Life History

19th Jul 1797	Born in St Giles Camberwell.
18th Oct 1797	Christened in St Giles Camberwell.
5th Mar 1835	Died on board the 'Elphinstone'.

Notes

William is the son of Samuel and Ann Drewry. It is probable that William's middle name is derived from Tillotson Laycock, Samuel's stepfather from the age of twelve.

William was a Captain of the Madras Engineers in the East Indies.
On March 5th, 1835, he died on board ship, having been sent "to sea" for his health.
See information about the corps.

In the India Office records, the resumé provides biographical data, confirming his mother's name as Ann and that his father is Samuel Drewry, Superintendent in the Paymaster's Office, RA.

William's initial schooling was at Tooting, and is described as 'Classical and Mathematical'.
William's application to join the East India Company gives his address as 'Holsdon Green, Wilsden'.

East India Company Army Service

Enlistment Documents

In 1811 (aged 14) he applied to attend the Honourable East India Company's Artillery and Engineer Seminary at Addiscombe. Wikipedia tells us that: "In 1809 Emelius Ratcliffe sold Addiscombe Place to the British East India Company, whereupon it became a Military Seminary - the Addiscombe Military Academy. The company dealt in the importation of tea, coffee, silk, cotton and spices, and maintained its own private army. The officers of this army were trained at Addiscombe before setting off for India."

William was at Addiscombe from 1811 to 1814. There is a reference to him in a book "Addiscombe, Its Heroes and Men of Note" confirming these dates.

William was nominated for Addiscombe by Jacob Bosanquet (c.1753-1828, Chairman of te East India Company) at the recommendation of Col. W. Mudge. (Colonel Mudge is a noted map-maker. The 'Mudge Map' of Kent, published in 1801, was the very first Ordnance Survey map.)

A letter (above) dated 19/8/1811 from Jas. Andrew at Addiscombe House states that WTD has passed a "good introductory examination " and is likely to finish his military education at Addiscombe House within 2 years."

The Madras Almanac for 1815 has William travelling out to India on the 'Lowther Castle'. (In the 'Arrival and Departure Notices of the Madras Almanac' See also 'The Lowther Castle - Stewart Connection' below.)

William was based at Fort St George, the "first British fortress in India, founded in 1639, at the coastal city of Madras (modern city of Chennai.)" (Picture borrowed from Wikipedia)

From not very legible army records:

A Paper

The Institution of Civil Engineers has on file:
Author: Drewry, W. "Method of forming and sinking wells to secure the foundations of heavy buildings when the soil is bad such as are in use in Madras" - ref. O.C/94 - date: 1832'

In 1832, William returned to England and attended the King's Levee. A'levee' is a rising - we could see it as a grandiose, ceremonial, breakfast with the king; for William it would be a presentation at court, in the morning.

The Madras Almanac has william travelling on the 'Madras' in 1832. He is probably returning to India after his period of home leave.

In 1832, William and his father sat for portraits by 'Francois Theodore Rochard'.

William's Will [link]

"I William Tillotson Drewry of the Madras Engineers do in this my last Will and Testament appoint my beloved brothers Henry Runciman Drewry of the War Office and Charles Stewart Drewry of London together with my friend Richard Hardinge Stewart of the War Office to be executors to my estate."
(See 'The Lowther Castle - Stewart Connection' below.)

William appears to leave a large portion of his money and possessions to his "beloved brother" Charles, with significant bequests to his brother Henry and his sister Maria.
(See 'Personal Items Bequeathed in the Will' below.)

William leaves a large sum of money to his friend Reverend G. Cubitt with instructions to give it away as charity.
Another bequest: as

"My share of Sir O Tool's (?bond?) to be divided after my mother's death between my surviving brothers and sisters but (??) of it during Mrs Drewry's lifetime to be at her disposal one half of it for her own use the other half to be given away in Charity. I leave you no more mother but Charles will take care of you."

The Sir O Tool mentioned in the will is almost certainly Captain William Henry O'Toole of the 46th Foot (The South Devonshire) who died at Alma, in the Crimea, 21 September 1854 (source). The 46th Foot were based at Fort St George from 1817 to 1832.

A Sir G Noel mentioned in the will is also mentioned in the Will of William's father, Samuel who had a £4,000 Annuity Bond with Sir Gerard G Noel. William inherited part of it.

William's Child

In the Will it states that: certain other sums that may be recovered from various investments are to be invested in Government bonds and placed at the disposal of Reverend Cubitt as

" .. Guardian of my Child and if the mother is willing to give up the Child the (..?) of it and part of the (?.. ?) may be disposed of in the Child's education with a small support for the mother and the (?sum of money) to be given to W when Cubitt thinks fit if she will not give up the Child the money to be kept in deposit for some time perhaps until her death when I suppose we might take the child."

He also bequeaths

"my W T Seal to little William."

William had a child with an local/native woman and he requests that if there is no chance of bringing the Child to Christianity, Cubitt can send the money back home for distribution amongst his (William's) family.

The child William was born 19th March, 1834 and baptised by the Fort George garrison chaplain, R. A. Denton 23rd May, 1834.

William's mother is recorded as "Rungamah / a Nateig (or Kateig?)"

There are three 'sponsors' at the baptism:
William Mead, Ann A. Mead and Joseph Willick.

Full page of Register (from the British India Office births & baptism records in Madras.)

Black Town (from The British Library)

"Madras was founded in 1639 by the British East India Company and was the first important English settlement in India. Black Town was originally the old native quarter and grew up outside the walls of Fort St George to the north on the seafront. In the 18th century, Europeans moved out of the fort and into Black Town. ...
As Madras grew, Black Town became the commercial centre of the city and developed a very high population density. Its grid pattern layout is the earliest example of English town planning on a large scale in India. Three broad streets intersected the town, with narrow, irregular streets running in between. Its name was officially changed to George Town after a visit by the Prince of Wales in 1906."

Children of the Raj:

"With the growth of the Anglo-Indian Community, inter-marriage between Anglo-Indian women and British officers was on the increase. ... Read more As time went on, British officials began to find their wives from among the daughters of Anglo-Indian homes. Thus towards the end of the 17th century and the beginning of the 18th century, there arose two types of orphanages- upper orphanage, supported by British officers, and the lower orphanage for the children wards of non-commissioned British officers or other ranks. Many orphans in the upper orphanage schools were first generation Anglo-Indians whose mothers were Anglo-Indian, Hindu or Muslim, and their fathers were British officers.
 
"Many Britons in India went to these orphanages to seek wives for themselves. Of course, the moral code in England had at that time reached a particularly low ebb, and the Britons in India were no different from the same stock, moral or immoral, as the British of those days. Europeans and Anglo-Indians were much influenced by Indian custom. Those who could afford it, ate and drank lavishly. By about 1750, the number of Anglo-Indians exceeded the number of Britons. This situation was welcomed by the Directors of the East India Company as it gave them the necessary manpower to draw upon." [source?] ... Read less

"The East India Company paid 15 silver rupees for each child born to an Indian mother and a European father, as family allowance. ... Read more These children were amalgamated into the growing Anglo-Indian community, forming a defensive structure for the British Raj. This was a deliberate act of self preservation by the English. This unique hybrid individual was ethnically engineered by the occupying British so much so that the Anglo-Indians were the only micro-minority community ever defined in a Constitution." [source?] ... Read less

"Resorting to bibis and mistresses was not only a piece of erotic expediency, but these, 'sleeping dictionaries' helped the sahibs to learn ... Read more about the lifestyle, customs and manners, besides languages, of India. The bibi identified herself with the interests of her protector. She was an efficient house-keeper and a devoted nurse to her man when he fell ill. There was no stigma attached to these liaisons.
 
"At times, their mutual love and respect was touching. The bibi of a sahib was highly respected in society. Emma Roberts writes that 'Indian women, Hindu or Muslim, when they are attached to Englishmen confine themselves with singular dignity to the Zenana of their protectors as if the marriage had taken place according to their own customs and ceremonies. They never go out of their houses and behave like a lawful wife of Muslim or Hindu of rank'.
 
"AThe bibikhana or 'ladyhouse' in a corner of the compound, separate from the main house, was an accepted feature of many a European bungalow." [source?] ... Read less

Personal Items Bequeathed in the Will:

Large watch with chains & two large Seals - to Henry
Drop watch – Charles
Sword and new pistols – Charles
Proportional compasses – Charles
Portrait of Mrs Drewry – Charles
Manifold copy bookcase – Charles
Dressing case – Henry
Portrait of father – Henry
Ditto of self – Henry
Miniature of father – Charles
Writing case – Charles
Chelsea pensioners – Henry
Waverly novels – Charles
French books – Maria
Diamond ring – Dick Stewart (Richard Harding Stewart)
Studs – Painter
Pocket pistols – Henry
Portrait of Mrs Stewart – Dick Stewart. (Why did he have a portrait of Mrs Stewart - could be Richard's wife or mother? - or William's step-mother's mother?)
Minature of Maria – Henry
Minature of self when a child – Mrs Drewry
Silver tea pot – Henry
Gold pencil case with D on top – Charles
Two guns – Charles
Two bibles and prayer book with a moderate supply of others to be kept for my child
My professional works to go to my brother Charles and the others to be divided between my sister and Henry
Musical boxes to go to Maria
Pocket case of Just ... (Justifyable?) compasses – Edward Lucida (?)
Azimuth compass – Charles
Copy of Scott's bible – Wm Garrard (see below)
My W D Seal to little William
My silver snuff box – George Cubitt
My religious books – sister Maria
Sketch book – Charles
Large scrap book – Henry
Second ditto – Charles
Small ditto with other prints – Maria

William's Estate Accounts

The Estate Accounts of WTD in India were kept by George J Cubitt who appears to have been his executor in India. WTD's will provided for Rev. Cubitt to be the guardian of his child and to distribute some money to charities of his choice. It appears that he was also an executor.

Pages 1 & 2
Pages 3 & 4

The pages seem to be a complete account including sums received and paid out as legacies to Charles Stewart Drewry and Richard Harding Stewart, etc.

The recurring names of "Messrs. Binny & Co." and "Messrs. Arbuthnot" refer to well known merchant bankers in Madras.
One interesting name is that of T. M. Lane Esq. who was paid the sum of 500 rupees for 'medical attendance'. (500 rupees was about £50 in 1837, or £2,500 now). T.M. Lane was a pre-eminent surgeon in Madras.

G J Cubitt from Ancestors of Elizabeth Garrard

William Garrard, born September 24, 1810; died October 2, 1836
Occupation: Lt. Madras Engineers
Emily Garrard, born November 29, 1811; died June 13, 1861; Of 25 Priory Street, Cheltenham.
married Reverend George James Cubitt, BA, MA, September 17, 1834 in Madras
George James Cubitt, born abt. 1803 in South Repps, Norfolk; died August 20, 1855 in Winchester, Hants.
Education: 1823, Caius College, Cambridge
Occupation 1: Chaplain E.I.C.S. Madras
Occupation 2: Bet. 1844 - 1855, Rector, St.Thomas & St. Clement, Winchester

(Reverend G.J. and Mrs Cubitt left Madras in 1839.)

The Lowther Castle - Stewart Connection

The Madras Almanac shows that William travelled on the Lowther Castle in 1815, presumably travelling out to India on his first posting.

Cosmas Henry Stewart, the Purser of the Lowther Castle, dies on board the ship at Madras that year.
Cosmas is the father of the Richard Hardinge Stewart mentioned as a good friend in William's will.
Cosmas is also either the brother of Mary Ann Stewart who married Samuel, WTD's father, in 1804, or a very close relation.

Five years later, Richard Hardynge Stewart of the War Office 'proves' Samuel's will in 1820.

A Possible Swayne Connection?
A Lt Col H Swayne served in Madras at the same time as WTD. He is mentioned on the same page as William in The Asiatic journal and monthly register for British India and its dependencies.
Henry Stewart Drewry, the son of WTD's brother Henry R. married Catherine Swayne Cooper.

Madras Service Army Lists (the dates are strange?)
date: 1850 - item: Drewry, William Tillotson Eng - ref. IOR/L/MIL/11/54/66 [n.d.]
date: 1851 - item: Drewry, William Tillotson Eng - ref. IOR/L/MIL/11/55/66 [n.d.]

In the Index to H I E C Army Cadet Papers, held at the O.I.O.C London.
Drewry William Tillotson IOR/L/MIL/9/124/207-12 1951713

Francois Théodore Rochard (1798-1858) - Painted William

Francois Théodore Rochard was a painter. A number of his paintings are of army officers.

In July 1997, Christies auctioned two miniatures in a single lot.
The miniatures appear to be almost the same size and probably faced each other as a pair.

Lot Description
Francois Théodore Rochard
William Drewry, facing left in black coat, yellow waistcoat and black tied cravat, his arms crossed signed and dated on reverse 'Painted by F. Rochard Feb.y 1832 19 Howland St', in gilt composition frame rectangular, 3 5/16 x 2 5/8in. (84 x 67mm.);
and Samuel Drewry, facing right in blue coat with gilt button and white cravat (English School, circa 1820) gilt composition frame rectangular, 3 5/8 x 2 7/8in. (92 x 73mm.)

The above is particularly intriguing because of the reference to Howland St.
In the Marriage Settlement of Sense Drewry, 19th February, 1824, there is reference to:
1. James Painter of Howland Street, Fitzroy Square, surgeon; - who, two days later becomes husband of
2. Louisa Ann Manley Drewry of Howland Street, spinster; and
3. Samuel Drewry, Lieutenant on board HMS Ramillies, and Henry Runciman Drewry of Howland Street, esq.

Before her death in 1833, Catherine (wife of Cosmas Stewart and mother of Richard Hardinge Stewart - mentioned in WTD's will) lived in Howland St, Fitzroy Square.

In 1835, WTD's brother, Charles Stewart Drewry of Howland Street married Laurentia Buschman.

The painting of Samuel may have been separated from that of William. See the picture in Samuel's page.