The Sadler connection

 

Followers of my tree will remember that Henriette Ditges wife of Alexander William Rowland died in 1851, giving birth to Henrietta. William Alexander did not remarry and he brought in Aunt Sophie to look after the children. However researches by Jacky Fogerty have revealed that he took a mistress, Caroline Sadler, widow of James George Sadler, a mariner who had died in 1844. With her, Alexander William fathered four children –

Alexis-1853

Alexis Caroline-1856

Robert-1858

Ellen Maisie-1861

Alexander William was named on their birth certificates described as a gentleman, but all the children took the surname Sadler. Alexander William died in 1861-the Sadlers were not mentioned in his Will. Mrs Sadler lived in Deptford, not far from Lewisham, so I expect Alexander William would visit in secret in a hansom cab! Interestingly Robert named his father on his marriage certificate as James George Sadler, mariner . Perhaps he just wanted to avoid the implications of illegitimacy-it seems unlikely that his mother would have been able to cover up her liason with Alexander William for 10 years.

Robert Sadler had five children-

William Robert-1883

Bertram John-1884

Victor George-1885

Lily Ethel-1888

Mabel Violet-1871

Victor George spent time in Argentina, returning to Liverpool with his son Martin Gordon born 1931.

At this stage the trail runs cold-Martin Gordon Sadler would be my father’s third cousin.

 

The Niboyet Connection

 

Jacky Fogerty has located further information about Henriette de Bellegarde via research by Brian Freeman. I will post this separately. Also I was contacted by Claire Juliette Beale via my website for information about Henriette- she was her grandmother’s half sister, as explained below.

 

My grandfather, William Domville Rowland’s first wife was Henriette Niboyet, Baroness de Bellegarde. She inherited this title from her father Alexander Paulin Niboyet-it had been granted to his grandfather Colonel Jean Niboyet by Napoleon for services in the field. (readers of my website will remember that my mother in law Barbie Adcock was brought up by her Jomini cousins, whose celebrated ancestor was Baron General Jomini- again ennobled by Napoleon for services at Austerlitz, Ulm, Jena and Eylau. Despite his socialist leanings Napoleon had no problem garnering support by giving titles to his followers)

 

Alexander Paulin Niboyet had a second marriage to Stephanie Lesser who had two children-

Pauline-1881

Jean-Hyppolithe-1886.

Pauline would have been a half sister to Henriette and accordingly half sister in law to my grandfather William Domville.

Pauline’s granddaughter is Claire Juliette Beale who lives in the US –my new third cousin.

Welcome to the tree!