The Curious Case of Caroline Charlotte Veasey Dawson - (Part Two)

With the information that I had got from the article, I decided to make a rudimentary family tree for Caroline, using my Ancestry.com account. I'm creating a simplified, easy to refer to timeline of these events on another page, which I will link to. 

At first, this wasn't easy, because I wasn't sure what Caroline's birth name was. Just a clue that it was Dawson, as she had claimed her father was Major Dawson. I also knew that she had at least two husbands, and at some point, a son. I also knew that if she was in her 40s, she had to have been born around 1810, and that she said she was born in America, and possibly had some connections to Ireland. 

Thusfar, I have been able to determine the following from various records. Unfortunately it still leaves me with many questions. 

Caroline's maiden name seems to have been Caroline Charlotte Veasey Dawson. 

Early Life in America/Canada

She may have been baptised in Quebec, on the 8 June 1807. I have not been able to confirm these details as I don't have access to those records right now. If this is true, why did she say she was born in America, when it appears she was born in Canada? I don't know. 

Ireland and First Marriage

She must have made the journey from America/Canada to Ireland sometime before 1827, because it is in this year that she marries her first husband John Aldbourough Wrightson Gilldea, somewhere in Ireland. The only record I have for the marriage is from the Dublin, Ireland, Probate and Marriage Licence Index. 

Her first husband died on or around the 15th July 1838, according to newspaper reporting. 

Second Marriage

Then on the 29th May 1839, she married Robert Hurd Wetherell, apparently in Dublin in 'George's Church'. This was reported in 'The Pilot' newspaper on the 28th May 1839. I also have a record from the same Dublin, Ireland, Probate and Marriage Licence Index to say they were married in that year. 

Legal issues

In 1840, there is some sort of chancery case on 7th October 1840 involving Caroline, Robert Hurd Wetherall, and possibly her son. Unfortunately I can't really read the record, and I don't understand chancery records, so that is something I'm going to have to look for help with. This would seemingly point to what Caroline later referred to as her issues with her late husbands debts and chancery? 

Possible Residence

It is possible that Caroline was still living in Ireland as late as 11 March 1843. On that date, in the newspaper 'The Weekly Freeman's Journal' a Mrs Robert Hurd Wetherell give a donation to the 'Loyal National Repeal Association'. This woman's address is given as 61 Lower Dorset Street. However, I have on way to prove this is the same woman. It is of course possible that this was Caroline's mother-in-law (whose name I don't currently know). 

Possible Works?

This is where it all gets a bit weird. 

On 11th April 1843, there is an advertisement in the Warder and Dublin Weekly Mail, which states the following. 

Just Published. One Shilling

A NORTH AMERICAN INDIAN RECORD

To prove the indubitable existence of the Behemoth, with some observations to Christians of all Denominations, on the perfect truth and analogy of the Book of Books, the HOLY BIBLE

By Mr Robert Hurd Wetherell, Author of "Anatomy of Affections" &c

Dublin: Published for the Author by S. LE MESURIER, 8 Lower Sackville-street and sold by all booksellers'. 

As you may recall, from the letter that Caroline wrote to Lady Peel, she claimed that she was the author of Anatomy of Affections. So who was the true author?

There is another advertisement on 1st April 1844 in the newspaper 'The Liverpool Albion'. 

Just Published. 6s, 6d.

BUNYAN'S PILGRIM'S PROGRESS, converted into an Epic Poem, according to the suggestion of Doctor Adam Clarke, by C.G.V.G, Authoress of 'An Anatomy of the Affections' 'Tales of Many Climes' with a LIFE OF JOHN BUNYAN, the author, by ROBERT HURD WETHERELL, Esq.

SHIELDS AND SON, Parsonstown; D MARPLES and H PERRIS Liverpool.

As you can see, who exactly the author of An Anatomy of Affections was, seems to have changed in the year between these advertisements. 

This isn't necessarily that strange I suppose. Perhaps Caroline felt she couldn't publish under her own name, being a woman. Keep in mind that this was about the same time that the Bronte's were publishing their works, and felt the need to hide behind pseudonyms. Or perhaps this was a part of the source of the tension in Caroline's marriage, that she mentions in her later letters. Right now, I can only speculate. 

There is one further clue, which appeared in the papers long after Caroline had died. 

In the 'Leinster Reporter' on Saturday 21st September 1901 is a reference to the works. It reads as follows. 

We are indebted in no small degree to Mr C W Dugan, MA, Oxmantown Mall, for valuable local literary discoveries. One of his latest is a copy of Bunyan's Pilgrams' Progress, converted into an epic poem by a lady whose initials only are given 'C. C. V. G', to which is prefixed a biography of the famous Allegorist, written by Mr Robert Hurd Wetherell, whose name was familiar in days gone bye in Parsonstown. Unfortunately a few pages of the Life of John Bunyan are missing, but otherwise the copy is very perfect. The title page bares the date 1844, and name Shields and Sons, Cumberland Square, Parsonsontown as Publishers. As our readers are aware, it was this firm that established the 'Kings Countryside Chronicle' in 1845, the printing office being in the rear of a house now occupied by Mr J Austin, tailor, the publishers residing their, and in Mr Sheppars, next door. Mr George Morrison, who has the book, informs me he bought it casually for a small sum. Dr Woods seems to us the only survivor who could throw any light on the identity of C. C. V. G. 

Who Dr Woods was, and whether he was ever able to give them an answer is not something I've been able to find out. It does seem interesting to me that they knew of Robert Hurd Wetherell, but not his wife. 

London 

What happens next is really unclear to me. The account of her life that Caroline gave, seems to suggest that her second husband, Robert, was also dead by 1851. I haven't so far been able to find a reliable death record for him. 

Nor have I been able to find anything that points to them having had any children, apart from that confusing chancery record. 

What I do know, is that Caroline appears in London on the 25th February 1846. She has been admitted to a work house. The Castle Street Workhouse. 

The notes give her name as 'Caroline Charlotte Vesey Dawson Wetherell'. It says that she is married, her religion is Protestant, and the reason for her admission is 'Supposed to be Insane'. It further reads 'Found by the ? Palace, by a Policeman and taken to the Police Court, Bowstreet, and from thence in this house.'

Just a over a month later, records taken on the 28th February 1846, state that she was transferred from the workhouse to the Camberwell Road Lunatic Asylum. 

From that point forward, I have not been able to find any further records about Caroline until 1849. On the 8th May 1849, she was admitted to Hoxton House asylum in Middlesex. The record doesn't reveal where she came from, or how long she was there. So I have no idea whether or not she had been out of the Camberwell Road asylum for some time, before being admitted to Hoxton House, or whether it was a transfer. 

Leicester

All we do know, is that somehow, Caroline found her way to Leicester, where she died in November of 1851. 

If you recall, she did refer to having looked for work for 15 months. If that was true, it would imply that she left the Hoxton House asylum sometime in the summer or early autumn of 1850. 

The last record I have for Caroline is her death record in the England and Wales, Civil Registration Death Index. This gives no further useful information.