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Ireland (Historical Counties) => Ireland => Topic started by: EHDD on Saturday 12 October 13 15:40 BST (UK)
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THE CAMPBELL / ROGERS FAMILY DUBLIN/COUNTY MEATH – HELP!
I am attempting to solve the family origins of a Sarah Olivia Rogers / Campbell (my Great Great Grandmother) who was born in about 1820 and who died in London in 1864 aged 43. In her Will she describes herself as formerly of Molesworth Street, Dublin but I can find no reference to either a Campbell or a Rogers family residing there in contemporary Dublin street directories.
Sarah does not appeared to have married but had two children; a son Charles Campbell born in St. Pancras, London in 1846 (registered and christened as Charles Campbell) and a daughter Sophia Henrietta Rogers/Campbell born possibly in London in 1849 the illegitimate daughter of Sir Henry Knight Storks, a senior British Army Officer, who had served with the 38th Regiment.
Surviving correspondence suggests that Sarah appears to have been well educated at a time when the educational needs of women were largely ignored
We assume Sarah was a courtesan evidenced by Charles’ unknown father, who he believed to be a Campbell and a short and unhappy note from Sarah to a Mr Grant who had evidently broken off a relationship prior to a more permanent relationship with Sir Henry Knight Storks.
Sarah had an elder sister Mary Ann Leyland (born about 1816 and a younger sister Dorcas Jane Rogers (born about 1834). Dorcas Jane who lived with Sarah and her two children, died of cholera in London in 1860 aged 26 and is described as a gentlewoman on her Death Certificate.
Mary Ann Leyland died in London aged 64 in 1879. Her Death Certificate indicates that she was the widow of Francis Leyland, a banker. There was a Francis Leyland living in Halifax, Yorkshire who was a card manufacturer with banking and railway interests but I can find evidence that he married a Mary Ann after the death of his wife in 1853 and prior to his own death in 1859.
Charles Campbell, Sarah’s son, maintained that he was Scottish. In the 1871 Census Mary Ann Leyland who was living with Charles and his young wife is recorded as being born in Edinburgh although on the 1861 Census it is recorded as Ireland.
I recently commissioned a Scottish researcher who despite a thorough search was unable to trace any baptism for either a Mary Ann, Sarah or Dorcas Jane in the Edinburgh records. Whilst this research was in process an elderly relative (the grand daughter of Charles Campbell) mentioned that the three sisters were known as the ‘Three Graces of Dublin’ (a classical allusion).
Whilst on the 1851 Census Sarah Campbell/Rogers and Dorcas Jane Campbell/Rogers are recorded as being born in Scotland. An Irish connection is suggested by the following Census Records for both Mary Ann and Elizabeth Rogers:-
1861:- Mary Ann Leyland and Elizabeth Rogers – Ireland;
1881:- Elizabeth Rogers – Meath;
1891:- Elizabeth Rogers – Ireland;
1901:- Elizabeth Rogers – Ireland.
Elizabeth Rogers is referred to in Sarah Campbell’s Will as a ‘sister’ but more likely a sister in law since she is described as a widow on the 1861 Census. On her death in 1901, aged 72, she is referred to as the widow of ‘? Rogers an Officer in the Army.’ Once again research at the PRO Kew, has failed to find anything to substantiate this. He may have been an NCO.
In (http://churchrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/details/189e940385587) there is a reference to the burial of a Catherine Rodgers of Molesworth Street aged 60 on 26 December 1825 at St. Mark’s (Church of Ireland), Dublin, which is the only reference that I can find to Molesworth Street.
There are several Rogers listed in the records but nothing that would tie in with either Mary Ann, Sarah or Dorcas Jane. There is however a record of the marriage of John Francis Leland of NR and Anne Rogers of Julianstown, County Meath on 31 January 1834. Again at St. Mark which is quite close to Molesworth Street. Could this be Mary Anne Leyland’s marriage to Francis Leyland, the banker? A ‘Leland’ is listed in the 1836 Dublin Directory but there is no record of any John Francis Leland in this or in any of the Dublin Directories available on line.
This may be a false lead since an Anne Leland of Richmond Street, Dublin who died on 5 May 1853 aged 42 years is listed in the records of St. Catherine’s, Dublin (CofI). Further searches on the Internet revealed other members of the Leland family connected to the town of Drogheda. Once again I could find no trace of an Anne Leland living in Richmond Street, Dublin.
Further Internet searches revealed a Reverend John Rogers who in August 1802 was the Vicar of the Parish of Tara, County Meath and also the record of a memorial inscription to a Mary Rogers who died on 14 January 1867 aged 74 years Mother in Law (FC)(?) in the churchyard of Saint Columcille, Stryne, Tara.
I have taken this research as about as far as I can. My hope is that a fellow researcher has lost track of a branch of a reasonably well to do Rogers or Campbell family living in Dublin or County Meath areas during the 1820/30s. Any thoughts on how to crack this brick wall will be greatly appreciated.
Helen
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Hi Helen,
I am assisting a good family friend with her family history (being retired I have the time and inclination), she being related to Charles Campbell on her maternal side.
Let me say from the outset I do not come bearing a golden sledge hammer, to break down your brick walls. However, coming at the problem fresh, as it were, I / we might find a way through the labyrinth.
I have been looking into this saga since the start of the year and I have to say that the twists and turns are on a par with an Agatha Christy novel. In fact I think it would be difficult to have concocted a more complicated scenario. I digress.
Starting with Charles Campbell. I think that his father has to be Henry Knight Storks. Whilst I have no positive proof there is enough anecdotal information to support this argument.
Knowing the Victorian’s propensity to use their ancestors names, as the given names of their children and the fact is that Charles named his first Henry and the 2rd son was given the name Knight. Plus the fact that this was repeated in the next generation i.e. Henry’s 6th son was Andrew Henry Knight Campbell. This would seem to me a strong indication that Charles was aware that his father was H.K. S.
Another indication is that on Charles baptism entry the father is given as Charles and on his wedding certificate he has shown his father as Clement Robert Campbell. These latter names are not used for any of subsequent children.
The question is why did Sarah Rogers use the name Campbell? I would suspect that it was her mother’s maiden name or a surname of say a close relation. Or possibly her father may have been Campbell Rogers.
Looking at the biography of H.K.S. it would seem that he was with his regiment in the Ionian islands up to May 1845 and then in South Africa 1846-7 so he could have been in London at around the time Charles was conceived i.e. about early 1846. What is clear is that Elisa A. M. N. Storks was still alive and it would have been imperative that the arrival of Charles should be kept under wraps.
Sophia Henrietta. Was she born in Italy? As there is no obvious record of her birth in the GRO records, it might be so. Her half brother Henry N. R. Storks was born in Italy, probably because that was where his maternal family lived.
I notice on the entry for her baptism the letters PB in the margin. I wonder is there any significance in this. For example does it stand for Premature Birth or maybe Private Baptism
But, none the less, it does seem rather strange for Sarah Olivia to travel all that way to Milan give birth, unless H.K.S had insisted. He could have been in the UK at the time of Sophia’s conception i.e. early 1848 as he was in South Africa 1846-7 and in Mauritius 1849-54.
What is also baffling is Sarah’s reasoning regarding the baptism of the two children.
Sophia being baptised first and Sarah declares she is a spinster so Sophia remains a Rogers. Charles born first but is baptised after Sophia’s birth and baptism and this time Sarah declares that she is married. Then the whole thing later becomes compounded by the census entries.
I found Sophia in the 1871 census described as a visitor of a Sybil Dance (transcribed as Lebill Daner) Torwood, Devon (near Newton Abbot). I looked into this family but can find no obvious link to Sophia.
Sybil Dance was Sybil Scroggs, her father was Lt Col Sydney E. Scroggs.
Sybil’s husband was Rev George Dance and his father was Sir Charles Webb Dance also a military man.
So you could say that a common factor was the military. It may also explain the various claims made by Sarah and Mary Ann as to where they were born i.e. if the father was in the army he would move about and they could have been born one in Ireland the other in Scotland or similar.
Regarding the three sisters, the large time difference between Mary Ann born 1816, Sarah 1826 and Dorcas Jane 1834 (from Census) somehow seems questionable.
Regarding Elizabeth Rogers it is a pity that we cannot find what her maiden name was. Does her death certificate give any clue as to the husbands first name? Perhaps you could throw some light on this.
Another perplexing thing, why did Sarah leave her estate to Elizabeth who we believe was her sister in law.
In the words of a song ‘There are more questions than answers’.
I am sorry to say this has turned into a lengthy tome and not really answered any questions. However is my assessment more or less in line with your thinking. Any info that you might have I would be pleased to work on e.g. Elizabeth’s husband. As soon as i receive anything from my friend I will forward it to you.
Regards
John
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Dear John,
i have sent you a PM with contains greater detail.
Helen