Phillis Michell was born circa 1750, and baptized 4 April 1750 at Graffham, Sussex. She was the daughter of the Reverend Thomas Michell and Eleanor Ingram. She was the sixth of their seven children.
Phillis married for the first time at the age of 15, on the 15 December 1765, at St Edmund, Salisbury, Wiltshire. Her first husband was Samuel Bartholomew Case.
| Samuel Bartholomew Case Samuel was born circa 1744 and baptized at Salisbury, Wiltshire. He was the son of Samuel and Mary Case. Mr Case went out to India in 1761 as a writer or “factor” for the East India Company. Unfortunately, “ever since his arrival in the country, [he] laboured under a very bad state of health.”[1] He was obliged in November 1764 to return to England to recover his health. He was commended for his diligence and good behaviour, and intended to return once his health returned.[2] It is probably during his convalescence that he and Phillis Michell contracted marriage. Days before his marriage, it had been announced to court that he was recovered and was allowed to take up his position again.[3] Whether Phillis travelled with him, or joined him later is not known, though it is certain she was with him in India for some time. Unfortunately, Samuel Bartholomew Case died in 1767, whilst in India. A letter to court states “We are extremely sorry to acquaint you that the last hot season has proved fatal to no less than 13 of your covenant servants”, including Samuel. [4] |
It appears that Phillis remained in India after her first husband died. Who she lived with, and how she lived, isn’t known. She was still young, only 19, when she married George Rooke, also of the Honourable East India Company. They married in Kolkata (Calcutta), Bengal, on the 25 November 1769.
Still in India, their first child was born – also christened Phillis – on the 16 October 1770. Although I am not completely certain, I believe they returned to England by 1775, when their second child, Ann was born. Both Phillis and Ann were christened on the same day at Chitterne all Saints, in Wiltshire. It is possible that Phillis and her child returned without George.
Phillis was widowed for the second time at the age of 29, when her husband George died on the 25 February 1779.
She died young, at the age of 42 or 43. The mausoleum to the Michell family at Chitterne All Saints includes “To the memory of PHILLIS ROOKE, who died April 9, 1795, aged 42”.[5]
ENDNOTES
[1] “Letter to Court 26 November 1764”, Bhargava, K.D., ed., Indian Records Series (fort William India House Correspondence) Vol 4, National Archives of India, p. 275.
[2] Ibid.
[3] “Letter to Court 13 December 1765”, Bhargava, K.D., ed., Indian Records Series (fort William India House Correspondence) Vol 4, National Archives of India, p.111
[4] Long, James, Selections from unpublished records of government for the years 1748-1767, p. 935
[5] The Michell Family, The History of Chitterne, http://www.chitterne.com/history/index.html
Some Heirs and Graces 