Introductory
The name Hett is a variant of "Heth" or "Heath," originally describing someone living by a heath. While some family legends suggest descent from Dutch engineers or Norse rovers, the name was established in Durham, Lincolnshire, and Middlesex long before the fens were drained. A primary point of origin is the village of Hett near Durham. Notable early figures include Richard de Hette (1325) and Nicholas Heath (or Hett), who served as Archbishop of York and Lord Chancellor under Queen Mary.
Michael Hett and His Children (1732–1816)
The direct lineage begins in the late 17th century with John and Tabitha Hett of Nocton, Lincolnshire. Their sons found success in London as apprentices in leather-working and printing. The main line continues through their son William, whose youngest son, Michael Hett, became the master of the Endowed Grammar School in Heighington. Michael and his wife Martha raised several successful children, including William (a prominent clergyman), John (a surgeon and naturalist), and Henry (a lawyer and Sheriff of Lincoln). Michael died in 1816 at age 85.
William Hett, Priest Vicar of Lincoln (1786–1833)
Michael’s eldest son, William, became a notable "pluralist," holding numerous ecclesiastical offices simultaneously, including Priest-Vicar of Lincoln Cathedral and rector of several parishes. Despite criticism from radicals like William Cobbett, William was a well-read and sincere man who published several religious discourses. He had two families: two children by his first wife, Mary Hamilton, and seven by his second, Catherine Crowder. He died in 1833.
The Nicholsons of Brigg
This chapter introduces the family of Louisa Nicholson, who married John Hett in 1833. The Nicholsons were a family of solicitors and bankers in Brigg and Louth. Louisa’s father, John Nicholson, was a captain in the local volunteers during the Napoleonic era. The chapter details local Brigg history, including the 1824 Berridge murder and a family trip to Harrogate in 1829.
John Hett (1828–1833)
John Hett (son of William) moved to Brigg around 1828 to work for Mr. Nicholson, eventually becoming his partner. His diaries show a life of legal work (Ancholme Commissioners) mixed with social pleasures like hunting and racing. In 1833, he married Louisa Nicholson.
Margaret Nicholson: An Interlude (1812–1823)
Focusing on Louisa’s aunt, Margaret Nicholson, this chapter utilizes her journals to describe her life as a governess for Lady Caroline Dundas. It features a detailed account of Margaret’s 1816 trip to post-Waterloo France to visit a pupil in a convent.
John and Louisa in Scotland, 1833
Following their wedding, John and Louisa embarked on a honeymoon through the Scottish Highlands, influenced by the romanticism of Sir Walter Scott. They visited Edinburgh, Stirling, and the Trossachs, even ascending Ben Lomond. Upon returning to Brigg, John took up his legal duties, eventually succeeding his father-in-law.
A Trip to London
In 1837, Maria and Ellen Nicholson visited London with their father. Maria’s journal provides a vivid account of 19th-century London, including visits to the Zoological Gardens, Madame Tussaud’s, and Westminster Abbey. They arrived back in Brigg just as King William IV died.
Susanna Nicholson (1785–1871)
Susanna (Louisa’s mother) faced a major crisis upon her husband’s sudden death in 1840. Her private "valediction" offers deep insight into her children's characters. She lived to a great age, eventually becoming blind but remaining a figure of "admiring awe" to her grandchildren.
Early Days of John and Louisa (1838–1857)
John and Louisa raised 15 children, though several died young. John became a leading figure in Brigg, serving as Clerk to the Poor Law Guardians and Secretary of the North Lincolnshire Agricultural Association. Louisa was active in local philanthropy, establishing a "Ragged School" and clothing club.
Captain John Nicholson
Louisa’s brother, John Nicholson, served as a Captain in the 77th Regiment during the Crimean War. His letters to his mother detail the hardships of camp life, the outbreak of cholera, and the Battle of Alma. He was killed while gallantly leading his men at the Battle of Inkerman in 1854.
Louisa and Frederick (1859 and 1860)
Tragedy struck John and Louisa’s children as "galloping consumption" (tuberculosis) claimed their eldest daughter, Louisa, in 1859. Her favorite brother, Frederick, died of the same disease just one year later, despite attempts to recover in the Isle of Wight.
The Family Grows Up (1860–1870)
John Hett’s legal firm (now Hett, Freer, and Hett) continued to prosper. His sons began their careers: Roslin, Roland, and Frank in law; Henry and Geoffrey in medicine. The family maintained a rigid but loving Victorian household, with John becoming increasingly austere and Evangelical in his later years.
In Canada (1870–1871)
The youngest son, Willie, and his brother Roland emigrated to Canada. Willie tragically drowned in 1870. Roland remained, becoming engaged to Lettie Sibbald of Eildon Hall. Frank visited them in 1874, traveling across the American continent by rail to see Roland in British Columbia.
Ladbroke Gardens I (1874–1878)
In 1874, John Hett retired to 27 Ladbroke Gardens, London. This house became a central hub for the expanding family. During this period, several sons married, but the family also suffered the sudden loss of Henry in 1877. John Hett died peacefully in 1878.
Ladbroke Gardens II (1879–1898)
Louisa Hett remained the family matriarch in London for twenty more years. Roland died in Canada in 1891 shortly after being named Attorney-General of British Columbia. Roslin died in 1894. The family witnessed the Jubilees of Queen Victoria before Louisa herself passed away in 1898 at age 85.
A New Era (1898–1914)
Following Louisa’s death, the family center shifted back to Brigg under Frank Hett. This era saw the rise of the next generation: "Robin" (Geoffrey Seccombe-Hett) became a distinguished surgeon, and others pursued successful careers in the military and academia. The deaths of Geoffrey (1904) and Charlie (1911) left Frank as the sole surviving son of John and Louisa.
The War Years (1914–1918)
The Great War drew almost every male descendant of Louisa Hett into service. The family suffered significant losses, including Roland Thorsten Hett (killed on the Somme) and Cedric Hett (died in East Africa). Robin Hett performed pioneering plastic surgery on facially disfigured soldiers. Frank Hett died of influenza just before the Armistice in 1918, marking the end of his generation.