COLLECTORS
November 2022
MARGARET MARTHA WHITEMAN DOUGLAS (1782-c.1840)
Baptism Records for Margaret Martha Whiteman Douglas show her baptised in Rochester on 29th June 1792 suggesting a birth date of around May 1782. Her parents are recorded as James Douglas and Margaret his wife.
She is of interest because of:
From Finberg's analysis of JMW Turner's movements we have found that the purchase of canvas and the painting of 'Rochester Castle and the Adjacent Grounds' took place in September 1792. Margaret Martha Whiteman Douglas was just 10 years old and that makes it unlikely that she bought the canvas alone; she could have accompanied Turner or indeed have been accompanied by other family members. She aquired 'Rochester Castle and the Adjacent Grounds' (and possibly also 'Old Gate Of Canterbury') most probably directly from JMW Turner in 1792 (alternatively it may have been by descent from Rev. James Douglas upon his death in 1819). In 1811 she married Mortimer Tucker and afterwards gave 'Rochester Castle and the Adjacent Grounds' (and possibly also 'Old Gate Of Canterbury') to Tucker's nephew (or niece). This gift was clearly given before her death (see Nephew's Letter) but also some time before JMW Turner's death because the Archer article shows that the nephew sold 'Rochester Castle and the Adjacent Grounds' to Dr. Hering who subsequently discussed it with JMW Turner. It appears that Dr. Hering asked the nephew to authenticate the picture in 1857 and then put the picture in Christies on 14 May 1860 but it was bought in. Finberg also gives us that Turner went to Canterbury and painted 'Old Gate Of Canterbury') and possibly also went to Margate.
From Miller events 1792/3 we know that there was a visit to Rochester during which the first oil 'Rochester Castle was painted. Also that a painting was completed at Foots Cray during this journey. Therefore if Rochester was the location of the first, Foots Cray must be the location of the second. Therefore these events took place during the return journey.
MARGARET MARTHA WHITEMAN DOUGLAS TIMELINE
Including her interactions with her family and JMW Turner.
The timeline that follows results from the best sequence that could be established from the rather fragmented information available.
1780 James Oldershaw and his family were living in Rochester. His family consisted of his wife, two sons and four daughters. His wife was 58 and living with him. His sons were 31 and 26 and were probably not living with him. The daughter's ages are unknown but it is likely that Elizabeth was the eldest, followed by Easter then by Margaret and Martha who were twins. Elizabeth Wood and her husband were probably not living with him. His daughters Margaret and Martha were twins. Margaret was newly married (on 6th January 1780) to James Douglas and probably were living with him. Martha was living with him as was his other daughter, Easter Oldershaw. On 25th October 1780 James Olderhaw wrote his will. At this time he had no grandchildren.
1782 James Oldershaw died. Probate was granted to his wife, Elizabeth, on 2nd May 1782. Martha and Easter, both unmarried, were living in his house and it is probable that James (age 29) and Margaret were living there also. Their daughter Margaret Martha Whiteman Douglas was born at around the same time as the death of James Oldershaw. She was baptised in Rochester Cathedral on 29th June 1782.
1783 James Douglas was ordained.
Easter Oldershaw married Richard Rudsell (FreeReg)
1785 James Bruce Douglas was born to Rev James Douglas and Margaret his wife on 11th August 1785. He was baptised in St. Alfege, Greenwich on 23rd September 1785. Margaret Martha Whiteman Douglas was age 3. It is not clear whether the family continued to reside in Rochester or moved to Greenwich. Some sources suggest he died as an infant.
1787 Rev. James Douglas was appointed Rector at Litchborough,
Northamptonshire. His family now consisted of Margaret his wife, 5 year
old Margaret Martha Whiteman Douglas and 2 year old James Bruce Douglas.
It is not clear where they were actually residing.
Meanwile it appears that Elizabeth Oldershaw was living in Rochester
with her unmarried daughter Martha; Easter and her husband may have lived
there, he was in the navy and have been at sea for long periods of time.
1792; September. In Rochester when JMW Turner visited. Turner probably
visited twice during the September tour; once on the outward journey to
Canterbury (and possibly Margate) and again on the return journey and it
was on this return journey that the canvas was purchased and the picture,
'Rochester Castle and the Adjacent Grounds' was completed (Nephew's
Letter: "...where he went every day until the picture was
completed..."). Turner then started another oil; as a result of
examining Wilton (P31), Butlin and Joll and an e-mail from Christie's it
appeared that this picture was
'Rochester
Castle with Fishermen Drawing Boats Ashore In A Gale of Wind'. The
picture in question was said to have been finished at the home of Rev.
Robert Nixon at Foots Cray some 15 miles closer to London. However,
subsequent studies of Miller, exhibition catalogues from Hobart Town,
Tasmania and Christie's auction catalogue of 9th July 1864 make it clear
that the oil on canvas left with Robert Nixon at Foots Cray was 'The
Country Waggon, Snowdon - Early Morning '.
The family definitely in Rochester at the time were Elizabeth
Oldershaw (now 70) and Martha (poss 33). It is possible that the Douglas
family - Rev. James, Margaret his wife, Margaret Martha Whiteman Douglas
(age 10) and James Bruce Douglas (age 7, if living)
remained despite his appointment in Litchborough. The whereabouts of
Easter is unknown but it is known that she and her husband remained alive
in 1799.
1793 in the Kentish Gazette for Tuesday, 6th August 1793: Martha Oldersahw married Richard Glode of Orpington. "...youngest daughter of the late James Oldershaw...". She definitely moved out of Rochester
1803; Rev. James Douglas was in Kenton, Suffolk. Margaret Martha Whiteman Douglas was at this time 21. Together with her mother, Margaret and her brothers 18, 9 and 5, Margaret Martha Whiteman Douglas may have lived in Kenton with Rev. James Douglas. However, it is not certain that the family actually resided in Kenton; Rev. Douglas certainly carried out some duties there but they could easily have been carried out without any more than the occasional overnight stay. Margaret Martha Whiteman Douglas was in possession of 'Rochester Castle and the Adjacent Grounds' at this time.
1811; 23rd May, London, Margaret Martha Whiteman Douglas married Mortimer Tucker who lived in the Parish of St. George, Hanover Square. She was 29. Her husband, Mortimer, is shown merely as 'Mortimer' in the register. However, in Martha's will he is Edward Mortimer.
1812; Boyle's Directory:
Lady Glode (Margaret Martha Whiteman Douglas's aunt) lived at 42 York
St., Portman Square. (York St. no longer exists) These two areas are close
together just North of Oxford Street but did not fall within the parish of
St. George, Hanover Square.
In a report
of Mortimer's death in 1818 he is shown resident in Bath, 'late of
York St. Portman Square, London'
Lady Glode (formerly Martha Oldershaw), Margaret Martha Whiteman
Tucker (formerly Douglas) and Mortimer Tucker appear to be living together
in York St after the wedding. Margaret Martha may have been living with
Lady Glode for some time before.
A Mrs. Tucker lived at 35, Manchester Street,
Manchester Square, listed on page 390 and as 'M Tucker' in the street
directory on page 79. A 'Wm.Tucker, Esq.', attorney, occupied 29 Bartletts
Buildings (Holborn) which was outside the parish of St. George Hanover
Square. Neither of these appear to be related to our Tuckers.
1816; By 1816 Lady Glode was resident in Bath, Somerset and it appears (from Mortimer's death in Bath) that the Tucker's were living with her. The address was 1 Lambridge; now postcode BA1 6BJ.
1818; Mortimer Tucker died in Bath. Report of Mortimer's death is referred to above (1812).
1819; Rev James Douglas died.
1823; The last living reference to Lady Glode in Bath. She was a tenant in 1 Lambridge and her death would leave Margaret Martha alone there. (Unless the Nephew and his family lived with her).
1824; Lady Glode's death is recorded as 'Dame Martha Glode' on 21st July 1824 in the Bury and Norwich Post. The Dorset County Chronicle shows her at her house in Queen Square.
We have not been able to obtain a reliable date of death. Early 1840's is our best estimate. Links are manuscripts of attempts to discover the date of death [1] [2] [3].
A note on whether 'Self Portrait Age 16' might have been intended for Margaret Martha
The prevailing view appears to be that the intended recipient of 'Self Portrait age 16' was Elizabeth White of Margate. However, if that portrait was painted on part of the Rochester canvas (bought by JMW Turner and Margaret Martha) it is possible that she was the intended recipient and not Elizabeth. There is little evidence that this picture was actually given to anyone. If so it was returned to JMW Turner because it was eventually given to Hannah Danby and its provenance solid from then to its present possession by Indianapolis Museum of Art.
John Ruskin wrote a cryptic note about this self portrait in 'Ruskin on Pictures'
