Exhibition: The History of Walton Hall

Owners of Walton Hall: the Pinfolds

Maria Dorothea Pinfold (1771-1774)

Maria Dorothea was the eldest daughter of Joseph and Martha Pinfold. She was born on 13 November 1771 and baptised a month later at St George’s Church, Hanover Square in London on 16 December. Maria died at the age of only 3 years old and was buried at St Nicholas Church, Thames Ditton, Surrey on 19 May 1774. At the time of her death the family were residents of Bolton Row, London.

 

Arabella Pinfold (1773-1844)

Arabella was the second eldest daughter of Joseph and Martha Pinfold. She was born on 9 January 1773 and baptised a month later at St George’s Church, Hanover Square in London on 6 February. In 1806 following the death of her mother, Arabella was made sole executrix of her will. She never married and died at the age of 71 on 12 July 1844. She was buried at Walton on 18 July 1844. Her headstone still exists and includes an inscription to her brother Charles who died 13 years later and was buried with her. It appears that Arabella was well thought of and loved by her family as there is an impressive memorial to her on the wall of St Michael’s Church, erected by her brother Charles and her sister Louisa. Shown on this page, the inscription on the monument reads:

“To the glory of God

Sacred to the memory of

ARABELLA PINFOLD

eldest daughter of the late

Joseph Pinfold Esq.

and Martha his wife

Her life was spent in doing good

She was endowed with a powerful mind,

ever useful and kind to rich and poor

She died July 12^th 1844

Beloved and regretted by all who knew her,

especially valued

by her near relatives and friends,

whom she ever gladdened

with her cheerful spirit.

This tablet erected by

her affectionate brother and sister

 

Charlotte Pinfold (1774-?)

Charlotte was the third daughter of Joseph and Martha Pinfold to be born. She was born on 25 January 1774 and baptised a month later at St George’s Church, Hanover Square in London on 22 February. It is unknown when Charlotte died but she isn’t mentioned in her mother’s will of 1806 so presumably had died before then.

 

Louisa Pinfold (c.1775-1861)

Louisa was the fourth daughter of Joseph and Martha Pinfold. She was baptised at St George’s Church, Hanover Square in London on 7 April 1775. In later life she took the additional surname of Tate although she never married. The Pinfold family were related to the Tate family who had lived at Burleigh Hall in Leicestershire since 1700. Owner of the estate George Tate died in 1822, his only daughter Mary Tate died unmarried in 1849. Louisa Pinfold was a cousin of Mary’s and an executor of Mary’s will. Following Mary's death Louisa was granted permission to use the surname Tate as described in an extract from ‘Bulletins and Other State Intelligence’ which was published in the London Gazette: 

“Whitehall, July 17, 1849. The Queen has been pleased to grant unto Louisa Pinfold, of Wimpole-street, in the parish of Saint Mary-le-bone, in the county of Middlesex, and of Burleigh-hall, in the parish of Loughborough, in the county of Leicester, Spinster, Her royal licence and authority that, in compliance with an earnest wish expressed in the last will and testament of her cousin, George Tate, late of Langdown, in the county of Southampton, Esq. deceased, she may henceforth take and use the surname of Tate, in addition to and after her present surname of Pinfold, and may also bear the arms of Tate quarterly with those of Pinfold; such arms being first duly exemplified according to the laws of arms, and recorded in the Herald’s Office, otherwise the said licence to be void and of none effect.”

In 1852 Louisa commissioned the erection of a stained glass window in Emmanuel Church, Loughborough in memory of Mary Tate who was a benefactor to the church. The inscription reads: “This window was erected in affectionate remembrance by her cousin and friend, Louisa Pinfold Tate, Anno Domini, 1851”.  

According to the censuses, between 1841 and 1861 Louisa resided at 77 Wimpole Street, London. Her sister Arabella and brother Charles lived with her until their deaths. Louisa became blind in old age and died at the age of 86 on 21 July 1861 at 77 Wimpole Street. She was buried at Walton on 26 July 1861. There is a small memorial to her in St Michael’s Church which was erected by her great niece and Goddaughter Fanny Maria Pinfold.

 

Harriot Pinfold (1779-1779)

Harriot Pinfold was the fifth daughter and youngest child of Joseph and Martha Pinfold. She was baptised on 4 June 1779 in the parish of St Andrews, Chippenham in Wiltshire and sadly died shortly afterwards. She was buried at the same parish on the 9 June. In her will dated 1806, Martha refers to her “poor infant Harriet was buried at Chippenham Wilts near the altar”, far from Walton.