How Did the Howe Dynasty Lose Their Wealth?
Two significant families make up the descendants from Belle-Hampton farm, Hoge and Howe. Although one might not recognize Hoge, the Howe name was most known from the Howe Dynasty and the family's involvement in the British side of the American Revolution. Specifically, Brigadier General William Howe led the British against George Washington's leadership with the Americans. It was presumed that Howe came to his position of high status from his family's wealth. Although the family came from royalty and was brought up within high society, the Howe children succumbed to the shirtsleeves to shirtsleeves scenario of so many wealthy families. But how did the Howe family lose their money?
It all started with the political ambitions of Lord Scrope Howe, Williams's father. Lord Howe wanted to be part of the British Parliament like his father, Scrope 1st Viscount Howe. But the election of 1722 proved to be ruinously expensive. During this era, running for office meant spending a great deal of money in the form of charitable donations, provisions for jobs, lavish dinners, constant travel, and even occasional outright bribes. Howe held regular open houses at his Nottingham Castle, where he offered financial assistance to other Whig candidates. His plan to keep the Tories out of Parliament was successful, but he now was deeply in debt. The beginning of his family’s wealth troubles.
ut the election was not the only cause of his debt. After his marriage to Lady Howe, he lived the life of high society, keeping up with the royals. Besides mixing pleasure with the wealthiest figures, he began improvements to Langar Hall, enhancing the gardens and joining Belvoir Hunt to keep racehorses. Belvoir Hunt describes itself as "one of the world's most celebrated foxhunts." Their hounds were owned by the Howe's wealthy neighbor, the Duke of Rutland; they strove to keep up with him. Although this looks like arrogance, it was the status of Parliament that offered their family opportunities. Lord Howe planned to use the position to gain back his fortune. But in reality, it was the cause of his demise.
Fortunately, he was appointed the Governor of Barbados with a steady salary of 7,000 pounds a year. Barbados was one of Britain's colonial possessions, with profitable plantations mainly producing sugar. It was called the "sugar islands," where enslaved Africans toiled in grueling conditions. Before their voyage, they went out in lavish style, throwing a going-away party. Lord Howe arranged for the transport of a large quantity of luxurious furniture for their Governor's mansion. Any onlooker would not realize this new position was organized to bring the family back from debt.
Charlotte and Scrope Howe leaving England meant leaving behind some of their boys. It was noted that George and Richard Howe were enrolled at Westminster School in London. Was Joseph Howe also in attendance? Or was he left with other family members since the age of his birth is in question? (Note: recent DNA testing links Joseph Howe to this line of the Howe family).
Life on the Island was not easy for anyone. Life expectancy for even the wealthy was low; not many lasting past their forties. Lord Howe was worried about his tender wife, who gave birth to their youngest, Mary, on the island. But it was Howe himself who perished in 1735. Lady Howe returned to London quickly with her new baby and three older daughters. After a scary spell of her own becoming dangerously ill, Charlotte recovered and was left to survey the financial damage of their West Indian venture.
Lady Howe’s uncle, Kind George I, generously increased her income, but it was barely enough to sustain their aristocratic lifestyle. The Howe boys were not yet twenty-one and could not contribute to the family income. The Howe dynasty had the charm of a title and social standing, but it could not continue its course; they had to stop the spending. The boys were pulled out of school. Langar Hall was closed to the public, which halted the elaborate entertaining. Scope's mother, Lady Juliana Howe, was left at the hall to assume responsibility for their education.
It was noted that Joseph Howe first came to America in 1737; he would have been only seventeen. If his father had passed away in 1735 and his family had no means to support him, then what would he have to lose to start over in the New World? At some point, Joseph returned to Britain and returned sometime around 1748 when he married his wife, Eleanor Dunbar. He settled with his new wife in Boston, MA. But around 1758, Joseph Howe went looking for his brother, George Lord Viscount Howe, who was fighting in the French-Indian War. Unfortunately, George was killed on the first tragic expedition to Ticonderoga in North America. There is a monument for George erected in his honor by the Province of Massachusetts before its separation from Britain, but his body is buried in Westminster Abbey.
Subsequently, Joseph and Eleanor Howe made their way with their young family to Southwest Virginia to start a new life. He was surveying property in Virginia with George Washington around 1749 but arrived at Sunnyside in 1758 to create a new Howe family legacy. James Mayo Hoge also joined the group by marrying Howe's daughter, Elizabeth. He established the Hoge family on the next farm, Hayfield, now called Belle-Hampton. Do the next generations follow the shirtsleeve to shirtsleeve cycle, or can they continue to build their legacy by being good stewards of the property?
