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Anketell Family Mark Heath November 2021 "I was reading your website recently as part of my research into the Heath family from Staffordshire and the trail led me to Box with the Anketell family in 1870s.’’ Visitors in Box We know that Box became an area of overspill accommodation for visitors to Bath; not all the village, just the houses on the west side. Visitors in the late Georgian and mid-Victorian periods could find plenty of large, rental housing suitable for a middle-class family with coach housing and space for domestic servants. For privacy, these families preferred Ashley or Middlehill, which was a pleasant, unhilly coach drive from Bath or, for those without private transport, a first-class railway carriage journey to Bath Spa from nearby Box Railway Station. On their way, these people would sometimes use the facilities offered at the Railway Hotel (now called the Northey Arms) for provisions, newspapers, meetings and news from London. Right: Spa House, Middlehill (courtesy Carol Payne) |
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We also know something about the reasons some people came to Bath: for the elderly and unwell to access medical services often involving the hot springs and spa facilities; and for families with young adults, the opportunity to find a partner of like status in the social activities of Bath.
I came to the Anketell family through Frances Helen Heath from Inkberrow, Worcestershire, who married Henry Ranking, a wealthy merchant, son of Joseph Ranking from Ulster-Place, Regent’s Park, London. Henry had international business interests and was described as a gentleman from Malta when he married Frances in 1826.[1] He may have come to the West Country for health reasons and he died whilst living at Henley Lodge, Bathford in 1868. He was 70-years of age and had withdrawn from a partnership with other merchants in Alexandria two years earlier.[2] Their daughter Laura Valetta Ranking (born in Malta about 1830 -1907) was the connection with the Anketell family when she married Fitz Ameline Maxwell Anketell (1825-1905), who was another merchant operating from Alexandria, Egypt.
I came to the Anketell family through Frances Helen Heath from Inkberrow, Worcestershire, who married Henry Ranking, a wealthy merchant, son of Joseph Ranking from Ulster-Place, Regent’s Park, London. Henry had international business interests and was described as a gentleman from Malta when he married Frances in 1826.[1] He may have come to the West Country for health reasons and he died whilst living at Henley Lodge, Bathford in 1868. He was 70-years of age and had withdrawn from a partnership with other merchants in Alexandria two years earlier.[2] Their daughter Laura Valetta Ranking (born in Malta about 1830 -1907) was the connection with the Anketell family when she married Fitz Ameline Maxwell Anketell (1825-1905), who was another merchant operating from Alexandria, Egypt.
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Anketell Estate, County Monaghan
The Anketell family were landowners in the borders of the province of Ulster but they weren’t nobility and not necessarily extremely wealthy.[3] However, they had their own coat of arms (a cross raguly, shaped like a clipped fir tree) and a Latin motto (Vade ad formicam) a quotation from the Bible with a literal meaning Go to the Ant.[4] Like many other younger sons in Britain, the children took careers in the military services or abroad as administrators or traders and the eldest son inherited the family estate. Most of Ireland was owned by this landlord class who rented out their estates to tenant farmers. The landlords were often absent, usually having little or no home farm themselves, and administration of the estate was through local agents. |
The Anketell Family stamp (courtesy British Armorial Bindings, University of Toronto)
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This isn’t true of the earlier Anketell family, however. William Anketell was born and died in Ireland and he inherited the Anketell estate in 1828 with its base at Anketell Grove, County Monaghan on the death of his uncle Charles Anketell. William’s wife Sarah Maxwell was also born in Ireland in 1793 and they married on 3 June 1809 when he was 18 and she was aged only 16. They were both children of military families (both fathers were Lieutenant Colonels).
Unlike many Protestant Ulster landlords, it is probable that William was deeply connected with local government in Ireland. He held various offices in County Monaghan as Deputy Lieutenant, Justice of the Peace and High Sheriff in 1830 (effectively the agent of the British crown). When a system of poor relief was introduced in 1838, William would have been responsible for collecting rates from the larger tenants and even paying the rates of smaller tenants with a land holding valued at under £4 per annum.[5] This situation worsened with the Irish Potato Famine of 1845-52.
Anketell Family at Spa House, 1870s
It was Sarah Maxwell Anketell who lived at Spa House, Middlehill, with her seventh child Fitz Ameline Maxwell Anketell and his family. Although the son was named as head of the household, we might imagine that Sarah had a significant involvement in family matters. They were there from at least 1870 when Fitz Ameline was named on the electoral register as occupying tenant of house. He was possibly named as head of the household because the Reform Act of 1867 enfranchised all male heads.
They appear to have lived in style. The full list of occupants at Spa House in the 1871 census were Fitz Ameline and his wife Laura with their two young children, Sarah then aged 79, two visitors (one of whom was his niece 17-year-old Augusta Anketell) and four servants. Sarah was described as annuitant in the census, meaning that she had a life income from her husband but no capital. More significantly, she was described as deaf.
We can trace some of the earlier history of the family. Sarah appears to have left Ireland when her husband died in 1851. In the 1861 census she was living at 9 Ladbroke Square, Kensington, as a gentlewoman widow, living in the home of her eldest son, Matthew John Anketell, his wife Catherine Frances Anne (nee Ker), eleven of their twelve children and four servants. Matthew was a Major in the Monaghan Militia and became head of the family until his death in May 1870. Presumably Sarah had to look around for a new home at that time. Her older children had spread widely across the world; most of the girls had made good marriages and one of the boys, Oliver Charles, had moved to Hong Kong and became a renowned diarist and served in the 37th Madras Native Infantry, Honourable East Indian Company Service. A younger son, Maxwell, had been recently widowed. Sarah moved to her fourth son Fitz Ameline Maxwell and his wife Laura Valetta who were living in London with a young baby.
Spa House was a prestigious, purpose-built Georgian property offering a healthy location and spring water, mimicking the facilities in Bath. We get an indication of the size of Spa House from its listing as a Grade II Historic Building: House late 18th century with .. three stories and attic… The Spa at Box was recorded in 1786 as having a pump room and boarding house. The business failed by 1793 and the house was auctioned as large, extensive modern stone building with numerous, convenient apartments .. standing for four carriages, stabling for nine horses .. commanding, delightful, diversified prospect of the country.[6]
Fitz Ameline Anketell
Fitz Ameline had been born in Ireland but was educated in England. Aged 15 in 1841, he attended a College for Civil Engineers run by George Hutchinson at Putney, London. He married Laura Valetta Ranking on 8 November 1859 at Alexandria, Egypt, when he was 34 and she was 29. In the 1861 census they were living at Holly Mount, Hampstead, where Fitz Ameline described himself as Gentleman. Retired Alexandrian Merchant. Their first child was an infant and they had a 63-year-old female visitor and one servant to help with the baby. Fitz Ameline and Laura appear to have left London by March 1870 as their second child Maud Mary was born and christened at Henley Lodge, Weston Road, Bath. A year later they were all living in Box.[7]
There were several changes in family matters about this time. Fitz Ameline’s eldest brother, Major Matthew John Anketell, head of the Monaghan estate, died on 8 May 1870. He had inherited the local offices previously held by his father, Deputy Lieutenant, Justice of the Peace and High Sheriff. His eldest son Matthew David Anketell inherited the Monaghan estate but died only two years later in July 1872. This caused a problem as the next son Oliver Frederick Anketell had died in February that year, aged 22. The estate was then claimed by the third son William, then unmarried and serving in the Royal Tyrone Fusiliers.
Unlike many Protestant Ulster landlords, it is probable that William was deeply connected with local government in Ireland. He held various offices in County Monaghan as Deputy Lieutenant, Justice of the Peace and High Sheriff in 1830 (effectively the agent of the British crown). When a system of poor relief was introduced in 1838, William would have been responsible for collecting rates from the larger tenants and even paying the rates of smaller tenants with a land holding valued at under £4 per annum.[5] This situation worsened with the Irish Potato Famine of 1845-52.
Anketell Family at Spa House, 1870s
It was Sarah Maxwell Anketell who lived at Spa House, Middlehill, with her seventh child Fitz Ameline Maxwell Anketell and his family. Although the son was named as head of the household, we might imagine that Sarah had a significant involvement in family matters. They were there from at least 1870 when Fitz Ameline was named on the electoral register as occupying tenant of house. He was possibly named as head of the household because the Reform Act of 1867 enfranchised all male heads.
They appear to have lived in style. The full list of occupants at Spa House in the 1871 census were Fitz Ameline and his wife Laura with their two young children, Sarah then aged 79, two visitors (one of whom was his niece 17-year-old Augusta Anketell) and four servants. Sarah was described as annuitant in the census, meaning that she had a life income from her husband but no capital. More significantly, she was described as deaf.
We can trace some of the earlier history of the family. Sarah appears to have left Ireland when her husband died in 1851. In the 1861 census she was living at 9 Ladbroke Square, Kensington, as a gentlewoman widow, living in the home of her eldest son, Matthew John Anketell, his wife Catherine Frances Anne (nee Ker), eleven of their twelve children and four servants. Matthew was a Major in the Monaghan Militia and became head of the family until his death in May 1870. Presumably Sarah had to look around for a new home at that time. Her older children had spread widely across the world; most of the girls had made good marriages and one of the boys, Oliver Charles, had moved to Hong Kong and became a renowned diarist and served in the 37th Madras Native Infantry, Honourable East Indian Company Service. A younger son, Maxwell, had been recently widowed. Sarah moved to her fourth son Fitz Ameline Maxwell and his wife Laura Valetta who were living in London with a young baby.
Spa House was a prestigious, purpose-built Georgian property offering a healthy location and spring water, mimicking the facilities in Bath. We get an indication of the size of Spa House from its listing as a Grade II Historic Building: House late 18th century with .. three stories and attic… The Spa at Box was recorded in 1786 as having a pump room and boarding house. The business failed by 1793 and the house was auctioned as large, extensive modern stone building with numerous, convenient apartments .. standing for four carriages, stabling for nine horses .. commanding, delightful, diversified prospect of the country.[6]
Fitz Ameline Anketell
Fitz Ameline had been born in Ireland but was educated in England. Aged 15 in 1841, he attended a College for Civil Engineers run by George Hutchinson at Putney, London. He married Laura Valetta Ranking on 8 November 1859 at Alexandria, Egypt, when he was 34 and she was 29. In the 1861 census they were living at Holly Mount, Hampstead, where Fitz Ameline described himself as Gentleman. Retired Alexandrian Merchant. Their first child was an infant and they had a 63-year-old female visitor and one servant to help with the baby. Fitz Ameline and Laura appear to have left London by March 1870 as their second child Maud Mary was born and christened at Henley Lodge, Weston Road, Bath. A year later they were all living in Box.[7]
There were several changes in family matters about this time. Fitz Ameline’s eldest brother, Major Matthew John Anketell, head of the Monaghan estate, died on 8 May 1870. He had inherited the local offices previously held by his father, Deputy Lieutenant, Justice of the Peace and High Sheriff. His eldest son Matthew David Anketell inherited the Monaghan estate but died only two years later in July 1872. This caused a problem as the next son Oliver Frederick Anketell had died in February that year, aged 22. The estate was then claimed by the third son William, then unmarried and serving in the Royal Tyrone Fusiliers.
Sarah died at Spa House on 2 March 1874, leaving effects under £300, indicating that the family’s capital had gone directly to the eldest son and she had only a life interest in any income. Three years later Fitz Ameline succeeded to an Irish estate, not that in County Monaghan but the estate of his maternal uncle, Robert Waring Maxwell, Esq at Killyfaddy, Clogher, County Tyrone when that line died out with the death of his widow Mrs Waring Maxwell on 21 August 1877. It was probably about this time that Fitz Ameline and his family moved back to Ireland, where their second child Maud died at Killyfaddy in 1882. They appear to have taken residence in Killyfaddy as Fitz Ameline and Laura died there subsequently.
Killyfaddy Manor (courtesy Landed families of Britain and Ireland)
The length of time that the family lived at Spa House seems to indicate that they rented the property rather than owned it. This is confirmed by advertisements for letting the property by Mr Mant, the solicitor of the Northey Estate, in 1853 describing the house as Unfurnished containing dining room, conservatory, entrance hall, study, seven head bedrooms, three garrets, kitchen, pantry, larder and, rather unusually, piggery and poultry yard.[8] By 1879 the house was owned by GT Elliott, a Box builder, who advertised it for rent again, the Anketell family having vacated the premises.[9] It was offered for rent again in December 1880, which might indicate that the building wasn’t very comfortable to live in as a family home, presumably requiring significant modernisation.[10]
Name Change
In 1873-74 several members of the family changed their name by Deed Poll to ANCKETILL, the original spelling of their patronymic. It was a planned and co-ordinated name change and members of the family took out separate but identical advertisements in important newspapers:[11]
William Robert Anketell, now of Quinton Castle, Co. Down, Ireland, Esq;
Fitz Ameline Maxwell Anketell, of Spa House, Box, Wilts, Gent;
Moutray Anketell, Esq., 2nd Captain Royal Artillery, retired, now at Spa House, Box, Wilts;
William Anketell of Ancketills Grove, Monaghan, Ireland;
Maxwell Anketell of Alexandria, Egypt, Gent.
On the face of it, this seems a strange thing to do when the spelling of names was still rather informal. We might speculate that the reason was the same as many other name-changes, involving an inheritance. The inheritances of the Killyfaddy and Monaghan estates seems to have been carefully engendered, partly through continuing family contact with Ireland. For example, Henry Anketell (the second child of Fitz Ameline and Laura) was born at Hampstead in December 1863 but died a month later when the family were living at Killyfaddy Manor.
To thwart any dispute, Fitz Ameline took out a large notice in 1874 explaining that there were two reasons for the name change: to resume the original spelling and also to isolate our family from others bearing the name.[12] There followed a long ancestral history from great grandfather to father, none of whom left any illegitimate issue, although Fitz Ameline concedes that his great-great grandfather did when he inherited Ancketill’s Grove from his brother. It is apparent that there was a dispute over the inheritance, although I haven’t been able to trace the details of this. Shortly thereafter, the Anketell family left Box and their story resumed in Ireland. The family estate at Ancketill’s Grove was sold out of the family in about 1890 and the Killyfaddy estate in the 1950s.[13]
The story of this brief association with Box shows much about Victorian wealth and influence. We see Irish landlords coming to England for health and society reasons, often living in rented accommodation for just a few years. Their roots weren’t here although some died in Box and are commemorated with epitaphs in Box Church. It is a shame that the only surviving record of the Anketell family in the village is through the census and their family history.
Name Change
In 1873-74 several members of the family changed their name by Deed Poll to ANCKETILL, the original spelling of their patronymic. It was a planned and co-ordinated name change and members of the family took out separate but identical advertisements in important newspapers:[11]
William Robert Anketell, now of Quinton Castle, Co. Down, Ireland, Esq;
Fitz Ameline Maxwell Anketell, of Spa House, Box, Wilts, Gent;
Moutray Anketell, Esq., 2nd Captain Royal Artillery, retired, now at Spa House, Box, Wilts;
William Anketell of Ancketills Grove, Monaghan, Ireland;
Maxwell Anketell of Alexandria, Egypt, Gent.
On the face of it, this seems a strange thing to do when the spelling of names was still rather informal. We might speculate that the reason was the same as many other name-changes, involving an inheritance. The inheritances of the Killyfaddy and Monaghan estates seems to have been carefully engendered, partly through continuing family contact with Ireland. For example, Henry Anketell (the second child of Fitz Ameline and Laura) was born at Hampstead in December 1863 but died a month later when the family were living at Killyfaddy Manor.
To thwart any dispute, Fitz Ameline took out a large notice in 1874 explaining that there were two reasons for the name change: to resume the original spelling and also to isolate our family from others bearing the name.[12] There followed a long ancestral history from great grandfather to father, none of whom left any illegitimate issue, although Fitz Ameline concedes that his great-great grandfather did when he inherited Ancketill’s Grove from his brother. It is apparent that there was a dispute over the inheritance, although I haven’t been able to trace the details of this. Shortly thereafter, the Anketell family left Box and their story resumed in Ireland. The family estate at Ancketill’s Grove was sold out of the family in about 1890 and the Killyfaddy estate in the 1950s.[13]
The story of this brief association with Box shows much about Victorian wealth and influence. We see Irish landlords coming to England for health and society reasons, often living in rented accommodation for just a few years. Their roots weren’t here although some died in Box and are commemorated with epitaphs in Box Church. It is a shame that the only surviving record of the Anketell family in the village is through the census and their family history.
Family Tree
William Anketell married Sarah Maxwell on 23 June 1809. Children:
Children of Fitz Ameline and Laura:
William Anketell married Sarah Maxwell on 23 June 1809. Children:
- Anne Dorothea Anketell (d 16 October 1891);
- Maria Anketell (d 2 March 1888);
- Major Matthew John Anketell (b 31 October 1812, d 8 May 1870);
- William Robert Ancketill (b 31 March 1820, d 9 March 1889);
- Lieutenant Oliver Charles Anketell (b 18 August 1821, d 13 July 1841);
- Matilda Jane Anketell (b 15 November 1823, d 14 March 1840);
- Fitz Ameline Maxwell Ancketill (b 14 April 1825-1905)
- Maxwell Ancketill (b 24 October 1826, d 22 February 1888);
- Captain Moutray Ancketill (b 18 April 1829, d 3 April 1899).
Children of Fitz Ameline and Laura:
- Reginald (23 March 1861-10 March 1937), unmarried;
- Henry (21 December 1863-9 January 1864, Killyfaddy Manor, Clogher, Tyrone);
- Maud Mary (2 March 1870, Weston, Somerset-11 May 1882, Killyfaddy Manor, Clogher, Tyrone);
- Charlemont Fitz Ameline (April 1872-20 May 1947, Killyfaddy Manor, Clogher, Tyrone).
References
[1] Bath Chronicle and Weekly Gazette, Somerset, England, 28 Dec 1826
[2] Perry’s Gazette, 27 October 1866
[3] Michael Winstanley, Ireland and the Land Question, 1800-1922, 2007, Lancaster Pamphlets reported by Dr Marjorie Bloy, A Web of English History, Land-holding in Ireland 1760-1880 (historyhome.co.uk)
[4] Proverbs: Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise
[5] Michael Winstanley, Ireland and the Land Question, 1800-1922, 2007, Lancaster Pamphlets reported by Dr Marjorie Bloy, A Web of English History, Land-holding in Ireland 1760-1880 (historyhome.co.uk)
[6] The Bath Chronicle 9 May 1793
[7] The Bath Chronicle, 20 January 1870
[8] The Bath Chronicle, 24 June 1852
[9] The Bath Chronicle, 27 March 1879
[10] The Bath Chronicle, 23 December 1880
[11] The Times, 18 December 1873 and 18 June 1874 and The Bath Chronicle, 23 July 1874
[12] The Bath Chronicle, 23 July 1874
[13] Nicholas Kingsley, Landed families of Britain and Ireland: (125) Ancketill of Ancketill's Grove
[1] Bath Chronicle and Weekly Gazette, Somerset, England, 28 Dec 1826
[2] Perry’s Gazette, 27 October 1866
[3] Michael Winstanley, Ireland and the Land Question, 1800-1922, 2007, Lancaster Pamphlets reported by Dr Marjorie Bloy, A Web of English History, Land-holding in Ireland 1760-1880 (historyhome.co.uk)
[4] Proverbs: Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise
[5] Michael Winstanley, Ireland and the Land Question, 1800-1922, 2007, Lancaster Pamphlets reported by Dr Marjorie Bloy, A Web of English History, Land-holding in Ireland 1760-1880 (historyhome.co.uk)
[6] The Bath Chronicle 9 May 1793
[7] The Bath Chronicle, 20 January 1870
[8] The Bath Chronicle, 24 June 1852
[9] The Bath Chronicle, 27 March 1879
[10] The Bath Chronicle, 23 December 1880
[11] The Times, 18 December 1873 and 18 June 1874 and The Bath Chronicle, 23 July 1874
[12] The Bath Chronicle, 23 July 1874
[13] Nicholas Kingsley, Landed families of Britain and Ireland: (125) Ancketill of Ancketill's Grove