Caroline - The Injured Queen (1820-1823)

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 The story which follows reflects the tragedy of an all too common personal circumstance and societies reaction to it. Yet also shows possible evidence of personal reaction and proud defiance in the face of such circumstance.

 Anne Blackburn, the twenty two year old daughter of Christopher and Esther, has her illegitimate daughter, Caroline, baptised at Saint Michael's, Ashton under Lyne, on 14th July 1822. Sadly the Register entry under "Quality, Trade or Profession" is described as "Base". This probably reveals that she had no means of supporting herself or her daughter and was relying on Parish assistance.

Caroline Blackburn Baptism 14th July 1822

Since 1601 the Poor Laws had required required each Parish to calculate and levy a poor rate. This was used to provide relief to the poor people of the Parish. They would also run a "poorhouse" for homeless Parishioners where work was provided to mitigate the cost.

A deserted pregnant woman was probably the greatest burden a parish could face and overseers went to great lengths to establish the identity of the father. The mother would be subjected to a bastardy examination to name the father who was then issued with a "Bastardy Bond". This document recorded the amount of money he was to contribute. If the father absconded a "Bastardy Warrant" was issued for his arrest.

The identity of Caroline's father remains, and probably always will remain, a mystery. The identity could be one of many candidates and impossible to prove which. To go through the public baptism ceremony and other likely indignities without naming a father may indicate that Anne is protecting someone, or worse, under pressure to protect.

In the face of this distress the story takes the following twist.

The name Caroline chosen by Anne for her daughter was popular at the time and also shows a sign of rebellion against the established order.

Caroline of Brunswick was the wife of George the IV. They were separated owing to George's indulgent excess and adultery. George had reluctantly married Caroline as part of the obligation under the Royal Marriages Act (1772) which was intended to limit royal marriages to protestant princesses and so ensure a valid succession. The effect was for princes to avoid marriage and produce numerous illegitmate children via their mistresses. George and Caroline had one child, Charlotte in 1796, who would have been heir to the British throne but died prematurely in 1817. Caroline and George lived separately for much of their married life.

Queen Caroline,1821, by James Lonsdale – National Portrait Gallery, London

Living abroad when George succeeded the throne in 1820, Caroline was offered £50,000 to renounce her title and stay abroad. She returned to London and received a popular ovation. The people thought her a "wronged woman", the treatment of her a symbol of all that was wrong with British society. A parliamentary Bill to strip her of her titles was abandoned and Caroline thought she was winning a very public battle as the coronation approached in July 1821. She was not invited and was going to gate crash but fell ill on the day with a bowel complaint. She was treated to the best medical attention: "copious bleeding and calomel and castor oil to have turned the stomach of a horse". She was dead within three weeks, convinced she had been poisoned. There were mob riots at her funeral and two people died. Her coffin was inscribed "Caroline of Brunswick the injured Queen of England".

 In July a year later in 1822 Anne Blackburn had her daughter baptised "Caroline". This may show the popularity of the name and probably knowledge of events in the country. But may also show some solidarity between "wronged women".

 As a postscript to the story Caroline Blackburn was buried on 27th December 1823 in Mossley having not managed to reach her second birthday. A common outcome for a child born in such lowly circumstances.





Location: Ashton-under-Lyne, UK

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