P1000308 Aunt Eliza Ball

Extract of a letter from Aunt Eliza Ball[1] née Park to her daughter Lizzie Arbuthnot[2] at the age of 85. Erin Cottage[3] February 17, 1909 Wynberg.

Memorial card [??] Elizabeth Beloved Wife of the late William Tollamache Park

born Saffron Walden Essex December 11, 1790

died Cape Town South Africa December 15, 1880

William Tollemache = Elizabeth daughter of Sir Nicholas Bacon married 1686
[NOTE: I have decided that the BACON link is less likely that the link to Elizabeth BLOOMFIELD.]

                      Nicholas [Tollemache] married Mary Ralph in 1707

Elizabeth 1708 Mary 1713 John 1710 buried in Stoke lived New Place.

[and more – that I have from other sources. The formatting of it is challenging, so I won’t transcribe the rest here.]

P1000309 Lizzie Arbuthnot letter

Letter from Lizzy Arbuthnot[5] no date

Willy Wright[6] found marriage register of Nicholas Talmash (bachelor) = Mary Ralph (spinster) both of this parish Springleton[7] 19 December 1707. These are undoubtedly the parents of our ancestor John Talmarsh and they had a daughter Elizabeth baptized at Springleton in 1708 and our ancestor John was baptized in next parish Therestead[8] in 1710.

Now was this Nicholas, William who secretly married a farmer's daughter or was he the son of William and his cousin Elizabeth Bacon[9] a secret marriage. This is the one thing we want to find out.

My sister Jessie[10] is in England and tells me this story as she heard it was William lived in hiding on his brothers estate and could not marry in his own class, and secretly married a farmer's daughter -- his brother was very fond of his children and looked after them and promised to see them righted, but could do nothing as long as William lived -- died first -- this is nearly what I heard. It is strange John son of Nicholas and Mary had no son called Nicholas. His eldest was William and the name Nicholas is not handed down. The Ralph's were farmers.

P1000310 1907 letter

Letter dated 07. [NOTE: Is this from Lizzie ARBUTHNOT? She was lived in Devonshire, and was buried in London, so visiting the places mentioned is possible.]

I went to Saffron Walden, where our grandparents[11] were married and I saw some very nice people named King[12]. If they are not in your set. Saffron is a Quaker town. I am told very radical and all the people escape just the aristocracy in business or trade. I fancy the Kings were large builders. The mother was daughter of Grandpa’s[13] brother Joseph Parke[14] of Ipswich, who I hear married a girl with £8000 and was considered a swell relation of our grandparents. Only two of a large family grew up. Mrs. King and a son Edward who was a clergyman the Rector of Blakely near Manchester. He married late in life an Isle of Man lady and died sometime in the 80s. His family were left badly off and went to Canada and have been lost sight of. He firmly believed the family story and called his eldest son Talmash. Miss King said when her grandfather died at Ipswich he came and took away heaps of papers etc. Old Joseph spent all his money, but they have not the knowledge. Wm Wright has to go to work if [??] what he got, we would no doubt soon finish the story. It is strange that this

P1000311 1907 letter [continuing from P1000310 1907 letter]

Anna [Quadling - NOTE: likely a descendent of Edwin QUADLING & Margarett PARKE (1774-?)] and others were born and brought up in Ipswich and often in Stoke church. They never knew that grandpa’s grandfather John Talmache lived at New Place and buried in the Church yard close to the church. William Wright[15] traced them and found the tombs John Talmash of New Place etc etc and another grave stone Mary Talmash wife of John Talmash. She died six weeks before he did. I have not yet found where our great grand parents were married but I believe they are buried at Saffron Walden. He was very old nearly 100 when he died. I fancy she died much younger. All the elder children were baptized at Saffron Walden. I saw Aunt Tyars[16] register in Aunt Wilsons[17] and I saw a marriage of an Elizabeth Talmash Park daughter of Joseph and Elizabeth Park and John Simmonds Pilcher of Thetford in 1806 by licence. I tried to find the Pilcher's but could not. There were several parishes in Thetford. I fancy she was grandpappa’s eldest aunt. Mama[18] was baptized at Saffron Walden and was 10 when they went to the Cape

P1000312 1907 letter [continuing from P1000311 1907 letter]

in 1832. She remembers John Talmash[19] her Great Uncle and Aunt Wilson who was 18 told me he took all the papers to London and saw the Lord Brougham who said he was undoubtably William son and heir to the Talmash estate under the will of Sir Lionel[20] who named him third in line of entail and failing male heirs to his sons Lionel and Thomas the latter never married. I always heard when marriage was secret and his brother brought up the children and provided for them, I fancy as unpleasant relations, and he kept out of the way.

P1000315 Dec 3 1907 [continuing on from P1000314 Dec 3 1907]

This would locate John in his early days.

Letter dated December 3 07

the Misses. King could not tell me anything, [?] Their mother was Grandpappas niece, but she came from Ipswich. Her only brother was Edward Parke, Rector of Blatelely. Her name was Matilda.

The Mrs. King told me they remembered an old Miss Parke, who live just out of Saffron Walden very much come down on the world, their father used to help her. She was very eccentric and used to dress marvellously in lovely old things that looked as if they came out of old family chests, among other things an exquisite lace cape. The story they heard was she was a Squire's daughter and in her youth used to come to church in her carriage, and a foot man used to follow her up the aisle with her books. She died and a niece came and took her things away. The Misses King have a brother who is a doctor in London. Anna Harris (Quadling – or Quadlang) gave me their address.

Grandpapa never did anything. I remember him, a blind old man, whom we thought it an honour to lead about. I can just remember his death. Aunt Lydia coming in a cab, and she and Mama crying. It was a storm the day of his funeral and the wind howled and I thought it was because he was dead! I asked [continued on P1000313]

P1000313 Dec 3 1907 [continuing from P1000315 Dec 3 1907 letter]

Letter December 3/07

Aunt Wilson[21] what he was, four years ago, she said “Oh my dear he did nothing, he was too full of his blue blood and his aristocratic descent he would do nothing but let grandma bring us all up”. His brother, the King's grandfather was also blind, and the present Earl Dysart is blind. Grandpapa was very well educated and very well read, particularly so.

They all went to the Cape after John Talemarsh died in 1834 to settle on a farm, so I suppose they got some money. I am trying to get the administration of John T.'s property. I fancy it is at Norwich by being under 100 years can only be seen by paying a fee. In Biaritz I met the Hon Mr. T.  & told him my grandmother's name is Talmash but we do not spell it as you do. He said I expect your name is the right way, Talmash, we are not Tallemache at all. Our name is Halliday properly. Lady Jane Talemash[22] married a Capt. Halliday[23] and got the Suffolk estates. Her sister Lady Louisa Manners[24] became Countess of Dysart, when their brother, the last male (except Grandpappa’s uncle) died in 1829. William had married secretly and as his mother could name her heir, he did not wish her to know. The person who had charge of his son, promise to see him righted died. William died of yellow fever

P1000314 Dec 3 1907 [continuing on from P1000313 Dec 3 1907]

fever in the West Indies in 1692[25], when Capt. of the Jersey frigate. His mother administered his estate in 1695. His brother Thomas died then[26] and I fancy it was he, who was looking after William son. Anyway he does not seem to have been recognized until the last heir was killed in action in 1796, then they must have looked up Williams neglected descendents.

I have heard the Parkes talked of. It was always grandpapa’s mother Elizabeth Talmarsh that we were told was the swell relation. Your Annie asked me if I knew anything about that tale your mother used to tell you about William Talmarsh who married the daughter of a Squire Park. Our grandparents went to Grahams town and bought and stocked a farm and were going in on a Monday or Saturday in just the Kaffirs rose & killed everyone and destroyed the whole place. Grandpappa & grandmamma were so disheartened they started for Port Elizabeth to take passage back, when he was thrown out of the cart and so injured they had to return and he was always an invalid after that. Grandmama’s name was Bush. Who and what her father was, I don't know. Her brother William was I think an engineer. I remember seeing plans of fortifications for the Thames and made a dining hall. His daughters had a lady school at Tewisham. His son was in the Royal Navy.

P 1000316 Arbuthnot letter

Extract from L. Arbuthnot letter /09.

 I am sure our parents great-grandfather John Talemarsh was the grandson of the Hon William Tallamarsh, youngest son of Lady Dysart. But I would like to find proof of William's marriage to his cousin Elizabeth Bacon [??] Nicholas, John's father was born. I think he married her, under another name in 1686 and had a daughter Anne in 1689, but we must find Nicholas and get his age when he died. Only advertising will find Nicholas. We think of offering two guineas for the marriage of Nicholas and Mary Martin between 1700 & 1710. This would show when Nicholas lived then. Our great great grandfather John Talmash was born 1710 and his sister Mary 1713 baptized at Wherestead, but no other notices than 1721, we find a William baptized at St. Mary's Stoke Ipswich, also children of Nicholas and Mary Talmarsh & three of John's children baptized their beginning 1759 and his wife buried there 1777 and two daughters married there 1779, but his eldest son William, daughter Mary & our great grand mother Elizabeth seems to have been baptized elsewhere. I propose offering 21 shillings for baptism of Elizabeth Talmarsh, daughter of [?] Mary [?] 56 this

P1000317 Parke BMDs

[Parish Church Saffron Walden Extracts from Register]

1805 Jan 123 John Simmonds Pilcher of the town of Thetford in the county of Norfolk = Elizabeth Talmarsh Parke[27] of the Parish of Saffron Walden [Essex] was married by licence in presence of J. Parke, J.S. Parke, Charles Baron, Sarah Thornton Parke.

1806 April 29 Francis Main of the Parish of St. John the Baptist Peterborough & Harriet Parke of the Parish of Saffron Walden was married by licence.

1813 Jan 29 William Parke bachelor of the parish & Elizabeth Bush spinster of the parish.

Burials

1793 Nov 29 Sophia Parke, infant

1821 Joseph Parke aged 78

N.B. The above {J Parke Jos Parke Joseph Parke} witnessed marriage from 7 Mar 1808 [?] to 20 Aug 1821 & was evidently J. Parke S^r 6 Oct 1817 Parish Clerk. William Parke witnessed marriages in July 18 1815 apparently in the absence of his father.

P 1000318 Parke BMDs

Parish Church Saffron Walden Extracts from Register

Baptisms

1781 Dec 4 Dudley Cooke dr. of Samuel & Dudly Parke

1783 Jan 10 John Samuel son of Samuel & Dudly Parke

1786 Feb 26 Mary Ann dr of Samuel & Dudly Parke

1787 Sept 10 Mary dr of Samuel & Dudly Parke

1789June 19 George Cook son of Samuel & Dudly Parke

1791 May 29 Chales Allen son of Samuel & Dudly Parke

1795 June 10 Henry son of Samuel & Dudly Parke

1784 May 26 Eliz Talmash dr of Joseph & Eliz Parke

1786 Sept 27 Sarah Thornton dr of Joseph & Eliz Parke

1788 Sept 9 Annmaria dr of Joseph & Eliz Parke

1790 July 19 William son of Joseph & Eliz Parke

1793Jan 22 Sophia dr of Joseph & Eliz Parke

1813 Sept 20 Eliz Talmash dr. Of W^m & Eliz Parke. Carpenter

P1000319 Wm Ball Wright letter

Letter from William Ball Wright[28], Vicar of Osbaldwick, Yorkshire. To Lady Jackson[29].

This is the ninth day that I've spent in the public record office in the MS Department of the British Museum. Yesterday I discovered the manuscript of a William Tallmarsh of Coddinham bachelor  ( Helmingham < Ipswich – can’t read AOL[30]) < Elizabeth Blomfeld spinster of same & I have found that Capt. William Talmashe died at Barbados on May 25, 1691, either of an infection distemper. He was 30 years of age. In all probability he was the great grandfather Elizabeth Talmarsh of Ipswich who married Joseph Park.

The remainder of the searches must be made in Suffolk, when I already had a gentleman employed on that business, but he came to a standstill, and it is only by my discoveries, that I can now set him going again.

I think of writing an article when all is finished, for some magazine on his career, as tho there is an article on his mother and brother in the Dictionary of National Biography, there is none on him, but I think I have now cleared up all his life, if only we can find the marriage.

P1000320 1907 letter

Second letter. 1907

there is I think, no doubt of your mother being descended from Hon. William Tollmash, though I fear there will never be the complete proof of his marriage that would be necessary to claim property. I will try as soon as I can to write out a summary of the whole story. I am just about to write to a Mr. Udall F.S.A. in Antigua, a noted antiquary there, to see if he can find anything about William T’s death.

I'm going to Chester on Tuesday to make some researches about the origin of the Ball of Urker, County Armagh, who sprang from Chester, [?] different from the Balls grove family.

My new second edition of the Ball family records[31] will be interesting. It entails a lot of research work in Ireland, London, Devon, Dublin, America, Belgium, South Africa. There will be 20 portraits included including Sir Robert Ball[32] the astronomer and his brother [33]the late [?] Lord Chancellor.

I am to stay a Chester with my nephew J.R. Ball Wright of Folliot house, Chester, North? J.

P1000321 Lizzie Arbuthnot

Lizzy Arbuthnot née Ball.

We often stayed near Malpas[34] with my Wright cousins[35]. Arthur[36] was a rector there. Are you near Rode Hall. Our niece Joyce Kennaway[37] married Mr. Baker Wilbraham [38]who will come in for it. She often goes there. The Tollemarche also have got a lot of property about there, but it came with a Miss Wilbraham[39] who married our William's eldest brother Lionel[40], Lord H. [uniting?] town, afterward Earl of Dysart, so belongs to the elder branch. It is the real Tolmarsh property William’s descendants claimed in Suffolk, Northampton.[?] was a baronetcy. Do you want all the letters about William? The deed par[?] [etc?] I am still bringing you Nicholas, the missing link. I quite believe William married his cousin Elizabeth secretly, daughter of Sir Nicholas Bacon, and had a son Nicholas, who married a Mary someone[41], and had, with other children John[42], who was father of the Elizabeth Talmarsh[43], who was our great-grandmother. It is this Nicholas that was that we are trying to find. I got the register of John and his sister Mary latterly 1710 and 1713 children of Nicholas T. and Mary his wife.

P1000322 Dare

DARE

On the 23^rd March 1872 at Hounslow Jane Adelaide eldest dau of the late Phocion Dare Esq. Of Woodford Park, Dorset granddaughter of the late William Julius[44] Esq. Of the Manken Estates Island of St. Kitts, niece of the late John Julius Esq. Governor of the said Island. Aunt to A.L. Jackson[45].

Ernest Parke[46] (genealogical table) Morning Leader, Stonecutter Street, E.C.

P1000323 Dec 3 1907

Letter dated December 3, 1907 continued.

Uncle Stow’s[47] nephew was made Sir F. Phillipson Stow[48] Bart lately he has a lovely place at Hazelmere. His sister Jessie[49] is married to my cousin Tom Ball[50].

There is no doubt our great grandmother was a Talmash and she married a Joseph Park. Her father was a rich man and owned land in several towns in Suffolk and farmed a lovely old place near Ipswich now called Gyppeswick Hall. He gave her £300 on her marriage, a large sum in those days, and he left a 6^th of his residuary estate. I have seen his will. He also left his house and property in St. Peters Parish Ipswich to his granddaughter Margaret Parke and her heirs forever subject to a life interest for his brother William.

Whatever our grandparents were, they were credits to their time and did well for their descendents. My mother, the very last of her family is one of the most honoured of the colonists. People consider it a privilege for to know her.