Ursula Hill Hoseason
- Born: 5 Oct 1788, Spanish Town, Jamaica 2
- Baptised: 3 Dec 1788, Parish of St
Catherine's, Jamaica 3
- Marriage (1): Dr Edward Nathaniel Bancroft,
M.D., F.R.C.P. on 6 Oct 1812 in Kingston Parish Church, Jamaica 1
- Died: 31 Jan 1830, Kingston, Jamaica aged 41 4
- Buried: 1 Feb 1830, Kingston Parish, Jamaica
Ursula was sometimes
referred to as Ursilla Hill Hoseason
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First of nine children born to William and
Maria Hoseason, four of whom died young, Ursula was born in St
Catherine Parish, Spanish Town. Her next surviving sibling, Eliza, was
not born till 1800 so, in effect, Ursula grew up as an only child.
At some point the family lived in the Bahama Islands, where her brother
William was born in 1802 when she would have been 14, subsequently
returning to Kingston where, in 1812, she married Edward Nathaniel
Bancroft.
Unlike her own mother, married at 14, first birth (Ursula) at 15,
Ursula was just 24 when she married Edward.1 5 At 40 he was closer - much - to her parents'
generation, but this would otherwise have been seen as a very good
match for her, and the relative discrepancy in age not at all unusual.
Dr Bancroft was a scholarly man. Brought up in France but educated in
London, he studied medicine at Cambridge, graduating BM in 1794. He
travelled extensively in Germany and the Low Countries before resuming
his studies at Edinburgh (briefly) then embarking on a series of
appointments around the world - West Indies, Portugal, the
Mediterranean, Egypt. Widely travelled, serious, perhaps a little prim,
he had published papers on yellow fever, typhus fever, dysentery and
the plague and was greatly respected in the medical/scientific circles
of his time. 6 Only ill health led him to abandon his
distinguished appointment of Physician of St George's Hospital, London
and, in 1811, to seek the warmer climate of Jamaica.
Clearly he was smitten with his young wife. A touching letter has
survived written by Edward to Ursula in August 1813 when she was out of
town, perhaps recovering from a miscarriage, "
I loved you and
married you with the expectation of finding sooner or later in you many
or at least a certain proportion, of the failings of your sex & and
of human nature, but in this alone I have erred
Adieu my excellent
wife
Adieu my dearest, sweetest Ursula
".7
She bore him seven children at fairly evenly-spaced intervals - 1815,
1817, 1820, 1822, 1825, 1826 and 1830, which suggests Edward was a more
considerate husband than many. Unfortunately, the seventh, Charles, led
to her death in childbirth 8 and the child himself did not long survive.9 10
While her husband's previous experience as Physician to the Forces and
Director of Army Hospitals may have led them to mix socially with the
medical and military establishment of the island, we have very little
idea of the kinds of activity available to Ursula. Among other
influences on her daily life would have been, of course, the ongoing
war with the United States (1812-1815) which was beginning to affect
her father's business.
18 months or so after her marriage to Edward, they both set off for
England, sailing in the Leviathan in March 1814. 11 Her 13-year-old sister Eliza was already in
London having left Jamaica the year before and her mother, sister
Amelia and brother Thomas were to follow in July 1815. This had the
unfortunate effect of leaving Ursula alone, but for her husband, when,
following her and Edward's return to Jamaica, she had to face the birth
of her first child that September. This at least seems to have passed
without mishap for mother or the infant, Ursula Maria, who was duly
baptised in Kingston parish church, whose Parish Register records the
event on October 10, 1815. Controversially, the incumbent later
reported it as occurring on November 10, 1815 in the "Bishop's
Transcripts" of that Register.12
In 1817, William Hoseason, her father, also sailed for England, hoping,
no doubt, but in the event failing, to placate his London creditors; it
seems likely that he arrived too late to join the Bancrofts celebrating
the second baptism* of little Ursula, conducted by Edward's
brother-in-law, the Rev George Augustus Lamb, Rector of Iden, Sussex,
at Margate, Kent.13
This ceremony, 18th April, was attended by Edward's sister, Maria, and
Ursula's sister, Eliza - both Godmothers; the Rev Lamb, Godfather. It
would be unusual if the babe's grandmother, Maria, aunt Amelia and
uncle Thomas from the Hoseasons, and aunts Catherine and Julia (Lamb's
wife) from the Bancroft side were not also present - as well as the
child's parents - but there is no mention of this in the English church
record.
To have attended that Margate baptism, Ursula and the child must have
left Jamaica in February 1817. It seems likely they travelled without
Edward as there are reports he was looking after "the sick" on a
hospital ship off St. Domingo 14 around that time though it appears that he
did join them later on that year. Ursula, now pregnant with her second
child, stayed on in London with baby Ursula after Edward returned to
Jamaica in early October 1817 15 16 thereby missing
the arrival of his eldest son, Edward Nathaniel on 22nd October. 17 When Edward Nathaniel (later to be known as
Edward James) was baptised at St George's Hanover Square on 23rd
December that year, the family was said to be living in Alfred Place,
off the Tottenham Court Road, which may also have been the home of
Ursula's Hoseason family at that time. Ursula remained in London for
another year but not long enough to see her younger sister, Eliza,
married to Henry Dean, as she left with her two children for Jamaica on
the Lady Ridley in early December 1818 reaching Kingston mid-January
1819.18 19
Ursula and her husband seem to have taken a slightly haphazard approach
to their children's baptisms. Ursula Maria, as mentioned earlier, was
baptised for a second time at Margate, possibly with the intention of
providing English-based godparents; Julia Eliza (born 29 Aug 1820) had
to wait three years to celebrate hers jointly in August 1823 with her
sister Marianne Augusta (born 13 Nov 1822);20 and Edward Nathaniel (born 22 Oct 1817),
presumably having decided to change his given names to Edward James,
was baptised for a second time at the age of 16 in December 1833 at the
same time as his younger brother William (born 22 June 1826). 21
22 Neither George (buried 12 May 1825) nor
Charles (buried c. Feb/Mar 1830) were baptised before their infantile
deaths. 23
Unsurprisingly, surviving Jamaican newspapers of the period do not
mention Ursula in any context except her arrival back from England in
January 1819 and the birth of her son William in June 1826. Edward, on
the other hand, is mentioned in regular reports mostly to do with the
meetings or gentlemanly dinners of the Horticultural Society of which
he was president for many years.24 25 Those reports give us some idea of the
Bancroft family's standing in Kingston society but, sadly, no feel for
the social life Ursula might have had.
Despite Edward's reputation as an eminent physician, contemporary
evidence suggests that the Bancroft family was not well off,
particularly after he gave up his post as Physician to the Forces in
1818 and took half-pay.26 27 The Bancrofts did not keep a large household
(only 4 or so servants) compared with, for instance, the Espeut family
into which their daughter Marianne married in 1842.
Like her grandmother, Mary Anderton Hill, Ursula died "after much
suffering" in childbirth in January 1830 followed shortly by her infant
son Charles leaving Edward bereft and her five remaining children
motherless. 10
* It is not known why, many months later, Edward Bancroft should have
made a note of this event and the godparents alongside Ursula Maria's
baptismal entry in the Kingston Parish Church Register. It might just
have been a nostalgic act to connect the English Bancrofts with his
embryo dynasty in Jamaica, more likely, it was to avoid any doubt about
the child being baptised. Such doubt might have arisen as hers is
recorded by a specially worded, retrospective entry certifying that it
had occurred on 10 October 1815 [Note 1], the Rector, Isaac Mann,
having perhaps neglected to add her name to the Register at the time.
Later, the Rector confused the matter further by recording the baptism
as occurring on November 10 when he wrote a transcription of the
Register for the Bishop's Office [Note 2], though it's unlikely Edward
would have known of this.
Ursula married Dr Edward Nathaniel Bancroft,
M.D., F.R.C.P., son of Dr Edward Bancroft, M.D., F.R.S. and Penelope
Fellows, on 6 Oct 1812 in Kingston Parish Church, Jamaica.1 (Dr Edward Nathaniel Bancroft, M.D.,
F.R.C.P. was born on 16 May 1772 in Marylebone, London,28 died on 18 Sep 1842 in Kingston, Jamaica 29
and was buried on 19 Sep 1842 in Kingston Parish Church, Jamaica 30.)
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Sources
1 "Parish
Register Transcript"
(Unattributed or foreign transcripts), Jamaica, Church of England
Parish
Registers Transcripts, 1664-1880 Kingston Marriages 1721-1825, Vol.
1, Page
193 Kingston Marriages 1812.
October 6 - Edward Nathaniel Bancroft, Doctor of Physic & Ursula
Hill
Hoseason, spinster, both of this parish.
2 Parish
Registers of Jamaica, St
Catherine's, Jamaica Baptisms.
3 Parish
Registers of Jamaica, St
Catherine's, Jamaica Baptisms. Dec 3 1788... Ursula Hill daughter of
William
and Maria Hoseason... [ b ] 5 Oct 1788.
4 Captain
J. H Lawrence-Archer, "Monumental
Inscriptions British West Indies" (London: Chatto and Windus,
Piccadilly. 1875), Page 125 No: 159 (Monumental plaques in the
Cathedral
Church of Kingston). ...
(Ab.) EDWARD NATHANIEL BANCROFT, ESQR., M. D., DEPY. INSPT. GENL. OF
ARMY
HOSPLS., OB. 18 SEP., 1842, AET. 70 ALSO HIS WIFE, URSULA HILL, OB. 31
JANY.,
1830, AET 40. GEORGE AUGUSTUS B., OB. 11 MAY, 1824, AET. 5 MTHS. CHAS.
AUGUSTUS
B., OB. 11 APRIL, 183..., AET. 7 weeks. URSULA MARIA B., OB. 30 AUGT.,
1840,
AET. 24 CHILDREN OF THE ABOVE E. N. B. & U. H.
5 Royal
Gazette (Published in Kingston,
Jamaica), Postscript for October 3rd-10th, edition, 1812, Page 23.
MARRIED...
At the Church, in the city, on Tuesday afternoon, by the Rev. Dr
Campbell,
Edmund (sic) Nathaniel Bancroft, M. D. to Ursula, eldest daughter of
William
Hoseason, Esq.
6 "West
Indian Reference Library",
Transcriptions from handwritten notes sent to Joan Hoseason 6th May
1975.
Original source, possibly, Munk's Roll.
"Dr Bancroft's writings display not only the finish style [sic] of the
classical scholar but the acute and accurate reasoning of the Logician.
His
inductions are generally drawn in a strong and masterly manner and as a
polemical writer he uses his pen with much energy and effect in turning
the
facts or arguments of an antagonist against himself!".
7 Various,
"Bancroft Papers" (Family papers including some of Edward Bancroft's
and his family's correspondence now in the possession of some of his
Cooke
descendants.), Letter Edward Bancroft to his wife Ursula, 13 Aug 1813
(copy
in John Green's possession).
8 "Parish
Register Transcript"
(Unattributed or foreign transcripts), Parish Registers of Jamaica.
1664-1880
All Parishes Burials 1826-1836, Vol. 1 Kingston, Page 29, No. 20.
Ursula Hill Bancroft - White - East Street - February 1st - 41 yrs - J
B Crowe.
9 "Parish
Register Transcript"
(Unattributed or foreign transcripts), Parish Registers of Jamaica,
1664-1880
All Parishes Burials 1826-1836, Vol. 1 Kingston, Page 31, No.71.
Charles Bancroft - White - East Street - April 12 - Infant - J B Crowe.
10
Various, Hoseason Letters (Surviving
letters that are held by various Hoseason descendants.), John Hoseason
of Annotto
Bay, dated 17th October 1831 to his brother Robert Hoseason of Udhouse,
Shetland. Copied from the original by W. S. Hoseason on 17.7.1934.
"You will no doubt hear of poor Mrs Bancroft's death after much
suffering
& giving birth to her seventh child which survived her only a few
weeks.
She was a sweet woman and I cannot tell you how much I feel her loss.".
11 Royal
Gazette (Published in Kingston,
Jamaica), Postscript. Saturday, 12 March 1814, Page 18, Col B
PASSENGERS
SAILED.
In the Leviathan: - Edward N. Bancroft Esq. M. D. and lady.
[The
Leviathan
was a 74-gun man-of-war and Edward and Ursula were the only
passengers].
12 Parish
Registers of Jamaica, Kingston
Parish Baptisms.
These are to Certify, that Ursula Maria daughter of Edward Nathaniel
Bancroft
and Ursula Hill his wife (late Hoseason spinster) Born on 21 Septr was
Baptised
on the 10th day of October in the year of our Lord 1815 as appears from
the
register book of the city and parish of Kingston.... Kingston: 2nd Novr
1815...
Isaac Mann... Rector.
Note 1: On the copy of this Register Entry Edward Bancroft
has written,
"Christened in Margate Church, 18th April 1817, by the Revd George
Augustus Lamb, Rector of Iden, Sussex, who was Godfather. Godmothers my
sister
Maria & Eliza Hoseason."
Note 2: The Bishop's Transcription of this entry reads:
[Baptisms in
Kingston 1815 - November] 10 - Ursula Maria Daughter of Edward
Nathaniel
Bancroft & Ursula Hill his wife late Hoseason Spinster - pri bap* -
[born]
21 Sept 18?? (unreadable year) [*Private Baptism].
13 Parish
Registers of England and Wales, St
John in Thanet (Margate) Baptisms 1817.
April 18 - Ursula Maria [daughter of] - Edward Nathaniel and Ursula
Hill -
Bancroft
[These limited details come from a transcript of the
entry on
FamilySearch, the image not being available].
14 Hampshire
Chronicle and General Advertiser
(Published at Winchester), Monday 3 March 1817, Page 4, Col B.
The Medusa parted off St. Domingo with the Hospital ship; Dr. Bancroft,
physician
to the forces, had charge of the sick board her.
15 The
Morning Chronicle (Published in
London.), Saturday 4 October 1817, Page 4, Col B.
SHIP NEWS - Deal, Oct. 2.- Came down from the River and sailed, the
James, for
Jamaica; Medina for ditto and Solon, for New York.
16 Royal
Gazette (Published in Kingston,
Jamaica), Saturday, 15 November 1817, Page 19, Col B PASSENGERS
ARRIVED.
In the Medina: - Edw. Nath. Bancroft Esq. M. D.; R. T. Foster, Esq.
Naval
Storekeeper;
.
17 Parish
Registers of England and Wales, St
George, Hanover Square - Baptisms - December 1817.
23 - [No.] 850 - Edward Nathaniel - Edward Nathaniel & Ursula Hill
- Bancroft
- Alfred Place - 22 Octob 1817 - Physician - J Grenvilles.
18 Public
Ledger and Daily Advertiser
(London), Tuesday 15 December 1818, Page 4.
DEAL, DECEMBER 13
Came down from the River last night and sailed
the Lady
Ridley, VIDAL, for Jamaica; Montrιal, PENGELLY, for ditto;
.
19 Royal
Gazette (Published in Kingston,
Jamaica), Postscript. Saturday, 16 January 1819, Page 19, Col C
PASSENGERS
ARRIVED.
In the Lady Ridley: - Mrs. Bancroft and family, Mrs. Franklin and
child,
.
20
"Parish Register Transcript"
(Unattributed or foreign transcripts), Jamaica. Bishop's Transcripts of
baptisms in Kingston Parish, (1793-1825, Vol. 2) - Page 400 - 1823.
August 19 - Julia Eliza daughter of Edward Martha [sic] Bancroft MD and
Ursula
his wife late Hoseason spinster - 29 Augt 1820
Marianne Augusta, daughter of the above - 13 Novr 1822.
21
"Parish Register Transcript"
(Unattributed or foreign transcripts), Jamaica. Bishop's Transcripts of
baptisms in Kingston Parish, (1833-1834, Vol. 2) Page 24, 1833.
[No.] 398 - Dec: 14 - Edward James - born 22 October 1817 - Edward
Nathaniel
Bancroft [&] Ursula Hill his wife - East Street - Physician - Geo D
Hill
Assis: Curate
[No.] 399 - Dec: 14 - William Charles - born 22 June 1826 - Edward
Nathaniel
Bancroft [&] Ursula Hill his wife - East Street - Physician - Geo D
Hill
Assis: Curate.
22 Royal
Gazette (Published in Kingston,
Jamaica), Saturday 24 June 1826, Page 19, Col C.
On Thursday, the Lady of E. N. Bancroft, M. D. of a son.
23
"Parish Register Transcript"
(Unattributed or foreign transcripts), Jamaica. Bishop's Transcripts of
burials
in Kingston Parish, (1774-1825, Vol. 2), Page 471.
May 12 - George Bancroft - infant - C.Y. [Church Yard].
24 Royal
Gazette (Published in Kingston,
Jamaica), Postscript. From Saturday, October 15, To Saturday, October
22, 1825,
Page 17.
A meeting of the Horticultural Society was held in this city on
Wednesday last,
Dr. Bancroft in the Chair. The minutes of the last meeting having been
read and
approved,
.
25 Royal
Gazette (Published in Kingston,
Jamaica), Saturday 12 August 1826, Page 18, Col B.
At a Meeting of the Horticultural and Agricultural Society, held on
Monday, the
following prizes were awarded:
In the evening the Members and
Friends
celebrated the second anniversary of the Society's formation, by a
Public
Dinner at the City-Tavern, Dr. Bancroft, the President. In the Chair,
supported
in the Vice-Chairs by W. Hyslop, Esq. the Foreign Secretary, and Samuel
J.
Dallas, Esq. the English Secretary, and a number of highly respectable
characters, to the number of between eighty and ninety.
.
26
Various, Hoseason Letters (Surviving
letters that are held by various Hoseason descendants.), John Hoseason
of
Annotto Bay, dated 17th October 1831 to his brother Robert Hoseason of
Udhouse,
Shetland. Copied from the original by W. S. Hoseason on 17.7.1934.
"The Doctor poor man is smarting under the hardships of the times in
common with almost everyone else & is unable to send any of his
children to
England for their Education, indeed (between you & I) he is in
difficulties
".
27 London
Gazette, 22 August 1818, Page 1492.
HOSPITAL STAFF. Dr. John McKenzie, from half-pay, to be Physician to
the
Forces, vice Dr. Edward Nathaniel Bancroft, who exchanges. Dated 13
August
1818.
28 Edith
Bancroft, "The Bancroft Family" (An unpublished family history of the
Bancroft family by Edith Bancroft (1862-1941) now in the possession of
J R U
Green (2023)), Page 80.
29 Captain
J.
H Lawrence-Archer, "Monumental Inscriptions British West Indies"
(London: Chatto and Windus, Piccadilly. 1875), Page 89 No: 51
(Inscriptions
from the Cathedral Church of Kingston). ...
(Ab.) EDWARD NATHANIEL BANCROFT M. D. CANTAB; FELLOW OF THE ROYAL
COLLEGE OF
PHYSICIANS, LONDON; AND DEPUTY INSPECTOR GENERAL OF ARMY HOSPITALS.
(ERECTED BY
THE PHYSICIANS & SURGEONS OF JAMAICA) OB. AT KINGSTON, 18 SEP.
1842, AET.
70. ... Mural, W. M. Tablet.
30 Parish
Registers of Jamaica, Kingston
Parish Burials, 1842 (Vol. 2, Page 231, No. 372). Edward Nathaniel
Bancroft,
Physician Gen. [?] of Army Hospital, 70 yrs, [abode:] Corner of North
St &
Blackmore St, [when buried:] Sept 19, 1842, [where buried:] C. Y.Ή, [by
whom:]
Alexander Campbell Officiating Minister.... Ή Church yard.
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