Robert Petre, 9th Baron Petre

Robert Edward Petre, 9th Baron Petre (March 1742 – July 1801) was a British peer and prominent member of the English Roman Catholic nobility. He hailed from an extraordinarily affluent family and devoted himself to philanthropic endeavors. Lord Petre played a crucial role in commissioning James Paine to design a new Thorndon Hall as well as a house in Mayfair.

Early life Lord Petre was born in Ingatestone Hall, about five months prior to the death of his father, who succumbed to smallpox at the age of 29. He was the son of Robert James Petre, 8th Baron Petre (1713–1742), a renowned horticulturist, and Lady Henrietta Anna Mary Barbara Radclyffe. His mother was his guardian until she died in 1760. a daughter and co-heiress of Philip Howard of Buckenham Tofts in Norfolk, younger brother of Edward Howard, 9th Duke of Norfolk (1686–1777). When the 9th Duke died without issue, his niece, Anne Howard, became co-heir with her sister Winifred Howard to various baronies, but not to the dukedom, which went to a distant male cousin.

The couple were both minors when they were married at the house of Hon. Thomas Howard in Golden Square, Soho, by Samuel Nicolls, the then Rector of St James's Church, Westminster.

Julia Maria Petre (–1844), who married Sir Samuel Brooke-Pechell, 3rd Baronet.

There is also a suggestion of an extramarital affair. An American family who go by the name of Rumball-Petre claims to be descendants of an illegitimate liaison between Robert and an unnamed lady of quality. Thomas, the offspring of this union, was fostered, so the story goes, with George Rumball, one of Robert's tenants, and his descendants subsequently emigrated to America. There is some circumstantial evidence to substantiate the tale. A family called Rumball did indeed occupy Begrum's Farm, at Mountnessing, on the Petre estate of Ingatestone Hall in the 18th century and the supposed portrait of Thomas as a boy, which is in the possession of the Rumball-Petres, shows him far too richly costumed to be the son of a humble tenant farmer. Their prize exhibit is, however, a journal allegedly kept by the boy's mother. Unfortunately, this now survives only as a printed and obviously heavily edited version and so it is impossible to determine its authenticity; in particular, for reasons of supposed delicacy, all names referred to in the text have been excised. As a result, although the father of the lady's child is referred to as 'the Baron', there is little to identify him with Robert Petre, apart from the fact that one of the philosophical reflections in the journal is entitled 'Sans Dieu Rien', the Petre family motto. Indeed, it is only too likely that the whole thing is a flight of Victorian fancy; the lady herself is described as lodging in the household of 'the Old Earl' somewhere near Epping. As far as can be ascertained, there were no old Earls anywhere near Epping in the 18th century. Examination of the Land Tax records for Begrum's shows that the Samuel family were in residence from at least 1792 until William Samuel's death in 1818. The MI of his tombstone in St. Giles, Mountnessing reads: Sacred to the memory of Mr William Samuel, late of Begrums Farm in this parish. His Will allowed two of his sons, James Samuel and Charles Samuel jointly to carry on work and manage his said two farms. These records show James in occupation of Charity lands until 1830. This was the description of his father's home from 1813 until he died. The first mention of Rumball living here was not until 1838 Begrum's Lord Petre Thos Rumball 118.3.2 , confirmed by the 1841 census, Thomas was born about 1790, not in Essex, but if it is him still living in Mountnessing in 1851, then he was born in Oxburgh, Norfolk. By 1851 another family were in residence and the Rumballs never worked there again.

Death and funeral

Robert died on 2 July 1801. He departed this life as he had lived, in grand style. Accompanying the hearse were three divisions of the Ingatestone & Brentwood Volunteers, two companies of Pioneers, two Artillery field pieces and the band of the Royal Buckinghamshire Regiment together with thirty mutes and cloak men, Robert's tenants, two by two, the post-chaise and two carriages from the Thorndon stables, seven mourning coaches, each drawn by six horses, carrying members of the family, clergy and household and a host of outriders, grooms and other mourners. The Chelmsford Chronicle reported the funeral procession on Friday 10 July 1801 thus;

On Thursday Evening the 2d Inst died the Right Honble Lord Petre, Baron of Writtle, in the County of Essex in the 60th year of his age – and yesterday his remains were conveyed to the Family vault, at Ingatestone, for interment attended by his numerous relatives, friends, and tenants, and accompanied by the Corps of Volunteers and Pioneers, which he had raised and patronised in the most zealous and liberal manner for the defence of his Country when threatened by a foreign Invasion. The procession began from Thorndon Hall, between 11 & 12 o'clock in the following order: the two field pieces firing minute guns until the procession was through the park.

Two mutes as Conductors. Four Cloak men. State lid of Black Feathers. Tenants two by two. Two mutes as Conductors to Banner. Four cloak men. Great Banner. Two Cloak men. Two Banner Rolls. Two Cloak men. Two Banner Rolls. Two Cloak men. Two mutes as Conductors to the Military. Four Cloak men. Captain Forbes, on Horseback. First Company of Pioneers in File at double open order. Captain Mason on Horseback. Second Company of Pioneers, in file at double open order. Captain Vassar of the Artillery on Horseback.

Artillerymen in file at double open order with. Field piece. Field piece. Ammunition Wagon. Frugal Man. Major Havers on horseback. Third Division of Volunteers, in file at double open order. Lieutenant Woodgate in the Centre of the Rear file Second Division of Volunteers in file at double open order. Lieutenant Newman in the centre of the rear file. Lieutenant Manby in the centre of the 2nd Division supported by two Sergeants. First Division of Volunteers, in file in double open order. Captain Sidney in the centre of the rear file. Quarter Master Wright, on Horseback. Band of the Royal Bucks, in file, double open order. Two mutes as Conductors to State Horse. Four Horsemen with Cloaks. Mr Stewart, on the State Horse, covered with velvet, with coronet & Cushion. Hearse & Six Horses.

First mourning coach & six Supporter Containing Supporter. B. Havard Esq. LORD PETRE chief mourner G. Petre Esq.

Second mourning coach & six Containing Col. Howard – Col. Onslow and Thos. Heneage Esq.

Third mourning coach & six Containing Sir Francis Molyneux, Sir John Throckmorton, Captain Burch & Mr. Baker

Fourth mourning coach & six Supporter Containing Supporter Revd J Newman Rev. J. Lewis Officiating minister and Rev. Mr. Newman senior. Revd T Newman

Fifth mourning coach & six Containing Revd. Mr. Julian, Revd. Mr. Crosby, Revd. Mr. Cole Revd. Mr. Maton, Revd. Mr. Fleury

Sixth mourning coach & six Containing Mr Tappin, House Steward, Mr. Fletcher Gentleman, Mr. Grey Butler, Mr. Smith Gardener

Late Lord Petre's coach & six horses & three footmen. Four grooms outriders. Lord Petre's post chaise & Four Horses. Two grooms outriders. Two carriages of the family. Mr Haver's carriage. Assistant Chief Steward, to his Lordship. Right Honourable Countess of Waldegrave. Thomas Wright Esq. John Manby Esq.- Gillum Esq. – Selby Esq. Miss Nightingale. Doctor Kirkland. Captain Forbes. John Lodge Esq. – Baker Esq.Brand Hollis Esq.

When within a mile of the place of interment, the field pieces being moved continued firing minute guns till the procession arrived at the church, where the Burial Service was performed in the most impressive and solemn manner, by the Rev. John Lewis, in the midst of the largest concourse of all classes of people, probably ever assembled on a like occasion, vying with each other in paying him the last tribute of respect and veneration. On the signal given that the body was deposited, three volleys were immediately fired by the field pieces of volunteers, over the grave of their much-valued and lamented founder & patron. The whole was conducted with the utmost precision and regularity & without the smallest interruption although the procession considerably exceeded a mile in length.

On 21 July, a solemn requiem high mass was offered in the chapel of the Elector of Bavaria in Warwick Street.

For the Petre family, at any rate, Robert's death marked the end of an era. His lifetime had been the apogee of the family fortunes and they were never again to aspire to such affluence. In a more general sense, too, his death was a watershed. The gathering pace of the Industrial Revolution and the emergence of an enfranchised middle class signalled the end of the comfortable paternalism of the squirearchy as focus, patron and protector of the community. This was particularly the case for Roman Catholics; it had been a feature of the Penal Times that ordinary Roman Catholics had clustered in communities where they could enjoy the patronage and protection of the Roman Catholic gentry but, now that the process of emancipation had begun, such patronage and protection was of less consequence and the Roman Catholic gentry lost much of their influence.