Andrew Durnford married Barbara Ann Blake at St Clements Dane, parish of Westminster
in 1796. For some reason her name recorded at the marriage was Barbara Shea.
That seems quite strange when her name was Blake and that name was recorded on her birth records.
Andrew died in 1858 and Barbara in 1851 at Tor, in Exeter.
Andrew and Barbara had 5 children
1. Andrew Montague Isaacson Durnford b 1797
2. Jemima Montagu Isaacson Durnford b 1799
3. Arabella Durnford b 1800
4. Eliza Durnford b 1800
5. Edward Philip Durnford b 1803
1. Andrew Montagu Isaacsson Dunford
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| Simcoe on Lake Eyrie |
He was born 20 March 1797 He was baptised on 2nd June 1797
at St Mary's St Marylebone Rod London
d 16 Dec 1880 Collingwood Ontario
He married (1) Susannah Knott b 1810 d 1872
m 3 Aug 1833 Plymouth Devon
(2) Mary Ann White b 1826 - 1927
(might have still been married to Susannah)
So many English and Scottish families went to Simcoe and Coldwater in order to open up the lands.
Andrew joined the military in England, around 1813 and
served in 60th Foot.
Their Children:
1. George Montague Isaacson Durnford B 1828 England Living Orillia Simico Ontario
m Mary Lovering He was also a farmer
2. Isanella Durnford B 1834 married William Cardinall
4. Arthur Montague Isaacson Durnford 26 March 1840 d 14 Mar 1916 Simcoe Ontario
M Margaret Lynch
5. Rosa Montague Isaacson Durnford b 1842 in Coldwater Simcoe d 23 Aug 1927 Michigan
m Mathew Brush
5. William Hundson Montague Isaacson Durnford b 1842 Ontario d 1915 Coldwater
m Susan Nicholson
They had bad luck in 1903 when their home was burnt the second tine in a few years.
6. Emma Montague Isaacson Durnford b 1848 Coldwater Ontario d 18 Apr 1921
m William Brown
On April 13,1837 the Government of Upper Canada commissioned Charles Rankin P.L.S. [later of Owen Sound] to lay out the Garafraxa Colonization Road from Oakville to Owen Sound [then called Sydenham] under direction of Surveyor General John McAuley.
The British wanted to open a Colonization Road to allow access to the Queen's Bush by newly arriving immigrants. This land had been acquired through Indian Treaties in 1830's. Rankin's team proceeded as far as Garafraxa Township at which time the Rebellion of Upper Canada brought the venture to a halt.
The government felt that Rankin's course was too long and set about to make some adjustments. Finally in 1841 the government sent John McDonald P.L.S. [later of Goderich] to rework the earlier survey. The route was straightened somewhat and was moved eastward in its course through Normanby. Rankin's intial course had moved west almost as far as Concession 3 in order to by pass the Long Swamp.
About thirty 150 acre Lots were set out and each was divided into 50 acre Divisions and numbered from the north end of the township. Beginning in 1841 the settlers were permitted to take out their location ticket on one fifty acre parcel and the next lot was reserved for them for later purchase
This scheme of Free Land Grant was experimental. It was highly successful in populating the new settlement area. However the government misjudged the capability of the early settlers to finance the purchase of their reserved lot.
About 1845 Robert W. Kerr P.L.S. added the two backlines north of Mount Forest in Normanby and Egremont. Lots on the the backlines [Concession 2-3] were divided into 100 acre lots; sometimes divided into an east and west part.
In all there were approximately two hundred 100 acre Free Grant Lots west of the Garafraxa Trail in Normanby. The Crown Land Agent Captain Andrew Montague Isaacson Durnford II of Arthur administrated the first allocation of land in Egremont.
From the Durnford records;
Son of Andrew M.I. Durnford and Barbara Shea, he entered the military around 1813/14 and served in the 60th Foot (now the Kings' Royal Rifle Corps) and in the 31st Regiment.
He was in South Africa in 1818, Chatham, UK in 1832 at the Royal Engineers HQ, and around 1834 he went to Canada.
He served as the Government Agent at Arthur, Ontario from 1840 until 1846 and was responsible or the construction of the Garafraxa Road (now Hwy 6 in Ontario).
There is a historical marker north of where he lived in Arthur which mentions his contribution to the road: "One of the province's earliest colonization roads. It ran from Arthur through the Queen's Brush to the mouth of the Sydenham River. The original line was run by Charles Rankin in 1837, but was considerably altered by John McDonald in 1840.
Arthur Village was named after Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington.
Arthur Village was first surveyed in 1841 by John McDonald and then
officially in 1846 by D.B. Papineau. During the first survey in 1841,
the population of Arthur was 22 people. Over the next 15 years this
number rose to 400 and by 1900 the population has risen to just over
1500. The establishment of saw and grist mills sparked growth in the
community. In 1851, a post office was opened and the first church and
school were organized. Development was further encouraged in 1872 when a
station of the Toronto, Grey and Bruce Railway was opened.So now there are at least three different lines of Durnfords in Canada.
But Andrew, like his namesakes before him, decided to start another relationship. This time with Mary Ann White. Mary Ann was born 1826, and was an Irish girl, that apparently went to Canada with Susannah and Andrew when they left England in 1835
When they moved to Canada they brought along a maid by the name of Mary Ann White, whom he eventually married in 1850 while still married to Susan Knott and had numerous children by both women.
He retired as a Lieutenant. (sounds a familiar story)
Not only did he bed the maid, but by the look of the ages of his children he did so while Susannah as pregnant with her 7th child! The ages of the children have been provided in family information.
The children with Mary Ann White, who must have come from Northern Ireland, as she gives her religion and that of her children as Church of England, in the various Canadian census returns.
The children with Mary Ann are
- Louisa Durnford b 1847
- Sophia Durnford b 1849
- Julia Durnford b 1851 - 1939
- Barbara Ann Elizabeth Durnford b 1854 - 1939 m Edward Betts
- Jemima Margaret Durnford b 1856 - 1947 m Edward Martin
- Andrew Montagu Isaacson Durnford b 1859 - 1947 m Minnie Rowed
- Villiers Montagu Isaacson Durnford b 1866 - 1953 m Isabel Whittaker and was a Minister
- Minnie Maud Durnford b 1871 1947 m William Bryan
Fifteen children! Take a guess who old he was when Minnie was born - 74!
Certainly a chip off the old block!
1834 the sisters are Bankrupt at Courthouse 23 rd June 1834 London Gazette
2. Jemima Margaret Isaacson Durnford
Jemima was born in London and baptised 24 August 1799, at St Marylebone,
In September 1821, she married George Peacocke. She was his second wife.
George as born in 1767 and baptised at All Hallows Staining in London. In 1799 he married Rachel Lawford Dalling, in Clifton in Gloucestershire, and she died in 1803.
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| Lord Mayor's Home York in the past |
In 1810 and again in 1820 he was the Lord Mayor.and he died in 1851
They had one son George Montagu Warren Peacocke born 1821. Jemima died at Devon on 5th December 1822.
George went to Cambridge and matriculated in Law.
Adm. pens. (age 17) at TRINITY, Nov. 15, 1839. [Eldest] s. of George, of Dawlish, Devon (by his 2nd wife, Jemima, dau. of Lieut.-Col. J. Montagu Durnford). [School, Eton.] Matric. Easter, 1841. Migrated to New Inn Hall, Oxford, whence he matric. May 11, 1843; B.A. (Oxford) 1844
Migrated back to Magdalene, Cambridge; thence incorp. B.A. 1846; M.A. 1849.
Adm. at the Inner Temple, Nov. 19, 1839. Called to the Bar, Jan. 30, 1846. Special Pleader; on the Midland Circuit. Of Reeves Hall, Essex, and Moulton Park, Northants. J.P. and D.L. M.P. for Harwich, 1852-3; for Maldon, 1854-7, 1859-68 and 1874-8.
Assumed the surname and arms of Sandford, by Royal Licence, 1866. Married, Apr. 15, 1858, Augusta Mary, dau. of Algernon Frederick Greville, Bath King of Arms, and had issue. Died June 19, 1879. (Eton Sch. Lists; Al. Oxon (sub Sandford); Inns of Court; Burke, L.G. of Ireland; Return of M.P.s (sub Peacocke and Sandford).)
George Montagu Warren Sandford (c.1821 - 17 June 1879), known until 1886 as George Montagu Warren Peacocke, was a British Conservative Party politician.
At the 1852 general election, Sandford (as Peacocke) was elected Member of Parliament for Harwich but his election was voided on petition in the following year.
Sandford won a by-election at Maldon in August 1854 where the 1852 election had also been declared void. He was defeated in 1857, re-elected in 1859, and 1865, but defeated again when Maldon's representation was reduced to one seat in 1868. He was re-elected in 1874, and held the seat until he resigned from the House of Commons on 5 December 1878 by becoming Steward of the Manor of Northstead.
(Nothing remains of the manor but the lands have been developed)
George married Augusta Mary Grenville on 15th April, 1858, in London.
They had 5 children
Francis Marmaduke Henry Peacocke 1860 - 1904
Charlotte Mary Peacocke 1860 - 1949
Cecil George Peacocke 1861 Was a Major General in the Army and lived at 33 Heretford Street PArk Lane London
Alice Rosa Peacocke 1863 1919
Blanche Caroline Peacocke 1865 1948
However, in 1886, George inherited the arms of his maternal ancestors in Ireland, allowing him the right to the name of Sandford. From that point on the family were known as Sandford.
Copy of confirmation of arms to George Montague Warren Sandford, M.P., lineal descendant of Thomas Sandford of Sandford Court, Co. Kilkenny, in 1656 Secretary to the Lord Deputy of Ireland, by Alice, his wife, daughter of Henry, 2nd Lord Blayney Dec. 8, 1876. Copy of grant of arms to George Montagu Warren Peacocke, M. P., nephew and heir of General Sir Marmaduke Warren Peacocke and grandson of Marmaduke Peacocke of Graige and Barntie, Co. Clare, by Mary Sandford of Sandford Court, Co. Kilkenny, on his assuming under Royal Licence the name and arms of Sandford, Jan. 26, 1866.
Francis Marmaduke Henry Sandford was the eldest son and heir. He married Constance Georgina Craven in 1886. He was in he Military in Sudan in 1884. He died in 1904
Charlotte Mary died in 1949, unmarried a Kensington
Cecil George born 1861.
Alica Rosa died in 1919 in S George Hanover Square in London unmarried
3 and 4 Twins Arabella and Eliza Durnford
The girls were born 30th December 1800 and were christened at St Clement's London.
(Remember the old song - The Bells of St Clements, Oranges and Lemons? Well at 10.00 am on a Sunday morning the bells ring forever something not to be missed if in London.)
There are no records to be sourced about them between their birth and 1834 when they were ordered to appear at the Exeter Court for bankruptcy.
The next record is in the 1841 census where they list their ages as being born in 1820, or it could be a mistake with the transcription, there are many of those. In 1861 they visited a hotel in Salisbury as a visitor.
They lived at Torquay, and during our trip we traveled there to find their house, but it was another building site. After a few drives around the block, we managed to secure a photo of sorts, of about where they have lived but like most places progress often removes the past..
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| Torquay Esplanade |
Arabella died in 1871 Dist Exeter, Devon in 1871.
Her sister Eliza died 1866 and was buried 9 October 1866 at St James' Exeter.
The Story of the Alphington Ponies
They had a fascination regarding their "bloomers" and would often introduce stories which would discuss their neither regions, just enough to shock those around them! So some research reveals.
The two sisters were twins born on 30th December 1800
and named Arabella and Eliza. They were the daughters of
Lieutenant-Colonel Andrew Montague Isaacson Durnford and Barbara Ann
(Nancy) Blake Shea. Barbara Ann was the illegitimate daughter of Sir
Patrick Blake by Peggy Shea a Mulatto woman on Patrick's plantation in
the West Indies.
Andrew Durnford and Barbara Ann married on 17th February 1796 at Saint Clement Danes, Westminster, London. They had three other children: Andrew Montague Isaacson born in 1797; Jermima Margaret and Edward Philip born in 1803 died at sea in 1824.
For a time
they lived at Laural Cottage, Alphington, then their father ran off with
their governess, Harriett. Arabella and Eliza were engaged to be
married to two brothers but one of them accidentally shot the other one
dead. The remaining brother died very shortly after wards from grief.
Andrew Durnford and Barbara Ann married on 17th February 1796 at Saint Clement Danes, Westminster, London. They had three other children: Andrew Montague Isaacson born in 1797; Jermima Margaret and Edward Philip born in 1803 died at sea in 1824.
For a time
they lived at Laural Cottage, Alphington, then their father ran off with
their governess, Harriett. Arabella and Eliza were engaged to be
married to two brothers but one of them accidentally shot the other one
dead. The remaining brother died very shortly after wards from grief.
When the two sisters first arrived in Torquay they
drove a pair of pretty ponies that they had brought with them from
Alphington. Because their allowance was reduced they had to sell the
ponies and trap, the name 'Alphington Ponies' transferred from the
animals to Arabella and Eliza.
They were not well off and occasionally got into debt. A
record published in the London Gazette on 30th May 1834 stated the two
sisters had appeared in The Court for Insolvent Debtors. They were
recorded as spinsters late of Tormoham in the County of Devon.
Once when they were brought before a judge one of them
said, 'Oh Mr Praed, we cannot pay now, but my sister is about to be
married to the Duke of Wellington, and then we shall be in funds and be
able to pay for all we have had and likely to want'. The Torquay shop
keepers soon became wise to them and insisted on receiving full payment
before handing over any goods they ordered.
The girls made no acquaintances in Torquay or received
any visitors, also they received very few letters. They use to go into
the grounds of The Braddons, when the house was up for let, to pick
flowers. They told the gardener that they were related to the owner and
had permission. The gardener informed the gentleman who was handling the
leasing and when he confronted the sisters they told him stories and
added they were cousins of the Duke of Wellington. The gentleman
'swallowed' their tales and allowed them to continue picking the garden
flowers.
When two young gentlemen from Oxford University
attended a fancy dress ball they decided to go as the two sisters and
copied their dress right down to the last detail including their
parasols. While many people thought it was a wonderful joke a few that
thought it might offend the sisters. Actually, the two sisters were very
pleased and felt extremely flattered.
At one ball they attended Lady Rolle offered to give Mr Palk, the son of Sir Lawrence Palk, a set of gold and diamond shirt studs if he could persuade one of the sisters to dance with him. He agreed to the wager and requested a dance with both of the sisters in turn. He was given the same reply 'I never dance except my sister be also dancing', he answered, 'Well then, I will dance with the two of you at once or with each in turn'. He won his wager but there is no record of which offer was accepted by the sisters.
The Alphington Ponies
Photo by kind permission of Bearne's (Exeter).
Torquay Harbour by John Rawson Walker
Torre Abbey Historic House and Gallery
Date painted: 1849–1853
Oil on canvas, 76.5 x 122 cm Collection: Torre Abbey Historic House and Gallery
The landmarks in this scene include the Terrace, Strand and Vaughan Parade. The turreted building is Waldon Castle, demolished in 1962. The painting can be dated as it shows St Mary Magdalene’s church, built 1848/1849, but without the tower and spire which were added 1853/1854. The figures dressed in red, at the bottom right corner of the painting, are believed to represent the ‘Misses Durnford’, eccentric twin sisters who became known locally as ‘The Alphington Ponies’.
John Walker was from Nottingham. He visited Torquay on his honeymoon in 1829 and lived here from the mid-1840s into the 1850s.
photo credit: Torre Abbey Historic House and GalleryCertainly some ladies with a vivid imagination, or they also followed in their father's footsteps.
4. Edward Philip Durnford
Edward was born February 1803. He was the last child of the marriage of his father and Barbara.
At the time his father was in Berkhampstead.
Edward joined he forces, and in 1824, at the age of 21 he traveled on the HMS Levin on a voyage o Madagascar. He was the principal Hydrographer on the ship, however there was a severe dysentry outbreak and he died 13th August 1824.
He was a well known and respected member of the crew, loved by all who knew him, so was reported.
In 1822 there was an expedition from Cape Town to Delagoa Bay under the command of Captain William Fitzwilliam Owen, in the ships Leven and Baracouta (and possibly one other vessel) to undertake a survey of the southeast coast of Africa, charting the coastline.
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| Ships outside Table Bay - brave men! |
Their journey was plagued by bad weather, and the ships were forced out to sea, which prevented Port Natal, later to be of great importance as a harbour, being charted. Malaria caused much sickness among the crews, and some deaths.
Port Durnford, Cape Vidal and Boteler Point were named in honour of the officers under Captain Owen's command who charted these areas. Durnford was serving as midshipman. The expedition returned to Cape Town where accounts of Captain Owen's adventures were received with interest and led to other voyages.
Among those who benefited by the information collected on the Leven journey were James Saunders King and Francis Farewell, who, together with Henry Francis Fynn, formed a trading company, made their own exploration along the coast, and in 1824 established the first white settlement at Port Natal.
According to the book,
Narrative of Voyages to Explore the Shores of Africa, Arabia and ..., Volume 2 By W. F. W. Owen
Some passages.
Edward Phillip Durnford was aboard the HMS Levin, as Principal Hydrographer, he had been suffering dysentry, and died about 12.30pm on the 13th August. The next day Capt. Owen committed him to the deep, and they named a Bay, which received his remains and two islands Phillip and Edward, in his honour. He was a very well liked member held in high esteem.
Some interesting passages in the book, when they first landed at Mauritius the ladies of Foule Point were very welcoming and accomodating, numbering the crew 3 to 1, while stating the obvious, the ship must have been travelling from near India, as Mauritius is east of Madagascar, and they called into Mauritius around the end of July.
At the time the British were shoring up the trade routes of the Indian Ocean. The bay and the islands, are not to be located, however it is very likely that the islands, were in fact coral attols.
King Radama I (1810–1828) King of Madagascar
Main article: Radama I
Andrianampoinimerina's son Radama I
(Radama the Great) assumed the throne during a turning-point in
European history that had repercussions for Madagascar. With the defeat
of Napoléon
in 1814/1815, the balance of power in Europe and in the European
colonies shifted in Britain's favor.The British, eager to exert control over the trade routes of the Indian Ocean, had captured the islands of Réunion and Mauritius from the French in 1810. Although they returned Réunion to France, they kept Mauritius as a base for expanding the British Empire. Mauritius’s governor, to woo Madagascar from French control, recognized Radama I as King of Madagascar, a diplomatic maneuver meant to underscore the idea of the sovereignty of the island and thus to preclude claims by any European powers.
Radama I signed treaties with the United Kingdom outlawing the slave trade and admitting Protestant missionaries into Madagascar. On the face of it, the terms of these treaties seem innocuous enough, but Protestant missionaries would spread British influence; and outlawing the slave trade would weaken Réunion's economy by depriving that island of slave laborers for France's sugar plantations. In return for outlawing the slave trade, Madagascar received what the treaty called "The Equivalent": an annual sum of a thousand dollars in gold, another thousand in silver, stated amounts of gunpowder, flints, and muskets, plus 400 surplus British Army uniforms.
The governor of Mauritius also sent military advisers who accompanied and sometimes led Merina soldiers in their battles against the Sakalava and Betsimisaraka. In 1824, having defeated the Betsimisaraka, Radama I declared, “Today, the whole island is mine! Madagascar has but one master.”
The king died in 1828 while leading his army on a punitive expedition against the Betsimisaraka.
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