Molison-Sholes-Tatham-Dunbar
Hello Manchester Rambler, Liverpool Annie, Mary A, Paul E, Al, Holly, JAP, Berlin Bob and everyone.
Thank you for allowing me to participate in this challenge which was meant to end some time ago. This is probably my last entry for this subject.
Marmaduke Tatham, Surgeon of Poplar, was indeed the brother of Christopher Tatham of Poplar, Surgeon and husband of Justina Dunbar before her early demise.
In his will Marmaduke identifies his four chiuldren, Marmaduke Maxwell, Charles John, Elizabeth Jane and Mary Ann. He also names his good friend John Shores of Blackwall, Gentleman, as one of the executors.
I believe but have not proven that the Christopher Tatham in Ceylon, mentioned in an earlier message on this site was the son of Christopher and Elizabeth Tatham. I also believe the Marmaduke Tatham, the only passenger on the Scoresby when it foundered in 1866 was this Christopher's brother. The Scoresby was returning from Colombo with an extremely valuable cargo of coffee, cinnamon and other goods. The two surviving crew members told the story of the overladen ship failing to handle the gales it experienced off the Cape of Good Hope (The Times, 29 November 1866).
If this is correct, 1866 was a horror year for my extended Gordon family. Elizabeth Tatham's sister Ann Clark died in Poplar that year, as did Ann's 9 months old grandaughter Edith Korff whose family was visiting from Sydney. I suspect the cholera epidemic which hit Poplar that year may have been the cause. In addition the 29 year old sister of Mary (Gordon) Korff's daughter-in-law died in the foundering of the London in a hurricane in the Bay of Biscay. The London was an iron ship and was carrying iron for the railways in Australia. Like the Scoresby it was said to have been carrying excess cargo.
I hope this gives a picture of the trials of our ancestors at that time.
Regards from
Denise
