Transcript

Of

George Stawell [Obituary]

Trans. Devon. Assoc. vol. 47, (1915), p. 58

by

Maxwell Adams (Ed.)

Prepared by Michael Steer

The obituary was read at the Association’s July 1915 Exeter meeting. Mr Stawell was great grandson of the celebrated Mrs Mary Palmer, author of “Devonshire Dialogue”, considered by the Dictionary of National Biography (1895), to be the "best piece of literature in the vernacular of Devon. She was also sister to Joshua Reynolds. Sir Joshua painted two portraits of Mary, both of which descended to George Stawell .  Information about Mr Stawell, Mrs Palmer and the portraits is available in Wikipedia. The obituary, from a copy of a rare and much sought-after journal can be downloaded from the Internet Archive. Google has sponsored the digitisation of books from several libraries. These books, on which copyright has expired, are available for free educational and research use, both as individual books and as full collections to aid researchers.

Mr. Stawell was the youngest son of Mr. Charles Richard Jones, M.D. (a medical practitioner in Torrington and a member of the Devonshire Association 1875-79), and Charlotte Caroline Jones (nee Stawell). Through the latter he was related to the old Quantock family of Stawells and Palmers - names well known and respected in Devon. Born at Torrington in March, 1854, and educated at Epsom College, he chose the law as his profession and for some years practised in Plymouth. After the death of his uncle, Colonel John Palmer, of Torrington, who left him his house, he took up his residence therein, and continued to practise in the town. As a young man, and being a distant relative of Sir Joshua Reynolds, the artist, he joined the Artists Corps in London, under Lord (then Sir Frederick) Leighton, colonel of the corps, and Mr. Valentine Prinsep, the captain. Mr. Stawell’s last speech in public was made only a few weeks before his death, outside the Town Hall, Torrington, when he made a stirring appeal for recruits to join Lord Kitchener's Army. He held a high position in the Freemasons' "Lodge Sincerity," Plymouth, and for many years was one of the managers of the Great Torrington Council Schools.
Mr. Stawell became a member of the Association in 1899. He died suddenly of heart disease at his residence, Penhallam, on 10 December, 1914.