Rowland Holt II

ROWLAND HOLT II

We can gain snippets of information about Rowland Holt II from the diaries and letters of local people.

From John Buxton, of Channonz Hall, Tibenham

Politics
Rowland Holt II stood for Parliament unsuccessfully in 1727, against the Tory candidates Sir William Barker of Grimston Hall (5th Baronet, 1685-1731) and Sir Jeremiah Davers of Rushbrooke Hall (4th Baronet, 1686-1743).

An illness
"Mr Holt who has been extreem ill is well recovered", wrote Sir John Buxton to his son Robert at Clare Hall, Cambridge, 15th Feb. 1728.

(See Mackley, A. (ed) (2005): 'John Buxton - Norfolk Gentleman and Architect. Letters to his Son 1719-1729'; Norfolk Record Society, Vol.LXIX)

From the diary of 'Honest Tom' Martin of Palgrave

An account of his death, 25th July 1739; aged 41

On Fryday the 13th July 1739, Rowld Holt of Redgrave Hall, Esq., was taken ill going to Bury with Rowland H (a youth of about 16 years of age) his eldest son, and returned home next day to Redgrave Hall, where he continued ill till Weds the 25th of ye same month and then abt 5 Minutes before 12 at Night dyed of a feavor (it was St James's Day at Night). His physicians were Dr Marsey, Dr Kerridge, and Dr Palgrave. Sir Benjamin Wrench was sent for but did not come. I was with him on the Monday in ye afternoon, but did not apprehend he was near his end. On Tuesday he sign'd his will, made by Mr Thurston of Ipswich. His son was sent for, but he did not see him. On Sunday night following about 12 o'clock he was Interred in the Vault at Redgrave very privately. Only an ordinary Herse and Coach without any Escutcheons. His own Six Horses Drew ye hearse. In the Coach were Mr Gibbs the Curate, Mr Hawes the Apothecary, Mr Daniel Meadows the Steward, and Mrs Meadows his wife. I was at the Funeral where there were (I presume) over 500 persons of low degree. But no Gentry. On his coffin was this Inscr. He would have been 42 years old had he Liv'd till the 13th of August next. He left a Widow and nine children Living....

Rowland Holt's funeral was attended by "over 500 persons of low degree" but no gentry. What are we to make of this? It has been suggested that the local gentry may have stayed away from political reasons if he was a Jacobite sympathiser. There are also several bits of circumstantial evidence which tend to support this idea.

There used to be a fine set of 18th century dining room chairs in the Holt-Wilson family which came from Redgrave Hall, and which had a sunflower motif - a reputed Jacobite symbol.
The Holt-Wilson family still owns a portrait of Prince Charles Edward Stuart (Bonnie Prince Charlie), the Young Pretender.
In the 18th century Scots Pine trees were said to indicate their owner's Jacobite sympathies (and Linden/Lime avenues symbolised Dutch William). Clumps of Scots Pine trees in Redgrave Park and an avenue lining the front drive to Broom Hills House, Rickinghall (the Dower House of the Hall) are said to have been planted in this connection.
In 1746 Rowland's eldest son, Rowland, went on a Grand Tour to Rome, and he and his friends are recorded as paying court to the Young Pretender (See Ingamells, J (1997): 'A Dictionary of British and Irish Travellers in Italy 1701-1800' (Yale University Press).