Genealogy Chat

So our most obvious gap in what we know is info on Mary, Thomas Musgrave's wife? Merry

So Thomas Musgrave's father was : Thomas Musgrave, Mercer of Milk Street London, Will proved 31 December 1788 Merry

Prior to 1802 Musgrave had residence overseas, and was well qualified in several continental languages, particularly Portuguese & German. Apart from a mention in his father’s will (proved 31 Dec. 1788), little is known of Musgrave until he became Private Secretary to Lord Pelham, (Secretary of State for the Home Department). In 1803 he wrote a political pamphlet “A candid appeal to public confidence”. He was transferred to the Alien's Department in 1804. In 1806 Musgrave accepted, at the hands of Lord Minto, the post of Secretary tothe Government of Ireland, returned to his old position in the Alien’s Office – kept open for him by the Secretary of State, Earl Spencer. In 1816 a revision of Secretary of State's Office took place. As a result Musgrave was released from his position as Secretary and Confidential Superintendent of the Alien's Office. 'But the judicious and able manner with which he had performed its important duties induced the Commissioners of the Treasury to compensate the loss of this office by conferring on him a pension.' In 1816 the Earl of Chichester (Postmaster General) appointed Musgrave as Mail Agent of Lisbon. Musgrave found opportunities, arising from his intercourse with the most distinguished families in Lisbon, in addition to his personal observance of the course of events, to collect political information which was regularly communicated to the Post Master General. Sometimes this was sufficiently important to be passed to Cabinet Ministers. In 1821 Francis Freeling requested the appointment of an Agent at Lisbon to replace Musgrave and later that year he was Mail Agent at Falmouth, the Premier Packet Station in the U.K. By 1824 Musgrave had completed the transfer of Mail Packets from GPO to Admiralty and his additional role, Falmouth Postmaster taken by William Gay. In 1824 Musgrave became Comptroller of the Two-penny Post, London until 1833 when the Commision of Enquiry recommended that the duties of the Comptroller Accountant and Collector of TPP should come under the GPO. Musgrave was offered Postmaster Generalship of Jamaica, which he refused because of the climate and his health. From 1833 to 1854 he became Postmaster of Bath Musgrave must have received the new Twopenny blue Mulready envelopes by 6th May 1840 for he posted one of these on that day. Only 3 Twopenny envelopes are known to have been used on 6th May 1840 and the one sent by Musgrave is now held by the museum. It was addressed to a Miss V. Tudor of Kelston Knowle. Her father, a noted surgeon, would have been known by Musgrave. Is it possible that the Bath Postmaster wrote her a note suggesting she keep it for posterity, which she did. On 4 Sept 1854 Musgrave died at No. 10 Edward Street, Bath. His daughter Anne, aged 32, was living with him at the time, and in his will he bequeaths everything to her. This is from Bath Postal Museum Site, the other information on here is from The South London Press and the Peckham Society.

Well spotted Carol! Ann's age is mistranscribed in 1851. She was 28 not 38! Merry

methinks daughter Ann born about 1822, if she was 32 when he died in 1854.

Am I right in thinking this letter sent to the Colyer family was sent before the stamps were supposed to be used?? I read something about ''Only the postmaster would have dared to take a stamp from the full sheet without authorisation'' (my own words!)......So that would suggest the recipient would me friend/family. Merry

The website that names Elizabeth Hayward as the mother of Thomas Moore Musgrave makes me laugh! They searched the IGI for the parents marriage and says this one (in Leeds) is the only candidate.....There are actaully several candidates on the IGI as well as this one.....but in any case why should the marriage be on the IGI at all!! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Anyway.....to clarify...... we have James Colyer b 1787 in Farningham, Kent Mary Pawley b 1788 in Orpington Kent living in Peckham....... and Thomas Moore Musgrave b 1774 in London (St Lawrence Jewry) Mary ??? b 1801 - 1806 living in Bath. Mary Musgrave can't be the mum of Ann, the dau Thomas left all his money to, unless her age is wrong in 1851, as she is too young! (UPDATE - Her age IS wrong in 1851. She was born about 1822, so Mary could be Ann's mum after all!) Merry

No think that might have been his mother, just noticed above that her name was Elizabeth (perhaps she was Elizabeth Haywood) will make further enquiries with Bath Postal Museum as to name of his wife and date of Marriage.

I know that, but if he was born in 1774 how could he have married Elizabeth in 1761?. must be his mother.

Thomas Moore Musgrave was born in London on 28th December 1774.

Did he marry before he was born then?

Hang on Carol.......there's something wrong with those dates.....was his Mum Elizabeth Hayward, perhaps? In 1841 his wife was Mary (well, prob his wife!)....though he might have been married more than once? Merry

Good job I only bet 50p then!! Merry

Thomas Moore Musgrave was born in London on 28th December 1774, a son of Thomas and Elizabeth Musgrave. He married an Elizabeth Haywood in 1761 at St . Peter's Church in Leeds. From 1833 to 1854 he became Postmaster of Bath Musgrave must have received the new Twopenny blue Mulready envelopes by 6th May 1840 for he posted one of these on that day. Only 3 Twopenny envelopes are known to have been used on 6th May 1840 and the one sent by Musgrave is now held by the museum. It was addressed to a Miss V. Tudor of Kelston Knowle. Her father, a noted surgeon, would have been known by Musgrave. Is it possible that the Bath Postmaster wrote her a note suggesting she keep it for posterity, which she did. On 4 Sept 1854 Musgrave died at No. 10 Edward Street, Bath. His daughter Anne, aged 32, was living with him at the time, and in his will he bequeaths everything to her.

50p says the postmaster's late wife is something to do with either the Colyer family or the Pawley family (you know how women like to keep in touch!!) Can't find a marriage for Thomas Moore Musgrave :o(( Merry

Here's the birth record of their son, Elisha....... ELISHA COLYER Event(s): Birth: 08 OCT 1827 Baptist, Eynsford, Kent, England -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Parents: Father: JAMES COLYER Mother: MARY PAWLEY -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Messages: Extracted birth or christening record for the locality listed in the record. Pawley must be mum, Mary's, maiden name as this is most likely her baptism; MARY PAWLEY Female -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Event(s): Birth: Christening: 06 NOV 1788 Orpington, Kent, England -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Parents: Father: HENRY PAWLEY Mother: GRACE -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Messages: Extracted birth or christening record for the locality listed in the record. Merry

every little bit of information is great.

The Bath postmaster is still alive in 1851: Ann Musgrave abt 1813 Falmouth, Cornwall, England Daughter Bathwick Somerset Thomas M Musgrave abt 1775 London, England Head Bathwick Somerset Ann Redgwell abt 1829 Waltham, Essex, England Servant Bathwick Somerset But he's a widower, so we don't know where his wife was from.... Merry

The newspaper wondered where James was.......Well, he was somewhere (ie not dead!) as he reappears in 1851: Charlotte Colyer abt 1813 Colnbrook, Middlesex, England Daughter Camberwell Surrey James Colyer abt 1788 Farmingham, Kent, England Head Camberwell Surrey (occupation, Annuitant) Mary Colyer abt 1789 Orpington, Kent, England Wife Camberwell Surrey Sarah Colyer abt 1824 Underine Seal, Kent, England Daughter Camberwell Surrey Sarah Linch abt 1815 Ireland Servant Camberwell Surrey Joseph C Marriott abt 1847 Grace Church at City, Middlesex, England Grandson Camberwell Surrey Merry

Can we find a James Colyer!