Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Maude, Thomas
MAUDE, THOMAS (1718–1798), minor poet and essayist, belonged to the ancient family of Maude of Alverthorpe and Wakefield, Yorkshire (Burke, Commoners, ii. 84). He was born in Downing Street, Westminster, during May 1718 (cf. Gent. Mag. 1841, pt. i. p. 597, and pt. ii. p. 36), and entered the medical profession. In 1755 he was appointed surgeon on board the Barfleur, commanded by Lord Harry Powlett [q. v.] Maude's favourable evidence at a court-martial before which Lord Harry was tried at Portsmouth in October 1755 was so highly valued by his commander that upon his succession as sixth and last Duke of Bolton in 1765 he appointed Maude steward of his Yorkshire estates. This post he held, residing at Bolton Hall, Wharfedale, until the death of the duke in 1794. He then retired to Burley Hall, near Ottley, where he died unmarried in December 1798, aged 80 (York Courant, Monday, 14 Jan. 1799). He was buried in Wensley churchyard; lines from the ‘Deserted Village’ are engraved on his tomb (Notes and Queries, 4th ser. viii. 230).
Maude's accomplishments were inconsiderable, but he was esteemed for his love of ‘letters and of man.’ His verses are mainly descriptive of the Yorkshire dales. He contributed to Grose's ‘Antiquities’ the information about Bolton Castle and Wensleydale. Grose, who was his friend, quotes from ‘Wharfedale’ in illustration of Aysgarth Bridge. William Paley [q. v.], the divine, also visited Maude at Bolton (ib. 2nd ser. viii. 407).
His works are: 1. ‘Wensleydale, or Rural Contemplations; a Poem,’ 1772, 4to; 3rd edition, London, 1780; 4th edition, Richmond, Yorkshire, 1816. Published for the benefit of Leeds General Infirmary. 2. ‘An Account of the Cowthorpe Oak, near Weatherby, Yorks,’ 1774. See ‘Opuscula Botanica,’ vol. clxiv. 3. ‘Verbeia, or Wharfedale; a Poem descriptive and didactic,’ 1782, 4to. 4. ‘Viator; a Journey from London to Scarborough by way of York; a Poem, with notes historical and topographical,’ 1782, 4to. 5. ‘The Invitation, or Urbanity; a Poem,’ 1791, 4to. 6. ‘The Reaper; a collection of Essays, &c.,’ some of which were originally published in the ‘York Courant,’ 1797. Enlarged and printed for the benefit of the Ottley and Burley Sunday-schools, 2 vols. 8vo, York, 1798, but never published in consequence of the author's death. The second volume ends abruptly at p. 100. Two copies only were issued, of which one, with manuscript notes by W. Blanchard, the printer, is in the British Museum.
[Authorities stated above; Notes and Queries, 2nd ser. viii. 291, 4th ser. viii. 230, and xii. 233; Gent. Mag. 1799, i. 79, 163, 191; Martin's Bibl. Cat. of Privately Printed Books, p. 195, where Maude's last work is given as by ‘— Mander, Esq.’]