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
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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
Duncombe (died 1783), daughter and heir of Thomas Duncombe of
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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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219:Thomas Pelham-Holles, Duke of Newcastle
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184:in County Durham. He was educated at
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223:Henry Vane, first earl of Darlington
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654:Alumni of Balliol College, Oxford
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374:, URL accessed 30 September 2006
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372:North Eastern surnames website
221:, who was the prime minister,
21:Robert Shafto (disambiguation)
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227:John Stuart, 3rd Earl of Bute
300:All the ladies gave a shout,
599:Hon. William Seymour-Conway
506:Parliament of Great Britain
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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459:Famous North Eastern names
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270:Bobby Shafto's Gone to Sea
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445:I. Opie and P. Opie,
303:Hey for Bobby Shafto!
204:Members of Parliament
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567:Bartholomew Bouverie
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42:Member of Parliament
557:Hon. Frederick Vane
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659:English folk songs
186:Westminster School
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174:John Shafto
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:
536:With:
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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489:by
248:of
160:" (
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398:^
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23:.
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