Photo Above: Princess Margaret, Lady Jennifer Jane Bevan Lowther and her daughter, Sarah Charlotte Margaret Lowther after the child’s baptism
Up until now, the only distant connection I had to British Royalty was through my 11th Great Grandmother, Elizabeth Spencer, born 1553. She married my 11th Great Grandfather, Hugh Brice Esq. in 1573. (The Visitation of Somerset; 1623). Elizabeth was the daughter of Richard Spencer. He was a member of the same family that included Sir Winston Churchill and Diana, Princess of Wales.
After doing some work on Welsh Bevan family this week, I discovered another, closer connection to the Royal Family through a Bevan cousin.
Lady Jennifer Jane Bevan, my 8th cousin 2 X removed, was a Lady in Waiting for Princess Margaret for about 3 years up to 1951. During that time she was known as being part of the “Clarence House Set”. Clarence House was Princess Margaret’s residence after her father’s death in 1952. Her mother and sister had moved out of the residence and moved in to Buckingham Palace.
Lady Jennifer was the daughter of John Henry Bevan and Lady Barbara Violet Bingham. John Henry was a British Army officer who, during the Second World War, made an important contribution to military deception, culminating in Operation Bodyguard, the plan to conceal the D-Day landings in Normandy. In civilian life he was a respected stockbroker in his father’s firm. Lady Barbara was the daughter of Charles Bingham, 5th Earl of Lucan, 1st Baron Bingham. He was a British soldier and Conservative politician. Prior to her marriage, Lady Barbara had been a Lady in Waiting to Princess Alice, The Countess of Athlone. Princess Alice’s husband, Prince Alexander of Teck, was appointed Governor-General of the Union of South Africa from 1924-1931.
Princess Margaret was the Godmother to Lady Jennifer’s daughter, Sarah Charlotte Margaret Lowther, my 9th cousin 1X removed. Sarah went on to be a bridesmaid at Princess Margaret’s wedding in 1960.
We both descend from Jenkin “ap Evan” Bevan born about 1600 and his wife, Elizabeth Aster, born about 1610 of Rhossili, Glamorgan, Wales. Jenkin was the first in the family to drop the Welsh patronymic naming system, being the first to use “Bevan” as a surname.
Lady Jennifer Bevan descended from Jenkin’s son William “The Quaker” Bevan b. 1627 in Rhossili, Glamorgan, Wales and died 1702 in Swansea, Glamorgan, Wales. That branch of the family mostly lived in England. William’s grandson, Timothy Bevan born 1704 in Swansea, settled in London, England. From then on, Lady Jennifer’s ancestors all lived in England. They were a more prosperous line of the Bevans.
My side of the family stayed in Glamorgan, Wales and were mostly farmers. My 3X Great Grandmother Sarah Bevan
was the daughter of Rowland Bevan b. 1780 and Elizabeth Bevan b. 1795. They were 2nd cousins 1 X removed.
Rowland and Elizabeth both descend from Jenkin Bevan’s son Francis Bevan b. 1630 through his son Rowland b. 1660. My 4X Great Grandfather, Rowland, descends from Rowland and his first wife, Elizabeth b. 1673 d. 1701 through their son Rowland b. 1696.
My 4X Great Grandmother, Elizabeth also descends from Jenkin’s son Francis and his son Rowland with and his second wife, Katherine White through their son Thomas b. 1710.
In the past few weeks I’ve been able to definitely connect Jenkin “ap Evan” Bevan back to various Welsh Kings and even the King of Dublin (more on that soon), and now I can have a distant connection to the British Royal Family.
Descendants of John Henry Bevan
Generation 1
1.
JOHN HENRY1 BEVAN1-6 was born on 05 Apr 1894 in Marylebone, London, England1, 4-6. Son of David Augustus Bevan and The Honorable Maude Elizabeth Brand. He died on 03 Dec 1978 in Chelsea, Greater London, England6. He married Barbara Violet Bingham Lady on 25 Jan 1927 in St. George Hanover Square, London, United Kingdom1-3, 7-9. She was born on 17 Aug 1902 in St Marylebone, London, England7, 10-13. She died on 17 Dec 1963 in Midhurst, Sussex, England11, 14.
John Henry Bevan1-6 lived in St Marylebone, London, England in 1901 (Relation to Head of House: Son4). In 1911 John, age 16, was a student at Eton. In 1939 John and Barbara lived with her parents, the Earl and Countess of Lucan, at 15 Montagu Square, London. 5.
“John Henry was a British Army officer who, during the Second World War, made an important contribution to military deception, culminating in Operation Bodyguard, the plan to conceal the D-Day landings in Normandy. In civilian life he was a respected stockbroker in his father’s firm.
Bevan had an upper-class upbringing, including an education at Eton and Oxford. During the First World War he fought with the Hertfordshire Regiment in France and later became involved with intelligence analysis. His latter work came to the attention of wartime leaders, including Winston Churchill. Bevan stayed in the army for a while following the end of the war, and then took up a career in stock brokerage. He joined his father’s firm, got married, and built up his profile as an honest businessman.
At the outbreak of the Second World War, Bevan was recalled to his Territorial Army regiment and assigned as a staff officer during the early campaigns in Norway. In 1941 he was seconded to the London Controlling Section (LCS), a department set up to oversee strategic deception planning for the Allies. Oliver Stanley, the LCS’s previous head, was in the process of returning to politics so Bevan was given command of the unit.
Upon his arrival the LCS was struggling to maintain its authority against the armed forces establishment. Bevan and his deputy, Dennis Wheatley, used their social connections (and a broad charter from high command) to enable the department to put plans into operation. In 1943 Bevan helped establish Ops (B) (a deception department within COSSAC) and plan Operation Cockade. Intended to tie up German forces in western Europe, the operation was not a success. However, building on the lessons learned from Cockade (and from Dudley Clarke in the Mediterranean) Bevan created Operation Bodyguard, which historians agree contributed to the success of the Operation Overlord landings in 1944.”:
Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Bevan_(British_Army_officer)
Barbara Violet Bingham Lady7-14 lived in St Marylebone, London, England in 1911 (Marital Status: Single; Relation to Head of House: Daughter13). She lived in London, England in 1939 (Marital Status: Married; Occupation: Chief Goverment Chip House of Ho?? Private Means10).
John Henry Bevan and Barbara Violet Bingham Lady had the following children:
2. i. JENNIFER JANE2 BEVAN LADY15-16 (daughter of John Henry Bevan and Barbara Violet Bingham Lady) was born on 11 Nov 192716. She died on 19 Jan 202216. She married John Luke Lowther Sir on 14 Feb 1952 in London15, 17. He was born on 17 Nov 1923 in Marylebone, London18. He died on 11 Apr 2011.
3. ii. JULIAN CHARLES BEVAN19 (son of John Henry Bevan and Barbara Violet Bingham Lady) was born on 13 Jul 1929 in Paddington, Greater London19. He married Joan Pritchard Haynes on 07 Feb 1955 in Cape Town, South Africa.
4. iii. MARION MARGARET BEVAN20-22 (daughter of John Henry Bevan and Barbara Violet Bingham Lady) was born on 21 Mar 1936 in London, England21. She married Peter Wake in Jan 1960 in Westminster, Middlesex, United Kingdom20, 23. He was born on 19 Jul 192124-25. He died on 24 Nov 1993 in Waterlooville, Hampshire, England24, 26.
Generation 2
2. JENNIFER JANE2 BEVAN LADY (John Henry1)15-16 was born on 11 Nov 192716. She died on 19 Jan 202216. She married John Luke Lowther Sir on 14 Feb 1952 in London15, 17. He was born on 17 Nov 1923 in Marylebone, London18. He died on 11 Apr 2011.
Jennifer Jane Bevan Lady15-16 lived in Northampton, Northamptonshire, England16.
Notes for Jennifer Jane Bevan Lady:
One of the ‘Clarence House Set’ in the 1950s.
From the Telegraph of 25 Jan 2022: LOWTHER Jenny died peacefully on 19th January 2022, aged 94. Much-loved wife of Johnnie (d) and beloved mother of Sarah, Hugh and Lucy. Private cremation. A service of thanksgiving at St Etheldreda’s, Guilsborough, to be announced at a later date.
Notes for John Luke Lowther Sir:
Lowther was commissioned a second lieutenant in the King’s Royal Rifle Corps on 6 March 1943.[2]
Lowther stood as Conservative candidate for Belper in the general elections of 1964 and 1966, but on both occasions was defeated by the incumbent MP, George Brown.[3]
In 1971, Lowther was appointed High Sheriff of Northamptonshire.[4] He received a deputy lieutenant’s commission in 1977,[5] and in 1984, he was appointed Lord Lieutenant of the county. While serving as Lord Lieutenant in 1986, he became Honorary Colonel of the Royal Anglian Regiment, Northampton Territorial Army battalion,[6] an appointment he held until 1989, following which he received the honorary rank of colonel.[7]
He was made a KCVO in the 1997 New Year Honours, and stepped down as Lord Lieutenant in 1998.
John Luke Lowther Sir and Jennifer Jane Bevan Lady had the following children:
5. i. SARAH CHARLOTTE MARGARET3 LOWTHER31-33 (daughter of John Luke Lowther Sir and Jennifer Jane Bevan Lady) was born in Jan 1954 in Marylebone, London32-33. She married Henry Merton Henderson in Jan 1977 in Westminster, Greater London, United Kingdom31, 34.
6. ii. HUGH WILLIAM LOWTHER37 (son of John Luke Lowther Sir and Jennifer Jane Bevan Lady) (living)
7. iii. LAVINIA MARY LUCY LOWTHER41-43 (daughter of John Luke Lowther Sir and Jennifer Jane Bevan Lady) (living)
3. JULIAN CHARLES2 BEVAN (John Henry1)19 was born on 13 Jul 1929 in Paddington, Greater London19. He married Joan Pritchard Haynes on 07 Feb 1955 in Cape Town, South Africa.
Julian Charles Bevan and Joan Pritchard Haynes had the following child:
i. SARAH LORRAINE3 BEVAN (daughter of Julian Charles Bevan and Joan Pritchard Haynes) (living)
4. MARION MARGARET2 BEVAN (John Henry1)20-22 was born on 21 Mar 1936 in London, England21. She married Peter Wake in Jan 1960 in Westminster, Middlesex, United Kingdom20, 23. He was born on 19 Jul 192124-25. He died on 24 Nov 1993 in Waterlooville, Hampshire, England24, 26.
Marion Margaret Bevan20-22 lived in Kensington South, England in 196422.
Peter Wake23-26 lived in Buckinghamshire, England in 1939 (Marital Status: Single, 25). He was employed as a Banker.
Peter Wake and Marion Margaret Bevan had the following children:
i. SUSAN 3WAKE 27, – 29 (Daughter of Peter Wake and Marion Margaret Bevan) (living).
ii. EDWARD WAKE35-36 (son of Peter Wake and Marion Margaret Bevan) (living)
iii. PHILIP HEREWARD WAKE44 (son of Peter Wake and Marion Margaret Bevan) (living)
Generation 3
5. SARAH CHARLOTTE MARGARET3 LOWTHER (Jennifer Jane2 Bevan Lady, John Henry1 Bevan)31-33 was born in Jan 1954 in Marylebone, London32-33. She married Henry Merton Henderson in Jan 1977 in Westminster, Greater London,
United Kingdom 31, 34.
Henry Merton Henderson and Sarah Charlotte Margaret Lowther had the following children:
i. HARRY OLIVER4 HENDERSON (son of Henry Merton Henderson and Sarah Charlotte Margaret Lowther) (living)
ii. KATIE SARAH HENDERSON (daughter of Henry Merton Henderson and Sarah Charlotte Margaret Lowther) (living)
6. HUGH WILLIAM3 LOWTHER (Jennifer Jane2 Bevan Lady, John Henry1 Bevan)37 (living)
Hugh William Lowther and Amanda Ursula Georgiana Vivian Hon. had the following children:
i. FLORA MIRIAM4 LOWTHER (daughter of Hugh William Lowther and Amanda Ursula Georgiana Vivian Hon.) (living)
ii. BERTIE LOWTHER (son of Hugh William Lowther and Amanda Ursula Georgiana Vivian Hon.) (living)
iii. GEORGIA LOWTHER (daughter of Hugh William Lowther and Amanda Ursula Georgiana Vivian Hon.) (living)
iv. LUCIA LOWTHER (daughter of Hugh William Lowther and Amanda Ursula Georgiana Vivian Hon.) (living)
7. LAVINIA MARY LUCY3 LOWTHER (Jennifer Jane2 Bevan Lady, John Henry1 Bevan)41-43 was born in Oct 1958 in Marylebone, London43. She married Julian Edward Tomkins on 02 Oct 1983 in Northampton, Northamptonshire, United Kingdom41-42, 45-46.
Julian Edward Tomkins and Lavinia Mary Lucy Lowther had the following child:
i. BENJAMIN HENRY4 TOMKINS (son of Julian Edward Tomkins and Lavinia Mary Lucy Lowther)(living)
______________________________________
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