Capt JOHN FISH (1797 Windsor - 1865 Kilsby)

How are the following people (in China 1800 to 1850) connected to our 

Captain John FISH ?? (born 1797 New Windsor)

THOMAS RICHARDSON COLLEDGE                    LANCELOT DENT                                CAPTAIN JOHN CROCKETT                     

Surgeon with the HEIC in Macao China            Merchant in Macao China              Captain of the HEIC Opium Store Ships                              

                                       

All of the paintings above were painted by George Chinnery the famous artist in Macao China

Thomas Richardson COLLEDGE (11 June 1797 – 28 October 1879) 

was an English surgeon with the East India Company at Guangzhou (Canton) who served part-time as the first medical missionary in China, and played a role in establishing the Canton Hospital. In 1837 he founded and served as the first president of the Medical Missionary Society of China.

Capt John Fish's wife MARY COLLEDGE, was the sister of Thomas Richardson Colledge.

Lancelot DENT was a 19th-century British merchant resident for a period in Canton, China who dealt primarily in opium. He was christened on August 4, 1799 in Crosby Ravensworth, Westmorland, England, son of William and Jane (Wilkinson) Dent. Lancelot took over as senior partner of the trading house Dent & Co.

Capt John Fish married Mary Colledge who had a son from Lancelot Dent, Lancelot Dent adopted the child in 1843 in Kilsby at his baptism. The child is named John Dent Fish at his baptism in 1843 at Kilsby England.  Rev John Dent Fish also names his son Lancelot John Fish.

    Captain John C CROCKETT born 1 Dec 1786 Buckingham England - nationality British. Parents John & Ann CROCKETT died 25 Jun
   1837 at Campsing Moon Macao China age 50 burial no 87 location Lower Section. In command of an opium stores ship at LinTin Macao
   China.
   Capt John Fish lived in the same street as Capt John C Crockett ie in Sussex Place Slough in 1833 and our  Capt John Fish
   appears in the last Will & Testament of Capt John C Crockett in 1838. Capt John Fish also names his second son "John Crockett" 
   Fish. 

ARCHIVE RESEARCH WORK 2016

It took the analysis of 10 Wills and testaments and countless documents from the BRITISH LIBRARY (FIBIS) and from many other archives around the world and 2 years to unravel the connections between our families. It turned out to be a wonderful adventurous detective story, full of twists and turns, dead ends, etc etc.
In the end it all made sense, we have all the documentation to prove all the linkages, its a solid facts based assessment.

Well, it all started in Macao China in 1827, a young lady by the name of Mary Colledge was visiting her famous brother the Surgeon Thomas Richardson Colledge in Macao, we understand Macao became a famous holiday destination for the "Well to do" in the late 1700's early 1800's. We gather she was romanced by lancelot Dent the very wealthy merchant in Macao and friend of her brother Thomas Richardson Colledge. It transpires that Mary Colledge has a child from Lancelot Dent, I assume the child was named John Dent in 1828 because in 1833 when our Capt John Fish marries Mary Colledge the child is adopted by Capt John Fish who becomes his legal gardian. The child is renamed John Dent Fish.
The first documented data we have of the father of John Dent Fish is shown below in the 1843 Kilsby baptism register for John Dent Fish "the adopted son of Lancelot Dent Esquire Merchant in Canton China"

Another reference is made when he marries Henrietta Barnes Chesterman in 1860 at the parish church in South Banbury.

In October 1861 Henrietta dies tragically. She dies a few months after her son Lancelot John Fish is born.

John Dent Fish Marries Mary Field in 1867. In the Marriage record at South Banbury Lancelot Dent is named by John Dent Fish as his father again.

The next reference is in the Last Will and Testament of Lancelot Dent 1853. The Rev John Dent Fish is executor of Lancelot's Will. (1st page of Lancelot's will below)

Lancelot bequeaths £10000 to The Rev John Dent Fish of Christchurch Banbury.

Lancelot also bequeaths £5000 to John Dent Fish's step brother John Fish (John Crockett Fish who is studying at Cambridge University) the second son of Capt John Fish & Mary Fish (nee Colledge). (2nd page of Lancelot's will below), both children studied at Cambridge University.

CAPT John Fish bap 4 Aug 1797 - Died 1856 

TIMELINE - Captain John FISH

1797 Age 0 — Birth 15 JUL 1797 • New Windsor, Berkshire, England  

1797 6 AUG • Baptism St Johns Church New Windsor Berkshire 

1804 Age 6 — Birth of Brother William Fish (1804–1875)
        27 JAN 1804 • Windsor Berkshire England 

1825 Age 28 — Death of Father Robert Fish (– 1825)
        4 DEC 1825 • Broad lane Winkfield aged 56 

1828 Age 31 — Birth of Step Son John Dent Fish (1828–1868)
 Sep 1828 • Macao, Tongcheng, Anhui, China 

1830 Age 32 — Death of Brother James William Fish (1794–1830)
 4 March 1830 • Berkshire, England 

1831 april 8th A Mr Fish is listed in Harriett Low’s  journal printed in Lights and Shadows of a Macao Life: The journal of Harriett Low,  travelling spinster, edited Nan P. Hodges) on 8th April 1830 when she lists the attendees at a big party thrown by Mr Blight in Macau. People at the party include the famous English painter Mr George Chinnery,Mr Wilkinson, Mr Turner Mr Beale and others. 

1833 Capt John Fish living at 14 Sussex Place Slough in 1833 - this is important for the connection to Capt John Crockett who also lives in Sussex Place. Our Capt John Fish is also a beneficiary of the will of Capt John Crockett. The second son of Capt John Fish and Mary (nee Colledge) named their son John Crockett Fish - "John Crockett" from their friends name Capt John Crockett. Cpt John Crockett was Capt of the Opium Storage boats in Linton Macau for Lancelot Dents Fleet of Ships.

1833 Age 36 — Marriage - Mary Colledge (1803–1872) 
24 SEP 1833 • Kilsby St Faith, KILSBY, England.On tuesday the 24th instant, at Kilsby in this county, by the rev Charles Gillbee, John Fish, Esq of Datchet, Bucks late Captain of the Hon E I Company's service, to Mary second daughter of Mr Colledge of the former place. PUBLICATION  FROM KILSBY NORTHAMP

1834 Age 37 — Birth of Son John Crockett Fish (1834–1889)
14th September 1834 • Datchet, Buckingham- shire, England 

1841 Age 44 — Residence 1841 CENSUS
Upton Cum Chalvey, Buckinghamshire, England 

1842-1844 Pigott Directory as resident and listed under Nobility, Gentry & Clergy is John Fish - Slough 

1851 Age 54 — 1851 CENSUS Capt John Fish a visitor in household in Kilsby Northamptonshire

1852  Capt John Fish living in Slough and his step son John Dent Fish holds stock 1852 in the East India Company.
Ref: India office and Burma Office lists. British Library

1853 8th December - the gg grandfather of Nick Dent, Thomas Wilkinson John Dent went to Lancelot Dent‘s funeral on 8th December 1853 at Crosby Ravensworth and records in his diary that “the Colledges, Capt Fish, JD Fish” were amongst the people at the funeral. There isn’t a diary for 1868, the year of JDF’s death. 

1854 Captain John Fish & his step son Rev John Dent Fish are both Freemasons at The RUGBY Lodge of Rectitude 

1855 13.6 Fish's going to Paris too (with the Dent Family)… From the Diary of TWJ Dent - year 1855.

1855 - 1856 Capt John Fish is in Bengal he is in the Lodge of Rectitude in Rugby alone with his son Rev John Dent Fish. I know Capt John Fish has been in Bengal India before this also.

1857 Capt John Fish resident in Kilsby - The 1857 Pollbook list him as resident in Kilsby.

1858 Capt John Fish resident in Kilsby - The 1857 Pollbook list him as resident in Kilsby.

1861 Age 64 —  1861 CENSUS Capt John Fish is Resident in Kilsby

Kilsby, Northamptonshire, England BORN New Windsor Berkshire 

1862 14.8 Charlotte [Thompson nee Dent, TWJD’s sister] lunched with Major Fish’s -From the Diary of Thomas Wilkinson John Dent.  I would interpret Major Fish's as Capt John Fish, his son Rev John Dent Fish, possibly Dr John Crockett Fish and possibly Lancelot John Fish (son of Rev John Dent Fish). I can't speculate on whether their wives may have been with them??

1865 Age 67 — Death
 30 mar 1865 • Warwickshire, United Kingdom 

1865 Age 67 — Burial 30 Mar 1865
 Kilsby, Northamptonshire, England 

BAPTISM RECORD BELOW FOR Capt John Fish NEW WINDSOR CHURCH - St John's

St John Baptist - Windsor Parish Church c1760 by Margaret Yardley, ARCA

John Fish Baptised here on the 6 Aug 1797 (see above index)

Capt John Fish Married Mary Colledge 1833 Kilsby England

Capt John Fish was born in New Windsor Berkshire - see 1851 & 1861 census images below,

This is crucial, as it connects Capt John Fish to our family, this is the vital evidence we have been looking for, for so long. This is the only John Fish born then in New Windsor Church, see the New Windsor church register for baptisms above.

The document below shows Capt John Fish living at 14 Sussex Place Slough in 1833 - this is important for the connection to Capt John Crockett who also lives in Sussex Place. Our Capt John Fish is also a beneficiary of the will of Capt John Crockett. The second son of Capt John Fish and Mary (nee Colledge) named their son John Crockett Fish - "John Crockett" from their friends name Capt John Crockett.

Capt John Fish and his step son John Dent Fish holds stock 1852 in the East India Company.
Ref: India office and Burma Office lists. British Library

I think these are the corresponding properties as they are today taken from Google Earth Maps

John Crockett Fish Property for auction in 1881 in Kilsby (his parents property he inherited)

1854 Captain John Fish & his son Rev John Dent Fish are both Freemasons at The RUGBY Lodge of Rectitude 

in 1855 - 1856 Capt John Fish is in Bengal (see above) he is in the Lodge of Rectitude in Rugby alone with his son Rev John Dent Fish. I know Capt John Fish has been in Bengal India before, but I can't find the data yet, I also know that his elder brother Capt James William Fish came to Bengal in 1814 on the HEIC ship The ASIA as a FREE MARINER. (see Capt James William Fish web page)

Capt John Fish buried 1865 at St Faiths Church in Kilsby, I have visited this Church and can't find the grave of John Fish or his wife Mary Fish (nee Colledge).

1865 - Will of Capt John Fish

People mentioned in the will 

John Crocket Fish son & sole executor Northampton

Mary Fish - his wife 

1865 Will of Captain John Fish

Page 1 of 4

On the second day of May 1865,

The Will of John Fish late of

Kilsby in the county of Northampton 

Esquire

Deceased who died on the 23rd day of March 1865,

Was proved in the district registry attached to her Majesty’s Court of Probate

At Northampton by the oath of

John Crockett Fish formerly of Gonville 

And Cauis Colledge Cambridge afterwards

Of the Colledge Saint Bartholomews

Hospital in the City of London Medical 

Student, and now of Kilsby in the said

County of Northampton Gentlemen, the

Son of the said deceased, .... of the

Executor therein named he having been first sworn duly to administer. The

Reverend John Dent Fish the other executor, having .......... the Probate and execution 

Of the said Will

Effects under £6000. No leasehold

Extracted by: .. Matthew Bloxham

Rugby Court of Probate Northampton 

Page 2 of 4

THIS IS THE LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT 

of one John Fish of Kilsby in the county of

Northampton Esquire. I appoint my son John Crockett

Fish late of Gonville Cauis Colledge Cambridge and now

of the Colledge Saint Bartholomews Hospital in the city of

London Medical student and the Reverend John Dent Fish

of Banbury in the County of Oxford Clerk ... ... Executors

of this Will. I direct my just debts and funeral and

Testamentary expenses to be paid by my said executor 

I bequeath the household furniture plate linen and China

Glass liquors.... and housekeeping.... of which I shall ....

Possessed to my dear wifeMary Fish absolutely and I also

Bequeath to my said wife one hundred pounds for her immediate use to be paid within after my decease

I devise my dwelling house with the garden and orchard 

Now in my own occupation ..... my said wife for her residence for and during her life, and I devise that the.... fees

And expenses of and Meriden... to the ad...hence (if any) of

My said wife to the said dwelling house and garden and orchard shall be paid by my executors ... of my personal Estate

I bequeath to my said son John Crockett Fish and John

Dent Fish all my India Stock and also one thousand pounds

New three per centrum? Consolidated Bank annuities standing in 

My ..... in the books of the governor and company of

The Bank of England upon trust that the said John Crockett 

Fish and John Dent Fish and the survivor of them and the executor and administrators of such forward? shall with the 

Consent of my said wife either continue those stocks or sums of

Money or any part thereof and invest 

Page 3 of 4

Of act of Parliament or of any other?? Foreign Government or

State and May from time to time with such consent as aforesaid

Vary or transpose such stocks funds shares or securities unto

Or for others of the same or a like nature and shall pay 

The interest dividends and income of all my said India stock

And the said one thousand pounds new three per cent...p

Per annum consolidated bank annuities and of the stocks

Funds shares and securities in or upon which the same may be invested to be computed from my decease unto my said 

Wife during her life. I devise and bequeath all the real

Estate of or to which I shall at my decease be possessed of

Entitled (except estates vested in me as trusted or Mortagee)

And subject as to my said dwelling house and garden and

Orchard to the life estate therein of my said wife under the

Devise herein before contained and I bequeath the residue

Of all the money securities for money goods chaltels and

Personal Estate of or to which I shall then be possessed or entitled 

(Including my said India Stock and the said sum of one 

Thousand pounds new three per centinn??? Consolidated bank 

Annuities after the deceased of my said wife and my said so John Crockett Fish his heirs executors and

Assigns for his own absolute use and benefit and I devise all

The real estate vested in me as Trusted or mortgaged unto the

Said John Crockett Fish and John Dent Fish their heirs and

Assigns subject to the trusts and equities affecting the same

Respectively and I revoke all other Wills. In witness whereof I the said John Crockett Fish have here...b set my hand 

This second day of September one thousand eight hundred and fifty nine.

Signed and declared by the above

Named John Fish and for his

Last Will and Testament in the 

presence of us presence at the same 

time who at his request in his

Presence and in the presence of each

Other have here.... ..... subscribed .....

Signed by JOHN FISH

Page 4 of 4

Names of witnesses 

THOMAS BOYES Kilsby

RICHARD LORD Kilsby

Proved at Northampton, the 2nd day of May 

1865, by the oath of John Crockett Fish the son

One of the executors to whom administration was granted, the Reverend John Dent Fish, Clerk, 

the other Executor having renounced the Probate 

and execution of the said ......

The testator John Fish was late of Kilsby

In the county of Northampton Esquire and died on 

the 23rd of March 1865 at Kilsby aforesaid 

Under £6000 Matt W H Bloxham Solicitor Rugby

 

MARY COLLEDGE 1803 - Sister to Dr Thomas Richardson Colledge Surgeon in Macau 1820's
Married Capt John Fish HEIC Service in 1833 at St Faiths Church in Kilsby Northamptonshire.
Mary Colledge travelled to Macau in the late 1820's on holiday to see her brother.

1872 WILL of MARY Fish nee Colledge

People mentioned in the will 

John Crocket fish - son & sole executor 

Rev John Dent Fish is in the will but he died 1868 before his mother Mary Fish

Thomas Richardson Colledge (Mary's brother in Cheltenham)

 1872 The Will of Mary Fish (nee Colledge) wife of Captain John Fish

Page 1 of 3

On the 18 day of June 1872

The Will of Mary Fish, late of the parish

Of Kilsby in the county of Northampton

Widow

Deceased who died on the 20th May 1872

At Kilsby aforesaid

Was proved in the district registry attached to her majesty's court of Probate

At Northampton by the oath of

John Crockett Fish of 92 Wimpole Street

In the county of Middlesex Doctor of Medicine

The son of the said deceased, the sole 

Executor therein named he having been first sworn duly to administer

Effects under £600 no leasehold

Extracted by Matt H Bloxam Solicitor Rugby

Page 2 of 3

In the name of god amen, this

Is the last will and testament of me Mary

Fish of Kilsby in the county of Northampton widow as follows

That is to say, i give and bequeath all my personal estate

And effects of what nature or kindsoever an wheresoever which i

May bepossesed of or entitled to the time of my deceased unto

My son John Crockett Fish absolutely he paying the court my just 

Debts funeral expenses and the expenses of proving this my Will 

But in case my said son John Crockett Fish shall die in my 

lifetime without leaving lawful .... Him surviving him then i

Give and bequeath all my personal estate and effects unto

Thomas Richardson Colledge of lawriston house Cheltenham in

The county of Gloucester Esquire and thr Reverend John Dent Fish

Of Northampton in the county of Northampton Clerk equally to be

Divided between them share and share alike and i hereby

Nominate constitute and appoint my said son John Crockett Fish

Sole executor of this my Will hereby revoking and making 

 all former and other wills by me at any time heretofore ..........  And

I do declare this to be my last will and testament inwitness

whereof. i have to this my last Will and testament set in my hand 

And seal this 24th day of October in the year of our lord

1867.

Signed sealed published and declared  

By the said Mary Fish the testatrix as and

For her last Will and testament in the presence 

Of us present at the same time who in her 

presence at her request and in her presence 

of each other have hereunto subscribed our

Names as witnesses

Signed MARY FISH

Matt H Bloxam solicitor Rugby

Geo M Leabroke clerk to Mr Bloxam

Proved at Northampton the 18th day of June 1872, by the oath 

of John Crockett Fish, Doctor of Medicine, the son  

executor to whom administration was granted

The testatrix Mary Fish was late of the parish of Kilsby.

Page 3 of 3

In the county of Northampton widow and died on the

20th day of May 1872 at Kilsby aforesaid

Under £600

Matt H Bloxam Solicitor Rugby

Capt John Crockett born 1786 died 1838 Capsin Moon China

Our Captain John Fish lived in the same street as Capt John C Crockett (Sussex Place Slough) from 1834 to 1836

Our Captain appears in the Last Will & Testament of Capt John C Crockett. Our Capt John Fish names his second child "John Crockett" Fish after his friend Capt John Crockett, who at some point was Capt of the HEIC Shah Byramgore.

Captain John Crockett was commander of the ship JANE - in the HEIC's lintin island Opium fleet in Macao China, the JANE was the Store Ship for the Opium Fleet.

Lintin Island Location to Hong Kong & Macao


1837 Will of Capt John C Crockett
Our John Fish named in the Will of Capt John C Crockett