June 18, 2001: On this day 141 years ago...
A while ago I acquired a Wheatstone English concertina from a dealer in Holland. The serial number of the concertina (11278) dated it to approximately 1860. While the concertina showed normal wear and tear, it appeared to be in its original, and good, clean condition.
The concertina had small silver oval plates inlaid at each end. The inscription on one read "LEC Bulteel", on the other "18th June 1860". Research on the internet revealed frequent mention of the unique name: Louisa Emily Charlotte Bulteel.
It turned out that Lady Louisa was the granddaughter of Charles, Earl Grey (of tea fame) once Prime Minister of England. She was born in 1839 in London, and died on October 16, 1892 at Membland, Devonshire, at the age of 53. She had married Edward Charles Baring (April 13, 1828 - July 17, 1897) on April 30, 1861 at St. Paul's Knightsbridge. He was 1st Baron Revelstoke, director of the Bank of England, and of Barings Bank (that was recently bankrupted in the Nick Leeson affair). She was the Lady of the Manor of Flete, Holbeton village in Devonshire. Her sister (whose husband was private secretary to the queen) was maid of honour to Queen Victoria. Louisa had 8 children, the last two who died in 1944 and 1945, respectively.
Louisa Emily Charlotte Bulteel was Lady Diana Spencer's great-great-grandmother and therefore, the great-great-great-grandmother of HRH William Prince of Wales.
Proof that Lady Louisa Bulteel was indeed the LEC Bulteel as inscribed on the concertina was found in Prince William's genealogy, where her date of birth was given simply as 18.6.1839. This concertina (18th June 1860) was undoubtedly a 21st birthday gift.
The Horniman Museum has confirmed an entry in the original Wheatstone ledgers for the sale of No. 11278 in June 1860, to "Bulteel".
Thanks to Wes Williams and Dr. Bradley Strauchen of the Horniman Museum for their help in tracing the records for this concertina.
Update, October 2001: As an aside, I have learned from a book on the Bulteel family history that Lady Louisa "was an accomplished pianist and violinist and could entertain her friends on the concertina".
Update, May 2005: Margaret Birley, Keeper of Musical Instruments, The Horniman Museum, wrote to say that "Wheatstone 11278 is recorded against the name 'Bulteel' on 8 August 1860, and not, as is stated [on this page] in June 1860. Dr Strauchen advised you of the August date in her message to you of 6 June 2001 [...]. No price is recorded against the entry for 11278 in the ledger, but this is by no means unusual and reflects the financial norms of an age when credit arrangements were widely available for those of the requisite social standing."
