George Budd's bride

I've written about George Budd in Plymouth, and I've written about what became of his family after his death. I've even drafted an article on rugby in Doyle's world that touches on the Budd family - that will take a while to appear.

There is one other point of intrigue for me. In Doyle's 'Memories and Adventures', he wrote:

When I met him first he had just indulged in one of his wild escapades, which ended usually in a fight or in a transitory appearance in a police court, but on this occasion was more serious and permanent. He had run off with a charming young lady and married her, she being a ward in Chancery and under age. However, the deed was done and all the lawyers in the world could not undo it, though they might punish the culprit. He told me how he and the lady had gone over a Bradshaw with the intention that when they came on a station of which neither of them had ever heard, they would make for that place and spend their honeymoon there. They came therefore upon some awful name, Clodpole-in-the-Marsh or something of the kind, and there they sojourned in the village inn. Cullingworth stained his yellow hair black, but the stain took in some places and not in others, so that he looked as if he had escaped from Barnum’s show. What Clodpole-in-the-Marsh could have thought of such an extraordinary couple I cannot imagine, and it is probably the one occasion on which it ever buzzed. I cannot think of any surer way of getting publicity than that which Cullingworth took to avoid detection. In London they would have been perfectly unobserved. I remember that for years Cullingworth’s hair presented curious iridescent tints which were the remains of his disguise.

He brought his bride safely to Edinburgh, where they hired a flat and lived in it without furnishing it save for the absolutely needful. I have dined with them there on an apple dumpling, seated on a pile of thick volumes as there was no chair. We introduced them to a few friends, did what we could for the lonely lady, and finally they drifted off, and for a time we heard no more.

OK. So as a reminder Doyle changed Budd's name to Cullingworth (for the Stark Munro letters) so there was still some sensitivity.

Let's look at George Budd's bride Kate. Doyle says that 'He had run off with a charming young lady and married her, she being a ward in Chancery and under age' and further that 'he brought his bride safely to Edinburgh' indicating this was not an Edinburgh marriage. Where was she from, how old was she, and why was she a ward in Chancery?

Side-bar: what is a ward in Chancery? A ward in chancery is a historical English legal term for a minor or an incapacitated person whose care, property, and legal affairs are placed under the direct protection and supervision of a Court of Chancery. The court essentially acts as a guardian, making major life decisions on their behalf.

The UK BDM indexes reveal that Arthur Budd married Kate Russell in 1879 in London. Here is their marriage certificate:

Quarter: Sep 1879, District: Strand, Volume: 1b, Page: 1023

1879 Marriage solemnized at the Registrar Office in the District of Strand in the County of Middlesex. No. 78.

When married: Twenty first September 1879

Groom name and surname: George Budd, age 24 years

Condition: Bachelor

Rank or profession: Civil engineer

Residence at time of marriage: 11 Craven street, Strand

Father's name and surname: William Budd, Doctor of Medicine

Bride name and surname: Kate Russell, age 18 years

Condition: Spinster

Rank or profession: -

Residence at time of marriage: 12 Percy Villas, Norwood

Father's name and surname: Gustavus Russell (deceased), Major in Her Majesty's Army

In the presence of: Anthony Hart, Chas Cooke 

While this may have been presented as a fly-by-night operation, George certainly did not mis-represent himself. One point of confusion is that Budd is listed as an engineer. It certainly explains his interest in patenting that is seen in his later activities, but he clearly moved across to medicine quickly afterwards.

Now that we know something of Kate, we can learn after some diffing into the records that in the 1871 census the Russell family was living at the Priory, Heene, Sussex, with birthplaces reinforcing the life of a British colonial military man whose family travelled with him:

John G Russell, 50, Retired Officer of the Army, born France

Caroline A Russell, wife, 37, born London

Louisa A Russell, daughter, 15, born East Indies (twin)

Caroline E Russell, daughter, 15, born East Indies (twin)

Kate Russell, daughter, 9, Scholar, born Surrey

Some searching reveals that John Gustavus Russell served in the Madras Army (Indian Army), that he was indeed born in France. He clearly maintained connections to France, as it took a lot of searching to find he died in France in 1877, as shown in the UK Probate Calendar (estate valued at less than 100 pounds).

With the passing of 'Gustavus' (John G) we learn in the 1881 census that the widowed Caroline is living at 12 Percy Villas on Woodland Rd in Norwood - just as stated in Kate's 1879 marriage certificate! Along with Caroline is her daughter Louisa, aged 25, and a servant.

Caroline A Russell, 47, receiving pension as Officer's widow

Lousa, daughter, 25, unmarred

The residence suggests a fairly modest living. Kate was honest in the information she provided, right down to where she lived with her mother and sister. So perhaps Kate was not a ward in Chancery - perhaps she needed permission to marry and this wasn't received by her mother?

Let's look at Kate's birth to determine her age. Kate was baptized at St John's Church, Egham, Surrey in 1861.

Baptisms solemnized in the Parish of Egham in the County of Surrey in the year 1861.
Baptized Jan 29, Kate 

Parents John Gustavus and Caroline Augusta Russell

Father's occupation: Major in the Army 

I cannot find a civil registration for Kate Russell, but if we assume she was born in January 1861, then in September 1879 Kate was indeed 18. 

The age of consent for marriage was 21. In England in 1879, an 18-year-old woman was still considered a minor for marriage purposes, so parental or guardian consent was generally required for a lawful marriage by licence or after banns. Perhaps Kate married without consent of her mother - the marriage certificate does not mention consent, but the registrar performed the marriage. Perhaps papers were forged - if there was opposition, then it's definitely the case that elopements were almost impossible to reverse. Making the dash for Edinburgh does support the notion that the marriage was not approved by Kate's family.

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Is there any literary influence in this story?

Well, of course we have Stark Munro letters.

Looking a little deeper, there is one location that appears in a later story. In the last chapter of Hound of the Baskervilles, when Holmes is giving background on the Stapletons.

“It is possible that Stapleton did not know of the existence of an heir in Canada. In any case he would very soon learn it from his friend Dr. Mortimer, and he was told by the latter all details about the arrival of Henry Baskerville. Stapleton's first idea was that this young stranger from Canada might possibly be done to death in London without coming down to Devonshire at all. He distrusted his wife ever since she had refused to help him in laying a trap for the old man, and he dared not leave her long out of his sight for fear he should lose his influence over her. It was for this reason that he took her to London with him. They lodged, I find, at the Mexborough Private Hotel, in Craven Street, which was actually one of those called upon by my agent in search of evidence. Here he kept his wife imprisoned in her room while he, disguised in a beard, followed Dr. Mortimer to Baker Street and afterwards to the station and to the Northumberland Hotel. His wife had some inkling of his plans; but she had such a fear of her husband—a fear founded upon brutal ill-treatment—that she dare not write to warn the man whom she knew to be in danger."

It may just be a coincidence of course.... after all Craven Street is in the Strand area, but I like the fact that George Budd sprung Kate Russell and made a break for it - the opposite of Jack Stapleton's imprisonment of his wife.