Moores Close, Hall End, Maulden is, presumably, named after Capt. Moore or his daughter Louisa.
When the young Charles Moore read about Nelson's victory at Trafalgar in 1805 he must have seen life at sea as an exciting prospect for the following year, at the age of 14, he joined the Royal Navy as a midshipman on the HMS Eagle. She was a 74-gun third rate ship of the line and saw plenty of action during the Napoleonic wars including an expedition to the Netherlands, the defence of Cadiz, and attacking and capturing French shipping.
Life in the Royal Navy must have suited him as he was promoted to Lieutenant at the age of 21.
In the spring of 1817 he was lent to the Royal Sovereign yacht for the purpose of escorting the King of the French from England to Calais after Napoleon's final defeat. While he was at Calais the Eleanor, sailing from Nantz to Dunkirk, with a cargo of corn and a crew of seven men, was driven on shore eastward of the harbour, during a strong north-west gale. Three survivors could be seen aboard the stricken vessel.
A boat was sent from the Royal Sovereign yacht manned by Lieutenant Charles Moore and eight British seamen.
Two of the crew were rescued and brought ashore. Whilst trying to rescue the third survivor Lieutenant Moore was washed overboard only to resurface on the other side of his boat. He continued in the rescue attempt but failed to save the last crew member. As a result of his efforts he was promoted to Commander at the age of 25.
Commander Moore married, Elizabeth Anne, second daughter of the late Rich. Palmer in 1819, at Grantham. In 1824 he purchased Maulden Cottage which stood opposite Moores Close in Hall End.
They had four daughters, Emily, Eliza, Marria and Louisa.
In 1834 he was attached to the Coast guard which was probably the prelude to his retirement from the Royal Navy.
During his retirement he was a Magistrate and Deputy Lieutenant of Bedfordshire. He was obviously intent on maintaining law and order as he had the the lockup (on Clophill Green) rebuilt at the cost of £4.
He died in 1870 and his grave is in the churchyard of St. Mary's Church, Maulden.
His daughters, Eliza and Louisa, lived at Maulden Cottage until their deaths, Eliza in 1919 Louisa in 1933, the oldest inhabitant in Maulden.
Louisa had taken a keen interest in the poorer inhabitants of Maulden during her lifetime and left legacies in her will to care for them. She left £150 to be added to the Bryan Charity to provide gowns for poor widows in Maulden. Money for gowns is still distributed yearly. She also donated £100 to be used to purchase large print Bibles for the aged.
And so, behind the road name Moores Close lies the story of a brave and adventurous sailor and his children.
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He was appointed flag-lieutenant to Sir Charles Rowley, on that officer assuming the chief command in the river Medway, Aug. 1816; and we subsequently find him lent to the Royal Sovereign yacht, Captain Sir Edward W. C. R. Owen, employed in conveying Louis Philippe, Due d'Orleans, now King of the French, from England to Calais.
The following is translated from the Moniteur :
Calais, April 17th, 1817.
"Yesterday, about 9 A.M., the Eleanor, from Nantz: to Dunkirk, with corn, burthen 72 tons, with a crew of seven men, was driven on shore eastward of our harbour, during a strong north-west gale.
Certain death seemed to await the unfortunate crew, who uttered the most piercing cries.
At the instant when all seemed to be over with them, for one or two had been washed away, a boat sent from the Royal Sovereign yacht was seen darting through the surf, manned by Lieutenant Charles Moore and eight British seamen.
Commodore Owen placed himself at the extremity of the jetty, and, although repeatedly almost washed away by the sea, by his voice and gestures animated and directed the boat's crew. The danger of those remaining on board increased every instant, and in a few minutes four were successively forced into the deep. The three survivors were seen imploring succour in the most agonizing manner: the generous and intrepid Moore neglected no efforts, and finally succeeded in saving, by menus of a rope thrown from the boat, two of the crew, with whom he returned to the jetty, not being able to keep his boat longer above water.
Captain Wilkinson of the Dart Packet, belonging to Dover, then threw himself into the boat, to lend his assistance, and she put of for the wreck once more. The last of the Eleanor's crew still remained alive, and had lashed himself to the mast. The boat had again reached the wreck, when Lieutenant Moore, who stood up to give directions to his men, and to encourage the half-drowned Frenchman, was suddenly struck by a tremendous wave, and thrown into the sea. Consternation seized on all his companions, and they were struck motionless, when their brave officer again made his appearance, swimming alongside. He had passed under the bottom of the boat.
Notwithstanding his accident, he, with the utmost coolness, ordered her again to be rowed to the wreck. By this manoeuvre, the spirits of the unfortunate Frenchman were revived; and he rather hastily loosened himself from the mast, then precipitated himself into the sea. He was seen on the surface for an instant, and every exertion was made to save him; but he sunk to rise no more.
The boat then returned to the jetty, and the gallant officer and crew received the thanks and congratulations of a thousand spectators."
For his conduct on this occasion, Mr. Moore was promoted to the rank of commander, June 24th, 1817.
Royal Naval Biography Vol, IV. Part I. 1833
Name | Age | Profession |
---|---|---|
Emily Moore |
14 | |
Eliza Moore |
11 | |
Marria Moore |
10 | |
Louisa Moore |
5 | |
Sarah Wright |
22 | Governess |
William Parish |
19 | M.S. |
Jane Young |
31 | F.S. |
Mary Smith |
21 | F.S. |
His wife was alive in 1851, living with Charles and the four daughters, in Leamington Priors- at 36 Church street.
Name | Relation | Condition | Age | Occupation | Where born |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Charles Moore |
Head | Married | 58 | Capt of the Royal ???? |
Sunbury, Middlesex |
Elizabeth Ann Moore |
Wife | Married | 50 | ?? | |
Emily Eliza Moore |
Daughter | Unmarried | 24 | Maulden, Beds |
|
Eliza ? Moore |
Daughter | Unmarried | 21 | Maulden, Beds | |
Maria A Moore |
Daughter | Unmarried | 19 | Maulden, Beds | |
Louisa A Moore |
Daughter | Unmarried | 15 | ||
Mary Ann ? |
Servant | 30 | Housemaid | ||
Charity ? |
Servant | Unmarried | 45 | Cook | |
William ? |
Servant | Unmarried | 24 | Footman |
Daughter Emily married John Stone in 1859, he was a curate in 1861 in Barton Le Clay.
What happened to Elizabeth Ann Moore, Charles' wife?
Name | Relation | Condition | Age | Occupation | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Charles Moore |
Head | Married | 69 | Capt Royal Navy and magistrate of the county |
Middlesex, Sunbury |
Elizabeth Moore |
Daughter | Unmarried | 31 | (Is this Eliza? The eldest?) |
|
Marria Moore |
Daughter | Unmarried | 32 | Maulden, Beds. |
|
Louisa Moore |
Daughter | Unmarried | 25 | Maulden, Beds. | |
Lucy ? |
Servant | Unmarried | 27 | Domestic Servant |
|
Sarah Hill |
Servant | Unmarried | 25 | Domestic Servant | |
Eliza ? |
Servant | Unmarried | 26 | Domestic Servant | |
John ? |
Gardener | 40 | Gardener and Groom |
Table tomb over vault in graveyard at St Mary's Church, Maulden, Bedfordshire, England.
'To the memory of / Elizabeth Anne / second daughter of the late / Rev/ RICHARD PALMER / and Grand Daughter of the late / Sir GILLIES PAYNE Baronet / of Tompsford Hall in this County / and wife of / Capt. CHARLES MOORE Royal Navy / of Maulden Cottage. Born November 9th 1797 / Died March 20 1857 / Aged 59 Years / I will raise them up from the power of the grave' Hosea XIII, 4 / Also of / Capt. CHARLES MOORE Royal Navy / Husband of the above and youngest son of / The Revd. ROBERT MOORE D.D. / Late Vicar of Thurley in this County / Born June 20th 1792 / Died November 10th 1870 / Aged 78 Years / Looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus / Christ unto eternal life' Jude 21'
Head | Relation |
Condition | Age | Occupation | Where born |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Eliza Moore |
Head | Unmarried | 41 | Maulden, Beds. |
|
Maria Moore |
Sister | Unmarried | 39 | Maulden, Beds. | |
Louisa Moore |
Sister | Unmarried | 34 | Suffolk, Alborough |
|
Maryanne Adams |
Servant | Widow | 30 | Cook | |
Charlotte Peacock |
Servant | Unmarried | 28 | Parlour Maid | |
Elizabeth Olney |
Servant | Unmarried | 23 | House Maid |
Name | Relation | Condition | Age | Occupation | Where born |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Eliza Moore |
Head | Unmarried | 57 |
Maulden | |
Maria Moore |
Sister | Unmarried | 49 | Maulden | |
Louisa Moore |
Sister | Unmarried | 45 | ||
Martha Fisher |
Servant | Unmarried | 24 | Housemaid | Maulden |
Name | Relation | Condition | Age | Occupation | Where born |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Eliza Frances Moore |
Head | Single | 61 | Living on means |
Maulden |
Louisa Moore |
Sister | Single | 55 | Ditto | Addleborough, Suffolk |
Robert B Long |
Visitor | Single | 17 | Undergraduate, Cambridge |
Silsoe |
Eustace Long |
Visitor | Single | 16 | Scholar Harrow |
Silsoe |
Ester Paine |
Servant | Single | 37 | Cook | |
Elizabeth Dust |
Servant | Single | 22 | Housemaid |
Name | Relation | Condition | Age | Occupation | Where born |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Eliza Moore |
Head | Spinster | 71 | Living on own means |
Maulden, Beds |
Louisa Moore |
Sister | Spinster | 65 | Living on own means | Maulden, Beds |
Louisa Williamson |
Servant | Servant | 42 | Cook, Domestic |
Clophill, Beds |
Charlotte Webb |
Servant | Servant | 19 | Housemaid, Domestic |
Clophill, Beds |
Name | Relation | Age | Marriage | Occupation | Where born |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Eliza Moore |
Head | 81 | Single | Private Means |
Maulden |
Louisa Moore |
Sister | 74 | Single | Private Means | Aldborough |
Sarah Bottoms |
Servant | 68 | Single | Charwoman | Clophill |
Edith Hare |
Servant | 18 | Single | Cook | Clophill |
Martha Peat |
Servant | 34 | Widower | Parlourmaid | Maulden |