Yorkshire Chess History

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François Landolphe

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Born:	1810, France
Baptised:
Died:
Buried:

There was a Francois Landolphe who arrived at Dover, from Ostend, on 29th May 1850. The 1851 census described his occupation as “Ex Representative of People (France)”. This rather suggests he was a former French parliamentarian who had perhaps fallen foul of the general political upheaval in France from 1848 onwards, and left the country, as so many did at that time.

The 1851 census found the 41-year-old ex representative of the French people lodging with Jane Tozer at 34 Bedford Street, Westminster.

At some stage during the next eight years he moved to Bradford. Neither White’s Directory of Leeds, Bradford &c, 1854, nor Lunds' Bradford Directory, 1856, seems to contain him.

We know from chess records that he he was in Bradford by 1859.

The 1861 census found him as a 51-year-old living on his own, apart from a servant, at Hanover Square, Bradford.

White’s Directory of Leeds, Bradford, Huddersfield &c, 1866, listed F. Landolphe at 59 Hanover Square, Bradford, under “Academies and Schools”, and Mons. F. Landolphe as living at 59 Hanover Square, Bradford. He was described as Mons. Landolphe, B.L., Dijon, in an advert for Bradford High School, where he was quotes as being the master for French.

White's Directory of Leeds & the West Riding, 1870, listed Francis (not Francois) Landolphe as professor of French, living at 52 Hanover Square still. It persisted with “Francis” in the trades section, under “Academies and Schools”.

At some time from 1861 to 1871, he must have got married, as the 1871 census lists him as a 60-year-ol teacher of languages living with his wife, 30-year-old London-born schoolmistress Frances Elise Landolphe, and a servant, at 52 Hanover Terrace, Bradford.

We know from chess records that he was still in Bradford in 1878, but Byles’s Post Office Bradford Directory, 1879-80, seems not to include him, suggesting he had died or left Bradford. The fact that his wife is not listed suggests the couple had merely moved.

Although Frances Elise Landolphe died at Brighton, no Landolphe seems to be listed in Sussex directories for 1881, 1905 of 1915, suggesting her arrival in Brighton was at some time from 1915 to 1920.

Death

Although details of the death of Francois Landolphe aren’t known to the writer, it is apparent that his widow ended up in Brighton, living at 41, Norfolk Road, Brighton, Sussex, where she died on 7th January 1920. Her death was described in the coroner’s report as “suddenly, syncope caused by heart failure due to fatty degeneration of the heart; natural causes.”

The London Gazette of 30th July, 1920, page 8019, contained the following notice:

Re Madame FRANCES ELISE LANDOLPHE,

Deceased.

Pursuant to the Act of Parliament 22nd and 23rd

Victoria, chapter 35, intituled " An Act to further

amend the Law of Property and to relieve Trustees.”

NOTICE is hereby given, that all creditors and

other persons having any claims or demands

against the estate of Madame Frances Elise Landolphe,

late of 41, Norfolk-road, Brighton, in the county of

Sussex, Widow, deceased (who died on the seventh

day of January, 1920, and whose will was proved in

the Principal Registry of the Probate Division of

His Majesty's High Court of Justice, on the 4th day

of February, 1920, by Maurice Jacobs, of 37, Sussex

square, Brighton aforesaid, the executor therein

named), are hereby required to send the particulars,

in writing, of their claims or demands to us, the

undersigned, the Solicitors for the said executor, on

or before the 31st day of August, 1920, after which

date the said executor will proceed to distribute the

assets of the said deceased amongst the persons entitled

thereto, having regard only to the debts, claims

and demands, of which he shall then have had notice;

and he will not be liable for the assets of the said

deceased, or any part thereof, so distributed, to any

person or persons of whose claims or demands he

shall not then have had notice.—Dated this 27th day

of July, 1920.

EDWIN BOXALL and KEMPE, 63, Ship-street,

Brighton, Solicitors for the said Executor.

Curiously, no “Norfolk Road” as such is listed in Brighton in the 1915 Sussex directory.

Chess

He attended the annual meetings of the West Yorkshire Chess Association in 1859, 1860, 1861, 1871, 1877 and 1878.

He was a representative of the Bradford club in its match against Settle in 1859.

Created

25/04/2012

Census information is copyright of The National Archive, see UK Census Information

Last Updated

25/04/2012