1. Hosea Andrewson .1
General Notes: Of Aywick in parish of Yell, Shetland
Hosea married Margaret Mouat.1
Children from this marriage were:
+ 2 M i. Charles Hoseason was baptised on 27 Feb 1721/22.
3 M ii. Thomas
Hoseason 2 was baptised on 20
Feb 1729/30.2
+ 4 M iii. John Hoseason was baptised on 26 Jun 1732 in
Mid Yell, Shetland.3
5 M iv. Arthur
Hoseason .2
General Notes: Of Aywick.
Arthur and his eldest son Hosea were seised in the 36 merks land of Aywick
and others in 1776. 2
Arthur married Bess Henderson.2
6 F v. Katherine
Hoseason .
7 F vi. Elizabeth
Hoseason .
8 F vii. Mary
Hoseason .2
Second Generation
2. Charles Hoseason
was baptised on 27 Feb 1721/22.
Charles married Margaret Henderson.2
Children from this marriage were:
9 M i. William
Hoseason 2 was baptised on 12
Mar 1760.2
10 F ii. Jean
Hoseason 2 was baptised on 12
Mar 1760.2
11 M iii. John
Hoseason 2 was baptised on 29
Mar 1763.2
12 F iv. Margaret
Hoseason .2
13 M v. Magnus
Hoseason .2
4. John Hoseason
was baptised on 26 Jun 1732 in Mid Yell, Shetland.3
General Notes: Was a "life renter" of Mursetter (or Murrister), Uyeasound in Unst, Shetland, with his wife. 1,3
John married Ursilla Bruce, daughter
of Major William Bruce and Katherine Gifford, before 1750.
Ursilla was born on 8 Aug 1730 in Urie, Fetlar, Shetland.3,4
Children from this marriage were:
+ 14 M i. William Hoseason 1,5 was born <1762> in Lerwick,
Shetlands 1,5 and died <1827> in Valparaiso,
Chile 1 at age 65.
+ 15 M ii. Thomas Hoseason 1,5 was born <1765> in Lerwick,
Shetlands,1,3,5
died on 5 May 1835 in Calcutta, Bengal Presidency, India 8 at age 70, and was buried on
5 May 1835 in Calcutta, Bengal Presidency, India.9
16 M iii. Henry
Hosea Hoseason 1,5 was born in Lerwick, Shetlands 1,5
and died before 1825.
Henry married Mary Josephine Howard.
Third Generation
14. William Hoseason
1,5
was born <1762> in Lerwick, Shetlands 1,5
and died <1827> in Valparaiso, Chile 1
at age 65.
General Notes: Some time Comptroller
of HM Customs in the Bahamas. Later a Planter & Merchant in Jamaica.
According to his Will, William spent the last few years of his life in
Valparaiso in what had just become the Republic of Chile. He had gone there
as prize agent to the Naval Squadron that Lord Cochrane¹ had assembled
following his appointment by the new Chilean Government as "Vice-Admiral
of Chili, Admiral, and Commander-in-Chief of the Naval Forces of the Republic."
It is not known how or why William became involved with Lord Cochrane's
activities in Chile. They were not kinsmen but there was a connection between
the two men as William's brother Thomas had married Lord Cochrane's first
cousin, Angelica Cochrane and doubtless they met in London sometime in 1817,
possibly, shortly after Lord Cochrane had accepted the appointment offered
him by the Chilean Government.
There are several things that suggest that William and his family, together
with his son-in-law, Edward Bancroft, junior, came back to England sometime
in 1817. First, Ursula Bancroft, the Bancroft's eldest daughter was baptised
again (she had already been baptised in Kingston, Jamaica in 1815) at Margate
Church in April of that year by Edward's brother-in-law, the Revd George
Lamb and Eliza Hoseason was a godmother. Also, in the October of that year
in London, Edward's wife bore him their first son, Edward James Bancroft.
Second, it is unlikely that William would have become involved with Lord
Cochrane had they not had the opportunity of meeting each other in England.
Third, in order to have sufficient funds to act as a prize agent, William
had to raise some money and this he did by mortgaging his wharves in Kingston,
a house and several domestic Negroes in Jamaica, to his brother Thomas.
It would have been difficult to set up this mortgage had William not been
in England.
As far as it is known, William had not previously been a prize agent but
he obviously was much tempted by the prospect of working for Lord Cochrane
and his Squadron as, in view of Lord Cochrane's exploits and success elsewhere,
it promised considerable rewards. (William's Will indicates that he was
entitled to receive 5% of the agreed prize value and, no doubt there were
other opportunities, such as money lending, which could turn a handsome
profit.) Lord Cochrane, for his part, would have been happy to have someone,
with links to his family and of known probity and commercial experience,
to carry out such an important role.
As things turned out, the venture was ruinous for William and, in financial
terms, costly for Lord Cochrane. Lord Cochrane, despite his outstanding
naval successes against the Spanish, falling foul of the jealousies and machinations
of the Chilean junta and William being caught up in the dishonesty and financial
mismanagement of a bankrupt government.
With the advantage of historical hindsight it is easy to question the wisdom
of William embarking upon a venture like this in a revolutionary republic
such as Chile; a republic, moreover, still very much in its infancy having
only come into existence in 1810. Doubtless, it seemed a wonderful opportunity
to make a fortune, something that might have been quite difficult for William
to achieve in Jamaica or elsewhere at that time.
In all probability, William travelled to Valparaiso with Lord Cochrane
and his family. Despite having accepted the appointment in May 1817, Lord
Cochrane did not set out for Valparaiso until the summer of 1818, sailing
there directly from Boulogne, so William had plenty of time to prepare for
the venture.
The reason for this delay was that the Chilean Government had commissioned
a steam warship to be built and equipped in England under Lord Cochrane's
supervision; a project, no doubt, that owed much to his enthusiasm for the
potential of steam power. Unfortunately, there were difficulties over the
funding of this commission and the Rising Sun, as she was called,
was not ready in time and he had to sail with out her. From William's point
of view, this inauspicious start was to be a harbinger for the whole, unfortunate
venture.
Matters did not start smoothly in Chile. There was a group of three naval
captains, two British and one North American, who supported the former Chilean
Naval Commander in Chief, Admiral Bianco, and who schemed to keep him in
that position, or at least to have him share that position with Lord Cochrane.
Unhappily for them, Admiral Bianco expressed his willingness to be Lord
Cochrane's second-in-command leaving the group much dissatisfied. Their
subsequent loyalty to Lord Cochrane was always in doubt and they chose to
use other prize agents to act of them so the scope of William's agency and,
therefore, his potential commission was much reduced. William mentions a
Mr Davies in his Will who was Captain Guise's agent; Captain Guise was one
of these three captains.
It would appear that the Chilean Government were not ungrateful for Lord
Cochrane's early successes but following his capture of the Spanish stronghold,
Valdivia, in February 1820, from which there was much booty, difficulties
over prize money and his Squadron officers' and seamen's pay began to emerge.
Indeed, on that occasion Lord Cochrane had to threaten to resign his commission
in order to get his men paid and the prize money nominally awarded. Lord
Cochrane's share of the prize money is said to have been valued at 67,000
dollars² and, in addition, he was awarded a grant of land at Rio Clara.
In the event, the prize money was never paid to Lord Cochrane or anyone else
and his land at Rio Clara was later confiscated.
Similar difficulties with the Chilean Naval Squadron's pay arose during
the liberation of Peru in 1821, a problem that Lord Cochrane solved by taking
possession of booty seized from the Spaniards and raising 285,000 dollars
from its sale. Arrears of pay became a critical issue again when the Squadron
once more returned to Valparaiso in 1822. This time, it would appear, that
Lord Cochrane's efforts on behalf of his officers and seamen were to no
avail and, eventually, his own position became so undermined by the conduct
of the government and by the revolution aimed at ousting Bernardo O'Higgins,
the then "Supreme Director", that he tended his resignation, took up a similar
appointment with the Brazilian Navy and sailed from Valparaiso for Rio de
Janeiro in January 1823.
Two years later when William was writing his Will, things had not improved.
The Government still owed 300,000 dollars worth of prize money; the officers
of the Squadron were still not being paid. This situation left William in
serious financial straits; he was not able to recoup the monies that he
had advanced to various officers for their share of that prize money and
he was unable to claim his commission of 15,000 dollars on it. Worse still,
Lord Cochrane owed him money.
It appears that Lord Cochrane was indebted to William "upwards of 27,000
dollars" of which 17,683 dollars, five reals, "exclusive of interest and
commission", had been lent by William from his own funds, greatly to his
financial embarrassment.
Lord Cochrane appears to have given William an order on the Chilean Government
to cover his debt but the draft was not honoured. William died with the
hope that his executors would be able to collect something from the Chilean
Government and his personal debtors but it seems that nothing was ever recovered.
NOTES
¹ Thomas Cochrane, 10th Earl of Dundonald (1775-1860), MP (1806) &
Royal Navy commander who served with great bravery and distinction during
the Napoleonic Wars and who, it is said, provided the model for C. S. Forrester's
character Horatio Hornblower. His radical style, his campaign against
corruption in the Navy and his criticism of ineffectual commanders led eventually
to his downfall and subsequent dismissal from the service. In 1814 he was
falsely accused of being involved in a Stock Exchange fraud and, being found
guilty by a biased judge, was fined £1000 and jailed for one year.
From 1817 to 1828 he commanded the navies of Chile, Brazil & Greece in
those countries' struggle for independence. On his return to England he
continued to fight for the restoration of his rank and honours and he eventually
received a pardon in 1832. He was reinstated in the Navy List as a Rear
Admiral on half pay and in 1847 accepted the appointment of Commander in
Chief of the North America and West Indies station.
² a dollar was the Spanish silver dollar or peso. There was a shortage
of American dollars during this period and the Spanish coinage was widely
used in both North America and South America. No exchange rate is available
for the Spanish dollar in 1825 but, at that time, it took 4.83 American
dollars to buy one British pound. So 10,000 dollars was probably worth
about £2070 or about £135,000 in today's money (2002). 1,12,13
Medical Notes: In circa 1824 or early 1825, William suffered a stroke which paralysed his left arm and left his whole body considerably weakened. 12
Some things about his life were:
• Will signed: 1st July 1825, Valparaiso, Chile.
12 William's Will is much concerned
with the money that he is owed by the officers of the Chilean Naval Squadron
for whom he was prize agent and the outstanding prize money of 300,000 dollars¹,
which was due from the Chilean Government to members of that Squadron.
Lord Cochrane, who between 1818 & 1823 had been the Admiral in charge
of that Squadron, also owed him money. He writes "... It has long appeared
extremely doubtful whether I should ever realise the debts due to me in
this Country by the Officers of the Chili Squadron or obtain a just settlement
of the prize money due by the Chili Government...". Henry Dean, William's
son-in-law (married to William's daughter Eliza) also owed him £200
and was supposed to be paying it back by instalments.
In the hope, a false one as it turned out, that something might be forthcoming
eventually from the Chilean Government, William appointed another prize
agent, Thomas Davies Esquire, to act in substitution on his account. He
also appointed the British & American Consuls General for Chile as executors
in the hope that "... their public characters here will give a degree of
right to their proceedings which under such a Government as the present I
cannot hope any other individuals could effect in procuring an adjustment
of my claims...” However, to relieve the Consuls General of the "most troublesome
part of an executor's duty" he also appointed his trusty friend Mr Angus
Livingstone and the prize agent Thomas Davies as executors as well.
William had some property in Scalloway & Catfirth, Shetland that had
been left him by his maternal uncle, John Bruce, who had been a merchant
in Catfirth. He directed that this be sold for the benefit of his wife &
the maintenance of his two youngest children. To effect this and in the
hope, also misplaced, of recovering some of the money owed him by Lord Cochrane
who was now back in England, William appointed as his executors & executix
there "my excellent and only brother Thomas Hoseason... my wife Maria Hoseason
and my eldest son William Hoseason in the Royal Navy...” Any monies recovered
from Chile, Lord Cochrane or his son-in-law, were for the use of his wife
during her lifetime and, on her death, were to be shared equally between
his surviving children.
¹ a dollar was the Spanish silver dollar or peso that was widely used
in both North and South America. The exchange rate at that time was approximately
five dollars to the pound (sterling).
• Probate Granted: 29 Apr 1828, London. 14 Probate was granted to William's
wife Maria and his son William both of 13, Waterloo Place, Albany Road,
Camberwell. They swore that William's estate was under £4000 within
the "province" of the Court. ie within the British Isles.
There is a note dated 1872 on the Legacy Duty records, which indicates
that nothing was ever received from William's executors in Chile. There
is also a note to the effect that the property left to William in Shetland
by his uncle John Bruce was worth about £2500.
William married Maria Hill,15 daughter of Jacob Hill and Mary Anderson, on 18 Nov 1787 in Spanish Town, Jamaica 6.,7 Maria was born on 9 Jan 1773 in Parish of St Catherine's, Jamaica,16 was baptised on 30 May 1773 in Parish of St Catherine's, Jamaica,17 died on 15 Jun 1854 in 48 Brompton Square, London 15 at age 81, and was buried in Brompton Cemetery, London.3,18 The cause of her death was a carbuncle and exhaustion!.
Marriage Notes: William married
Maria when she was only 14 years of age. Two hundred years or so on this
seems a very young age for a bride, indeed it would be illegal in many Western
countries in the 21st century, but such marriages occurred quite often in the 18th century. See William Espeut's marriage also. 19
General Notes: Little is known
about Maria's life in London after the family settled there on leaving Jamaica.
When she and her son William obtained probate for her husband's Will in
1828 they were living in Camberwell and when she died she was living at 48
Brompton Square.
In all probability, her daughter Amelia lived with her until the latter
married in 1836. Later, 1841 onwards, she is reputed to have looked after
her granddaughter Maria, the child of her son Thomas. Presumably, her granddaughter
remained with her until she died and arranged for her burial in Brompton cemetery
(Grave No: 8792, Plot No: 2, 70).
It is said that one or more of her sisters also settled in London and,
certainly, her sister Jane Reid is to be found in the 1851 Census. 3,20
Children from this marriage were:
+ 17 F i. Ursula Hill Hoseason 1,16
was born on 5 Oct 1788 in Spanish Town, Jamaica,1,16
was baptised on 3 Dec 1788 in Parish of St Catherine's, Jamaica,21 and died on 31 Dec 1830 in
Kingston, Jamaica 1,22 at age 42.
18 F ii. Maria
Hoseason 24 was born on 27 Sep
1790 in Spanish Town, Jamaica,24
was baptised on 27 Sep 1790 in St. Catherine's Parish, Jamaica,25 died in Spanish Town, Jamaica,26 and was buried on 1 Oct 1790
in St. Catherine's Parish, Jamaica.27
+ 19 F iii. Elizabeth Hoseason 16
was born on 6 Oct 1793 in Spanish Town, Jamaica 16 and was baptised on 19 Oct
1793 in St. Catherine's Parish, Jamaica.28
20 F iv. Augusta
Hoseason 31 was buried on 8
Mar 1808 in Parish of St Catherine's, Jamaica.32
21 F v. Jane
Hoseason 33 was born on 25 Sep
1801 in Kingston, Jamaica,34
was baptised on 11 Oct 1802 in Kingston Parish Church, Jamaica,33 and was buried on 3 Oct 1803
in Kingston Parish Church, Jamaica.35
22 M vi. Rear
Admiral William Hoseason 1 was
born in 1802 in Kingston, Jamaica,1
died on 21 May 1877 in 14 Newstead-road, Lee, Kent 36,37
at age 75, and was buried in Lee Green Cemetery, London.
Some things about his life were:
• Naval Service: 1811 to 1870, Various Places.
38,39
The official record of William's naval service gives this information:-
Appointed Lieutenant, 28 Dec 1826; Commander, 9 Nov 1846; Captain, 6 Dec
1856. William served much of his career in the Navy's Transport Service
and was Port Captain of Malta for 19 years before retiring in 1870. During
the last 10 years or so of his service he was only on half pay.
• Report of death: 28 May 1877, London. 40 The Times gave this report
of William's death:-
We have to record in the death of Rear-Admiral William Hoseason, who died
at 14, Newstead-road, Lee, on the 21st inst., in his 76th year. The deceased
Admiral entered the Navy, May 24, 1811, and was advanced to Lieutenant,
1826, into the Bustard, 10, Capt Charles Elliott, on the Jamaica
station. In February, 1831, he was appointed to the Nimrod, 20,
Capt Sam Radford, on the Cork station; in the 1832, to the Excellent
gunnery ship at Portsmouth; in 1833 to the Thunderer, 84, in the
Mediterranean; and in 1837, 1839, and 1846 to the successive commands of
the Pigmy, Prospero, Alecto, and Torch steamers.
He was advanced to Commander in 1846, and from 1854 until promoted to post
rank, December 6, 1856, was employed as agent float in charge of a division
in the Transport Service. He retired in April, 1870, and became Rear-Admiral
January 1, 1875.
• Probate Granted: 21 Jun 1877, London. 41 Effects: under £2,000
William married Elizabeth Ellen Bate on 19 Feb 1876 in Newbold on Avon, Warwickshire 1.,42 Elizabeth , was the daughter of George Thomas Bate and Sarah Ann Brown and was born in 1853 in Birmingham, Warwickshire
Marriage Notes: Very late in life, indeed, only a little over a year before he died, William got married to a woman 51 years his junior; he was 74 years of age and she was 23. How they came to meet or what their respective ambitions for this marriage were, we do not know for certain but hers were, doubtless, to better her position - she was the daughter of a Birmingham grocer who had died when she was about seven leaving his widow with several small children to bring up. Suffice it to say, William died about 15 months after they married and Elizabeth was the sole beneficiary of his Will.
Elizabeth, no doubt, mourned him as was appropriate but being unattached, unencumbered and fairly comfortably off (no doubt she got a proportion of William's pension as well as his estate) and only 24 years of age, it is not surprising that she was married again within 17 months of his death.
Her second husband, Robert Scott, was four years her junior and was a Clerk to a Member of the London Stock Exchange who may have been his father who was a broker in stocks and shares. Maybe, he had prospects as a Stock Broker, himself, but for her it must have been a far cry from being married to an elderly retired Rear Admiral!
It was surprising that Elizabeth did not have a child by William as she became pregnant quite quickly with Robert. Perhaps, William's advanced years impaired their fertility or Elizabeth took care not to be impregnated. 19
23 F vii. Amelia
Jane Hoseason 43 was born on
14 Aug 1803 in England,43
was baptised on 19 Jan 1804 in Kingston Parish Church, Jamaica,44 and died on 20 Feb 1865 in
Malta 45 at age 61.
General Notes: Three years after her husband died, Amy's bachelor brother William, who was in the Royal Navy, was promoted to Commander and appointed as 'agent float' in charge of a division in the Transport Service in Malta. Amy joined her brother there, probably, with her nephew Charles, who was in her charge, and took over the running of his household. She died there in 1865. 46
Amy married Colonel George Orby Hunter in Aug 1836 in St. George's, Bloomsbury, London. George was born <1773> and died on 26 Apr 1843 in 6 Grand Rue, Dieppe, France at age 70.
General Notes: An anonymous biography
posted at the Hunter Family genealogical web site at Access Genealogy.com
says this of George:-
GEORGE ORBY HUNTER: (1773?-1843), translator of Byron into French, was
probably the English officer of the name who was appointed Ensign in the
old 100th Foot in 1783, promoted Lieutenant in the 7th Royal Fusilers [sic]
in 1785, and after holding the adjutancy of the latter corps for a few years,
sold out of the army in February 1790. The name does not occur in either
the English or Indian army lists from 1790 to 1843. The register of deaths
at Dieppe shows that "Georges Orby Hunter, Colonel of English Infantry, of
the supposed age of 70, parentage and wife unknown, and having his domicile
at No. 6 Grande[r] Rue Dieppe, died there on 26 April 1843." Hunter was engaged
in a translation of Byron's works into French. He completed "The Gianour,"
"Bride of Abydos," "Cain," and the first 186 stanzas of "Don Juan." The
work was finished by M. Pascal Rome [Ramé], and was published, in
three vols. 8vo. at Paris in 1845.
There is a family story, no doubt apocryphal, that says that George had
been persuaded to translate Byron's works by Louise Philippe, King of France,
from whom George's wife is supposed to have received a pension after George
died.
George's parents have not been identified either by the author of the piece
above or this compiler but there may be a clue in his marriage to Amelia.
Amelia's uncle, Thomas Hoseason lived near King's Lynn not very far from
Crowland (Croyland) in Lincolnshire where the Orby Hunters had an estate.
Both families had an interested in fen drainage and had been active, though
at different times, in promoting Parliamentary Bills to carry out such projects;
they may also have been known to each other through the Cochrane family into
whom Thomas had married.
Amelia would have visited her uncle (who was also one of the executors
of her father's Will) in Norfolk and may well have come to know George as
a result. Whatever the situation, George was certainly connected to the Orby
Hunters of Crowland and, were it not for his reported age in the French register
(see above) implying that he was born in 1773, he might well have been a
younger son of Sir Thomas Orby Hunter had not the latter died in 1769.
There is, however, another view about when George was born. J. Montgomery
Seaver, when writing about the Hunter family in an American Historical-Genealogical
Society publication (1929), suggests that George was born c.1765. Additionally,
if he was indeed the Ensign commissioned into the old 100th of Foot (Loyal
Lincolnshire Regiment) in 1783, he would have had to have been nearer 18
than 10 years of age, again pointing to a birth around 1765. If this date
is correct, Sir Thomas could well have fathered him but that makes George
about 38 years older than Amelia; quite a gap even for those days. It could
be that he led her to believe that he was a little younger than he really
was, which may account for his reported age at death; so, possibly, he really
was born in about 1765. 15,47,48
+ 24 M viii. Thomas William Hoseason 49 was born on 20 Jun 1807 in Kingston,
Jamaica,49 was baptised
on 11 Jul 1807 in Kingston Parish Church, Jamaica,50 and died on 23 Jul 1841 in
Freetown, Sierra Leone 3
at age 34.
15. Thomas Hoseason
1,5
was born <1765> in Lerwick, Shetlands,1,3,5 died on 5 May 1835 in Calcutta,
Bengal Presidency, India 8
at age 70, and was buried on 5 May 1835 in Calcutta, Bengal Presidency,
India.9
General Notes: Sometime Purser
in Royal Navy and later land agent or financial adviser to various prominent
men. Also, sometime owner of a farm or an estate known as Banklands in
the parish of Clenchwarton near King's Lynn.
Thomas may have become a purser during the time that they were the unpaid
officers responsible for a ship's provisions and other stores, such as clothing,
bedding, etc. They were expected in those times to make a living from the
profit that could be obtained from this appointment and, judging by the
popularity of the profession (there was no shortage of candidates despite
the initial financial outlay) and the popular perception, pursers often
did very well for themselves, doubtless, in many instances at the expense
of the ship's crew. From some time in the mid 1780s pursers were paid and
records do exist of some of the emoluments that Thomas received.
For a while, during the early years of the 18th century, Thomas was involved
in a shorebased role dealing, inter alia, with the procurement of provisions,
etc., for "H M Squadron to the East Indies". At that time he was employed
as the Royal Navy's official representative in Madras and one or two official
notices signed by him as "Secretary" concerning victualling contracts and
payments are to be found in the editions of the Madras Courier of that period
that have survived.
Unfortunately, the Navy Lists of the period do not record details concerning
pursers so it is not known for sure when Thomas took on this role but there
is a note in the muster records of HMS Suffolk that indicates that he was
in Madras as early as June 1801. He relinquished the post in April 1806
and returned to England in the October of that year aboard the 861-ton Streatham.
It may well have been in an official capacity that he first met The Hon.
Basil Cochrane in Madras and thus came to know his future wife, Angelica.
Basil Cochrane was a senior merchant in the HEIC responsible for the supply
of "spirituous liquors" and in ordering rum, wine and arrack for various
ships, Thomas may well have had to negotiate with Basil. Angelica Cochrane
was the daughter of Basil's brother John (see Angelica's Notes) and after
the latter's death in 1801 (and the death of John's wife, Selina, in the
same year), no doubt Basil took it upon himself to look after Angelica.
Thomas and Basil formed a lasting friendship that resulted in, amongst other
things, Thomas being one of the executors of Basil's Will and the happy recipient
of a legacy of £5,000 from it.
Thomas, Angelica and Maria (George had died on the voyage), arrived back
in England in the spring of 1807. On their return, they went to live in
Harley Street, possibly in the same house that once had been occupied by
Angelica's father. After a time, their first house in Harley Street, London,
was not large enough to accommodate their burgeoning family and, possibly,
their social ambitions, so they moved to No: 49 Harley Street; a much larger
house which in modern times has formed part of the educational establishment
for girls called "Queen's College".
Thomas seems to have been someone who, in present-day parlance, would be
described as a good "networker" - he assiduously cultivated the connections
that he had made whilst in the Navy, particularly in India - and seems to
have earned a reputation as a successful negotiator, the latter skill no
doubt honed whilst Naval Secretary in Madras.
For instance, he is reported to have been some sort of "adviser" to Admiral
Sir Edward Pellew, Bart., later the 1st Viscount Exmouth, on the latter's
return to England in 1809 after his command of the East Indies Squadron.
C. Northcote Parkinson in his book about Sir Edward says "Pellew had
also found a useful friend of a different kind - a gentleman called Hoseason.
It is possible that this connexion was formed in India also. To define Hoseason's
occupation is impossible now and was probably difficult even then. But he
appears to have made himself useful to a number of people, both in political
and private affairs, Bentinck [Lord William Henry Cavendish-Bentinck (1774-1839)]
being among his friends or patrons. To Pellew he was useful as an agent
and financial adviser".
In all likelihood, Thomas's friendship with Lord Bentinck also started
in India when the latter was Governor of Madras between 1803 and 1807. Bentinck
had land in Norfolk and Thomas appears to have undertaken the role of factor
or land agent for that property. No doubt, that is how he came to acquire
Banklands, near Lynn, for his own use.
Thomas also seems to have taken a lively interest in politics, both in
London and in his local constituency of Lynn where for some years Lord Bentinck
was one of its MPs; a letter of his to Sir Edward Pellew in 1810, quoted
by Parkinson, discusses the merits of Sir Francis Burdett's radical party
and letters and documents have survived showing his active interest in Parliamentary
elections at Lynn and the Eau Brink Bill and other fen drainage schemes.
For some reason or other, in about 1833, Thomas decided to go to India
with his son Charles, possibly, with the objective, amongst other things,
of arranging for Charles's commission in the Indian Army. Why it was necessary
for Thomas to go with Charles is unclear; Thomas was by then about 68 years
old and the passage to India was not an easy one, taking as it did in those
days¹ about six months or more, but being an old sailor he was probably
not daunted by the prospect.
What is the more curious about this voyage is that Thomas had to obtain
an advance from his wife's trustees of £500 "... for the outfit of himself
and my dear son Charles on their voyage to India..." as she wrote in her
Will. Clearly, his own finances were not in good shape and perhaps he hoped
to restore his failing fortunes in India or, at least, to escape his creditors
in England. Also, his flight to India may not be entirely unconnected with
the fact that his friend and patron, Lord Bentinck, was Governor General
of India by this time; very likely Thomas was hopeful of some preferment
from him leading to a profitable appointment. In the event, he had to settle
for being a JP in Calcutta.
Whatever the reason, Thomas and Charles departed for India, probably in
the autumn of 1833, leaving, it would seem, Angelica in England with her two
daughters, Maria and Jane, and perhaps her sons Thomas and Henry (her other
son John, being about 24 years of age in that year, would have been serving
in the Royal Navy). Before he left, Thomas made his last Will, which he signed
in London on August 17, 1833.
Thomas duly became a magistrate in Calcutta before he died there in May
1835 (not a very competent one, if his obituary is to be believed!) and Charles
duly got his commission as an Ensign in the 50th Madras Native Infantry
only to die at sea, so it is reported, in September 1835; presumably as
the result of an illness or an accident rather than enemy action.
Angelica died in September 1834 whilst taking the waters at Bath, after
which her two daughters went out to India to join their father only to find
that he had died shortly before they arrived. Maria was to die in Calcutta
in June 1836, Jane found a husband in 1838 and, in the same year, Henry obtained
a commission in the Madras NI. The children were fortunate in having John
Cochrane, their mother's brother or half-brother, to fall back on after
their father's death. He was an advocate at the Supreme Court and also a
member of the Calcutta Standing Council to the East India Company, so he
was a fairly influential person in Calcutta.
¹ Most voyages to India were still circumnavigating Africa in 1833
though by then the East India Company was experimenting with passages through
the Red Sea using a small steamboat; this latter route did not really come
into its own until a little later and it is unlikely that any of these Hoseasons
benefited from it. 52,53,54,55,56,57,58
Some things about his life were:
• Obituary: 8 May 1835, Calcutta, India. 59 The India Gazette published this
obituary for Thomas shortly after his death:-
We announced with great regret the demise of
Thomas Hoseason, Esq., one of the Magistrates of Calcutta, after a short
but a very severe attack of dysentery.
Mr. Hoseason, as our readers are aware, has frequently been noticed in
these pages. His errors of judgment were sometimes treated with unsparing
ridicule, and sometimes in a tone of grave and severe rebuke. We do not
altogether reproach ourselves for the past if it has been productive for
good to the public, for we felt it our duty to notice the errors of the
worthy Magistrate; but we must be allowed to give vent to a regret that
we are placed in a situation, however proud and honorable in itself, where
we are exposed to the chance of sometimes wounding the feelings of the honest
and the kind-hearted. Mr. Hoseason was one of the best and most liberal
of men. We occasionally enjoyed a little of his society during the time
he exercised judicial power in this town, and we could not help being at
all times struck with the entire absence of anything like personal hostility
which distinguished his bearing towards us. He would, indeed, sometimes,
jocularly allude to the ' wiggings of the press' as he termed the notices
of his little aberrations; but it was always coupled with a liberal allowance
for the public situations of the parties who had occasionally been merry
or angry at his expense. In a word, Mr. Hoseason seemed to us to overflow
with "human kindness," and however he might officially err from want of local
experience, or habitual disregard for the laws established for the guidance
of justices, his intention, at the least, were [sic] always honest, and he
was by no means devoid of a large share of good common sense.
Mr. Hoseason will, if we err not, be much lamented in the Society of Calcutta,
amongst whom he was deservedly a great favourite; nor is it the least painful
circumstance in the history of his demise that two of his daughters are
daily expected to arrive from England where they had recently been deprived
of the guardianship of their amiable mother. - Englishman
• Probate Granted: 22 Jul 1837, London. 60 Thomas's Will was:
Proved at London the 22nd July 1837 before the Worshipful Joseph Phillimore
Doctor of Laws and Surrogate by the oath of Frederic Lane Esqre
one of the surviving Exors to whom admon was granted having been a first
sworn duly to administer power reserved for making the like grant to John
Prescott Bleucowe Esquire the other surviving Exor when he shall apply for
the same) Angelica Hoseason the wife of the testator died in his lifetime
and Maria Ursula Hoseason Spinster the daughter of the said decd
being also dead) (as by acts of Court appears)
Frederic Lane was one of Thomas's friends and was the family solicitor.
According to the Legacy Duty records , Thomas's estate amounted to under
£20 which is most surprising considering that he owned the farm or
estate of Banklands but it may be that he had large debts in England at the
time of his death.
Thomas married Angelica Cochrane, daughter of Hon John Cochrane and Geneviève Dulan, on 20 Aug 1803 in Fort St George, Madras Presidency, India 10.,11 Angelica died in Sep 1834 in Bath, Somerset.55
General Notes: Angelica's surviving
siblings were Rear-Admiral Nathaniel Day Cochrane, RN, Colonel James Johnstone
Cochrane of the 3rd Guards and John Cochrane, an Attorney at Law in Madras
and a distinguished, international chess player. This being so, it is pretty
certain that Angelica's father was the Hon. John Cochrane, the third surviving
son of Thomas Cochrane, 8th Earl of Dundonald, and that she was born in
Québec sometime between 1776 & 1791 when John was one of the
Army's Pay Agents in Canada. This is confirmed by the fact that John's
brother Basil (1753–1826) treated Angelica and her brothers as if they were
his niece and nephews and, also, referred to his nephews in his Will as
the "reputed" sons of his brother ("reputed" in this context probably meaning
that they were born out of wedlock, which, of course, they all were); Basil's
Will, regrettably, does not mention Angelica's own relationship to John
Cochrane but, in the light of her brother Nathaniel's and James's Wills,
in which she is described as "my sister" by both of them, it is pretty certain
that they shared the same father. It is not clear, however, whether or not
Nathaniel's mother, Geneviève Dulan, was also the mother of Angelica
and James but it has been assumed for the moment that she was. Angelica's
youngest brother John Cochrane is said to have been born in 1797, by which
time his father had probably returned to England, and it may be that he had
a different mother.
Basil was particularly generous in his Will to his brother John's children;
leaving his two eldest nephews £3000 apiece, the youngest one £1000
and Angelica the interest and dividends from a £5,000 trust fund,
which on her death was to go to her children. Furthermore, he appointed
Nathaniel Cochrane one of his executors and seems to have been particularly
close to Angelica and her husband Thomas (see Thomas's Notes) whom he was
probably instrumental in bringing together and whose marriage he witnessed
in Madras.
Like his brother Basil, John Cochrane, on his return to London, did finally
get married to a Selina Fitzroy Birch in May 1800 but they had no children
and he died not long after. On his marriage, he declared that he was a
bachelor so confirming that he had fathered Nathaniel, James, John
and Angelica out of wedlock; his brother Basil's Will shows that he, too,
had been involved with at least two women in India, one of whom bore him
five children, so that situation was fairly common in those times, particularly,
in colonial territories.
Unfortunately, no Will of John's has been found and that of his wife Selina,
not unsurprisingly, makes no mention of any of these children (indeed, Selina,
leaves all her property to her married sister Emily Churchill), so at this
time there is little documentary evidence of Angelica's and her brothers'
births and early life. 61,62,63,64
Some things about her life were:
• Grant of Administration: 24th November 1834,
London. 65 On the the 24th November
1834 Admon (with the Will annexed) of the Goods Chattels and Credits of
Angelica Hoseason (wife of Thomas Hoseason Esquire) late of Banklands in
the Parish of Clenchwarton in the County of Norfolk deceased was granted
to Frederic Lane Esquire one of the Legatees in the Trust named in the said
Will limited so far only as concerns all the right title and interest of
her the said deceased in and to the sum of £5270-17-3 - three per cent
Consolidated Bank Annuities and the interest and dividends now due or hereafter
to grow due on the said sum and all the benefit and advantage to be had received
and taken therefrom and which the said deceased in virtue of the power and
authority vested in her by the Will of The Honourable Basil Cochrane deceased
had a right to dispose of and hast disposed of in and by her said Will accordingly
but no further or otherwise or in any other manner whatsoever having been
first sworn duly to administer... No Executor being named in the said Will.
Frederic Lane was a friend of the family and an attorney in King’s Lynn.
He was, very likely, the family's solicitor.
Angelica's trust fund of £5270 and the income it produced of about
£160 per annum does not seem very much by present day standards (2005)
but the the equivalent figures today would be something like £358,000
& £10,800. She left it to her surviving children who turned out
to be her three sons, Thomas, John & Henry, and her daughter Jane Janette;
Charles and Maria both dying within a couple of years of this grant being
made.
Children from this marriage were:
25 M i. George
Rainier Hoseason 66 was born
on 4 Jun 1804 in Madras, India,67
was baptised on 14 Oct 1804 in Fort St George, Madras Presidency, India,
and died <1807> in passage from India to England at age 3.
General Notes: George was named
after his father's commanding officer, Vice Admiral Peter Rainier (1741-1808)
who was Commodore and Commander-In-Chief of the "East Indies Squadron" from
1799 to 1805 when he was relieved by Rear Admiral Edward Pellew.
26 F ii. Maria
Ursula Hoseason was born in Jan 1806 in Madras,68 died on 28 Jun 1836 in Calcutta,
Bengal Presidency, India 69
at age 30, and was buried on 29 Jun 1836 in Calcutta, Bengal Presidency,
India.70
27 U iii. ———
Hoseason 66 was baptised on 28
Mar 1808 in Marylebone, London.66
28 M iv. Captain
John Cochrane Hoseason RN 15
was born on 8 Aug 1809 in Cavendish Square, London,71,72
was baptised on 25 Oct 1809 in St Mary's, Marylebone, London,72 and died on 26 Jan 1884 in
19 East Cliff, Dover 73
at age 74.
General Notes: It has not been discovered when John enter the Navy but he was appointed Lieutenant in 1837. ln 1844 he was promoted to Commander and served with this rank until his retirement in July 1864 at which time he was appointed Captain. At sometime in the early 1850s the records show that he was awarded a medal but it is not known what he did to deserve this.
Some things about his life were:
• Probate Granted: 1884, London. 74 John's Executors were James Alfred Hallet & William Charles Hallet, Naval Agents of 7 St Martin Place, Trafalgar Square, Middlesex, which suggests that he and Augusta had no children.
John married Augusta Harriot Mary Cockburn,76 daughter of Admiral of the Fleet Sir George Cockburn G.C.B. and Mary Cockburn, on 10 Jun 1856 in Holy Innocents Church, High Beach, Essex.75 Augusta was born <1814> in Middlesex, London and died on 8 Apr 1869 in 19 East Cliff, Dover 77 at age 55.
Marriage Notes: John and Augusta seem to have kept some style if John's household in 1881 is any guide. It consisted of a housekeeper, a valet/butler and cook. No doubt, the housekeeper was necessary after Augusta's death to help John run the house — he was a widower for nearly 15 years.
Some things about her life were:
• Probate Granted: 1869, London. 76,78
Estate: under £5000. Augusta's Executor was the Rt. Hon. Sir Alexander
James Edmund Cockburn, Bt, Lord Chief Justice. Sir Alexander was Augusta's
first cousin and, amongst other things, she left him a fine, small sword
that had been presented to her father by Lord Nelson under whom he had served
with some distinction. The sword is now in the National Maritime Museum's
Collection at Greenwich.
29 F v. Angelica
Hoseason 79 was born on 7 Dec
1810 79,80 and was baptised on 17 Dec
1810 in St Mary's, Marylebone, London.79
30 M vi. Thomas
Pellew Hoseason 81 was born
<1811> in London 66
and died in 1878 in King's Lynn, Norfolk at age 67.
General Notes: Thomas's father clearly subscribed to the principle that it helped a son's career if the child carried the name of some distinguished personage so he repeated the practice that he had used for his first son and named Thomas after Rear Admiral Sir Edward Pellew (1757-1833), later Admiral Sir Edward Pellew, Bart., 1st Viscount Exmouth, under whom he served as Naval Secretary in Madras between 1805 and 1807. The fact that Sir Edward later became a close friend of the Hoseason family in London may also have influenced Thomas senior's decision. 58
31 M vii. Charles
James Hoseason 54 was baptised
on 5 Jun 1814 in King's Lynn, Norfolk 54
and died on 5 Sep 1835 in sea 82
at age 21.
+ 32 M viii. Major General Henry Hoseason 15 was born on 18 Jun 1818,83 died on 25 Dec 1895 in Clifton,
Bristol 15 at age 77,
and was buried in Perivale Churchyard, Greenford, Middlesex.15
+ 33 F ix. Jane Janette Hoseason was born <1820>
in King's Lynn, Norfolk 85
and died on 25 Jul 1861 in 3 New Cavendish Street, London 55 at age 41.
Fourth Generation
17. Ursula Hill
Hoseason 1,16 was born on 5 Oct 1788 in Spanish
Town, Jamaica,1,16 was baptised on 3 Dec 1788
in Parish of St Catherine's, Jamaica,21
and died on 31 Dec 1830 in Kingston, Jamaica 1,22
at age 42. Another name for Ursula was Ursilla.
General Notes: Ursula's death was
mentioned in a letter from John Hoseason of Annotto Bay, St Mary's, Jamaica,
dated 7th October 1831, to his brother Robert Hoseason of Udhouse, Shetlands.
The extract reads as follows:
"You will no doubt hear of poor Mrs Bancroft's death after much suffering
& giving birth to her Seventh child which survived her only a few weeks.
She was a sweet woman & I cannot tell you how much I feel her loss.
The Doctor poor man is smarting under the hardships of the times in common
with almost everyone else & is unable to send any of his children to
England for their Education, indeed (between you & I) he is in difficulties
— and it is distressing to me to be unable to assist him further than I have
already done without leaving myself bare — I think however that something
will turn up soon and — & that he may succeed in getting placed on full
pay again which would materially assist him."
This extract was copied from the original letter by W. S. Hoseason on
17:VII:1934
[Doctor Bancroft did eventually succeed in getting placed on full pay again
but that was not until 1840.] 1
Ursula married Dr Edward Nathaniel Bancroft M.D., F.R.C.P.,87 son of Dr Edward Bancroft M.D., F.R.S. and Penelope Fellows, on 6 Oct 1812 in Kingston Parish Church, Jamaica 22.,23 Edward was born on 16 May 1772 in Marylebone, London,87,88 died on 18 Sep 1842 in Kingston, Jamaica 87,89,90 at age 70, and was buried on 19 Sep 1842 in Kingston Parish Church, Jamaica.91
Marriage Notes: Edward was 40 years
of age when he married Ursula who was 16 years his junior.
A splendid letter has survived written by Edward to Ursula in August 1813,
about 10 months after they were married, when she seems to have been away
from their Kingston residence recuperating from an undisclosed illness.
Her need for recuperation may have been as a result of a miscarriage because
it was not until 2 years later that she bore their first child.
Edward's letter, which seems to have been in response to his wife's worries
about his failure to write to her, contains a number of charming passages
whose sentiments were, no doubt, the reason why the letter has survived
all these years. Of these, the following are worth recording:-
"But why, sweet Ursula, should you permit such an apprehension to enter
your mind as that you had done something that I had taken offence at? -
It is, I am confident, quite impossible for you wilfully and unknowingly
to do any thing of the sort, and I trust that I should be very loth &
backward indeed so to misinterpret your actions as to consider them of an
offensive character, when they can never be ought but what is beneficent,
affectionate & proper. I am perpetually indeed erring in my judgment,
but in regard to you I have never judged wrong, except in not rating you
so highly as you really deserved. I loved you & married you with the
expectation of finding sooner or later in you many or, at least a certain
proportion, of the failings of your sex & of human nature, but in this
alone I have erred that I supposed you rather to resemble other women, that
to differ from them so materially as you do, to my infinite joy and pride
and with the knowledge which I now possess of your exemplary principles,
and steady conduct, I feel quite assured that nothing will ever be done by
you that I can have just grounds to be offended at."
"Adieu, my excellent wife; make yourself as easy and comfortable as possible
where you are, for I wish most ardently to have you here again ere long
"
"Oh my love - how earnestly I do pray for the perfect reestablishment of
your health! - Adieu, my dearest, sweetest Ursula - and believe me to be,
while sensation shall be left to me...Your most faithful & affectionate
friend, lover and Husband"
General Notes: The following account
of Edward's life is given in the family history of the Bancrofts:
"Edward Nathaniel was born on May 16th 1772 in the parish of Marylebone,
London & spent his early life in London & Paris — In July 1783 he
was placed under the care of Mr Rose at Chiswick, & that he was a clever
boy is shewn by a letter written by him to his father in America in 1784,
very well written and expressed, on family affairs & business. He was
afterwards educated by Dr Samuel Parr & Dr Charles Burney, & eventually
went to St John's College, Cambridge, and graduated as a bachelor of medicine
in 1794. While yet at Cambridge in 1792 he went with the Hon'ble Thos.
Walpole to Munich as his secretary, Walpole having been appointed Minister
plenipotentiary there, and he travelled about Germany & the Low Countries
learning the language & improving his knowledge.
In 1795 he was appointed a physician to the forces, and served under Sir
Ralph Abercrombie [Commander-in-chief West Indies 1795 - 1797, where he
took Grenada, Demerara, and Trinidad & relieved St Vincent] in the West
Indies in from the end of 1795 until Dec'r 1797 — In 1798 & part of
1799 he was sole Inspector of Hospitals to the large army (about 20000 men)
under General Lord Howe in the Eastern District — He then served in Portugal
and was head of the British Hospital Staff in that kingdom.
In 1800 he served under Sir Ralph Abercrombie, & Lord Hutchinson in
the Mediterranean & in Egypt, & was in charge of pest houses in Aboukir
in 1801, returning to England in 1802. He proceeded to the degree of M.D.
1804, & practised as a physician in London, retaining half pay the rank
in the army. He joined the College of Physicians in 1805 & became a
fellow in 1806, and was appointed to give the Gulstonian lectures at the
same year. In 1808 when only 36 years of age he became Censor, doubtless
for the reason that he tried to do the monopoly of the College some service
by pamphleteering against the growing pretentions [sic] of Army Surgeons.
He was appointed physician of St George's Hospital, London in 1808, which
was considered a most distinguished appointment, carrying as it did a large
portion of the West End practices. In 1811 however, owing to ill health
in consequence of a pulmonary affection which was rapidly undermining his
constitution, he was forced to give up that appointment, & went to Jamaica
where he resumed his full pay as physician to the forces & was appointed
Deputy Inspector General of Army Hospitals. Soon after that however, he
went on half pay again & practised as a physician in Jamaica.
On Oct 6th 1812 he married at the Parish Church, Kingston, Jamaica, Ursula
Hill, daughter of William Hoseason of Jamaica, & by her had two sons
& three daughters. She died Jan 31st 1830. In 1840 he again asked to
be put on full pay, in order that he might get his son, William Charles,
into Sandhurst (letter of Mrs Espeut his daughter), and remained on full
pay until his death which took place on the 18th Sept 1842 at Kingston, Jamaica.
A mural tablet to his memory was placed in the Cathedral Church of Kingston
"by the physicians & surgeons of Jamaica"." 22
Some things about his life were:
• Education: 1789-1794, Cambridge. Name: Edward
Nathaniel. Bancroft. College: ST JOHN'S. Entered: Michs. 1789. Born: 1772.
Died: Sept. 18, 1842.
More Information: Adm. sizar (age 17) at ST JOHN'S, June 29, 1789; re-adm.
Fell.-Com. Apr. 17, 1794. Of Middlesex. S. of Edward, M.D., F.R.S. (for
whom see D.N.B.). B. 1772, in London. Matric. Michs. 1789; Scholar; M.B.
1794; M.D. 1804. Physician to the Forces, 1795; served with the Army in
the Windward Islands, Portugal and elsewhere. Returned to England and settled
in London. Adm. candidate of the College of Physicians, Apr. 8, 1805. Fellow,
1806; Censor, 1808. Physician to St George's Hospital, London, 1808-11. Went
to Jamaica as Physician to the Forces, 1811. Deputy Inspector of Hospitals
(brevet) 1817; Deputy Inspector-Gen. of Army Hospitals, 1840-2. Author, medical,
etc. Died Sept. 18, 1842, aged 70, at Kingston, Jamaica. Buried there. M.I.
Perhaps brother of Samuel (1792). (St John's Coll. Adm., IV; Munk, III.
31; D.N.B.)
• Obituary: 26 Sep 1842, Kingston, Jamaica.
92 A Jamaican newspaper published
this report of Edward's life:-
It was our painful duty in last week's Standard
to record the death of Edward Nathaniel Bancroft, M. D., Graduate of the
University of Cambridge, Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons,
London, Inspector General to the Army in this Island, and a member of a variety
of learned and scientific societies abroad, with many of the professors of
which he was in literary communication, and by whom his high character and
extensive attainments obtained the acknowledgement which they deservedly
merited. Among his contemporaries in England, by whom he was held in considerable
estimation, we may insert the names¹ of Halford, Heberden, ????, and
Baillie. With the latter especially, he was particularly intimate, and of
whom he was accustomed to speak in terms of the highest admiration. The
brief memoir which we are thus introducing to our readers, has been presented
to us by one who gained it from Doctor Bancroft himself on various occasions,
and the materials have in consequence being thrown together without any reference
to date order.
Doctor Bancroft's professional career was ultimately divided not by choice
but by destiny. Having been elected a Physician to St Georges Hospital,
which is a most distinguished appointment, carrying as it does with it a
considerable portion of the practice of the West End of London, almost considered
as a contingent upon it; his disappointment was so much the greater, in finding
that he could not retain the office, in consequence of a pulmonary affection,
which was rapidly undermining his constitution. He did not, however, abandon
his post until he had procured the advice of the chief physicians then living,
who decided upon the absolute necessity of his doing so.
Doctor Bancroft shortly afterwards joined the staff of Sir Ralph Abercrombie,
and served under that gallant officer in Egypt. He visited the Continent
professionally, to be in attendance upon the Honble Mrs
Ellis, the present Lord Seaford's wife. Before his arrival, however, the
lady died - upon which he made the tour of Europe - thoroughly acquainting
himself with all that was to be found remarkable in the countries through
which he passed - France and Spain, Portugal and Italy were severally examined
by him, as well as Malta, and the most interesting of the islands in the
Grecian Archipelago. As he travelled, he did not fail to instruct himself
in the several languages, and with such assistance and a most comprehensive
mind, as well as a most inquiringof indefatigable spirit, he furnished himself
with a store of literary knowledge of a character so general as seldom falls
to the lot of a single man to possess. Having been appointed Secretary to
the British Delegation at Munich, which deputation was then in the occupation
of the Earl of Oxford - another very celebrated man in the world of letters
- he had an opportunity of extending his favourite studies throughout Germany
and the Low Countries. Subsequently Doctor Bancroft repaired to the West
Indies, among the Winward [sic] Isles of which he remained for some time;
and was then presented as Chief of the Army Medical staff in Jamaica of which
he was afterwards for a period deferred, but to which he was restored about
two years since. We have thus given to our readers a summary of the life
of a gentleman whose death we are persuaded will be greatly lamented by those
who wished to be assisted in their laudable endeavours to obtain knowledge,
for Doctor Bancroft was studiously attentive and patient, neither trouble,
nor time, indisposition or occupation (unless of an extraordinary nature)
were ever allowed to form obstacles either to his acquiring or imparting
knowledge. He was in every sense a gentleman and a scholar, on whom nature
had bestowed more than her ordinary gifts.
Doctor Bancroft's work on Yellow Fever² about which so much has been
said and written, has now gained the status which it long ago ought to have
done - a new edition of it has been called for, and we learn that it has
also become a class or text book - a work to be studied in a course of medical
education at Edinburgh - We have finished - Requiereat in pace!
¹ Of Edward's contemporaries mentioned above, Sir Henry Halford (1766-1844)
was an eminent physician who was for 24 years President of the Royal College
of Physicians; Matthew Baillie (1761-1823) was an equally eminent physician
and anatomist who published The Morbid Anatomy of Some of the Most Important
Parts of the Human Body (1793), a work for which he is famous, and William
Heberden (1710-1801), also a physician, was for many years personal physician
to the Queen — Samuel Johnson, whom Heberden attended, called him "the last
of our learned physicians".
² Edward's work on Yellow Fever entitled An Essay on the Disease
Called Yellow Fever, with Observations Concerning Febrile Contagion, Typhus
Fever, Dysentery and the Plague was published in London in 1811 with
a forward by his father. He produced a sequel to this in 1817. Though these
works contained many interesting records of disease, their value was somewhat
undermined by Edward's bias towards the theory that such diseases were noncontagious
and by his endorsement of the view that Yellow Fever & Malaria were
identical.
Comment: The author of this obituary, as mentioned in the text, had
little knowledge of the chronology of the events in Edward's life which
are noted here.
Children from this marriage were:
34 F i. Ursula
Maria Bancroft 93 was born on
21 Sep 1815 in Kingston, Jamaica,93
was baptised on 10 Oct 1815 in Kingston Parish Church, Jamaica,94,95
and died on 28 Aug 1840 96
at age 24.
35 M ii. Edward
James Bancroft was born on 22 Oct 1817 in London,97 was baptised on 14 Dec 1833
in Kingston Parish Church, Jamaica,98
and died between 1835 and 1838 in Spain about age 18.
General Notes: Edward is said
to have run away to sea and died in Spain while serving with the "Foreign
Legion". It is quite probable that Edward served with a "Foreign Legion"
in Spain but it is likely that this was the British Auxiliary Legion that
was raised by the British Government to assist the Spanish Government in
the summer of 1835. His uncle, Thomas Hoseason, joined this force in that
year - see his notes also - and no doubt had an influence on Edward's decision
to volunteer as a legionnaire.
The British Auxiliary Legion fought in the first Carlist War (1833-1840)
that followed the death of King Ferdinand VII of Spain. Spain at that time
was divided into two factions, the Cristinos (or Isabelinos) representing
the interests of Queen Regent Cristina and her infant daughter Isabel II,
and the Carlists who supported Don Carlos, the brother of the late King
and the pretender to the throne. After six years of bloody conflict in the
Carlos fled to France leaving the remnants of his army to soldier on for
a few more months before many of them too sought refuge in France and the
conflict petered out.
During this war, several battalions of the British Auxiliary Legion supported
the Cristinos. The British, who were led by Colonel George De Lacy Evans,
fought in many successful engagements and contributed considerably to the
Cristinos eventual victory.
The greater part of the British Auxiliary Legion arrived in Spain towards
the end of 1835 and saw action during 1836 and 1837, so it is very likely
that Edward died during this period.
Of those British legionnaires who died in Spain, some were killed in action
or died subsequently from their wounds, others were shot after being taken
prisoner by the Carlists who deemed foreign legionaries to be outside the
normal conventions with regard to prisoners of war and the rest, by far
the greatest number, died as a result of disease, principally typhus, and
malnutrition. 95,99
+ 36 F iii. Julia Eliza Bancroft 100 was born on 25 Aug 1820,100 was baptised on 19 Aug 1823
in Kingston Parish Church, Jamaica,101
and died on 14 May 1858 96
at age 37.
37 F iv. Marianne
Augusta Bancroft 100 was born
on 13 Nov 1822,100 was
baptised on 19 Aug 1823 in Kingston Parish Church, Jamaica,102 and died on 29 May 1891
in Beaufort House, Oxford-road, Gunnersbury, Chiswick 103,104
at age 68.
Some things about her life were:
• Grant of Administration: 13 Apr 1892, London,
England. 105 Effects: £90
8s 6d
Augusta married Peter Alexander Espeut,87 son of William Francis Espeut and Joséphine Périne Adèle Du Bourg, on 18 Sep 1842 in Kingston, Jamaica 87.,106 Peter was born on 23 Aug 1816 in Hope Hill, Parish of Metcalfe, Jamaica 87 and died on 11 Jun 1868 in The Retreat, St Andrews, Jamaica 87,107 at age 51.
Marriage Notes: Marianne and Peter were married by special licence at 2am on September 18th 1842 at her dying father's bedside. He lived for another 19 hours.
General Notes: R. J. Green whose
information came from Peter's daughters Julie Vidal (née Espeut)
and her sister Helen Oakes, paints a rather moralistic picture of Peter
writing as he does of him: "When Peter Alexander Espeut died there was chaos
in the family affairs. Due to his extravagant hospitality and having no
sense of thrift he left no means.... almost everything had to be sold and
no care was taken of much apart from family belongs."......"P.A. Espeut thought
nothing of entertaining an entire regiment of soldiers. He put up the officers
in his house and accommodated the men in his enormous outbuildings. Next
to the Governor he was the most influential man on the Island. His wife lead
[sic] society in Kingston. A home with the score of indoor servants and more
outdoor than there was work for, two other residences, Mount Espeut and Dover
Castle, and everything carried out with a lavishness that was really wicked
waste, resulted in the properties being mortgaged up to the hilt".
Apart from this anecdotal information, parts of which are, no doubt, rather
exaggerated, little is known about Peter's lifestyle or activities. Before
his father died he seems to have been involved with the Planters Bank describing
himself in 1843 as "Cashier " there and later as "Banker". Following his
father's death in 1846, he must have inherited some of his father's Jamaican
property and it is about this time that we find him purchasing the "Retreat"
on the outskirts of Kingston. Following that acquisition, he bought various
other properties; these being Dover Castle (a sugar estate in the north of
the Island) and Mount Espeut (a residential property in the St Catherine's
hills northeast of Kingston) and two other sugar estates, Leith Hill in St
Thomas in the East and Greenwich Hill.
Unfortunately, details of Peter's financial affairs at his death are not
known but from the probate records in Jamaica it would appear that there
was little or nothing left for Marianne after his estate had been wound-up
and the family's circumstances after his death seem to confirm that position.
Whether or not the parlous state of his finances was because of his reputed
extravagant lifestyle or because of the declining of sugar production in
Jamaica is not known. Perhaps it was a combination of both circumstances.
(NOTE: Sugar plantations, which were his main assets
and source of income, went into even greater decline - many had already become
uneconomic after slave labour ceased to be available in 1838 - following
the removal of tariff protection on colonial produce in the British market
in 1846.)
Whatever the case, his wife and family were left with very little in the
way of income and were forced to dispose of all the family's properties.
This seems to have happened over a period of seven or eight years following
which his wife and her five unmarried daughters left Jamaica and settled
in England. Had it not been for the generosity of his wife's brother, Lt.
General Wm. Bancroft, who provided an annuity for her (said to be £800
pa, though that seems to be a very substantial figure for those times and
is completely out of kilter with General Bancroft's financial situation),
she and her unmarried daughters would have been more or less destitute in
England, there being no support forthcoming from the two sons who remained
in Jamaica. 108
Some things about his life were:
• Will: 8 Jun 1863, Jamaica. 109 He left everything to his wife
Marianne during her lifetime or widowhood. On her death or her remarriage,
his estate was to be equally divided between all the surviving children
of both his marriages.
He appointed as his executors, his wife, Hon. Henry Westmoreland of St
Andrews, Hon. William Hosack of St George & Stephen Cave of London.
The witnesses were: Julia S. G. Georges & Francis B. Lynch
It is interesting that Peter should have treated all his children equally
in his Will; perhaps, that was due to the influence of his French heritage.
• Report of death: Jun 1868, Kingston, Jamaica.
110 The "Gleaner" in Kingston reported
Peter's death as follows:
We deeply regret in having to announce the
death of the Hon. Peter Alexander Espeut, which occurred on Wednesday afternoon
last at his residence at 'Retreat' in St. Andrew's. Mr. Espeut was in the
prime of life and up to the period of his last illness, would have been
pronounced by anyone who saw him to have been in the bloom of health. But
it was proved that his appearance was deceptious, as an incurable malady
had already made serious inroad upon his constitution. He suddenly became
ill and, when circumstances permitted, he left the county on a trip to the
Windward Islands in the hope of recruiting his strength, so as to be able
to undergo further medical treatment. His hopes were not realised, his strength
gave way the more, and he returned here in the 'Atrato' on the 14th instant
only in time to end his life in his own home, and among his family and friends.
The Hon. Mr. Espeut has long been connected with this island, holding property
both in St. Andrew and St. Thomas, having a fine Sugar estate in the latter
parish. He was for many years Official Assignee for Cornwall, in conjunction,
in anticipation, it was reported, of some changes contemplated by the Government
which were to place him in a higher and more responsible position. Under
the old regime , he was for several years connected with political life,
commencing with the representation of Kingston in the House of Assembly,
as colleague of the Hon. Mr. Jordon and the late Mr. March. After holding
his seat for some time, a general election came round, and he and Mr. March
had to make way for Charles Levy, Esq., and the Hon. Dr. Bowerbank. He was
elected for St. John, for which parish he sat until the abolition of the
Assembly. He had also been an Alderman for Kingston, and held commissions
of the Peace for several parishes, and soon after the late disturbance, he
was appointed Custos of St. Thomas in the room of the late lamented Baron
Ketelhodt. He was a gentleman of intelligence, was esteemed by all who knew
him, and his death will be generally regretted. As a mark of respect for
his memory the flags of the Commercial Exchange, the RM Company and the Museum
of the Royal Society of Arts were kept at half-mast all yesterday.
• Probate Granted: 17 Jun 1868, Jamaica. 109 When Peter's estate was wound up, it was found that he was more or less insolvent and there were, therefore, no assets left for Marianne to inherit.
38 M v. George
Augustus Bancroft was born in May 1823 96 and died on 8 Dec 1823.96
39 M vi. Lt.
General William Charles Bancroft was born on 22 Jun 1826 in Kingston,
Jamaica,96 was baptised
on 14 Dec 1833 in Kingston Parish Church, Jamaica,98,111
died on 30 Jan 1903 in Knellwood, Farnborough, Hampshire 112 at age 76, and was buried
on 3 Feb 1903 in Farnborough Cemetery, Farnborough, Hampshire.113
General Notes: This account is
taken from the "Bancroft Family" written by his daughter Edith (1862-1941).
William was educated in Germany and received his first commission after
Royal Military College, Sandhurst, in the 3rd West India Regiment in June
1844. Four years later he was transferred to the 76th Foot and subsequently,
in 1850, to the 16th Bedfordshire Regiment in which he remained for the rest
of his service.
He was aide-de-camp to General Bunbury and to Sir Henry Barclay in Jamaica
and afterwards to the latter in Australia where he met and married Eliza.
Sometime around the beginning of 1864 William, then a Captain, returned
to England and rejoined his Regiment, the Bedfordshire. He served with this
regiment in England, Ireland, the West Indies, Canada (during the Fenian
Insurrection¹) and in India, rising eventually to take command. He
later went on to command the 16th Regimental District and also the 12th Brigade
Depot at Preston.
William had been made up to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel in 1872 when
he took command of his Regiment but did not receive a substantive commission
until he commanded the Brigade Depot in 1879. He was made a Major General
in April 1883 and later retired with the honorary rank of Lieutenant General
at the end of 1887. In May 1900 he was appointed Colonel of the Bedfordshire
Regiment, an appointment he held until he died.
In the 1889, he purchased the property of Knellwood in Farnborough and
lived there with his family for the rest of his life.
He was a Freemason, a Member of the Geographical Society and of the United
Service Institution, and also of the United Service & Junior United
Service Clubs. He was also interested in the Primrose League and was made
a Knight thereof in July 1890.
In 1872 he published a translation (presumably from German) of the Introduction
to the employment of Krieg's Spiel apparatus. The British Library has
a copy of this work.
¹ A force of one brigade of the Irish Republican Brotherhood (IRB),
a secret revolutionary group founded in Dublin on March 17, 1858, by James
Stephens, under the command of Colonel John O'Neill. 114,115
Some things about his life were:
• Report of death: Feb 1903, London, England.
116 The Times reported William's
death as follow:-
The Colonelcy of the Bedford Regt. is vacant by the death on Friday evening
at the age of 76 at his residence Knellwood, Farnborough of Lieut. General
W. C. Bancroft. He entered the army as an ensign in the 3rd West India
Regt.& being transferred to the 16th Foot (now the Bedfordshire Regt.)
in 1850, served with that Regt. for many years. He reached the rank of Colonel
in August 1872 and that of Major General in April 1883. He was placed on
the retired list on December 31st 1887 & since May 1900 had been Colonel
of the Bedfordshire Regt.
• Funeral: 3 Feb 1903, Farnborough, Hampshire.
117 A local newspaper reported
William's death and funeral as follows:-
An old resident of Farnborough, and a veteran
of the Army, passed away in the person of Lieutenant-General W. C. Bancroft,
who died at his residence, Knellwood, Farnborough, on Friday morning, after
a short illness. General Bancroft was placed on the retired list in December,
1887, and has spent most of his time since that date in Farnborough. He
lived a retired life, and never sought publicity of any sort in the place
which he had chosen for his residence, his name being perhaps best known
to the generality of the town by the negotiations which ended in the purchase
by the Urban District Council of certain land belonging to him for the purpose
of the sewage scheme. He was, however, highly respected by those who came
in contact with him, either as his equals or as servants, and his beautiful
grounds at Knellwood were thrown open on occasions for garden parties, etc.,
in connection with the Church.
William Charles Bancroft was the second son of the late Dr. Edward Nathaniel
Bancroft, M. D., F.R.S., etc., and was born in Jamaica, June 2nd, 1826.
He was educated in Germany, and received his first commission in the 3rd
West India Regiment in June, 1844. Four years later he was transferred to
the 76th Foot, and in 1860 to the 16th Foot,, now the Bedfordshire Regiment,
of which he was Colonel from May, 1900, to the time of his death. He attained
the rank of colonel in August, 1872, and major-general in April, 1883, and
retired with the honorary rank of lieutenant-general on December 31st 1887.
He was Aide-de-Camp to General Bunbury and Sir Henry Barkley in Jamaica,
and afterwards to the latter in Australia, where he married the eldest daughter
of Mr. Henry Miller, of Melbourne. General Bancroft was a Freemason, a
member of the Royal Geographical Society, and of the United Service Institution,
and also the United Service and Junior United Service Clubs. General Bancroft
had been ailing for some time, but the illness which finally claimed him
as its victim only lasted some three days. Mrs. Bancroft pre-deceased him
by some years, but General Bancroft leaves three daughters.
The internment took place at Farnborough Cemetery
on Tuesday afternoon, under atmospheric conditions which made Nature seem
a sympathiser. Overhead what Tennyson so aptly described as "an under-roof
of doleful grey" was broken by streaks which suggested rather than revealed
the sunshine beyond, and spoke vaguely of "the larger hope." The funeral
cortège arrived at the cemetery shortly after three o'clock, and
already there was a considerable gathering of sympathisers, though the late
General led a very quiet life at Knellwood, and outside the circle of immediate
friends was known only by name in the neighbourhood in which he had spent
so many of the declining years of his life. The service in the cemetery
chapel and at the graveside was conducted by the Rev. A. E. Kinch, rector
of Farnborough, assisted by the Rev. G. Cotesworth, vicar-designate of St
Mark's, Farnborough. Among those who were present at the graveside to pay
their last duty to the departed General were: - Mrs. Alexander and Mrs. Cooke
(daughters), Captain Alexander, Mr. and Mrs. Oakes, Mr. Charles Stanley,
Mr. Alan Stanley, the Rev. G. C. Carter, Miss Kinch, General Clive Justice,
C.M.G., Colonel Wavell, Colonel Carlyon, and Mr. H. Foard Harris.
The deceased General was laid to rest in a vault lined with yew branches
and white chrysanthemums, as quietly as he had lived, and there was a conspicuous
absence of the pomp and pageantry which sometimes attends the funerals of
those who have attained such distinguished rank in the Army. Major J. S.
Lightfoot was present to represent the Bedfordshire Regiment, with which
General Bancroft's service was connected. The body which was conveyed in
a hearse, and covered with the Union Jack, was escorted by a contingent of
non-commissioned officers, consisting of Sergeant Major Peirce (16th Regimental
District), Quartermaster-Sergeant Thompson, Quartermaster-Sergeant Smith,
Colour-Sergeant Cockings (Depôt), and Colour-Sergeant Marshall, Colour-Sergeant
Selman, Colour-Sergeant Seabrooks, and Bandmaster King (3rd Battalion Bedfordshire
Regiment). On the grave were laid some very choice wreaths, arum lilies
and magnificent violets being the most conspicuous features, though lilies
of the valley and white narcissi also featured prominently. The following
is a list of the wreaths and their inscriptions: -
"From Mary."
"For dear Uncle, from Nellie and Hilda [Hildy] Oakes, with much sorrow.
"
"In loving memory of dear Uncle, from Bessie Espert [Espeut]."
[The list continues with many more wreaths from various Regimental sources
and personal friends]
• Grant of Administration: 5 May 1903, London, England. 118 Effects: £6282 14s 1d Resworn: £7036-14-3
William married Eliza Henrietta Miller,119 daughter of Henry Miller and Unknown, on 18 Jul 1860 in St Peter's Church, Melbourne, Australia.111 Eliza was born in 1836 in Tasmania,119 died on 31 May 1895 in Knellwood, Farnborough, Hampshire 120,121 at age 59, and was buried in Farnborough Cemetery, Farnborough, Hampshire.113
Some things about her life were:
• Probate Granted: 10 Jul 1895, London. 122 Effects: £5771 16s 1d
40 M vii. Charles
A Bancroft was born <1830> and died in Jan 1831 at age 1.
19. Elizabeth Hoseason
16 was born on 6 Oct 1793 in Spanish
Town, Jamaica 16 and
was baptised on 19 Oct 1793 in St. Catherine's Parish, Jamaica.28
Eliza married Henry Dean on 3 Nov 1819 in Church of St John-at-Hampstead, Middlesex 29.,30 Henry was born <1790> 123 and died <1861> 124 at age 71.
General Notes: Harry was granted
a Purser's warrant in the Royal Navy on the 8th of May 1814 and for the
next 36 years or so he served on various ships, latterly under the title
of Paymaster and Purser, until he retired sometime around 1850.
Pursers in the Royal Navy in the early 19th century were ranked, along
with ships' masters, boatswains, surgeons, carpenters and cooks, as warrant
officers and, in keeping with the social mores of the times, were not members
of a ship's wardroom.
Pursers were responsible for a ship's provisions and some of its other
stores, such as clothing, bedding, fuel, lighting and other everyday items
needed by the crew. Having a captive audience, pursers were able to make
a profit on the goods that they sold to the crew and, of course, there were
opportunities to make money in various other ways. It is not surprising,
therefore, that pursers of that period were often regarded with considerable
distrust by their ship's crew who generally held the view that pursers "feathered
their nest" at their expense. Towards the end Harry's career pursers were
made responsible, in addition, for the crew's pay and allowances; hence the
change of Harry's title to Paymaster and Purser.
To become a purser, a candidate had to serve a year as a clerk to someone
with the rank of captain (or longer with someone of lesser rank) in order
to learn how a ship was operated. In addition, a candidate had to be able
to put up a sum of money as surety for the provisions, etc., supplied to
the ship by the Navy and to purchase his warrant (circa £65). The
amounts of the surety varied with the size of ship and Harry would have had
to have been able to put up at least £25,000 in present-day value (2002),
and perhaps very much more, to secure his appointment.
Traditionally, pursers had not been paid by the Navy and had been expected
to make their living from the profits that were assumed would accrue from
their business activities. There appears to have been no shortage of people
willing to take up the role so it must have been considered a worthwhile
occupation but the pressure to make a profit in the absence of a salary,
no doubt accounts the sailor's deep suspicion of that profession in the 18th
and 19th century.
By the time that Harry obtained his warrant, pursers were being paid and
he might have obtained a salary ranging from about £49 pa to £83
pa¹ depending on the size of the ship on which he served. Also, pursers
were entitled to 1/8th of any prize money awarded, in the event of their
ship capturing a prize. It is not known how Harry prospered as a purser
but he remained one for many years, so one can only suppose that it turned
out to be a successful profession for him.
¹ £2,925 to £5,395 at present-day values (2002) 1,125
Children from this marriage were:
+ 41 F i. Eliza Maria Mabery Dean 29 was born <1821> in South America.
42 F ii. Sophia
Louisa Anson Dean 29 was born
<1824> in South America and died in 1866 in Kensington, Middlesex
128 at age 42.
Sophia married William Henry Cheetham,29,131 son of John Cheetham and Sarah ———, in Oct 1840 in Kensington, Middlesex 129.,130 William was born on 20 Sep 1813 in Woolwich, Kent,131 was baptised on 20 Aug 1814 in St Mary Magdalene, Woolwich, Kent,131 and died in 1898 in Woolwich, Kent 132 at age 85.
Marriage Notes: The 1871 Census shows three children living with William; Sophia aged 30, Mary aged 26 & Edward aged 14.
General Notes: In the 1871 Census, William is described as:- Retired 1st Class Clerk, War Office.
43 F iii. Amelia
H M Dean 46 was born <1826>
in Valparaiso, Chile.
24. Thomas William
Hoseason 49 was born on
20 Jun 1807 in Kingston, Jamaica,49
was baptised on 11 Jul 1807 in Kingston Parish Church, Jamaica,50 and died on 23 Jul 1841 in
Freetown, Sierra Leone 3
at age 34. The cause of his death was Yellow fever.3
General Notes: Little is known
about Thomas's shortish life. It is said that after his marriage to Fanny
he volunteered for the British Auxiliary Legion and fought in the first Carlist
War in northern Spain between 1835 & 1838. On the face of it, it seems
an odd thing for someone to do having just got married but, very likely,
he had no money on which to support a wife and the child that was soon to
arrive (Fanny was eight months pregnant when they married) in a separate
establishment. So by absenting himself from England he allowed Fanny to continue
to live with her parents and have her baby there; it also, no doubt, allowed
Fanny's parents to get accustomed to the idea of their clandestine marriage
and their new granddaughter. (See Marriage Notes)
In the early part of the 19th century the British became involved in constitutional
matters in Portugal and Spain. In both countries absolute monarchists had
recently died and there were challenges to their more liberal successors;
in Portugal, Don Miguel contested the right of his niece Maria II to take
the throne and in Spain Don Carlos challenged his infant niece's right to
the succession. In both cases in the challengers favoured an absolutist
regime, whereas the general population were warm to a more liberal form
of government and a more tolerant religious environment.
In April 1834 Britain and France entered into an alliance with Spain and
Portugal with the objective of supporting constitutional government in those
two countries and sought to persuade the two contenders, Dom Miguel and
Don Carlos, to stand down. The Alliance was successful in Portugal and
Dom Miguel did relinquish his claim but Don Carlos and his supporters, principally
from the Basque region, chose to pursue their cause and the civil war in
Spain worsened.
Britain had promised arms and naval assistance and the Spanish government,
which was in danger of imminent collapse, took up this promise and also
requested an armed British force of 10,000 men. They would have preferred
these soldiers to have come from the regular British Army but there was
opposition at Westminster to this and, as a consequence, an "irregular"
force of volunteers was recruited under the flag of the British Auxiliary
Legion. This mercenary force was properly enlisted and officially paid but,
nevertheless, was not seen as being directly under the authority of the British
Government and, therefore, did not entail quite the same political consequences
in the event of failure.
By October 1835 about 7800 officers and men had been recruited and transported
to Spain and saw action during 1836 and 1837. The British force, which was
eventually build up to a strength of about 10,000 and which was led by Colonel
George De Lacy Evans (ranked locally as a Lieutenant-General), fought in
many successful engagements and contributed considerably to the Cristinos
eventual victory. (The Cristinos or Isabelinos were the supporters of Queen
Regent Cristina and her infant daughter Isabel II who represented constitutional
government in Spain).
Thomas's action in joining the British Auxiliary Legion may well have encouraged
his young nephew, Edward Bancroft, to do the same (see Edward's notes) but
he at least survived the campaign; Edward was not so lucky. Thomas was
fortunate to have done so as the Legion's casualties were high with about
a quarter of the total force being killed in battle or dying subsequently
from their wounds or from disease and malnutrition. Interestingly enough,
two thirds of British deaths were the result of disease (mainly typhus)
and malnutrition.
After his return to England late in the summer of 1837, Thomas applied
to join the Colonial Service and was eventually posted to Sierra Leone.
It was here he and Fanny died of yellow fever in 1841.3
Thomas married Frances Penelope Clarke,15 daughter of Dr Charles Edward Clarke and Susannah Skinner, on 18 Jul 1835 in St George's, Hanover Square, London 3.,51 Fanny was born on 16 Apr 1815 in London, England 3 and died on 10 Jul 1841 in Freetown, Sierra Leone 3,15 at age 26. The cause of her death was Yellow fever.3
Marriage Notes: Thomas was 28 years
of age when he married Fanny; she being just 20. It is not known how long
they had known each other but Fanny's mother was, apparently, very much
against them marrying; events, however, in the shape of Fanny's eight-month
pregnancy, took a hand and they were married secretly in July 1835.
Sadly, Thomas and Fanny both died of yellow fever within days of each other
leaving four small children (the youngest barely five months old) to be
brought up by various friends and family members. 3
Children from this marriage were:
44 F i. Maria
Georgina Hoseason 1 was born
on 22 Aug 1835 in London, England 1
and died on 2 Oct 1858 in Malta 1,133 at age 23.
General Notes: On the death of her parents, Maria was looked after by her grandmother, Mrs William Hoseason. When her grandmother died 1854 she went to live with her uncle William in Malta where she died four years later. 46
45 F ii. Fanny
Eliza Hoseason 1 was born on
4 May 1838 in London, Middlesex 1,134 and died on 25 May 1906
1,135
at age 68.
General Notes: Fanny was adopted
by Mr and Mrs S. C. Hall after the death of her parents; the only one of
the Hoseason children to be so treated. Mr and Mrs Hall have not been absolutely
identified but they may well be the Mr and Mrs Samuel Carter Hall who were
living in Kensington, Middlesex, that time of the 1841 Census and were childless.
Mr Hall was a barrister. It is not known whether or not they had any connection
with the Hoseason or Clarke families.
Fanny is said to have been introduced to Jules Rochat by the Halls; he
was related to either Mr or Mrs Hall. 46,136
Fanny married Sandford Carter Rochat 1 in 1863 in Kensington.137 Jules was born <1842> in New York and died on 12 Nov 1914 in London, Middlesex 1 at age 72.
General Notes: Some time Civil Servant working in the War Office.
Some things about his life were:
• Probate Granted: 29 Dec 1914, London. 138 Effects: £5078 0s 11s
+ 46 M iii. Captain Charles William Alexander Hoseason M.N.
1 was born on 16 Jul 1839 in London,
Middlesex 1 and died on
26 Jan 1889 in Manorah, Karachi 1,139 at age 49.
+ 47 M iv. Thomas William Hoseason 3 was born on 8 Feb 1841 in Freetown,
Sierra Leone 3 and died
on 15 Dec 1910 in Wolverhampton, Staffordshire 3,142
at age 69.
32. Major General
Henry Hoseason 15 was born
on 18 Jun 1818,83 died
on 25 Dec 1895 in Clifton, Bristol 15
at age 77, and was buried in Perivale Churchyard, Greenford, Middlesex.15
General Notes: Madras Staff Corps. Sometime ADC to the Viceroy of India 15
Some things about his life were:
• Report of death: 31 Dec 1895, London. 144 The Times reported Henry's
death as follows:-
The death has been reported of MAJOR-GENERAL H. HOSEASON, who joined the
Madras Army in 1838, and retired in 1874. During the Mutiny he was brigade-major
under Brigadier Hill with the Hyderabad Contingent in the operations against
Tatiana Topee, serving with distinction, and being severely wounded in
the fighting at Chicumbah in January, 1859. Major-General Hoseason died
on the 25th inst., at Clifton, in his 77th year.
• Probate Granted: 20 Jun 1895, London. 145 Effects: £157 14s
Henry married Adeline Anne Mackenzie,15,83 daughter of Major General Sir Colin Mackenzie C.B. and Adeline Pattle, on 17 Jul 1855 in Bolarum, India 83.,84 Adeline was born on 17 Mar 1833 in Madras,83 died on 15 Jul 1902 83,146 at age 69, and was buried in Perivale Churchyard, Greenford, Middlesex.15
General Notes: Anne's mother was
the older sister of the photographer Julia Margaret (Pattle) Cameron and
of Maria Pattle Jackson, Virginia Woolf's grandmother.
Children from this marriage were:
+ 48 M i. Henry Oswald Hoseason 83 was born on 10 Apr 1856 83 and died on 22 Feb 1924 in
Hill Court, Prestbury, Cheltenham 147
at age 67.
+ 49 F ii. Adeline Mary Hoseason 83 was born on 15 Dec 1857 in Hyderabad,
Madras.83
50 M iii. Charles
James Hoseason 83 was born on
1 Dec 1859 in Hyderabad,83
died on 10 Nov 1910 in Bath, Somerset 151,152 at age 50, and was buried
in Locksbrook Cemetery, Bath.153
General Notes: Sometime Bank Manager.
Some things about his life were:
• Probate Granted: 1910, London. 154 Effects: £706-14s
Charles married Mary Isabella Watson,156 daughter of Dr David Hope Watson and Isabella Dods, in 1893 in Stockton on Tees, Co. Durham.155 Mary was born in 1871 in Stockton on Tees, Co. Durham 157,158 and died on 10 Apr 1941 in Gateshead, Co. Durham 159,160 at age 70.
Some things about her life were:
• Probate Granted: 28 May 1941, Durham. 161 Effects: £1253.14. 2
+ 51 M iv. William Cochrane Hoseason was born on 19 Jan
1859 in Bolarum, Madras, India 162
and died on 26 Jul 1938 in Seattle, Washington, USA 163 at age 79.
52 M v. Gerald
Basil John Hoseason 83 was born
on 12 May 1861,83 was
baptised on 10 Sep 1861 in Secunderabad, Madras Presidency, India,83 and died on 27 May 1862 83 at age 1.
53 F vi. Emily
Ursula Hoseason 83 was born
on 15 Jan 1863 83 and
died in 1907 in India at age 44.
Emily married Herbert Cunningham Clogstoun C.I.E, O.B.E,167 son of Col Herbert Mackworth Clogstoun V.C. and Mary Julia Mackenzie, on 16 Dec 1885 in Paddington, Middlesex 165.,166 Herbert was born on 24 Jan 1857 167 and died on 15 Apr 1936 167 at age 79.
Marriage Notes: Herbert & Emily were first
cousins (their respective mothers were sisters). They had issue: 2 sons
General Notes: Herbert's entry
in WHO was WHO reads as follows:-
CLOGSTOUN, Herbert Cunningham, C.I.E. 1906; O.B.E. 1919; b. 24
Jan.1857; s.of Major H. M. ; Clogstoun, V.C., late Indian Army; m. 1st,
1885, Emily (d. 1907), d. of Major-Gen.Hoseason, late Madras Army; two s.;
2nd, 1909, Beatrice, widow of Capt Sutherland, Indian Army. Educ.: Wellington
College. Benegal Police, 1882; Special Service with Govt of Bengal, 1887-91;
under Govt. of India, Foreign Dept., at Ajmer, Dholpur, and Indore, 1891-1912;
retired 1912; served European War 1917-19 (dispatches, O.B.E.). Address:
c/o Lloyds Bank, 6 Pall Mall, S.W.1.(Died 15 April 1936) 168
54 F vii. Geraldine
Beatrice Joanna Hoseason 83
was born on 21 Jan 1866 in Deccan, India.83
Geraldine married Edward Massareene Edge Munns, son of Colonel Edward Collyer Munns and Lydia Edge, on 16 Dec 1885 in Paddington, Middlesex 169.,170 Edward was born <1860> in Ireland.
+ 55 M viii. Walter Herbert Bruce Hoseason 83 was born on 30 Jan 1867.83
+ 56 M ix. Cecil de Courcy Sinclair Hoseason was born on
2 Aug 1868 in Madras Presidency, India 162
and died on 3 Apr 1945 in Vancouver, British Colombia 171 at age 76.
57 F x. Julia
Sybella Hoseason 83 was born
on 30 Jul 1872 in Broadstairs, Kent.83
Julia married Frederick Capel Rose on 27 Aug 1903 in Woodbridge, Suffolk 54,173.,174
33. Jane Janette
Hoseason was born <1820> in King's Lynn, Norfolk 85 and died on 25 Jul 1861 in
3 New Cavendish Street, London 55
at age 41. The cause of her death was peritonitis caused by an abdominal
knife wound.
Some things about her life were:
• Inquest: 29th & 30th July, 1861, King's
Head Tavern, Great Portland Street, London. 175,176,177,178,179,180 The circumstances surrounding
Jane's untimely death were quite extraordinary; she died from peritonitis
and perhaps septicæmia, caused by a table knife that had penetrated
her abdomen about 3 inches below her ribs. The knife was thrown, accidentally
it was asserted, during an altercation between her and Richard Westbrook,
a solicitor who was a long-standing friend of the family and a lodger in
Jane's household.
Richard Westbrook was subsequently charged with causing her death and the
inquest that followed and Westbrook's subsequent trial caused quite a stir
and filled many column inches of newspaper reports. The incident had all
the ingredients of a good scandal: Jane was separated from her husband who
was abroad, Westbrook had been living with the family for some years and
had just obtained a divorce from his wife, Jane and he were reported to have
had several previous altercations in which she had been hurt and they were
part of respectable, London society; no wonder, therefore, that the inquest
created huge interest and, in the words of one reporter, "the court was crowded
to excess, and many persons were unable to obtain admission."
On the night the Jane was wounded, she, Richard Westbrook, her son Thomas
and a friend, Mrs Catherine Bryant, had just returned from an evening at
the Opera and were having a late supper in the dining room. Since leaving
the Opera, Jane and Westbrook had been having a heated argument over a woman
they had met who had given Jane "the cold shoulder", Westbrook was emphatic
that Jane should not call upon her again; the argument continued on and off
during supper and eventually they all rose to go to bed - Westbrook, incidentally,
was reported as having a bedroom of his own. At this point, Westbrook picked
up a white handled table knife and, according to Thomas's and Catherine
Bryant's evidence, he appeared to throw it across the table at Jane; Westbrook
himself asserted that he had picked up the knife and, whilst gesturing rather
violently in the course of his continuing argument with Jane, had let it
slip from his hand.
On that night Jane was wearing a black mohair evening dress over two petticoats
and a chemise. She was a rather stout, portly lady, it was reported, so
no doubt the garments were quite tightly stretched across her mid-rift; nevertheless,
it is astonishing that a table knife, even one of that period (in all likelihood
it would have been of sharpened, polished steel probably with a fine point),
should have penetrated through these garments and up to threequarters of
an inch or more into her abdomen. It must have been thrown with some force.
A subsequent post-mortem examination showed that it had penetrated her small
intestine.
Jane's immediate reaction was quite calm she removed the knife from her
stomach and dropped it on the floor, making light of the wound; it was only
subsequently when she went upstairs with Catherine Bryant to undress that
the seriousness of the situation became apparent to the others and Thomas
was sent to fetch her doctor. The latter examined Jane's wound saying that
it was serious but not life-threatening (it had bled very little) and gave
her some medicine. He continued to attend her and indeed a second doctor
was summoned but her condition deteriorated rapidly and she died early on
the following morning, about 31 hours after being wounded.
Two days later the whole story broke when Richard Westbrook was charged
at Marlborough Street Magistrates Court with causing Jane's death. He was
freed on bail on sureties of £500 & £250 until after the inquest.
The inquest, which was held at The King's Head Tavern before Mr G. S. Brent,
the deputy coroner for West Middlesex, attracted considerable interest and
there were several and some times conflicting accounts given of what had
occurred. During it, the police complained of non-cooperation by the Cathrey
household, Catherine Bryant's husband whom she had stated to be a wine merchant
turned out to be a convict in prison, evidence was given by several members
of the Cathrey household about the quarrelsome and sometimes violent exchanges
that Jane and Westbrook had from time to time and they and other friends
of the family attested to Westbrook's violent nature and to Jane's concerns
about it. The inquest was conducted over two evenings. Despite efforts
by Thomas, Catherine Bryant and Westwood to stress the accidental nature
of the Jane's injury, other witnesses painted a less charitable picture of
the events, so at the end of the hearing, the jury returned the following
verdict - "That the deceased died from the effects of a stab in the abdomen,
and that Richard Austwick Westbrook was guilty of manslaughter."
Richard Westbrook's case was duly considered by a grand jury but they ignored
the findings of the Coroner's Court. At his subsequent trial he was found
not guilty at the direction of the judge, Mr Justice Hill; the prosecution
having indicated that it did not wish to offer any further evidence.
Jane married Werner Cathrey 54 on 10 Mar 1838 in Calcutta Cathedral, Bengal Presidency, India.86 Werner was born <1815>.
Marriage Notes: At some point in time, probably
sometime in the early 1850s, Werner and Jane separated and Werner went to
live abroad. This was the state of affairs when Jane died in 1861.
General Notes: Some time Lieutenant in HM 13th Dragoons.
Children from this marriage were:
58 M i. Werner
James Henry Cathrey 181 was
born in 1839 in Bath, Somerset 181
and died after Apr 1901.
59 F ii. Janette
Wilhelmina Cathrey 182 was
baptised on 5 Feb 1841 in Brasted, Kent.182
60 M iii. Thomas
Maclean Knowlman Cathrey 183
was born on 18 Jul 1843 183,184 and was baptised on 29
Nov 1843 in St Marks, Kennington, London.183
Thomas married Katherine Cattermole in 1865 in London.185 Katherine was born in 1845 in Palgrave, Norfolk and died in 1892 in Bedford, Bedfordshire at age 47.
Thomas next married Emma Kitty Foxall
in 1893 in St George's, Hanover Square, London.186 Emma was born in 1867 in Bloomsbury,
Middlesex and died in 1902 in Kennington, Kent at age 35.
Fifth Generation
36. Julia Eliza
Bancroft 100 was born on
25 Aug 1820,100 was
baptised on 19 Aug 1823 in Kingston Parish Church, Jamaica,101 and died on 14 May 1858
96 at age 37.
Julia married Captain John O'Flanagan
on 15 May 1854. John died in 1857.96
Children from this marriage were:
61 F i. Helena
Ursula Bancroft O'Flanagan 187
was born on 20 Jul 1855.187
62 F ii. Maryanne
Augusta Bancroft O'Flanagan 187
was born on 12 Apr 1857 187
and died in 1864 187
at age 7.
41. Eliza Maria
Mabery Dean 29 was born
<1821> in South America.
Eliza married Dr James Sharp M.R.C.S.
29 in Mar 1841 in Kensington, Middlesex
126.,127
James was born <1804> in Marylebone, London.
The child from this marriage was:
63 F i. Fanny
Sharp was born in 1846 in St George's, Hanover Square, London.
46. Captain Charles
William Alexander Hoseason M.N. 1
was born on 16 Jul 1839 in London, Middlesex 1 and died on 26 Jan 1889 in Manorah,
Karachi 1,139 at age 49. Another name
for Charles was Charles William Hunter Hoseason.3
General Notes: After his parents died, Charles was looked after by his aunt Amelia Hunter. After Amelia's husband died in 1843, she joined her brother William in Malta, in all probability, taking Charles with her. No doubt, William's profession as a Royal Navy Captain influenced Charles who later became a Master Mariner and served with the Cunard Line. 46
Some things about his life were:
• Probate Granted: 11 May 1889, Liverpool, Lancashire. 1,188 Personal Estate; £1118 7s 6d
Charles married Harriet Ellen Penn
1 on 1 May 1871 in St Luke, Liverpool
140.,141
Harriet was born in 1853 in Liverpool, Lancashire 189 and died on 15 May 1883
in Birkenhead, Cheshire 1,190 at age 30. The cause of
her death was TB.
Children from this marriage were:
+ 64 M i. William Sandford Hoseason 1 was born on 18 Aug 1874 in West Derbyshire
1,191
and died on 7 Oct 1935 in All Saints Hospital, Southwark, Surrey at age
61.
65 M ii. Harry
Douglas Hoseason 1 was born on
18 Aug 1877 in Liverpool, Lancashire 1
and died on 11 Sep 1895 at sea 1
at age 18.
Medical Notes: Harry is reputed to have died as a result of falling from the rigging of a tea clipper off the coast of Africa. 136
66 M iii. John
Bruce Hoseason 1 was born on
21 Sep 1878 in Birkenhead, Cheshire 1,193 and died on 29 Jan 1933
in Toronto, Canada 1 at
age 54.
John married Martha Jane Fynney 1 in 1905 in Liverpool, Lancashire 1.,194 Cissie was born in 1874 in Liverpool, Lancashire.195
Marriage Notes: Had issue: 2 daughters and 1
son; Frances, Hilda & Harry
General Notes: There is no trace of Cissie's family in the Censuses of 1881, 1891 & 1901 or indeed of any other Fynneys being born in Lancashire in the period 1865 to 1881, so it has not been possible to identify her parents.
47. Thomas William
Hoseason 3 was born on 8
Feb 1841 in Freetown, Sierra Leone 3
and died on 15 Dec 1910 in Wolverhampton, Staffordshire 3,142
at age 69.
General Notes: It is said that
after his parent's death, Thomas was looked after by a Mr Lawrence whose
connection with the Hoseason & Clarke families is not known. Mr Lawrence
has not been identified and he is supposed not to have survived very long
after taking Thomas into his household, certainly, by 1851 Thomas is to be
found staying in Chelsea with his aunt Harriet (née Clarke) &
her husband Charles Lyndon who was a solicitor. Thomas is described as "nephew
of wife" and not as a "visitor", which may indicate that he was living with
them rather than just visiting at the time of the Census.
Thomas is not to be found in the 1861 Census which might suggest that he
was abroad when it occurred but he did return to England sometime in the
middle of the 1860s in time to court and marry his first wife Agnes in 1865.
For the next few years, judging by the place of birth of his children, he
and the family lived in Egypt; what his occupation was has not been established
but it may be that he was a Thomas Cook agent there as has been suggested.
At some point, in the mid 1870s the Thomas and his family must have returned
to England because his son Sidney was born in Poplar in 1875 but there is
no record of any of them in the 1881 census. Possibly by then, Thomas and
Agnes's marriage had begun to disintegrate due to Agnes's mental state and
Thomas may have absented himself from the marital home; certainly, by 1891
he is to be found living on his own with a housekeeper and her daughter in
Hampshire. He describes his occupation as brewer's agent at that time.
Four years later he married, bigamously, Mary Goodwin (née Brinton,
a widow with an illegitimate daughter of her own) and had two sons by her.
At the time of the 1901 Census, Thomas and this family were living in Wolverhampton
and he was working as an advertising agent. Given this marriage, it is
doubtful that Thomas was ever in contact with any of the children of his
first marriage after he left home.
In the last years of his life, Thomas was the caretaker of a Wolverhampton
theatre. 46,136,196
Thomas married Agnes Miller Griffin,197 daughter of Robert Griffin
and Elizabeth ———, on 29 Jun 1865 in St Mary's Church, Hampstead.
The marriage ended in Separation c. 1883. Agnes was born <1844> in
Peterborough,197 was
baptised on 24 Apr 1844 in Peterborough, Northampton,198 and died in 1912 in Wandsworth,
Surrey at age 68.
Children from this marriage were:
67 M i. Arthur
Sandford Hoseason 199 was born
on 2 Apr 1866 in Alexandra, Suez.199
68 F ii. Laura
Hoseason 199 was born after
1867 in Alexandra, Suez.199
69 M iii. Augustus
William Hoseason 199 was born
in 1868 in Alexandra, Suez.199
70 F iv. Ada
Hoseason 199 was born in 1869
in Suez, Egypt.199
Ada married Samuel John Thomas 199 in 1892 in Bath, Somerset.200
71 F v. Edith
Alexandra Hoseason 199 was
born in 1874.199
Edith married George Alfred H Loal, son of Henry Wells Loal and Margaret Buckle Bays, in 1894 in Southampton.201 George was born in 1871 in Peterborough 202 and died in 1899 in Worcester 203 at age 28.
Edith next married George Washington Bailey in 1905 in Kings Norton.204
+ 72 M vi. Sidney William Hoseason 199 was born in 1875 in Poplar, London.199
73 F vii. Grace
Agnes Winifred Hoseason 199
was born after 1875.199
Grace married William R J Morgan in 1913 in Fulham, London.205
Thomas next married Mary Elizabeth Brinton,3 daughter of Joseph Brinton and Ellen ———, on 15 Jan 1895 in Headless Cross, Worcestershire.143 Mary was born on 24 Apr 1859 in Corfe Castle, Dorset 3,206,207 and died in 1944 in Wolverhampton, Staffordshire 3 at age 85.
Marriage Notes: It appears that
Thomas never divorced his first wife, Agnes, but the marriage seems to have
collapsed by about 1883. Some time later, he met Mary and, when their first
child was expected, married her bigamously. 3
Children from this marriage were:
+ 74 M i. Cecil James Hoseason 3 was born on 15 Jun 1895 in Redditch,
Worcestershire 3,208,209
and died on 21 Aug 1962 in Stafford, Staffordshire 3 at age 67.
75 M ii. Cyril
R Hoseason 3,210 was born <1900> in Wolverhampton,
Staffordshire 210 and
died in 1913 in Wolverhampton, Staffordshire 211 at age 13.
48. Henry Oswald
Hoseason 83 was born on
10 Apr 1856 83 and died
on 22 Feb 1924 in Hill Court, Prestbury, Cheltenham 147 at age 67.
General Notes: Sometime tea planter in Ceylon.
Some things about his life were:
• Probate Granted: 1924, London. 212 Effects: £53030-11-5
Henry married Ethel Maude Healing,213 daughter of Alfred Healing and Susan Elizabeth Phillips, in 1908 in Kensington, Middlesex.148 Ethel was born on 1 Jun 1881 in Tewkesbury, Glos 214 and died on 9 Dec 1969 in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire 215 at age 88.
Marriage Notes: Henry and Ethel
had no natural children; the two children that they had were both adopted
and only Peter has been identified at this time.
Some things about her life were:
• Probate Granted: 9 Dec 1969, London. 216 Effects: £226,181
The child from this marriage was:
76 M i. Peter
Jeffrey Hoseason 217 was born
<1917> and died on 10 Mar 1946 in Brighton, Sussex 217,218
at age 29.
Some things about his life were:
• Probate Granted: 30 Jul 1946, London. 219 Effects: £12,504 6s 4d
49. Adeline Mary
Hoseason 83 was born on
15 Dec 1857 in Hyderabad, Madras.83
Queenie married Major General Benjamin John Chauvel Prior 54 on 4 Nov 1876 in India.54 Benjamin was born on 12 Aug 1830 in Bangalore, India 54 and died on 3 Feb 1886 in Dinan, Côtes-du-Nord, France 54,220 at age 55.
General Notes: Served in the Indian Staff Corps.
Some things about his life were:
• Report of death: 9 Feb 1886, London. 221 The Times reported Benjamin's
death as follows:-
The death has been reported from Dinan, France, on the 3d inst., of Major-General
Prior, formerly of the 33d Madras Native Infantry and late in civil employment
at Hyderabad. Major-General Prior was present when the native troops mutinied
at Saugor in June, 1857, and served during the defence of the Saugor Fort
under Brigadier Saye, being severely wounded by a musket ball. He was engaged
with the rebels when they came to plunder the Saugor cantonments in July,
1857, and was again severely wounded in an action at Narraiowlee on the
18th of September of the same year.
Children from this marriage were:
77 M i. Henry
John Chauvel Prior 222 was
born on 25 May 1876 in Bangalore, India.222
78 F ii. Adeline
Frances Emily Prior 222 was
born on 26 Feb 1883 in Dinan, Côtes-du-Nord, France.222
79 M iii. Gerald
Oswald Herbert Prior 222,223 was born on 19 Mar 1884 in Dinan,
Côtes-du-Nord, France,222,223 died on 19 Jan 1919 in
London at age 34, and was buried in Brookwood Military Cemetery, Surrey.
Queenie next married Kingsmill Thurston Gwynn, son of John Crowther Gwynn and Maria Brookes, on 4 Jun 1887 in Clifton, Gloucestershire 54,149.,150 Kingsmill was born <1862> in Bristol.
General Notes: Sometime Bank Manager
Children from this marriage were:
80 M i. Kingsmill
Douglas M Gwynn was born <1888> in Clifton, Gloucestershire.
81 M ii. Kenneth
Hoseason Gwynn 223 was born
in 1889 in Clifton, Gloucestershire.223
82 M iii. Richard
Ivor M Gwynn 223 was born in
1892 in Bath, Somerset.223
83 M iv. Eric
John C Gwynn 223 was born in
1898 in Bristol.223
51. William Cochrane
Hoseason was born on 19 Jan 1859 in Bolarum, Madras, India 162 and died on 26 Jul 1938
in Seattle, Washington, USA 163
at age 79.
General Notes: William seems to
have been a bit of a free spirit. When he was a boy his family came back
from India for a while and lived in Yorkshire and though he is living with
them at the time of the 1871 Census, it is very probable that he was educated
in England during his teens; his sister Geraldine & brother Cecil were
both sent to a Yorkshire boarding school at Fulneck run by the Moravian Protestant
movement and he may have attended the same school. It is said that William
wanted to be a doctor and went to read medicine at Edinburgh University
for three years. For some reason or other his father disapproved of this
career and came back to Edinburgh and took him back to India where he was
forced to join the army; he was appointed a Lieutenant but rebelled and,
presumably after resigning his commission, fled from India and joined the
Bechuanaland Police Force.
Bechuanaland Border Police (BBP) came into being in 1885 after Bechuanaland
(later Botswana) had been declared a British Protectorate in 30th September
1885, prior to that there had been the Bechuanaland Field Force but this
only existed from 1884 to 1885. The BBP consisted of about 100 men whose
task it was to police the new Protectorate's borders; it was run on quasi-military
lines and its officers were mostly drawn from the British or Indian Armies.
Current lists of serving officers between 1884 & circa 1894 do not
mention William but he may well have served with the Force in its early
days and been among the other ranks. He must have left Africa sometime in
1886 or 87 because he was married in Oregon in 1889.
It has been said said that William originally went with his brother Walter
to Vancouver and from there went south to become a cowboy, then a schoolmaster
& later a school inspector. However, in the US Census for 1910 he describes
himself as an insurance agent. There are documents showing that he was allocated
160 acres in Baker County, Oregon in November 1900 so he probably did a
little farming or letting as well. 224
William married Victoria A Gale,164 daughter of Benjamin Gale and Caroline Thornton, on 5 Jul 1889 in Baker, Baker County, Oregon. 164 Victoria was born on 2 Jun 1869 in Essex County, Ontario, Canada,225 died on 29 Dec 1925 in Arlington General Hospital, Washington, USA 225 at age 56, and was buried on 2 Jan 1926 in Arlington, Washington, USA.225
Some things about her life were:
• Obituary: 31 Dec 1925, Arlington, Washington,
USA. 226
Mrs. Victoria A., wife of William C. Hoseason,
passed away at Arlington General hospital Thursday, December 29th at 12
o'clock noon, the death had been due to atomy of the bowels for the relief
of which she had undergone two operations during the past month.
The funeral services[sic] will be held Saturday at 2:30 from the Congregational
Church, Rev. Chas. Williams officiating.
Victoria A. (Gale) Hoseason was born at Essex Center, Ontario, on June
2nd, 1869, the daughter of Benjamin and Caroline Gale, and at time of death
had reached the age of 56 years, 6 months and 27 days. When only a year
old her parents moved to Michigan and later to Texas, the family finally
settling at Baker, Oregon, in 1883. At this place she was married, July
5th, 1889, to Mr. Hoseason, they moving to Vancouver, Washington, in 1905
and to Arlington in 1914.
Deceased is survived by her husband and three sons Ralph M. Harbor City,
Calif., Colin H. Seattle, and Gerald, who is at home; also by a sister,
Mary Gale, who was with her during her last illness, and five brothers.
She was a member of the Baptist church and was highly respected as a faithful
wife, kindly mother and good neighbor.
Children from this marriage were:
+ 84 M i. Ralph Milne Hoseason 163 was born on 26 Jul 1891 in Baker,
Baker County, Oregon 163
and died on 29 Jan 1950 in Livermore, Alameda County, California 163 at age 58.
+ 85 M ii. Colin Herbert Hoseason 228 was born on 26 Oct 1896 in Baker,
Baker County, Oregon.229
86 M iii. Gerald
A Hoseason was born on 15 Sep 1902 and died in May 1982 in Seattle,
Washington, USA 231,232 at age 79.
Gerald married Lillian Elizabeth ——— in 1942.233 Lillian was born on 28 Mar 1905 234 and died on 25 Sep 1999 in Washington State, USA 235 at age 94.
55. Walter Herbert
Bruce Hoseason 83 was born
on 30 Jan 1867.83
General Notes: Sometime estate agent (realtor) in Canada & USA
Walter married <1897>.
Children from this marriage were:
87 M i. Cecil
Hoseason died before 1982.
General Notes: Cis became a pilot
with the Canadian Air Force; a successful career which led him to become
the CAF's chief test pilot for Western Canada.
Cis and his wife had one daughter but, apparently, also acted "in parentis
loci" to their niece, the only child of Cis's brother Oswald.136
88 M ii. Oswald
Hoseason died after 1982.
General Notes: It is said that Oswald led a pretty wayward life and was married five times; it has not been established whether or not there is any truth in this but the fact that his only child, a daughter from his first marriage, was brought up by his brother Cis & his wife probably confirms his multiple marriages and erratic existence.136
56. Cecil de Courcy
Sinclair Hoseason was born on 2 Aug 1868 in Madras Presidency, India
162 and died on 3 Apr
1945 in Vancouver, British Colombia 171
at age 76.
General Notes: Cecil must have
been encouraged by his brothers, William and Walter, to settle in Canada.
It has not yet been discovered when he went out there but it is probable
that he emigrated soon after leaving his boarding school in Yorkshire (Fulneck
Boys — a Moravian Protestant Church School) for by that time William and
Walter would have been relatively well established there.
Cecil's occupation has not yet been discovered but seems to spent most
of his life in Vancouver.
Cecil married Beatrice Amey Taylor on 18 Nov 1908 in Vancouver, British Colombia.172 Beatrice was born <1888> and died on 21 Dec 1948 in Vancouver, British Colombia 236 at age 60.
Marriage Notes: Cecil & Beatrice
had two sons but details about the second one have not yet been discovered.
The child from this marriage was:
89 M i. Cecil
Henry Cochrane Hoseason was born on 24 Aug 1909 in Vancouver, British
Colombia and died on 3 Apr 1991 in Vancouver, British Colombia at age 81.
Cecil married Frances Constance Roberts
on 24 Dec 1931 in Vancouver, British Colombia.237
Sixth Generation
64. William Sandford
Hoseason 1 was born on 18
Aug 1874 in West Derbyshire 1,191 and died on 7 Oct 1935
in All Saints Hospital, Southwark, Surrey at age 61.
William married Edith Ellen Johnson 1 on 15 Apr 1902 in Liverpool, Lancashire.192 Edie was born on 4 Jun 1881 1 and died on 27 Mar 1964 238 at age 82.
Some things about her life were:
• Probate Granted: 7 Jul 1964, London. 239 Effects: £44,652
Children from this marriage were:
90 F i. Fannie
Ellen Hoseason 1 was born on
8 Feb 1903 in Bombay, India 1
and died in May 1989 in Thanet, Kent 240
at age 86.
Fannie married Major Kenneth Arnold Saffery R.A.O.C,1 son of Frances Joseph Saffery and Isabel Laura Wallis, on 22 Apr 1930.1 Kenneth was born in 1898 in Paddington, Middlesex, died on 21 Aug 1945 in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany at age 47, and was buried in Kiel War Cemetery, Schleswig-Holstein.
+ 91 F ii. Edith Elfrida Hoseason 1 was born on 17 Nov 1904 1,241
and died in Mar 1998 in Staten Island, Richmond, NY 241 at age 93.
+ 92 M iii. William Sandford Hoseason 1 was born on 4 Aug 1905 1 and died on 18 Aug 1951 in The
General Hospital, Singapore 242
at age 46.
93 M iv. Harry
Carter Hoseason 1 was born on
17 Feb 1911 1 and died
on 13 Aug 1933 in sea off Seahouses, Northumberland 1 at age 22. The cause of his
death was drowning.1
72. Sidney William
Hoseason 199 was born in
1875 in Poplar, London.199
Sidney married Nellie Katie Stilliard,
daughter of Edward Stilliard and Ellen Smith, in 1896 in Tiverton,
Devon. Nellie was born in 1875 in Marylebone, London.
The child from this marriage was:
94 M i. Marcus
Wilfrid Hoseason was born in 1898 in Holloway, London.
74. Cecil James
Hoseason 3 was born on 15
Jun 1895 in Redditch, Worcestershire 3,208,209
and died on 21 Aug 1962 in Stafford, Staffordshire 3 at age 67.
Cecil married Eva May Soden 3 in 1920 in Warwick.3 Eva was born on 8 May 1901 in Warwickshire 3,243 and died on 17 Jun 1988 in Wolverhampton, Staffordshire 3,244 at age 87.
Marriage Notes: Cecil suffered
severely from mental illness and much of his later life was spent in institutions
which left Eva on her own for a long time. She was married again, in the
early months of 1961, to a man called James Walker. 136
Children from this marriage were:
95 M i. Cyril
James Hoseason 245 was born
on 6 Sep 1921 245 and
died in Sep 2005 in Wolverhampton, Staffordshire 246 at age 84.
Cyril married Doris Stanley in 1953 in Bilston, Northants.247
96 M ii. Alfred
Robert Hoseason
97 M iii. Richard
Donald Hoseason
84. Ralph Milne
Hoseason 163 was born on
26 Jul 1891 in Baker, Baker County, Oregon 163 and died on 29 Jan 1950
in Livermore, Alameda County, California 163
at age 58.
Ralph married Evangeline Blanche King
248 on 9 Nov 1912 in Vancouver,
British Colombia.227 Evangeline
was born on 23 Aug 1896 in Illinios, USA 249
and died on 1 Aug 1987 in Sparks, Nevada, USA 250 at age 90.
Children from this marriage were:
+ 99 F i. Bernice Adeline Hoseason 163 was born on 8 May 1913 in King
County, Washington, USA 163
and died on 2 Aug 1957 in Sacramento County, California 163,164
at age 44.
100 F ii. Geraldine
Hoseason was born on 22 Aug 1914 in Canada and died in Jan 1974 in Los
Angeles, Califonia at age 59.
101 F iii. Dorothea
Hoseason 248 was born on 6
Apr 1923 in California, USA.248
85. Colin Herbert
Hoseason 228 was born on
26 Oct 1896 in Baker, Baker County, Oregon.229
Colin married Esther Evelyn Colwell
228 on 3 Jun 1917 in Vancouver,
British Colombia.230 Esther was
born <1900>.
Children from this marriage were:
102 M i. Colin
Vincent Hoseason 228 was born
on 28 Apr 1917 in Canada and died in Jan 1985 251 at age 67.
103 F ii. J Anna
Hoseason 228 was born <Jan
1919> in Washington State, USA.228
Seventh Generation91. Edith Elfrida
Hoseason 1 was born on 17
Nov 1904 1,241 and died in Mar 1998 in
Staten Island, Richmond, NY 241
at age 93.
Edith married Otto A Horn 252 on 12 Jun 1929 in Brooklyn, New York, USA.1 Otto was born on 19 Mar 1888 in Norway 253 and died in Mar 1972 in Staten Island, Richmond, NY 253 at age 84.
General Notes: Norwegian American and Marine Engineer 252
Children from this marriage were:
104 M i. ———
Horn was born <1930> and died c .1950s at age 20.
92. William Sandford
Hoseason 1 was born on 4
Aug 1905 1 and died on
18 Aug 1951 in The General Hospital, Singapore 242 at age 46. The cause of
his death was injuries from a car bomb.
General Notes: In 1934 William was working in insurance with the North British and Mercantile Ins. Co. and stationed in Singapore. 1
Some things about his life were:
• Probate Granted: 2 Feb 1952, London. 254 Effects in England: £2897 0s 10d
William married Harriette Mary Julia Goodall,1 daughter of Commander Goodall
R.N. and Unknown, on 26 Dec 1931 in Penang.1 Harriette was born on 24 Jun 1904
and died in Jul 1985 at age 81.
The child from this marriage was:
106 M i. Bruce
Alexander Hunter Hoseason
99. Bernice Adeline
Hoseason 163 was born on
8 May 1913 in King County, Washington, USA 163 and died on 2 Aug 1957 in
Sacramento County, California 163,164 at age 44.
Bernice married Vincent Francis William
A Spooner.163 Vincent was born
on 4 May 1905 in California, USA 163
and died on 2 Feb 1961 in Los Angeles, Califonia 163 at age 55.
The child from this marriage was:
107 M i. Larry
William Ralph Spooner 163 was
born on 13 Aug 1939 163
and died in Sep 1976 in USA 163,255 at age 37.
Medical Notes: Larry suffered from depression and eventually took his own life.
Larry married Martha Sharon Larsen.163