Nieces and nephews

William had more than 50 nieces and nephews. Three of his thirteen sisters – Amelia, Eleonora and Isabella – died young, unmarried and almost certainly childless. If their sister Harriet had any children, they had died before her death in 1836. Frances, the eldest of the sisters, had no children by her second marriage.

The births of these nieces and nephews were spread across forty years, from Frances-Elizabeth Honywood in 1781 to Augustus-Charles-Stapleton Somerset in 1821. Several of them died in William’s lifetime while others lived into their eighties, with four surviving into the 20th century: Jane-Matilda Locke, Matilda-Elizabeth Somerset, William-Courtenay Morland and Georgiana-Emily Somerset.

39 of them married, and there were 138 children from these marriages and some other unions. The first child of that next generation was Frances-Sarah-Caroline Surtees, born in 1803; the last was Hilda Somerset who died at the age of 92 in 1965.

William was probably a godfather to some of his nieces and nephews, among them perhaps: Matilda’s son Charles-Courtenay Locke; Caroline’s son William-Courtenay Morland; Anne’s sons William Annesley and Francis-John Courtenay; Elizabeth’s children Georgiana Somerset and Villiers-Henry-Plantagenet Somerset; Lucy’s son John-Wilmot-Courtenay Vaughan. Only Georgiana Somerset is mentioned in William’s will, but the four nephews who became clergymen in the United Church of England and Ireland were presented to Courtenay livings at North Bovey (William Annesley in 1825 and Francis-John Courtenay in 1831), Honiton (Villiers-Henry-Plantagenet Somerset in 1827) and Newcastle (Charles-George-John-Courtenay Locke in 1847).

In the family groups below, the children are listed by order of birth. The name of a spouse is given with the date of their marriage. As well as some omissions, there may be many other errors here.

ANNESLEY (Anne’s children before her separation from her husband George Annesley; although they were given his family name, and he acknowledged George-Arthur as his son and heir, Anne’s husband believed that John Gawler>Bellenden Ker was probably the father of both children):

  • George-Arthur 1793-1841: born 2 October 1793 at Westminster (Middlesex); buried 27 March 1841 at Upper Arley (Worcestershire); married Frances-Cockburn Sims 21 October 1837 at Brighton (Sussex).
  • William 1796-1830: baptised 2 April 1796; died 1 November 1830 at Weyhill (Hampshire). In his will, William Annesley acknowledges the five Courtenay siblings below as his mother’s children; his older half-brother Charles-Henry-Bellenden Ker attested to William’s handwriting before the will was proved in 1831.

COURTENAY (Anne’s children with John Gawler>Bellenden Ker after her separation from her husband):

  • Francis-John 1800-1859: born 20 November 1800 at Kensington (Middlesex); died 11 May 1859 at Long Marton (Westmorland); married Emma-Camilla Kilner 9 June 1831 at Weyhill (Hampshire). 9 children born 1832-56.
  • Frederick-Eardley-Bellenden 1804-36: born 2 April 1804 at Kensington (Middlesex); buried 2 November 1836 at Southampton (Hampshire); married Maria Martin 14 February 1833 at Alverstoke (Hampshire). 2 children born 1835-37.
  • Caroline 1807-81: born at Kensington (Middlesex); died 7 February 1881 at Southampton (Hampshire); married Edward Harrison 2 September 1834 at Weyhill (Hampshire).
  • Henrietta 1810-87: born at Kensington (Middlesex); died 24 October 1887 at Southampton (Hampshire); married Austin-Cooper Sayers 21 November 1838 at Weyhill (Hampshire). In its notice of this marriage, the Gentleman’s Magazine of February 1839 did not mention Henrietta’s mother or her own Courtenay surname, identifying her as ‘second dau. of John Bellenden, esq. niece of the late Earl of Devon.’
  • Emma 1816-66: born at Kensington (Middlesex); died Apr-Jun 1866 in Hampshire.

FOY (Sophia’s children):

  • Edward 1805-78: born 6 October 1805 at Woolwich (Kent); died 29 April 1878 at Torquay (Devon); married Jessy Chesmer 22 July 1851 at Iberville (Québec, Canada).
  • Sophia-Elizabeth 1806-1857: baptised 7 November 1806 at Colchester (Essex); buried 21 May 1857 at Rugby (Warwickshire); married Richard-Matthews Poulden 6 November 1834 at Lewisham (Kent). 8 children born 1836-50.

GIFFARD (Charlotte’s children):

  • Thomas-William 1789-1861: born 28 March 1789 at Middlesex; died 21 January 1861 at Chillington (Staffordshire); married Charlotte-Laintall Earl 14 November 1840 at Camberwell (Surrey). 3 children born 1841-48.
  • Charlotte 1790-1875: born 18 April 1790 at Brewood (Staffordshire); died 25 February 1875 at Brewood; married Samuel-Campbell Simpson 5 December 1826 at Brewood. 4 children born 1828-33.
  • Francis-John 1791-1836: baptised 6 September 1791 at Brewood (Staffordshire); buried 15 January 1836 at Brewood.
  • Lucy-Harriot 1792-1843: baptised 6 October 1792 at Brewood (Staffordshire); buried 16 October 1843 at Brewood.
  • Sophia-Elizabeth 1793-1880: born 1 November 1793 at Brewood (Staffordshire); died 13 January 1880 at Oaken (Staffordshire); married John Wrottesley 28 July 1821 at Brewood. 5 children born 1822-35.
  • Ann-Barbara 1794-1834: baptised 16 October 1794 at Brewood (Staffordshire); died 23 November 1834, buried at Stockton (Shropshire); married Charles-Blaney-Cavendish Whitmore 30 March 1829 at Chillington (Staffordshire). 4 children born 1830-34.
  • Walter-Peter 1796-1877: born 23 September 1796 at Brewood (Staffordshire); died 6 March 1877 at Chillington (Staffordshire); married Henrietta-Dorothy Boughey 7 July 1836 at Shrewsbury (Shropshire). 3 children born 1837-42.
  • Barbara-Denise 1798-1841: born 4 September 1798 at Brewood (Staffordshire); buried 11 September 1841 at Brewood; married William-Lacon Childe 26 September 1839 at Buxton (Derbyshire). 2 children born 1839-41.
  • Charles-Robert 1800-1853: baptised 24 October 1800 at Brewood (Staffordshire); buried 8 June 1853 at Brewood.
  • Caroline-Mallett 1802-1841: baptised 14 January 1802 at Brewood (Staffordshire); died 15 October 1841 at Brewood; married (1) John Mytton 29 October 1821 at Brewood; after John’s death in 1834, (2) Frederick-Lewis-Scrymgeour Wedderburn 27 March 1836 at Edinburgh (Midlothian, Scotland). 5 children born 1822-27.
  • Robert-Edward 1805-1836: born 31 July 1835 at Brewood (Staffordshire); buried 18 January 1836 at Brewood.
  • Louisa-Paulina-Charlotte 1807-1879: baptised 8 March 1807 at Brewood (Staffordshire); died 10 December 1879 at Forton (Staffordshire); married Thomas-Fletcher-Fenton Boughey 27 December 1832 at Brewood. 10 children born 1835-50.

HONYWOOD (Frances’s children):

  • Frances-Elizabeth 1781-1854: born 19 April 1781 at Westminster (Middlesex); died August 1854; married Aubone Surtees 29 December 1802. 13 children born 1803-28. See Isabella Courtenay and her niece.
  • a stillborn son 1782.
  • Charlotte-Dorothea 1784-1811: born 22 January 1784 at Westminster (Middlesex); died July 1811; married Frederick-Grey Cooper 7 January 1805 at Westminster. 2 children, one born 1809.
  • Annabella-Christiana 1785-1814: born 9 June 1785 at Westminster (Middlesex); died 4 April 1814 at Lynstead (Kent); married Edward Knatchbull 25 August 1806 at Meopham (Kent). 2 children born 1807-08.
  • John-Courtenay 1787-1832: born 20 February 1787 at Elmstead (Kent); died 12 September 1832 at Evington (Kent); married Mary-Anne Cooper 27 July 1808 at Little Thurlow (Suffolk). 10 children born 1809-22.
  • Caroline-Anne 1787–1826: baptised 26 May 1787 at Elmstead (Kent); buried 2 January 1827 at Westminster (Middlesex); married Edward-Dalbee Temple 29 April 1807 at Westminster. 6 children born 1808-16.
  • Louisa-Catherine 1794-1822: baptised 17 August 1794 at Elmstead (Kent); died 25 January 1822 at Wolverton (Buckinghamshire); married Henry-Reade Quartly 25 April 1820 at Elmsted. 2 children born 1821-22.
  • Eliza-Augusta-Anne 1801-??: born 23 January 1801 at Westminster (Middlesex).

LOCKE (Matilda’s children):

  • Lucy-Matilda-Frances 1801-1887: born 28 April 1801 at Marylebone (Middlesex); died 17 October 1887 at Wiesbaden (Hessen, Deutschland).
  • Matilda-Harriet-Elizabeth 1802-1877: born 12 May 1802 at Marylebone (Middlesex); died 29 December 1877 at Köstritz (Thüringen, Deutschland); married Heinrich LXIX Reuß zu Köstritz 5 November 1834 at Firenze (Toscana, Italia).
  • Charles-George-John-Courtenay 1803-48: baptised 16 September 1803 at Dawlish (Devon); died 16 February 1848 at Paris (France); married (1) Mary-Berry Wood 4 April 1838 at Newcastle-under-Lyme (Staffordshire); after Mary-Berry’s death in 1843, (2) his cousin Blanche Somerset 9 December 1845 at Leamington Priors (Warwickshire). 2 children born 1839-41.
  • Mary-Matilda 1805-1806: baptised 6 February 1805 at Kenton (Devon); buried 1 March 1806 at Powderham (Devon).
  • Jane-Matilda 1806-1902: born at Exeter (Devon); died 23 June 1902 at Wiesbaden (Hessen, Deutschland).
  • Laura-Matilda 1812-1886: baptised 25 May 1812 at Sculcoates (Yorkshire); died 1 May 1886 at Wiesbaden (Hessen, Deutschland).
  • John-William-Thomas 1816-1875: baptised 11 April 1816 at Wells (Somerset); died 2 March 1875 at Shrewsbury (Shropshire); married Mary-Norman Hussey 10 October 1843 at Marylebone (Middlesex). 2 children born 1845-50.

MORLAND (Caroline’s children):

  • a stillborn daughter 27 May 1814 at Powderham (Devon).
  • William-Courtenay 1818-1909: born 19 March 1818 at Westminster (Middlesex); died 30 December 1909 at Lamberhurst (Kent); married Margaretta-Eliza Cator 27 June 1843 at West Wickham (Kent). 3 children born 1849-55.
  • Caroline-Anne 1820-41: born 5 March 1820 at Marylebone (Middlesex); buried 5 April 1841 at Lamberhurst (Kent).

SOMERSET (Elizabeth’s children. After her death in 1815, lord Charles Somerset married lady Mary Poulett and they had several children together):

  • Elizabeth 1790-1871: born 18 October 1790 at Powderham (Devon); died 25 November 1871 at Surbiton (Surrey); married (1) Henry Wyndham 18 July 1812 at Westminster (Middlesex); after Henry’s death in 1860, (2) Thomas Holbrook 27 December 1862 at Brighton (Sussex).
  • Georgiana 1793-1856: born 1 February 1793 at Marylebone (Middlesex); died 19 May 1856 at Cheltenham (Gloucestershire); married Stirling-Freeman Glover 25 June 1833 at Marylebone.
  • Henry 1794-1862: born 30 December 1794 at Westminster (Middlesex); died 15 February 1862 at Gibraltar; married Frances-Sarah Heathcote 20 March 1817 at Gretna Green (Dumfriesshire, Scotland). 5 children born 1819-41.
  • Caroline-Isabella 1797-1800: born 9 January 1797 at Westminster (Middlesex); died 19 August 1800, buried at Badminton (Gloucestershire).
  • Charlotte-Augusta 1799-1864: born 2 January 1799 at Westminster (Middlesex); died 17 March 1864 at Windsor (Berkshire); married Herbert Cornewall 21 May 1822 at Cape Town (South Africa). 3 children born 1827-33.
  • Charles-Henry 1800-35: born 24 September 1800 at Westminster (Middlesex); died 28 May 1835 at Ripley (Surrey).
  • a stillborn son October 1801 at Westminster (Middlesex).
  • Villiers-Henry-Plantagenet 1803-1855: baptised 12 February 1803 at Monken Hadley (Middlesex); died 3 February 1855 at Kenn (Devon); married Frances-Dorothea Ley 8 August 1844 at Westminster (Middlesex). 4 children born 1845-49.

SOMERSET (Louisa’s children):

  • Henry-Robert or Robert-Henry 1806-1807: born 24 November 1806 at Chichester (Sussex); buried 18 August 1807 at Westminster (Middlesex).
  • Louisa-Isabella 1807-1888: born 27 December 1807 at Dublin (Ireland); died 27 March 1888 at Hampton (Middlesex).
  • Frances-Caroline 1808-1890: born 5 November 1808 in Ireland; died 28 May 1890 at East Molesey (Surrey); married Theophilus Clive 23 April 1840 at Firenze (Toscana, Italia). 1 son born 1841.
  • Blanche 1811-1879: born 22 November 1811 at Clifton (Gloucestershire); died 14 October 1879 at Cheltenham (Gloucestershire); married her cousin Charles-George-John-Courtenay Locke 9 December 1845 at Leamington Priors (Warwickshire).
  • Matilda-Elizabeth 1815-1905: born 19 May 1815; died 3 February 1905 at Hedvig Eleonora (Stockholm, Sverige); married Horatio Marryat 9 August 1842 at Westminster (Middlesex). 4 children born 1843-52.
  • Edward-Arthur 1817-1886: born 21 February 1817 at Hardinghen (Pas-de-Calais, France); died 12 March 1886 at Mitchel Troy (Monmouthshire, Wales); married Agatha Miles 13 September 1849 at Abbots Leigh (Somerset). 9 children born 1850-72.
  • Georgiana-Emily 1819-1910: born 23 April 1819 at Charlbury (Oxfordshire); died 21 November 1910 at Hayes (Middlesex); married Robert-Neville Lawley 10 November 1852 at Westminster (Middlesex).
  • Augustus-Charles-Stapleton 1821-1854: born 26 June 1821 at Heythrop (Oxfordshire); died 14 December 1854 at Sunbury (Middlesex).
  • a stillborn child 8 February 1823 (when Louisa died in childbirth).

VAUGHAN (Lucy’s children):

  • John-Wilmot-Courtenay 1799-1818: born 6 May 1799 at Westminster (Middlesex); died 8 February 1818 at Épinay-sur-Seine (Seine, France).
  • Ernest-Augustus 1800-1873: born 30 October 1800 at Westminster (Middlesex); died 8 November 1873 at Llanafan (Cardiganshire, Wales); married (1) Mary Palk 27 August 1835 at Westminster (Middlesex); after Mary’s death in 1851, (2) Elizabeth-Augusta-Harriet Mitchell 5 April 1853 at Alverstoke (Hampshire). 4 children born 1836-41 and 1 daughter born 1855.
  • George-Lawrence 1802-1879: baptised 19 March 1802 at Westminster (Middlesex); died 19 August 1879 at Westminster; married Mary-Josephine Roche 13 October 1830 in Ireland. 1 daughter born 1830 by Harriot Norman and 4 children born 1832-43.
  • John-Shafto 1803-1881: born 31 October 1803 at Westminster (Middlesex); died 18 January 1881 at Liberton (Midlothian, Scotland); married Elizabeth Edwards. 4 daughters born 1827-44.
  • William-Mallett 1807-1867: born 18 May 1807 at Marylebone (Middlesex); died 13 December 1867 at Westminster (Middlesex); married Louisa-Elizabeth-Ann Wigan 21 June 1838 at Leamington Priors (Warwickshire). 2 children born 1839-40.
  • Lucy-Harriet 1809-1867: born 4 February 1809 at Westminster (Middlesex); died 29 March 1867 at Aberystwyth (Cardiganshire, Wales).

Images from the top

  • Angerer (Wien, Österreich), albumen print, 1854-64: Matilda-Harriet-Elizabeth Locke after her marriage to Heinrich LXIX Reuß zu Köstritz. RCIN 2915286. © Royal Collection Enterprises Limited 2024 | Royal Collection Trust.

Page history

2024 October 7: first published online.