1897 Reminiscences of
Robert Powditch of Chile
Reminiscence 1
dated 11 October 1897
(Being a copy of a memorandum hand-written by Robert Powditch, containing all the facts he had gathered from his father Thomas Powditch (Hirst) whose youngest son he was, regarding the family's origin).      
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My great grandfather, Thomas Powditch, was a large coal and ship owner, in North Shields, (County of Northumberland, England) doing a large trade in the “Russia Walk”, or say, in business connected with Russia. He lent several of his ships to the British Government, free of all charge, to carry troops, during the Walcheren War, in Holland, in 1809.

Mr. John Wiston Poles  - Chairman, of the “Mexican and South American Company”, (who died some years ago) knew my great grandfather very well,  and spoke very highly of him to my father.

Thomas Powditch had five children;  three sons and two daughters.

One of my father's aunts, Margaret, eldest daughter of Thomas Powditch, married the Reverend Henry Byron. a first cousin of Lord Byron's (the Poet). When Lord Byron died, leaving only one  daughter, the Barony would have come to the Rev. Henry Byron but for one other cousin, a son of an elder brother, coming between him and the title. When the Rev.H.Byron married, he was Curate of Saint George's Church, Piccadilly, the principal Church of  the place. Afterwards he was Rector of Muston, Leicestershire. You can see this in “Burke’s Peerage” under Byron.

My father's other Aunt, (he forgets her name) married a rich Banker in London, a Mr.Sharpe.

The sons were:

John Kittridge  -  founder of the family In Chile.

My father, second son of John Kittridge, thinks that one of his grandfather's sisters married a Mr.Kittridge and that the name was bestowed on him when Mr.Kittridge stood as his Godfather.

William  - died in Australia, and

Of his remaining uncle, George. my father remembers nothing

When he died, Thomas PowdItch left each of his children £20,000.   His children being under age at the time of his death, all the money was invested in a Banking business, which unfortunately failed before any of them had drawn more than one quarter of their money.     

Some time before this failure, John Kittridge and William, (my grandfather and great-uncle) bought a brig, the “SNIPE” which they fitted out as a Privateer, with “Letter of Marque”, during the war with France, in 1815. At this time they were both under age. John Kittridge had been an Officer in the “East India Trade”, and there, no doubt acquired his great liking for the sea. At that time the East Indiamen were fitted out more like Men-of-War, than ordinary merchantmen. They had to give up this business as the Bank in which they had their money failed, as before stated.

William, then went to New Zealand, where he died a few years ago. He lived for a long time in Australia also. He had issue - one son and one daughter. His daughter, Rose Anne, is now living in Sydney and is married to a rich man, Mr.Cleghorn.

At a great assembly years ago in Melbourne, William, being the oldest English resident at the time, was made Chairman of the Meeting.

My grandfather, John Kittridge Powditch, came out to Chile, as part-owner of a vessel, bringing merchandise to this coast. He started several businesses in Valparaiso and in 1834 went to Concepcion, having sent his ship back to England long before under some Captain.
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her family came from London. She died in Valparaiso in April 1829, my father being about four years old at the time. All the children were born in Valparaiso where the family lived for a long time.

In 1835, there was a great earthquake in Concepcion, which destroyed John Kittridge's house; the house then caught fire causing him the loss of nearly all his belongings. After this, he started more new businesses in Concepcion.

He died In Valparaiso in 1844, leaving three sons and one daughter:

John, his eldest son, left Chile for England in 1835 in a sailing vessel (probably just before the earthquake) which we suppose was lost at sea  as he has never been heard of since.
Thomas ( second son) - my father           
Aflred (sic: Alfred) (third son) who died a few years ago in Hornito, Copiapo and
Caroline -  married to Doctor John Mackay and living in Concepcion.

Commander Richard Byron (a brother to the Rev. Henry Byron) of H.M.Sloop “CHAMPION" offered in 1843 to take my father home with him from Chile. His sloop was however, unfortunately lost on this Station, somewhere off the Mexican coast, before he could start for England, and Captain Richard Byron was drowned.

VALPARAISO, October 11th 1897.

(The writer of this memorandum Robert Powditch, was close on 27 years of age at the time of making this record.)