Pauls Rise
The Pauls were a family of Huguenot extraction actively involved in the cloth trade in Woodchester in the 18th and 19th centuries. Sir Onesiphorus Paul (1706 – 1774) was engaged in the production of fine woollen cloth in Woodchester and introduced many improvements, setting up the first napping mill in this part of the country. On 19 March 1748, he took out a patent ‘for preparing cloths intended to be dyed scarlet, to more effectually ground the colours and preserve their beauty, and for other purposes’. In 1760, he was knighted by George III and on 8 September 1762, he was created a baronet. He died on 21 September 1774 at Hill House, Rodborough and was buried in the old Woodchester churchyard.
His son Onesiphorus, by his first wife Jane Blackburne, was born 9 February 1746 and baptised in the old St Mary’s Church 23 February. The young Onesiphorus was educated at St John’s College, Oxford and created a Master of Arts on 12 December 1776. After several years spent travelling on the continent, he returned to Gloucestershire in 1780 and added ‘George’ to his name.
He became High Sheriff of Gloucestershire and the state of the county gaol and house of correction began to attract his attention. At the Gloucester spring assizes in 1783, as foreman of the grand jury, Paul addressed the jurors on the prevalence of gaol fever and how to treat and prevent it.
On 6 October, at a meeting summoned by the High Sheriff at the grand jury’s request, the decision was taken to build a new county gaol and several new houses of correction. Paul became the chairman of the committee set up to carry out the work. The new gaol was opened in 1791.
On 14 August 1788, King George III, Queen Charlotte and their three eldest daughters breakfasted with Paul at Hill House and visited Obadiah Paul’s cloth manufactory at Woodchester Mill, when on their way to Cheltenham.
Sir George Onesiphorus Paul died on 16 December 1820 aged 75 and was buried in the old churchyard at Woodchester on 23 December. On his death, the baronetcy awarded to his father expired but it was revived on John Dean Paul, 8 September 1821.
The Pauls were a family of Huguenot extraction actively involved in the cloth trade in Woodchester in the 18th and 19th centuries. Sir Onesiphorus Paul (1706 – 1774) was engaged in the production of fine woollen cloth in Woodchester and introduced many improvements, setting up the first napping mill in this part of the country. On 19 March 1748, he took out a patent ‘for preparing cloths intended to be dyed scarlet, to more effectually ground the colours and preserve their beauty, and for other purposes’. In 1760, he was knighted by George III and on 8 September 1762, he was created a baronet. He died on 21 September 1774 at Hill House, Rodborough and was buried in the old Woodchester churchyard.
His son Onesiphorus, by his first wife Jane Blackburne, was born 9 February 1746 and baptised in the old St Mary’s Church 23 February. The young Onesiphorus was educated at St John’s College, Oxford and created a Master of Arts on 12 December 1776. After several years spent travelling on the continent, he returned to Gloucestershire in 1780 and added ‘George’ to his name.
He became High Sheriff of Gloucestershire and the state of the county gaol and house of correction began to attract his attention. At the Gloucester spring assizes in 1783, as foreman of the grand jury, Paul addressed the jurors on the prevalence of gaol fever and how to treat and prevent it.
On 6 October, at a meeting summoned by the High Sheriff at the grand jury’s request, the decision was taken to build a new county gaol and several new houses of correction. Paul became the chairman of the committee set up to carry out the work. The new gaol was opened in 1791.
On 14 August 1788, King George III, Queen Charlotte and their three eldest daughters breakfasted with Paul at Hill House and visited Obadiah Paul’s cloth manufactory at Woodchester Mill, when on their way to Cheltenham.
Sir George Onesiphorus Paul died on 16 December 1820 aged 75 and was buried in the old churchyard at Woodchester on 23 December. On his death, the baronetcy awarded to his father expired but it was revived on John Dean Paul, 8 September 1821.