| Edmund had married Elizabeth Lucy Law on 12
July 1844 in St John's Newfoundland. Apart from fleeting shore leave when
he was based in the North American Station and two months on half-pay, he
was at sea for most of the time between his marriage and his return to
England in November 1849. Their first child, William Eustace, was born
April 2nd 1845 in Newfoundland and their second son, Robert Walker in 1847
at Portsmouth. Edmund had arranged to get his family to England in
October 1846 leaving him enough time to join the 'Constance' at Portsmouth
harbour. |
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|
An old
picture of the 'Narrows' and the Harbour at St John's Newfoundland |
| Returning from the Pacific in 'Constance' in
November 1849, Edmund found that Lucy's brother, George Law, a mate in the
Navy and six years her junior, had arrived in England in 1848 and was a
frequent visitor to Fritham Lodge. Having met George Law, Edmund said he
'did not like the fellow'. After a short while it became clear that Lucy
was pregnant again and she was delivered of a full term child on the 18th
May 1850. This could not be Edmund's child. It was the child of Lucy's
brother, George Law: a domestic tragedy loomed over them. |
| On what was to be their last meeting, Edmund
told Lucy he 'knew all' and said to her "Lucy, I pity you from my
heart". She replied " Edmund, I don't deserve your pity"
" You ought to curse me from the hour you first saw me". Shortly
afterwards Lucy told Edmund the whole story. Edmund immediately ceased to
co-habit with Lucy and proceeded with a divorce. |