Lovell Squire
Encyclopedia
Lovell Squire was a Quaker schoolteacher, meteorologist and writer of sacred verse.
in Huntingdonshire
, the son of Lovell Squire (1779–1837) and Sarah (born Brown 1783-1860). His mother was a Recorded Minister
of the Religious Society of Friends
. He was educated at Godmanchester
Grammar School.
). He introduced the study of Natural History there.
In 1834, he moved to Cornwall
, where he was tutor to the children of John (1780–1875) and Ann (born Richards) Stephens and their friends at Ashfield, near Falmouth
This work developed into a Quaker boarding school, which ran from at least 1839 to 1849.
The school was advertised with a flyer. The copy said:
After the school closed, he became again a private tutor to Barclay Fox's family (Fox died in 1855: it is presumed that before 1849, the older boys attended the school).
In his Journal, Barclay Fox
records (1st Day, 18th of 9th month) that she spoke and prayed extensively at a revivalist meeting in Breage
and then on 20th "paid us a religious visit" - "After much counsel &c. to us in family assembled, she had a private interview with me in the dining room in order to go more into particulars. No doubt if I could have kept to her precepts I should be much better than I am. She informed me inferentially that there was room for improvement. Methought I could have told her that much & much more if I thought it necessary".
However, this admonitory experience did not prevent Barclay Fox supporting the school: in his Journal, he records arranging a number of parties and entertainments for the boys at his property at Penjerrick
.
had erected. He served until 1882.
During this time "he identified himself with all the scientific and philanthropic work going on in Falmouth : he was assistant secretary to the Polytechnic . . . honorary secretary to the Dispensary and the Humane Society and one of the directors of the Cornwall Sailors' Home, and he learned Italian in order to read the Bible, in this Home, to Italian sailors".
In his journal entry for 2 November 1841, Barclay Fox records: "Assisted at Lovell Squire's lecture on Useful applications of Science, with some striking illustrations. Davy's lamp
& the Bude light
, both of which , as well as the invention of the gas light by burning carburetted hydrogen, which was invented by Murdock
, were of Cornish origin. . . . It was a good and useful lecture, well delivered, without pretension or fear."
. He died 7 March 1892, aged 82 in Chiswick
.
, his wife's sister's husband, under the title A selection of scriptural poetry in 1838, which was reprinted twice, with additional hymns in the 1848 edition. In 1876 he published a volume entitled Day by Day consisting of biblical texts and original verses for each day of the year. A sample of his verse is included in Evelyn Armitage's biographies and anthology of the verse Quaker poets (1896) page 248.
Birth and education
He was born 8 May 1809 at EarithEarith
Earith is a village in the Fens of Cambridgeshire, England, south of Chatteris and east of Huntingdon. At Earith, two artificial diversion channels of the River Great Ouse, the Old Bedford River and the New Bedford River, leave the river on a course to Denver Sluice near Downham Market, where they...
in Huntingdonshire
Huntingdonshire
Huntingdonshire is a local government district of Cambridgeshire, covering the area around Huntingdon. Traditionally it is a county in its own right...
, the son of Lovell Squire (1779–1837) and Sarah (born Brown 1783-1860). His mother was a Recorded Minister
Recorded Minister
A Recorded Minister was originally a male or female Quaker who was acknowledged to have a gift of spoken ministry.The practice of recording, in a Monthly Meeting Minute, the acknowledgement that a Friend had a gift of spoken ministry began in the 1730s in London Yearly Meeting, according to...
of the Religious Society of Friends
Religious Society of Friends
The Religious Society of Friends, or Friends Church, is a Christian movement which stresses the doctrine of the priesthood of all believers. Members are known as Friends, or popularly as Quakers. It is made of independent organisations, which have split from one another due to doctrinal differences...
. He was educated at Godmanchester
Godmanchester
Godmanchester is a small town and civil parish within the Huntingdonshire district of Cambridgeshire, in England. It lies on the south bank of the River Great Ouse, south of the larger town of Huntingdon, and on the A14 road....
Grammar School.
Teaching
In 1829, he became a teacher at York School (later called Bootham SchoolBootham School
Bootham School is an independent Quaker boarding school in the city of York in North Yorkshire, England. It was founded by the Religious Society of Friends in 1823. It is close to York Minster. The current headmaster is Jonathan Taylor. The school's motto Membra Sumus Corporis Magni means "We...
). He introduced the study of Natural History there.
In 1834, he moved to Cornwall
Cornwall
Cornwall is a unitary authority and ceremonial county of England, within the United Kingdom. It is bordered to the north and west by the Celtic Sea, to the south by the English Channel, and to the east by the county of Devon, over the River Tamar. Cornwall has a population of , and covers an area of...
, where he was tutor to the children of John (1780–1875) and Ann (born Richards) Stephens and their friends at Ashfield, near Falmouth
Falmouth, Cornwall
Falmouth is a town, civil parish and port on the River Fal on the south coast of Cornwall, England, United Kingdom. It has a total resident population of 21,635.Falmouth is the terminus of the A39, which begins some 200 miles away in Bath, Somerset....
This work developed into a Quaker boarding school, which ran from at least 1839 to 1849.
The school was advertised with a flyer. The copy said:
School for Friends' children / FALMOUTH/Conducted by / LOVELL SQUIRE /Terms / Board and Instruction in the usual Branches of a good / English Education £35 Pr. Annum / Latin & Greek, each £2 extra French £4 drawing £4.4.0 WASHING £2.2 / SEPARATE BEDROOMS AT AN EXTRA CHARGE OF £5 Pr. ANNUM / Lectures on various branches of Natural Philosophy are given weekly in the winter months / A vacation of six weeks in the Summer / Three months notice is requested previously to the removal of a pupil / NB The pupils have the advantage of sea bathing.
After the school closed, he became again a private tutor to Barclay Fox's family (Fox died in 1855: it is presumed that before 1849, the older boys attended the school).
Marriage and family
On 27 June 1836, he married Henrietta Crouch, daughter of William and Lucretia (born Anson) Crouch. Henrietta Squire died in 1848 at the age of 40, after having given birth to seven children. His sister-in-law, Elizabeth Crouch, is shown as housekeeper in the 1851 Census, along with three resident pupils.Children
- Lovell 28 April 1837
- Henrietta Elizabeth 28 June 1838, died 8 July 1840
- Anson 24 February 1840
- Henrietta Elizabeth 1 July 1841
- Margaret 26 July 1843
- William Crouch 14 July 1845
- Edward 21 September 1847
The Penjerrick Foxes
He was recorded as a Minister of the Religious Society of Friends in 1863, as was his mother, Sarah Squire. She visited Falmouth in September 1836.In his Journal, Barclay Fox
Barclay Fox
Robert Barclay Fox was a businessman, gardener and diarist, a member of the influential Quaker Fox family of Falmouth.-Family relationships:...
records (1st Day, 18th of 9th month) that she spoke and prayed extensively at a revivalist meeting in Breage
Breage, Cornwall
Breage is a civil parish and village in Cornwall, England, United Kingdom. The village is situated three miles west of Helston....
and then on 20th "paid us a religious visit" - "After much counsel &c. to us in family assembled, she had a private interview with me in the dining room in order to go more into particulars. No doubt if I could have kept to her precepts I should be much better than I am. She informed me inferentially that there was room for improvement. Methought I could have told her that much & much more if I thought it necessary".
However, this admonitory experience did not prevent Barclay Fox supporting the school: in his Journal, he records arranging a number of parties and entertainments for the boys at his property at Penjerrick
Penjerrick Garden
Penjerrick Garden, often referred to as "Cornwall's true jungle garden", lies between Budock Water and Mawnan Smith, near Falmouth, United Kingdom....
.
Scientific and philanthropic work
Lovell Squire moved away from Falmouth in 1864 but returned when appointed as Superintendent of the new Meteorological Observatory, that the Royal Cornwall Polytechnic SocietyRoyal Cornwall Polytechnic Society
The Royal Cornwall Polytechnic Society is an educational, cultural and scientific charity, based in Falmouth, Cornwall, England, United Kingdom. The Society exists to promote innovation in the arts and sciences...
had erected. He served until 1882.
During this time "he identified himself with all the scientific and philanthropic work going on in Falmouth : he was assistant secretary to the Polytechnic . . . honorary secretary to the Dispensary and the Humane Society and one of the directors of the Cornwall Sailors' Home, and he learned Italian in order to read the Bible, in this Home, to Italian sailors".
In his journal entry for 2 November 1841, Barclay Fox records: "Assisted at Lovell Squire's lecture on Useful applications of Science, with some striking illustrations. Davy's lamp
Davy lamp
The Davy lamp is a safety lamp with a wick and oil vessel burning originally a heavy vegetable oil, devised in 1815 by Sir Humphry Davy. It was created for use in coal mines, allowing deep seams to be mined despite the presence of methane and other flammable gases, called firedamp or minedamp.Sir...
& the Bude light
Bude-Light
Bude-Light is a very bright oil lamp that works by introducing oxygen into the centre of an Argand burner. It was invented by Sir Goldsworthy Gurney and named after the place where he lived: Bude, Cornwall, United Kingdom. They were used to light the House of Commons for over 50 yearsA new light...
, both of which , as well as the invention of the gas light by burning carburetted hydrogen, which was invented by Murdock
William Murdoch
William Murdoch was a Scottish engineer and long-term inventor.Murdoch was employed by the firm of Boulton and Watt and worked for them in Cornwall, as a steam engine erector for ten years, spending most of the rest of his life in Birmingham, England.He was the inventor of the oscillating steam...
, were of Cornish origin. . . . It was a good and useful lecture, well delivered, without pretension or fear."
Later life
In 1882, he retired and moved to HammersmithHammersmith
Hammersmith is an urban centre in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham in west London, England, in the United Kingdom, approximately five miles west of Charing Cross on the north bank of the River Thames...
. He died 7 March 1892, aged 82 in Chiswick
Chiswick
Chiswick is a large suburb of west London, England and part of the London Borough of Hounslow. It is located on a meander of the River Thames, west of Charing Cross and is one of 35 major centres identified in the London Plan. It was historically an ancient parish in the county of Middlesex, with...
.
Publications
He was the author of some religious poetry, published by Charles GilpinCharles Gilpin (politician)
Charles Gilpin was a Quaker, orator, politician, publisher and railway director. Amongst his many causes were the movement to repeal the Corn Laws, to establish world peace through the Peace Society, abolition of the death penalty and the anti-slavery movement, enfranchisement by providing...
, his wife's sister's husband, under the title A selection of scriptural poetry in 1838, which was reprinted twice, with additional hymns in the 1848 edition. In 1876 he published a volume entitled Day by Day consisting of biblical texts and original verses for each day of the year. A sample of his verse is included in Evelyn Armitage's biographies and anthology of the verse Quaker poets (1896) page 248.