Schon family "Palm Cottage" Canterbury Street, Gillingham

[mongoose2]

In my research I have come across the following family living at Palm Cottage (now a social club) and I wonder if any one else has come across them

James Freidrich Schon b. abt 1804 Baden, Germany - a retired missionary
Elizabeth Catherine DRAKE (I think) b.1815 Chatham

Children
Frederick Robert Weeks Schon b.1841 d. 1889 Chatham
Harriet Cordelia Schon b.abt 1844 Sierra Leone, Africa
James Edward Schon b abt 1845 Sierra Leone
Robert Schon b. abt 1848 Sierra Leone
Sarah Alice Scon b. Q4 1850 Chatham
Charles Henry Schon Q2 1854
Fanny Eliza Schon Q4 1855 Chatham
Herbert Rheinhardt Schon Q4 1858

Specifically cannot find the christenings on CityArk and would be also interested on any info on his missionary work.
However any info would be useful. I have looked thru censii records and freeBMD.
Barry

[Dave Francis]

You might find this interesting.

The Times, Friday, Apr 25, 1884; pg. 10; Issue 31117; col B
University Intelligence
Oxford, April 24.

A convocation was held this afternoon at 2 o'clock for the purpose of conferring the honorary degree of DCL upon the Archbishop of Canterbury, and the honorary degree of DD upon the Rev. James Frederic Schön. The house met in the Sheldonian Theatre....The honorary degree of DD was subsequently conferred upon the Rev. James Frederic Schön, who for about 30 years had been a missionary on the Niger, had translated many portions of the Bible, and who is an authority on the numerous dialects of West Africa. The Regius Professor of Divinity, in presenting him, spoke of his life as justifying his name. It was not for brilliant feats that he claimed for him the distinction, but because benefictis secretis ultro collatis humano generi profuerat. To Dr Schön also a warm reception was accorded." [Abridged.]

[Dave Francis]

Regarding his son James Edward....

The Times, Friday, Jul 24, 1868; pg. 11; Issue 26185; col F

"Royal College of Surgeons
The following gentlemen having undergone the necessary examinations for the diploma, were admitted members of the College at a meeting of the Court of Examiners, on the 21st inst.viz-
[lengthy list including...]
J E Schön, Chatham, Kent, of the London and Middlesex Hospitals"

And this is an interesting one...note the initials are likely to have been a misprint

The Times Friday, Nov 30, 1877; pg. 5; Issue 29113; col F

"African Languages - The Institute of France has awarded a gold medal, "The Volney Prize," to the Rev C F Schön, of Chatham, for his valuable works in the Hansa language. Mr Schön has reduced this language, the Greek of Western Africa, to form and published a grammar and copious dictionary. This is the second time that this medal (the Volney) has been awarded to a missionary of the Church Missionary Society. It was bestowed on the Rev S Koelle, for his Polyglot of 100 African languages."

[mongoose2]

Thanks David I also found this.

James Frederick Schon (b c.1802) of Ober Weiler, Baden, Germany attended the Basel Seminary and, in 1831, the Church Missionary Society College. He was ordained a deacon in 1831 and priest in 1832 when he went to Sierra Leone. He accompanied the first Niger Expedition in 1841. His connection with the CMS ceased in 1853 after 20 years' service. He was renowned for his African linguistic work, particularly in Hausa, and he continued to be engaged in this work after ceasing to be a missionary. He was the author of numerous works including Journal of the Niger Expedition (1842); Vocabulary and Elements of Grammar of the Haussa Language (1843); Translations of Genesis, Exodus, the Gospels, and the Acts of the Apostles into the Hausa Language (1857-1861); Grammar of the Haussa Language (1862); Dictionary of the Hausa Language (1876). In 1848 he became chaplain to the Melville Hospital, Chatham. In 1877 he was awarded the Volney Prize for his linguistic work and in 1884 received an honorary doctorate from Oxford University. He died at Chatham 30 March 1889. Schon married Anne Elizabeth Nylander in 1835: she died in Sierra Leone 5 Nov 1837. In 1839 he married Cordelia Irving who died the following year. On 5 February 1841 he married Catherine White (nee Drake), the widow of James White, a CMS missionary. Catherine survived her husband, dying 26 Oct 1892. One daughter, Annie Catherine married Edward Thomas Higgens, CMS missionary in Ceylon, in 1858.
Reference: Register of missionaries (clerical, lay & female) and native clergy from 1804 to 1904, Church Missionary Society, 1905).


Now that is what I call useful. Still cant find were he had his children baptised and am a little confused by the details of the child who married as its not one of the schon's kids

Barry

[Dave Francis]

Charles's birth?

The Times, Friday, Apr 21, 1854; pg. 1; Issue 21721; col A
"On the 19th inst. at Chatham, the wife of the Rev J F Schon, Chaplain of Melville Hospital, of a son"

[Dave Francis]

There was an obituary in The Times, Thursday, Apr 04, 1889 (pg. 10; Issue 32664; col D). It repeats virtually everything you already know but also mentions that he was a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society.

[casalguidi]

Hi Barry

Which churches did you check for the baptisms of any SCHON children?

I wonder if baptisms were performed in the chapel of the Melville Hospital?

Also, there are registers of the Royal Dockyard Church, Chatham at the Centre for Kentish Studies at Maidstone on film or fiche.

Casalguidi

[mongoose2]

have looked on cityark but its not easy as the indexes are not searchable by name. Have looked in dockyard church (which is now disused) to no avail

Barry

[casalguidi]

Did you check all the parishes on Medway Cityark ie. Brompton/Chatham/Gillingham & Rochester and do you have any idea in which church the mother was baptised - just wondering if they would have used the same church with her being local?

Did you see Frederick's baptism in 1842 at St Bride, Fleet Street, London http://www.familysearch.org

Casalguidi