I'm trying to gather as much information as possible about Captain
Charles Frederick GRUZELIER, master mariner (
c.1848-1898) - in particular from his time in
India or at sea.
- Charles was born before 11 Nov 1848 in Mousehole, Cornwall; the son of George GRUZELIER, master mariner (1811-1863), and Arabella née HARRY (c.1811-1893).
- 11 Nov 1848 - baptised at Paul Parish Church.
- 30 March 1851 census - Charles aged 3 was living in Mousehole, Cornwall, with his mother, brother Francis P. Gruzelier (who was born in Liverpool), and maternal aunt. His father was absent [at sea?].
- 7 Apr 1861 census - living in Strand, St Mary's, Isles of Scilly, with his [presumably] paternal aunt.
- 1871 census -
- 4 Mar 1878 - Charles married Annie Foster ARMSTRONG (1856-1888), St John's Church, Calcutta, West Bengal, India. Annie was the elder daughter of Frederick William ARMSTRONG (c.1828-1890) and Ann Laybourn FOSTER (1831-1905).
- About 1882 - a daughter, Annie Gruzelier, was born in Calcutta. She died in Cardiff, Wales, in 1933.
- 20 June 1888 - Charles' wife Annie died of fever in Calcutta. A death notice was published in the Cornishman newspaper on 26 July 1888. Charles was described as "Capt. ... India Steam Navigation Co."
- 1891 census - (Charles' daughter Annie was with her maternal grandmother at 88, Wyndham Close, Cardiff.)
- From 5 October 1892 until his death - resident at 1, Pitman Street, Cardiff.
- 5 October 1892 - Charles married Mary Laybourn ARMSTRONG (1860-1942), St John the Evangelist's Church, Canton, Cardiff. Mary was the younger daughter of the same Frederick William Armstrong and Ann Laybourn Foster: that is, she was the sister of Charles' late first wife Annie. (I think this means the marriage was technically illegal.)
- 8 July 1893 - inherited stock in the Great Western Railway company on the death of his mother.
- 15 September 1893 - a daughter, Ella Mary Gruzelier, was born in Cardiff to Charles and Mary. Because their mothers were sisters, Annie and Ella were sibling-cousins and were raised as sisters. Ella died in Cardiff in 1955.
- 11 February 1898 - Charles died in Cardiff.
- 15 February 1898 - buried at St John the Baptist's Church, Cardiff.
- 23 March 1898 - probate granted to his widow Mary at Llandaff.
Charles' widow and his two daughters continued to live at
1, Pitman Street, Cardiff. Mary Laybourn Gruzelier née Armstrong kept a lodging house and died in 1942. Neither of the daughters married or had descendants.
