'Little Samuel'

Painted 1872. Exhibited at the Royal Academy. Unfortunately in this reproduction not much, if anything, can be seen of 'little Samuel'. Apparently, an arm at least, should be seen outstretched from the basket.

Alan Hyde - (great great grandson of Captain Francis Hyde (Frank's father - I am a grandson so Alan is a couple of times grander, and I think possibly younger) - in an email to me wrote:

" My grandfather, after he died (1962), left a case full of family photos, documents etc. which I retrieved from my aunt with whom he had been living. Immediately I saw Frank's photograph ... I had to find more about him". The above post card was also retrieved and this was the first time Alan had seen a picture of Frank's. (I saw my first about 20 years later - thanks to the development of the Internet)

The caption on the back reads "Frank Hyde Eldest son of Captain Hyde. Painted by him. Given to me G.C. Hyde brother."

"By the time I was born George Cecil (fifth son of Captain Hyde) had been disowned by the rest of the family and until a couple of years ago (about 1984), I always told everyone that I was the youngest of 13. However, my daughter Audrey became interested in family history, and she dug up George's name out of my old family papers, so I had to admit being the youngest of 14.

Audrey on a recent visit to England, left her address with the owner of Hyde End, Mr John Pettit-Mills, and asked him if he would kindly give it to other Hydes who may visit the old home. To our delight, Alan Hyde, a great grandson of George Cecil's, wrote to us.

All I knew about George was what Father had told me, and he said that George had run off with an illiterate barmaid, and brought nothing but disgrace upon the family. After reading Alan's notes it is easy to see why he was ousted.

He was an outright scoundrel and womaniser, and thought he had a God given right to be supported by father and the trustees of the Estates.

Alfred (Captain Hyde's 4th. son), always known as Ben within the family, was set up in business, by Father, as a brewer at Burgess Hill, north of Brighton. They named the brewery 'Bridge Hall', and later George went into the business. However, somehow Ben and George botched up the whole works and it nearly bankrupted Father. He lost in excess of £30,000 which was a lot in those days. I believe Ben was rather fond of the brewery products, so maybe they both drank the profits.

After this fiasco, Fathers second wife died in 1881 and George instigated a plot to stop Fathers three daughters, of this marriage, from receiving any money from the Estates.

He hired lawyers and coerced Frederick, Ben, Clarence and no doubt Frank, into his scheme as they each stood to lose a certain amount of money, from their annual allowance from the Estates, if the girls were included. I don't think George succeeded, and after this episode Father disowned him, although it didn't stop George from writing to Father and asking for money a year before I was born.

George married Ella Bertha Kerrison, the only daughter of George Kerrison, on August 17th, 1885 at the Parish Church in Garleston, Suffolk. They went to live in Norfolk where Ella bore him five children. Leonard, Clarence, Vivian, Alec and Ella, Unfortunately Alec and Ella died young. Alan is a descendant of Leonards.

At about the turn of the century, after leading Ella a merry dance with his womanising, George abandoned her and left her in very poor circumstances. Her parents took care of the three surviving children and she found work to support them.

It is believed George took off to South America, with the illiterate barmaid, but was seen years later attending the auction at Hyde End. No doubt he was there to see if he could scrounge more money from the sale of the Estates.

Poor Ella tried to find him until the day she died, but without success. She died in 1926.

No one knows where or when George died nor cares really."

Personally I think that George has the last laugh because he has far more descendants than any other son or daughter of Captain Francis Hyde's family.