To Cassandra, from Steventon, "Charles Powlett gave a dance on Thursday, to the great disturbance of all his neighbours, of course, who, you know, take a most lively interest in the state of his finances, and live in hopes of his being soon ruined." - Jane Austen, Saturday 1-Sunday 2 December 1798
Charles Powlett was brought up mostly by his Uncle Percy Powlett at the ducal home of Hackwood Park in Basingstoke, where 'he became acquainted with rank and fashion in abundance, which somewhat unsettled him for the sphere to which his ill-starred fortunes destined him'. He entered Cambridge but did not graduate, held various Bolton family livings as the rector and at one point he took in students.
He married Anne ('Nancy') Temple in 1796 and they had several children.
He passed away in 1834, but "a premature obituary notice for Revd Charles Powlett appeared in the GM for 1830, ii, 471; while acknowledging that he was 'cheerful, benevolent, conscientious, and virtuous', the anonymous biographer added that 'His person was diminutive, and his limbs not well formed. He had a quick apprehension, and an excellent memory; but he was somewhat deficient in judgment and profundity. His opinions were apt to run to extremes, and to be lightly taken up, and lightly abandoned. He was a little too free of his advise, which was given with a self-sufficiency not always well received,'. This might explain the opinion of his neighbors.
The Lefroys and Lyfords are mentioned in a number of his letters that survive.
The following link shows pictures of the current day Hackwood Park. It is a beautiful estate and it is up for sale. Take a look.
http://www.carterjonas.co.uk/properties-for-sale/basingstoke/hampshire/PET120036.html
I hope you enjoy your day today!
Terrie
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