311:(1891), argued that the "Bobby Shafto" of the song was in fact a relative, Robert Shafto (1760–1781) of Benwell. It is likely that his grandson, Robert Duncombe Shafto, also used the song for electioneering in 1861, with several of the later verses being added around this time.
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in
Yorkshire. Bridget Belasyse is said to have died two weeks after hearing the news, although other sources claim that she died a fortnight before the wedding of
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during the regency crisis of 1788–9 and did not seek re-election in 1790. Robert Shafto died on 24 November 1797 and is buried in the Shafto family
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in 1760, using his nickname "Bonny Bobby Shafto" and the now famous song for electioneering purposes, defeating the
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beneath the floor of
Whitworth Church. He was succeeded in his estates by his elder son, John Shafto.
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He succeeded to the family estates on the death of his father John in 1742. Both his father and uncle
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and his wife Mary
Jackson, daughter of Thomas Jackson of Nunnington, Yorkshire at his family seat of
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On 18 April 1774 Shafto married Anne
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in
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The song is said to relate the story of how he broke the heart of
Bridget Belasyse of
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The date of his birth appears to be contradictory from a number of sources.
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Members of the
Parliament of Great Britain for English constituencies
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between 1760 and 1790. He was the likely subject of a famous
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449:(Oxford University Press, 1951, 2nd edn., 1997), pp. 90–1.
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A Genealogical and
Heraldic History of the Landed Gentry
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358:Jessica Kilburn, 'Shafto, Robert (c. 1732–1797)'
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19:For other people named Robert Shafto, see
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219:Thomas Pelham-Holles, Duke of Newcastle
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184:in County Durham. He was educated at
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599:Hon. William Seymour-Conway
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487:Portrait of his son, Robert
482:Famous North Eastern people
309:Tyneside Songs and Readings
297:All his ribbons flew about,
294:Bobby Shafto's looking out,
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408:Whitworth Hall history
288:pulmonary tuberculosis
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679:British MPs 1761–1768
674:British MPs 1754–1761
664:Northumbrian folklore
445:I. Opie and P. Opie,
303:Hey for Bobby Shafto!
204:Members of Parliament
607:Bartholomew Bouverie
591:Sir Philip Hales, Bt
571:Sir Philip Hales, Bt
567:Bartholomew Bouverie
215:Sir Thomas Clavering
87:Member of Parliament
81:Sir Thomas Clavering
42:Member of Parliament
557:Hon. Frederick Vane
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491:Sir Joshua Reynolds
659:English folk songs
186:Westminster School
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16:British politician
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109:Preceded by
64:Preceded by
623:Categories
546:1760–1768
315:References
182:Spennymoor
539:Raby Vane
519:Raby Vane
496:Midi file
199:had been
178:Whitworth
168:Biography
103:1780–1790
99:In office
58:1760–1768
54:In office
462:Archived
430:Archived
411:Archived
390:(1837),
332:Archived
264:The song
164:#1359).
579:Downton
541:to 1761
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142:Shaftoe
91:Downton
588:With:
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280:rector
583:1780–
531:1760–
392:p. 49
258:crypt
180:near
585:1790
533:1768
229:and
212:Whig
201:Tory
162:Roud
89:for
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248:of
160:" (
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398:^
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23:.
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