The Story of Doctor George Montague Tuke of Sutton Valence, Kent England

The iron toy soldiers that belonged to the Tuke family from the end of the 1800's.

FAMILY RELICS THAT SHOW BIOGRAPHY IN A MORE ILLUMINATING LIGHT

I WOULD LIKE TO FIRST INTRODUCE YOU TO "DOCTOR GEORGE MONTAGUE TUKE," OF "THE LIMES"

     I WAS AWOKEN THIS MORNING, PLEASANTLY ENOUGH, BY THE CHIRPING OF BIRDS, FLITTING FROM BOUGH TO BOUGH, IN THE OLD MAPLE OUTSIDE THE BEDROOM WINDOW. IT WAS ONE OF THOSE BRIGHT SPRING DAYBREAKS, THAT BECKONS ONE TO RISE TO THE OCCASION. I TRIED TO IGNORE THE BIRDS CHATTER, AND BLOCK MY EYES FROM THE BRIGHTNESS STREAMING INTO THE ROOM. I WANTED TO DRIFT BACK TO SLEEP, BECAUSE IT WAS STILL AN HOUR BEFORE THE ALARM WAS SET TO GO OFF. BUT I JUST RECLINED THERE, THINKING ABOUT WHAT I WAS GOING TO WRITE ABOUT, LATER IN THE MORNING. I ALWAYS PREPARE WELL IN ADVANCE, FOR THE NEXT DAY'S BLOG, AND EVEN THOUGH I HAD IT SET, IN MY MIND, WHAT I WAS GOING TO USE AS SUBJECT MATERIAL, I BEGAN TO FIXATE ON HOW I WAS GOING TO PRESENT, WHAT IN ESSENCE, WAS A STORY ABOUT A FAMILY THAT I REALLY DIDN'T KNOW TOO MUCH ABOUT. ENOUGH, BUT HISTORIANS ALWAYS FRET ABOUT THESE PERCEIVED SHORTFALLS, IN RESEARCH MATERIALS. THEN THE WRITER-ME, STARTS DOING THE SAME THING, BUT INSTEAD OF WORRYING ABOUT A SHORTAGE OF INFORMATION, A TREPIDATION ARRIVES WITH A DISTINCT TREMBLE, ABOUT HOW I SHALL WRITE THE PIECE AS A MEMORABLE STORY. SO I WILL START WORDSMITHING THE OPENING FEW PARAGRAPHS, AND ESTABLISHING A FLOW TO THE CHRONOLOGY, THAT WILL MAKE SENSE TO READERS. IN OTHER WORDS, IF ALL I WAS DOING, LAYING THERE IN BED, WAS LISTENING TO THE CHARMING CHIRPS, OF THE RESIDENT BIRDS, OF BIRCH HOLLOW, IT WOULD BE MORE SOOTHING THAN IRRITATING. WHEN I BEGIN COMPOSING IN THIS STATE, I MIGHT AS WELL GET UP AND PUT ON A POT OF COFFEE. I HAVE CEASED, AT THAT POINT, TO BE RELAXED.
     THERE IS A CHAPTER IN THE BOOK, "BRACEBRIDGE HALL" WRITTEN BY WASHINGTON IRVING, THAT IS ALL ABOUT THE FAMILY RELICS, KEPT ON DISPLAY AT THE COUNTRY ESTATE OF SQUIRE BRACEBRIDGE, AND OBSERVED BY IRVING'S CHARACTER TRAVELLER, GEOFFREY CRAYON ESQ., AS HE TOURED THE GREAT ENGLISH HALL, IN THIS FICTIONAL FORAY INTO OLD ENGLISH WAYS. THERE WERE ALL TYPES OF FAMILY POSSESSIONS, DATING BACK CENTURIES, REPRESENTING ARTIFACTS, AND SOLEMN FAMILY PORTRAITS, OF ALL THE VENERABLE FAMILY MEMBERS OF PAST GENERATIONS. IT'S NOT THAT THEY POSSESSED A GREAT MONETARY ADVANTAGE TO THE FAMILY, BUT WERE ON DISPLAY AS IF THEY WERE PRICELESS. A LITERAL FAMILY MUSEUM, PRESERVED, AND ON DISPLAY, FOR ALL HOUSE GUESTS TO ENJOY; EVEN THOUGH MOST ADMITTEDLY PAID LITTLE OR NO ATTENTION, WHEN PASSING FROM ROOM TO ROOM DOWN THE LONG HALLWAYS.
     I WAS THINKING ABOUT THIS CHAPTER, WRITTEN SO LONG AGO BY IRVING, WHENEVER I'VE BROUGHT OUT THE COLLECTION OF FAMILY HEIRLOOMS, FOR RESEARCH PURPOSES, THAT WE, ONLY RECENTLY, PURCHASED FOR DISPLAY PURPOSES ONLY, AT OUR GRAVENHURST ANTIQUE SHOP. WHICH I'M TOLD NOW, BY ASSORTED PATRONS, HAS THE DISTINCTION OF BEING, NOT ONLY A RETAIL OUTLET FOR LOVERS OF OLD MUSIC RELICS, AND ANTIQUES, BUT AN IN-PART MUSEUM; I SUPPOSE, MUCH LIKE SQUIRE BRACEBRIDGE'S GRAND HALL. EXCEPT THE PICTURES AND DOCUMENTS ON DISPLAY, ARE NOT FROM OUR FAMILY. WHEN YOU DEAL WITH AS MANY ESTATES, AND ARCHIVE COLLECTIONS AS WE HAVE, IN OUR OWN STORIED PAST, LET ME TELL YOU, ALL OF THESE COLLECTIONS ALSO, BY STRANGE FUSION, BECOME PART OF OUR FAMILY LIFE AND TIMES. HONESTLY, WE HAVE COME TO KNOW MORE ABOUT THE FAMILIES OF COLLECTIONS, WE HAVE BEEN INVOLVED, THAN WE KNOW ABOUT OUR OWN KIN-FOLK. IN THE PAST FEW WEEKS, WE HAVE BECOME INTIMATE WITH THE RELICS OF THE TUKE FAMILY OF ENGLAND, AND CANADA, AS CLOSE AS OUR OWN HOMETOWN, HERE IN SOUTH MUSKOKA. THE OFFSPRING WASN'T TOO INTERESTED IN ACQUIRING THE SMALL ARCHIVES, AND THE OWNERS JUST WANTED IT TO GO TO SOMEONE WHO WOULD APPRECIATE THE HERITAGE BURIED WITHIN. THEY CAME TO US, WITH THIS AMAZING LITTLE CHRONOLOGY, AND WE ARE SO DELIGHTED THEY DID. BUT WE MADE IT CLEAR TO THEM, THAT IT WAS A COLLECTION WE SIMPLY COULDN'T PART WITH, BECAUSE OF THE INTEGRITY OF THE BIOGRAPHIES, IN BITS AND PIECES, STRETCHING BACK TO AN HEIRLOOM SILVER TRAY, DATING BACK TO THE EARLY 1700'S. IT DOESN'T HAPPEN ALL THAT OFTEN, THAT WE CAN ASCERTAIN AND HIGHLIGHT, SUCH A CONTINUOUS, SIGNIFICANT LINE, TO TRACE BACK AND, WELL, WRITE ABOUT, AS I AM TODAY. FEELING SUDDENLY IN THE COMPANY OF THE FASCINATING DR. GEORGE TUKE, OF KENT, ENGLAND. I AM SO PLEASED TO HAVE BEEN AFFORDED THIS OPPORTUNITY, BY THE SAME FAMILY, THAT ALLOWED SUZANNE AND I ACCESS TO A MEDICAL CORP SWORD, FROM ANOTHER ANCESTOR, WHO HAD SERVED WITH THE FEDERAL ARMY, DURING THE AMERICAN CIVIL WAR. AS THAT WAS A REMARKABLE OPPORTUNITY, TO EXPERIENCE HISTORY, THIS ONE TODAY, IS JUST AS SPECIAL AND ENDEARING. AT LEAST TO THE LOVERS OF HISTORY. OF COURSE, WHEN YOU ENGAGE ALMOST ANY OPPORTUNITY TO EXPLORE HISTORY, FROM DOCUMENTS AND ARTIFACTS LIKE WE HAVE ACQUIRED, WORK IS NEVER REALLY WORK. I HOPE YOU ENJOY THIS BRIEF EXAMINATION, OF WHAT FEEDS OUR AMBITIONS, IN THE ANTIQUE AND HISTORY PROFESSION. HERE NOW IS AN INTRODUCTION TO OUR STORY. THE ARTIFACTS AND DOCUMENTS WILL EVENTUALLY BE PUT ON DISPLAY AT OUR SHOP, SHOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE THEM CLOSE-UP.
     "IN AUGUST LAST, (1977), IN SEARCH OF RELATIVES, WE WENT TO SUTTON VALANCE, KENT, (ENGLAND) AND HAD A MOST DELIGHTFUL DAY THERE. WE WERE SHOWN OVER THE OLD HOUSE, 'THE LIMES,' BY THE PRESENT OCCUPIERS. BUT TO THEIR REGRET HAD CHANGED THE NAME OF THE HOUSE. THE LIMES ARE STILL THERE, LOOKING VERY OLD, AND THERE ARE STILL MANY THINGS THERE, THAT GRANDFATHER USED IN HIS SURGERY.
     "IT MAY BE OF SOME INTEREST TO YOU, THAT GRANDFATHER'S MODEL T FORD, THE FIRST IN THAT PART OF KENT, IS STILL IN EXISTENCE, LOOKING BRAND NEW, IN A CAR SHOWROOM IN MAIDSTONE. WE HAVE NOT HAD AN OPPORTUNITY OF GOING TO SEE IT YET, AND I UNDERSTAND THAT THE ORIGINAL PAPERS, LIKE THE BILL OF SALE ARE STILL WITH THE CAR. I WAS AMAZED TO FIND SO MANY PEOPLE, IN SUTTON VALANCE, WHO KNEW GRANDFATHER. HAVE YOU BEEN TO SUTTON VALANCE IN THE PAST?
     "I AM ENCLOSING A PHOTOSTAT FROM A MAGAZINE (OF AN ARTICLE) ON GRANDFATHER, WHICH MIGHT INTEREST YOU. I DO NOT KNOW WHEN IT WAS PUBLISHED."
     THE ABOVE, WAS INCLUDED IN A LETTER, FROM ONE FAMILY MEMBER TO ANOTHER, REGARDING A MATTER OF INHERITANCE, WHICH STRETCHED BACK TO THE ESTATE OF "DOCTOR GEORGE MONTAGUE TUKE," THE FORMER OWNER OF "THE LIMES," IN SUTTON VALANCE, KENT, ENGLAND, AND THE GRANDFATHER REFERRED TO IN THE PASSAGES ABOVE. THE ARTICLE THAT IS REFERRED TO, IS ENTITLED "FIELD, COVERT AND ROADSIDE," BY HOPLEAF, AND IS SUBTITLED, "THE OLD DOCTOR." THIS IS THE COMMENCEMENT OF THE FEATURE ARTICLE I PROMISED, EARLIER LAST WEEK, REGARDING A FAMILY COLLECTION OF ITEMS, WITH A LOCAL TIE, CENTERING AROUND THE MILITARY ACCOMPLISHMENTS, OF THE DOCTOR'S SON, CAPTAIN S. M. TUKE. FIRST OF ALL, I WANTED TO BEGIN THIS SHORT SERIES, WITH A LOOK BACK AT CAPTAIN TUKE'S WELL KNOWN, AND RESPECTED FATHER, DOCTOR GEORGE MONTAGUE TUKE.
     THE UNDATED ARTICLE IS AN INTERESTING RETROSPECTIVE OF DOCTOR TUKE, AND HIS SURGERY, IN THE ENGLISH COMMUNITY OF SUTTON VALANCE, IN KENT, AND WAS WRITTEN BY AN AUTHOR, KNOWN ONLY AS "HOPLEAF," AND AS YOU'LL SOON DISCOVER, IT DID HAVE SOMETHING TO DO WITH "HOPS."

FIELD, COVERT AND ROADSIDE - THE OLD DOCTOR

     "SHORT AND STOCKY IN BUILD, WITH A GRUFFNESS OF MANNER THAT WAS BELIED BY THE KINDLY LITTLE EYES, THAT TWINKLED BEHIND HIS SPECTACLES, A  COUNTRY MEDICO OF THE OLD SCHOOL, WHOSE RULING PASSION WAS FOX-HUNTING. SUCH WAS THE OLD DOCTOR I KNEW FOR MORE YEARS THAN I CARE TO REMEMBER.
     "A PRODUCT OF THE 80'S (1880'S MEDICAL SCHOOL), I DOUBT WHETHER HE HAD OPENED A MODERN TEXTBOOK SINCE SETTING UP HIS PLATE IN A CERTAIN KENTISH VILLAGE, SET ON A KENTISH HILL, SOME FORTY YEARS PREVIOUSLY. THROUGHOUT THAT TIME, HE HAD TENDED HIS PATIENTS, EXCEPT ON HUNTING DAYS, BY THE OLD FASHIONED METHODS IN WHICH HE FIRMLY BELIEVED, AND WITH A SUCCESS AT LEAST EQUAL TO THAT ACHIEVED BY THE HIGHLY PRESSURIZED HEALTH SERVICES, WHICH WE NOW ENJOY. UNKIND PEOPLE WOULD SAY THAT HE CARED MORE FOR A FOX THAN A PATIENT. AT ANY RATE, MOST OF HIS PATIENTS SEEMED TO DIE OF OLD AGE, AND IT WAS HIS BOAST THAT HE HAD 'NEVER LOST A BABY.' HE WAS WELL AWARE, THAT IN THE EYES OF THE SIMPLE-MINDED COUNTRY FOLK, OF THOSE DAYS, 'A BOTTLE OF MEDICINE FROM THE DOCTOR,' WHATEVER ITS CONSTITUENTS, POSSESSED ALMOST MAGICAL PROPERTIES.
     "FOR ANY SORT OF SPRAIN, WHETHER IN HUMANS OR HORSES, LEAD LOTION WAS ALWAYS THE SPECIFIC. WHILE FOR ANY OTHER MINOR AILMENT, THERE WAS A STANDING PRESCRIPTION KNOWN AS 'THE MIXTURE,' WHICH WAS STORED IN BULK, AND KEPT IN A STONE JAR IN THE SURGERY; THE FORMULA BEING, I BELIEVE, 'MAG-SULPH, TINCT COCH, WHICH, AS A CHEMIST WILL TELL YOU, IS EPSON SALTS COLOURED WITH COCHNICAL. NEVERTHELESS, IT SEEMED TO WORK, ESPECIALLY IF WELL SHAKEN BEFORE TAKEN. AND IN CASES OF SERIOUS ILLNESS THERE WAS NO ONE MORE FASTIDIOUS, THAN THE OLD DOCTOR. HE HAD A FLAIR FOR DIAGNOSIS, AKIN TO THAT OF A VET, AND NEVER FAILED TO CALL IN A SECOND OPINION. HE LOVED CHILDREN AND WAS AT HIS BEST WITH A SMALL PATIENT, ALL OF WHO ADORED HIM.
     "THE OLD MAN WAS A BORN HORSEMAN AND HAD USED HORSES FOR HIS PRACTICE ALL HIS LIFE. ALTHOUGH LATTERLY HIS GROOM, JESSUP, HAD BEEN TAUGHT TO DRIVE A MODEL T FORD, WHICH WAS USED FOR NIGHT WORK, HE HAD NEVER TAKEN KINDLY TO THE MOTOR CAR, WHICH HE REGARDED AS A NEW FANGLED NUISANCE. WHEN I KNEW HIM, HE HAD A BIG CHESTNUT MARE, 'MOLLY,' OF WHOM HE WAS INORDINATELY PROUD. SHE WAS A GOODISH SORT OF MARE, AND A USEFUL HUNTER WHEN SHE GOT WARMED UP, BUT INCLINED TO PEEP ABOUT A BIT, AND WAS SHY ON THE ROAD. THIS, THE OLD DOCTOR, RATHER ENJOYED. HE RODE AS A NATURAL HORSEMAN, WITH LONG LEATHERS AND A LONG REIN, LOOKING 'ONE WITH HIS HORSE.' AND ALTHOUGH HE NEVER APPEARED TO HAVE HOLD OF HER, HE WAS NEVER CAUGHT NAPPING BY HER ANTICS.
     "WHEN I RODE WITH HIM ON HIS ROUNDS, AS OFTEN AS I DID, I WOULD LISTEN TO AN ENDLESS FLOW OF ANECDOTE AND REMINISCENCE, TOLD WITH PUNGENCY, AND SOMETIMES RABELAISIAN WIT, THAT WERE TYPICAL OF HIS CHARACTER. EVERY FIELD, FENCE OR COVERT, RECALLED SOME PAST HUNTING EXPLOIT, OR EXPERIENCE, WHICH, I IMAGINE, LOST NOTHING IN THE TELLING.
     "YOU SEE THAT PLACE OUT THERE,' HE WOULD REMARK, POINTING WITH THE WHIP INTO THE DISTANCE. I SAW A FIELD SLOPING DOWN TO AN OLD LOOKING, OVERGROWN HEDGE, OF ENORMOUS PROPORTIONS. 'NASTY PLACE, THAT....VERY NASTY. DITCH ONE SIDE AND A BIG DROP THE OTHER; REGULAR BECHERS, COME ALL OVER A TREMBLE WHEN I THINK OF IT! I REMEMBER WHEN BILL RIGDEN HAD THE HOUNDS, AFORE YOUR TIME. ONE DAY THEY RAN THIS WAY, AND WE CAME TO THIS VERY PLACE GOING LIKE MAD. BILL WENT OVER, BUT ALL THE OTHERS WENT CRYING FOR MOTHER! THERE WAS ONLY JACK COVENEY AND ME LEFT. JACK WENT FIRST AND GOT STUCK IN THE MIDDLE. CALLED OUT TO ME TO GIVE HIM A PUSH. I WAS RIDING ON OLD THUNDERER; COULDN'T HAVE STOPPED HIM IF I'D TRIED. WE RAMMED HIM IN HIS BEHIND AND HE AND HIS HORSE WENT SPRAWLING INTO THE NEXT FIELD. NEVER EVEN SAID THANK YOU.
     "WONDERFUL SPORT BILL USED TO BE. BEST WOODLAND HUNTSMAN THAT EVER WAS, WHEN HE HAD THE TICKHAM. KILLED ANY NUMBER OF FOXES; BUT A FOX KILLED HIM IN THE END. HE'D BEEN DIGGING AND THE FOX BIT HIM THROUGH THE BOOT. BLOOD POISONING; DEAD IN A WEEK, POOR CHAP. LORD, WHAT TIMES WE USED TO HAVE TOGETHER. DINED WITH HIM UP AT WREN CROSS, WHENEVER THERE WAS A MOOTE TWO BOTTLES OF PORT. 'MIND HOW YOU GO, GEORGE,' HE'D SAY, WHEN HE PUT ME UP IN MY TRAP. 'KEEP BETWEEN THE HEDGES, AND YOU'LL BE ALL RIGHT.' BUT THE OLD MARE KNEW HER WAY HOME. GOT PAST THAT SORT OF THING NOW. DRINKING AND WENCHING IS A YOUNG MAN'S WORK. PUT AWAY THE BOTTLE, TAKE DOWN THE TEAPOT. CARPET SLIPPERS AND NURSE THE CAT. THAT'S WHAT WE ALL COME TO.'
     "IN HIS CAPACITY OF MEDICAL OFFICER OF HEALTH, FOR THE HOLLINGBOURNE DISTRICT, THE OLD DOCTOR, DURING THE HOP PICKING SEASON, WOULD RIDE ROUND THE HOPPERS' ENCAMPMENT, WHICH WERE ABOUT AS PRIMITIVE AS THE DENIZENS OF HOXTON AND LAMBETH, WHO CAME DOWN TO OCCUPY THEM. THE SAME FAMILIES CAME TO THE SAME FARMS EVERY YEAR, AND THE OLD MAN WAS A FAVOURITE WITH THEM ALL. THE CHILDREN, FOR WHOM HE ALWAYS HAD A BAG OF SWEETS, CLUSTERED AROUND HIM, AS HE SAT ON HIS MARE EXCHANGING CHAFF WITH THE WOMENFOLK, WHOSE BAWDIER SALLIES, WOULD PRODUCE SHRIEKS OF APPRECIATIVE LAUGHTER. THE DOCTOR USUALLY GAVE AS GOOD AS HE GOT.
     "HULLO LIZZIE,' TO A BOLD EYED WENCH, WITH AN INFANT IN ARMS, AND SEVERAL MORE TRAILING AT HER SKIRT. 'GOT ANOTHER ONE? UPON MY WORD, THEY'RE AS REGULAR AS AUTUMN BLACKBERRIES. DIS-GRACE-FUL! NEVER HEARD SUCH A THING; AND ME A MAGISTRATE,' GRUMBLED THE OLD MAN AND RODE OFF IN HIGH GLEE.
     "ALWAYS INTERESTED IN PEOPLE, HE WOULD SIT ON A SUNNY DAY AT HIS OPEN BOW-WINDOW, WHICH LOOKED ON TO THE STREET, WATCHING THE LIFE OF HIS BELOVED VILLAGE, AND READY TO HAIL THE PASSERBY FOR A BIT OF GOSSIP. DESPITE HIS OUTWARD RIBALDRY, HE HAD A SHREWD COMMONSENSE, AND SYMPATHETIC UNDERSTANDING; THOSE WHO CAME TO HIM FOR HELP OR COUNSEL, IN THEIR TROUBLES, WOULD NOT GO AWAY EMPTHY. AS A JUSTICE OF THE PEACE, HE DISPLAYED A SYMPATHY FOR THE UNDER-DOG, LENIENCY OF SENTENCE, BEING TEMPERED WITH A BRISK HOMILY, ON THE CHRISTIAN VIRTUES. THE OLD DOCTOR WAS A CHARACTER, AND KENT WAS THE POORER FOR HIS PASSING."
    AT TIMES DURING THIS RESEARCH, AND HAVING READ THE ABOVE PASSAGES NUMEROUS TIMES NOW, IT'S AS IF I HAVE BEEN INVITED TO RIDE ALONG IN THE GOOD DOCTOR'S BUGGY, RATTLING ALONG, OVER HILL AND LOWLAND, WITH A TRAILING DUST CLOUD, TUMBLING BEHIND, DOWN ALL THE RELEVANT COUNTRY LANES IN KENT, TENDING TO HIS MANY PATIENTS.
    ACCORDING TO A COPY OF THE TUKE FAMILY TREE, WHICH GOES BACK MANY CENTURIES, DOCTOR GEORGE TUKE'S FATHER WAS FRANCIS EDWARD TUKE, OF BORDEN VICARAGE; CLERK IN HOLY ORDERS. BORN 16TH, APRIL, 1825. DIED AGED 73 AT MAIDSTONE, COUNTY KENT. HIS WIFE, AND THE DOCTOR'S MOTHER, WAS 'HELEN,' DAUGHTER OF MAJOR BURRIDGE, OF THE 11TH HUSSERS, MARRIED CIRCA 1850. DR. GEORGE MONTAGU TUKE, WAS BORN ON THE 11TH OF APRIL, 1854, AND DIED IN 1930. THE SUBJECT OF THIS SHORT SERIES, IS THE DOCTOR'S SON, CAPTAIN SHIRLY MONTAGUE TUKE, BORN TO GEORGE AND HELEN IN 1894.
     THE IRON TOY SOLDIERS AND BANDSMEN, WE BELIEVE, ONCE BELONGED TO CAPTAIN TUKE AS A CHILD, AND WERE PASSED DOWN TO THE PRESENT, IN THE TUKE FAMILY, TO MEMBERS WHO STILL LIVE HERE IN SOUTH MUSKOKA.