Cowbit

The Reverend John Steel of Cowbit and Dunsby.

Born ca. 1799 son of John Steel, and baptised 12 September 1799 at St Martin's, Lincoln. Died 16 October 1876 at Great Horkesley, Essex, where he is buried. Here is the text of a letter he wrote.

Educated at Uppingham and then Christ's College, Cambridge, where he matriculated 6 April 1818; B.A. 1822. Ordained deacon 22 September 1822 by the Bishop of Lincoln, and licensed to a curacy at Swayfield, Lincolnshire (stipend £80 and the surplice fees). Priest 1824. Seems then to have spent some time in Northallerton. Perpetual Curate of Cowbit 2 October 1827 - 1862 (enumerated there in 1861); Curate of Dunsby and Morton, Lincolnshire, 1834 - 1839; Curate of Tewin, Hertfordshire 1839 - 1843; Curate of Totteridge, Herts (enumerated there in 1851); Rector of Great Horkesley, near Colchester 1862 (presented by the Earl de Grey and Ripon; value £1,075 with residence), and domestic Chaplain to Earl Cowper. Author of The Truly Great Man: One who uses his riches for God's Glory and Reminiscences of a Friend: Addressed by a Minister to his People.

Presentation of Plate to the Rev. John Steel, by his late Parishioners of Dunsby and Morton. —This handsome present of a truly classical vase, elegantly wrought, and weighing 69 ounces, has this week been forwarded to Tewin, in Hertfordshire, where the rev. gentleman has gone to reside. The almost general feeling of deep regret at Mr. Steel's removal from the parishes of Dunsby and Morton, where he has officiated as curate during a period of five years, is one of the best tests that we can adduce of his usefulness; yet, as similar mementoes are now more frequent than formerly, a statement of the circumstances may not be mistimed, out of which grew this strong attachment between the minister and his congregations. In Dunsby, where Mr. Steel lately resided, his sphere was limited, the parish being small, yet there his best efforts were made and truly appreciated; but in Morton, with a population of 900, a wide field for the exercise of Christian duties was spread before him. At this place, though distant three miles from his residence, and with a stipend of only £50 per annum, the establishment of the Sunday school, which numbers upwards of 100 children, is mainly attributable to him. He instituted a week-day lecture, which was a source of special comfort to the aged and infirm poor; a clothing club has been set on foot mainly through his exertions, and a lending library, to which he gave many useful books; and, to crown all, his efforts were blessed by a well-attended church, and a threefold increase of communicants. "Hear this, O ye that scoff at the ordinances of the Lord, and count them as weariness; saying, "When will the new moon be gone, that we may sell corn, and the Sabbath, that we may set forth wheat?” Yes, hear it, we say; for, with the arch fiend the very threshold of your churches, this is not the time to cry “peace,” and convert the hallowed name of Saint into epithet of opprobrium.— Lincolnshire Chronicle. Falmouth Express and Colonial Journal, Saturday 07 December 1839

Testimonial. —The parishioners of Cowbit have subscribed for and purchased a silver salver, for presentation to the Rev. John Steel, who is about removing in consequence of having been presented to another living. The testimonial, which was procured of Mr. Briggs, bears the following inscription, viz.: 'Presented to the Rev. John Steel, upon his leaving Cowbit, by the parishioners and members of his deeply attached congregation, as a testimony of respect and esteem, and in acknowledgment of the spiritual good they have derived from his faithful ministry during the lengthened period of his residence amongst them.—July 24th, 1862." Stamford Mercury, Friday 01 August 1862

The Rev. John Steel, vicar of Great Horkesley, who has been ill for some time, has died in his 77th year. He was for a long time curate in sole charge of Totteridge, Herts, under Mr. Faithfull, one of the fathers of the Evangelical party. Chelmsford Chronicle, Friday 27 October 1876

Married firstly on 10 September 1828 at Northallerton, Yorkshire, to Elizabeth Blanshard, youngest daughter of Richard Blanshard of that place. She died 6 February 1843 at Tewin.

Issue two daughters and one son:

  1. Elizabeth Blanshard Steel, born in 1831 and baptised at Cowbit 31 July 1831. Died 22 December 1903 leaving £10,344, having lived in Bedford all her married life.

    Married at Totteridge, Hertfordshire, on 29 September 1853, to Leverton Jessopp. He was a solicitor, born at Cheshunt in Hertfordshire in 1825, and died 5 February 1900 at Bedford.

  2. Reverend John Steel, born about 1837 at Dunsby and died unmarried 15 October 1901 at Odell, Bedfordshire, leaving £12189. Educated at Rugby, then Balliol college, Oxford; B.A. 1860; M.A. 1865. Ordained deacon 1860 and priest 1861, then curate of Welby, Lincolnshire, 1860-1863, at Great Horkesley for his father, 1863-1869, and then Rector of Harrold, Bedfordshire 1869-1895 (Presented by the Countess Cowper; worth £3206 and a house). Rector of Odell, Befordshire 1895-1901.

    GREAT HORKESLEY—Gratifying Testimonial—A most gratifying testimonial was presented to the Rev. John Steel, jun., on Thursday, the 13th inst., by the parishioners of Great Horkesley, in a series of farewell presents. The first was a very elegant silver cream-jug from the domestic servants at the rectory; the second a handsomely-bound family bible from the master and pupils of the day and night schools and the third a beautiful Silver tea-pot from the parishioners generally. The latter was by the spontaneous wish of the poor readily acceded to by the rich. And to these offerings of a hearty regard was added the good wish and earnest prayer that a blessing might attend him in his new sphere of labor, and that a sense of the affectionate remembrance he had left behind him at Great Horkesley might serve as spur to further usefulness. The reverend gentleman is leaving a cure, where he has been for upwards of six years, on being presented to the vicarage of Harrold, Beds, by the Countess Cowper. The silver tea-pot, which was supplied by Mr. D. Hill, silversmith, of Colchester, bears the following inscription:- " Presented to the Rev. John Steel, jun., by the parishioners of Great Horkesley, upon his leaving the parish, as a token of their friendship and esteem. May 13, 1869. Chelmsford Chronicle,Friday 21 May 1869

  3. Charlotte Anne Steel, born at Dunsby in 1838, and died at Falmouth 5 May 1922. Resided at Lansdowne House, Falmouth, from 1881 at the latest.

    Married at Great Horkesley, Essex, on 5 August 1863 to Charles Fitzgerald. he was born 30 August 1834 at Ogonells, County Clare, Ireland, and died 24 December 1920 at Falmouth leaving £27,437.

    A CRIMEAN VETERAN. Death of Major Gen. C. Fitz=Gerald. After a brief illness, Major-General Charles Fitz-Gerald has died at his residence, Falmouth. The deceased was born on August 30th, 1834, at Ogonnells, Co. Clare, and joined the 49th Regt. in 1854. In 1873 he was promoted to Colonel, and retired on halfpay in October, 1878, being granted the rank of Major-General in 1883. He served in the Crimean War from November, 1854, to July, 1856, and was engaged in the taking of the Quarries and in the siege operations. He also took part in the attack on the Redan, and was present at the fall of Sebastopol on September 9th, 1855. Major-General Fitz-Gerald received the Crimean Medal and the Turkish Order of the Medjidie, and was specially mentioned in despatches. He also saw many years service in the West Indies and in India. In 1911 deceased received an extra pension for distinguished and meritorious service. The late Major-General was greatly esteemed by his fellow townsfolk in Falmouth, he having been a regular and devoted supporter of all charities. He leaves a widow and one son (the Rev. Charles Fitz-Gerald, who has just returned from Palestine). Portsmouth Evening News, Friday 31 December 1920

Married secondly at St. Pancras Church, London, on 6 December 1853 to Maria Jessopp (in the presence of Leverton Jessopp and Charlotte Anne Steel). She was born in 1815 and baptised at Quarrington, Lincolnshire, 17 June 1815. Died aged 86 on 25 December 1901 at Lansdowne House, Falmouth, though living at Odell rectory with her stepson John.

At St. Pancras, on the 6th inst., (by the Rev. F.J. Faithfull, the rector of Hatfield) the Rev. John Steel, P.C., of Cowbit, near Spalding, to Miss M. Jessopp, of Totteridge, Herts. Lincolnshire Chronicle, Friday 09 December 1853

Issue two sons:

  1. Charles Perigal Steel. Born at Cowbit 29 April 1855, and baptised there 18 May 1855; recorded there in 1861. Educated at Marlborough School, where he died 22 March 1870. Buried at Preshute in Wiltshire 27 March 1870.

  2. Herbert Bouyer Steel. Born at Cowbit 30 July 1856, and recorded there in 1861. Also educated at Marlborough School, where he died 4 April 1870. Buried at Preshute in Wiltshire 7 April 1870.

There is a stained glass window in the church at Great Horkesley to these two children:

In affectionate remembrance / Of two dearly beloved children / Whom God in his wisdom and love / Saw fit to take to a better land / Charles Perigal Steel died 22nd March 1870 aged 14 years / Herbert Bouyer Steel died 4th April 1870 aged 13 years / Sons of the Rev John Steel Rector of this parish