Charlotte Despard of Roebuck House
John Tracey William French married Margaret Eccles
Born 24 Oct 1807 8 May 1842 born circa 1821
Suffolk Scotland Scotland
died 10 Feb 1855 31 May 1869
Nice, France Twickenham
John Tracey William French born 24 Oct 1807 in Suffolk son of John Denton Pinkerton
French and Charlotte married Margaret Eccles on 8 May 1842 at Barony, Lanarkshire,
Scotland. Margaret was the daughter of William Eccles of Glasgow. John was a lieutenant
in the Royal Navy. He retired as a captain to settle at Ripplevale, near Walmer in Kent by
1850. John died 10 Feb 1955 in Nice, France. The family moved to Micklegate in York by
1861. Margaret died at Twickenham on 31 May 1869.
1 Mary Ramsay French, eldest daughter born 13 Jul 1843 baptised 11 Aug 1843 at
the Free Church, Rothessay, Bute married John Hawthorne Lydall of Bayswaters
on 8 Jan 1867 at Willesden Church. They lived at Ladbrook Grove, Notting Hill.
Mary died 13 Jul 1881 on her birthday at Westgate, Kent.
2 Charlotte French born 14 Jun 1844 at Edinburgh. She was educated at home and by
Misses Geddes at a local private school. She married Maximillian Carden Despard
on 20 Dec 1870 at Holy Trinity Church, Kilburn. Max was the son of Captain George
Despard, JP of County Meath. The wealthy Maximilian was one of the founders of
the Hong Kong & Shanghai Bank. They had no children and Charlotte wrote a
number of novels, including A voice from the dim millions in 1884. Maximilian died
at sea on Good Friday 4 Apr 1890 on his return journey from Teneriffe. Charlotte
moved to Battersea in London where she established clinics and clubs for the poor.
She was elected to the Lambeth poor law board in 1894. By 1898 she had converted
to Catholicism. She joined the Adult Suffrage Society in 1901 and the National Union
of Women's Suffrage Societies in 1906. She split with Emmeline Pankhurst a year
later to form the Women's Freedom League (WFL). This was a pacifist resistance
group who protested by means of civil disobedience such as not paying taxes, not
filling in census forms and wilful obstruction like chaining themselves to static objects.
She was arrested and imprisoned on a number of occasions. Charlotte was a
campaigner and powerful speaker. She stood for election in 1918 after (Qualification
of Women) Act 1918 was passed allowing some women to vote, but she failed to win
a seat. She helped form the Irish Women’s Franchise League in 1908 and later
became involved with the fight for an independent Ireland. She moved to Ireland
after the war was over and formed a close friendship with fellow freedom-fighter
Maud Gonne McBride and they lived together at Stephen’s Green. She purchased
Roebuck house in 1922 and Maud moved in with her. Charlotte funded the Roebuck
Jam factory set up to fund republican prisoners. The house was raided on a number
of occasions and Charlotte was classed as a dangerous subversive under the 1927
Public Safety Act by the Irish Free State government for her opposition to the Anglo
Irish Treaty. In 1928 she fell downstairs and broke her arm and banged her head.
While she was being carried out of the house to a waiting ambulance, the house was
raided. The Parliamentary franchise was granted to all adults on equal terms,
regardless of gender or wealth on 2 Jul 1928 and the WFL held a victory breakfast at
Hotel Cecil in London close to Charlotte’s 84th birthday. Hotel Cecil had been used
by WFL to celebrate when one of their members was released from prison.
In 1930 she embarked on a tour of the Soviet Union and joined the communist party.
She left Roebuck house and purchased a house in Eccles Street in 1932 which was
used at the Labour Workers College. She moved to Belfast in 1934 and then to
Whiteside in 1938. She declared herself bankrupt that year, her income was 1K pa
and her debts were running at 2K. She died on 10 Nov 1939 at Whitehead, Antrim
after a fall down the stairs and was buried in the Republican plot at Glasnevin. Maud
Gonne McBride gave the graveside oration. Her husband’s nephew, and his niece
Lucy Franks were the only family who attended the funeral. Her life was spent
funding causes, but with each cause she was involved in, she offended some section
of society or suffered personal disappointment; the labour workers that didn’t elect
her having served them for nearly 30 years. The suffragettes when she didn’t
embrace their direct and militant actions. The English, and members of her family
when she defended the Irish in the fight for independence, the Irish public when
she embraced communism.
3 Margaret French, third daughter born 1846 in Scotland was a teacher and
married Gavan Sibbard Jones on 14 Nov 1865 at the Church of the Holy Trinity
Brompton. They lived at Clifton House, Send in Surrey.
1 Margaret Frances (Daisy) Jones eldest daughter married Captain Herbert
J J Middleton, 3rd Bengal Cavalry on 10 Jan 1889 at St Luke’s Church, Chelsea.
4 Sarah Eleanora French born 1847 in Scotland baptised on 26 Nov 1847 at
Campbeltown, Argyll married Dr Wykeham H Lydall on 11 May 1870 at St
Stephen’s, Westbourne Park.
5 Caroline Pinkstone French born 1850 in Ripple, Kent was living with her sister
Charlotte at Kingston, Hampshire in 1871. She married Augustine Robert
Whiteway on 21 Apr 1874 at Kingston Parish Church. Augustine was the son of
Robert H Whiteway, Vicar of Eynsford, Kent. Augustine was a barrister and
British vice consul to Pau. They lived at Hemingford Grey, St Ives and at Pau in
France. Augustine died on 29 Jun 1902 and Caroline died 12 Sep 1935.
1 Augusta Georgina Charlotte Whiteway only child born 19 Mar 1881 at Kent.
She married Alexander Fitzgerald Watt on 15 Oct 1903 at Hemingford Grey
Church. Her uncle Sir General John French gave her away.
6 Catherine Mary French, youngest daughter born posthumously on 3 May 1855 at
Ripple, Kent married George Ernest Harley on 7 Jan 1877 at the Memorial Church,
Cawnpore, India. George was a captain in The Buffs. Colonel Hanley retired in
1901 and died on 22 Jul 1907 at Condover House, Shrewsbury aged 62. He left
17K in personal estate. In 1910 Harley joined the National Union of Women's
Suffrage Societies. In 1913 she proposed, and organised, the Great Pilgrimage.
This was a march along six routes to converge on Hyde Park, London, where there
was a rally. During WW1 she served as a nurse with the Scottish Women's
Hospitals for Foreign Service and worked in France, Greece, and Macedonia.
Katherine for her dedication and services to France was awarded the Croix de
Guerre. Katherine was killed by shellfire on 7 Mar 1917 during the bombardment
of Monastir, Serbia.
1 Florence Harley born 6 Feb 1878 in Cawnpore, India.
2 Julian Ernest Trench Harley born 25 Mar 1881 in Brighton. He married
Jessie G M Lloyd Hunters Hill in New South Wales in 1910. He was a
hotelier and died in 1943.
3 Edith Joyce Harley born 2 Sep 1890 served with the British Red Cross Society
& Order of St John during WW1.
7 John Denton Pinkstone French, only son born 28 Sep 1852 at Ripple Vale, Kent.
He married Isabell Ireland Soundy on 19 Jun 1875 at St Mary Magdalene,
Richmond, Surrey. Isabel was the daughter of John William Soundy, a merchant.
He petitioned for divorce in 1877 on the grounds of his wife’s adultery and was
granted a decree nisi, a degree absolute was pronounced in 1878.
He was with the 19th Hussars and secondly married Eleanore Anna (Nora) A Selby
Lowndes at Newport Pagnell, Buckinghamshire on 19 Aug 1880. Nora was the
second daughter of Richard Selby Lowndes of Elmers, Bletchley. He became a
national hero during the Second Boer War and commanded the Corps at Aldershot.
He was knighted in 1901. He served as Inspector-General of the Army, before
becoming Chief of the Imperial General Staff. He had to resign as CIGS in 1914
after what became known as the Curragh Incident. He promised Hubert Gough in
writing that the Army would not be used to coerce Ulster Protestants into a Home
Rule Ireland. He bought Drumdoe House, Co Roscommon in 1917. He was
appointed Lord Lieutenant of Ireland in 1918 and during the Civil war was directing
operations against Sinn Féin. He was replaced in 1921 and was created Earl of
Ypres in 1922. He died on 22 May 1925 at Deal Castle, Kent and left 25K in
personal estate. He left no provision for his wife or children and left his estate to
Edward Cox.
1 John Richard Lowndes French born in Northumberland in 1881.
2 Daughter French died an infant in 1882.
3 Gerald French born in December 1883.
4 Essex French baptised 22 Aug 1886, died in Haringey in 1979.
© June Bow & Karen Poff - November 2023
Return to Roebuck House page.
John Tracey William French married Margaret Eccles
Born 24 Oct 1807 8 May 1842 born circa 1821
Suffolk Scotland Scotland
died 10 Feb 1855 31 May 1869
Nice, France Twickenham
John Tracey William French born 24 Oct 1807 in Suffolk son of John Denton Pinkerton
French and Charlotte married Margaret Eccles on 8 May 1842 at Barony, Lanarkshire,
Scotland. Margaret was the daughter of William Eccles of Glasgow. John was a lieutenant
in the Royal Navy. He retired as a captain to settle at Ripplevale, near Walmer in Kent by
1850. John died 10 Feb 1955 in Nice, France. The family moved to Micklegate in York by
1861. Margaret died at Twickenham on 31 May 1869.
1 Mary Ramsay French, eldest daughter born 13 Jul 1843 baptised 11 Aug 1843 at
the Free Church, Rothessay, Bute married John Hawthorne Lydall of Bayswaters
on 8 Jan 1867 at Willesden Church. They lived at Ladbrook Grove, Notting Hill.
Mary died 13 Jul 1881 on her birthday at Westgate, Kent.
2 Charlotte French born 14 Jun 1844 at Edinburgh. She was educated at home and by
Misses Geddes at a local private school. She married Maximillian Carden Despard
on 20 Dec 1870 at Holy Trinity Church, Kilburn. Max was the son of Captain George
Despard, JP of County Meath. The wealthy Maximilian was one of the founders of
the Hong Kong & Shanghai Bank. They had no children and Charlotte wrote a
number of novels, including A voice from the dim millions in 1884. Maximilian died
at sea on Good Friday 4 Apr 1890 on his return journey from Teneriffe. Charlotte
moved to Battersea in London where she established clinics and clubs for the poor.
She was elected to the Lambeth poor law board in 1894. By 1898 she had converted
to Catholicism. She joined the Adult Suffrage Society in 1901 and the National Union
of Women's Suffrage Societies in 1906. She split with Emmeline Pankhurst a year
later to form the Women's Freedom League (WFL). This was a pacifist resistance
group who protested by means of civil disobedience such as not paying taxes, not
filling in census forms and wilful obstruction like chaining themselves to static objects.
She was arrested and imprisoned on a number of occasions. Charlotte was a
campaigner and powerful speaker. She stood for election in 1918 after (Qualification
of Women) Act 1918 was passed allowing some women to vote, but she failed to win
a seat. She helped form the Irish Women’s Franchise League in 1908 and later
became involved with the fight for an independent Ireland. She moved to Ireland
after the war was over and formed a close friendship with fellow freedom-fighter
Maud Gonne McBride and they lived together at Stephen’s Green. She purchased
Roebuck house in 1922 and Maud moved in with her. Charlotte funded the Roebuck
Jam factory set up to fund republican prisoners. The house was raided on a number
of occasions and Charlotte was classed as a dangerous subversive under the 1927
Public Safety Act by the Irish Free State government for her opposition to the Anglo
Irish Treaty. In 1928 she fell downstairs and broke her arm and banged her head.
While she was being carried out of the house to a waiting ambulance, the house was
raided. The Parliamentary franchise was granted to all adults on equal terms,
regardless of gender or wealth on 2 Jul 1928 and the WFL held a victory breakfast at
Hotel Cecil in London close to Charlotte’s 84th birthday. Hotel Cecil had been used
by WFL to celebrate when one of their members was released from prison.
In 1930 she embarked on a tour of the Soviet Union and joined the communist party.
She left Roebuck house and purchased a house in Eccles Street in 1932 which was
used at the Labour Workers College. She moved to Belfast in 1934 and then to
Whiteside in 1938. She declared herself bankrupt that year, her income was 1K pa
and her debts were running at 2K. She died on 10 Nov 1939 at Whitehead, Antrim
after a fall down the stairs and was buried in the Republican plot at Glasnevin. Maud
Gonne McBride gave the graveside oration. Her husband’s nephew, and his niece
Lucy Franks were the only family who attended the funeral. Her life was spent
funding causes, but with each cause she was involved in, she offended some section
of society or suffered personal disappointment; the labour workers that didn’t elect
her having served them for nearly 30 years. The suffragettes when she didn’t
embrace their direct and militant actions. The English, and members of her family
when she defended the Irish in the fight for independence, the Irish public when
she embraced communism.
3 Margaret French, third daughter born 1846 in Scotland was a teacher and
married Gavan Sibbard Jones on 14 Nov 1865 at the Church of the Holy Trinity
Brompton. They lived at Clifton House, Send in Surrey.
1 Margaret Frances (Daisy) Jones eldest daughter married Captain Herbert
J J Middleton, 3rd Bengal Cavalry on 10 Jan 1889 at St Luke’s Church, Chelsea.
4 Sarah Eleanora French born 1847 in Scotland baptised on 26 Nov 1847 at
Campbeltown, Argyll married Dr Wykeham H Lydall on 11 May 1870 at St
Stephen’s, Westbourne Park.
5 Caroline Pinkstone French born 1850 in Ripple, Kent was living with her sister
Charlotte at Kingston, Hampshire in 1871. She married Augustine Robert
Whiteway on 21 Apr 1874 at Kingston Parish Church. Augustine was the son of
Robert H Whiteway, Vicar of Eynsford, Kent. Augustine was a barrister and
British vice consul to Pau. They lived at Hemingford Grey, St Ives and at Pau in
France. Augustine died on 29 Jun 1902 and Caroline died 12 Sep 1935.
1 Augusta Georgina Charlotte Whiteway only child born 19 Mar 1881 at Kent.
She married Alexander Fitzgerald Watt on 15 Oct 1903 at Hemingford Grey
Church. Her uncle Sir General John French gave her away.
6 Catherine Mary French, youngest daughter born posthumously on 3 May 1855 at
Ripple, Kent married George Ernest Harley on 7 Jan 1877 at the Memorial Church,
Cawnpore, India. George was a captain in The Buffs. Colonel Hanley retired in
1901 and died on 22 Jul 1907 at Condover House, Shrewsbury aged 62. He left
17K in personal estate. In 1910 Harley joined the National Union of Women's
Suffrage Societies. In 1913 she proposed, and organised, the Great Pilgrimage.
This was a march along six routes to converge on Hyde Park, London, where there
was a rally. During WW1 she served as a nurse with the Scottish Women's
Hospitals for Foreign Service and worked in France, Greece, and Macedonia.
Katherine for her dedication and services to France was awarded the Croix de
Guerre. Katherine was killed by shellfire on 7 Mar 1917 during the bombardment
of Monastir, Serbia.
1 Florence Harley born 6 Feb 1878 in Cawnpore, India.
2 Julian Ernest Trench Harley born 25 Mar 1881 in Brighton. He married
Jessie G M Lloyd Hunters Hill in New South Wales in 1910. He was a
hotelier and died in 1943.
3 Edith Joyce Harley born 2 Sep 1890 served with the British Red Cross Society
& Order of St John during WW1.
7 John Denton Pinkstone French, only son born 28 Sep 1852 at Ripple Vale, Kent.
He married Isabell Ireland Soundy on 19 Jun 1875 at St Mary Magdalene,
Richmond, Surrey. Isabel was the daughter of John William Soundy, a merchant.
He petitioned for divorce in 1877 on the grounds of his wife’s adultery and was
granted a decree nisi, a degree absolute was pronounced in 1878.
He was with the 19th Hussars and secondly married Eleanore Anna (Nora) A Selby
Lowndes at Newport Pagnell, Buckinghamshire on 19 Aug 1880. Nora was the
second daughter of Richard Selby Lowndes of Elmers, Bletchley. He became a
national hero during the Second Boer War and commanded the Corps at Aldershot.
He was knighted in 1901. He served as Inspector-General of the Army, before
becoming Chief of the Imperial General Staff. He had to resign as CIGS in 1914
after what became known as the Curragh Incident. He promised Hubert Gough in
writing that the Army would not be used to coerce Ulster Protestants into a Home
Rule Ireland. He bought Drumdoe House, Co Roscommon in 1917. He was
appointed Lord Lieutenant of Ireland in 1918 and during the Civil war was directing
operations against Sinn Féin. He was replaced in 1921 and was created Earl of
Ypres in 1922. He died on 22 May 1925 at Deal Castle, Kent and left 25K in
personal estate. He left no provision for his wife or children and left his estate to
Edward Cox.
1 John Richard Lowndes French born in Northumberland in 1881.
2 Daughter French died an infant in 1882.
3 Gerald French born in December 1883.
4 Essex French baptised 22 Aug 1886, died in Haringey in 1979.
© June Bow & Karen Poff - November 2023
Return to Roebuck House page.