This article appeared in the October 1990 issue of Family History Vol. 15, No. 125 (New Series No. 101) Music, The Arne Family Tradition, 1710-1804 by Gladys CarsonIntroduction Much has been written about Thomas Augustine Arne and his son Michael; this narrative, however, is intended to convey to the reader the story of my maternal great-great-great-grand-mother Jemima Arne, Michael’s daughter, but in order to appreciate her story we must first look, although briefly, at some of the achievements of her father and grandfather. A Musical Genius Thomas Augustine Arne is probably best remembered for his patriotic song “Rule Britannia”, this is but a small measure of the enchanting and wonderful music he wrote, much of which is now sadly forgotten and neglected. He was born in 1719 and baptised on the 28th May of that year at St Paul’s Church, Covent Garden, the son of Thomas Arne, upholsterer, and his wife Anne (née Wheeler); the family were then living at King Street, Covent Garden. Both his father and grandfather had held office in the City Company of Upholsterers. Thomas enjoyed prosperous times so enabling him to send his son to Eton College as it was intended that Thomas Augustine should make a career in the legal profession; indeed, a short time was served in a solicitor’s office but the young man’s love of music became evident at a very early age and soon he was taking lessons on the violin, unbeknown to his family, from Michael Festing, the English violinist and composer and leader of the orchestra at Drury Lane Theatre. In March 1733 Thomas Augustine reset the music for Addison’s opera Rosamund. This production was presented at the Lincoln’s Inn Field Theatre with Arne’s sister Susanna Maria (later Mrs Cibber, the famous tragic actress) playing the leading role and his younger brother taking the part of the page. On the 15th March 1737 Thomas Augustine married Cecilia, daughter of Charles Young, organist at All Hallows, Barking; the ceremony took place at Lincoln’s Inn Chapel. Cecilia came from another celebrated musical family and had herself a fine soprano voice; she appeared at Drury Lane, at Vauxhall Gardens and in Dublin. Arne’s numerous works for Drury Lane where later he was appointed theatre composer and leader of the orchestra, and for the pleasure gardens at Vauxhall, Ranelagh and Marylebone continued to be produced but apart from his theatrical work time was also found to compose symphonies, concertos for the organ, sonatas, oratorios employing the female voice, catches, canons and glees. In 1740 Shakespeare’s As You Like It was performed at Drury Lane and for this production Arne set to music the songs “Under the Greenwood Tree”, and “Blow, Blow though Winter Wind”. He also wrote the music for Shakespeare’s Macbeth and Twelfth Night. A major work also undertaken in 1740 was the musical arrangement for the masque Alfred the finale of which included “Rule Britannia”; the librettist was J. Thomson and to his words Arne wrote the music. The first performance was given at Cliveden, Buckinghamshire, then the residence of Frederick, Prince of Wales, on the 1st August in commemoration of the accession of George I and in honour of the birth of Princess Augusta. On this occasion the famous patriotic song was sung by the tenor, Thomas Lowe. The masque was staged at Drury Lane some five years later. On the 6th July 1759 the University of Oxford created Arne Doctor of Music. He died in London where he had lived practically all his life on the 5th March 1778 and was buried in the churchyard of St Paul’s, Covent Garden. His memorial plaque can be seen in the church. Michael’s Accomplishments Jemima’s father was born about 1740. He was first taken on the stage at a very early age by his aunt Mrs Cibber who had taught him the part of the page in Otway’s tragedy The Orphan. His singing début was on the 2nd April 1750 at Galli’s concert at the Little Theatre, Haymarket, after which he continued to take part in “select entertainments” singing in both Italian and English. He also showed great talent on various keyboard instruments, notably the harpsichord and organ. It was on the latter that he performed many of his father’s concertos. From 1756 he contributed many songs to various dramatic productions, perhaps his most successful song, “The Lass with the Delicate Air”, appeared in 1762. He collaborated with Jonathan Batishill the composer in setting Richard Rolt’s Almena to music in 1764 but this had only limited success. On the 5th November 1766 Michael married Elizabeth Wright, a young singer he had heard at Ranelagh in 1763. She was to sing many leading roles at Drury Lane; she also appeared at Covent Garden and continued to sing at Ranelagh Gardens. Their daughter Jemima was born about 1767. It was at this time that Michael had his biggest success when he wrote the music for Garrick’s Cymon; Elizabeth sang the leading role. In spite of musical and theatrical successes Michael attempted, also in 1767, to try his hand at alchemy. A laboratory was built at Chelsea but the whole venture proved disastrous and eventually led him to a debtors’ prison. Two years later Elizabeth died in Bristol where she had gone for treatment; overwork which her husband had subjected her to was blamed for her early death. In 1771-2 Michael toured Germany with his pupil Ann Venables and there he conducted the first public performance in Germany of Handel’s Messiah. On returning to England the couple were married on the 1st May 1773 at St Giles-in-the-Field, Middlesex. In 1776 Michael was engaged by Thomas Ryder to produce Cymon at the Smock Alley Theatre in Dublin. Ann appears to have been a popular attraction. Yet again alchemy became of greater importance in Michael’s life and a laboratory was set up in a house at Clontarf but with the same unfortunate results; on this occasion he was placed in a Dublin sponging house. (Sponging-house – a house kept by a bailiff or sheriff’s officer formerly in regular use as a place of preliminary confinement for debtors). On returning to London he was engaged as composer at Covent Garden and continued there for several seasons. Michael died on the 14th January 1786 in the parish of St Mary, Lambeth, Surrey. He was buried at St Paul’s Church, Covent Garden. He left his second wife destitute. Jemima’s Story When her grandfather died Jemima was about eleven years of age. In his will he requested his son Michael “to pay or cause to be paid to his said daughter for her Love and kindness to me”. Jemima had devoted much time to nursing her father especially during his last illness and this to some extent jeopardised her own musical career; she had also made an early marriage in 1783 when just sixteen years of age. Her husband was Edmund Wiseman, son of Thomas Wiseman (exciseman riding officer), and his wife Mary. In 1793 Thomas Wiseman claimed and was granted the title of 5th baronet. At the time of her marriage which took place at St Mary Magdalene’s, Gillingham, Edmund was employed as a house carpenter at His Majesty’s Dockyard, Chatham. The couple had been introduced to each other by Mr William Saltonstall and his wife Mariana, sister of Sir Thomas. Mr Saltonstall was employed as Surveyor of Ordnance at the Gun Wharf, Chatham. Having lost their own children, William and Mariana had financed the education of their two eldest nephews, Edmund and his brother Thomas. In 1784 a son was born to Edmund and Jemima. He was baptised William Saltonstall, the names being adopted in recognition of the kindness William and Mariana had shown to the Wiseman family. These names continued to be handed down through later generations, the last person so called being my own grandfather William Saltonstall Frid. In 1785 Jemima gave birth to a daughter, Mary Ann. The marriage of Edmund and Jemima ended suddenly and tragically in 1787. The Kentish Gazette carried the following report: “1787 Chatham – May 7. This morning Edward (sic) Wiseman, house carpenter belonging to the Dockyard was going to the Call-office to attend his call, he fell down in an apoplectic fit, he was immediately taken to the surgery, but in vain, what renders the melancholy event the more distressing he has left a disconsolate widow and two children”. Edmund was laid to rest on the 10th May at the church of St Mary Magdalene, Gillingham. At this very distressing time in Jemima’s life she was expecting her third child which was born in 1787 and baptised Edmund on the 9th January 1788 at St Mary’s Church, Chatham. Sadly the child died when just three years of age. Jemima’s second marriage took place in 1792 when she married Peter Reynolds, mariner, at St Margaret’s Church, Rochester. Two children were born to the couple, Peter in 1793 and Edmund in 1795. Peter survived for only five years; Edmund died in his eighteenth year. In 1794 Jemima commenced her theatrical career as in April of that year she was engaged as a singer at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, the actor-manager at the time being John Phillip Kemble. According to The Index to the London Stage, part 5 by C. Beecher Hogan Miss Arne first appeared at Drury Lane on the 16th May 1794 in the chorus of The Pirates. A year later on the 6th February she appeared again at Drury Lane this time as soloist in the role of Polly Peachum in Gay’s Beggar’s Opera. From the Memoirs of the life of John Phillip Kemble by James Boaden the following is noted: “On the 6th February, a granddaughter of the illustrious Dr Arne came out in Gay’s Polly. She had sweetness and taste, an interesting figure and countenance, and indeed every requisite but force. In a room, I heard that she was delightful”. So began a period of some nine years during which Jemima was to appear on many occasions at Drury Lane; in future seasons she was engaged as an “actress” and from playbills seen at the Theatre Museum Library her roles included Diana in The Humourist; Katharina in Don Juan; Emilia in Winter’s Tale; Honoria in Love Makes a Man; Jenny Diver in Beggar’s Opera and as Luna in Midas, etc. When not playing solo roles she is shown as a chorus singer. Some brief but interesting facts are now offered concerning the celebrated theatrical personalities with whom Jemima appeared. Mr Kemble has already been mentioned; Joseph Grimaldi, actor and pantomimist appeared frequently at this time at Drury Lane. Of the ladies, first and foremost must come the distinguished actress Sarah Siddons (sister of John Philip Kemble); second to her came Mrs Powell (formerly Mrs Farmer) – her name was constantly coupled with that of Mrs Siddons in parts of importance. Two other ladies of some consequence were Mrs Dorothea Jordan and Miss Mellon. The former first appeared at Drury Lane in October 1785 and soon became a favourite with the public but also with the Duke of Clarence, later William IV, whose mistress she became. Harriot Mellon came to the Lane in 1795 and to some extent was overshadowed by Mrs Jordan. Early in 1815 Harriot married the banker Thomas Coutts, an avid theatre-goer, then in his eightieth year. He died in 1822 leaving his wife the whole of his large fortune. Subsequently, Harriot became the Duchess of St Albans. Of further interest are details of the salaries paid to members of the Drury Lane Company. In the seasons 1793-94 and 1795-96 Miss Arne received £3 per week; Mr Kemble could expect to receive £25 per week; Mrs Jordan £31.10s. while Mrs Siddons could claim £20 for a single performance. It was customary in the 18th century for Royalty and society to leave London during the summer months and move to one of the spa towns or a favoured seaside resort. During this period the Drury Lane Theatre would also close and the King’s Company as the players were known would present productions at many of the provincial theatres. On the 21st July 1795 we find the Company presenting The Rivals at the Theatre Royal, Margate, with the supporting musical farce No Song No Supper included in the programme with Miss Arne appearing as Margaretta. Just two weeks prior to this appearance she had given birth to her first child by her second marriage. Another provincial appearance made by Jemima was in the summer of 1800 when she played the role of Fatima in Blue Beard at the Theatre Royal, Birmingham. Her last known appearance at Drury Lane was as Luna in Midas on the 17th April 1803. She died on the 20th October of the following year and was buried at St Margaret’s Church. Rochester. It is evident that Jemima experienced much sadness in her earlier life; one would like to think that her second marriage and brief theatrical career brought her some happiness and pleasure. Her second husband Peter died in 1836 at the age of eighty-seven. In his will made in November 1828 he made a request to William Saltonstall Frid “of all that I shall possess….” . Mr Thomas Frid, hop and seed merchant of 246 Borough, Southwark, father of the above, was appointed executor. Peter was buried on the 4th July 1836 in the Frid family grave at Bethel Chapel. To conclude the story Of Edmund and Jemima’s two children that survived Mary Ann married my great-great-grandfather Thomas Frid at St Margaret’s Church, Rochester, 1806. William Saltonstall entered the Royal Navy in 1797 aged thirteen years as a first class volunteer. His naval career lasted some thirty years during which time he saw service in the Mediterranean, the East Indies, Jamaica and Nova Scotia. He succeeded to the baronetcy in 1810 on the death of his grandfather. He married twice, his first wife was the second daughter of Sir James Mackintosh Kt, the Recorder of Bombay, the marriage taking place on the 8th January 1812 at the British Residency in Baghdad. A son of the marriage succeeded to the title. His second marriage took place on the 5th April 1837; this was to Eliza, daughter of the Revd George Davis, B.D., Rector of Cranfield, Bedfordshire. From the Biographical Dictionary by W.H. O’Byrne the following is quoted:- “When Captain Wiseman retired he took up residence at ‘Maryport Lodge’, Little Hillingdon, Middlesex, near his cousin Susannah Saltonstall. He became a magistrate and took a large part in local affairs”. His memorial can be seen in Hillingdon Church. Sources and Acknowledgement Dr Arne and Rule Britannia by William Hayman Cummings |
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 The Institute of Heraldic and Genealogical Studies |