Middlemore Family Genealogy

Middlemore's of Birmingham

69. Thomas Middlemore, of Hawkesley, and, since 1898, of Melsetter, in Orkney, esquire, J. P. for that county and Worcestershire, born at Edgbaston, 11February, 1842, baptized, 26 June, 1870, at the parish church of St. Michael, Northfield, where he then resided.

Mr. Middlemore was educated with his brothers at the Proprietary School, Edgbaston, under the Rev. Charles Badham, D.D., and for six months in Paris under M. Keller, in the Rue de Chevreuse, afterwards, 1875, graduating B.A. at the University of London.  In 1858 he entered

Figure 47  Signature of Thomas Middlemore

his father's office, and from 1868 undertook the management of the business, of which, under his father's will in 1889, he became sole owner, finally disposing of it in 1896, when his interest in it wholly ceased.

He was ensign in the Warwickshire Rifle Volunteers from 1860 to 1862, and subsequently for two years held a commission as lieutenant.

 

Figure 48  Bookplate of Thomas Middlemore

On the death of his father he succeeded to the ancient Middlemore property of Hawkesley, acquiring also in the year 1890, the Staple Hall estate, in Northfield, from the trustees of his brother, S. G. C. Middlemore, to which he has since added. In 1898 he purchased the Melsetter estate in Orkney, comprising the islands of Hoy, Walls, Fara, and Rysa, and since then has settled at Melsetter.  He has resided successively at Northfield, Sutton Coldfield, London, and, until 1898, at Rousay in Orkney.

Figure 49  Signature of Theodosia Middlemore

He married at the Chapel Royal, in the Savoy, London, 11 October, 1881, Theodosia Anderson, elder surviving

daughter of the late Hugh Mackay, of Sandwood and Kinlochbervie, in Sutherland, of which county he was a J.P. She was born 13 March 1861, and was baptized at Kinlochbervie.

Hoy.-As its name implies, Hoy is a mountainous region, and consequently has been termed the Highlands of Orkney. The population of the two parishes, including the island of Fara, at the census of 1891, was about 1,300.The little island of Rysa is uninhabited. In the northern parish, Hoy, is a somewhat celebrated prehistoric monument known as the Dwarfie Stone. The southern parish of Walls is noted for the fine natural harbour of Longhope, which extends inland some five or six miles, almost dividing the island at this point. The mansion house of Melsetter is situated at the southern extremity of Longhope Bay, and commands a view of the Pentland Firth, Caithness, and the mountains of West Sutherland, thus recalling to Mrs. Middlemore the home of her ancestors.

Mackay.-The clan Mackay, of which Lord Reay is chief, was settled from early times in Sutherland, part of which is colloquially known as the Reay country. Of this family the Mackays of Sandwood were cadets, from whom the late Hugh Mackay, of Sandwood and Kinlochbervie, who was son of Hugh Mackay and Mary Clarke, and grandson of William Mackay, in Lettermore, claimed descent, while he also traced maternally from Donald, the first Lord Reay, who was so created in 1628.

H H

 It only remains to add that it was at the request of Mr. Thomas Middlemore that the compilation of this family history was undertaken by the present writer.

By Mr. Middlemore's desire it is now issued in a permanent book form as an appropriate memorial to his ancestors, and as a gift to his kindred and to those friends who may feel interested in this plain narrative of the family story.