Page:Remarkable history of the miser of Berkshire.pdf/2



JOHN ELWES, ESQ.



EGGOT was the family name of Mr. Elwes; and his name being John, the conjunction of Jack Meggot induced strangers to imagine sometimes that his friends were addressing him by an assumed appellation. The father of Mr. Elwes was an eminent brewer; and his dwelling-house and offices were situated in South-wark; which borough was formerly represented in parliament by his grandfather, Sir George Meggot. During his life, he purchased the estate now in possession of the family of the Calverts, at Marcham, in Berkshire.

father died when the late Mr. Elwes was only 4 years old so that little of the singular character of Mr Elwes is to be attributed to him: but from the mother it may be traced with ease. She was left nearly one hundred thousand pounds by her husband, and yet starved herself to death!

only children from the above marriage, were Mr. Elwes, and a daughter, who married