Reginald and Hesketh Hanson letters 1850

Two brothers, Reginald and Hesket Hanson, were at Eythorne School, Sandwich in the early 1850s. Despite their early age (10 and 12), their writing in English and French was very good indeed. Their lives and story was was quite remarkable in a way. Coming from an affluent background (their father, Samuel (1804 – 1882), of The Elms, Epsom, Surrey in London was a renowned fruit merchant in London) they enjoyed a relatively privileged life, but not without its sadness and tragedy.

When Reginald Hanson was born on 31 May 1840 in London, his father, Samuel, was 35 and his mother, Mary (née Choppin), was 35. He had four sons and two daughters with Constance Hallett Hanson. Reginald was knighted and was an Alderman and Mayor of London in 1886. He died in 1905 in Firenze, Firenze, Italy, at the age of 65. More about Reginald here.

Here are the letters Reginald wrote that are in my collection.

When Hesketh Hanson was born on 7 February 1839 in London, his father, Samuel, was 34 and his mother, Mary (née Choppin), was 34. He married Jane Anna Johnston on 11 August 1862 in Monken Hadley, Middlesex. They had eight children in 13 years. He died on 20 January 1915 in Middlesex having lived a long life of 75 years, and was buried in Forest Hill, Oxfordshire.

Hesketh was at Trinity, July 6, 1857. 1857; B.A. 1861; M.A. 1865. Ordained as deacon (Manchester) 1862; priest (Ely) 1867; Church of Padiham, Lancashire, 1862. Church of Heyworth, 1862-3. Church of St Botolph’s, Cambridge, 1867-71. Vicar of Marsworth, Buckinghamshire, 1871-80. He married Jane Anna (1838-1906), daughter and co-heiress of James Johnston, of Hampstead Manor House, Middlesex. Lived latterly at 80, Hills Road, Cambridge. Died Jan. 20, 1915. Brother of Reginald (1858); father of the above, of Reginald J. E. (1888) and of Wilfrid J. (1882) (source: Scott, MSS.; The Times, Jan. 21, 1915).

Here are the letters Hesketh wrote that are in my collection.

One of Hesket’s sons, Oswald (20 Sep 1873 – Oct 11 1914) was a Solicitor, who practised at 2, Vernon Street, W. Kensington, 44, Hammersmith Road, and Battersea, London (Messrs Beamish, Hanson, Airy and Feiling). He served in the Great War, 1914-19 (Lieut.-Cdr., R.N.V.R.). Oswald was taken prisoner by the Germans after the Antwerp operations and executed by them on the 10th October 1914. Whilst being marched along in the dark and in a state of delirium, he imagined that he saw British soldiers approaching. He called out to the visionary troops not to come near, as the Germans were there. For this he was shot. Buried at Exaarde. Commodore Henderson wrote on the 15th February 1915 and states evidence from Lieutenant Commander F.C. Grover RNVR Hawke Bn. “Poor Hanson was shot by the Germans on the 10th October 1914. He had struggled with a sentry who was about to fire on one of our own men trying to escape after we were taken prisoner on the night of the 9th, & under German Military Code such an act can be punished with death. I tried to get the sentence mitigated, & so did the Commandant of the troops guarding us, for it was evident that Hanson was overwrought by the fatigues of the previous days. The matter was referred to the highest authority; at that time, General von der Goltz was Military Governor of Belgium, but it was of no avail, and Hanson was shot at midday, and is buried by the Church at Exaerde. His next-of-Kin: Miss Hanson, 16 Bayswater Terrace, London W. ; 1914 Star issued to brother, Mr. Wilfred Hanson, 19th June 1919”.
The researched Hanson family history is here (9):

The Archive

I acquired the small collection of letters along with other items in February 2020. Here are the letters Reginald wrote that are in my collection. Here are the letters Hesketh wrote that are in my collection. The other items are here. I have extensively researched the family and have uploaded the GEDCOM file here. You are welcome to download a copy (I hold no responsibility for research or technical errors).