by linell » Tue Nov 23, 2010 6:22 pm
From 'The History of the Black Country:-
The descendants of the Poet James Woodhouse, under the name Samuel Woodhouse, have been great pioneers in the art of Chain Making. The history of Chain Manufacture would be almost complete in a history of the Woodhouse family. They have also been great benefactors to the Borough, both in Church, Social Life and Education.'
James Woodhouse Poet of Rowley was born in Rowley Regis in 1735 and died in London 1820. His parents names were Joseph and Mary. The Parish Registers date back to the suppression of the Monasteries by King Henry V111. The family name can be traced to the earliest dates. The Poet himself claims such descent in the lines 'Freehold enough to bear above the crowd' 'Yet not enough to make their spirits proud.' That he of old Yeoman stock and cultivated a small farm which had been in the family for three hundred years, and the Parish Register confirms this.
It is said that James Woodhouse being attacked by a ferocious bull, so belaboured it with a big stick that it lay down and fairly cried for mercy. He left School at the age of 8 and was a self educated man. He was a contemporary and friend of William Shenstone. He stood 6' 6" in height. Shenstone employed James Woodhouse in laying out his estate, later he became land steward to Lord Montague and Lord Lyttleton, who became his patrons. He superintended the building of Montague House, Portman Sqauare, and tells in verse the difficulties of his position. The two Gentlemen were God Fathers's to his eldest son George Edward. In 1803 he moved to London and kept a book-sellers shop in Grosvenor Square. His death in 1820 was hastened by being knocked down by a pole of a carriage whilst crossing Oxford Street. It is interesting to note that the great Doctor Johnson met James Woodhouse at the home of a mutual friend, although Dr Johnson regarded Woodhouse as a 'Wild Man from the Country' and spoke disparagingly of the rhymster, yet he afterwards modified his judgement. An account of this interview took place in Blackwood's Magazine, November 1829. Dr Johnson's advice to Woodhouse appears to have been, 'give days and nights, sir, to the study of Addison.'
Linell.
Last edited by
linell on Tue Nov 23, 2010 6:38 pm, edited 1 time in total.