Revd John Rawstorn Papillon

Revd John Rawstorn Papillon

 

On Friday 9 December 1808 Jane Austen wrote to her sister Cassandra about their move from Southampton to Chawton in Hampshire to a house on the estate of her, wealthy brother Edward, who had been adopted by rich, childless relatives, the Knights. Mrs. Knight had suggested that the local rector, John Papillon, would be a good catch for Jane as a husband. Jane wrote,

'I am very much obliged to Mrs. Knight for such a proof of the interest she takes in me, and she may depend upon it that I will marry Mr. Papillon, whatever may be his reluctance or my own. I owe her much more than such a trifling sacrifice.'

The family joke was still continuing in December 1816 when Jane wrote to her nephew, 'I am happy to tell you that Mr Papillon will soon make his offer, probably next Monday, as he returns on Saturday. - His intentions can be no longer doubtful in the smallest degree, as he has secured the refusal of the House which Mrs Baverstock at present occupies in Chawton & is to vacate soon, which is of course intended for Mrs Elizth Papillon.'          
 

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The Papillons were Huguenots.  Title: Rev 1 2 3 Name: John Rawstorn PAPILLON 1 2 3 Sex: M Note: John's middle name is customarily spelt 'Rawstone', or 'Rawston.' However the spelling recorded here appears to be correct - it is, for example, the version given in the record of Cambridge alumni, and on his Will. This name entered the family with the marriage of John's great-great-aunt Sarah Papillon to Samuel Rawstorne in 1683. No doubt he was given the name because of an arrangement with his Godmother, Anne Rawstorne, that he should inherit the estate of Lexden from her. 1 3 2 Birth: 1763 2 3 Education: Papillon, John Rawstorn Adm. pens. at QUEENS', Dec. 22, 1781. Of Kent. [S. of David, of Acrise and Lee.] Matric. Michs. 1784; Scholar, 1786; B.A. 1786; M.A. 1789. Fellow, 1788. V. of Tonbridge, 1791-1804. R. of Chawton, Hants., 1802-36. Jane Austen and her mother and sister were living at Chawton at this time, and there are numerous references to Papillon and his sister in her letters. The living was in the gift of her brother Edward. Brother of Thomas. (Foster, Index Eccles.; Clerical Guide.) 1781 1 Death: 04 APR 1837 Note: He was buried at Lexden, which Manor and Estate he had inherited from his godmother and second-cousin-once-removed, Anne Rawstorne. He later devised the property to his sister Elizabeth, for life, with Remainder to his great-nephew Philip Oxenden Papillon.

In 1794, the Revd John Rawstorn Papillon was given first refusal of the Rectory of Chawton, Hampshire, at the next vacancy i.e. at the death of the then incumbent, the Revd John Hinton. However, if he did not wish to accept the living, it was stated that it should be offered to Henry Austen, Jane's brother. Although Henry was with his regiment in East Anglia, he quite liked his original idea of ordination and asked his brother Edward Knight to buy Mr Papillon's refusal in advance of the vacancy occurring. Edward offered up to œ1,200 (a tidy sum in 1794) but he was refused.

The Revd John Hinton died in 1802 and John Papillon and his sister, Elizabeth, took up residence at the rectory at Chawton, which still exists opposite the entrance to the drive to Chawton Great House, owned by Edward Knight. Six years later Jane Austen with her mother and sister moved into Chawton Cottage. Following Mrs. Knight's proposal that Jane marry Mr Papillon it became the family joke that the marriage would take place one day. Both John Papillon and his sister Elizabeth appear frequently in the surviving letters of Jane Austen. Elizabeth called often on the Austens and the two families dined together on a regular basis. Some references do seem to show that she did not always think highly of them. In a letter to her sister Cassandra written on Sunday 24 January 1813, she wrote, '...I have walked once to Alton, & yesterday Miss Papillon & I walked together to call on the Garnets. She invited herself very pleasantly to be my companion, when I went to propose to the indulgence of accommodating us about the Letters from the Mountains. I had a very agreeable walk; if she had not, more shame for her, for I was quite as entertaining as she was...'

In fact the Rector did inherit a sizeable property at Lexden in Essex. In the early 17th century Sir
Thomas Lucas acquired the tenter house in Lexden Street, which was in ruins in 1561. He apparently built a new house on that site and gardens were laid out around and across the road, opposite the house, where Lexden springs were landscaped to give a prospect of ornamental water with plantations. In 1701 the manor was sold to Samuel Rawstorn of London. Thomas Rawstorn, son and heir of Samuel, devised the manor to his widow Sophia, with remainder to his daughter Ann. She then devised Lexden to the Revd. John Rawstorn Papillon. Lexden Heath, comprising 290 acres, was enclosed by Act of Parliament in 1821. Under the award John Papillon acquired 151 acres by allotment and bought common rights on 18 acres. By 1838 the Papillon family owned 1,216 acres out of 2,312 acres in the parish.
 janeaustensoci

Miss Patience Terry and Miss Mary Benn

John Papillon was obviously considered a good catch even if Jane Austen had no interest in becoming Mrs Papillon. Two spinsters, Miss Patience Terry and Miss Mary Benn were after him. Miss Benn was desperate, being the unmarried sister of the rector of a neighbouring village who had 13 children. She lived on the charity of others, with invitations to dinner most evenings. The Papillons were generous towards her, having her for dinner on a very regular basis. The efforts of the two women did not go unnoticed by Jane Austen. In the same letter she noted,

'...I could see nothing very promising between Mr. P. & Miss P.T. She placed herself on one side of him at first, but Miss Benn obliged her to move up higher; - & she had an empty plate, & even asked him to give her some Mutton without being attended to for some time. - There might be some design in this, to be sure, on his side; - he might think an empty Stomach the most favourable for Love...'