MS 681 11
Reference code
MS 681 11
Title
Moulton-Barrett family papers: Papers of Charles John (Storm) Moulton-Barrett (1814-1905)
Level
Series
Administrative / Biographical history
Charles John Moulton-Barrett (1814-1905), known as Storm or Stormy, was the seventh child of Edward and Mary Moulton-Barrett. He studied at Glasgow University around 1833 but did not graduate due to a speech impediment.
In early 1838, Storm travelled to Jamaica with his brother Sam, who managed the family’s Cinnamon Hill estates, while Storm took charge of the Cambridge estate. After Sam’s death in 1840, Storm remained in Jamaica as the family’s sole representative for six years. After travelling to Egypt with his brother Henry in 1844, he continued to divide his time between Jamaica and England for the remainder of his life.
Following their father’s death in 1857, Storm became the principal heir to the Moulton-Barrett estates and fortune. That same year, he formed a relationship with his first cousin Elizabeth Barrett, a woman of mixed race and daughter of his uncle Samuel Moulton-Barrett. Together they had two daughters, Eva (1857-) and Arabella (Bel) Moulton-Barrett (1860-1953), but he did not formalise this union.
Storm leased Bryngwyn near Oswestry in Shropshire from 1858 and returned to Jamaica in 1859, where his brother Septimus later joined him to help manage the estates. He lived with his daughter Arabella at Clifton, near Falmouth, and at The Retreat. In 1863 he married Anne Margaret Young, the mixed-race governess of his children, but the marriage was short-lived. He returned to England in 1867 and returned to Jamaica on the death of Septimus in 1870.
In 1878, Storm sold Cinnamon Hill, and by 1884 the remaining estates - Oxford, Cambridge, and Retreat - were sold to cover debts accumulated by Septimus. He was the last family member to live on the Jamaican estates. Storm and his daughters later converted to Catholicism. He died in 1905 at Retreat Pen.
In early 1838, Storm travelled to Jamaica with his brother Sam, who managed the family’s Cinnamon Hill estates, while Storm took charge of the Cambridge estate. After Sam’s death in 1840, Storm remained in Jamaica as the family’s sole representative for six years. After travelling to Egypt with his brother Henry in 1844, he continued to divide his time between Jamaica and England for the remainder of his life.
Following their father’s death in 1857, Storm became the principal heir to the Moulton-Barrett estates and fortune. That same year, he formed a relationship with his first cousin Elizabeth Barrett, a woman of mixed race and daughter of his uncle Samuel Moulton-Barrett. Together they had two daughters, Eva (1857-) and Arabella (Bel) Moulton-Barrett (1860-1953), but he did not formalise this union.
Storm leased Bryngwyn near Oswestry in Shropshire from 1858 and returned to Jamaica in 1859, where his brother Septimus later joined him to help manage the estates. He lived with his daughter Arabella at Clifton, near Falmouth, and at The Retreat. In 1863 he married Anne Margaret Young, the mixed-race governess of his children, but the marriage was short-lived. He returned to England in 1867 and returned to Jamaica on the death of Septimus in 1870.
In 1878, Storm sold Cinnamon Hill, and by 1884 the remaining estates - Oxford, Cambridge, and Retreat - were sold to cover debts accumulated by Septimus. He was the last family member to live on the Jamaican estates. Storm and his daughters later converted to Catholicism. He died in 1905 at Retreat Pen.
Date
1821-1870
Extent & medium
3 items
Content description
The series comprises a few childhood letters from Storm to his sister Elizabeth, a receipt and letter to his brother Alfred
Associated material
Some letters of Storm to his brother Alfred are in Alfred’s papers MS ??.
Portraits in oils of the Moulton-Barrett children by William Artaud, including Charles John (Storm) aged about 4, are at MS 681 04 05 11 and MS 681 04 05 12.
There are photographs of Charles John (Storm) Moulton-Barrett in the album MS 681 16 06 01, f.6 and in the album MS 681 15 03 01, f.6 and also in this album is one of his daughter Arabella Moulton-Barrett. There are also photographs of Arabella and Eva in the album MS 681 15 03 01, f.32
Portraits in oils of the Moulton-Barrett children by William Artaud, including Charles John (Storm) aged about 4, are at MS 681 04 05 11 and MS 681 04 05 12.
There are photographs of Charles John (Storm) Moulton-Barrett in the album MS 681 16 06 01, f.6 and in the album MS 681 15 03 01, f.6 and also in this album is one of his daughter Arabella Moulton-Barrett. There are also photographs of Arabella and Eva in the album MS 681 15 03 01, f.32
Publication note
These papers have been published or cited in Kelley, Hudson et al.: The Brownings’ Correspondence Vols 1-31, 1809-1865 - as Letter numbers or ‘Supporting Documents’ (SDs) Nos. Also, transcripts of some letters and documents have been published online at www.browningscorrespondence.com
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Number 11 of 27 at this Level
Beneath this record in the archive hierarchy
- Papers of Charles John Moulton-Barrett: Birthday note and sketch for his sister Elizabeth, MS 681 11 01, (8 Dec 1821)
- Papers of Charles John Moulton-Barrett: Rent receipt, MS 681 11 02, (25 Mar 1860)
- Papers of Charles John Moulton-Barrett: Letter from Charles John Moulton-Barrett to his brother Alfred, MS 681 11 03, (10 Apr 1870)