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Welcome to the Chilean section of the
Powditch website
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(compiled by Henry John Henley Stevens in 1939, from notes made by Mrs Cumming of Chile)
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N.B. This page was edited on 5 Jan 2005 to remove reasons for death of deceased family
members, together with birthdates for those living family members
- all as demanded by Carol E Powditch on 30 Dec 2004
SOME NOTES ON THE FAMILY OF POWDITCH
Abstracted by H.J.H.Stevens from Papers in the possession of Ada Cumming (Mrs H.J.Cumming) Powditch. Poblacion Vergara, Vina-del-Mar; Chile. August 16th. 1939.
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THOMAS POWDITCH.. A large ship owner of north Shields on Tyne. Also described as of Newcastle
(10 miles up stream) Of him Mr. Mr. J.T.G Powditch of Vina-del-Mar compiled some notes to the effect
that. Thomas Powditch lent some ship to the Government for the unlucky Walcheren expedition 1809.
Mr John Diston Pole, Chairman of the Mexican and South American Coy, knew my great grandfather
well, and spoke of him highly as a Merchant on the Russia Walk. Mr. J.T.G. Powditch corresponded
with genealogists at home to ascertain more. A “few meagre notes” were gleaned.which would have
passed on Mr. J T.G ‘s death (191. ) to his son Thomas. But there is nothing to show that Mrs
Cumming’s papers include any such meagre notes.
Ethel Stokes, Record Agent of' 75 Chancery Lane. 16th July 1913 writes in answer to him, to the
effect;- With regard to the Powditch who lent or hired ships to the Government for the Walcheren
Expedition, I Find the best (and probably only authority) in Admiralty records connected with transport,
which require a lot of perusal which perhaps you would care to undertake for they are quite clear; e;g;
Papers relating to Hired Ships 1793-1815, Admiralty Accs; Genl: Var: 96. Register of Hired Ships,
1803-1818, ditto, 97-99. Papers relating to Transports. l740-1800 ditto –125. etc;
Under Reference 13/252 of 9th April 1920 Messrs Musset, Heraldic studios, 9 Great Turnstile,
Lincolns Inn Field, W.C.1. Wrote in reply to effect that;- “we have at present no reason to think that
further search would yield more or definite details. Information has been hard to obtain; hence the
meagre results, unless it can be the case that the name POWDITCH be a variant or derived from
BOWDITCH. Among others, the following works have been consulted;- Lower Pat Brit-annica,
Surnames, Bardsley, Guppy, Barber, Weekly, Berry. Ency: of Heraldry. Burlie, Encyl: of Heraldry
Fairburn, Book or Cresh, Norman People. Worcester and Chichister Wills. Hutching’s Dorset. Various
Heralds’ Visitations. Victoria County Histories. Various Gazateers. But it seems strange that in so
extensive a list there is no specific mention of Parish, Schools, Municipal, Chambers of Commerce,
and other such institutions’ registers and or minutes. India Office Records might have on files
parentage data of H.E.I.C. Cadet John Kittridge Powditch, eldest son of Thomas. His sister Mary
married a Sharpe of the Liverpool Banking firm of Sharpe & Co. Their present successors might have
data. H.J.H.S. Has recollection that Mrs Cumming’s sister “Lota” or brother Alfred spoke of Thomas
Powditch as being on the "BaltiC' Wheat Exchange. His wife who is not identified owned 63 Lower
Sloane Street Chelsea; Implying residence also in London. Mr.J.T.G.Powditch suggests that his great
grandfather Thomas had a sister who married a Kittridge who was god father to John Kittridge
Powditch, Mr. J.T.G.P’s grandfather. A Mr. Arnold Sexton who came out to Chile prior to 1916 in
connection with the Oruro Railway was recommended to look up his Powditch Relations in Chile. Mr.
J.T.G.P seems to have got in touch with him and given him some data in hopes that Mr Arnold Sexton
would follow it up with success in elucidating something more about Thomas Powditch' and his
antecedents. But nothing seems to have come of this.
When Thomas Powditch died his children were minors. he left them about £20,000 each, deposited
with the Liverpool bankers Sharpe & Co who failed in the crisis of 1814 along with some 240 other
banks in England. Eventually about a quarter of this sum was recovered for these heirs. It thus seems
that Thomas Powditch died between 1809 and 1814. He must have been married not later than 1792
and probably not earlier than 1788. His eldest son John Kittridge had risen from a cadet in the H.E.I.C.
to 2nd officer and leaving that service, bought with his brother William a Brig for privateering under
letters of Marque in 1815. There is mention of 3 sons and 2 daughters as heirs, but there are actually
names of three sons and three daughters. Perhaps one predeceased him; or was disinherited; One
daughter Grace is is in one place described as a spinster, in another is said to have married against
her parents`wishes. These children are treated below under paras; II, a, b, c, d, e, f
II.a. JOHN KITTRIDGE POWDITCH. He married Charlotte Hirst, whose mother’s name was
Hannah, on Jan 19th 1814 at St James Piccadilly, a curate, the Rev Henry Byron officiating. After
Mirriage they lived at his mother's house 63 Lower Sloane Street. Chelsea. Here their eldest son was
born April 19th, 1815. She inherited .....from her mother, Hannah. to Mrs ........ is father Mr King of
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Valparaiso, Mrs John Kittridge Powditch “was a very charming cultivated woman, so genteel" She
died in Childbirth Sept, 1829 in Valparaiso, JOHN KITTRIDGE POWDITCH was still a minor when his
father died and of his inheritence of some £20,000 entrusted to the Liverpool bankers, Sharpe and
Co. he lost three quarters due to their failure in 1814 when among 240 british Banks they stopped
payment due to the crisis.
When he had recovered the Quarter of his fortune he bought with his brother William a brig and fitted
her out as a privateer under Letters of Marque to ravage in the French and U.S.A. War. John Kittridge
was kind hearted and set free the three U.S.A. vessels captured. Then with his brother he invested in
the Brig “Snipe” and he sailed in her with a couple of pointers “Fanny and Dido”. On arrival at
Valparaiso being attracted by the place and still having some spare money he decided to settle there.
He arrived early in 1817. He was a good shot. He entertained a good deal especially the Officers of
any British warships which put in. He moved to Concepcion in 1834. The 1835 earthquake destroyed
and burnt his house and all his papers. He returned to Valparaiso. and then in 1839 to Lima where he
traded in Chilian Timber. He returned to Valparaiso and died soon after arrival January 12th 1844.
II.b. WILLIAM POWDITCH second son of Thomas Powditch of North Shields. He shared. in his elder
brother's ventures of a brig for privateering in 1814-5 and in the brig “Snipe” in which his brother sailed
out to arrive early in January at Valparaiso. WILLIAM POWDITCH emigrated to New Zealand and with
the quarter of his fortune and what ever he had added to it he bought a lot of ground from the Maoris.
But the Government interfered in such transactions and confiscated much of it to return to the Maoris
allotting to him a holding he called "Renmuere” near Auklund, North Island. At an assembly some
years ago in Melbourne, he was elected as the oldest “Resident” present as the chairman. He died
Aug 22 18.... aged 80. He had some appointment under the New Zealand government. He had two
sons who died in infancy and one daughter Rose Annie who married a Mr.Cleghorn of East View,
Epsom, Aukland, New Zealand. It seems that Mr.Cleghorn’s mother was a princess in the Sandwich
Islands. Rose Annie and J.Cleghorn had a daughter who married Charles T. Gore Auditor General in
Aukland. This Mr.Gore was brother of H.T.Gore Adjutant-General, Horse Guards White Hall and of
I.C.Gore Auditor General, West Coast of Africa. Mr and Mrs Gore of New Zealand had a daughter
Rose Maccultrie (?) who had a Government appointment at Aukland. She seems to have been in
correspondence with Thomas Powditch of Poblacion Vergara, Vina-del-Mar Chile. Nothing more is
known of this branch of whom the male line died out.
II.c. MARGARET POWDITCH, eldest Daughter of Thomas P of North Shields. She married the Rev
Henry Byron who, as curate at St James Picadilly had officiated at her eldest brother’s wedding to
Charlotte Hirst in 1814 at this church. He was later vicar or rector of Muston Leicestershire. He was
first cousin of the Poet Lord Byron. His brother Captain Richard Byron of the sloop 'Champion' came
round the straits to Valparaiso in 1843 with an offer to take home one oh his sister-inlaw’s nephews in
the "Champion” for education. The choice fell upon Thomas Powditch but he had just been wrecked
off the coast of Mexico and not arriving in time missed. this opportunity. Of possible interest to note is
that this Captain Richard Byron's grandfather Admiral Byron had as a middy sailed with Lord Anson
round the world which voyage took him to Valparaiso. and as Commodore commanding the 'Dolphin”
he again doubled the straits and surveyed the South coast of South America in 1764. He was
grandfather of the Poet Lord Byron.
II.d GRACE POWDITCH is described both as “Spinster” and as “Married against her parents'
wishes”.
II. e MARY POWDITCH youngest daughter married a Mr. Sharpe of the Liverpool bankers, Sharpe
and Co. who had been entrusted with her and her brothers’and sisters’ fortunes of £20,000 each;
which fortunes were lost all but a quarter when the bank failed along with 240 others in England owing
to the crisis in 1814. The Successors of this Banking: firm Sharpe and Co; may have records in their
archives showing something more about the individuality of her father THOMAS POWDITCH of
NORTH SHIELD.
II.f GEORGE P0WDITCH of whom there in only the laconic note that “He lived in London.”
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CHILDREN of John Kittridge Powditch II.a
III.a JOHN POWDITCH eldest son of John Kittridge and Charlotte (Nee Hirst) was born at his parents
house 63 Lower Sloane Street. Chelsea, on April 19th 1815. He was brought out to Valparaiso (in the
brig Snipe early in 1817?). He sailed for Europe in 1835, but was never heard of again.
III.b ALFRED POWDITCH, born April 3rd 1828 in Valparaiso. Went gold digging in California where
he had an accident. He returned to mine in Copiapo, where he died without marrying in 1883. (N.B.
This item has been edited 5 Jan 2005 - as demanded by Carol E Powditch on 30 Dec 2004)
III.c THOMAS POWDITCH. born in Valparaiso, April 24th, 1826. He voyaged when young for he got
wrecked off the coast of Mexico. He went to Great Britain where he met his future wife Mariana
Mackay who called him her “Spanish Cavalier”. They were married by the British Chaplain Rev;
Benjamin Hill in Valparaiso April 29th 1854. He and his wife were at home, his youngest son Robert
(Iv.j.) Was born (Cheltenham Nov 5th 1867) His Daughters were at St Margarets in that Town. He
settled at Potrero Seco Copiapo, he being manager of the Copiapo Mining Coy; and of other local
enter-prises. Afterwards he moved to Valparaiso. His house was popular with officers from British
Warships. His wife [had been] a popular Belle in Scotland. He was one of the First to settle in the Poblacion Vergara; Vina-del-Mar Chile where he built a large country house in a acre of ground; sold and pulled down 1939. He had varying fortunes with several enterprises, finally retiring from business in 1896. He died 1904. Further details about his wife appear (IV.h.) in accompanying notes on the Mackay family. She was sister to the Dr Mackay who marrying Caroline Powditch comes next on this table. Thomas Powditch and his wife Mariana had ten children particularized below. (N.B. This item
has been edited 5 Jan 2005 - as demanded by Carol E Powditch on 30 Dec 2004)
III.d CAROLINE POWDITCH, Born Valparaiso January 1st, 1825 Married Dr.John Mackay brother of
Mariana Mackay see last item above III.c. She died in Concepcion July
descendants see notes on the Family of Mackay IV.j
III.e CHARLOTTE POWDITCH. Born September 23rd 1829. Died an infant; her mother Charlotte nee
Hirst, dying at her childbirth.
CHILDREN of Thomas Powditch of Poblacion Vergara. III.c
IV.a. JOHN THOMAS GREY POWDITCH.
V.a. LAURA ADA
V.b. JOHN POWDITCH,
VI.a. Joan.B.19 In Chilian consulate, Berlin 1939
VI.b. Mary, b.19
VI.c. CHARLES POWDITCH. Born 19 . Educated at the Valparaiso
Engineering College Fundacion Santa Maria. He represents the
Family of Powditch.
VI.d. Ruth
V.c. WILLIAM POWDITCH died young. Born
V.d. THOMAS POWDITCH. Born 19 of Chorillas. Married ?Cegsta 1939.
V.e. WILFRED POWDITCH. Born 19
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IV.b. ALISTAIR POWDITCH. Born 18 died a few months old
IV.c. CHARLOTTE POWDITCH, (’Aunt Lota’) Born 18 Artist. Died Poblacion Vergara 193?
IV.d. CHARLES POWDITCH Born 18 Educated at Cheltenham College. (‘Uncle Charlie’)
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Notes on CHARLES POWDITCH IV.d. son of Thomas Powditch of Población Vergara, continued.
He died unmarried in Poblacion Vergara, where he left a small property, 193?
IV.e. ADA POWDITCH. Born 1859. Educated Cheltenham. Married, as his second wife. [James]
Henry
Valparaiso. Leaving a
IV.f. CAROLINE POWDITCH (Aunt Carry) Born 1861, educated Cheltenham College. Married
William Crump of Valparaiso. He died in 1920, In Poblacion Vergara.
IV.g. FREDERICK POWDITCH (“Uncle Fred”.)
IV.h. ALFRED POWDITCH. Born 18– Stock broker Valparaiso. Cofounder of the Granadilla Golf
Course, Vina-del-Mar. Died unmarried 1938. Left his Father’s Población V: property.
IV.i. MARIANA POWDITCH. Born 18– (Aunt Minna) Died, unmarried 1937.
IV.j. ROBERT POWDITCH (“Uncle Bertie”) Born Cheltenham Nov 5th 1867 (see III.c.) He married
Kathleen Elsie Vine of Concepcion. For a time in the British Consulate General Valparaiso. He Died
in Vina-del-Mar. 1938. They have children;-
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Observations on the Origins of th is Family of POWDITCH. The first Thomas Powditch as a big ship-
owner "Of North Shields" who left a fortune of £100,000 and who was on the Admiralty roster as an
approved contractor for ship-hire, who banked in Liverpool, who apparently owned a house at 65
Lower Sloane Street; whose son marries a parishoner cousin of the exclusive Lord Byron, does not
suggest a nouveau riche of no antecedents.
But it does seem strange that genealogical researches with such an unusual name to work upon have
elucidated nothing more. (Assumed that to be the case without knowing for certain that Ada Cumming
(Mother) has all that they vouchsafed her brother John Thomas Gray ("Uncle Jack") So recently as the
nineteenth century, there should be Municipal records for Tynemouth (includes North Shields) for rates
etc with nominal rolls of residents. Hence parochial segregation for Parish registration of births.
There must have been a will with executors for his fortune and its deposit with the Liverpool Bankers.
There is the Newcastle Society of Antiquarians who might be appealed to for suggestions. There is
the Central News Room and Art Gallery founded so long ago [in]1838. which suggests that Newcastle
had a weekly or daily paper considerable anterior to that whose early files might be examined.
It would be interestg to know what set the genealogists Mussets looking into the surnames Bardsley,
Guppy, Barber, Weekly, Berry; and search the lists of wills for Worcester and Chichester diocese. And
what Hutching's "Dorset" was thought possible to reveal. This suggests going back before wills all
came under the control of Somerset House. Somerset House has many copies of these Diocesan
wills; but without knowing the limiting date; since when research would only be made at Somerset
House it does look as though the genealogists had got on the track of some individual anterior to this
Thomas Powditch.
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