SUBMITTED BY: Lesley Chaney  EMAIL: Via 'The Webmaster'

   DATE:  October 9, 2000             AREA: ENGLAND, 

   Charles Wingrove Spong

I found Charles SPONG, retired accountant, on the 1881 Census living in Lewisham, and his daughter Anna living in Clapham with her husband, John G. Beckett, surveyor, and his sister Mary. 

I have a book which was handwritten by Charles SPONG in 1886 for his daughter Anna M. Wingrove Beckett. I inherited it from my father, but I have not yet found any connection with the SPONG family to my father's family (TITLER).

My father knew his antiquarian books. I've seen him go through an entire second hand bookshop, 3 floors, books stacked on the shelves and floors, and come out half an hour later with the only first edition in the place! He had one of the original Plague Books, only 2 in the world, hand-written, all the plague deaths in London 1665. Oh, for half an hour with that book now!

Back to Charles -  On the inside front cover, he wrote:

"Before Reading the Book - Read over the Index. It will give you the contents."

"I Give this Book to my Dear Daughter Anna M. Wingrove Beckett this 18th July 1886 (my *B.D.)  86  Charles Spong"
                 * Birthday
"You will find this Book amusing and Instructive".

The index is in the middle pages, not the end, and the book has 130 pages. Just think of the planning to get that right. He seems to have written something most days: a lot of religious tracts, interesting or amusing items either handwritten or cut out from newspapers, including political comments, funny stories, definitions. There is even a Nov 1886 copy of the Parish Magazine of St Johns Deptford pasted in towards the back, and coloured pictures of the Royal Family. Charles's own writing is copperplate and the first dated entry is October 8th 1885, Cockspur St.

*B.D. means his birthday, 18 July 1886, when he was 86 years old.

Of those relating to family history, there is:-

"Lines copied out from an old Pocket book given me by my dear Sister Rosa in the year 1813 - when we lived at Camberwell close to the Church."

Tucked in the same pages is a separate piece of paper with Lord Beaconsfield famous remark about Mr. Gladstone written on it. On the back in pencil is:

"my Son Charles's Statement is the correct one.
first (underlined) quotation. What a Cutting remark!!"

"My Sister Rosa married .... [1825] Baron Charles de Penaranda of Brussels and was Niece to Field Marshal Sir Wm Rowan (bracketed together) Bath.

Charles wrote out the words of Robin Adair (Sung by Mr. Braham) and underneath wrote: "My dear Aunt Bowles used to sing this song, it was a favourite song of hers, she had a sweet voice, and she was a very pretty woman. She lived at Town Malling Fitzharris House in the year 1810 to 1814 when she died at the age of 22; was buried at Aylesford. Kent. her maiden name - Elizabeth Spong - youngest daughter of Jno Spong Esq - Millhill, Aylesford (my Grandfather - added in pencil)"

On page 27, underneath a religious piece, are the words in pencil "Notice this - C.W.S." There are other examples of "*C.W.S." in pencil on other pages.
    *Charles Wingrove Spong
"Sunday July 18th 1886. My 86th Birthday".

"My Photograph's July 18th 1886 given to

Anna 2 .................with Cap
Charles )1............... do ) my Children
Margaret)1............... do )
Eugene de Peneranda 1 ... do my Nephew at Breuges
Mrs. Baker 1 ............. without Cap
My Sister Eliza 1 ........ with Cap
Miss E. Sawtell 1 ........ do"

"From our Garden, at Peckham 1872" a pressed leaf.

Three hand-drawn cameos with the words:
1) "Aged 21 years, a dear amiable girl. Rosa Spong, Millhall, 
     died 1835 Aug 17"
2) "Born 1812, Mrs Etheridge, late Mary Spong, Millhall.
3) "died 1880 - America, cousin to the above, Mrs Gamble, 
                     late Elizth Brenchley."

"A Birthday Card sent me from my Sister Eliza 1884
(Charles transcribed the poem and added "My 84th Birthday - July 18th. C.S."
----------------------------------------------------------------------

- Additional Notes -
I've just looked at Charles and Anna again on the 1881. Charles gives his birth place as Southwark, whereas Anna gives hers as Alyesford, Kent, and there are references to Millhill, Aylesford, in Charles' book

 I found the following in the PRs of Baldock, Herts, the other day and hope they also help:

MARRIAGES
Thomas PARKER, Hitchin, bachlor, & Ann WINGROVE, of this parish, spinster, licence, 11 Feb 1768, witnesses Abraham Pate & William Beale.

Abraham PATE, bachelor, & Susanna WINGROVE, spinster, both of the parish, banns, 14 Nov 1765, witnesses John DAY & John BEALE.

Cheers
Lesley

Based on the above information -

Descendants of Jno Spong

  V&A Lafayette Collection - Catalogue Form 
Subject: Mrs George Dance & her party. 
Sitters include: (1st row, 2nd from left) Mrs George Dance, later Lady Dance ( ), née Grace Spong; daughter of Charles Wingrove Spong*, of Aylesford, Kent; m. (1898) Sir George Dance, dramatic author and director of theatres, Kt. (cr. 1923)
               * possibly Charles Wingrove Spong Junior

                 ¤   there is a marriage between George Dance the theatrical impressario and Grace Spong in 1898 - I think at Nottingham.
I have no details on Grace Spong except that she eventually became Dame Gace Spong when her husband was knighted and that she died in 1932 in London. [Courtesy Richard Phillips]

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