Joseph Cave Spicer Jennings _^(1817-1900) & Catherine Mary Allcock _^(1817-1883)

Catherine Allock and Joseph Jennings were married at Trinity Church, Smethwick on 15 June 1854. His elder brother Rev J K Jennings officiated. It is interesting that they were both in their late 30s and had not been previously married, but they were connected – Joseph’s uncle (John Jennings) had married Catherine’s aunt (Ann Allcock) – and possibly there were medical connections between Joseph and members of Catherine’s family.

They had two children, both born at the Abbey House: Anne Maude Jennings born on 20 April 1855 (baptised 12 June) and Charles Egerton (baptised 2 June 1859).

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The family bought up land around the Abbey House in the centre of Malmesbury, consolidating a sizable holding and appeared willing to pay to do so: an auction in 1877 for “sales of property – a freehold messuage in High-street Malmesbury excited much competition and realised an enormous figure, viz £670, the successful competitor being Dr Jennings” (Swindon Adveriser).

Joseph’s medical work and business interests were prominent in Malmesbury life:

• “Malmesbury Water Works Company (Limited)…a company under the above title was incorporated. The present capital is £2000 in 400 shares…The company has purchased a lease-hold pump house…and also a portion of Mr Jenning’s leasehold garden for the site of the water tower and tank…The water will be obtained by sinking wells to the level of the water bearing strata…which yield a never-failing and inexhaustible supply, as is sufficiently evinced by the numerous effluent springs in Mr Jennings’ meadows close to the town.” (Wiltshire Independent 1864)
• “Partnership lately subsisting between…Joseph Cave Spicer Jennings and William James Bonner, as Surgeons and Apothecaries, at Malmesbury was dissolved on and from the 9th day of September 1870, by mutual consent.” (London Gazette 1 November 1870)
• “Mr Edward Arthur White, M.R.C.S., has just been appointed by the Malmesbury Board of Guardians vaccination officer for the third district, in the place of Dr. Jennings (Mr White’s partner), who retires.” (Western Daily Press 23 October 1878)

Edward Arthur White married Anne Maude Jennings in 1880 at Malmesbury Abbey and purchased his father-in-law’s practice in 1882-3 for the sum of £1,000 paid in instalments.

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Joseph was also active in many different local matters, examples of these were:

• In 1854 he “delivered at Shipton Moyne school rooms a highly instructive and entertaining lecture on ‘Health and the means of preserving it’, which he illustrated by some anatomical diagrams. The lecture was listened to with great attention…which was delivered in his usual perspicuous and talented style” (Wilts and Gloucester Standard)
• He spoke at the West of England Conference of Temperance Societies in 1867 about “regretting the continued indiscriminate recommendation of alcoholic liquors by medical men…[and] confidently asserted that had it not been for the clergy the medical profession would not so long stood aloof from the temperance movement” (Western Daily Press)
• At a grand fete at Dauntsey House in 1881 “Dr Jennings (Malmesbury), in full Turkish costume, enhanced this delight [of the throng of listeners] by singing ‘Rule Britannia’” (Devizes and Wiltshire Gazette)
• In 1886 two boys were fined and cautioned about their future conduct having been summoned by Dr Jennings – “this action was taken on purpose to put a stop to the many depreciations that were committed at the back of the Abbey on Sundays by the lads throwing stones, tearing down rails, and throwing about turf” (Western Daily Press)
• The History of Ancient Malmesbury, being a lecture by Joseph Cave Spicer Jennings was published in 1891; this was delivered to the Malmesbury Branch of the Young Men’s Christian Association

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Catherine died at the Abbey House, Malmesbury aged 66 on November 1883 “after a severe illness, borne with Christian fortitude” (Wilts & Glos Standard). Her personal estate was valued at £1,362 15s 8d; the Legatees in Trust were her husband, son, and nephew, Egerton Allcock of Smethwick, ironmaster.

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Joseph continued living at the Abbey House, though he was staying at Highbury Place London with his daughter and son-in-law at the time of the 1891 census. The Abbey House had been leased by Joseph as it formed part of the Malmesbury Abbey estate owned by the Rushout family; in 1896 Lady Elizabeth Rushout broke up the Manor and sold the Abbey House to Joseph.

Relations with his son, Charles Egerton Jennings, appeared to have been strained over the 1890s – particularly over money – which later led his son to take (unsuccessful) legal action against Edward Arthur White as an executor of Joseph’s will. In one letter quoted in the court case Joseph described his son as “an ungrateful, selfish, improvident prodigal”.

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Joseph died on 8 April 1900 and his “funeral took place in the Abbey churchyard on Good Friday amid many tokens of respect…The procession included Dr and Mrs White (son-in-law and only daughter of the deceased” (Wiltshire Advertiser). His son was mentioned as one of the mourners. Obituaries provide a glimpse of both his career and position in life:

• “On Sunday morning last another of our old and esteemed fellow townsmen passed quietly away in his 82nd year, and he will be interred in the Abbey Church with his wife, who pre-deceased him 16 years ago. We refer to Dr Joseph Cave Spicer Jennings of the Abbey House, a gentleman who was universally beloved by all those with whom he became acquainted in the course of a long and extensive medical practice in the town. Dr Jennings was the principal promoter of the Malmesbury Water Company, of which he was chairman for many years. He was also guardian of the poor, always being elected without opposition, to the day of his death. He was a well-known member of the Archaeological Society, the members of which were always heartily welcomed by him when paying a visit to Malmesbury Abbey and exploring his residence, Abbey House, a grand old Elizabethan building of much interest. Dr Jennings was a Wiltshireman, his father having been the Rev W Jennings, rector of Baydon, South Wilts. Having chosen the medical profession, he graduated at King’s College, London, and commenced practise at Lacock, where he resided for 10 years. In 1850 he came to Malmesbury, having succeeded Dr Jones, who formerly resided at the Abbey House. Here the deceased gentleman carried on an extensive practice for many years. He had one son and one daughter. The former was trained in the medical profession, and the latter married Dr White, who is now in practice in London. Dr Jennings was a warm supporter of the Conservative cause, and was widely known and esteemed by all. He was a good landlord, and will be sorely missed. He enjoyed good health up till Christmas last, since when he has been ailing, and for a few weeks he has been confined to his bed. Last week he was much better until Friday night, when he was taken seriously ill, and Dr Nutting, his medical attendant, was called in but he gradually passed away.” (Wilts and Gloucester Standard Saturday 14 April 1900).

• “Jennings, Joseph Cave Spicer (1810 [sic] – 1900). General Surgeon, MRCS (26 February 1841, FRCS (8 June 1876), LSA (1839). The son of the Rev W Jennings, of Baydon, Wiltshire. He studied at King’s College, London, and the Middlesex Hospital, and practised for ten years at Lacock, Wiltshire, where he was Surgeon to the Lacock Asylum for Women and Children and to the Chippenham Union. He then moved to Malmesbury, where he was Union Medical Officer. There he promoted an artificial water-supply, founded and was Chairman of the Malmesbury Water Company, the springs and the well being situated upon his land. Another interest of his was archaeology; he resided in an Elizabethan Abbey House, and there was the old Market Cross, and the Abbey, largely in ruins and part turned into farm premises, for his consideration. Since his time the Abbey has undergone extensive restoration. He died on April 8th, 1900, leaving many who had been recipients of his charity to regret his loss.” (Plarr’s Lives of the Fellows, RCS)

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