Margery Munday to Kathleen re the North family
Item number: 28
Storage location: CFB Folder 1
Date:
Tags: letters ·
People: Margery Watson (née Munday) · Katheen Barker (née Munday) · · ·
© Margery Munday. This work will enter the public domain in 2028.
Description:
Letter from Margery Munday to her sister Kathleen, about their great grandparents Edward Henry Aldridge and Leah North.
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Transcription
Hotel de Marseille,
Monaco,
Alpes Maritimes
Feb 23rd 1908
My dear Kathleen
I have had some rather interesting though rather disappointing news about our great grandfather & gg mother Edward Henry Aldridge & Leah North.
1/ No certificate of birth, marriage or death or either can be traced, nor can any wills be found of either. 112 wills under the name of Aldridge have been examined of people living in a number counties in England & in Ireland a few only were resident in [illegible] counties & they only in Lancs. & Cheshire not [illegible] , but most were from the Home Counties.
2/ A will of a Leah Aldridge of the parish of New Windsor Berks was found dated October 1795 & proved in 1804 but she was described a "spinster".
3/ Edward Henry & Lean North had 4 children (mentioned in Grandfather's will) Edward Henry, Napoleon, Leah & Virginia. Leah married [illegible: Beres] & she was born in 1798 but not baptised till 1802 & Napoleon was born in October 1801 & baptised in 1802.
4/ The North family. The only possible connection can be with one Brownlow North 1741–1820 son of Francis 1st Earl of Guildford by 2nd wife Elizabeth only d. of Sir Arthur Kaye & widow of Viscount Lewisham. Brownlow entered Trinity Col. Oxford (founded by his ancestor Sir Thomas Pope), then entered the church & became Bishop of Coventry & Litchfield & later of Worcester & finally of Winchester. Married 1771 Harriet Maria Bannister & she died 1798. They had 4 daughters & 3 sons. Francis became 6th Earl of Guildford on death of his cousin 5th Earl.
2nd Charles Augustus became prebendary of Winchester. 3rd Brownlow. These are all mentioned in the Bishop's will but nothing can be found about what happened to Brownlow. As the Bishop married in 1771 & Leah North married Edward Henry in 1797 this gives an interval of 26 years.
The supposition is did Leah marry Brownlow in say 1792 & he die soon after so that she was Mrs Leah North when she met & married our great grandfather or was she one of the North family? Was there something mysterious about the marriage as why did Edward Henry & his wife take their infant daughter to Oxford & the son to be born there & both baptised about the same time. Presuming the connection with the Bishop of Winchester's family perhaps this was how Napoleon obtained when only a youth an important appointment at the Queen's Bench. The Norths were in the law & the 1st Baron was Lord Chief Justice.
What happened to Edward Henry & why can no will of his be found & no death certificate also whey did he name his son 'Napoleon' at such a time. The supposition is that he was in some way in connection with the Emperor & perhaps ended his days & had been married in France, hence no certificate in England. This might explain grandfather's extraordinary silence about his parents & childhood if his father was a traitor to England or great admirer of the Emperor.
What do you think of all this? Do you remember any tales about the North family? I remember vaguely a mention of a Colonel North who mother said was a relation, do you? I don't know why Leah couldn't have been the Bishop's daughter but I am writing to ask this. But isn't it funny Edward Henry is such a mysterious figure with no birth, marriage or death certified & where did he come from?
I am so glad Rosemary & Virginia have met, R liked V very much.
The sun is lovely here but I the wind is very cold & trying.
Love from Margery.
[Sideways at top of page one:]
Do you know how grandfather was connected to grandmother, was it through his father or mother?
What made Mother think her grandparents lived in Palestine?