William Hope married Frances Alexander at Tonge in Kent in 1790. They lived at Doddington before moving to Ulcombe near Maidstone where William’s ageing father farmed. From 1805, they leased Charman’s Farm in Westerham.
William died in 1834 and Frances continued the farm with her single daughter (also called Frances), growing fine hops.
On 6 September 1848 a fire was discovered in the double barn full of straw, and extended to the wagon lodge, cowsheds, and haystacks, all of which were totally consumed. The Westerham fire engine “was prompt in attendance, and by the great exertions of the firemen the dwelling-house was preserved”. Even so, the loss was estimated at £5OO.
| Dates | 1762-1834 |
| Lived at | Kent |
| Baptism | 4 Mar 1763, Lenham, Kent |
| Occupation | Gentleman Farmer |
| Father | Robert Hope d 1796 |
| Mother | Mary |
| Spouse | Frances Alexander 1771-1856 m 1790 |
| Children | Mary Hope 1791-1863 Sarah Hope 1793-? Frances Hope 1795-? Elizabeth Hope 1798-1886 Lydia Hope 1800-1821 |
Nine days later, a second fire in the hen house was doused before it could take serious hold. Arson was suspected. The following year Frances retired to live with her daughter Mary nearby, dying at 85.
Today Charman’s Farm is heritage listed and its 18th century facade masks 16th century origins. It houses Westerham Brewery Company and its oast houses (used to dry hops) have been converted to offices.
But let us go back in time to when, like Jane Austen’s Mr Bennett, William Hope was a gentleman farmer with five marriageable daughters including Elizabeth, Mary, and Lydia. There is evidence to suggest the girls went to London for the social “season”, attending parties and balls chaperoned by a family friend. Two of the girls were married at St George, Hanover Square, the most fashionable church for regency weddings.
When Booth Hodgetts—a single man of large fortune— moved into the neighbourhood, Mrs Hope may well have echoed Jane Austen’s Mrs Bennett in saying, “What a fine thing for our girls!”
Sources & Notes
William Hope bapt 4/3/1763 Lenham, Kent, son of Robert and Mary Hope.
Frances Alexander bapt 10/11/1771 Hollingburne, Kent, dau of Joseph Alexander and Lydia Fuller, Anc.
Marriage William Hope m Frances Alexander 14/9/1790, Tong, Kent, Anc.
Children Baptisms: Mary 2/2/1791 (at Tong), Anc; Sarah 4/4/1793 (at Doddington) and Lydia 2/3/1800 (at Lenham), FMP. (no baptism found for Elizabeth)
Charman’s farm South Eastern Gazette 12/9/1848, South Eastern Gazette 9/10/1849, West Kent Guardian 23/9/1848.
Later life Census 1841 Frances Hope 65yo farmer with dau Frances 30yo farmer and 10 yo Frederick Sewell (grandson) in Westerham; 1851 Frances Hope with dau Mary Sewell Westerham.
London Marriages at St George, Hanover Square: Mary Hope of Westerham m James Sewell 28/2/1821, and Sarah Hope m John Tolhurst 20/3/1820, Anc. Helen Murray was a witness to both. Helen lived in Woodstock Street, London, England, Land Tax Records, 1692-1932, Anc. Burial: 21-year-old Lydia Hope of Marylebone (400m from Woodstock st) St George, Hanover Square 15/12/1821, Anc. These dates all fall in the London season.
Fashionable marriage place Regency History, Rachel Knowles, retrieved 16/6/2022.