Author Topic: Foster Sister - what does it mean?  (Read 1530 times)

Offline iolaus

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Foster Sister - what does it mean?
« on: Sunday 10 June 18 16:50 BST (UK) »
I've found a copy of a newspaper article about the wedding of a relative's great grandmother in 1897 in which it said 'the pretty bride enjoys the distinction of being the foster sister of Princess Victoria Melita'

The bride's father was keeper of the regalia in Edinburgh castle so it seems quite possible that she knew the Princess (from the 1891 census she was born in Malta (approx 1879), the Princess was also born in Malta (Nov 1877)

Offline hanes teulu

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Re: Foster Sister - what does it mean?
« Reply #1 on: Sunday 10 June 18 17:43 BST (UK) »
There's an item in the Bristol mercury, 31 Aug 1900 which mentions the marriage. Unfortunateely part of the item is "missing"

Offline chempat

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Re: Foster Sister - what does it mean?
« Reply #2 on: Sunday 10 June 18 19:39 BST (UK) »
What was the name of the bride, please?

Offline avm228

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Re: Foster Sister - what does it mean?
« Reply #3 on: Sunday 10 June 18 20:00 BST (UK) »
The bride isn’t named in the 31 August 1900 newspaper item, but she was a daughter of Sgt-Major Brownlee, custodian of the Regalia at Edinburgh Castle, married in Edinburgh “some three years ago”.  The item, contributed by correspondent “M.A.P.”, is about the generosity of the Duchess of Edinburgh, mother of Princess Victoria (Grand Duchess of Hesse) to “her servants”.  She and her daughters showered gifts on the Brownlee bride and her mother, including jewellery and a generous contribution to the bridal outfit.
Ayr: Barnes, Wylie
Caithness: MacGregor
Essex: Eldred (Pebmarsh)
Gloucs: Timbrell (Winchcomb)
Hants: Stares (Wickham)
Lincs: Maw, Jackson (Epworth, Belton)
London: Pierce
Suffolk: Markham (Framlingham)
Surrey: Gosling (Richmond)
Wilts: Matthews, Tarrant (Calne, Preshute)
Worcs: Milward (Redditch)
Yorks: Beaumont, Crook, Moore, Styring (Huddersfield); Middleton (Church Fenton); Exley, Gelder (High Hoyland); Barnes, Birchinall (Sheffield); Kenyon, Wood (Cumberworth/Denby Dale)


Offline iolaus

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Re: Foster Sister - what does it mean?
« Reply #4 on: Sunday 10 June 18 20:03 BST (UK) »
Victoria Elizabeth Brownlee (although her birth is registered as Elizabeth Victoria)

Offline avm228

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Re: Foster Sister - what does it mean?
« Reply #5 on: Sunday 10 June 18 20:04 BST (UK) »
I wonder whether “foster sister” in this context merely indicates that the young ladies grew up together, the Brownlee girl being associated with the royal (ducal?) household due to her father’s position; perhaps they shared a governess or similar?
Ayr: Barnes, Wylie
Caithness: MacGregor
Essex: Eldred (Pebmarsh)
Gloucs: Timbrell (Winchcomb)
Hants: Stares (Wickham)
Lincs: Maw, Jackson (Epworth, Belton)
London: Pierce
Suffolk: Markham (Framlingham)
Surrey: Gosling (Richmond)
Wilts: Matthews, Tarrant (Calne, Preshute)
Worcs: Milward (Redditch)
Yorks: Beaumont, Crook, Moore, Styring (Huddersfield); Middleton (Church Fenton); Exley, Gelder (High Hoyland); Barnes, Birchinall (Sheffield); Kenyon, Wood (Cumberworth/Denby Dale)

Offline chempat

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Re: Foster Sister - what does it mean?
« Reply #6 on: Sunday 10 June 18 20:06 BST (UK) »
This marriage?

Victoria Elizabeth Brownlee   Nicholas McGlashan  1897   685/425  St Giles

Offline iolaus

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Re: Foster Sister - what does it mean?
« Reply #7 on: Sunday 10 June 18 20:08 BST (UK) »
Hope this works - it's the newspaper article I was referring to which mentions foster sister

Offline iolaus

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Re: Foster Sister - what does it mean?
« Reply #8 on: Sunday 10 June 18 20:12 BST (UK) »
It's the William Johnston marriage CHempat - sorry I should have put her husbands details too

That is what I was wondering Avm228 - they are about 2 years difference in age - so certainly of an age to be educated together

Hanes Teledu - where can I get a copy of the Bristol news article from - it didn't occur to me they may be mentioned so far south of where they were