Hewitt the biography of a dissolute Victorian Miller

This is a story of a life of conflict, failed initiative and decline that was accidentally ended before it became a tragedy. Henry Hewitt was born in Clifton-on-Dunsmore near Rugby Warwickshire on 3rd April 1828 and died by what appeared to be drowning following a fit, on 6th July 1869. He lived and worked in the village throughout his life. In 1848 his father died suddenly of a stroke and still a minor Henry inherited the family milling business and an important position in village life. He married at twenty-one with hopes of siring the fourth generation of Hewitt’s to run the mill. But when he died, aged 41, he was childless, his business, his reputation and his dreams of success were all in tatters and there were many who did not mourn his going. He may also have had a greater impact on the village than either he or the villagers realised. The author puts forward a convincing argument for believing that during the 1860s he unwittingly introduced mycotoxins into the flour that he produced. This resulted in infertility in some women and a consequent reduction in live births in the village. Mycotoxicosis could also have accounted for his fits and his wife’s infertility.

The first chapter of the book provides a guide for the reader. It introduces the method of analysis used to understand Henry Hewitt’s responses to crises; many of which were of his own making.The chapter helps to understand the layout of the book and describes where the source material came from.

The second chapter describes the village of Clifton-on-Dunsmore from Domesday to Victorian times. There is an analysis of the population development of the village that shows a drop in live births during the time when Henry supplied the village with flour.

The third chapter describes how the popular belief came about that millers were dishonest cheats who adulterated their flour. From 1856 to his death in 1869 it must have appeared to many that Henry was an example of the worst kind of miller. To make his mill pay he installed new machinery run by steam power, but he did this at a time when there was increasing competition from industrialised flour manufacture.

Chapters 4 to 9 analyse reports from the local papers that show the steady decline of Henry from 1856 onward.

Chapter 10 analyses the report of the inquest held on Henry following his death. Probably the members of the jury were prejudiced and content to enquire no further than their public duty demanded. Their actions seem devoid of respect for Henry.

Chapter 11 provides an analysis of the stages of development in Henry’s life using as evidence the reports and comments presented in previous chapters. This analysis shows that flaws in his character were there from an early age and as an independent adult he was increasing unable to cope satisfactorily with the challenges of life. His late onset epilepsy contributed to the decline, but was not the root cause of it.

Clifton Mill from a photograph taken in 1887 showing the miller’s house, yard and entrance to the mill buildings.  Hewitt would have had no difficulty recognising the scene 18 years after his death.