Colin Farquharson and Maria Selby were Kate Farquharson’s paternal grandparents. They were married 20 March 1850 at St. George in the East, Tower Hamlets.

Colin and Maria’s Children

1. Colin Robert Farquharson, born 22 May 1845 in Poplar, carpenter, married 16 September 1866 Mary Ann Crowley, St. Luke’s, Chelsea, resided in London through at least 1882, emigrated to Canada, died 16 Feb 1910 in Toronto
2. John W. Farquharson, born c. 1853 as a British subject in Turkey
3. Joseph Charles Farquharson, baptized 17 Sep 1854, born in Mitcham. Traveling tea merchant? Married Kate Beningfield. Died 7 January 1895 (age 40) in Buenos Aires, Argentna.
4. Christopher Farquharson, baptized 5 Oct 1856, born in Mitcham. Settled in New Zealand in/before 1880 (age 23). Piano tuner and builder. Married Alice Matilda Wallis in 1898. Died 1943.
5. James Henry Farquharson born 11 October 1858 in Bermondsey. Settled in New Zealand in/before 1880 (age 22). Carpenter and ironmonger/dealer, ran a shop in Petone, Lower Hutt, New Zealand, married Elizabeth Ann Crofts in 1906 . British Army Private 45793 and 41654, Kings Own Scottish Borderers in WWI.
6. Maria Jane Farquharson, born 27 May 1861 in Bermondsey, died 13 October 1863 at home, 86 Union St., Southwark, Age 2, Scrofula Emaciation

Colin Farquharson and Maria Selby’s oldest child Colin Robert was born prior to their marriage date, which is curious. I found a baptism record for him that says he was born 22 May 1845, baptized 6 July 1845 at All Saints Church, Poplar. Other records say he was born in Scotland. I wonder if Colin and Maria were married in Scotland or elsewhere and had to later have it formalized in England.

Colin Robert Baptism

Colin and Maria Marriage

1851 Census

The 1851 England Census shows Maria Selby living with her parents and young Colin Robert (age 5) at 4 Ebenezer Pl in Poplar, Middlesex. Her father Robert Selby was born 3 May 1785 to Isaac Selby and Margaret Dodds, in Etal, Northumberland, which is a small village in the far north of England, bordering Scotland. Robert was a cooper, according to the census, as was Maria’s brother Thomas Selby. Brothers William and Charles were carpenters. Maria’s mother Ann Dorothy Ware (sometimes listed as Dorothy Ann) was baptized 9 September 1793 to parents John Ware and Hannah Ware of Black Horse Tavern, Lower Road (now Evelyn Street), Depford. Robert Selby and Ann Dorothy Ware were married 12 March 1815 at St. Paul’s, Deptford, in South East London. The Selby family on the 1851 Census is listed as follows:

1. Robert Selby, Head, Age 64, Born c. 1787, Durham, London, England
2. Ann D Selby, Wife, Age 57, Born c. 1794, Deptford, Kent, England
3. William Selby, Son, Age 29, Born c. 1822, Walworth, Sussex, England
4. Thomas Selby, Son, Age 23, Born c. 1828, Rotherhithe, Southwark, Surrey, England
5. Charles Selby, Son, Age 16, Born c. 1835, Walworth, Sussex, England
6. Maria Farquharson, Daughter, Age 30, Born c. 1821, Rotherhithe, Surrey, England
7. Colin Farquharson, Grandson, Age 5, Born. c. 1846, Aldgate, London, England
8. William Ware, Nephew, Age 25, Born c. 1826, Deptford, Kent, England

1861 Census

The 1861 England Census listed 5 children for Colin and Maria Farquharson, living at 3 Tranton Pl. in Bermondsey, Southwark. Following their names, I list their ages as recorded on the census; in parentheses are estimated birth years based on that age. If I have their actual birth record, I link to it after:

1. Colin Robert Farquharson, 15 (1846) born 22 May 1845
2. John Farquharson, 8 (1853)
3. Joseph Charles Farquharson, 6 (1855), Kate Farquharson’s father, baptized 17 Sep 1854
4. Christopher Farquharson, 4 (1857) baptized 5 Oct 1856
5. James Farquharson, 2 (1859) born 11 October, 1858

Colin’s occupation is recorded as “commercial traveler” Interestingly, their second son, John, was born as a British subject in Turkey in 1853. Turkey was a major trading partner of Britain in the 19th century. British merchants exported a wide range of goods to Turkey, including textiles, machinery, and metalware. They imported Turkish products such as cotton, tobacco, and raisins. British investors were also interested in Turkey in the 19th century. They saw Turkey as a potential market for their goods and services, and as a source of raw materials. Commercial travelers might visit Turkey to explore investment opportunities, or to represent British companies that were already operating in the country.

In 1861 Bermondsey was a working-class district of London, on the south bank of the River Thames, between Southwark and Rotherhithe, where the family also had ties. It was a bustling port and industrial center, home to a number of docks and factories. The housing in Bermondsey was also overcrowded and unsanitary. Many people lived in cramped, squalid conditions. The district was also plagued by disease, such as cholera and tuberculosis.

The couple’s youngest child, Maria Jane Farquharson was born in 1861 and died 13 October 1863 at the age of two, of scrofula emaciation, which was a tuberculous infection of the lymphatic system, most common in children and young adults and often associated with poverty and malnutrition. Symptoms of scrofula included swollen lymph nodes in the neck, groin, and armpits, skin lesions, abscesses, and joint problems. In severe cases, scrofula could lead to emaciation, or extreme weight loss. I cannot imagine the pain of losing a child this way.