Lucy Alcock nee Windsor formerly Lowder was baptized on 29 August 1814 at St Mary's Chapel Walcot near Bath, the daughter of James William Windsor and Alicia.
James William Windsor was the principal organist at Saint Margaret's Chapel in Bath, and was quite a skilled piano forte player, having been a child prodigy. On the census of Bath, he called himself "Professor of Music." His extensive collection of musical scores included rare manuscripts as well as scores from Johann Sebastian Bach, Georg Frederic Handel and Joseph Haydn, the latter of whom was said to have been a friend. Today it comprises half of the special collections at the Royal College of Music.
Lucy's mother, Alicia (born Daniell or Daniels in Amsterdam), before her marriage to James in 1804, was an opera singer and actress of note, who at her peak performed at the Royal Haymarket Theatre and a handful of other theatres in London and Bath. Earlier, she acted and sang in northern theaters (Chester, Norwich and Manchester) alongside famous actor George Frederick Cooke. Among her roles, advertised in London newspapers of the day, was Rosina in "The Spanish Barber." (This was probably not Rossini's The Barber of Seville, but an early adaptation of the French play Le barbier de Séville by Pierre Beaumarchais, likely set to music by Giovanni Paisiello.)
After retiring from public performances, James and Alicia, along with Lucy's three older sisters, ran a music school out of their home. James was the teacher of his cousin Lucy (Philpot) Anderson, who taught Queen Victoria, and later was named an honorary member of the Royal Philharmonic Society.
Lucy married (1) the Reverend John Lowder 1811 1849 on 1 September 1840 at St Swithn's Walcot.
Lucy and John Lowder had 5 children: Windsor 1841 - 1897, John Frederick 1843 - 1903, George Glass 1844 - 1880, Alicia Eirene 1845 - 1861 and Amy Henrietta 1847 - 1924 who married Sir Lewis Pelly.
After John Lowder's death Lucy married (2) Sir John Rutherford Alcock 1809 - 1987 in Brussels on 8 July 1862.
Here are some details of a letter she wrote to Kew when with her husband in China:
Letter from [Lady] Lucy Alcock to Sir Joseph Dalton Hooker; from British Legation, Peking; 25 Nov 1867; four page letter comprising two images; Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Archives: Directors' Correspondence.
Description.
Alcock has not forgotten Hooker's instructions to send home any sheets or specimens of plants, but she has not yet succeeded in getting any. She took a Ward's case to the hills with her last summer and tried to strike some cuttings of the Popler [Poplar?] plant, of which she sent some dried seeds, but none has taken and there are no seeds to be procured. She will try again next summer and hopes for better luck. They have a very pretty Acacia there that she never sees in England; she describes the flower and sends a leaf and flower dried and some seeds. She also sends two ferns found at the hills, which are unlike those they have seen before, although they may be old friends of Hooker's. They made a trip to the Great Wall this autumn but she saw no new flowers or plants although she looked about carefully. Her husband wrote to Hooker last mail asking Hooker to send some vegetable seed. She wonders if Hooker might add in some watercress, mushroom seed and a little mustard and cress. The flower seeds do not succeed at all there, whether owing to the great heat or dry sandy soil, she does not know. On looking over their collection of dried plants Alcock finds a wild creeper that she does not remember seeing elsewhere. It is a parasite, quite white and succulent and it grows freely on the hills. She encloses a specimen for Hooker.
Lucy died in London and was buried at Merstham on 17 March 1899.
James William Windsor was the principal organist at Saint Margaret's Chapel in Bath, and was quite a skilled piano forte player, having been a child prodigy. On the census of Bath, he called himself "Professor of Music." His extensive collection of musical scores included rare manuscripts as well as scores from Johann Sebastian Bach, Georg Frederic Handel and Joseph Haydn, the latter of whom was said to have been a friend. Today it comprises half of the special collections at the Royal College of Music.
Lucy's mother, Alicia (born Daniell or Daniels in Amsterdam), before her marriage to James in 1804, was an opera singer and actress of note, who at her peak performed at the Royal Haymarket Theatre and a handful of other theatres in London and Bath. Earlier, she acted and sang in northern theaters (Chester, Norwich and Manchester) alongside famous actor George Frederick Cooke. Among her roles, advertised in London newspapers of the day, was Rosina in "The Spanish Barber." (This was probably not Rossini's The Barber of Seville, but an early adaptation of the French play Le barbier de Séville by Pierre Beaumarchais, likely set to music by Giovanni Paisiello.)
After retiring from public performances, James and Alicia, along with Lucy's three older sisters, ran a music school out of their home. James was the teacher of his cousin Lucy (Philpot) Anderson, who taught Queen Victoria, and later was named an honorary member of the Royal Philharmonic Society.
Lucy married (1) the Reverend John Lowder 1811 1849 on 1 September 1840 at St Swithn's Walcot.
Lucy and John Lowder had 5 children: Windsor 1841 - 1897, John Frederick 1843 - 1903, George Glass 1844 - 1880, Alicia Eirene 1845 - 1861 and Amy Henrietta 1847 - 1924 who married Sir Lewis Pelly.
After John Lowder's death Lucy married (2) Sir John Rutherford Alcock 1809 - 1987 in Brussels on 8 July 1862.
Here are some details of a letter she wrote to Kew when with her husband in China:
Letter from [Lady] Lucy Alcock to Sir Joseph Dalton Hooker; from British Legation, Peking; 25 Nov 1867; four page letter comprising two images; Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Archives: Directors' Correspondence.
Description.
Alcock has not forgotten Hooker's instructions to send home any sheets or specimens of plants, but she has not yet succeeded in getting any. She took a Ward's case to the hills with her last summer and tried to strike some cuttings of the Popler [Poplar?] plant, of which she sent some dried seeds, but none has taken and there are no seeds to be procured. She will try again next summer and hopes for better luck. They have a very pretty Acacia there that she never sees in England; she describes the flower and sends a leaf and flower dried and some seeds. She also sends two ferns found at the hills, which are unlike those they have seen before, although they may be old friends of Hooker's. They made a trip to the Great Wall this autumn but she saw no new flowers or plants although she looked about carefully. Her husband wrote to Hooker last mail asking Hooker to send some vegetable seed. She wonders if Hooker might add in some watercress, mushroom seed and a little mustard and cress. The flower seeds do not succeed at all there, whether owing to the great heat or dry sandy soil, she does not know. On looking over their collection of dried plants Alcock finds a wild creeper that she does not remember seeing elsewhere. It is a parasite, quite white and succulent and it grows freely on the hills. She encloses a specimen for Hooker.
Lucy died in London and was buried at Merstham on 17 March 1899.
Lucy Alcock nee Windsor formerly Lowder was baptized on 29 August 1814 at St Mary's Chapel Walcot near Bath, the daughter of James William Windsor and Alicia.
James William Windsor was the principal organist at Saint Margaret's Chapel in Bath, and was quite a skilled piano forte player, having been a child prodigy. On the census of Bath, he called himself "Professor of Music." His extensive collection of musical scores included rare manuscripts as well as scores from Johann Sebastian Bach, Georg Frederic Handel and Joseph Haydn, the latter of whom was said to have been a friend. Today it comprises half of the special collections at the Royal College of Music.
Lucy's mother, Alicia (born Daniell or Daniels in Amsterdam), before her marriage to James in 1804, was an opera singer and actress of note, who at her peak performed at the Royal Haymarket Theatre and a handful of other theatres in London and Bath. Earlier, she acted and sang in northern theaters (Chester, Norwich and Manchester) alongside famous actor George Frederick Cooke. Among her roles, advertised in London newspapers of the day, was Rosina in "The Spanish Barber." (This was probably not Rossini's The Barber of Seville, but an early adaptation of the French play Le barbier de Séville by Pierre Beaumarchais, likely set to music by Giovanni Paisiello.)
After retiring from public performances, James and Alicia, along with Lucy's three older sisters, ran a music school out of their home. James was the teacher of his cousin Lucy (Philpot) Anderson, who taught Queen Victoria, and later was named an honorary member of the Royal Philharmonic Society.
Lucy married (1) the Reverend John Lowder 1811 1849 on 1 September 1840 at St Swithn's Walcot.
Lucy and John Lowder had 5 children: Windsor 1841 - 1897, John Frederick 1843 - 1903, George Glass 1844 - 1880, Alicia Eirene 1845 - 1861 and Amy Henrietta 1847 - 1924 who married Sir Lewis Pelly.
After John Lowder's death Lucy married (2) Sir John Rutherford Alcock 1809 - 1987 in Brussels on 8 July 1862.
Here are some details of a letter she wrote to Kew when with her husband in China:
Letter from [Lady] Lucy Alcock to Sir Joseph Dalton Hooker; from British Legation, Peking; 25 Nov 1867; four page letter comprising two images; Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Archives: Directors' Correspondence.
Description.
Alcock has not forgotten Hooker's instructions to send home any sheets or specimens of plants, but she has not yet succeeded in getting any. She took a Ward's case to the hills with her last summer and tried to strike some cuttings of the Popler [Poplar?] plant, of which she sent some dried seeds, but none has taken and there are no seeds to be procured. She will try again next summer and hopes for better luck. They have a very pretty Acacia there that she never sees in England; she describes the flower and sends a leaf and flower dried and some seeds. She also sends two ferns found at the hills, which are unlike those they have seen before, although they may be old friends of Hooker's. They made a trip to the Great Wall this autumn but she saw no new flowers or plants although she looked about carefully. Her husband wrote to Hooker last mail asking Hooker to send some vegetable seed. She wonders if Hooker might add in some watercress, mushroom seed and a little mustard and cress. The flower seeds do not succeed at all there, whether owing to the great heat or dry sandy soil, she does not know. On looking over their collection of dried plants Alcock finds a wild creeper that she does not remember seeing elsewhere. It is a parasite, quite white and succulent and it grows freely on the hills. She encloses a specimen for Hooker.
Lucy died in London and was buried at Merstham on 17 March 1899.
James William Windsor was the principal organist at Saint Margaret's Chapel in Bath, and was quite a skilled piano forte player, having been a child prodigy. On the census of Bath, he called himself "Professor of Music." His extensive collection of musical scores included rare manuscripts as well as scores from Johann Sebastian Bach, Georg Frederic Handel and Joseph Haydn, the latter of whom was said to have been a friend. Today it comprises half of the special collections at the Royal College of Music.
Lucy's mother, Alicia (born Daniell or Daniels in Amsterdam), before her marriage to James in 1804, was an opera singer and actress of note, who at her peak performed at the Royal Haymarket Theatre and a handful of other theatres in London and Bath. Earlier, she acted and sang in northern theaters (Chester, Norwich and Manchester) alongside famous actor George Frederick Cooke. Among her roles, advertised in London newspapers of the day, was Rosina in "The Spanish Barber." (This was probably not Rossini's The Barber of Seville, but an early adaptation of the French play Le barbier de Séville by Pierre Beaumarchais, likely set to music by Giovanni Paisiello.)
After retiring from public performances, James and Alicia, along with Lucy's three older sisters, ran a music school out of their home. James was the teacher of his cousin Lucy (Philpot) Anderson, who taught Queen Victoria, and later was named an honorary member of the Royal Philharmonic Society.
Lucy married (1) the Reverend John Lowder 1811 1849 on 1 September 1840 at St Swithn's Walcot.
Lucy and John Lowder had 5 children: Windsor 1841 - 1897, John Frederick 1843 - 1903, George Glass 1844 - 1880, Alicia Eirene 1845 - 1861 and Amy Henrietta 1847 - 1924 who married Sir Lewis Pelly.
After John Lowder's death Lucy married (2) Sir John Rutherford Alcock 1809 - 1987 in Brussels on 8 July 1862.
Here are some details of a letter she wrote to Kew when with her husband in China:
Letter from [Lady] Lucy Alcock to Sir Joseph Dalton Hooker; from British Legation, Peking; 25 Nov 1867; four page letter comprising two images; Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Archives: Directors' Correspondence.
Description.
Alcock has not forgotten Hooker's instructions to send home any sheets or specimens of plants, but she has not yet succeeded in getting any. She took a Ward's case to the hills with her last summer and tried to strike some cuttings of the Popler [Poplar?] plant, of which she sent some dried seeds, but none has taken and there are no seeds to be procured. She will try again next summer and hopes for better luck. They have a very pretty Acacia there that she never sees in England; she describes the flower and sends a leaf and flower dried and some seeds. She also sends two ferns found at the hills, which are unlike those they have seen before, although they may be old friends of Hooker's. They made a trip to the Great Wall this autumn but she saw no new flowers or plants although she looked about carefully. Her husband wrote to Hooker last mail asking Hooker to send some vegetable seed. She wonders if Hooker might add in some watercress, mushroom seed and a little mustard and cress. The flower seeds do not succeed at all there, whether owing to the great heat or dry sandy soil, she does not know. On looking over their collection of dried plants Alcock finds a wild creeper that she does not remember seeing elsewhere. It is a parasite, quite white and succulent and it grows freely on the hills. She encloses a specimen for Hooker.
Lucy died in London and was buried at Merstham on 17 March 1899.
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