Comprehensive Genealogies of the Steele, Attwater, Whitaker, and Saffery Families connected with the Steele Circle, 1700-1840

I. William Steele III (1689-1769) and Anne Froude (1684-1720). She was the daughter of Edward Froude (1645-1714) and his wife, Elizabeth Blackbarrow.  Her sister Elizabeth married Richard Tezard, and their daughter, Elizabeth (d. 1740) married John James Manfield (d. 1762). 

1. William Steele IV (1715-85) and Mary Bullock of Yeovil (1713-62) m. 1749. Her brother, George Bullock, died at Yeovil on 4 March 1775, aged 73.

a. Mary Steele (24 July 1753-14 November 1813) married the Rev. Thomas Dunscombe (1749-1811) on 1 January 1797; no issue.

William Steele IV and Martha Goddard of Pershore (1734-91), m. early 1768.   He rented the Pigeon House upon his marriage in 1749, then purchased it in 1758 and renamed it Broughton House, remodeling it somewhat into a Georgian mansion (Broome, p. 234). At his death, most of the lands went to Mary Steele, including Broughton House; Mrs. Steele got Grandfathers, which had been bequeathed to Anne Steele at her father’s death, then went to the Wakeford family at her death in 1778, but William IV bought it from them. At Mary’s death in 1813, Broughton House, Grandfathers, as well as another Georgia residence in Broughton adjacent to the parish churchyard, and most of the lands elsewhere went to Anne Steele Tomkins, with some going to William Steele Wakeford, Mary Wakeford’s son. In 1837, the Steele acreage just in and around Broughton Parish was 837 acres (Broome, pp. 234-35, 238-39). 

a. Anne (24 February 1769-1859), married Joseph Tomkins (1763-1847) of Abingdon on 13 December 1791. [He attended J. C. Ryland’s academy in 1772, at the age of 9.]

i. Mary (20 September 1793-1861) married Charles C. Bompas (1791-1844) in 1822 

Selina Anne Bompas (1830-1921) was the 6th of 10 children and was instrumental in preserving large portions of what is now the Steele Collection.  Her sister-in-law, Charlotte Selina Bompas (1830-1917) would become a writer, publishing stories about her life as the wife of an Anglican missionary and bishop,  in the Yukon, Canada.  Selina Anne's cousin, also named Selina Carpenter Bompas (1833-1915), died in South Africa.

ii. Joseph (died as an infant)

iii. Emma (1796-1857)

iv. Samuel (died as infant)

v. Anne (1802-1842)

vi. Jane (1805-93)

vii. William (1808-55)

viii. Martha (1813-15)

b. Martha (26 August 1770-1834), never married.

c. William, died in infancy, 1772.

2. Anne Steele (1717-1778)

3. Thomas Steele (died in infancy, 1720)

 William Steele III and Anne Cator Steele (27 April 1689-28 June 1760)

1. Mary Steele Wakeford (29 June 1724-1772) married Joseph Wakeford (1719-85) of Andover in 1749. He had one child, Hannah Wakeford (b. 1746), from his first marriage to Hannah Towgood (1725-46). 

a. one child died at birth in 1750

b. Joseph (1751-53)

c. William (1753-1819)

William (1753-1819) married Elizabeth Bartlett of Budleigh, and had six children. Like his father, he too was a linen and woollen draper, and was most likely involved in the Wakeford banking firm. According to the 1784 Trade Directory for Andover, Joseph Wakeford, Jr., was listed as a banker, with a subsidiary line as Joseph Wakeford and Son, linen and woollen drapers. In 1793, William Steele Wakeford was listed only as a woollen draper, but it is probably he was still maintaining an interest in the family banking business. After his death, his three sons--William, Joseph and Robert Wakeford—were operating in Andover as linen drapers and bankers. The Wakeford bank, however, fell upon hard times in the 1820s, and by 1827 had gone into bankruptcy.[i]  The evangelical faith of the Wakefords was evident not only in their letters and poetry, but also in the daily aspects of their business, their drapery accounts often beginning with the heading “Laus Deo.” Mary Steele Dunscombe’s will, proved in late 1813, left a portion of the Steele lands in and around Broughton to William Steele Wakeford.[ii]

d. Samuel (1754-67)

e. Mary (1760-1824) 

She married the Rev. James Lloyd Harries [Harris] of Andover on 24 February 1789. The only extant copy of Anne Steele’s Verses for Children (Bampton, 1803), now belonging to Columbia Teacher’s College, New York, is signed by Mary Harries; she also appears in the Steele Correspondence and Jane Attwater’s diary. Mary Steele’s friend and fellow poet, Elizabeth Coltman of Leicester, met her on one of her trips to the West Country and composed a poem in her honor, “To Mrs. Harries, On receiving a Beautiful Vase for Flowers ornamented with a Picture of Abra” (see below, poem 129).

[Henry Steele (1655-1739) had a daughter, Clemence (d. 1766), who married Thomas Etheredge (d. 1752); they had a daughter, Sarah (d. 1791) who married John Kent (1707-96), who served as assistant pastor to both Henry and William Steele III at the Broughton church. It is most likely their daughter or granddaughter, Lucy, who lives with the Steeles.]  

II. Jane Cator (1680-1756), Anne Cator Steele's sister, married John Gay (1666-1729) of Haycombe.

1. Anna (1710- 8 April1784) married Thomas Attwater (1691-26 June 1767) of Bodenham in December 1734.  His first wife, Mary, died in 1732.

a. Gay Thomas (‘Florio’) (1736-92) married Mary Drewitt (‘Fidelia’) (1746-30 July 1812) of Bratton in Bratton on 30 September 1762.

i. John Gay (1763-10 July 1799), surgeon at Fordingbridge.

ii. Sarah Attwater (1765-22 May 1830), unmarried.                                                   

iii. Thomas (26 June 1767-2 March 1818)

iv. William (1772-8 April 1818) married Anna (1776-1825)

     v. Maria (1783-1840), unmarried.

                vi. 6. Anna (8 April 1784-15 November 1825), unmarried.

     vii. Philemon (1787-19 December 1832) married Eliza Penny (1789-1877).  One of their children is most likely named Maria.  Maria Saffery wrote a poem on her wedding.

From Britford cemetery book: Thomas (26 June 1767) and Anna (8 April 1784); William Attwater died 8 April 1818, aged 46; his wife, Anna, died on 15 November 1825, aged 49; John Gay Attwater, surgeon at Fordingbridge and son of Gay Thomas Attwater, died on 10 July 1799, aged 36; Gay Thomas died on 15 December 1792, aged 56; his wife, Mary, died on 30 July 1812, aged 66; Thomas Attwater, another son of Gay Thomas, died on 2 March 1818, aged 50; Sarah Attwater, Gay Thomas’s daughter, died on 22 May 1830, aged 64; Philemon Attwater died on 19 December 1832, aged 45; Maria Attwater died on 15 November 1840, aged 57.  The second volume has some of the same entries as the first volume. Thomas Attwater’s first wife, Mary, died in 1732.

b. Caroline (1746-1824) married Thomas Whitaker (1735-1784) of Bratton on 10 January 1765 at Downton

i. Philip (1 March 1766-1847) who married Anne Andrews (23 June 1774-March 1865) on 19 June 1798.  [Mr Andrews still alive in early 1825]

1. Alfred (1799-September 1852 at Frome) married Sarah Waylen in 1823. After Sarah died in 1828 he re-married Catherine Mary Woolbert (‘Kate’ in the letters) and had 4 children (there is a letter from Philip Whitaker to his brother Thomas about the death of Sarah).  From 1816-19 he is in London; for 1820-21 he is in Bristol. 

aa. Alfred Romilly (22 April 1830-1 March 1835)

bb. Edgar (26 September 1831) 

cc. Edward (11 March 1833) married Sarah Elizabeth Stanham in May 1874. 4 children. She died after 1911.

dd. Edith Rose (31 March 1835) married Charles Harris in 1856. She died March 1885.

2. Joshua (1801-Dec. 1864) married Jane Saffery (1805-84), his cousin, in July 1835, daughter of the Rev. John Saffery and Maria Grace Andrews Saffery (1772-1858).  

aa. Anna Jane (12 March 1838-1925 at Winchester) married William Hepburn Gotch (d. 1876).  6 Children. 

bb. John Saffery (29 July 1840-October 1915), Baptist deacon, married Mary Brinkworth  (d. 1915) in 1867. 4 Children. 

cc. Joshua Cecil (20 February 1842-1920) married Margaret Brinkworth (d. 1911) (sister of Mary above). 5 Children. 

dd. Mary Grace (29 January 1844-1911) married Harry Dermer (d. 1934) in March 1876. 5 children. 

ee. Alfred Thomas (15 February 1846-March 1857 at Westbury) 

3. Edward (1802-March 1877 in Berkshire) married Emily Ann Woolbert (d. 1846 in London during childbirth) (sister of Catherine above, second wife of Alfred Whitaker).  He was a lawyer. They had nine children:

aa. Caroline Emily (12 August 1831-June 1912 in London) married Edward  Hyde Froyd Cousens (d. 1910 in Gloucestershire) in 1864. He was a clerk in Holy Orders.

bb. Marian (21 May 1833-June 1901 in Somerset) married George Mackenzie Mackay (d. 1893 in Somerset) in Oct 1860. 10 children. 

cc. Philip Francis (5 July 1834-June 1900 in Buckinghamshire), solicitor, married Catherine Bean Smith. 

dd. Katharine Emily (19 July 1836-September 1905), unmarried.

ee. Emily Jane (13 May 1838-December 1915 in London), unmarried.

ff. Edward Thomas (12 June 1840-?) 

gg. Alfred (27 May 1842-1894) married Rebecca King in 1876 and had 2 children. He remarried in June 1900 to Maud Hester Josette Ince and they had one son (died Mar 1913 in London).

hh. Evelyn (24 July 1844- September 1929 in London), unmarried.  

ii. Florence Ann Catherine (15 October 1846-post 1911, in London, a Sister of Mercy).

4. Philip Whitaker (27 June 1803-21 February 1845) married Maria Jones [in the letter by AW to Maria, 15 March 1860, Philip is mentioned, but must be her son.]

aa. Philip Jones (27 Sept. 1836-June 1913 in Wiltshire) married Amelia Louise Tucker in 1869. 

bb. Alfred (26 Sept. 1838-Nov. 1838)

cc. Julia (19 April 1842) I only have her single until 1871.

dd. Henry (22 Oct. 1843-24 Jan. 1844)

ee. Edward Morgan (28 Nov. 1844-Sept. 1907) married Janet Murray 1878. 3 Children.

5. Emma (25 October 1805-?) unmarried   [If this is the one mentioned in the letter by Mrs. Claypole (20 March 1811) (acc. 180, A.6.), then Emma died early in 1811, aged 6. 

6. Anne Whitaker (9 November 1807) Married Robert Ashman Green in Sept 1829 in Bratton; they live in Holcombe.  He died 1858 no more on her at present. 4 children:

aa. Emma Whitaker (24 July 1830) married Walter Eugene Whitaker in 1870. 2 children. She died June 1902 Somerset.

bb. Rose Anne (6 March 1834-1905) Rosalie Ann married Reverend George Augustus Mahon in 1860. 11 children. She died Dec 1905 and he died Sept 1899.

cc. Arthur (16 Dec. 1836) married Annie Sophia Edith E Harrison in June 1873. 7 children. She died between 1901-1911. He was still alive in 1911, widowed and a retired Clergyman.

dd. Edward Whitaker (19 April 1839) – Still alive in 1901

7. John (1810-1864 at Bratton); married Maria Jones; 3 children. 

8. George (1811-27 May 1882) (later first Principal of Trinity College, University of Toronto) married Charlotte Burton (daughter of a BMS missionary)(She was born in Indonesia) in Oct 1844 at Bath. She was born in Sumatra, Indonesia. 8 Children. He died May 1882 in Devon and she died 1898 in Suffolk.

aa. Bertha (27 Oct. 1845) Died Sept 1894 Un-Married. Born in Cambridge and lived in Canada. Arrived in the UK in 1906.

bb. George Herbert (19 May 1847). Died 1930 in Kent. Born in Cambridge but stayed in the UK and became a clergyman. 1911 Living with Bertha.

cc. Ernest (23 Aug. 1848) Born in Cambridge. Went to Canada and arrived here in 1910. No further info.

dd. Emma (13 Dec. 1849) Born Cambridge. Went to Canada and married Richard Tyrwhitt. 11 children. She died 1933 Ontario.

ee. Agnes Mary  (20 Sept. 1852) Born Ontario Married Arthur James Maddock in 1882 Ontario. 4 children. Last seen in 1900 El Monte California.!!

ff. Margaret Anne (9 Oct. 1855) Born Ontario. Married Haughton Lennox in 1886 Ontario. 4 Children. Last seen departing from Barbados to New York in 1930!!

gg. Charlotte Rosalie (26 Sept. 1857) No info.

hh. Edith Dora  (8 July 1860) Born Ontario. Married Edward Venn Eustace Bryan. 1 child. She died 1936 Kent.

9. Edwin Eugene (1814-5 August 1880) married Mary Attwater (D. 1865) in 1841 and became a solicitor; married Mary Attwater 1841 Alderbury. 

aa. Walter Eugene Whitaker Waller Eugene (7 July 1843-1920 at Bath) married Emma Whitaker Green – see above!! 2 children. 

ii. Anne (1 December 1768-79)

iii. Mary (1773-1800)

iv. Thomas (1776-1857) married Sophia Williams (24 August 1790-1891) in 1824.

v. Anna Jane (25 August 1784-1838).

c. Marianna (Maria) (1742?49?-1 March 1832) married George Head (d. 1785) of Bradford-on-Avon on 21 January 1773.

1. George Head, Jr. (d. c. 1811)

2. Elizabeth Theodosia Head (28 November 1784-14 January 1825), unmarried.

3. Marianna Jane Head (d.1857), second wife in later years to the Revd William Jay of Bath.

d. Jane (24 June 1753-1843) married Joseph Goodenough Blatch (d. 1840) of Bratton. 

1. Anna Theodosia (1793-1809) 

III. John Saffery (1763-1825) and Maria Grace Andrews (1772-1858)  John's first marriage was to Elizabeth Horsey on 11 April 1786. She died on the 27 May 1798 and he married Maria Grace on 20 Aug 1799.  Elizabeth was the daughter of Rev. Joseph Horsey, Baptist minister at Portsmouth.  

1. Philip John (21 August 1800-5 July 1869, Edmonton, North London) Secretary to the Religious  Tract. 1st marriage to Elizabeth Swain Scriven (she died); 2nd marriage to Ann Dendy (sister of Walter Dendy, BMS missionary to Jamaica) and had 2 children. 

2. Marianne (1802-21 May 1876, Bratton), never married.

3. William Carey (10 September 1803-June 1846) married Selina Eliza Pitt; they had 4 children. 1st Child died 1842 age 7, 2nd child died 1848 age 11, 3rd child died 1859 age 19, 4th child died 1843 age 0. Selina died 1844 age 33 and William died Jun 1846? age 43.

4. Jane (1 May 1805-December 1884 at Bratton)

5. Samuel (21 February 1807-September 1858 in London)

6. John (December 1808-9 September 1889 in Hastings) married Jane Hall and had 8 children including my great grandfather Frederick. Occupation was a clerk in Bankruptcy.

7. Edwin Cecil (May 1812-March 1814) 

Timothy Whelan

Notes

[i]The books for both the drapery and banking businesses can be found at the Hampshire Record Office, Finding No. 52M84, under the title, “Wakeford of Andover Bank, 1736-1860.”  Among the papers is the cashbook of Joseph Wakeford, 1759-67, which includes a poem, “Light shining out of Darkness,” by Wakeford.

[ii]Will of Mary Steele Dunscombe, proved 27 November 1813, Public Record Office, National Archives, Prob. 11/1549.