WILLIAM CAVAYE
General William Cavaye: born
William Cavaye was born in
Leaving behind his mother
and younger brother, William was sent to
Loughborough House, Brixton in
1825. Demolished in 1854, it stood at the bend in what is now
When his younger brother Robert arrived in
William Cavaye was
Commissioned Ensign in the 11th Bombay Native Infantry 1818, he became
Lieutenant 1824 (some refs say 1818). He served with 21st Bombay Native
Infantry in the field force in
"General Cavaye, who
is believed to be the oldest officer in the Army, died at 12 Royal Circus,
Some of William Cavaye's letters from
"To
Robert Cavaye Esqre, Loughborough House, Brixton,
The
letter is stamped "
[*Bhuj, scene of 2001
earthquake, some three hundred miles
My
dear Robert,
I was very much pleased in getting
a letter from you dated the 7th July 1826, but from its being so long coming I
did not get it until March 1827. I imagine some unnecessary delay must have
taken place in sending it out which from proper knowledge might have been
avoided. In last[?] you tell me that you are sorry
that I did not get your letter of March 1825. I assure you no person can regret
that circumstance more than myself, do therefore be kind enough to ascertain
immediately what is the best plan of sending a letter to India so that in
future no miscarriages may take place. I have been endeavouring to find out
which is the best way. I am told that a person has only to pay the postage to
London when the letter will be almost sure of reaching its destination, but
should you be in London the best thing you can do is to take the letter to the
Foreign post office. I wish you to be particularly careful on this point and
always tell me in your letters the date of the letters you receive from me so
that I may always know what remains unanswered and also your direction. You
must not think that I wish to find fault with you by telling you the above, my
intention is to avoid if possible the probability of my losing your letters
which to me would be a great annoyance. Directly I got your letter I wrote to
my agent in Bombay to ascertain from the post office if there were any to my
address and also to endeavour to procure for me a five £ note or an order to
that amount on a London banker. He answered that he had made inquiries and that
there was not a letter for me, that no notes were to be had in Bombay or any
person give me an order for so small an amount. I am extremely sorry that you
should have been disappointed in not getting the money. However by the time you
receive this letter I have no doubt that you will have left Loughboro'
House and my wish was only to give you a small sum to enable you to have the
same comforts as other boys, well knowing that when at school we were both
badly off for money compared to the rest. I see you call Mr Cathcart Cathgirt,
pray never make this mistake again. You also say that you have only seen him
three times since I left school. You ought to have told me if he spoke any
thing about me or if he has either in his letters or when he called upon you
ever said that he had heard from me & be kind enough in your next letter to
let me know if he has ever said anything about me. I have written him four or
five letters and to this day have never had an answer to any of them. I cannot
imagine what can be his reason for not writing. I have never to the best of my
knowledge ever given him reason to be annoyed with me and I am much hurt in
consequence of his silence. If there is any cause I should like to know.
You say he has been trying to get you a
Cadetship for the last year and that he wrote to Mr Willett to know what you
would like to be. I suppose long before his you have received my letter dated the[?] April 1826. When I wrote that letter I at the same
time sent one to Mr Cathcart explaining in the same way to him what I had said
to you about coming out to this country, and telling him that I thought you
would be much more comfortable at home; but in case of his sending you to India
that no mistake might arise as to name, and I see by your letter that you are
not aware of what I told you in my last, that is sooner direct or call me
Cavaye, Lieut Cavaye without the mark over the letter
e. I should hope by the time you get this that Mr Wm Cathcart will have told
you to discontinue it.
I am sorry to hear that the school has so
few scholars, of course that [there?] can only be one or two boys who were at Loughboro' House with me. I recollect both the Keares's[?]
very well, however you might have told me what had become of my old friends -
Alfred Francis and some others. Should you ever meet Francis remember me to
him. I was very glad to hear that you had been very comfortable for the last
two years. You say you have got the corner study, do [you?] mean the one which
was formerly belonged to Reese? I wish you had also told me what class you are
in and what Latin & Greek books you are reading, do not forget this in your
next letter.
I can easily imagine that you are tired
of school and anxious to get away. You say [you?] derive some pleasure from a
piece of gardening ground which you have (is this the reason that you wish to
be a botanist. If you really wish to be one I would not wish to dissuade you
from it but had I been in your situation I should have said one of the
professions, either a lawyer or clergyman and I should have preferred the
latter. However, on this subject please yourself, and I have no doubt that Mr Cornerford can give you much better advice about this than
I can. I hope that whatever you are you will prosper. I am now first Lieutenant
of my Regiment and I hope in one or two years to be a Captain. Promotion in the
Be kind enough to [write?] Mr Cornerford with my respects that I had the pleasure of
receiving his slip[?] of paper for which I am infinitely obliged and had I
thought you would receive this at school I should most certainly have done
myself the honour of writing him a few lines in answer to those he so kindly
sent me. Pray do not forget to tell him this. I really entertain the greatest
respect and esteem for him. I am desirous that when you leave school that you
should cultivate his friendship. Should I ever be so fortunate as to return to
The Regiment I belong to expect to leave Bhaaj after the rainy season, that
is about November next. It is [not] certain where we shall go, but most likely
to
I hope to hear from you often and I
expect you to write whenever you have an opportunity. Never mind how short your
letter is, if it is only to tell me that you are in the land of the living. You
must bear in mind that you are my only brother and we must endeavour to keep up
as great a feeling of friendship as we possibly can, and this can only be done
by letters and I am sure when you know the pleasure it gives me to hear that
you are getting on well you will not deny me the gratification of hearing from
you. You may be certain that I shall keep up a regular correspondence. Let me
know what you wish me to write about. I have avoided saying anything about the
Country as you can get much better information from books than I can give you.
As to getting promotion or making fortunes in
I have expected the letter which you
promised to write me for the purpose of letting me know what you are to be.
Pray let me know all about it. I am exceedingly anxious to know what profession
I shall find you [in?] if I ever return to
When you again see Mr Wm Cathcart be kind enough to give my respects to him and ask him to be
good enough to tell you if he has ever received my letters. I am deeply grieved
at never having heard from him, and am very anxious to know if I have possibly
given him any cause of offence. I do not therefore like to write to him often
as he may think that I am taking a liberty for which he has not given me the
slightest encouragement. I have nothing more to say, and must conclude with the
hope you will not delay answering this letter and that it will find you in the
best of health and spirits, believe me,
My
dear Robert
Your
ever affectionate brother
Wm
Cavaye.
Do
not forget to send me your address.
My
address is as follows: Lieutt Wm Cavaye, 21st
Regiment Bombay N.I., To the care of Messrs Forbes & Co
Another letter:
"To
Mr Rt. Cavaye, To the care of Mr Dickson,
The
letter is stamped "Forwarded by Forres & Co.
Deesa,
My
dear Robert,
I had much pleasure in getting
your letter dated the 7th of July last about two months since. I was absent
from Deesa when it came which I imagine was the cause
of its not reaching me earlier. I was happy to hear from your letter that Miss
Cathcart had been kind enough to undertake the office of being your guardian,
she certainly deserves our gratitude for this act and I sincerely hope your
conduct will always be such as to deserve her approbation. I have just received
the letter she was kind enough to write me in October last and shall do myself
the pleasure of answering it in a few days.
Although
for many reasons I would rather have seen you placed in a liberal profession
still I am very glad that you have left school and put in a respectable line of
life by which if you are industrious and careful of your character you may in
time acquire an independency. I hope you still like your situation; from what I
have heard you are very fortunate in being placed with so good a man as Mr
Dickson. Pray my dear Robert bear in mind that the best thing a person can
acquire is a good reputation without which you will never be able to get on
either with satisfaction to yourself or anyone else. Be careful what company
you keep for most people judge of a man's character by it. This is the time for
you to make good acquaintances, for generally speaking the friends we make in
youth are the most faithful. Endeavour to gain the esteem of Mr Dickson by
every honourable means in your power for by your present conduct the world will
judge of you hereafter.
You will be happy to hear that I was
promoted to a Captain as far back as last August. This increases my pay and
relieves me from many disagreeable duties. However, still my salary is not
sufficient for me to save much, in fact no person in
Do you know what has become of Mr Cornerford (?) since he left Loughboro'
house and where Mr Nisbett (?) is now living. I
should always be most happy to hear accounts of both of them. Always when you
write give me your directions so that no mistakes may occur and also in your
next let me know Mr Dickson's Christian name. You may in future expect to hear
from me oftener and I am certain if you were aware of the pleasure it gives me
to get a letter from you [you] would write more frequently. Never mind how
short your letter is only write. Very few people in
We
have many school friends in this country. Pontardeal
[?] who was at Loughboro with us and now an officer
of the horse artillery is here and in good health. I am still fortunate enough
to keep my health altho the thermometer in the house
[where] I am now writing is ninety five and is likely to be upwards of a
hundred before the rains commence which will be early in July. I have nothing
more to tell you but to give my respectful regards to both the Misses Cathcart , and with every wish for your prosperity and
happiness in life Believe me My dear
Robert
Your
affectionate Brother
Wm
Cavaye.
My
address is Captain Wm Cavaye, 21st Regt. N.I., To the care of Messrs. Forbes
& Co.
Another letter:
"Mr
Robert Cavaye, To the care of James Dickson &
Sons, No/32, South Hanover Street,
In
another hand is written "per 'Earl of Eldon'". The letter is stamped
"Dec 1831" and "
Dessa
My
dear Robert,
Miss Cathcart has no doubt told
you the cause of my not being able to write to anyone without feeling the
injurious effects which it has on my eyes. They have been bad for some time and
are now very weak, but I am happy to say getting gradually better. Bad eyes is not uncommon at this place and I shall think
myself fortunate if I get well without the trouble and expense of going to
The last letter I had the pleasure of
getting from you was dated the
I am sorry you do not like that part of
your business which obliges you to travel about etc[?].
This is no doubt unpleasant, however if you only reflect for a moment you will
find that there is not a profession or business of any kind which has not its
disagreeable parts and which to a beginner will always feel irksome. You must
endeavour to reconcile yourself to these things and always bear in mind that
what necessity requires you to do had always be better done with a good grace -
and a cheerful willing manner will always be pleasing to those with whom you
may be employed.
By the time you get this letter I believe
your time will be out. I do not know what you intend doing and am consequently
very curious to hear whether you intend remaining in
I imagine that you have ere this seen Captn Hugh Cathcart of the
I am glad that the Misses Cathcart
continue kind to you and hope you do all in your power to keep them your
friends. I feel their kindness much more both to yourself and me on account of
its being voluntary and particularly so from their being the first and only
relatives (if I may call them so) who have ever paid me the slightest
attention. I hope I shall have the pleasure one of these days of thanking them
personally for their kindness - pray give my best respects and regards to them.
I wrote Miss C a letter about a month ago or upwards which I hope she has
received.
It is very uncertain when you will see
me. I have at present my good health; beside the time a person stops in England
he is obliged to make up again on his return to this country. The expense for
passages to and from
I am still junior Captain of my Regiment
and do not expect to be a Major for the next ten years. My promotion has been
slow, however, I cannot complain as the one just above me has been eight years
in the service longer than I have and the one below me twelve years in
The weather is now excessively sultry and
unpleasant. The cloudy sky of the monsoon has been a great relief to my eyes
and I hope the next time I write I shall be able to tall you that they are
well. I have not any thing more to say to you. I hope this will find you happy
and well. If you see Captn H. C. give my best regards
to him & tell him that I wrote him a short time ago. Trusting
my dear Robert that you will send me an early answer to this letter.
Believe me to be
Your
Affectionate Brother
Wm
Cavaye.
Another letter:
The handwriting in this letter is
much larger and more sprawling than that of previous letters - fewer words are
fitted on to a line, and William's usual economy with paper is not to be found.
This, coupled with the bad spelling and a more colloquial turn of phrase,
suggests that the letter has been dictated to a friend. There are three
addresses on the letter, two of which have been crossed out:
1 Rt Cavaye Esqr,
To the care of Mr Thomas Dickson & Sons,
2 Mr
I.O. Turnbull,
3. J
Summerville Esqr, Broxburn By Uphall.
The
final address is to Robert Cavaye Esqr. at James Summerville's Esqr.
The
Letter is marked "Pr 'Lady Nugent'", and "June 1833",
"
Deesa 2nd February 1833.
My
dear Robert,
I had the pleasure of getting
your letter of the 20th May last three days ago. I have also heard from Captn Cathcart frequently since he has been in
I have just returned from Field Service
in the little desert about eighty miles from this when both Cavalry and
Infantry were sent to destroy the strongholds of the Robber-bands which infest
this part of the country. Our long marches in deep sand and only getting salt
water pills made it anything but an agreeable service, and I am sorry to say
that I have returned from it with a Rheumatic complaint which I am afraid I
shall not be able to get rid of without a change of air to Bombay or to some
place on the sea, but not to England if I can possibly avoid it.
You cannot expect any news from me, I
shall be very anxious about you so pray do not forget to write on the receipt
of this, your plans, how you like your new life and country, how you are
getting on and what prospects you have. I need hardly say that it is very
desirable to use great caution on your first going to
Your
Affectionate Brother
Wm
Cavaye.
Another letter:
This
one is addressed: "To Rt. Cavaye Esqr to the
care of A
"Post
paid in
The
letter is stamped: "Out Station
Ootcamund Neilgherry
Hills 22nd Feb.y 1836
My
dear Robert,
I
have not heard from you for a very long time and I suppose you say the same of me.
It appears from a letter which I had the pleasure of getting from Miss Cathcart
some time ago that you are anxious to have a line from me, and altho' I have little or nothing to tell you, I write to
show that I am willing to comply with your wishes.
I did expect you would have given me an
account of your trip to
You
have been told I suppose that I went last year to the Mahabaleshwar
Hills (thirty miles from Mihar and a hundred from
I am sorry to hear that you are still in
I
intend writing to Miss Cathcart in a short time and to send the letter by the
overland route so that it may arrive before you get this. Pray be guided by any
advice that you may receive from the Misses Cathcart. I am certain that they
feel an interest in your welfare and will continue to do so as long as you
conduct yourself properly. Give my kindest regards to them.
I am now Senior Captain of the 21st Regt
and shall almost to a certainty be a Major in five years and a half, perhaps
before.
Direct my letters to the care of Messrs. Forbes & co
Yours
affectionately
Wm
Cavaye.
Another letter:
The
letter is addressed: "Rt. Cavaye Esqr care of
In
another hand is written
"G. H. C. S. Hugh Lindasy".
It is stamped "
My
Dear Robert,
I have not heard from you for I think the
last six years and not having heard from Miss Cathcart for nearly a year I do
not know what has become of you. I suppose you have seen all the papers
regarding our doings in this country, so it would be useless my going into
them. The army is now on its way back from Cabaral[
I am still an invalid without anything
particularly the matter with me, and hope after three or four years residence in a colder climate to be very much better.
It is impossible to say when we shall meet, but my present intention is to be
in
I wish you would tell Mr Campbell when
you see him that I wrote to him about twenty days ago and also to Miss
Cathcart. I am sorry to say that I have not heard from the latter since Der 1838. I hope that neither her or
my letters have not miscarried.
I am anxious to know about you, and
expect you will give me an early answer to this letter. If you send it by
steamer I shall most likely get your reply in forty days from
I have not anything more to tell you.
This month is the most trying month in the year and I am happy to say that I am
getting thro' it much better than I expected. Give my kindest regards to the Misses
Cathcart and Believe me my dear Robert
Your
affectionate Brother
Wm
Cavaye.
When did William become a Major
General? The official list says: General
Officer East India Company Army 1854, Major General Her Majesty's Indian Forces
1856. But he described himself as Major
General when he registered his son Frederick's birth in
William Cavaye and Isabella Hutchinson had
married in
William and Isabella’s first child had been
born in Edinburgh (William
Frederick, Abercromby Place 1845) , the next five in India (Isabella Charlotte, offshore at Malabar 1846;
John Hunter, Assurghur Fortress 1847; Charles Walter,
Rajcote 1849; Archibald Willoughby, Rajcote 1850; Henry Kennett, Deesa
in Gujurat 1852), and the next six in Edinburgh again (Arthur Astley 1853. After their return from
However favourable the house, William and
Isabella were not destined to live in it together for long. We
can follow the household over the next forty years. See how the General describes his birthplace. "Never allow you were born in
Census: 12 Royal Circus 1861 (20 rooms with
one or more windows)
William Cavaye male, head of household, married , aged 58,
Major General army E.ast India Company. , born
Isabella Cavaye female, wife, married, aged
42 [*]
William F. Cavaye male, son, unmarried, aged
15, scholar, born Edinburgh Midlothian
John H. Cavaye male, son, unmarried, aged
13, scholar, born
Charles W. Cavaye male, son, unmarried, aged
11, scholar, born
Archibald W. Cavaye male, son, unmarried,
aged 10, scholar, born
Henry K. Cavaye male, son, unmarried, aged
8, scholar, born
Arthur A. Cavaye male, son, unmarried, aged
7, scholar, born
Frederick N.W. Cavaye male, son, unmarried,
aged 5, scholar, born
Alexander C. Cavaye male, son, unmarried,
aged 4, born
Caroline F. Cavaye female, daughter,
unmarried, aged 1, born
George R. Cavaye male, son, unmarried, aged
6 months, born
Alsie Alison female, visitor, unmarried, aged 26, daughter of landed
proprietor, born
Ellen Alison female, visitor, unmarried,
aged 25, daughter of landed proprietor, born
Rachel Bowder
female, servant, unmarried, aged 23, domestic servant, born Elie,
Mary McKenzie female, servant, unmarried,
aged 23, domestic servant, born
Mary Dinsmuir female,
servant, unmarried, aged 27, domestic servant, born
Margaret Anderson female, servant,
unmarried, aged 26, domestic servant, born
Mary McKenzie female, servant, aged 23,
domestic servant, born Peterhead, Aberdeenshire
Jane Murray female, servant, unmarried, aged
45, domestic servant, born Thurso,
In
the next houses: at Number 8 was John Brown, 43 year old US born British
citizen and family, including his wealthy mother-in-law: he was a Captain in
the 1st Royal Lanarkshire Militia. At
Number 10 was William Dickson, Actuary and Accountant;
at Number 14 was Ann
P. Denniston, Fundholder,
born Jura, Argyll
Census: 12 Royal Circus 1871 (26 rooms with
one or more windows)
William Cavaye male, head of household,
widower, aged 68, General H.M. Forces active list,
born
Archibald W. Cavaye male, son, unmarried,
aged 20, Bank Clerk, born
Henry K. Cavaye male, son, unmarried, aged
18, passed, waiting for a commission, born
Frederick N.W. Cavaye male, son, unmarried,
aged 15, scholar, born
Alexander H.B. Cavaye male, son, unmarried,
aged 14, born
Caroline F. Cavaye female, daughter,
unmarried, aged 11, born
George R. Cavaye male, son, unmarried, aged
10, born
Robert R. Cavaye male, son, unmarried, aged
6, born
Henrietta R. Goodison
female, Governess, unmarried, aged 41, Governess to Family, born
Margaret Watt female, cook, unmarried, aged
41, Cook, domestic servant, born Whitekirk,
Christina Methven
female, servant, unmarried, aged 23, Table Maid, born Kennoway,
Isabella Ross female, servant, unmarried,
aged 21, House Maid, born White Hills, Ross-shire
In
the next houses: at Number 8 was Helen Johnson aged 52, teacher, her sister
-also a teacher, another teacher and Madeline Verner,
Governess from Alsace, along with 10 girls boarding as scholars and 4
servants. At Number 10 was William
Dickson, aged 60 (no profession, independent means) with his family. At Number
14 Royal Circus, in the former Dennistoun house, was Richard Sidey and his
family. He was a retired settler from
Census: 12 Royal Circus 1881 (20 rooms with
one or more windows)
William Cavaye male, head of household, widower, aged 78,
General H.M.I. Forces retired list of 77, born
Archibald W. Cavaye male, son, unmarried,
aged 30, employed in Union Bank of
Robert R. Cavaye male, son, unmarried, aged
16, scholar, born
Caroline F. Cavaye female, daughter, unmarried,
aged 21, born
Mary Lothian female, servant, unmarried,
aged 28, Lady's Maid, born
Jessie Milne female, servant, unmarried,
aged 30, Cook, Table Maid, born Boyndie, Banffshire
Isabella Grant female, servant, unmarried, aged
27, Cook, born
Elizabeth Cook female, servant, unmarried,
aged 24, House Maid, born Wick,
In
the next houses: at Number 8 was Annie Balfour, an Orkney-born widow with her
sea captain son, family and servants. At
Number 10 was William Dickson, aged 70, retired Secretary to Assurance. At
Number 14 was the 73 year old William Kerr, Justice for Roxburghshire, and his
family.
Census: 12 Royal Circus 1891 (20 rooms with
one or more windows)
William Cavaye male, head of household, widower,
aged 89, military retired General H.M.India
Forces, born
Mary Lothian female, servant, unmarried,
aged 36, Housekeeper (Domestic), born
Agnes D. Annan
female, servant, unmarried, aged 30, Cook (Domestic), born Lochee,
Forfarshire
Margaret McLean female, servant, unmarried, aged 25, Tablemaid (Domestic), born Loch Broom, Ross-shire, speaking
Gaelic and English
Isabella Gunn female, servant, unmarried,
aged 35, Housemaid, born Wick,
In
the next houses: at Number 8 was Anne Balfour, a Sandwick,
Orkney born widow aged 74 with many boarders -21 people in all. A boarder was Henrietta Crooks, scholar aged
17, born
12 Royal Circus
wall stone
near west side of