PARENTAGE. 7 



the only surviving daughter of Edward Blakeway, the 

 squire of Broseley. It was in Clapham, and amid its 

 then rural surroundings, that the father and mother of 

 our Joseph Prestwich began their married life. 



Early in the century Clapham and its neighbourhood 

 were very different suburbs of London from what they 

 are to-day. The fields and green lanes of those years 

 have vanished, and their place has been invaded by 

 ever-extending blocks of brick and mortar. At that 

 time comfortable houses stood in their own grounds 

 or gardens, the gardens generally merging into pro- 

 ductive orchards. Now coal-trucks and sheds cover 

 sites which were noted for their heavy crops of fruit. 

 Then railways were unknown, nor had tram-cars, which 

 run in rapid succession in the now noisy thoroughfares, 

 ever been heard of. In short, the aspect of the place 

 is altogether changed. 



Of the parents of Joseph Prestwich it may be re- 

 marked that his father was a man of ability, widely 

 read, with a knowledge of art, who enjoyed nothing 

 more than his tours and journeys in France and Hol- 

 land, when he was occasionally accompanied by his 

 wife. Foreign travel was then for the few, and was 

 not made easy for the many. He was of a sanguine 

 temperament, racy and witty " very good company," 

 as a relative explained, when describing his ever-ready 

 repartee. 



The mother of our geologist, to whom throughout 

 life he was tenderly attached, was the eldest of seven. 

 Three of the little Blakeways died in childhood, and 

 the survivors were Catherine, Edward, John, and 

 James. Catherine (Mrs) Prestwich was greatly be- 

 loved by her family and friends : she was entirely 

 domestic, sweet -natured, and refined a good wife and 



