Euphemia (Effie) Isabella Chaplin (1847-1939), one of my four great-grandmothers, is at the back on the right, in the photo on the home page. She was a Skinner before marrying Holroyd Chaplin, a London solicitor, in 1870. Effie's mother was born Caroline Emily Harding, and her mother's father, Rev John Harding , was Rector of Glanogwr in Glamorgan, and several other places. The earliest Harding for whom I have a record was born in 1700, but Caroline's pedigree wound back through the Wyndhams, Howards, Mowbrays, Seagraves and Plantagenets to Edward I.
Effie's father, Allan
Maclean Skinner Q.C. (1809-1885), was Recorder of Windsor in 1852, and Judge of County Courts in
South Staffordshire in 1859. From my point of view he was a great guy, because he did lots of family
research, and even wrote two books about the family, both of which are in the British Library. His
work on family history gave me a head start. He was one of four brothers - the other three all died
on military service overseas; one in the Himalayas, one in Jamaica and one (James) in Afghanistan in 1842. His father, Lt General John Major
Skinner (1752-1827), helped to fight the rebellion in the Southern US in 1770+, and was Governor of
Guadeloupe in the West Indies in 1810 - his roots appear to be traceable back to King Canute by way
of the Sir William Tracy who was allegedly one of the six knights who assassinated St Thomas
a'Becket in Canterbury Cathedral. Allan's mother Ann Maclean (1773-1864) was born at Ardgour
in Scotland, and of course the Maclean line can also be traced way back, though I haven't been able
to verify his claim that she had Robert the Bruce amongst her ancestors. She had an apartment at
Hampton Court Palace after her husband's death, and died in her 90th year.
Allan and Caroline's children were:
Allan
Maclean's sister, Marianne Skinner (1801-1885), was a colourful character. A friend wrote of her: "I
remember being present at an 'At Home' she gave. Her rooms were most quaintly furnished, and one
seemed to live far, far back in the past as one gazed at her spinet and her old fashioned harp. Her
dress comprised a pink silk skirt trimmed with a matchless lace flounce, a low black velvet bodice,
a satin scarf of the family tartan - for she was proud of her Scotch descent - open worked
stockings, and sandalled shoes. She carried a bag of some beautiful material over her arm, her 'get
up' being completed by a necklace and old coral medallions and long earrings to match. Her hair was
plaited in a small knot at the back, and three lank ringlets hung on each side of her face. She
received her guests with a low curtsey, and was the cheeriest of hostesses. There was a great deal
of music. but not a single sad air was played. The old lady related anecdotes in abundance, and her
great anxiety was to see all the young people who were there happy and amiable. She had a habit of
speaking her thoughts aloud, and this peculiarity sometimes caused much amusement. A young lady who
had a very pretty voice was asked to sing, and at once consented. The guests gathered round. Our old
friend sat near the singer, and commented audibly on the song with delightful unconsciousness, which
made it hard for anyone to preserve a grave countenance".