Henry Hewson was born at Hawkshurst in Kent and baptised on 8 July 1853. He was the “son of the late Dr. Hewson, of Rural Descent, whose ancestors date back in a direct line from Edward First”, according to his ecclesiastical records. Dr Hewson is described as a surgeon. The Hewson family had several homes at different times in England, including Clitheroe in Lancashire, where they appear on the 1861 census. Henry was educated at King’s College, London. In 1878 he received his Theology degree and was ordained in 1879, under the auspices of the College of St Mary Magdalene in Southwark, London.

From 1880 to 1881 Rev Hewson was Curate at Keston Parish Church in Kent, at the age of 27, and the following year was appointed to a position at Beddington in Surrey.

We know that Rev Hewson was vicar of Fingringhoe, near Colchester in Essex, by 1883, as he appeared as such at the Magistrates’ Court on 7^th March, charged with being drunk and disorderly!

On 4 August 1887 Henry Hewson was initiated as a member of the Angel Lodge of Freemasons at Colchester, so that we may assume that he was still in Fingringhoe at that time.

Harriet Lucy Frederica Marvin was born in Higham Gobion, in Bedfordshire, around 1861, and was baptised at the church there on 17 September 1865. Her father, William Harry Marvin, was Rector at St Margaret’s, Higham Gobion, and had five daughters, the middle one being Harriet. William held the advowson of Higham Gobion himself.

During the year of Rev Marvin’s death in 1888, a marriage was arranged between Harriet and the Rev Henry Newington Clarke Hewson. A pre-nuptial agreement, or Covenant, was made to the amount of £2000 in case the marriage failed. Rev Marvin died in October 1888 and the couple were married on New Year’s Day 1889, two weeks before Rev Marvin’s will was proved on 18 January.

From 1889 to 1893 Henry Hewson was Rector of St Margaret’s, Higham Gobion, succeeding his father in law.

In 1894 Sarah Grace was married, by her brother, to William Gardner, at Cosgrove Church. Gardner is described as a “Gentleman” from Southwick in Sussex.

Over the next few years Rev Hewson made some improvements to Cosgrove Rectory and, socially, in the neighbourhood.

He had a new well constructed at the back of the Rectory. This led to a theft of some materials pertaining to the well which is recorded in the following extract:

Northampton Mercury - Friday 29 June 1900 TOWCESTER. DIVISIONAL PETTY SESSIONS. TUESDAY before Mr. E. Grant (in the chair). Major Price Blackwood, and Mr. J Chettle. Theft. Fred Harry Smith, carpenter. Yardley Gobion was charged with stealing a well kerb, at Cosgrove on June 16th. The Rev. Clarke Hewson, Rector of Cosgrove, said he had recently had a well sunk at Cosgrove. The three pieces of wood (produced), forming a well kerb, were used in the construction of the well, and were witness's property. After the completion of the well, they were out in a hovel, the door being locked. He missed them on the 16th inst. The door had been forced open. He valued them at 10s. 6d P.C Smith said saw the prisoner at the Coffee Pot public house, at Yardley Gobion and told him he suspected him of stealing the well kerb. Prisoner said, “Yes, it's down home." Prosecutor said did not wish to press the case, and prisoner, who had already been in prison ten days, and had not previously been before the Court, was sentenced to one day's imprisonment.

In the 1901 Census the Hewsons were not living at the Rectory next to the Church. Instead, Henry, Harriet, their son Francis, aged 7 and their daughter Christian, aged 4 were living at a property called “The Old Rectory” on the Green, with a servant, May Pittam, from Silverstone. It is difficult to be certain, due to the random numbering of houses at that time, that this place was not the “Rector’s Cottages” of the previous census, but The Old Rectory has a central spot in the numbering so it seems unlikely.

In the actual Rectory on Stratford Road in 1901 were Mrs Gordon, wife of Col. J.H. Gordon D.S.O. CB retired, and her daughters, son in law and servants. It is probable that Rev Hewson had leased the Rectory to provide some income.

Northampton Chronicle and Echo Saturday 11^th October 1902

Stony Stratford Divisional Petty Sessions

Thomas Wilks of no fixed abode was charged by the Rev. H. M. C. Hewson with breaking four panes of glass thereby doing damage to amount of 10s. at Cosgrove, on October 8th —The defendant admitted the offence, but said it was done under great provocation—The prosecutor said the defendant had been employed by him. On the date in about 9 40p.m., the defendant attempted to go into the house, and the prosecutor refused him admission. The defendant became insolent, and smashed windows,—ln cross-examination by the defendant. Prosecutor stated he did not promise the defendant 12s. a week and his food to "do" his garden.— Defendant said Mr. Hewson owed him £2 8s wages, and said the prosecutor refused to pay him, he broke the windows—The prosecutor denied the accuracy of defendant's statement in regard to wages.—Fine and costs £1, or 14 days’ imprisonment in default.

Rev Hewson demonstrated his benevolence towards the village by agreeing to the use of his biggest room for the benefit of the working men.
	Northampton Mercury - Friday 10 October 1902 COSGROVE PROPOSED READING ROOM In response to the appeal of a deputation, the Rector Cosgrove (the Rev. H. N. C. Hewson) has been pleased to grant the use of his large room as a reading and village room during the winter for men and. boys over 14 years of age, thus supplying a much felt want.

Up until 1903 Hewson, as rector, owned some cottages on the Green on the corner opposite the Old School. We know that in 1904 these were demolished and two substantial houses were erected in their place. This may be the reason that on 22 July 1904 Diocesan records show a transfer of the advowson back to Sarah Gardner, Hewson’s sister from Henry – effectively a mortgage of the rights to the Church and its lands and income, for £441 9s. At the same date Sarah Gardner and Rev Hewson raised a mortgage to “Thomas Arthur Rawlinson and John Richards Cross Devereux both of 9 New Square, Lincoln’s Inn, in fee simple, with proviso for redemption on payment of £300 pounds and interest.” The Advowson was therefore charged twice on the same day with mortgages totalling £744.

The date stone on the houses built, presumably with this money, reads

“H H 1904.”

These properties are now 1 and 2 The Green.

Reverend Hewson’s dealings with construction materials were by no means straightforward, as shown in the rather bizarre newspaper report below:

The cottages mentioned, which were destroyed by fire, stood on Main Street next to the Bakehouse. They were not part of the glebe properties. At this time the appearance of a Rector in court, although somewhat scandalous, would have been most unlikely to lead to a conviction.

Rev Hewson’s fortunes continued to make headlines when towards 1907 his marriage began to fail. Although the details of the reasons for this can only be imagined, the newspaper article below reminds us that his father in law had made provision for this eventuality, and, as a consequence of his allegedly being unable to repay the amount of the settlement for this, Hewson appeared in court as follows:

Rev Hewson continued to experience considerable misfortune. In the same year, probably because of the case above, he published the following advertisement indicating his straitened circumstances:

Northampton Mercury - Friday 27 March 1908 ACCIDENT TO THE RECTOR. The Rev. H. N. C. Hewson, Rector of Cosgrove, fell off his machine while cycling on Monday, and the result was a broken thigh. In the evening [he] was taken to Northampton Hospital where he is progressing.

If his private life was disastrous, Hewson’s clerical work was also failing badly. We know from anecdotal evidence that he was prone to criticise the wealthy and powerful of the village, and that complaints were made against him to the Diocese by the Churchwardens.

On 22 June 1907 a Transfer of Patronage of Cosgrove Church was recorded:

From H N C Hewson to Sarah Grace Gardner the wife of William Gardner of Braemar, Portland Road, Portsland, Sussex.  Conveyance of all advowson etc. of Cosgrove with glebe lands, rent charges in lieu of tithes etc.  Last admission to living December 1893.  Registration dated 23 July, 1907.

Riden speculates that this must in effect be the mortgagee foreclosing on the loans made in 1904.

On 15 July 1908 Hewson was inhibited from performing Clerical Duties in the Peterborough Diocese by Bishop Edward Carr Glyn: To the Churchwardens of Cosgrove in the County of Northampton and within our Diocese and Jurisdiction greeting Whereas we have by writing under our hand and Episcopal Seal this day inhibited the Reverend Henry Newington Clarke Hewson Rector of Cosgrove aforesaid from performing any Clerical duty whatsoever within our Diocese and Jurisdiction These are therefore to warn and require all Rectors Vicars Curates or Clerks and Churchwardens to whom the knowledge of these presents may come not to permit the said Henry Newington Clarke Hewson to officiate or perform Clerical duty in any Church or Chapel or elsewhere in our said Diocese Given under our hand and Episcopal Seal this fifteenth day of July one thousand nine hundred and eight and in the twelfth year of our Consecration.

It appears that Rev Hewson abandoned the idea of living in the Rectory in 1909, when all his goods were auctioned off, presumably making way for tenants of a more permanent nature, who wanted to bring their own furniture with them.

The inhibition presented a major headache for the Church at Cosgrove. Hewson was not allowed to take services or to act as a Rector, but he owned property in the village and now Sarah Grace Gardner, his sister, owned the rights to the Rectory and all the glebe land of the Church in the parish. During the next 25 years services were taken by visiting and neighbouring clergy, and various curates were appointed.

We know, for instance, that by the outbreak of the Great War in 1914, Green Farm was occupied by the Rev. William Alfred Mandall M.A., curate in charge at Cosgrove Church. We also know that Rev Hewson and the Atkinsons at the Priory had a long running antagonism between them, and it would be easy to imagine that, as the Rectory was still occupied by Hewson or his tenants, his Cosgrove Nemesis, John Jepson Atkinson, might have offered Green Farm to his replacement, Mandall. This cannot have been comfortable for any of the parties concerned.

By the 1911 Census Mary Morgan, a lady of private means, with her grown up single children (one a student in Holy Orders) and adopted son of 7, were living in Cosgrove Rectory. During this same census Henry Hewson was living at Marton Vicarage, Chirbury, in Shropshire.

We do know that Rev Hewson continued to take services outside the Diocese, possibly filling in for clergy with illness, or for particular occasions. We know that he did return to Cosgrove Rectory during the inhibition, as immediately after the end of the Great War, the following appeared:

Northampton Chronicle and Echo Saturday 19 October 1918

COSGROVE CLERGYMAN SUMMONED.

At the Stony Stratford Petty Sessions on Friday, before Captain Hall (chairman), Dr. T. S. Maguire, Major J. Brougham, and Mr. A. Gray.
Henry E. C. Hewson, Clerk in Holy Orders, the Rectory, Cosgrove was summoned far a common assault on Hetty Chisnall, married woman, at Cosgrove on October 1st
.Mr. H. W. Williams, (Messrs Williams and Kingston, Northampton), appeased for complainant, and Mr. W. Yorke Groves, Northampton, for defendant.
At the invitation of defendant's sister, who is mentally afflicted, and has since been removed to an asylum, complainant went to live at the Rectory. While there the sister, amongst other things, took complainant’s ring-paper (her husband being a soldier). [A ring paper was a document issued to soldiers’ wives allowing them to draw their allowance at the Post Office.] The Rector wrote complainant an indemnity paper. On October 1^st she decided that things were too uncomfortable she would leave, and in an interview the Rector demanded the return of the paper he had written which she refused, whereupon, counsel alleged, defendant took hold of his client by the wrists and kicked three times on the leg, using considerable violence.
Complainant, pale looking, said that whilst she was at the Rectory she paid 10s. per week for her maintenance. On October 1st. she felt frightened at the way she was being treated. Defendant locked her up the room, and said be would force her to go to the bedroom to get him the indemnity paper. He took hold of her wrists and kicked her three times.
Cross-Examined Mrs. Dix was not at the bottom of the trouble, nor did she tell complainant to go back, have a row, and clear out.
Rosemary Dix, married woman, the Forge. Cosgrove, said complainant was upset and nervous. There were finger marks on her wrist, which were very red and bruised, and three bruises on and near the knee of the right leg.
Police-Sergt. Clarke, who saw complainant on October 3, also testified to the bruises.—Defendant, sworn, gave an explanation, in which he said when Mrs. Chisnall was leaving, they parted good friends. He shook hands when he said "Goodbye." He was not aware for some time there was any suggestion of an assault and did not know he was going to be summoned. He did not touch her; he had no occasion to.
Mr. Williams:  Wasn't a complaint made against you that you locked another lady in a room?--No. never.
In further cross-examination, defendant said he wrote the indemnity paper at complainant’s request. but although this stated, “I will pay her expenses until Mrs. Gardner (defendant's sister) gives up her ring-paper." he did not believe his sister had the paper. He could not suggest how complainant got the bruises.
Mr. Groves, for the defence, argued that the story was without corroboration, and that the defendant must give benefit of the doubt. It was question of how the bruise happened, not as to whether they existed.
The Bench upheld this view and dismissed the case.

The notion that “the defendant’s sister”, who may have been Mrs Gardner, the actual owner of the Rectory, being removed to an asylum, is disturbing. There may have been another sister.

During the 1920s the Rectory was leased to various tenants, including Richard Kingsley-Johnson. His story can be read at http://www.cosgrovehistory.co.uk/doc/buildings/rectory.html

Hewson’s next brush with the law put him on the plaintiff’s bench.

The Rectory at Cosgrove is a large property, and at this time had extensive grounds with orchards and outbuildings requiring staff to maintain them. It cannot be imagined that Henry Hewson was an easy employer.

Rev Hewson’s sister, Mrs. Gardner died in 1920 without making a bequest of the advowson, which passed to Hewson as her heir-at-law. He sold the living in 1933 to his son Francis Arthur Alexander Hewson for £350.

Finally, in 1932 Rev Hewson returned to his clerical duties at Cosgrove Church when the inhibition came to an end.

It might be expected that at 79 years old Henry Hewson might opt for a gentle life in peaceful Cosgrove, but more was to come!

Mr and Mrs Winterbottom, now in residence at Cosgrove Hall next door to Cosgrove Rectory, invited Henry Hewson to all their fundraising extravaganzas, including those where royalty was invited. Whether or not he enjoyed these occasions can only be guessed from the picture!

In 1935 the Rev. H N C Hewson married a second time at Towcester, Rose, the widow of George Edward Teale, whose father was the late Lieutenant Colonel Frederick Teale, of Calcutta, India. 

At this point in his life Rev Hewson became something of a local personality for his advancing years alone, as these articles show:

Northampton Mercury - Friday 06 May 1938 The Rev. H. N. C. Hewson, rector of Cosgrove since 1893, has intimated to his parishioners that it would probably be his last Easter with them as their rector. Mr. Hewson was ordained deacon in 1879, and priest the following year, his first curacy being at St. Mary Magdalen, Southwark, from 1879-80. Northampton Mercury - Friday 14 October 1938  RECTOR LEARNS TO TRICYCLE AT 85 TENACITY of purpose is a strong trait in the character of the Rev. H. N. C. Hewson, the aged rector of Cosgrove. Now aged 85, he has just learnt to ride a tricycle in order to see more of his parishioners.

He was not above manipulation of the PCC either –

Rev Hewson provided treats for the village children at the proper times – at other times they remember cherry knocking at the Rectory door to make him run out after them. His dog Snap was always mentioned.

Children's New Year's Party given by the Rector, the Revd H.N.C. Hewson at Cosgrove Rectory, 4 January 1940.
The rector was a little man, only about 5ft tall, and was known in the village as 'Little Jackie'. He stood on a fish box in the pulpit!
Back row, left to right: Audrey Ruff, Beryl Tompkins, Eric Meakins, George Hill, Joan Lord, Daphne Kingston, Ray Meakins, David Brown.
Second row: Margaret Hitchcock, Mrs Hewson with her dog Snap, Christopher Whitaker, Cynthia Tompkins, John Loughrey, Gladys Loughrey, Peggy Ruff, Peter Brown, Betty Hillyer, Joan Peach, Edith Waite.

Almost to the end, Rev Hewson tried to make the glebe lands pay for themselves, as, after all, they were originally intended to do – but the Diocese disagreed.

Cosgrove residents tell “Hewson” stories to this day in the village. This description from 1942 is typical.

“When it was my turn to be married ‘Jackie’ was still the Incumbent, well over 90 years old. We asked his son if he thought his father would mind if we asked another vicar to marry us, but he said his father would be very hurt. I don’t think he would have been so hurt as angry, and would have made any visiting vicar’s life very unpleasant, I had seen it happen at an ordinary service, so ‘Little Jackie’ it had to be.

It was to be a quiet war-time wedding as indeed it turned out to be — no bells and no music. The organist offered to play for us, but I thanked her and said it would only prolong the agony. We arrived at the church to find no ‘Little Jackie’, so we waited whilst my ‘father-in—law to be’, hurried off to the rectory, quite some distance from the church, quite a long gravel path and through overgrown bushes to the front door of the rectory, but no ‘Little Jackie’, and so we waited again whilst the Churchwarden, Mrs. Feil, offered to go. She was a stout lady, but such a beaming smile, it made you happy to look at her —  after a time she came puffing back with a triumphant smile to shout “He’s coming, he’s coming” and we stood up in readiness once more — after more waiting, the little Chancel door opened, and in came this little wraith—like figure, long black overcoat reaching the floor, long black gloves and black hat and so we started at last ‘Not dearly beloved’ he looked as if he hated the lot of us. His memory was not too good, and when he forgot a bit, he started from the beginning again, and after what seemed a long time, he said to me “I think you’re on the wrong side, but I don’t suppose it matters”, you can stand up if you’re tired, but I stuck it out. He also got our names mixed up, not sure if he did not marry me to the best man, but I don’t suppose that mattered either —  after the ceremony, he told us we must go to the Rectory to sign the Register, his son had filled it in, as it was too heavy for little Jackie to carry to the Church and so we trooped back through the bushes to sign it, in the Drawing Room. His wife offered him a steaming hot drink, which I would have loved, and he said “The Book is over there, you go and sign it”, which we did. The best man, my brother—in—law, handed him the seven shillings and sixpence licence fee and he cheered up and said “Thank you very much it’s difficult to come by these days” —  that was the end of my wedding apart from once more through the bushes and back through the church to the waiting congregation, quite a few turned up as there was not a lot of excitement in Cosgrove in those days, wartime 1942, the coldest day of that year. (30th. December)”

Memories of the Rev. Hewson
by Connie Rix

It must have been one of the very first weddings I played the organ for as Rev. Hewson died 1945.  I would have cycled to Cosgrove. All went well until after the first hymn. The Rector then said he must go and pay the baker, he shuffled out of the church leaving the bride and bridegroom at the entrance to the chancel. Everyone waited and waited but he did not return. The couple could not leave as he had not got as far as marrying them. Someone went to look for him and after some considerable time he was brought back and completed the service.

I was the organist at Calverton Church from Easter 1943 for seven years. The Rev. Raymond Ravenscroft fell out with his organist, Owen Tyrrell. I had been playing for the children’s service and was asked to take the job on, I was 13.  I cycled from Wolverton road, Stony Stratford three times every Sunday – 11-00am Morning Service, 3-00 pm Children’s Service and 6-30pm Evensong. Choir practice Wednesday evenings. The second Sunday I played the Bishop of Oxford came for a Confirmation Service. I received 10 shillings a month, which I think was quite good pay in those days or at least I thought it was.

My father had the Butcher’s business at 78, Wolverton Road and before the Second World War he used to come round Cosgrove selling from the back of his van. The Rev. Hewson was one of his customers and one day he came out to the van to choose what he would like. My father was preparing a joint as he usually did and Rev. Hewson went back into the Rectory to fetch a dish. He came out and father turned round and was just about to put the joint on the dish and Hewson said “Don’t put it on there this is a painting of my grandfather which I have brought to show you.”

On another occasion I went into Griffiths shoe shop which was near the George Hotel in Stony Stratford High Street. Mrs Cosford was serving the Rev. Hewson, he was trying on some slippers. He soon decided on a pair and stood up and said he would keep them on and she could keep his shoes. The slippers were at least two or three sizes too large with a big gap at the back, but Mrs Cosford could not persuade him to have a smaller size. All he kept on saying was that they looked very good at the front. He paid her and went shuffling out of the shop and left his shoes.

I notice on one of the photographs you sent there are boys with the surname Brown. At the time Rev. Hewson died a lad known as Nigger the 14^th (apparently his father was known as Nigger Brown and they had fourteen children) worked for the builders Betts and Faulkner. This firm was putting a Rayburn and updating our bathroom. Nigger the 14^th had just left school and was helping the plumber. On Saturdays he did odd jobs at Cosgrove rectory. One Monday morning when he came to work he told us that the housekeeper, when he went to the rectory that Saturday said she had something to show him. She took him in and the Rev. Hewson was dead in bed and it terrified the poor lad.                                                                                                                   Further to this when our bathroom was completed and the time came to light the Rayburn and see if everything worked. There was great excitement because the plumber was only 17 and it was the first job he had done on his own. It all worked and Nigger said if we ever wanted a bath we would be all right. I can also remember my Mum getting very cross because Nigger would come about half way down the stairs and then jump to the bottom and put his filthy hands on the wall opposite and she had to redecorate it!

The Rev. H N C Hewson died at the Rectory on Monday, 19th November and was interred in the churchyard on Saturday, 24th November 1945 “a distinguished scholar and a man of great personal charm” “he will long be remembered in the parish, having a great love for the people.”

Henry Hewson’s estate went to his son. As the village tried to make improvements and to build a future after the Second World War, Francis Hewson decided to rationalise some of the outbuildings and gardens to sell the Rectory property. He made a gift to the children of Cosgrove in his father’s name.

AFTER a lapse of some 57 years, the village of Cosgrove has a playing field again. This has been made possible by the generosity of Mr. F. A. A. Hewson, of Linslade, a son of the late Rev. H. N. C. Hewson, who was Rector of the parish for 53 years.