A Genealogical Odyssey, by Kenneth Campbell McColl

A Genealogical Odyssey

Compiled and Presented

Kenneth Campbell McColl

Indian & Burmese Research

y interest in genealogy really started about twenty years ago, with what turned out to be my Italian Doll Maker connections, when my grandmother, Llwella Adelle Nixon, showed me the original certificate, for the marriage of my g.g.grandparents, Sydney Oliver Cadwallader and Frances Caroline Colombo, which took place on 27 May 1879, at Christ Church Maryborough, in the Victorian goldfields. Amongst other things, it said that my g.g.grandmother was born at Kyouk Phoo, Bengal, India and that her parents were Francis Colombo and Mary Vine. The reference to Kyouk Phoo intrigued me and I spent the next month or two, pouring over every map of Bengal in India that I could access, trying to find it, unfortunately without any success.

Original Marriage Certificate for my g.g.grandparents
Sydney Oliver Cadwallader and Frances Caroline Colombo

Photograph of my g.g.grandmother,

Frances Caroline Colombo taken in 1871

I eventually remembered that at the time of my g.g.grandmother’s birth, India included modern day Pakistan, Bangladesh, Burma and a number of other small countries; was administered by the East India Company (EIC) on the British Government’s behalf; and was split into three presidencies, Bengal, Bombay, and Madras. After checking beyond my prior search parameters, of solely maps of Bengal, I was finally rewarded in finding Kyaukpyu (I have seen it spelt at least six different ways now) on Ramree Island off the Araccan (Rakhine State) coast of Burma (Myanmar).

I spoke to my grandmother and she told me that after their parents had died, my g.g.grandmother and her three sisters had come to Australia, in the late 1850s, and lived with a relative of their mother’s, whom she called “Mother Warton”. She also told me that the girls’ father had been an officer in the British Army in India. I searched Hart’s Army List (a listing of officers in the British Army) for the period and found no trace of a Francis Colombo.

It appeared that my well-meaning grandmother had passed along information that she either, received in error or which she simply failed to recall accurately. Nonetheless, I am indebted to her, for having inspired my genealogical journey. As by this time, despite false starts based upon her information, my curiosity was well and truly aroused, so I employed a researcher in England, to look through the records of the EIC held at the India Office Library, to see what else might be found. To my delight, the researcher was able to discover that my g.g.g.grandfather, Francis Colombo, joined the EIC Army (rather than the British Army) in 1833 and travelled to India, where he joined the artillery at Dum-Dum.

The following is a transcription from Honourable East India Company, Artillery – Service Records, Register of Recruits – 1831-1840.

Ship Duke of Argyll

Date of Embarkation 5 August 1833

Presidency Bengal

Corps Artillery

Name Francis Colombo

Age 22 years 4 months

Size Feet 5

Inches 7

Visage Round

Hair Dark

Eyes Brown

Complexion Dark

Born in the Parish St. Georges, Bloomsbury, London

County Middlesex

Kingdom England

By whom Enlisted Capt. Murray
and Where Westminster

When joined the depot 30 April 1833

Date of Enlistment and Attestation 22/23 April 1833

Period of Service Unlimited

Occupation Shoemaker

Remarks -

He eventually rose to the rank of Sergeant Major and aside from his time in the Artillery, was also a member of the 40^th Regiment of Native Infantry and the Arracan Local Battalion. Frances was placed on the Town Majors List (European NCOs seconded to perform civil duties) in 1839 and became Superintendent of the Kyouk Phoo Jail. After being pensioned in 1854, he moved his family to Howrah , Bengal where he became an Inspector of Roads, before moving to Burdwan, Bengal, initially in the same capacity, as an Inspector of Roads, before becoming a Jailer again.

The researcher was also able to discover that Francis Columbo had been married three times:

· Firstly to Matilda Volkers at Fort William, Bengal on 7 November 1838. They had one child, Clara Matilda Colombo (b. Oct 1842 at Fort William – died Jan 1843 at Fort William). I have been unable to discover any record of Matilda’s death.

I can however add that, Matilda was one of nine children, of Francis Volkers and Mary Butcher, and that she was born in 1823, at Dum Dum, in Bengal. Her father, an artilleryman in the HEIC arm, Francis Volkers was born about 1783, at Rotterdam, Netherlands and died, 3 Nov. 1868, at Dinapore, Bihar, India .

· Secondly to Susanna Charlotte Pearson at Alipore, Bengal on 9 Sep 1844. Susanna was a 17 year old orphan, from the Lower Orphan School (An orphanage for children of European Warrant Officers, Non-commissioned Officers and Other Ranks). They had one child, Amelia Susanna Colombo (b. 24 May 1845 at Ahyab, Arakan, Burma). I have been unable to find any record of either, Susanna Charlotte or Amelia Susanna’s death.

· Thirdly to Mary Vine, my g.g.g.grandmother, at Fort William, Bengal on 1 November 1847. They had seven children:

1. Daughter, Mary Jane (b. 15 Aug 1848 at Kyaukphyu, Arakan, Burma),

2. Son, Francis Walter (b. 22 Jan 1850 at Kyaukphyu, Arakan, Burma),

3. Daughter, Louisa Elizabeth (b. 9 Jun 1851 at Kyaukphyu, Arakan, Burma – d. 9 Sep 1861 at Burdwan, Bengal, India),

4. Daughter, Frances Caroline (17 Feb 1853 at Kyaukphyu, Arakan, Burma - d. 17 Feb 1938 at Canterbury, Victoria, Australia),

5. Daughter, Florence (b. 12 Oct 1854 at Kyaukphyu, Arakan, Burma – d. 1887 at Hawthorn, Victoria, Australia),

6. Daughter, Alison Maria (b. 12 Feb 1857 at Burdwan, Bengal, India) and

7. Daughter, Clara (b. 25 Mar 1860 at Burdwan, Bengal, India – d. 23 Apr 1926 at Mildura, Victoria, Australia).

I have been unable to find any record, of Mary Jane or Francis Walter’s death, in Burma or India.

I got hold of a copy of the registration, of the marriage of my g.g.g.grandparents from an LDS film of the Bengal Ecclesiastical Returns and the following is a transcription:

Marriages Solemnized at Garrison Fort William

When Married: 1847 November 1st

Names of Parties: Age: Condition: Rank or Profession: Father's name and Surname:

Francis Colombo 36 Widower Serjeant Major in 40th Regt. N. I. John Colombo

Mary Vine 22 Spinster Thomas Walker Vine

European Parents on both Sides

Residence at the time of Marriage: Cooly Bazaar

By Banns or License: License

Names of Witnefses present: I. Rooney
Catherine Mungall

By whom Married: F. Fisher, Assistant Chaplin

I got hold of a copy of the registration of the burials of my g.g.g.grandparents from an LDS film of the Bengal Ecclesiastical Returns and the following are transcriptions:

Burials at Burdwan

When died Year: 1863 Month: Nov Day: 18th

Christian: Mary Surname: Colombo Age: 42

Quality, Trade or Profession: Wife of Mr. F Colombo Jailer Burdwan

When Buried Year: 1863 Month: Nov Day: 18th

Cause of Death: Paralysis

Signature by whom buried: Alexander Storm

Burials at Burdwan

When died Year: 1864 Month: Jan Day: 16th

Christian: Francis Surname: Colombo Age: 52

Quality, Trade or Profession: Jailer Burdwan

When Buried Year: 1864 Month: Jan Day: 17th

Cause of Death: Paralysis

Signature by whom buried: The Collector of Burdwan

When searching through a database index, of Bengal Wills for 1780-1909 transcribed by the Families In British Society (FIBIS), I found mention of a will for a Francis Colambo in 1864. Guessing that “ Colambo” was a minor transcription error of “Colombo” I obtained a copy of the will from the British Library and it was the last will and testament of my g.g.g.grandfather, Francis Colombo. The following is a transcript, as best I can decipher it:

Exhibit as referred to in the annexed affidavit of Henry James Williams, William Hodges and John Parker sworn by the said William Hodges and John Parker this 18th of March 1864 Before me:

This is the last Will and Testament of me Francis Colombo of Burdwan in the Province of Bengal, Jailer of the Burdwan Jail.

After payment of all my just debts, Funeral Testamentary expenses I give devise and bequeath to my beloved Children, Frances Caroline Colombo, Florence Colombo, Maria Colombo, and Clara Colombo all and every my ???? property, Linen, wearing apparel, Books, plate and Government Securities in the five per cent Loan of India Two for Rupees ???? thousand each are now deposited with the Magistrate and Collector of Burdwan as Security for my good behaviour ???? Jailer, and Two Government Securities for Rupees one thousand five hundred in the above five per cent loan and which are now in the custody of the Agra and United Service Bank and all my floating Capital in the aforesaid Agra and United Service Bank to be given in equal proportion to each of my aforesaid Children for their sole use and benefit absolutely and for no other.

And I hereby nominate constitute and appoint William Hodges and John Parker both of Burdwan as my Joint Executors.

Dated this Fourteenth day of January 1864

F. Colombo

Signed and acknowledged by the said Francis Colombo the Testator ?? for his last Will and Testament in the presence of us being present at the same time - who at his request in his presence and in the presence of each other have - herewith have submitted our names as witnesses.

After searching through the Public Record Office, of Victoria’s Index to Un-assisted Inward Passenger Lists to Victoria for British, Foreign and New Zealand Ports from 1852-1923, I found the ship that transported my g.g.grandmother and her sisters to Australia. I checked the actual Passenger list and extracted the following information:

Schedule (A)

Passenger List

List of the Passengers who arrived at the Port of Melbourne on the 27th day of March 1866 from Calcutta on board the " Ava" Ship, G. Johnson Master, 454 Tons Register.

Name of Passengers Miss F. Colombo 12}

Cabin Miss Florence Colombo 11} British

Miss Alice Colombo 9} Subjects

Miss Clara Colombo 8}

The four orphaned girls were the only passengers on the ship.

Photograph of my g.g.grand-aunt Florence Colombo.

Photograph of my g.g.grand-aunt Alice Colombo.

N.B. The photographs of Florence and Alice were taken after they arrived in Melbourne and are courtesy of Mike Vine, a cousin from New Zealand, who contacted me through Jezzmo.

I recently engaged another researcher, to verify the information that the previous researcher and I had found. Amongst other things, she has been able to discover a number of references to my g.g.g.grandfather in official EIC correspondence and the following are extracts:

· From Lt Col P Grant, Adj Gen of the Army, [at HQ, Simla] to Col J Studart, secy to the Govt of India in the military Dept, 21 March 1848.

'I am directed by the right Honble the Commander in Chief to transmit to you, for the Orders of the Right Honble the Governor General of India in Council, copy of District Orders of the 19th ultimo [Feb] by the officer commanding in Arracan, placing the services of Sergeant Major F Colombo, of the 40th Regiment of Native Infantry at the disposal of the Commissioner of the Province for employment, as temporary measure as Jailor in the Civil Department with a copy of a communication on the subject No. 75 of the 18th ultimo, from Major A Bogle, and to request that in submitting the same for His Lordship's consideration, you will state that with reference to your despatch No. 80 of the 9th of September last [1847], it has not escaped His Excellency's notice that the permanent withdrawal of the Sergeant Major for the situation of Civil Jailor may be considered as opposed to the instructions of the Honble the Court of Directors on the subject of employment of soldiers in Civil duties.';

· Copy of District Orders issued by Major GW Bonham, Commanding in Arracan. Headquarters, Khyook Phyoo, Saturday February 19th 1848:

'Sergeant Major Columbo of the 40th Regiment Native Infantry, is placed at the disposal of the Commissioner of Arracan, as a temporary measure for employment in the Civil Department subject to the confirmation of His Excellency the Right Honble the Commander in Chief.

· From A Bogle, Commissioner of Arracan to Major Bonham, 18 Feb 1848:

'The government having been pleased to sanction entertainment of European Jailers at Akyab and Khyouk Phyoo, on a salary of 80 Rupees each, and Sergeant Columbo of the Regiment under your command, having signified his desire to obtain one of these situations. I have the honor to request that if convenient, his services be made available for the purpose, either permanently or temporarily, as may appear to you proper.'

· Reply from Col Stuart to Adj Gen of the Army, Lt Col P Grant, No 164:

'The Governor General is pleased to sanction confirmation of the Arracan District Order, dated 19 Feb, 'placing the services of Serjeant Major Columbo of the 40th Regiment Native Infantry at the disposal of the Commissioner of the province for employment as a temporary measure, as Jailer in the Civil Department.'

· From Capt Henry Hopkinson, Commissioner of Arracan to The Secretary to the Government of Bengal, Fort William, dated Akyab 12 January 1854.

'Sir, I have the honor to report for the information of His Honor the Deputy Governor in Council an occurrence of an Assault by a party of 16 convicts of the Kyouk Phyoo Jail on their Jailor Mr Colombo on the 13th Ultimo [Dec], which resulted [in] Mr Colombo being wounded in the leg with a Phowrah or Mamootee and two of the life convicts Kalloo and Doorgah making their Escape. The Principal Assistant to the Commissioner at Ramree has however succeeded in recapturing them after they had been some days in the jungles.

2d. It would appear that as Mr Colombo was returning from his morning visit of inspection to the different labour gangs he met a Duffadar and three Burkindazes with the 16 convicts, some of whom had been discharged, while others had been refused admission to hospital that morning, one of them, a man named Beyjooah seized Mr Colombo's pony by the Bridle, the others advanced upon him with their mamootees and one named Sookur dealt him a blow which he received on his leg, he managed however to slide off his pony and to turn aside into the Jungle whether their fetters prevented the convicts following him, and having in this way succeeded in heading them he came back into the road and collecting around him the guard who had fled at the first onset, he took a loaded musket from one of them, and so held the mutineers in check and compelled them all to deliver themselves up, less two who succeeded in escaping at the time, but as I before said have since been recaptured.

3d. Mr Colombo's conduct on the occasion shows considerable direction, and presence of mind, the Burkundaz from whom he took the loaded musket was just about to discharge it against the convicts and had Mr Colombo fired when he got it as many men would have done in his situation, the guards who were with him would have followed his example, and we should probably have had to deplore unnecessary blood shed and those who were not shot would have run away and we might not have caught them all again. The cause of the emeute was the disgust of the convicts at being turned away from the hospital and not allowed to shirk their work.'

· To the Commissioner of Arracan [Hopkinson] from Hodgson Pratt, Under Sec. to the Govt of Bengal, 27 Jan 1854.

'I am directed by the most Noble the Governor of Bengal to acknowledge the receipt of your letter No. 3 of the 12th Instant reporting the particulars of an assault made on the Jailor Mr Colombo by a party of 16 convicts of the Kyouk Phyoo Jail who by the presence of mind established on the occasion by that officer were all obliged to surrender themselves on the spot with the exception of two who escaped but were subsequently recaptured.

2d. In reply I am directed to convey to you for Communication to Mr Colombo His Lordship's approval of his conduct checking the disturbance without bloodshed.'

Further research, through transcripts of arrivals and departure information, undertaken by FIBIS has revealed the following information, on travel undertaken by my g.g.g.grandparents, prior to and immediately after their marriage:

· Arrivals from The Bengal Directory 1846-1847

Month Oct

Year 1847

Name of Ship Barham

Captain J. Gimblett

Title or Rank Miss

Passenger Surname Vine

Remarks Steerage

Passenger Origin Madras

Passenger Destination Calcutta

Vessel Origin England

Vessel Destination Calcutta

Source Bengal Directory

Edition 1848

· Arrivals from The Bengal Directory 1846-1847

Month Oct

Year 1847

Name of Ship Enterprise

Captain A. Cops

Title or Rank Mr

Passenger Surname Columbo

Regt. or Occupation Quartermaster

Passenger Origin Akyab

Passenger Destination Calcutta

Vessel Origin Akyab

Vessel Destination Calcutta

Source Bengal Directory

Edition 1848

· Departures from The Bengal Directory 1846-1847

Month December

Year 1847

Name of Ship Fire Queen

Captain Dicey

Title or Rank Sergeant Major

Passenger Surname Colombo

Passenger Origin Calcutta

Vessel Origin Calcutta

Vessel Destination Moulmein

Source Bengal Directory

Edition 1848

Month December

Year 1847

Name of Ship Fire Queen

Captain Dicey

Title or Rank Mrs

Passenger Surname Colombo

Passenger Origin Calcutta

Vessel Origin Calcutta

Vessel Destination Moulmein

Source Bengal Directory

Edition 1848

'The Barham' East Indiaman

The ship on which Mary Vine sailed,

from Madras to Calcutta, in October 1847.

A Letter from India

The following letter was written by my g.g.aunt, Daphne Cadwallader, who was an army nurse during WWI, as was her sister Claudine. They spent the initial part of their service in India, where they were nursing casualties from the fighting in Mesopotamia, (Iraq), before continuing on to Egypt.

After the war, “Aunty Daph” took her discharge in India and for a while was, 'Sister in Charge' of the Prince of Wales Hospital, in Calcutta, where one of the patients was the wife of an Englishman, who managed the estates of the Maharajah Bahadur, of Hutwa and Bihar, to which she was invited to visit, during one of the big Hindu festivals. Amongst other things, she describes a photograph, which I can remember her showing me, about forty years ago, that was taken of her and other people with the maharajah; it has unfortunately disappeared. The letter was written to her parents, “my own dear sweethearts,” and “matey” is an affectionate name she used for her father. Her mother, Frances Caroline, is the eldest of the four young girls who came to Australia, after their parents died in India, and it’s ironic that when she travelled from Calcutta to the Maharajah’s estates, she would have had to pass through the town in which her mother lived, for a while as a young girl, and in which her grandparents were buried.

Hutura Raj

Bihar

INDIA

9/10/19

My Own Dear Sweethearts,

I had a letter from you Mother dear yesterday, dated Sept 7 18 and one a few days earlier from you matey telling us about the floods - poor old Dad what a time you had; I suppose the place was in a fine old mess when the waters went down. I am worried about the financial side of things - it seems to be everlasting rotten luck; and that leg of yours Matey dear - I do wish it was all right; perhaps Claudine has you under her thumb by now and will fix it up for good and all. I do wish she could. It worries me.

Claudine I suppose landed about the 10th - I wonder what you all felt like & how you each thought the other was looking. And are you still talking! You'll have to go through it all over again when I come sailing home. I have heard nothing from Headquarters so have written to Miss Davis asking her what's doing, as I don't know how I stand, & can't accept any position anywhere if I'm likely to get orders at any moment to re-join the A.A.N.S. But you must not worry about me, my darlings; I am amongst no end of good friends & everyone is most kind to me; I am anything but a stranger in a strange land! you will see that I am at Hutura at last & really I have been living through the most wonderful week I ever imagined. I left the Medical College a week ago to-night; left Calcutta 8 pm & landed here about 3 pm next day, quite an interesting journey - crossed the scared Ganges on the way in a ferry boat. I was next at Sewan by a car & motored the rest of the way (14 miles). Such a pretty drive & at such a terrific pace we came! Scattering bullocks and horses & natives off the road - the only thing we couldn't scare was the monkeys & there were plenty of them. There were two other women in the car - also guests. When we got to the house, I, the humble little Australian, was hugged & kissed and called Daphne by Mrs Thorpe when I got out of the car; the other two memsahibs were shaken hands with, and " How do you do Mrs So and So" only; they were taken to a separate building called the "Barracks" where the guests at the Dasherah are mostly put up; but I, please, was given a room to myself in the house. They were only here the days of the Dasherah; I am here for as long as I like to stay. All very nice & I can't help feeling happy & perfectly at home.

I must explain to you exactly what the Hutura Raj is & the Dasherah. I couldn't tell you the exact extent of the Raj, & the Maharajah has land all over the province of Bihar, besides just Hutura. He is an undependant Prince (a Maharajah is a bigger personage than a Rajah), but pays an enormous quarterly revenue to the Indian Government. His income after his taxes are all paid in 15 Lakhs of rupees a year which, roughly, is about £300 a day. He is quite young, not much more than 20; has two wives, but both are to young to have a family yet. His mother the Maharani, is quite a personality, & practically runs the Raj herself. Mr Thorpe manages the Raj for him; has a most beautiful house & a glorious garden, with tennis courts & croquette lawns & beautiful tree's & palms & bamboo's & flowers & lawns - just like a dream; the inside of the house is particularly delightful; lovely big lofty rooms & polished marble floors & carpets that make a mouth water; beautifully furnished but nothing stiff or "drawing-roomey" about any part of it. The verandahs are wide & cool & the same marble floors & cool dark blinds & big lazy sort of pull-punkahs; & chairs & lounges & plants all over the place - in fact the verandahs are furnished almost as if they were rooms. Dozens of perfectly trained servants - even the dog and cat have their own special "valet" as Mrs Thorpe christens him. Their is one special suite of rooms for the Lieut. Governor - or "Lord Sahib" as the natives call him - when he pays a visit. The new palace adjoins this place; & the old palace & Durbar Hall also near at hand. Mrs Thorpe has two sons in the district - Harry the oldest, & Jan, her "baby". They both are managing different plantations in the raj; this district you know, grows all cane sugar, and indigo.

The Dasherah is a special festival held during the Pooja (& the Pooja is the principal Hindu festival time of the year - like our Xmas). The Maharajah likes to entertain a lot during the Dasherah - at least; he leaves the entertaining to his manager & he pays the bill. Nothing is stinted whatever. Only about forty guests here this year as the festival fell a bit earlier than usual, most people are not yet back from the Hills, where they go in the summer. They have all sorts of tournaments - golf, tennis, shooting, ping-pong, polo & so on; & there are silver cups given for prizes. Well now to tell you what I've been doing since I landed here on Friday afternoon, in the evening Harry took us for a drive before dinner (in a big carriage with a coat-of arms and his native footman hanging on at the back - awful swank) then we dressed for dinner, ripping dinner always ‑ gallons of champagne & gorgeous food; after dinner I played bridge. Saturday night we danced - they had a special orchestra up from Calcutta here all the time; we always had music all the time during dinner. On Sunday morning the Maharajah, called; you should have seen his clothes! Gorgeous white satin suit brocaded with gold & wonderful big emeralds in his belt. A queer little gold cap like a saucer, & a most exquisite diamond aigrette in front that I couldn't take my eyes from; it looked like a mass of flashing dew drops. I played golf in the a.m. but what with the dancing & the champagne the night before combined with going to bed at 3 a.m., I wasn't in very good form. In the evening was the elephant procession. Only four of the ladies ventured on the elephants - of course yours truly had to be one of them. The elephant kneels down, you know, & we climb up by a ladder. I rode with Jan, in a gorgeous silver howdah and wonderful red and silver saddle-cloth arrangement hanging down each side & over gallant steed's trunk & ears & forehead painted red & yellow & blue & huge brass bells hanging from each corner of the saddle cloth thing. Three elephants with empty howdahs led the way & they carried the spirit of the late Maharajah & a couple of very important gods; then three golden palkeys (palanquin things) with more gods in them. Then the guard of honour in scarlet and gold, with long spears & torches; then the Maharajah in a gorgeous howdah on an enormous elephant; behind him, the English guests and the Dewan (Prime Minister) & then endless elephants as far as I could see, with natives of importance from this Raj & neighbouring places. We started from the Palace, & went all around the gardens & through the bazaar & past the temple, accompanied by a perfect din of native music & lit up by flares & torch light through thousands of crowding natives; it was absolutely ripping; I leand back in my silver howdah & looked as indifferent as if I'd ridden in royal processions from infancy. And I kept thinking of my dear old angels in the bush, & how you'd have been tickled to death if you could only have known what I was doing at that moment. I'd have given ten years of my life to have had you there with me - I feel a selfish prig to be having all this to myself. The bazaar was all lit up & decorated with flowers & gods & tinsel - it was killingly funny going through there as the elephants would swing out their trunks as they trudged along and demolish in one fell swoop a whole tray of sweets and grain. After dinner being Sunday we couldn't dance - we fooled about till supper time; the suppers were as exciting as the dinners; champagne & bon bons & more food. Jan had to return to his place that night; so half a dozen of us escorted him. His place is about 18 miles away, over the worst road I've ever seen; we motored of course. The man whose car I was in is the civil engineer named Rosskilly Smith, known to his friends as "Rascally" & to the natives as the "Mad Sahib". I've never known anything like his driving - he can do just anything he likes to his car. I nearly forgot to tell you that on Saturday evening Mrs Thorpe took us all over the Maharajahs gardens; he has a couple of leopards in a cage & I stroked & scratched them. On Monday afternoon the Maharajah called again - got up in mauve & gold this time & we had our photo's taken. I believe we are each to be given a copy so I'll send you mine when I get it. Mrs Thorpe is standing behind the Maharajah's chair , & I am standing between Mrs Thorpe and the Dewan. That night after dinner was the Durbar. It is held in the Durbar Hall at the old Palace; we motored over & at the head of the steps were received by the Dewan, then passed inside and were received by the Maharajah. The Hall is long, with a floor of such beautiful different coloured marble tiles, all shining like glass; huge chandeliers on pillars & hanging from the ceiling; silken couches down each side of the room; at one end the Maharajah's scarlet & gold couch & at the other end facing him a little band of native musicians and a nautch girl dancing & singing; guards in scarlet & red & with their long lances at intervals along the wall & natives standing behind us with huge palm leaf fans as big as themselves fanning us. All very Oriental & fascinating - the nautch girl's clothes were a dream & her dancing & singing most peculiar. After some time of this the ladies were all taken into another room where we were each introduced to the Maharani; she is strictly "purdah" you know, so that no mere man except her son ever sees her. She is a sweet old thing - her face & the way she smiled reminded me of Sister Esther. She wore such a beautiful sari -mauve silk brocaded with gold and a border about 2ft wide just solidly woven in gold. After about ten minutes talking she took a gold jar & each of us in turn came and dipped our fingers in it; it was full of attar of roses - scrumpcious smell! Then another gold jar with betel nut in it - each done up in a three cornered shape in a leaf covered with gold leaf; of course being perfect ladies we chewed the rotten stuff. Then she garlanded each of us with a wreath of woven gold stuff; & we salaamed and went back to watch the Nautch; afterwards the Maharajah took us outside & from under a huge red & gold canopy we watched the fireworks. Then came home, had supper, danced some more, & went to bed about 3 a.m. I'm awfully proud of my golden garlands they are worth about £1 each; the boys both gave me theirs, & at supper some of the others draped me in theirs, so that now I possess half-a-dozen.

Next morning all the ladies payed a duty call on the old lady at the Palace were received in a beautiful room upstairs where no men ever go didn't I just long to pinch a few of the lovely things in it! & before leaving went through the attar of rose & betel nut & garlanding ceremony again.

The night of the Durbar the Maharajah had enough emeralds & diamonds & huge pearls on him to keep us & all our friends & relatives in luxury for the rest of our lives. Tuesday I spent most of the day playing bridge - Miss Faulkener (one of the Sisters from the Medical College) came up on Tuesday afternoon; she is to stay here for a month. Tuesday night most of the others danced but they wouldn't let me leave the Bridge table. On Wednesday the guests all departed & we came back to earth again.

I must tell you the funniest part of the whole performance. On Wed evening the Dewan called; in the course of conversation afterwards he told Mrs Thorpe how good of me!! the palace people thought it was, to come to Hutura for the Dasherah - they have an idea that I've come all the way from Australia just to be present!! Next morning he sent round one of the best Raj elephants for us, & Harry took Miss Faulkener & me for a ride around the palace; we wouldn't have a howdah, but rode on a pad, with ropes to hold on to. As we went through the bazaar all the kids would come running out to see us , calling out "Hathi! Hathi! Dekta ho!" Our hathi owns the picturesque name of Jawan Skilli; the Maharajahs hathi is Ram Skilli.

To-night, we (Mr & Mrs Thorpe, Miss F & myself) are motoring out to Jan's place at Juglishpore, & staying till Monday a.m. Next weekend some more guests are coming here; the following weekend we have an invitation to stay at a big indigo plantation with some people names Hutchins. And we have to go to Harry's place some day, & to a sugar plantation (Mrs Castles) another time, & to an indigo factory at Sewan another day - really I don't know how we are to do it all, because I really cannot afford to be doing no work, & anyway I may get a call from Headquarters any day now. Mrs Thorpe says if any O.H.M.S. letter comes for me, she won't let me see them, because she says I'm not to leave here for a long time yet. Really I think I'm a lucky beggar, having all this good time, & so many good friends. Mrs Thorpe is one of those motherly sort of women, & is kindness itself to me.

This is the sort of life mother dear, that would suit you all down to the ground. I wish I could have you all here with me. I so feel greedy having it all to myself.

How is Avenal? Do you know, the young monkey has not written to me for about six months - or if she has, I have not got her letter. Just shake her up a bit, will you? I suppose Claudine you are home, enjoying the smell of the gum-trees, & learning how to milk! No end of love my darlings - I'm nearly falling to sleep. hope so much you are all well & happy.

Your always loving

Daphne.

Colombo Research

Based on my g.g.g.grandfather’s enlistment records for the EIC Army having said that he was born in St. George’s, Bloomsbury, Middlesex and the record of his marriage to my g.g.g.grandmother having said that his father’s name was John Colombo, I looked at the LDS films for the 1841 census for that area for a John Colombo and found one, whom I reasonably believe was my g.g.g.g.grandfather. He was living with his family at No. 26 Little Russel Street, was a Doll Maker, aged 60, born in Italy.

When access to the United Kingdom census’ became available online, I searched the 1841 England census for John Col*mbos and found there were only 3 listed, for the whole of England. The other two being, a father born about 1813 in Middlesex and a son, born about 1836 in Middlesex living at St. James, Clerkenwell, Middlesex. I believe that these are the son and grandson of the first John Colombo that I found.

Borough of Finsbury

Parish of St. George, Bloomsbury

26 Little Russel Street

John Colombo, 60, Doll Maker, born in Italy.

Mary Colombo, 55, born in Middlesex.

Alexander Colombo, 23, Clerk, born in Middlesex.

Benjamin Colombo, 15, Naturalist, born in Middlesex.

Borough of Finsbury

Parish of St. James, Clerkenwell

16 Peartree Court

John Columbo, 28, Doll Maker, born in Middlesex.

Caroline Columbo, 28, born in Middlesex.

John Columbo, 5, born in Middlesex.

Francis Columbo, 1, born in Middlesex.

I next checked Pallot's Marriage Index for England (1780-1837) to see if I could find any evidence for the marriage of the elder two Johns and found the marriage of John Colombo, to Mary West in 1807 at St. Martin, in the Fields and the marriage of John Colombo, to Caroline Camozi in 1835, also at St. Martin, in the Fields.

I also checked the IGI Extracted Marriage Records for corroborating evidence of both marriages and found the marriage of John Colombo to Mary West on 27 May 1807 at St. Martin in the Fields, Middlesex and the marriage John Colombo to Caroline Camozi on 24 June 1835 at St. Martin in the Fields, Middlesex.

I checked the 1851 census and found the household of the first John Colombo again, but couldn’t find the household of the second John Colombo, though found the household of the Alexander Colombo, who was living with the first John Colombo in the 1841 census, and found the household of a William Colombo, Doll Maker, born in St. George’s Bloomsbury, who I believe is another son, of the first John Colombo.

Borough of Finsbury

Parish of St. George, Bloomsbury

2 Marchmont Place

John Colombo, Head, Widower, 71, Wax Doll Maker, born Italy.

Benjamin Colombo, Son, 25, Mineral Tooth Maker, born Bloomsbury Middlesex.

Borough of Finsbury

Parish of St. James

18 Woodbridge Street

Alexander Colombo, Head, Married, 33, Clerk, born Bloomsbury.

Pauline Colombo, Wife, Married, 30, born Hoxton.

Thomas Colombo, Son, 3, born St. Lukes.

Robert Jarret, Brother in Law, Married, Printer, born Hoxton.

I have subsequently been able to discover that, Pauline and Robert Jarret’s parents were John Jarret and Ann Vine (sister of Thomas Walter Vine) who were married on 6 Mar 1814, at St. Matthew’s, Bethnal Green, Middlesex.

Borough of Finsbury

Parish of Clerkenwell

36 Winchester Street

William Colombo, Head, Married, 30, Doll Maker, born Bloomsbury.

Elizabeth Colombo, Wife, Married, 33, born Land of Wales?.

Ann Colombo, Daughter, Un-married, 14, born Clerkenwell.

Elizabeth Colombo, Daughter, Un-married, 7, born St. Pancras.

Mary Colombo, Daughter, 5, born Lambeth Surrey.

Alice Colombo, Daughter, 3 Months, born Clerkenwell.

Jane Nightingale, Servant, Un-married, 13, House Servant, born Lambeth Surrey.

Noting the status of the elder John, as a Widower, in 1851, I searched for the death of his wife, Mary, and found that she had died on 13 January 1847, at 26 Little Russel Street Bloomsbury, the very address that the family was living at, during the 1841 census. She was preparing a meal, fell and died instantly.

I searched for a record of the marriages of Alexander and William and found both.

· William Matthew Colombo, Toy Maker, living at 26 Little Russel Street, married Elizabeth Gore at St. Martin in the Fields on 18 January 1841. The fathers were described as John Colombo a Toy Maker and Francis Gore a Park Keeper.

· Alexander Christopher Colombo, Clerk to a Merchant, living at 4 Shipyard, married Pauline Jarret at St. Clement Danes on 25 December 1841. The fathers were described as John Colombo a Toyman and John Jarret a Builder.

I checked the 1861 census and was unable to find the elder John. I was able to find the second John, Alexander, William, Benjamin and the youngest John, who was now married:

Borough of Finsbury

Parish of Clerkenwell

5 Bath Row

John Colembo, Head, Married, 48, Wax Figure Maker, born Bloomsbury.

Caroline Colembo, Wife, Married, 34, born St. Andrews.

Francis Colembo, Son, Un-married, 21, Wax Figure Maker, born Clerkenwell.

Thomas Colembo, Son, 14, Wax Figure Maker, born Clerkenwell.

William M. Colembo, Son, 12, Scholar, born Clerkenwell.

Joseph C. Colembo, Son, 6, Scholar, born Clerkenwell.

Borough of Finsbury

Parish of St. James

18 Woodbridge Street North

Alexander C. Colombo, Head, Married, 43, Solicitor’s (General) Clerk, born Middlesex Bloomsbury.

Pauline Colombo, Wife, Married, 40, born Middlesex Hoxton.

Thomas Colombo, Son, 13, Scholar, Middlesex Shoreditch.

Borough of Finsbury

Parish of Clerkenwell

37 Winchester Street

William M. Colombo, Head, Married, 41, Doll Maker employing 1 boy, born Middlesex Bloomsbury.

Elizabeth Colombo, Wife, Married, 44, born Wales.

Ann Colombo, Daughter, Un-married, 22, Wig Maker, Middlesex Bloomsbury.

Elizabeth Colombo, Daughter, Un-married, 17, Doll Maker, Middlesex Somers Town.

Mary Colombo, Daughter, 15, Head Maker, born Surrey Lambeth.

Alice Colombo, Daughter, 10, Scholar, born Middlesex Pentonville.

Borough of Finsbury

Parish of St. James

18 Woodbridge Street

Benjamin Colombo, Head, Married, 34, Dentist’s Assistant, born Middlesex Bloomsbury.

Sarah Colombo, Wife, Married, 36, born Surrey Putney.

Borough of Finsbury

Liberty of Saffron Hill

108 Great Saffron Hill

John Colombo, Head, Married, 24, Wax Figure Maker, born Clerkenwell London.

Sarah H. Colombo, Wife, Married, 20, born Clerkenwell London.

Fagin the character from Charles Dickens novel Oliver Twist had his “Lair” in Saffron Hill.

As I hadn’t found the elder John, I searched for a record of his death and found that he died on 8 June 1852 at 2 Marchmont Place Bloomsbury, the address that he was living at during the 1851 census. He died from Old Age and Decay, described as a Doll Maker, and the informant was B. Colombo.

I checked the 1871 census and was able to find the second and third Johns, but not Alexander, William or Benjamin. I was able to find the households of Alexander’s son, Thomas, and William’s wife, Elizabeth.

Borough of Finsbury

Parish of St. James, Clerkenwell

5 Bath Row

John Colombo, Head, Married, 58, Doll Maker, born Middlesex Bloomsbury.

Caroline Colombo, Wife, Married, 57, Doll Maker, born Middlesex St. Andrews.

Francis Colombo, Son, Un-married, 34, Doll Maker, born Middlesex Clerkenwell.

Thomas Colombo, Son, Un-married, 23, Doll Maker, born Middlesex Clerkenwell.

William Colombo, Son, Un-married, 21, Bit Maker Harnefs, born Middlesex Clerkenwell.

Christopher Colombo, Son, Un-married, 16, Scholar, born Middlesex Clerkenwell.

Borough of Finsbury

Parish of Saffron Hill

120 Great Saffron Hill

John Colombo, Head, Married, 36, Doll Maker, born Middlesex.

Sarah Colombo, Wife, Married, 30, born Middlesex.

Alice Colombo, Daughter, 7, born Middlesex.

John Colombo, Son, 4, born Middlesex.

Caroline Colombo, Daughter, 1, born Middlesex.

Borough of Hackney

Parish of Shoreditch

62 Gopsall Street

Thomas C. Colombo*, Head, Married, 24, Journeyman Jeweller, born Middlesex St. Lukes.

Selina Colombo, Wife, Married, 24, born Middlesex Shoreditch.

Pauline Colombo, Mother, Widowed*, 50, Formerly Bookfolder, born Middlesex St. Lukes.

* Reference note, Pauline's deceased husband, and Thomas's father, had been Alexander C. Columbo.

Borough of Finsbury

Parish of Islington

46 Prebend Street

Elizabeth Colombo, Head, Widowed, 48, Doll Maker, born Middlesex St. Pancras.

Ann Colombo, Daughter, Un-married, 28, Doll Maker, born Middlesex Bloomsbury.

Elizabeth Colombo, Daughter, Un-married, 26, Doll Maker, born Middlesex St. Pancras.

Mary Colombo, Daughter, Un-married, 24, Doll Maker, born Middlesex Clerkenwell.

Alice Colombo, Daughter, Un-married, 18, Doll Maker, born Middlesex Clerkenwell.

Most recent research, through Middlesex records held at the London Metropolitan Archives, has confirmed my earlier belief that, my g.g.g.grandfather Francis Colombo was the son of John Colombo and Mary West and that he had four brothers: John, Alexander Christopher, William Matthew and Joseph Benjamin.

Baptisms for St. George’s, Bloomsbury, 1813 Jan – 1819 Dec

1813 – Baptised May 9 – Born Dec 10 1810:
Francis, son of John and Mary Colombo – Toy Maker.

1813 – Baptised May 9, Born Feb 13, 1813:
John, son of John and Mary Colombo – Toy Maker.

Baptisms for St. George’s, Bloomsbury, Dec 1819 – 1826 Jun

1818 - Baptised April 5, born Oct 1 1817:
Alexander Christopher, son of John and Mary West Colombo, Dollmaker.

Baptisms for St. George’s, Bloomsbury, Dec 1819 – 1826 Jun

1820 - Baptised Nov 5, born June 4,
William Matthew, son of John and Mary Colombo, Dollmaker.

Baptisms for St. George’s, Bloomsbury, Dec 1819 – 1826 Jun

1824 - May 30, born March 4:
Joseph, son of John and Mary Colombo, Dollmaker.

Vine Research

After about fifteen fruitless years of searching, to find something about my g.g.g.grandmother Mary Vine’s family, I realized an overlooked and very significant clue resided within that which my grandmother had shared. She had advised me that my g.g.grandmother and her sisters, had come to Australia after the death of their parents, to live with a relative of their mother’s, “Mother Warton.”

I recently checked the Victorian Pioneers Index (it’s an index of Births, Deaths and Marriages in the then Colony of Victoria from 1836-1888) and found the marriage of a Henry Richard Warton to an Isabella Vine in 1862 and immediately purchased an electronic copy of the certificate. I had the first part of what I describe as a genealogical “Eureka Moment” when I read the certificate and it advised that Isabella’s parents were Thomas Walker Vine and Jane Thompson. The following is a transcript of information on the certificate:

When and Where Married

January 16th 1862

St. Paul's Church, Melbourne

Name and Surname of the Parties

Henry Richard Warton

Isabella Vine

Condition of the Parties

Bachelor

Spinster

Birth Place

Middlesex

Rank or Profession

Articled Law Clerk

Age

Residence

Present

Melbourne

Fitzroy

Usual

Fitzroy

Parents

Names (Mother's Maiden Name)

Demetrius Henry Warton and Isabella Thompson

Thomas Walker Vine and Jane Thompson

Father's Rank or Profession

Plumber

Builder

This Marriage was solemnized between us

H.R. Warton

I. Vine

According to the forms of the Church of England

I checked the IGI and found an extracted marriage record for the marriage of Thomas Walter Vine and Jane Thompson on 22 April 1819 at St. Matthews, Bethnal Green, Middlesex (Source Information: Batch No. M046985, Dates 1802-1823, Source Call No. 0849420).

I checked the IGI again and found the following extracted birth/christening records for additional children of Thomas Walter and Jane Vine (Daughter, Mary Vine's birth preceeding these.) :

Charles Boniface Vine

Birth: 16 Mar 1828.

Christening: 26 Jun 1836 at Saint Luke Old Street, Finsbury, London, England.