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steuer
21-11-2007, 01:02 PM
Hi everyone,
I am researching an ancestor named Mary Magdalena BECKER who was born in Darmstadt, Germany and migrated to London at some point, and married in 1861 there. From London this ancestor came to Victoria Australia in 1861.

There is a family tale that Mary was employed by Queen Victoria (not known as to what her occupation was). On her marriage certificate in 1861 she does not list her occupation but was resident at Chester Square. Mary's father is listed as Christian Becker, shoemaker. Her brother Phillip Becker was witness.

Another curiosity that a cousin of mine has found "the librarian to the Prince Consort was BECKER and he was from Darmstadt, he was the uncle (I think from memory, maybe brother) of Ludwig Becker the artist/geologist on the Burke and Wills expedition. Magdalena and John Gibbs came to Australia in 1861 the very year that Ludwig Becker died on the expedition, my original thesis in 2002 was that Magdalena was somehow related to him (Ludwig) and that is why they came to Australia, but of course he was dead when they arrived. If she was related to this family she would also have had connections with the Royal family through the librarian."

I have not had any success in finding any Becker's on the 1861 census returns in London - so far other than the marriage we have no proof of Mary even being there.

If anyone has any advice on how to go about proving one way or another if Mary or any other Becker's were in the employ of the royal household, I'd appreciate it.

Regards,
Bridget.

Peter Goodey
21-11-2007, 08:38 PM
Among the records of the Lord Chamberlain's Department at the National Archives there are various registers such as establishment books listing officials and servants.

There won't be anything about people who worked for businesses that supplied goods or services to the royal household.

This could be a rather open-ended job and since you'd have to pay someone to search for you, I wouldn't really recommend it in the absence of much firmer evidence.

hughar
21-11-2007, 11:20 PM
The following question and answer from the FAQ page of the Royal Archives web site at http://www.royal.gov.uk/output/page4978.asp may help:
Question - "My relative worked in the Royal Household. Do you have details about them?
Answer - The Royal Archives has references to people employed in the Royal Household from the 18th century, and indexes to names of people employed from 1660 onwards. Please put your enquiry in writing, including as much detail as possible, and send it to: The Royal Archives, Windsor Castle, Windsor, Berkshire SL4 1NJ. For earlier periods, contact the National Archives at Ruskin Avenue, Kew, Richmond, Surrey TW9 4DU.