From: Biological Stn. Pearl Beach
Via Woy Woy
NSW

To: Miss M. C. Sadler
"White Lodge"
101 Northcourt Rd.
Abingdon, Berkshire
England

July 26, 1952

My dear Margaret,

It was so nice to have your letter a few days ago giving me news of the family, etc. I am glad to find out at last that you are a 'Miss' and not 'Mrs.' Sadler! I puzzled over the name in Evelyn Crommelin's letter, and your own, and all I could make of it was 'Mrs.'!

Anne Wilkinson, Minard's great-grandmother

I am simply thrilled to hear that you have sent me a copy of our great-grandmother's picture, and shall look forward to it with delight. I am glad too that you have a nephew who has taken copies of the coats-of-arms, but if you have sent those too I will return them to you since a friend of mine did them for me in colour, and of course that is very nice indeed.

None of my immediate family is at all interested in the things I like - not in family history or in my work here. Strange isn't it? They have never bothered to open the books and would not even read the newspaper articles about addresses I have given to different groups. They are ashamed because we were so badly off and lacked advantages of education in our early years! When I think of my own dear father and his long and painful illness - so patiently bourne - and his love for us, and his own people, I simply cannot understand their attitude. I always feel that a struggle brings out the best in any character - it certainly did so with the Crommelins. Whenever they became wealthy and indolent, or forget their religion, they were cut off completely. That is what happened to the Irish branch.

Do you know anything about Ellerby Hall, Yorkshire where Anne Wilkinson was born? I cannot find out anything. There were a great number of Wilkinsons in India with our people, and they figure in nearly every baptism. A public library book should help.

The Scheffer book has several mistakes in names and spelling as I expect you have already discovered. Did you receive my letter about the Sir Thomas Lawrence picture, and can you find out anything about it? I am very anxious to do so because I believe it is a very important link. I wrote to Evelyn and gave her a great many particulars but she seems not to be able to answer queries. I believe she is quite engrossed with the present family (her own) and not with the past. That is natural, I suppose, and we must all be glad that William is marrying and that his future wife is such a capable and interesting woman. I must write to Evelyn. I was so very much disappointed she did not answer any of my queries but passed the letter on to Arden who seemed equally disinclined. Yes, it seems a pity that branch is in the 'air force' and that there is only one young man of the name. I picture them as more interested in social matters and connections than in family history. They say that there is usually only one genealogist in a family, so it is nice to be in touch with you!

Thomas Lake Crommelin

The Tom Crommelin you mention was, of course, my grandfather, and I have some interesting references to him in a book written by Cuthbert Featherstonhaugh - a friend of his. The book, "After Many Days", was published many years ago and is now out of print. You might be able to pick up a copy in a second hand bookshop. (Those in London are such wonderful places!)

I am glad to know that Mrs. Hervey was a daughter of Lord Lake.

Reference: (See page: 426)

Did Evelyn show you the pamphlet written by Lieut.-General Charles Hervey CB. about "Lieutenant-General Crommelin CB. Royal Engineers", published in Exeter by William Pollard & Co., North Street in 1887? It must have been his mother who was grandfather's god-mother as he (grandfather) was born in 1805. Have you the following details (which I have decided to copy and attach as a separate enclosure - see below).

I am sorry you have been such a sufferer from arthritis. I have it only a little but it doesn't trouble me except for some difficulty in using a thimble. I have been taking olive oil (a dessert-spoonful before each meal) because of gall bladder trouble and it seems to keep me well. "The leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations," and I do think simple vegetable products are our best remedies. I am so glad to be be able to do everything for myself because it is quite out of the question to obtain help in such places as this. Even in the larger towns and cities everyone must do their own work these days!

I have been very busy indeed moving into my own little quarters which have been added to by the university. They have very kindly provided me with every available comfort - telephone - hot water service to bath - kitchen and laundry - and a washing machine. I have a very pleasant bedroom - sitting room - dining room (with a wood fire whenever I like it - which is constantly burning this cold winter). Also a very nicely fitted small kitchen (nice electric stove) and a tiny bathroom and also a nice big laundry with storage cupboards. Then I have a very tiny room with a single bed where I can have a visitor. I call it the 'Nook', and there is a divan in the dining room which makes another bed. A covered way separates me from the larger building where the Library is.

I am glad to say that the station is being used more. We are to have a change in one of the Professors and I anticipate expansion and improvements shortly. I hope much useful work will be done here. We had no less than 85 visitors from the university alone since the end of May. Students and Fellows in residence for periods ranging from week-ends to 10 days and visiting Professors from different parts of the world. The last party of 20 with members of the Council, and one scientific and industrial research (CST RE) were studying plant food storage and transport problems - so they came for a conference.

We are having big gales at present and have been isolated by storm damaging the roads. Do tell me more about your work and your interests. It is a pity we are so far apart. Love from Minard

---

Charles Russell Crommelin

Charles Russell Crommelin,
father of Thomas Lake Crommelin

Born Bombay 14 March 1763. In 1780 he was appointed to the Civil Service of the East India Company within Bengal establishment. On 1st March 1790 he was married in Calcutta to his first wife Juliana Shipton, widow of Lieut. John Shipton of the artillery, and daughter of Sir Robert Barker, formerly Commander-in-Chief of the East Indies (who died in England 14 Sept. 1789, aged 56 years). Juliana died 1 Nov. 1795, aged 25 years.

On 21st May 1798 Charles Russell C. was married to his second wife, Anne Wilkinson (1776-1833), daughter of Thomas Wilkinson Esq., a West India merchant (he died at St. Pierre, Martinique, Nov. 24, 1798 - aged 48 years).

Charles Russell C. died at Contai in the Bengal Presidency on 26 Sept. 1822, and Anne Crommelin, his second wife, died at Plas-y-Bridall, near Cardigan in South Wales on 13th June 1833 aged 57 years.

Charles Russell Crommelin was the only legitimate son of Charles Crommelin who died 25 Dec. 1785. There were 2 illegitimate sons, William born 7th May 1756 who died at Ghazapore 10 June 1804, and Charles born 28 Dec. 1758 who was afterwards a senior merchant in the Bengal C. Service and died in Calcutta 17 Oct. 1788. I do not know the mother's name of these two sons.

Charles Russell Crommelin was for some time (probably during the years 1801-2) Private Secretary to the Marquis of Wellesley who was Governor General of India 1787-1805. (Our grandfather, Thomas Lake C. was born in 1805.)