Typed copy of a letter from Emily Platts, wife of Henry Charles Platts to her son, Henry Charles Platts jnr including Notes.
The original hand written copy is in the possession of her Grandson, John Charles Platts. It is written on high quality cream paper 178 mm by 228mm which is still in very good condition. She claimed that the ink was of high quality, but it is showing signs of fading after 60 years.
Great care was taken to format the typed version closely to the original handwritten version, to include a new page for each page of the original, and to retain the punctuation, formatting and spelling. The only variation is that the return on each line does not strictly conform to the original due to the differences in character size and spacing in the handwritten and typed versions.
There were some lightly pencilled editing instructions for the typist in the handwriting of Emily Platts and these were incorporated.
Written in pencil in the right margin of the letter was:-
"rough copy to Henry owing to threat of invasion I am unable to get this corrected and typed or rewritten 1942 March"
Written in pencil at the bottom of the letter was:-
"Owing to possible invasion, cannot do more to the histories now. E E P"
The lines drawn in the latter part of the pedigree have been slightly re-drawn to make them clearer.
It would appear that the page numbers were added after the document was written (I have another document written by her on the same paper about the same time that has had the page numbers added in pencil, apparently at a later date). Pages 11 and 12 were written in pencil on the one page and there is no page 20.
It would appear that Emily Platts put in a considerable amount of work in researching the information contained in this document and I consider it to be of sufficient interest to be presented unchanged, and used as a reference document. Any errors found could be added as notes with references to the document and I will be happy to do so, but I believe that the document itself should not be changed in any way, but remain 'as is' for the use and information of future generations. In the same vein, any use made of any part of this document should contain an acknowledgement or reference to it.
Corrections
1) River Kouban on page 24 is spelt Kuban in an old Atlas that is in my possession. John Platts. (25/6/01)
Matlock
Feb. 6th 1941
My dear Henry
Owing to the war & its uncertainties of life ---- I have just finished my collection of "notes" regarding the Platt family. I did intend making you a better copy & getting it sewn together. I am afraid the composition is rather poor (foreign!). I have run short of paper which cannot be found or made until after the war. Also I cannot get the same black ink!
I shall send this on to you when I consider it safe to do so. I broke my journey at Matlock, for it was too late for me to continue it to a safer zone, & now I find it almost impossible to leave here with luggage & 6 - 7 changes ahead of me. There is hardly any place one can call safe from bombing. Or any place where I can even leave this batch of "notes re Platts family for safety.
Trusting to Gods mercy for safety & a world peace.
Your loving mother
E.E.Platts
First of all, I would like to lay stress on a "Work" compiled by several Authors (published by the Chetham Society) entitled:-
Remains Historical & Literary connected with the "Palantine Counties of Lancaster and Cheshire"
Owing to subscribers libraries coming into the Market, I have been fortunate in obtaining five copies of Vol.XLVII, which interests us most of all - for it contains (among a few others) the early history of "Platt of Platt".
I may mention here that the history of "Platt of Platt" has also been published in the "Victoria County History of Lancaster" (to be found in the public libraries of England.)
In this Vol.XLVII, Chetham Soc. Pub. You will find the following:-
By a deed - undated, but probably executed about the year 1150 - Matthew the son of William conveyed lands of Platt to the Knights Hospitallers of St. John of Jerusalem.
Later, the Knights Hospitallers made a grant of certain lands in Platt (given to the Order by Matthew son of William) to Richard de la More and his heirs, and by this deed dated 1190 Platt continued to be held subject to the payment of an annual Rent (called St. Johns of Jerusalem) up to March 20th 1726, when it was sold and alienated to Charles Worsley of Manchester.
So I consider the pedigree should read thus:-
William ==
Matthew Son of preceding
[1150] Conveyed lands of Platt about 1150 to the Knights Hospitallers.
In 1190, the Knights Hospitallers granted Matthew's lands (given to them in 1150) to Richard de la More and his heirs.
In August 1937 I made a short stay at Manchester to have another look at the ancestral estate, now called "Platt Fields" and I consider this a very appropriate name, for it is very rural, and has not yet a town appearance.
In Platt Church commonly so - called, which was built on the Platt estate (after it passed out of the Platt family).
I found two booklets for sale, for the use of the tourist, from which I give you herewith extracts from both :-
"Holy Trinity (Platt) Rusholme" " Short Historical Account of the Platt Parish & Church" (compiled by L.S.Mac.Alpine)
The Church of Holy Trinity is popularly known as Platt Church.------- The name of Platt was given to the estate of one John del Plette, its owner, in the reign of William the Conqeror, etc. --- etc. ---
This estate changed hands in 1625 when the entire ownership passed into the hands of the Worsley's of Manchester. This family became famous for at the outbreak of the Civil War in 1642 Charles Worlsey joined the Parliamentarians and soon rose to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. He eventually became Minister in Attendance upon Oliver Cromwell. In his office he accompanied the latter in dissolving the Rump Parliament (1653) and, on the utterance of those catchwords of history ; "What shall we do with this bauble? Take it away!" he seized the Speakers Mace and brought it to the old Platt Hall, a fine old timbered house, replaced in 1764 by the present structure, a typical Georgian Hall.
Platt Church (Holy Trinity) is a very pleasing building in terra cotta. Refined in detail and scholarly in design etc.----etc.---- List of Rectors of Platt from 1846 - 1925 etc. --- etc. ---
The other booklet (found in the Church) refers more to the New Platt Hall and is entitled :-
"A Note on Platt Hall, Platt Fields Art Gallery and Museum" By S.D.Cleveland, Curator in Charge 1932
Platt Hall
This noteworthy example of Georgian domestic architecture which dates from 1764 when it replaced an earlier house, belongs to the period during which, more than at any other time in England, the planning both of private and public buildings was ordered and seemly.
It came into possession of the Manchester Corporation in 1908 when, largely to the public spirited efforts of the late Mr.Wm.Royle and other prominent Rusholme residents, the Platt estates, then in the market, was purchased. The lands were opened as a Park in 1910, but the Hall remained unused for any public purposes and in 1925 a proposal was made to demolish it. The intervention of the Royal Manchester Institution roused local interest, however, and the City Council decided that the building should be preserved and administered by the Art Galleries Committee as a branch Art Gallery and Museum etc. -----
Platt Estate has some interesting historical associations. As early as the middle of the 12th century lands of Platt were conveyed by one Matthew, to the Knights Hospitalers of St. John of Jerusalem.
Some years later certain of the lands were granted to Richard del la More, one of who's successors took the name of Platt and established a family connection with the estate which continued for more than four hundred years.
The Worsley's too, maintained their ownership of the estate over a long period and Charles Ralph Worsley's son attained great distinction as a supporter of Cromwell, and he ultimately became Major-General. He died when no more than 35 years of age at St. James Palace, which had been assigned to him for a residence. He was buried in Henry VII Chapel, Westminister.
A Short History of Manchester & Salford By F.A.Brutton M.A.LITT.D. 1927
Rusholme could boast estates at Platt and Birch (both named as early as 1190), as well as at Slade and Holt.
If we return to Wilmslow Road from Birch Hall by the old Hall Lane, which took its name therefrom, we shall be following the line of the farmhouse Mickle or Nicko Ditch, exceedingly well preserved just to the South of Platt Chapel. A few minutes walk northwards will bring us to the stately red brick mansion known as Platt Hall, built in 1764 near the site of the earlier timber and plaster structure which has quite disappeared.
There is no more delightful sight in Manchester than the broad sweeping acres known as Platt fields, dotted with a gay holiday crowd; but we may linger here for a moment also in order to glance at the earlier Hall etc.---etc.--- (remainder repeated elsewhere) Barnards Statue of Abraham Lincoln was erected in Platt Field in commemoration of Lancashires friendship to the cause for which Lincoln lived & died.
The mortgage on Platt Estates foreclosed in 1625 and Edmund Platt retired to Blackley Lancs. Where he died soon after.
Apparently the youngest brother William Platt having no interests in the Estates (which had been left to his elder brother Edmund & heir & which were mortgaged or near so) struckout for himself by leaving his ancestral home for neighbouring parts & eventually settled in Derbyshire.
Regarding the spelling of the name :- I saw at Lichfield the Will of a John Platt (settled in Derbyshire) dated abt 1616, which was drawn out in the name of Plattes, yet in the inventry it is spelt Platte and the legator signed it Platt.
Herewith I give you the different spellings I have come across.
Plat Plats Plot
Platt Platts Plott
Platte Plattes Plotte
Plate
Plet
Please bear in mind that Platt is a place surname.
Extract from "Surnames of the United Kingdom" by H.Harrison.
Platt (Anglo Latin) Dweller on a Flat Dweller at a plot of ground. (middle English, 12th to 15th Century) Plat(t) apparently from old English or Anglo-Saxon
Plot with the English spelling "Now therefore take and cast him into the plot of ground (taken from II Kings, IX.26.
Roger del Plat :- Placita in domo Capitulari Westmonasteriensi, (temp. Rich.I - Ed.II.
Geoffrey de Platte :- Lanc. Assize Rolls A.A.1285.
Platts Genit Johannes de Plattes :- Yorks Poll Tax AD 1379
Extract :-
"Surnames" by Ernest Weekly
Plott:- the same as Platt, a flat piece of land(Henry de la Plot :- Lanc. Assize Rolls 1176 - 1285
I came across the following
Roger de Plat appointed attorney Oct 14th 1297.
John of the Plates 1327 - 1377 (taken from Calender of Patent Rolls.
John le Plet 1345 (taken from Calender of Patent Rolls
I thought the following collection might interest you.
Platt FieldsPark
Platt Hall
Riding Platt (part of Blackley nr. Manchester)
Platt Bridge --------in Wilmslow Rd. nr. Manchester
Platt House --- Facing Platt FieldsPark
Platt Cottage --- Facing Platt FieldsPark
Platt Abbey --- Facing Platt FieldsPark
Platt View --- Facing Platt FieldsPark
Platt Chapel -- in Rusholme
Platt Church (Holy Trinity) in Platt Lane
Platt Fold -- a venerable Contemporary Mansion inscribed with the three several dates 1689, 1718, 1719, in Leigh.
Platts Common -- Barnsley
St.Mary's Platt -- Borough Green, Kent.
Platt Hills -- in Ratho parish - a small congeries of hills 1-1½ miles.
Platt-hill -- near the Manse (from "Chalmers Caledonia"
"Gazetter of England & Wales" Vol.II & others
Platt Green -- Mentioned in Tandridge Hundred of Surrey.
Platt Green -- Cannington Hundred of Somersetshire.
Platt Place -- Ford Lathe (~Lane) Kent in M.S.S. from Stanstead.
Platt Hall -- Searsdale Hundred, Derbyshire 3½ m. N.W. from Chesterfield
Hale Platts and the Platts -- Charities for the relief of Church and poor in East Molesey 1710 land 18 or 19 acres (Hale).
"Chalmers Caledonia" & Victoria History of Surrey.
Platt Meadow Charity -- In Tithing of Hadley.
Platt Green -- Caterham, reputed Pilgrims Way Crosses the line of this Road. The open ground near the Harrow.
The Platt -- London S.W.15 Wandsworth
Platt Street ,, N.W. 1 St.Pancras
Platt Lane ,, N.W. 3 Hampstead
The preceding places now called "Platt" in and around London etc.--- are evidently named after benefactors of land and money or through
See the following :- from Owen Mannings His. Of Surrey.
Richard Platt was Sheriff of London, died 1601 (Armiger & father of Sir John Platt.). He founded a free School at Aldenham, Herts, also Almshouse in the same village.
Baron Platt in epitaph of Middlesex - Vol. 13.Reliquary
Christopher Plott in 1622 Feb 21st , left to poor in S. Norton Berks.-
William Plott in 1628 left to poor of Hereford & poor of Stourberry, Kent.
William Platt was born in this City (London), he was a fellow commoner bred in St.John College Cambridge and by his will bequeathed thereunto lands to maintain fellows and scholars. Died 1673 Highgate, (son to Sir Hugh Platt). Extract taken from Dr.Fullers "Worthies of England, London Vol. II. Benefactors to the Public".
William Platt, armiger, son of Sir Hugh Platt, Will proved, in 1637, left lands in & near Kentish Town. Also a house in Cornhill London and land in Surrey.
Dr. Plott in 1696 left tithes of Rectory of Swade to Magdelen Hall, Oxford for a professorship of Nat. History, to be called "Plott".
Sir Thomas Plott of Wiltshire is another branch.- Will proved 23 Nov 1639
A list of "Arms Granted."
1559 Nov 22. John Platt son of John Platt of Wigan, Lancs.
1578 Feb 6 Quartered Coat of Arms - Platts & Standish, Lancashire.
1578 Feb 6 James Platt of Plaistow Essex John Platt of Plaistow Essex descended from Wigan Lancs.
1583 Richard Platt of London, father to Sir Hugh Platt
1587 Anthony Plott of Plymouth. William Plott of Hereford, descendant from Kentish family.
1673 Robert Plott of Sutton Manor (Dr in laws).
I have found (1938) five Platt Armorial families including Ourselves, in "Fox Davies Armorial Families" & one "Landed Gentry"
In the 16th Century etc. - owing to complaints of Armorial families - the College of arms - made Herald's visitations to Counties of England, but nevertheless, some families were profoundly negligent in registering their Arms
Parish of Manchester was divided into six parts; the sixth division contains Platt, Rusholme, Birch, Slade & Holt, whose History you will find in Chetham Soc: Publications Vol. XLVII.
The following is a copy of notes made by your father shortly before his death:-
My father Joseph Platts, son of Joseph and Mary Platts was born 11th April 1815, and baptised May 7th.1815 at Crich, Derbyshire.
He was engaged at the Butterly Iron Works, Derbyshire and was sent by this Company to Russia.
He left England in 1837 at the age of 22 years as Second - Engineer with his Chief - Mr. Wm. Bouch (afterwoods Locomotive - Superintendent and Manager of the Stockton and Darlington Rly., at Shildon and Durham) in charge of a Steamer with machinery for the Black Sea Steam Navigation Co. Russia.
Mr. Bouch remained in Russia for a short period only, while my father remained in Russia in the employment of the Black Sea Steam Navigation Co. until Dec. 1842.
My father married on April 1st 1839 at Odessa Russia, Sarah Haines Tandy, daughter of John Tandy who was Superintendent Engineer also of the above Company and who left England about 1824 for France and ultimately for Russia about the age of thirty years (died in England aged 87 years.)
I Henry Charles Platts, third son of Joseph and Sarah Haines Platts, was born at Odessa, Russia on the 6th. Jan. (o/s) 1843.
When only a few months old, my parents took me with them to Kertch, Russia, where my father had settled in consequence of his new engagement to the Russian Imperial Navy.
About 1852 in conjuncion with his father-in-law John Tandy and a Russian friend, Colonel Ivanitski, he erected a Steam flour Mill in the name of Platts Tandy & Co.
On the declaration of the Crimean War in 1854 he retired from the Russian Service and devoted his time to the Steam Flour Mill, which they had erected at Kertch.
My father asked for British protection and sentries were place to protect his property, but eventually they were withdrawn owing to War conditions, for in June 1855 the Allied troops occupied Kertch and soon after the Mill was destroyed by the English authorities & the machinery sent to Constantinople where it was erected for the needs of the British Service.
He received previous to this, two gold medals from the Russian Government in the reign of Emporer Nicholas I, in recognition of his work and zeal in the service.
When a few years old, I went to stay with my grandfather John Tandy at Sevastopol until about 1850-1, when I returned to Kertch to attend the Russian local school and later I was sent to England to finish my education.
My mother with her children left Russia about July 1855 for England, being practically ruined and without any substenance - my father took Service with the British Government as Interpreter to Sir Edmund Lyons on board H.M.S. "Royal Albert" until Dec. 1st 1855, returning to England on leave for a short time to demand repatriation (v.Memorial for the loss of his property): and returned to Malta about Jan. 1856 and continued his duties until May 21st 1856
On the 12th June 1856, his services as interpreter being no longer required, he left England and reentered the Russian Government Service.
From 1856 to early 1859 he was engaged in draining the town of Soukhoumn in the Caucasus and building on the River Kouban, which was a virgin River, an iron-clad Steamer and barges, which were intended to be used for the complete subjugation of the turbulent Circassion Tribes.
For these and former services he received the Cross of St Stanislaw of the 3rd Class, and left for St Petersburg to take up his appointment as Chief and Consulting Engineer to the Russian Marine Department.
In 1859 my mother and sisters (Mary & Louisa) left England to join my father at St Petersburg leaving my brothers at school in England.
He died in Nov 1859 after having undergone two operations for cancer at the Sir W. Wyllies Hospital, St Petersburg, Russia, and, was interred in the Smolensk Cemetery of this town. The record of his death and interment is entered in the books of the English Church, English Quay, St Petersburg.
My Mother and sisters then returned to England.
Now as regards myself, I have to tell you that soon after my Father's death in Nov 1859, I chose the profession of a Civil Engineer and commenced my career in 1860 in the workshops of Ravenhill Salkeld & Co., Marine Engineers, London, where my eldest brother John was also engaged. In 1864 my father's old friend Wm Bouch offered him a position of trust. In 1869 I left my post and succeeded my brother John (who had accepted the management of the Bridgewater Iron Works) in the management of Hopkins, Gilkes & Co's Phoenix Foundry at Shildon. I remained at Shildon until January 1873, when I left England to join my brother John who had been appointed Chief Engineer to General Maltzoff's Engineering Works, near Briansk, Russia.
My Mother and sister Mary who had been staying in Russia returned to England in August 1873 for my sister's marriage toRev. Samuel Butcher, only son of the late Robert & Rebecca Butcher of Cork.
I remained in the above mentioned employment as Manager of the Briansk Locomotive & Wagon Works for a short time only,and left for St Petersburg in 1874, where I met my Uncle Admiral Kern & Aunt Eliza Kern (nee Tandy) and my cousin George Kern who was eventually in command of the torpedo destroyer "Gromky" at the Battle of the Sea of Japan and went down with all his officers & men in that disastrous battle.
From 1874 until 1877 I was engaged in a variety of work in St Petersburg, and when I met John Hughes who had been engaged at the Millwall Iron Works at the same time as myself, he was good enough to make me a suitable offer and I took service with the New Russia Co (of which he was the Managing Director) the Works being in the South of Russia in the Province of Ekaterinoslaff, and situated about one hundred miles North of the Sea of Azov, and was named,"Hughesoffka" (after the father of John Hughes - who practically speaking - founded the "New Russia Co."
My duties from 1877 to 1884, consisted in the sole management of the Company's Branch Railway connecting the Ironworks to the Donetz Railway until 1884 when I undertook the representation of this Company. From 1892 I was engaged in designing and erecting extensions of the Works of the same Company.
In 1891 I patented an improved firegrate; and in conjunction with another person, I invented an improved Engine & Pump Packing, which was so far successful in Russia that I relinquished the Service of the New Russia Co. in Nov 1898 and introduced this speciality in England, and met with a fair measure of success.
The appointment which I relinquished, was offered to, and accepted by, my father-in-law Wladislaw Raymond Rakowski.
On the 24th Dec 1892 I was married to Emilie Elizabeth Rakowski daughter of Wladislaw Raymond Rakowski (otherwise Alphonse Raymond) of Rakowo Poland, the last descendant of an old untitled Noble Polish family. The ceremony taking place at the English Church in Odessa, & the necessary Civil part at the British Consulate.
During our stay in Russia, five children were born there.
1st. Emilie Louisa in 1893, Dec. 9th Hughesoffka S.Russia
2nd. May Henrietta in 1894 Dec.8th St.Petersburgh Russia
3rd. Henry Charles in 1896 March 24th Hughesoffka S.Russia
4th Victoria Dagmar in 1897 June 23rd Hughesoffka S.Russia
5th Gilbert Latimer in 1898 Oct 2nd Hughesoffka S.Russia
6th Edward Tandy in 1900 Jan 4th Middlesex, England
7th Norman Cecil in 1901 May 7th Middlesex, England
8th Dorothy Ethel in 1902 August 15th Kent, England died August 19th in the same year.
9th Wilfred Keyte in 1903 July 15th Kent, England
Notes
Henry Charles Platts jnr. Commission Nov. 4th 1915, 7th City of London -Regt.
Promoted to 1st Lieut abt Nov 1917