James William Windsor (1779 - 1853)

Born 4 Feb 1779 in London, England

Husband of Alicia Daniell — married 13 May 1804 in Bath St James, Somerset, England, United Kingdom

Descendants

Died 28 Jan 1853 at age 73 in Bath, Somerset, England, United Kingdom

Problems/Questions Profile manager: C. Brooman [send private message]

Biography

Early Life
James William Windsor, "Professor of Music," and principal organist at Saint Margaret's Chapel in Bath, was born February 4, 1776, according to a tiny hand-stitched booklet of Windsor family birth dates that belonged to his nieces in America. When I found the record of his baptism, at St. Sepulchre in Holborn, London, from 23 Feb 1779 in the Ancestry index, "England, Select Births and Christenings, 1538-1975," I figured that he must have been baptised at age three. After all, several modern-day books had been published mentioning Windsor, and noting his birth year as 1776.

But this record should be the Poster Child for why I detest Ancestry indexes with a passion! They are almost never correct! Wrong dates, names misspelled, information mistranscribed, or just plain missed. When you can't see an image of the original, contemporary record, you are taking the word of some Ancestry data entry clerk that the data is correct. And in my experience, indexes are so often wrong as to make them unreliable.

The last time a did a search for the contemporary baptismal record from St Sepulchre, it was not available. But today, there it was, finally! I brought up the record, and verified what I already knew: baptised 23 Feb 1779, son of James and Mary Windsor. But then my eye caught something at the end of the line that was not on the index record: a column that was labeled "Born" at the top of the page! And underneath that column for James was "Feb 4." With no other information recorded, this could only mean one thing—that he was born February 4, 1779, and not February 4, 1776, as so many of us thought!

And because he was only nineteen days old at his baptism, he was surely born in the area where he was baptised: in the Holborn district of London. This is confirmed by the 1841 and 1851 censuses of the city of Bath, Somerset County, where he later lived at 30 Park Street.

I don't know anything about his father's profession, however the vicar of St Sepulchre is appointed by St. John's College, Oxford. There are several colleges in the Holborn area, which indicates that his father may have been a professor, perhaps even a professor of music. It also seems apparent to me that James William was raised in a wealthy family. I say this because he was a very educated man, which indicates that his father must have been a man in the upper classes.

Professional Life
By the time he was a teenager, James W. was already a skilled musician and residing in Bath, as the Bath Chronicle and Weekly Gazette reported on January 23, 1794, that Windsor, who was then 17 years old, had performed some very difficult pieces on an instrument called a Teleochordon, patented by Charles Claggett in 1788. At the age of 21, he was listed as a professional piano forte player and member of the Bath Harmonic Society. He had been given the nickname "The Harmonious Blacksmith," due to his frequent performance of the air and variations from Handel's Suite in E major, the name "The Harmonious Blacksmith" being the popular name of its fourth movement. Additionally, he subscribed to some very obscure technical letters about music from foreign sources.

By the fact that Windsor was so skilled at playing the piano forte by the age of 17, he must have been, like Mozart, a child prodigy. Most male children in those days followed the profession of their father. So, just as Mozart's father Georg Leopold was a composer and violinist who started his son's instruction at a very young age, it's very likely that James was introduced to the piano forte at a tender age by a father who was likely a musician himself. And due to the fact that James, still a minor child at age 17, was living in Bath, we might guess that his father was a resident of that city.

Windsor had a large and impressive collection of musical scores, many of them rare copies signed by composers, which were donated to the Royal College of Music by his eldest daughter Elizabeth after her death in 1890. It still today comprises half of their collection. A number of such scores were presented to his niece, Louisa Daniels (c. 1802-1855), who was one of his students, as the Bath newspapers mentioned her appearances in a number of concerts. One such volume is titled, The Creation: an Oratorio: Composed By Joseph Haydn Adapted for Voices and Piano Forte by Muzio Clementi. It was printed by Clementi, Banger, Hyde, Collard and Davis; London. Although it was not presented to Louisa until September 7th, 1829, my Google research shows that it probably dates to around 1800. Other volumes were collections of J.N. Hummel, Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy, and Best Compositions of Schubert, Kreutzer, Spohr, Beethoven and Weber. All were popular composers in his day.

It was reported that one of the scores in Windsor's collection was inscribed as having been presented to him by his cousin "Lucy Philpot | now Anderson." Lucy Anderson (1797-1878) was a very skilled piano forte player who taught Queen Victoria, and was the first woman ever to play Beethoven's "Emperor" piano concerto with the Royal Philharmonic Society. She was said to have been taught by Windsor as a child. The fact that he had cousins who were in such top echelons of society is one more clue about his upper class roots.

Marriage
Sometime in the year 1799, James W. Windsor met an opera singer by the name of Alicia Daniels. According to the census of Bath, she was born in Amsterdam. Earlier versions of her surname are spelled Daniell, and family tradition says that the family Danielle was of French Calvinist (Huguenot) ancestry. Alicia sang in a number of roles, including as Rosina in William Shield's Rosina, as Rosetta in Thomas Arne's Love in a Village and as Rosina in The Spanish Barber. (This was not Rossini's The Barber of Seville, but likely a musical adaptation of Paisiello and Petrosellini's opera, with an English libretto borrowing heavily from George Colman's version of the Beaumarchais play. It was complicated...)

According to contemporary newspapers, she spent time early in her career at the Theater Royal in Chester, with her younger brother Samuel Daniell in tow. Later, She sang in multiple London theatres, such as Vauxhall Gardens, the Royal Haymarket Theatre, the Theatre Royal, Covent Garden, the Royal Amphitheatre at Westminster Bridge, and others, and had even performed at two galas before the Prince of Wales, which concluded with fireworks!

In about 1803, she and her mother were living in Bath, and Alicia was performing at the Royal Theatre Bath, with concerts at the Bath Harmonic Society and the Catch Club. The latter venue was the domain of 27-year-old James William, who was its secretary and one of its leading piano forte players. This was likely where Alicia met James.

Records show that James signed a marriage bond on May 12, 1804. James and Alicia were married by License the following day, Sunday, May 13, 1804, at St. James, Bath. The marriage was solemnized by James Phillott, Rector. Marriage by license was a wealthy person's way of avoiding the public disclosure of a Banns of marriage (the public announcement for three consecutive weeks prior to a wedding).

Children
James and Alicia had eight children, all of whom were baptised at Walcot St. Swithin. However, James W. was the organist at St Margaret's Chapel, which occasionally must have presented difficulties. St Margaret's was a private chapel and not affiliated with the Church of England, so could not perform baptisms, marriages, burials and other rites. Their children, therefore, had to be baptiised at St Swithin's, but this could not be performed on Sunday, when James was needed for playing the organ, so had to be scheduled for weekdays. It is unknown to me whether the Windsors kept up memberships in both St Swithin's and St Margaret's Chapel, or only occasionally attended St Swithin's.

1. Elizabeth Windsor (b. 18 Jul 1805 in Bath; d. 5 Sep 1890, unmarried, in Bath)
2. Mary Windsor (b. 26 Nov 1806 in Bath; d. 8 Mar 1878, unmarried, in Bath)
3. James "Jem" Windsor (b. 19 Apr 1808 in Bath; d. 18 Mar 1876 in Devonshire; wife Harriet)
4. Alicia Windsor (b. 19 Mar 1810 in Bath; d. 14 Nov 1866, unmarried, in Bath)
5. John Windsor (b. 28 Feb 1812 in Bath; d. 6 Mar 1813 at 1 Year 6 Days, in Bath)
6. Dame Lucy Alcock (b. 3 Sep 1813 in Bath; d. 13 Mar 1899 in Westminster, London; married: 1) John Lowder, by whom she had five children; 2) Sir Rutherford Alcock)
7. Harriet Windsor (b. 22 Oct 1815 in Bath; d. 21 Nov. 1847, unmarried, in Bath)
8. Rev. Samuel Bampfylde Windsor (b. 28 Nov 1817 in Bath; was Chaplain to Her Majesty's Forces; d. 18 Mar 1878 in Hartfield, East Sussex; married Blanche Marianne Dumaresq in Longford, Tasmania; had five children born all over the world)

From the time of their marriage until sometime around 1818, when their youngest son Samuel Bampfylde Windsor was baptised, Alicia and James lived at No. 11 James Street, Bath. But they gradually rose in esteem in society, and by 1818 moved into a much larger house at 30 Park Street, Bath. The latter is still extant, and can be seen through Google "Street View."

Several of James and Alicia's children followed in the footsteps of their parents, and became musicians. On the census of 1851, James was listed as "Professor of Music." His eldest daughter, Elizabeth, and her next-younger sister Mary were listed as "Teacher of Singing," whilst the third daughter, Alicia was listed as a "Teacher of the Harp." And in 1861, all four living daughters (Elizabeth, Mary and Alicia Windsor, as well as Lucy Lowder) and their mother were listed as "Professor of Music," with Elizabeth noted as "Piano Forte" and "Singing" and Alicia noted as "Harp" and "Guitar."

Still, it is unknown whether their running a school generated sufficient income to allow the move to a larger home in a much more affluent neighborhood. It is quite possible that James received some money through a gift from a benefactor. It does not seem to be possible to search the content of Prerogative Court of Canterbury wills for people's names; only the meta data can be searched.

End of Life: Last Will and Testament, Death
On the 26th of June, 1852, James William made out his last Will and Testament, providing well for his "dear Wife Alicia" and his unmarried daughters Elizabeth, Mary and Alicia Windsor. (He made mention that these three daughters deserved more than his other children because their exertions had added considerably to the fortunes that it had pleased God with which to bless him.) The Will specified the creation of a Trust Fund with several Trustees. He left them his messuage at 30 Park Street, the annual proceeds of his money in Public Stocks and Funds, and his "furniture, plate, china, books, and all other of his Personal Estate and Effects." If Alicia chose not to reside at 30 Park Street, she was to have the rent for her own use and benefit. After the death of Alicia, his two sons, James and Samuel Bampfylde Windsor, were to receive ₤1,500 each, with funds set up for the benefit of Lucy and those of her five children who reached the age of 21. He named his wife and unmarried daughters as Executrixes of his Estate.

But on the November 5, 1852, James added a Codicil to his will, specifically revoking everything that he had given to his wife and daughters, as well as their appointments as Executrixes, and instead naming his wife and a man named "Edward Fletcher of Park Street, Bath, Gentleman" for all the same property named on June 26th, as well as appointing the two Executrix and Executor. There is no mention whatsoever of any of his children in the Codicil.

The Will was proved in the Prerogative Court of Canterbury at London on March 31, 1853, and Alicia Windsor and Edward Fletcher were sworn to administrate as Executrix and Executor.

I'm not sure what is going on in this revocation. Did he have a good reason, such as advice from an attorney that it was not prudent to give one's children equal footing with their mother in a Will? I need to examine the Will and Codicil more fully, and perhaps consult someone who is familiar with the language.

There did not appear to be any falling out whatsoever between Alicia and her daughters, who continued to live happily at 30 Park Street, as before. I say this because I have letters sent by daughters Mary and Alicia Windsor to their first cousins in America---Louisa Daniels and Elizabeth (Daniels) Martin, my third great grandmother---and they spoke very lovingly of their mother. No mention was made of anything untoward as a result of the Will. In fact, Elizabeth, the last surviving of James's unmarried daughters, continued to reside at 30 Park Street until her death in 1890.

At any rate, James William Windsor died on January 28, 1853, at the age of 73, just a week short of his 74th birthday. He was buried on February 3rd, the day before his birthday. A short obituary appeared on page 3 of the Bath Chronicle and Weekly Gazette:

"Jan. 28, age 73, at his residence, Park Street, deeply regretted by his affectionate family and a large circle of friends, J. W. Windsor, Esq., for a long series of years Professor of Music in this city. He had for some time retired from the practice of his profession, but he will long be remembered for his eminent talents, and his success in imparting sound musical knowledge to others. In private life he was esteemed and beloved as an intelligent, upright, and kind-hearted man, ever ready to give his aid and advice to his less fortunate brethren in the musical art, and to do good in any other way as far as his power extended."

James W. is buried in St. Swithins Burial Ground, Bath. According to Find a Grave, he was interred on 3 Feb 1853.

My Research on Mother's Maiden Name
My research shows that his mother's maiden name may have been Mary CROUCH. It was reported that one of the musical scores in Windsor's collection was inscribed as having been presented to him by his cousin "Lucy Phillpot | now Anderson." Lucy Anderson (1786-1878) was a very skilled piano forte player who taught Queen Victoria, and was the first woman ever to play Beethoven's "Emperor" piano concerto with the Royal Philharmonic Society. She was said to have been taught by Windsor as a child.

I'm assuming she was close enough to be a first cousin by the fact that he took her as a student. My logic is this: James William's parents were James WINDSOR and Mary ?. Per Ancestry public tree information, Lucy's parents were John PHILLPOT and Lucy CROUCH. In order to have a first cousin relationship, either J.W. or his wife must have been a sibling of one of Lucy Anderson's parents. As neither John PHILLPOT nor Lucy CROUCH was born a WINDSOR, the connection must have been through J.W.'s mother Mary. That I could find, John Phillpott had sisters named Alice, Charlotte and Hannah, but no sister named Mary. Therefore, the sole remaining possibility is that J.W.'s mother was born Mary CROUCH, and was a sister of Lucy CROUCH. Supporting this: among the burials in Walcot St Swithins Burying Ground are a James Crouch (d. 6 Apr 1798) and a Mary Crouch (b. 1734; d. 4 Sep 1818), who are the right age to be parents of Lucy Crouch Philpot and a Mary Crouch Windsor. Several children were buried here as well.

Sources

Hand written notes and letters from James William Windsor's daughters sent to my 3rd great grandmother and her siblings, showing his birthday as 4 Feb 1776. (Alas, the month and day were correct, but the year was too early by three years.

Baptism of James William Windsor in "London, England, Baptisms, Marriages and Burials, 1538-1812." Ancestry.com Operations, Inc. Original Source: London Metropolitan Archives; London, England; Church of England Parish Registers; Reference Number: P69/Sep/A/003/Ms07221/001. Accessed on 22 Sep 2023 through Ancestry.com (requires subscription—if you are in the U.S., requires World Explorer Upgrade).

Haydn, Joseph, Composer. Clementi, Muzio, Arranger. The Creation: an Oratorio: Composed By Joseph Haydn Adapted for Voices and Piano Forte by Muzio Clementi. London, England: Clementi, Banger, Hyde, Collard and Davis, ca. 1800. (NB: This bound musical score was given to my 3rd great grandmother's sister (ergo 4th great aunt) Louisa Daniels, with the following inscription on the front flyleaf: "Presented to Louisa Daniels by her Uncle, J.W. Windsor, Sep:^br 7^th, 1829." James and Alicia Windsor were thus my 5th great uncle and aunt.--C. Brooman)

Tomita, Yo. Article: "The English Reception of Bach's Well-Tempered Clavier in the First Half of the Ninetenth Century As Seen Through the Editions Published in London," section "J.W. Windsor's Awakening to Bach, a case study," page 2. In Bach Notes: The Newsletter of the American Bach Society. Spring 2007. No. 7.

Kassler, Michael, Ed. The English Bach Awakening: Knowledge of J.S. Bach and his Music in England, 1750-1830. London, England: Ashgate Publishing, 2004. Reprinted: London, England: Routledge, 2016. Page 122ff. [1]

England and Wales, Prerogative Court of Canterbury Wills, 1384-1858. Prob 11: Will Registers 1853-1854. Vol. 5, Quire Numbers 201-250 (1853). Piece 2169. James William Windsor, "Professor of Music." Will proved 31 Mar 1853 at London. Accessed through Ancestry. Also downloaded same from UK National Archives for better legibility.

Find a Grave Memorial for James William Windsor (NB: I wrote the extensive bio for his Find a Grave page.) [2]