Sir George Berney Brograve, 2nd Baronet
Encyclopedia
Sir George Berney Brograve, 2nd Baronet (4 February 1772 – 1 June 1828). Brograve was a Lieutenant Colonel
in the Norfolk
Militia
and High Sheriff of Norfolk
in 1802. He lived at Worstead House near Norwich
, Norfolk
. Sole survivor of eleven children from his father Sir Berney Brograve, 1st Baronet
's second marriage, he succeeded to the title and his father's estates in 1797. He was trained as a lawyer. His nine year marriage to Emma Louisa Whitwell was dissolved by an Act of Parliament
on 28 April 1809. Captain Masham Elwin was put on trial for criminal conversation with Brograve's wife, before the Right Hon. Lord Ellenborough
in the court of the King's Bench
, Guildhall on 8 July 1807; with the intercepted letters. Lady Brograve, who was described to the court as "a woman of fashion & consequence", stated she had never loved her husband, nor had she wanted the marriage, but it had been an arrangement made between her father and Brograve. Elwin was found guilty and ordered to pay damages to Brograve of two thousand pounds. Lady Brograve and Capt. Elwin were married three days after her divorce. Brograve had canceled his will immediately on discovering his wife's infidelity, and like his father before him, died intestate, the last in the direct male line of this ancient family. His heir at law was a distant relative, Henry John Conyers of Copped Hall
, Essex
. Worstead House and most of the other estates were put up for sale shortly after Brograve's death in 1828, although Conyers appears to have kept Waxham Hall for a time. A younger brother, Roger Brograve, described as "of competent, if not splendid fortune" had inherited money and estates from their uncle Thomas Brograve, a lawyer of Springfield
, Essex
in 1811. Roger was a serious gambler, and in 1813 lost ₤10,000 at the Derby
race at Newmarket. He then "found himself unable to answer his engagements" and shot himself two days later with a duelling pistol
inserted in his mouth while sitting up in bed. The jury brought in a verdict of insanity.
Lieutenant colonel
Lieutenant colonel is a rank of commissioned officer in the armies and most marine forces and some air forces of the world, typically ranking above a major and below a colonel. The rank of lieutenant colonel is often shortened to simply "colonel" in conversation and in unofficial correspondence...
in the Norfolk
Norfolk
Norfolk is a low-lying county in the East of England. It has borders with Lincolnshire to the west, Cambridgeshire to the west and southwest and Suffolk to the south. Its northern and eastern boundaries are the North Sea coast and to the north-west the county is bordered by The Wash. The county...
Militia
Militia
The term militia is commonly used today to refer to a military force composed of ordinary citizens to provide defense, emergency law enforcement, or paramilitary service, in times of emergency without being paid a regular salary or committed to a fixed term of service. It is a polyseme with...
and High Sheriff of Norfolk
High Sheriff of Norfolk
This is a list of High Sheriffs of Norfolk. The High Sheriff is the oldest secular office under the Crown and is appointed annually by the Crown. He was originally the principal law enforcement officer in the county and presided at the Assizes and other important county meetings...
in 1802. He lived at Worstead House near Norwich
Norwich
Norwich is a city in England. It is the regional administrative centre and county town of Norfolk. During the 11th century, Norwich was the largest city in England after London, and one of the most important places in the kingdom...
, Norfolk
Norfolk
Norfolk is a low-lying county in the East of England. It has borders with Lincolnshire to the west, Cambridgeshire to the west and southwest and Suffolk to the south. Its northern and eastern boundaries are the North Sea coast and to the north-west the county is bordered by The Wash. The county...
. Sole survivor of eleven children from his father Sir Berney Brograve, 1st Baronet
Sir Berney Brograve, 1st Baronet
Sir Berney Brograve, 1st Baronet was the eldest son and heir of Thomas Brograve of Great Baddow, Essex, and his wife Juliana Berney. He was a descendant of Sir John Brograve , Attorney-General to the Duchy of Lancaster...
's second marriage, he succeeded to the title and his father's estates in 1797. He was trained as a lawyer. His nine year marriage to Emma Louisa Whitwell was dissolved by an Act of Parliament
Act of Parliament
An Act of Parliament is a statute enacted as primary legislation by a national or sub-national parliament. In the Republic of Ireland the term Act of the Oireachtas is used, and in the United States the term Act of Congress is used.In Commonwealth countries, the term is used both in a narrow...
on 28 April 1809. Captain Masham Elwin was put on trial for criminal conversation with Brograve's wife, before the Right Hon. Lord Ellenborough
Edward Law, 1st Baron Ellenborough
Edward Law, 1st Baron Ellenborough PC KC was an English judge. After serving as a Member of Parliament and Attorney General, he became Lord Chief Justice.-Early life:...
in the court of the King's Bench
King's Bench
The Queen's Bench is the superior court in a number of jurisdictions within some of the Commonwealth realms...
, Guildhall on 8 July 1807; with the intercepted letters. Lady Brograve, who was described to the court as "a woman of fashion & consequence", stated she had never loved her husband, nor had she wanted the marriage, but it had been an arrangement made between her father and Brograve. Elwin was found guilty and ordered to pay damages to Brograve of two thousand pounds. Lady Brograve and Capt. Elwin were married three days after her divorce. Brograve had canceled his will immediately on discovering his wife's infidelity, and like his father before him, died intestate, the last in the direct male line of this ancient family. His heir at law was a distant relative, Henry John Conyers of Copped Hall
Copped Hall
Copped Hall or Copthall is a ruined country house close to Epping in Essex, England, parts of which date from the 16th century. Copped Hall is visible from the M25 motorway between junctions 26 and 27.- History :...
, Essex
Essex
Essex is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in the East region of England, and one of the home counties. It is located to the northeast of Greater London. It borders with Cambridgeshire and Suffolk to the north, Hertfordshire to the west, Kent to the South and London to the south west...
. Worstead House and most of the other estates were put up for sale shortly after Brograve's death in 1828, although Conyers appears to have kept Waxham Hall for a time. A younger brother, Roger Brograve, described as "of competent, if not splendid fortune" had inherited money and estates from their uncle Thomas Brograve, a lawyer of Springfield
Springfield, Essex
Springfield has been a civil parish of the Borough of Chelmsford, Essex, England since 1907. The parish takes in the portion of the town north of river Chelmer and west of the A12 bypass and originally comprised the manors of Springfield Hall, Springfield Barnes, Cuton Hall, and in part New Hall...
, Essex
Essex
Essex is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in the East region of England, and one of the home counties. It is located to the northeast of Greater London. It borders with Cambridgeshire and Suffolk to the north, Hertfordshire to the west, Kent to the South and London to the south west...
in 1811. Roger was a serious gambler, and in 1813 lost ₤10,000 at the Derby
Derby
Derby , is a city and unitary authority in the East Midlands region of England. It lies upon the banks of the River Derwent and is located in the south of the ceremonial county of Derbyshire. In the 2001 census, the population of the city was 233,700, whilst that of the Derby Urban Area was 229,407...
race at Newmarket. He then "found himself unable to answer his engagements" and shot himself two days later with a duelling pistol
Duelling pistol
A duelling pistol is a pistol used in a classical duel. As a general rule, they are single-shot flintlock or percussion black powder pistols which fire a lead musket ball...
inserted in his mouth while sitting up in bed. The jury brought in a verdict of insanity.