Volume 14 , Issue 2

NW Okie's Corner

I have fallen in love with an epistle novel entitled The History of Eliza Warwick, that takes place in the 1700's in London, England. I am wondering why this 1778 novel of two volumes was not made into a masterpiece theater movie of some sort.

The novel interests me because of the WARWICK surname of my ancestors that settled in the Virginia area. I know the novels are fictional and purport to have fictional names for the character, but one can only wonder if and how much of it might be based on a tinsy bit of fact. I shall always wonder who Eliza Warwick really might have been and if her history is based on some sort of facts.

Anyway, I have included the first few pages of the Vol. I book in the features in this week's newsletter. It is a sad love story of Lt. Col. Warwick and Lady Eliza Tenterdon who were stuck in arranged marriages that their parents made for them to persons of nobility for the wealth it would be for each family involved. Lady Eliza Tenterdon to Duke Beauvarise and Col. Warwick to Miss Denson.

But Lady Eliza found her soul mate Col. Warwick at Norfolk Mansion where they both were visiting to get away from their montrous grief. Lady Eliza does manage to get help from her Duke Beauvarise to escape their intended marriage and runs off to marry Col. Warwick in Scotland. Warwick and Eliza are wed and Eliza is pregnant with their daughter, Eliza, when Col. Warwick is drowned at sea near Portsmouth while saving another family.

The stress of his death came hard on the Duke Beauvarise and Eliza. Eliza tried to reconcile with her parents and family, but they refused to acknowledge her existence. Eliza died that same day, giving birth to their daughter Eliza. But not without leaving word with Duke Beauvarise to see that her daughter was taken care by him.

I have got to get back to the story to see what lies ahead for these two lovers' orphan daughter, Eliza Warwick. What other clues might pop up in this history of Eliza Warwick -- how it might fit into my ancestors. Probably nothing, but what the hey! I can dream, can't I?

Also, it appears Col. Warwick's father was referred to as Capt. William Warwick and the younger Warwick was referred to as Harry at one point in the story. I do hope I read correctly. Back to my reading of Eliza Warwick.

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