The Chutes and the Mildmays, neighbours of Jane Asten

the Vyne

 

Dogmersfield 

 

In the outer circle of their neighbourhood stood the houses of three peers--those of Lord Portsmouth at Hurstbourne, Lord Bolton at Hackwood, and Lord Dorchester at Greywell. The owners of these places now and then gave balls at home, and could also be relied upon to bring parties to some of the assemblies at Basingstoke. Hardly less important than these magnates were the Mildmays of Dogmersfield and the Chutes of The Vyne.         
                                                                      

Jane Mildmay

 

Born in 1764 Jane Mildmay was the eldest of Carew Mildmay and Jane Pescod’s three daughters.  Thanks to her wealthy (and childless) great uncle Carew Hervey Mildmay, Jane inherited her childhood home of Shawford House in Hampshire, plus estates in Essex and Somerset.The only condition was that her husband and any children of the marriage should take the name of Mildmay.  We know she was musically accomplished from the portrait of her playing the harp painted by Francis Riguard in 1785, the year before her marriage.  And we know she liked dancing because Jane Austen tells us in a letter to her sister Cassandra dated 1798 that Lady Jane St John Mildmay was among her party at the Basingstoke Assembly. 

 

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life and letters
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the Vyne

Jane Austen was also friendly with Thomas Chute's adoptive daughter Caroline Wiggit. Well-to-do eighteenth century families sometimes adopted young girls. The idea was to train a girl to look after her adoptive parents in their old age. Caroline was in this position, and she inspired the character of Fanny Price in Jane Austen's novel Mansfield Park.

 

Caroline Wiggett was “adopted” by Eliza and William Chute. Cousin to William Chute of The Vyne, and the youngest of seven motherless children, Caroline went to live at The Vyne when she was 3-and-half years old. Caroline always called them Aunt and Uncle Chute.
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