Heneage Legge M.P (1788 - 1844)

Born 29 Feb 1788 in Albury, Surrey, England

Ancestors

Husband of Mary (Gregory) Legge — married 19 Jul 1827 in St James, Paddington, Westminster, England, United Kingdom

Descendants

Died 12 Dec 1844 at age 56 in Lewisham, England, United Kingdom

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Sarah Jowett [send private message]

Heneage Legge M.P is Notable.

Biography

The Honourable Heneage Legge (29 February 1788 – 12 December 1844), was a British Member of Parliament. He was senior gentleman usher to her Majesty Queen Victoria. He was one of the Commissioners of the Board of Customs.

Legge was the second son of George Legge, 3rd Earl of Dartmouth, by Lady Frances Finch, daughter of Heneage Finch, 3rd Earl of Aylesford. William Legge, 4th Earl of Dartmouth, and General the Hon. Arthur Legge were his brothers.

Burke’s Peerage, claims that he married Mary Johnstone, daughter of Major Johnstone, on 19 July 1821, and that Mary died in 1848. His obituary in the Wolverhampton Chronicle on December 18, 1844, states that he married Miss Mary Johnson, daughter of Major Johnson, in 1827. His wife was still living when this was written.

I have not found any marriage record for Heneage Legge with Mary Johnson or Johnstone in either 1821 or 1827 (or at any time)

Instead, there is a marriage record on 19 July 1827 for Heneage Legge with Mary Gregory. The record gives Heneage as a bachelor, and Mary as a spinster, so it does not appear to be a second marriage.

His widow Mary Legge’s will can be accessed in full on Ancestry.com. She clearly identifies herself as the widow of the Honorable Heneage Legge. She also mentions a number of her relatives, including several nephews and a niece, children of Wright Edwards. Corresponding birth records exist for all of these nephews and nieces, with Wright Edwards and Sarah Bishop (middle name) as parents. A marriage record exists for Wright Edwards and Sarah Bishop Jones, widow, in 1823. A marriage record exists for Sarah Bishop Gregory and Richard Jones in 1817, and death record for Richard Jones in 1819.

I think this is solid evidence that the Mary Legge of the will of 1848, is the widow of the Honorable Heneage Legge, and that her maiden name is Gregory - aligning with the marriage record below. I conclude that he married Mary Gregory in 1827.

He has a daughter:

Mary Legge (~1826) m Frederick William Mackenzie M.D.

I have not found a birth or baptism record for his daughter, but the census records of 1841, 1851 and 1861, and her burial record, all place her birthdate between 1823 and 1826. This is prior to his marriage to Mary Gregory.

He died on 12 December 1844 at age 56.

His wife survived him by four years and died in June 1848. As mentioned above, her will can be accessed on ancestry.com. I note that she makes provision for several of her nieces and nephews, but that she does not mention Mary (Legge) Mackenzie, who was still living at the time of her death.

THOUGHTS

It is possible that Mary (Gregory) Legge is not the mother of Mary (Legge) Mackenzie. The evidence points to Heneage’s daughter Mary being born prior to his marriage to Mary Gregory.

While it is conceivable that he had an earlier marriage, he is clearly identified as a bachelor on his marriage certificate with Mary Gregory in 1827.

It is possible that Mary (Legge) Mackenzie was born out of wedlock.

The references to Mary Johnstone/Johnson as his wife are a little mysterious. If this was an earlier marriage, then why would it be mentioned as the only marriage in his obituary when Mary (Gregory) Legge was still living. It also seems unlikely that his marriage to Mary Gregory was a second marriage as he is clearly identified as a bachelor on their marriage certificate.

I wonder if Mary Johnstone/Johnson was used as an alias for Mary Gregory.

Sources

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heneage_Legge_(1788–1844) http://www.thepeerage.com/p2937.htm#i29366

BAPTISM RECORD: Name: Heneage Legge Event Type: Baptism Baptism Date: 2 Apr 1788 Baptism Place: Albury, St Peter and St Paul, Surrey, England Phillimore Ecclesiastical Parish Map: View this parish Father: George Legge Mother: Frances Reference Number: ALB/1/3

MARRIAGE RECORD: Name: Hemage Legge Gender: Male Record Type: Marriage Marriage Date: 19 Jul 1827 Marriage Place: St James, Paddington, Westminster, England Spouse: Mary Gregory Register Type: Parish Register

BURIAL RECORD: Name: Honorable Heneage Legge Age: 56 Record Type: Burial Birth Date: abt 1788 Death Date: abt 1844 Burial Date: 19 Dec 1844 Burial Place: St Mary, Lewisham, Lewisham, England Register Type: Parish Register