![[Header#^header-embed]] > [!SUMMARY] Their introduction > In late 1761 or early 1762, [[Henry Thrale]] was invited to [Offley Place](http://www.thrale.com/offley_place) by Hester's uncle, [Judge Sir Thomas Salusbury](https://www.thrale.com/sites/all/libraries/tng/getperson.php?personID=I428&tree=tree01) and was introduced to [[Hester Thrale née Salusbury|Hester Salusbury]]. ## Hester's disinclination Henry was a solid respectable man who was kindly towards Hester. > [!CITE] [[Hester Thrale née Salusbury|Hester]] on [[Henry Thrale]] > Nearly the handsomest man in England. However, she did not want to marry him. ![[henry-thrale-the-southwark-macaroni.png]] <div class="caption">Henry Thrale - caricature as the Southwark Macaroni.</div> Hester appealed to [[John Salusbury|her father]] upon his return. John Salusbury had no intention of marrying his daughter to Henry Thrale, whose [[1729-1758 owner Ralph Thrale MP|father]] and grandfather[^2] had lived in the cottage now being used by his younger brother, Sir Thomas Salusbury as a dog kennel. ![[william-hogarth-the-ladys-last-stake-c1759.jpg]] <div class="caption">Hester Salusbury aged 14 in The Lady's Last Stake by William Hogarth in 1759.</div> [[John Salusbury]] quarrelled with his brother [Sir Thomas](https://www.thrale.com/sites/all/libraries/tng/getperson.php?personID=I428&tree=tree01) and took his wife and daughter to London. Shortly afterwards, Hester wrote [[Offley Park 1761|verses in lament]] at leaving Offley. Sir Thomas proposed their marriage whilst her father, John Salusbury, was away in Ireland with [George Montagu-Dunk, 2nd Earl of Halifax](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Montagu-Dunk,_2nd_Earl_of_Halifax), President of the Board of Trade. This was agreed by [[Hester Maria Salusbury nee Cotton|Hester Maria Cotton|Hester's mother]] after uncle Sir Thomas [[Courtship and dowry#Dowry|promised to make a settlement]] of five thousand pounds[^1] in favour of Hester should they be wed. ## Death of Hester's father On 18 December 1762, [[John Salusbury]] died suddenly. He left: - the North Wales [[Bach y graig|Bach-y-graig estate]] to his wife, and - £5,000 to his daughter [[Hester Thrale née Salusbury|Hester]][^1]. His daughter, Hester, later suggested that his death might have been hastened by irritation at: - her proposed marriage to Henry Thrale; and - Sir Thomas's intention to remarry, as this ultimately resulted in Hester being disinherited from [[Offley Place]]. ## Letter of request for a proposal meeting On Tuesday 28 June 1763, [[Henry Thrale]] wrote a letter to [[Hester Thrale née Salusbury|Hester Lynch Salusbury]] and her mother [[Hester Maria Salusbury nee Cotton|Hester Maria Cotton]] requesting to call on them. > [!QUOTE] Letter > ;Mr. Thrale presents His most respectful compliments to Mrs. & Miss Salusbury & wishes to God He could of communicated His Sentiments to them last night, which is absolutely impossible for Him to do to any other person breathing; He therefore most ardently begs to see Them at any Hour this afternoon, & he will at all Events immediately enter upon this very interesting Subject, & when once begun, there is no Danger of His wandering upon any other: in short, see them, He must, for He assures them, with the greatest truth & Sincerity, that They have murder’d Peace & Happiness at Home.; ## Dowry On Sunday 9 October 1763, [[Henry Thrale]] met with [[Hester Thrale née Salusbury|Hester's]] maternal grandfather, [Sir Thomas Salusbury](https://www.thrale.com/sites/all/libraries/tng/getperson.php?personID=I713&tree=tree01) and they reached an agreement on Hester's dowry for her marriage to Henry Thrale. ![[hester-lynch-thrale-by-robert-edge-pine-1786.png]] <div class="caption">Hester Lynch Salusbury by Robert Pine.</div> The dowry included: - £10,000 to Hester from Sir Thomas Salusbury; - £700 a year for Hester from her father’s estate; - legacies from her mother and aunts worth £3,000; - £200 a year from Henry’s [[Crowmarsh Battle farm|Crowmarsh]] estate. The remainder of farm income went to Henry. The farm would in future be administered by two trustees for a period of 99 years On Henry’s death: - Hester’s income from Crowmarsh Battle farm would double; - she would get a lump sum of £13,400; and - provision would be made for trust and inheritances for any children that they may have[^3]. ## Wedding Two days later, on Tuesday 11 October 1763, Henry and Hester were [[Henry and Hester's marriage|married]] by Reverend Thelwall Salusbury at [St. Anne's Chapel, Soho, London](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St_Anne%27s_Church,_Soho) aged 35-39[^1]and 22 years of age respectively. ## See also ![[hester-lynch-thrale-1741-1821🔎#^hester-lynch-thrale-infoblock]] ![[henry-thrale-1724-1781🔎#^henry-thrale-infoblock]] #history/place/england/hertfordshire/offley #history/place/england/middlesex #history/place/england/middlesex/soho #history/place/england/oxfordshire/crowmarsh-battle #history/place/wales/bach-y-graig #history/person/COTTON/hester-maria-born-1707 #history/person/SALUSBURY/hester-lynch-born-1741 #history/person/SALUSBURY/john-born-1708 #history/person/SALUSBURY/thomas-born-1708 #history/person/SALUSBURY/thelwall #history/person/SALUSBURY/thelwall #history/person/THRALE/henry-born-1724-1730 ![[Footer#^footer-embed]] [^1]: In 2023, equivalent to about £300,000. [^2]: Ralph Thrale of Sandridge 1665 - 1711. [^3]: Clifford 45-46.