Susan (Watson) Evans-Freke (bef. 1772 - 1828)

Wife of George Evans — married 13 Aug 1792 in St George Hanover Square, Middlesex, England

Wife of George (Freke) Evans-Freke MP — married 21 Jan 1806 in Berkeley Street, London, England

Died Oct 1828 after age 56 in Laxton Hall, Northamptonshire, England

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Biography

Susan Watson was born before 1772. She was a daughter of Colonel Henry Watson. Henry was the son of a grazier, born in Holbeach Lincolnshire, a gifted mathamatician, who became Chief Engineer Bengal for the British India Company and became wealthy.

Susan married George Evans, Lord Carbery, on 13th August 1792 at St George's Church, St George Street, Hanover Square, London, England. Susan brought with her a fortune of £6,000 pa.

Following George's death, she married George Evans-Freke, son of Sir John Evans-Freke, 1st Bt. and Lady Elizabeth Gore, and a second cousin of Baron Carbery's, on 21st January 1806 at Berkeley Street, London, England.

She died in October 1828 at Laxton Hall, Northamptonshire, England.

"Baroness Carbery had no children from either marriage. The essayist, De Quincey, described her as, 'a religious woman of very fine presence and figure, having masculine and austere understanding.'"[1] Thomas de Quincey was at least 13 years Susan's junior but as his mother was friends with Mrs Susannah Schreiber (Susan's guardian) and they came to visit yearly, he knew her well, even visiting her after her marriage. Thomas de Quincey's description of Susan's early life as an orphan and his friendship with her is seen chiefly in his 'Visit to Laxton, The Orphan Heiress'[2]

Wikisource for her father states "Watson married in India, and his wife accompanied him (back) to England. Having omitted to alter a will made before marriage, his considerable fortune went to a natural daughter living under the care of Mrs. 'Richardson' of Holbeach. She married Charles Schreiber." The Will of the third wife of John Charles Schreiber, Susanna (b. 1745 Robinson, m. Green, m. Harvey), in 1801 appoints Lady Susan Carbery as a trustee. Susanna Schreiber was the guardian of Susan Watson, and also a Miss Smith, daughter of a General Smith of India.

Sources

• The Peerage: Susan Watson; accessed 11 Apr 2019

• Lord Carbery Wikipedia[3]

• Henry Watson[4]

• Carbery Baroncy[5]

• de Quincey, Thomas, Visit to Laxton in 'The Orphan Heiress' [6]