Crawford, 18 March 1817

 Item
Identifier: Coll-1839/1/2/2
Scope and Contents

Untitled twelve stanza poem addressed to Miss Louisa Montagu. Signed from "Antonius" but in the hand of Matthew Crawford. The first lines read, "For thee I fain would twine a wreath,- / A wreath so fragrant and so bright, / That all Arabia's sweets should breathe, / And all the rainbow's tints invite: / But thou, o'er ev'ry flower supreme, / Wouldst make it dead and scentless seem."

Dates: 18 March 1817

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