[WHARTON William of North Lopham Norfolk gentleman died 16 January 1896 Probate Norwich 9 September [1896] to Francis Wharton farmer and Vincent Lewis Mathias esquire retired colonel in Her Majesty’s army. Effect £1356 1s.]
So how did a local farmer, William Wharton, come to know and have as an executor of his will a colonel in the army? Vincent Lewis Mathias, quite an important sounding name! Maybe the other executor, Francis Wharton, would be easier to explain, probably a relative.
The first quick look showed that William had no son called Francis. On further investigation into the Census returns for William gave, in 1851, a son called Frank (born 1845), but in 1861 a son called Francis (born in the same year). In 1891 Francis was living in the same village, Croxton, as his father and had an occupation of farmer. I think it would be safe to assume that this identifies the son Frank/Francis as one of the executors of his father’s will as no other relatives were found with a similar forename to contradict this.
Vincent Lewis Mathias, an army colonel, the other executor, was found to have a wife with the surname Wharton. She was Kate Ann Wharton, born in 1843 in Norwich. William had no daughter Kate so Vincent was not his son-in-law.
Looking into the family of Kate showed her father to be George Wharton, born in 1807, about a year before William. (Kate’s father William, 1807 to 1878, was a physician, initially working in Norfolk and then at the Bedfordshire General and Fever Hospital.)
Looking further back into the Wharton family it appeared that William and George were brothers. So, Vincent was the husband of Kate, William’s niece.
The army colonel, Vincent, was the character that initially started this, but who was he?
Vincent was born in Eastry in Kent on 5th April 1843. He was the son of Vincent Mathias who had served in the army with the Colonial Service in Madras, ending with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel.
By 1871 William was listed in the British Army as a Lieutenant in the 108th Regiment Of Foot (Madras Infantry) serving at Deesa, India as a Probationer with the Staff Corps. At some point he must have returned home as he married Kate Anne Wharton in 1872 in Letherhead, Surrey, but returned with his wife to India soon afterwards. Unfortunately Kate died on 22nd September, 1873, and was buried in Bangalore on 23rd. Their only son, Frederick Vincent Lee Wharton was born in that same year; did she die giving birth?
[The Madras Colonial Service evolved from the East India Company's shift from trade to rule. It oversaw urban development, the creation of municipal bodies, labour policies, and significant roles for Indians in subordinate services like the medical field. The service oversaw trade, especially cotton and spices, and the development of industries. It faced many challenges from local resistance and ultimately became the Indian Civil Service.]
After Kate’s death, Vincent went on to marry twice more. He married Emma Lemoine on 20th October, 1889 in St. Leonards, Sussex, but she died in 1892. In 1899 he married Marion Durrant.
Vincent died in 1927, leaving widow Marion, who died in 1942.
So looking at records for the Lophams led to India and high ranking army officers. Just another small diversion from the task in hand!
