Biography of Florence Sutherland Leveson-Gower 1855-1881
Paternal Family Tree: Gower
On 27 Jun 1849 [her father] George Leveson-Gower 3rd Duke Sutherland (age 20) and [her mother] Anne Hay Mackenzie Duchess Sutherland (age 20) were married. He the son of [her grandfather] George Sutherland Leveson-Gower 2nd Duke Sutherland (age 62) and [her grandmother] Harriet Elizabeth Georgiana Howard Duchess Sutherland (age 43).
In 1855 Florence Sutherland Leveson-Gower was born to George Leveson-Gower 3rd Duke Sutherland (age 26) and Anne Hay Mackenzie Duchess Sutherland (age 25).
On 03 Aug 1873 a northbound "Tourist Special" excursion train, drawn by two locomotives consisted of twenty-five vehicles by the time it left Crewe, derailed at Wigan, colliding with station buildings, killing thirteen passengers. The train was declared to have been travelling at excessive speed. In the sixteenth coach, the one which derailed, was travelling Florence Sutherland Leveson-Gower (age 18) with her companion Miss Braggs.
Henry Chaplin A Memoir: 2 Family and Social Life Part II. Moving in the same social circle, and being mutually attracted, they had probably seen much of one another both in Scotland and in London, and by the time Mr. Chaplin's first letter to her which has been preserved was written—during the season of 1876— friendship on his part had evidently ripened into a warmer sentiment. The letter suggests a more sentimental epoch than ours, when a woman's interest in public affairs, however much it was appreciated, was to be treated rather with playful tenderness than to be taken seriously.
Dear Lady Florence (age 21) — Here is the pamphlet upon vivisection, that subject of such engrossing interest. I'm afraid you will find it very dry reading, unless you are really qualifying for the Leadership of the Women's Suffrage Party and their rights. I have only looked through it hurriedly, but there is nothing to shock you, and it will introduce you to a Parliamentary Bill, than which I cannot conceive anything in this world less amusing. Your entertainment to-night by comparison will be liveliness itself, but I hope it will turn out better than you anticipate. We were lucky, I think, to ride when we did. I wonder when I shall have the pleasure of seeing you again! I hope it may be before long, and till then—
Believe me, yours very truly,
[her future husband] Henry Chaplin (age 35).
Henry Chaplin A Memoir: 2 Family and Social Life Part II. Two days later he writes on his last day at Goodwood: [[her future husband] Henry Chaplin 1st Viscount Chaplin (age 35) to Florence Sutherland Leveson-Gower (age 21)]
I've just this moment got your letter, Dearest, brought to me in bed, while I was trying to wade through the very dullest "Blue Book" containing all the Turkish papers it ever was my misfortune to attempt to read. How pleasant the contrast, I needn't tell you I'm afraid you must be bored at Brighton, but so am I here—and anyway I hope that we shall meet to-morrow. Lovely weather, the course as beautiful as ever, lots of friends at every turn, with good luck giving me a turn besides, and yet I never enjoyed Goodwood less, or was more bored, than I was the whole of yesterday, and it will be worse to-day. I must say, the racing was very bad, but anyway I would rather have been even at stupid Brighton a hundred times, although I've no doubt if I were saying instead of writing this you'd say—I don't believe it! But it is true nevertheless, and what's more, in your little Heart of Hearts, you know it too. Dear little Lady, I don't like being away and not seeing you even for two days now, and how on earth I am ever to harden my heart enough to go away to Homburg, I really do not know.... I had a chaffy and impudent little letter yesterday from my sister-in-law (Mrs. Cecil Chaplin (age 29)), who somehow or other knows that we were at the Opera on Monday and so did Lady Bradford, too, though she was down here; and who from, do you think?—why that greatest of old gossips, the Prime Minister (Disraeli). It is quite touching, isn't it, the tender interest with which he watches my career? I had a letter from [her future brother-in-law] Ted (age 34) yesterday, and it is quite clear to me that his marriage with Lady Gwen (age 18)1 will come off. She is a very nice little woman I think, and what a family party, please God if we live till then, next winter we shall be.
Note 1. Edward Chaplin married Lady Gwendolen Talbot, Second daughter of the 19th Earl of Shrewsbury, January 18, 1877.
Henry Chaplin A Memoir: 2 Family and Social Life Part II. By the middle of August [1876] Mr. Chaplin was obliged to tear himself away from England. At thirty-five he found he was putting on weight, and a visit to Homburg was little short of a sacred duty. Leaving Lady Florence at Trentham on her way to Dunrobin, he spent some days at Blankney, making preliminary arrangements for the future and not least considering the question of hunters for his bride. Lady Florence at parting had presented him with her favourite dog, Dot, which along with his own, Vic, accompanied him to Germany and occupied a prominent place in his daily letters.
He writes from Blankney: [[her future husband] Henry Chaplin 1st Viscount Chaplin (age 35) to Florence Sutherland Leveson-Gower (age 21)]
Dot thought Vic exceedingly forward, and was wondering, too, all the time why you were not with us, till I explained to him that we weren't married yet and that we couldn't with propriety travel about till we were. He was satisfied then and looks forward with me to better days in the future. I never saw such a sensible dog in my life. I'm quite sure he knows all about it, and understands the position, and since I've told him I'm writing to you he has laid down perfectly still at my side. I gave him a capital dinner last night, not too rich, and he slept in my room like a top. He likes Blankney, and begs me to say with his love that he wishes you were here and thinks you will like it as well The garden didn't shew at all to advantage after the brightness and beauty of Trentham, and then its chief attraction was wanting besides, a tall lanky girl, with no figure, as some people say, ah no! no one can say with no figure, but whom I think the dearest, nicest, prettiest, cleverest, lovablest little woman I have ever had the good fortune to see in my life.... Ah! by the way, I send you two letters, one from Stanley, the old Leamington vet. surgeon who has been my horse Commissioner for years, and the other from Cis (age 29)1.... I don't like the idea of a horse being short for you, still Cis is a capital judge and never puts Emily on anything that is not quite A1. Bonnie Doon, the thorough-bred mare out of Queen Mary and sister-in-blood as they call it to Blink Bonny, who won both Derby and Oaks, is looking remarkably well.... Will you be a good child and do two things for me? One is to weigh and send me your weight, and the other to send me as soon as you write a lock of your hair! which you promised, you Dear One, you know, to give me at Trentham. I really can't wait any longer.
Note 1. His brother [her future brother-in-law] Cecil (age 32) married Emily, daughter of Hon. Robert Boyle, Lieut.-Colonel Coldstream Guards, January 1870.
Henry Chaplin A Memoir: 2 Family and Social Life Part II. To both these requests the lady seems to have demurred, for in his next letter he says: [[her future husband] Henry Chaplin 1st Viscount Chaplin (age 35) to Florence Sutherland Leveson-Gower (age 21)]
You dear One, I hope it isn't unlucky to cut your hair. I wouldn't have asked you if I had known it, but I cannot believe it, and Dot shakes his head when I ask him. You may send it to me with safety when you next write. Yes! and I still want you to weigh, and why should you hate it? If it wasn't that I know you are as light as a feather, I should really begin to think you were very heavy, but if the worst comes to the worst it will be only between you and me, and I'll promise faithfully never to divulge anything over 13 stone. There, darling, isn't that good, and you'll promise not to be angry with me for laughing a little?... All the people about Blankney and at Lincoln have got hold of our engagement, and they are all so delighted and send you all sorts of kind messages already, and whatever you say there is everything to love and to like in you even for outsiders, and if you don't win all their hearts very soon when they know you, I shan't ever give an opinion again.
Henry Chaplin A Memoir: 2 Family and Social Life Part II. HOMBURG, August 16. [[her future husband] Henry Chaplin 1st Viscount Chaplin (age 35) to Florence Sutherland Leveson-Gower (age 21)]
I sent you a line from Brussels, but, ugh! the journey from there, never shall I forget it. I've been in India and have travelled from Delhi to Calcutta without stopping, but I think yesterday beat it. It was 90° in the shade yesterday. What it was in the train I don't know, but I should think 190. Dot and Vic panted and puffed with their mouths wide open the whole of the way, though I got them water and ice at every station. And as for me—well, I simply melted and groaned whenever I could. And the dust, the black dust which it was. I declare it got regularly into the skin, and I arrived like one of the niggers who sing comic songs—the Christy Minstrels at Epsom. I've been washing ever since, and I can't get clean.... I was late at the waters, you'd hardly believe it! and every one was gone home. They have a fashion, these people who come to Homburg, of getting up in the middle of the night to drink their waters, some of them beginning between 6 and 7 A.M. I like mine to be aired by the morning sun and to take them between nine and 10.
Henry Chaplin A Memoir: 2 Family and Social Life Part II. His last letter to his bride a few days before their wedding has a pathetic interest in view of the few years of marriage which were before them.
[[her future husband] Henry Chaplin 1st Viscount Chaplin (age 35) to Florence Sutherland Leveson-Gower (age 21)]
October 11 [Note. A mistake for November 1876].— [her future brother-in-law] Ted (age 34) has gone to Lincoln to make a speech to his constituents to-night. His marriage is settled, and announced to Lady Gwendoline (age 18), and I've had a letter from Shrewsbury acquainting me with that fact. It may be some consolation and perhaps relief to you to know that they have a "Royal Party " at Ingestre and can't come to Trentham next week, but he sends every sort of kind message to you.... I am nervous, not about the ceremony! Now didn't you hope I was going to be? but about your rooms being done by the time they ought to be, but the paper you chose is up and they will look very nice, I feel sure. Darling little woman, do not fret or fidget about the awful ceremony. I often tell you that it has no effect of that sort upon me, and I will tell you why. Because I am as firmly convinced as I can be of anything that the step we are about to take with God's blessing will be, and ought to be, except through our own faults, for our mutual and enduring happiness both here and hereafter. Think of it in this light, and then the momentary passing agitation of a ceremony will not trouble you, and remember, child, that it is to you and your good influence that I look to help us in the cares, may be in the trials and temptations and, please God, the happiness which awaits us in the future.
On 15 Nov 1876 Henry Chaplin 1st Viscount Chaplin (age 35) and Florence Sutherland Leveson-Gower (age 21) were married at Trentham, Staffordshire. She the daughter of George Leveson-Gower 3rd Duke Sutherland (age 47) and Anne Hay Mackenzie Duchess Sutherland (age 47).
On 27 Sep 1877 [her son] Eric Chaplin 2nd Viscount Chaplin was born to [her husband] Henry Chaplin 1st Viscount Chaplin (age 36) and Florence Sutherland Leveson-Gower (age 22).
On 03 Dec 1878 [her daughter] Edith Chaplin Marchioness Londonderry was born to [her husband] Henry Chaplin 1st Viscount Chaplin (age 37) and Florence Sutherland Leveson-Gower (age 23).
On 08 Oct 1881 [her daughter] Florence Chaplin was born to [her husband] Henry Chaplin 1st Viscount Chaplin (age 40) and Florence Sutherland Leveson-Gower (age 26). Florence Sutherland Leveson-Gower died from childbirth two days later. She was buried in the churchyard of St Oswald's Church, Blankney. Her husband's account of her last days .... Lady Florence's second daughter was born on Saturday, and her birth was followed by convulsions from which she never recovered consciousness. Through the night Dr. Brook and her husband watched by her, and on Sunday there was a slight improvement which continued throughout the day. "At that time ", says Mr. Chaplin," my spirit had revived, and I allowed myself, foolishly perhaps, to become quite sanguine—only, alas, to be bitterly disappointed." On Sunday evening the breathing again became more rapid, and on Monday afternoon "my darling passed away, with her head resting on my shoulder, and with the most beautiful expression on her face as she died".
After 08 Oct 1881. Monument to Florence Sutherland Leveson-Gower (deceased) commissioned by her husband [her former husband] Henry Chaplin 1st Viscount Chaplin (age 40), sculpted by Joseph Edgar Boehm (age 47). His memoir by his daughter Edith: "After her funeral at Blankney Mr. Chaplin returned a stricken man to Dunrobin. To the end of his life the memory of this radiant being, who for five years had given him perfect happiness, held the most sacred place in his memory—a place which was never to be usurped by another woman. He found some consolation in commissioning the beautiful kneeling marble figure of Lady Florence by Sir Edgar Boehm, which he placed in the church of St. Oswald at Blankney — the church in which she had taken so deep an interest."
1883. Lych Gate at St Oswald's Church, Blankney. By George Frederick Bodley (age 55). Inscription over the gate: 'ERECTED IN MEMORY OF FLORENCE CHAPLIN, 1883'.
On 29 May 1923 [her former husband] Henry Chaplin 1st Viscount Chaplin (age 82) died. He was buried at St Oswald's Church, Blankney next to his wife. His son [her son] Eric Chaplin 2nd Viscount Chaplin (age 45) succeeded 2nd Viscount Chaplin of Saint Oswald's in Blankney in Lincolnshire. [her daughter-in-law] Gwladys Alice Wilson Viscountess Chaplin (age 42) by marriage Viscountess Chaplin of Saint Oswald's in Blankney in Lincolnshire.
Eric Chaplin 2nd Viscount Chaplin: On 27 Sep 1877 he was born to Henry Chaplin 1st Viscount Chaplin and Florence Sutherland Leveson-Gower. On 03 Aug 1905 Eric Chaplin 2nd Viscount Chaplin and Gwladys Alice Wilson Viscountess Chaplin were married at Warter Hall aka Priory. On 12 Sep 1949 Eric Chaplin 2nd Viscount Chaplin died. His son Anthony Chaplin 3rd Viscount Chaplin succeeded 3rd Viscount Chaplin of Saint Oswald's in Blankney in Lincolnshire. Alvilde Bridges Viscountess Chaplin by marriage Viscountess Chaplin of Saint Oswald's in Blankney in Lincolnshire.
Gwladys Alice Wilson Viscountess Chaplin: In 1881 she was born to Charles Henry Wilson 1st Baron Nunburnholme and Florence Jane Helen Wellesley Baroness Nunburnholme. In 1971 Gwladys Alice Wilson Viscountess Chaplin died.
Kings Wessex: Great x 24 Grand Daughter of King Edmund "Ironside" I of England
Kings Gwynedd: Great x 20 Grand Daughter of Owain "Great" King Gwynedd
Kings Seisyllwg: Great x 26 Grand Daughter of Hywel "Dda aka Good" King Seisyllwg King Deheubarth
Kings Powys: Great x 21 Grand Daughter of Maredudd ap Bleddyn King Powys
Kings England: Great x 11 Grand Daughter of King Henry VII of England and Ireland
Kings Scotland: Great x 23 Grand Daughter of King Duncan I of Scotland
Kings Franks: Great x 20 Grand Daughter of Louis VII King Franks
Kings France: Great x 14 Grand Daughter of Charles "Beloved Mad" VI King France
Great x 4 Grandfather: John Leveson-Gower 1st Baron Gower 12 x Great Grand Son of King Edward I of England
Great x 3 Grandfather: John Leveson-Gower 1st Earl Gower 10 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Catherine Manners Baroness Gower 9 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
Great x 2 Grandfather: Granville Leveson-Gower 1st Marquess Stafford 10 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Evelyn Pierrepont 1st Duke Kingston upon Hull 10 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 3 Grandmother: Evelyn Pierrepont Baroness Gower 9 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Mary Fielding Countess Kingston upon Hull 8 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
Great x 1 Grandfather: George Granville Leveson-Gower 1st Duke Sutherland 8 x Great Grand Son of King Henry VII of England and Ireland
Great x 4 Grandfather: John Egerton 3rd Earl Bridgewater 5 x Great Grand Son of King Henry VII of England and Ireland
Great x 3 Grandfather: Scroop Egerton 1st Duke Bridgewater 6 x Great Grand Son of King Henry VII of England and Ireland
Great x 4 Grandmother: Jane Paulet Countess Bridgewater 9 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
Great x 2 Grandmother: Louisa Egerton Countess Gower 7 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry VII of England and Ireland
Great x 4 Grandfather: Wriothesley Russell 2nd Duke Bedford 9 x Great Grand Son of King Henry IV of England
Great x 3 Grandmother: Rachel Russell Duchess Bridgewater 10 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry IV of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Elizabeth Howland Duchess Bedford
GrandFather: George Sutherland Leveson-Gower 2nd Duke Sutherland 9 x Great Grand Son of King Henry VII of England and Ireland
Great x 4 Grandfather: William Gordon aka Sutherland 7 x Great Grand Son of King Henry VII of England and Ireland
Great x 3 Grandfather: William Sutherland 17th Earl Sutherland 8 x Great Grand Son of King Henry VII of England and Ireland
Great x 2 Grandfather: William Sutherland 18th Earl Sutherland 8 x Great Grand Son of King Henry VII of England and Ireland
Great x 4 Grandfather: David Wemyss 4th Earl of Wemyss 6 x Great Grand Son of King Henry VII of England and Ireland
Great x 3 Grandmother: Elizabeth Wemyss Countess Sutherland 7 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry VII of England and Ireland
Great x 4 Grandmother: Elizabeth St Clair
Great x 1 Grandmother: Elizabeth Sutherland Duchess Sutherland 19th Countess Sutherland 9 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry VII of England and Ireland
Father: George Leveson-Gower 3rd Duke Sutherland 10 x Great Grand Son of King Henry VII of England and Ireland
Great x 4 Grandfather: Charles Howard 3rd Earl Carlisle 9 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 3 Grandfather: Henry Howard 4th Earl Carlisle 10 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Anne Capell Countess Carlisle 9 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
Great x 2 Grandfather: Frederick Howard 5th Earl Carlisle 11 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: William Byron 4th Baron Byron 14 x Great Grand Son of King John "Lackland" of England
Great x 3 Grandmother: Isabella Byron Countess Carlisle 12 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward I of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Frances Berkeley Baroness Byron 11 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward I of England
Great x 1 Grandfather: George Howard 6th Earl Carlisle 9 x Great Grand Son of King Henry VII of England and Ireland
Great x 4 Grandfather: John Leveson-Gower 1st Earl Gower 10 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 3 Grandfather: Granville Leveson-Gower 1st Marquess Stafford 10 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Evelyn Pierrepont Baroness Gower 9 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
Great x 2 Grandmother: Margaret Caroline Leveson-Gower Countess Carlisle 8 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry VII of England and Ireland
Great x 4 Grandfather: Scroop Egerton 1st Duke Bridgewater 6 x Great Grand Son of King Henry VII of England and Ireland
Great x 3 Grandmother: Louisa Egerton Countess Gower 7 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry VII of England and Ireland
Great x 4 Grandmother: Rachel Russell Duchess Bridgewater 10 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry IV of England
GrandMother: Harriet Elizabeth Georgiana Howard Duchess Sutherland 10 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry VII of England and Ireland
Great x 4 Grandfather: William Cavendish 3rd Duke Devonshire 10 x Great Grand Son of King Henry IV of England
Great x 3 Grandfather: William Cavendish 4th Duke Devonshire 11 x Great Grand Son of King Henry IV of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Catherine Hoskyns Duchess Devonshire
Great x 2 Grandfather: William Cavendish 5th Duke Devonshire 8 x Great Grand Son of King Henry VII of England and Ireland
Great x 4 Grandfather: Richard Boyle 3rd Earl Burlington 6 x Great Grand Son of King Henry VII of England and Ireland
Great x 3 Grandmother: Charlotte Elizabeth Boyle Marchioness Hartington 7 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry VII of England and Ireland
Great x 4 Grandmother: Dorothy Savile Countess Burlington 11 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
Great x 1 Grandmother: Georgiana Cavendish Countess Carlisle 9 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry VII of England and Ireland
Great x 4 Grandfather: John Spencer 11 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 3 Grandfather: John Spencer 1st Earl Spencer 9 x Great Grand Son of King Henry VII of England and Ireland
Great x 4 Grandmother: Georgiana Caroline Carteret 8 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry VII of England and Ireland
Great x 2 Grandmother: Georgiana Spencer Duchess Devonshire 10 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry VII of England and Ireland
Great x 4 Grandfather: Stephen Poyntz 13 x Great Grand Son of King Henry III of England
Great x 3 Grandmother: Margaret Georgiana Poyntz Countess Spencer 11 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Anna Maria Mordaunt 10 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
Florence Sutherland Leveson-Gower 11 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry VII of England and Ireland
GrandFather: John Hay Mackenzie of Newhall and Cromarty
Mother: Anne Hay Mackenzie Duchess Sutherland