Thomas Graham, Graham orphanage London? Illegitimate son of Colin Campbell? 1897

[jonwarrn]

See next post

[heywood]

There is another baptism
Thomas Harris - parents Alfred, a French Polisher and Louisa
12th February 1891 Abode - Workhouse

Sorry Jon 

[gtoal]

My grandmother did meet grandad's mother, but I never found out her name at the time, though subsequent research might suggest a Louisa Ann Harris from Wales

Did your grandmother remain in Scotland ? It’s a long shot but was grandad’s mother living in Scotland too?

Yes, my grandparents lived in Musselburgh.  I don't know where Louisa Harris went on to work, but I do know my grandmother did meet her at some point (by which time she was a seamstress - presumably at the time of the birth she had a lower position in that household).  I don't know where my grandmother went to meet her but I doubt it was very far away - I can't see her going to Wales, or London, to see her.  It looks like Lord Colin was living in London at the relevant time - at Argyll Lodge, Campden Hill, Kensington. I'm not really sure what conclusion to draw from that - perhaps that Louisa Harris was sent away after the birth to start a new life and she went to Scotland to do so?

[heywood]

The Campbells were living in London at that time.

With regard to the Thomas Harris birth and baptism, there is an Alfred Harris, French Polisher, living in St Pancras with two sons in 1881 and 1891.
In 1901 151 /75/11 he is living in the workhouse.

[gtoal]

Looking at the Bowes-Lyon family tree, Lord Colin's parents (The Duke & Duchess of Argyll) have so many children and descendants that if one of them had taken an Ancestry test, wouldn't I expect to see a DNA match?  I'm wondering whether it's one of these conventions that either the nobility just don't do them or if they do, they have a way to request keeping the results private? I guess relationships like this are exactly what they would not want to find!  And all the legitimate ones are already well documented, so why ever take a test...?

[gtoal]

From https://web.archive.org/web/20100519163207/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/property/4813841/Inside-story-79-Cadogan-Place.html

"It was only when Lady Colin tried to divorce her husband on the grounds of his adultery with a maid that the scandal began. He cross-petitioned on the grounds of his wife's adultery with four named co-respondents. In the end, the jury found none of the adultery allegations proved and the couple, while judicially separated, remained man and wife until Lord Colin's death in 1895 from his syphilis."

This particular incident with a maid would appear to be several years too early for that maid to be Louisa Harris, but it does suggest a pattern! (the article above was from 1887)

[heywood]

Lord Colin Campbell died in Bombay in 1895.
There are various newspaper snippets which place him in Bombay in 1890 and later where he worked as a barrister.

[gtoal]

Lord Colin Campbell died in Bombay in 1895.
There are various newspaper snippets which place him in Bombay in 1890 and later where he worked as a barrister.

Do they say when in 1890?  If that Feb 1891 birth date is for the right person then we're interested in his whereabouts around early May 1890... The photo in Wikipedia is captioned "Lord Colin Campbell, Elliott & Fry Studio in London, 1890".

[heywood]

Newspaper archives FindMyPast snippets

1888
Lord Colin Campbell was admitted a member of the Bombay bar

1890 13th May - Campbeltown Courier
“From Bombay come kind reports of Lord Colin Campbell, who works hard and steadily and unassumedly. He is however not too well, and should take a run home before the monsoon”
(I can’t see the rest)


1890 6th August - Madras Weekly Mail

Plord Colin Campbell mentioned with others

There are others later in the year

There may be a gap where he could have returned or, on the other hand, just no mentions of his work etc.

You can view the snippets without a subscription.

Perhaps the Campbeltown Courier has archives?

Added
13th May snippet - ‘before the monsoon’