THE SHRIGLEY ABDUCTION PARKER (Joseph, 1830-1902, Congregationalist Divine)

Autograph Letter signed to H. MERIVALE (Herman, 1806-1874, Under-Secretary for India) saying that he had "mislaid the Pain-Pain, till it turned up this morning in a hoard of such matter. I have no authority from Philips, who gave me the copy to circulate or ascribe it to him & therefore please do not lend it. The other, the MS is not 'Private' or 'confidential'. Please return the in a week - the regulation time of literary Book-loans. Show the Duke the Wakefield-iana. His narrative is a ... French novel. Mr Turner, who was a client of mine in an Election Petition, told me that pending the abduction Trial he received anonymous letters from the 'Wakefield Family' vile beyond belief, to induce him to submit to the felony. The only member not bad & mad was the late Colonel ...", 3 sides sm. 8vo., 2 Savile Row, 18th January

The Shrigley abduction was an 1826 British case of a forced marriage by Edward Gibbon Wakefield to the 15-year-old heiress Ellen Turner of Pott Shrigley. The couple were married in Gretna Green, Scotland, and travelled to Calais, France, before Turner's father was able to notify the authorities and intervene. The marriage was annulled by Parliament, and Turner was legally married two years later, at the age of 17, to a wealthy neighbour of her class. Both Edward Gibbon Wakefield and his brother William, who had aided him, were convicted at trial and sentenced to three years in prison.

Item Date:  1854

Stock No:  40298      £225

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