Maria Margaretta (Paterson) Colvin (abt. 1759 - 1833)

Born about 1759 in London, England

Wife of Alexander Colvin Esq — married 28 Jan 1786 in Calcutta, India

Descendants

Died 25 Nov 1833 at about age 74 in Marylebone, London, England

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Biography

Maria Margaretta Paterson was born in about 1759, the daughter of John Paterson (d.1789) of New Burlington-street, London.^[1]

On the 3rd January 1786, she married Alexander Colvin, Esq. in Calcutta.^[2]

Maria Margaretta's husband died in Calcutta in 1818, aged sixty-two years.^[3]

Maria Margaretta Colvin, née Paterson, died in Marylebone, London, on the 25th November 1833, aged seventy-four years.^[4][5] Her body was buried in the churchyard in St Marylebone.^[6]

News extracts

Death of lady's companion (1831)

… an unfortunate and tragic episode in the latter part of Mrs Colvin’s life, as published in the Windsor and Eton Express, 15 January 1831:

SUICIDE BY A YOUNG LADY.—On Monday evening, at six o’clock, an inquest was held before Mr Stirling, and a jury composed of highly respectable inhabitants of the neighbourhood, at No. 70, Glocester-place, Portman-square, upon view of the body of Miss Caroline Emma Corson, aged 26, who destroyed herself by taking laudanum.—Mr. Thomas Bushell, of No. 17, Crawford street, Marylebone, surgeon, deposed that he was called on to attend the deceased a few minutes before one o’clock on Saturday morning last, in consequence of her having taken poison. He found her labouring under the effects of laudanum, and was informed that she had taken the contents of an ounce phial now produced. This phial, filled with laudanum, had been sold at witness’s shop, by his assistant, on Thursday at noon. It was labelled with the words, “Laudanum—poison.” Witness administered a very powerful emetic, and succeeded in bringing off half a pint of fluid from the stomach, which smelt strongly of laudanum; but finding this not effective, he sent for Mr. Jacomb, of York-street, who attended immediately with his stomach-pump, with which the stomach of the deceased was emptied very effectually. She was roused in some degree by these applications, and Mr. Vance, the surgeon, of Sackville street, arrived, and the best remedies that could be suggested were adminstered without intermission until 9 o’clock in the morning, when she appeared rapidly recovering, and they flattered themselves that they had succeeded in restoring her, and left her in the full confidence that the effects of the poison were counteracted, In about ten minutes, however, witness was again sent for, and found the deceased dying, and she expired very shortly after. The quantity of laudanum contained in the bottle was quite sufficient to cause death.—Mr Jacomb corroborated the statement of Mr Bushell—Edward Drozier, assistant to Mr Bushell, deposed, that he sold the phial produced, filled with laudanum, to a lady apparently about 28 years of age. He asked her if she was acquainted with the properties of it, and she said she was perfectly, and that she was not going to take it, but to use it for the tooth-ache. Witness when he served her with the drug begged her to be cautious where she put it, and she said she would take care that no on should have access to it but herself. She appeared perfectly collected.—Alexander John Colvin, Esq. sworn.—I reside in this house, and am in the civil service of the Hon East India Company. The deceased had lived with my mother (Mrs Colvin) for the last 8 or 9 years, and I have known her since the year 1829. Her father had been a man in affluent circumstances, but was reduced by misfortune; and she herself had suffered much from bad health, which (and continually brooding over the recollection of the station in life in which her father had moved) had had the effect of souring her temper, and caused her to take wrong views of different circumstances which took place. In consequence of this irritability of temper, which showed itself on various occasions, my mother determined to part with her, but at the same time wishing to provide for her comfort, was desirous of making her a handsome allowance during her (my mother’s) life. She evidently had a great objection to return home, and when the offer of an allowance was made, she seemed to consider her dismissal an insult, and rejected the proposal of a yearly settlement with contempt. Saturday last was fixed for her leaving the family, and her mother was to have sent a carriage for her from Brentford on that day. It would appear, however, that her feelings got the better of her, and that the idea of returning home, and the impression that she was insulted, must have deprived her of her reason, for to no other cause can I attribute the act she has unhappily committed. During the whole of the past week, from the time of my mother’s determination to part with her was communicated, she appeared to me to act in a manner which evinced a decided aberration of mind. On Friday night we all retired about 10 o’clock, and the deceased on parting shook us by the hand more cordially than she had done during the week. About 12 o’clock, however, my daughter called us, and on going to Miss Corson’s room, we found her, as I conceived, in the agonies of death. The best medical assistance was procured with all possible speed. The father of the deceased was a surgeon some years ago at Brentford.—Mr. STIRLING.—I knew him perfectly well, and a highly respectable man he was. He was once the partner of a Dr. Johnstone.—The Jury required no further evidence, and returned a verdict “that the deceased destroyed herself by taking laudanum while in a state of temporary derangement.”^[7]

Research notes

• The estimated year of birth was inferred from the age reported at death.^[4]
• Maria Margaretta Paterson's sister, Anna Alicia, was the wife of Robert Home (1752–1834), the portrait and landscape painter.^[8]

Sources

1. ↑ The Law Times. Vol. XXVII (9th August 1856). “V.C. Kindersley’s Court. Reported by P.M. Leonard, Esq., Barrister-at-Law. Nov. 13 and 14, and July 14 and 16. / WILTON V. COLVIN.” Citing the death of John Paterson of New Burlington-street [London], and his will dated 23rd November 1789; bequests to John David Paterson of Calcutta; George Paterson of India House, Esq.; the remainder to be divided equally between Anna Alicia Paterson, Maria Margaretta Paterson, and Jane Mellora Smith; the death of John Paterson shortly after he made his will, which was proved 8th December 1789 in the Prerogative Court of Canterbury. Citing also an indenture dated 12th Sept. 1795 made between Robert Home of the first part, Anna Alicia Paterson of the second part, and Alexander Colvin, James Colvin, and Thomas Raban, of the third part; citing that Anna Alicia Paterson was the sister of Maria Margaretta Paterson, afterwards the wife of Alexander Colvin the elder; also that Anna Alicia Paterson became the wife of the said Robert Home; with many other details and a judgment rendered. (pp 247ff.)
2. ↑ British India Office. Ecclesiastical Returns. Marriage: 28th January 1786. Mr Alexander Colvin, and Miss Maria Margaret Paterson; marriage solemnized at the Presidency of Fort William in Bengal. Original record held by The British Library (London); digital image online at findmypast.co.uk (accessed by Alison Kilpatrick by subscription, 2018-06-28).
3. ↑ Morning Chronicle (London), 8 May 1819 (pg 2). Death notice: “At Calcutta, on the 15th of December last, Alexander Colvin, Esq. aged 63.” Digital image online at The British Newspaper Archive, britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk (accessed by Alison Kilpatrick 2018-06-23, by subscription).
4. ↑ ^{4.0 4.1} London Courier and Evening Gazette, 26 November 1833 (pg 4). Death notice: “On the 25th instant, at her house in Gloucester-place, Mrs. Colvin, the widow of the late Alexander Colvin, Esq. of Calcutta, aged 74 years.” Digital image online at The British Newspaper Archive, britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk (accessed by subscription, and transcribed by Alison Kilpatrick, 2018-09-13).
5. ↑ National Probate Calendar, England and Wales. “COLVIN, Maria Margaret. Effects under £1,000. 19 March [1867]. Letters of Administration of the Personal estate and effects of Maria Margaret Colvin, late of 70 Gloucester-place, Portman-square, in the County of Middlesex, Widow, deceased, who died 25 November 1833 at 70 Gloucester-place aforesaid, were granted at the Principal Registry to Eliza Anne Turnbull (Wife of Montague Henry Turnbull, Esquire) of Sheepstead House, Abingdon, in the County of Berks, the Daughter and one of the Next of Kin of the said Deceased, she having been first sworn.” (ref. 1867, pg. 323). Digital image online at ancestry.ca (accessed by Alison Kilpatrick 2018-07-08, by subscription).
6. ↑ Church of England. Parish of St Marylebone. Burial of Margaret Maria Colvin of Gloucester Place, aged 74 years, 3rd December 1833, by Tho’s Whaston, M.A. Original record: Board of Guardian Records, 1834-1906 and Church of England Parish Registers, 1813-2003. London Metropolitan Archives, London (parish of Marylebone, 1833, pg. 360, no. 2875). Digital image online at ancestry.ca (accessed by Alison Kilpatrick by subscription, 2018-07-08).
7. ↑ Windsor and Eton Express, 15 January 1831 (pg 3). “Suicide of a Young Lady.” Citing the death of Miss Caroline Emma Corson, who resided with Mrs Colvin; Alexander John Colvin, her son, one of the witnesses at the inquest. Digital image online at The British Newspaper Archive, britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk (accessed by subscription, and transcribed by Alison Kilpatrick, 2018-09-13).
8. ↑ The [—] Volume of the Walpole Society. Vol. XIX. pub. Walpole Society of the University Press, 1931. Extracts re: Mr Home, his marriage to Anna Alicia Paterson, who was sister to Maria Margaret Paterson, who had married Alexander Colvin. (pg 44.)