A breach of promise case is an odd post for Valentine’s Day, perhaps. But then this Cumbrian Frank Churchill sent a Valentine to the woman he later wronged.<\/p>\n
Frank Churchill, a character in Jane Austen\u2019s \u2018Emma,\u2019 is always telling his father he cannot visit because his aunt is unwell. And Frank Churchill is his aunt\u2019s heir. He is thought a possible suitor for Emma, but once his aunt dies, reveals he is secretly engaged to Jane Fairfax.<\/p>\n
John Kirkbride, a real-life young man in the 1860s, was always telling Jane Robinson he couldn\u2019t visit because his uncle was unwell. And John Kirkbride was his unde\u2019s heir. And when his uncle died\u2026<\/p>\n
Yes, John Kirkbride proved a faithless lover. For in February 1869, newspapers far and wide carried the story of poor Jane Robinson, jilted in favour of another woman.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n And as you\u2019ll read later, she hadn\u2019t acted on his advice to burn his letters.<\/p>\n John Kirkbride was born about 1845 in Scotland, but came to live with his bachelor uncle Thomas Kirkbride, at Trough Foot, Plumpton Wall. This was a farm of around 100 acres.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Jane Robinson was also born about 1845. Her parents, William Robinson and Elizabeth (n\u00e9e Lambley or Lamley) had a modest 12-20 acres at Sceugh Hill.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Witness William Nelson, again born about 1845, was the son of Joseph Nelson and Isabella Lambley\/Lamley \u2013 Elizabeth\u2019s sister. He lived with, and worked for, his uncle John Lambley\/Lamley, at Sceugh Head.<\/p>\n John Kirkbride began \u2018seeing\u2019 Jane Robinson in 1867. He started writing to her in November 1867, and his last letter was dated March 1868.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Uncle Thomas Kirkbride died on May 29, 1868.<\/p>\n On September 15 that year, Jane\u2019s faithless lover John Kirkbride married a farmer\u2019s daughter called Margaret Strong.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n William Nelson told the court that his cousin Jane Robinson and John Kirkbride had started courting in October 1867. John Kirkbride would visit Jane once or twice a week, around 9pm.<\/p>\n He\u2019d been to Martinmas fair 1867 with John Kirkbride, who had talkd about Jane Robinson and said: \u2018he had watched her at Carlisle market, and had seen her go through her business as no other young woman could do.\u2019 (Laughter in court).\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n William Nelson also recalled another conversation, in which John Kirkbride had said of Jane Robinson: \u201cWhen I get her to Troughfoot she shall work no more.\u201d<\/p>\n And in\u00a0 <\/span>February, 1868: \u201cI don’t care who sees us together, who knows we are on, for I intend to make her as good as myself.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u2018Just friends\u2019<\/p>\n William Nelson was pressed by John Kirkbride\u2019s solicitor as to his feelings for Jane Robinson.<\/p>\n Did you ever make love to her? (Laughter.)\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Witness: No.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n It is not usual to court cousins in the country?\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Witness: Well, I don\u2019t think it is right.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n John Kirkbride\u2019s uncle was surely in poor health, for he died in May 1868. Perhaps because of fictional Frank Churchill, in Jane Austen\u2019s \u2018Emnma,\u2019 you wonder if he did use it as an excuse occasionally.<\/p>\n In a letter dated November 5, 1867, John Kirkbride tells Jane Robinson his uncle has been very poorly: \u201cSo you will see the reason I broke my promise\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n February 4, 1868: \u201cDear Jane, I would like to have come up to see you last Saturday, but I dare not for I was feared of Uncle breaking down and then I would be wanted\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n March 3, 1868, he fears he won\u2019t be able to see her the following night, as his uncle is not well. \u201cDear Jane, it hurts me to say that I am disappointed, for I am happy when I am with you\u2026 Believe in me and you are mine\u2026 From your devoted, true John Kirkbride.\u201d<\/p>\n This was actually the last letter Jane received from him.<\/p>\n November 14, 1867: \u201cLet all the secrets of your heart be known to me dear\u2026 goodnight and believe this to be from yours very affectionate\u201d.<\/p>\n December 4, 1867. Carlisle: \u2018When I begin to write to you, my dear, I think my paper won\u2019t hold half what I have to say\u2026 I am looking forward for that happy time when you and I are together. We can put questions together when we are locked in each other\u2019s arms.\u2026 from yours for ever\u2026<\/p>\n December 17, 1867,\u00a0 <\/span>Troughfoot: \u201cNever mind what other people say.\u00a0 <\/span>Be constant and true, dear. I live in hope\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n This letter also includes a line about having just played cards: \u201cHearts were trumps very often. Then I thought of you.\u201d<\/p>\n February 4, 1868: \u201c\u2026I live in hopes and we will both be happy some day\u2026 My toe is kittling, Jane; (much laughter in court). (kittling = \u2018touchy, unpredictable, aroused\u2019).<\/p>\n In February 1868, John Kirkbride sent Jane Robinson a Valentine message, which was read out to the court.<\/p>\n Emblem fair to you I send.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Token of affection true.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Showing where my feelings tend<\/p>\n Like the magnet unto you.<\/p>\n Worlds may pass away and perish<\/p>\n Every feeling die away<\/p>\n But the constant love I cherish<\/p>\n Never, never shall decay!\u00a0<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n There was a roar of laughter in the court at the end. And even more when John Kirkbride\u2019s solicitor said the Valentine message didn\u2019t count for much:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u2018The jury has sent lots of Valentines to girls they never intended to marry.\u201d<\/p>\n The judge\u2019s summing up in the breach of promise case included pointing out that John Kirkbride only visited Jane at night, and why else would he go there at night if not to court her?<\/p>\n The judge thought the lines about \u2018locked in each other\u2019s arms\u2019 had to mean \u2018when married\u2019 (for when else could they be so, honestly?). Maybe the uncle didn\u2019t approve of the match.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n It was no light thing to engage the affections of a young girl of 22 and no light thing to break off the intimacy.<\/p>\n The jury could not compensate her fully, but could compensate her fairly.<\/p>\n The jury retired about 15 minutes, before awarding Jane \u00a3250 in damages.<\/p>\nThe \u2018cast\u2019 of the story<\/b><\/h2>\n
The outline of the breach of promise case<\/b><\/h2>\n
Courting in person<\/b><\/h2>\n
The sick uncle<\/b><\/h2>\n
Love letters straight from the heart<\/b><\/h2>\n
The Valentine<\/b><\/h2>\n
A sympathetic judge<\/b><\/h2>\n
And afterwards?<\/b><\/h2>\n