RE: a request for help

[Malcolm Weller]

Dear Dr. Ruth Richardson,

 

I am not weary of the Dickens connection. Possibly because, although strong in my fathers generation, it has faded somewhat by my generation.

I have not before heard of the Weller family living opposite Charles Dickens house.

I have copied your message to the genealogists of the family in the hope that someone can help you.

 

Sorry for the slow reply.

Regards,

Malcolm Weller.

 

-----Original Message-----
From: Ruth Richardson [mailto:anato...@gmail.com]
Sent: 12 December 2010 23:15
To: Malcolm...@yahoo.co.uk
Subject: a request for help

Dear Mr Weller,
You must be rather weary of the Dickens connection, but please do help me!
I am a historian, not a genealogist, and I sat up with interest when I discovered that a husband and wife by the name of Daniel & Mary Weller, both 45 in the 1841 census, and their children Francis, Emma, Daniel, William and Henry all lived diagonally opposite a house in which Charles Dickens' family had lived, between 1815-16, and again 1828-32, in Norfolk Street, London. Do they have any connection with your branch of the family?
If not, do you know any other Wellers who might be able to help me understand their history?
Thank-you kindly for any help you are able to give!
Best wishes,
Dr Ruth Richardson, historian.

[Richard Weller]

It is far more likely that Daniel descended from the Kent/Sussex
WELLER family, rather than our Ox & Bucks line. I will therefore
copy your request to the 'sister' Google group 'Weller-of-Kent.'

The name WELLER seems to have had a fascination for Charles Dickens.
He was later to be charmed by Christiana Jane WELLER (1825-1910,) a
concert pianist. He wrote on 27 May 1844 to Benjamin LUMLEY, manager
of Her Majesty's Theatre:

"I have a great interest in a youing lady from Liverpool who has just
come to London, partly at my instance; and not on account of her name
(which is WELLER) but because shem is eighteen - very handsome -
accomplished in many ways - and a brilliant and extraordinary Piano
Forte player.[Mrr Ayrton] is of the opinion that she will be a great
hit, and will raise the town bym storm. He considers her equal to
Thalberg."

His friend Dick penned a poem on Charles's behalf, which he quoted in
a letter of 2 March 1844 to T J THOMPSON, another friend who
Christiana preferred.

"I put in a book once, by hook or by crook,
The whole race (as I thought) of a 'feller'
Who happily pleas'd the town's taste (much diseas'd)
And the name of theis person was WELLER.
I find to my cost, that One Weller I lost
Cruel Destiny so to arrange it!
I love her dear name which has won me some fame,
But Great Heaven, how gladly I'll change it!"

In an earlier letter he had written "I cannot joke about Miss Weller,
for she is too good, and interest in her has become a sentiment to
me. Good God what a madman I should seem, if the incredible feeling I
have conceived for that girl could be made plain to everyone!"

Dickens was decidedly less flattering about Christiana after she had
married his friend!

Richard

[Richard Weller]

Ruth Selman (Historyscape website) and I have independently identified
Daniel as coming from Brighton, Sussex. If interested in the details,
please see 'Weller of Kent' Google Group.

Richard