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The Encyclopaedia of Plymouth History |
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Sir EDWARD St AUBYN (1799-1872) Edward St Aubyn was born in 1799, the fourth son of Sir John St Aubyn and his mistress, Miss Juliana Vinicombe. The couple married later, on July 1st 1822, in St Andrew's Church, Holborn, London. Mr Edward St Aubyn married Miss Emma Knollys, daughter of General William Knollys, on January 26th 1829 [a]. The ceremony was held in Paris, where the bride's father was employed at the British Embassy. When Devonport was created a Borough in 1837 it was Mr Edward St Aubyn who was chosen as the new Town's first Mayor. To celebrate that occasion his father donated a mace for the use of the Corporation. For many years he was the Steward of the Manor of Stoke Damerel until he inherited it proper in 1862 from Mr James St Aubyn (1783-1862). Because he suffered excruciating pain from neuralgia, which prevented him from taking an active part in public affairs, he then handed over responsibility for the management to his third son, also Mr Edward St Aubyn. Young Edward was an active member of the Territorial Army, being a major of the Cornwall Rangers Militia and a major of the 2nd Administrative Battalion of the Devonshire Volunteers, so he was well known around the Town. In 1864 he gave to the Corporation the chain of office to be worn by the Mayor and when the Civil and Military Library was dissolved, he donated his father's collection of minerals to the Town for ever more. This collection is still held by the City of Plymouth Museum and Art Gallery. One of Edward's brothers, the Reverend William John St Aubyn, was Rector of Stoke Damerel from 1828 until 1877. The baronetcy had lapsed at the death of his father, Sir John St Aubyn, in 1839. Her Majesty Queen Victoria revived the title in 1866 for Sir Edward St Aubyn. It was during Sir Edward's time that the Devonport Market was erected. It was designed by his nephew, Mr John Piers St Aubyn. Many of the large villas at Stoke were also built during his time as Lord of the Manor. Sir Edward St Aubyn died from neuralgia on Sunday December 1st 1872. He was 73-years-old. The Manor of Stoke Damerel, with the other estates, passed to the eldest son, Sir John St Aubyn, the second baronet, and the first Lord St Levan (1829-1908). The Dowager Lady Emma St Aubyn died in March 1887 at the home of her son-in-law, Sir Herewald Wake, Courteenhall, Northamptonshire. [a] Sources (incomplete):
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