A Downton life...

During the past few weeks we have been re-watching Downton Abbey and at the same time

exploring the countryside around where it was filmed (Highclere Castle in Hampshire). When researching family history many secretly yearn to have ancestors from “upstairs”, when they can discover that they were part of the landed gentry. However, more often than not we find we are related to the servants who served at the big house.

At this point let me introduce Thomas and Flora. Thomas was born in 1888 in Harmby, North Yorkshire and Flora in Colonsay in the Hebrides in 1893. Thomas was the son of Wallace and Caroline. Wallace was a gamekeeper but had unfortunately died of phthisis the month before Thomas born. Caroline was left to raise four children on her own. Flora was one of eight children born to Malcolm and Mary, the island's tailor.

Buchanan Castle in the 1890s

The census records for 1911 show the two houses of the Duke and Duchess of Montrose. Violet Montrose was in residence at 49 Eaton Place in London and Thomas was listed as footman. Flora was over 400 miles away in Buchanan Castle in Drymen, the home of the Duke of Montrose. Flora was a still room maid.

Thomas looking smart in his uniform.

Thomas and Flora marry in October of the same year at the house of the Sheriff in Minerva Street in Glasgow. He had been promoted to valet by this time.

Their marriage was considered as an irregular marriage because it didn’t take place at a church. This type of marriage required the man and woman to make a declaration in front of two witnesses. It was also known as a “marriage by declaration”. By showing proof of their marriage they could obtain a warrant from a sheriff of sheriff substitute to have the marriage registered by the local registrar. These marriages were disapproved of by the Church of Scotland but accepted them for fear that couples would otherwise live in sin.

As it was then normal practice for married women to leave service it is not clear at what point they left employment at Buchanan Castle but by the time their first child, Flora was born in 1915, Thomas and Flora were living at Tetbury in Gloucestershire. Thomas was a domestic butler working at Kingscote Park. By 1916 when their second child Emily was born he was also training as a Sergeant for the Gloucestershire Regiment. He was part of the Training Reserve formed in 1916. Men who were posted into the TR battalions were not allocated to any particular regiment when the time came to be posted. Thomas saw active service, he was posted to France on the 12th January 1918 and was there for 176 days.

We next see Thomas and Flora in 1922, when their third child Malcolm Alister was born. Thomas is still a domestic butler but now at Whitewebbs Park in Enfield, north London. This was the home of Sir Frederick Orr-Lewis, a Canadian businessman who was awarded his baronetcy in 1920. The house was sold to the council in 1931.

After leaving service Thomas and Flora settle in Fulham, west London. Flora lived until 1958 and Thomas until 1966.

If you are interested in finding out about your family history - please contact RMancestry@mail.com to see how we can help.