Spare: Tough being the second sibling?

Prince Harry called his recent book “Spare”, with a focus on the position of all second sons. Expected role, likely inheritance and perceived value being secondary to the heir. There has certainly been a great deal of media comment. 

Not a new phenomenon. It doesn’t only apply to the boys in a family, or to those of “higher rank”. Being second can be a hard place to find yourself in the sibling pecking order. Here in Ponteland we have an example of a young woman in the 18th Century for whom this was sadly the case. 

In the Parish church there is a memorial to two sisters, daughters of the Vicar of Ponteland in the 18th century. 

“Near the ashes of her father rests 

Anne Byne 

Not more distinguished for the beauties of her person than those of her mind. She naturally applied herself to the elegant accomplishments of the polite arts, in the attainment of which she was so quick that her knowledge seemed to be acquired without time to learn it. 

When a child, she had the dignity of a matron; though educated in the country, she had the elegance of a court; and an unexampled modesty which never forsook her, perfected her charms which were now incapable of addition. She was adored by her acquaintances and superior to envy.  

Whilst she was approaching the summit of human perfection, Anno Domini 1741, age 18, overcome by the smallpox, this lovely virgin yielded to her fate, to rise in an inviable form.” 

Rather fulsome, even for those times, we might think.  And her sister? 

“Near whom lies 

Elizabeth 

Not unworthy of such a sister; she died of the same dreadful disorder in the 16th year of her age.” 

The church is open daily if you want to see the memorial, and others of local note, including Sir Chaloner Ogle of Kirkley Hall, who captured a squadron of pirates off the West African coast, engineer Wililiam Weallans, business partner of Robert Stephenson, and Richard Coates, founder of our local school.  

Christine Brown