Silhouettes of Mrs Elizabeth Rawson & Daughter Miss Delia Rawson

“A pair of silhouettes of Mrs Elizabeth Rawson (nee Leach) and her daughters Delia, both full-length: the latter, profile to the right, wearing dress with full puff sleeves, broad collar with lace trim, locket and watch chains tucked inside buckled belt, her hair upswept with two loose ringlets around her face; the former, profile to the left, wearing dress with full puff sleeves, tiered collar with lace trim, bonnet tied at her neck with ribbon bow. Cut-out on card and bronzed with watercolour backgrounds, both stamped with trade label no.8 of the Hubard Gallery, veneered maple frames with gilded slips.” (Bonhams, The Summer Athenaeum, Lot 349, 15, Jul 2010)

Mrs Elizabeth Rawson and her daughter Delia are peripheral characters in Anne Lister’s (1791-1840) journal but they do make appearances. Generally speaking, Anne thought them vulgar. Elizabeth (1780-18xx), nee Leach, married Stansfield Rawson (1778-1856), younger brother to Christopher Rawson, in 1802. Originally from Clapham, Surrey, Elizabeth is the second daughter of Mary (nee Hackworth) & Timothy Leach. Like most of the Rawson family Stansfield was a notable influence and involved in banking and politics and headed the Rawson’s Bank, Huddersfield. Comparatively Elizabeth was an active member of the community and would have moved in Anne’s broader social circle. Miss Delia Elizabeth Rawson (18xx-1870) was their fifth child and remained unmarried. Delia would have been younger than Ann Walker (1803-1854) by at least five years. They resided at Ovenden Hall, Gledholt Hall, Savile Green, and then finally Wasdale Hall.

As an identifying aid: Sally Wainwright wrote both women into the Gentlemen Jack television series.

References: Biographical data and the photograph of Savile Green was obtained from Malcolm Bull’s Calderdale Companion. The pic of Mrs & Miss Rawson is a screen-grab from the Gentleman Jack TV Series.

UPDATE (2023.10.16): Sam Leach has found hand-coloured etching by Richard Dighton, published in 1822, currently held at the National Portrait Gallery. Timothy is Elizabeth (Leach) Rawson’s father and Delia’s grand-father!

Timothy Leach, father of Elizabeth Rawson and Grandfather to Delia Rawson, circa 1822. NPG D9084 (C) National Portrait Gallery