Stanislaus Calhaen

[DavidOwen]

 

I have ordered the will and will post it when it arrives.

 

[Matlock1418]

20 minutes ago, DavidOwen said:

I have ordered the will and will post it when it arrives.

You really have got your teeth into this challenging case.  

Looking forward to what it might reveal, though of course always somewhat a lottery as to the level of content. [now where is that crossed-fingers emoji?]

M

[DavidOwen]

2 hours ago, Matlock1418 said:

You really have got your teeth into this challenging case.  

Looking forward to what it might reveal, though of course always somewhat a lottery as to the level of content. [now where is that crossed-fingers emoji?]

M

I am just too curious and especially why one brother would be favoured over all the other siblings / mother (and it wasn't too expensive either!)

[schneekle]

I'm not going to lie, I'm so totally invested......good work people!

[DavidOwen]

Whilst waiting for the will I wondered why he did not mention his mother. It seems likely she died in 1911 (courtesy FMP)

[Gareth Davies]

With thanks to Sue Chifney I can offer the following additions to the story:

This mentions the infant Stanislaus senior and his younger brother Frank:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/1scwpxv47Tnkd6C9w7xtRl8/famous-child-actor-plays-at-ledbury

Still with Stanislaus senior from this: https://jhrusk.github.io/cr/CRAIKM.html

"Lamentable to relate, the closing years of Mr Calhaem's life were clouded with misfortunes which were never of his own creation. At a period when even eminent actors were but indifferently paid, by dint of strict economy and rigid self-denial he had: saved a couple of thousand pounds, a few hundreds of which he lent the manager of a certain West End theatre, who came to grief; while, through the indiscreet advice of a relative connected with the Stock Exchange, he (Calhaem) was induced to invest the

remainder of his savings in certain disastrous speculations, with the result that he parted with his last piece of scrip for a few shillings. A virulent and long continued attack of neuritis ultimately drove him from the stage, and about two years ago, poor Jacky 'shuffled off this mortal coil' esteemed and beloved by all who knew and appreciated a blameless record and an honourable life. R.I.P. 

This link (which will take you to a PDF download) says about Stanislaus senior He was married and had a son, Lionel who was killed in World War I. Stanislaus died in 1901.

The photos here I don't think help but may be of interest:  https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O232284/guy-little-theatrical-photograph-photograph-walker-cb/

[pjwmacro]

Fascinating and very confusing thread!

@Gareth Davies - is this the one you were asking for genealogical input for on FTC fb group?

[Matlock1418]

1 hour ago, pjwmacro said:

Fascinating and very confusing thread!

Ah, agreed, but Gareth is going to now pull it all together and provide us all with a superb timeline and account! Hopefully we will get a preview of his book!! 

M

Edited 30 July by Matlock1418

[Gareth Davies]

Um, yes, something like that!

[DavidOwen]

On 28/07/2023 at 12:05, DavidOwen said:

Interestingly I can find no records at all on FMP or Ancestry for a Lionel Chalmondeley, Chalmondely, Chalmondly or Chalmondley. That man certainly does not seem to have existed.

I misread the surname it should have been Cholmondeley, so I have repeated my searches  but again without result.

[DavidOwen]

I have just done a probate search for Stanislaus's death in 1956 and came up empty again.

[Gareth Davies]

Thank you.

[DavidOwen]

Forgive the tardiness of this reply. I had misread an email and didn't realise the documents had become available instantly. That problem now rectified I am pleased to post the non-will  of the man who died as Stanislaus Calhaen/m. Make of these what you will (pardon the pun). Images courtesy HM Govt.

 

Edit: The second  image might be the end of the first letter but they are reproduced as they appear in the downloaded file.

 

Personally I think this may add weight to the theory that Lionel was in fact the serving soldier. I find it difficult to think Stanislaus would have excluded other family members. Also as he officially died in 1956 having lived out his life in company of one of those brothers (would the brother have gone along with an impersonation at this stage to the extent that he would bury Lionel as Stanislaus?). The clincher for me is Lionel appearing on the Drury Lane memorial (I wonder if they have a record of who nominated him for the list? 

 

[DavidOwen]

This also raises the question of the first legatee on the Soldiers effects record - namely Lionel Cholmondeley...

[Gareth Davies]

Thank you for this David. I will digest and revert.

[DavidOwen]

I am supposing the "Etna" purporting to be the wife of a Major Johan (John?) Gadon / Yadon / *adon? is the Etna referred to earlier in the thread. This also makes me suspect fishy goings on even here.

On that basis I went looking for the witness signatories:

W Ralph Cator could indeed be William Ralph Cator, a Catholic Priest, who was in the 1911 census an "inmate" at Brompton Oratory. (Inmate in this sense is perfectly innocent).

(Courtesy FMP)

and Herbert Ridley is genuine too (1911 census, FMP)

So at least the witnesses were legitimate...

 

[DavidOwen]

I have been stumped by the surname Etna was purporting to be using. I cannot find a POW of the surname "*adon" nor any pertinent ww1 records for a Major or indeed any officer.

[DavidOwen]

To add to my concerns re fraud the alleged maid, Helen Taylor, was indeed living at 45 Oxford Gardens in 1911 - as a Housekeeper for her parents.

The address she gives on her statement of 180 Kensington Park Road, Kensington was a Boarding House in 1911 (courtesy FMP)

[Gareth Davies]

17 hours ago, DavidOwen said:

I have been stumped by the surname Etna was purporting to be using. I cannot find a POW of the surname "*adon" nor any pertinent ww1 records for a Major or indeed any officer.

No, me neither. Hmm.

[DavidOwen]

Whilst not wanting to muddy the waters further I revisited the newspaper from which I had previously posted the photo of "Lady Mercia Somerset" and noticed the article was "continued from page 1".  Seeking out page one it transpires there may be yet another alias for this mysterious woman - Ada Alice Fricker. The images below courtesy of FMP are of that page one article in the The People 23 February 1913.

 

 

It doesn't help with the fundamental question of who died as Stanislaus Calhaen though.

Does anyone else think it odd that the will reproduced above doesn't include a claim from the lady herself (presumably accepted by the authorities as the "maid" claims her mistress is very ill...)

[Gareth Davies]

Ada Alice Fricker was admitted to Banstead asylum in 1926.

[Gareth Davies]

https://ww1poole.wordpress.com/2019/06/19/the-astounding-record-of-a-poole-girl/

Could Edna Gordon mentioned in this article be Etna Gadon?

 

Edited 4 August by Gareth Davies

[DavidOwen]

8 minutes ago, Gareth Davies said:

https://ww1poole.wordpress.com/2019/06/19/the-astounding-record-of-a-poole-girl/

 

Interesting find Gareth. 

No mention of Cholmondeley I notice.

[Allan1892]

10 minutes ago, Gareth Davies said:

https://ww1poole.wordpress.com/2019/06/19/the-astounding-record-of-a-poole-girl/

Could Edna Gordon mentioned in this article be Etna Gadon?

 

As David said 'Interesting' --- what a woman, so many lies

[DavidOwen]

14 minutes ago, Gareth Davies said:

Could Edna Gordon mentioned in this article be Etna Gadon?

 

I would say it is a likely prospect.

Thinking about the "family" I would tentatively suggest that they are merely a bunch of con artists drawn together by circumstance (Maurice and Ida apart)