The branch of the Allnatt family relating to Henry Salt lived in Wem and Shrewsbury, Shropshire. In Arthur H. Noble’s privately published book ‘The Families of Allnutt and Allnatt’ he records that the family origins can be traced to the south of England.
Charles Blake Allnatt
Charles Blake Allnatt (29 May 1792 – 17 January 1862) was a barrister and the grandfather of Henry Salt.
He was born in Wallingford, Berkshire, the first child of Charles Atherton Allnatt and Martha Blake. On 17 February 1818 he married Elizabeth Sophia Möller at Wem, Shropshire. The marriage produce seven children, the oldest of which was Ellen Matilda Allnatt – Henry Salt’s mother.
Henry Salt’s childhood was spent at the Allnatt home at 23 The Crescent, Shrewsbury.
Charles Blake Allnatt wrote legal works including one on the Law of Parition. He inherited land under his father’s will but probably disposed of it to his brother John Joseph Allnatt.
Charles Blake Allnatt was “shy,” “sensitive,” and “whimsical,” qualities inherited by his grandson. Charles died on 17 January 1862 at The Crescent and was he was buried at St Chad, Montford, Shropshire.
Charles Franics Allnatt
Charles Francis Allnatt (9 August 1837 – 1 June 1903) was born on 9th August 1837 in Shrewsbury, Shropshire, the only son of Charles Blake Allnatt and Elizabeth Sophia Möller.
He died aged 65 on 1st June 1903 in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire.
His will suggests he was a very devout man as he left several bequests to religious people.
In Company I Have Kept Henry Salt tells that Charles implied he would be a beneficiary of his will but he would have to guarantee the removal of Charle’s head after he died. Salt declined. Charles’s will confirms he found someone else to undertake the task:
“I bequest the sum of ten guineas (£10. 10. 0) to Doctor Johns, 3 Lansdown Place, Cheltenham or to such other competent and well qualified medical man as shall supply his place in thoroughly and efficiently carrying out after my death and before the removal of my body from the house in which I may happen to die a Post Mortem examination of my body including especially a Post Mortem examination of my heart and the complete severance of the head from the spinal column (the said operation to be carried out to the entire satisfaction of the trustees and Executors who act for me). And to the Landlady of the house in which I may happen to die, I bequest the sum of five pounds (£5) in compensation for the trouble caused her in allowing the said work to be carried out in her house.”
Judith and Rachel Salt may have helped provide some context to Charles’s strange request. Their relative Agnes Salt (1833-1923) remembered:
“Sarah Bolde (1735-1813) at the age of sixteen had an attack of catalepsy, and was believe to be dead. Just before the coffin, in which she lay was fastened down, some slight sympton of life was observed, and at once efforts were made to bring her back to consciouness — and with success. When later she learned how nearly she had been buriel alive, she was so much scared of a recurrance of such an illness that she made her relations promise that she would not be buried until a doctor could certify her death absolutely. In 1813 she went to visit her daughter and son-in-law, Mr & Mrs George Moultrie, then living at Hopton Court, Shropshire, where for two years Mr Moultrie exchanged his living of Cleobury Mortimer with the rector of Hapton Court. She was taken ill there, and died a few days later, but for a whole fortnight Mr Pope, the doctor of Cleobury Mortimer, had trouble getting over to Hopton Court, a long and very hilly journey, before he could certify her death.”
The case of Sarah Bolde wasn’t an isolated case, in the Nineteenth Century and After (1907-10, pp. 544-559) there was a detailed article on the same subject entitled “Premature Burial and the Only True Signs of Death.”
Emily Augusta Allnatt
Lady Durand (1826–1905)
Emily Augusta Allnatt was the daughter of Charles Blake Allnatt, of Shrewsbury. Emily was married firstly to Rev. Henry Polehampton, whom she accompanied to India. Reverend and Mrs Polehampton were present during the siege of the British residency at Lucknow during the Mutiny (1857), where her husband eventually died after being hit by musket shot, and was evacuated to Allahabad.
She then became the second wife (1859) of the noted civil servant and diplomat, Sir Henry Marion Durand (1812–1871), to whom she bore two daughters, Ethel Durand (1860–1933), married firstly James Sligo Jameson (died 1888), of Glen Lodge, Sligo, and secondly, Roberto, Conte di Villamarina (died 1916), and Muriel Durand (died 1933), who remained unmarried. The Dowager Lady Durand survived her second husband over three decades (1871–1905). She was stepmother to Sir Edward Law Durand, first baronet (1845–1920) and Sir Henry Mortimer Durand (1850–1924). Lady Durand died (March 30, 1905) aged seventy-eight.
Elizabeth Sophia Allnatt (née Möller)
Details Coming Soon…
Martha Allnatt (nee Blake)
Details Coming Soon…