Robert Charles Tudway

Awarded the compensation for the Parham New Works, Parham Old Works and Parham Lodge estate on Antigua after the death of his father, John Paine Tudway (q.v.). The Tudways were significant landowners in Somerset, especially in Wells, Wookey, Wellesley, Dinder, Chilcote and Dulcote, and had been since the early C18th. Robert Charles Tudway's son, Charles Clement (1847-1926) married twice: (1) Edith Nelson (7 Jan 1850-24 August 1877; marriage: 5 July 1870) and (2) Alice C Hervey-Bathurst (c.1850-?; marriage: 15 January 1884).

1. The will of Robert Charles Tudway proved 15/11/1855 is short and uninformative, but refers to a settlement with his father John Paine Tudway in 1829 which appears to be the transfer of the Antigua estates alluded to by the History of Parliament entry for John Paine Tudway.

2. Robert Charles Tudway's son Charles Clement Tudway left £66,297 14s 2d at death in 1926. Charles Clement Tudway's first wife Edith Nelson was the daughter of Horatio, 3rd Earl Nelson of Trafalgar and Lady Mary Jane Diana Agar. His second wife Alice Hervey-Bathurst was the daughter of Sir Frederick Hutchinson Hervey-Bathurst of Clarendon Park, Wiltshire. Alice's sister, Evelyn, married Paul Sanford Methuen, third Baron Methuen (1845–1932). (Evelyn died of TB 2 June 1879, less than 1 year after the marriage.) Methuen was an army officer, served in Egypt and, above all South Africa, esp. during the Boer War. April 1908 appointed general officer commanding-in-chief in South Africa, a post which he held until 1912. Governor and commander-in-chief of Natal in 1910, and promoted field marshal in June 1911. Governor and commander-in-chief of Malta from February 1915 to May 1919. At the end of 1919 appointed constable of the Tower. Lived chiefly at Corsham Court, doing much to help the British Legion, the Church Lads' Brigade, the Boy Scouts, the VAD organization, and local movements and causes, winning affection and respect. He was appointed CB in 1882, CMG in 1886, KCVO in 1897, KCB in 1900, GCB in 1902, GCVO in 1910, and GCMG in 1919. He was a Liberal Unionist. Methuen died at Corsham Court on 30 October 1932.

T71/877 Antigua claim nos. 327 (Parham Lodge), 328 (Parham Old Work, St Peters) and 330 (Parham New Work).

1. PROB 11/2223/29.

2. National Probate Calendar 1926; Family papers, C16th-C20th are held by the Somerset Archive and Record Service Tudway of Wells Manuscripts which include estate records for the family properties in Antigua. Some details are included in a website, Historical Sketches Dulcote Wells Somerset [accessed 25/02/2010].