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house, along with my eldest brother, Richard, we were whipping 
tops together in the drawing-room, on which the carpet was only 
laid down upon particular occasions. The walls were hung round 
with family pictures, and I said to my brother, ‘Dare you strike 
your whip through that old lady’s petticoats?’ He replied, ‘No, I 
wont.’ ‘Then,’ said I, ‘here goes,’ and I struck my lash through 
the old lady’s petticoats, for which, no doubt, though I have 
forgotten it, I was properly punished.” 
On the death of Mr. John Wordsworth, his children were left 
but ill-provided for, Sir Jas. Lowther (afterwards Earl of Lonsdale) 
had got from him, ostensibly as a loan, all his savings, amounting 
to £5,000, and refused to restore it, even for the benefit of the 
orphan children. This lawless and inhuman act was unatoned 
for to the day of the earl’s death. However, his successor, about 
1801, nobly restored the money with interest, amounting in all to 
£8,500. In the meantime, the two uncles—Mr. Richard Words- 
worth, of Whitehaven, and Mr. Christopher Crackenthorpe—did 
their duty by the children, and gave them a good education. Mr. 
Christopher Crackenthorpe Cookson, the heir of the Newbiggin 
estates, was at the age of forty-three, still only heir, and still a 
bachelor. James Crackenthorpe’s widow must have had a long 
widowhood, and Christopher was evidently in no haste to marry. 
At length, however, our unfailing parish register comes to the front 
again, and presents us with the following marriage register :— 
27th of August, 1788—Christopher Crackenthorpe Cookson, of 
this parish, bachelor, aged 43, and Charlotte Cust, of this 
parish, spinster, aged 32—by me W. Cookson, officiating 
minister, in the presence of Martha Cust and G. Raincock. 
The officiating minister is the Lridegroom’s brother, Doctor 
Cookson, Fellow of St. John’s College, Cambridge, and afterwards 
Canon of Windsor, grandfather of Mr. Montague Cookson Crack- 
enthorpe, who now inherits the Newbiggin estates in succession to 
his great-uncle, the late Mr. William Crackenthorpe, who was 
never married. The bride of Mr. Christopher Crackenthorpe 
Cookson—Charlotte Cust—was daughter of Mr. Cust, surgeon 
and apothecary, Penrith. 
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