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A note from Michael Debenham suggests that several generations of John & Lydia's descendants were Quakers. Lydia's Fearon family were a noted Quaker family.
Capt. John Debenham joined the Royal Navy at the age of 17, and served with distinction in the Napoleonic Wars, under Lords Howe & Bridport. His victorious efforts earned him praise and personal thanks from the Duke of Wellington. Letters exist, sent from John's home in Chelsea, to Wellington during his period as Prime Minister of England.
John was a bachelor when he married Elizabeth Fearon. He had at least two daughters born in England, and probably had other children born in foreign parts.
John's tomb lies in Brompton cemetery, at Old Brompton Road, London, and is listed on the National Maritime Memorials website, with the following inscription:
In memory of Captain John Debenham R.N. Born November 12, 1772, at Bolton Castle, Yorks. Died June 15, 1847, A good Christian friend and Father. He entered the Royal Navy in 1789. He was actively engaged in all the naval and military operations of that time to 1814. Particularly on 29th May - 5th June 1794 with Lord Howe, Lord Bridport's rencontre off L'orient, the capture of Trinidad, the Channel fleet Corunna Walcharen. Lastly at the Passage of the Bar of Bayonne, where he succeeded first in passing the Bar then in landing the troops. In this service he saved many lives for which he received the personal thanks of the Duke of Wellington and all the Military Commanders there assembled and was honourably gazetted for his bravery and exertions at that place.
1841 Census: Beaufort Street (10), St Luke, Chelsea, Middlesex
John Debenham, 68, Com: R.N., b. Middlesex
Hannah Debenham, 30, b. Middlesex
Frederick Debenham, 25, Gas Fitter, b. Middlesex
Ann Smith, 40, Female Servant, b. Middlesex
Any blood relationship between Elizabeth Fearon and Lydia Fearon (mother-in-law) is unknown at present.
Probable death:
Deaths Mar 1882 - Debenham Hannah, aged 74, Brentford 3a 651841 Census: Beaufort Street (10), St Luke, Chelsea, Middlesex
John Debenham, 68, Com: R.N., b. Middlesex
Hannah Debenham, 30, b. Middlesex
Frederick Debenham, 25, Gas Fitter, b. Middlesex
Ann Smith, 40, Female Servant, b. Middlesex1851 Census: 45 Radnor Street, Chelsea, Middlesex
Hannah Debenham, Head, Un, 42, Annuitant, b. Chelsea, Middlesex
Hannah Long, Servant, Un, 32, House Servant, b. Walfet, Somerset1861 Census: 4 Great Western Road, Hammersmith, Middlesex
Hannah Debenham, Sister, Un, 52, Annuitant - Navy, b. Bloomsbury, Middlesex
Henrietta Wilson, Lodger, Mar, 63, Annuitant - Navy, b. Calcutta (British Subject)
Cecilia Wilson, Daur of Lodger, Un, 22, Gentlewoman, b. Edinburgh, Scotland1871 Census: 4 Chiswick Place, Chiswick, Middlesex
Susannah Piedra, Head, Wid, 53, Teacher, b. St. Giles, High Holborn, Middlesex
Rosalia Piedra, Daur, Un, 19, Teacher, b. Hunter St.?, Bloomsbury, Middlesex
Hannah Debenham, Sister, Un, 62, Annuitant, b. St. Giles, High Holborn, Middlesex1881 Census: 4 Chiswick Place, Chiswick, Middlesex
Rosalia Piedra, Head, Un, 38, Teacher of Music - Pensioner, b. Kings Cross, Middlesex
Anna Debenham, Aunt, Un, 72, Annuitant, b. Kings Cross, Middlesex
Elizabeth E. Winnall, Servant, Un, 23, Assistant Teacher of Music, b. Kings Cross, Middlesex
Sarah A. Stronts, Boarder, Un, 42, Independant, b. Haversham, Kent
Elizabeth Huder?, Visitor, Mar, 40, Farmer's Wife, b. Haversham, Kent
1841 Census: Beaufort Street (10), St Luke, Chelsea, Middlesex
John Debenham, 68, Com: R.N., b. Middlesex
Hannah Debenham, 30, b. Middlesex
Frederick Debenham, 25, Gas Fitter, b. Middlesex
Ann Smith, 40, Female Servant, b. Middlesex
Lucas Piedra was a Captain in the Spanish army, who settled in England as a political refugee. He is shown on the 1851 census (below) as a Professor of Languages.
Deaths Dec 1854 - Piedra Lucas Lopsa Barnet 3a 88
1851 Census: 17 Hunter Street, St George, Bloomsbury, Middlesex
Lucas Piedra, Head, Mar, 35, Professor of Languages, b. Spain
Susannah Piedra, Wife, Mar, 33, Teacher of Music, b. St Giles, Middlesex
Arthur Piedra, Son, Un, 1, b. St Pancras, Middlesex
Eliza Brain, Srevant, Un, 18, General Servant, b. Marylebone, Middlesex
Lucy Williams, Servant, Un, 14, Nursemaid, b. Kings Cross, Middlesex
Deaths Jun 1876 - Piedra Susannah, aged 60, Brentford 3a 57
Susannah and daughter Rosalie are mentioned in a review of a concertina performance in The Penny Illustrated Paper (London), on 6 May 1871, page 283. Please visit here for full review.
..... the concertina is recommended as one of the most melodious enliveners of the home circle; and our opinion of its value has been strengthened by the charming airs lately played in public on the concertina by the two accomplished young Swiss artistes, Mdlles. Eúgénie and Josephine Lachenal. The concertina was the specialty of a concert recently given at the Acton Lecture Hall by Madame and Mdlle. Piedra; ..... Madame and Mdlle Piedra performed with no little skill; and the facile manipulation exhibited by the latter and by Mdlle. Josephine Lachenal, in a duet from “Les Huguenots,” deserves recognition as examples of mastery over a difficult instrument.....
NOTE: The Lachenal sisters were cousins of the Debenhams. Their father, Louis Lachenal, was a well known manufacturer of concertinas. His daughter, Marie, married Edwin Alfred Debenham, brother of Samuel John Debenham. (See 1861 census below)
1851 Census: 17 Hunter Street, St George, Bloomsbury, Middlesex
Lucas Piedra, Head, Mar, 35, Professor of Languages, b. Spain
Susannah Piedra, Wife, Mar, 33, Teacher of Music, b. St Giles, Middlesex
Arthur Piedra, Son, Un, 1, b. St Pancras, Middlesex
Eliza Brain, Servant, Un, 18, General Servant, b. Marylebone, Middlesex
Lucy Williams, Servant, Un, 14, Nursemaid, b. Kings Cross, Middlesex1861 Census: 44 Doughty Street, St Pancras, Marylebone, Middlesex
Samuel John Debenham, Head, Mar, 27, Aticled to Solicitor, b. Bury St Edmonds, Suffolk
Charlotte Debenham, Wife, Mar, 34, b. Leigh Luton, Worcestershire
Arthur Dreuffus, Boarder, Un, 26, Commercial Cleagh in Leather Hide, b. France
Henry Bedford, Boarder, Un, 22, Law Student, b. Worcester
Johana McCarthy, Servant, Un, 22, Domestic Servant, b. Ireland
Susannah Piedra, Visitor, Wid, 45, Teacher of Music, b. Holbourn, Middlesex
Rosalia Piedra, Visitor, Female, 9, b. St Pancras, Middlesex
NOTE: Samuel J. Debenham was a great nephew of Susannah's father.1871 Census: 1 (or 4) Chiswick Place, Chiswick, Middlesex
Susannah Piedra, Head, Wid, 53, Teacher, b. St. Giles, High Holborn, Middlesex
Rosalia Piedra, Daur, Un, 19, Teacher, b. Hunter St.?, Bloomsbury, Middlesex
Hannah Debenham, Sister, Un, 62, Annuitant, b. St. Giles, High Holborn, Middlesex
1851 Census: 17 Hunter Street, St George, Bloomsbury, Middlesex
Lucas Piedra, Head, Mar, 35, Professor of Languages, b. Spain
Susannah Piedra, Wife, Mar, 33, Teacher of Music, b. St Giles, Middlesex
Arthur Piedra, Son, Un, 1, b. St Pancras, Middlesex
Eliza Brain, Srevant, Un, 18, General Servant, b. Marylebone, Middlesex
Lucy Williams, Servant, Un, 14, Nursemaid, b. Kings Cross, MiddlesexIt is possible that Arthur died in his youth, as no records have been found after 1851.
Susannah and daughter Rosalie are mentioned in a review of a concertina performance in The Penny Illustrated Paper (London), on 6 May 1871, page 283. Please visit here for full review.
..... the concertina is recommended as one of the most melodious enliveners of the home circle; and our opinion of its value has been strengthened by the charming airs lately played in public on the concertina by the two accomplished young Swiss artistes, Mdlles. Eúgénie and Josephine Lachenal. The concertina was the specialty of a concert recently given at the Acton Lecture Hall by Madame and Mdlle. Piedra; ..... Madame and Mdlle Piedra performed with no little skill; and the facile manipulation exhibited by the latter and by Mdlle. Josephine Lachenal, in a duet from “Les Huguenots,” deserves recognition as examples of mastery over a difficult instrument.....
NOTE: The Lachenal sisters were cousins of the Debenhams. Their father, Louis Lachenal, was a well known manufacturer of concertinas. His daughter, Marie, married Edwin Alfred Debenham, brother of Samuel John Debenham. (See 1861 census below)Rosalie's sight and health declined in latter years, she suffered from chronic glaucoma and arterial sclerosis. No longer able to earn a living as a music teacher, and with no private income, she applied for an annuity from The Royal United Kingdom Beneficient Association.
1861 Census: 44 Doughty Street, St Pancras, Marylebone, Middlesex
Samuel John Debenham, Head, Mar, 27, Aticled to Solicitor, b. Bury St Edmonds, Suffolk
Charlotte Debenham, Wife, Mar, 34, b. Leigh Luton, Worcestershire
Arthur Dreuffus, Boarder, Un, 26, Commercial Cleagh in Leather Hide, b. France
Henry Bedford, Boarder, Un, 22, Law Student, b. Worcester
Johana McCarthy, Servant, Un, 22, Domestic Servant, b. Ireland
Susannah Piedra, Visitor, Wid, 45, Teacher of Music, b. Holbourn, Middlesex
Rosalia Piedra, Visitor, Female, 9, b. St Pancras, Middlesex
NOTE: Samuel J. Debenham was a great nephew of Susannah's father.1871 Census: 4 Chiswick Place, Chiswick, Middlesex
Susannah Piedra, Head, Wid, 53, Teacher, b. St. Giles, High Holborn, Middlesex
Rosalia Piedra, Daur, Un, 19, Teacher, b. Hunter St.?, Bloomsbury, Middlesex
Hannah Debenham, Sister, Un, 62, Annuitant, b. St. Giles, High Holborn, Middlesex1881 Census: 4 Chiswick Place, Chiswick, Middlesex
Rosalia Piedra, Head, Un, 38, Teacher of Music - Pensioner, b. Kings Cross, Middlesex
Anna Debenham, Aunt, Un, 72, Annuitant, b. Kings Cross, Middlesex
Elizabeth E. Winnall, Servant, Un, 23, Assistant Teacher of Music, b. Kings Cross, Middlesex
Sarah A. Stronts, Boarder, Un, 42, Independant, b. Haversham, Kent
Elizabeth Huder?, Visitor, Mar, 40, Farmer's Wife, b. Haversham, Kent1891 census: 135 Richmond Park Road, Kingston, Surrey
Frank Wallis, Head, Mar, 36, Blacksmith, b. Frome, Somerset
Bessie Wallis, Wife, Mar, 30, b. London
Rosalia L.L. Piedra, Visitor, Un, 35, Teacher of Music, b. St. Pancras, London1901 Census: 95 Canbury Avenue, Kingston Upon Thames, Surrey
Herbert J. Ashton, Head, Mar, 27, Bootmaker's Manager, b. Clerkenwell, London
Florence Ashton, Wife, Mar, 25, b. St. Lukes, London
Horace Ashton, Son Un, 1, b. Islington, London
Rosalia L.L. Piedra , 40 (should be 50), Teacher Of Music, b. Bloomsbury, London