Arthur William Bolton (1868 - 1912)

Born 7 Jul 1868 in Ballykisteen, Co. Tipperary, Ireland

Ancestors

Husband of Eugenie (Zaozersky) Bolton — married 6 Feb 1898 (to 27 Jun 1912) in Kronstadt, Russia

Descendants

Died 27 Jun 1912 at age 43 in 29 North-side, Clapham Common, Surrey

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Biography

Arthur William Bolton was fourth of the five children of Jasper & Emily Georgina Bolton (née Grey); the last child to be born at Ballykisteen House, Co. Tipperary, where Jasper was Agent for the Earl of Derby's estates. In 1871 when Arthur was three his father died (at age 30). In 1873 his mother re-married and the family went to live at Barnwood, Gloucestershire. There is a letter dated 26 March 1884 in the collected papers of his aunt, Josephine (Grey) Butler, writing of his coming up to London (at age 16) to sit for examination to become a naval engineer. Arthur retired from the Royal Navy as Engineer Commander.

In 1896 or thereabouts, the Squadron paid a courtesy visit to Russia, and the officers of the fleet were entertained by the commander of the Kronstadt Naval Base, General Eugene Zaozersky, who had three daughters. Arthur courted the eldest girl, Eugenie, obtaining a civilian Passport in 1897 for a return visit to Russia.

Arthur William Bolton and Eugenie Zaozersky were married in Kronstadt on 6 February 1898. They returned to England where first child Eric was born, at Southsea on 18 January 1899. With Arthur away on sea service (on the China station during the Boxer Rebellion), Eugenie returned home to Russia where second child Rollo was born on 4 September 1900 at Peterhof, St Petersburg. With Arthur's mission completed, the family resettled in England and their third child Michael was born at Plymouth on 28 July 1904.

Arthur was invalided out of the Royal Navy on 23 July 1907. The family spent time in St Petersburg and a year in Finland, returning to England for the boys' schooling. In the 1911 England Census the family was living at Berkhamstead, Hertfordshire, and Arthur describes his occupation as "Agent for British Engineering Firms in St Petersburg as one partner of a Society Company". His health continued to deteriorate and Arthur died in Berkhamstead on 27 June 1912 at age 44.

[Eugenie remarried on 5 July 1913 to Captain Edward Rogers, Royal Engineers (son of a Royal Navy Captain). He served in the Gallipoli campaign, then on the Somme where he was awarded the Military Cross and promoted to Major. He died in a field hospital on 8 December 1916, at age 34. They had one child, Veronica Eileen Rogers, MBE.]

Sources

• Birth: Ireland Births and Baptisms, 1620-1881
• Life: "The Bolton Family of Northumberland", A.R.C. Bolton (son), 1971
• Retirement: London Gazette, 31 July 1907