A very dear friend has asked me if I could find out if there was any truth to the tale that her Watkins line is descended from a Lady in waiting to Queen Vic and a court shoemaker that eloped together,supposedly,and changed their name from Perkins to Watkins to avoid being found. Personally I dont hold out much hope.
The,possible, lady in waiting (name unknown to me)died sometime around 1860/1 as the father of Alfred and Eliza is with a new wife on 1871 I believe,which also fits with family legend as written by a great aunt that was passed to me AFTER I had started looking into it.
This is the 1871 census that I have got back too ,and then things turn murky,let alone trying to find Alfred Charles or Elizas birth to send for. 1871 England Census about Alfred Watkins Name: Alfred Watkins Age: 18 Estimated Birth Year: abt 1853 Relation: Son Father's Name: John >shoemaker Mother's Name: Ann Gender: Male Where born: Devizes Civil parish: St Martin Ecclesiastical parish: St Martin Town: Hereford County/Island: Herefordshire Country: England Registration district: Hereford Sub-registration district: Hereford City ED, institution, or vessel: 11 Household schedule number: 228 Household Members: Name Age John Watkins 52 Ann Watkins 45 Alfred Watkins 18 Eliza Watkins 14 A slightly different birthplace on 1891 but not far out.
1891 England Census about Alfred C Watkins Name: Alfred C Watkins Age: 38 Estimated Birth Year: abt 1853 Relation: Head Spouse's Name: Harriet Gender: Male Where born: Bromham, Wiltshire, England
More to come,please bear with me.
On 1861 I find what I believe to be him and Eliza plus another couple of children in the workhouse,which again I had come to the conclusion it was them BEFORE reading great aunts writtings.
1861 England Census about Alfred Perkins Name: Alfred Perkins Age: 9 Estimated Birth Year: abt 1852 Relation: Pauper Gender: Male Where born: Bromham, Wiltshire, England
Civil parish: Devizes St James Town: Devizes County/Island: Wiltshire Country: England
Street Address:
Occupation:
Condition as to marriage: View image
Registration district: Devizes Sub-registration district: Devizes
Alfred is with a child called Francis whom I can not find after 1861 and Eliza has Caroline of 2mnths on the same page as her,again no trace after 1861,so presume died.
61 England Census about Eliza Perkins Name: Eliza Perkins Age: 4 Estimated Birth Year: abt 1857 Relation: Pauper Gender: Female Where born: Bromham, Wiltshire, England
Civil parish: Devizes St James Town: Devizes County/Island: Wiltshire Country: England
Street Address:
Occupation:
Condition as to marriage: View image
Registration district: Devizes Sub-registration district: Devizes
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I do hope I have all this down so that it can be understood.I have some possible births for Charles and Eliza under Perkins ,but not under Watkins and I can find no births for Caroline or Francis Perkins/Watkins to see if they may be related also. I can find no marriage for John and Ann nor any likely previous ones for John Perkins/Watkins. Basically,,,HELP,,,, please if anyone can. thanks.
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apologies Viv for this very long list!!!!!
Queen Victoria's Ladies-in-Waiting (shown chronologically by order of appointment)
Mistresses of the Robes:
Harriet, Duchess of Sutherland 1837-1841, 1846-1852, 1853-1858, 1859-1861 Charlotte, Duchess of Buccleuch 1841-1846 Anne, Duchess of Atholl [Athole] 1852-1853 Louise, Duchess of Manchester 1858-1859 Elizabeth, Duchess of Wellington 1861-1868, 1874-1880 Elizabeth, Duchess of Argyll 1868-1870 Anne, Duchess of Sutherland 1870-1874 Elizabeth, Duchess of Bedford 1880-1883 Anne, Duchess of Roxburghe 1883-1885 Louisa, Duchess of Buccleuch 1885-1886, 1886-1892, 1895-1901 appointment vacant Feb.-Aug. 1886 appointment vacant Aug. 1892-July 1895
Acting Mistresses of the Robes:
Elizabeth, Duchess of Bedford 1886 Anne, Dowager Duchess of Atholl [Athole] (jointly with Duchess of Roxburghe) 1892-1895 Anne, Duchess of Roxburghe (jointly with Dowager Duchess of Atholl [Athole]) 1892-1895 Louisa, Countess of Antrim 1894
Ladies of the Bedchamber:
Louisa Emma, Marchioness of Lansdowne 1837-1838 Anna Maria, Marchioness of Tavistock (later Anna Maria, Duchess of Bedford) 1837-1841 Anne, Countess of Charlemont 1837-1854 Maria, Countess Mulgrave (later Maria, Marchioness of Normanby) 1837-1841 Emma, Baroness Portman 1837-1851 Laura Elizabeth, Countess of Durham 1837-1838 Sarah, Baroness Lyttelton (later Sarah, Dowager Baroness Lyttelton) 1837-1842 Frances, Baroness Barham (later Frances, Countess of Gainsborough, later still Frances, Dowager Countess of Gainsborough) 1837-1872 Blanche Georgina, Countess of Burlington 1838-1840 Eliza Arden, Marchioness of Breadalbane 1839 (Jan.-July) Mary, Countess of Sandwich 1839-1842 Carolina Augusta, Countess of Mount Edgcumbe (later Caroline Augusta, Dowager Countess of Mount Edgcumbe) 1840-1854, 1863-1865 Catherine, Countess of Dunmore 1841-1845 Frances Elizabeth, Viscountess Jocelyn 1841-1867 Susan Georgiana, Countess of Dalhousie 1842 (Jan.-May) Charlotte, Viscountess Canning 1842-1855 Charlotte, Duchess of Norfolk 1842-1843 Elizabeth, Marchioness of Douro (later Elizabeth, Duchess of Wellington) 1843-1858 Elizabeth Lucy, Countess of Desart 1845-1864 Jane, Marchioness of Ely (later Jane, Dowager Marchioness of Ely) 1851-1889 Anne, Duchess of Atholl [Athole] (later Anne, Dowager Duchess of Atholl [Athole]) 1854-1897 Jane, Baroness Churchill (later Dowager Baroness Churchill) 1854-1900 Maria Anne, Baroness Macdonald 1855-1863 Jane Frederica Harriet Mary, Countess of Caledon 1858-1878 Elizabeth Jane, Baroness Waterpark (later Elizabeth Jane, Dowager Baroness Waterpark) 1864-1890 Susanna Stephania, Duchess of Roxburghe (later Susanna Stephania, Dowager Duchess of Roxburghe) 1865-1895 Eliza Horatia Frederica, Viscountess Clifden 1867-1872 Blanche Julia, Countess of Mayo 1872-1874 Eliza Amelia, Countess of Erroll (later Eliza Amelia, Dowager Countess of Erroll) 1873-1901 Julia Janet Georgina, Baroness Abercromby 1874-1885 Ismania Catharine, Baroness Southampton (later Ismania Catharine, Dowager Baroness Southampton) 1878-1901 Emily Theresa, Baroness Ampthill (later Emily Theresa, Dowager Baroness Ampthill) 1885-1901 Cecilia Maria Charlotte, Viscountess Downe 1889-1901 Louisa, Countess of Antrim 1890-1901 Edith, Countess of Lytton 1895-1901 Anne Emily, Duchess of Roxburghe 1897-1901
Extra Ladies of the Bedchamber: Charlotte, Duchess of Norfolk 1843-1870 Emma, Baroness Portman 1851-1865 Carolina Augusta, Countess of Mount Edgcumbe (later Caroline Augusta, Dowager Countess of Mount Edgcumbe) 1854-1863, 1865-1881 Frances Elizabeth, Viscountess Jocelyn 1867-1880 Eliza Horatia Frederica, Viscountess Clifden (later Lady Stirling) 1872-1896 Frances, Dowager Countess of Gainsborough (previously Frances, Countess of Gainsborough and previously to that Frances, Baroness Barham) 1873-1885 Blanche Julia, Countess of Mayo (later Blanche Julia, Dowager Countess of Mayo) 1874-1901 Jane Frederica Harriet Mary, Countess of Caledon 1878-1888 Elizabeth, Duchess of Bedford (later Elizabeth, Dowager Duchess of Bedford) 1883-1897 Jane, Dowager Marchioness of Ely 1889-1890 Elizabeth Jane, Dowager Baroness Waterpark 1891-1894 Anne Emily, Duchess of Roxburghe 1895-1897
Honorary Lady of the Bedchamber: Blanche Julia, Countess of Mayo 1872 (Apr.-July)
Women of the Bedchamber: Honourable Mrs. Brand (afterwards Trevor) 1837-1853 Lady Caroline Barrington 1837-1875 Lady Charlotte Copley (later Lady Copley) 1837-1866 Honourable Mrs. Campbell 1837-1873 Lady Harriet Clive 1837-1841 Frances Mary, Viscountess Forbes 1837-1874 Caroline Mary, Lady Gardiner 1837-1859 Lady Theresa Digby 1837-1856 Honourable Mrs. George Edward Anson (later Honourable Mrs. George Edward Anson) 1841-1853, 1853-1855 Miss Amelia Matilda Murray 1853-1855 Frances, Viscountess Chewton 1855-1901 Honourable Mrs. Hamilton Gordon (later Honourable Lady Hamilton Gordon) 1855-1901 Mary, Lady Codrington 1856-1885 Lady Sarah Elizabeth Lindsay (later Honourable Lady Lindsay) 1859-1890 Honourable Mrs. Robert Bruce 1866-1889 Lady Elizabeth Philippa Adeane 1873-1877 Miss Flora Clementina Isabella Macdonald 1874-1897 Honourable Mrs. George Hope 1875-1877 Honourable Mrs. Ferguson 1877-1901 Honourable Horatia Stopford 1877-1901 Lady Cust 1885-1901 Honourable Harriet Lepel Phipps 1889-1901 Honourable Emily Sarah Cathcart 1888-1901 Honourable Ethel Cadogan 1897-1901 Mrs. John Haughton 1899-1901
Extra Women of the Bedchamber: Miss Mary Anne Davys (later Mrs. Pratt) 1839-1888 Honourable Mrs. Robert Bruce 1862-1866 Lady Augusta Frederica Elizabeth Stanley (previously Lady Augusta Frederica Elizabeth Bruce) 1863-1876 Lady Charlotte Copley (later Lady Copley) 1866-1875 Honourable Mrs. Charles Grey 1870-1890 Frances Mary, Viscountess Forbes 1874-1877 Lady Elizabeth Biddulph 1877-1901 Honourable Emily Sarah Cathcart 1880-1890 Honourable Mrs. Gerald Wellesley 1882-1901 Miss Ina Erskine McNeill 1888-1895 Mrs. Townshend Wilson 1890-1894 Mrs. Drummond (senior), of Megginch 1891 (Jan. 1-Dec. 22) Georgina Elizabeth, Lady Cowell 1894-1901 Honourable Caroline Fanny Cavendish 1894-1901 Honourable Mrs. Alaric Grant (previously Miss Victoria Matilda Susan Baillie) 1895-1901 Honourable Mrs. Bernard Mallet (previously Miss Marie Adeane) 1895-1901 Honourable Lady Ponsonby 1895-1901 Miss Flora Clementina Isabella Macdonald 1897-1901
Honorary Woman of the Bedchamber:
Honourable Lady Biddulph (previously Miss Mary Frederica Seymour) 1857-1901
Resident Women of the Bedchamber: Miss Mary Anne Davys 1837-1839 Lady Augusta Frederica Elizabeth Bruce 1861-1863 Miss Ina Erskine McNeill 1888-1895
Maids of Honour:
Honourable Harriet Pitt 1837-1841 Honourable Caroline Cocks (later Lady Caroline Somers-Cocks) 1837-1849 Honourable Margaret Dillon 1837-1838 Miss Sarah Cavendish 1837-1842 Miss Matilda Paget 1837-1855 Miss Amelia Matilda Murray 1837-1853 Miss Harriet Lister 1837-1844 Miss Mary Spring Rice (later Honourable Mary Spring Rice) 1837-1841 Miss Henrietta Julia Anson 1838-1841 Honourable Frances Catherine Devereux 1841-1847 Miss Eleanor Stanley 1841-1862 Honourable Georgiana Liddell 1841-1845
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Thank you Ann, Any way of finding out if any of them disgraced themselves by eloping or such? No name you see,and as I cant find mr Perkins /Watkins in 1851 where they may possibly be together it is a needle in the old proverbial.
I really need Alfred or Elizas birth cert I know,but under what name and where?
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I just hate all the bumph. May I summarize? (not your bumph, Viv; the C&Ped extraneous noise from Ancestry)
1861
Name: Alfred Perkins Age: 9 Estimated Birth Year: abt 1852 Relation: Pauper Where born: Bromham, Wiltshire, England
Name: Eliza Perkins Age: 4 Estimated Birth Year: abt 1857 Relation: Pauper Where born: Bromham, Wiltshire, England
Civil parish: Devizes St James Town: Devizes County/Island: Wiltshire
1871
John Watkins 52 /1819 - shoemaker, born Devizes Ann Watkins 45 /1826 - new wife, born Gloucestershire Alfred Watkins 18 /1853 - born Devizes Eliza Watkins 14 /1857
Civil parish: St Martin Town: Hereford County/Island: Herefordshire
Q: Was John Watkins's first wife a lady-in-waiting to Queen Victoria?
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Thanks Potty and Dea. I had them on my list of very possibles,and you have both now helped to confirm that I need to send for the Alfred one at least. Just that with 2 possible surnames I dont want to have to run up a huge bill for my friend,although she has said to do whatever I feel, its still her money. Its good to get others views on it. Thank you.
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A 'clue' from IGI - Alfred's mum was Caroline
OOOhh er !! but that makes his father George, not John??
ALFRED CHARLES PERKINS -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Christening: 05 SEP 1852 Bromham, Wiltshire, England Parents: Father: GEORGE PERKINS Family Mother: CAROLINE
Messages: Extracted birth or christening record for the locality Dea x
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I've been dredging through censuses.
1841 in Bromham:
Sarah Perkins 50 George Perkins 20 >>> Shoe Maker Phebe Perkins 21 Caroline Perkins 20 Edwin Perkins 15 Laura Perkins 10
1851 in Bromham:
George Perkins 33 Caroline Perkins 30 George Perkins 4 Charles Perkins 2 Edwin Perkins 1 Mo Henry White 15
If they're the people, there seems to be no truth to the tale. ;)
Don't see 'em in 1861, though, so there could be *some* truth to the tale, i.e. the name change. And we all know how common that was ...
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