Ann Constance (Urquhart) Alden (1861 - 1948)

Born 29 Mar 1861 in Tadcaster, Yorkshire, England, United Kingdom

Ancestors

Wife of Henry William Alden II — married 25 Sep 1889 in Dublin, Ireland

Descendants

Died 16 Jul 1948 at age 87 in Rayleigh, Essex, England, United Kingdom

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Biography

Annie (Urquhart) Alden was born in Yorkshire, England.

Birth

Ann Urquhart was born on 29 March 1861 in the Keepers Lodge, Grimston, Tadcaster in the County of York, England, United Kingdom where her father was a gamekeeper at the time. ^[1] She was the first-born child of Duncan Urquhart & Christina Coventry and the only child in the family to be born in England. Her siblings were all born in Scotland.

Service at Glamis Castle

She was a Scottish gamekeeper's daughter who first left home to take up service at Glamis Castle, the home of the Queen Mother's grandfather, the Earl of Strathmore. It was while she was in Dublin with this family, that she met Henry William Alden. He was with the 4th Queen's own Hussars at the time. ^[2] She married Henry William Alden on 25 Sept 1889 in St Thomas Parish in Dublin, Ireland.

Death

She died on 16 July 1948 at Pearsons Ave, Rayleigh, Essex, of senility and old age at 87 years. ^[3]

Family Memories

She was an interesting woman and there are letters and family stories handed down, written by her children that attest to this. The letters were between the daughters living in New Zealand and the daughter still in England. Ann was my great grandmother Hylton-692 03:10, 10 February 2023 (UTC). There are so many stories handed down from family I have been in contact with over the years. Most of the sources were from her own daughters, Constance Alden . Constance's son Arthur Henry Smith told this story which was put down on paper..."They say some marriages are made in heaven. Perhaps Henry and Annie's was pre-ordinated because the odds were against it from the start. It came to light in the chatter at a regimental reunion in London many years ago. Annie was a bossy, overpowering young woman who never mellowed even in later life. She suddenly announced that she and Henry Alden were engaged to be married. Henry was a happy go lucky young soldier and bandsman and had never been interested in her or taken her out at all. He had no intentions towards any girl. But these were the days when a lady was a lady and her word was above reproach. Everybody in the Regiment knew it was a lie but Henry accepted it and would not repudiate the word of a lady. The officer who told Bertha the story, (Annie's daughter, who, interestingly, had a personality similiar to her mother), said it was common knowledge that the Colonel and Adjutant had Henry in for a long talk and wanted him to deny it - there would be no stigma as it was well known that she had set her sights on him and he was definitely not interested and had done nothing to encourage her. Henry would not deny her statement - in the gentlemanly code then reigning and in spite of the Colonel's urging and so they were married. They had seven children so relations couldn't have been too strained!!!". Other stories seem to back up this strange match of two different personalities.......once in 1919, when Dolly (Constance) and Arthur Smith were awaiting a ship to NZ, Granny Alden (as she was known), blew up at Henry over some matter. He thereupon said to Arthur, "Arthur, follow me!" There was a tiny pub 50 yards down the street and Henry led the way there. As they were drinking their beer, he said to Arthur, "I've been married to that woman for 40 years and I've not plumbed her depths yet!". Dolly could not understand her mother's attitude towards her father. In some ways he could do no wrong. One day Henry was developing photos in the bathroom upstairs when the bath overflowed and water came through the ceiling and dripped onto the kitchen floor. Dolly and Arthur packed, awaiting Granny coming home and ordering them out. She was mad alright but as soon as she learned Henry was the culprit, she said no doubt everything would dry out soon. Henry was a brilliant musician and could play every instrument in the band, plus piano and organ. All the children loved him - lovely gentleman and very placcid. The story goes that Annie held him back from being the organist at Windsor Castle for the King and Queen - living in a 'grace and favour' residence for the rest of their lives even after he could play no more. But Annie would not move from their poky little suburban house. She was known as a tartar and ruled with a rod of iron. She had instant likes and dislikes, right and wrong and never changed her mind ever. Letters between her daughters Ada and Alice seem to confirm all these stories. Edgar James Alden, her youngest son, wrote to me and said his mother was a Scottish farmer's daughter and first left home to take up service at Glamis Castle, the home of the Queen Mother's grandfather, the Earl of Strathmore. It was while she was in Dublin with this family that she met his father and they married. His father was with the 4th Queens own Hussars. "When I went up to Norwich to stay with Uncle Nelson, my Dad suggested I visit one or two relatives but as he had seen so little of them himself, I couldn't see myself knocking at their door and saying, I'm Ted Alden. Ted who? they would say". Arthur Smith, her grandson, said that she had instant likes and dislikes - right or wrong and never changed her mind ever.Hylton-692 17:24, 26 September 2023 (UTC)Hylton-692.

Sources

1. ↑ Birth Registration, "England & Wales Birth Registration Index, 1837-2008"; 1861, Tadcaster, Yorkshire, England, Vol 9c, Aff.Line Number: 110.
2. ↑ information from family who knew her.
3. ↑ Death, "Certified Copy of an Entry of Death". Pursuant to the Births and Deaths Registration Acts 1836 to 1929. Registration District: Rochford in the County of Essex, No 382. 1948, 16th July, Pearsons Avenue, Rayleigh. Annie Alden aged 87 years, Widow of Henry William Alden, a Retired Military Bandmaster; cause of death: Senility, Informant A.V. Trudgett, grand-daughter in attendance.