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The Donaldsons |
Elizabeth Boyce Douglas was the eldest child of James Douglas and Martha Ann (née Boyce) of Egham, Surrey. She was born about 1835, Christened 10 May 1835 in Egham Surrey.
John Donaldson was born about 1831 to John Donaldson, a Scot, and Eliza (née Penfold). They were married on 28 Jul 1856 at St John’s Church in Waterloo, London.
John was a farm bailiff, and his work seemed to mean the family kept travelling. They had the following children: -
Elizabeth Donaldson born Jan qtr 1857 in Botolphs, Sussex (Near Shoreham)
Sarah Boyce Donaldson born 10th Sep 1858 in Botolphs, Sussex. Known as ‘Little Pattie’
Eliza Ann Donaldson born Jun qtr 1860 in Botolphs, Sussex
Martha Boyce Donaldson born Dec qtr 1861 in Liss, Hampshire, and christened on 31st Jan 1862 in Egham Surrey
Mary Boyce Donaldson born 27th Jan 1863 in Thackenham, Sussex. Christened on 9th Oct 1863 in Egham, Surrey. Known as ‘Tiddie’
John Donaldson born Jul qtr 1864 in Hucksholt Farm, near Compton, Hampshire. This was a farm on the Uppark Estate, belonging to the Fetherstonhaugh family.
Elizabeth Boyce Donaldson’s death has now been found in family records to be on 18 Sep 1867. As no death or burial record has been found, the cause or place in unknown.
John Donaldson died on the 1st Dec 1868 at Stedham, Sussex. Cause of death was ‘Rupia 10 months, Ulcer of Scalp 4 months, Haemorrhage 10 days’
He had been working as a farm bailiff for Lady Fetherstonhaugh on the Uppark Estate
Hucksholt Farm
A letter from the Uppark Estate on 1st March 1869 refers to the poor unfortunate orphan children. The letter can be seen here
After their parents’ deaths the children were cared for by families on both sides as follows:-
Elizabeth Donaldson stayed with John’s aunt Frances Chapell née Penfold and her husband Cephas Chapell at Dumpford Park, Trotton in Hampshire.
Sarah Boyce Donaldson with Elizabeth Boyce Donaldson’s uncle Albert Douglas and his wife Sarah Pierce Douglas née Boyce at the bakery in Middle Hill Egham.
Eliza Ann Donaldson stayed with John Donaldson’s sister Eliza Godefroy née Donaldson and her Husband Samuel David Godefroy at Rickling in Essex.
Martha Boyce Donaldson stayed with John’s brother George Donaldson, also a farm bailiff in Thorpe, near Egham, Surrey.
Mary Boyce Donaldson also stayed with Albert Douglas and his wife Sarah and her sister Sarah in the bakery in Egham.
John Donaldson stayed initially with his grandparents Jams Douglas and Martha Ann née Boyce at their watchmaker’s in Egham High Street. Subsequently he was with his uncle Frederick Douglas when he started his own bakery in Egham High Street.
No baptisms for the children were found in Sussex or Hampshire. The three youngest children were baptised in Egham, perhaps zealous grandparents had an influence.
Martha was baptised in Jan 1862, Mary in Oct 1863, and John in February 1869 at age 5 after his parents’ death.
The Middle Hill bakery page may be seen here