Notable Knightonians
David Milwyn Duggan 1879-1942
Although not born in Knighton, David Milwyn Duggan is worth a mention. David was just one of 16 children born to parents Thomas and Frances Duggan (nee Williams) in Builth Wells on 5th May 1879.
He married Hannah Marie Price in Presteigne on 30th December 1902 and the family emigrated to Canada on the ship Ionian in 1905, landing in Quebec in May of that year.
Hereford Times - Saturday 10 May 1930
From Shop to Legislation Chamber in Canada - A Welshman; Mr. David Milwyn Duggan has been appointed leader of the Conservative Party in the Alberta Provincial Government. Thus one more name is added to the list of Old Country .folk who have become leaders in the political life of Canada. Mr. Duggan, who was born at the hundred House, near Bwilth Wells, was in the draper business at Knighton till he sailed for Canada in 1905, as one of a family party of twenty. Seven years after his arrival he became interested in real estate business and decided to set up in Edmonton, which at that time was beginning to open up as a residential as well as a business centre. He became in a very short time one of the city's leading business men and took a keen interest in local and civil activities. In 1921. he was elected Mayor of Edmonton. a position he held for three successive years. His civic duties kept him closely in touch with the Provincial Administration and he won his seat in that House at the General Election of 1928.It is interesting to note that out of the 60 Members in the Alberta House Mr. Duggan is the only Welshman, though there are members of English. Scottish and Irish families seated among the Canadians.
David died on 4th May 1942 and is buried with his wife in Mount Pleasant Cemetery, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
William Garnet Evans 1886-1905
William was the son of Charles and Sarah Ann Evans. Charles was a master tailor in Wylcwm Street.
In the 1901 census William is an apprentice Groom at the Lordship Training Establishment in London Road, Dullingham, Nr Newmarket, Cambridgeshire.
William died 31st May 1905
Surrey Mirror 6th June 1905
JOCKEY'S FATAL FALL - INQUEST AND VERDICT
On Saturday morning Mr. G. F. Ron-mires held an inquest at the Cottage Hospital into the circumstances attending the death of 'William Garnet Evans. the young jockey attached to Mr. Sam Loates stable. who was thrown and killed whilst riding the Brew Lass filly in the Juvenile Plate at Epsom Downs on Wednesday afternoon. Mr. Clement Edwards and Mr. Lawton represented the relatives of the deceased, Mr. S. Leak's. the owner at Brew Lass filly, being also present. Charles Evans. tailor. of Knighton, Radnorshire. gave evidence of identification. Deceased was 18 years of age last October.
John Palmer. painter. in the employ of Mr. Murray, Tadworth. said on Derby Day he was on the Epsom Downs Course about 20 or 30 Yards from the scene of the accident. Witness was between the two roads when the second race of the afternoon was in progress. It was a five furlongs rare. Witness saw the horses coming. the front horse being ridden by deceased. The horse fell between the two roads, which were about 100 yards apart. it seemed to him as if the horse deceased was riding crossed its legs and turned a complete somersault. As it did so it pushed the lad over, and the horse behind, ridden by Murray. fell over them. The second horse did not touch deceased. The lad was under the horse, and when it got up he saw that Evans did not move. so he went to his assistance. Deceased was unconscious, and did not speak.
Sub-Divisional Inspector Sims, stationed at Belvedere. Kent. said on May 31st he was on duty at Tottenham Corner. He saw the horses start for the 2.05 pm race and watched them until they got opposite him. He then saw the Brew lass filly, ridden by deceased, stumble and full. throwing the deceased some distance to the front. The horse Appeared to "slew around " and slide along the turf. Witness saw the deceased rise, and as he did so another horse following immediately behind stumbled over the Braw Lass filly and fell. throwing its rider. and in his opinion in its fall it struck the deceased above the eye and knocked him down. The Braw Lass filly slid some yards and went completely over deceased. the boy being hidden from view for at second while the filly was passing over him. Witness proceeded to the spot. and saw the lad had a nasty wound over the left eye. Deceased was motionless at that time, but a few seconds after he moved and twitched. and witness heard him distinctly say "Oh." Deceased groaned for some time. and was attended to by Dr. Kaye, of the Loudon Hospital, who applied ice to deceased's head. It has been suggested that it was owing to the tan that had been improperly put down on one of these roads that the accident occurred. I should like to know your opinion whether. if the tan had been put down properly or improperly. it had anything to do with this accident:—I say decidedly not. It had got clear of the road.
Samuel Loates, owner and trainer of Newmarket. next gate Witness. Deceased was his apprentice, and the filly he was riding was witness's property. There must have been some real cause to have brought about the fall of the mare. The Coroner: You say she would not be likely to fall without some obstacles? —Certainly not. I believe if the tan road was greasy that would be the cause of it. You have heard that the place where she fell was. according to one witness, 70 yards from the road. and according to another 50 to 70 yards?-1 have fallen many times. and the cause of the fall has been 50 yards from the place where I came down. Supposing when crossing the road she slipped or tripped. or something happened which would interfere with her free going. would that be noticeable to anyone standing about ? - I should say not. Yon think she would go exactly in the same way, whether she tripped Or slipped?—She would not go in the same way. Those standing by the side would not notice it. but the jockeys riding by the side would notice it. Wouldn't those standing by the side notice it?—If there were ten horses in the race they would not look at any particular one. In answer to further questions. Mr. Loates said from a talk he had with the jockeys in the race he thought the accident was due to the mare slipping. or her stride being interfered with at the tan road. Two horses slipped on the road the night previous. The Coroner: Has your opinion been strengthened by any observation of your own upon the road?—Witness: Yes, two stumbled there the day before, There were two horses a long way behind, and when I asked the reason they said they slipped or stumbled at the tan. There was no doubt the rain was the cause of it.
George Moore. foreman on the Downs, said he knew the two roads the horses had to cross. The accident happened between the two roads, and witness was close by at the time. Witness said he had the supervision of the two roads in question. They put in coke breeze at the spring meeting. and left the breeze there. but took off the tan. They put new tan down on the Monday. The Foreman: Did you look at the condition of the road after Tuesday's storm? —Witness: Yes. Was the tan wet ?—Yes. Witness explained that the tan was not sufficiently wet to require renewing. Mr. Edwards: What is the thickness of the tan ?—Witness: About two inches. Have you ever had complaints as to the condition of these roads ?—I have never heard of any. Dr. H. H. Elworthy said he was acting as medical officer at the Cottage Hospital during the race week. Deceased was brought in at 3.15 p.m. on May 31st. when he was quite dead. Witness made a post-mortem examination. and found a bruise, over the forehead above the left eye about the size of a crown. There was another bruise at the outer angle of the left eye. There was a bruise on the left forearm, and also on the left knee. The right collar bone was fractured. The cause of death was concussion, resulting from injuries to the head. In answer to the Coroner, witness said there was no breathing and no pulse when deceased was brought to the hospital; He tried artificial respiration. but it was no use.
The jury returned a verdict of "Accidental Death," and expressed their sympathy with the friends and relatives of the deceased.
William was buried in Knighton old cemetery on 4th June 1905
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Nottingham Evening Post 21st August 1905
A monument in white marble has been erected in Knighton Cemetery to the memory of the late William Garnet Evans, who met his untimely death at Epsom on Derby Day in May last. The inscription is “In the midst of life we are death.” The additional lettering informs reader that the monument stands as a token of love and esteem from his brother jockeys.
IN MEMORIAM GARNET EVANS
(Died May 31st. 1905)
Twas the last day of merry May,
And the last race thou e'er wilt ride,
So full of fun! So brave to run,
I see thee at thy master's side.
Calm past thy years, unmoved by cheers,
Of thousand voices on thy way,
Alas! brave boy: how sad their joy!
Thy bright career will end to-day.
At signal sound away they bound,
While patrons proudly cheer thee on,
Thy filly falls! The sight appals!
Thy gay young life will soon be gone.
They crowd around; while on the ground,
Thou liest past all human aid,
No farther near! No friend to cheer,
As from the field thou art conveyed.
Lone! See thee lie! So young to die,
Maybe when suffering mortal pain,
One sad short prayer thou uttered there,
And I shall meet thee once again.
Poor luckless child! Oft hast thou smiled,
In school; when some would scowl and frown,
So kind and free; and full of glee,
Alas! dreaded death has cut thee down.
Thy "life race" o'er! our flag we lower,
While low we lay thee in thy grave,
In thy last hour O might the power,
Of pard'ning Love be strong to save.
Why should we weep! Rest in thy sleep,
Perchance our loss may be thy gain,
If "life's race" won? New life begun,
Why wish thee longer here remain?
Adieu! brave lad! with heart so sad!
We'll leave thee to a kinder Friend,
Whose Love so great, may bless they fate,
With blissful life which ne'er shall end.
J. Smyth
School House Knighton
May 31. 1905.
John Smyth (Smith) was the school master of Knighton National School.
The Sportsman - 21st October 1905 - Page 8
"IN LOVING MEMORY.'
The monument which was subscribed for by the apprentice jockeys to place over the grave of their fellow apprentice, W. G. Evans, who met his death while riding the Braw Lass filly in the Juvenile Selling Plate at Epsom on the Derby Day, has been erected in the little cemetery at Knighton in North Wales. It takes the form of a handsome marble column, and at the base is the following inscription:
"In Loving Memory
of
WILLIAM GARNET EVANS,
Who was accidentally killed at Epsom,
May 31. 1905.
Aged 18 years.
In the midst of Life we are in Death.
This monument was erected by his brother jockeys as a token of love and esteem."
We believe that this a the only instance in this country when jockeys have put up a memorial stone over the grave of a fellow professional.
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Captain Celestin Edward Dansey 1824 - 1859
Celestin Edouard Goding Dansey was born in France on 26th April 1824 to parents Edward Collins Dansey and Mélanie Bonnere. His sister Adélaïde Mélanie Dansey was born on 16 October 1826..
Adélaïde Mélanie Dansey daughter of Edouard Collins Dansey, 'Lieutenant de la Marine royal Anglaise' living at no. 42 rue St Nicholas d'Antin, Paris, and of Pacifique-Mélanie Bonnere his wife. Born 16 October 1826 and baptised 9 November the same year. Her 'parrain' and 'marraine' (godparents) were 'Georges-Henri Dansey' her paternal uncle and 'Marguerite Janson femme Dansey' her paternal aunt, who were represented by the father and mother.
George Henry Dansey was Edward Collins Dansey's brother. He was an Attorney in Broad Street, Ludlow.
We are not sure what became of Mélanie Bonnere (did she die?) as Edward Collins Dansey returned to England without his wife.
The family was based at Little Hereford (the Danseys had land and property around the Brinsop/Easton area). Edward remarried. His second wife was Isabella Hamilton Walker who after Edward died married a Mr. Robinson and then became the person “famous” for being one of the first ever divorce cases and the subject of the book “Mrs. Robinson’s Disgrace – The diary of a Victorian lady”. The story deals with Mr. Robinson finding a diary that she kept which pointed to at least one extra marital affair. Isabella claimed that she wrote it whilst dreaming and the entries weren’t true. The divorce papers are fascinating and went on for years.
Hereford Journal 9th August 1837
On Tuesday the 1st inst. was married, at Ashford Carbonell, Salop, by the Rev. Waties Corbett, Chancellor of Hereford, Edward Collin Dansey, Esq. son of the late Richard Dansey, Esq. of Easton Court, to Isabella Hamilton, eldest daughter of C. Walker, Esq. of Ashford Court, near Ludlow.
Hereford Times 14th May 1842
May 11, aged 47, in Broad Street, Ludlow, Capt. Edward Collins Dansey. (in another paper, a Lieutenant in the Royal Navy).
Ensign Celestin Edward Dansey was court-martialled in May 1843 for conduct unbecoming an officer and gentleman for striking Ensign Herne in the mess at Poona. He was sentenced to suspension of rank and pay for two months and severely reprimanded.
If you look at "the Tangled Web: A Life of Sir Richard Burton"(on Google books or Amazon) it seems that Celestin is far removed from the clean-cut hero. He was a friend of Lieutenant Sir Richard Burton the talented but egocentric translator of the Karma Sutra . Celestin was a talented linguist and assistant political agent in Bengal, described as "of Mooltan notoriety" (Mooltan was Multan,a battle in the Sikh wars 1849).. Celestin was also a political agent for a short time in Aden. I don't know what he did in Multan so it could be bad or seriously bad. His regiment was certainly involved there.
Besides being an officer in the East India Company Army he was a political agent at Aden (a sort of spy) and helped Speke and Burton when they were exploring the Nile. He was English Counsel in Aden during the 1850's. He is mentioned by the early explorers of Africa and searchers for the origin of the Nile.
Celestin married Frances Dansey, (his cousin) at St. Edwards on Thursday, 13 March 1851. Frances was the daughter of John and Mary Elizabeth Dansey. She was born in 1828. Frances' father, John, was a farmer.
Morning Chronicle - Monday, March 17, 1851
On the 13th inst., at the parish church of Knighton, Radnorshire, C. Edward Dansey, Esq. 1st Bombay Fusiliers, to Fanny, eldest and only surviving daughter of the late John Dansey, Esq., of Ludlow, Salop.
Frances' mother, Mary Elizabeth Dansey, died on 25th July 1864.
Mary Elizabeth Dansey - 20 March. Letters of Administration of the Personal estate and effects of Mary Elizabeth Dansey late of Ludlow in the County of Salop Widow deceased who died 25 July 1864 at Ludlow aforesaid were granted at Shrewsbury to Frances Dansey of Aymestry in the County of Hereford Widow the Daughter and one of the Next of Kin of the said Deceased she having been first sworn. Effects under £50
Celestin and Frances had four children;
Edward Collins (1852-1859 India),
Morning Post 4th January 1860
On the 30th ult., at Bedstone Rectory, Shrewsbury, aged seven years and seven months, Edward Collins, eldest son of the late Captain C. E. Dansey, Bombay Fusiliers.
Fanny Constance (Born 23 July 1854 Aden, Baptised 19 October 1854 Aden. She married Charles P. Peters)
Mary Mildred (1856-1856 Karachi, India)
Morning Post 23rd September 1856
On the 20th July last at Kurrachee, the wife of Captain C. E. Dansey, 1st Bombay Fusiliers, of a daughter.
Celestin William (1859 Bucknell -1873 The Parsonage, Knighton)
Morning Post 21at April 1859
On the 16th inst., at Bedstone Rectory, Shrewsbury, the widow of the late Captain C E. Dansey, Bombay Fusiliers, of a son.
London Daily News 21st May 1873
May 11, at The Parsonage, Knighton, Radnorshire, C. W. Dansey, son of the late Captain C. E. Dansey, late Bombay Fusiliers, aged 14.
Celestin died on 16th Jan 1859 Hythe, Kent. His wife, Frances, was carrying his child and gave birth to a daughter on 16th April 1859 at Bedstone Rectory in Shropshire. Celestin was buried on 21st January 1859 in Knighton Churchyard by the Rev. James Richard Brown who was vicar of Knighton from 1836 - 1878.
Hereford Times 12th Nov 1859
KNIGHTON-The late Captain Dansey. - In our parish church, a monument to the memory of the late Captain Dansey, of the 1st Bombay European Fusiliers, erected at the cost of his brother officers, has just been put up by the sculptor, Mr. Dodson, of St. Mary's-place, Shrewsbury. Enclosed within an arched recess are the armorial bearings of the deceased, properly emblazoned, below which, on a scroll, are the names of the battles in which the deceased was engaged, viz., Plassy, Buxar, Carnatic, Mysore, Guzera, Seringapatam, Kirkee, Beni-boo-ally, Adden, Punjab, Mooltan, Goojerat, under which is engraved the following inscription:- "Sacred to the memory of Celestin Edward Dansey, late Captain in H.M.'s. 1st Bombay European Regiment (Fusiliers). He died at Hythe, January 16th, 1859, in his 35th year of age. This monument is erected by his Brother Officers as a token of their esteem and regard." At the base of the arched recess are sculptured military emblems, consisting of a dismounted cannon, a sword, and a flag. The memorial is enclosed by an ornamental railing, designed in character with it, and rendering the whole a very successful and harmonious composition."
Weekly Mail, 4 March 1893
KNIGHTON. FUNERAL OF MRS. DANSEY.- The funeral of this lady took place in Knighton Churchyard on Friday afternoon, the body being met at the gates by the clergy and surpliced choir. The Rev. M. H. Ricketts (vicar) and the Rev. H. F. Bagshaw (curate) officiated. The service was choral, and the 'Dead March' was played while the procession went to the grave. The church and graveside were crowded with Sunday School children and many of the poor who had been recipients of Mrs. Dansey's generosity. Fanny died on Monday 20th February 1893 and was buried in Knighton Churchyard on 24th February.
The Indian Mutiny Medal Roll (British Forces) 1857-1859
Comment IOR Reference 355.134
Given Names(s) C. Edward
Surname Dansey
Rank Captain
Regiment or Ship 1st Bombay European Fusiliers
Remarks Listed on Roll as Dead. Just 'Edward' in India Register”
Although, Celestin was awarded the Indian Mutiny medal, he received it without a clasp, indicating that he was not involved in any particular campaign during the Mutiny.
Fanny Constance Dansey Married Charles Penhallow Peters on 5th September 1876 in St. Saviours-on-the-Cliff, Shanklin, Isle of Wight.
Hampshire Advertiser 20th September 1876
On the 5th inst. at St. Saviours-on-the-Cliff, Shanklin, Isle of Wight, by the Rev. C. P. Peters, assisted by the Rev. C. J. Burland, Vicar, Charles Penhallow Peters, of Knighton, Radnorshire, to Fanny Constance, only surviving child of the late Captain Celestin Edward Dansey, Bombay Fusiliers.
Fanny Constance Peters died 18th October 1892 and was buried on 22nd October 1892 Knighton Cemetery. Burial performed by Henry F Bagshaw Curate
Charles Penhallow Peters, died 15th May 1896 and was buried with his wife on 19th May 1896. Burial performed by Rev. Martin Henry Ricketts.
