Nursemaid for the Kaiser? - Help please?

[bevbee]

The family story goes that my Great Great Aunt Lydia Lewis who was living in Golden Grove, Llandeilo, went to Germany in the early 1900s to be nursemaid for the Kaiser.

She doesn't seem to have been away for long, but how can I find out more?

Are there passport details available for that period, or a shipping list or anything at all?

I don't know where to go with this one, but it would be really interesting to find out some more.

Any help or pointers would be very much appreciated,

Thank you,

Bev

I had posted this on the Carmarthenshire board but it was suggested that I should also post it on this one to ask a greater number of people. Thanks.

[stanmapstone]

See Passport Records Domestic Records Information 60
http://www.catalogue.nationalarchives.gov.uk/RdLeaflet.asp?sLeafletID=109

Before the First World War it was rare for someone travelling abroad to apply for a passport. Information held in The National Archives on individual passport-holders is scanty; the Office does not hold completed application forms, except for a small sample illustrating the treatment accorded to applications of various types.
Stan

[bevbee]

Thanks Stan, I was afraid of that.

It looks like a dead end there then - but I'll plough on. 

Bev.

[bevbee]

On checking my Great Grandfather's diary it's actually an entry for 1891 which says "Lydia in Germany", so it's earlier than I had thought.

My Great Uncle Alfie said she was at that location as "Nursemaid to Kaiser Wilhelm".

Don't know whether this makes it harder or easier!   

[fishweb]

Hi Bev,
Last night I was reading an old Family Tree magazine from 1997 and came across an article where two people were querying how to prove if their ancestor's had worked for the Royal Family.
It was suggested that they write to this address

The Assistant Keeper ,
The Royal Archives ,
Windsor Castle,
Windsor
Berks SL4 1NJ

I have googled and found this site for you too  The Monachary Today

http://www.royal.gov.uk/output/page4978.asp

Good luck with your research

Cathy

[bevbee]

Thank you Cathy, I'll try that - it might be a step in the right direction. I'll let you know if I get anywhere!

Bev. 

[aghadowey]

Hi Bev,
Last night I was reading an old Family Tree magazine from 1997 and came across an article where two people were querying how to prove if their ancestor's had worked for the Royal Family.
It was suggested that they write to this address

The Assistant Keeper ,
The Royal Archives ,
Windsor Castle,
Windsor
Berks SL4 1NJ

I have googled and found this site for you too  The Monachary Today

http://www.royal.gov.uk/output/page4978.asp

Good luck with your research

Cathy

The above is probably if family members worked for British Royal Family not German.

[coralc]

Bev, Try"From Cradle to Grave,British Nannies & Governesses At The Worlds Royal Courts" by Charlotte Zeepvat- very informative, and I'm not sure if I'm imagining a faint recollection of Lydias's name or not, but certainly interesting, and the authors sources may be useful to you, Good Luck, Coral

[stanmapstone]

It is "From Cradle to Crown" (ISBN: 0750930748) by Charlotte Zeepvat.

 In the nineteenth and twentieth century the wealthiest and most fashionable families across the world wanted British women to run their nurseries and educate their children.

See http://www.telegraph.co.uk/arts/main.jhtml?xml=/arts/2006/05/07/bozee30.xml
Stan