Difference between revisions of "Matthew Piper"
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| − | Matthew Piper was born and lived in Whitehaven in about 1730 and went to sea as a young man. His family were involved in the merchant trade with the Virginia colonies in the 18th century. He died in his lodgings on Scotch Street | + | Matthew Piper was born and lived in Whitehaven in about 1730 and went to sea as a young man. His family were involved in the merchant trade with the Virginia colonies in the 18th century. He died in his lodgings on Scotch Street Whitehaven on 24 October 1821 aged 91. His obituary (Cumberland Pacquet 22 October 1821) stated that he had 'amassed a considerable fortune by parsimonious economy'. He was a member of the Society of Friends. |
According to a newspaper account published at the time of his death in 1821 aged 93 "when on aboard he descended to the most servile offices for the meanest sailor for the sake of a penny". In short, Matthew Piper was the very model of a miser. In later life he was reputedly even reluctant to pay his board and lodgings of eight shillings (40 pence) a week. "If he happened to dine or drink tea abroad (i.e. not at his lodgings) he carefully calculated the proportionate expense and deducted it from his board!" The article goes on to give details of his one long lasting suit and ragged shirts which the washerwoman was obliged to mend for which she was rewarded with a grudging halfpenny. "Being faint a few days before his dissolution (death) it was proposed to administer a little brandy, at which he faltered out: "What will it cost?" When a relative called, he saluted him with: "Have you brought the interest?" "It's not due yet." "No," added the sick man, "and I'm not dead yet.". It was said that his whole annual expenses never amounted to more than £40! | According to a newspaper account published at the time of his death in 1821 aged 93 "when on aboard he descended to the most servile offices for the meanest sailor for the sake of a penny". In short, Matthew Piper was the very model of a miser. In later life he was reputedly even reluctant to pay his board and lodgings of eight shillings (40 pence) a week. "If he happened to dine or drink tea abroad (i.e. not at his lodgings) he carefully calculated the proportionate expense and deducted it from his board!" The article goes on to give details of his one long lasting suit and ragged shirts which the washerwoman was obliged to mend for which she was rewarded with a grudging halfpenny. "Being faint a few days before his dissolution (death) it was proposed to administer a little brandy, at which he faltered out: "What will it cost?" When a relative called, he saluted him with: "Have you brought the interest?" "It's not due yet." "No," added the sick man, "and I'm not dead yet.". It was said that his whole annual expenses never amounted to more than £40! | ||
| − | Despite his careful management in his personal life he set up a soup kitchen for the poor, endowed a marine school and an educational charity in Whitehaven. | + | Despite his careful management in his personal life he set up a soup kitchen for the poor, endowed a marine school and an educational charity in Whitehaven. The records of the charity form a fascinating record of charitable work and are held by Cumbria Archive Service |
| − | The Marine School was in Whitehaven High Street (now Piper's Court) and Rose Cottage nearby was purchased in 1864 to house the headmaster. It flourished for the remainder of the 19th century until overtaken by free primary education in 1891. Before being admitted boys had to be able to read the New Testament and be no more than eight years old. The maximum stay was five years. The complement of 60 poor boys were taught the three Rs as well as navigation - though there was no obligation to go to sea. On the school's closure in 1900 the proceeds were transferred to a fund which still survives in a modified form to provide educational scholarships to university for those in need who have attended one of the town centre primary schools. | + | The Marine School was in Whitehaven High Street (now Piper's Court) and Rose Cottage nearby was purchased in 1864 to house the headmaster. It flourished for the remainder of the 19th century until overtaken by free primary education in 1891. Before being admitted boys had to be able to read the New Testament and be no more than eight years old. The maximum stay was five years. The complement of 60 poor boys were taught the three Rs as well as navigation - though there was no obligation to go to sea. The curriculum, as outlined in some of the surviving records seems to be in accord with the subjects studied in Whitehaven with a view to boys becoming seamen or apprentices on merchant ships and the trust deed talks about equipping the boys with ‘Reading, Writing, Arithmetic, Guaging, Navigation and Bookkeeping’. On the school's closure in 1900 the proceeds were transferred to a fund which still survives in a modified form to provide educational scholarships to university for those in need who have attended one of the town centre primary schools. Whitehaven’s Marine School continued 'turning out ... well educated lads, whose reading, writing and 'rithmetic at Piper's School never cost their poor parents one penny' until 1908 when the school was sold and the money realised was used to purchase the site of the grammar school which was built in the same year. |
| − | + | As well as endowing the Marine School and the soup kitchen (which operated latterly from number 1 Mill Street, Whitehaven) in 1817 he also endowed Beast Banks (boys) National elementary school at Kendal ([[Central School]]) with £2,000 and another at Lancaster. His portrait hung over the master’s desk and the endowment in 1906 consisted of £2,159 (in five per cent annuities). The Boys' National School was built by subscription in 1818. The mayor and aldermen are the trustees, and Mr. Richard Roberts is the master of this large seminary, where upwards of 200 boys receive gratuitous instruction. Upwards of 200 females are educated by subscription, in the girls' school, which contains a separate room for the girls of the Blue Coal School. The mayor and aldermen are the trustees and Mr. Richard Roberts was the master. | |
Piper requested that his remains be buried under the centre of the floor of the National School in Kendal. When the hearse arrived there the 150 pupils processed down the [[Stricklandgate]] followed by the vicar, the Aldermen and other dignitaries and six post-chaises full of relatives. At the school there was no ceremony whatsoever and once the coffin had been laid in the stone-lined receptacle, the floor was simply reflagged. Each of the scholars was rewarded with a large biscuit! His obituary in the Cumberland Pacquet of October 29 sums him up as follows. "Though he denied to himself the pleasure of being an eyewitness of the benefits he thus conferred on society, it would be injustice to his memory to say he disposed of a part of his wealth for posthumous praise, as he disregarded popularity." | Piper requested that his remains be buried under the centre of the floor of the National School in Kendal. When the hearse arrived there the 150 pupils processed down the [[Stricklandgate]] followed by the vicar, the Aldermen and other dignitaries and six post-chaises full of relatives. At the school there was no ceremony whatsoever and once the coffin had been laid in the stone-lined receptacle, the floor was simply reflagged. Each of the scholars was rewarded with a large biscuit! His obituary in the Cumberland Pacquet of October 29 sums him up as follows. "Though he denied to himself the pleasure of being an eyewitness of the benefits he thus conferred on society, it would be injustice to his memory to say he disposed of a part of his wealth for posthumous praise, as he disregarded popularity." | ||
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| + | [https://cumbria.gov.uk/elibrary/Content/Internet/542/795/41379171038.PDF included a reference to Piper's Charity, Whitehaven] | ||
[[Category:Person]][[Category:Schools]][[Category:Soup Kitchen]] | [[Category:Person]][[Category:Schools]][[Category:Soup Kitchen]] | ||
Revision as of 12:02, 26 June 2024
Matthew Piper was born and lived in Whitehaven in about 1730 and went to sea as a young man. His family were involved in the merchant trade with the Virginia colonies in the 18th century. He died in his lodgings on Scotch Street Whitehaven on 24 October 1821 aged 91. His obituary (Cumberland Pacquet 22 October 1821) stated that he had 'amassed a considerable fortune by parsimonious economy'. He was a member of the Society of Friends.
According to a newspaper account published at the time of his death in 1821 aged 93 "when on aboard he descended to the most servile offices for the meanest sailor for the sake of a penny". In short, Matthew Piper was the very model of a miser. In later life he was reputedly even reluctant to pay his board and lodgings of eight shillings (40 pence) a week. "If he happened to dine or drink tea abroad (i.e. not at his lodgings) he carefully calculated the proportionate expense and deducted it from his board!" The article goes on to give details of his one long lasting suit and ragged shirts which the washerwoman was obliged to mend for which she was rewarded with a grudging halfpenny. "Being faint a few days before his dissolution (death) it was proposed to administer a little brandy, at which he faltered out: "What will it cost?" When a relative called, he saluted him with: "Have you brought the interest?" "It's not due yet." "No," added the sick man, "and I'm not dead yet.". It was said that his whole annual expenses never amounted to more than £40!
Despite his careful management in his personal life he set up a soup kitchen for the poor, endowed a marine school and an educational charity in Whitehaven. The records of the charity form a fascinating record of charitable work and are held by Cumbria Archive Service
The Marine School was in Whitehaven High Street (now Piper's Court) and Rose Cottage nearby was purchased in 1864 to house the headmaster. It flourished for the remainder of the 19th century until overtaken by free primary education in 1891. Before being admitted boys had to be able to read the New Testament and be no more than eight years old. The maximum stay was five years. The complement of 60 poor boys were taught the three Rs as well as navigation - though there was no obligation to go to sea. The curriculum, as outlined in some of the surviving records seems to be in accord with the subjects studied in Whitehaven with a view to boys becoming seamen or apprentices on merchant ships and the trust deed talks about equipping the boys with ‘Reading, Writing, Arithmetic, Guaging, Navigation and Bookkeeping’. On the school's closure in 1900 the proceeds were transferred to a fund which still survives in a modified form to provide educational scholarships to university for those in need who have attended one of the town centre primary schools. Whitehaven’s Marine School continued 'turning out ... well educated lads, whose reading, writing and 'rithmetic at Piper's School never cost their poor parents one penny' until 1908 when the school was sold and the money realised was used to purchase the site of the grammar school which was built in the same year.
As well as endowing the Marine School and the soup kitchen (which operated latterly from number 1 Mill Street, Whitehaven) in 1817 he also endowed Beast Banks (boys) National elementary school at Kendal (Central School) with £2,000 and another at Lancaster. His portrait hung over the master’s desk and the endowment in 1906 consisted of £2,159 (in five per cent annuities). The Boys' National School was built by subscription in 1818. The mayor and aldermen are the trustees, and Mr. Richard Roberts is the master of this large seminary, where upwards of 200 boys receive gratuitous instruction. Upwards of 200 females are educated by subscription, in the girls' school, which contains a separate room for the girls of the Blue Coal School. The mayor and aldermen are the trustees and Mr. Richard Roberts was the master.
Piper requested that his remains be buried under the centre of the floor of the National School in Kendal. When the hearse arrived there the 150 pupils processed down the Stricklandgate followed by the vicar, the Aldermen and other dignitaries and six post-chaises full of relatives. At the school there was no ceremony whatsoever and once the coffin had been laid in the stone-lined receptacle, the floor was simply reflagged. Each of the scholars was rewarded with a large biscuit! His obituary in the Cumberland Pacquet of October 29 sums him up as follows. "Though he denied to himself the pleasure of being an eyewitness of the benefits he thus conferred on society, it would be injustice to his memory to say he disposed of a part of his wealth for posthumous praise, as he disregarded popularity."
