I will have to read the book "Margaret Catchpole" again. My copy is a World
Classics version which says the book was first published in 1845. In World
Classics it was first published in 1907 and reprinted in 1912, 1923, 1929
and 1931.
This has Margaret's father as Jonathon (which is different to John). It says
there were 6 children of which Margaret was the second daughter and the
youngest child but one. Her older sister was Susan and there is mention of
brothers Charles, John and Little Ned. Which only adds up to 5 so I MUST
read it again. There seems to be no mention of the mother.
My father, born at Burgate, Suffolk in 1909, was named Sydney, which he
always said was because of a family connection to the deported Margaret. He
was certain that that was why his name was spelt with a 'y' rather than an
'i'. He was always under the impression that he was born at Wortham (which
is where he lived as a child) but his birth certificate says Burgate.
However the two places are very close together and his mother is described
as living at Burgate. No father is listed.
He told me once that he recalled his mother saying that she could recall one
of her forebears telling of going to Harwich or Felixstowe to farewell
Margaret when she was deported. Which doesn't ring true as the book says she
was deported from Southampton.
Paul Catchpole