Charles Waring Begent and his family are well documented but cannot so far be linked into the other Begent lines at that time in London. It is possible that he was a brother of James Begent born in 1803 in Chancery Lane, London (see James Begent tree) but I have no firm evidence of this. None of Charles Waring Begent's children married so this line died out with the death of Emily Begent in 1923. The family has been researched by John Ward who is the great great grandson of Martha Begent, Charles' presumed sister.

2. Presumed Sister of Charles Waring Begent was MARTHA BEGENT who was born in 1799, and died Decmber 12, 1854. She married ROBERT MYERS on November 25, 1822 at St James, Westminster, London. Lodging house keeper in the Haymarket.

Letter from CHARLES EDWARD BEGENT to his Parents in 1844

Transcription by John Ward of a letter sent by Charles Edward Begent dated October 29, 1844 from Stuttgart Germany to his father at 4, Panton Street , Haymarket, London. This is a remarkable letter as Charles Edward was only 13 years old at the time, and writes as though he moved in the highest of social circles! His father Charles Waring Begent was a servant in Panton Street near the Haymarket and probably worked in the household of Mr and Mrs Hall who appear to have taken young Charles Edward with them to Stuttgart. It gives an interesting social insight of the times.

Letter to Mr. Begent no.4 Panton Street, Haymarket, Coventry Street, London

Stuttgart October 29th 1844

My Dear Parents

I am happy to hear by the receipt of your letter today that you are quite well and I hope that the baby will soon get well. I am glad to hear that Grandmother and all the rest are quite well. I am just beginning to understand the people. I have now been to school a fortnight and the master still comes to the house in the evening. I get up at six o'clock in the morning and have breakfast at half past seven because I am obliged to be at school at 8 o'clock. I get out at twelve, have my dinner and go to school again at 2 o'clock but in the summer we are obliged to be at school at seven. The town of Stuttgart is surrounded with high mountains some of which are half a mile high. They are covered with grapes and large forests. Fruit of every description is very cheap. I went with Mr.Hall to the vineyard of one of his friends where we had some fine sport at shooting. We ate a great lot of grapes and sundry articles too numerous to mention. I have been since with his boy to his uncle's where we let off a rare lot of fireworks. The vintage has just begun and the people keep firing and letting off fireworks all the day and night. The town is very dull compared with London. The palace is a fine building and the theatre likewise which is quite close to the palace from which the King has a private entrance. The King and Royal Family go very often and always on Sunday. There was on the King's birthday a rare set out on which day we went to the races at Canstall? a few miles in the country where we went in some tea gardens and ate some sour kraut. It being the proper day for eating it. Mrs Hall went to the theatre on the King's birthday as all the nobility go there on that night. We live at no. 17 Frederick St. Inner House. We shall all be delighted to see you here. I go tomorrow to learn gymnastics. I have not yet begun my violin. The scenery up the Rhine was beautiful, high mountains on each side of us and about every quarter of a mile the ruins of an old castle or monastery. The good scenery begins at Bonn and ends at Mayenne. Travelling from Manheim to Stuttgart the trees on each side of the road were loaded with apples, plums, peaches, walnuts and other fruit. We had a rare lot of walnuts just after we came here, there being a large walnut tree in the yard from which I myself gathered sixty one morning before breakfast, the usual number used to be about thirty a day. They have no fires like ours but they are all stoves which are very awkward. I and Mrs Hall would very much like a few bottles of stout for the beer here is like hogwash and as bitter as gall. I hope Mother takes in My Fair Rosamund and any other good book. I am glad to hear father got over his accident. Send me word if Bill and Jack have got places and how they are and Aunts and Uncles Whitehorn, Jenner, Myers, Jane Sally. I hope Emma and Sam are quite well. I think she ought to get my Arabian Nights bound by the time I come back for keeping them such a while. I hope Uncle Jenner's eyes are better. As for me I am quite well and Mrs Hall says as noisy as ever. I send this letter by Sir G. Shee's valet who is coming to England this week with Sir George. I think I have written a good long one. Mrs Hall says I have done very well and she sends her best love to you both and the children not forgetting grandmother. Good bye my dear parents.

I remain your dutiful and affectionate son C. Begent.

P.S. My best respects to Mr Hone [Howe] Jones and Mrs Dold[s]wall and all enquiring friends.

Notes: from The General Armoury - Burke: Sir George Shee created Irish Baronet 1794 son of Sir Anthony Shee of Castlebar (also Shee of Dunmore, Galway, ext. 1869) (also Shee of Clovan, Kilkenny)