In answer to the Queries put to me by Ȝ. I have to state—
1st. That I am totally unable to give any information relative to the family of Mrs. Wolfe.
2d. Edward Wolfe was not, I believe, a native of Westerham, and only resided there when not on active duty. His wife lived there some years, but could only have been staying temporarily in the house where her son was born, as it always was the residence of the vicar; the room, named after him, is still pointed out where James Wolfe drew his first breath. Quebec House was only rented by Edward Wolfe: to this house James was very early removed, and, as I have always been informed, always resided in it till he entered on his military studies; if so, he must have been educated in the neighbourhood.
3rd. Sir Jeffrey Amherst is the same person as Ȝ. alludes to; I was wrong, perhaps, in using the term "patronise." Wolfe and he were, however, staunch friends through life; Amherst ever encouraged Wolfe, who was liable to fits of despondency, and always represented him at head quarters as one worthy of a high command in those trying times. Amherst was afterwards executor to Mrs. Wolfe's will.
I feel gratified that the letters mentioned corroborate my assertion as to his birth; not only is the date I gave on the tablet in Westerham church, but was informed of the various accounts by a former curate of Westerham, who assured me the date on the tablet was the correct one.
The circumstance of Barré's friendship with Wolfe is interesting, and I am now enabled to mention another friend, on whom Wolfe equally relied, viz. General Hugh Debbieg, who fought with him at Louisbourgh, and afterwards followed him to Quebec, where he directed part of the engineering operations.
The soldier who supported Wolfe after he received his death-wound, was named James; he was in the artillery; he likewise served at Louisbourgh and Quebec, and survived till 1812, when he died at Carlisle Castle, where he had been stationed for many years as a bombardier, aged ninety-two.
In no notice of him I have read, is he mentioned as having been at Carthagena. The Penny Cyclopædia mentions the chief engagements he was in, but makes no allusion to Carthagena whatever.
Southey and Gleig contemplated writing the life of Wolfe; but some unknown circumstance prevented the completion of so laudable a design.
In George's Westerham Journal is a curious account of Mrs. Wolfe adopting a young man named Jacob Wolfe, and of Lord Amherst obtaining, by her representations, a place of 700l. a-year for him. It is extracted from Trusler's Memoirs; but being too lengthy for insertion in "NOTES AND QUERIES," I will copy it out, if Ȝ. wishes to have it.