Biographical Notes |
Note: Lucy was the name of the sister of Lucy's maternal grandmother Dorothy Plackett Carey; and Lucy was also the name of one Dorothy's little girls who died when a toddler in 1792. Letter from William Carey, Sr. to son William, 29 March 1826:
..."Of Lucy's [daughter of Felix Carey] marriage, you have undoubtedly heard. They are as yet, living with us, but will remove to Howra in a few days....Dolly will remain with us when Lucy leaves us."
Lucy married a clerk named Brumsthon or Brunsden.
In a letter written from St. Helena on July 23, 1828, Lucy 'Brumsthon' writes to Anna Pearce Carey:
"Very dear Aunt, Here we are safely anchored opposite St. James' town, St. Helena, in better health and spirits through the goodness and preserving care of our God exactly three months within a day since we bade you adieu and commenced our journey...We doubled the Cape of Good Hope with a fair strong breeze I enjoyed it much, and admire a pleasant day at sea and a fine moonlight night likewise. St. James' town has a pretty appearance, the scenery around is grand but remarkably barren - we wish much to visit Bonaparte's tomb if the expense attending it is at all reasonable...Brumsthon I am thankful to say is much better, the disorder is abating gradually, and his strength returning. He requests me to say with his kind regards to Mr. Penney that the Captain entreats him not to attempt landing the cheroots we have for Dr Johns in England as he will be liable to a 50 pound penalty - he must either use them himself or throw them overboard...
I trust you and dear Uncle [Jonathan] and the children are well, accept of much love from us and tender the same to him. a thousand kisses to Louisa and baby [Jonathan]. Kindly present our love to Mr. & Mrs. [William Hopkins & Martha] Pearce, [James] Penney, ... and all other enquiring friends, hope they are all well. Believe me My dear Aunt, Your very affect niece Lucy Brumsthon"
In a letter written from Cutwa by Mary Carey, wife of William, Jr., to Anna Carey, wife of Jonathan, dated May 19th 1828, she writes:
"...Our dear Lucy & Brunsden have I should think made good progress by this time, I trust the Lord will bless the voyage to the restoration of poor Brunsden's health."
Brunsden made it back to India after his voyage to England; however he died fairly soon after in 1831.
In June of the same year Lucy had married widower James Penny whose wife Mary had died in 1829. James and Lucy had three daughters: Mary, Alice and Margaret.
James Penny spent 21 years in India where he was in charge of the Benevolent Institution which educated 50 boys at first and many more later. They were boys of all religions and races who "poured in from every corner." He was also a deacon at the Circular Road Chapel and president of the Ladies' Society for female education.
James died on the 17th of February 1839. He is buried in the Scotch and Dissenters' Burial Ground next to his first wife Mary.
Lucy spent the next thirty years in Bengal with her daughters and their growing families. After Edwin Dakin's death in India in 1869, Margaret Penny Dakin brought Lucy and her four children back to England. They were there by the 1871 census. At that time they were living in Bedford, Bedfordshire, where Margaret worked as a teacher in a preparatory school.
In 1871 Margaret's children at home were Isaac eight, Edwin five and James three, all of whom were scholars. (Where was Katie?) A cousin, Nicholas Davey, eleven years old was also living with them. Nicholas had also been born in Bengal and was also a scholar.
Lucy Carey Penny, Margaret's mother, was 65 years old and an annuitant.
Another member of the household was Annie Johnson, a domestic servant from Yorkshire. She was 28 years old.
Lucy died in February 1876, aged 70 years.
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