Queen Victoria was born on May 24, 1819.
On the 20th of June 1837, 18 year old Victoria was crowned the ruling Queen of England and ascends British throne after her uncle King William IV died at the age of 71.
The story begins in 1838. Queen Victoria has ruled England for 1 year.
(Queen Victoria ruled England for 63 years till 1901.)
Calendar - (born 1728 - died 1790 - Age at Last Birthday: 62)
Captain Marston Ramsay Marleigh is the recognized founder of the Marleigh fortune. He was a pirate and a plunderer and slave-merchant specializing in young girls. By all accounts outside of the Marleigh family, he was a murderous rogue and scoundrel who delighted in bullying and had murdered his pirate captain and stolen his wealth - according to the Prescotts. However, the Marleigh family honors him as a wise and stalwart young naval officer who commandeered an enemy ship and, being gifted with it by his commanding officer, went on to build a financial empire through wise and cunning business transactions involving shipping and trade with the orient. Once he'd made his fortune and been wounded in battle, he was forced to retire from the sea. He could have purchased the newest Prescott Manor and all its grounds, but he gamboled his fortune against the former owner, Morley Langdon Prescott, and won the entire estate playing cards - no record exists to prove this claim. He renamed his newly-gained house Marleigh Manor. Captain Marston Ramsay Marleigh always claimed that his father was an Admiral in the Royal Navy, honored, respected, and friends with all the British nobility, but no record ever proved this claim, either. Captain Marston Ramsay Marleigh married Sarah Ann Prescott in a marriage arranged by her father, Morley Langdon Prescott. The Prescott family was suffering financial hardships but owned the adjoining estate and wished to marry into a wealthy family. The rest of the Prescott family was huge, having moved back into its massive but aged family mansion, the original Prescott Manor. Captain Marston Ramsay Marleigh refused to aid them unless he gained full ownership of their lands, which was granted in exchange for paying their overdue taxes. Less than a year later, there was a terrible fire and the entire Prescott mansion was consumed ... along with half of their family, including Morley Langdon Prescott, all killed in the fire. Over 30 Prescotts moved back into Marleigh Manor, but Captain Marston Ramsay Marleigh hated them all. Within a year, after bearing her only child, a son, Sarah Ann Prescott/Marleigh died of an unknown sickness. A few thought she'd committed suicide to get away from her abusive husband. Most thought she was murdered by poison. After her death, the Prescotts were assigned 'chores' to help out. Those who refused were cast out by Captain Marston Ramsay Marleigh and driven away. Those who stayed slowly became his servants, the most notable of which were Quinton Hayley Prescott and his wife Orpha Parthena Prescott. Many of the current servants at Marleigh Manor are descended from this pair. Captain Marston Ramsay Marleigh never married again but several of the Prescott children claim to have descended from him. He lived a long life bullying servants and died drunk. Only a handful attended his funeral.
His Only Child:
1. Morley Hornsby Prescott Marleigh (with Sarah Ann Prescott).
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Calendar - (born 1736 - died 1758 - Age at Last Birthday: 22)
Sarah Ann Prescott was the daughter of Morley Langdon Prescott and his wife, Sarah Ann Langdon. Sadly, Sarah Ann Langdon died giving birth to her only daughter. Their daughter was named after her mother. When she was 20 years old, Sarah Ann Prescott became the wife of Captain Marston Ramsay Marleigh . Her father, Morley Langdon Prescott, arranged the marriage to save the Prescott family from financial hardships. Obediant to her father, she accepted the marriage and remained with her husband while the rest of the Prescott family moved back into the original Prescott Manor. She begged Captain Marston Ramsay Marleigh to aid her family, but he refused unless he gained full ownership of their lands, which was granted in exchange for paying their overdue taxes. When a terrible fire engulfed the origional Prescott mansion, she begged her husband until her allowed her surviving relations to move into his house. Within a year, after bearing her only child, a son, Sarah Ann Prescott/Marleigh died of an unknown sickness. A few thought she'd committed suicide to get away from her abusive husband. Most thought she was murdered by poison.
Her Only Child:
1. Morley Hornsby Prescott Marleigh (with Captain Marston Ramsay Marleigh ).
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Calendar - (born 1757 - died 1826 - Age at Last Birthday: 69)
Morley Hornsby Prescott Marleigh
started out as a bully equal to his father, Captain Marston Ramsay Marleigh. At his father's command, he married young, to a much older, wealthy widow. Quickly his father sold all that his new wife owned, which greatly increased the Marleigh family wealth. Then she suddenly died shortly after the marriage. However, Morley Hornsby Prescott Marleigh and his father never spoke another kind word to each other after her funeral - many suspected that young Morley had loved her and his father had murdered her. Captain Marston Ramsay Marleigh wanted his son to marry another rich old widow, but young Morley refused. Then Morley infuriated his father by marrying a poor village girl who was unquestionably beautiful; many paintings of her at various ages still decorate Marleigh Manor. Vertiline Charity Eastaughffe was her name, and as her husband, Morley Hornsby Prescott Marleigh became a new, honorable man. He doted on her and was kind and gentle. She bore him four daughters and three sons.
His Seven Children: (All with Vertiline Charity Eastaughffe).
1. Lester Hale Marleigh 2. Winnifred Eastaughffe Marleigh 3. Middleton Kent Marleigh 4. Enfield Nash Marleigh 5. Rayden Kendall Marleigh 6. Everleigh Esther Marleigh (at 11 drowned herself)
7. Charity Coombs Marleigh
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Calendar - (born 1780 - died 1827 - Age at Last Birthday: 27)
Lester Hale Marleigh is the eldest son of Morley Hornsby Prescott Marleigh and Vertiline Charity Eastaughffe. Lester prided himself in never being satisfied by anything. He thought the love his parents shared was blighted by extravagant wastefulness, especially in all the expensive jewels his father bought for his mother, just to keep her happy. Lester couldn't wait until he became Lord of Marleigh Manor, when he inherited everything. Married as a young man to Stella Theodosia Berkly, whose father was the local governor and a man of high repute. Their first daughter died young, but a decade later, their only son Mitchell Myerscough Berkly-Marleigh was born. They had another daughter, but she ran off as a child (after being bullied and threatened by her brother) and no one ever heard from her again. Lester Hale Marleigh was given command of the family by his father when he reached 30 years old, but Lester died in a drunken duel only six months later.
His three Children: (All with Stella Theodosia Berkly):
1. (Daughter: died at birth)
2. Mitchell Myerscough Berkly-Marleigh 3. (Daughter: Ran away, gone 12 years, has never been heard from again, presumed dead.)
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Calendar - (born 1789 - Age at Last Birthday: 49)
Winnifred Eastaughffe Marleigh is the eldest daughter of Morley Hornsby Prescott Marleigh and Vertiline Charity Eastaughffe. She grew up in the shadow of her older brother. At the age of 23, she left the family home and explored the countryside. She married Nibley Deighton Northcott, an honorable and respected businessman, who owned several theaters, and made his wealth producing plays, hosting dance troops, and who owned a circus. They had many children, but only one returned to Marleigh Manor. Sadly, Winnifred grew ill and was confined to her bed for the rest of her life. After her husband's tragic death, which reportedly involved a live tiger, Winnifred Eastaughffe Marleigh/Northcott returned to Marleigh Manor with her youngest daughter, Rufina Allie Northcott. Winnifred Eastaughffe Marleigh/Northcott is now 86 and lives in the East Wing with her daughter and their family.
Her Five Children: (All with Nibley Deighton Northcott):
1. (Her 4 eldest children grew up as circus performers and never returned to Marleigh Manor.)
2.
3.
4.
5. Rufina Allie Northcott *******************************************
Calendar - (born 1792 Age at Last Birthday: 46)
Middleton Kent Marleigh
is the third child (second son) of Morley Hornsby Prescott Marleigh and Vertiline Charity Eastaughffe. Middleton Kent Marleigh is an embarassment to most of the Marleigh family. Even as a boy, Middleton chased girls, and couldn't keep his hands off of them. Rumors of his escapades enflamed the countryside. The oldest women servants were ordered to accompany him everywhere, to keep him from defiling the young serving girls. Yet, when his brother died in a duel, Middleton Kent Marleigh was made the head of Marleigh Manor at 27, by which time he'd born four children out a wedlock, two upon servant girls who were sisters of the Prescott family. However, he has never acknowledged his relationship with any of his illegitamate children. With his father insisting that he marry, his mother chose the only daughter of her friend and confidant from the village, Letitia Helene Hornsby. No love ever existed from their marriage, but she birthed him three daughters. Supposedly he continued to have father numerous illegitimate children throughout the district, even after he was married. The Master of Marleigh Manor, Middleton loves his power and being in charge. Yet Middleton Kent Marleigh, the head of Marleigh Manor, is now elderly and feeble. He won't allow Mitchell Myerscough Berkly-Marleigh to be alone with him for fear of being murdered by him. Yet he has been diagnosed with consumption and hasn't long to live.
His Seven Children:
1.
Legitimate children of Middleton Kent Marleigh and Letitia Helene Hornsby:
1. Vivian Abigale Marleigh 2. Jennie Ada Marleigh 3. Isabell Allie Marleigh Illegitimate children of Middleton Kent Marleigh:
1. Rowena Ethel Prescott (with Judith May Prescott.)
2. Reed Crawford Fulton (with Margaret Fulton)
3. Ettie Edwina Prescott (with Abigail Orpha Prescott)
4. Hortence Jane Dryden (with Cynthia Dryden (deceased)
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Calendar - (born 1792 Age at Last Birthday: 46)
Letitia Helene Hornsby was the wealthy daughter of a distant, unrelated house and a happy child. At the request of Vertiline Charity Eastaughffe, Letitia Helene Hornsby married Middleton Kent Marleigh, and eventually became the First Lady of Marleigh Manor. She is a heavy-set woman, and superstitious, who believes in ghosts. She has a poor reputation as a thinker, and drinks a lot, but she is a loving mother and dutiful wife. Her worst trait is that she never stands up to her husband, and ardently ignores his wandering eye and multiple affairs.
Her Three Children: (with Middleton Kent Marleigh):
1. Vivian Abigale Marleigh 2. Jennie Ada Marleigh 3. Isabell Allie Marleigh *******************************************
Calendar - (born 1795 - Age at Last Birthday: 43)
Rayden Kendall Marleigh
is the eldest son of Morley Hornsby Prescott Marleigh and Vertiline Charity Eastaughffe.
a born troublemaker. His father cast him from the household when he was 13 for excessive cruelty and abuse of both the servants and the animals, but years later he pleaded with his mother to be allowed to return, and his father always gave her whatever she asked for. No one trusts him - while away, Rayden Kendall Marleigh became a thief and repeatedly spent many months in prison. He married a barmaid and prostitute, Phoebe Polly Charleston. Only Child:
1. Laurence Ainsworth Marleigh - mentally-disabled
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Calendar - (born 1796 - Age at Last Birthday: 33)
Phoebe Polly Charleston
- wife of Rayden Kendall Marleigh
Will still sleep with any man who offers her a drink. Hides in her filthy room. Is never seen sober.
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Calendar - (born 1793 - died 1804 Age at Last Birthday: 11)
Everleigh Esther Marleigh
is the second to youngest daughter of Morley Hornsby Prescott Marleigh and Vertiline Charity Eastaughffe.
Everleigh Esther Marleigh drowned herself in the well - no one ever knew why. Many suspect her brother Lester teased her until she couldn't stand living any longer. A few suspect Middleton raped her, but no proof exists - this is a rumor started to discredit Middleton. There is no evidence of this whatsoever, and it's not the only nasty rumor about this family.
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Calendar - (born 1819 - current age 19)
Mitchell Myerscough Berkly-Marleigh is the only son of Lester Hale Marleigh and Stella Theodosia Berkly. As his father was given command of the family when he reached 30 years old, but but then Lester died in a drunken duel only six months later, Mitchell Myerscough Berkly-Marleigh was the heir to the title of Master of Marleigh Manor. However, he was only eight, and his retired grandfather, Morley Hornsby Prescott Marleigh decided that Mitchell was too young to rule the family.
Mitchell felt insulted that he wasn't named to replace his father, but he had no power to overrule his grandfather. Morley Hornsby Prescott Marleigh bestowed rulership and patriarchy of the family on his 2nd son, Middleton Kent Marleigh. Mitchell Myerscough Berkly-Marleigh has vowed revenge and that he would someday reclaim his father's title and become Master of Marleigh Manor.
Mitchell never married.
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Calendar Norton Oakes Quinton is the younger brother of Barton Marlowe Quinton.
________Norton Oakes Quinton - (born xx - died xx Age at Last Birthday: xx) (Stella's Brother-in-Law)
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Calendar - Child
Dalton Kendall Quinton
is a child of the Quinton family, arrived at Marleigh Manor with Stella, mentioned once.
(Stella's Nephew)
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Calendar - Child
Clare Bradly Marston
is a child of the Quinton family, arrived at Marleigh Manor with Stella, mentioned once.
(Stella's Neice)
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Calendar - (born 1829 - Age at Last Birthday: 9)
Rufina Allie Northcott
is the youngest daughter of Winnifred Eastaughffe Marleigh. She is the only one of her siblings to come to Marleigh Manor. Her brothers and sisters are circus performers and remained with the circus when Winnifred returned to Marleigh Manor.
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Calendar - (born 1822 - Age at Last Birthday: 16)
Grace Paxton Darby is the daughter of
Natalie Mildred Parthena
and Acton Kelsey Darby. She is the older sister of the twins in the nursery: Farley & xxxx, and the granddaughter of Charity and Garrick. She is still single - and determined to stay that way as long as she can.
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Calendar Rowena Ethel Prescott
________Rowena Ethel Prescott - (born xx - died xx Age at Last Birthday: xx) :
Daughter of Judith May Prescott. Father unknown.
Suspected illegitimate child of Middleton Kent Marleigh, but he refuses to discuss it. She had her baby a year ago, and has been working as a young wetnurse/nursemaid for the twins. Yet she remains unmarried, and refuses to name who her baby's father is.
1 child:
Paxton Hayes Prescott
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Calendar Reed Crawford Fulton
________Reed Crawford Fulton - (born xx - died xx Age at Last Birthday: xx) :
Son of Margaret Fulton. Father unknown.
Suspected illegitimate child of Middleton Kent Marleigh, but he refuses to discuss it. Reed was raised by Margaret Fulton, yet she eventually died of a sickness. After her death, Middleton Kent Marleigh took him in and made Reed the Marleigh Manor Stable Master.
Reed Crawford Fulton is unmarried and has no children.
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Calendar - (deceased)
Margaret Fulton
was born in the village nearest Marleigh Manor. She worked in the tavern and sold lots of beer, and got pregnant and bore Reed Crawford Fulton.
She never told anyone who his father was, however, her son is another suspected illegitimate child of Middleton Kent Marleigh, but he refuses to discuss it. She never married. Reed was raised by Margaret Fulton, yet she eventually died of a sickness. After her death, Middleton Kent Marleigh took him in and made Reed the Marleigh Manor Stable Master.
Her Only Son:
1. Reed Crawford Fulton.
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Calendar - (born xx - died xx Age at Last Birthday: 33)
Ettie Edwina Prescott
is the illigitimate daughter of Abigail Orpha Prescott and Middleton Kent Marleigh, although he denies her.
Ettie Edwina Prescott has worked as a servant all her life, is physically small, has no children, and has never married.
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Calendar - (born xx - died xx Age at Last Birthday: 16)
Hortence Jane Dryden
is the illigitimate daughter of Cynthia Dryden (deceased and only once mentioned in the book) and Middleton Kent Marleigh, although he denies her.
Hortence Jane Dryden has worked as a servant all her life, is physically strong and likes to gossip, has no children, and has never married.
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Calendar - (born xx - died xx Age at Last Birthday: xx)
Quinton Hayley Prescott
is the son of Morley Langdon Prescott and Sarah Ann Langdon.
One of the elders of the Prescott clan.
He married Orpha Parthena Prescott (deceased, only mentioned once).
Accepted Captain's offer to be servants rather than thrown out into the cold. He believed another Marleigh/Prescott wedding would soon happen, and mend the bond between the two families.
He hoped in vain - it never happened.
His only son:
1. Merton Kinsley Prescott *******************************************
Calendar Lydia Ann Brixton
________Lydia Ann Brixton - (born xx - died xx Age at Last Birthday: xx) -
Daughter of Sarah Elizabeth Prescott and Carlton Gladstone Brixton.
Young girl who works as a nursemaid/babysitter all night in or near the nursery - she knits and Reeds. She did recently have a brief, bitter romance with Mitchell, but it is over - he called it off when she confessed that she loved him.
Her brother is Byron Caulder Brixton (brings firewood and cleans privies).
Lydia Ann Brixton is unmarried and has no children.
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Calendar Sarah Ann Langdon was a lovely young girl who grew into a very worthy woman. She married Morley Langdon Prescott, and both are listed at the top of the family tree.
Sadly, Sarah Ann Langdon died while giving birth to her only daughter. Her only daughter was named after her.
Her Only Child:
1. Sarah Ann Prescott (with Morley Langdon Prescott ).
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Calendar Morley Langdon Prescott was the chief heir to the large and established Prescott family. He married Sarah Ann Langdon, a lovely, very worthy woman, and both are listed at the top of the family tree.
Sadly, Sarah Ann Langdon died giving birth to their only daughter. Their daughter was named after her mother. Distrought over the death of his wife, the family suffered several huge financial hardships, and over two decades, their wealth diminished. His only hope was to marry his only daughter to a wealthy gentleman.
When she was 20 years old, her father, Morley Langdon Prescott, arranged her marriage to Captain Marston Ramsay Marleigh , who claimed to be the son of an admiral of the British navy. But the captain got him drunk one night, and played cards with Morley, who lost everything the Prescott family owned to his new son-in-law. Captain Marston Ramsay Marleigh proved to be such a brute that the rest of the Prescott family moved out of their newly built mansion, back into their original home, which was just as big but quite old. Only Sarah Ann Prescott was forced to remain in the company of her bullying husband.
Then, one night, there was a fire - no one ever knew who started it. The original Prescott Manor was consumed in flames, and Morley Langdon Prescott was among the many Prescotts who died in that fire.
Two Notable Children: (with Sarah Ann Langdon):
1. Sarah Ann Prescott 2. Quinton Hayley Prescott *******************************************
