ALCOCK, Mary.
RPW Alcock, Mary, Mrs (c. 1741-98)
IGI gives birth, 26 May 1741 and baptism 25 June 1741, Saint Michael, Cambridge.
Father: Den[ison] Cumberland. Mother: Joanna Bentley.
No trace parents’ marriage or her marriage to Archdeacon Alcock.
Hence (1741-98).
BAYFIELD, Elizabeth Gertrude
RPW Bayfield, Mrs E.B. no dates p.24.
The will of Elizabeth Gertrude Bayfield (PRO 11/1798, proved 9 April 1832), of 44
George Street, Portman Square [London], reveals she was married to John Wolsey
Bayfield but had been separated ‘upwards of twenty years’. The will leaves the lease
of a house (and furniture) at 15 Upper Montague Street, Montague Square, to her
daughter Helen Eliza, wife of Sir Gregory Osborne Page Turner, bart. She adds “ I
further will that whatever property thus given to my aforesaid daughter or
grandaughter shall be for their sole and separate use, independent of any present or
future husbands’. A son, Henry Wolsey Bayfield, then a Lieutenant in the Royal
Navy, almost certainly on duty in Canada at the time of his mother’s death, was also
left a third of her books in addition to other items. The will also mentions a sister,
Sophia, married to Edward Jacobs.
From Fugitive Poems (1805), we also learn of the probable infant death of a son and
that the husband was sometimes away on military duty: ‘On being deprived of my
youngest boy’ (pp. 89-93), The wife to her husband on his joining his regiment’ (pp.
140-145), The wife to her husband who did not return at the appointed time’ (pp. 153155), The wife to her husband on the Eqyptian conquest’ (pp. 156-161). These poems
of separation and loss are well worth another look.
The two surviving children mentioned in the will were Helen Eliza Bayfield, baptised
2 Oct 1793, Sculcoates, Yorkshire, daughter of John Wolsey Bayfield and his wife
Elizabeth Gertrude.The IGI entry for the son mentioned in the will reveals the
mother’s maiden name. Henry Wolsey Bayfield, born 21 January 1795, baptised 22
May 1803, Saint Edmund, Norwich, son of John Wolsey Bayfield and Eliza Petit. A
further son is also recorded, Horace Bayfield, baptised 24 February 1800, Saint Helen,
Worcester, son of John Wolsey Bayfield and his wife Elizabeth. (He may be the son
referred to in ‘On being deprived of my youngest boy’.) It should be noted that
although the entries consistently give John Wolsey Bayfield, his wife is recorded as
Elizabeth Gertrude, Eliza Petit and simply Eliza, in three different geopgraphical
locations, for unexplained reasons. The IGI gives a single instance of an Elizabeth
Gertrude Petit, baptised 01 March 1768, Royston, Herts, daughter of Peter Petit and
Ann (maiden name not given). They appear to have had ten children but the Sophia
referred to in the will is not among them. However, the list of subscribers to Fugitive
Poems includes E-P. Petit (probably Elias Peter Petit, a brother ) and S. Petit (possibly
the untraced sister Sophia or the brother Samuel).
The daughter Helen Eliza married Gregory Osborne Page Turner 24 April 1818 at
Wricklemarsh, Kent. She died 21 November 1858. The connection with the Page
Turner family appears to have been long-standing. The late Sir G[eorge] Page Turner
subscribed to three copies of Fugitive Poems, Sir G[eorge] O[sborne] Page Turner to
eight, as did Lady Page Turner. Further, Fugitive Poems also contains ‘On the death
1
of Miss Page Turner’ (pp. 98-101). The reasons for the subscription to thirty copies by
officers of the 23rd Regiment is unclear since both husband and son were in the navy,
not army. The son, Henry Wolsey Bayfield, a Captain in the Royal Naval, surveyed
the St. Lawrence River and Lake Huron: Sailing Directions for the Gulf and River of
St. Lawrence, London 1837, and Survey of Lake Huron 1819-1822, BM, Add. Mss.
31,358. He died in 1885.
The reasons for the separation from the husband are unknown and the exact record of
the marriage remains untraced. John Wolsey Bayfield is now known only for his
letters to Lord Nelson, BM, Add. Mss. 34,390.
BRAND, Hannah.
RPW Brand, Hannah, fl. 1792-1821, p. 38.
BRYAN, Mary.
Insert.
RPW Bryan, Mary, Mrs Edward, no dates, p.43
CASSAN, Sarah.
RPW Cassan, Sarah, Mrs Stephen no dates p. 53
Stephen Cassan, submitted IGI birth record, 2 Jan 1757, Coolbanagher, Laoghis,
Ireland. Died 26 Jan 1794. Sarah Mears, submitted birth record , 13 March 1766,
Coleraine…India but almost certainly Coleraine, Ireland. Marriage to Stephen
Cassan, 4 March 1786, Calcutta, West Bengal. Issue: Frances Elizabeth, birth 1787,
Calcutta, West Bengal; Stephen Hyde, birth 27 oct 1789, Calcutta, West Bengal;
Sarah Ann, birth 1792, Calcutta West Bengal.
Hence (1766- after 1792).
CLINCKETT, Mary Abel.
RPW, born c. 1798, m. Alfred Bartum 1816, p.
63.
She was baptised 2 January 1798 at Saint Thomas, Barbadoes, the only daughter of
Abel Clinckett and Mary (Als) who had married 27 Dec 1796 also at Saint Thomas. A
son, Joseph Springham Clinckett, was baptised 14 September 1801, at Saint Michael,
Barbadoes.
She married Alfred Bartum 25 May 1816 at Saint Michael, Barbadoes.
Further information on her life is contained in the previously unassigned
Recollections of seven years residence at the Mauritius, or Isle of France. By a lady.
London 1830. She writes of her “beloved daughters, Ellen and Mary”. Ellen Ringlet
Bartrum was baptised 22 May 1817 at Saint Michael, Barbadoes and Mary at Port
Louis, Mauritius probably in late 1820. Alfred Bartrum appears to have died toward
the end of 1826. He was born in Jamaica but accompanied his widowed mother back
to her native Scotland. Her maiden name was Gordon. He was educated in England
but returned to the West Indies, leaving again with his wife and child for England
sometime in 1819. They left Gravesend for Bombay and Mauritius 26 September
1819. He must have been a government official of some sort and performed “public
duties” on a “modest salary”. Two month’s after his death, she returned to England
with the two children after seven and a half years abroad. She made a subsequent
voyage to the West Indies but notes only the “disappointments I there experienced”
2
and returned again to England. Her date of death has not been established nor whether
she remarried.
CRISTALL, Anne Batten.
RPW
CROKER, Margaret Sarah
RWP Croker, Margaret Sarah (born 1773) p.92
Daughter of Richard Croker and Mary (maiden name not given), baptised 4 March
1773, Holbeton, Devon.
CURLING, Mary Anne
RPW Curling, Mary Anne (born c. 1796) p. 93
Possibly Mary Ann Curling, parents not given, baptised 12 April 1798, Little Chapel
Street Soho (Independent), Westminster, London.
DARK, Mariann.
RPW, no dates, p. 96.
She was born Mary Ann Stiles, 12 September 1793, the daughter of Henry Stiles and
Winifred (Howell). She was baptised 7 January 1801, Calne, Wiltshire. She married
Stephen Dark, 24 November 1814, Calne, Wiltshire.
HANSON, Martha.
RPW, no dates, p. 144.
Jackson notes Sonnets and other poems, London 1809 is written from Belle-vue
House and she evidently spent her early years at Hurstpierpoint, Sussex.
The Sonnets also reveal she had a sister, Anna, and an unnamed brother who had
probably died before 1809. The subscribers’ list has a Mr J.F. Hanson (3 copies) and a
Mrs J.F. Hanson (2 copies), J. Hanson, esq., Hammersmith, (6 copies), Miss F.
Hanson, Miss E. Hanson, etc. Anna’s birthday is recorded as 12 March and there is a
sonnet on her marriage.
She is therefore probably the Martha Hanson, daughter of Francis Hanson and Martha
(maiden name not given but possibly Peale: a Martha Peale married Francis Hanson,
26 Jun 1777, Saint Peter, Leeds, Yorkshire.) If so, they moved shortly to London or
Sussex and had the following children: Ann, baptised 28 April 1779, Saint Martins in
the Fields, Westminster; Joshua Flesher, baptised 2 May 1782, Saint Clement Danes,
Westminster; Samuel, born 28 October 1783, baptised November 1783, Saint
Clement Danes, Westminster; Martha, born 10 May 1787, baptised 5 June 1787, Saint
Clement Danes, Westminster. Samuel and Martha were baptised a month after birth
and if Ann was similarly baptised, she must have been born in March, which tallies
with her birthday in Sonnets. An Ann Hanson married John Austin 24 May 1804,
Saint Lawrence Jewry and Saint Mary Magdalene , London. Mr J. Austin (2 copies)
and Mrs Austin feature in the subscribers’ list as does Mr J.F. Hanson, presumably
Joshua Flesher, her elder brother.
His will PRO/11/2054, proved 21 April 1847, gives John Austin as his nephew.
He had….Peale
Married Nancy Yorkshire.
3
INSTONE, Sarah
RPW, no dates, p.171.
She was almost certainly Sarah Instance (a variant spelling) , baptised 6 March 1774,
Morville Shropshire, the daughter of William Instone and Esther Embry who had
married at Bridgnorth , Shropshire, 17 May 1764.
The subscribers’ lists gives:Mrs. Instone, Burton, Mr. I. Instone, ditto; Mr. Instone,
Richmond; Mr. E. Instone, Brentford, Mrs. Instone, London; Rev. E. Embry, London
3 copies, Mrs. Embry, Ilesworth (sic), Mr. E. Embry. It also gives, Honourable Lord
Viscount Tracy, 6 copies; Honourable Miss Leigh, 6 ditto, at the head of thlist.
Poems on Several Occasions. Humbly inscribed to the Honourable Miss Leigh,
Bridgnorth 1797 reveals she had at least one brother (unnamed, p.8). ‘On the death of
the author’s sister, after a long and tedious illness’ pp. 13-15 reveals two sisters, Jane
and Eliza had died as had William Instone, the father. ‘On visiting the grave, a few
weeks after her death’ pp. 16-17 seems to indicate that Eliza’s was the more recent
death..
Morville Parish Registers show Eliza Instone, born to the same parents was baptised
28 April 1782. She was buried June 20 1795, also at Morville. Jane Instone was her
elder sister, baptised 22 May 1766, at Much Wenlock. She was buried 24 June 1787 at
Morville. A brother, Henry, son of William and Hester Instone, was baptised 1
January1786 at Morville and was buried there18 March 1797.The father may have
been the William Instone, blacksmith, buried at Morville, 8 December 1785. If so, he
left a wife with up to seven children, the last born only a few weeks after his death.
The other children were Edward Instance, baptised 16 June 1772; William Instance,
baptised 1 Dec 1776; Joseph Instone baptised 16 September 1778, Robert Instone,
baptised 27 August 1780.
The Miss Leigh, to whom Poems is inscribed was probably Henrietta Susanna Leigh
(baptised 30 November 1776), the only surviving daughter and heir of Henry Leigh
(Tracy), Viscount and Baron Tracy of Rathcoole, who had died at Morvill 29 April
1797. Her mother , Susannah, was the daughter of Anthony Weaver, of Castle House,
Bridgnorth, who had married Viscount Tracy in 1767. Henrietta Susanna married her
cousin, Charles Hanbury, 29 December 1798.
I have not discovered a marriage or burial record.
JOHNSON, Mary F.
RPW, Johnson, Mary F. No dates, p. 175.
She was baptised privately 30 September 1779 and again 6 October 1780,
Carisbrooke, Isle of Wight, the daughter of John Johnson and Elizabeth (Smith). They
married in 1778 at Carisbrooke but she died in 1782 (Carisbrooke, burial record 26
4
March 1782). They had one further child, a son, Osmund, baptised Carisbrooke, 14
September 1781. Osmund Johnson married Frances Bucknell of Niton, 29 September
1812 at Niton. He died 1852 (Newchurch, burial record 6 March 1852, aged 70). John
Johnson later re-married, Elizabeth Barry, widow, at Newport 5 march 1806.
John Johnson died 1810 (Newchuch, burial record 17 June 1810). His will, proved 13
February 1811, (PRO 11/519), left …..
Wroxall Farm.
Mary Fitchett Johnson married George Moncrieff, 9 July 1814.
She died 1863. Daughter Georgiana died 9 months earlier.
LOCKE, Mary.
RWP no dates, p.205.
John Lock [attorney-at-law] and Mary [Hanwell] married 24 March 1754 , at
Chipping Norton, Oxford. Issue as follows: James, baptised 7 October 1760; John,
baptised 10 October 1762; Clementina baptised 30 July 1764, Mary baptised 28
September 1768, all at Chipping Norton. William Taylor, probably an uncle, made a
marriage settlement dated 14 July 1798 when she married William Mister [surgeon
and apothecary, of Shipston on Stour Worcestshire. [Oxford Record Office]. A will
was proved 14 October 1829. [PRO 11/1761]. Her exact burial record has not been
traced but the dates seem to be Mary Locke (later Mister), (1768-1829).
Hence (1768-1829).
LYON, Emma.
POTTS, Ethelinda Margaretta
RWP no dates, p. 261
Submitted birth record (IGI), 15 Feb 1757, Bexley Kent, daughter of John Thorpe and
Catherine Holker. Baptised 18 Mar 1758, Bexley, Kent. Marriage to Cuthbert Potts,
27 June 1784, Bexley Kent. Burial, 15 March 1836, St. Luke’s, Chelsea.
PRO 11/1862, Will of Ethelinda Margaretta Potts, Widow of Chelsea, Middlesex,
proved 27 May 1836. Hence, Ethelinda Margaretta Potts (nee Thorpe) (1757-1836).
POULTER, Louisa Frances
RWP no dates p. 262.
Probably the Louisa Frances Poulter , daughter of Edmund Poulter, baptised 6 April
1792, Saint Maurice, Winchester, Hampshire.
Hence (1792-after 1820).
ROBERTS, Emma
RPW gives (1794?-1841) p.273.
Emma Roberts was not born in Methley, Yorkshire c.1794 as all 19th century sources
state. Nor was she the sister of Sarah Roberts, as Andrew Boyle claimed in Index to
the Annuals.
5
Emma Roberts was born 27 March 1791 and baptised 20 April 1791 at Saint Mary,
Saint Marylebone Rd, London, the daughter of William Roberts and Eliza (parish
records do not give her maiden name). Her elder sister, whom she later accompanied
to India, was born Laura Henrietta Roberts, 13 May 1789, and baptised in the same
Marylebone church 27 May 1789.
The family is of Welsh origin, with William Roberts' father having owned the
Kimmel Park Estate in Denbeighshire, North Wales. A branch of the family had an
estate in Methley at Woodhall Manor, Main Street, Methley. (A William Roberts
married Alice Taylor , 6 June 1654, issue as yet untraced.) A Mrs Roberts, possible
issue of William and Alice, who owned Woodhall Manor and died in 1788,aged 93,
at which time the estate passed to another branch of the family, presumably, Captain
William Roberts, Emma's father. After his death, the estate passed to Gilbert Roberts
(relation not established) who sold a large part of the estate in 1821.
It is possible that her mother was Eliza Stephens. A William Roberts married Eliza
Stephens, 23 Dec 1783, Saint Marylebone London. Memoirs of Emma Roberts record
her mother was a lady of 'literary pretensions' and that Emma Roberts spent her
childhood in Bath. Her mother might possibly have been the Eliza Roberts who
compiled The Beauties of Rousseau, 2v. London 1788 although an Eliza Roberts had
earlier contributed to ‘Effusions of Melancholy’ to the Lady’s Poetical Magazine,
(1781), i. 443-444 and this cannot have been her.
At an as yet unestablished date, the elder sister, Laura Henrietta married Arthur
Newport. Widowed at an as yet unestablished date, she then married Robert Adair
McNaghten (1796-1845), who was born 24 March 1796, Ballysillan, co. Antrim.
They married 3 November 1827, Chelsea. Laura Henrietta died 20 Oct 1830, Etawah.
McNaghten re-married , Susanne Ann Halford 21 November 1832. He died 18 May
1845, Calcutta.
Emma Roberts died at Poonah in the house of a friend, Colonel Campbell at 4am 17
September 1840 and was buried later that day. Her burial record gives her as
unmarried ('spinster') of 'years unknown' and is signed by the Chaplain, Edward
Mainwaring. Her will, made 24th Aug 1839, was proved 1st December 1840, leaving
everything to her executor, Charles Beevor, junr, of 49 Berners Street, Oxford Street
[London].
Hence (1791-1840).
SARGANT, Jane Alice.
Cambridge RO
SELLON, Martha Ann
RWP no dates, p.289
Issue of Rev. William Sellon and Sarah Baker Littlehales [RWP Littlehates (sic)],
married 4 March 1753, London, as follows: William M. born 26 May, 1757, London;
Martha Ann, born 4 Jan 1759, London; Lydia, born 22 Aug 1760, London; Baker
6
John, born 14 March 1762, Clerkenwell, London; Sarah, born 1 Nov 1763, London;
Sophia, born 15 Aug 1765, London; Joseph, born 14 Jan 1770, London. [IGI
submitted information, probably mistaking baptismal record for birth.] Will of
Martha Ann Sellon of Brighton Sussex, proved 25 Nov 1833. Burial record untraced.
Hence (1759-1833).
SMALLPIECE, Anna Maria.
RPW no dates, p. 299.
DRAFT MARCH 2004
ANNA MARIA SMALLPIECE
There is only one Anna Maria Smallpiece in the public records but nothing indicates
she was an author. The PRO has a will of “Ann Maria Smallpiece, late the wife and
now the widow of John Smallpiece formerly of Fish Street Hill in the City of London,
Orange merchant, but afterwards of that part of the parish of Wokingham which is in
the county of Wilts…”, written 31 March 1840, Wokingham, proved 20th July 1842,
London. The GRO has her death certificate, “Anna Maria Smallpiece, 21st May 1842,
in the parish of Wokingham, female, age 76 years, widow of John Smallpiece, cause
of death Dropsy.” John Smallpiece is recorded in various Directories, and died 1838
in Wokingham. The proof that this Anna Maria is indeed the author of Original
Sonnets and other Small Poems, London 1805 is circumstantial and is as follows. (1)
Hitherto only speculative assumptions, gleaned from her Sonnets, have given the
barest of outlines. Jackson (1993) notes “she evidently grew up in Woburn, Beds.”
And Behrendt (2000) lists further topographical clues, notably Wokingham, Aspley
Woods, Muswell Hill, the River Tamar and Whitsands in Cornwall. A contemporary
reviewer, in the Literary Journal, N.S. 1, (1806) significantly calls her “Mrs Anna
Maria Smallpiece”. (2)
Returning to her will, we find that she was one of the main beneficiaries of the will of
Thomas Rogers, of Southgate, Middlesex, who had died in 1821. He left various
legacies in equal third portions to three women: Anna Maria Smallpiece, wife of John
Smallpiece, Elizabeth Parker, wife of Thomas Parker, surgeon of Woburn, Beds, and
Catherine Bird Wheeler, wife of James Wheeler, surgeon of Wokingham. Thomas
Rogers’ will made the usual stipulations, excluding benefit to any present or future
husband, indicating that the three women were family but he only calls Catherine Bird
Wheeler “my niece”. A further will by Ann Rogers, written 27 February 1808,
Woburn, proved 4th January 1810, London, lists three equal bequests to the same three
women amounting to £900 each (excluding a number of deductions for monies lent to
their respective husbands) and calls Elizabeth Parker her daughter. This is further
confirmed by transcripts of the the Monumental Inscriptions of Woburn: Grave 189
Sacred to the memory of Mrs Ann Rogers, who departed this life December 26th 1809
in the 72nd year of her age….Also of Elizabeth Parker, daughter of Mrs Ann Rogers
and wife of Thomas Parker, formerly of Woburn, who died February 13 1851, in the
83rd year of her age. (3)
7
A connection between Elizabeth Parker and Catherine Bird Wheeler can also be
established circumstantially in the transcripts: Grave 191: In memory of Mrs
Catherine Bird, who died August 9th 1787, aged 73. Also Mrs Catherine Filkes,
daughter of the above; Mrs Catherine Bird, who departed this life the 1st January 1790
in the 50th year of her age. Also Mr Richard Filkes, who died June the 27th 1809, aged
73 years. The close proximity of the graves probably indicates a relationship between
Ann Rogers and Catherine Bird and possibly explains the form of Catherine Bird
Wheeler’s name. (4)
The 1839 Commercial Directory for Bedfordshire gives Thomas Parker, living at
Apsley Guise and the 1841 census gives Thomas Parker aged 70 and Elizabeth aged
65. She is also recorded as not being born in the county. The will of Richard Filkes,
probably the son of Richard and Catherine Filkes (see above) shows that he was also a
surgeon and shared premises with Thomas Parker in Bedford Street, Woburn. (5)
It is highly likely that Anna Maria, Catherine and Elizabeth were sisters. However, no
records of their respective marriages have been traced. Most of their children are
recorded on IGI but the absence of marriage details means their maiden names cannot
yet be established with certainty. In addition, there are no matches on IGI for three
such sisters. Furthermore, Elizabeth Wheeler, daughter of Ann Rogers, was not born
in Bedfordshire and this is probably the case for the others.
In the absence of the maiden names, we must continue to speculate, albeit
significantly beyond the Jackson-Behrendt topographical markers (which will
probably prove quite accurate.) We can elaborate these topographical connections as
follows: Anna Maria records Woburn as the scene of her youth, marries John
Smallpiece, probably in London, and both die in Wokingham; Catherine Bird, names
one of her sons John Rogers Wheeler (whom Anna Maria calls her nephew), marries
James Wheeler, surgeon, Wokingham. Elizabeth marries Thomas Parker, surgeon,
Woburn. We know from GRO/PRO that the deaths were as follows: Anna Maria
1842, aged 76, Catherine Bird 1853, [………..] Elizabeth 1851, aged 83. Elizabeth’s
children were baptised in Woburn, Catherine Bird’s in Wokingham, and Anna
Maria’s in the City of London. It seems highly likely that the Rogers family had land
in Woburn and Wokingham. Furthermore, there are likely to be further clues in the
careers of Richard Filkes, James Wheeler and Thomas Parker, all surgeons, probably
indicating a further connection with the Rogers family. (6)
All the above is circumstantial and speculative but will probably prove the correct
route to unravelling the mystery of Anna Maria Smallpiece just as the JacksonBehrendt topographical speculations are likely to turn out to be correct.
Further research:
Catherine Bird Wheeler: death certificate, GRO 1853
Elizabeth Parker: death certificate GRO 1851
Census 1841: Wokingham for AMS and CBW
Ann Rogers marriage –
8
London non-IGI registers for birth of John Smallpiece & marriage to Anna Maria,
marriages of TP and Elizabeth and JW and Catherine Bird.
Other Rogers Wills
STARKE, Marianna
RWP Mariana (1762?-1838) p. 313.
Issue of Richard Starke and Mary Hughes (marriage, 30 Jun 1759, Banstead, Surrey,
as follows: John, baptised, 9 Oct 1760, Epsom, Surrey; Marianna, baptism 23 Oct
1762, Epsom Surrey; Richard Isaac, baptism 4 Jan 1768, Epsom, Surrey. If she did
not marry, the 1838 death certificate will be in GRO.
Hence (1762-1838).
TEMPLE, Laura Sophia
RWP gives (1763-after 1820) p. 346.
Additional Information: Poems (1805) has To the reader signed Chelsea, Dec 16,
1804 and a poem Recollection. An elegiac poem to the memory of Maria Catharine
Temple. Hence she is probably Laura Sophia Temple, daughter of Richard Temple
and Frances (maiden name not given), born 14 Jan 1783 no place of birth given, and
baptised 3 July 1783 at Holy Trinity, Chester, Cheshire. Maria Catherine Temple was
baptised 18 Oct 1779 at Saint Paul, Manchester. There also appears to be a brother:
Henry Richard Temple, baptised 09 May 1777, at Saint Phillips, Birmingham.
She married Samuel Sweetman at an as yet undiscovered date.
Richard Temple’s will
She died 23 March 1848, Rotherhithe Street, Rotherhithe, [South London], aged 56
years [sic], wife of Samuel Bedlow Sweetman, cause of death gout, with her husband
as witness. He may have re-married the following year. Hence (1783-1848).
9